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And the eyes are always on us
Written by Gavin Chait
“One can't help thinking wistfully of our father's day, when the world hadn't grown so small. But one could move about in it without being watched so closely. Nowadays, we're treated like demented or delinquent children. And the eyes are always on us,” said Orson Welles in 1955.
Since then, much has happened. Technology has allowed free speech to spread as easily as the seasonal flu. It has also allowed governments to track individuals like never before. Despite this tracking, those who would do others harm seem to have little obstruction to causing that harm.
Read more: And the eyes are always on usCopenhagen, Consensus and The Gathering of the Trees
Written by Gavin Chait
“The trees gathered to agree a response to the growing threat of the Homo sapiens,” said the story-telling old lady who waylaid me in a park. “After several weeks of debate had passed, up rose Sam Sequoia who said, ‘You have spent so much time in organising and fighting for who will be leader that you have all completely lost sight of your objectives.’”
The tale could almost be a complete summary of the UN summit on climate change which took place in Copenhagen in December. After decades of research, years of talks and months of preliminary negotiations, the summit ended with a whimper and a partial agreement that is worse than no deal at all.
Read more: Copenhagen, Consensus and The Gathering of the TreesThe World Cup is further away than many thought
Written by Gavin Chait
Europeans are waking up to the realisation that South Africa is not Germany.
“The short haul meant thousands of supporters were able to make last-minute trips to Germany and they discovered excellent transport, plentiful accommodation and sympathetic policing when they arrived,” writes Simon Austin at the BBC of experiences at the 2006 World Cup.
Read more: The World Cup is further away than many thoughtPromoting Innovation is more than tilting at windmills
Written by Gavin Chait
What would you expect to see if you walked into a roomful of successful innovators?
Would you expect them to dress the same? Have the same haircuts, or the same educational background or ethnic or cultural origins? Would they speak the same language, share the same jokes or be driven by the same goals?
Read more: Promoting Innovation is more than tilting at windmillsThe infinite size of an infinitely sliced fish
Written by Gavin Chait
Port Nolloth’s heyday as a hub for the transhipment of diamonds and copper is long over. Nowadays the small town near Springbok supports a little bit of tourism, and a small fishing community.
A fisherman who wishes to sell his catch for higher prices faces an eight-hour drive down to Cape Town. Perhaps he pulls out his mobile phone and calls ahead to find out the latest price. As refrigerated trucks converge on the Mother City, news of the imminent arrival of piscine abundance reaches the various seafood markets. With so much soon to be available, the price for fish drops.
Read more: The infinite size of an infinitely sliced fishPage 11 of 54
