The bar at the Basketweavers Arms in Brighton. There's something almost magical about a really good pub. When I say "really good", I don't mean the ones with fancy cuisine (top rated in the latest pub food guides) or a vast range of beer, wine and spirits. "Crap pubs" my younger sister Nancy calls many … Continue reading Wonder and Mystery in a Great English Pub
Tag: England
Going Grumpy: Why The New York Times Is Wrong About the British Election, and Maybe U.S. Politics As Well.
A headline in The New York Times "The suicide of Britain," proclaims an apocalyptic and, (as the Brits would say) bloody silly headline on Ross Douthat's op-ed column. Arriving back in New York after a very pleasant and refreshing visit to England, I'm surprised by the response to last week's U.K. election in my … Continue reading Going Grumpy: Why The New York Times Is Wrong About the British Election, and Maybe U.S. Politics As Well.
Basil Fawlty Lives!
London - OK this is it. Final thoughts on my trip to England. The blue rooster on the old grey rectangular plinth once reserved for a statue of a long-dead member of Britain's ruling class near Nelson's Column, is an example of how many here would like to think of themselves. Fun, a little bit … Continue reading Basil Fawlty Lives!
Britain Sets a Royal Mail Example
Mells, England - Today is the deadline for British investors to apply to buy shares in the Royal Mail, the world's oldest postal service. What a contrast to the sorry state of the US Postal Service, which is losing billions of dollars a year, and has been repeatedly bailed out by taxpayers. The IPO here … Continue reading Britain Sets a Royal Mail Example
Pope Francis: Truly Radical
London - There 's nothing quite like travel to change my mind. One of the joys of being over here in England is to read the British press (there are at least 9 daily national newspapers) and listen to the BBC. The art of conversation is highly prized and a crucial part of a rich … Continue reading Pope Francis: Truly Radical
Here Hear! 