Devaluation

November 13, 2008 by thomas · 2 Comments
Filed under: economics, en, politics 


4 Pounds Sterling – On White Set – P9053075
Originally uploaded by isdky

Today the pound fell below 9 Danish crowns, and below $1.50.

The fall against the crown (which follows the euro) has been gradual – when I moved here in 2002, the exchange rate was around DKK 12 to the pound, but it soon fell a bit, and it stayed between 10 and 11 for quite some time. However, since Brown was made Prime Minister, it’s been falling and falling, but this is a new low. I’m sure it hasn’t been that low since the early 1990s.

The fall against the dollar is much more recent – just a few months ago, the pound was worth more than $2.

For some reason, people in the UK don’t seem overly worried. Perhaps they didn’t learn at school like I did that devaluing your currency is like peeing in your trousers on a winter day – it feels good at first but soon makes you feel much colder than before!

Famous for the wrong books

November 13, 2008 by thomas · Comment
Filed under: en, media 

I forgot to blog last week that Michael Crichton has died.

Most people probably know him for Jurassic Park, or for the older generation The Andromeda Strain.

However, his first work that made an impression on me was The First Great Train Robbery, and I consider his best book Eaters of the Dead.

His ideas got progressively worse, I’m sorry to say.

Timeline is based on a flawed understanding of the Multiverse, and Prey demonstrates a lack of understanding of basic evolutionary principles.

In spite of this, his books were always a good read.