Tag Archives: The Guardian
On repeat
Perhaps this should come as little surprise. A new study has discovered that the popularity of far-right groups is on the rise across Europe, even in the parts previously considered too enlightened to go in for that sort of thing, … Continue reading
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Road to nowhere
For all of those readers who aren’t students of the 1930s – and why wouldn’t you be, given that we seem to be hell-bent on recreating it? – all I can say is, well. Be warned, the last time foreign … Continue reading
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Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust
Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust. – The Clash The Clash? Just a band. – Scroobius Pip Last week’s announcement of new dates by what is usually described as (take a deep breath) ‘seminalManchesterindiedancecrossoverband’ The Stone Roses caused a predictable … Continue reading
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The truth
It is difficult to imagine the emotions that the families of the 96 victims of the Hillsborough Disaster must be feeling today, at the news that all government papers – including uncensored cabinet meeting minutes – are to be made … Continue reading
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The tip of the iceberg
The News International scandal is just the tip of the iceberg of unelected oligarchies and corporate power in Britain’s democracy, according to a new report by David Beetham of the LSE, arguing that: it serves to distract attention, as the … Continue reading
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Phone hacking: the end of the beginning?
Having spent the weekend taking journalism’s weak pulse, it would be remiss not to at least glance at the chart of the biggest media story of my lifetime. Especially since yesterday saw further revelations from the parliamentary select committee and … Continue reading
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Hillsborough: another year passes
I was a little kid in 1989. Smaller than some of the ones I now teach, a bit of a geek, perhaps too fond of my Kate Bush cassettes, spending school holidays watching Star Wars on video over and over … Continue reading
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As Nasty As They Wanna Be
Well, they managed it. Cameron’s Conservatives – no doubt already wearying of the compassionate bit – have their ‘stealing the milk‘ moment. Since Maggie snatched the white stuff from millions of schoolchildren way back when, condemning them to easily snapped … Continue reading
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WikiLeaks: the sound of a stable door slamming
Dorothy Parker, LCD Soundsystem, Paul Auster, Bob Dylan, John Coltrane, Jack Kerouac, Jimmy Hendrix, Billie Holiday, Muhammed Ali, MC5, Hunter S. Thompson, Blondie, Joel & Ethan Coen, Bruce Springsteen, Marilyn Monroe, Johnny Depp… At times such as these, when America … Continue reading
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The art of surprise
The only surprise is that people seem to be surprised. This is probably the third time in living memory, after all, that the Conservative Party has effectively told the poorer parts of the UK to fuck off and die, preferably … Continue reading
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