When James Bond arrives at his Istanbul hotel in From Russia With Love, he finds that the room is bugged (naturally), is moved to the bridal suite, and orders breakfast: green figs, yoghurt and coffee — very black — for nine o’clock delivery. As this has been the week of social proof, I’d like to [...]

Mention to some people that you blog and an accusatory stare springs to their face — as if you have departed the planet and returned with green antennae. Even suggest in polite English company of-a-certain-age that you use any kind of computer gadgetry and you are confined to the tradesman’s entrance of their interest for [...]

Knackered Hackette swoons with nostalgia Now seems a good time, after Knackered Downunder’s disappointing airplane movie experience, to mention a recent book launch at our local bookshop, Topping Books. The new book in question was Fred and Ginger: The Astaire-Rogers Partnership 1934-1938by Hannah Hyam, published by Pen Press at £15. Grey hairs in the audience [...]

A physical resemblance between Mr Magoo and Alan Greenspan has been noted. But does the likeness extend further? In a spirit of counterfactual journalism — inspired by the Niall Ferguson school of history — the Knackered Hack would like to invite readers to comment on what would have happened to the economy and business if [...]