My idea of fun
We don’t really do operetta in Britain these days — and at this stage in the game, I don’t really…
Aussie exceptionalism
It would have once been uncontroversial to suggest nations have characteristics that not only distinguish them from other countries, but…
France began breeding jihadis in 1989
E .D. Hirsch Jr., the American educationalist and author of Cultural Literacy, has a new book out that may throw…
The Shoppies’ sellout
The Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association — affectionately known as the ‘Shoppies’ – is under fire from employer groups…
Trump’s core insight
Donald Trump’s absurd candidacy for the presidency has obscured the broad-based resentment at continuing levels of immigration and the problems…
The week in politics in 10 words or less*
Neil Mitchell to Malcolm Turnbull, 3AW, this morning: “If you can’t run the parliament you, can’t run the country.” …
Let the market unchain indigenous communities
The problem that has sparked the Royal Commission on juvenile detention is much broader than the way in which children…
Malcolm’s misfortune exposed
As Lady Bracknell may have said “To lose one vote may be regarded as misfortune”. And so it was at…
The Climate Change Authority: garbage in, garbage out (plus a little tampering)
There have been several hundred Australian analyses of climate change policy and its costs and benefits. Most have provided profundities…
Bare ruined choirs
We’re so used to looking at the abbeys smashed up by Henry VIII — particularly Rievaulx and Byland, in north…
Queen’s Gambit rejected
One of the most reliable methods of frustrating chess computers is to play 1 d4 but then avoid the well-trodden…
No. 424
White to play. This is from Palucha-Skettos, Bhubaneswar 2016. Here White destroyed the black position with a typical tactical thrust.…
North and South
In Competition No. 2963 you were invited to submit a poem about the North or the South or one comparing…
Dear Mary
Q. We have a heavenly house in Corfu where we go as often as possible. The best thing about it…
Real legs and fake people
The Soho Hotel is an actors’ hotel. They come for press junkets and interviews that reveal nothing because there is…
A rotten windfall
It’s strange that, even now, the Brexit vote is routinely referred to as an expression of anger or frustration —…
High life
Just about this time of year, 42 years ago, Dunhill’s of London, the famed tobacconist, had a bold idea. Its…
Long life
Americans want a president with the steadiest possible finger on the nuclear button, which is why they worry about the…
Long life
Americans want a president with the steadiest possible finger on the nuclear button, which is why they worry about the…
Low life
A new footpath from the village down to the beach opened earlier this year to a great fanfare. It was…
Low life
A new footpath from the village down to the beach opened earlier this year to a great fanfare. It was…
Taxi
Old Quentin Letts was on the wireless the other day asking ‘What’s the point of the London black cab?’ Between…
Real life
‘Oh no, I can’t bear it,’ said the builder boyfriend when I told him I wanted to look at one…
Club cricketers: Zimbabwe needs you
Make sure you tell everybody about Zimbabwe,’ said the lady at our block of flats in suburban Harare as we…
