Archive for April, 2014
Is this the most important book that you (and I) will never read?
April 13th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
It’s called “Capital In The Twenty-First Century” and it is authored by the French economist Thomas Piketty. Politicians and economists around the world are calling it a stunning critique of the capitalist system. But you and I will never read it because it is more than 700 pages long with footnotes, graphs and mathematical formulae. […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (5)
A review of the new movie “Noah”
April 12th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
We never expected director Darren Aronofsky to stick to the Biblical text but we did hope for something more impressive and coherent. You can read my review here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
“War. What is it good for?”
April 12th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
These were the opening words of a song from Edwin Starr in 1969. It is now the title of a new book by Professor Ian Morris. This week, I went to a meeting at the House of Commons, organised by the Henry Jackson Society and chaired by the Conservative MP Julian Lewis, where Morris set […]
Posted in History | Comments (0)
How much has changed in British politics over the last two centuries?
April 11th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
I am currently reading a book called “Perilous Question” – subtitled “The drama of the Great Reform Bill 1832” – by Antonia Fraser. She quotes a tale of the times: “A little girl asked her mother, ‘Mamma, are Tories born wicked, or do they grow wicked afterwards?’ To which her mother replied, ‘They are born […]
Posted in History | Comments (0)
Where are the most dangerous places on earth? If, you’re a man: the Americas and Africa. If you’re a woman: home.
April 11th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
Almost half a million people (437,000) across the world lost their lives in 2012 as a result of intentional homicide, according to a new study by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Globally, some 80 per cent of homicide victims and 95 per cent of perpetrators are men. Almost 15 per cent of […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (2)
Some of the many myths in our understanding of history
April 10th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
Offa’s Dyke was not King Offa’s. Admiral Nelson did not wear an eye patch. Napoleon was not short. King Harold did not get an arrow in the eye at the Battle of Hastings. The Salem witches were not burned at the stake. Feminist protestors did not burn their bras. Cleopatra did not die of a […]
Posted in History | Comments (0)
A review of the film “Thor: The Dark World”
April 10th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
I saw the original “Thor” movie at the cinema and reviewed it here. But I have only just caught up with the sequel on DVD and you can read my review here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
We’ve had two little ones staying with us
April 8th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
My wife Vee has two nephews and one of them has two children: Yasmin (8) and Lucas (almost 6). Since they have now begun their Easter break from school. we have just had the two kids to stay with us for two days and two nights (only their second sleep-over with us). Together with their mummy […]
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (1)
What’s the connection between London Mayor Boris Johnson, recently deceased union leader Bob Crow, and my brother?
April 7th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
All is revealed here.
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
Never mind monitoring my e-mails and my phone calls. Is anyone storing my web site?
April 7th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
At the level of principle, I object fundamentally to the notion that GCHQ in the UK or the NSA in the USA might be routinely recording my e-mails or phone calls. At a practical level, however, I don’t care that much – such messages are ephemeral and I always try to communicate in private as […]
Posted in Internet | Comments (0)