Derek Evans Thoughts

I have an issue with what has been reported in the last day or so. Has Mubarak really resigned the post of President or has something been lost in translation or has that word even in reality been stated in any form of official statement. I wonder about this because in all non-death changeovers that I recall, the so called leader/dictator has left the country to a possible lifetime in exile (wonder what is happening in Haiti given the return of Duvalier which has gone quiet recently). This is not the case at this moment with Mubarak staying at a residence in Sharm el Sheik. So what can we speculate on. Mubarak still harbours some form of "leadership" in Egypt but I can only refer to something like Spain in the aftermarth of the death of Franco. His so called successor became a monarch and not a president/dictator setting up the democracy that Spain now has. This though was a reasoned change and maybe Suleiman needs to see how this can be brought to fruition with a president t...

We seem to be living in a world where senior management has changed from the grand strategic overview and of ensuring that business or even accountancy takes a common sense approach to the present and to the future. We still do have road maps and other isms but the extent of micromanagement is almost overwhelming. The fact that it then goes to de-motivate or create an even bigger blame culture is seemingly irrelevant to what lower management and the general employees and population have to endure but maybe some day delegation and responsibility will revert. Today, however, it is why be a middle manager.

Well the voters voted and the reality is that nobody won. It is all very well the Tories blahing on about their getting more votes and seats than anyone else but the fact remains they did not get a majority in either. I would love to know what is really going on at this time. Who are the real movers in this scenario. We are aware the the Tories A team is made up of Ken Clarke, William Hague and Liam Fox (quite a mix and match group if I ever did see). For the Lib-Dems I would not be surprised if Charles Kennedy is not in there and possibly Vince Cable to ensure they have enough Big Hitters to respond. Labour is probably resorting to Mandleson but I wonder if the old hands like Kinnock are more than just doing the media shows at present. We are certainly living in interesting times. My hunch if I could give one is that the Lib-Dems and the Tories do not mix, just cannot see it. Tories might try to get a partnership with others but we really do know that a grouping of around 318 to 320 i...

So here we go. The media are trying to drum up how important this election is going to be but you bet the population in general is cursing it because it really does not seem that important. Given that the parties share too much in common these days then the differentiation is not that great. So it all depends on whether anyone is going to take an interest in all this and then bother to go to the polling station or whatever and vote. I still believe that the result is too close to call but it all depends upon whether people are taken in by the spin and visual displays that these people do. In the end and the FT put this quite nicely, it all depends on whether you believe in big or small government. Consider carefully that the private sector does have a reputation of not invoking the risk/reward strategy of going for a perceived growth and it has been the public sector who has been not afraid to go and do the big projects that has got the economy moving. Would like to know if a book has ...

Well those boys in blue are putting on a show regarding their electability but beware because the reality is that where they are in power at a local level, their methodology for cutting back is pretty indiscriminate and will affect the delivery and performance of services. It is quite funny though that they are calling themselves the New Conservatives trying to copy the New Labour PR of 1997. I am not going to be convinced by all this and although Germany has decided to finish the SDP/Christian Democrats "alliance" in their recent elections, I am almost hoping that the next general election requires a coalition of at least the three main parties of Labour, LD and possibly Conservatives to bring out the best and hopefully not the worse. Otherwise the UK may be going down the path of mediocrity with no influence or wanting to really work in Europe, the final realisation that there never was a special relationship with the US, and a gradual decline in the fortitude and belief of...

The amount of television I am watching is going down big time. Mainly due to having to play with children and keep them entertained without resorting to children's television too much so have to get creative. Must admit that I am not missing it as long as I can watch some sport occasionally but most things are on the web now so it is becoming less and less important although more and more expensive to watch when you do with television licence fee and the costs for satellite channel viewing.

I really have a problem with Facebook. I am not anti a social communication community and a way of maintaining a book of things important or otherwise online, if you wish, but what really gets me is that some people seem to do only Facebook stuff and I get dumped with their thoughts and come and join me requests. Some are okay as they are intellectually a little challenging but some of it is downright trash. Just wished I could block this, even if it means warning these "friends" that this behaviour is not appropriate for me and that I can de-friend if ncessary. Well the only way to do this is to block them and yes that is a little cruel but unfortunately that seems to be the only way so I have had to do it. Do not know if the person I have blocked receives a message of their fate but if they have well they may have got the reason why.