Building on the theme from watching the film last night, it occurred to me how relevant the idea of sedation has become, embedded somwhere in our culture, raising its sleepy head form time to time. From Morpheus in the Matrix to kids in the Valleys taking ketamine, it has become a theme for our début-du-siècle.

‘Daddy, when I grow up I want to be an….anesthetist’.

Seriously. How did Michael Jackson die? Taking an anesthetic. Who’s one of the pivotal heroes in Inception? The chemist/anesthetist. Can’t help but feel the cold hand of Burroughs somwhere behind this all, Dr Benway lurking in the shadows.