Complaints
A lovely lady from across the Pond has complained that I criticise the United States of America too much. I'd argue against that, and point out that this Blog does have a comments facility - slag me off if you don't agree.
Wisely she does suggest that both our countries are being severely altered by immigration, and by the demands of people who are not our citizens.
Our government's present concern is with Africa. Allegedly we are giving millions in aid to that continent. Putting aside the separate concern that much of this aid is little more than back-handed support for our own industries, there is no doubt there are fundamental problems.
Africa has plenty of resources, so why is it so unsuccessful? It's several decades since the white man left the continent, but we are still being blamed for all its problems. I'm not in a position to do anything more than reflect, and to say how it seems to me but the indigenous populations (if there is such a condition) seem to waste time, waste resources, and are too keen to obtain the advantages of industrial vigour without doing much work. There is corruption, and although the white man is blamed for slavery it is apparently still a way of life in some African cultures.
When you are trying to catch up with the rest it is too tempting to blame others. Our societies, in Europe and North America, are based upon centuries of hard work. Other cultures recognise the need for dedicated work, and nobody works harder than those in China, India or the rest of Asia. Yet Africa continues to bicker, to exploit, to laze around in the sun waiting for handouts.
There's no doubt we need to sort out something, if only because Africa's population is set to treble over the coming years. If they all decide that Europe or America present better opportunities then we shall all suffer.
Having lost all our best men through two disastrous wars we made mistakes. Desperate for labour we encouraged the world to come to our countries. As a result I no longer know what it is to be English. My culture is now lost, smothered by a barrage of different cultural influences, all of which I must tolerate and accept.
That's all very well, and the English are very good at assimilation, but I no longer know who I am. I'd emigrate but very few countries will accept a ragged old Englishman.
Predictions
The Pope has a new book this morning, the result of his talks with noted thinkers, in which he makes comments about the future of humanity.
It's not easy to foresee the future, as we are always unaware of the new developments that will make us all change direction. This Internet is one fantastic example. Virtual democracy, that neither governments nor mulinational companies are able to effectively gag.
That could change, as more and more is known about us all, as individuals, as computers have very good memories and a chance remark or misdeed made today may haunt us years later. Not that I'll withdraw any of my remarks about our toy poodle, Tony Blair, or most of his sycophants.
I will suggest that Google will replace Microsoft within a few years. All organisations (and regimes Mr Bush) have a shelf-life. They blossom and then decay, and from the ashes new shoots will appear. Google is one such, and is very well poised to exercise greater control over all our daily activities.
Google's game plan is more attractive than Microsoft, who baked one cake and have sold it millions of times over for far too long. Many of their products should now be free giveaways, but that is not a decision I can influence.
Google is steadily getting into bed with very useful partners, and is generating good income. Yet most Google users do not feel any pain. That's a good business model, and if Google grow closer to the free development world and present Linux that all of us can use, and then join with Sun and its emerging OpenSource office tools then the future will look very bright.
For a time we shall all rejoice, until the entrepreneurs make way for the accountants and share traders. Then the emphasis will change, and direct exploitation return.
Watch Google like a hawk. Tell me when it starts to swoop.
Bully Boys
Looks as if our bully boys are striding around the world looking for a fight.
Our little camp-follower, Tony Blair, has persuaded his jug-eared mate that we all face a terrorist threat. Not sure why no-one noticed that when we were bombed by the IRA. My daughter certainly did when a shard of glass hit her in the chest when the IRA bombed the City of London.
Now we face a threat, even though there has been no evidence of any damage, or of any threat, on the British mainland for some time. Is this a threat akin to that posed by weapons of mass destruction?
The arrogant cowboy is in the Ukraine, trying to tell Putin to put his Russia in order. I suspect the Russian President will just smile sweetly, and then ignore all the simian says. The problem is that the major makers of weapons of mass destruction: USA and Israel now seem to be getting worried. There are not many wars about. That means the share prices of their companies will fall. Stirring up a bit of trouble will help their national economies.
Europe needs to begin to coalesce, to realise just how much power and influence we can have in the world.
We can let go of the coat-tails. The world will be a better place of we do.
Weariness
It's snowing here this morning, just enough to slow everyone down, with the roads either slippery or dirty black and greasy. I walked, as I always do, not having a car to call my own.
Our beloved government announced new plans for education this morning. They want everyone to start at school until they are 18. There are half-baked plans to allow more vocational training but you can see disaster ahead. A whole army of trainers will appear, each armed with hurdles that must be jumped before our youngsters are allowed to operate as plumbers, plasterers or crack dealers.
The most successful period of English history was when the fourth son of aristocratic parents was allowed to experiment because he had no responsibilities. Nobody cared, so he broke new ground. His siblings looked after the family estate, joined the army or went into the church. He, poor lad, could play games.
A structured society makes no progress. We must get rid of Nanny. She is now everywhere: health and safety, trading standards, examinations, entrance qualifications, professional organisations and traffic wardens. Scrap the lot.
There's a frozen lake on Mars. Must try to get over there next weekend.
Doors open and close. One will close today as I move steadily away from publishing towards - who knows what? It's been a hectic two and half years that's seen over 70 books brought to life. A prodigious effort, even if I say so myself, as I've chosen the titles to publish, edited, proofed, laid out the pages, often designed the cover, sent to the printer, submitted publicity to the book trade, created a web page, handled the flood (trickle) of resulting orders, liased with the author, usually forgotten to invoice anyone for books supplied, and spent most of my life panicking because I've not assuaged the needs and desires of another.
It has to stop, there's no money left, I've not had any salary for two years, but instead have put any spare cash (that should have been my wages) into the next book.
What a delight it has been. Such wonderful people I've worked with. My authors have motivated me, and I only wish that I'd been able to be more effective - to sell more of their books. Whatever has happened the books remain, as a testimony of which I must have some pride.
The publishing door is closing, at least at Author Publishing, which must soon grind to a halt.
As for the future - who knows? I'm sure I will remain, producing books, helping authors reach readers.
That's another one over - but my life seems to get more hectic with each one that passes. More have gone than are likely to come, and perhaps that's what's increasing the sense of urgency. It was a good day, started with champagne, ended with... I'm not sure I remember.
It says something about my character that the guest list for my celebration birthday lunch didn't contain one man. In haste I invited another old roue Les, but he turned up with a charming young lady, Caroline. I must remember to ask him if he can get me one.
It's strange how some folk can gain fame and fortune with a relatively easy idea, whilst others struggle along, never really recognised. I'm one of the latter, but it's still fun.
I was encouraged by a chance remark recently: that it is easier to make money than intelligent people realise. That was a comfort that I'll look forward to.
The quote for the coming week came from a young woman walking along the street, a trail of children behind her. She was talking to a mobile phone. "Don't let 'em take her into care," she said, "I wanted my baby because it was something I could have of my own, that I didn't have to share with anyone else." She has shared that child, because we, as a society, have taken on the responsibility of parenthood, both for her and her missing partner. No doubt she lives in provided housing, on social benefits, and will produce a child that goes on to do the same. A strange madness that we support.
Makes you want to run away: I published a book last year: Antonio's Island by Antonia Gomes Balla all about the Cape Verde islands, off the west coast of Africa. Let's escape to the sun.
