Archive for October, 2012
Is there a common thread to the recent scandals in British public life?
October 13th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
The South Yorkshire police massively falsified evidence to cover up appalling failures in their handling of the Hillsborough disaster of 1989. The banks obscured their casino-like investment and lending practices until they had to be baled out by the Government in 2008. The “Daily Telegraph” revealed astonishing abuse of the expenses system by hundreds of […]
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
Julia Gillard attacks misogyny in Australian politics
October 13th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
It needed to be said – and she said it wonderfully:
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
A review of “Killing Them Softly”
October 11th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
This is not a film for the squeamish but it showcases some fine acting including from Brad Pitt. You can see my review here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
“Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?”
October 10th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
This is the title of a memoir by Jeanette Winterson – best-known as the author of “Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit”- which I have just finished reading. You can check out my review here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
Is Barack Obama really going to lose the US presidential election?
October 9th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
Four years ago when Barack Obama won the presidential election, I did not imagine that his re-election would be so problematic. But he has faced the deepest recession in a generation and an intransigent Congress and – let’s face it – he has not always been as bold as his supporters hoped. Over the summer, […]
Posted in American current affairs | Comments (4)
Online Centres Foundation Annual Review
October 8th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
Since the beginning of the year, I have been an non-executive director of the Online Centres Foundation and Chair of the Board’s Remuneration Committee. The OCF is a co-operative that does great work getting people online for the first time. The terrific staff work with some 3,800 local centres helping those who have no or […]
Posted in Internet, My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
The bloodiest ongoing conflict of which you’ve never heard
October 8th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
Over the last 40 years, the insurrection has killed more than 120,000 people and displaced around 2 million. It is led by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in The Philippines. The good news is that it might be about to be resolved, as reported here.
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
Brené Brown’s talk on vulnerability
October 7th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
It takes 20 minutes to watch this video but the talk is really insightful and embracing:
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (0)
Word of the day: skeuomorphism
October 7th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
This is the use of a derivative object that retains ornamental design cues to a structure that was necessary in the original. I know, you’re no wiser. An example is when note-taking features on computers or apps use decorative elements that remind us of paper-based applications. You’ll find a fuller discussion of the use of […]
Posted in Cultural issues, Internet | Comments (0)
Is it possible to escape North Korea across the demilitarised zone?
October 6th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
It is incredibly difficult because about a million soldiers and a million land mines line the Demilitarised Zone – but this week one North Korean soldier did it as explained here. North Korea is one of the most secretive nations on earth but we know that most of its citizens have a subsistence existence. Aid agencies have […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)