Which just goes to show you that money can't buy you taste, humanity or popularity.
Also, Elon, you can't take it with you, even if it was actual cash rather than just shares in a company that is reliant on its systems actually working.
Showing posts with label Economy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Economy. Show all posts
12 June 2026
25 October 2012
UK exits recession for the time being
Initial Q3 GDP figures show a growth of 1.0% in GDP for July to September, the Olympics playing a big part of said growth.
While I welcome this news, unemployment and underemployment are still way, way too high.
While I welcome this news, unemployment and underemployment are still way, way too high.
25 April 2012
Welcome to the new recession
The UK has officially re-entered recession.
You know, when this government took power, I thought it would fix the economy and the deficit at the cost of massive social damage to this country. They can't even do the former.
You know, when this government took power, I thought it would fix the economy and the deficit at the cost of massive social damage to this country. They can't even do the former.
21 March 2012
Budget 2012
Like the raising of the tax threshold and the increases on cigarette duty - but can't stand the cutting of the 50p tax rate and further cuts in corporation tax. Also, that regional-based pay is going to cause a strike.
Many will be paying less tax - because they'll be earning less...
Many will be paying less tax - because they'll be earning less...
06 August 2011
Ratings agencies
Standard and Poors have downgraded the US debt rating to AA+ with a negative outlook.
I find myself increasingly wondering how on earth these unelected bodies gained so much power in the global economy.
Message to governments everywhere: act in the interests of the people, not the ratings agencies.
I find myself increasingly wondering how on earth these unelected bodies gained so much power in the global economy.
Message to governments everywhere: act in the interests of the people, not the ratings agencies.
26 July 2011
17 February 2011
Product placement 2
A follow-up to this.
Just re-watched the James Bond film The Living Daylights (still great) and have observed that you're going to need the product warning before all of them...
Mr. Bond is a living Brioni-clad Walther P99-carrying Aston Martin-driving advertisement...
(This post does not contain paid for advertising).
Just re-watched the James Bond film The Living Daylights (still great) and have observed that you're going to need the product warning before all of them...
Mr. Bond is a living Brioni-clad Walther P99-carrying Aston Martin-driving advertisement...
(This post does not contain paid for advertising).
16 February 2011
Youth unemployment hits highest level since 1992
So much for the recovery. It may well go up once the cuts really hit.
Perhaps they can volunteer for the "Big Society".
The excellent FactCheck has a great article on historical levels.
Perhaps they can volunteer for the "Big Society".
The excellent FactCheck has a great article on historical levels.
04 January 2011
Another day, another misleading story from the Daily Mail
Fresh off alleging non-existent cuts in Downton Abbey (hattip Stephen Fry), the Daily Mail excels itself yet again in a misleading article about "Neets" (Not in education, employment or training). I'd link to it, but quite frankly, the amount of bikinis visible in the side links probably make it Not Quite Safe For Work. This is a paper that promised to stop doing paparazzi stuff thirteen years ago
The article alleges that nearly one in five 18-year-olds fall into that category, but then uses an EU study that is of 20-24 year olds. People in that category who are Neets may have no qualifications, but they may also have degrees. Graduate unemployment is about 20% at the moment.
There's also a rather archaic definition of Western Europe in there. We're beaten in this by Italy, Spain, Portugal (as well as Malta). All of these be defined as Western Europe for various reasons (EU and NATO membership pre-1989).
So, please try harder and don't contradict yourself in the same article.
The article alleges that nearly one in five 18-year-olds fall into that category, but then uses an EU study that is of 20-24 year olds. People in that category who are Neets may have no qualifications, but they may also have degrees. Graduate unemployment is about 20% at the moment.
There's also a rather archaic definition of Western Europe in there. We're beaten in this by Italy, Spain, Portugal (as well as Malta). All of these be defined as Western Europe for various reasons (EU and NATO membership pre-1989).
So, please try harder and don't contradict yourself in the same article.
28 November 2010
Thoughts on the Irish bailout
If we're having to bail so many people out, we need some new boats.
There's got to be a new world financial system that stops people from getting into these situations.
There's got to be a new world financial system that stops people from getting into these situations.
16 November 2010
How I would solve the US deficit
Interesting thing from the New York Times.
I've got a nice balance between tax increases and spending cuts, IMHO. I tried to eliminate "unnecessary spending".
I've got a nice balance between tax increases and spending cuts, IMHO. I tried to eliminate "unnecessary spending".
11 November 2010
17 May 2010
BA Strike Injunction
Just my two cents:
If you want a deal, it's not a good idea to keep taking legal action against the people you are in dispute with.
If you want a deal, it's not a good idea to keep taking legal action against the people you are in dispute with.
22 September 2009
18 September 2009
Historical Unemployment Figures
Just a little study I'm doing, partly to make myself feel better about the recession and Labour's likely electoral defeat next year.
03 April 2009
G20 Thoughts
I've been on holiday to Dubai, so I haven't been able to blog recently.
Might as well give my thoughts on the latest excuse for a riot in my home city.
Personally, I doubt that the economy is exactly stimulation-capable at the moment. Metaphorically speaking, it's in a coma having banter with a lairy Mancunian detective (BTW, watching the first episode of Ashes to Ashes on the plane home, I remembered just how awesome Mr. Hunt can be- he gets three Crowning Moments of Awesome in the first episode can be).
What we're going to need, basically, is damage control- ensuring that the exchequers of some of the poorer countries still get decently revenue, that jobs are protected and that confidence doesn't go down any further (in the latter case, we need to drop out the rest of the bad debt news now to get it done with).
This is a step in the right direction, but things will get worse before they get better.
I expect the economy will recover in a couple of years. I'd say 2010 is too optimistic. Personally, I'm going for 2011.
If it does recover before the next election, Mr. Brown will have the thanks of a grateful world. If not, Mr. Cameron had better remember that he was responsible for none of the recovery and that he opposed many elements of it.
Might as well give my thoughts on the latest excuse for a riot in my home city.
Personally, I doubt that the economy is exactly stimulation-capable at the moment. Metaphorically speaking, it's in a coma having banter with a lairy Mancunian detective (BTW, watching the first episode of Ashes to Ashes on the plane home, I remembered just how awesome Mr. Hunt can be- he gets three Crowning Moments of Awesome in the first episode can be).
What we're going to need, basically, is damage control- ensuring that the exchequers of some of the poorer countries still get decently revenue, that jobs are protected and that confidence doesn't go down any further (in the latter case, we need to drop out the rest of the bad debt news now to get it done with).
This is a step in the right direction, but things will get worse before they get better.
I expect the economy will recover in a couple of years. I'd say 2010 is too optimistic. Personally, I'm going for 2011.
If it does recover before the next election, Mr. Brown will have the thanks of a grateful world. If not, Mr. Cameron had better remember that he was responsible for none of the recovery and that he opposed many elements of it.
28 February 2009
Global Sale! Get Fifty Percent Off!
It seems like we've been in a constant sale since about October. Everywhere I go, or whatever I see on the radio, there's a sale on at most of the stores. Cars, sofas, houses etc.
There's one major reason why the economy isn't doing too well- there's nothing really to buy.
Books I can generally get for free from the local library if I'm even inclined to read them. With the Internet, I can find out most stuff easily.
Most of the magazines in any given newsagents are of the soft pornographic variety. While I like attractive women as much as the next heterosexual man, lesbian or bisexual, I have no interest and actually dislike "lads' mags".
The papers are either too expensive or not worth reading (I've been a Metro reader for months).
I don't eat a huge amount of sweets, I don't smoke and I don't like alcohol too much.
DVDs are generally rubbish (I can watch that stuff on TV), I rarely buy video games since I got seriously into RPing and I have little interest in clothing.
I'm sure many feel somewhat similar to me. With job worries, we're also saving our money.
We need an incentive to buy stuff before the economy recovers.
There's one major reason why the economy isn't doing too well- there's nothing really to buy.
Books I can generally get for free from the local library if I'm even inclined to read them. With the Internet, I can find out most stuff easily.
Most of the magazines in any given newsagents are of the soft pornographic variety. While I like attractive women as much as the next heterosexual man, lesbian or bisexual, I have no interest and actually dislike "lads' mags".
The papers are either too expensive or not worth reading (I've been a Metro reader for months).
I don't eat a huge amount of sweets, I don't smoke and I don't like alcohol too much.
DVDs are generally rubbish (I can watch that stuff on TV), I rarely buy video games since I got seriously into RPing and I have little interest in clothing.
I'm sure many feel somewhat similar to me. With job worries, we're also saving our money.
We need an incentive to buy stuff before the economy recovers.
14 December 2008
Misuse of the word "since"
I'm getting annoyed with people constantly using "since" in the same sense as "like".
For example, an advert for the Quantum of Solace video game has a reviewer describe it as "the best since GoldenEye". I suspect that's one of those ripped out of context quotes, but still it's the word since that bugs me.
Let's say that each year, the number of cider bottles drunk by Dave is counted. These are the results:
1997- 61
1998- 23
1999- 30
2000- 8
2001- 24
2002- 25
2003- 15
2004- 21
2005- 32
Now, you could say that in 2005, Dave drunk the most amount of port he's drunk since 1997 and express alarm over his alcohol consumption levels. However, he's only drunk half of his 1997 level.
The current recession has been described as the "worst financial crisis since the Great Depression". However, it's nowhere near the Great Depression- financiers aren't jumping off skyscrapers, for example.
Please, to everyone in the media, put this in perspective.
For example, an advert for the Quantum of Solace video game has a reviewer describe it as "the best since GoldenEye". I suspect that's one of those ripped out of context quotes, but still it's the word since that bugs me.
Let's say that each year, the number of cider bottles drunk by Dave is counted. These are the results:
1997- 61
1998- 23
1999- 30
2000- 8
2001- 24
2002- 25
2003- 15
2004- 21
2005- 32
Now, you could say that in 2005, Dave drunk the most amount of port he's drunk since 1997 and express alarm over his alcohol consumption levels. However, he's only drunk half of his 1997 level.
The current recession has been described as the "worst financial crisis since the Great Depression". However, it's nowhere near the Great Depression- financiers aren't jumping off skyscrapers, for example.
Please, to everyone in the media, put this in perspective.
29 September 2008
Buy Credit Crunch- Now With Two Banks!
Suspect I'm not the first to make cereal jokes in relation to the current situation.
The FTSE 100 has closed below 5,000 for the first time since I don't recall when. For me, that's the indicator that this has gone beyond bad and is now into very bad.
When this is over (it'll have to be at some point), I guess we're going to be citing this as one of the major failures of the Bush administration and making sure something like this never happens again.
Stupid, stupid banks.
I can't honestly see us winning the next election at the present time, Brown or no Brown.
The FTSE 100 has closed below 5,000 for the first time since I don't recall when. For me, that's the indicator that this has gone beyond bad and is now into very bad.
When this is over (it'll have to be at some point), I guess we're going to be citing this as one of the major failures of the Bush administration and making sure something like this never happens again.
Stupid, stupid banks.
I can't honestly see us winning the next election at the present time, Brown or no Brown.
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