My Inspiration: The inventor of Minority Report’s iconic virtual interface on how he found inspiration in a curious encyclopedia June 2, 2016 John Underkoffler on Codex Seraphinianus "When I first arrived at college, the university bookstore had a copy of Codex Seraphinianus sitting on the shelf. It’s a legendary book by Luigi Serafini, and it’s a miracle that it was there at all. I absolutely could not afford it, but I had to have it. The Codex, [...]
Is your house a smart home? Or is it a big idiot made of bricks? Sort it out with our list of the best connected home gadgets June 1, 2016 Best for Heating Up Your House: Nest Thermostat £249 – nest.com/uk Easily the object on this page that most resembles the homicidal computer from 2001: A Space Odyssey, the super clever Nest thermostat gradually learns how to heat your home, switches the heating off while you’re out and warms things up in time for your [...]
Enjoy a gin-fuelled long weekend at Bombay Sapphire’s Laverstoke Mill distillery June 1, 2016 A partnership between Bombay Sapphire and – improbably – the wine-heaped environs of the Vineyard Hotel in Newbury, the Bombay Gin Break is a package holiday designed with the more holistic bon viveur in mind. Arrive to complementary gin and tonics, then head to the very place they were made to discover just what it [...]
Olympic controversy and Zika outbreaks have done nothing to dampen Rio de Janeiro’s party atmosphere June 1, 2016 In what is surely a daily occurrence in Brazil, a bunch of transfixed foreigners sat speechless ogling a local. “Wesley, she looks friendly, get out of the van and walk up to her,’’ suggested our Iguassu Falls host Juliana. “I have two daughters, I’m not going anywhere near her,’’ Wesley replied. Juliana, let me confirm, [...]
Superforecasting: How seemingly ordinary people can predict everything from world events to election results May 27, 2016 The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was having a stressful time in 2013. A rebel militia had just taken control of Goma, a large province with a population of about a million people, and regional powers were putting pressure on him to wrest it back by force. Little did he know that [...]
Romeo and Juliet at The Garrick Review: Richard Madden and Lily James love it up in this Mafioso-themed production May 26, 2016 Perennial favourite Romeo and Juliet is undoubtedly a great play, but it’s not always a good production. We all know the story – dumb rich kids making stupid choices – but for jaded modern audiences, it can be a struggle to care. Cynicism has encouraged a gimmicky approach in recent productions, with increasingly elaborate re-imaginings [...]
Blue/Orange at the Young Vic review: This 16 year old snapshot of a malfunctioning NHS still feels all too relevant May 26, 2016 Joe Penhall’s Blue/Orange was first performed at the National Theatre way back in 2000, roughly four hundred years ago now, but its depiction of an inter-bickering and resource-deprived NHS remains painfully relevant. Today it’s about pay. Back then it was all about beds. How many we’ve got, how many we need, and how many sick [...]
Blood, guts and dead foxes abound in bio-disaster horror Human Animals May 26, 2016 Who doesn’t love foxes? Those pointy orange chaperones of the night. Those bushy tailed wardens of the bins. Not quite a dog, but not quite a cat either, so-called scientists have yet to explain away their alluring vulpine mysteries. In dystopian horror Human Animals, the foxes (along with the pigeons and the mice and every [...]
Overwatch review: Blizzard’s team-based online shooter opens the genre up to the talentless schmucks May 25, 2016 It’s okay to initially be a bit baffled by Overwatch. It’s an online, team-based first-person shooter, but it’s made by Blizzard, a developer better known for making games where you wave a cursor around and click on dwarves. In truth, anyone who’s ever played the classic Team Fortress 2 or its ilk will find Overwatch [...]
Eastway Brasserie review: A slick and Manhattan-styled diner serving classic dishes May 24, 2016 This slick and moody Manhattan-style brasserie is tucked inside the illustrious Great Eastern Hotel by Liverpool Street Station. The glossy walnut and polished marble decor suggests Mad Men cool, but Eastway Brasserie turns out to be a more casual lunchtime spot, a charcuterie and grill serving burgers, sandwiches and steaks to hungry commuters. Here's the [...]
