Book read: Crime and Punishment

I read a bit, but not as much as I should. I've never read a "classic" under my own steam - a bit shameful really. In fact I probably see a lot of truth in the Mark Twain quote of:

"A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read."

I was lent Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky) by my friend and naturally it was a little daunting. I've put in the effort to read it, it's a dark tale of murder and rehabilitation from the central characters viewpoint. I'm glad I've read it, of course I'm now thinking will this be the only one I ever read?

Lower Tax on Smoothies

It's the Lib Dem conference and an important resolution has been voted on, lower the VAT on fruit smoothies. In itself not a bad idea, but I kind of get the feeling it's the only thing this party could easily agree on - that must be the only explanation of all the media coverage.

So that's fruit smoothies sorted out, what next?

Lower Tax on Smoothies

It's the Lib Dem conference and an important resolution has been voted on, lower the VAT on fruit smoothies. In itself not a bad idea, but I kind of get the feeling it's the only thing this party could easily agree on - that must be the only explanation of all the media coverage.

So that's fruit smoothies sorted out, what next?

School Selection

I live in a town where the price of housing varies on the "catchment" area of the schools. If you live in a good school area it reflects in your your price. The news has reports that people should have more choice for their children. Well a nice idea, it turns out that nobody wants to send their kids to a bad school!

We end up with ghetto type schools were none of the able kids have gone, I think it should be a fair distribution (within reason of distance for the pupil to travel) of the ability range to try and even things out. Maybe even sharing of teachers.

Needless to say I live the poor school side of town, but I'm not after a rise in house prices.

Army PR

Interesting news that HRH Harry has been out in Afghanistan, good for him as it's clearly what he wanted to do. Amazed that a deal can be struck with the press like that, there's always someone who must want to break the news.

Putting aside the slightly jingoistic reporting, it gets this campaign back in the news - but I think it's one we'll eventually lose - failing to achieve our goals (does anyone know what they are now?).

Harry himself seemed to express dislike of living in England - I suppose the press coverage and hounding; but in all honesty with a few sacrifices he could easily avoid being in the press.

Brain Drain

Reports are saying that high levels of qualified people in essential industries are leaving the UK to work abroad. This hit home with me because I have a cousin who is about to work out in Austrailia for a second time with the move possibly permanent.

I can think back to the 80s and similar phrases were seen I don't think it's a new thing (back then it was probably referring to academics and scientists working in the US). Maybe today the power and mobility is a little more with the individual, provided you can sell your skills. But as to why are people leaving it is probably down to:

• Over taxed population - not just high taxes, but ridiculously complicated.
• House prices, although other parts of the world have seen booms too.
  
• Poor quality of life, for example commuting tedium.

Sat Nav Experience

I've always thought SatNav to be useful but probably just gimmicky. My previous uses of GPS on the move always had long times to acquire satellites, although this was with a fairly old receiver.

Now prices have dropped I thought I would try out the market leader. This is unusual for me, I usually back the up and coming brand, especially since some of the reviews of the leader said it was good with very bad customer service (amazing how quick companies get big and get like this).

Still I'm very impressed, a very well thought out device. I had a trip to do that I had only done once before, and it recalculated to the route I was taking and called the sequences of roundabouts very well.

So a happy customer, lets hope I don't ever have to call support...