Archive for November, 2008
Obama on his new Chief of Staff
November 11th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
Posted in American current affairs | Comments (0)
Ever heard of Aleksandr Yakovlev?
November 11th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
No, neither had I until recently – but, perhaps second only to Mikhail Gorbachev, he was the man behind perestroika and glasnost. Many people in today’s Russia revile him as the man who brought down the Soviet Empire. As Russia becomes increasingly autocratic and seeks to become a resurgent world power, perhaps we should remember […]
Posted in History | Comments (0)
A new holy war
November 10th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
A year and a half ago, I had a week’s holiday in Israel [see my account here] which including a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. I wrote then: “Now, in its own way, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is as bizarre as the Western Wall. Un-Christian as this may […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
The world is grateful
November 10th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
On the morning after the US presidential election, I did a posting of just three words: “Thank you, America” It seems that I was not the only one as you’ll see from this site.
Posted in American current affairs | Comments (0)
Our new roof (1)
November 10th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
It started at 7.45 am this morning when the scaffolders arrived. I’m told that it will take three-four weeks – depending on the weather (it’s raining now – poor guys). I’m always so reluctant to initiate house repairs or improvements. It’s not just the cost (which, in this case, is huge) – it’s all the […]
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (1)
America’s 2nd president
November 9th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
Most people around the world are familiar with America’s first president (George Washington) and third (Thomas Jefferson), but many have not heard of the second. He was John Adams who served two terms as Washington’s Vice-President before himself becoming President for a single term (1797-1801). Later his son John Quincy Adams also became (the sixth) […]
Posted in History | Comments (4)
America’s 43rd president
November 9th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
The same week that Americans saw the election of their 44th president witnessed the release of the latest Oliver Stone movie – a bio-pic about Bush Jr, the 43rd president, titled simply “W.” [see my review here]. As the Bush presidency staggers to its much-welcomed end, I reproduce below some of the infamous Bushisms and […]
Posted in American current affairs | Comments (3)
“Shrapnel And Whizzbangs”
November 9th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
This is the title of a book written by my good friend Jeremy Mitchell who served with me on the Ofcom Consumer Panel. Jeremy was born in 1929 and his father George Oswald Mitchell (G.O.M.) was one of the few British soldiers to serve right through the First World War from its outbreak on 5 […]
Posted in History | Comments (0)
This week’s other victory
November 8th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
In all the euphoria over the election of Barack Obama in the United States (and I share that excitement big time), we political observers in Britain should not overlook the significance of the Labour Party victory in Thursday’s Glenrothes by-election. Not only was the victory unexpected even by Labour itself, it is the first by-election […]
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
Obama, the Transition and the Net
November 7th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
The Internet was a central tool in the election campaign run by Barack Obama and, only days into the crucial transition, he has launched a new web site which will announce all the new appointments and full details of the transition process. We can expect a pro-science, pro-technology administration from President Obama and he has […]
Posted in American current affairs | Comments (0)