Until a forward thinking partner from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) came up with a way to turn the word into a trendy, hot biz-speak noun, and write 2-3 bestsellers upon it, the use of Excellence had been limited to academia and the occasional adverbial remark as in, "great, excellent!" followed by, "Thank you".
Excellent has gone a long way since then, showing its high potential by blooming into a concept: "excellence". Accordingly, "excellence" became the subject of many a (oft heated) discussion and monographs as well.
Throughout the times, excellence, loosely approached, has meant "better than very good". It's one step higher, as in, good, very good, excellent,. It becomes "exceptional". Very good is repeatable whereas excellent is the exception to very good: it is even better.The idea behind the word seen as a concept is, how about if this excellent were something to strive for, i.e. repeatable as a way of doing things rather than as a result of having done thing and achieved a certain result (better than "very good", as it were).
Accordingly and often nauseatingly, lots of server space has been wasted on writing and speculating about this - and much of this is best left where it is -- in well-deserved obscurity. However, every now and then a point of view appears that goes beyond stereotype to embody its own merit.
One such statement -- point of view, if you will -- on the concept that attracted my attention for its simplicity came from the CEO of Agna Group, Mr Vasil Naci (aka Vassilis Natsis): "Excellence is an attitude, a mindset, an action, a philosophy. It is an asipration..." This embodies, in fine, most of what most others have had to say on the subject. That is nice: rather than speculate and philosophize, Mr Naci actually writes what he believes and knows about it and, as these things are wont to be, it is short. Because, presumably, he knows well what he believes and he uses the word to exemplify his belief. We appreciated this. We also appreciated the fact that this is not the standard stereotypical CEO pronunciamento, the boss pontificating to the minions accompanied by appropriate fanfare: it is just a sentence and a half contained in a limited circulation booklet edited by the Agna Group's own Leadership Academy and intended, presumably, for internal consumption.
I would beg to agree as well as differ slightly from the (undoubtedly inspirational and inspired) Mr Naci.
I would say that "excellence" is, indeed, an attitude or a day-in day-out way of doing things; but the way I would put it is, "constant improvement for its own sake".
In this sense, excellence presupposes a personal life-philosophy of believing in what you do well, for its own sake -- i.e. not expecting recognition and praise from any other than yourself.
It is difficult to be alone, though, is it not?
Maybe not, because loneliness is a state of the mind; as a friend once told me, "when you are alone you are with together with everyone, when you are with one person, you are only with that person..." (Margarita Xanthakou, anthropologist )
Thursday, 13 February 2014
Friday, 7 February 2014
Public Image Under Public Scrutiny -- How Critical (Is the Scrutiny?)
Is the answer: it depends on the Public? Or maybe, how trusting is the Public in question without falling into conspiracy theory territory?
Mr Jack Martin, CEO of Hill & Knowlton Strategies, a communications & PR company, asserts that the Public has definitively established itself as a pivotal parametre in corporate or political success -- specifically, the trust of the public.
The idea is that the internet has brought information (as well as misinformation) to the home, immediately, and raw - unedited by the subject of this information, that is. And leaders can count of 24x7 media scrutiny. Thus being the case says Jack Martin, you have to be straightforward and transparent; communicate directly rather than through an intermediary. And this is a good thing.
I would agree, wholeheartedly. I would also agree that gaining and maintaining the trust of the Public is primordial, and that it is a good thing...
Only, the public is still (?) very partisan; could it be that building and maintaining trust can be manipulated just as efficiently today as,say, in the '30s when Dr Goebbels effectively invented and launched grand scale media advertising and political PR campaigning?
I think it can: after all, the global reach of information and the access to global information today does not mean that the media channels cannot do their own editing. They do.
National TV is still very influential, not only in countries where I-Net home penetration is low and, don't forget, few people check their news online from independent sources. For that matter, how dependable are independent sources, anyway?
In the '30s, the centre of the world was the square where Hitler was scheduled to appear in midst of music, fanfares, and the like. My father had some experience of this and it was, in his words, fascinatingly done - people were in a trance.
I don't think that things are much different today, despite the internet...
There is, however, one major difference between now and then: misinformation. It is slowly dying -- as we know it from Hitler to present day politicians.
Why? Because anyone can check on line the veracity of any purported fact reported or claimed by any speaker!
Misinformation is the trade mark and favoured bait for Public consumption, used by politicians and
authoritarian regimes. It would seem that they will have to find a new method -- or block access to the internet, or certain sites on the Net.
Not a moment too soon!
Mr Jack Martin, CEO of Hill & Knowlton Strategies, a communications & PR company, asserts that the Public has definitively established itself as a pivotal parametre in corporate or political success -- specifically, the trust of the public.
The idea is that the internet has brought information (as well as misinformation) to the home, immediately, and raw - unedited by the subject of this information, that is. And leaders can count of 24x7 media scrutiny. Thus being the case says Jack Martin, you have to be straightforward and transparent; communicate directly rather than through an intermediary. And this is a good thing.
I would agree, wholeheartedly. I would also agree that gaining and maintaining the trust of the Public is primordial, and that it is a good thing...
Only, the public is still (?) very partisan; could it be that building and maintaining trust can be manipulated just as efficiently today as,say, in the '30s when Dr Goebbels effectively invented and launched grand scale media advertising and political PR campaigning?
I think it can: after all, the global reach of information and the access to global information today does not mean that the media channels cannot do their own editing. They do.
National TV is still very influential, not only in countries where I-Net home penetration is low and, don't forget, few people check their news online from independent sources. For that matter, how dependable are independent sources, anyway?
In the '30s, the centre of the world was the square where Hitler was scheduled to appear in midst of music, fanfares, and the like. My father had some experience of this and it was, in his words, fascinatingly done - people were in a trance.
I don't think that things are much different today, despite the internet...
There is, however, one major difference between now and then: misinformation. It is slowly dying -- as we know it from Hitler to present day politicians.
Why? Because anyone can check on line the veracity of any purported fact reported or claimed by any speaker!
Misinformation is the trade mark and favoured bait for Public consumption, used by politicians and
authoritarian regimes. It would seem that they will have to find a new method -- or block access to the internet, or certain sites on the Net.
Not a moment too soon!
Thursday, 9 January 2014
Happy New Year! Oh, and by the way, do you trust your politicians???
Answer: of course not.
In a recent survey, Gallup discovered that trust in government has sunk "to a new low" in South Europe. Not surprisingly, Greece fares the lowest.
I would upload a photo to illustrate the element of non-suprise, but google has decided I should no longer do so: whenever I click on the link to choose files, it defaults to google docs -- so, no cigar...
Anyway, one he point I would like to make is that the news about South Europe's politicians' ratings is not all bad news; some of it is good.
I have met few politicians and many of the few I have met are either Greek or French. Some are English (as in GB but not N. Irish, Scots or Welsh). All of the people I have met have been pleasant, a bit over the top, and silly. Some of them are arrogant: all of the Greek ones and one or two of the French ones. All displayed varying levels of gravitas, the English ones less so than the rest, the Greek ones topping the list of pseudo-seriousness.
All in all, not attributing much credibility to politicians can be seen as a measure of, wisdom is stretching it, maturity. And maturity is welcome, especially when it right-sizes the importance of adolescents playing adults -- which is what most politicians are and do.
In the same way one would not give much credence to a 3rd Reich documentary on the Jewish race nor take the ensuing political analysis at face value... thus, it is not wise to give much more than entertainment value to the things our politicians say and do.
Especially what they say.
Case in point: European MP J. Swoboda recently made a comment on abolishing "Troikas" because, in his opinion, they have failed in whatever role assigned to them. Because this is not "democratic".Quite. And revert to the failed governments that brought them into the countries after said governments sank said countries beyond recovery... presumably that is democratic, in Mr Swoboda's opinion.
While pretending to run a country without being part of the elected reps of that country is not on the apparent agenda for most of our countries, hence the Troikas of this world are there, officially, to "consult" and not manage.However, even if this were the case, one can wonder at the obvious import of admitting officially that you need external support to stand on your (two) feet again (i.e. the Troika) because you have made a sorry mess of it all -- and mortgaged the whole country in the process.
I.e. the actions of Greece's politicians indicate that they pay only lip service to the woes of their country's inhabitants; they are portrayed as either squabbling between them or spending their time in inane public proclamations or bandying chaff and exchanging inane platitudes in Parliamentary sessions -- those that are there and awake, that is.That is, Great entertainment value, little else.
No wonder Gallup attributes 14% trust level in Greece to government and leaders alike.Gallup are polite: what they are not saying is that 86% of all Greeks have no confidence in their country's management team: too bad Greece's stakeholders can't get rid of them and appoint the best talent in the market. Who'd need a Troika then?
In a recent survey, Gallup discovered that trust in government has sunk "to a new low" in South Europe. Not surprisingly, Greece fares the lowest.
I would upload a photo to illustrate the element of non-suprise, but google has decided I should no longer do so: whenever I click on the link to choose files, it defaults to google docs -- so, no cigar...
Anyway, one he point I would like to make is that the news about South Europe's politicians' ratings is not all bad news; some of it is good.
I have met few politicians and many of the few I have met are either Greek or French. Some are English (as in GB but not N. Irish, Scots or Welsh). All of the people I have met have been pleasant, a bit over the top, and silly. Some of them are arrogant: all of the Greek ones and one or two of the French ones. All displayed varying levels of gravitas, the English ones less so than the rest, the Greek ones topping the list of pseudo-seriousness.
All in all, not attributing much credibility to politicians can be seen as a measure of, wisdom is stretching it, maturity. And maturity is welcome, especially when it right-sizes the importance of adolescents playing adults -- which is what most politicians are and do.
In the same way one would not give much credence to a 3rd Reich documentary on the Jewish race nor take the ensuing political analysis at face value... thus, it is not wise to give much more than entertainment value to the things our politicians say and do.
Especially what they say.
Case in point: European MP J. Swoboda recently made a comment on abolishing "Troikas" because, in his opinion, they have failed in whatever role assigned to them. Because this is not "democratic".Quite. And revert to the failed governments that brought them into the countries after said governments sank said countries beyond recovery... presumably that is democratic, in Mr Swoboda's opinion.
While pretending to run a country without being part of the elected reps of that country is not on the apparent agenda for most of our countries, hence the Troikas of this world are there, officially, to "consult" and not manage.However, even if this were the case, one can wonder at the obvious import of admitting officially that you need external support to stand on your (two) feet again (i.e. the Troika) because you have made a sorry mess of it all -- and mortgaged the whole country in the process.
I.e. the actions of Greece's politicians indicate that they pay only lip service to the woes of their country's inhabitants; they are portrayed as either squabbling between them or spending their time in inane public proclamations or bandying chaff and exchanging inane platitudes in Parliamentary sessions -- those that are there and awake, that is.That is, Great entertainment value, little else.
No wonder Gallup attributes 14% trust level in Greece to government and leaders alike.Gallup are polite: what they are not saying is that 86% of all Greeks have no confidence in their country's management team: too bad Greece's stakeholders can't get rid of them and appoint the best talent in the market. Who'd need a Troika then?
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Global Competitiveness Index: Why Is Greece Rated So Low....
In the "Global Competitiveness Index 2013-2014", the top country is, not surprisingly, Switzerland. Singapore is 2nd and Finland is 3rd.
Greece is ranked 91, well behind Estonia, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and the Ukraine. The low rating is due to any number of "inefficiencies" among other things the report notes "The country’s inefficient labor market (127th) continues to constrain Greece’s ability to emerge from the crisis(...)"
A wise remark and one that will persist in coming years as Greece's current government with its minister of labour (a man named Vroutsis) continues to pay only lip service to labour law reform -- purportedly to appease its unions.
Licensing -- a procedure that is mandatory if you want to set up shop in Greece -- is easily Europe's most cumbersome. Any investment has to be agreed - the problem lies in obtaining said agreement: often this requires patience or, it is rumoured, payment of a "speed-stamp" ("grigorosimo"): i.e. an under the table payment to speed things up.
Or, your investment can be anulled by the local mayor who does not like you - or simply want to throw his weight around. Case in point: Siemens wanted to invest in a new plant on the outskirts of Athens. They have (still have) the land. The local mayor vetoed the investment with a very simple note: "we do not want you". Too bad for the 60-100 new jobs that would have been created...
Greece seems to tout the we are good for "investment" mantra, yet, when anyone tries, they fall flat on their face. OR, they need special government by-passes which spell uncertainty for the future.
Why? Why should Greece be so resistant - hostile, even - to investment and generally speaking to private enterprise? Why is Greece ranked 142 out of 148 as a destination for investment...
There is a simple explanation: Greece is still very much a Soviet minded, centralised and centrally controlled economy and Greece's political-administrative complex is not ready to accept liberalisation. The Greek state is loth to let go the reigns.
China's (communist) leaders seem to have proven far more liberal in their long run, practically as well as conceptually, than Greece's lawmakers -- even in the 6th year of recession!
No wonder then that Greece is one of the few countries where people speak of "private enterprise" as something new and wondrous. In other countries he name of the game is, just plain business.
Greece is ranked 91, well behind Estonia, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and the Ukraine. The low rating is due to any number of "inefficiencies" among other things the report notes "The country’s inefficient labor market (127th) continues to constrain Greece’s ability to emerge from the crisis(...)"
A wise remark and one that will persist in coming years as Greece's current government with its minister of labour (a man named Vroutsis) continues to pay only lip service to labour law reform -- purportedly to appease its unions.
Licensing -- a procedure that is mandatory if you want to set up shop in Greece -- is easily Europe's most cumbersome. Any investment has to be agreed - the problem lies in obtaining said agreement: often this requires patience or, it is rumoured, payment of a "speed-stamp" ("grigorosimo"): i.e. an under the table payment to speed things up.
Or, your investment can be anulled by the local mayor who does not like you - or simply want to throw his weight around. Case in point: Siemens wanted to invest in a new plant on the outskirts of Athens. They have (still have) the land. The local mayor vetoed the investment with a very simple note: "we do not want you". Too bad for the 60-100 new jobs that would have been created...
Greece seems to tout the we are good for "investment" mantra, yet, when anyone tries, they fall flat on their face. OR, they need special government by-passes which spell uncertainty for the future.
Why? Why should Greece be so resistant - hostile, even - to investment and generally speaking to private enterprise? Why is Greece ranked 142 out of 148 as a destination for investment...
There is a simple explanation: Greece is still very much a Soviet minded, centralised and centrally controlled economy and Greece's political-administrative complex is not ready to accept liberalisation. The Greek state is loth to let go the reigns.
China's (communist) leaders seem to have proven far more liberal in their long run, practically as well as conceptually, than Greece's lawmakers -- even in the 6th year of recession!
No wonder then that Greece is one of the few countries where people speak of "private enterprise" as something new and wondrous. In other countries he name of the game is, just plain business.
Thursday, 21 November 2013
Greece, Austerity, the Greek Government and its Lenders...
...and the saga continues.
In a repeat episode, Greece's lenders commonly referred to as "the Troika" are in deadlock with Greece's government over purported further austerity to cover a still lingering deficit in the 2014 budget: the hole is 2.5 bill Euro according to the Lenders, 0.5 according to the Greek government that claims it will bridge the remaining 2 bill from tax evaders and structural reforms. As neother of these have been dealt with in the past 6 years, the lenders are unsure as to why the Greek government will raise money from tax evaders who seem to be either existent or so good at what they do there is no indication that they are ready to give up their "evader" status.
Hence "deadlock". The lenders say "you have not implemented any structural reform to write back home about, so why should I reasonably expect you to do so now, all of a sudden?" Also, you have not succeeded in increasing cash inflows through clamping on tax evasion, so why would it work now? Or, maybe it (loss of tax revenue) is not as high as it is presented?
"Better turn to austerity measures," allegedly say the Lenders.
This deadlock comes at a particularly inopportune moment, as these are the moments the EU budget goes to vote -- and it would have been nice to have aid-Greece all settled and tucked away.
It would seem, yet again, that the unflinching, faceless, humorless, cold-heart apparatchiks of the "Troika" (i.e. the EU, ECB, IMF), many of whom, be it noted and not surprisingly, are Greek are the ones requesting more austerity measures. The Greek government is said to be resisting, claiming the people cannot take any more.
Truth be told,however, in 6 years of austerity, Greece's successive governments have done little to promote structural reforms and reduce the huge Public Sector. They have not even reigned in the Public Sector Union which, along with the Communist Party, regaled in siphoning much of the latest European social funding.
Accordingly, the Troika seem to have given up on the idea that the Greek politicians will ever touch the backbone of contemporary Greek establishment: the Civil Service and its Union. Which is a pity, because Greece needs reforms and "the bad guys who imposed said reforms" that serve as the eternal excuse will not be around forever...
Contentious items are, inter alia: foreclosure on homes, complete restructure of the labour law, privatisations; not easy to tell people that they are likely to loose their home to the bank -- especially in a country that boasts 29% unemployment so, no job no mortgage payment, and a singularly investment-averse fiscal legislation so, no new jobs and no little chance of recovery and finding a new job.
Which leaves one thing: more austerity for the Private Sector in Greece, retirees, unemployed, social benefits...
Any takers?
In a repeat episode, Greece's lenders commonly referred to as "the Troika" are in deadlock with Greece's government over purported further austerity to cover a still lingering deficit in the 2014 budget: the hole is 2.5 bill Euro according to the Lenders, 0.5 according to the Greek government that claims it will bridge the remaining 2 bill from tax evaders and structural reforms. As neother of these have been dealt with in the past 6 years, the lenders are unsure as to why the Greek government will raise money from tax evaders who seem to be either existent or so good at what they do there is no indication that they are ready to give up their "evader" status.
Hence "deadlock". The lenders say "you have not implemented any structural reform to write back home about, so why should I reasonably expect you to do so now, all of a sudden?" Also, you have not succeeded in increasing cash inflows through clamping on tax evasion, so why would it work now? Or, maybe it (loss of tax revenue) is not as high as it is presented?
"Better turn to austerity measures," allegedly say the Lenders.
This deadlock comes at a particularly inopportune moment, as these are the moments the EU budget goes to vote -- and it would have been nice to have aid-Greece all settled and tucked away.
It would seem, yet again, that the unflinching, faceless, humorless, cold-heart apparatchiks of the "Troika" (i.e. the EU, ECB, IMF), many of whom, be it noted and not surprisingly, are Greek are the ones requesting more austerity measures. The Greek government is said to be resisting, claiming the people cannot take any more.
Truth be told,however, in 6 years of austerity, Greece's successive governments have done little to promote structural reforms and reduce the huge Public Sector. They have not even reigned in the Public Sector Union which, along with the Communist Party, regaled in siphoning much of the latest European social funding.
Accordingly, the Troika seem to have given up on the idea that the Greek politicians will ever touch the backbone of contemporary Greek establishment: the Civil Service and its Union. Which is a pity, because Greece needs reforms and "the bad guys who imposed said reforms" that serve as the eternal excuse will not be around forever...
Contentious items are, inter alia: foreclosure on homes, complete restructure of the labour law, privatisations; not easy to tell people that they are likely to loose their home to the bank -- especially in a country that boasts 29% unemployment so, no job no mortgage payment, and a singularly investment-averse fiscal legislation so, no new jobs and no little chance of recovery and finding a new job.
- Clamp down on tax evasion. A succession of Greek governments have made this their patriotic target -- but no cigar. Be that as it may, one important element in the hunt for tax-evading money What I mean is, the expected inflow depends on who is included in the "tax evader" category: for example,there are ~22.000 contractors wishing to close their books who are unfortunately in arrears in their payments to the social security. Pending payments, they cannot close their books and of course, the debt compounds (because their books are not closed).
Presumably, if these ~22.000 self-employed contractors could spare the money, they would have regularized their payments to the social security organisation. Since they have not, at the expense of increasing their debt, we can safely assume they do not have any money to offer... - Structural reform, Public Sector... So unlikely, we can join the Troika who do not believe it is going to happen any time soon.
Which leaves one thing: more austerity for the Private Sector in Greece, retirees, unemployed, social benefits...
Any takers?
Friday, 15 November 2013
Europe's Politicians Don't Seem To Be Up To Snuff...
In general Europe's present politicians don't seem to be capable of measuring up to some of their more illustrious predecessors.
How does president Hollande fare compared to, say, the General de Gaulle? We choose the General because we now have tough times -- and when times are tough, the tough get going. But how tough is he?
Not very...
Ms Merkel from Germany and her "conservative" penny controlling policy and Thatcher German style presence.Compared to Adenauer, not very inspired, compared to Thatcher not very inspiring.
Mr Cameron? Nice chap. Compared to illustrious predecessors (and we do not mean president Bush's sidekick). Best not go there.
What about Greece's Mr Samaras. At best tepid. Exciting as dishwater, perhaps not quite as, but close.
Think: how well do these people fare in a negotiation with, say, the CEO of a major Bank?
Think: the experience and track record that led said CEO to the C E office...
Exponents of a political modus operandi that dates them back to the 19th century, negotiating with people well into the 21st century -- even if they're bankers, not the brightest of the bright.
It's scary!
How does president Hollande fare compared to, say, the General de Gaulle? We choose the General because we now have tough times -- and when times are tough, the tough get going. But how tough is he?
Not very...
Ms Merkel from Germany and her "conservative" penny controlling policy and Thatcher German style presence.Compared to Adenauer, not very inspired, compared to Thatcher not very inspiring.
Mr Cameron? Nice chap. Compared to illustrious predecessors (and we do not mean president Bush's sidekick). Best not go there.
What about Greece's Mr Samaras. At best tepid. Exciting as dishwater, perhaps not quite as, but close.
Think: how well do these people fare in a negotiation with, say, the CEO of a major Bank?
Think: the experience and track record that led said CEO to the C E office...
Exponents of a political modus operandi that dates them back to the 19th century, negotiating with people well into the 21st century -- even if they're bankers, not the brightest of the bright.
It's scary!
Tuesday, 5 November 2013
Cowboy tax No 69 -- The incomprehensible Greek minister
Greece has an incomprehensible minister of labour. To begin with the title of minister of unemployment would be more apt in a country that has over 1.5 million unemployed, representing just under 30% of statistical workforce and ~55% of private sector work-force. Of these only 160,000 get unemployment benefits.
Clearly, the woes of the unemployed are not high up on Mr Vroutsis' agenda.
Holiday camps for his cronies' children are, however. Mr Vroutsis decided to levy a 20 euro tax from employers for each employee.
How bout that!
Do you think your son or daughter qualifies?
They don't: if you have to think about it, your kids are not part of the deal.
Best of all, it's the way it's done: shut up and pay.
So, if you're thinking of investing in Greece, here's your chance to help the incomprehensible Minister confirm a few votes.
So far, what he does is totally comprehensible: he is using other peoples' money. An old story in Greece.
The only thing that's incomprehensible is why the Prime Minister has not sacked this man: even by Greek standards this person is a living disgrace....
Clearly, the woes of the unemployed are not high up on Mr Vroutsis' agenda.
Holiday camps for his cronies' children are, however. Mr Vroutsis decided to levy a 20 euro tax from employers for each employee.
How bout that!
Do you think your son or daughter qualifies?
They don't: if you have to think about it, your kids are not part of the deal.
Best of all, it's the way it's done: shut up and pay.
So, if you're thinking of investing in Greece, here's your chance to help the incomprehensible Minister confirm a few votes.
So far, what he does is totally comprehensible: he is using other peoples' money. An old story in Greece.
The only thing that's incomprehensible is why the Prime Minister has not sacked this man: even by Greek standards this person is a living disgrace....
Wednesday, 30 October 2013
Greece's Government Celebrates the Country's "NO" to Fascism... Shouldn't it be all the Greeks Celebrating????
Greek politicians' continued rock bottom popularity (for just cause, admittedly), the whole police force and then some was enlisted to protect Greece's politicians who insist on being present at the parade... a celebration that is, to all intents and purposes, their private affair.
{The 28th October commemorates the day Greece's premier (himself a military dictator, in fact) refused to allow safe passage to Mussolini's troops and, upon the latter's envoy's insistence, Metaxas declared "Alors c'est la guerre". (Easier said than done.) }
Many -Greeks believe that politicians are the root of all evil and all that is still evil in Greece. Accordingly, they protest against the presence of these same politicians on important historical occasions such as the National Day -- especially as such days commemorate heroes; Greeks, not unjustly it would seem, consider many of their politicians as traitors....
While it is unpolitic to provide opinion on the subject, one can see that, in some cases, Greek politicians act in a not-so-composed manner.
One of these, a chap called Paggalos, managed to reroute the NSA spying scandal all by himself: like any adolescent, he declared that spying is not much -- "...we tapped the mobile phone of the US ambassador to Athens and the US ambassador to Turkey..." by which he means, someone in the intelligence service fortuitously logged onto said ambassador's frequency while he was speaking to the other said ambassador, and proceeded to listen in for a while...
That's what we call, "shooting yourself in the foot", or "the guy's not all there" or "the guy's out of focus for the time being..."
.
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
10 Years After and Telecom Advertising in Greece
Of course, I mean "Ten Years After" i.e. Alvin Lee's super-group from the seventies. Their song, "I'd Like to Change the World", one of their most successful, from their (excellent) album "A Space In Time" has enjoyed a renewed success due to its selection as the title music for a major Greek mobile operator.
Said mobile operator probably did not check the song's lyrics -- or (more probably) their advertising agency does not speak English.
I like the song and the album, and actually have the album in both digital and analogue medium. I enjoy listening to TYA's music and sing along.I, along with very many English - speaking people, understand the lyrics.
Usually, the name of a song implies the colour of its lyrics. In this respect, I'D like to change the world" is superb and comes out nicely for a company touting a similar message in its own corner of the business universe.
Sometimes, however, the title hides the true portent of its lyrics... and the insinuations are legion. In this case, unintended, for sure.
I'll let you be the judge of whether the mobile operator is actually identifying with Alvin Lee's cynical approach to life. Here is the first stanza to the chorus:
"Everywhere is freaks and hairies,
Dykes and fairies,
Tell me where is sanity
Tax the rich, feed the poor
'Til there are no rich no more
I'd love to change the world,
But I don't know what to do
So I'll leave it up to you"
What say you?
Said mobile operator probably did not check the song's lyrics -- or (more probably) their advertising agency does not speak English.
I like the song and the album, and actually have the album in both digital and analogue medium. I enjoy listening to TYA's music and sing along.I, along with very many English - speaking people, understand the lyrics.
Usually, the name of a song implies the colour of its lyrics. In this respect, I'D like to change the world" is superb and comes out nicely for a company touting a similar message in its own corner of the business universe.
Sometimes, however, the title hides the true portent of its lyrics... and the insinuations are legion. In this case, unintended, for sure.
I'll let you be the judge of whether the mobile operator is actually identifying with Alvin Lee's cynical approach to life. Here is the first stanza to the chorus:
"Everywhere is freaks and hairies,
Dykes and fairies,
Tell me where is sanity
Tax the rich, feed the poor
'Til there are no rich no more
I'd love to change the world,
But I don't know what to do
So I'll leave it up to you"
What say you?
Tuesday, 15 October 2013
Is it "cowboy" taxes we get in Greece -- or just plain catastrophe?
Greece's minister of Labour suddenly decided to impose, what he probably considers, a teeny little one-off tax of EURO 20/per employee.
Presumably, this one-off, teenie-weenie little tax doesn't really affect employers' financial fate and we all know that employers have money.
Presumably, it is Mr Vroutsis (such is the name of said minister of labour) understanding that most employers only have a 1-2 employees -- as in the bodega down the road or the Periptero up the road. All in all, they will pay 40 euro and be done with it.
Hmmmm!
What about the bank, in-between? How about 2,500 employees, i.e. a sudden tax of EURO 50,000?
Or 2,000 employees at the private employment agency, across from the bank: a teenie tax 40,000 euro.
In the old times and in another country, tiny little taxes similar to this one would be imposed by the people who were there to "protect you".
Said tiny little extraordinary contributions were "implemented" in order to, purportedly, help immigrants' children, or artistic development in the area, or revamp the "protection company's" headquarters...
Whatever the case, these one-off, happy, teenie-weenie taxes were never a suggestion -- they were always compulsory enforced in a variety of methods.
All of the above took place in another country, different times.
Indeed, the people who conceived and enforced those creative, teenie-weenie little taxes were not called "ministers" at all. At the time...
Presumably, this one-off, teenie-weenie little tax doesn't really affect employers' financial fate and we all know that employers have money.
Presumably, it is Mr Vroutsis (such is the name of said minister of labour) understanding that most employers only have a 1-2 employees -- as in the bodega down the road or the Periptero up the road. All in all, they will pay 40 euro and be done with it.
Hmmmm!
What about the bank, in-between? How about 2,500 employees, i.e. a sudden tax of EURO 50,000?
Or 2,000 employees at the private employment agency, across from the bank: a teenie tax 40,000 euro.
In the old times and in another country, tiny little taxes similar to this one would be imposed by the people who were there to "protect you".
Said tiny little extraordinary contributions were "implemented" in order to, purportedly, help immigrants' children, or artistic development in the area, or revamp the "protection company's" headquarters...
Whatever the case, these one-off, happy, teenie-weenie taxes were never a suggestion -- they were always compulsory enforced in a variety of methods.
All of the above took place in another country, different times.
Indeed, the people who conceived and enforced those creative, teenie-weenie little taxes were not called "ministers" at all. At the time...
Monday, 16 September 2013
Scorpions & Friends "MTV Unplugged in Athens" concert: I went there with family
We were in Athens and on Saturday 14th the three of us (my daughter was preparing to move to London) went to see the Scorpions concert up on the difficult-to-spell Lycabettus outdoor theatre. The venue is beautiful, on a high rock in the centre of Athens commanding a breathtaking (I don't use this word lightly) view of the city, down to the sea. The night was pleasantly cool, too.
The concert itself, as any Scorpions concert, was a pleasant, enjoyable event, more so for the mtv unplugged (i.e. acoustic) feature;
The Scorpions do have a knack of bringing families together to enjoy a good moment with cheerful, rhythmic, or nostalgic tunes. Heck, they've been around for a good 40 years (give or take) and their concerts are very much a family affair; the young fans of early years are parents themselves now -- some with grown up children! One of the advantages of being around long enough is that people of all ages know the lyrics to their songs...
What the Scorpions are not, is passionate, full of rogue, raw energy, ready to blow you away and the venue to smithereens. It's not Queen in their heyday, nor the young Who or the Stones (to name a few).
What the Scorpions ARE however is "middle" European. And their lyrics commemorate, sing, reflect and remind us of the times and events of continental Europe in the way no US or UK group has -- or can. The Scorpions sing for us, the unknown middle & East European: many of their lyrics strike a uniquely European chord. The Scorpions are part of this "old world". They capture the old world's rainy, overcast, small-time, stuffy and struggling Old World life; the quiet insufferable boredom behind closed doors; the sooty interiors hidden behind the luster of our purported artistic design, our supposed refinement, and our snobbishness; Europe is a plethora of tiny to medium-sized countries all packed together in a continent where 2 hrs plane ride will take you across 4 different national languages....
So when we see expansive cities, lit like Xmas trees, it is awesome. We may never admit it, but it is daunting .The "Big City Lights" captures that : the little European's awe at the Eastern light & technological structure extravaganza. I know, that: I have personal experience of these "big city lights".
It's not that we don't have big cities in Europe, it's just that for us, huge is about the size of an average apartment building on East 6th ave N Y. And the lights are usually low to save on energy. Oh yes: we are mostly in bed by ten on weekdays.
Take that same 2 hour plane ride a few years ago and you would have crossed 4 languages and 6 different political regimes... For continental Europeans, the long-forgotten "iron curtain" was part of everyday life.
For anyone who has lived in or experienced a Soviet country before the demise of that parody -- and I am one such person -- "The Wind of Change" lyrics speak to the heart.
It may not be Keats, but for us, the line "the children of tomorrow dream away / in the wind of change" is real: we have lived and breathed in that wind and we have met these children, now grown up. In fact we have breathed in previous winds as well, where "change" had been relegated to miracle territory.
For most of us it's the little things that count; that one little moment in time, that moment that will change everything.
Check out the Scorpions' lyrics: how many times Klaus & Co sing about "a moment (in time)", directly or indirectly?
Anyway, towards the end of the concert Klaus picked up a Greek flag, put it on his shoulder and, with Morten Harket, sang "Wind of Change". OK, so Greece is going through the toughest time in its modern history and the symbolic effect of singing the words "close like brothers" and "change (for the better)" is a winning PR gesture before the public of a debt-ridden country.
It's a small gesture so he didn't really have to do it -- but he did.
So I choose to believe that deep down, the Scorpions wanted to do it, PR or not.
The concert itself, as any Scorpions concert, was a pleasant, enjoyable event, more so for the mtv unplugged (i.e. acoustic) feature;
The Scorpions do have a knack of bringing families together to enjoy a good moment with cheerful, rhythmic, or nostalgic tunes. Heck, they've been around for a good 40 years (give or take) and their concerts are very much a family affair; the young fans of early years are parents themselves now -- some with grown up children! One of the advantages of being around long enough is that people of all ages know the lyrics to their songs...
What the Scorpions are not, is passionate, full of rogue, raw energy, ready to blow you away and the venue to smithereens. It's not Queen in their heyday, nor the young Who or the Stones (to name a few).
What the Scorpions ARE however is "middle" European. And their lyrics commemorate, sing, reflect and remind us of the times and events of continental Europe in the way no US or UK group has -- or can. The Scorpions sing for us, the unknown middle & East European: many of their lyrics strike a uniquely European chord. The Scorpions are part of this "old world". They capture the old world's rainy, overcast, small-time, stuffy and struggling Old World life; the quiet insufferable boredom behind closed doors; the sooty interiors hidden behind the luster of our purported artistic design, our supposed refinement, and our snobbishness; Europe is a plethora of tiny to medium-sized countries all packed together in a continent where 2 hrs plane ride will take you across 4 different national languages....
So when we see expansive cities, lit like Xmas trees, it is awesome. We may never admit it, but it is daunting .The "Big City Lights" captures that : the little European's awe at the Eastern light & technological structure extravaganza. I know, that: I have personal experience of these "big city lights".
It's not that we don't have big cities in Europe, it's just that for us, huge is about the size of an average apartment building on East 6th ave N Y. And the lights are usually low to save on energy. Oh yes: we are mostly in bed by ten on weekdays.
Take that same 2 hour plane ride a few years ago and you would have crossed 4 languages and 6 different political regimes... For continental Europeans, the long-forgotten "iron curtain" was part of everyday life.
For anyone who has lived in or experienced a Soviet country before the demise of that parody -- and I am one such person -- "The Wind of Change" lyrics speak to the heart.
It may not be Keats, but for us, the line "the children of tomorrow dream away / in the wind of change" is real: we have lived and breathed in that wind and we have met these children, now grown up. In fact we have breathed in previous winds as well, where "change" had been relegated to miracle territory.
For most of us it's the little things that count; that one little moment in time, that moment that will change everything.
Check out the Scorpions' lyrics: how many times Klaus & Co sing about "a moment (in time)", directly or indirectly?
Anyway, towards the end of the concert Klaus picked up a Greek flag, put it on his shoulder and, with Morten Harket, sang "Wind of Change". OK, so Greece is going through the toughest time in its modern history and the symbolic effect of singing the words "close like brothers" and "change (for the better)" is a winning PR gesture before the public of a debt-ridden country.
It's a small gesture so he didn't really have to do it -- but he did.
So I choose to believe that deep down, the Scorpions wanted to do it, PR or not.
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Greece: Secures a Further 6.8 billion EURO of Bailout Money
 |
| 6.8 billion: not bad for a Soviet democracy! |
Greece is to receive yet another bail-out instalment; not bad!
The performance of successive Greek governments in recent years has been nothing short of text book best practise in do nothing and / or, otherwise put, preservation of the sub-species -- preserve own own. In four years of "reforms" not ONE job has been lost in the Public Sector & State-owned companies in Greece: clearly, the Greek governments are protecting their own -- the Greek public sector payroll.
At all cost.
The private sector is dessicated, but that does not seem to daunt Greek politicians at all; unemployment is hardly on the Parliamentary agenda even though, at ~37% of the private sector workforce it is well above anyone else's in the EU club.
Indeed, in the words of one Greek senior civil servant, Greece may be the only "western developed democracy to be under Soviet rule". Within the Ministry of Finance, private initiative is still seen as suspicious and, largely, fraudulent and exploitative and to be closely monitored at all times.
In Greece flexible employment schemes are suspicious and legally reprehensible (i.e. temporary employment is prohibited unless there are exceptional & transitory reasons).
Investment is not particularly welcome and therefore filtered VERY closely through a web of administrative hurdles & licenses -- the latter sometimes taking years (or greased palms). The gold-mines in Northern Greece are still lacking a few documents that would allow them to operate -- and employ people by the same token.
The list can go on, but the important point to make is that, contemporary Greece is a unique case study of paradox and exception to common sense of any kind.
And, maybe, as such, it has some educational value...
Alternatively, and if the Greek powers that be continue in doing nothing, there will come the moment when Greeks will have to pay breathing & living rent o foreign landlords.
It is difficult to understand why the politicians presently active in Greece fail to see what everyone else does see?
A German firm suggested that a private "experts task force", comprising top class experts, could implement reforms in Greece much better than any government -- if only because politicians are beset by considerations which would be inapplicable in the case of private individuals.
Maybe.
IF the target is, to make Greece viable and still belonging to its indigenous population, then anything that can do the job goes.
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