Trying this blogging thing again... somewhere else:

Going to check out Tumblr for a while.  Check it out if you want, and follow there instead if you like!

Lately I...

Education: evolution or revolution?

Oh... I want to teach in an agile space... please, please, please...

More Prof Heppell if you're interested.

Thanks... for what?

Been a while...  and there's not going to be much here this time either, but here's a little video that a friend sent me:



For the non-Swedish speakers – just listen to the mood music and get into it.
(Not the most flattering picture, but hey, if you're the star you can get away with it!)

And then...

it can be amusing to know...

that...

... it's an ad for the tv-licence in Sweden.  They have this system where you have to pay an annual fee if you have a tv which is used towards public service tv.  And this film is saying "tack" (thank you) to everyone who has paid.  The amusing thing, for me at least, is that I don't have a tv, so don't pay, but still get a little film saying thanks.  And just last night a guy from the TV licensing commission came round and asked me if I have a tv, simple answer: "No".  Although with a laptop and broadband these days, who needs one!

Africa: An Interactive Map Africa: vanityfair.com

Africa: An Interactive Map Africa: vanityfair.com

Taxes in Sweden... lol!

And here we go again... another journalist/newspaper wants to discuss taxes in Sweden in a ridiculously narrow and incomplete picture: here's the link.
Why discuss the top marginal tax rate in isolation? You should have added in the 25% VAT on many consumer items... makes it look even worse - great ammunition for all the free market capitalists, and their children ;)
But certainly do not mention that this affects 3% of the population who earn more than 44 900 kr/month (538 800 kr/year), which is:

• almost double GDP per capita (271 574 kr/year);
• more than double the average income in Sweden, even when excluding those under 20, over 64, and only including those that actually have an income (266 494 kr/year);
• more than double the median income in Sweden, 20-64 years old (241 911 kr/year);
• and almost more than double the median income for men, 20-64 years old - because we all know it's men's incomes that are important?! (306 520 kr/year).

The other thing obviously omitted is any reference to what you receive for your taxes in Sweden, which often cost in many other countries - either through up-front payments, private insurance, or levies (cute political name for "another tax when we promise no new taxes").  I could start the list by mentioning:

• free primary, secondary and tertiary education;
• subsidies whilst studying;
• free healthcare;
• pension;
• unemployment benefits;
• parental leave;

... the list goes on I'm sure - these are tax funded privileges that people in many other countries can only dream about.  Or, if you're American, you might even fight to prevent - can't even begin to imagine why people are fighting for the rights of insurance companies to make millions (or is it billions?) of profit on sick people... but that's another story.

So, thanks DN for Saturday morning reading with an amazingly biased editorial in your finance section - it got me up on my soap box again, which hasn't happened for a while in this forum - nice to know I still care!

Must be time for a coffee and "Vetenskapsfilosofi" av Bengt Molander... Happy Saturday to you all!

Reflections 090902

Has teaching changed with IT?

Internet is decentralised... traditional teaching is centralised (around the teacher)... Education/teaching has been transfered into IT... why no change? Should there be?

Meta data - how to make easier to classify? software to scan and suggest?

from Bansky

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised God doesn’t work that way, so I stole one and prayed for forgiveness.
		- Emo Philips