NightHawk

I saw my first face mask on the streets of London today. Is this where we're all going? Has this happened where you live?

The mask wearer was clearly a newcomer (he was pulling a suitcase on wheels) and from Asia (he looked Japanese to me).

It reminded me of when my wife and I visited Chobe National Park in Botswana. We had a good laugh when we saw an open vehicle full of Japanese tourists - in spite of the strong heat, they all wore coats and, because they did not like the dust, they all had face masks.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 06:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Of all the reams already written about the outbreak, for me the best piece has been this column by Mike Davis, the author of "The Monster At Our Door: The Global Threat of Avian Flu". He points out graphically:

"In 1965, for instance, there were 53m US hogs on more than 1m farms; today, 65m hogs are concentrated in 65,000 facilities. This has been a transition from old-fashioned pig pens to vast excremental hells, containing tens of thousands of animals with weakened immune systems suffocating in heat and manure while exchanging pathogens at blinding velocity with their fellow inmates."

"This is a highly globalised industry with global political clout. Just as Bangkok-based chicken giant Charoen Pokphand was able to suppress enquiries into its role in the spread of bird flu in southeast Asia, so it is likely that the forensic epidemiology of the swine flu outbreak will pound its head against the corporate stonewall of the pork industry.

This is not to say that a smoking gun will never be found: there is already gossip in the Mexican press about an influenza epicentre around a huge Smithfield subsidiary in Veracruz state. But what matters more (especially given the continued threat of H5N1) is the larger configuration: the WHO's failed pandemic strategy, the further decline of world public health, the stranglehold of big pharma over lifeline medicines, and the planetary catastrophe of industrialised and ecologically unhinged livestock production."

Posted by Roger Darlington at 09:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

For those of us who supported Barack Obama's candidacy for so long and so enthusiastically, his first 100 days have been heady stuff. As this piece puts it:

"Although only a short way into his first term, Obama has already committed trillions to lift the country out of recession, discarded some of the most unpopular policies of the Bush administration, begun to repair the country's battered reputation abroad and made a start on potentially far-reaching health, education and other social reforms. The changes racked up already suggest a potential to become one of the most liberal presidents in US history."

Posted by Roger Darlington at 09:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Israeli health minister has decided that, for reasons of religious sensitivity, the outbreak should not be called swine flu but Mexican flu. That let's the pigs off but will probably upset the Mexicans.

More information here.

Incidentally why did God take against pigs? Didn't he create them? If he thought they were so offensive, why didn't he drown them in that flood?

Posted by Roger Darlington at 11:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As regular readers of NightHawk will know, I was in Prague for Easter. Now this city is an architectural gem and it has some especially fine buildings in the art nouveau style. One of the best examples in the Municipal House and, on this occasion, we went on a guided tour of the interior of the building.

Check out the official web site, especially the 'Guide to the Municipal House' and the 'Virtual tour' (with zoom facility).

Posted by Roger Darlington at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Vee and I spent the day with our Chinese 'family' celebrating the second birthday of little Joshua. We all drove over to the Cotswold Wildlife Park which is ideal for young children. He was able to view large animals like rhinos, zebras, camels, and lions and to stroke smaller animals like sheep and goats - and we all got to travel on the miniature railway.

Joshua bravely rides one of the wildest beasts in the park

Posted by Roger Darlington at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

While we were strolling gently round a wildlife park, 35,000 others were pounding the streets of London in the marathon in an attempt to cover 26.2 miles as fast as possible. One of them was Vee's nephew, David, who ran it in an amazing 3 hours 19 minutes 46 seconds. Well done, David!

Once he has recovered enough strength in his legs to climb up to his PC, you'll be able to read his account here.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Who's responsible?

The bizarre conspiracy theories have started - see here.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Since it's Sunday, I thought that I'd offer a blog posting with a Christian theme. Imagine that you were present in Heaven at a discussion between God and some of his leading angels at the point at which God is about to send his son to Earth to show them his divinity. What would you advise? Let's listen into the discussion as it actually happened ...

Posted by Roger Darlington at 01:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

We rightly worry about the explosive epidemic of obesity in the developed world, especially among children.

But, of course, excessive weight has been exhibited by unusual people in the past. I was reminded of this earlier this week when I spent a day in Leicester with my sister. We visited the Newarke Houses Museum which contains a section commemorating a famous local man called Daniel Lambert who was born in 1770 and died in 1809.

Incredibly his weight was 52 stone 11 pounds (335 kg). There are records of a few people in Britain and America whose size has surpassed Daniel Lambert's, but he still has a place in the "Guinness Book Of Records".

You can read about him here.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The election of Barack Obama to the United States Presidency has changed so much in world politics, but non-Americans may not appreciate how transformational his administration is for domestic politics. Obviously the world's media reports the new policies aimed at overcoming the economic recession, but you probably haven't been aware that a proposed change to the processes for achieving trade union recognition - supported by Obama - is causing considerable controversy in Congress.

It's called the Employee Free Choice Act which, as a national trade union official for 24 years, I certainly support. Of course, if I had any doubts, they would be dispelled by the fact that three actors from my all-time favourite television programme, "The West Wing", have endorsed the proposed legislation.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 07:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Regular readers of NightHawk will know that I was in Prague for Easter. During my visit, I viewed a photographic exhibition in Prague Castle of Czechoslovak soldiers in the First World War. Now here's a quiz question: on whose side did Czechoslovaks fight in the Great War?

In a way, it's a trick question because they fought on both sides. Many fought with the forces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (of which the Czech and Slovak lands were then a part) on the southern (Italian) and eastern (Galicia) fronts, but others fought for the Entente powers in what became known as legions in Russia and France [see here].

Posted by Roger Darlington at 06:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Forty years ago today, I joined the British Labour Party. At the time I was aged 20 and a university student.

I wrote in my diary on 22 April 1969: ""Today, after about 18 months of slowly drifting Leftwards, I joined the Labour Party at a time when 'In Place Of Strife' is causing just that throughout the Labour movement."

You can read the story of my political journey here.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 08:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I am not a materialistic person so I want for very few possessions. However, if I had the money and it was for sale, I'd love to own a Supermarine Spitfire and, if it was a two-seater so that I could be flown around in it, then that would be absolutely fantastic. But, besides not having the money, Spitfires come on the market very infrequently (last time was two decades ago) and two-seaters are extremely rare (there are only six in the world).

So imagine my excitement when I saw the news this week that a two-seater Spitfire IX had been sold down the road from me at the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon. It went for a cool £1.7 million.

Now, as some of you will know, my surname is Darlington which is a town in the north-east of England and, during the Second World War, there was actually a Darlington Spitfire. Many years ago, I researched the record of this particular aircraft and wrote it up in a essay which is on my wen site here.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The organisation Reporters Without Borders has named 12 “Internet Enemies”: Saudi Arabia, Burma, China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

According to the organisation: "All of these countries mark themselves out not just for their capacity to censor news and information online but also for their almost systematic repression of Internet users."

You can read the report here.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It all began a decade ago when, on 18 April 1999, I read this sentence in the middle of an article in the "Observer Business Section": "There appears to be a positive correlation between an atmosphere of 'human playfulness' (otherwise known as humour) in the workplace and the improvement of 'innovative activity and creativity'."

At the time, I was Head of Research at the Communication Workers Union and responsible for 12 staff. I thought that the quote reflected how I was trying to run the Department so, next day, I sent the quote round to my colleagues in an e-mail and playfully I titled the e-mail "Thought For The Week".

As the week went on, I thought that it would be fun to send out one or two more thoughts each Monday and started to number them. Other colleagues in the building heard about the idea and asked to be included on the circulation list. Over the years, I continued the practice, sending out the e-mail each Sunday so that it was in people's 'In' box on Monday to set them up for the week ahead.

Ten years later, today I have issued my 500th such thought: “The three components of happiness are something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to.” The source is the book “Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart” by Gordon Livingston MD (2004). You can check out all 500 thoughts here.

As you will see from this section of my web site: "Underlying these thoughts are my personal values and my personal philosophy which encompass difference and diversity, fun and friendship, optimism and openness, trust, tolerance and teamwork, creativity, learning and growth, a commitment to reason and critical thinking, an interest in other countries and cultures, and a willingness to embrace change and new experiences."

Over the years, the circulation list for Thought For The Week has grown to over 1,400 people living all around the world. If you don't already receive it, now may be the time to join the circulation. If you already receive it, perhaps you would like to help me celebrate reaching No 500 by suggesting a friend or colleague who would welcome receiving these thoughts. In either case, just e-mail me.

It's great way for me to keep in touch with friends and colleagues. Just click on the 'Reply' button and tell me how you're doing. Your life may never be the same ...

Posted by Roger Darlington at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Life Skills section of my web site has, over the years, expanded to no less than 29 short offerings of advice on "How to .." do various things.

Today I add my boldest endeavour in this section. It's called "How To Be Good" and it's inspired by a conversation I had with an Anglican minister whom I very much respect.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 01:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I recently received the following e-mail about my web site:

"Thank you for your collection of 'Good mornings'. I have been dating this teacher and every morning I send her a 'Good morning' text in a different language. Hopefully I will be able to send her 'I love you' texts before I run out of morning texts."

Posted by Roger Darlington at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We all know that "seventh heaven" is an expression for being blissfully happy and I hope that you frequently inhabit the space - but what is the origin of the term?

Both Judaism and islam promulgate the notion of there being seven level of heaven. The seventh heaven in Judaism is where ofanim, the seraphim, and the hayyoth and the throne of the Lord are located - and who would want to miss them?

You check out the names of the seven heavens in both Judaism and Islam here.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We all know that "cloud nine" is an expression for being blissfully happy and I hope that you frequently inhabit the space - but what is the origin of the term?

One explanation is that, when the World Meteorological Organisation amended the system of cloud classification originally developed by the British Luke Howard ( 1772-1864), the ninth cloud on the list became the cumulonimbus which is thought to have a particularly attractive shape.

But the explanation may not be that straightforward as you'll see here.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For two weeks now, I've been taking a "polypill" each day as part of a pilot trial for the treatment of people at raised risk of cardiovascular disease such as as heart attack or stroke. So this morning, I made my third visit to the International Centre for Circulatory Health at St Mary's Hospital at Paddington in London.

For the third time, I had my blood pressure taken three times and, for the second time, I had a blood sample taken and I was weighed. So far, I have not felt different at all. This either means that I am not experiencing any side effects from the "polypill" or that i am not taking the pill at all but a placebo. I won't know till the end of the 12-week pilot trial.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

India - the world's largest democracy - starts its 17th general election today as explained here. For some perspective on the event, you might like to read my essay on "A Short Guide To The Indian Political System".

Posted by Roger Darlington at 08:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wolgang Amadeus Mozart composed his opera "Don Giovanni" while staying at the Bertramka residence in Prague and the piece was first performed in the Estates Theatre in Prague on 29 October 1787. During our Easter visit to the city, Vee and I visited Bertramka for the first time - it is now a small museum - and later attended an excellent performance of "Don Giovanni" at the beautiful Estates Theatre.

The final sequence of the opera appeared in the film "Amadeus" as you can see here:

Posted by Roger Darlington at 03:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Vee and I have just returned from a very enjoyable week in Prague. It was my 22nd visit and Vee's 17th so we have seen most of the sights many times and now go over mainly to see our dear friends, the Horvath family, whom we have now known for almost 24 years [see my tribute to the late head of the family]. In the course of the week, we saw 13 friends and shared in the Czech Easter festivities including the notorious, but very traditional, practice of "pomlazka" (check it out!).

The weather was simply amazing. Since we've been to Prague so many times, we've visited in almost every month of the year, but I can't remember a time when it was so warm so consistently - 22C (72F) every day. I certainly caught the sun. Prague is an eminently walkable city and as usual we walked everywhere (the record on my pedometer was 16,700 steps one day).

Although we did not do a lot of sightseeing, we still managed five exhibitions or museums. Also we went the cinema twice and the opera once. Prague is a really magical place of little cobbled streets, wonderful architecture, and endless spires and there are always new places to see and an incredible number of cultural events.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 08:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A couple of weeks ago, I made a business trip to Lisbon, but I took the opportunity to stay on for a day to do a little sightseeing. It was my fourth visit and I've up-dated my brief notes on this delightful city here.

I'm now off to spend Easter in Prague where Vee and I will be staying with some dear friends. Amazingly it will be my 22nd visit to this wonderful city and you can check out some notes on the place here.

So I won't be blogging for a few days, but do take the opportunity to look around some of the 140 sections on my web site.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 09:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This week, I went along to the National History Museum in central London to see the Darwin Big Idea exhibition. The display boards carry very useful information but the display cases are dark and the text is hard to read.

However, the exhibition was originally put together by the American Museum of Natural History in Washington DC and they still have the exhibition information on their web site. This includes the full text of all the display boards.

So how does evolution actually work? The exhibition explains that evolution operates through natural selection and that this is a simple mechanism that causes populations of living things to change over time.

In fact, it is so simple that it can be broken down into five basic steps, abbreviated as V.I.S.T.A.: Variation, Inheritance, Selection, Time and Adaptation - a fuller explanation here.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 01:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I enjoy art - but I find much modern art difficult to appreciate. Last weekend, I spent some time sightseeing in Lisbon following a presentation which I made at a seminar. So I visited the city's Museum of Modern Art where I came across a special exhibition by an Austrian artist called Heimo Zobernig.

I have never seen work so pretentious in its composition and so opaque in its meaning. I have searched the web for some illumination and came across this explanation of his work which only confirms me in my view that I never want to see anything by him again.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 08:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Today Vee and I made one of our regular visits to Oxford to see our dear Chinese 'family': Hua, Zhihao and Joshua (almost two).

It was lovely weather and so, after a delicious homemade Chinese meal, we went for a walk to a part of Oxford that we haven't viewed before. It's called Jericho and is by the side of the canal where many barges are moored. This area was the inspiration for the Gyptian community in the book "Northern Lights" [my review here] and the centre of a successful battle against redevelopment [see campaign here].

We all stopped for drinks and desserts at a cafe called FREVD on Walton Street. Amazingly this is a converted church with the stained glass windows still in place [more info here].

Roger, Joshua and Vee in front of
a building of the Oxford University Press

Posted by Roger Darlington at 08:24 PM | Permalink

I am struck by the fact that so many religions and so many cultures exhibit the same message of hope: that, at some indeterminate point in the future - typically when we are most in need of rescue or salvation - God or his representative or some heroic figure from history will return to save us from great danger or great evil.

In Christian theology, there is the notion of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ with some sects convinced that this occurrence is both predictable and imminent. In the Shia branch of Islam, there is the notion of the Major Occultation of the twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi. Both Christians and Muslims are still waiting.

I visit the Czech Republic quite often and have some familiarity with its history. The Czechs have a succession of legends, many of which - such as, King Barley, Prince Bruncvik, Saint Wencelas and the Knights of Blanik - conclude with the promise of the hero returning to save the Czechs at the hour of their greatest need which has apparently not yet occurred in spite of successive foreign occupations and totalitarian regimes.

Do you know of other religious traditions or cultural tales that involve the return of a saviour and why do we need and continue to believe in such child-like messages?

Posted by Roger Darlington at 08:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Uruguay has a small population of just 3.4 million, mostly of European origin, half of whom live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area. The country has traditionally been better off than many other countries in South America, and is known for its advanced education and social security systems and liberal laws governing social issues such as divorce. It was among the first nations in Latin America to establish a welfare state, maintained through relatively high taxes on industry. The system, which had increasingly strained state finances, was reformed in the 1990s.

Colonial towns, beach resorts and a year-round mild climate have contributed to a growing tourist industry. The economy has also benefited from offshore banking. But a dependence on livestock and related exports has left Uruguay vulnerable to ups and downs in world commodity prices. Recessions in Brazil and Argentina - its main export markets and sources of tourists - propelled the country into economic crisis in 2002.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 08:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The west African state of Senegal - a country of 13 million which surrounds The Gambia - has been held up as one of Africa's model democracies. It has an established multi-party system and a tradition of civilian rule and, although poverty is widespread and unemployment is high, one of the region's more stable economies.

The 40-year rule of Senegal's Socialist Party came to a peaceful end in elections in 2000, which were hailed as a rare democratic power transfer on a continent plagued by coups, conflict and election fraud. Abdoulaye Wade took office and won a second term in February 2007.

A long-running, low-level separatist war in the southern Casamance region has claimed hundreds of lives. The conflict broke out over claims by the region's people that they were being marginalised by the Wolof, Senegal's main ethnic group. However, the government and rebels signed a peace pact at the end of 2004, raising hopes for reconciliation.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 08:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Croatia, with a population of less than 5 million (mostly Catholics), is one of the new, small countries to emerge from the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. It entered the new millennium recovering from a decade of authoritarian nationalism under President Franjo Tudjman and bitter war, but it has now joined the World Trade Organisation and pledged to open up its economy and it has achieved growth and controlled inflation. However, organised crime and mafia-linked violence remain a major concern.

By early 2003, Croatia had made enough progress to apply for European Union membership, becoming the second former Yugoslav republic after Slovenia to do so. Accession talks were postponed because of its failure to detain General Ante Gotovina, wanted by the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague, but the fugitive general was later arrested in Spain and the country now hopes to become a member of the EU by 2011.

Posted by Roger Darlington at 08:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)