Welcome to the Future: How Things Have Changed

People often say that the modern world is changing at an ever faster pace and the world we see today is unrecognisable from the one we had twenty or thirty years ago. I remember the days when the most advanced games console you could play at home was just a shooting gun you plugged straight into the TV and it had just one game with a hand full of levels. That and a few simple games on the PC which had the most basic 2D graphics. Actually, does anyone remember the old dial up internet which meant that whenever you were on the internet, no on in the house could use the phone and you were charged by the minute and it took a good five minutes just for it to connect to the phone line. None of this unlimited internet on multiple computers or wireless internet connection and certainly no internet on your phones.

New Year's Message

I just want to write a short message in light of the coming new year. Some of you I may talk to regularly, some on the rare odd occasion or others just the odd "like" on Facebook or "favourite" on Twitter. However, I am writing to wish you all, no matter how often we talk, all the best for the year to come. I hope it's filled with many happy memories that you'll come look back on with joy and happiness.

HS2 and the Need for Capacity, Not Speed

          The British government has recently taken the decision to invest in a new high speed rail line known as HS2. This will see London linked to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds by a new high speed rail line. This blog will question the value, benefit and wisdom of that investment.

Political Extremes: My Problem with the Right Wing Populists and the Ever Complaining Left

Protesting Socialists & the Ever Complaining left
          As a centre right liberal, I often have many disagreements with the left, largely because I disdain the idea of their never ending complaining and protesting. Furthermore, I disagree with thetactics of the left, especially trade unions, of striking and grinding the country to a halt whenever they don't get their own way. This is heightened by the fact that their wants and demands are often so unrealistic that they rarely, if ever, get their own way, but that's how a democracy works. Their continuing refusal to compromise and cooperate with those who have opinions different from their own is undemocratic and harmful in a civilized society. Simply, this refusal to compromise and their continuing protests and strikes are harmful to democracy which requires compromise and cooperation in order to survive. This coupled with their habit of labelling people rather than treating people as individuals is why I often find myself in conflict with those on the left of the political spectrum.

Living Our Lives in Fear - "We must do that which we think we cannot"

In a changing world, fear becomes rampant. Fear of change, fear of the unknown and fear of things that are different. These things take us outside of our comfort zone and it is human nature to avoid these changes as to avoid any risk of harm coming from them, whether that risk is realistic or not. But unless that fear is overcome, nothing ever changes and society and humanity as whole stands still in its evolutionary development. Thus, it takes the brave to overcome that fear and help drive humanity forward.

None of this "New Year, New Me" Crap

Every year, people always say the same thing "this year is gonna be different", "new year, new me" and "this year, my new year's resolution is.......". Just stop. This might sound a little harsh, but just because it's a new year doesn't mean anything is gonna be different and most will fail their new year’s resolutions come February or March time. All it's gonna lead to is misery when things don't change or when more of you fail your new year’s resolution. So save yourself the grief and just don't do it.

Character vs. Reality

In recent years, I've been seen as a bit of an opinionated bastard by some and as "nice" and "smart" by others. This is due to the feeling that I need to play different characters in differing situations. I like to think that this "nice smart" character reflects more of the real me than the "opinionated bastard". However, my fear in this respect stems from the fact that people generally taking advantage of people that they consider to be nice, especially if that person has something they want. This is due to nice people often being considered weak or feeble. And on a personal note, this is something I've experienced way too much off in recent years.

To an icon of our time; thank you

Dignity, humility, strength and the drive for freedom for all, attributes that will always be associated with Nelson Mandela.