Category Archives: Opinion

Snow encounters

Posted on March 20, 2018 by Matt

Sometimes when the cold grips the town it grips my heart, too, and I feel the need to get out in the snow and walk. Just so in winter’s late flowering yesterday, when I headed out in a flurry of … Continue reading →

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Observations in Paris 1: A Trump Voter

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Matt

Met a Trump voter in Paris. She was actually really an intelligent woman, which surprised me, because, I admit, I’ve built a stereotype of racist rednecks full of bigotry and hate being solely responsible for Trump’s rise to power. She … Continue reading →

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The Death of a Bookshop – Blackwell’s Portsmouth

Posted on March 2, 2018 by Matt

Sadly, after much imploring, petitioning and dissent among university and townsfolk alike, today sees the closure of Blackwell’s University Bookshop, Portsmouth. The shop has been the most extraordinary hub, with writers launching numerous books here, academics and townsfolk alike mingling … Continue reading →

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The strangeness of creatures 3: elephant kindness

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Matt

Another example of the conscious behaviour of animals – these elephants are excited and keen to offer succour to a new orphaned elephant. This is not explicable except in terms of awareness of others and their feelings.   WATCH: I … Continue reading →

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The strangeness of creatures: 2

Posted on July 11, 2017 by Matt

Part of my continuation of arguing for consciousness in animals – here we have a rabbit brawl broken up by two hens. Argue that in non-conscious terms. Ugly bunny fracas is swiftly broken up by the chicken police. pic.twitter.com/kTxMODYsGa — … Continue reading →

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Wonder Woman – three themes that made me cry

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Matt

SPOILER ALERT: This blog discusses plot points and scenes within the movie Wonder Woman. Okay, so it’s pretty slushy to admit to crying at watching a superhero movie. They never normally get me like that… but Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman … Continue reading →

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Wonder Woman – The movie and why it is great.

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Matt

I just got back from the early morning showing of Wonder Woman, and I’m crushed. It wasn’t just the brilliant visuals or the well-paced and intelligently thought-through secret origins story. Nor was it only the extreme attention to period detail … Continue reading →

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The strangeness of creatures: 1

Posted on May 29, 2017 by Matt

Strange video footage. As more and more footage of animals performing in apparently ritualistic ways and showing a degree of sophistication appears, it becomes more and more likely that the notion animals are not conscious will be jettisoned, like former concepts … Continue reading →

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That Article 50 Letter In Full

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Matt

That Article 50 Letter In Full. Dear Europe, I thought I’d write a quick line to say it was good fun, thanks for the stay, the visit was lovely, but we’re off, today so please – no more garlic, snails … Continue reading →

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Lyonesse – A Sonnet

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Matt

Lyonesse I was wrong about the blind right, thinking them haters and racists. No, some believe all will be well – we’ll have perpetual spring – a world full of golden light. How naïve! Though in some ways a relief, … Continue reading →

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