Anarchy is the route to fair trade?

There is a long history of curiosity about whether regulation of markets is necessary.

One thing that social anarchists don't like to discuss is what happens to money - many will advocate smashing the corporations, but when you dig deep, anarchy in practise is remarkable aligned with the modern-right's rhetoric of free market capitalism.

'Rhetoric' is an important phrase. Few really believe that the neo-conservative model of 'free markets' are in anyway free or fair for all. The models, trade agreements, and practises are designed to ensure that the existing wealthy states can exploit the emerging markets for the benefits of the companies that residue in their own borders.

Reading an article I the New Scientist (19-26 December 2015) made me think about what a truly free market would represent . Discussing the deep web they interviewee reported that their shopping bit had never been swindled. Most accept that in the absence of regulation and enforcement of rules and codes of conduct , individuals and markets will descend into opportunistic exploitation, fraud and felony.

But that was not what is happening. In the legal vacuum of the deep Internet , there seems to be little advantage in cheating and rules are not required. Perhaps it is an experiment we can finally have the courage to take in a non-virtual world .

Promiscuous spirituality defies religion

There is a lot of focus on god, religion, atheism, science and who is right or wrong at the moment.

Instagram is full of 'religion is stupid' and 'Jesus is the only way to live' and 'Muslims are evil' content at the moment [https://instagram.com/p/_OJ9Spt7rs/] Last night I was chatting to a friend who has come up against the contrast between her own fluid views on spirituality and a concrete wall of Christian doctrine followed by another friend. 

Personally I like the word 'agnostic'.

Across the span of post-civilised human communities we have always manifested the unknown as a God of some sorts - an overarching layer to prevent the madness experienced by never ceasing to contemplate the true fluidity and intemporalness of existence . But I can't accept that one version is any more valid than another. They all do the job of smoothing the edges of the mind to keep us functioning within our social groups.

Of course our social groups are increasingly diversified, and as a result our religious awareness, our spiritual vernacular, is also. So here's to agnosticism: a healthy way to start the day.

Happiness and freedom, a delicate affair .

This morning I woke up alone and refreshed. My son and daughter are elsewhere, the house is peaceful and I have a happy body thanks to some rehab fitness work a bike ride and some latenight, weed-enhanced yoga.

The washing up is done, the house is clean and I have friends and family. There is money in the bank. 

For late breakfast I am having a vegan almond and choc-chip shortbread and speciality black tea, both of which were given to me at no cost by people I would call friends.

I've got time to spend daydreaming, the sun is coming up and creative and professional projects to attend to.

Counting the blessings.

Why I hate my job (it's not what you think)

#work

There are some days, days like these, where I hate my job.

Not doing it, I love doing it, but the fact that it exists.

My job exists because of unnecessary things. Because we all just keep consuming. Because everyone's gotta have one.

Think about it. Remember the scenario for most of your gigs.

We want a website
Why?

And then the uncomfortable silence, or the vague marketing justification, or the childish 'because they've got one'. Ask most clients what people will want to do at their website and you'll get no valid responses. 'post a comment', 'contact us', 'join our network', 'subscribe'.

I make an exception. Art and communities. Art and community sites don't need a wider goal. They just are. And, to be honest, they don't need my help. Most art and community sites are either improved by the lack of usability (art) or will get along very well without it thank you (community).

People are paying larger and larger sums of cash into my bank account for me to tell them something obvious and then ignore me anyway. And to what end? A large number of digital interactions are unsatisfactory at best and impossible at worst. IT systems are the cause of customer service failures around the world. Online services are ineffective and insecure. People are becoming isolated and bloated sitting behind screens waiting for the world to arrive.

If you need me to tell you how to make it work, then it probably isn't necessary after all, and if it isn't necessary then it is wasteful consumerism and we are better off without it.

There are no usability consultants in the poorest industries. Farmers in rural Africa tend not to hire consultants to show them the most effective use of a hoe. Consult with your users, your customers, your staff. Build what you need, not what others have.