Rather belatedly I’m uploading this past year’s collection of posts to which I’ve given the title Whistling in the wind. According to the dictionary, “Whistling in the Wind” means trying to change something which cannot be changed. 2023 was certainly a grim year – Russia’s brutal invasion continuing to murder hundreds of thousands and Israel inflicting ethnic cleansing on the Palestinians.
And the world seems consumed with hatred and bitterness. But I certainly don’t want to give succour to those who believe it can never be
changed. The title of this year’s collection is rather meant to convey the sense of being in a select group in fighting against the irrationality and fatalism gripping our societies. It’s interesting to look at some previous titles of these collections -
This too will Pass – the 2022 posts - a title which perhaps fell into the trap of fatalism
Voices in the Air – the 2021 posts - a title from the famous quote from Keynes when he talked of the unnoticed influence of books on our minds
Peripheral Vision – the 2020 posts. This celebrates the blog’s notion of creativity
To Whom it may Concern – the 2019 posts. Normally written in support of someone’s application
The Search for the Holy Grail – the 2018 posts Something I’ve been guilty of
Common Endeavour – the 2017 posts An important concept for me
The Slaves’ Chorus – the 2016 posts I remember listening to an emotional rendering of this chorus in a Brno theatre in 1990. I hadn’t realised that the full title of this song is actually the Hebrew Slaves’ Chorus
In Praise of Doubt – a blogger’s year (2015) An allusion to the Brecht poem of that title
List of E-books
It took me some time to realise that the blog contained an amazing resource for English-speakers….the top-right corner has the list of E-books which have resulted from a careful selection and editing of the posts. They are, effectively, annotated guides to such subjects as -
change – in all its aspects
culture in the broadest sense
patterns of decline
The critical writing of the past half century about our economic system
The literature on administrative reform
The debate about Scottish independence over the past decade
Cultural aspects of countries such as Romania, Bulgaria and Germany
I can safely say that no such guides exist elsewhere in the English language. But I’m not able to crack the question of their wider dissemination. They’re little use if noone knows of their existence!! This is an issue I have to address. Ironically, however, the “resource” offered by the reading lists which have become such a feature of the blog is not something I seem to avail myself of too frequently! I tend all too often to “skim and save” – and generally fail to return to the link and read it properly. At this time when New Year Resolutions are so popular, there’s a bad habit I need to discipline!!
“Insights into other worlds – good writing and painting”
– aka Blogroll This offers hyperlinks to some 70 sites which I follow. At the end of each year I note the new links I subscribe to and remove those which no longer function. The new entrants are -
https://accidentalgods.life/ wonderful site which mixes environmental concerns with existential and spiritual
https://aurelien2022.substack.com/ one of the most interesting new links which “tries to understand the world” with someone with senior experience in both government and academia
https://areopagus.culturaltutor.com/profile breathtaking insight (and sounds of) to cultural treasures
https://memex.naughtons.org/ an IT journalist’s diary
Those which no longer function and have been removed include
Scottish Review, a great little internet weekly whose superb writing can still be seen here
Public admin Reform – my own site which was suddenly removed
Renegade Inc
4. Search Facility
And if you punch a key phrase into the search facility, chances are it will instantly give you something interesting. Try it.
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