Death by Cynicism.

Last night's review of "In Treatment" on the Radio Four programme 'Front Row' spoiled my dinner. In the end, I switched the radio off before the woman had even finished her ignorant and scathing tirade. I had begun to suspect that she was simply looking to be sensationalist. Some people are incapable of making a big enough impression on other people, and so they have to be deliberately objectionable in order to create some kind of reaction. Any kind of reaction.

The whole experience once again reminded me starkly of many of the reasons why I hate living in the United Kingdom. The ingrained cynicism. The unwillingness to embrace - or even to grasp - new ideas, new thinking, new ways of doing things. The harping on about the good old days. The sneering. The continual subtext, in so much of what is said, that the British are in some way superior to the Americans (amongst others.)

No wonder some of this country's greatest creative minds - people like Jony Ive, have upped sticks and fled this cold and sterile environment for the warmth - in more ways than just the weather - of California.