While people from every generation tend to say the same thing, the world today definitely seems much more unstable with many more flash-points than existed when I was growing up! Today's examples with links to relevant external news sources: Pakistan: Our "friends" the Pakistanis are currently involved in an internal feud between the military and the civilian government that some believe coul...

The "Arab Spring" in Syria has turned into more of a "nuclear winter" for the unarmed civilians in Homs as Bashar al-Assad prepares for his endgame there! All this while the Obama administration is MIA in that country and in other potential flash-points due to its collective eyes being on other prizes viewed as more critical (the 2012 presidential election for one)! In a global crisis such as geno...

We so enjoyed Nigel Jones's last contribution to Coffee House that we thought we’d invite him back to describe the rather eccentric Bonfire Night celebrations in Lewes... Here in Lewes near the Sussex coast we were awoken this morning at 6am by a flash in the sky followed by an ear-splitting explosion. The shock waves reverbrated around the South Downs that cup the town in chalky hands,...

BREAKING NEWS November 03, 2011: “One of the largest sunspots in years is rotating over the sun's northeastern limb… Naturally, such a large sunspot has potential for strong flares. NOAA forecasters estimate a 50% chance of M-class solar flares during the next 24 hours. One such eruption has already occured: An M4-flare at 2200 UT on Nov. 2nd produced a bright flash of extreme UV...

One of the top stories in the news the last few days has been the massive riots sweeping Britain. Whole sections of the country's cities have been laid waste, and looting and violence is widespread. There are reports of people being forced to strip down naked in the streets so their clothes can be stolen. As near as can be determined, the flash point was the death of a black thug in a shoot o...

A bet-hedging sort of report into the UK's economy from the IMF today, which largely supports George Osborne's deficit reduction plan, but will also give some encouragement to his detractors. By way of a summary, here are the parts that might satisfy Osborne himself, as well as Vince Cable, Ed Balls and Mervyn King: The passage that the Chancellor will flash around Westminster comes on t...

The left of centre in Britain had better figure out what it stands for when it comes to free speech and the monopolisation of power in the media. There is apparently a flash mob, due to take place in front of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, this afternoon. Well, at least if it

Here we go again.... Labour are unpopular. They have a 'structural deficit' in their supporter base and the AV referendum has made it clear to them that this is a problem. Think of how unpopular and hated (politically - no doubt she's a fine person & a fun to be with ) Harriet Harman is for her progressive agenda. Well the boys and girls in Labour have a new reality to intro...

Magnus Gardham leads the debate from Holyrood with the Daily Record's politics podcast. In this episode Magnus is joined by Labour MSP Ken Macintosh and the SNP's Tricia Marwick to discuss the return of George Galloway, the Scotland Bill Committe and the forthcoming Scottish Budget.  Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version ofMacromedia's Flash Player.Get the latest Flas...

China, rare earth elements and an economic noose Back in October I had written about the United States dependence on China for our budgetary well being in addition to our need for the critically needed rare earth elements that country controls so much of. Today they announced an export cut they claim is not strategic in nature. Let's wait for the ransom note before we pass judgement. October ...