‘You can hold yourself back from the sufferings of the world, this is something you are free to do and is in accord with your nature, but perhaps precisely this holding back is the only suffering that you may be able to avoid.’ I have always liked Kafka. His work describes the frustrations of being … Continue reading Sufferings of the world
Social Trust
According to the The Behavioural Insights Team, social trust is one of the most important measures that most people have never heard of. Until a few days ago I was one of them. I first came across the term in the book ‘The Social Animal’ by David Brooks. I would recommend it highly by the … Continue reading Social Trust
Six degrees of database separation
According to Frigyes Karinthy, everyone in the world is separated from everyone else by six degrees of separation. You know some people and they now some other people and they know some others etc. until eventually everyone knows everyone. In my peregrinations of late I am becoming more convinced that this is true, People I … Continue reading Six degrees of database separation
A woman at the chemists
The woman behind the counter asked me a very unusual question. You see, I had popped into Boots the chemist near the Monument in Newcastle. I wanted to buy some pain killers and for some peculiarly British tradition there is a ritual that we have to go through. The tablets contain codeine, which can be … Continue reading A woman at the chemists
Highlighter guilt
Every time I use a highlighter pen I have a deep sense of guilt. It doesn’t matter the colour or the make, the pangs are always the same. It has nothing to do with the environment or some congenital issue I have with the pens. It goes back a long way yet the feelings are … Continue reading Highlighter guilt
What can machines do better?
You would think it is an easy question. What can machines do better than people can? Most people could answer it though they had to draw breath first and repeat the question while they thought about it. I was at the excellent Northumbrian Water Group Innovation Festival at Gosforth Park Racecourse. I was only able … Continue reading What can machines do better?
I don’t agree with you
Twice today I have been told that someone doesn’t agree with me. For a fraction of a second I was hurt and in a way I probably still am. I am blogging about it after all. Yet the more I think about it the less concerned I become. Everyone deep down believes that what … Continue reading I don’t agree with you
Come in for a chat
OK, so I didn’t get the job. To be honest I am not sure I wanted it anyway. That sounds like sour grapes but I am being honest. I’m too excited by all the other things I am up to and it would have been a big commitment. I have jumped out of the frying … Continue reading Come in for a chat
Customizing reality
Dan Biddle, at Thinking Digital 2017, talked about customizing reality. He is a media strategist and so should know about these things. He told us how the latest wave in social media is to augment something that has happened, taking a picture and meddling about with it or taking a video and adding a … Continue reading Customizing reality
Too difficult – then do something
I am such a magpie. Whenever I pick up a new book it gets me thinking about a new subject. It doesn’t matter whether it is fiction or not. They all count. My latest pick up is a recommendation from a friend. I’m only a few pages into ‘Thinking Fast and Slow’ by Daniel Kahneman … Continue reading Too difficult – then do something
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 