Instead of uniting Europe, the Euro may just tear a continent apart

As I cannot help following world politics, I cannot help having some thoughts regarding Greece and the financial situation the country finds itself in. On Friday, the Swedish Finance Minister called the Greece opposition 'criminally irresponsible' for not forming a coalition government with the ruling party.

Radio 4 reported this morning that a movement has started in Greece, calling for people to stop repaying their debts. With regards to their national debt and deficit, some politicians are calling for all debts to be written off.

The latter would make a lot of sense as Greece are finding themselves in a circle so vicious, that it will be very hard - if not impossible - to create the sustainable growth needed to move the figures back to black.

The problem with writing Greece's debt off is that the EU has to ask Portugal, Ireland and Spain to plug their fingers in their national ears whilst singing LALALALALA. In this situation, no matter what decision the EU will make, and no matter what they want other countries to think of it; the decision will be a precedent.

The EU is meant to be a union of sovereign states. The challenge with a single currency is that it is great when times are good, and not so great when countries find themselves in various depths of recession. Please forgive me, but Sweden is again a prime example of how a floating currency adapts itself to the macroeconomic environment.

Personally, I am in favour of the single market. However, in the light of the above I have to be sceptic to a single currency. Instead of uniting Europe, the Euro may just tear a continent apart.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Examples of further reading:
http://www.economist.com/node/18805503
http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2011/05/swedish_view_euro_crisis




Today Simon has:

Listened to Simple Plan in French: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxtfFoFwrmA

Read loads of profiles on LinkedIn

Noted that time flies

The PGA Experience

For the second year in a row, I had the opportunity to get out to the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club, Virginia Water, Surrey (makes it easier for you to find). If you have not been, make sure to go next year. Final day is such a great day out. And then I haven't played golf properly in 12 years...!

If you were given the opportunity to write one fiction novel - what would you write about?

I think I would like to tie a story together in a crime novel of some kind. Perhaps I should start with a short story, and post it here. I will do that.


Today Simon has:

Listened to Madonna's Like a Prayer from 1989
Read the first few pages of Scarlett Thomas' Our Tragic Universe
Noticed that bank holidays are quite useful

The Marketing Mix, Journalism and what they potentially mean for differentiation

When marketing strategy is discussed at business school students are normally asked to consider the Seven Ps.

These are:

Product, Price, Place, Promotion

….and in services:

People, Processes and Physical Evidence

When studying journalism, you get kicked by your tutor should should your piece of news not answer the following questions:

When, Where, How, Who  What, Why?

I personally believe that these questions could provide an ideal framework when it comes to product or services differentiation. I will illustrate my thinking with examples in a later blog post (which I aim to write this year!).

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For more info on the questions of journalism please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Ws , and for the 7 Ps go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing_mix

I am definitely not homeless…rather home-a-lot

This is a big risk. I usually write lots of nonsense when it is late and I am tired (and really should be in bed).  Come Tuesday, I will have lived in three places in the space of a week. The wonderful Woods and the magnificent Michelle have shown what being a Christian really is. This week I have felt more at home than I ever did during the five months in my old place.

On Tuesday I will actually go to India for five days. Will not have much time to prepare though, as my head is full of a lot of other stuff at the moment.

Went through some old e-mails earlier. Brings back quite a lot of memories - both good and bad actually. Like e-mails from the girl that never turned up for a date (not sure whether it was good or bad, in hindsight... it makes a great story though).

Then we have ancient (10-12 year old) e-mails from old friends from home. These are hilarious, and sometimes random to say the least!

Had a great discussion with my housemates last night. The conversation was about whether we actually believe the stuff in the Bible regarding how earth came about.

On Friday night I hope to cook some proper Swedish food (no, not meatballs). Should be fun!


Today Simon has:

Listened to Lifesong by Counting Crows
Read not enough
Noticed that he looks forward to the Paramore concert

Brighton Waterfront

Maciej and I are just about to leave Brighton for Portsmouth.