Refreshed at 0900GMT ThursdayWriting Worth Reading | July 29, 2010

Charlie Brooker on televised politics:

TV still fascinates and horrifies politicians in equal measure. They're attracted by its potential to hypnotise and pacify millions, but repelled by its laser-like ability to magnify physical flaws or tonal cock-ups. It's like a magic amulet that can sometimes control the masses, but also might explode in the user's hand at any time