15 Comments
Nov 13Liked by A Halfling's View

Lots of parallels between the printing press and the internet. Have you read the Shardlake books? I assume you have but if not you would like them.

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My thesis was published as "The Law Emprynted and Englysshed" and I did a follow up entitled "Collisions in the Digital Paradigm: Law and Rule making in the Internet Age" - apologies for the shameless plug but I am with you on the issue of technological parallels

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I have read Shardlake and it is sad that C J Sansom is no longer with us. He captured the law in Tudor days very well indeed, although Cromwell comes across as a bit shadowy. I did prefer Hilary Mantel's rendering. But Shardlake\Sansom was right on the money in terms of the way lawyers did their stuff in those days.

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There is also a TV series. First book only so far and almost all in the monastery so not as interesting as the later ones. Hoping for more though.

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The TV series was good and captured the essence of the age. Sean Bean as Cromwell - didn’t work for me. He has always been Richard Sharpe or Boromir.

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At least we know he has plenty of experience dying onscreen (when that time comes).

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I think Mark Rylance is doing another Mantel series. Sadly the execution was a bit botched but not as badly as poor Monmouths.

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Thanks David. I had an unmissable date when Biggar spoke here, sadly. Pleased to read this & hear him on other platforms. I joined the FSU when it was a coalition, Southern & Molyneux days.

Speaking of platforms & rabbit holes, Leah Panapa on The Platform told me I had gone down one when I criticised her & another's blind adherence to the new wave gender orthodoxy when they spoke of the male boxers posing as females at the Olympics as 'she'. The irony.

Enjoyed the Wolf Hall tv series.

I cannot fathom what planet Albo et al are on. Well, I can.

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Thanks Hilary - as you probably gather I view rabbit holes as opportunities to explore the curious. You may like my next "I Cannot Live Without Books" post which will land next week.

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I thought my grasp of Reformation politics was pretty good but you put me to shame!

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Not really. I was interested in the way Henry regulated the printing press which he did primarily by proclamation. But it became necessary to look at what was said that attracted the regulators attention. Didn’t take long to be fully immersed in the ebb and flow of Reformation ideas - once I got used to the type faces and the spelling idiosyncrasies. Luckily all the original books I needed were available on line.

They were dangerous times for dissenters.

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Oh well written, this is surely one of your most interesting & timely posts yet. Bravo indeed. Henry is often seen as the champion of the C of E, but as you note, his motivations were hardly pure (revival of praemunire, divorce need etc) and his intolerance of dissent is well documented . Equally the bunch of fools living out their 'MLK Moment' are motivated not by virtue, but by their own thirst for power. Were they (and the rabid KC's) remotely interested in democracy and an honest exchange, they would in fact be supporting Seymour's Bill and the Select Committee process. Dissenting voices are the power of our worldview and a robust discussion should indeed lead to wins & synergies. Traditional synagogue discussions would steel man one's opponent should they falter, both parties interested in what could be called a higher Truth. But not in modern day NZ. Quite the opposite.

I have also recently purchased Biggar's book and look forward to enjoying a happy echo chamber.

Go the FSU!! - a bright light in a rather dim landscape these days. But hope springs eternal I guess...

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Thank you for your kind comments.

As to the MLK moment and the rabid KC's (as well as whether or not Speak and Be Not Silent was interesting and timely) stay tuned. Tomorrow is going to be a cracker!! Two posts on topical topics.

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p.s. I think calling The Platform 'right wing' may be a bit mean given its pejorative meaning these days. I listen frequently.

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Right wing for me is a badge of honour

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