Category Archives: USA

On marching, or at least standing around, against Trump

Posted on July 15, 2018 by acb

We cycled down from Kings Cross to Cambridge Circus around five, and reached Trafalgar Square about five thirty. The square was still full but there were open spaces on Whitehall and all the way down to parliament square, which was … Continue reading →

Posted in the crash, USA, War | Comments Off on On marching, or at least standing around, against Trump

Fire and Fury

Posted on January 20, 2018 by acb

The Michael Wolff book about Donald Trump has a great deal more art in it than most reviews would have you believe. It’s written with a deft and elegant touch, and although it is undoubtedly an assault on Trump with … Continue reading →

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Avatar

Posted on January 24, 2010 by acb

I went to see Avatar because of a subtle and enthusiastic review by Roz Kaveney; a pity that she must have watched it in another universe. The film I saw had no plot, no characters, no conflict, and no depth … Continue reading →

Posted in Blather, USA | 5 Comments

on being told by PZ to fuck off

Posted on June 20, 2009 by acb

PZ posted a tremendous rant about me and Michael Ruse last week, which concluded with a heartfelt exhortation to both of us to “fuck off” (his emphasis). The cause was a piece I did on the grauniad site about Ruse’s … Continue reading →

Posted in God, USA | 51 Comments

A republic of laws

Posted on March 17, 2009 by acb

I haven’t finished The Wire yet, but I am reasonably confident that the best piece of dialogue in the whole series occurs pretty early on in the very first episode, where a detective is trying to persuade a judge to … Continue reading →

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An excellent discovery

Posted on December 3, 2008 by acb

Chris Hedges’ book I don’t believe in atheists. My copy has been pre-owned, as they say (I ordered from Powells, since it isn’t published in this country) by a believer in scientism, whose pencil annotations are most illuminating. The book … Continue reading →

Posted in God, Literature, USA | 27 Comments

Yes we fucking could!

Posted on November 5, 2008 by acb

I suppose I would have been less shocked and disappointed if Obama had lost than when Kerry did because I could not, still cannot, imagine how anyone could have regarded Bush as even minimally competent by November 2004. But still … Continue reading →

Posted in USA, War | 5 Comments

A sad reality

Posted on September 26, 2008 by acb

The Country Vicar wants me to be apocalyptic. Here’s apocalyptic for you: not only is the vice presidential cadidate prayed over by a Kenyan exorcists who boasts of driving “witchcraft” out of towns there, but his boast is defended by … Continue reading →

Posted in God, USA | 6 Comments

The return of socialism

Posted on September 18, 2008 by acb

I have been saying for years that the FT was the best left-wing newspaper in Britain: just look at today’s issue which proclaims the end of Thatcher/Reagan capitalism. Just as New Labour, built on the rejection of Clause Four (for … Continue reading →

Posted in British politics, Journalism, USA | 8 Comments

Racism

Posted on September 13, 2008 by acb

One thing you can say for this election: it will certainly clear up any doubt about whether racism can swing the outcome of a national political race in America. I know that Harriet disagrees with me violently in my pessimism, … Continue reading →

Posted in USA | 3 Comments