An interesting old CIA analysis of Tito’s strangled Yugoslav grammar and pronuciation concluded that he probably was a Polish or Russian imposter. The CIA opined that this fact “does not matter a great deal” as his rise to world prominence occurred after any substitution. Evelyn Waugh famously fretted that Tito […]
Here I am over at the Sunday Post in Scotland talking about the legendary Martin Luther King speech in August 1963: What elements make a great speech? Everything fits like a jigsaw — the words, emotional tone, audience, occasion and message. A great speech is a conversation with the audience, […]
I draw your attention to this piece by Sam Rocha at Patheos (a site bringing together all sorts of different religious views and insights). It looks at the Zimmerman trial with a keen eye, and draws some wide conclusions based on reading many of the key court documents/statements (NB fascinating […]
I have been away at Crawf Major’s University graduation ceremony and generally wilting in the heat of the sun and the England cricket attack. Some space for some writing now reappears, including a nice opportunity to write something for Scotland’s Sunday Post about Martin Luther King’s I have a Dream […]
Good grief. Nice writing on race and related issues by ‘mixed race’ writer Shelby Steele who knows a few things about the history of race relations in the USA and has written a book on the subject, White Guilt. Thus: Today’s black leadership pretty much lives off the fumes of […]
Here is my latest piece for Commentator replying to Suzanne Moore in the Guardian who is fretting about what she sees as her loss of privacy and freedom at the hands of intrusive state eavesdroppers: Suzanne Moore genially admits that she has never given much thought to how much of […]
Long time no blog. I am in Warsaw to give masterclasses in Negotiation Skills to Polish officials. I have just spent the best part of an hour dictating into the computer someone fascinating observations on the latest revelations about Western electronic eavesdropping and the renewed political unrest in Egypt. All […]
You’re wondering what I have been up to in May. I have been rushing around like a whirling dervish. Thus: • a presentation on Difficult Conversations to the senior management of a distinguished school • a talk at my old school on Lessons for Life • fielding a group of […]
The latest European Speechwriters Network event in London has passed off well. Many top names from the world of British and wider speechwriting (Phil Collins, Max Atkinson, Martin and Martha Shovel) and others did their stuff. I was pleased to meet Denise Graveline, over from the USA. She has two […]
This is to let everyone know that ADRg Ambassadors LLP is now renamed The Ambassador Partnership LLP with a completely new (and simpler) website. Basically, after I left the FCO and qualified as a professional mediator, the idea emerged of setting up a new and unique distinguished panel of ambassador-mediators. […]
