PinnedOn Dependency: How The Free Market Chains SocietyJust wanted to say thanks. There’s a phrase that seems paradoxical. The “just” makes it, the giving thanks, seem small. Gratitude always seems tricky to express properly. If you over-do it you sound like you’re more into the aggrandising, or pageantry than the quiet act of giving thanks to someone. …Neoliberalism7 min readNeoliberalism7 min read
PinnedTrue Democracy: No Politicians, No Parties, No ProblemThe idea of a Citizen’s Assembly, or Sortition is often seen as using a lottery system to select people at random to make up, or supplement our typical political structures. …Politics7 min readPolitics7 min read
Jun 2, 2021Creative Call To ArmsTaste is incredibly rare, while ignorance and idiocy are wholly abundant. If you have good taste, pay attention and are intelligent, you are especially rare. As such, it is your duty to do whatever you can to bring about good, intelligent, tasteful creations into this world. The world has enough…Creativity2 min readCreativity2 min read
Mar 16, 2021The Story of Socrates: Finding Wisdom in IgnoranceAthens of old was a melting pot of new ideas, emerging from the minds of many philosophers who walked the ancient city’s cobbled streets. One such scholar, provocateur and convicted criminal was called Socrates. Despite the fact he was convinced he knew absolutely nothing, he is thought of today as…Philosophy10 min readPhilosophy10 min read
Sep 6, 2020If Brexit Was a Legal CaseIf Brexit was a legal case, there would be no Brexit. In law misrepresentation is selling a product or service with misleading information. If a proprietor does this, and a person buys into the lie, the contract is considered void. In law duress is pressurising someone to entering into a…Brexit2 min readBrexit2 min read
Aug 27, 2020“Cops Walked Up & Shot Jessie Down” —Blind Willie McTell’s Song For Our Times1920’s Bluesman, Blind Willie McTell’s “Dyin’ Crapshooters Blues” is one of my favourite songs ever written. I like it for it’s macabre wit — “dig my grave with the ace of spades”, incredible melody, and narrative. …BlackLivesMatter3 min readBlackLivesMatter3 min read
Jul 18, 2019Should Artists Suffer For Their Art?Ireland just introduced a new dole, a social welfare for unemployed artists. It’s 200 euro a week, in your pocket, no questions asked. Soon as I heard this, my gut reaction was “can’t be, it’s too good to be true”. And that feeling has stuck with me, even as I…Music6 min readMusic6 min read
Nov 11, 2018The Impact of Music on EmotionWithout a word of French, somehow I still dither on the brink of complete blubbering mess every time I listen to Jacque Brel’s “ne me quitte pas”. The Francophone, chanson singer lays claim to a wide breath of musical influence, with Nina Simone and David Bowie noting him as a…Music4 min readMusic4 min read
Nov 6, 2018The Five Stages of Hearing LossJoining a rock band when you’re eleven plays havoc with your ears in the long run… evidently. After countless sessions, wherein my fellow miniature punk peers blasted our amplifiers, and assaulted our instruments, I was left with continuous ringing in both my ears. Tinnitus is terrible, there’s no way around…Health4 min readHealth4 min read
Sep 17, 2018Kurfürstenstraße: Living in Berlin’s Red Light DistrictIt was a sweltering May morning, and I was ten minutes early for my 10am flat interview. Quite pleased with the fact I’d managed to find the place, I decided to explore. I had travelled a staggering ten paces before someone grabbed my arm, muttering something I couldn’t quite catch…Travel2 min readTravel2 min read
