The Rational Express

 Now available on Kindle:

These articles were originally written as standalone pieces on HubPages, under my screen name Paraglider. The common themes that run through the articles are: that the World is better understood without reference to, or reliance on, the supernatural, that situational pragmatism is preferable to any form of dogmatism, and that faith-based belief systems are neither necessary nor helpful as the foundation of a fair society. Though the articles deal with serious topics, they are intended as entertainment and do not profess philosophical, scientific or academic rigour. Their original aim, in which they largely succeeded, was to stimulate discussion.

All this, for less than the price of a pint . . .

Tom Lehrer's Hunting Song

The Hunting Song is one of Tom Lehrer's lighter offerings. That is, unless one takes it literally, in which case it is surreal and more than a little macabre.

 By the way, I haven't really lost all my hair. This is the effect of sitting in front of a bright window!

An Open Letter

To whom it may concern, but mainly apologists for Mr Netanyahu's regime:

Please provide a list of Gazan civilians who have not been forcibly dispossessed, evicted, bereaved, herded from camp to camp, deprived of the staples of life (including food, water, medicines, shelter and energy), threatened with, or subjected to, violence and/or lethal force, and been generally disrespected, abused and dehumanised continually for the past eighteen months.
This should not take you long. The list will be short.
Thank you.

If the cap fits...

NEW REGIME

We are the resurrection of the dead

forgotten ways. We cultivate despair

in veiled anathema of womankind.

We are the ancient writings reassessed

by gunlight in the aftermath of war.

Ours is the only truth you need to know.