E. Mark Windle 10 March 2026. Many folks from the soul music community will have known the late Mark Bicknell, whether directly through his friendship, his DJing, radio hosting or record dealing. Doubtless they will also be aware of his music industry networking and passion for reissuing rare soul recordings on his Big ManContinue reading “The Aqua Connection: Origin Stories of The Aqua Lads and Twilights”
Category Archives: Commentary
Malnutrition Relief or Empty Calories? Gaza Food Aid Composition, Distribution and Effectiveness
E. Mark Windle 18 February 2026. Last year’s nutrition-related headlines in Gaza were hardly in short supply. In the spring of 2025, there was a three-month complete aid blockade on a background of chronically restricted border access. By August, over 54,600 children were acutely malnourished, 40% of pregnant and breastfeeding women were severely malnourished, andContinue reading “Malnutrition Relief or Empty Calories? Gaza Food Aid Composition, Distribution and Effectiveness”
A Nickel And A Nail Focusing on Publishing Imprint from March 2026
E. Mark Windle 12 February 2026. From 1st March 2026, A Nickel And A Nail will be focusing activities purely on publishing and freelance writing activities rather than book retail. Current customers who are subscribed to the bookstore mailing list should have already received notification. Future book sales will be through our Ko-fi or eBayContinue reading “A Nickel And A Nail Focusing on Publishing Imprint from March 2026”
Failure, Fatalities and Falsehood: The Dire Legacy of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
E. Mark Windle 2 January 2026 From a chronological perspective, my previous book The Hundred Year Hunger ended tracking events in Gaza with its publication during Spring 2025. At that point, Trump’s idea of a US takeover of Gaza was being proposed, and a separate “Arab Plan” for reconstruction was under discussion in Cairo. Meanwhile,Continue reading “Failure, Fatalities and Falsehood: The Dire Legacy of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation”
Aid Airdrops in Gaza—Shifting the Danger from Distribution Hubs to the Beaches
E. Mark Windle 26 July 2025. As cases of severe malnutrition in Gaza continue to rise (and killings continue at the distribution hubs), tonight’s media headline is that Israel is allowing Jordan and UAE to conduct food airdrops in the next few days, apparently with UK involvement. Deliveries of aid by airdrops have been attemptedContinue reading “Aid Airdrops in Gaza—Shifting the Danger from Distribution Hubs to the Beaches”
Gaza and the Floating Pier: The 230 Million Dollar Turkey
E. Mark Windle 22 June 2025. Following the events of 7 October 2023, the effects of Netanyahu’s declaration of war and instructions of a complete blockade by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant were immediate. The water supply via the Mekerot pipeline network into the Strip was halted. Gazans were now wholly dependent on existing stocks ofContinue reading “Gaza and the Floating Pier: The 230 Million Dollar Turkey”
James Bates, Songwriter and Lead Singer of The Spontanes, Dies Aged 83.
E. Mark Windle 12 June 2025. James Bates of North Carolina and lead singer of The Spontanes, has died after a period of illness on 6th June 2025. Bates was most closely associated with the beach music group The Spontanes, a popular Gastonia group that initially ran from 1960 to 1968, but which has continuedContinue reading “James Bates, Songwriter and Lead Singer of The Spontanes, Dies Aged 83.”
Mac Gayden, Nashville Singer-Songwriter and Music Producer, Passes
Mac Gayden (far right), promoting the book House of Broken Hearts: The Soul of 1960s Nashville. E. Mark Windle 23 April 2025. On April 16, 2025, Nashville lost a legend with the death of McGavock “Mac” Gayden, at 83 years of age. I’m sure the anticipated outpouring of accolades will most likely be in regardContinue reading “Mac Gayden, Nashville Singer-Songwriter and Music Producer, Passes”
Early Days—UNRWA and the Camps of Gaza
E. Mark Windle 21 April 2025. Following the Arab-Israeli war of the late 1940s, a top priority for the displaced in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon and Syria was to tackle the need for physical shelter. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was a response to theContinue reading “Early Days—UNRWA and the Camps of Gaza”
The ‘Review of Famine Reports’ and Gaza— the UKLFI are at it Again
E. Mark Windle 31 March 2025. In the recent Review of Famine Reports, the UK Lawyers for Israel organisation (UKLFI) lodged their complaint regarding use of the Integrated Phase Classification categorisation of the risk and existence of famine in Gaza. Their allegations have included the use of inaccurate statistics, misinterpretation of raw data and poor dataContinue reading “The ‘Review of Famine Reports’ and Gaza— the UKLFI are at it Again”