Spiegel (Photo credit: Claudio Schwarz)
This is a good article from Spiegel. Check it out!
Juncker Piles on the Pressure: Merkel Stuck in the Euro Firewall Trap – SPIEGEL ONLINE – News – International
Monthly Archives: February 2012
Driver to improve the dignity of older people in care | Society | The Guardian
The Guardian (Photo credit: navrasa)
Here is a good article in the Guardian that’s worth a read. Check it out!
Driver to improve the dignity of older people in care | Society | The Guardian.
Patronising elderly ‘like racist abuse’ – Telegraph
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This is a good article from John Bingham, Social Affairs Editor, at the Telegraph newspaper.
Under the last Labour Government, political correctness became a joke but under David Cameron‘s leadership cost cutting and patronizing behaviour has fallen disproportionately on the elderly.
I am beginning to think that elderly cats and dogs receive more care than the human population.
Personally, I was always a strong Margaret Thatcher supporter, when she was Prime Minister. When David Cameron was elected the head of the Conservative Party, I thought that perhaps he was the beginning of a new, more compassionate Conservative Party – I now realize that I was wrong.
Related articles
- Patronising elderly ‘like racist abuse’ (telegraph.co.uk)
- Elderly told: go back to work and downsize – Telegraph (dralfoldman.wordpress.com)
- National News: Call to ban patronising care staff (coventrytelegraph.net)
- Compassion ‘key’ to elderly care (bbc.co.uk)
- Hospitals Told: Stop Using ‘Old Dear’ Term – Sky News (news.sky.com)
- Elderly ‘robbed of dignity’ by failing social care services – Telegraph (dralfoldman.wordpress.com)
- Vulnerable elderly abused by their carers, says inquiry (telegraph.co.uk)
Europe’s 8 best night trains – travel tips and articles – Lonely Planet
Train (Photo credit: MichelKuik)
This short article from Lonely Planet is worth a read. Check it out!
Europe’s 8 best night trains – travel tips and articles – Lonely Planet.
I find that I’ve only done one of the trips – Amsterdam to Copenhagen - I guess that I’m luckier than most. What about you?
It’s a shame that the article didn’t comment on the quality/cost of the catering on the trains, as well. I fear that the UK journey might not have faired that well. I love long distance train journeys when I have the time but tend to favour quality provided on French or German trains – the TEs are really special (Trans European Express)
My great train travel dream is the Trans-Siberian Express………….
Vietnam – Some interesting insights from a travel blogger who got there before me!
Vietnam (Photo credit: jamesonwu)
This is an interesting blog, especially the reflections on Vietnam. Check it out!
Paul, the author of the blog, responded to my blog on arranging travel in Vietnam and this prompted me to check out his blog. I am delighted that I did – I have learned from his experiences – that’s what’s fascinating about blogging.
12 Reasons We Are Smitten With South East Asia » GranTourismo!
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This is a good travel blog with some excellent photos. Check it out!
12 Reasons We Are Smitten With South East Asia » GranTourismo!.
Planning a Trip to Vietnam
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I have been using a well-known specialist travel agent, whom we met at the Sunday Times Travel show last month to help us plan a trip to Vietnam in November. First we were offered tours, then we asked for a custom itinerary, mainly hotels and a few internal flights. Time and time again, we had to ask for clarifying details or named hotels. When we checked the hotels on the web, we asked for revisions several times. Eventually, we had an itinerary that we really liked at prices that seemed reasonable. My wife suggested checking the prices with aggregators on the web like Expedia.com.
I used Tripadvisor.com and its links to aggregators to check hotel prices, normally three aggregators per hotel. For flights I used skyscanner.net which links to a number of well-known aggregators.
What did I find?
By booking independently, I was able to save typically a third or more on the prices proposed by the travel agent. Also in the case of hotels, I was able to get really low non-refundable prices or slightly higher prices for refundable reservations.
Some countries are more challenging than others. For example, I am planning to use the help of specialized travel agents for China and Burma but for other countries in Asia, I now plan to make independent arrangements, with the help of a guidebook or two.
What are other peoples’ experiences of using travel agents? Also are there any local travel operators that people can recommend for specialist tours?
Video: Clumsy waiter soaks German Chancellor Angela Merkel in beer – Yahoo!
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This is an interesting video. Check it out!
Video: Clumsy waiter soaks German Chancellor Angela Merkel in beer – Yahoo!.
48 hours in Hanoi | Travel | The Observer
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This is an interesting article. Check it out!
I don’t think Hanoi, Vietnam for a long weekend from Europe is for me – I think I would prefer a more leisurely trip!
Lexington: Republican fratricide | The Economist
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I spotted this interesting article in this week’s Economist over breakfast. Check it out!
The article speculates on stalemate and the call for a white-knight, all playing in favour of Mr. Obama.
The metamorphosis of Ben Bernanke | Gavyn Davies | Insight into macroeconomics and the financial markets from the Financial Times – FT.com
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This is a very interesting article from Gavyn Davies, the macro economist at the FT, in his weekly blog. The article provide a link to a paper by Professor Ball which I found really fascinating reading. Check them out!
Here is my response to Gavyn Davies blog:
Gavyn, Many thanks for a very interesting blog & sharing Professor Ball’s research. I have taken the time to read Professor Ball’s paper and am a bit surprised that he has concluded on the following two reasons for the radical change in Bernanke’s views: (1) “groupthink”; and #2# a shy reserved personality. The comparison’s with decision-making in the BoE MPC were interesting. In my experience, the role of a chairman is political, and I would be surprised if the chairman did not know the views/voting intentions prior to the meeting. I tend to agree with your conclusion that Bernanke did not press for the “nuclear ” options because the situation was not regarded as sufficiently critical.
Personally, I tend to agree with the economists who argue that the Fed has not been bold enough in addressing unemployment. Interventions in 2008 helped the wealthy and privileged from a thirties type crash which resulted in numerous suicides. In my view, there has been too little intervention to help the middle classes and the poor.
Treating China as an enemy – Telegraph Blogs
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This is an excellent article from Ambrose Evan-Pritchard, the International Business Editor, at the Telegraph newspaper. Check it out!
I found it particularly interesting that the article was citing Professor Etzioni’s views. I first became aware of eminent sociologist, Professor Etzioni, when I was a post graduate student in 1971/72. His work entitled “cosmopolitans and Locals” had a profound influence on my life. I always aspired to be a “cosmopolitan”. In the early days, I was fascinated with the idea of going West and in my field, at the time, the US led the way. Much of my early career was with US multi-nationals and I have wonderful personal memories of times in the US. I also remember well the difficult years of US foreign policy and debating the merits and demerits in a Paris bar.
Now that I am retired, I am pleased that my wife has become a cosmopolitan as well. Interesting, we are heading East this Autumn, starting with an extended holiday in China. With much of Europe in recession, with political leaders fixated with austerity, I find it a timely opportunity to reflect on the BRIC countries. First stop is China – the others will have to wait.
As an aside, I often reflect on youth unemployment and the myopic policies of many Governments. My advice to any youngster without privileged connections, is to become a “cosmopolitan”. More and more, I seem to be hearing of talented youngsters in Mediterranean countries considering moving to Latin America. Yesterday, I was talking to my nephew in Lima, Peru – by profession he’s a school teacher, who has recently relocated to Lima and obtained a promising professional teaching post.
Returning to the Telegraph article, I certainly endorse Professor Etzioni’s views on China. Do you?
As a final thought perhaps those concerned with healthcare reform, on both sides of the Atlantic, should read Prof. Etzioni’s work on “cosmopolitans and Locals“?
