Articles written by Alistair McCulloch
Showing 98 Articles
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Chip Monck – the Voice of the Woodstock Festival
Woodstock was one of the defining events of the 1960s and anyone who's seen the film will remember the voice of the man who said 'don't eat the brown acid'.
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Overcoming Problems in Studying for a PhD
Studying for a PhD can be a real roller coaster ride. A doctorate takes at least three years to complete and lots can go wrong during a student's doctoral study.
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Tolkien on the Question, What is a Fairy Story?
J R R Tolkien, best known for writing The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, was also an Oxford University professor who answered the question, what is a fairy story?
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The Most Popular Music in History
There have been many attempts to produce the definitive list of the best ever music, songs, tracks or albums. Here are just a few of those lists of the world's favourites
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Australia Post Bi-Centennial Celebrations
Australia's postal service is 200 years old. Established in 1809, the Australian postal system is one of the oldest in the world and covers an entire continent.
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The Australian Sex Party
The Australian Sex Party, a newly launched Australian political party seems certain to attract attention as the country prepares for the forthcoming general election.
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The True Value and Cost of Athletic Shoes
Are cheap running shoes as good as expensive ones? Is it really worth buying expensive designer athletic and running shoes, ? A newly published book suggests not.
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Help With Immigration to Australia from the UK
Emigration to Australia is a big step. Here's where to find advice on immigration to Australia from the UK from Brits who've already emigrated.
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The Best Airport in the World – Changi Airport
Singapore's Changi Airport is quite possibly the world's best airport and acts as the hub to what is quite possibly the world's best line, Singapore Airlines.
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John Le Carre – A Most Wanted Man
John Le Carre is a master storyteller and, in A Most Wanted Man, he has proved once again that George Smiley's successors on British intelligence are on the case.
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Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins and Blue Light
Walter Mosley writes fiction the way fiction ought to be written. At times it is Raymond Chandler meets Chester Himes, at others, Chandler and C. S. Lewis on acid.
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How Is Scotch Whisky Made?
One of the things Scotland is best known for is scotch whisky. Scotch whisky is Scotland's national drink (for adults at least) and comes either as scotch or single malt.
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The Dr Siri Books of Colin Cotterill
Colin Cotterill has produced an unlikely hero in Dr Siri , the National Coroner for newly socialist 1976 Laos, giving readers a new series of detective stories to savour.
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The Biggest Pensions in the World
The current world credit crunch financial crisis has left the banks in crisis but their senior executives with big pensions. Who has the biggest pension of them all?
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Predicting the End of the World - One More Time
When will the world end? Many people ask that question or this, How long before the world is destroyed? Here are some of the people who've predicted the end of the world.
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Interview Tips for Aspiring Interviewers
The recent increase in evidence-based practice and policy-making means more people have to know how to interview. This article provides simple tips to ease the way.
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Why are there So Many Conspiracy Theories?
'Conspiracy theory', 'conspiracy theories' or 'conspiracy theories about' are probably second only to sex as the most common search words on the Internet. Why is that?
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Celebrate Pancake Day in International Style
Everyone loves Pancake Day, a day shared by children and parents everywhere when pancakes get eaten with all forms of sweet or savoury delights. The perfect finger food!
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How to Write an Academic Book Review
One of the key characteristics of the world of university lecturers and researchers is peer review. One way this is done is through the publication of book reviews.
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Putting Together a Student Research Team
Undergraduate assignments increasingly involve group research projects. Here's how to maximise the effectiveness of a group project by choosing the right members.
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Results of the Research Assessment Exercise
The results of the RAE2008 will inform the allocation of over £1.5 billion a year in government research funding from 2009-10. Here is a synopsis of those results.
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The UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE)
The UK government funds university research to the tune of £1.6 billion a year, allocated through its Research Assessment Exercise. Here is how the 2008 exercise was run.
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Barack Obama's Speeches On The Campaign Trail
Barack Obama is famous for his speeches which have have electrified audiences everywhere, helping him win the 2008 election. Here are extracts from his campaign speeches.
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Barack Obama's Speeches On The Big Issues
Barack Obama's inaugural speech gained one of the largest ever TV audiences. Obama's speeches have been vital to his campaign for the Presidency. Here are some examples.
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Jimi Hendrix and Arthur Lee in Los Angeles
The 1960s was the most inventive period ever for music and two of its key personalities were Arthur Lee, inspiration behind the Los Angeles band Love, and Jimi Hendrix.
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Arthur Lee and Love
Arthur Lee was the driving force behind the Los Angeles psychedelic rock band 'Love', whose albums Da Capo and Forever Changes helped define the Summer of Love.
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The Best-Earning Movies of 2008
In late 2007, Timesonline.co.uk predicted what would be the biggest box office movies of 2008. Here's how accurate the predictions for best-earning films of 2008 were.
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Baz Luhrmann's Australia - Epic or Turkey?
Baz Luhrmann's eagerly awaited movie Australia disappoints, failing to show off the country's natural wonders - including Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman - to full effect.
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The Origins of the UK Green Party
Europe's first Green Party was formed in the UK in 1973 under the name 'People'. In 1975, it became the Ecology Party before becoming the Green Party in 1985.
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Robinson Crusoe Island Re-Visited
Robinson Crusoe is history's most famous desert island castaway. A fictitious character created by Daniel Defoe, he was based on Alexander Selkirk a real Scottish sailor.
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The English Judicial System
The judicial, or court, system is one of the three arms of most democratic societies. The others are the Executive (including the Civil Service) and the Legislative.
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UK Local and Regional Government
As well as Westminster, the UK has a system of regional and local government including District and County Councils, Unitary Authorities, and the Scottish Government.
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The Marx Brothers' Movies
Groucho, Chico, Harpo, Gummo and Zeppo - the Marx Brothers - made some of the greatest comedy films of all time. Here's a potted guide.
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Visit the Hidden Side of London
London offers many lesser-known visitor attractions including Ghelsea Physic and Kensington Roof Gardens, the Kyoto Garden and Westminster Abbey College Garden.
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Best Universities in the World - 2008
What is the best university in the world? Each year the Higher (formerly the THES or Times Higher) publishes a list claiming to identify the world's best universities.
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Steed and Mrs Peel, The Avengers
The 1960s are famous for music, love, the miniskirt and flower power. What is often forgotten is the great TV of the era. The Avengers is the best 60s TV show of all.
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2008 Folk Music Albums
The perfect Christmas gift is something that can be enjoyed on the day and also repeatedly enjoyed into the New Year and beyond. A good folk music album fits the bill.
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New 2008 UK Student Immigration Rules
International students enrolling at UK universities after 2008 will face new safeguards over the quality of their courses and more restrictions on changing courses.
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Who Are the Baby Boomers?
New research from the ESRC/AHRC, the UK's premier social research bodies, says that the baby-boomers, those born post-WW2, are turning into conventional pensioners.
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Music Venues in Sydney, Australia
Sydney has an excellent music scene and visitors and locals can enjoy both local Australian talent and also some of the world's greatest rock and soul musicians.
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Explore Alternative Sydney
Many will know Sydney's major attractions. The Harbour Bridge, and the Opera House are two. There is another less-well known side to Sydney which is introduced here.
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Exploring & Walking Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall is one of the great wonders of the ancient world and to walk along the Wall is to retrace history itself and to walk in the steps of Emperor Hadrian.
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Jake & Elwood - The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers movie stars Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi as Elwood and Jake Blues as they flee the cops, try to keep an orphanage open, all the while causing chaos.
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Best Footballers Ever
Football, soccer, footy, association football. The beautiful game has produced some great players. Here's a personal list of the best. Some of the names may surprise you.
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Screaming Lord Sutch
The link between politics and music has never been better made than it was by Screaming Lord Sutch, eccentic and founding member of the UK's Monster Raving Loony Party.
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I.T.T. Lincoln, International Spy
Ingatius Timotheus Trebitsch Lincoln, (I.T.T. Lincoln) played many roles including British MP, clergyman, German spy, revolutionary minister and Buddhist abbot.
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I.T.T. Lincoln, the Adventurer MP
Ingatius Timotheus Trebitsch Lincoln, or I.T.T. Lincoln as he was better known, had many faces, British MP, clergyman, German spy, and Buddhist monk to name but a few.
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Steve Cropper - Memphis Soul Man
Steve Cropper is a music industry legend. A founding member of Stax house-band Booker T and the MGs, he is on everyone's favourite playlist, even if they don't know it.
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Football at the Movies
Soccer (or football as it is known in the UK) has attracted movie-makers since movies were first made. Here are seven of the best films about soccer and some of the worst
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Best Websites for Music Downloads
While vinyl and the music CD are still with us, the rise of the Internet, mp3 players and the iPod mean that music downloads are big business. Which are the best sites?
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Glastonbury Festival Lineups
Glastonbury is probably the world's most famous rock festival having started in 1970 and run more or less continuously since then. So, who's played there over the years?
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Claire Keenan Wins Edge Hill Prize
Claire Keegan's 'Walk the Blue Fields' has won the second Edge Hill University Short Story Prize at a ceremony held at the historic Bluecoat Centre in Liverpool.
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Sydney Harbour Ferries
Sydney is probably the most beautiful city in the world. Set on Sydney Harbour, ferries offer the best way of exploring Australia's largest city cheaply and comfortably.
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UK's Best Rock Festivals in 2008
Rock, pop and folk festivals have mushroomed in the UK in recent years featuring the world's top acts. Here are the dates and headliners for the major UK music festivals.
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Top Ten New Years Resolutions
New Year is a time for making resolutions. Here are some of the most popular and some of the silliest to help you make up your mind. A very happy New Year to everyone!
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Sex and Drugs and Music and Censorship
Why do songs get censored? Why does music get censored? Sex and drugs are only two of the reasons. Be prepared to be surprised by which songs have been banned and why.
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Best Place for your Golf Vacation
Based on Southport, the area around Royal Birkdale, host to the 2008 Open Golf Championship, boasts the world's greatest concentration of top golf courses. Read on!
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St Andrew: Patron Saint of Scotland and Russia
Saint Andrew is Scotland's patron saint and gives his name to the home of world golf and to an ancient Scottish university. Who was he and how did all this come about?
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Best Mystery Books for Christmas
Books make excellent Christmas presents. Here are four great authors whose book will make mystery and crime readers very happy: Chandler, Moseley, Le Carre and Murakami
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Best Universities in the World
What is the best university in the world? One clue lies in the THES's annual ranking of the world's best universities. Here's the 2007 top ten for all subjects.
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Country Joe and the Fish Biography
Country Joe and the Fish - one of the leading psychedelic bands of San Francisco's Summer of Love. With appearances at Monterey and Woodstock, they helped define an era.
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UK University Accommodation Costs
Accommodation forms a large part of the cost of going to university. Find out which are the cheapest and also the most expensive UK universities and colleges to live at.
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Apple Day - Celebrating UK Apples
Apples are good for you, giving Vitamin C and dietry fibre. What's more, they taste good and kids like them! That's why the UK's "Apple Day" has been running for 17 years
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ATAS: Visas for UK Science PhDs
ATAS, the Academic Technology Application Scheme, is the new post-9/11 visa requirement for international postgraduate students seeking to study science in the UK
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Keeping Fit the Five a Day Way
Five a day of fruit and vegetables is considered the minimum necessary for healthy eating. But five a day of what, and what constitutes a portion for the five a day diet?
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Pink Floyd's First Album from 1967
In 1967, Pink Floyd recorded their first album, 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn', helping to define London's Summer of Love. One track in particular, Bike, is discussed.
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Mathew Street Festival Rocks On
The world famous Mathew Street Festival, coinciding with Liverpool's Beatles Week and the Cavern's 50th birthday, was threatened with cancellation. Now it's been saved.
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Monterey - A Year Before Woodstock
It was 40 years ago today. Everyone remembers Woodstock, but the1967 Monterey International Pop Festival was the model for all the rock festivals that followed.
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Improving PhD Completion Rates
Graduate students invest heavily in their studies. Many fail to complete their PhDs. In the UK and US, initiatives to help them submit and graduate on time are in hand.
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Choosing a Topic for a PhD Thesis
All doctoral or PhD degrees require a thesis/dissertation. Choosing the right topic can make the difference between success and failure. Here's how to choose a PhD topic.
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Preparing to Go to Graduate School
Its vital to make a good start to your graduate studies. Without that good start, you'll be unlikely to develop to your full potential. Here's how to get a flying start.
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Starting at a New Graduate School
Making a flying start at your Graduate School is vital. It can determine how well you'll do. Here are ten key things for your First Week as a Masters or Doctoral Student
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Preparing for Your Doctoral Oral Examination
A PhD viva is potentially one of the most stressful experiences any student will go through. Here are some hints on preparing for a PhD vive from an expert.
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The Motivation for Doctoral Study
Doing a PhD is a huge undertaking. Understanding your motivation will help you succeed and also help your supervisor support you. Five motivations are discussed here.
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Live Earth and the Green Paradox
On 7 July 2007, 150 acts, headlined by Madonna, performed on 7continents as part of Live Earth to raise environmental awareness. The UK press was not convinced.
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The Beatles Very Own Movie 'Starr'
Ringo Starr was the drummer with the most famous band in the history of rock music, The Beatles. He also had a 15-year career as a film star which is assessed here.
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The Best Single Malt Whiskies in the World
Scotland is famous for the best whisky in the world. Here's a guided tour of the very best single malt whiskies to help you see in the New Year or Christmas.
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Britain by the A and B Roads
Holidaying by car lets you explore the real England, but motorways can be stressful. Stay relaxed. Drive by old A & B roads staying in cosy pubs & former coaching inns
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Harriet Harman, Brown's Deputy
Harriet Harman has been elected Deputy Leader of the UK Labour Party to work alongside new Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Who is she and what does she stand for? Read on...
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The 2007 Glastonbury Festival
The 26th Glastonbury Festival opens 22 June 2007. Michael Eavis, organiser of this, the world's largest open-field festival, has just been awarded a CBE. Read why here.
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The Incredible String Band
The Incredible String Band pioneered both psychedelic folk and world music. Hailed by Paul McCartney and Robert Plant, their music remains loved by their fans worldwide.
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My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance (MCR) Released their Third Album Last Year. A Homage to The Doors' 'The Soft Parade'? Or Does it Herald the Start of a New Era of Concept Albums?
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Isle of Wight Festival 2007
The Isle of Wight Festival has become an annual gathering of old, established and postively new bands. This article focuses on the newcomers at the 2007 event.
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Who is on the Sgt Pepper Album Cover?
The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the most famous album ever. The band included 'people we like' on the cover photograph and here's a list of who's who
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Stopping Smoking as the UK Ban Bites
Stopping smoking tobacco isn't easy. If you smoke, you're probably an nicotine addict. Some advice on why and how to stop smoking from a former heavy smoker.
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Jimi Hendrix: Best Guitarist Ever
Jimi Hendrix's 'Hey Joe' and 'Are You Experienced?' made the UK take notice of his unique brand of psychedelic rock. This UK success led to Monterey and fame in the US
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Swinging London's Summer of Love
As with San Francisco, Swinging London also experienced a 'Summer of Love' in 1967. The musical and social revolution changed Britain forever.
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From Blair to Brown & Harman
Tony Blair has formally resigned as UK Prime Minister and Gordon Brown has succeeded him. What challenges do Gordon Brown and his new Deputy Harriet Harman face?
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The Grateful Dead: Rock Legends
The Grateful Dead's reputation as a leading psychedelic rock band remains unchallenged. San Francisco's best-loved people's band gave us a huge legacy of great rock music
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The 1967 Summer of Love
The 'Summer of Love' refers to a few months in 1967, focused on San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, when new styles of music, art, and literature changed the world.
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Big Brother & the Holding Company
Big Brother & the Holding Company, with Janis Joplin as vocalist, was one of the psychedelic-era's iconic bands and produced some of the best music in San Francisco.
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The Fillmore West: Best Rock Venue
Psychedelic rock music and its associated light shows and poster art changed the world. Its birthplace was San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium, managed by Bill Graham.
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Rock's First Supergroup: Cream
This British psychedelic-era group left a legacy of great music between 1966-68, including "Sunshine of Your Love" and "Disraeli Gears", and may yet reform once again.
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Where Should I Do a PhD in the UK?
Selecting a doctoral programme can be difficult. Which UK university sould be best for PhD study? Here are some tips on choosing a university for doctoral education.
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Who Is the Patron Saint Of....
The list of patron saints is bigger than you think! Patron Saints of countries, occupations, illnesses, of everything. Here are some of the stranger patron saints.
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Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground's first album spawned an entire genre of music. How the 'alternative' version was discovered on an acetate and what tracks it contained.
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Psychedelic Writing
Is is possible to have psychedelic writing in its own right? Poetry, science fiction and religious writing are explored briefly as examplars.
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Tony Blair's Legacy
Tony Blair's time as British Prime Minister is coming to an end. He is putting in place his legacy, his place in history. For what and how will he be remembered?
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