Meanwhile the UK is hell been* on returning to Vassal Statehood as Jacob Rees-Mogg observes.
Oh dear ...too bad...never mind here

[*bent] TM

And just to demonstrate it - here is the then prime minister of NZ on the receiving end of a bit of displeasure.
It reached the stage that prime ministers ceased visiting this 'celebration' for a few years but did resume this year - when no mud was flung! Here’s mud in your eye

@ Feb 7, 2018 at 12:23 PM | Unregistered Commenter It doesn't add up
Johathan Swift's comment seems exactly like the colonisation of NZ -by Britain - the celebration of which was held on Tuesday last. The Maori as still incensed about it!

Feb 7, 2018 at 3:25 PM | michael hart

In the late summer of 2008 (when I was still considering that there was something wrong about Global Warming and the predictions of Climate Science, but was reluctant to voice an opinion) I was chatting to a Village Cricket Club Chairman.

Sat in his pavillion having called off another days cricket due to rain, he had dug out all the dusty records and score books. 2008 was the wettest summer on record, based on matches cancelled or abandoned due to rain, in his Village.

I was not in the UK for most of 2008 so couldn't comment, but there are dusty records of "weather" everywhere over hundreds of years, recorded by farmers, gardeners, anglers, sports clubs, etc that are completely "local" and independent of formal Meteorological Records, and have not been adjusted or computerised.

tomo:

I recently re-read the whole book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I concur: Swift is easily accessible (though probably the snowflake generation might find it harder going, as they are unlikely to be able to relate to life lived without modern conveniences - a shock that they may find coming to them if they pursue their present course). 300 years and we connect easily. Go back another 100 years to Shakespeare and the KJV, and the linguistic differences are significantly greater, and often we need explanations for the turns of phrase he used - even where they have entered the language as stock phrases. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Feb 7, 2018 at 1:19 PM | tomo

The Ottoman Empire has been largely airbrushed out of European and Christian history, so too many concentrate on the recent history.

Moslems would all like to be part of a World Superpower. There are too many rivalries, jealousies, disputes etc to make it happen. Erdogan is considered a threat by many Moslems, but the EU can't see that.

The "Arab Spring" revolutions were warmly welcomed, but many have gone sour.

Most people do not appreciate that Saudi Arabia has just had a revolution, but Saudi women being allowed to drive cars has attracted media attention.

IF the Saudi revolution reduces corruption and influence by the multi billionaires who can siphon off money for militants and terrorism in other countries, it will have more lasting benefit than the Arab Spring. This may cause a cashflow problem for Erdogan and those that support him.