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This is a short video of Swan going through what seems to be an intuitive routine. Something which, for the Swanologist, might be nothing unusual, but for those of us who are not accustomed to the 'ways of the Swan', might appear peculiar. Please take a look and, if you are move by curiosity or bemusement, do enjoy!

They are not issues which are susceptible to 'quick fix' or rash and precipitous solutions.   They will need careful planning, persistent  application, and a prolonged period of time. They are not going to be all adequately addressed within a single Presidential term. They will require leaders who are courageous enough to take a fresh approach towards resolving contentious problems in France, in Europe and around the globe.  The French, in my view, would be better served by a President who is bold and courageous enough to establish a rapprochement with the Russian Federation and with President Assad of Syria.  President Hollande has established his term of Office by joining with other Nato countries to stoke the flames of war in Syria, Yemen, Libya and sub-Saharan Africa.  France now needs a leader who is capable and willing to act to help put out these flames.   And work with other leaders and countries to establish peace and build prosperous France.  At the

He should realise that this is likely to be the outcome, as he contemplate on turning back the progress, which 'The Father of the Nation', Kemal Ataturk has wrought.  Only for him, Erdogan, to set about laying it to waste, nearly 80 years later.  And, as he does so, many of the people of Turkey can only hold their heads in shame, as President Erdogan set about repressing and imprisoning all those who stand in his way.   Or whom he suspect might now or at some point in the future, oppose his autocratic rule.  They can only watch as he and his ministers alienate the leaders of Europe, and how he attempts to inveigle himself on the Russians and now the Americans, as he tries to achieve his objectives in Syria.  A country which he probably wishes to see become part of a Turkoman empire, again. As much as millions of Turks opposes the rule of their latter day 'Emir.' With President Erdogan surviving a failed coup and repeated contests at the polls.

This is another Biddulph Grange Gardens video. From another perspective, moment and time. Please take a look and, if it brings you some assistance with your daily contemplative moment, do enjoy it.

Of course, to his credit, Kemal Ataturk was a secular 'modernist', including the provision of equal civil and political rights for women, ahead of many European nations.  Whereas, President Erdogan, is a 'traditionalist', whose tendency and leadership approach is to turn the clock back on Turkey.  Putting the country  into reverse, as it were. In this respect, it can hardly be said that President Erdogan is on the same page of progress and enlightenment, as Kemal Ataturk was, even up to his death in 1938.  Indeed, the President might be ruing Kemal Ataturk's progressive legacy, in providing free primary education for children.  And providing women which the civil and political rights which have contributed toward mading Turks the educationally and politically advanced people they are today.  And which makes President Erdogan's attempts to take them back to the past, almost to the pre-Ataturk stage of Turkish nationhood, so much more difficu

But, has it not also become a necessary evil? Indeed, probably the lesser of evils, since the ruling elites will surely find ways to legitimise their 'right to power and to rule.'  Even if the electorate chooses not to 'exercise their democratic obligation' to vote. In the case of the French, unlike the English, who are restricted to  the under-representativeness of the first past the post system, have the added advantage of a more proportional representative form of electoral system. It is also the case that, unlike the British First Past The Post electoral system. The French system is more 'democratic' and representative of the different strands of opinions within the French society. Like electorates all over the world, the issues for the French electorate are local, national and international ones.  They are about the 'French people', and 'others.'  About France, Europe, French colonies or departments or provinces abroad, and the

This is a video of elemental calmness, quietness and peacefulness. It was made at eventide. Please take a look and see if it could assist your contemplative mood.

As is to be expected of 'liberal democracies', the French, much more than the Americans and the British, have more options from which to make their choice of President. The have Marine Le Pen of the purported 'extreme Right', the leader of the Front Nationale.  The have Francois Fillon, the battling but apparently still solvent Rightist candidate.  The have Emmanuel Macron, the 'centrist.' And Jean-Luc Melenchon of the Left.  These are only the 4 main contenders of the many candidates who are promising the French people that they are the  chosen ones  who can make, not only ' le difference. '  But the  difference  which the people of France have been yearning for, probably since before the Revolution of 1789. And, as it is not difficult to fool most of the people most of the time, these debonair candidates are, as the political specie tends to do, irrespective of which country they are in. swan about the country.  Endeavouring to app

It is clear that President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, sees his Turkey is still having a preeminent destiny in the world, which it is his fate to realise for the nation. It is also clear that he will use any means to achieve his objectives. Leaders of nations, it seems to me, oftentimes do not seem to realise that their country's destiny.  Will rarely ever be determined by the actions and omissions of their reign, unless subsequent leaders slavishly follow in their footpaths.  It is so presumptuous of humans to equate or behave as if they are equating their/our life-time with that of a nation, or with abstract time.  A period of 'greatness' in the life of a nation does not make that nation great for all time. One of the dilemmas for subsequent leaders, is that they must then try to exculpate or sanitise the evils and/or excesses of the now dead, historical leaders whom they wish to follow.  While they hold up the positive and constructive things they

We the people love to despise, hate and ridicule 'our politician.' Consequently, it is a forlorn road to travel, being a politician. There is really rarely any virtue in being in politics today.  Indeed, it might truly be said that being a politician is a mugs game. One which only sadists, power seekers and naive people seek after. At the sametime, being a politician today, requires the candidate to be a person of much learning, wisdom, and/or cunning.  And having the support of capable advisors who are able to provide him/her with well-informed information and advice.   On all the different areas on which said politician will or might be called upon to comment and act. It might well be the case that the people of the 'First and Second Worlds', the people of the so-called 'western democracies', have become somewhat bored, inundated with elections.  With oftentimes the same faces and mouths spouting the same phrases and promises.  Of hearing ev