Nine important facts to remember as we grow older
May 26th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
#9 Death is the number 1 killer in the world.
#8 Life is sexually transmitted.
#7 Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
#6 Men have two motivations: hunger and hanky panky, and they can’t tell them apart. If you see a gleam in his eyes, make him a sandwich.
#5 Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach a person to use the Internet and they won’t bother you for weeks, months, maybe years.
#4 Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in the hospital, dying of nothing.
#3 All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.
#2 In the 1960s, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird, and people take Prozac to make it normal.
#1 Life is like a jar of jalapeno peppers. What you do today might burn your butt tomorrow.
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (0)
The sad death of “A Beautiful Mind”
May 25th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
I was really saddened by the news of the death in a road accident of the mathematics genius John Nash (86) and his wife Alicia (82). It is tragic that two people who lived so long and, in their different ways suffered so much, should die in circumstances where it appears that simply usng seat belts would have saved their lives.
For most people, including me, the most vivid memories associated with Nobel Prize Winner John Nash relate to Russell Crowe’s portrayal of the tortured academic in the film “A Beautiful Mind”. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it. You’ll find my review here.
Posted in American current affairs, Cultural issues | Comments (0)
In the next few weeks, you’ll be hearing a lot about the Duke of Wellington and the Battle of Waterloo
May 24th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
The reason, of course, is because we are about to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the battle – one of the most important in European history – which took place on 18 June 1815 when Napoleon was finally defeated.
Interestingly the Prussian leader Blücher wanted to call the battle La Belle Alliance after the farmhouse where he met the Duke of Wellington, the leader of the British and other allied troops; the French called the conflict the battle of Mont St Jean after the place where it was in fact fought; but it was Wellington who decided to name it after his own headquarters some two and a quarter miles away.
I have just finished reading an interesting biography of Wellington which I have reviewed here. Some time ago, I read a fascinating comparison of Wellington and Napoleon which I have reviewed here.
Posted in History | Comments (1)
So who actually voted for whom in the General Election?
May 23rd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
In an analytical piece, Alberto Nardelli states:
“The general election result can be summarised in a nutshell: the Conservatives did well with voters that turn out. Labour did well with voters who don’t vote.
More than eight in 10 of those who had supported Cameron’s party five years ago did so again in this election, according to estimates calculated by Ipsos Mori.
But even more crucially to the election’s outcome, the Conservatives were not only best at holding on to their 2010 voters, they were also the most successful party among those groups with high turnout.”
There is no simple answer to Labour’s dilemma. Nardelli writes:
“Labour only had a clear lead over the Conservatives among 18- to 34-year-olds, voters in social class DE (the “semi-skilled and unskilled manual occupations, unemployed and lowest grade occupations”), among private and social renters, and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) voters.
But among all these groups, turnout was lower than the overall level of voter turnout (66%).
To make matters even worse for Labour, the party’s vote share actually fell among those aged 65 or above. Within this age group, Miliband’s party won 23% of the vote – down eight points on 2010.
Overall, Ed Miliband’s party held on to 72% of those who said they voted Labour in 2010. The party lost votes in relatively equal numbers to the Conservatives (8%), Ukip (6%), the Lib Dems, SNP and the Greens (all 5%).”
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (2)
My 11th short story: “A Life In A Box”
May 22nd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Another Friday; another from my collection of short stories.
Many of my stories are inspired in some way by my own experiences or contacts and “A Life In A Box” is loosely inspired by – and dedicated to – my late mother who was Italian. You can read it here.
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
The problem of card clash and how modern life can be so complicated
May 20th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
When I checked my credit card statement today, I found that last month I was charged for 12 journeys on London Transport even though I have a Freedom Pass. A quick check on the Transport For London website and I realised that I had fallen victim to the dreaded card clash – London Transport’s machines have been reading my credit card (which enables contactless payments) instead of my Freedom Pass, both of which are in the same wallet.
It’s amazing how long it can take to sort out such a simple issue.
First, I found that the number I was calling – obtained from the TFL website – was incorrect. Then, when I found the correct number on another page of the website, I was told that there was a problem with the contact centre and I should call later. Then I had to speak to several different contact centre staff and input credit card details before it was accepted that I had been the victim of card clash.
Next I had to make and receive further calls while a member of the centre consulted his supervisor to see if I could be repaid. Finally I was told that, because of the amount involved (£100 or so), I need to make an application by e-mail with copies of my credit card statement and my Freedom Pass.
I must have spent about half an hour in total on the phone waiting to get through and then speaking to around seven or eight members of staff.
When it goes smoothly, contactless payments are so convenient. When it goes wrong, it is so complicated and time-consuming to put right. It is not always easy being a consumer in this high tech era.
Posted in Consumer matters, My life & thoughts | Comments (2)
What’s the fastest-growing language in the UK?
May 20th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
According to this piece in today “Mirror” newspaper, it is the emoji. Indeed a survey has suggested that eight out of 10 people in the UK have used the symbols and icons to communicate, with 72% of 18 to 25-year-olds adding that they found it easier to put their feelings across using emoji than with words. I confess that even I use emojis sometimes, especially in text messages to relatives and close friends.
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (1)
10 shocking truths about gun violence
May 19th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
In a special feature in today’s “Guardian” newspaper, it is suggested that there are almost one billions guns around the world and that over a million around the globe are injured by guns each year.
The most shocking situation is that in the United States:
“The US has more guns per person than any other country in the world. Stemming from a constitutional right to bear arms, it has given birth to an industry that in 2013 helped sustain a quarter of a million jobs, directly or indirectly, creating $38bn in annual economic activity.
Today, at almost 140,000, there are about 10 times more federally licensed sellers in the US than there are McDonald’s. They have plenty to sell – more than 10.8m guns were manufactured in the US in 2013, a 220% rise from a decade before. This does not include the 5.5m guns imported into the US that year.
Where there are more guns, there are more gun deaths. The US has the highest per capita rate of firearm murders of all developed countries. While figures are hard to come by, data from the Center for Disease Control shows that in 2013 there were as many as 100,598 non-fatal intentional shootings in the US (the lowest estimate was 23,842). That year saw 33,636 fatal shootings (including suicides).
The data offers stark reading. In 2013, FBI figures show 1,075 people under the age of 19 killed by guns in the US, 37 of them under five years old. More American teenagers and children were killed that year by gunfire than US military in any given year in Iraq or Afghanistan.”
Posted in American current affairs, World current affairs | Comments (0)
Why the Battle of Waterloo is wrongly named
May 18th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
In about a month’s time, on 18 June 2015, we shall be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo when the Duke of of Wellington, leading a mixed force of British, Prussian and other nationalities, defeated the French army of Napoleon.
I am currently reading a biography of Wellington written by Richard Holmes and published in 2002. Holmes points out that battles are named by the victor and Wellington chose to call the site of his victory Waterloo when in fact the conflict took place at Mont Saint Jean further south of Brusssels in Belgium.
Wellington’s thinking was that the British public would find it easier to pronounce Waterloo than Mont Saint Jean. I guess he was right. Imagine a London railway station and tube stop named Mont Saint Jean.
Wellington and Napoleon were both fascinating characters and sometime ago I read a book which compared and contrasted the two. You can read my review here.
Posted in History | Comments (2)
My Thought For The Week reaches No 800 – would you like to join the circulation list?
May 17th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Around 16 years ago, I sent out an e-mail to the 12 members of the Research Department of the Communications Workers Union which I then headed. It was a quote from a newspaper article which I found interesting and I jokingly titled the e-mail Thought For The Week.
Over a decade and a half later, that Thought For The Week missive goes out every Sunday to over 2,100 people all around the globe and today I have reached the new landmark number of 800. You can check them all out here.
If you would like to receive it, e-mail me.
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (0)