I start a new job in Monday. Possibly means that I'll be posting less. Depends how busy I get.
But according to my stats I have no readers anyway, so I don't think I'll be missed too much!
Reminds me of that t-shirt with the logo "more people read this than read your blog". Sadly it's true!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Advertising
I remember learning about taking an "angle" on a story in 6th form journalism, the Herald is getting rather poor at it. Always trying to take a contrarian attitude and blow up a story when there isn't one.
Air NZ has created an ad that pokes fun at the budget airlines. So the Herald goes and interviews the budget airlines who come up with ridiculous statements like "why are they spending hard earned revenue on advertising in an economic crisis?"
Because, you numpty, that's how you drum up business when people aren't spending. You advertise.
Air NZ has created an ad that pokes fun at the budget airlines. So the Herald goes and interviews the budget airlines who come up with ridiculous statements like "why are they spending hard earned revenue on advertising in an economic crisis?"
Because, you numpty, that's how you drum up business when people aren't spending. You advertise.
Why we're in for a massive crash in a few years
From the LA Time, "The delusion that a crisis of excess debt can be solved by creating more debt is at the heart of the Great Repression. Yet that is precisely what most governments propose to do."
Indeed the world's solution to spiralling debt in the private sector is to get into spiralling debt in the public sector. What happens, however, when the governments start getting into trouble, who is going to bail them out?
I've yet to hear about people wanting to reduce general debt. The whole world seems to want to continue the rampant level of borrowing that we had a few years ago which is precisely what got us into this mess.
Make no bones about it, this cheap money that is being created by the worldwide governments in an effort to stave of depression will kickstart another bubble. And I am pretty sure it's going to be bigger than the last one - which means when the inevitable pop comes, the fallout will be even greater.
I hope that the general population at large will start taking care of their own affairs and pay down their debts when this cheap money starts trickling down. I don't think they will though.
Indeed the world's solution to spiralling debt in the private sector is to get into spiralling debt in the public sector. What happens, however, when the governments start getting into trouble, who is going to bail them out?
I've yet to hear about people wanting to reduce general debt. The whole world seems to want to continue the rampant level of borrowing that we had a few years ago which is precisely what got us into this mess.
Make no bones about it, this cheap money that is being created by the worldwide governments in an effort to stave of depression will kickstart another bubble. And I am pretty sure it's going to be bigger than the last one - which means when the inevitable pop comes, the fallout will be even greater.
I hope that the general population at large will start taking care of their own affairs and pay down their debts when this cheap money starts trickling down. I don't think they will though.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Danish social care for children
Fascinating article about pedagogy in Denmark from the BBC which talks about a real level of care and committment to disadvantaged children including (shock horror) physical affection like hugs and stability of care. Importantly, the carers also enjoy high social status. The differences in the results between Denmark and Britain are hard to overstate.
I think the single biggest saving for the future would be massive investment in helping the children of today. Children that slip through the cracks in Britain and New Zealand are the criminals and the social welfare abusers of the future. They need, love, affection, education, as well as the basics of warmth, food and clothing. Sure it's expensive and probably not going to win that many votes in an election, but it will save the next generation a boatload in financial and social terms.
Unfortunately short sighted governments who are incentivised to maintain a three to six year view of the world, cannot afford to look into the future with a system like this.
This is how a social welfare state should be. Trying to cure the disease at the early stages, rather than alleviate the symptoms once it has set in for good.
I think the single biggest saving for the future would be massive investment in helping the children of today. Children that slip through the cracks in Britain and New Zealand are the criminals and the social welfare abusers of the future. They need, love, affection, education, as well as the basics of warmth, food and clothing. Sure it's expensive and probably not going to win that many votes in an election, but it will save the next generation a boatload in financial and social terms.
Unfortunately short sighted governments who are incentivised to maintain a three to six year view of the world, cannot afford to look into the future with a system like this.
This is how a social welfare state should be. Trying to cure the disease at the early stages, rather than alleviate the symptoms once it has set in for good.
The children are our burden
From a BBC article about the snow, "Many parents - faced with having to take time off work to care for their children - are puzzled and angry"
I'm taking it a bit out of context here, but I still take issue with the implication that work is more important than kids. That the kids are a burden and a frustration. I can imagine a child reading that and thinking "my mummy must be angry at me because I made her stay home from work. She's angry because her work is more important than me", because that's pretty much what it says at an age where you can't help but be ego-centric.
The children are our future, not a burden.
I'm taking it a bit out of context here, but I still take issue with the implication that work is more important than kids. That the kids are a burden and a frustration. I can imagine a child reading that and thinking "my mummy must be angry at me because I made her stay home from work. She's angry because her work is more important than me", because that's pretty much what it says at an age where you can't help but be ego-centric.
The children are our future, not a burden.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Selfish adults ruin childhood
An article in the BBC tells of how parent's selfishness in pursuing their own wealth and happiness is coming at the expense of their children's wellbeing. It's gotta be time for a change of attitudes to life and wealth soon. This latest crash has shown how temporary money is, as it did in the 80s. Yet we still pursue it to the exclusion of so much else in our lives.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Property buying
What a load of self serving jibberish in the Herald this weekend about more investors looking to buy into property. Of course the head of Auckland Property Rental Association is going to say now's a good time to buy.
This is a great example of what a load of codswollop comes out of traditional news media these days, as journalists with no real knowledge about a subject try to "inform" the masses. About the only thing worth reading in newspapers these days are the columns, because they tend to be written about subjects that the author actually has a clue on.
My investing advice (for the two cents it really is worth), and what I'm about to do myself, is stick some money in shares for the year, ride the wave up as the market begins to price in an economic recovery in 2010, then if you have to get into housing, do it at the end of 2009.
This is a great example of what a load of codswollop comes out of traditional news media these days, as journalists with no real knowledge about a subject try to "inform" the masses. About the only thing worth reading in newspapers these days are the columns, because they tend to be written about subjects that the author actually has a clue on.
My investing advice (for the two cents it really is worth), and what I'm about to do myself, is stick some money in shares for the year, ride the wave up as the market begins to price in an economic recovery in 2010, then if you have to get into housing, do it at the end of 2009.
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