Archive for May, 2016
U.S. presidential election (26): what now for Bernie Sanders?
May 12th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
Bernie Sanders continues to do remarkably well in the race for the Democratic nomination winning more states and more delegates, but let’s look at the maths (or, as Americans call it, the math). As this article explains: “… with its relatively small population and a Democratic party system of awarding delegates in proportion to votes […]
Posted in American current affairs | Comments (0)
Which are the most corrupt nations on earth?
May 11th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
British Prime Minister David Cameron has been caught telling the Queen that Nigera and Afghanistan are “fantastically corrupt” [see story here]. Is he right? Well, yes. It probably would have been better not to have said this just before hosting an international event on corruption at which these two countries are represented or at least […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
A review of the novel “Room”
May 9th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
First, I saw the film; then I had to read the book. The novel by Emma Donoghue is a marvellous work and I’ve reviewed it here.
Posted in Consumer matters | Comments (0)
Will there ever be a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict?
May 8th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
In an article in today’s “Observer” newspaper, Dov Waxman and Dahlia Scheindlin consider a two-state solution, a one-state solution, and their recommended confederal approach. As regards the usual option for a resolution of the conflict, they write: “The two-state solution – the creation of two separate countries divided by a border roughly along the 1949 […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
The great city of London has a mayor who is Muslim and Labour
May 7th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
On Thursday, I voted for a Hindu Navin Shah for the London Assembly and for a Muslim Sadiq Khan to be the London mayor. Of course, I voted for them because they were the Labour candidates, not because of their religion or ethnicity, but I was proud that my political party is so diverse in […]
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
How to build a good team
May 6th, 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 Build A Good Team” here.
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
In praise of multi-culturalism
May 5th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
My mother was Italian and came to Britain in 1946 when she married my father who was stationed in Italy with the Royal Air Force. My wife’s father was Czech and married her mother in 1942 when he had fled Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia to fly with the wartime RAF. Our son did a degree in International […]
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (4)
Word of the day: bloviate
May 4th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
To bloviate is to speak pompously. I came across this word for the first time in a recent Facebook posting by the political commentator Robert Reich who described Donald Trump as “a bloviating bigot”. I couldn’t agree more. Let’s hope that American voters understand this in the forthcoming Presidential election.
Posted in American current affairs, Cultural issues | Comments (0)
The vast majority of films still failing the Bechdel Test
May 3rd, 2016 by Roger Darlington
I’ve blogged before about the Bechdel test. The Bechdel Test was inspired by animator Alison Bechdel’s 1985 tongue-in-cheek comic strip ‘The Rule’. In order for a film to pass The Bechdel Test, it must have at least two named female characters, who have a conversation with each other about something other than a man. You’d […]
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
Three reasons why Leicester is a great city
May 3rd, 2016 by Roger Darlington
King Richard III is buried there. They are Premier League Champions. My wonderful sister lives there.
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