Image thanks to The Independant Two lessons that I have learnt about tax and politics this week: You can never trust what politicians say about future taxation (not that I did anyway)It is stupid for politiocians to make any promises about tax rates in the future as they hold themselves hostage to fortune and it … Continue reading Old age tax
E-begging
Image thanks to The Chronicle I’ve always been in two minds when giving money to people who beg in the streets. I am aware that some of those I pass by are part of organised gangs, yet seeing two people asleep in a doorway in the centre of Newcastle in the middle of the day, … Continue reading E-begging
That’s week one over
It is. The first week of #CyberFest is over with three events led by CyberNorth as well as the amazing BSides. Although there is plenty of water to go under the bridge we already have a long list of lessons to learn and are tentatively talking about next year. No doubt I will come back … Continue reading That’s week one over
Want to be a delivery driver?
Image thanks to Motor Transport I was coming out of a local shopping mall recently and saw a poster encouraging people to come and work for a well known parcel distribution company. Having experienced some shortages at the supermarket, though nothing significant, I am aware that attracting and retaining drivers is a hot button issue. … Continue reading Want to be a delivery driver?
Renewable energy
Image thanks to BNP Parisbas Before I start, don’t get me wrong. I am all for renewable energy sources, though I am a bit skeptical about nuclear power as a future alternative. I’m delighted therefore to hear the efforts of the energy companies to move away from fossil fuels to renewable sources. I gather that … Continue reading Renewable energy
Hybridisation
Way back at the start of the year, it could have been as early as February, when I was thinking about this year’s #CyberFest I was longing to get back to real events, with real people speaking in real buildings to a real live audience. Of course I was still acutely aware of the threat … Continue reading Hybridisation
Money as a global government
In the New European a few weeks ago there was an article about conspiracy theories and how easy and common it is to fall for them. Of the eight or so it listed there was one that I partially believed, while my wife leant to five or six. The one that made me think was … Continue reading Money as a global government
Help with CyberNorth
Finally, I have some help with CyberNorth. Don’t get me wrong, all of the steering group, the people at Accenture, Dynamo and Beacon House, as well as the sector itself have been an enormous help over these last three or four years. In the main though the work has been done by me and I … Continue reading Help with CyberNorth
#CyberFest 21 – Why you should go to the season finale
September is going to be a long month. By the time we get to the season finale, on its last day, we will have got through thirteen of the fourteen amazing events that make up this year’s #CyberFest. It’s right to try and bring #the North East’s biggest cyber security festival to a close with … Continue reading #CyberFest 21 – Why you should go to the season finale
The limits of democracy
Image thanks to US News If the situation in Afghanistan has shown us anything, it is that there are significant limits to democracy, limits that severely question its legitimacy as a political system. While he is no hero of mine, it was Churchill who said that ‘democracy is the worst form of government – except … Continue reading The limits of democracy
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 