In a time of belt-tightening and economic restraint, below are a few recipes — some of which I have developed over time — which beat the budget and are relatively easy to make.
Beneath the recipes are a few words about health in a faddist, ready-meal Western society. After that are a variety of miscellaneous posts, including several on film classics and Hollywood stars. All links open in new tabs/pages.
Posts related to world history and President Donald Trump (the latter from 2017) are at the bottom.
Brunch
Poached eggs and Hollandaise sauce
Scones with jam or biscuits and gravy? You choose!
Budget salmon cheesecake (distinctive and delicious)
Curing your own bacon (also ageing your own meat — more information)
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Starters (Appetizers)
Churchmouse’s rich mushroom soup
Notes on pork hocks and ham hocks (recipe for ham and pea soup)
Smoked salmon roulade (easy and elegant)
Budget salmon cheesecake (distinctive and delicious)
British gulls’ eggs (a springtime delicacy which ends on June 30)
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Soups
Runner bean soup with pork steak (a modified recipe from Grandma)
Churchmouse’s rich mushroom soup
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Side dishes and salads
Asparagus – a simple how-to guide
Preparing and cooking runner beans
Creamed turnip bake your family will love
Club style peas (an elegant, versatile accompaniment)
Let Chef Mike cook your potatoes
Roasted chips — 100% homemade fries
Seven layer salad — good for those who don’t like vegetables (children love it)
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Main courses
Boned duck stuffed with foie gras entier
Roast goose — reduce cooking time with brine
Roasting and carving: little tips for big birds (goose and turkey)
Goose — delicious and healthful
A terrific quiche recipe to try
Notes on pork hocks and ham hocks (two recipes included)
Lamb’s hearts — a tasty, affordable alternative to stir-fried steak
Kidneys Turbigo — and prepping kidneys PROPERLY
Churchmouse’s rich mushroom soup
Homemade noodles and mushroom sauce — the easy way
Poached eggs and Hollandaise sauce
Creamy onion tart (suitable for vegetarians)
Runner bean soup with pork steak (a modified recipe from Grandma)
Budget salmon cheesecake (distinctive and delicious)
Free-range turkey may take less time to roast
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Sauces
Churchmouse’s Romesco-style sauce (for variety meats — offal)
Churchmouse’s prawn truffle sauce (for scallops, red snapper, stuffed squid)
Guest post: gluten-free white sauce (Flyinthesky’s recipe)
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Desserts and a few sweet shortcuts
Churchmouse’s Mediterranean summer pudding
Churchmouse’s super-moist, super-light apple cake — so easy!
Churchmouse’s Mocha Memory (perfect for Valentine’s Day)
Top tips for foolproof crêpes (base recipe can also be done for savoury)
Crêpes with Churchmouse’s Amaretto sauce
Churchmouse’s Amaretto cake and crème Chantilly
Squash pie — a New England dessert classic
Churchmouse’s easy way to add citrus taste to pies and tarts
Decorating fruit tarts — the French touch (Christophe Michalak)
Piping whipped cream — the French touch (Christophe Michalak)
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Dough and pastry recipes
Rustic no-knead bread — yes, it’s possible — here’s how
Guest post: sourdough starter’s acetone smell is a necessary step
Sourdough starter — a learning experience
Gluten-free sourdough starter websites
Churchmouse’s homemade bakery-style croissants
Churchmouse’s puff pastry (the real deal, not rough puff)
Homemade strudel — and filo — pastry recipe
Pie crust tips for extra crispiness
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Budget-busting ingredients you can make at home
Homemade stock: good home economics
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Saving time on food preparation
Mayonnaise — a great binding agent
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Short food takes
Mixing eggs (save on washing up)
Decorating fruit tarts — the French touch (Christophe Michalak)
Piping whipped cream — the French touch (Christophe Michalak)
Piment d’Espalette overrated (2017 purchase)
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Getting children involved
Fresh peas and broad (fava) beans
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Culinary terms
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Bread – history
Victorian Bakers (BBC2, 2016)
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Bread – motivation and quality
A baker’s simple advice on quality control (2013, France, motivation)
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Prayer
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School lunch
Young Americans hope Trump will make school lunch great again
Trump makes school lunch great again, thanks to Sonny Perdue (May 2017)
Winning the school lunch battle
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Great chefs
Philippe Conticini, a great French pâtissier (Michelin-starred restaurateur who went on to pastry)
Christophe Felder, maître pâtissier (his father was a baker)
Great chefs: why Michelin-starred food costs so much (Georges Blanc, Bernard Loiseau, Alain Senderens, Charles Fontès and a brief history of the Michelin Guide)
Jean-François Piège: chef and businessman (2-starred Michelin chef since 2011)
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MasterChef UK
MasterChef and kitchen hygiene (April 2013)
Finally, a normal Londoner wins MasterChef — congratulations, Natalie Coleman! (May 2013)
Catering college and those with emotional difficulties (MasterChef the Professionals, June 2013)
MasterChef: nearly the only BBC series I watch (background to the series and summary of the 2018 edition, April 2018)
MasterChef 2018: more on Kenny Tutt and what happens behind the scenes (April 2018)
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The food business
Food trucks — friends or foes for owners? (2016)
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Herbs — garden remedies
Summer herbs: the power of oregano
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Breakfast — love it or loathe it
Paediatrician says children can skip breakfast
Breakfast is optional (American and English research trials)
Hunger between breakfast and lunch (blame carbs and low fat)
Fitness trainer on breakfast and the body (insulin, cortisol and ghrelin)
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Weight loss
Western diet worries: the body, nutrients and grazing
Weight gain — when the overweight adopt an athlete’s diet
Diet: the case against grazing
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Modern food
Weston A Price Foundation: a traditional health site to explore
Milk: less healthful today than a century ago?
1936 US Senate document: soil deficiency causes sickness — part 1
1936 US Senate document: soil deficiency causes sickness — part 2
‘Sick soil’ — what happened after the Second World War
How carbs went mainstream (breakfast cereals and Seventh-day Adventists)
Restaurant food — too simple or too weird
Food secrets from a Tour de France chef (Hannah Grant)
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Grocery shopping
When the supermarket trumps the greengrocer — parts 1 and 2
Old Monsanto-related quotes about GMO foods (something to keep in mind when shopping)
French markets — foodie heaven! (includes England)
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Coffee
The highs and lows of coffee from around the world
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Wine and other alcoholic drinks
Secrets of the Sommeliers — informative but biased?
Wine goblets ‘fuelling obesity epidemic’?
Food and drink do go together (excess drink inhibits ‘feel-good’ chemicals in the brain)
How to make a cracking glass of Pimm’s
Grappa — a very brief introduction
Gordon’s Premium Pink Gin ideal for the ladies (2018)
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Gardening, animals — and the universe
Martin Luther’s love of God’s creation (brief, stellar quotes)
Harmless plants? Not always (fig trees, giant hogweed, Madagascar palm)
Time to check plants for pests (May – July, natural methods)
Homegrown fruit success! (gooseberries, cherries and a follow-up on the previous post)
The intrigue of the night sky (the moon before Summer Solstice 2015)
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Holidays
Thanksgiving
Tuesday: it’s not too early to start Thanksgiving prep (how to make bone broth, add butter and salt)
Christmas
Real Christmas trees — a solution to needle drop
Goose — delicious and healthful
Roast goose — reduce cooking time with brine
Christmas dinner made simple (2015)
Roasting and carving: little tips for big birds (goose and turkey)
Notes on Christmas 2014 (more on big birds and wine)
British attitudes towards Christmas (Victorian times to the present)
Bizarre Christmas cards from the 19th century
Louis Prang — father of the American Christmas card (he’s not without a past)
Humans are hard-wired to affirm life (New Year food from around the world)
Janus, the Roman keeper of doorways (2017, related to the New Year, new beginnings and language)
Galette des Rois — King Cake (can be eaten on and during the season of Epiphany)
Epiphany and king cake — a history
The English tradition of Plough Monday (first Monday after Epiphany, more feasting)
Easter extravaganza: roast Spring lamb au jus, with roast potatoes and devilled eggs
Catholic Cuisine: celebrating the Church year in food
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Potable — drinkable — water
Potable water a coming reality for millions thanks to graphene film (2018, 2017)
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Hostess gifts / Being a good guest
Leonidas — best value for money (UK/Europe, Easter eggs, 2018)
Etiquette and the ‘French touch’
Orchids make a delightful hostess present (hint: leave them alone)
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Gift ideas
Leonidas — best value for money (UK/Europe, Easter eggs, 2018)
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Food in general
Leonidas Easter Eggs — best value for money (in Europe, 2018)
Cadbury Dairy Milk: when chocolate won’t melt, there’s a problem (2013)
Cadbury discontinues chocolate coins at Christmas (2014)
Where does our food come from? Woeful ignorance continues
Misconceptions about nicotinic acid — niacin
When the supermarket trumps the greengrocer — part 1
When the supermarket trumps the greengrocer — part 2
English strawberry recommendation (and indoor tomato plant, June 2017, Tesco [supermarket])
Butchery, the Shambles and burgesses
French baker wins invention prize for hot baguette dispenser (2014)
There’s baking — and then there’s pastry (2015)
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Cooking in general
Basics for the starter kitchen
A more efficient kitchen — not just for the holidays
Children in the kitchen? Now we’re cookin’!
Men, boys — there’s no reason why you cannot cook!
Catering college and those with emotional difficulties
There’s baking — and then there’s pastry (2015)
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Culinary history
Culinary artifacts: the Washington and Goldenrod cakes (Save My Bakery)
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Obesity
Obesity following the same narrative as smoking
Shame the obese into losing weight — more from the Tobacco Control template
How our bodies process carbohydrates
Dieting, hunger and carbohydrates
How carbohydrates make us fat (useful infographic from Massive Health)
Are we rediscovering the truth about fat being good for us?
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Low-fat, high-carb diets increase depression
Does low animal fat intake increase hostility or depression? (a hypothesis)
Fat and a balanced mind (low-fat diets can imbalance serotonin and nerves)
Depression and anxiety: the perils of a low-fat, high-carb diet
High carbohydrate intake and depression
Depression and cancer: more evidence against a low-fat diet
High carbohydrate intake and depression (also epilepsy related [Dr Richard A Kunin’s paper])
High-carb, low-fat diets might cause Western diseases (cancer related)
Low-carb diet a migraine remedy
Low-carb, high-fat diets regulate testosterone, cholesterol levels
Ketogenic diet and gout risk — tips for success
Resources for the ketogenic diet
Dietary advice: the old ways are the best (my own story on the ketogenic diet)
High carb, low fat diets bad for brain health — and moods? (more testimonials for the ketogenic diet)
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For refreshment — the joys of tobacco
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For refreshment — places to visit in England
Great Britain and great cooking!
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For refreshment – places to visit in the United States
If you’re a history buff, a special Virginia B & B awaits
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For refreshment – Cannes
The religious history of Cannes
Cannes: one of the world’s most beautiful cities (2015 and includes links to previous years’ posts)
Dining in Cannes — getting the best experience (2015)
Cannes restaurants: Astoux (2015)
Cannes restaurants: Le Pistou (2015)
Cannes restaurants: Maître Renard (2015)
Cannes restaurants: Au Mal Assis (2015)
Cannes restaurants: Aux Bons Enfants (2015)
Cannes restaurants: Le Bistrot du Suquet (2015)
Cannes restaurants: Le Bistrot Gourmand (2015)
Cannes restaurants: Le Rendez-Vous (2015)
Cannes restaurants: L’Antidote (2015 — hmm)
Cannes restaurants: Mantel (2015 — hmm)
Cannes restaurants: Restaurant Catherine (2015 — hmm)
Cannes restaurants, English speakers and the menu dég (2013)
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French mass-produced products
Monoprix bread no longer what it was (2017, Cannes)
French snacks: Bret’s crisps (2017)
French supermarket delights: smoked eel and trout (2017)
French cheeses: Banon and Neufchâtel (2017)
French sausage: Saucisses de Montbéliard (2017)
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For children
‘The Golden Windows’ — a good classic story for children (suitable for Thanksgiving)
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Children — help them!
Europe and children in public (September 2017)
British survey of grandparents towards babies’ names (September 2017)
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Health in general
Apologetics Corner: Christians and animals
Lenin’s anti-smoking stance on the Sealed Train
Misconceptions about nicotinic acid — niacin
Why do we insist on prolonging childhood?
Are you ‘selfish’ enough to take care of your own health?
Britons find out about cancer diagnoses in Accident and Emergency
The negative effects of adrenaline — and the importance of calm
Food scares the elites can ignore (e.g. red or processed meat)
Professor Philippe Even’s The Truth about Cholesterol (and statins)
THINCS: More debunking of the cholesterol myth
British cardiologist’s warning about statins
Depression: serotonin levels might be irrelevant
Jack LaLanne: child terror who made good through diet and exercise
Catering college and those with emotional difficulties
Forbidden Bible Verses: Mark 7 — ‘all foods clean’
Free agency, neuroscience and mental health diagnoses
Healthy lifestyle mandates — we were warned
Pork: a lean, healthful meat alternative
The faithless West, the Worried Well and the New Flagellants
Weston A Price Foundation: a traditional health site to explore
Bad science: obesity, cholesterol, statistics and statins (Dr David Diamond returns to meat and good health)
Does low animal fat intake increase hostility or depression? (a hypothesis)
Fat and a balanced mind (low-fat diets can imbalance serotonin and nerves)
When we trust prescription drugs — perhaps unwisely (second half of post discusses smoking cessation drug Chantix / Champix)
Can preventive medicine harm health?
Terra Nova think tank founder Olivier Ferrand, 42, has died (cardiologist instructs us to match exercise regime to age group)
Is that a man or a woman? (a male phenomenon)
Michael Douglas’s cancer story — a cautionary tale
Chicago police on heat waves and urban violence (think cool thoughts, be aware that others cannot)
Hurricane Sandy shines a light on Bloomberg — and others (2012; once again, Mitt was right)
Health headlines from February 2015 (dishwasher and peanut allergens, high-fat diet)
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Ethics
Do small families interest only Westerners?
How Obama’s ‘point people’ could affect your life
Disabled children and their right to life
Children’s euthanasia legal in parts of Europe (and — American Christians favour euthanasia)
The Paralympics Story: Sir Ludwig Guttmann’s ‘best of men’
England, act early in 2014: the NHS care.data junk mail leaflet (personal health details)
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Halal
Halal: unavoidable when it’s all about export and cost-cutting
France: The evolution of halal
Halal, Africa and the Christian life
Halal and the Christian conscience
More UK and Ireland Subway outlets become halal-only (2014)
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The daylight years
Millennial life in the slow lane
The true meaning of ‘trauma’ (microaggression-related)
Opinions: the difference between feeling and thinking
Art and reality (acrylic paints, paint brushes and the Ferguson, MO depiction)
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The twilight years
Relive childhood pleasures before it’s too late (part 1 of 2)
The return of the ice cream van — one moment, one afternoon only (part 2 of 2)
Elder abuse — another reason to not grow old
Non-productive? You’ll just have to die
Ageism and the media: some fare better than others
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Bad Science
Secular pietism says you’re forever children
Poor morals lead to bad science — and bad policy
France’s latest anti-smoking ‘mesurette‘ (Conservative Yves Bur and Socialist Marisol Touraine agree – 2013)
Follow-up on France’s health minister (Socialist Marisol Touraine’s son)
France: Anti-tobacco, anti-alcohol health minister wants shooting galleries (more from Marisol Touraine)
Warning: Health insurance, Obamacare and American smokers
Medical data show smoking does NOT cause lung cancer (known since 1985)
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Illicit and Synthetic Drugs
Synthetic dope: just because it’s legal doesn’t mean its safe
US Navy doctor on ‘bath salts’: ‘no fad, it’s a nightmare’
Tobacco Control — guiding people towards mind-altering drugs?
2014 Observer poll: British attitudes towards drugs
Drugs in the dark net marketplace
UK’s head of drugs disruption unit discusses his work
Cocaine user discusses his love of drugs
Upper middle class ethics: cocaine, people and fish
France: Anti-tobacco, anti-alcohol health minister wants shooting galleries
Ketamine’s effect on the urinary tract — and brain
Hallucinogens, truth drugs, the higher mind and the rise of LSD
Aldous Huxley, LSD and CIA programmes
LSD: The 21st century clamour for clinical use
Mind-altering drugs and the Bible
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The anti-pleasure confidence trick
Advocacy groups control us and we finance them
Advocacy groups say one type of smoke is superior to another
Richard Daynard and John Banzhaf: Food and Tobacco Control share people, tactics
Medical data show smoking does NOT cause lung cancer (known since 1985)
Food scares the elites can ignore (e.g. red or processed meat)
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The bogus science behind Tobacco Control
Bogus science at your expense: Professor Philippe Even debunks so-called danger
Bogus science at your expense: Professor Robert Molimard discusses ‘manipulation’
France’s Professor Molimard warns against Big Pharma in Tobacco Control
Bogus science at your expense: Professor John B Davies foresees ‘gas chambers’
Bogus science at your expense: Professor Romano Grieshaber speaks out
Poor morals lead to bad science — and bad policy
The truth behind the smoker’s lung pictures — they’re fake
Medical data show smoking does NOT cause lung cancer (known since 1985)
Tobacco Control, governments, untruths and conflict of interest
Tobacco Control — guiding people towards mind-altering drugs?
France: Anti-tobacco, anti-alcohol health minister wants shooting galleries
Tobacco Control play a dangerous game
2012 French statistics on tobacco misleading
Medical benefits of nicotine and a few thoughts on Tobacco Control
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Beware Big Pharma
Clinical trials for prescription drugs
Nortriptyline versus smoking: when the cure is worse than the ‘disease’
Eszoplicone for sleepless nights — how about warm milk instead?
Zolpidem sleeping tablets — read side effects list carefully
Prescription drugs essential to gun control debate — look at Paxil
Psychotropic drugs contribute to mass shootings
SSRIs can affect behaviour — suicide, cutting, drink, drugs, violence
Big Pharma raking in cash from narcotics addicts
Professor Philippe Even’s The Truth about Cholesterol (and statins)
THINCS: More debunking of the cholesterol myth
British cardiologist’s warning about statins
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#Octabber (counterpart to the NHS’s Stopober) – 2013
Bans — when it’s time to re-examine
France’s Professor Molimard warns against Big Pharma in Tobacco Control
Trusting those without vices — a history lesson (includes Nazi anti-smoking graphics)
On tobacco smoking in the 21st century
Dutch study shows whose health costs are least
Why doesn’t the UK focus on everyday violence instead of tobacco?
Smokers, quitters and employment
Tobacco Control myth busted — ‘the cost of smoking’
The Left’s selective health targeting
Young people gradually moving towards drugs
Are we nearing Aldous Huxley’s drug-addled future?
Crime — a real health hazard, sometimes fatal
Not so long ago, the UK had tobacco relief for the elderly
As #Octabber ends, 10 thoughts on Tobacco Control
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#Octabber 2014
Time to point out statism, health control and peer pressure
Third Reich science and today’s smoking bans
Smoking bans and property rights
Smoking bans: one size does not fit all
Tobacco Control: what ASH should tell us (Are they in favour of drugs?)
Medical data show smoking does NOT cause lung cancer (known since 1985)
Nicotine benefits the brain in several ways
Medical benefits of nicotine and a few thoughts on Tobacco Control
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#Octabber 2015
The regrettable plight of vapers
Cancer spokeswoman: effects of long-term nicotine use unknown
The lung cancer meme — a history
Athletes and tobacco — a history
Today’s athletes — and teens — favour cannabis and K2
Why Germany hasn’t yet banned cigarette advertising (Third Reich alert)
My encounter with Tobacco Control
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Sexuality and relationships
A health hazard affecting us and our relationships (over-emphasis on sex — not for children)
Adolescent sexual assault — a very real health hazard (not for children)
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False memory syndrome — guest posts
Lleweton’s False Memory – Devilish Therapy
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Our public appearance
Time for a ‘digital detox’? (Get rid of the phones and tablets!)
Interviewing tips — the small stuff does matter
Successful dating in a difficult world (includes table manners)
A sure way to get men to stop wearing saggy trousers (these reveal underwear)
Time for an Eleventh Commandment? Thou shalt not let thyself go
Beards in Britain (2016, includes man buns)
The far-from-aesthetic sisterhood of pantsuits
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Personal conduct
On being a good neighbour — not a busybody
Illegal job interviewers’ questions
‘Sexist’ language? Do as you would be done by
More on ‘sexist’ language — do as you would be done by (2015, Alex Polizzi)
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The business world
Thoughts on one’s family-owned business (2016)
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History
The Moor’s Head on flags and in heraldry
May 1: a religious — and romantic — day
Of buttons and velvet slippers (the Amish and the Popes in different measure)
The Renaissance — the origin of statecraft and conspiracy theory
The story of priest holes in Tudor England
The Battle of Lepanto — October 7, 1571 (revisited October 12, 2018)
The American Revolution — and a Corsican connection
American liberty — with thanks to France!
Inauguration Day — a history (18th – 21st centuries)
Constitution Day — September 17 (remembering 1787)
How George Washington died — horribly (December 14, 1799)
Wife selling (18th – 21st centuries)
Marriage and women — from fribbles to the French
Interesting Father’s Day photos (2017 with 19th century history of the day from the Civil War to a mining accident in 1908)
The Daily Telegraph‘s letters through the centuries (2016, Victorian concerns explored)
Waterloo moments in history (1815 – 1970s)
Military battles: why ask ‘What if …?’ (2015, Waterloo)
Timeline of the Statue of Liberty and The New Colossus (1865-1886, 1903)
A Cambridge tradition — Heffers bookshop (est. 1876)
When Queen Victoria visited Nice
February 2: Queen Victoria died on this day in 1901
Britain’s mood during the Great War (First World War)
Remembrance Day: In Flanders Fields (remembering 1915)
The Great War: the Blackadder effect and the truth about officers
Centenary of the Battle of the Somme — July 1, 2016
British women in the Great War — part 1
British women in the Great War — part 2
British women in the Great War — part 3
Thoughts for a weekend of Remembrance (2017, centenary of Passchendaele)
November 11: We will remember (2014)
First World War shrines preceded the Cenotaph
Remembering the Great War — France looks to Britain (2014)
Tower of London’s poppy display attracts millions (2014)
A French perspective on remembering the Great War (2014)
2015 — Britain’s Women’s Institutes celebrate centenary
England after the Great War: the decline and fall of the country estate
The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 (summer of 1926 – summer of 1927)
Second World War memories of child evacuees – part 1
Second World War memories of child evacuees – part 2
Second World War memories of child evacuees – part 3 (Michael Aspel, television presenter)
A vanishing breed – part 1 (Major Denis Arnold)
A vanishing breed – part 2 (Baroness Platt of Whittle)
June 6, 1944 – Normandy Landings, D-Day
A bit of history for Independence Day (July 4, 2017)
August 1944 – Liberation of Provence, Operation Dragoon (Anvil)
70th anniversary of VE Day brings celebration, remembrance (2015)
Memories of VE Day and the Second World War (2015)
How the Queen celebrated VE Day in 1945
The Deluge of 1940: death and destruction in North Carolina
Great creations from the 1940s (Cluedo and two July 5 anniversaries: the NHS and the bikini)
February 5, 1953: sweets rationing ended in Britain
The Establishment (original definition, 1955)
Adlai Stevenson II on freedom and safety
Inaugurations in the mid-20th century – part 1 (Eisenhower 1953, 1957)
Inaugurations in the mid-20th century – part 2 (Kennedy 1961) (includes Eisenhower’s farewell address)
1963: the political context at the time of JFK’s assassination
A bit of television history for 30-somethings (political coverage in 1960, 1980)
Freedom prevails: 1960 comic book then and Eastern Europe now
The absence of values in today’s society (2013, see also my grandmother’s burglary story from the 1970s)
Crime — a real health hazard, sometimes fatal (2013, references above story)
Ronald Reagan’s advice to conservatives (1980s)
Donald Trump and 9/11 (structural analysis from the property developer President)
Churchill commemorations in 2015
We have the politicians we deserve (21st century)
From the modern to the mediaeval in 40 years (Muslim women’s attire)
Algerian campaign: ‘Be a Man’ (2015, see aforementioned post about Muslim women’s attire)
Princess Charlotte of Cambridge christened (2015)
English couple celebrate 75th wedding anniversary (2015)
The Queen as you’ve never seen her (2015, longest reigning monarch in Britain)
Ben Carson’s incredible life story — and race for the White House (2015)
Email inventor Ray Tomlinson dies (2016)
How Nancy Reagan adapted to change (2016)
The Queen turns 90 on April 21 (2016, includes retrospective on her life)
The Queen as seen through French eyes (2016, recent photos with interesting facts)
The Queen’s ten principles for success (2016, from 2015 television programme)
The Queen’s 90th birthday walkabout: ‘We’re in the happiness business’ (2016)
Street parties celebrating the Queen’s 90th birthday criticised (2016, classic Guardian)
Boston’s famous Citgo sign in peril (2016)
The World Series and media bias (2016, Cubs’ historic win)
The lighter side of Christmas (2016, Trump Santa Bumper Edition)
The Queen marks her Sapphire Jubilee — a first for Britain’s monarchy (2017)
Superbowl LI: Patriots ‘can’t win’ then emerge victorious (2017)
Dame Vera Lynn — The Forces’ Sweetheart — turns 100 (March 20, 2017 and still alive)
Remembering Billy Graham (died aged 99, 1918-2018)
Something to think about (Democrats — 19th century to the present)
When Harry wed Meghan (Saturday, May 19, 2018)
Pollock’s Toy Museum and Benjamin Pollock’s Toy Shop (19th century to the present)
July 10, 2018 — Britain’s Royal Air Force celebrates centenary
Separated by war and totalitarianism, Korean families reunite (August 20-26, 2018)
On John McCain: Sarah Palin says it best (August 26, 2018)
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Miscellany
Christmas films: It’s a Wonderful Life
Christmas films: It’s a Wonderful Life and Frank Capra
Christmas films: It’s a Wonderful Life and Karolyn ‘Zuzu’ Grimes
Christmas films: The Bishop’s Wife
Christmas films: The Sound of Music
A must-see Christmas documentary: Wild Tales from the Village (BBC2, 2016)
Hurricane Sandy shines a light on Bloomberg — and others (2012; once again, Mitt was right)
Lifting the lid off the piano (2015)
Classical music good for children
Classical composers with physical disabilities
Jericho (television series, 2016 — England’s 19th c. history, American blacks and railway building)
Friday, June 6, 2014 is the 70th anniversary of D-Day
The folly of (some) famous men of letters (be careful before buying into their messages)
A sociologist’s predictions for our times? (Pitrim A. Sorokin)
Guest post by Lleweton: Fleet Street, a lost Bohemia
Guest post by Lleweton: Fleet Street’s cut and paste diplomacy
Guest post by Lleweton: The perils of copytasting
Historical films and playing with truth
John Wayne’s war record — none
GBBO‘s Mary Berry: ‘How blessed we are’ (may we always appreciate modern conveniences)
Life in 19th century England was no bowl of cherries (more on Mary Berry’s ancestors)
Towns that have changed name — and one that hasn’t
‘I knew I had to study …’ (21st century French member of the historic nobility)
A good education averts poverty (21st century Englishman tells of father’s financial woes)
Children’s ‘classics’? You might be surprised! (2014-2015)
Caution advised on children’s dictionary (2007-2015)
Last Briton from the Victorian era goes to her rest (2015)
More on the San Diego marathon runner — aged 92 (2015)
A shepherd’s life — humble and hard (2015)
Eagle cam — see the video! (2018)
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Institutions of higher learning
Wesleyan in name only (Wesleyan University, Connecticut)
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Hurricanes and natural disasters
The Deluge of 1940: death and destruction in North Carolina
Most hurricanes in North America originate in Africa (discovered in 1970s)
2012
Hurricane Sandy shines a light on Bloomberg — and others (2012; once again, Mitt was right)
2017
The horror of Hurricane Harvey (August 27, 2017; Trump’s first major national natural disaster)
Trumps visit post-Harvey Texas (August 29)
Hurricane Harvey: relief efforts one week on (September 2)
Hurricane Harvey: Trump makes more friends in Texas and Louisiana (September 2)
Trump’s National Day of Prayer — September 3, 2017
Irma — ‘war goddess’ — on her way (September 6)
Irma update and more information on hurricanes (September 8)
Irma roars on with Jose following behind (September 9)
Irma’s strike on Florida (September 10)
Irma weakens from tropical storm to tropical depression (September 11)
Mexico’s second shattering earthquake in less than two weeks (September 19)
Hurricane Maria hammers St Croix and Puerto Rico (September 20)
Hurricane Maria: the Left — including media — are wrong about relief efforts (September 27)
Hurricane Maria: beware American media misinformation about Puerto Rico (September 28)
Hurricane Maria has worsened Puerto Rico’s weak infrastructure (September 28)
Hurricane Maria: fact and fallacy in Puerto Rico (September 28 – October 1)
Hurricane Maria: more news from Puerto Rico (September 25 – October 1)
Hurricane Maria: President Trump’s trip to Puerto Rico (October 3)
Thank you, Governor Mapp of the US Virgin Islands (October 3)
Hurricane Maria: Puerto Rico update (November 20 – 22)
2018
Prayers and thoughts for those affected by Hurricane Florence (September 14)
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Weather — and weather stupidity
Britain gets quick storm — panic stations (Storm Aileen, September 2017)
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Trump presidency 2017
Trump Bumper Edition: Inauguration Day 2017
Christian objections to President Trump
President Trump opens up to Fox’s Sean Hannity
March for Life well attended (Mike Pence first VP to speak in person)
Young Americans hope Trump will make school lunch great again
National Prayer Breakfast 2017
Grounds for insurrection or sedition?
Democrats and immigration (from Clinton to Obama, Trump is not the ‘bad hombre’)
Can Jeff Sessions make pizza great again? (February 10)
Michael Flynn’s resignation — an analysis (February 15)
This week’s state visits in Washington (February 10 – 16)
Melania Trump opens Florida rally with the Lord’s Prayer (February 18)
Americans react positively to Melania Trump’s rally prayer (February 19)
Why alt-right commentator Milo is under attack (February 19-21)
A new generation renounces the Left (Millennials)
Trump’s Presidential Address to Congress – February 28, 2017
One Millennial’s story — from Obama to Sanders to Trump (early 2017)
Slavery comment: HUD Secretary Dr Ben Carson criticised but Obama was not
How Millennials are changing conservative rhetoric
Trump supporters given green light to sue San Jose for rally violence (March 2017)
Phoenix: anti-Trump billboard to stay (March 17)
New meme: Trump rises from dictator to incompetent (Scott Adams, March 25)
Proof: Trump enjoys being with the American people (rallies)
Judge Napolitano’s insight into the inner workings of Washington, DC (March 2017)
Turkey: US Secretary of State Tillerson visits wife of imprisoned pastor (March 30)
US manufacturers express optimism for Trump (March 31)
Trump’s historic meetings with Egyptian president and King of Jordan (April 3 and 5)
Palm Beach: Trumps attend Easter service at Bethesda-by-the-Sea (April 16)
2017: White House Easter Egg Roll returns to tradition (April 17)
Who knew White House press briefings could be so popular? (April 18)
Attorney General Sessions sends message to MS-13: ‘We will find you’ (April 18, includes Rasmussen survey from April 19)
The time when Trump and Assange connected on Twitter (April 2017)
What’s behind the false Russian hacking narrative
Trump talks about his new life in the White House (April 21)
President Trump’s 100th day rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (April 29)
Trump makes school lunch great again, thanks to Sonny Perdue (May 1)
Melania Trump on motherhood (May 12)
Liberty University: Trump’s thoughts on risk-taking, integrity and faith (May 13)
Trump family mothers — Mary and Melania
Trump’s cabinet finally in place (May 15)
Trump’s historic trip to Saudi Arabia — not seen in US media (May 20-21)
Trump visits Israel — American media elsewhere (May 22-23)
Trump’s first official trip to Europe reflects change of tone (May 25-27)
Trump’s accomplishments in four months: a tweet to share
Weather forecast: long, hot summer (Russia accusations, Seth Rich, leaks, David Brock)
How the Russian narrative started (Podesta WikiLeaks)
Democrats: more on the hypocrisy of the Russian narrative
WikiLeaks revelation: Dems said to make ‘example’ out of leakers (Seth Rich related?)
How the Russian narrative started (Podesta WikiLeaks)
Harvard study finds media bias (May 18)
Trump’s Twitter world (covfefe, Tuesday, May 30)
June 14: Flag Day in the US and Trump’s birthday
Secretary Sonny makes farming great again
Interesting Father’s Day photos (includes history of Father’s Day)
News in brief — week ending June 24, 2017
The Trumps’ first Independence Day at the White House (July 4)
President Trump visits Poland (July 6; the WSJ calls his remarks ‘Trump’s Defining Speech’)
Trump and Macron’s first G20 conference — Day 1 (July 7)
G20 in Hamburg — Day 2 (July 8)
Trump’s overseas successes and more (up through July)
Threat of plot against Donald Trump is real (week of July 10)
Part 1 of the Trumps’ visit to Paris: July 13, 2017
Part 2 of the Trumps’ visit to Paris: July 14, 2017
Michael Caputo: Russians think Hillary Clinton is ‘predictable’ (July 14)
Trump launches Made in America campaign (July 17)
Threat of plot against Donald Trump is real (July 26)
The truth about Trump and American children (last week of July)
The Dunning-Kruger effect and American media (August 2, Glenn Thrush and Jim Acosta)
Trump’s first 200 days (August 7)
Another new media narrative (August 12, Charlottesville, Virginia)
Despite seeming chaos, Trump’s White House is getting results
US strategy: what’s really happening with North Korea and China (August 9-14)
The Left, the media and Trump (August 15, Antifa, Durham, North Carolina)
Charlottesville: Trump asks media, ‘What about the Alt-Left?’ (August 15)
Solar eclipse as seen at the White House (August 21)
Trump’s Phoenix rally another great success (August 22)
Washington Post gives editorial space to the dark side (August 23)
First Lady concerned about opioids (August)
The horror of Hurricane Harvey (August 27, Trump’s first major national natural disaster)
Trumps visit post-Harvey Texas (August 29)
Republican met with Assange, now needs to see Trump (August 30)
Hurricane Harvey: relief efforts one week on (September 2)
Hurricane Harvey: Trump makes more friends in Texas and Louisiana (September 2)
Trump’s National Day of Prayer — September 3, 2017
Irma — ‘war goddess’ — on her way (September 6)
Irma update and more information on hurricanes (September 8)
Irma roars on with Jose following behind (September 9)
Leading Democrat mobbed by angry youths (September 18, Nancy Pelosi and DACA)
NFL could soon mean No Fans Left (September 24, NFL criticises Trump)
NFL a big money spinner — taxpayers’ subsidies (September 25, Trump is right)
Hurricane Maria: the Left — including media — are wrong about relief efforts (September 27)
Hurricane Maria: beware American media misinformation about Puerto Rico (September 28)
Hurricane Maria has worsened Puerto Rico’s weak infrastructure (September 28)
Hurricane Maria: fact and fallacy in Puerto Rico (September 28 – October 1)
Hurricane Maria: more news from Puerto Rico (September 25 – October 1)
The situation with Puerto Rico’s truckers (September 29 – October 3)
Political parties and nationality in Puerto Rico (what Trump has to work with)
Hurricane Maria: President Trump’s trip to Puerto Rico (October 3)
Thank you, Governor Mapp of the US Virgin Islands (October 3, Hurricanes Maria, Irma)
Trumps visit Las Vegas after Mandalay Bay massacre (October 4)
New Project Veritas video exposes New York Times (October 10, anti-Trump)
Russian collusion: YUGE story breaking (October 24 — Dems, Hillary, Podestas, uranium, dossier)
Trump released JFK files on schedule, others pending (October 26)
Early November 2017 news shows why Trump is winning (November 5)
America: be prepared: things might not be as they seem (November 7)
The Trumps visit Hawaii and Japan (November 3-7)
The Trumps visit South Korea (November 7-8)
Big news coming, ‘Q Clearance’ anon says (October 31 – November 9)
The Trumps visit China (November 8-10)
November 10: the Trump Asia tour — China and Vietnam
November 11: Trump’s second day in Vietnam
November 12: Trump visits the Philippines
Trump’s speech on his Asia trip (November 16)
Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving (November 21, Drumstick and Wishbone pardoned)
White House Christmas tree arrives before Thanksgiving (November 20)
Q (Clearance Anon) update — see October 31 – November 9 — The Storm is a Silent War (November 26)
Christmas ‘angel’ Melania makes White House a Winter Wonderland (late November)
General Flynn guilty plea — not much in Mueller investigation (December 1)
December 1 and 2: update on the weekend’s news
Trump restores federal land use to Americans (December 4)
The case for a coup against Trump (December 12)
Former CIA head speaks about Russian collusion (December 11)
Pew study finds Americans increasingly polarised (December 26)
2017: anti-Trump hysteria unfounded
Derisory news and a major false alarm (January 13, no Trump dog, Hawaii false alert)
Clintons and Obama trending on Twitter — but it’s not good (January 14)
Trump’s comment about certain countries (January 10)
Trump’s 2017 Fake News Awards (January 17)
A review of Trump’s first year in office (January 19)
Trump presidency 2018
Be prepared for 2018 news: part 1 — hate in Washington DC (January 22)
Be prepared for 2018 news: part 2 — Hillary WAS supposed to win (January 23)
Be prepared for 2018 news: part 3 — FBI’s missing texts (January 24)
Revd Franklin Graham on coup, media and Trump (January 24)
Be prepared for 2018 news: part 4 — ‘secret society’ and more on missing FBI texts (January 25)
Trump’s still winning (January 26)
President Trump’s Davos success (January 25-26)
Devin Nunes memo soon to be made public (January 29)
Trump’s State of the Union address a triumph (January 31)
State of the Union reactions show Democrats in trouble (February 2)
Be prepared for 2018 news: part 5 — release of the Nunes FISA memo (February 3)
Brendan Dilley’s Intel Source: part 1 (January 17 to January 27)
Brendan Dilley’s Intel Source: part 2 (January 29 to February 1)
Brendan Dilley’s Intel Source: part 3 (February 2 and February 3)
Brendan Dilley’s Intel Source: part 4 (February 5)
Background to the Russian dossier
Grassley memo: more on the Russian dossier (February 6)
Brendan Dilley’s Intel Source: part 5 (February 8)
Reince Priebus reveals the Trump White House of 2017
Mass shootings: drugs, not guns, are the problem (shooting took place Wednesday, February 14, 2018)
Florida school shooting curiosities (anti-Trump, mid-February)
Guest post: a reader’s perspective on the Florida school shooting (February 23 comment)
Florida: Parkland school shooting questions persist (February 26)
Trump explains his tweets (Dec 30, 2017; February 2018)
Trump tweets frustration with slow investigation (February 24 – 28, 2018)
Remembering Billy Graham (aged 99, 1918-2018)
Hugely historic: President Trump to meet with Kim Jong Un by May (March 8)
Florida school shooting latest — perp’s past mental state and new police audio (March 8)
Will Mike Pompeo be the one t0 pursue the truth about Hillary Clinton? (March 14)
Trump memes and more to share (March 26)
Q: ‘future proves past’ with Rod Rosenstein subpoena (March 27 for April 5)
Trump supporter Scott Presler says, ‘We are too nice’ (March 29, *ScottPreslerStickers@gmail.com [omit * before emailing])
Trump’s April 7 Weekly Address aims at California and Democrats
The bottom to top plan to save America (April 11)
Guest post: a reader’s perspective on the Deep State and Mueller investigation (April 15, George True)
Increasing outcry for Sleepy Sessions to go (April 19)
Guest post: a reader’s perspective on Jeff Sessions’s priorities (George True, April 20 and Rosenstein’s presidential cufflinks)
April 23: Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to the White House
April 24, 2018: the Trumps’ first state dinner honours Macron
Background to the Inter-Korean Summit (April 27)
Sessions’s recusals are more like refusals (May 2, full catalogue on Sessions as AG)
National Day of Prayer — May 3, 2018
A very brief fable: The Shrinking Forest (stop voting for destructive political parties)
Q: Lisa Page and James Baker didn’t resign — they were ‘fired’ (May 4)
Trump recognises unifiers like Candace Owens (May 9)
May 10, 2018 — three Americans released from North Korea
After Pompeo trip, Trump’s optimistic about North Korea talks (May 10)
Trump sets 2018 mid-term tone with May 10 Indiana rally
May 14, 2018: Trump makes history with US embassy in Jerusalem
Guest post: what to make of Jeff Sessions, the DOJ and upcoming IG report? (May 17)
Jeff Sessions WILL resign or be sacked soon (May 18)
Fascinating tweets from a retired DOJ senior special agent (May 22, Jeff Vogel)
These are dangerous times for Americans (May 23, Constitution in danger)
Former DNI Clapper’s logic questionable (last week of May, The View)
Be prepared for 2018 news: part 6 — Spygate (end of May, Trump invented the name)
Spygate — part 1: how the major players are linked (June 4, The_War_Economy‘s SPYFALL)
Spygate — part 2: events from 2015 and 2016 (June 5, The_War_Economy‘s SPYFALL)
Spygate — part 3: the summer of 2016 (June 6, The_War_Economy‘s SPYFALL)
Spygate — part 4: from September 2016 to the election (June 7, The_War_Economy‘s SPYFALL)
Spygate — part 5: events post-election to the January 2017 inauguration (June 8, The_War_Economy‘s SPYFALL)
Trump and Kim make history (June 12)
June 4, 2018: Trump’s 500th day in office (June 4)
Key points of DoJ Inspector General Horowitz’s report (June 14)
The IG report and FBI director’s response (June 13-15)
US border crisis: illegal entry and border separations (June 19)
Trump’s making outer space great again (June 18)
Tariffs, Trump and the G7 (June 8-9, 15)
Trump publicly recognises Q (June 20)
Dems losing support in 2018 (June 25)
Who knew tariffs could be so interesting? (March – May)
June 2018: a hot month for tariffs
The historic US-North Korea Singapore Summit — June 12, 2018
Republican National Committee ad calls out violent Left (June 26)
Time‘s propagandistic cover pages versus the reality (June 26)
Q makes Time‘s 25 Most Influential People on the Internet list (June 30)
July 4: The Great Republic is still ailing — honour her
Follow-up on US-North Korea situation — part 1 (June 12 — early July)
Trump’s fiery NATO summit (July 11-12, 2018, Brussels)
Twitter poll about Trump backfires (July 12)
July 12, England: the Trumps dine at Blenheim Palace (hosted by Theresa May)
When Mr May hosted Mrs Trump in London (July 13)
When Trump met with Britain’s two most powerful women (July 13)
July 13: Piers Morgan’s exclusive interview with President Trump
July 13-15 : Trump’s weekend in Scotland — memorable for the wrong reason
Helsinki 2018: when Trump sat down with Putin (July 16)
Helsinki 2018: President Trump received a warm welcome (July 16)
Helsinki 2018: the anti-Trump outrage and opprobrium (week of July 16)
Helsinki 2018: the importance of Trump’s meeting with Putin (July 16)
July 27, 2018: North Korea releases 55 remains of US soldiers
August 1, 2018: Vice President Pence in Hawaii to receive US remains from Korean War
News in brief — early August 2018 (pipe smoking, Justice Scalia, Brett Kavanaugh, Tom Cotton, Scott Adams, Scott Presler, Jon McNaughton)
Motorcade video: Trump makes unexpected stop to greet firefighters (August)
Follow-up on US-North Korea situation — part 1 (June – early July)
Follow-up on US-North Korea situation — part 2 (July)
Follow-up on US-North Korea situation — part 3 (July – August)
US: how Korean War remains will be analysed (August 14)
More Americans say Jeff Sessions must go (August 21)
Trump’s tweets — on fire (August 18-24)
Is Trump closer to declassifying FBI/DOJ documents? (August 29)
Trump signs bill in memory of Martin Luther King Jr — Obama ignored it (August 31)
Obama tells the truth at John McCain’s funeral (September 1; he, Bush II (also I?) and Clinton oppose Trump)
Buzz Patterson — former Clinton aide calls for justice (September 3, Trump supporter)
Labor Day 2018: ‘bull run’ on steak during Trump’s economic boom (September 3)
Elections: the Democrats’ hypocrisy on foreign influence
Obama takes to the Dem campaign trail (September 7)
Obama campaigns, but not all Dems want him in their state (September 2)
The coup, beauty and ugliness (late August through early September)
Watergate journalist Bob Woodward says there’s no Trump-Russia collusion (September 14)
Trump: a man who supports us — wherever we live (‘… they’re after you. I’m just in the way.’)
Judge Kavanaugh’s wife’s prayer request: Psalm 40 (September 29)
The Kavanaugh controversy: what Dems want (Oct 1)
Candace Owens urges American blacks to leave the Democrats (2018)
Kanye West takes aim at Saturday Night Live team (September 29)
Voter registration deadlines for 2018 mid-term elections (October 8)
Congratulations, Justice Kavanaugh! (October 6, 8)
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