Why Is Mr Universe Always From Earth?

Modernism Has A Reputation For Being A Forbidding Phenomenon: Its Visual Arts Disconcertingly Non-representational, Its Literary Efforts Devoid Of The Consolations Of Plot And Character - Even Its Films, It's Argued, Fall Well Short Of That True Desideratum: Entertainment.

Sometimes It Occurs To Me That The Job Of A Serious Cultural Critic Mostly Consists In Telling The Generality Of People That Their Opinions - On Films, On Books, On All Manner Of Widgets, Gadgets And Even The Latest Electronic Fidgets - Simply Aren't Up To Scratch.

Things Are Only Boring If You Are Boring.

I Write As Someone Who Has No More Time For Repressive Islam Than He Does For Repressive Christianity Or Judaism, But At Least Look At The Face In The Hijab - And Try To Imagine The One Beneath The Niqab - Before You Depersonalise Its Wearer.

Sometimes, When I Hear People Without Experience Of Addiction Blame Addicts For Their Behaviour I Feel Like Saying To Them: "you Simply Don't Understand - How Can A Child Be Held Responsible For Doing Such A Dreadful Thing To Himself?" But Then Again, At Other Times I Have To Acknowledge: It Was Done Wilfully.