The RSA Blog

Are we Neuromaniacs?

Blog

23 Jun 2011

Jonathan Rowson

I am bored by reading people who are allies, people of roughly the same views.  What is interesting is to read the enemy; because the enemy penetrates the defences. - Isaiah Berlin

Start spreading the news

Blog

22 Jun 2011

Matthew Taylor

I want to tell you something a bit wonderful and ask for your help.

Time to make collaboration sexy

Blog

21 Jun 2011

Matthew Taylor

With rioting - allegedly provoked by loyalist paramilitaries – in east Belfast last night, it was poignant to be speaking this morning to an audience of people who have been active in promoting understanding and collaboration in Northern Ireland. The fact that there have been so many worthy initiatives under the EU funded Peace III programme makes it if anything even more depressing that there has been no dent made in the levels of housing segregation and even while Peace III was working away more and higher ‘peace walls’ were being erected.

An ambition for peace?

Blog

20 Jun 2011

Matthew Taylor

We don’t tend to associate the pursuit of community cohesion and peace with individual ambition but perhaps we should. In the long run, golfing genius Rory McIlroy may do more to overcome sectarianism than many a well-meaning community initiative.   

Sustainable house, sustainable communities

Blog

17 Jun 2011

Matthew Taylor

There is an important and fascinating debate taking place about the Coalition’s Energy Bill and particularly the Green Deal. As many will know, the basic proposition is that house-holders get a loan which enables them to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and which is then paid back through a 25 year tax on their fuel bills. Key is the idea of ‘the golden rule’ which specifies that householders’ total fuel bills fall as a consequence (in other words the money saved though energy efficiency must be greater than the repayment levy on bills).

In deepest empathy

Blog

15 Jun 2011

Matthew Taylor

Look, this rubbish joke thing is going to go on until you tell me to stop. I will only desist if a majority of my readers say so, which means an e-petition comprising at least five names. Until then…….

Half-baked ideas and fully baked jokes.

Blog

14 Jun 2011

Matthew Taylor

Oh dear – the only thing stopping me from entirely indulging by habit of making up rubbish jokes was a total lack of reader reinforcement. But now I fear I have it in the form of the first even half pleasant thing ever said about me in the Londoners’ Diary in the Standard. So now I have free reign and expect a joke a day forever and ever (at least, it will feel that long) 

A plague on all their houses?

Blog

10 Jun 2011

Matthew Taylor

This making up pathetic jokes to start blogs could become a habit. Not, dear reader, because you are guilty of giving me any encouragement at all,  but simply because it appeals to my trivial middle aged male brain….

Going against the flow

Blog

10 Jun 2011

“Birds of a feather flock together” as the old saying goes. But can being surrounded by people who are very similar to each other be damaging?