Dystopia

voxpoliticalonline.com

There are marginally fewer books and films depicting the future breakdown of civilisation than there are infinite possibilities in a multiverse that can only be explained using string theory via the voice box of Stephen Hawking. It was Thomas More who coined the word “Utopia” way back in 1516 and was subsequently separated from his head by an unhappy Henry VIII. A mere 350 years later, no less than John Stuart Mill came up with the antonym “Dystopia” to describe a very bad government.

Virginia

It is sickening to realise that we have evolved into a species that finds it acceptable to exploit violent death for profit. Newspaper proprietors and television news executives are happy to display the final moment of a taken life to boost circulation and viewing figures and in so doing, make money. Rather than expressing disgust, we buy the papers and watch the broadcasts. It seems that we are sitting in a global coliseum being entertained by wild animals tearing slaves apart proving that Darwin might need to fine-tune his theory of evolution.

Tears before bedtime

Philip Larkin was only partially correct in suggesting that we project our own faults onto our children; he forgot the bits about bequeathed neuroses and anxiety. The dead poet and librarian might have held some unpleasant opinions but he took his own advice and by having no children of his own avoided the gathering apprehension of an offspring’s A Level results day. Thursday was always going to be a tense morning.

Rich

Four across – Caped Crusader in a Kaftan – ends with d something h

It`s a bit rich for a government that allows George Osborne to dole out billions of pounds of public money to his wealthy friends to then accuse a charity of financial irregularities. Kids Company, you may recall, once provided care and support to some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people abandoned by a callous government that regards yet another Lamborghini for an investment banker as more of a priority than social care for the victims of abuse.

How much?

Via nottinghampost.com

Setting aside the impulse purchase of a Betamax video player and an eight track cartridge player for a Sinclair C5, forking out 140 quid for a seat in the Radcliffe Road end at Trent Bridge for the fourth day of the Ashes test seemed rather rash.

England, however, easily won the Ashes before noon on the third day and thus the long planned journey to Nottingham was rendered redundant. Fortunately, Trent Bridge gives refunds so the dosh is earmarked for a shopping trolley full of Fosters and a case of Jacob`s Creek Shiraz.