€conomic warfar€ May 28, 2010
Posted by jasoncondie in Business, News, Thoughts.Tags: bailout, CamClegg, Deutsche Mark, economic warfare, Euro, Eurozone bailout, financial aid, Germany, Gordon Brown, Greece, invasion, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, recession, rescue, Spain, two-tier Euro, UK, UK recession
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These little piiggies could no longer go to market...
Despite the considerable Eurozone bailout (see the Gr€€k trag€dy posting earlier this month) the abattoir approaches for the PIIGS (insultingly catchy market acronym for Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain). The Club-Med countries passionately lived beyond their means, enjoying the sunshine rather than making hay as the saying advises. Having generously contributed €22billion to the initial Greek rescue, German citizens have now stumped up the majority of a secondary, more substantial €750billion effort to save the currency.
Unsurprisingly market speculation suggests Germany may leverage such generosity to establish a two-tier Euro or devolve to the Deutshe Mark. Realisation of the former would likely involve Germany accompanied by parsimonious partners Finland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg breaking out the top to establish a super-€ leaving PIIGS to wallow in their junk-€ squalor. Although the latter option appears farfetched, rumours abound that Germany has started reprinting the currency replaced by the Euro in 2002.
From a superficial, selfish stance a two-tier or devalued Euro sounds ideal. Travelling to desirable, sunny European locations would be as cheap as Africa or Asia. However such degradation or disintegration would inevitably deepen the financial crises facing Europe’s southern fringe and repress intra-union trading. Despite opting out of the accursed currency, the UK could be double-dipped back into recession, heavily reliant on Europe for 50% of trade.
Although apparently consolidating, Germany could be financially retrenching and preparing for a modern-day invasion. One fought through exchange and interest rates, protectionism and crossborder takeovers. For example, imagine how many Germans would purchase holiday homes (complete with toweled sunloungers) in the distressed zone with their new super-currency.
One last point worthy of note. As the UK basks in the post-coital glow of CamClegg’s coalition, Gordon Brown remains a logical scapegoat. But who ruled out Euro membership in 2007, thus preventing our forced involvement in the current fiasco? Exactly.
iPod most playeds May 25, 2010
Posted by jasoncondie in Music, Thoughts.Tags: Amazon Recommends, April Uprising, downloads, Fool For You, Goo Goo Dolls, I Choose Love, Incubus, Jack Johnson, John Butler Trio, Listen Dear, most played, music, Revolution, The Coronas
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Another justification for a Firefox breathalyser – the manipulative genius of Amazon Recommends. Discovering an unknown band in your iTunes is almost as exciting as discovering an unknown girl’s phone number in your iPhone. The Coronas (I’m aware of the alcoholic irony of the band name) were one such joyous morning-after surprise. The haunting vocals and emotively written ballads are very reminiscent of an Irish Goo Goo Dolls. Most played songs – I Choose Love and Listen Dear.
New releases by old favourites can be hit or miss. Has the band retained the original musical magic or sold-out. Thankfully the latest album from The John Butler Trio, April Uprising, ensures the threesome continue to be a mainstay in my CD collection (yep, I’ll admit it, I still prefer the tangibility of CDs). Although more mainstream than the previous four albums, April Uprising is still the perfect combination of Incubus and Jack Johnson. Notable inclusions are the anthemic Revolution and the beautiful, Third-Eye-Blind-esque Fool For You.
Word of the week – 24/5/10 May 24, 2010
Posted by jasoncondie in Word of the week.Tags: believable, cogent, convincing, pertinent, relevant, Word of the week
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Cogent
adj
1. convincing or believable by virtue of forcible, clear, or incisive presentation; telling.
2. to the point; relevant; pertinent
Beyond cartoon felattio May 21, 2010
Posted by jasoncondie in Advertising, Art, News, Sport.Tags: Aaron Robinson, Anish Kapoor, avant-garde, logo, london, london 2012, London 2012 logo, London 2012 mascot, London 2012 Olympics, London 2012 Tower, mandeville, mascot, Olympics, wenlock
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Wenlock and Mandeville - complete with London cab lights on their heads
What costs a paltry £400,000 and resembles Lisa Simpson performing a sex act? The London 2012 logo. The graffiti-inspired design received considerable criticism in 2007, further exacerbated by a promotional web animation which triggered seizures. Organisers defended the controversial graphic, citing the inherent flexibility afforded to sponsors by the various colour options. Although initially sceptical, having seen the logo applied to marketing campaigns of the official partners (Lloyds et al) I’d be inclined to agree.
Stage 2 of the marketing roll-out is no less important. The official mascot(s). London 2012 is expecting to raise ~£70m from lunchboxes, fridge magnets and other crap merchandise emblazoned with the character(s). Given the logo fiasco, a safe cuddly animal approach would be understandable. Nope. Continuing the risky, avant-garde design policy of the logo and Anish Kapoor’s £19m rollercoaster tower, the organisers have instead opted for Wenlock and Mandeville, two drops of steel from the construction of Stratford’s Olympic Stadium. An admirable gamble although I think Dodgee the Olympic Hoodie (below) would be a more fitting representative for modern-day Landan.
Dodgee the Olympic Hoodie by Aaron Robinson
Movie geek tech May 18, 2010
Posted by jasoncondie in Movies, TV, Technology, Web.Tags: back to the future, hoverboard, JQ Sabres, lightsabre, movie geek, movie tech, Movies, robert zemeckis, star wars, technology
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Zemeckis even predicted that pink would be acceptable for 'teenies' men
I vividly remember being 9 years old and watching Back to the Future 2, excited and awestruck. Robert Zemeckis’ futuristic utopia foresaw flying cars, auto-resizing sneakers and hoverboards by 2015. Unfortunately 2010 has arrived and Mattel still haven’t patented anti-gravity. Help is at hand however for frustrated wannabe hoverboarders courtesy of a Gadget Show How To. Now, where can I find a Delorean.
Alternatively have you ever pranced around weilded a glowing stick and humming? Underground raves and insanity aside, you’d have been practising the ancient art of the Jedi – the lightsabre. We’ve all seen (and “confiscated”) the chunky, collapsable Argos efforts but UK-based JQ Sabres offer more authentic, polycarbonate blades suitable for light fencing. Anybody fancy a duel?
No letter from the Queen May 13, 2010
Posted by jasoncondie in Thoughts.Tags: Calton, global comparison, hierarchy of needs, how long will you live, life expectancy, lifetime, maslow, mortality rates, Scotland, Swaziland, Thoughts, UK
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Maslow's needs... terrorising marketing students for years
How long do you plan to live? Although the majority of us perch (uncomfortably) atop Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, self-actualisation of mortality is not yet achievable. With the exception of the unfortunate, modern Westernised existence gifts accomplishment of the lower levels and thereby a higher life expectancy. The majority have sufficient food, water, shelter, security and stability to promote good health, notwithstanding dangerous (yet fun) personal vices, hereditary conditions and accidents.
Certainly worldwide mortality rates support the statements above. Developed countries have life expectancies in excess of 70 years – 79.9 for the UK according to Google’s handy public data tool (every time I have a question the algorithm has the answer). The Third World behaves consistently too, in particular African nations comprise 90% of the worst 50 global mortality rates. The 2009 lowest life expectancy of 32 years in Swaziland (formerly 61 years in 2000) is unsurprisingly indirectly proportional to the highest AIDS infection rate of 26.1%. Hopefully government acknowledgement and WHO intervention will mean the adverse trend reverses and the two statistics don’t meet in the middle.
Japan is blessed with the highest mortality rate at 82.6 years – clearly respect for one’s elders and sushi extends your life. In fact Scandinavia, Australasia and developed Asia all boast life expectancies in excess of 80. Scotland’s number meanwhile is comparatively less at 78. However a 2006 WHO report highlighted Calton, a destitute area of Glasgow, suffered from a life expectancy of only 54 years. Lower than Iraq (68), Iran (71), North Korea (67) and interspersed between the higher placed African nations. Insane. Incidentally if you’re interested in discovering how long you have left, take the quiz at livingto100.com. I scored a 91 so unfortunately no royal mail for me.
52, 69, hot, hot, HOT May 11, 2010
Posted by jasoncondie in Advertising, News, Sport.Tags: american football, bra, football, girls, hunky dory, hunky dory ad, hunky dory crisps, lingerie, lingerie football league, panties, sport
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American football is grossly misunderstood by the empire. Dismissed as too stop-start, chatty, time-consuming and padded in comparison to football and rugby, the UK simply doesn’t have the patience or weather. However (predominantly male) opinions will likely be changed following the announcement of the Lingerie Football League. Literally as awesome as it sounds. Seven-a-side American football played by cheerleaders, dancers and probably strippers wearing minimal body armour, bras and panties.
Renders the cheerleaders superfluous, but frankly who cares. Unless the organisers (misguidedly) gender reverse the pompom-weilders too. Nobody wants to see a spirited pyramid of Chippendales. I propose the underwear approach should be applied to other U.S. male-dominated sports. Picture ice hockey rough-housing. Check out the gratuitously voluminous photo gallery by clicking here.
Our Irish neighbours also appear to have jumped on the scantily-clad sports bandwagon – check out the controversial ad campaign for Hunky Dory crisps.
Don't know what a blitz is, but I'd blitz that
