www.owohrod.com.

Yes, I know, I know that it is said that America is the land of opportunity, and that you can be anything you want to be in America, if you work hard enough.  And, by god, I have worked very hard. How else could I have become as successful and filthy rich as I am? And, ... I know that it must be the dream of every man - had it not been for my sexism, I might have included, woman - especially one as ambitious as I am, to rise to the top.  A feat, I, Donald J Trump, in my more lucid moments, would not have imagined myself capable of doing. And which will surely have given rise to nightmarish senarios to tens of millions around the world. Although, in my more florid moments, frequent as they were and continue to be, I knew for certain that I would have made it, made it to the top.  Which I have now achieved, by becoming the President of the United States of America.  The country which we, Americans, love so dearly, and which I have committed myself to make 'Great Again.

'People tend to see their culture as something of pride, which they display with understandable joy and even disinhibition.  When we indulge in our ancient cultural displays and demonstration, we are saying, this is who we are, it is what defines us and we are proud of who we are.  Even when, on closer examination, our cultures are likely to have aspects which are anachronistic, backward, and of which we should not be proud. Which is why progress requires a dynamic and critical interplay between  us  and  our  changing  environment .' While it is understandable that we should have pride in our culture, all aspects of our cultures are not necessarily or ever always virtuous, good and enlightened. How could it possible be so? There are times when, even though the we might be feeling proud of our cultural displays, people from other cultures who are watching, are not really enjoying it as much as they might appear to be.  They might just be showing a certain

That is likely to be a big ask, since it should include all of the regional governments in the discussion, and not only be limited to Catalonia and the Spanish central government. The legitimacy of Catalan's independence referendum, quite apart from its constitutional illegality, would merit more analysis..  With 90 per cent of the reported 2.26 million people who voted, voting for independence, that is indeed an overwhelming endorsement of motion.  However, considering that that 2.26 million people only constitute 42 per cent, a minority of Catalan's electorate, that is neither an overwhelming or majority endorsement of the Catalan people for seceding from the rest of Spain.  Compare this with Britain's Brexit Referendum, when the turnout was 72 per cent of the electorate, with  52 per cent of them supporting Britain leaving the European Union, and 48 per cent voting to remain a part of the Union. Forty-two per cent of Catalan's electorate being able to

Of course, our young relative was not able to respond to our attempts to communicate with him, in anyway.  And, in time, we, naturally, lost the sense of relatedness, of having a relationship with him.  Leading to our relationship dying, even before he had totally expired.  It could not really have been otherwise, because, having lost all or nearly all of the attributes and characteristics which are associated with being human.   Our young relative had now, and for some considerable time before his ultimate dead, become little more than an inanimate thing.   And so it was, that a relationship which brought joy and happiness to us and him.  Was now replaced with us feeling a profound sense of sorrow and pity.   For the terrible fate which had befallen a young man, who was once so animated, so full of life and had been enjoying the joys of life. So, yes, his eventual death and funeral was a cause of sadness.  However, because society and the law had decreed that he

And so it was, that those and I who loved and respected this young man.  A man who was clearly enjoying his life and, as they say, would, while he was alive, 'be the life and soul of any party' he attended.  Who, during the time I had had the privilege of knowing him, would nearly always be smiling.  Having this irresistible twinkle in his eye, and would seemly for ever be uttering the immortal words, "What's up..." and finishing them with a smile.   Which would normally be promoted into a laugh. This young man who was not given to be bemoaning his terrible fate, who did not, atleast, not that I was aware of, curse the gods who had cursed him with this temporary living death. Yes, so it was that we watched this young relative of ours, declined.   From being able to walk to having to use a wheelchair, which, initially he was able to propel himself, but, as the disease progressed, he had to rely on others and us to propel it for him.  This

This is a short video which is preambled by a Magpie appraising all that is before it. Please take a look, and, if you are inclined to do so, do enjoy what you find enjoyable.

As leader of the central government, Mariano Rajoy needs to demonstrate inspirational leadership, which it is not clear that he can or will do.  If his tough and uncompromising approach so far is anything to go by.  Of course he needs to be tough and pragmatic, since he does not want to see Catalonia sets a precedent for other regions of Spain to follow.  And this is where he needs to be inspirational; and shows his metal, as it were.  It is not about him being like Franco, and trying to ruthlessly squash the aspirations of those Catalans who wants independence, by 'taking over and occupying Catalan.'  A sort of 'direct rule' option.' That would not work; it would be an affront to the Catalan people, probably of all political viewpoints. And simply help to create and intensify the circumstances for Spain to sink into a period of further instability.  Indeed, it could give rise to armed insurrection, and probably drive more Catalans to support the ind

Therapist.: It would affect you as severely as that, eh, Usa? You would feel unwholesome.  Like Samson without his hair? Like David without his slingshot? Like Jason without the Golden Fleece? In fact, Usa, you would be quite a mess.  And therein lies you dilemma, Usa. Because, are you not now a mess, even with all of your guns? Is that not the reason why you have really sought therapy? Usa.: Well, kind of. But I really think that I will get over it, as I always do.  You know, it is kind of how it is, that when something happens we become concerned, worried, but, as time passes, you get over it, and it is not a problem anymore.  You just continue as you have been doing up until it happens; until the next time. Therapist.: Is that really it, Usa? That you are only going through the motions of being concerned?  Of wanting to do something effective, when, in fact, you are not really bothered at all, because you have already decided that you do not want any change