In my new life I seem to be hanging round the universities a lot. I was never a stranger as such when I was working at Durham but since then I find myself in all sorts of events at Newcastle, Northumbria and Sunderland University. I am off to Teesside in the new year as well. … Continue reading Hanging round universities
Dear public sector
Over the last couple of weeks I have had the pleasure of trying to get in touch with people in the public and quasi-public sector. Boy, has it been hard and this is from someone who, for a long time was inside the system. My efforts have been part of a Low Power Wide Area … Continue reading Dear public sector
A snooker solution
There is a lot of snooker on the television. Ever since the introduction of Pot Black, way back in 1969, there has been a steady increase in the broadcast hours dedicated to the baize. It was originally introduced into the small screen to extol the virtues of colour television and even today the red and … Continue reading A snooker solution
Food Waste
According to the Food Standards Agency, In the UK, we throw away 7 million tonnes of food and drink from our homes every year, the majority of which could have been eaten. It was all over the news and so it must be true. That sounds terrible. Stacked up in metre blocks it would form … Continue reading Food Waste
Milton Friedman is out of time
The current economic and social system in which we live, at least here in the anglo-american parts of the globe, is coming to an end. News of its demise may be a little premature yet I can hear its rattle. It is simply unsustainable. Inequality in wealth is growing both in absolute and relative terms. … Continue reading Milton Friedman is out of time
Free press
A free press cannot be free. A press that is given away to its readers for nothing cannot be impartial and free from undue influence. We pride ourselves in this country that we have a free press and that it fulfills the important role of holding governments and other institutions to account. We convince ourselves … Continue reading Free press
Don’t buy a bitcoin
Don’t buy a bitcoin. In fact don’t buy any cryptocurrency. They are not really worth anything, at least that is what the financial institutions are telling us. They are not like gold, or any other commodity, that is tangible. You can’t hold a bitcoin in your hand or feel it rattle in your pocket as … Continue reading Don’t buy a bitcoin
Pro Bull Riding
I feel that I shouldn’t but I have enjoyed watching the Pro Bull Riding on the television. It is back on the Free Sports channel. It is something that I never thought I would get into. It is all a bit redneck and cowboy for me and I have no history in any of these … Continue reading Pro Bull Riding
The best of talent
‘We need to be competitive, we need to attract the best’ is the clarion call of many of the leading tech organisations. In order to stay at the top of their game they need to pick the cream of the crop, the students with first class honours from the leading universities. I understand this yet … Continue reading The best of talent
Bitcoin babble
Bitcoin is in a bubble. That is obvious to anyone who has even the passing interest in cryptocurrencies. Money is pouring into the currency faster than Noah’s flood. Cyberspace is filled with commentary on every fluctuation and stutter yet the majority of what is said is babble, fill or rubbish. My interest in cryptocurrencies is … Continue reading Bitcoin babble
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 