Morrissey

Generally, I am someone who insists on reading a book from cover to cover before even contemplating the idea of starting another, but when S presented me with Morrissey's Autobiography as an early Christmas present (most likely to keep me quiet on our long train journey home), I couldn't resist starting it straight away.  I will not attempt to review it here, except to say that it is bitter, hilarious, vitriolic and self aware in equal parts, and an essential read for any Morrissey or Smiths fan.  What I will say is that it has re-awakened my fascination with this famously reclusive man, and whilst trawling the internet for interview footage (of which there is little), I stumbled upon the documentary below which seeks to answer the question, why is Morrissey so fascinating?!  It's longer than the average video posted on here (I'm still getting through it myself), but an interesting insight into the mind of the Morrissey fan... 

A History of everything, Including You

I recently saw in New Scientist that reading fiction (specifically literary fiction, which involves more complex characters) temporarily increases your ability to empathise with other people.  To celebrate this, and in an attempt to make the world more empathetic, I want to point you towards a fantastic short story by Jenny Hollowell.  The story is called "A Complete History of Everything, Including You", and was first brought to my attention via the Radiolab podcast (which you should also check out if you like well told stories).  I searched around to try and find the story in the hope of printing the text on this blog, but instead I found something better: a recording of the author reading the story.  So please, click below and spend seven minutes of your day immersed in Jenny's world, and see how it affects you.

Ryan McArthur

Host

After a weekend entertaining my parents, largely with the use of alcohol, this quote seemed quite apt:

"In wine there is wisdom,

In beer there is freedom,

In water there is bacteria."

 - Benjamin Franklin

I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend.