Home Blogs & Comment Birmingham Columnists Andrew Cowen

Join Gok Wan camp to feel better about yourself

There's something about Gok Wan that I'm trying to put my finger on. Read

Substance that changed the fabric of a generation

Join me, if you will, in raising a blotter to mark the passing of Albert Hofmann, scientist, alchemist and engineer of our enlightened culture. Read

Pot Noodles symptomatic of wrongs of our society

If you're at a loose end and in need of some brain food, head over to stephenfry.com and download his latest podcast. Read

Jay-Z has 99 problems but Noel Gallagher ain't one

It was Leonard Cohen, not Jay-Z, that made me stump up £150 for a Glastonbury ticket. Read

When Sir Alan's naked it's time to call a doctor

There's an angel who comes to me in my sleep. She has blonde hair and those really irritating square glasses that everyone seems to be wearing these days. Read

Zimbabwe: Everything comes to those who wait

Democracy. Don'tcha just love it? It seems that Robert Mugabe is finally on his way out after 28 years of systematic destruction of Zimbabwe. Read

A man's best friend could become a man's other half

I can't see what all the fuss is about. There's some vicar in Scotland getting in a twist over plans to splice the DNA of animals and people. But I think it's a brilliant idea. Read

Giving whole new meaning to the phrase lucky Heather

I like to think I'm a sophisticated observer of this culture we call "pop". Let's be honest, it's been a cracking week for the pundits. Read

Sealed Knot crowd could plug gaps in Afghanistan

The battle of Naseby was fought on the morning of June 14, 1645. In the open fields of that small Northamptonshire village, Parliament's New Model Army destroyed the main field army of King Charles I. After nearly three years of conflict, this was the decisive battle of the Civil War. Read

Don't think i'll Buster gut getting old

I never watch breakfast telly and on the one day I decide to switch it on, there's somebody I know sat on the sofa. Read

The mother of all days as invented by dear old Bill

Mothers come in many different shapes and sizes but they all have one thing in common. On Sunday they'll be having their stairs Hoovered by incompetent kids. Read

Don't stop the inquest - what would the Express print?

Let's suppose for a minute that Mohammed al Fayed is right... Read

Rediscovering the world of the child

You'll forgive me if this column is a little more incoherent that normal. I'm sat on the sofa with my laptop. One eye on the word count, the other on someone else's small child. Read

When Maharishi had the groovy crowd under his spell

"Instant karma's gonna get you," sang John Lennon in 1970 and he did have a point. Read

McA-levels and pointless qualifications

Let me get this straight . . . you will soon be able to get an A level by working in McDonald's. Is it any wonder that our education system is under fire? Read