Hackers: Musings on a Molehill

by Gregory Walton-Green(source: mikeashworth.co.uk)Musings on a MolehillI saw a molehill in a fieldBreak through the lines of living green,With regimented rows of wheatUsurped by poppies, which lowered their yield.I gazed awhile upon this scene;This thought appeared within my head:Those moles who ravage ordered cropsFree the Earth for blooms of red.My mind fell down a rabbit-holeTo investigate the mole.Released from how the surface seemsI burrowed...

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England In India – 2nd Test

by Sampad SenguptaMonty PanesarAfter a disappointing outing in the first Test, England bounced back in fine style to register a convincing win over rivals India which now leaves the series wide open.  The Mumbai Test ended with England beating India by 10 wickets after the Indian batting line-up faltered against the English spin twins in both innings of the match.Both teams made changes to their sides from the first Test, deciding to boost their...

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Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

by Charlotte KnightonIf you haven’t read the book or seen the film here’s a bit of background. The Perks of Being a Wallflower was first published in the USA in 1999, but only reached the UK in 2009. It tells the story of a teenage boy (Charlie) who never feels like he fits in and is trying to figure out what exactly is wrong with him. Unusually, the novel is written purely in the form of Charlie writing letters to a person he has never met. The...

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Heroes or Zeroes?

by Charlie AlbueryQueen Gorgo – Near the end of 300, we take a break from all the slow-motion homoeroticism (slomoeroticism?) to show the Council deciding whether or not to send Leonidas the reinforcements that he desperately needs. Leonidas' wife, Queen Gorgo, is explaining to the council the painfully simple logic of "If we don’t send the reinforcements or we are all going to die," and then some doofus in a toga accuses her of trying to seduce...

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#8reasonswhyimontwitter

by Louisa Dassow#8reasonswhyimontwitter was a trend on November 7th 2012 and the majority of my Twitter timeline consisted of “Because Twitter is better than Facebook”. I disagree. It's not better, it's different. So I thought I would compile my own reasons :#1 Hashtags and TrendsWho actually used hash tags before Twitter? I've always liked the thought of a hash tag; its place on the keyboard intrigued me, but I had never used it before Twitter....

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The Legendary Paddy Leigh Fermor

by Josh BrownPatrick Leigh Fermor(source: Daily Telegraph)In the late 1930’s a young Anglo-Irishman set out to walk to Constantinople. His account would lead him to become a world-renowned travel writer. Patrick Leigh Fermor (Paddy) was the kind of tall, handsome, mild-mannered hero that now seems, sadly, part of the past. Despite an unimpressive school record, his fluent Greek led him to be parachuted into Crete to coordinate opposition to the Nazi...

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Mao Zedong: Re-evaluating His Legacy

by Billie DownerMao Tse Tung, 1930s(source: drben.net)China is in the global spotlight at the moment as Xi Jinping becomes leader, supposedly through election by over 2,000 party delegates but more likely by the choice of a few Communist Party elders. China is now one of the most powerful countries in the world economically; we probably all remember growing up as a child the phrase ‘Made in China’ stamped on many toys, games and everyday items....

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Larry Hagman: A Tribute

by Emma Bell"You're a loser, Barnes. Always have been, always will be."(source: Daily Mail) Larry Hagman has died aged 81. It seems scarcely possible that this larger than life actor is no longer striding across the terrace at Southfork, glowering and sneering in equally majestic proportions.  (source: fumed.com)Hagman was the son of Broadway legend Mary Martin and joined her in the business as a young man, striking early success with the...

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Portsmouth Point Poetry: 'Strange Meeting'

Following George Laver's commentary on Book 24 of 'The Iliad', George Neame explores Wilfred Owen's haunting poem, 'Strange Meeting'.It seemed that out of the battle I escapedDown some profound dull tunnel, long since scooped   Through granites which Titanic wars had groined.Yet also there encumbered sleepers groaned,Too fast in thought or death to be bestirred.Then, as I probed them, one sprang up, and staredWith piteous...

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Do You Hear What I Hear?: An Alternative Christmas Selection

by Dave AllenI’ve written this, in part, in response to the interesting Point piece about Christmas music, 'Top 5 Christmas Covers'. I might have called it 'The Least Likely (to be) Christmas Covers….'.Around 40 years ago, ‘Prog Rock’ bass guitarist Greg Lake enjoyed a solo seasonal Top Ten hit which reminded us that, “the Christmas we get we deserve”. At a personal level, whether you choose secular or spiritual, family or ‘freedom’, is your business but, if Greg was right, then the collective Christmas we “deserve” in this country appears...

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What Are The True Origins of Christmas?

by Katherine Tobin Early image of the NativityBelonging to a family with no particular religious views, the topic of Christmas for me simply implies the roast dinner, the Christmas songs hitting the radio a month in advance, the presents and, of course, the snow (fingers crossed, but still doubtful). But, obviously, to many Christians around the world, Christmas is a bit more meaningful than that - a time to celebrate the birth of their saviour,...

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Ten Love Stories Which Are Better Than 'Twilight'

by Hugh SummersThere are at least 10 love stories better than this one(source: screencrush.com)When I was trying to come up with an idea for the article, I searched in the deepest darkest parts of the internet for inspiration. I turned to the blog itself and remembered Tom Harper's article on meme theory. I thought of perhaps mimicking the idea behind it, until I was reminded of the recently released Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part 2. I am not...

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