We need rules in society, without them there would be anarchy. Society’s rules aren’t static and change over time, usually for the good: women can vote, slavery is illegal and same sexes can marry. …
Society’s rules: past, present and future
Author Archives: Richard
Nostrum: stop wasting money on snake oil
Nostrum is a medicine or remedy that has no demonstrable value and sold with false claims. Nostrum is quack medicine. The charlatan who sells nostrum is a crook who peddles miracle …
Changing demographics: investing for an older population
In Japan (the ageing capital of the world), adult nappies outsell baby nappies and prisons are being converted into nursing homes. The developed world is ageing rapidly and having far fewer children. By 2050 the number of over 65s is …
Bored of work? Why jobs have become tedious
You’re not the only one bored of work. One global survey of 10,000 employees, unsurprisingly found boredom an issue, with 40% of UK respondents admitting they’re bored in the workplace. Moreover, 37% of British workers believe their jobs are meaningless …
The purpose of life: survive and reproduce
Unless you’re religious (which I am not) then asking the question “what is the meaning of life?” doesn’t make sense. The word “meaning” implies there’s an unwritten plan by someone or thing. …
Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need
“Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need” — this is a quote from the French writer, historian and philosopher: Voltaire. I love this quote. It’s not immediately intuitive though. Work spares us from need — …
Before creation, comes destruction
The Manga character Beerus (“God of Destruction”) says: “Before creation, comes destruction” which is synonymous to Pablo Picasso’s quote: “Every act of creation is first of all an act of destruction”. Everywhere we look there’s evidence of what Beerus and …
Lifestyle inflation: how luxuries become necessities
I’ve been re-reading one of my favourite books recently: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. It’s not your ordinary history book, it’s just as much about human behaviour as it is history. I found this extract on lifestyle inflation particularly enjoyable: …
The Digital Revolution is a fraud
The Digital Revolution is the widespread adoption of digital computing which began in the second half of the 20th century and continues to the present day. The Digital Revolution (also called the Third Industrial Revolution) is the era of computer …
Best free landlord apps
Using technology can make your life easier as a landlord and everyone prefers technology when it’s free! Based on my experience and research here are my top 5 best free landlord apps based on common landlord tasks.