I described TV Smith as "Chomsky with a Guitar" the other day. That was before I'd listened properly to the two albums I bought at his gig. Having now done so, my opinion.... has not shifted one little bit. Is there a way forward You’ve the will Technology and the skill They tell you to... Continue Reading →
Chomsky with a guitar – aka TV Smith #punknotdead
Punk isn't dead, and won't be while TV Smith can draw breath and hold a plectrum. Going on tonight's performance, that will be a good 25 years yet. Smith, who was there as a proper punk in the 70s, has the energy of a gobby gobbing 20 year old, but the skills and cynicism of... Continue Reading →
Psycho-analysing the species – on the 20th Century & pre-tits-up 21st…
Hmmm, I am dubious about the value of trying to psycho-analyze societies. And when I say "we" and "the species" I am v. conscious of mostly meaning white middle-class male Westerners. But still, maybe this will provoke someone into sending me some very good reading suggestions. ATT (After the Thesis) I am going to read... Continue Reading →
“The responsibility of intellectuals” Or “After I get shot in the head”
Some guy, I forget who, said that it was the responsibility of intellectuals to expose lies and tell the truth. Meh, as far as it goes, sure. Which truths to who gets more interesting…. If I get shot in the head (and given my deteriorating relationship with Manchester City Council, this is not impossible), and... Continue Reading →
Here comes the “2050” bullshit. Be happy for it. #climate
The future is here, and we are avoiding it. 2020 used to be the target year, by which we had done x and y and z. Sadly, we didn't do those things. A mix of complacency, distraction, stupidity and incompetence mostly explains that. So it goes. But this presents the happy shiny people (HSP) who... Continue Reading →
The “Greenhouse Mafia”, ten years on. #Australia #auspol #climate
Ten years ago today Four Corners broadcast a programme on “the greenhouse mafia”. In hindsight it can be seen as the starting gun for a two year sprint that led to “the first climate change election” It's worth knowing the history and actions of one of the groups revealed by that documentary. The first time... Continue Reading →
Film Review: “The Big Short” and the air-brushed women
My brilliant friend (he really is) and I went to see "The Big Short" on Saturday. We both really liked it. It's clever without being tricksy, its well-paced and brilliantly acted. We noted the maleness of it, but weren't particularly concerned (though alarm bells should have been ringing for me, since I've seen "Inside Job".... Continue Reading →
Advocacy Coalitions Framework – a video
The "Advocacy Coalition Framework" is a very useful tool for researching and thinking about how public policy does - or doesn't - change, especially on really contentious issues. It looks at how groups of actors that have enough in common bond together to try to get all/most of what they want. I'd heartily recommend you... Continue Reading →
Brilliant satire and observations of the games of academia/science
"The first step is to create a task force to develop a proposal for funding for a workshop as a preparatory step toward a conference. Once you get funding for a workshop, you’re pretty well along for getting funding for a conference, because the workshop can compile a list of problems that the funding agency... Continue Reading →
Repost: Kevin Anderson interviewed on outcomes of Paris
Reposted from Manchester Climate Monthly. Professor Kevin Anderson of the Tyndall Centre Manchester kindly agreed to a further interview. In this first part we discuss the outcomes of the recent UN climate conference in Paris, the reality of fossil fuel subsidies and the signal the Paris agreement may (or may not) send to big business... Continue Reading →
