Silence Is Golden

15 / 04 / 2013

Whatever has happened to the convention that we should not speak ill of the dead? If not to respect the memory of the deceased, at least as a courtesy to the bereaved family? But good manners and self-restraint seems to have gone the way of the dodo. Since the death of Margaret Thatcher last week, the media has been boiling...

The Invention of Lying

12 / 04 / 2013

It was back in 2009 when the ‘The Invention of Lying’, starring Ricky Gervais, came onto the big screen. The film was a hit, not least because of its controversy surrounding religion and atheism, but because it was comical to see Mr Gervais’ character, Mark Bellinson, discover the art of lying for the first time. He had been living in...

Beating The Bullies

11 / 04 / 2013

We recently touched upon the issue of health and safety at work and looked at the case of Stephen Stamper, who lost several fingers in a workplace accident. His employer, Smurfit Kappa, had not trained Mr Stamper how to use the machine and did not have a suitable risk assessment for the work. Mr Stamper will now have to live...

Modern Life, Loneliness And Work

10 / 04 / 2013

Humans are herd animals. A bit of alone time is fine when it’s on our terms and not for too long. Loneliness is quite another matter. Everyone feels a bit lonely from time to time. Figures suggest that it’s becoming a serious social issue for all ages. Loneliness makes us unhappy, and can make us ill. There are lots of...

Goodbye To a Remarkable Leader

09 / 04 / 2013

I was writing a comment about the wisdom of employing entrepreneurs yesterday when I got the news that Margaret Thatcher, one of the most influential political figures of the 20th Century, had died following a stroke. I grew up and was studying for my law degree as she swept into power. She was a real and present part of my...