20th Century
A History of Pop Music – 1955
Featured song: Bill Haley & His Comets with “Rock Around the Clock”. This is a series of articles looking at pop music from 1955 when in my opinion proper pop music began up to 1999 [more…]
Media
Arts
Just Like Nazi Germany
This is for those on the left of politics and others who shout that things are “just like Nazi Germany!” Are the Nazis really coming? The short answer is no. Then why is everything being [more…]
Arts
The Persuasive Power of The Narrative™
Whenever I go to a supermarket and look for washing powder, I am influenced by advertising, even if I think I’m not. I’m intelligent, I know when this ad thing kicks in, I can recognise [more…]
Arts
Far Right?
“What about the far right!” is the cry from the mainstream media and the left of politics. It’s the phrase we hear again and again, over and over. It is thrown around with seemingly wild [more…]
Arts
Media Favourites
You have probably noticed by now that the media likes to play favourites. Certain groups get far more attention, and praise is lavished upon them. Indeed, in some cases it seems that they can do [more…]
Arts
This Septic Eye, Ch 12
The Clooneys and the Elton-Johns were not the only people attending a wedding last week, yours truly was also present at some family nuptials just a few short days ago. Our little gathering unhappily lacked [more…]
Arts
Free Speech
Photo by Newtown Graffiti on Flickr Fundamental to free speech is the right to criticise. It may seem a small thing but it is vitally important. Try living without it. To be able to say, [more…]
Arts
This Septic Eye, Ch 5
I find myself increasingly confused as to the point of TV commercials nowadays or even what the actual product is. Back in the old days, we were shown a triangle of Dairylea and a child [more…]
Education
Using Evidence – A Guide to Living in an Information Age
The Past Previously I was a History teacher for 10 years. One of the most important skills I learned and taught others was how to critically examine information and evidence that you are presented with. [more…]