Highlights
I hate this
But does it matter? — I don’t usually say that sort of thing here. I try to be more measured, less personal. I’m talking about the police face recognition vans obviously. This might not surprise you: I mean that I don’t like them. I’m an old git after all, a man who’s written here before […]
Nearly half a bicycle
The atomic theory in Kilburn — This place (on Kilburn High Road) has been morphing steadily from dry cleaner’s to bike shop over the last few years. I remember being surprised one morning to see a few kids’ bikes lined up for sale outside but I’d say the shop is now approaching 50% bike shop. […]
Where is my patriotism?
Come, love of country, fill my heart… — I do love Britain. I guess I love England more. London most of all. I hope that in my life I’ve honoured the place I live and not disgraced it or undermined it (I support England and GB in sporting events – I fly a little flag […]
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Quotas for BBCi
Owen Gibson in The Guardian wants the BBC to be compelled to apply the 25% independent production quota to the web.
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Anti-singularists
Singularities and other tech-determinist fantasies are shown the door in John Seely Brown and Paul Duguid’s The Social Life of Information. This is the sanest, most humane book I’ve read…
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You’ll have to wait until the interval…
I’m afraid I’m bringing this concert to your attention about 15 months late. Luckily the ‘performance’ isn’t due to finish for another 637 years so you have time to get…
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The Singularity
Proper Science Fiction writer Vernor Vinge is preparing his speech for the day the singularity doesn’t happen. Although I should probably get on with preparing mine for the day after…
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A gruffalo? What’s a gruffalo?
If you’re in charge of small children (3 and up) and you can still get tickets, I think you should take them to see Tall Stories Theatre Company’s deliriously entertaining…
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Forecasting
I’m bookmarking The FT’s page of predictions for 2003 from business, finance, politics, diplomacy and culture mainly so that I can check back next year to see how they did.…
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New religions
If you were to invent a new religion – a post-enlightnment, post-Darwin, post-DNA, post-space travel religion – what would it look like? Would it scrap a conventional, external deity in…
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Oh no it isn’t!
Happy Christmas From Steve Bowbrick! — .Have a great new year, stay in touch and do let me know what you’re up to.
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Creative Commons
Let me get this straight right up front: I think the public domain is critically important to human advancement, I think the net is its most important representative on this…
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Readership in need of renewal
Peter Preston highlights the effects on newspaper publishing of the UK’s falling birthrate and aging population.
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Joe Strummer
I’m certain we’ll see better obituaries for Joe Strummer from some of the great writers of that period (many of whom are presumably now drowning their sorrows) but, in the…