The latest Patrick Crozier Brian Micklethwait “podcast” is up, although I prefer “recorded conversation”. Our subject was … well, basically some thoughts that were provoked by my recent lung cancer diagnosis, and by Patrick’s recent experiences as a carer (see first comment from Patrick) of a dying mother. But, we did a lot of tangenting, … Continue reading Patrick Crozier and I talk about death – and lots of other things
I seem to recall a lecture, given by Steve Davies at the IEA just before Covid and the political reaction to Covid started spoiling all our lives, in which he warned that modernity might be stopped in its tracks or worse by some unforeseeable disaster, and that we should watch out. And I’m pretty sure … Continue reading Steve Davies: Four new technologies to be optimistic about
Just over a month ago I learned that I will die rather sooner than I had been supposing, and I asked, by way of being cheered up, for people to say nice things, preferably in public, about my various writings and doings over the years. The most impressive consequence of this rather vulgar entreaty has … Continue reading The Brian Micklethwait Archive goes public
Having recently received a life sentence of quite advanced lung cancer, I find myself noticing reports like this one entitled Ultra-precise lasers remove cancer cells without damaging nearby tissue. Cancer treatment is progressing fast, in all manner of directions, and I am now seeing stories of this sort every few days. Will it progress fast … Continue reading The hope of progress
Ever since I was diagnosed with lung cancer, I have been in reminiscent mode. Having solicited compliments from others about what a splendid life I have lead, I was advised by my oldest friend (we were at Marlborough together in the 1960s) to do some public thinking along these lines myself. What do I think … Continue reading A list of those “LA” pamphlets I published in the 1980s and 1990s
According to GodDaughter2’s Dad in one of his recent emails, Churchill once said something about how we just have to keep buggering on. Either that or GD2D made this up. Anyway, that’s what I am now doing, as best I can. Today started going to hell last night when the Royal Marsden rang to say … Continue reading Buggering on
Yes, Osimertinib. It’s an anti-cancer drug. It derives its power to fight my particular cancer from a test having been done to determine the genetic nature of the cancer that I now have. Journalists often like to describe those of us suffering from it as “battling” cancer. Well, with me, there is definitely battling going … Continue reading Osimertinib
I fear that I may now be an I-may-be-about-to-die bore. In the sense that I can think of nothing which I am now doing or saying or even thinking which is not happening under the shadow of my recent lung cancer diagnosis. And given the subject matter of this particular posting, any pretence along such … Continue reading Hitchens talks to Paxman
No time for much here today, although I have today done more than I usually do in the way of commenting. Much of the day was spent snoozing in bed while The Guru sorted out the outage, and then with me catching up on all the emails I had failed to respond to sooner. But, … Continue reading The old black router and the new white router – from normal style back to nerd style
Not much here today, what with yesterday’s dramas, but I have just ripped off a Samizdata piece, based on my recent medical experiences, entitled On the British National Health Service imbalance between lethargic diagnosis and really rather good actual treatment of serious medical conditions. It features a link to this mighty beast: That’s “Brunel”. Brunel … Continue reading Piece at Samizdata about the diagnosis/treatment imbalance in the NHS