Archive for April, 2009
The PILL pilot trial (4)
April 16th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
For two weeks now, I’ve been taking a “polypill” each day as part of a pilot trial for the treatment of people at raised risk of cardiovascular disease such as as heart attack or stroke. So this morning, I made my third visit to the International Centre for Circulatory Health at St Mary’s Hospital at […]
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The Indian general election
April 16th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
India – the world’s largest democracy – starts its 17th general election today as explained here. For some perspective on the event, you might like to read my essay on “A Short Guide To The Indian Political System”.
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“Don Giovanni” in Prague
April 15th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
Wolgang Amadeus Mozart composed his opera “Don Giovanni” while staying at the Bertramka residence in Prague and the piece was first performed in the Estates Theatre in Prague on 29 October 1787. During our Easter visit to the city, Vee and I visited Bertramka for the first time – it is now a small museum […]
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Notes on Prague
April 15th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
Vee and I have just returned from a very enjoyable week in Prague. It was my 22nd visit and Vee’s 17th so we have seen most of the sights many times and now go over mainly to see our dear friends, the Horvath family, whom we have now known for almost 24 years [see my […]
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From Lisbon to Prague
April 8th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
A couple of weeks ago, I made a business trip to Lisbon, but I took the opportunity to stay on for a day to do a little sightseeing. It was my fourth visit and I’ve up-dated my brief notes on this delightful city here. I’m now off to spend Easter in Prague where Vee and […]
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How to understand evolution
April 7th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
This week, I went along to the National History Museum in central London to see the Darwin Big Idea exhibition. The display boards carry very useful information but the display cases are dark and the text is hard to read. However, the exhibition was originally put together by the American Museum of Natural History in […]
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Is this the worst artist in the world?
April 5th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
I enjoy art – but I find much modern art difficult to appreciate. Last weekend, I spent some time sightseeing in Lisbon following a presentation which I made at a seminar. So I visited the city’s Museum of Modern Art where I came across a special exhibition by an Austrian artist called Heimo Zobernig. I […]
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A sunny day in Oxford
April 4th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
Today Vee and I made one of our regular visits to Oxford to see our dear Chinese ‘family’: Hua, Zhihao and Joshua (almost two). It was lovely weather and so, after a delicious homemade Chinese meal, we went for a walk to a part of Oxford that we haven’t viewed before. It’s called Jericho and […]
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The return of the saviour
April 4th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
I am struck by the fact that so many religions and so many cultures exhibit the same message of hope: that, at some indeterminate point in the future – typically when we are most in need of rescue or salvation – God or his representative or some heroic figure from history will return to save […]
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Forgotten World (170): Uruguay
April 3rd, 2009 by Roger Darlington
Uruguay has a small population of just 3.4 million, mostly of European origin, half of whom live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area. The country has traditionally been better off than many other countries in South America, and is known for its advanced education and social security systems and liberal laws governing social […]
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