Archive for September, 2013
A review of the film “Taken 2”
September 6th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
Liam Neeson expected “Taken” (2008) to go straight to DVD but it was a surprise hit. So now he’s back in a sequel and guess who’s ‘taken’ this time? See my review here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
Would wearable technology suit you?
September 6th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
I confess that I am never without my mobile – indoors as well as outdoors. So I would be a candidate for wearable technology. An article in today’s “Mirror” newspaper takes the arrival of Google Glasses and the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch as the starting point to look at six other possible developments in wearable technology.
Posted in Science & technology | Comments (0)
Did Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky commit suicide?
September 5th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
Last evening, Vee and I were guests of the BBC at one of the last of this season’s Promenade Concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The programme commenced with the ‘Symphony Of Sorrowful Songs” by the contemporary Polish composer Henryk Gorecki. This is a piece i know well; long and slow but utterly haunting. Next […]
Posted in Cultural issues, My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
Which came first: the chicken or the egg?
September 4th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
The answer to this question and other scientific puzzles can be found in today’s “Mirror” newspaper here.
Posted in Science & technology | Comments (0)
How long a book does it take to tell the history of the world?
September 4th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
I am a great believer that one cannot understand current affairs without having a knowledge of history and that we all need not just an appreciation of our own country’s history but at least a general overview of world history. But obviously world history is a huge subject and we are all busy people, so […]
Posted in History | Comments (0)
How could a walkie-talkie melt a Jaguar car?
September 3rd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
It could only happen here in London – as revealed in this news item.
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (1)
The web matters to you even before you are born and even after you are dead
September 3rd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
I am currently reading “Untangling The Web” by Aleks Krotoski. She makes the point that the web has a record of information about us, not just while we are alive and using it, but often earlier and later. Many parents now open a Facebook page for their expected child even before the baby is born. […]
Posted in Internet, My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
What is dependent origination?
September 3rd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
I was visiting some friends recently when one of them used the term “dependent origination”. I had never heard of the term and struggled to understand my friend’s attempt to explain it. It is an English translation for the Sanskrit word pratītyasamutpāda which is fundamental to Buddhist belief. One explanation is as follows: “No beings or phenomena […]
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (2)
A poem by Catrin about computer problems with her granddad
September 2nd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
“Where’s granddad?” The computer swallowed Granddad, Yes, honestly it’s true! He pressed ‘control’ and ‘enter’ And disappeared from view. It devoured him completely, The thought just makes me squirm. He must have caught a virus Or been eaten by a worm. I’ve searched through the recycle bin And files of every kind; I’ve even used […]
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (4)
Nine questions about Syria that you were too embarrassed to ask
September 2nd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
The answers have been compiled by the “Washington Post” for an American readership but I think that we can all benefit from the information. Check it out here.
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)