Economics lesson and free entertainment

This is how the system works. It is April 30 and in this part of the world, traditionally a time to "dance into the May". It's a nice custom handed over through the generations and only slightly modified to match the needs and requirements of the 21st century.

So, there is a bar in town, probably the largest, with a rather large beer garden at the back. As it is a business, the primary purpose of its existence is to ensure the owners a comfortable and profitable life in drink.

Of course, even if they are Turkish, they have adapted to local customs and taken up the tradition of the May dance. That it ensures a nice little profit is a mere positive added value. It simply wants to serve the needs of its customers.

This is where the requirements of the 21st century come in. The main tool to ensure that tradition is maintained is the need for music. This is where the story gets a little muddy and we all know, tastes differ. But we also have been taught to be tolerant, especially as the younger generation will have the utmost pleasure of supporting us when we toddle along in our zimmer frames mumbling platitudes about the good old days, desperately trying to keep our dentures in our mouths.

The term "music" is therefore really only a generalization. Some will claim that what passes as music today is really an assortment of quavers quivering to get out of the loud speakers because it's even louder inside them then outside where they can be a version of suicide bombers, annoying anybody in their dying seconds.

The other component is "loud". The medium is also important. In this case it was DJ Chris hosting the "Monday Fever Night" across the road. Starting at 9pm. Free entry. There was some small print as well.

Experience had taught us that, traditionally, the show would be over by 1am. Perhaps a little disturbing, but nothing too dramatic. Being of the open minded, tolerant set, we could live with it.

When the mind numbing boom boom boom of an overexcited bass loudspeaker, cheerfully spurned on by an hyperactive "Chris" coaching the future mass of humanity to somehow decipher a clear musical note in suicide bombers and then move to it, began to drill itself into the interior of my brain, I seriously began to question the benefits of this traditional economic system. By now it was 01.45 am, so Smiler, (our name for the owner of the bar), must have, in the interests of social responsibility for the young, the needs of DJ Chris, for the sake of tradition, not to mention his own entrepreneurial aspirations, successfully acquired an extension from some local authority. No doubt he was severely pressured by his own offspring with some persuasive argument.

Mercifully, it was over by 02:15am, Chris croaking a jubilant "merci et salut" into the microphone until reserve of suicide bomber notes had been used up. The consolation is, I suppose, that Smiler will have had about as much sleep as we did and he is already out there running the show to traditionally welcome the herds of wilderbeast and motor bikers about to descend today.

Ah... tradition. Its good we have it.

I flee to Zurich this afternoon.

Monday

It was either Saturday or Sunday, Carl Friedrich von Weizsaeker died. In Germany, he was many things including a well respected intellectual. He was also a "Friedensforscher", which translated means " a researcher for peace". How strange that something so fundamental needs to be researched.

Went to Sifi this morning for a 90 minute meeting. HS and I discussed the current situation of his role, one of being the salami between two slices of bread. The basic problem is that he is involved in a project which is now a non starter because the whole company has changed or is in the process of changing. The board will not be able to relieve him of the project responsibility, partly because they are not that concerned but also because of the fear of insider trading. The project team goes around the circuit doing everything as if nothing is happening, knowing full well that it really is almost a waste of time. It really is a farce but one that has to be sat out, money still being spent. Yet there are principles involved - leadership questions, moral questions, strategic and tactical questions.

And of course, the overriding question of a waste of resources - costs are cut and yet, by simply prolonging a dead project, funds are being wasted. He flies to the US with two others on Wednesday for 3 days. To look, observe.....

So we go into researching peace but cannot question the moral responsibility of running a major corporation.

Am mentally preparing myself for the trip to Zurich tomorrow in advance for a meeting on Wednesday. Again, an extremely senior manager, a President actually, basically a nice guy, who works 36 hours a day with about 3800 people in 15 locations across the globe in his responsibility.
What he wants to know is how he can improve (I should prepare a SWOT analysis based on his past experiences), the differences in behavior to be expected between old role and new much more senior role (do I have any ideas?) And what can we do to improve leadership and communication in middle management - again do I have any ideas?

The answer my friend, is simple: let go, trust, don't play power politics....

Those questions were added to my 15 or so submitted in advance for our 5 hour meeting. Will he listen to my thoughts - which are non power based, non political, focussing on value added.

Global warming - so we have had the warmest April on record, in all respects. Its dry here now - quite visibly - though anybody living in Australia would be in hysterics about this. But I heard on the radio today that farmers are considering starting to grow wine in central eastern Germany, around Berlin. Chateau Migrane from Brandenburg.

Peace researcher!

Dinner: Left over paella.

People are strange creatures

We spent another day in the Garden today and after an hour or so, about 25 owners of MG's and Triumphs drove in and parked on what little space there was around the assortment of monuments. Every one - probably around 50 people then, got out and talked to each other, inspected the engines under other cars, generally admired the technology.

One or two wandered over to the monuments and had a quick look. One or two might have even acknowledged the scenery. But after about 20 minutes, they all left again.

Made me wonder why they came there in the first place.

Dinner - Chicken marinated in yoghurt and cinnamon and fried. Together with a rice pilaf.

Joghurt and the consumer mystery

To get Greek style joghurt, we buy natural joghurt and strain it. What this means, is we take the excess water out of it. So out of 750grs we are left with about 400grs. Which means we are being sold "water" as natural joghurt. On the face of it - we drain about 30 cents off the price and tip it down the drain. Waste for us and a huge profit for the manufacturer.

Not really cricket is it - or am I seeing things wrongly. What's the alternative?