The Chinese Communist Party has been in power for 75 years. How much longer can it retain its grip?
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Reasons to be cheerful
About a year ago, I wrote a piece about the tectonic plate equivalents driving modern society: NATO expansion eastward, decay of western civilisation and Chinese communism.
Continue readingWrong answer
The Australian newspaper online version is running a quiz to help readers determine which way they are leaning to vote in the upcoming Australian Voice referendum. (Ed note: wouldn’t they know that already?) 11 questions later, here is what I was told:
That big box ‘Try again’ suggests that I got the wrong answer.
The tectonic plates that drive world politics
Tectonic plates move continents, create mountains and cause earthquakes. They move slowly, generate enormous potential energy, then release that energy in occasional calamitous grinding shudders. The social equivalent of tectonic plates drive international politics and war. To understand the state of current international politics, you must first look at the social tectonic plates below the surface.
Continue readingHebridean adventure
The Scot emerged from behind the bar wearing a kilt and heavy leather boots, his legs clearly strong beneath woollen socks.
Continue readingEngland
Churchill glares down from the wall at the elderly German gent taking breakfast. At a nearby table in the bay window, I am enjoying a full English cooked breakfast at the Churchill Hotel in York.
Continue readingThe English Channel
I’m standing on the stony English beachfront at Deal, Kent, on a clear summer morning. France is visible over the water. I keep a watchful eye on that foreign treacherous land.
Continue readingNaples
Mt Vesuvius stands like a guide post to incoming ships. The captain of a cruise ship orders the course just north of the Isle of Capri and then a heading straight at Mt Vesuvius. Soon the ship is secured at a Naples harbour pier, so close to the street that I can almost touch the bow.
Continue readingSouthern Italy
The long roadside grasses have gone to seed. As I drive, an approaching speedy motorist flashes into view from around the corner, in the middle of the narrow road. We both take evasive action.
My antagonist appears to be familiar with the routine. He dodges me, toots, remonstrates via hand gestures and speeds on as if nothing had happened. I take a moment to recover myself. I am in southern Italy, in the Basilicata region.
Continue readingIstanbul
A fresh wind blows down the Bosporous Strait from the north as I explore the waterfront of the divided city of Istanbul.
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Australian Actuary 