Archive for June, 2015
Enjoy your extra second in bed tonight
June 30th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Midnight will come later tonight as, for the first time in three years, an extra second is added to the official time set by atomic clocks. The “leap second” means the last minute of June will have 61 seconds in it. Leap seconds – and leap years – are added as basic ways to keep […]
Posted in Science & technology | Comments (0)
Today is the world’s first official asteroid day
June 30th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
“Asteroid Day is a global awareness campaign where people from around the world come together to learn about asteroids and what we can do to protect our planet, families, communities, and future generations from future asteroid impacts. Asteroid Day will be held on the anniversary of the Tunguska event in Siberia, the largest asteroid to […]
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Why customer expectations are rising in the communications sector
June 29th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
I recently attend a breakfast meeting to discuss customer service in a part of the communications sector (digital terrestrial television). I was asked to make some opening remarks and highlighted the following reasons why customer expectations are high and rising: The technology itself is driving expectations as we see falling prices, increased speeds, increased capacity, […]
Posted in Consumer matters | Comments (0)
My birthday present to myself: the Apple Watch
June 28th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
First, I bought an iPod. Then I went for the first iPhone as soon as it was launched. Next I obtained the first iPad as soon as it was out. Then I bought the Mac Mini to replace my PC. Later I upgraded to the New iPad aka the iPad 3. Progressively I upgraded from […]
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It may not be the most challenging political question of our time …
June 28th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
… but, in the face of such depressing news, let’s consider for a moment a more lighthearted dilemma that is quintessentially British. A delicious British treat is the cream tea which consists of a scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam. But: which goes on first? the cream or the jam? This was the challenge […]
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (1)
My 16th short story: “The Man From Iran”
June 26th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Another Friday and another opportunity to revisit my library of personally-written short stories. This week, I invite you to have a look at my 16th story entitled “The Man From Iran” which was inspired by a visit to this fascinating country. You can read it here.
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
Are we moving ever closer to a new cold war or has it actually begun?
June 25th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Tensions between the West and Russia are growing week by week, most notably over the situation in Ukraine, sanctions and troop manoeuvres. So, is the West simply reacting to Putin’s growing aggression? Or is the West unnecessarily provoking Russia? There is a short but interesting piece on the BBC web site which points out: “Russia […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
A recommended read: the novel “Elizabeth Is Missing”
June 24th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
I try to alternate my reading between fiction and non-fiction works. My last read was a novel called “Elizabeth Is Missing” by Emma Healey. I really recommend it and you can check out my review here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
How Chuck Yeager became the first pilot to break the sound barrier and how I told the story first to my 10 year old son and then to my four year old granddaughter
June 23rd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
My father served in the Royal Air Force and I grew up with a lifelong interest in aviation. So one of my heroes was the American test pilot Chuck Yeager who became the first man to break the sound barrier in 1947. When my son Richard was ten in 1986, I read Yeager’s biography and, […]
Posted in History, Science & technology | Comments (0)
Gaza conflict of 2014: both sides condemned for possible war crimes and both sides refuse to accept condemnation
June 22nd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
As reported here, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has concluded an inquiry by finding that both Israel and Palestinian militants may have committed war crimes during the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict. But neither side accepts this. Israel has dismissed the investigation as “politically motivated and morally flawed”, while Hamas said it wrongly equated “the victim and executioner”. […]
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