Yearly Archives: 2003

Idleness, stupidity and cowardice

Posted on September 6, 2003 by acb

These are, when I come to think of it, the main reasons for my lack of success in life. I’ve just finished two long magazine pieces, and should have spent yesterday writing a book outline. Instead, I sat down to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism, OOo | 2 Comments

A silly limerick

Posted on September 2, 2003 by acb

inspired by the quite extraordinary organ of a a hedgehog seen on a David Attenborough video: A hedgehog, when cursed with insomnia, said, “Dear, poets have sung their encomnia to food and to sleep, and the joys of a heap … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blather | 3 Comments

a lost orthography

Posted on September 2, 2003 by acb

In 1561, a man named John Veron published a book called the Frutefull Treatise of Predestination and Providence … against the Swynysche Gruntings of the Atheystes and Epicures of Oure Time. Not much hope of finding tht on Amazon, I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in God | 1 Comment

A cliché walks

Posted on September 2, 2003 by acb

I had occasion yesterday to ring Colm Toibin in Dublin. I asked him a fairly complicated question about the historical background to modern Irish self-understanding. He paused for about 30 seconds, and then spoke in well-structured paragraphs, arranged around a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism | 2 Comments

Thought for the day

Posted on September 1, 2003 by acb

“Sometimes it’s better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness” I doubt I could get that into the Daily Mail’s slot for heartwarming things the grandchildren say. Continue reading →

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Absolutely Fabulous

Posted on September 1, 2003 by acb

I didn’t make this up, honest.Early this year, just before my son Alfie was born, I had lunch with one of my old bosses, a very glamorous mother of two. She had some advice for me about giving birth, woman … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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where are all the grandparents?

Posted on August 31, 2003 by acb

I suppose the American extended family we know most intimately here in Saffron Walden is the Doonesburies. Talking with my daughter the other day, we suddenly realised that there is a strange shortage of granny interaction there. I mean, Joanie … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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a test of readership

Posted on August 29, 2003 by acb

I have got a perfectly horrible story up on the Guardian’s web site this morning. It’s not original, of course: I found a pointer on Rafe Coburn’s site, I think. But it’s news to the English; and I’ll be interested … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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this modern world

Posted on August 29, 2003 by acb

Kevin Drum has just lived through the perfect summary of the modern economy. Two years ago, he brought a Minolta colour laser printer for $1000. over the last few weeks, all the consumables ran out: four ink cartridges, a fuser … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blather | 1 Comment

rave reviews

Posted on August 26, 2003 by acb

If any readers are anywhere near Manchester tonight, they should rush off to Ratdog. I had no very high hopes of them last night, but they were lovely: slick, imaginative, and interested in their work. They played a set consisting … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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