Is it really just the fact that gold doesn’t tarnish that makes it so appealing to us humans? Because, aside from a few industrial uses in more recent times, it’s basically nothing more than a shiny thing with a guarantee of being shiny. Be that as it may, it became a standard for money and…
There is a smoking ban in public places in Beijing now. Not for the first time apparently. But this time they mean it. So now it’s no smoking at all, at all. Many are sceptical that this ban will work any better than the last attempts, which failed completely. And second-guessing the motivation of politicians…
I used to be an accountant, but I’m alright now. Turned out I had one too many personalities: 1. There are lots of conventions in accounting, but if you think it’s a science simply because it involves numbers then you couldn’t be more wrong. You must have heard this one: I asked my accountant what…
I used to go into the polling station, past the amusing sign that said Polite Notice No ball games Do not sit on the fence to draw a big, hairy cock and balls on the voting slip. Spoilt paper you might think. But actually, more of a predictive tool. Every time I did that, that’s…
A few weeks ago I noticed an ad on the tube. It seemed to have a Bond-girl feel to it. Reminded me a bit of Ursula Andress in Dr. No. It made me think, no, I’m not ‘beach body ready’, plus I’m still single. I got myself a pie and didn’t think any more about…
I’m a big fan of competition and the efficiencies and competitive pricing it brings. But a lot of what the Royal Mail does is what I would call a service. In fact, RM is a classic example: part commercial, part service. Transporting parcels is a business. Parcels are not an essential service, so it should…
They’re at it again. The Great Undoshed. Anti-austerity demonstrations in London and other UK cities. What are they thinking? I don’t see an achievable objective here, and without one demonstrating is utterly pointless. And it’s not an isolated case, they’re planning more of these tickle-fests to encourage fiscal irresponsibility. For some time now Russell Brand’s…
By Adrian Kempton-Cumber Featured in this month’s Master Investor Magazine. We live in an age where nothing is seemingly anyone’s fault any more. With the exception of meteorites and suchlike, that is just nonsense. “Have you had an accident at work that wasn’t your fault?” Well, legally must be someone’s fault, and if the lawyers…
