Beatrice is more than Dante’s muse; she is the embodiment of divine wisdom, guiding the soul beyond reason to beatific vision. This article examines Beatrice as a theological and philosophical symbol, drawing on Scripture, Thomism, and Marian typology to show how she enables Dante’s ascent toward God.
Continue reading
The West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC) is being restructured into a new Economic Development Vehicle (EDV) by 2026 to focus on investment and strategic delivery. While WMGC claims credit for attracting big business, many local startups, mine included, received no meaningful support. The restructuring is a chance to fix that, but only if the new EDV backs early-stage innovators with funding access, partnerships, and scale-up support. Otherwise, it’s just a rebrand, not reform.
Continue reading
Damien Hirst, the enfant terrible of the art world, the man who turned dead animals into million-dollar spectacles and placed a skull encrusted with diamonds at the pinnacle of contemporary art. Critics call him a genius; others see him as the ultimate conman. But one thing’s for sure: Hirst has built an empire of bollocks as big and brash as his installations.
Continue reading
Cyber in the West Midlands is no longer just a business activity, it’s a cluster. With the right action, it can become a strategic economic engine. This review critiques the Midlands Engine Cyber & Defence Report (April 2025) and sets out a ten-point plan to make that transformation real. The opportunity is clear. The data is in. Now we must deliver.
Continue reading
This blog article offers a critical yet constructive reflection on the UK’s Cyber Resilience Testing (CRT) initiative. While CRT is conceptually sound and timely, significant questions remain around cost, demand, usability, policy intent, and delivery responsibility. The article explores whether CRT is positioned to become a meaningful standard or risks being sidelined as another voluntary layer. It advocates for clearer articulation of purpose, audience targeting, and strategic alignment to unlock CRT’s full potential.
Continue reading
Cybersecurity has become a pillar of national security, digital economy growth, and global diplomacy. From ransomware attacks on hospitals to interference in democratic elections, governments worldwide now treat cyber threats as matters of statecraft, not just IT hygiene. While national strategies differ, a few shared patterns have emerged: defence of critical infrastructure, capacity building, and international coordination.
Continue reading
This blog article critically examines the global landscape of consumer product cybersecurity standards and the proposed role of the UK’s Cyber Resilience Testing (CRT) initiative. It maps key frameworks (PSTI Act, CRA, ETSI EN 303645, IEC 62443, FCC labelling, etc.) and identifies opportunities for CRT to provide ‘above and beyond’ assurance through resilience testing and threat simulation. While acknowledging the challenges of market saturation and standard overlap, it argues that CRT can add unique value — especially in underregulated sectors and poorly enforced product classes — by validating real-world security outcomes rather than static compliance.
Continue reading
This article explores Dante’s political treatise De Monarchia, in which he argues for a divinely ordained universal empire distinct from the Church. Combining Roman law, Aristotelian philosophy, and Thomistic theology, Dante envisions imperial rule as the necessary foundation for peace, justice, and the fulfilment of humanity’s earthly potential.
Continue reading