Archive for May, 2015


If I understand history correctly …

May 31st, 2015 by Roger Darlington

“If I understand the history correctly, in the late 1990s, the President was impeached for lying about a sexual affair by a House of Representatives led by a man who was also then hiding a sexual affair, who was supposed to be replaced by another Congressman who stepped down when forced to reveal that he […]

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Word of the day: erumpent

May 30th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

Lovely word, isn’t it? I came across it for the first time recently on a television programme to do with the countryside. It means ‘bursting forth’. An actual example: “The sun spun aloft, an erumpent orb of balling glory thrilling the blue sky with its brilliance.”

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My 12th short story: “An African Adventure”

May 29th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

This story may not be what you expect. Check it out here.

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Was the universe made for us?

May 28th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

At one level, the question may seem arrogant, even preposterous. After all, as a recent article in the “New Scientist” magazine put it: “For much of our existence on Earth, we humans thought of ourselves as a pretty big deal. Then along came science and taught us how utterly insignificant we are. We aren’t the […]

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When did the Second World War end in Europe?

May 27th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

At one level, the answer to this question is obvious. VE Day was 8 May 1945 and we have recently marked the 70th anniversary of this event. At another level, the answer is more complicated. The deaths and destitution went on for much longer. Many Holocaust camp victims contined to die after liberation – they […]

Posted in History | Comments (2)


A moving, and ultimately uplifting, story from the ravages of Afghanistan

May 26th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

Virtually all the news we receive from Afghanistan is depressing. So it is heart-warming to hear of the magnificent efforts of musicologist Ahmad Sarmast to create an institute for classical music in Kabul, although tragic to find that the price has been serious damage to his hearing.  You can read this moving story here.

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Nine important facts to remember as we grow older

May 26th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

#9 Death is the number 1 killer in the world. #8 Life is sexually transmitted. #7 Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die. #6 Men have two motivations: hunger and hanky panky, and they can’t tell them apart. If you see a gleam in his eyes, make him a […]

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The sad death of “A Beautiful Mind”

May 25th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

I was really saddened by the news of the death in a road accident of the mathematics genius John Nash (86) and his wife Alicia (82). It is tragic that two people who lived so long and, in their different ways suffered so much, should die in circumstances where it appears that simply usng seat […]

Posted in American current affairs, Cultural issues | Comments (0)


In the next few weeks, you’ll be hearing a lot about the Duke of Wellington and the Battle of Waterloo

May 24th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

The reason, of course, is because we are about to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the battle – one of the most important in European history – which took place on 18 June 1815 when Napoleon was finally defeated. Interestingly the Prussian leader Blücher wanted to call the battle La Belle Alliance after the farmhouse […]

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So who actually voted for whom in the General Election?

May 23rd, 2015 by Roger Darlington

In an analytical piece, Alberto Nardelli states: “The general election result can be summarised in a nutshell: the Conservatives did well with voters that turn out. Labour did well with voters who don’t vote. More than eight in 10 of those who had supported Cameron’s party five years ago did so again in this election, […]

Posted in British current affairs | Comments (2)