Archive for January, 2017
Word of the day: xenodochial
January 17th, 2017 by Roger Darlington
Somebody has just used this word in a communication to me. Apparently, xenodochial is an adjective describing something – such as a person, place or software application — that is friendly to strangers. “Xenos” is a Greek word for “strangers” and, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, xenodochial means “hospitable.” All this makes me wonder […]
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
How long can a Trump presidency last?
January 11th, 2017 by Roger Darlington
The latest allegations about connections between Russia and Trump and his associates, if substantiated, are deeply worrying and come after a whole slew of concerns about conflicts of interests, character defects, political nominations, and flip-flopping policy announcement (often simply via Twitter). It is not just those who opposed the Trump candidacy who are worried; many […]
Posted in American current affairs | Comments (3)
Meryl Streep trumps her previous performances
January 9th, 2017 by Roger Darlington
I have been a huge fan of Meryl Streep as an actress and a person since her role in “The Deer Hunter”. At the Gold Globe Awards, she spoke with characteristic grace and passion:
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (1)
A review of the Taiwanese film “The Assassin”
January 8th, 2017 by Roger Darlington
This work won the Best Director award at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, but what did I think of it? You can read my review here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
How to think critically
January 7th, 2017 by Roger Darlington
Once again, I have just given permission for the use of my advice on how to think critically to the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School of the US Naval War College who will issue it to course students as a handout. If the advice is good enough for the American military, you might like to take […]
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (1)
A review of the new sci-fi movie “Passengers”
January 6th, 2017 by Roger Darlington
Guys, how would you like to be all alone with Jennifer Lawrence? Girls, how would you like to be all alone with Chris Pratt? The next best thing is to see the film “Passengers” which is absolutely carried by Pratt and Lawrence. You can read my review here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (2)
Think Christmas is well and truly over? – it’s not if you’re Italian
January 5th, 2017 by Roger Darlington
Today is the Feast of the Epiphany in Christian countries. My mother was Italian and Catholic and she introduced we three children to the character of Befana – the Good Witch who brings presents for children on the eve of the Epiphany. It made some sense; after all, the three kings did not bring gifts […]
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
It’s Fat Cat Tuesday – a national disgrace
January 4th, 2017 by Roger Darlington
The UK’s top bosses will have made more money by lunchtime today than the typical UK worker will earn all year, according to an analysis that exposes the gulf between executives and the rest of the workforce. On “Fat Cat Wednesday” campaigners say that public anger with elites will intensify unless action is taken to […]
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
“Stuck: How Labour is too weak to win, and too strong to die”
January 3rd, 2017 by Roger Darlington
This is the title of a report published today by the Fabian Society on the state of the British Labour Party. It is a sobering but fair analysis of the current challenges facing the party. The one paragraph summation is as follows: “The Labour Party is too weak to win the next election – whether […]
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)