C21 is still less than a decade young yet the speed with which digital developments
are affecting ordinary lives mainly I think/hope for the better, is breath taking.
Mobile phones of course originated in C20 and side effects such as
the nuisance caused to those whose peace is loudly interrupted on SWTrains
should not be ignored but many 3rd world countries without the
capital to build landline infrastructure are in C21 benefitting
from mobile telephony. This gives individuals versitility and independence in speaking privately to one another.
For example it was not long ago that the Taliban in
Afganistan even talked of blowing up mobile phone masts such was
their concern that ordinary people might be able to avoid their thought
police whilst communicating on mobiles. Big brother governments
the UK's alas included, are trying to rein in this personal freedom
but I doubt that they will be very succesful.
On a more fun and personal note last week mdtrader on Sharecrazy
answered what was becoming a bit of a diatribe on a non-investment
thread, with reference to a Youtube video clip
by a Russian singer. Upon following his link I came across the talented
Russian singer whose clip entitled I think "its contagious"
she recorded in USA. I was then thanks to C21 digital advances able
not only to watch and listen almost instantly but also
to download the clip effortlessly for future sight and sound.
A form of learning entertainment and publicity unheard of
to earlier generations.
All this is certainly food for the senses of awe and wonder.
The link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1a6op_regina-spektor-us_music
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Gaza: Human Tragedy, Tony Benn and the BBC
The human grief and misery within Gaza are tragic irrespective of
the politics, which are complicated.
The BBC is a great but imperfect British institution, which for some feeble reasons
apparently based on a need for political neutrality,
decided this week to decline a request to
broadcast an appeal for aid to relieve the suffering in Gaza,
by the UK disasters relief committee.
Tony Benn is a politician with views usually politically diametrically opposed to
my own. However this morning on the BBC Radio 4 programme, when
asked to explain why he disagreed so fundamentally with the BBC decision, he wasted no time with explanations
but instead used the opportunity to make the very appeal for humanitarian aid
that the BBC had vetoed. All credit to him. I was intrigued by his use of apt
Biblical quotations (New Testament) to illustrate his great point as previously
I had not appreciated any religious leanings in Tony Benn's speeches.
the politics, which are complicated.
The BBC is a great but imperfect British institution, which for some feeble reasons
apparently based on a need for political neutrality,
decided this week to decline a request to
broadcast an appeal for aid to relieve the suffering in Gaza,
by the UK disasters relief committee.
Tony Benn is a politician with views usually politically diametrically opposed to
my own. However this morning on the BBC Radio 4 programme, when
asked to explain why he disagreed so fundamentally with the BBC decision, he wasted no time with explanations
but instead used the opportunity to make the very appeal for humanitarian aid
that the BBC had vetoed. All credit to him. I was intrigued by his use of apt
Biblical quotations (New Testament) to illustrate his great point as previously
I had not appreciated any religious leanings in Tony Benn's speeches.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Banks are Bust
The old paraffin oil lamp at the day job office is a reminder of the last
time the UK was buffeted by v. profound economic woes. We were permitted
to use electricity at work only on three days a week. The cause was really
a left versus right political spat and the difficulties of adjusting
to the changes in the industrial landscapes which came into
being in the early C20. This was a mainly local UK problem with
resolution effectively coming locally via Mrs Thatcher.
The problem today is global and far more profound. Quite why
so many previously highly regarded banks and financial institutions
have allowed themselves to invest £billions in 'toxic debt' is
beyond my ken. Individuals in the UK have always been
required to prove that the house being mortgaged is properly valued
yet the banks seem to have been
far less prudent on the grand scale eg when investing with international institutions than with
investing in local individuals' homes and businesses.
Thus when investing £billions internationally no such
proper valuations seem to have been insisted upon. The fact that the
banks' problems are worldwide also makes a local Mrs Thatcher-like
solution - which was painful enough anyway - well nigh impossible.
The current ideas of govts. involving takeovers of banks coupled with
exhorting people to spend rather than save, may be appproved of
by John Maynard Keynes aficionados but they are also economic theories
from C20 whereas what is really needed is a solution for C21 -
a new Emmaus direction perhaps.
The banks' pre C21 business models are bust and new ways of financing
need inventing. Put Christian derived (Emmaus concept is New Testament)
thinking; the best of the Islamic ideas (outlawing interest for example)
and succesful Jewish-type business successes, into a new C21
cassoulet, mix in the best international economists, philosphers,
business men and women and academics and who knows
a rich vein of improving commerce might emerge, not to mention
greater understanding and tolerance between particpants and their nations.
time the UK was buffeted by v. profound economic woes. We were permitted
to use electricity at work only on three days a week. The cause was really
a left versus right political spat and the difficulties of adjusting
to the changes in the industrial landscapes which came into
being in the early C20. This was a mainly local UK problem with
resolution effectively coming locally via Mrs Thatcher.
The problem today is global and far more profound. Quite why
so many previously highly regarded banks and financial institutions
have allowed themselves to invest £billions in 'toxic debt' is
beyond my ken. Individuals in the UK have always been
required to prove that the house being mortgaged is properly valued
yet the banks seem to have been
far less prudent on the grand scale eg when investing with international institutions than with
investing in local individuals' homes and businesses.
Thus when investing £billions internationally no such
proper valuations seem to have been insisted upon. The fact that the
banks' problems are worldwide also makes a local Mrs Thatcher-like
solution - which was painful enough anyway - well nigh impossible.
The current ideas of govts. involving takeovers of banks coupled with
exhorting people to spend rather than save, may be appproved of
by John Maynard Keynes aficionados but they are also economic theories
from C20 whereas what is really needed is a solution for C21 -
a new Emmaus direction perhaps.
The banks' pre C21 business models are bust and new ways of financing
need inventing. Put Christian derived (Emmaus concept is New Testament)
thinking; the best of the Islamic ideas (outlawing interest for example)
and succesful Jewish-type business successes, into a new C21
cassoulet, mix in the best international economists, philosphers,
business men and women and academics and who knows
a rich vein of improving commerce might emerge, not to mention
greater understanding and tolerance between particpants and their nations.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Mobile Phones
The dawning of the age of mobile telephony has up until now
virtually passed me by though as mrs maytrees fully
participates and as a contract for two mobiles
is only marginally more expensive than for one,
I have owned but rarely used a Nokia handset.
Texting was not designed for clumsy butter-fingered people
like myself so that facility was lost on me. On the rare
occasion I need to make a telephone call on the mobile there is always
a huge difficulty in hearing what was being said unlike land line calls.
this probably explains why so many mobile telephone
conversations are conducted at shouting level especially
on trains.
My Nokia therefore remained virtually unused over the years.
However having recently learned that our existing BT Broadband
could be upgraded to include state of the art wireless
compatible mobile phones for asmall extra cost yet also
saving about £30 on our seperate mobile phone bill, I
find that the new BT phone is much more attracive andcheaper to use.
Its keyboard does not require such deft finger work.
Clear easy to read instructions automatically guide me in
what to do next whereas the old Nokia always seemed to assume that the user
knew the the ropes.
The BT phone also links easily
with computer wireless arrangements at home and out and about
so seems far more versatile.
Mrs maytrees on the other hand preferred to keep the Nokia
so opted simply for a new Sim card. Possibly the new toys
intrigue boys more whereas girls like simply to communicate
without the bells and whistles.
virtually passed me by though as mrs maytrees fully
participates and as a contract for two mobiles
is only marginally more expensive than for one,
I have owned but rarely used a Nokia handset.
Texting was not designed for clumsy butter-fingered people
like myself so that facility was lost on me. On the rare
occasion I need to make a telephone call on the mobile there is always
a huge difficulty in hearing what was being said unlike land line calls.
this probably explains why so many mobile telephone
conversations are conducted at shouting level especially
on trains.
My Nokia therefore remained virtually unused over the years.
However having recently learned that our existing BT Broadband
could be upgraded to include state of the art wireless
compatible mobile phones for asmall extra cost yet also
saving about £30 on our seperate mobile phone bill, I
find that the new BT phone is much more attracive andcheaper to use.
Its keyboard does not require such deft finger work.
Clear easy to read instructions automatically guide me in
what to do next whereas the old Nokia always seemed to assume that the user
knew the the ropes.
The BT phone also links easily
with computer wireless arrangements at home and out and about
so seems far more versatile.
Mrs maytrees on the other hand preferred to keep the Nokia
so opted simply for a new Sim card. Possibly the new toys
intrigue boys more whereas girls like simply to communicate
without the bells and whistles.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Financial Stringencies and Govt. Anti Self-Employment Tax Regime
Dayjob busy-ness has not so far been directly affected
by the oppressive financial climate
but peoples' ability to pay for their work on time has been hit and hard.
Government policies of taxing the self employed on the basis
of invoices delivered rather than only on actual
payments received, hits self employed businesses like a double whammy - no
cash received for making tax payments yet still fully liable to pay tax on time
for invoices delivered, even when they are not actually paid.
There is a mechanism for recouping tax if the customer fails to pay
because of bankruptcy but that is so slow and cumbersome that any
self employed business which depends on that for fair taxation
would itself risk bankruptcy during the process.
True the ballot box provides an occasional chance to see
other policies at work instead of the current nonsensical ones.
But those who benefit from the state's interventions have no
incentive to change the status quo. Radical change is therefore
only likely when so many depend on the state's welfare
that the state itself cannot cope and the whole thing implodes a
bit like the Madoff con that the media is commenting on.
At least then the new phoenix state could radically change policies.
by the oppressive financial climate
but peoples' ability to pay for their work on time has been hit and hard.
Government policies of taxing the self employed on the basis
of invoices delivered rather than only on actual
payments received, hits self employed businesses like a double whammy - no
cash received for making tax payments yet still fully liable to pay tax on time
for invoices delivered, even when they are not actually paid.
There is a mechanism for recouping tax if the customer fails to pay
because of bankruptcy but that is so slow and cumbersome that any
self employed business which depends on that for fair taxation
would itself risk bankruptcy during the process.
True the ballot box provides an occasional chance to see
other policies at work instead of the current nonsensical ones.
But those who benefit from the state's interventions have no
incentive to change the status quo. Radical change is therefore
only likely when so many depend on the state's welfare
that the state itself cannot cope and the whole thing implodes a
bit like the Madoff con that the media is commenting on.
At least then the new phoenix state could radically change policies.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
New Year 2009
As large scale organised happiness rarely appeals (to me)
new year's eve 2008 was spent at home by mrs maytrees and yrs truly
with a half bottle of Chateau D' Yquem 2002 (a great 2007 Christmas present)
and the Steven Poliakoff 'Shooting the Past' DVD.
My predictions for 2009 as posted earlier on Sharecrazy are:
Mugabe will at last be toppled and
Zimbabwe's peoples start their long road
back to a fairer normality
The Independent newspaper will
be independent no more.
The Euro will begin to lose lustre whilst the
the FTSE100 will begin to recover some.
Labour will hang on regardless.
Electric power for personal
transport will be radically improved.
Irish Noes will still have it in Europe.
A new Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster will
be appointed from among the unknowns - not even
on the bookies' lists let alone a fav.
My own long term share investing hold
ZYZ will at last come good (dyor)
Happy New year everyone.
new year's eve 2008 was spent at home by mrs maytrees and yrs truly
with a half bottle of Chateau D' Yquem 2002 (a great 2007 Christmas present)
and the Steven Poliakoff 'Shooting the Past' DVD.
My predictions for 2009 as posted earlier on Sharecrazy are:
Mugabe will at last be toppled and
Zimbabwe's peoples start their long road
back to a fairer normality
The Independent newspaper will
be independent no more.
The Euro will begin to lose lustre whilst the
the FTSE100 will begin to recover some.
Labour will hang on regardless.
Electric power for personal
transport will be radically improved.
Irish Noes will still have it in Europe.
A new Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster will
be appointed from among the unknowns - not even
on the bookies' lists let alone a fav.
My own long term share investing hold
ZYZ will at last come good (dyor)
Happy New year everyone.
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