Archive for July, 2011
A review of “The Cement Garden”
July 6th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
Ian McEwan is a really accomplished fiction writer and I’ve just read his first novel entitled “The Cement Garden” – my review here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
Income inequality grows in UK and USA
July 5th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
UK income inequality increased by 32% between 1960 and 2005. During the same period, it increased by 23% in the USA, and in Sweden decreased by 12%. In the 1960s Sweden and the UK had similar levels of income inequality. By 2005 the gap between the two had increased by 14%. Since the 1980s, income […]
Posted in American current affairs, British current affairs, Social policy | Comments (0)
Should regulation be light touch or right touch?
July 4th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
I’ve spent most of my working life involved in regulatory debates. This started when I worked at the Communications Workers Union which organises staff in the telecommunications and postal industries since both telecoms and posts are regulated. It has continued since I took early retirement from the CWU through my membership of the Communications Consumer […]
Posted in British current affairs, Consumer matters, Social policy | Comments (7)
A walking day in sunny Kent
July 3rd, 2011 by Roger Darlington
Vee and I spent the day driving down to Kent to visit our friends Derek & Mandy Bright. They have a place in a hamlet outside Faversham and we ate lunch in the bright sunshine in their small orchard, before going for a long walk, and finishing up at a pub in the picturesque village […]
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
A review of “Larry Crowne”
July 2nd, 2011 by Roger Darlington
I’m a huge fan of Tom Hanks but his latest movie – which I’ve reviewed here – is far from being his crowning achievement.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (2)