When you see someone wearing headphones and tapping away at a laptop it means that they don’t want to be disturbed. The wearers are trying to ignore the world and grab a bit of peace. Not everyone recognises the signs however and insist on trying to engage the person in conversation. If you are one … Continue reading Noise cancelling
I want to pay more tax
A couple of things happened this week to make me think about taxation. It could have been serendipity. The first was a visit to my accountant and the second was that I finished reading the book ‘Utopia for Realists’ by Rutger Bregman. I was at my accountant (Tynerede in Bellingham) to sign off on my … Continue reading I want to pay more tax
Digital for Growth
Last week’s North East Local Enterprise Partnership launch of the digital strategy was a good event. The meeting space at Proto was packed, with standing room only for many of the great and good in the North East’s digital sector, that is if digital is a sector. As with many of these events there were … Continue reading Digital for Growth
On a bus
Now I don’t often get a bus, not that I have anything against them, they just tend not to be as convenient as other forms of transport. I use the train more. This week though I found myself on one. I had gone in to Newcastle by train only to find that a meeting had … Continue reading On a bus
Respect the Referendum
So many times people have asked me the same question when talking about Brexit, ‘Do you not respect the referendum?’ My position is clear when it comes to whether we should leave the union or not though it is severely challenged by such a question. Yes, I respect it as a referendum though I think … Continue reading Respect the Referendum
Form filling
I’m not sure if I will ever get to do this again but I have been beavering away trying to fill in a European Regional Development Fund form. If you have ever been involved in such a thing then you will understand the complexity and you have my sympathy. If you haven’t then you have … Continue reading Form filling
End of the road
I like reading Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole books. I know they’re not real and the story lines are, at times, too gruesome and stretch the bounds of my imagination but I find myself rushing through the pages towards the end through excitement. Nesbo truly is a great writer. I’m reading ‘The Thirst’, for the second … Continue reading End of the road
Divisive language
The language of politics is becoming more divisive. Soundbites fall like stones in a pond and the ripples spread around the world at the speed of social media. It seems the more outlandish and provocative, the more likely they are to be taken up, liked, retweeted and shared. Every phrase is dissected by the media … Continue reading Divisive language
NEBIzEthics as part of #CyberFest
#CyberFest is the North East’s biggest cybersecurity festival and has now completed its second year. With 11 events, 700 attendees and over 60 speakers it has become one of the highlights of the regional tech calendar. There are huge ethical issues in cyber security both in terms of those who perpetrate criminal and antisocial behaviour … Continue reading NEBIzEthics as part of #CyberFest
My favourite CyberFest event
I expect to get a few blogs out of this year’s #CyberFest, indeed I’m surprised that this is the first seeing that it is at least two weeks old. I guess my head has been down trying to visit, organise, speak at and generally deliver the events. A couple of people have asked me, during … Continue reading My favourite CyberFest event
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 