World, Thoughts, Flummoxed

           It was the 50th anniversary of the declaration of war that started me absorbing World War Two facts like a sponge. It was at about the same time that I first started learning German, revealing that I was something of a skilled linguist. Keenness to get to know the nations themselves had long been a subconscious aim of mine. Therefore, and unsurprisingly, I started a degree in Modern Languages and European Studies shortly after the 50th anniversary of D-Day. Thereby, I became a relative expert in post-war Europe which added to what I had diligently learned about the history of the war - both  battles and  policies.              One key facet of warfare which fascinated me which I got to know well was aerial warfare. It started with documentaries and computer games about the Battle of Britain. From those, I got to know about many aircraft, such as the Spitfire and Hurricane as well as the Luftw...

        What is the state of affairs for the forthcoming (unarmed) battle for the presidency of the United States? Prior to the election on November 5th, what is the nature of (much of) America? Is President Biden still 'all there'? Will Trump be able to be less melodramatic and tone down his rhetoric which has long been a melodramatic collection of hysteria and complete bollocks?            Is the US still a gun culture which only asks some of the right questions when someone tries to shoot someone, such as attempting to assassinate a former or current president?                  Prior to the drama in Butler, Pennsylvania, President Biden had long been up against it, especially after the presidential debate at the end of June. While Joe Biden did not function as easy prey for Donald Trump, at points he metaphorically fell asleep at the wheel. At a press conference a few days l...

          The votes of the second round are in from the national election that was called because of the success of France's far-right party, National Rally, in the election to the European parliament.              President  Emmanuel Macron called this election as a means of weakening National Rally: how successful was it? Did he cut them off at the pass , or was it too much of a gamble, which could backfire in a diverse form of guises?    Rassemblement National                   An architype far right party, it began as Le Front National. Many used to claim that its roots are in the collaborationist regime of Vichy France during WW2, including the Drancy interment camp. While the founder  Jean-Marie Le Pen, his successor and daughter Marine Le Pen and her  recent successor Jordan Bardella are not  Henri Pétain, there are still many bad f...

S and S                    Is the British Conservative Party capable of preserving itself? The 365 seats that it (shouldn't have) won in 2019 dwindled to just 121 yesterday. There has been a mass exodus of the electorate away from them. The most prominent casualties thereof include Defense Minister Grant Shapps,  Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, f ormer Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland,  Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer,  Transport Secretary Mark Harper, and  Attorney General Victoria Prentis. The are now all seatless . Quite suitably, the most farcical prime minister  of British political post-war history lost her seat. This is Rishi Sunak's predecessor, Liz Truss, who in the game of prime ministerial musical chairs was prime minister for a grand total of 49 days (!)           Nigel Farage, the ridiculous "leader" of the Reform UK party, managed to become elected...