* havalimani : airport
Istanbul’s gleaming and expanding airport is a symbol of a nation going places …
… Heathrow is not,argues Boris Johnson.—
The other night we were filling in time at Istanbul airport, and I was watching an official dart around on one of those new Segway gizmos. Have you seen one? They are extraordinary. It was as though [...]
· The Julio-Claudian Dynasty ·
Much already exists, [...]
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Listen to Boris talk about the Roman emperor Augustus
this Friday, 21st. May, on Radio 4 at 9.45 a.m.,
repeated at 7.45 p.m. and on Saturday at 12.30 a.m.
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Although Rome’s empire grew throughout the late republic — from the middle of the third century to the death of Julius Caesar in 44 b.c. — the first emperor, [...]
When Iceland’s mount sends up a pall
And turbine engines start to fail
And by and by the ash doth fall
And stranded Britons home do sail,
Then nightly do the airlines howl :
“Boo-hoo ! … Oh shit ! Boo-hoo !”
A ferry’s not …
As quick but, hell, it’s all we’ve got.
ΠΞ
[The Chorus of Labour M.P.s]
With cat-like tread
The revenue we steal ;
Influence ped-
d-ling is our new deal.
Of the truth
We never speak a word ;
And Sterling’s fall
can be distinctly heard.
[The Chorus of Lobbyists]
Taxi ! Tara !
Taxi ! Tara !
[Labour M.P.s]
So stealthily the tax-men creep
While all across the country sleep.
Come, friends
who used to be
Leaders of the [...]
A ‘scientist’ — engaged in his employment
his employment
And maturing his felonious little plans —
little plans
’Though he likes to interfere with your enjoyment,
your enjoyment
Wants a pension just like any honest man’s.
honest man’s
Our data we with difficulty smother,
-culty smother
When F.O.I.* reports are to be done ;
to be done
Ah, take one consideration with another :
with another
A fraudster’s [...]
Lessons of the Past
Boris Johnson has spoken of the contribution a knowledge of the classics can make to understanding our own times. In the modern political world — as in the ancient — the same theme is played out again and again … with the same characters : political leaders that let power go to [...]
Boris Johnson has often spoken of his love of Greek history and of Pericles in particular. When asked who his historical pin-up was and why, he replied: “Pericles. Look at his Funeral Speech: democracy; freedom — champion stuff.” — Read the full interview.
A few years ago he went to the British Museum and bought [...]
The force that brought down the Wall is the force that will get us through the postal strike, and that force is people power
Forget Guy Fawkes – remember, remember the Ninth of November for the fall of the Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago freed millions from tyranny and poverty, argues [...]
Boris Johnson has often spoken of his love of Greek history and of Pericles in particular. When asked who his historical pin-up was and why, he replied: “Pericles. Look at his Funeral Speech: democracy; freedom — champion stuff.” Read the full interview.
A few years ago he went to the British Museum and bought a bust [...]