Archive for May, 2016
Visit to Sark (2): first experience of the island
May 21st, 2016 by Roger Darlington
Our journey started with a 6.30 am pick-up by a cab to take us all the way round the North Circular Road from Wembley to London City Airport. There we boarded an ATR 42 turboprop aircraft for the one hour flight to Guernsey. We had a few hours before our ferry, so Vee and I […]
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Visit to Sark (1): our group of 23
May 20th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
In my near 68 years of travel to 69 countries, I’ve only been to the Channel Islands (which I don’t count as a country for my list) once when I attended a trade union conference on Jersey. Today though, I travel to the tiny island of Sark (population just 550), which is located next to Guernsey, […]
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A review of the film “Son Of Saul”
May 19th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
There have been so many films about the Holocaust you would wonder whether anything new was possible, but this Hungarian film is something special. You might find it difficult to locate at the cinema, but look it out on television or for rental or purchase. You can read my review here.
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A review of the Film “Florence Foster Jenkins”
May 19th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
Who would have thought that one could make such a charming film about a singer who cannot sing. Yet, American socialite Florence Foster Jenkins was for real – as tragic as she was comedic. I’ve reviewed the film here.
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Does the Internet of Things mean we’ll never be left to our own devices?
May 18th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
Following very interesting discussions about the Internet of Things (IoT) at both the Essential Services Access Network (ESAN) and the Consumer Forum for Communications (CFC), both of which I chair, my colleague Claire Milne organised a small seminar at the London School of Economics (LSE) for a group of us especially concerned about the impact […]
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What are the differences between American and British politics?
May 17th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
Earlier this week, I spent almost four hours in discussion – much of it recorded – with an American academic visiting London: Professor Gerald Sussman. He is the author of six books and is currently researching for a seventh. As he explained in an introductory e-mail: “I’m a professor of international politics at Portland State […]
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Why has Egypt suddenly given away the islands of Tiran and Sanafir?
May 16th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
Around the world, there are many disputes over the ownership of islands – for instance, look at the East China Sea and the South China Sea. Countries that currently own these islands fiercely resist the claims of other states. Yet recently Egypt – or at least its dictatorial leader – suddenly gave to Saudi Arabia […]
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The most compelling reason to be cheerful: now is the best time in history to be alive
May 15th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
“Now is the best time in history to be alive. Angry voices will loudly deny this but that doesn’t make it any less true. Despite the many miseries that plague our world, humanity as a whole has never climbed so high, so fast. If you could choose to be reborn at any moment in history, […]
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Series 3 of “Homeland” – we’ve finished it
May 14th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
Last September, we watched a box set of Series 1 of “Homeland” [blog posting here]; over Christmas/New Year, we viewed a box set of Series 2 [blog posting here]; in the course of the last week, we’ve caught up with Series 3 which I thought was better than Series 2 with a moving conclusion. Of […]
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How to work from home
May 13th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
As part of my Friday practice of highlighting advice in the Life Skills section of my web site, today I offer suggestions on “How To Work From Home” here.
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