Archive for December, 2015
Unhappiness will not shorten your life
December 10th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
“Illness makes you unhappy, but unhappiness itself doesn’t make you ill … We found no direct effect of unhappiness or stress on mortality, even in a 10-year study of a million women.” So states Dr Bette Liu, now at the University of New South Wales in Australia, about a study which has just been published in the […]
Posted in My life & thoughts, Science & technology | Comments (0)
U.S. presidential election (15): Donald J Trump should revisit Ellis Island
December 9th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
The latest outrageous statement by Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump is disgusting and despicable. It is wrong on so many levels, but commentators are surely right when they brand it a “unAmerican”. The United States was founded and peopled by newcomers of countless ethnicities and many religions. Nowhere in the USA is this brought home […]
Posted in American current affairs | Comments (0)
Why and how the customer needs to be heard in regulatory debates and decision-making
December 8th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
SPEAKING NOTES FOR “CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT IN REGULATION” WORKSHOP ORGANISED BY THE CENTRE FOR ANALYSIS OF RISK & REGULATION AT THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, 7 December 2015 Roger Darlington Chair, Consumer Forum for Communications WHY CUSTOMERS NEED AN INSTITUTIONAL VOICE IN REGULATED SECTORS How do individual customers and companies engage with one another? In all […]
Posted in Consumer matters | Comments (0)
Word of the day: meggings
December 7th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
At a social event this weekend, I was introduced to a word that was new to me: meggings. Apparently it means male leggings. Women have leggings. Children have leggings. I suppose men could too. But, tell me guys, would you wear these?
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
A review of the film “Big Eyes”
December 6th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
This film, directed by Tim Burton, tells the remarkable true story of American artists Walter and Margaret Keane. You can read my review here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
Who won at Oldham? Jim or Jeremy?
December 5th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
In Thursday’s by-elcction at Oldham West and Royton, Labour not only confounded most expectations by winning comfortably, but it actually increased its share of the vote compared to the General Election from 54.8% to 62.1%. So whose victory was this? The popular and moderate leader of Oldham council Jim McMahon or the Labour Leader substantially […]
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
How to resolve conflict
December 4th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Is there conflict in your personal or professional life. in your relationship, or group or organisation? This advice may help you.
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
Whatever you think about bombing in Syria, you have to admire this speech by Hilary Benn
December 3rd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
A review of the film “The Drop”
December 2nd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
You may not of heard of this film but, if you like crime thrillers that are more about character than violence, “The Drop” is worth seeking out. You can read my review here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
How the Government proposes to help consumers
December 1st, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Water. The government is driving water market competition. Business and other non- household customers will be able to switch suppliers from 2017. Ofwat will provide an assessment by summer 2016 of the costs and benefits of extending retail competition to household water customers. Following this, the government will work with water companies to begin the […]
Posted in Consumer matters | Comments (0)