Freeconomy Blog
Thu
29 Apr
I completely forgot to tell you all
| 46 comments |
One of my many passions in life - if you hadn't already noticed - is philosophy. I know what a powerful tool for change it is, especially in the communication age we live in today. Which means I end up writing about it a lot. I've been made aware by some close friends, however, that this means that I always completely forget to keep everyone updated with all the developments that are about to happen with Freeconomy over the coming year! So here goes, my first attempt.
Starting in June, Freeconomy is going to have a regular column in the Guardian, available online. It's called 'Life for Free' and each week I'll be picking a category of life (the first two are 'Food for Free' and 'Travel for Free') and explaining how you can do it without money and with complete respect to the planet that gives us all life. So expect lots of new members in whatever part of the world you live, especially the UK. It starts on 1st June, the same day the book comes out, and the Guardian have agreed to sell the book online.
What would be a massive help is if you could stick a note in your diary to read it on 1st June (and every Tuesday after), comment on it (as it means it will go to the top of Guardian charts and reach even more people, as that's how articles go viral on the Guardian), and send the link to your friends using tools such as facebook and twitter. You'll need to sign up to the Guardian to post, but it only takes about 30 seconds and is free. I'd really appreciate your help on that and it will massively benefit the whole community, so please, please do. Ask questions, raise debate, criticise - whatever you like, just comment!
Regarding the book itself, it's out in UK shops (and online worldwide) in four weeks, and you can pre-order now. I'll have a copy of it myself next week, as we've got to get them out to reviewers and media by next Wednesday. It hits the Australian shops at the start of August, and US shops at the start of September (though residents of both countries, like everyone, can buy it online from the 1st June).
We've also just started selling the translation rights to The Moneyless Man, and have now sold the rights to have it translated into Japanese, German and Korean already, so Freeconomy and the whole philosophy of moneyless living is going to reach a much wider audience across the globe very soon.
One of the children of Freeconomy - Freeskilling - is about to launch in London on June 16th. For those of you who have never heard of it, Freeskilling was born in Bristol two years ago and is a weekly event - where one person from the local Freeconomy Community comes along and teaches anywhere between 15 and 200 people a night how to do whatever skill it is they have proposed to teach - that enables exponential growth in the skills we started to lose sixty years ago. I'd highly recommend organising Freeskilling - even monthly to begin with - wherever you live, and we've been working on a paper to use as a guide to doing so, no matter where you are.
To launch it, I am doing a talk on 'Living without Money', and I'll be joined by Charlie Veitch (who many of you know from the Everything is OK videos - the younger of the two guys) from the Love Police. So if you are in London that night, come along to the launch of Freeconomy London's new night. If you want to get involved in organising this in London, contact David Rose (Freeconomy username: ziggyplayedgeeta).
I have also got nine talks planned for June already. I am in Brighton (Waterstones @ 7pm) on 17th June, Bath 3rd June (Waterstones @ 6.30pm), Bristol 10th June (Waterstones Galleries @ 7pm) and 19th June (Waterstones Cribbs Causeway @ 1pm),at the Uncivilised Festival 29th May (3pm, with George Monbiot, Tom Hodgkinson, Alistair McIntosh et al.), Sunrise Celebration Festival 5th June, Hay on Wye on 24th June, and David's of Letchworth 29th June.
Interspersed with all that is lots of other stuff, the minute detail of which I won't bore you with (if I haven't already, I've no idea whether all this info is of the least bit of interest to you or not), but I'm also doing a programme on Money for BBC2 with the Beeb's 'Ethical Man', Justin Rowlatt, airing in July, and Sunrise (an Australian morning TV show on Seven) in the same month.
There is also a two page spread on moneyless living in Esquire - the men's mag that usually has lots of (at best) marginally clad women frolicking around - also out in June. Please DON'T buy it! My original reaction was to not do it, but over the last few years I've realised that unless I'm willing to engage with all segments of society, what's the point? Life is not black and white, but a shade of grey. The lighter the grey the better though, and I sometimes wonder if my shade goes too dark.
I am also heavily engaged in a process of setting up Freeconomy as a charity, and I have one of the UK's top funding experts - who I found on Freeconomy - helping me (for free, of course) with this. She has come up with a fantastic plan for a concept that is something completely new for the Charity Commissioners to have to consider, but we're getting there. It will also allow every penny earned to go towards land (not just for the first real Freeconomy community, but as a fund for anyone after to apply to, so that they too can set up their own anywhere in the world), as Charities can claim gift aid on all tax. And not a penny to reinforce an inherently unsustainable and destructive system.
The charity will also be created to protect the original integrity and philosophies of the project and set them in stone, forever (or until this civilisation realises the fate all other greedy civilisations have realised).
Even though these are all decent developments for Freeconomy as a movement, I can't over-emphasise that this is still Stage 1 - introducing the philosophy and raising awareness. And whilst this will always continue, we're getting closer and closer to Stage 2 - creating the first living model (which I like to call 'Permaculture without the cash', which I believe is Permaculture's truest form). And when the time is right, Stage 3 will follow on from there.
If any of you can help with any of this - whether it be recommending the book to a friend, helping set up the first community, or even helping with my workload - you've no idea how much I'd appreciate it right now. Holidays don't happen in moneyless world, and days off are very rare. All entirely my own fault, I realise.
Apparently it is going to rain tomorrow for a few days, so I've got to go off now and get some potatoes in the ground before that happens.
Great to be sharing the planet with you all, much love and respect. If you've got criticisms, fire ahead, I've given up bothering about them. The truth is, unfortunately, it may be 10-15 years before I can give them the only answer there really is. So you may need to be patient.
THE FREECONOMY BLOG is written by Mark Boyle, who has been living for 17 months without money, and is the founder of the Freeconomy Community.
Comment on this Post:
Guri comments ...
That's some awesome news there, man...congratulations! You know who to ask if you want any help with a "Computers for Free" article! ;-)
comments ...
Thanks Mark, good luck with the busy time you have ahead. I'm very much looking forward to hearing you talk at Sunrise Celebration - one of the many highlights of this very special festival. The Freeconomy community has touched and so many people's lives, you are a force of nature, one love xxx
MikefromPeru comments ...
Mark, It’s fantastic to see that freeconomy is getting so much attention and of the positive kind too. I’m sure you will find many people will criticise what you’re doing as many more will hear about it, but I’m sure MANY more will support you as well. I think that what you’re doing is admirable. I really want to try and make it to the festival where you’ll be with George Monbiot. I’m back in the UK working as an environmental engineer at the mo, but would like to stop using money when I feel ready. It would be good if I could probably take this to Peru with me and expand freeconomy in South America. I’ve promoting what you do and your blog to many of my friends in the UK and Peru, trying to do my bit.
Take care mate and all the best!! Count me in for any environmental info or article writing you might want!
Vancouverite comments ...
Mark, any idea when the book will be available in Canada? I want to make sure the librarians here know about it so they can order some copies, and also let everyone at the De-Growth Vancouver, Swaparama-rama, Work Less Party and Growth Busters organisations know about it.
Looking forward to the Guardian column.
Thanks,
Penny
Mark Boyle comments ...
@ Penny - yeah it'll be out in Canada the same time as the US, but you could pick up the UK version anytime after 1st June (there'll just be £ instead of $ and 'isations' instead of 'izations'.
I really appreciate it by the way, and great to see you're connected to some great organisations there - I guess you know Conrad Schmidt then? Much respect and a huge thank you!
@ Mike - much appreciated, hope to see you at Uncivilised then!
@ no name - come and say hello at Sunrise then, and thanks for your support.
@ Guri - no better person to ask! Thanks for your help with it mate.
Saz, a bod comments ...
I'm loving this community... so many thanks & so many answers already!!
Fantastic!!!!!!
Carla comments ...
Can't speak for everyone, but personally that was very interesting, so ta for the rare practical update blog entry :-)
One question ... I seem to rememember some mention of book discount for Freeconomy members? Is that still on? I'd preorder now n all, but if I can get a few bob off, well, that'd be even better!
Robert Howes (Swansea, Wales, UK) comments ...
@ Mark,
Great stuff, wish you the best, just be careful of burnout.
Cheers,
Bob
***
janet comments ...
Mark espero que entiendas o de lo contrario lo puedas traducir, me parece fanstastico lo que haces en lo personal me gustaria tambien practicarlo y ser parte de mi estido de vida vivir la vida, disfrutarla sin consumismo...sin dinero ..viviendo de mi trabajo diario para vivir involucrando el truque como se vivia antes..
Vancouverite comments ...
Thanks Mark,
Conrad is in the middle of the De-Growth Vancouver conference that he's helped to organise http://www.de-growth.com/vancouver/ and we watched his (new) excellent film 'The Jeavons Paradox' on Friday at the opening of the conference. As a long time member of a large Labour Choir (we sing at social justice meetings, charity and union conferences and to picket lines), I've always been worried about the way unions promote growth in order to secure/increase their members wages. Seemed like a dance of death with the corporations. Conrad's film really brings home the futility of earning more, so you can buy more stuff, that uses up resources, so that resource prices go up, so that you have to earn more to buy more stuff, that uses................
Now going to get onto the Vancouver Public Library website and put in a request for them to order your book.
An A4 size poster advertising the book would be a great thing to have so I can put it up in some places around town where I know people of like mind be interested and want to buy/read it. Any chance Oneworrld publishing may be able to arrange something like that, do you think?
Penny
Mark Boyle comments ...
@ janet - ¡Las gracias Janet, puedo entender algo de él pero no de él todo! Mucho respecto y amor.
Mark Boyle comments ...
@ Robert Howes - thanks Bob. Yeah I am usually good as long as I am connected to the Source, which I think gives us much more energy than food or water. Days when I wonder 'what's the point?' are the days I feel burnt out. I hope you don't overdo it either, I know how much you want things to change too.
@ Vancouverite - I'll ask about that, good idea. You could save the image from the Facebook page and print it off on A4 - though not sure if the file size will be big enough for that.
@ Carla - yes you can get 30% if you pre-order it from Oneworld (though there is a strong chance Amazon will beat that before June 1st anyway, meaning you'd get the cheapest price between now and then. Here is the 30% off link:
http://www.oneworld-publications.com/cgi-bin/cart/commerce.cgi?pid=544&log_pid=yes
Frederick comments ...
Hi mark, that's fantastic and very inspiring. !
The small community in Malta that follows your blog are all ears, waiting eagerly for your book! keep it up! we just started a freecycling group in Malta...there was none. best of luck!
Des Troy comments ...
Someone tipped me off about this film which is available to view online. It should be mandatory viewing for anyone who suspects that they are secretly being bought and sold in a slave market. A terrifying view of reality.
If this link doesn't work just google the title;
Zeitgeist Addendum;
http://tinyurl.com/m9tkhu
created out of thin air comments ...
Mark, ideas are powerful things. if humans have achieved this much with the invisible noose around their necks, imagine what will be possible when the noose is removed. See you this summer!
Alf comments ...
Ideas are like keys that can turn the lock of actions. Without the actions though, the ideas are like seeds without sufficient water or nutrients... destined to die.
That's probably enough metaphor to be going on with!
I do believe that the world would be a much better place to live without money. If we can't imagine this possibility, then it's never going to happen. The people who say it will never work are usually the ones who don't want it to work.
Robert Howes (Swansea, Wales, UK) comments ...
@ Alf,
What about those who want a world without money but can't get the necessary help from others who say they also want a world without money, without paying them?
***
I can get all the help I need if I pay people, but not otherwise!
***
The fact is, none of us (except Mark) want to be moneyless in this money orientated world in which you can get very little other than thrown away stuff without paying money for it. Payment can be in cash or kind, but if I come to your house and ask for free stuff you are likely to only give me the things you don't want, like the slugs out of your garden maybe.
***
So how do we get from this money mad world to a money free world? And how long might it take? What actions did you have in mind? Do you have a plan? Do you know anyone who has a plan? Will Mark's plan (sidestepping the money world and getting by without it and its baubles) work?
***
Please elaborate on the ideas and say what kind of action you are looking for.
Cheers,
Bob
***
MILES MOXLEY comments ...
this is what the world needs as a whole.. we in america too..nothing would be better than a free economy for money is the root of all evil and must be plucked from our lives.
Robert Howes (Swansea, Wales, UK) comments ...
@ MILES MOXLEY,
We all agree. The question is, how? Another question is, by whom? A third, when? #4, Where?
***
And how much will it cost???
Cheers,
Bob
***
Alf comments ...
@ Bob,
I don't think we should set about trying to change people who don't want to change. Ultimately, all we can do is take responsibility for our own lives and to try to lead/inspire by example. A decade ago I had a prompt to sell my possessions and give the proceeds to the poor. It took me two years of grappling with this idea before I plucked up the courage to give it a go and I haven't looked back since.
I think problems only persist in the world because people are waiting for a "global solution". In effect they are dependent on others doing what they believe is right before fully embracing what they believe is right within their own lives. In the very process of waiting, the problem not only persists but intensifies.
How many Westerners choosing to sell all their possessions and give the proceeds to the poor would it take to address the imbalance of wealth in the world? I believe the more people who choose to do it, the better chance we'll have of actually succeeding.
Imagine if every member of Freeconomy decided to do this! I believe people sharing their skills, resources etc. really can make the world go round, but that it takes self-sacrifice in order to really get this going. You can't eat money. It doesn't grow on trees either. I believe we need to become content with just food and clothing (with shelter being a bonus to this). You can't create a moneyless world without self-sacrifice and a radical re-prioritization of needs and attitudes.
My plan is to keep doing what I can to be true to these principles in my own life, and to inspire others to do the same wherever possible. How people/communities apply these principles is really up to them. Self-sustainable communities need to be organic and tailored to the local needs, climate etc. However, the principles of free economy and sharing can unite them all.
Robert Howes (Swansea, Wales, UK) comments ...
Hi Alf,
I've studied carefully what you have written, and I appreciate that you have made sacrifices, and you seem to be sincere in what you are trying to do. But I ask the question, if few or none follow your undoubtedly altruistic example, what then? Just carry on regardless? Ignore the suffering of others because they won't follow where you lead?
***
Do you live in a poor country amongst the downtrodden, or in a country like the UK where I live and a living can be had with little or no money? In India or Africa there are many others scavenging than here in the UK. Too much competition. How can they live without money? They are practically forced to do so anyway. They live bad lives and die young.
***
It is too easy just to set an example then blame everyone else if they don't follow you. Some time ago I realised that if others don't follow my example it is not because they are wrong, it is because my example is flawed.
***
Who says people don't want to change? We can take responsibility for far more than just ourselves individually, but it's easier not to. Giving your possessions to the poor doesn't help much. Creating jobs that pay incomes can help greatly. Then if they decide to give it up when they have something to give up, that is their choice. You seem to want to deny them the choice of having jobs and pay. Who are you to deny them jobs, money, life itself?
***
I am not waiting for a global solution, I'm trying to convince others to create local groups that use money sensibly on the road to a moneyless world of our own making. It feels like waiting though. If the only way I can get others to join me is to pay them I'll do that. At least that works, in the real world, here and now. Anyone can get others to co-operate if they pay them. Capitalists know this, and they abuse their position by dropping one lot of workers and moving their business to another country when it suits them. What we need are local owned businesses that the workers themselves own so they know they won't lose their jobs.
***
Workers who own their own businesses and land, and who grow their own food can reduce the amount of money they need. Between them they can do most of what would otherwise cost money. Ultimately they can, in this way, do without money altogether without having to do without houses and the contents of houses that make life pleasant. And all this can be done without wrecking the planet.
***
Every member of Freeconomy is not going to give away all their possessions, and if any do they will find that intense poverty and injustice around the world persists. If a million Westerners give away all that they own it will make no difference. Even if a billion Westerners give away all their possessions, what difference will that make to the billion or more truly poor people in the world who depend on exports to the West?
***
Money doesn't grow on trees, that is true, but much does. Fruits and nuts grow on trees, and we can eat those. Wood grows on trees and we can use that. Trees grow on land, and we can buy that. But not if we have no money. No money equals no land. No land equals no trees. What is wrong with wise use of all resources including money?
Cheers,
Bob
***
comments ...
Hi Bob,
You wrote:
But I ask the question, if few or none follow your undoubtedly altruistic example, what then?
Back to me:
I feel we need to follow what we believe is right, regardless of what others choose to do, or not do. I stopped working for money 10 years ago and became a volunteer. I sold my possessions because I came to see these possessions as thiefs of my time whilst I tried to hold on to them, or felt I needed to work in a paid job in order to maintain them.
You asked where I live. At the moment I am in rural Kenya, helping to run a volunteer centre providing basic English teaching to children in local schools.
The centre is run through people donating resources, whether this be funds, or their skills, experience etc. I still use money, although I try to spend as little as possible on myself and have not earned a wage since I quit the rat race 10 years ago.
I believe from my own experience that the vast majority of people are a lot happier when their motivation for doing something is not governed by whether they get something in return, other than the intrinsic reward of knowing that we are being creative, useful and loving.
Having said this, I'm not going to kid myself. I believe the vast majority of people are not going to want to change until they are absolutely forced to, and even then most people will probably baulk at this.
But I'm a stubborn soul, Bob. I'd like to think that I will keep on trying to use my time selflessly until the day I die when I meet the Source!
I'm not asking people to follow me. I've found that I am riddled with weaknesses and would not want anyone to imitate these. However, I believe wholeheartedly in Truth and that an organic movement is occuring in the world as we speak. People are choosing either to respond to the call, or to harden their hearts. There is a much greater, wiser, loving Force directing this movement. We just need to choose to follow what we know is right, which is why communities will eventuate which are tailored to the needs around them, without being pidgeon holed into some kind of man-made formulae.
Most people here in rural Kenya grow their own food - maize, beans etc. Unfortunately a large amount of the good land is used for cash crops (e.g. tea and coffee, most of which is exported back to the West). However, communities can survive using the land well. There has been a good harvest recently and the price of maize is dropping quite significantly here as a result. People with more land can share their excess with others. People who are struggling can be provided for by individuals who care. People with medical skills, educational skills etc., can come and help people directly. Money doesn't need to pass hands, when we stop buying into all the pressures to purchase things we don't really need.
You wrote:
It is too easy just to set an example then blame everyone else if they don't follow you. Some time ago I realised that if others don't follow my example it is not because they are wrong, it is because my example is flawed.
Back to me:
It is good that you have been trying to take responsibility. I am not asking people to follow me. I want people to follow what they know is right within themselves. If we all did this, the problems in the world would decrease exponentially.
This is why individuals choosing to take personal responsibility is the way forward.
You wrote:
Giving your possessions to the poor doesn't help much. Creating jobs that pay incomes can help greatly. Then if they decide to give it up when they have something to give up, that is their choice. You seem to want to deny them the choice of having jobs and pay. Who are you to deny them jobs, money, life itself?
Back to me:
I don't think I am denying anybody anything. I'm just sharing what I have with people, although I know I have a very long way to go. I believe if the world was run by unpaid volunteers, people would stop working in jobs didn't feel provided them with the intrinsic values they needed. Creating jobs for the sake of creating jobs seems futile to me. Every person was created with something to share. People need to find out what that is and then just get busy sharing it, rather than to be told that they need to work as a such and such, having digits dangled in front of their eyes trying to motivate them to work. The end goal should not be income. It should be helping others and helping others to do the same.
You've raised other questions but this is getting way too long already, so I'll sign off for now.
Frederick comments ...
Hi bob.
i like your posts. We need questions like yours to keep us thinking and challenging us forward. it's too easy for activists (shit, i hate that word) to end up being all rightous and stuff, however good their intentions. keep it coming.
in the meantime, much strength to Mark, you are not alone.
Tiara comments ...
i love this
thanks mark
and all who share this and live this (wherever on the greyscale yet)
Mark, whenever in Holland - welcome to take a rest in zutphen. I'd be happy to read the Guardian-column
artemis1 comments ...
Excellent stuff, Mark. I read the Guardian regularly and will certainly read your column online on June the first and indeed every Tuesday thereafter.
Intrigued to hear more about the Charity idea, later.
Sarah McNicol comments ...
It is interesting Mark. I've just looked you up after reading an article called Adventures in the Skill Trade - You magazine - 25th April and am inspired to find out more and get involved with more organised swapping (I practise informally with friends already ).
Good work! All part of the shift! : )
sbradley comments ...
For comments..
Fair play, exemplary indeed.
I think in general there is a need for people to do what they can within their circumstances and i guess this will depend on the exposure people have to alternatives. Yourself and Mark are perhaps standout examples of individual efforts possibly leading others to follow. This can all only be positive for you guys, those who might follow, those who might think about following and the vast hoard who it might prompt for a little change in their daily routines.
There are unfortunatley too many people without such luxury of choice making decisive choices outside of the easy options all the more admirable.
Keep up the good work.
SB
Jason Palmer comments ...
Your a great philosopher and a great man Mark, it is great the way your putting your philosophy into action, I feel that John Ruskin and Gandhi, plus a whole lot of other people are, somewhere, seeing what your doing, and smiling.
Robert Howes (Swansea, Wales, UK) comments ...
Why do some people write your instead of you're? Do they also pronounce them the same? You is pronounced like door. You're is like doer or lure or sewer or wooer maybe. Is there such a word as wooer? Sorry for being pedantic but the Internet seems to be making spelling and grammer and stuff worse rather than better.
Cheers,
Bob
***
Robert Howes (Swansea, Wales, UK) comments ...
II should have written your is pronounced like door... Typo.
Cheers,
Bob
***
Mark Boyle comments ...
@ Robert Howes - that's what you get for trying to be pedantic :) The irony. Made me chuckle anyway.
I think most people are just rushed and so make spelling errors, I know that happens to me often. I think what people are trying to convey is much more important that how grammatically correct they are.
Mark Boyle comments ...
See, I was rushed and said 'that' instead of 'than'. Words are just a way of communicating something, it only matters that what we are trying to communicate is accurately conveyed. What is a much bigger problem than grammar is the fact that people don't select the most appropriate words, and don't communicate in a non-violent way (check out Non-violent communication - NVC).
And more importantly, that people don't study and think before they speak or write.
Robert Howes (Swansea, Wales, UK) comments ...
Hi Mark,
What you say is all very true, and needed saying. I thought someone would say it. But even so, spelling and grammer help us convey our meanings. They certainly make it easier to read and less annoying. I was in a hurry earlier, I normally check my work before sending. I'm more relaxed now after a long, hot soak in the bath.
***
While I'm at it there are a few common mistakes, like writing lead instead of led. I used to make that mistake. It is the opposite of read and read that are pronounced reed and red. English can be confusing. And spell checkers don't help in these cases. But one of the worst mistakes in the way some people speak and write is to use the word "of" instead of "have". Like in: "I would of thought..." when they mean "I would have thought...". This happened because we say would've and children hear it wrong. There was a Liverpudlian teacher who became a comedian and one of his stories was that a student of his asked "how do you spell worral?" He asked what do you mean? And the boy said, "like when you say, I've gor a car worral do 150 miles an hour. So another boy pipes up, "you don't mean worral, you mean darrel". I thought that was quite funny.
***
The only other one he told that I remember was when he said "Stand up Hughs", and all the class stood up.
***
Typos are normal in the rush of today, we only need slow down a bit and maybe check our work, but I think poor English needs correcting. I wonder if other languages are treated as badly. If you put some French or Portuguese through Babelfish, it will only translate correctly spelled (or is that spelt) words, or it might translate them wrongly and mess up the meaning. Many people reading what is written here might need to use Babelfish to convert it to Portuguese or Korean or whatever to get a better understanding of what is written.
Nuff said. I wonder what Nuff translates as.
Cheers,
Bob
***
PS. I am fully open to criticisms of my spelling or grammer or anything else. Have a nice day everyone. By the way Mark, did you get the links I put on Facebook?
bob the word builder comments ...
Didnt relize this wuz site of oxford english dict. Therz no point cumin on speakin bout spelln mstkes... pedantic indeed. F ppl get cught up in such sml details, their missn big picture,
Open ur eyes guyz!
Mark Boyle comments ...
@ Robert Howes - good point re: Babelfish. I got the links, haven't actually read them though to be honest, was up to my neck in it when you sent them. Thanks Bob.
jo jo gunn comments ...
Hi Bob!It's spelt grammar not grammer and it's not considered important in schools these days.I too find it a bit irritating, especially when it's so bad that it makes it difficult to follow what the person is trying to say.Regards
Robert Howes (Swansea, Wales, UK) comments ...
Hi Jo Jo,
OOPS, yes grammar. There is no spell checker on here and I forgot that one. Slapped wrist. Oh yea, we don't do corporal punishment any more, not in the UK anyway. I was one of the marchers in the STOPP campaign in 1973 to get corporal punishment stopped in schools.
Cheers,
Bob
***
Robert Howes (Swansea, Wales, UK) comments ...
My question to bob the word builder,
Does bad spelling and grammar help us get the big picture?
***
I would have thought we could have both. I could be wrong.
Cheers,
Bob
***
Redd comments ...
On the totally off topic area of language, spelling, grammar etc... I too get mildly niggled by the incorrect use of words that Bob has highlighted (I used to work in a school!!) but at the same time I find it fascinating that this is how language evolves over time and also that local pronunciation affects how people spell. In Suffolk where I live, "Hugh" sometimes gets pronounced the same as "Who". That confused me when I first moved here! Messages on our local freecycle group sometimes have words spelt phonetically in the local accent which makes me smile. It all adds the richness of the language, in my view, and the text speak that is now used is actually quite creative, people spelling how they want it to sound. That said, it must reek havoc with translators!
PS This blog brings me back down to earth, thank you. Nice to see friendly, thought provoking debate.
Marty comments ...
As in anything, there can be negative and positive aspects. Those who criticize this interactive self-sustaining "movement" are just commenting on what they do not believe in - simply leave us who do believe in such cooperation to our own devices. Since Rome or the impetus toward greed was not built in a day, neither should we be made to feel bad at stumbling towards something that sustains us.
Gypsy comments ...
PLEASE let me know where I can help. I would love to organise freeskilling workshops in Cape Town, South Africa. But where to begin? I'm a graphic designer/web developer and teach Java programming to High School students in my spare time. ;-) How can I help? Say it and I'll do it. Love your energy... Let me help!
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Wilson Blx has inevitably created tensions within the European Union. Now, there are arrangements within the European treaties to allow different countries to do different things, but these have always been accompanied by adequate safeguards within the treaties...We are never going to join the Euro, we are never going to give up the sort of sovereignty that these countries are having to give up in order to enter a fiscal union, so in some ways the fact they are going to do this in a separate treaty without actually distorting the European Union treaty itself in many ways given that we could not get those safeguards, perhaps it is a better outcome."
