tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post9073442333396058879..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: Reflections on a bus fire and the fragility of modern complex systemsJim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-15581877750105330642016-09-23T19:21:48.695+10:002016-09-23T19:21:48.695+10:00I hadn't heard of Gessell, DG. Had to look him...I hadn't heard of Gessell, DG. Had to look him up. Quite an interesting chap. Clearly an idealist.<br /><br />That's a rough description of Sydney too 2t except, like Melbourne, you can't use cash. If you don't register your card, you must if you are a concession holder, but top it up you can avoid the tracking. <br /> Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-10733896933130123592016-09-21T10:46:05.480+10:002016-09-21T10:46:05.480+10:00Don't know about you, Jim, but in my home town...Don't know about you, Jim, but in my home town you can pay cash or using the bus-owned card, which you have to tag on and off (thus providing valuable information to the bus service). If you pay cash, the fare is doubled. If you don't tag off, the fare charged to your card is doubled. I believe in Melbourne you have the choice of using a card or walking.<br />2 tannersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-58055953634708222632016-09-19T17:42:08.117+10:002016-09-19T17:42:08.117+10:00Another way was suggested by Silvio Gesell in 1906...Another way was suggested by Silvio Gesell in 1906: to give people an incentive to spend money and not hoard it, unspent currency notes would need to be stamped each month by the post office, with a charge to the holder for the stamp. Might work nicely for helicopter money.<br /><br />DGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-31722970195033361142016-09-18T17:32:59.471+10:002016-09-18T17:32:59.471+10:00Winton: I like gardening. Especially chooks. Hope ...Winton: I like gardening. Especially chooks. Hope you got a positive externality from that little titbit? If so, cash payment accepted :)<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-87610297342591295282016-09-18T17:28:21.582+10:002016-09-18T17:28:21.582+10:00kvd: Jim writes on this blog about the books he re...kvd: Jim writes on this blog about the books he reads on the train, so we get a benefit that we do not have to pay for, which we would not obtain if Jim lived closer to his work and spent his leisure time on some other activity e.g. gardening.<br /><br />Re cash, the fact that it funds black market activities is not entirely a negative point in my view. I guess that a substantial proportion of the black market consists of legal activities that would otherwise not be undertaken because of tax and social welfare provisions that discourage work.<br /><br />A use-by date for cash? One way to stop people from using cas as a store of value in a world of negative interest rates!Winton Bateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07383561940886657594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-71737481330432312312016-09-18T16:15:55.786+10:002016-09-18T16:15:55.786+10:00"positive externalities"? How does that ..."positive externalities"? How does that work - is Jim reading aloud to the entire carriage? <br /><br />Jim, I did take your major point that complex systems are fraught; agreed, so thought I'd follow up tanners' comment a few posts back about making the effort to socialise with your band of worker-brothers, which you suggested was nigh impossible due to... travel times.<br /><br />Winton's comment re cash, and your own: Agree as to convenience and untraceability, but recognising it does seem to play a large part in the black economy - which we all pay for - why not at very least print notes with a 'use by' date? Legal tender for anything until close of business on the day before expiration, allowing for final recipient to bank the next day.<br /><br />Complex systems: took my new (2nd hand) car back to dealer the other day. Windows except driver's wouldn't open; every stop sign/light the engine stalled. Turns out there's a button controlling the other power windows (child safety), and the 'stalling' is designed to save fuel in city stop-go traffic. Exit embarrassed, pursued by a stare :)<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-64123626601492713612016-09-18T15:37:46.385+10:002016-09-18T15:37:46.385+10:00Jim, you do get to do train reading, which has pos...Jim, you do get to do train reading, which has positive externalities. Every cloud has a silver lining, so they say.<br /><br />You make a good point about the fragility of many complex systems. My initial thought is that if the penalties were higher the mishaps would happen less frequently. That would be a logical solution to reduce the frequency of trucks getting stuck in tunnels, but it might not provide the right incentives for public transport. <br /><br />Regarding cash, if it didn't exist, someone could make a lot of money by inventing it :)Winton Bateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07383561940886657594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-85528178194768152102016-09-18T06:59:35.067+10:002016-09-18T06:59:35.067+10:00I do rent, kvd. Storage sheds! When we came down t...I do rent, kvd. Storage sheds! When we came down to Sydney and moved into a smaller place, I rented one too. Finally, at the end of last year I closed it down and moved all the boxes home. The intent was to clear them all out, but they still pack the spare bedroom and my little storage shed at the back! I know I have to do something abou them, but it hadn't been a strong enough priority given the time I have. A case of how the urgent crowds out the important. <br /><br />Our life choices are set by circumstances at the time. At the time I moved into the house I had just started a contract in Parra. I did consider renting closer to Parra, but I didn't expect that Parra would become a longer term work location and I wanted to be near the girls. I also managed to find an older place that suited me that was cheaper because it was hard to rent. Now, a few years later, the rent has gone up, Helen is in CH although Clare is still close, my average daily commute time has gone up and I'm working longer hours, but there is still a comfort in being in a familiar place while I'm reluctant to face the disruption of a move. I'm also very conscious of conflict in choices.<br /><br />The time/location question was only part of that post, a post more concerned with systemic complexity as well as choices. We go with the flow because its easiest then, like the mythical story of the frog in heating water, something happens to remind us that the water may be getting a bit hot. Its interesting, but my observation of others as well as myself, suggests that we are all our own worst enemies! <br /><br /> Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-57047083591400292102016-09-17T17:51:10.946+10:002016-09-17T17:51:10.946+10:00GL, please take nothing from my poor pronunciation...GL, please take nothing from my poor pronunciation other than honest admiration of a people I respect and, err, married into :)<br /><br />And I just checked; it's now $275 p.m.<br /><br />But the wider point is: if one rents, why would one choose to rent 3 hours <b>a day</b> away from one's present employment? This does not compute.<br /><br />kvd<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-33186999241711222502016-09-17T17:35:41.261+10:002016-09-17T17:35:41.261+10:00Sort of phonetic you know KVD. The sort of stuf...Sort of phonetic you know KVD. The sort of stuff they don't teach in schools anymore. My own background gives me a north of England kind of ear when contemplating the "When I were a lass/lad" patois.<br />GL<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-66897653246970860402016-09-17T17:20:58.080+10:002016-09-17T17:20:58.080+10:00Perhaps I misunderstood Jim? I thought you present...Perhaps I misunderstood Jim? I thought you presently rented. Seems to me, if work is hours away, and it isn't going to move closer to you, then there must be other reasons why you live where you live - and if so why complain?<br /><br />"Looxury" - thanks GL! Knew my spelling would catch me out :)<br /><br />And I'm intrigued as to why you would think a move "is easier" if you own rather than rent? Seriously, I'm paying $220 pm (started as $175) for a storeage unit which I haven't visited for over 8 years, which contains the remnants of various family crap I couldn't fit in my present mousehole. Easier? Thinks not; pull the other one.<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-8908548409297026702016-09-17T16:49:01.097+10:002016-09-17T16:49:01.097+10:00I think GL caught that point, the move, kvd. If yo...I think GL caught that point, the move, kvd. If you do have capital invested in your home, a move is actually easier.<br /><br />Blunt razor blades indeed! Luxury! Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-24431402611637484742016-09-17T16:39:21.310+10:002016-09-17T16:39:21.310+10:00KVD, move? This piece didn't strike me as a ...KVD, move? This piece didn't strike me as a whinge, but rather an observation. As to why one might not move, any number of reasons. Some very obvious ones: access to jobs, proximity to family, friends and wider support networks. Like the Looxury quip.<br />GLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-26751860160593260042016-09-17T16:07:47.619+10:002016-09-17T16:07:47.619+10:00Move.
Or explain why not; specifically why would ...Move.<br /><br />Or explain why not; specifically why would anyone not capital invested in their present home not think about relocation?<br /><br />Fourteen hours? "Luxury"! In ar day ar da used to thrash us wit blunt razorblades... <br /><br />kvd<br />ps: move.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com