Archive for March, 2007
The rise and rise of the urban myth
March 12th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
There have, of course, always been urban myths – stories that seemed plausible but, upon examination or even a little thought, prove to have little or no foundation in fact. However, the advent of the Internet has given a powerful medium for the rapid and easy and cost-free transmission of such nonsense. Often such urban […]
Posted in Internet | Comments (1)
It takes all sorts to make a Parliament
March 11th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
One is a government senator and member of the conservative Opus Dei organisation who wears the spiked metal chain around her thigh to recreate the suffering of Christ. The other is a drag artist who has not had a sex change operation but dresses and lives as a woman and represents the Reformed Communist Party. […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
What is it about Jane Austen?
March 11th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
The English novelist Jane Austen (1775-1817) has a passionate following, but her life is notable for its lack of events. She did not marry, although she had several suitors, one of whom she accepted one evening, only to withdraw her acceptance the following morning. While she was writing her novels, the Napoleonic Wars were in […]
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (2)
The new Wembley stadium (1)
March 10th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
There is probably no man in Britain who cares less about football than me, but I cannot ignore the new Wembley stadium – often described as ‘the home of football’ – the keys of which which were today handed over by the contractors to the owners. This is because I live so close to the […]
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (2)
The seven wonders of the ancient world
March 10th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
The “Guardian” newspaper’s web site has an interactive map showing the location and providing some details of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The only surviving great wonder is the Great Pyramid at Giza. I have visted this and you can read my account here.
Posted in History | Comments (0)
Would you like to be a spy?
March 9th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
This week, I was persuaded by an Eastern European friend to visit London’s Science Museum to view a new exhibition called “The Science Of Spying”. It turned out to be for kids not adults with lots of hands-on, interactive displays. Nevertheless it was a revelation. We learned about remote-control spy planes, night-vision goggles, hidden bugs […]
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (1)
International Women’s Day
March 8th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
Today is International Women’s Day. Greetings to all my women friends and visitors. IWD has been observed since in the early 1900s, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialised world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. IWD is now an official holiday in Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
Democracy British style
March 7th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
Currently not one member of Britain’s upper chamber, the House of Lords, is elected. In a series of up to 10 free votes, Members of Parliament in the lower chamber, the House of Commons, will vote tonight on whether they want a second chamber at all, and then on its possible composition – with options […]
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (3)
Democracy American style
March 7th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
It has been estimated that the final cost of the 2008 US presidential race will be $3 billion, with each of the two main nominees spending $500 million each. In addition, any candidate hoping to be taken seriously in the primary race to be nominated candidate for the two main parties must have at least […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (1)
Democracy Chinese style
March 7th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
The National People’s Congress of China is now in session. It is the world’s biggest parliament with 3,000 delegates but it only meets for a fortnight of debate and dining once every year. No Congress has ever rejected a Communist Party – approved budget or bill.
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