Matthew Stadlen asks Peter Hitchens a few questions in the BBC’s Five Minutes programme. MS: “Do you think it’s possible to have a viable moral code without God?” PH: “No.” MS: “Explain to me why you think that.” PH: “Well, anybody can have a moral code but unless it originates from some power of source that you can’t control you’ll …
London2012 Opening Ceremony: The power and the might
There were the scoffers, the doubters, the haters, and the wish-it-were-us-ers. There was the expectation, the hope, the promise, and the collective big breath. There were roles for Boris, Beckham, Cameron, and a cumbersome cameo for a chap called Romney. And then, on Friday 27th July at 9pm, the questions were answered and the negative comments rebutted. London 2012 opened …
Amazon Links
From time to time I like to write about books that I have read. When I write a review I try to include links to these resources online. I primarily use Amazon because I like their service and they offer commission on sales. Running a website has some costs involved, one of the ways I can mitigate these costs is …
The Key To Frustration Is Unmet Expectation
I am about to start something new in Oxford, and for it to work it is going to need a great team. Now, two things I have learnt about starting new teams are: Always build a team around people you can BBQ with Deal with expectations early These two principles have stood me well as I have worked in, and …
There’s Nothing Cheap About Loyalty
In the 2009 film ‘Up In The Air’, Ryan Bingham is one of American Airlines most prized customers. Spending half of his life flying the skies, Ryan lives a light-weight, un-attached life, jettisoning contemporary, cultural values in a quest for personal freedom. Casting off the cares of the world, Ryan strikes a sharp pose, especially so when contrasted with his …
What’s Your Purpose?
On Saturday 7th April I sat down in my college common room, with my friends, to watch the Boat Race. Since 1829 this amateur event has captured special attention and it is listed amongst the crowning achievements of any rower’s career. With demanding training for 6 hours a day, for 7 months, alongside full time Oxford or Cambridge studies, there …
Suffering and Calvin & Hobbes
For ten years Bill Watterson entertained the world through his cartoon series, Calvin and Hobbes. In these cartoons Calvin – an intrepid little boy – is always off on some grand adventure with his faithful sidekick, Hobbes. Calvin’s father – a hybrid of Watterson’s own father and himself – is often seen trying to help little Calvin “build character”, usually …
Is Alpha Backwards?
And so I found myself on one typically damp and overcast English afternoon, standing on a busy street in southeast Oxford inviting people to come to an ‘Alpha Launch Party’ – step one on the Alpha Course. Aside from the internal moral deliberation/dilemma – is it wrong to invite people to a “free meal” and then hit them sideways with …
Pride and Fear
Pride and fear. Dream robbers. They usually go hand in hand these two. I’ve known both in my life and looking back on the memories they’ve produced is about as much fun as a naked paintball session in Scotland, in February. I live with my regrets. My failures threaten to haunt me if given half the chance. “If only …” …
New Friends – New Blogs
One of the greatest delights of the programme I’m studying right now are my fellow students. It truly is an honour to be surrounded by such an extraordinary bunch of people who all have a certain joie de vivre. Here are some of their blogs. Well worth following. Ian Martin Jon Morrison Micah Ruelle Seth Rikard