Culture
The Suppliant Women: a drama for our time
Two and a half thousand years old, the tale first written by Aeschylus could hardly be more topical. Themes of democracy, citizenship, rights of women (and wrongs of men) weave through the rhythmic text, in…
Nobel physicists could revolutionalise computing
It might take between ten and 30 years before scientists become sufficiently good at manipulating electrons to make quantum computing possible…They could simulate the formation of molecules, for example, which is numerically too complicated for…
National Poetry Day: mixed messages
“And their message – in printed cards and performance poetry – is that both poetry and libraries matter.” On how Glasgow Libraries and the Big Issue – and countless others – celebrate(d) National Poetry Day.
Brace yourself for Burns mit Beethoven
“But we are being untrue to the great man if we don’t acknowledge that his songs first appeared to his own public in this (posh) way. We ought to pause and appreciate them for what…
Poetry with a European twist in Portree
“For when it comes down to it, this, for me, is what it is all about. Hope for the future – as long as mountains stand and rivers run – lies in our interconnectedness. Across…
Boston in the company of Carlotta Carlyle, Private Investigator
‘Exploring the city of Boston, I have enlisted the help of a private eye. A six-foot-one ass-kicking redhead who moonlights as a part-time cabbie and roams the city night and day, rooting out the corruption…
So what’s so bad about being a Trotskyist?
Though there is fierce disagreement about the extent of any Marxist revolutionary incursion into Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour there is less dispute – for both his supporters and opponents – that it is bad news. For…
Standup and deliver: backstage gossip beyond the Fringe
Looking at the rapidly evolving comedy culture, Fay Young tiptoes behind the Fringe scenes to eavesdrop on backstage gossip between comedians Susan Morrison and Bruce Morton: ‘Well, that was a bit shit,’ remembers Bruce, recalling…
Sturgeon’s diminishing timeframe for Scottish indy
Nicola Sturgeon is about to launch the SNP’s much-delayed “summer” initiative to win over No voters to support independence and, maybe, #indyref2. But two books by two prominent Scottish professors, reviewed here, suggest she has…
Media bloodbath a’comin
“The baby boomers’ stranglehold is broken. Let’s break the rules. Open shit up. The mainstream media is so closed to young people. Hand it over to the kids.” Shane Smith on the turbulent media times…
