Archive for September, 2011
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 […]
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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 […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
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 […]
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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.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (1)
Off to Lisbon – without Honey
September 13th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
I’m about to go off for a few days to Lisbon, so I won’t be blogging again until the weekend. I’m having a short break with my sister Silvia, while my wife Vee looks after the cat Honey. When I return, Vee will go off to the Czech Republic with her sister Mari, while I […]
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
A review of “Wuthering Heights” (2)
September 12th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
I’ve recently read the 1847 novel by Emily Brontë [my review here] and now I’ve seen the faithful 1992 film adaptation [my review here].
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
9/11 – as I remember it
September 11th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
It is, of course, the 10th anniversary of the horror that we soon came to call 9/11. In the autumn of 2001, I was working as Head of Research for the Communication Workers Union and I was due to spend the second week of September as a member of the CWU delegation to the annual […]
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