Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Japan IS for real.

Dear Diary, I have so many pictures to show and stories to tell that i don't know where to start! My second time in Japan was a lot more risque compared to last June when i went with single friends. The kinkiest the last time round were the used underwear for sale for SGD 15 a pop. This time, i not only saw the blow-up dolls, i even experienced a role play cafe! Oh the irony that i went with the parental units this time.Hakodate in Hokkaido...

Babies And Bathwater

It's rather important to recognise the differenceThe BBC and the Grun aside, everyone agrees that spending must be cut. Now the question is what spending? And therein lies a considerable risk. The risk is that because we're all in this together, the cuts will be shared out across spending departments pro rata, pretty well irrespective of merit and irrespective of the consequences.Today's announcement by Ken Clarke that prison...

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

What Exactly Is The National Debt?

The official definition is easy... and misleadingQuestion - what exactly is the National Debt?It sounds like a straightforward question and Tyler's Oxford English Dictionary gives a nice straightforward answer - "money owed by State because of loans made to it". Good. Very clear.But just out of interest, how does the OED define a loan to the State? "Money contribution from individuals or public bodies to State expenses that is...