some good news to start 2009

'It's like that moment in The Graduate when someone pulls Benjamin to one side and whispers "Plastics!" in his ear.' Lord Stern tells Today's guest editor Jarvis Cocker that the investment in technological progress is one reason for optimism (Obama is another).

'Solar towers in the desert — as expressive of our aspirations as medieval cathedrals once were.' Ian McEwan looks forward to the aesthetic and scientific development of solar energy.

'Something spectacular happened in a small corner of the world': Bangladesh elects a democratic government.

The Independent gives 20 reasons to take up cycling. Reason 12, it's cool; reason 16, it's a thrill; reason 20, it's good for the soul.