Funfare for the Common Man

‘Lean back under a tree, put your arms behind your head, wonder at the pass we’ve come to, smile and remember that the beginnings and ends of man’s every great enterprise are untidy.’ (Sebastian de Grazia, political scientist, 1962, ‘Of Time, Work and Leisure’) First, a thank you to those who commented and offered their congratulations on my last post. It is much appreciated. Now to address one of my biggest, most glaring inconsistencies, one that affects many of us in some way, shape or form: the hypocrisy of berating and disparaging technology but then begrudgingly embracing it. I seem to be great at giving advice (note to fellow colleagues: 90% of the ideas I share with you I don’t even use myself) but not following my own. I’m happy to accept and the advice of others, but as far as practising what I preach? Fuhgedaboutit. Over the past few years, I’ve kept in touch with some friends, lost touch with others. Most people these days are on Facebook, but a coup...

‘A writer can spin on about his adventures after 30, after 40, after 50, but the criteria by which those adventures are weighed and valued are irrevocably settled at the age of 25.’ (F Scott Fitzgerald) Dear friends, As another year draws to a close, it’s time for me to sit back, reflect, mull things over…and then trot out the same old trite excuses and tired apologies and beg for your forgiveness. How many times have I said on these pages that I want to churn out snappier, shorter, more frequent pieces, but then never do? Forget it. I won’t break any more promises – I promise – but I also won’t make any more promises – I promise. I’ve said this a few times, but it’s worth repeating: one of my original intentions in starting this back in early 2009 was as a substitute for email, a way of keeping friends in the loop. It quickly degenerated into epic, waffling pseudo-philosophical musings and tales of sordid shenanigans and other episodic misdeeds. Or maybe those...