Nirvana? In An Art Gallery? So Very Wrong (3 mins)

An exhibition of photographs, videos of gigs and various memorabilia, collectively called “In Bloom” are being shown at the Loading Bay Gallery, Brick Lane, London at present, to mark the 20th anniversary of the release of “Nevermind”, Nirvana’s fastest-selling record. I was planning a trip to the capital this weekend, so there is a chance…

Bye-bye Stuffiness, Hello No Trousers Day (4 mins)

Seattle and New York celebrated No Pants Day this January. In London, it’s called No Trousers Day. To be accurate, the Brits also have a No Pants Day later in the year, where underwear remains at home and people just wear the trousers. Either time, no one is allowed to show or wear anything that…

Dreams Can Show What You Need To Know About The World (4 mins)

Dreams are the most readily accessible expression of our vast subconscious mind. They represent a bridge between conscious, rational, everyday thought and the mysterious ‘underworld’ of the unconscious. Dreams can restore our psychological balance and offer up exciting creative opportunities. How much of our brain is dedicated to conscious thought? Incredibly, only a minor proportion…

Never Look A Good Book In The Gift Horse… What? (6 mins)

Our ability to read may have evolved from our ancestor’s earliest hunting skills. Recognising and interpreting different animal tracks would have had huge advantages in the wild. Knowing which way a predator went, for instance, was probably very useful for avoiding attacks. Following the tracks of our next meal would also have helped us stay alive. So,…

Is This The Best Way To Change The World? (3 mins)

There is no doubt that a writer’s work can influence a wide range of cultural, political and social issues. The question I’m posing today is whether this influence is genre specific. It’s highly likely that we’ll be able to find a historical, philosophical piece of literary fiction or a non-fiction book that has caused or…