The Constant Study of the Self

It's always a pleasing situation to learn something about yourself, to understand who you are, what your talents are, and yes even your faults too. It let's you comprehend your place in the world and you can work out what you want, what you really want.

Having spent the last few months dividing my work time between my normal duties and a project, I have further confirmed some things about myself:

The Good Things
- I'm a quick learner with new tools if I'm allowed to play with them.
- I'm excellent at helping people with their problems when they ask for help.
- Once I understand a problem I'm excellent at providing a solution of some sort.
- I'm awesome with time management.
- I'm terrific at getting a system to do what I want it to do, even if it wasn't designed that way.

The Bad Things
- I'm dreadful at learning anything by being taught with theory.
- I ignore people who need help but don't ask for it. They kind of irritate me.
- I hate committee's and the monotonous negotiation process. All I need is a decision of some sort.
- I can't tolerate people who think their problems deserve priority treatment when they do not.
- I have no interest in the reason for a failing system. I just want it fixed by whomever is responsible for fixing it.

It's been said before, a man's got to know his limitations. True yes, and equally important is to push those limitations out a bit further bit by bit. I don't think I'll ever eliminate my "bad things" list and it's by no means comprehensive, but knowing them means I can work with them and maybe even use them positively.

Of the many men who toils and strives,
Reflect on them their cheats and lies,
They bring their shield to life's endless war,
The truth can be brutal, but wonderfully raw.

The End of the World, And We Sold It

It may not be the end of the world, but is it a dress rehearsal on how we will behave?

Europe continues to struggle with the effects of volcanic ash, with travellers stranded in places they desire not to be. Having once been stuck in Changi airport for three days as a standby passenger attempting to get to the UK at Christmas time, I can understand how tense it can be not knowing when you will finally get that seat on the plane. The fatigue felt from the constant worry and need to stay focused on what you are trying to do in a foreign land soon weighs upon you, and you suddenly start to think about handing over your credit card and requesting a solution to your problem regardless of the cost....

....And bam! They've got you.

Reports are filtering through of exploitation of the trapped travellers with hotel room prices soaring, Russian taxi drivers offering rides at a price higher than the cost of the vehicle, and travel insurance companies refusing recompense due "act of God" (what if you don't believe in God? And if you do, isn't absolutely everything an "act of God" anyway?).

I ask myself the question, what is it about human nature that looks upon this event as an opportunity? What is it about my own nature that looks upon this event as an opportunity?

OK, I haven't actually exploited anyone affected by this, but that's really only because my work responsibilities do not cover this geographical region. The thing is, I would be expected to if it were part of my responsibilities. More worrying is the fact that I would be able to carry out the task, easily, and would feel no guilt.

Because business is business........ and it's easier if your hollow.

The Evils of Forced Protection

I couldn't help but smirk arrogantly the other day at something I heard. Amazingly, I've completely forgotten where it was I heard it as my mind is like a sieve at times.

The discussion revolved around the issue of tobacco advertising. As we all know, laws are in place in many countries essentially banning tobacco advertising in the interests of the public good (more on that later), and have been for many years now. The following consideration was presented;

Let's say you have two tobacco suppliers (a duopoly if you will) and they must compete with each other for the available market. In order to compete, both must invest heavily in advertising and promotion to win their share of the market, the result being that they both spend roughly the same amount of money, and win roughly a 50% share each of the market. Now, the governments of the world in an effort to save people from themselves place a ban on tobacco advertising and hence the two tobacco suppliers must comply. The result of this is that because neither can advertise or promote their products, their market share is not going to be effected, it will still remain roughly 50% each. However, they now do not have the expense of advertising and promotion eating into their profits. Is it possible that their industry is now more lucrative?

I always get a kick out of seeing do-gooder policy being torn to shreds. And there's nothing that's more vile in the category of do-gooding than that of saving people from themselves. It shits me off when so called experts and politicians think they can tell people how they should live their lives, and force people to conform using policy and financial penalty. Here's a few arguments they put forward, followed by my rebuttles:

Argument - Smokers place an unnecesary burden on the health system.
Rebuttle - So do joggers who need knee surgery, people who contract injuries on the sports field, motorists who are involved in accidents, and stroke victims who didn't stick to a low fat diet every day. In fact, smokers have paid for their treatment through all the tax they paid on their cigarette purchases. Can the same be said for joggers and sports people?

Argument - It sets a bad example for the children.
Rebuttle - It's the least worrying of the bad examples the little urchins are going to experience. The world is a wicked place at times, the sooner they realise it and come to terms with it the better they will be.

Argument - People are stupid, they need to be protected from themselves.
Rebuttle - Yes they can be and frequently are, but no they do not need protection from themselves. Like any other gift, a life belongs to the recipient to do with what they will.

Think about the foods you enjoy eating, the drinks you like drinking, the literature you like reading, the activities you like participating in. Consider the possibility that your government or some expert decides to place some restriction on these because they decided it was not good for you.

Enough of this bullshit, leave us alone.

The Cost of Taking Care of Business

In a brief intermission, as the second part of my previous post is still bubbling away in my mind and not yet "al dente", I take a moment to reflect upon the completion of another working week.

Successful completion of an act of bastardry was concluded, to go along with all the others that it seems I have a perverted talent for. Without hesitation I managed to make a decision favouring a commercially lucrative outcome over one with a more humanitarian focus on behalf of my employer. As a result, the following questions now add to my bubbling mind:

- Why did I not feel any guilt?
- When did I get so good at being an asshole when required?
- How did I summon the attitude to admonish the person who attempted to champion the pro-humanitarian outcome?

I've realised long ago that what I do will never save humankind. It is simply an exercise in making money. I've accepted this fact and refuse to whinge about it being soul destroying. The fact is, I live a very simple kind of life and I work in a very simple kind of style. I don't deliberate excessively over things and I choose to limit time with committee's of all sorts. A situation arises that requires a decision, I make the best one I can, then I move on. The wreckage caused by many a decision lays scattered in my wake, but that is becoming expected now. Experience tells me that it is impossble to make a decision everyone will appreciate, so don't try to.

And through all this, I still sleep soundly at night...... why?

A Story Untitled - Part One

Traipsing upon an emerald isle, after many a mile,
I've decided that I am lost,
Directions are needed, they will be heeded,
Whatever be the cost.

For the road seems to be long, if indeed I'm not wrong,
Although the land is a pleasant green,
And the sun it does shine, and the breeze is sublime,
But my destination simply fails to be seen.

Then in the distance, I stare with insistance,
And see a farming chap,
A break into a trot, hoping directions he's got,
some knowledge I may tap.

"'Scuse me my friend, I hope you can lend,
some advice while I stand here and dwell,
I seek directions to ramble, no longer can I gamble,
To get to the Tawdry Traveller Hotel?"

"Aye I can" says he, "Help you to see,
The path to the place that you seek,
Walk the way through that field, and your fate will be sealed,
You'll be there before the middle of next week".

With thanks he was blessed, and with knowledge I possessed,
I commenced to cross the field,
My confidence was stronger, 'twouldn't be much longer,
And my efforts would begin to yield.

And then walking with pace, I footed the wrong place,
and tumbled into a terrible tangle,
The pain it did mame, a break would feel same,
I'd twisted my wretched ankle.

Seated upon the ground, upon my bad luck I frowned,
My injury glowing with heat,
When from the corner of my eye, I happened to spy,
A girl walking towards me to meet.

Dressed in light blue, with skin alabastered hue,
She wore a shock of red hair,
Stunning to see, anyone would agree,
My pain was suddenly of little care.

"Are you hurt?" she enquired, my lust stoked and fired,
"I'm fine" I replied with a lie,
"Then this is for thee", and she gave to me,
A sprig of honeysuckle rye.

Before I could claim, her story or her name,
She left without saying more,
I watched her depart, with a pain in my heart,
And an ankle that was not so very sore.

...to be continued