Wednesday 25 May 2011

All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace


It's all Ayn Rand's fault.

Tuesday 17 May 2011

The Witcher 2, Skyrim, Dragon Age 2: The End of Dungeons and Dragons


Welcome to the New World.

Tuesday 10 May 2011

Let Me Take You Down: Perdido Street Station / China Miéville


Steampunk gothic horror; the screaming clank of dark iron machinery; birds who are men; cacti who are men; beetles who are men; men who have been remade into creatures of horror. Welcome to Perdido Street Station. How will you sleep at night?

Monday 9 May 2011

Fallen Hero of the First World War: Noel Godfrey Chavasse

About a week ago, the final man to have seen active service during the First World War, Claude Choules, died at the age of 110. With history that is now nearly a century distant it is all too easy to forget that those involved were but human beings who happened to live through extraordinary times. Their actions during those times defined them, and defines our history, and informs how we define ourselves. One such man was Noel Godfrey Chavasse, whose honours were all but unique.

Sunday 8 May 2011

Norman Mailer's An American Dream


Controversial, sexist, vicious, brutal, melancholic. Forty-six years old, it still punches hard.

Thursday 5 May 2011

Vote 2011 UK

Today, a minority of people in the UK voted on local elections, and on the referendum on changing the voting system. The results aren't in yet, but there are several points worth making about it right now.

Wednesday 4 May 2011