Archive for February, 2013
Why are elections so volatile these days?
February 28th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
In Israel, we have seen the sudden rise of the party ‘There Is A Future’ and a general election result which is so messy that five weeks later we still do not have a new coalition government. In Italy, we have seen the party of a comedian take a quarter of the vote and a general election […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (2)
“Who run the world? Girls!”
February 27th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
I’ve recently bought the Beyonce CD called simply “4”. I’m taken by the final track called “Run The World (Girls)”. Check out the lyrics here. Then watch the video:
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (6)
From Israel to Italy, democracy is complicated
February 26th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
Israel has one of the simplest political systems in the democratic world [my explanation here] – a single legislative chamber and a national list method for electing it – and yet the outcome of the recent general election on 22 January was so messy that five weeks later the country does still not have a […]
Posted in American current affairs, British current affairs, World current affairs | Comments (0)
A sign at my local underground station
February 25th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (3)
A review of a new biography of Adolf Hitler
February 25th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
A N Wilson is perhaps more accomplished as a novelist than an historian, but I have just completed his short biography “Hitler” which I’ve reviewed here.
Posted in History | Comments (0)
The latest photo of my granddaughter Catrin
February 24th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
I know that regular visitors to NightHawk enjoy receiving updates on my granddaughter Catrin whom I try to see each week, so here is a new photograph of her taken this week. She’s wearing a jacket that I bought for her in Helsinki at an open air stall staffed by the Peruvian woman who knitted […]
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (5)
A review of “I Give It A Year”
February 23rd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
Hard to put a new spin on an old genre, but this rom-com tries by being more com than rom – as explained in my review here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
Where did the United Nations have its first meeting?
February 23rd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
Everyone knows that the United Nations is headquartered in New York City where meetings of the General Assembly and the Security Council are held. But very few people realise that the first meeting of the General Assembly took place in my home city of London in the Methodist Central Hall opposite Westminster Abbey. I met […]
Posted in History | Comments (1)
When did Mississippi ratify the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery?
February 22nd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
If you’re American, you probably know the answer to this question. But, if you live anywhere else in the world, the answer may well surprise you.
Posted in American current affairs, History | Comments (0)
Which are the 11 states supporting the new financial transaction tax?
February 22nd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
It was originally called the Tobin tax after the economist who first proposed the idea some 40 years ago and I first blogged about it more than three years ago here; subsequently it became known as the Robin Hood tax in a effort to popularise its appeal; it is a financial transaction tax (FTT) and […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)