I am going to pay an acting agency to supply scores of beautiful actresses to attend my funeral and weep and lament piteously. They will be dressed like the woman in the Scottish Widows advert. The funeral will take place in a rocky barren place, it will be cold and very windy, and pissing down with rain. My casket will be carried by actors ( Read more... )

Whilst the following proposition, written by Proclus, relies on preceding propositions for a full understanding, in my view it fully harmonises with life experience and study and is worthy of continuous examination.

PROPOSITION XIII

Every good has the power of uniting its participants, and every union is good; and The Good is the same with The ( Read more... )

Look, apologies to those I’ve bored with this before, but isn’t it about time we invented new eating implements? In the East we have the delightfully simple chopsticks, in the West we have the ergonomic ‘pin and cut’ technique of the knife and fork, and in India, traditionally, we use our hands (which I greatly respect). Are we going to rest on ( Read more... )

Did anyone watch Synth Britannia? :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00n93c4/Synth_Britannia/

A fascinating slice of music history, methinks.

( Read more... )

"The intellect of the Father made a crashing noise, understanding with unwearied counsel omniform ideas. But with winged speed they leaped forth from one fountain: for both the counsel and the end were from the Father. In consequence, too, of being allotted an intellectual fire, they are divided into other intellectual forms: for the king ( Read more... )

Has anyone had a chance to listen to this years Reith Lectures on Radio 4? If not they're certainly worth hearing. Prof Michael Sandel's delivery is clear, relevant and philosophically engaging. Find the first two of four here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00729d9

The Outstanding Mr Knifton and I went to watch Star Trek last night and were so hepped up on its awesomeness (and sneaky screw-top wine) that we bolted from Holloway to Angel to catch the 10.30 screening of Terminator 4. As time was tight I sprinted to Tesco to buy more wine whilst Andy sorted the tickets. Both films have left me dazed with wow ( Read more... )

Does anyone know whether adoptive parents are obliged to inform their children that they're adopted by a certain age? I would have thought not, but not doing so does mean that in certain circumstance the children, when grown, will inadvertently provide false information which could have serious repercussions (such as when applying for security ( Read more... )

Just in case anyone was thinking of joining Andy and myself for Star Trek this evening it has been postponed until Thursday.