Monthly Archives: July 2009

Mention the War

Posted on 31 July 2009 by Robert

Well, Harry Patch and Henry Alligham are gone, and our own memories will start to fade. Its not the job of poets to rewrite history. Its enough for them to keep the memory strong. Continue reading →

Posted in History | Leave a comment

A Family Portrait

Posted on 31 July 2009 by Robert

Here’s a short interview with the animator Joseph Peirce about the forthcoming A Family Portrait, produced by Fifty Nine. Its about a family portrait session going bad. Continue reading →

Posted in Film | 3 Comments

Balkanisation and the Internet

Posted on 24 July 2009 by Robert

The Internet Age could lead to the breakdown of nation states into smaller political units. Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Cultures, Europe, Globalisation, Internet Philosophy, Multiculturalism | 26 Comments

Linklog for 8th July to 22nd July

Posted on 22 July 2009 by Robert

My del.icio.us links: 8th July to 22nd July Infinite Detox – Bloody Hell: "Infinite Detox es my efforts to kick a tramadol dependency via a close reading of David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest." English PEN wants publishers to resist criminal … Continue reading →

Posted in Linklog | 1 Comment

Hyperverbal

Posted on 22 July 2009 by Robert

I think ‘hyperverbal’ was precisely the word I wanted to use to describe the work of David Foster Wallace and Neal Stephenson. Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Cultures, Internet Philosophy | 2 Comments

Big Geeky American Novels

Posted on 20 July 2009 by Robert

I’m glad to see Infinite Jest mentioned alongside Cryptonomicon, because there are some obvious similarities. Continue reading →

Posted in Books | 1 Comment

Thoughts on Apollo, part II

Posted on 19 July 2009 by Robert

A major feature of the analysis of the Apollo missions, is the constant lament that we’ve never gone back to The Moon, or (and this is Buzz Aldrin’s formulation) that we haven’t reached Mars. However, I wonder if this is … Continue reading →

Posted in Science, Space Travel | Leave a comment

Thoughts on Apollo, part I

Posted on 19 July 2009 by Robert

Its the anniversary if the first moon landing tomorrow. Here’s yrstruly on Twitter: I really can’t get enough Apollo XI anniversary coverage. An extraordinary boundary in human achievement. Two minor thoughts on why I find the Apollo missions so fascinating. … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Science, Space Travel | Leave a comment

Two Missing Posters

Posted on 15 July 2009 by Robert

Two variations on a theme. First, a bizarre missing poster from the streets of Islington… Continue reading →

Posted in London, Photo-Blog, Visual | 1 Comment

Liberalism and Legalisation

Posted on 14 July 2009 by Robert

Dominic Grieve spoke of the “mythological state of absolute security.” Perhaps we need to speak of a mythological state of absolute health too, and admit that the consequence of decriminalisation will be an uptick in cannabis use. Continue reading →

Posted in Diary, Law and Order, NHS, Politics | 5 Comments