Richard D North.

On culture, Nature, liberal issues, monasticism, spirituality

Page 27 of all posts

“Rev” could not have imagined Justin Welby

Eton, Trinity (Cambridge), Elf, Alpha (Holy Trinity, Brompton), Newsnight (“The trouble with austerity is, what’s a slight chill in Chelsea is a pretty good ice age up here.”), Imagine (played on the bells of Liverpool Cathedral) and on to Lambeth. It’s a heavenly progression, and a testimony to the insight of the BBC’s Rev.… Read more...

Published

10 November 2012

Filed in

Mind & body, On TV & Radio

Newsnight’s latest blunder

After Steve Hewlett's masterly commentary on the mea culpa Newsnight (BBC2, 9 November 2012), I would only add two thoughts. Read more...

Published

10 November 2012

Filed in

On TV & Radio, Politics & campaigns

The GOP might learn from climate change

The US Republicans have the problem of comprising lots of angry, dim, religiose and mean white people. Well, that's not fair, but it's the perception that's holding them back.  So how come I see great hope in the climate change which seems like it's beginning to bite in the US? The answers have been pointed-at in a brilliant piece by Camilla Cavendish in The Times (8 November 2012, "Sober suits know better than bearded greens".)  Read more...

Published

08 November 2012

Filed in

Politics & campaigns

“Killng Them Softly” (2012): Four star

Lazy or abstracted, a bit of both, I hadn't researched Killing Them Softly before I schlepped round to a late-evening screening in Belfast. It was a revelation. A little bit The Driver, and a little bit anything by Scorsese (but less posy) and somewhat Gomorrah. Read more...

Published

26 October 2012

Filed in

On movies

“Barbara” (2012): 4 star movie

This is a powerful move: involving, intelligent, scary. A bit of a paint-dryer, and no harm in that. Not quite a tear-jerker, which is good. But why did the man in the urinals say it was sentimental? Read more...

Published

25 October 2012

Filed in

On movies

Right-wing heroes

During an outing on the Daily Politics Andrew (BBC TV, 20 September 2012) Neil asked me about right-wing heroes. I think we agreed that they were thin on the ground. I mentioned Keith Richards on account of his "the buck stops here" attitude to drug abuse. (And forgetting his claim to anti-Establishment dissidence, cited in Jonathan Haidt's The Righteous Mind.) I collected myself sufficiently to add Margaret Thatcher and Sir Keith Joseph. Below, are some more. Read more...

Published

17 October 2012

Filed in

Politics & campaigns, RDN's media outings
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