Archive for August, 2015


My 23rd short story: “The Day Of Reckoning”

August 14th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

My latest dip into my library of short stories should interest you – and make you think. You can read it here.

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Google -> Alphabet -> The Circle?

August 12th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

The news that Google is to restructure its operations fundamentally, with a new holding company called Alphabet, underlines just how diverse and ambitious are the company’s aspirations. Where is all this taking us? One profoundly unsettling scenario is offered in a novel called “The Circle” by Dave Eggers. It is not a prediction but it […]

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What exactly is an executive summary?

August 12th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

I am a part-time portfolio worker who represents consumers in various regulated sectors, notably communications and water. I spend a lot of time reading long, complicated documents from Government Departments, regulators and companies, many of which invite me to submit comments on these documents and to answer a host of specific questions. It is a […]

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Academics condemn Government’s trade union bill

August 11th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

Over 100 leading UK academics in the field of employment and industrial relations have today published a letter expressing concern over what they call “the draconian provisions of the Trade Union Bill which will amount to the most sustained attack on trade union and workers’ rights since the Combination Laws of the early 19th century”.  […]

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Exploring the Multiverse

August 11th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

For the third time in a week, I attended a one-day course at the City Lit in central London. The previous two courses were on Henry V [my blog posting here] and climate change [my blog posting here], but this latest course could not have been more different. Andrew McGettigan [his slides here] and Rich Cochrane […]

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A review of the film “Testament Of Youth”

August 10th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

There was a time in the early 1970s when I met Shirley Williams – than a Labour MP and Cabinet Minister – on several occasions.  Very recently, I passed her – now a Liberal Democrat peer – while walking near Parliament and I just couldn’t resist saying ‘hello’, even though of course she had no idea […]

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How much can you legally pay in coins?

August 9th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

A friend has drawn my attention the little-known legal position. According to the Coinage Act of 1971, the position is as follows: 1p – for any amount not exceeding 20p 2p – for any amount not exceeding 20p 5p – for any amount not exceeding £5 10p – for any amount not exceeding £5 20p […]

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How does the American political system really work?

August 8th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

I can offer at least two answers to this most important question. The first answer is to suggest that you read my “Short Guide To The American Political System” here. A second answer is that you note a comment by Donald Trump in the hustings this week between 10 Republicans who want to take on […]

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A review of the documentary “Amy”

August 8th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

I loved the music of jazz singer Amy Winehouse and mourned at her death. This brilliant documentary is heart-rending in its tale of her descent into a kind of madness – see my review here.

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My 22nd short story: “Time To Move On”

August 7th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

For five months now, each week, I’ve been ‘republishing’ one of my collection of short stories. This one – like some others – starts with the realisation that so often we do not really know what is going on in the lives of our family, friends and colleagues. Check it out here.

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