I've just finished reading this book: The Big Reset by Willem Middelkoop. The author is Dutch and I've been following him for a while (on twitter) and was eager to learn what he had to say in his latest publication. The book was first published in English (so good news for you all) but I waited for the Dutch version to appear (lazy as I am). It has the benefit that it was already slightly updated as it includes some reference to the recent tensions on the Crimea. This may make you wonder what the book is about. Well it is about finances and more specifically about the Dollar as the world's reserve currency, how this has given the US a major advantage over the rest of the world, how the US has and is doing everything to keep their status and - this is the interesting bit - how this is all coming to an end. Hence the title 'The Big Reset'. Whilst I did not learn much new, it is still enlightening to read it all in one book which connects all the dots and makes you look at some events in a different way. If you think this book is about some wild complot theory you'll be disappointed. If you think you'll read about the upcoming financial armageddon, you'll be disappointed too. It does present you with many facts and does point to what may happen next. It is not so pretentious that it gives you a scenario of the world financial future, nor does it give a timeline of what will happen when. And that's good, if the author would have done that, he would have lost all credibility. But the facts do lead to a certain direction our financial future will take and understanding this is of utmost importance for our (individual) financial future. And, not unimportant, it is an easy read as it is written very fluently avoiding financial speak.
Look at this mind boggling infographic. Things like these are often used to show the speed of development and technological progress. But to be honest, it scares the hell out of me. Millions of people don't have access to drinkable water but we do have an average of 3 connected devices per person on this planet. What is wrong with us?
In the mean time, researchers found for the first time an Earth-like planet in a habitable zone around a star (see here). And it is close by, only 500 light years away which is neglectable in the infinity of our universe. The atmosphere seems to be all CO2 so breathing for us might be a problem. But as it will take a while before we get there, we'll probably have mutated by that time so that CO2 will smell like a fresh see breeze.
Ain't life weird. Greece issued for the first time since years new government bonds and they were oversubscribed 6 times! One of our Belgian top economists even found it necessary to state on national tv that "Greece is the only one that is still offering a reasonable interest". The interest he refers to is 6% and yes that's a lot more than anyone else but, and he didn't mention that did he, Greece is still virtually bankrupt. The only reason that banks are buying the bonds is because of the interest rate and because they have seen that European politicians are not going to let any euro-country default. In contrast Sweden, which has one of the healthiest government finances in the world, had difficulties placing its government bonds. Everyone who is not blinded by the hunt for interest will see that this situation is crazy. Question is: how long will it last before it blows up (again) in our face?
"Human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe now face a crisis unprecedented since the end of the Cold War. Serious violations – including corruption, immunity from prosecution, impunity, human trafficking, racism, hate speech and discrimination – are on the rise throughout the continent. People’s rights are also threatened by the impact of the economic crisis and growing inequalities. The Council of Europe and its member States must act urgently to stop this erosion of fundamental rights.": this is the opening paragraph of Thorbjorn Jagland, secretary general of the Council of Europe, in a just released report titled: State of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe.
In the document they list following shocking numbers:
Discrimination against ethnic and national minorities: 39 of 47 states
Overcrowded prisons: 30 states
Corruption: 26 states
Police misconduct: 23 states
Violation of human rights of immigrants and asylum seekers: 20 states
Human trafficking: 11 states
Limited freedom of speech: 8 states
In addition they found countries where the judicial system is completely corrupt and they fear that unemployment and poverty in some countries will drive the population to extremism and confrontation.
Yes I know the membership of the Council of Europe is larger than the EU. But with scores like 39 or 30 states out of 49, many EU countries are involved too. None have been named though because of... political pressure. Freedom of speech???
I was scrolling through some photo albums and came across a trip to Seoul in 2007. Every aviation enthusiast has heard about the Smithsonian in Washington DC and, if in the neighbourhood, has visited it (like I did). But I can recommend the Korean War Museum too. Tragic as the Korean military situation has been over the past 50 odd years, they do have a smashing collection! What else would you call following line-up: O-1G Bird Dog, S-2 Tracker, KT-1, T-37, C-46, C-123, H-5H, MiG-15, OH-23G and so much more! So when you do find yourself in that corner of the world, go and have a look, it is well worth it.
When world leaders gather at a funeral I always get a feeling of unease. Maybe I am just too sceptical but I can't help wonder if they attend because they want to pay their respect to the deceased or because they want to bask in the shine and glory the deceased has left. Looking at how respectful world leaders were by posting selfies on twitter during Mandela's memorial service I get the impression they are there for the second reason, not for the first.
Also it is striking that in all speeches I heard during the service not a single one apologised to Mandela and the South Africans. Apologise? Yes indeed apologise. UK and US supported Apartheid until just before Mandela was released. CIA helped jail Mandela in 1962. UK and US put Mandela on their terrorist list. The US kept him on the terrorist list until 2008!
Also I heard Obama say following: "There are too many of us who happily embrace Madiba's legacy of racial reconciliation, but passionately resist even modest reforms that would challenge chronic poverty and growing inequality. There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba's struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people. And there are too many of us who stand on the sidelines, comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be heard."
I heard you Barack. You want a place in history books? Then go and really do what you preach and maybe the world will become a better place in some parts of the world.
In the mean time lets listen to N'Kosi Sikeleli, South African's national anthem in a a-typical but very good and powerful version by Perpetuum Jazzile:
The Nobel price winners received their price on the same day as the Mandela memorial so that news got a bit snowed under. There is one article that I recommend reading because Randy Schekman (winner of the Nobel price for medicine) declared he will no longer send papers to the top scientific magazines. Why? Because: "Leading academic journals are distorting the scientific process and represent a "tyranny" that must be broken. Schekman said pressure to publish in "luxury" journals encouraged researchers to cut corners and pursue trendy fields of science instead of doing more important work. The problem was exacerbated, he said, by editors who were not active scientists but professionals who favoured studies that were likely to make a splash."
You can read the full article here.
Talking to a pilot this week, he told me he got on an Alpha Jet flight. Blimey! I would love to have a go as well. It reminded me of the lively colour schemes that our Belgian Airforce came up with every year before the start of the airshow season. Ok, granted, not all were works of art, but colourful they were. Below a selection of the schemes between 1989 and 1994.
The best Belgian colourscheme ever was not on an Alpha Jet but on a Belgian Air Force Mirage V. I shot below picture in Bierset (then still partly a military airfield) of BR15 in the celebration scheme for 70 Years of the 42nd Squadron Mephisto. What a beauty!
