The vicious cycle every financial paper is reporting is hardly surprising.
That they’ve downgraded forecasts and ratings? Of course they have- they’re just predictions- it’s their job. That people pull their money out and cause banks and growth to falter? Of course they do, they’re scared.
Is it in anyway unexpected that after all the panic reported in the industry people worry and lose faith in the economy? In a way it’s irresponsible reporting- this is when we need investment. How do they expect growth by scaring investors away?
If you think about it, and ignore the doomsayers (who don’t have anymore of a crystal ball then you do) it doesn’t make sense at all to not invest. This is the time to be pumping money in-this is when companies are the cheapest.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Education
What is it that University is supposed to teach you?
A few commonly agreed answers are: how to frame a problem, how to ask the right questions, how to connect different sources of information into a coherent story that leads somewhere new, that contributes.
I think while I have learned these things, however incompletely, having a mixed biology/development background has notably contributed to the way I break down information. My science background taught me to memorize and retain a great deal of facts, as well as state problems and information clearly- but it's the social sciences that have made me think more critically, and care more about balance and sources.
I can see why Americans propagate the liberal arts, it's a shame most universities in other countries are so rigid about syllabi and force you to stick to one subject.
A few commonly agreed answers are: how to frame a problem, how to ask the right questions, how to connect different sources of information into a coherent story that leads somewhere new, that contributes.
I think while I have learned these things, however incompletely, having a mixed biology/development background has notably contributed to the way I break down information. My science background taught me to memorize and retain a great deal of facts, as well as state problems and information clearly- but it's the social sciences that have made me think more critically, and care more about balance and sources.
I can see why Americans propagate the liberal arts, it's a shame most universities in other countries are so rigid about syllabi and force you to stick to one subject.
Last Names
Lots of women these days see no reason to change their last names to their husband's, and end up keeping their own name, or hyphenating it with their husband's.
The first option is perfectly reasonable, but seems rather unromantic, and the second leads to a mouthful of a surname.
Surely it seems more fair to combine their last names, so that both partners change their last names to an amalgamation of the two? After all, a marriage is supposed to be a union.
The first option is perfectly reasonable, but seems rather unromantic, and the second leads to a mouthful of a surname.
Surely it seems more fair to combine their last names, so that both partners change their last names to an amalgamation of the two? After all, a marriage is supposed to be a union.
Restaurant Chains
England's largest cities have a shocking number of food chain restaurants on their 'high streets' as they call them- but these aren't your typical fast food chains, the way America has Arby's and Wendy's. These are chains pretending to be nice/posh restaurants, and charging pretty steep prices, such as Zizzi's and Browns.
I'm not against chains in general, and i don't think 'corporations are evil'. But there's something fundamentally wrong with these places pushing out other medium-priced restaurants, leaving space only for high-end boutiques. Fast food chains aren't much better, but at least they occupy a different bracket from family run restaurants that are being forced to shut down by this variety of food.
Do we really want to eat mass-produced meals? Already, we're starting to dress the same around the globe- but are we going to conform when it comes to food too? It's important to encourage sustainably sourced, locally produced food more than ever now- and while a few of these restaurants profess to do this, it's beginning to seem like a variation of the empty 'fair-trade' labeling Starbucks and other chains around the world now propagate.
I'm not against chains in general, and i don't think 'corporations are evil'. But there's something fundamentally wrong with these places pushing out other medium-priced restaurants, leaving space only for high-end boutiques. Fast food chains aren't much better, but at least they occupy a different bracket from family run restaurants that are being forced to shut down by this variety of food.
Do we really want to eat mass-produced meals? Already, we're starting to dress the same around the globe- but are we going to conform when it comes to food too? It's important to encourage sustainably sourced, locally produced food more than ever now- and while a few of these restaurants profess to do this, it's beginning to seem like a variation of the empty 'fair-trade' labeling Starbucks and other chains around the world now propagate.
Summer Fiction
I’ve been reading a lot of fiction over the holidays: two books that have really stuck with me are ‘Every Last One’ and ‘Skippy Dies’.
Every Last One paints everyday life in suburbia with a comforting warm glow, even while detailing family life and growing pains beautifully- and then in a couple of pages the entire novel twists on itself, suddenly terrifying.
While making you appreciate mundane life and all its bumps and trials a little more, it’s also managed to make me worry about who I let into my life quite a lot more.
Skippy Dies is a tale of growing up, and tragedy, the real world, dreams and the power of young love. It’s a contemporary sketch of society and life, unabashedly dealing with drugs, the first World War, porn, failure, the Big Bang theory, disappointment and blow jobs. It tells one tale from different viewpoints, with a startling prologue. It’s worth reading for its perspective; of its reminder of what growing up really means, and fighting for your dreams.
Every Last One paints everyday life in suburbia with a comforting warm glow, even while detailing family life and growing pains beautifully- and then in a couple of pages the entire novel twists on itself, suddenly terrifying.
While making you appreciate mundane life and all its bumps and trials a little more, it’s also managed to make me worry about who I let into my life quite a lot more.
Skippy Dies is a tale of growing up, and tragedy, the real world, dreams and the power of young love. It’s a contemporary sketch of society and life, unabashedly dealing with drugs, the first World War, porn, failure, the Big Bang theory, disappointment and blow jobs. It tells one tale from different viewpoints, with a startling prologue. It’s worth reading for its perspective; of its reminder of what growing up really means, and fighting for your dreams.
Songs
I've been listening to two songs on repeat-
The first is a cover by Ed Sheeran- only 20, but has been struggling to make a name for himself since he was 14. He's recently broken through with his 'I Don't Need You', which deserves to at the very least be nominated for Best Video
The second is by Tori Amos- she's outdone herself on the soundtrack of the movie 'Great Expectations'. It's such a beautifully haunting song.
The first is a cover by Ed Sheeran- only 20, but has been struggling to make a name for himself since he was 14. He's recently broken through with his 'I Don't Need You', which deserves to at the very least be nominated for Best Video
The second is by Tori Amos- she's outdone herself on the soundtrack of the movie 'Great Expectations'. It's such a beautifully haunting song.
A Fair Price?
Fair-trade, organic farming, sustainably sourced. These are such buzzwords these days- but do they actually ensure the farmer gets a fair price?
The fundamental question is- who decides food prices? Corporations do, but so do consumers. In the end, it's a market, and we can only be charged what we're willing to pay. So how come we all seem to have agreed to pay good money for clothes but not food? At what point did farming becoming synonymous with poverty?
We aren't willing to pay a fair price, but continue to debate the future of food, and sustainable farming techniques. Surely we need to provide the right incentives to motivate farmers that go beyond publishing the merits in journals that a few hundred people world-wide will read (skim)?
The fundamental question is- who decides food prices? Corporations do, but so do consumers. In the end, it's a market, and we can only be charged what we're willing to pay. So how come we all seem to have agreed to pay good money for clothes but not food? At what point did farming becoming synonymous with poverty?
We aren't willing to pay a fair price, but continue to debate the future of food, and sustainable farming techniques. Surely we need to provide the right incentives to motivate farmers that go beyond publishing the merits in journals that a few hundred people world-wide will read (skim)?
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