Archive for March, 2015
My 3rd short story: “The Edge Of War”
March 27th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Continuing my Friday theme of highlighting one of my short stories, my third effort was deliberately different in style from my fist and second which equally were different from one another. Although it is a work of fiction, it is set in a very particular time and place historically and inspired by the life of […]
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A review of the award-winning movie “Birdman”
March 26th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
It won four Academy Awards and was actually nominated for nine. You may well never see it; if you do see it, you may not like it; but it is a stunningly original piece of work. You can read my review of “Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” here.
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Something to put things in perspective and cheer you up: how all life on Earth will come to an end
March 25th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
The BBC has helpfully provided an account of the most likely options here. Now you know why we pay our licence fee.
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Word of the day: hemoclysm
March 25th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
The word means a violent and bloody conflict, a bloodbath; specifically (chiefly with capital initial), the period of the mid-twentieth century encompassing both world wars. It was coined in 1998 by Matthew White in his book ‘30 Worst Atrocities of the 20th Century’ when he wrote: ‘It’s very possible, therefore, that future historians will consider […]
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U.S. presidential election (4): the first Republican to declare
March 24th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
So the first Republican to formally declare his bid to become the party’s candidate in next year’s US presidential election is Ted Cruz, a hard-line conservative. As this piece in the “New York Times” puts it: “Those who have known him for years say Mr. Cruz always seemed both driven to advance and savvy in […]
Posted in American current affairs | Comments (0)
Do we need a new theory of capitalism? You bet – and soon.
March 23rd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
In an interesting column for today’s “Guardian” newspaper, economist Paul Mason argues that, to move beyond boom and bust, we need a new theory of capitalism. He writes: “For me, the most fundamental question in economics still concerns the 2008 crisis. Was this event the last in a series of shocks needed to allow a […]
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An uncomfortable visit to “The Nether”
March 22nd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
I know how to show a girl a good time so, earlier this week, I took my wife out for our wedding anniversary to see a play about the dark side of the Internet. It is called “The Nether” and is playing at the Duke of York’s theatre in central London. The play only has […]
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Today is World Water Day 2015
March 22nd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
You’ll find some interesting facts about water from the United Nations here. And you can read my advice on how to save water here.
Posted in Environment | Comments (0)
A review of “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”
March 21st, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Three years ago, many of us delighted in the original film “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” [my review here]. Now we have a sequel: “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and, in the interim, two of the aged stars have reached 80, but again this is a movie for young as well as old. You […]
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My 2nd short story: “Thelma And Louise – The Sequel”
March 20th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Did you see the 1991 movie “Thelma And Louise”? Remember the ending? Think you know wheat happened? Prepare to be surprised. Last Friday, I explained that, on this day each week, i would revisit my short stories. Today it is the turn of “Thelma And Louise – The Sequel” which you can read here.
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