Travels etc.

Rules of Sociological Method by Émile Durkheim My rating: 4 of 5 stars Interesting book. some of the ideas I found similar to what I have known before or thought of already. that was good to see. View all my reviews

I am about to complete the " Understanding economic policymaking " course from IE Business School . Done the assignment - develop an ideal policy program for the hypothetical country with the following indicators in the past 4 years: high inflation, increasing unemployment, slow GDP growth, growing public debt and other similar nice things in addition to very high business regulations. I offered a policy program for two years. Results: Year 1 – economic boom, GDP grew up to the potential level, unemployment decreased; Year 2 – economy growth with increase in aggregate supply, unemployment decrease, GDP growth and public debt decrease (extra bonus). Now looking for a real country that would agree to implement this practically.

Interesting book for those engaged in Australian and World War 2 history. Lt Colonel John Robertson of the 2/29th Battalion AIF, a decorated veteran of the First World War, was killed in action in Malaya on 17 January 1942, the first day of his Battalion’s encounter with Japanese forces. His death devastated his men but they continued to revere Robbie as they endured more than three years of captivity. By contrast, some historians have described him as too old and hide-bound for command, as having lost the confidence of General Gordon Bennett, and as having imperilled his troops by refusing to co-operate with the battery from the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment. Grandson Andrew Warland asks whether the evidence supports such views. Reproducing the letters Robbie wrote home to his family in 1940–42, he presents a fascinating study of a man who left his family and his business, and ultimately gave his life, to make (in his own words) ‘a better world for us all’. http://www.scholarl...

Situation Coal in Africa: An opportunity is available to invest in a coal mine in West Virginia. The mine’s value is less than in past years because of actual and anticipated restrictions on coal-fired power generation in the United States. However, the mine has a chance to sell its coal on contract to a public utility in West Africa. The utility is working through the World Bank for financing to build a number of coal-fired power plants. If they obtain World Bank financing, then a customer for the coal mine is assured, at least for the duration of the contracts. The power plants will employ the best current technology for burning coal, which exceeds all current air quality standards for the region. However, the power plants will not be designed to attempt carbon capture. The area of Africa the plants will serve suffers from extreme energy poverty, with some of the lowest per capita energy consumption in the world. Overview of the Region West Africa is the westernmost reg...

Today I am going to discuss an interesting topic related to libraries. In a wake of various technologies like personal computers, Internet, smart phones and other gadgets there is an argument that traditional libraries are no longer necessary. Technological advancements have made libraries unnecessary. This is the thesis we hear today. It may seem the more we use online and electronic devices to get the information instantly or almost straight away the less we need library to go for that. However I’d argue against this. I have been an avid library visitor since 7 years old. My grandmother worked in a library and I spent days there being on school holidays. Then at high school and university I still saw a lot of demand for library services. Today the necessity for libraries doesn't seem to decrease despite of significant rise in technology. I think it is because of two main reasons: 1. New technologies allow to extend library offerings making them more attractive th...

Happy Labour Day to all workers!