Andrew Young FSI
BBC World Service radio leaves Bush House this year. The final broadcast will be a news bulletin on 12th July at midday UK time (Newshour's final broadcast was on the night of Sunday 1st July, podcast here) so I've decided to commemorate the move by trying to find out who Andrew Young was. This fine plaque sits on the southern side of Bush House's central block facing the northern side of St. Mary le Strand. It's next to the portico where all the BBC smokers decamped to once the ban kicked in. I've passed it regularly since late 2005 and have ...
Stob Ghabhar by Moonlight
At 3500 ft Stob Ghabhar commands respect in summer so a winter walk is definitely not something undertaken lightly but in February 2012 there was a sort of weather 'Quickening' where a confluence of certain elements produced a window of about 24 - 48 hours of almost perfect conditions for a climb. The photos below were taken by Scotland's second-best landscape snapper and Colin Prior-worrier Andy Fair. They're in sequence starting with the river shot just near the car park around midday which is late to be taking on a Munro but we wanted to hit the summit at around 4:30 ...
Wolfsbane Reunited
Joy of joys. Tamworth's finest metallers -- Wolfsbane -- are back together after God knows how long an absence. They have a new album which came out a couple of weeks ago: "Wolfsbane Saves the World", check out great new track "Smoke and Red Light". Wolfsbane aren't yet on Spotify so for the first time in years I bought an actual CD . . . my copy is on its way as I write. I must declare an interest. Back in 1986 or 1987 I was working at Moor Hall Hotel as a gardener . . . basically a skivvy with secaturs. ...
One scallion please, and hold the entrails…
According to Lonely Planet's China guide: China has one of the finest cuisines in the world, and from back-alley dumpling shops to four-star banquet halls, travellers surely won't leave disappointed You've got to ask if this is yet more Lonely Planet chicanery? I've never been to China but if my experience in rural Thailand and Laos is anything to go by, I'll bet the vast majority of the population have never seen the delights on offer down London's Chinatown (crispy fried aromatic duck, pork-belly stockpot etc etc) . Far more likely for your average Chinaman the daily grind of the above menu ...
Articles & Interviews
Wednesday 14th January 2015 — we will see who really is Charlie
Jimmy Cliff in 1973 Sooner or later you’re gonna have to stand up tall Sooner or later when your backs against that wall Sooner or later you’ll...
The Double Negative of the independence referendum
UPDATE: Just over 24 hours until polls close I’m laying my cards on the table, Scotland will reject independence with the following result:...
5 Reasons Why the Battle for Online Privacy Will be Lost
An admittedly gloomy take on the privacy debate . . A version of this article also appears at the venerable Computerworld.com Read More →
First Utility is Officially Cheaper than British gas . . . according to British Gas
If you’re not from the UK this post won’t mean much to you. Here though, the 2013 news agenda has been very much concerned with the UK’s...
The Heartlessness of ‘Scotland’s Future’
A flurry of coverage yesterday of the SNP’s “Scotland’s Future” document . . . one thing stood out for me: the sheer, cold hard-headedness of it...
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