Author Archives

• Hobbies: stay in your “hamster-wheel” of conformity.

  By Russell Pollard on June 26, 2011 • ( 0 )

  There have been a number of reports about the “flaparratti” or “twitchers” – these are the extremist end of the bird watching fraternity. Members of this community whose sole aim seems to be to spot, record, document and brag about… Read More ›

• Sluts in the City: What not to wear?

  By Russell Pollard on June 12, 2011 • ( 0 )

  There were 2 events in London on June 11th 2011 which in different ways made some comment on the subject of how to dress in public, or not as the case may be. Having spent most of the day watching… Read More ›

• What does it mean to be Armenian?

  By Russell Pollard on June 8, 2011 • ( 8 )

  On my second visit to Armenia a year ago, I asked the innocent question of my Armenian friend – “What does it mean to be Armenian?” – after a pause, her response, was “It’ll take a lifetime to find out”…. Read More ›

• Vera Grigorian and the lost soldiers of the Karabakh War

  By Russell Pollard on June 4, 2011 • ( 1 )

  Buried in the backstreets of Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabagh, Vera Grigorian of the Union of Relatives of Warriors Missing in Action works tirelessly to continue to promote the cause of those families who still have no closure on the… Read More ›

• A personal view from a journey through Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

  By Russell Pollard on June 3, 2011 • ( 0 )

  The dying days of the Soviet Union and the effects of perestroika, together with the earthquake in 1988, and the war in Nagorno-Karabakh in the early 1990’s dealt a major body blow to Armenia. In the late 20th century, Armenia… Read More ›

• AV is just for losers

  By Russell Pollard on May 6, 2011 • ( 1 )

  I hope that the vote today puts to bed the sham that is AV. This is not because I am against any fairer form of voting, or democracy, or something that it is progressive – I’m just against anything that… Read More ›

• Celebrating the death of Osama Bin Laden?

  By Russell Pollard on May 2, 2011 • ( 1 )

  Whilst I would not call myself a lily-livered liberal there is still something mildly distasteful about celebrating the death of an individual, particularly in cultures which do not support the use of the death penalty, like our own in the… Read More ›

• Royal Wedding : Day of National celebration and Orwellian police tactics.

  By Russell Pollard on May 1, 2011 • ( 0 )

  There are not many occasions where the whole of the community can peacefully enjoy an event which is simply on a humanistic and national level. There is no reason for anyone to be excluded, it can appeal to rich and… Read More ›

• Brighton Mayday: Valid politics, or “moaning bastards”?

  By Russell Pollard on April 30, 2011 • ( 1 )

  In anticpation of May 1st, the traditional day for the working class to make some form of protest, April 30th was the opportunity for a number of “anarchists” / anti-capitalists to act out some theatricals in Brighton. The website, and… Read More ›

• Who killed Smiley Culture…and the rest?

  By Russell Pollard on April 26, 2011 • ( 0 )

  Smiley Culture died on 15th March 2011 as a result of stab wounds to his heart…in his own kitchen, during a raid by the Police. The Metropolitan Police maintain that this was self-inflicted. Since 1990 there have been 929 deaths… Read More ›