If you give a little love …
November 27th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (0)
What would Scottish independence mean for the rest of the UK?
November 26th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
The big news in the UK today is the publication by the Scottish Government of a 649-page White Paper setting out the case for an independent Scotland in advance of the referendum on Scottish independence in September 2014.
My general position politically is that I want to see nations coming more together which is why I support membership of the European Union and an active role for the United Nations.
So I would be saddened by Scottish independence although, as a democrat, I would accept if it was clear that this was the wish of the Scottish people. But it would have profound implications for the remainder of the UK as the BBC has explained here.
Ultimately I believe, the Scottish referendum will not be decided by economic issues but by perceptions of identity and I have written a short essay on the question of identity here.
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
Iran comes in from the cold
November 25th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
I am really pleased that there is an international agreement with Iran over its nuclear programme which has cooled the Iran nuclear crisis. For seven years, I have been blogging about the twin dangers of Iran developing nuclear weapons and Israel attacking Iran to prevent such a development – see here.
If the Iranians honour their undertakings in the agreement over the next six months and international sanctions on Iran are eased, we can look forward to a longer-lasting and more comprehensive agreement that would be good for the Middle East and good for the world.
I believe that most Iranians wish to have a constructive relationship with the international community. My wife and I were so impressed by the friendliness of the people we met on our holiday in Iran. The visit inspired me to write one of my short stories about “The Man From Iran”.
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
The rise and rise of “The Hunger Games”
November 24th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the trilogy by Suzanne Collins: “The Hunger Games” [my review here], “Catching Fire” [my review here] and “Mockingjay” [my review here].
I always knew that it would make a terrific set of films and I thought that the casting of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen was perfect.
Last year, I saw the first movie in the new franchise: “The Hunger Games” [my review here] and, this weekend, I went to see “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” [my review here].
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (1)
The day Kennedy died
November 22nd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
The media is full of reflections on the assassination of President John F Kennedy exactly 50 years ago today. At the time, I was a teenager of 15 attending a Roman Catholic secondary school in Manchester. I reproduce below, without comment, what I wrote in my diary that day:
“The Beatles were No 1 in the Top Ten again and had three EPs in the Top 30.
During Religious Instruction, did Mortal Sin. Also went to the weekly Young Christian Students meeting.
Heard of the tragic death of President Kennedy.”
Posted in History, My life & thoughts | Comments (2)
Our attendance at “The Book Of Mormon”
November 21st, 2013 by Roger Darlington
Although we live in London, Vee and I do not take as much advantage as we should of the city’s theatres. However, this week we ventured out in the cold and rain to see the musical: “The Book Of Mormon” at the Prince of Wales Theatre.
This is a very funny, very rude, very irreverent and savagely satirical examination of the beliefs and traditions of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, popularly known as the Mormons.
Give the Mormons credit though. They’ve taken advertisements in the musical’s programme and on the London Underground to promote a web site giving you their explanation of their religion.
The actual Book of Mormon has been translated into more than 80 languages and more than 150 million copies have been published. Its origin – an unknown language on plates of gold buried in the USA – and some of its revelations – such as the appearance of Jesus Christ in America soon after his resurrection – may seem bizarre. But no more bizarre than 10 Commandments being inscribed on two tablets of stone or the resurrection of Christ itself.
I find it deeply ironic that Catholics and Protestants, Sunnis and Shias, Hindus and Muslims can be so condemning of the beliefs of one another when, in my view, all religions have beliefs which are so strange, unverified and usually unverifiable.
I have explained my problem with religion in this short essay.
Posted in Cultural issues, My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
The return of Ernst Stavro Blofeld
November 20th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
As a teenager in the 1960s, I read all 14 of the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming and, since 1962 and “Dr No”, I have seen each of the 007 films as they have been released.
So I was fascinated to learn that the next Bond movie might see the return of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, cat lover and head of SPECTRE – see here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
Word of the day: selfie
November 20th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
The word has been selected by the editors of the Oxford Dictionary as word of the year 2013.
The definition is: “a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website”.
You can find descriptions of other candidates for the word of 2013 plus a list of previous words of the year here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address
November 19th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
Abraham Lincoln’s famous address – made 150 years ago today – is a reminder than a brilliant speech does not have to be a long. You can read a fascinating piece on the Address here.
And, if you fancy emulating Lincoln’s success, you might welcome some tips on “How To Make A Good Speech” which actually mentions Lincoln.
Posted in History | Comments (0)
The 50th anniversary of Doctor Who
November 19th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
As a teenager in the 1960s, I watched the very first episodes of the BBC television series “Doctor Who”. I loved the Daleks and the Cybermen.
I haven’t been following the revived Doctor Who of recent years but I could not avoid the attention and praise it received. Equally I’ve not missed the hype around the 50th anniversary programme to be broadcast on Saturday evening. Even the “Guardian” newspaper is excited as expressed in this feature.
Indeed I’ve been persuaded by a young friend to accompany him in viewing the Doctor Who special at the cinema in 3D. Now that should be something.
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)