Archive for March, 2017
Would a universal basic income actually work?
March 6th, 2017 by Roger Darlington
Rutger Bregman is a Dutch economist who is causing a stir with his book “Utopia For Realists – And How We Can Get There” which is published in English this week. He has an article in today’s “Guardian” newspaper in which he summarises his case that “Poverty is not a lack of character. Poverty is […]
Posted in Social policy | Comments (0)
Will Barack Obama’s next book be the best-ever presidential memoir?
March 5th, 2017 by Roger Darlington
It has been reported this week that Barack and Michelle Obama have signed a joint book deal with Penguin Random House, said to be worth $60M (£49M). Now presidential memoirs are very rarely exciting reads. Three of the most eloquent writers and orators ever to have occupied the White House – Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D […]
Posted in American current affairs | Comments (0)
Suppose the speed of light has not always been the same?
March 4th, 2017 by Roger Darlington
This week, I found myself with some time to kill and bought a copy of the “New Scientist” magazine. A special feature looked at “five impossible things about the universe that just might be true”. The first of these related to the speed of light. Our current thinking, as embodied in Einstein’s general theory of […]
Posted in Science & technology | Comments (1)
A review of the new X-Men movie “Logan”
March 3rd, 2017 by Roger Darlington
This is the ninth movie in the X-Men franchise (I’ve seen them all) and the third of the stand-alone “Wolverine” films, but this really is an X-Men movie like no other. In characterisation, narrative, location and style, it stands apart but is entirely consistent with the others and brings the story to a most satisfying […]
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
A review of the critically-acclaimed and award-winning film “Moonlight”
March 1st, 2017 by Roger Darlington
On the evening of the very day I went to see “Moonlight” at a cinema in London, it received the highest accolade of the Aacedmy Awards in Los Angeles, but only after the most dramatic mess-up in Oscar history when originally “La La Land” was announced as the winner of the Best Film Award only […]
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (1)