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The First Golden Paratrooper

Alistair Cooke reflects on a golden parachute handed out upon retirement.

• 15 mins

Air Conditioning and Changes in Society

Whilst under a heat induced house arrest, Alistair Cooke marvels at air conditioning.

• 15 mins

The Brewing of Racial Storms

Do sports contests ease international relations? Alistair Cooke is sceptical.

• 15 mins

Tyrants and Curses Live On

Alistair Cooke considers the hysterical press coverage of John Kennedy Jr's plane crash.

• 15 mins

Loneliness, Male Companionship and the Hunt

Alistair Cooke pays tribute to Ernest Hemingway with a parody of his writing style.

• 15 mins

Going to Pot or to Pluto

Youth might be wasted on the young, but Alistair Cooke believes they have a bright future.

• 15 mins

No Word from Mount Olympus

Alistair Cooke wonders how Congress can predict a $3 trillion Treasury surplus in 2010.

• 15 mins

Close, but No Cigar

Alistair Cooke discusses the medical and social aspects of smoking cigars.

• 15 mins

Grave Concerns

Alistair Cooke reflects on Governor Bush's non-confession of cocaine use.

• 15 mins

Re-Writing History

Alistair Cooke explains how re-writing history to obtain ominous parallels is dangerous.

• 15 mins

No Exempt Categories

Alistair Cooke discusses jury services and whether Mr Giuliani will run again for Mayor.

• 15 mins

Barkers at Pleasure Beach Side Shows

The hysterical news reporting in Britain of a US parasitic virus astounds Alistair Cooke.

• 15 mins

The Ordeal of Hurricane Floyd

Alistair Cooke reflects on the affects of Hurricane Floyd.

• 15 mins

The Arrival of the Golf Hooligan

Alistair Cooke is saddened by audience hooliganism during a golf match.

• 15 mins

Greed, Liquor, Jingoism and Bad Taste

From greed in golf to jingoism at judo, Alistair Cooke dislikes bad spectator behaviour.

• 15 mins

A Plea to the Senate

A European plea to the US Senate reminds Alistair Cooke of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles.

• 15 mins

Wishful Thinking Overload

After the US rejects a nuclear treaty, Alistair Cooke explains how easily pacts can fail.

• 15 mins

That Fateful Night in Macbeth

Amid the festivities of All Hallows’ Eve, Alistair Cooke ponders the origins of Halloween.

• 15 mins

At the Centre of Things

Whilst visiting San Francisco, Alistair Cooke muses on the ego-centric lives of city folk.

• 15 mins

Democracy in Action

Alistair Cooke commemorates the 10th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall.

• 15 mins

Fortress America and Beloved Symbols of Britain

Alistair Cooke criticises Bill Clinton’s appearance at Yitzhak Rabin’s memorial service.

• 15 mins

The Most American of All American Festivals

Whilst turkeys roast and yams bake, Alistair Cooke reflects on traditions of Thanksgiving.

• 15 mins

The Last Demo Circus of the Year

Alistair Cooke discusses the protests against the World Trade Organisation convention.

• 15 mins

Renewed Concern Over Secondhand Smoke

Passive smoking fears make Alistair Cooke evaluate the cleanliness of the air around us.

• 15 mins

Old Sentiment and New Honesty

In a vintage Letter from America from 1967, Alistair Cooke tells a Christmas story.

• 15 mins

Park Avenue's colourful Christmas

Festive fairy lights remind Alistair Cooke of a time when Christmas was less than holy.

• 15 mins

On Y2K Alert

Alistair Cooke discusses the US Government’s precautions against the millennium bug.

• 15 mins

A Breathtaking Global Tour and a Resignation

Alistair Cooke discusses Boris Yeltsin's resignation and Mr Putin's praise of the KGB.

• 15 mins

The Death of the Old Media

Alistair Cook uses Rip Van Winkle to understand the Time Warner and America Online deal.

• 15 mins

What are Animals put on Earth For?

The news that "Fur is back", leads Alistair Cook to explore why it never really went away.

• 15 mins