Tuesday 20 January 2009
Breaking news...
...on the redundancy front. Now won't be finding out on Friday but will be getting interviewed for a new role which nobody understands instead.
National Insurance - a Ponzi scheme
Charles Ponzi is one of the most notorious fraudsters in history. Promising investors spectacular returns, he attracted investments in his scheme using new investors to pay off the earlier ones.
He has been back in the news recently following the allegations made against Bernard Madoff who has allegedly made off (geddit?) with millions of dollars prior to the collapse of his own business and his own apparent admission that his fund was a Ponzi.
Here in Britain, we have a scheme, apparently to pay for our pensions and the NHS called National Insurance. YOu put something aside each month - I think it's about 10% of your salary - and it goes towards your pension and healthcare. The only thing is that it doesn't. It actually goes towards the cost of paying for todays pensioners as their NI contributions have already been spent.
So, my conclusion is that either National Insurance is just another tax or it's all a great big Ponzi. What do you think?
He has been back in the news recently following the allegations made against Bernard Madoff who has allegedly made off (geddit?) with millions of dollars prior to the collapse of his own business and his own apparent admission that his fund was a Ponzi.
Here in Britain, we have a scheme, apparently to pay for our pensions and the NHS called National Insurance. YOu put something aside each month - I think it's about 10% of your salary - and it goes towards your pension and healthcare. The only thing is that it doesn't. It actually goes towards the cost of paying for todays pensioners as their NI contributions have already been spent.
So, my conclusion is that either National Insurance is just another tax or it's all a great big Ponzi. What do you think?
Poetry
I was pleased to see that poetry enjoyed a central role in the presidential inauguration today.
Firstly, the new President was as eloquent and poetic as ever. He has such a rich mellow baritone that he could read a restaurant menu and get applauded for it.
But I was even more impressed with the fact that the Presidential address was followed by the reading of a poem by Elizabeth Alexander.
And, following that, I was even more deeply impressed by the poetic benediction delivered with power, grace and humour by The Reverend Dr Joseph E Lowery.
Americans can be proud that poetry plays such a central part in their public discourse.
Firstly, the new President was as eloquent and poetic as ever. He has such a rich mellow baritone that he could read a restaurant menu and get applauded for it.
But I was even more impressed with the fact that the Presidential address was followed by the reading of a poem by Elizabeth Alexander.
And, following that, I was even more deeply impressed by the poetic benediction delivered with power, grace and humour by The Reverend Dr Joseph E Lowery.
Americans can be proud that poetry plays such a central part in their public discourse.
Monday 19 January 2009
Redundancy
The spectre of redundancy looms large.
I am currently a member of a pool of five people all competing for one new job. We'll find out the result on Friday.
The interesting thing is that the new job will more than likely involve more travel and more responsibility, but - guess what - there's no extra salary available.
A number of other colleagues are being asked to take on substantial extra responsibilities for - guess what - no extra salary.
All of this would be fair enough were the company strapped for cash and heading for administration. But it isn't. It's a large, profitable international corporation. Somewhat perversely the industry I work in tends to be counter cyclical and rates are going to start to rise. We're going to get busier. The division I work for showed strong growth last year. The final figures aren't out yet, but it looks like something in the region of 10% revenue growth. People are therefore somewhat peeved at this.
Obviously I don't want to lose my job but, if I do, I'll try and look on it as a positive opportunity to do something new and different. Hopefully having a freshly minted university degree will be helpful.
I'll blog more on this subject as things progress but my main thought at the moment is that we delivered strong growth last year, arguably against unrealistic targets which weren't amended as the credit crunch bit, so are the wrong people leaving the business?
I am currently a member of a pool of five people all competing for one new job. We'll find out the result on Friday.
The interesting thing is that the new job will more than likely involve more travel and more responsibility, but - guess what - there's no extra salary available.
A number of other colleagues are being asked to take on substantial extra responsibilities for - guess what - no extra salary.
All of this would be fair enough were the company strapped for cash and heading for administration. But it isn't. It's a large, profitable international corporation. Somewhat perversely the industry I work in tends to be counter cyclical and rates are going to start to rise. We're going to get busier. The division I work for showed strong growth last year. The final figures aren't out yet, but it looks like something in the region of 10% revenue growth. People are therefore somewhat peeved at this.
Obviously I don't want to lose my job but, if I do, I'll try and look on it as a positive opportunity to do something new and different. Hopefully having a freshly minted university degree will be helpful.
I'll blog more on this subject as things progress but my main thought at the moment is that we delivered strong growth last year, arguably against unrealistic targets which weren't amended as the credit crunch bit, so are the wrong people leaving the business?
Robert Burns and Homecoming
I am a big fan of history and literature but I'm afraid I'm rather disenchanted by the fare on offer to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns.
Firstly, Burns is without doubt one of the most significant poets in any language. Along with Shakespeare he is definitely one of the top two poets ever to have written in English - well, in my humble opinion at least.
His humanity and his lyricism are celebrated throughout the world with events in places as diverse as Moscow and Los Angeles. So you would think that this anniversary would be the opportunity for Scotland to mount a major celebration of the man and his work.
So what do we do?
We lump him in with other themes like whisky, the Enlightenment, golf and something rather nebulous called ancestry. I think it is rather sad that the anniversary of the birth of this great poet does not merit a celebration in his own right and he has to take his place along with other features in an extended tourist advert.
However, it's not too late and I have suggestions for celebrating the birthday this weekend.
Firstly, the BBC should carry a live outside broadcast from my late Aunt Annie's cottage at Holmston, near Ayr, where some old worthies will gather round the fire and re-enact the scenes from 'A Cotter's Saturday Night'.
This will be followed by a further event where twa dugs, preferably re-named Caesar and Luath for the day, will sit on a hill and discuss the credit crunch.
On Sunday evening Scottish Television will bring Jack McLaughlan out of retirement and have a special 250th anniversary Burns Night 'Thingumyjig' special.
That's what I call a celebration fit for the national bard. Have a good one Rabbie.
Firstly, Burns is without doubt one of the most significant poets in any language. Along with Shakespeare he is definitely one of the top two poets ever to have written in English - well, in my humble opinion at least.
His humanity and his lyricism are celebrated throughout the world with events in places as diverse as Moscow and Los Angeles. So you would think that this anniversary would be the opportunity for Scotland to mount a major celebration of the man and his work.
So what do we do?
We lump him in with other themes like whisky, the Enlightenment, golf and something rather nebulous called ancestry. I think it is rather sad that the anniversary of the birth of this great poet does not merit a celebration in his own right and he has to take his place along with other features in an extended tourist advert.
However, it's not too late and I have suggestions for celebrating the birthday this weekend.
Firstly, the BBC should carry a live outside broadcast from my late Aunt Annie's cottage at Holmston, near Ayr, where some old worthies will gather round the fire and re-enact the scenes from 'A Cotter's Saturday Night'.
This will be followed by a further event where twa dugs, preferably re-named Caesar and Luath for the day, will sit on a hill and discuss the credit crunch.
On Sunday evening Scottish Television will bring Jack McLaughlan out of retirement and have a special 250th anniversary Burns Night 'Thingumyjig' special.
That's what I call a celebration fit for the national bard. Have a good one Rabbie.
Friday 16 January 2009
Progress on New Year resolutions
How, I hear no-one cry, are you getting along with those admirable New Year resolutions?.
Not very well is the resounding response.
Writing more is an admirable aim, but this is the first thing I have written this year. OK, so I've been busy, but still not much progress to report.
Getting more exercise is an even more admirable aim. Again, little progress to report. I've done far less than my target of half an hours brisk walking a day. I've probably done about that...in total.
The fastidiousness is another pain. My desk is slightly tidier - I can see the 'wood' veneer - but my bookcase remains a joyful clutter. I've decided I like it that way so perhaps this resolution should bite the dust.
As should taking my time. It's just not me. Being contemplative and careful just doesn't suit me. It's more fun to be impulsive, to shoot from the hip. I'm trying to type a little slower and read more carefully but, other than these two, I think the rest of this resolution should die as well
One thing is going awfully well and that is turning my job into a career. This week the possibility of redundancy from my current position reared its head and its given me a real boost to get out and do something altogether more satisfying. Work in progress so watch this space. I'm intending to blog more about this issue over the weeks and months ahead in a desperate attempt to catch the credit crunch zeitgeist.
I am also enjoying my studies. I've completed by Bachelors degree and am about to start on a Masters. There's a big scary pile of Greek and Roman history on the corner of my desk just waiting for me to get stuck in.
Not very well is the resounding response.
Writing more is an admirable aim, but this is the first thing I have written this year. OK, so I've been busy, but still not much progress to report.
Getting more exercise is an even more admirable aim. Again, little progress to report. I've done far less than my target of half an hours brisk walking a day. I've probably done about that...in total.
The fastidiousness is another pain. My desk is slightly tidier - I can see the 'wood' veneer - but my bookcase remains a joyful clutter. I've decided I like it that way so perhaps this resolution should bite the dust.
As should taking my time. It's just not me. Being contemplative and careful just doesn't suit me. It's more fun to be impulsive, to shoot from the hip. I'm trying to type a little slower and read more carefully but, other than these two, I think the rest of this resolution should die as well
One thing is going awfully well and that is turning my job into a career. This week the possibility of redundancy from my current position reared its head and its given me a real boost to get out and do something altogether more satisfying. Work in progress so watch this space. I'm intending to blog more about this issue over the weeks and months ahead in a desperate attempt to catch the credit crunch zeitgeist.
I am also enjoying my studies. I've completed by Bachelors degree and am about to start on a Masters. There's a big scary pile of Greek and Roman history on the corner of my desk just waiting for me to get stuck in.
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