Archive for February, 2012
Water, water, but not everywhere
February 21st, 2012 by Roger Darlington
Yesterday the Government held a water summit to discuss the worsening drought conditions in the South-East of England where I live. In the evening, I attended a seminar on the Government’s recent White Paper on water convened by the think tank the Europrean Policy Forum. It was addressed by Water Minister Richard Benyon and many […]
Posted in Environment | Comments (0)
Latest news on baby Catrin
February 19th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
My beautiful granddaughter Catrin is now 13 months old and doing really well. The week before last was tough as teeth three and four came through at the top, but this week she has been back to her usual cheerful self. I try to see her for a couple of hours each week, usually collecting […]
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (1)
A review of “The Descendants”
February 19th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
George Clooney gives one of the best performances of his career in the new movie “The Descendants” which I have reviewed here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
How worried should we be about Iran?
February 18th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
Worried? Certainly. Very worried? Probably. Talking of a military attack by israel or the United States as soon as September or October? Hopefully, not. In an article in today’s “Guardian” newspaper, Ian Black explains why it suits everyone to exaggerate Iran’s power. The article concludes with a quote from Emile Hokayem of the Institute of […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
Who are these credit rating agencies? (2)
February 16th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
That was the question I asked in my posting yesterday and today the “Guadian” devoted three and a half pages to a feature addressing precisely this issue. Patrick Kingsley points out: “More people would trust the agencies if they hadn’t got so much so wrong so recently. In 2009 Moody’s issued a report titled “Investor […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
Who are these credit rating agencies? (1)
February 15th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
This week, we had the news that the UK economy might lose its valued triple-A rating. The statement from the Moody’s credit rating agency put the UK on “negative outlook”, implying a 30% chance of losing its AAA credit rating within 18 months. But who are these credit rating agencies that have such power and influence? […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (1)
A review of “Incendies”
February 14th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
You’ve probably never seen a French Canadian film and, unless you’re a member of a service like Lovefilm (as I am), you will find it difficult to locate such movies, but I can really recommend “Incendies” which I have reviewed here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
The ‘princeling’ who would be ‘king’
February 14th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
If there’s one thing the Chinese Communism Party does well it is succession planning. Ever since Barack Obama became US President in January 2009, we have not been absolutely sure that he would still be President in 2013. But, since the Party Congress in 2007 , we have known that Xi Jinping will succeed Hu […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
2012 – a year of anniversaries
February 13th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
As this article on the BBC web site points out, 2012 will see all sorts of anniversaries: “2012 is set to be a bumper year for such commemorations. Between the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens and the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, yet to come are two significant but slightly ambiguous centenaries: the death […]
Posted in History | Comments (0)
A review of “A Dangerous Method”
February 12th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
A film about conflicting schools of psychoanalysis in which Keira Knightley shows her breasts? What a way to spend a Sunday morning – but I did, dear reader, I did (together with two close friends). See my review here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)