Athletics wunderkind Sydney McLaughlin blew away superlatives when she broke her own world record in the 400-meter hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon. What is fascinating and not a little sad is that she was born within days of the exceptionally high-stress 1999 Leo Solar Eclipse. Winning was expected of her from an … Read more
Daphne Du Maurier, the supreme weaver of gothic romantic horror tales, never goes out of fashion, despite being dead for over thirty years. Her most famous Rebecca novel was recently re-created on film as well as lauded for its 80th anniversary, with documentaries and biographers constantly fascinated by Du Maurier’s extraordinary life, talent and temperament. … Read more
Joe Biden is creaking along through a bout of Covid with his approval ratings sinking to a new low over concerns about the economy; and his wife Jill’s dipping after a badly received speech to a Hispanic civil rights group. VP Kamala Harris is down in the dumps as well. Almost two thirds of Democrats … Read more
There’s a gloomy acceptance that Liz Truss, described as “the human hand grenade” who “blows up all she touches” by an admittedly sour Dominic Cummings, will probably win the Tory leadership race. Rishi Sunak, more popular amongst MPs and indeed the media, may not cut the mustard with Tory party members. They have the deciding … Read more
Anthony Fauci, a familiar figure in the news during the pandemic is back as concerns about new variants arise and infection rates spike again. Though vaccinations and boosters appear to reduce the risk of severe disease. Fauci is a vibrant 82 year old (like Nancy Pelosi) who has been in the public health sector … Read more
True crime doesn’t get scarier, gruesomer or more popular than Netflix’s chart-topping Girl in the Picture. The public appetite for abuse and serial-killer porn is thriving. The story – gleaned from the internet – tells of a young woman in her early 20s, found dying after a supposed hit and run, who turns out … Read more
Italy and Germany are flagging up as the most immediately troubled of the EU countries, which given that they are the third and first largest economies, is a considerable worry. Though most of the other EU members, like elsewhere globally, are also labouring over the coming years. On Thursday, the capable Mario Draghi resigned as … Read more
Who will be thrown to the lions as a useful scapegoat to divert responsibility from Trump for the January 6 Capitol Attack? There is a short list as the select committee investigation uncovers increasingly damaging evidence that the president knew the election had been lost yet still exhorted his fan club to take action. … Read more
Redemption is not a gift granted to all or easily acquired. Tatum O’Neal, John McEnroe’s first wife, like her siblings has had a lifelong battle against her demons with no resounding victory at the end of it all. Her mother actress Joanna Moore lost custody of Tatum and Griffin her brother to their father Ryan … Read more
Putin is ramping up the rhetoric on Ukraine, daring the USA and its allies to try to defeat Russia. He has increasingly cast the war as a battle between Russia and the USA, triggered by the humiliation of Russia since the 1991 fall of the USSR, and the enlargement of NATO. The reason for the … Read more