I have a love hate relationship with Duolingo, the online language learning site. I have used it for many years now to toy with learning various languages. I have had most success so far with Dutch and have recently started, as you may well already know, to learn Welsh. It is great fun and easy … Continue reading Battles with Duolingo
Free to be poor
Image thanks to Vox.com Not everything is fine in the land of the free. The rampant free market has led to a huge distortion in the relative wealth of its citizens. It has long been known that the richest economy in the world has significant problems with poverty. Like the UK, the USA is a … Continue reading Free to be poor
Brexit’s binary choice
Image thanks to The Speaker I’m still smarting over the Brexit referendum. It will be a long time before I get over it, if indeed I ever will. It is not the result particularly that bothers me. I still think it is wrong that we have left the union, despite its many flaws and problems. … Continue reading Brexit’s binary choice
Why I hate the English
Image thanks to Martin's English I was born in England and that makes me English. I can’t help it, I had no choice. Somehow, this stroke of luck has left me imbued with the characteristics of an Englishman, you know, a sense of fair play, good at organising, stiff upper lip, a natural queuer. This … Continue reading Why I hate the English
The disappearing present
Image thanks to Glen Smyth - LinkedIn It's the birthday season in the Jackman household. March is an expensive month. Looking back, perhaps we should have planned things better but it’s a bit late now. When my children were younger, buying presents was much easier. Something big and plastic would usually do the trick and … Continue reading The disappearing present
What happened to the rule of law?
Image thanks to BBC I have avoided writing about Begum for obvious reasons but feel I can’t hold my tongue (or fingers) any longer. On the face of it her actions appear reprehensible yet I am in no position to make any judgement as all I have heard or read about her has been in … Continue reading What happened to the rule of law?
Abandoned engineering
Image thanks to Yesterday TV Have you ever watched Abandoned Engineering? If not then you are missing out if that is your sort of thing. Now in its fifth series, the Yesterday TV show takes us around the world to look at engineering projects that were once at the cutting edge of their purpose but … Continue reading Abandoned engineering
Confined creativity
It’s great being six again. Having grandchildren has opened up whole new dimensions in my life. I get the chance now to play, released from the seriousness of adulthood, with people who don’t judge my actions and are only too happy to play along and enter into the game. Duplo, has been a particular favourite … Continue reading Confined creativity
Learn Welsh
Image thanks to Cardiff University I have been fascinated by languages for a long time. I was going to say since I was very young but my passion really only started after I left school. I never understood the point of speaking another tongue when at school, everyone seemed to be speaking English and the … Continue reading Learn Welsh
A cross border alliance
Scotland Cyber Week has been and gone. Held every February, this year saw over 140 events take place across the country. By any stretch of the imagination this is a successful series of events and the ScotlandIS Cyber team should be congratulated. But what has this got to do with the work going on in … Continue reading A cross border alliance
