Month: March 2011

March for the Alternative

March 27, 2011
by Tom Royal
Leave a comment
photos / politics

Meet the Big Society: [swfobj src=”http://www.tomroyal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/march_pan.swf” height=”500″ width=”640″] The March for the Alternative, as viewed from the Royal Festival Hall as it set off around midday. Move mouse over image to pan. So yesterday I went to protest the Government’s agenda of public sector and welfare cuts. About 400,000 of us marched slowly and peacefully through London to Hyde Park, although from reading the papers today you’d think that we all took part in some […]

Priorities

March 19, 2011
by Tom Royal
Leave a comment
Japanese / journalism

From the Telegraph, yesterday (I’m not linking). Online journalism checklist: Apple and/or iPad angle to get the Google traffic? Check. Related to something that has happened recently? Check. Sense of perspective in light of huge tragedy? (Awkward silence) Because this is a rare example of shockingly angry-making journalism that falls under my work remit, I’ve written about it on the magazine blog, here: Because some things are clearly more important than the iPad.

Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森)

March 14, 2011
by Tom Royal
Leave a comment
Japanese / reviews

A few people have asked, so here’s a review of sorts: if you love the book, should you see the film? Two disclaimers up front: I’m no film expert, just an idiot with a history of low-rent literary criticism. Your level of agreement may vary. Also, I’m focusing purely on the perspective of those who know the book. If you haven’t read it, please stop here as I am going to spoil it in a […]

Facebook news: divorced from the facts

March 5, 2011
by Tom Royal
comments 3
journalism / the horror

Everyone loves a good Facebook news story – or rather, a bad one. And over the past few days, a classic has emerged: Facebook will wreck your marriage. See for example: Facebook cited in 20% of U.S. divorces (CBC News): “Facebook use has been cited in 1 of 5 U.S. divorce cases, according to a recent survey among American marriage lawyers.” Facebook Linked to More Divorces (Consumer Affairs): “The source of this observation is the […]