Author: rrn69

UncategorizedLeave a comment

Political conflict amid age of AI

rrn69

As open internet is fragmenting and democracies aim to control Big Tech, Silicon Valley adopts an American-first agenda, and authoritarian regimes like China and Russia to isolate their populations from the internet, the most powerful tool for bringing us together risks being dismantled. Nick Clegg, Meta’s former President of Global Affairs, reveals where Big Tech has faltered, how Silicon Valley’s insularity has led to mistakes, and the necessary radical reforms for global platforms to ensure their future. While new regulations are crucial, imposing national borders on the internet would undermine its capacity for sharing knowledge collaboration, education, trade and research, … Continue reading Political conflict amid age of AI

UncategorizedLeave a comment

Westerners

rrn69

“We cannot rebuild western civilisation” vice-president JD Vance warned in March shortly after entering the office. The west people are so worried about has a familiar story behind it: It originates in the ancient world in the conjoining of classical Greek philosophy and the Hebrew Bible and then weaves its way through medieval Christendom or coined by nineteenth-century imperialists? Neither writes Georgios Varouxakis in The West, his ambitious and fascinating genealogy of the idea. “The West” was not used by Plato, Cicero, Locke, Mill or other canonized figures of what we today call the Western tradition. It was not first … Continue reading Westerners

UncategorizedLeave a comment

“DOWNTON ABBEY – THE GRAND FINALE”

rrn69

“DOWNTON ABBEY – THE GRAND FINALE” IN A CINEMA NEAR YOU – NOW!! 124 minutes, PG Director Richard Curtis Characterisation and careful storytelling spins us another enchanting  yarn in The latest Downton Saga! Plots, plot twists and sub plots feature in this movie, enchanting in the opulent lifestyles portrayed, and the banter and relationships between those above stairs and those below who all seem to get on famously, symbiotic  as their roles are in life in the 30s. It is now 15 years since Downton hit our screens with lots of spin offs and as it is so well loved, I hesitate … Continue reading “DOWNTON ABBEY – THE GRAND FINALE”

UncategorizedLeave a comment

Defied her deprived background to get into Oxford reaching the pinnacle

rrn69

“Most people are not really free. They are confined by the niche in the world that they carve out for themselves. They limit themselves to fewer possibilities by the narrowness of their vision. The class system in England reveals deep-seated societal values and prejudices, often influences opportunities and lifestyle”-V.S. Naipaul Bridget Maeve Phillipson, the current Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities, since July 2024, who was on free school meals, working class northern England, from single parent family who had grown up in poverty in council accommodation on benefits but defied her deprived background to … Continue reading Defied her deprived background to get into Oxford reaching the pinnacle

Uncategorized1 Comment

Larry Ellison richest person on Earth for few hours

rrn69

In 2019, Oracle which was just a database company was a laughing stock as they missed the cloud revolution, as they said Microsoft and Amazon owned everything. This gave sleepless nights for Oracle entrepreneur Larry Ellison. While everyone was building a regular cloud server, Larry Ellison building super computer servers for the future AI revolution. Everyone laughed. Then ChatGPT happened and every AI company was looking for massive storage servers.  Last month Open AI signed the biggest cloud deal in history with Oracle for $300billion for five years for oracle. Think about Open AI makes £10bn a year, committing $60bn per … Continue reading Larry Ellison richest person on Earth for few hours

UncategorizedLeave a comment

Imperfect Memories: Shocking murder in the Kiwi bushes 

rrn69

A young girl, starving and covered with blood, turns up in a general store in a remote village deep in New Zealand. She blurts out her name- Anya – but refuses to say anyting else. A shocking murder in the New Zealand bush and the witness who looks all too familiar draws a woman back to the very place she swore she’d never return to in this breakneck debut thriller. The phone rings for Effie, a police officer who fled that very village under terrifying circumstances 17 years earlier and is now in Scotland. An old friend, Lewis, is on … Continue reading Imperfect Memories: Shocking murder in the Kiwi bushes 

UncategorizedLeave a comment

What tech nerds got up to…

rrn69

Seven worried people have gathered for dinner in Notting Hill, London, but it’s the first time six of them have seen one another since 1999, when they spent a heady, intense summer building a website that was meant to revolutionize online dating by making matches based on psychological testing. They presence in Notting Hill to celenrate the life of their recently deceased ex-employer, a professor that brought them together in 1999. For them it was an unsettling experience, as they lived and worked on a remote countryside estate. Their boss was obsessive and opaque. Following a raucous night in which … Continue reading What tech nerds got up to…

UncategorizedLeave a comment

Onam celebration at Barking, London

rrn69

Over 350 Malayalees  and their families gathered at St Thomas Moore Catholic Church Parrish Hall, Barking, East London, organised by Kirali UK East London Unit. Kirali UK, is a UK-based cultural platform aiming to promote progressive thinking, has over 43 branches all over UK. Onam sadya (feast with over 27 curries) on with Onam musical event. Organisers from the Kigali UK East London, Arun Raj (President) Secretary Anaz Salam, Treasurer Lailaj also attended the event. Onam is not only for us to enjoy for a minute, but also it is an experience which unites us irrespective of your religious beliefs. Onam is … Continue reading Onam celebration at Barking, London

UncategorizedLeave a comment

Ralph Steadman at the Muse Gallery

rrn69

RALPH STEADMAN SHOCKS,SCINTILLATES AND EXCITES AT THE MUSE GALLERY,  PORTOBELLO –   269 Portobello Road until 21 September 2025. UK Charity for the Arts 1162300  info@themuseat269.com “THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MISTAKE….A MISTAKE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING ELSE”. Ralph Steadman. “Once Upon a Line” is the title of this exhibition shown partly during The Portobello Film Festival. There are quite a number of artworks of famous personalities in this exhibition including Shakespeare, George Orwell, Robert Burns and William Burroughs as well as Virginia Woolf. These are in the inimitable style of Steadman using limited colour and huge artistic expression with a … Continue reading Ralph Steadman at the Muse Gallery

Uncategorized1 Comment

Giorgio Armani dies aged 91

rrn69

Legendary Italian-billionaire fashion king Giorgio Armani dies ages 91 “With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” his fashion house said in a statement. He was the archetype of Italian style and elegance, reimagining men’s and women’s suits for a modern audience. His company Armani expanded from fashion into an empire spanning beauty, fragrance, music, sport and even luxury hotels, bringing in more than £2bn a year. Donatella Versace paid tribute to the late designer on her Instagram page, “The world lost a giant today, he made history and … Continue reading Giorgio Armani dies aged 91