A review of the classic crime movie “Heat”
November 7th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
In 1995, Michael Mann wrote and directed a terrific film called “Heat” which was the first to feature the stars Robert De Niro and Al Pacino together. I have just revisited it and reviewed it here.
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A week in the life of a consumer advocate
November 7th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
As I have a portfolio career currently working with six organisations, my schedule is very varied and some weeks are fuller than others in terms of meetings and events. This past week has been especially busy, with meetings every day, and three occasions in which I have chaired events.
On Monday, I chaired the Customer Panel of South East Water. The company provides water to 2.1 million customers in the south east of England and the panel monitors how well the company is performing against tough performance standards agreed with the regulator Ofwat.
On Wednesday, I chaired a conference organised by the UK Council on Deafness. This addressed the telecommunications needs of the deaf and hard of hearing and looked especially at BT’s Next Generation Text Relay and various video relay services.
On Friday, I chaired the Post Offices Advisory Group of Citizens Advice. Post Office Limited is currently refurbishing or relocating almost all the 11,500 post offices in the country but faces tough competition for most of the services it provides.
All companies and regulators claim that they put the interests of consumers at the heart of their operations, but the consumer voice is often weak in discussions about service and regulation. Together with many able colleagues, I work to strengthen that voice.
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A tribute to my university friend Dan Filson
November 6th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
I have just learned the sad news of the recent death of Dan Filson.
In the late 1960s/early 1970s, Dan and I were at university together, both of us studying Management Sciences at the then University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). In the academic year 1969-70, we both served as full-time sabbatical officers in the Students’ Union – me as President and he as Secretary. At that time, we saw each other every day and often spent hours working and talking together.
After university, our lives went in different directions: I became a national trade union official and he became a tax officer. But we both retained our interest in politics and Dan came back to my attention when last year he became a Labour Councillor in my London Borough (Brent), having previously spent 12 years as a Councillor in the Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.
Having not seen Dan for perhaps 40 years, I reconnected with him this year when we got together twice to team up with some fellow UMIST students of our time at university [i blogged about the first occasion here]. Then, thanks to e-mail and his contributions to Twitter, I was able to follow some of his political activities and thoughts.
I knew that he had suffered ill-health, but his death comes as a real shock. I pay tribute to him for the support he gave me at UMIST Students’ Unions, his professional work as a tax officer, and his many years of service as a Labour Councillor. I offer my condolences to his family and friends.
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How to be healthy
November 6th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
In my new Friday series revisiting the advice in the Life Skills section of my web site, today I invite you to consider “How To Be Healthy”.
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10 words of the year
November 5th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
“Collins English Dictionary” has chosen “binge-watch” as its 2015 Word of the Year. the word means “to watch a large number of television programmes (especially all the shows from one series) in succession”. Vee and I have done this most recently with series 1 of “Homeland”.
You can view all 10 of Collins’ words of the year here.
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BBC One to film “His Dark Materials” trilogy
November 4th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
It’s great news that BBC One is to produce a television adaptation of the brilliant “His Dark Materials” trilogy by Philip Pullman.
I really admired the books:
- “Northern Lights” – my review here
- ‘The Subtle Knife” -my review here
- “The Amber Spyglass” – my review here
The first novel was turned into a film called “The Golden Compass” [my review here], but it did not have critical success and the other two books were never filmed.
Also I saw the two-part stage production at London’s National Theatre.
So you can see I am a fan and excited about the planned television production.
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Word of the day: pabulum
November 3rd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
In the United States, former Florida governor Jeb Bush is really struggling to make an impact in his effort to become the Republican candidate in next year’s presidential election.
In an attempt to revive his campaign, he has gone on the attack in relation to his rivals, declaring: “The campaign trail is littered with candidates disguised as television critics. Politicians echoing poll-tested pabulum.”
I wonder how many American voters know what the word “pabulum” means?!? I had to look it up. Apparently it means “bland or insipid intellectual fare”.
Posted in American current affairs, Cultural issues | Comments (0)
A short guide to the Canadian political system
November 2nd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
While I was in Kenya a couple of weeks ago, there was a General Election in Canada with a spectacular result. Having started out in third place, the Liberals stormed to a decisive victory, so that the new Prime Minister is Justin Trudeau, son of the two-time PM Pierre Trudeau.
As a result, I’ve updated my short guide to the Canadian political system which you can read here.
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
A review of the novel “Dominion”
November 1st, 2015 by Roger Darlington
II you like your novels long and thrilling – and especially if you’re interested in recent history – then “Dominion” by C J Ransom could be for you. You’ll find my review here.
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A busy Halloween in Sudbury Hill
October 31st, 2015 by Roger Darlington
it’s been another busy Halloween evening in our crescent in north-west London. Over a period of three hours, our door bell went 14 times as we were visited by a total of 59 little horrors. Good job we had tons of Quality Street chocolates for them.
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