Portuguese item (5): pois
September 25th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
One of the most common words in spoken Portuguese is pois.
But – what does it mean? All sorts of things – see here.
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Portuguese item (6): ginjinha
September 25th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
On our trip to Lisbon, my sister and I discovered a delicious drink called ginjinha or simply ginja. It is a cherry liqueur – very sweet and very invigorating. Check it out here.
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Portuguese item (7): troops in Afghanistan
September 25th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
During our break in Lisbon, we were told by one Portuguese person that her country had more than 100 soldiers serving in Afghanistan. This was presented as some kind of secret or subterfuge and it was suggested that the Portuguese forces were ‘hidden’ inside a British command.
In fact, every nation in NATO has sent military forces to Afghanistan as detailed here.
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
The historic decline of violence
September 24th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
As the Euro zone looks close to collapse and as the British and American economies teeter on the edge a double-deep recession, let’s at least give thanks that historically the level of violence in the world is on a sustained decline.
Don’t believe me? Well, the case and the (considerable) evidence is in a new book by Steven Pinker entitled “The Better Angels Of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined”. Pinker has summarized his case in the “Wall Street Journal” in this article.
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The new president of Zambia
September 24th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
Seven years ago, I spent a few days in Zambia when I was on holiday at Victoria Falls [see my account of the visit here]. Vee and I befriended our hotel chambermaid – who is now a teacher – and we are still in regular touch with her.
So I was struck by the news this week that Zambia has elected a new president – the 74 year old Michael Sata – and the message from our young friend in Zambia that she voted for him. It is a tribute to Zambians and a contrast with much of Africa that they have changed presidents and parties in a democratic election.
Michael Sata once worked at Victoria Station in central London. He has been a member of three political parties and this was his fourth presidential bid. Known as ‘King Cobra’, he is a striking and controversial figure and you can read more about him here.
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Remembering Karel Kuttelwascher (1)
September 23rd, 2011 by Roger Darlington
If my father-in-law Karel Kuttelwascher (whom I never met) had not died in 1959 but was still alive, he would have been 95 today. This morning, in the village where he was born – Svaty Kriz, near Havlickuv Brod, in what is now the Czech Republic – a memorial stone was unveiled in the presence of his twin daughter, Vee (my wife) and Mari.
According to a phone call from Vee, there was a substantial attendance with both radio and television plus a band. There was even a flypast from two Gripen jets. Vee made a short speech – in Czech.
The reason for his memory still being so potent in his native country is that Karel Kuttelwascher – known simply as Kut to his wartime comrades in the Royal Air Force – was the top-scoring Czech fighter pilot of World War II with 18 confirmed kills. You can read a summary of his exploits here.
Of course, he was not alone. Some 2,000 Czechs and Slovaks served with the RAF in the course of the war. You can check out an article on their brave record of service here.
Footnote 1 (25/9/11): A report and a set of photographs on this Czech web site.
Footnote 2 (27/9/11): More photographs from the Czech Spitfire Club.
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A review of “Garden State”
September 20th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
I try to watch a variety of films of different genres and styles and sizes. “Garden State” is a small movie that you may have missed at the cinema (I did) but is worth catching on TV or DVD – see my review here.
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British: rich and poor
September 19th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
Speaking today at the Liberal Democrat Annual Conference, Business Secretary Vince Cable did not mention the row over retention of a top rate of tax of 50% but did say:
“What Liberal Democrats should focus on are the vast disparities in wealth – much of it in inflated property and land prices artificially generated by the boom of the last decade. When some critics attack our party policy of a tax on properties over £2 million by saying it is an attack on ordinary middle class owners, you wonder what part of the solar system they live in.”
In fact, Britain has one of the most unequal societies in terms of income and wealth of any developed country as was made abundantly clear in the seminal work of two years ago “The Spirit Level” [see my review here]. Arising from publication of that book, the Equality Trust was established to put the case for reduced inequality in the UK.
Today I visited the Equality Trust’s offices in central London and met three of its leading lights: Professor Richard Wilkinson, one of the authors of “The Spirit Level”, Kathryn Busby, Policy & Campaigns Manager, and Bill Kerry, Supporter & Local Groups Manager. At this time of financial crisis, there is a desperate need for new ideas on how to redistribute income, wealth and power in our society to make it fairer and happier for all.
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
Americans: rich and poor
September 19th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
- Last week the US census revealed that 46 million Americans – one in six – now live in poverty, the highest number ever.
- In 2010, the top 20% of Americans earned 49.4% of the nation’s income. The top 1% account for 24% of all income.
- About 47% of US people pay no federal income taxes, either because their incomes are too low, or because they qualify for enough tax breaks to eliminate their liability.
- People who make money from investments pay far lower taxes than those who earn it from their wages.
- Last year Warren Buffett, who has a $50bn personal fortune, paid $6.9m in federal taxes – 17.4% of his taxable income. The other 20 people in his office paid between 33% and 41%.
It is against this background that President Obama struggles to persuade the US Congress to tax the rich a little bit more. Some background here.
Posted in American current affairs | Comments (1)
A sad farewell to Gaby’s Deli
September 19th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
OK, I’m back – I’ve been in Lisbon with my sister for four days. I returned yesterday and today Vee went off to the Czech Republic for two weeks. So I’ll be spending even more time than usual in cafes and restaurants. But one of my favourites will soon be no more.
It’s been there for 46 years and I’ve been frequenting it regularly for 40 years – but I’ve just heard the sad news that Gaby’s Deli in Charing Cross Road in central London is to close.
The place means so much to me emotionally that I set my first short story there – see “Making A Difference”.
Footnote (23/9/11): I’ve learned that there’s a Facebook campaign to keep Gaby’s open and there an online petition which I’ve signed (I am number 1061).
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (1)