odespinner

I listened to the debate on BBC Radio 4’s, the Global Philosopher this morning on Pandemic Ethics.  Michael Sandel is a great leader of debates and prompts participants to give interesting answers. Is stockpiling food unethical? Should prices be regulated for scarce goods? Should preference be given to loyal customers?…

We did not panic buy. Our cupboards are looking a bit bare and the online shop is taking over two weeks to be delivered. In the meantime, we rely on our son to brave the supermarket encounters. Staying at home is tougher than you might think. No popping to the…

Enforced isolation gives us all ample time to reflect on the things that matter. Our own survival is probably top off most people’s list. So isn’t it remarkable that the NHS’s appeal for additional workers got such a huge response? Does that mean that human beings can do things for others…

We are lucky that our son went shopping for us and drove us on a trip to relieve the boredom of being cooped up. This is an opportunity to get creative, so why am I binge watching TV? No doubt I will immerse myself in fiction eventually, but the seriousness…

Norway has its explorers, brave men who withstood extreme conditions in order to discover something new about our planet. Polar expeditions were particularly dangerous and the voyages of Amundsen legendary. The ship Fram was used for journeys to find the North West passage and reach the North and South poles.…

Where would you be guaranteed snow this Christmas? Scandinavia?  Of course, they had snow in October. Bur somebody came to Oslo and nicked it all. We are going there to investigate. Stocking up on bo duty-free booze is a high priority. Dinner with an old friend and his family is…

A sleeping giant is stretched out over Divis Mountain. He has been stuck with tall masts like acupuncture needles that flash red into the night sky. A warning to smaller beings not to disturb the sleeping giant,

When first I heard Tom Waits his music was the backdrop to my life in turmoil. Closing Time was the album that calmed me, inspired me to love again and will always be music that stirs my emotions. Rain Dogs, a grittier album with a growly voice tells stories that…

If rules are there to be broken, does that make breaking them an act of conformity? Delia inspired another banana cake this morning. This time I pretty much followed her recipe The ingredients I didn’t have were the orange and lemon for their zest. Luckily, I had some satsumas that…

Camus held the view that a person with integrity will always do the right thing, so rules are unnecessary. But how can we know what is right without weighing the evidence. Does integrity imply infallibility? I think Camus’ point is that conventional behaviour does not equal correct behaviour. The norms…