These online utilities and their puppyish desperation to join the party. No doubt I put my d.o.b. in there at some point, and no, it's no more irritating than the computer-generated birthday greeting from the offline utility (or come to think of it, the bank). But am I really supposed to think they care?
Skype took it upon itself to broadcast my birthday the other day. Not Facebook, not Twitter, nor even LinkedIn nor Meetup. Just the telephone utility - Skype. A brief message to my contact list of remote relatives and overseas business connections who became contacts for one-off or occasional interviews. One or two corporate entities and a couple of London PR agencies also got the news - 'William Essex has made 55' was how Skype put it.
These online utilities and their puppyish desperation to join the party. No doubt I put my d.o.b. in there at some point, and no, it's no more irritating than the computer-generated birthday greeting from the offline utility (or come to think of it, the bank). But am I really supposed to think they care? |
What happens hereThis site is updated weekly, usually on a Friday although I might change that (again). I write it because (1) I like writing it and (2) I like having a deadline. More often than not, it works out as a commentary on the week just passed*.
There are no ads, no pop-ups and no tricky business with cookies. I don't take money for my own opinions. [Except when they come out in book form.] I write this for myself, without a set agenda, on any subject that catches my attention. If you're interested enough, it's not hard to work out my interests. Not impossible, anyway. *Although I seem to have gone away from that recently. Normal service may or may not be resumed. No data is kept on this website overnight. Blog posts are usually shared to my Facebook page. We can discuss them there if you feel so inclined.
Where are we now? We're hurtling round the sun, held to the ground by a weak force that we don’t begin to understand, arguing about trade deals between the land masses on a planet mostly covered by water.
The dolphins must think us ridiculous. No wonder they only come to the shallow water to play with us, not to signal their most complex philosophies. More. Riddle. It takes two to make me, but when I'm made, I'm only a memory. What am I? Scroll down to find out.
Is that a catastrophe I see before me? Could be. There was a clear sky earlier, but now clouds are encroaching from the North. We could be in for a storm. More.
![]() You found me!
Welcome. Thank you for coming. But am I the right William Essex? Click here to meet some more. Read My Shorts?
Here is yet another page of old blog posts and other writings. Sorry, but I need my metaphorical sock drawer for metaphorical socks. The link to the page is right at the end of the paragraph here.
Roads without end
Here is a passage from a review of the book The Road to Somewhere by David Goodhart. I haven't read the book (yet), but the collected reviews would make a worthwhile set of political arguments in their own right. More.
State of the Union
Several commentators today saying that they've lost confidence in the US. Making their point by talking up the glories of the past. After two weeks of this administration, they're not going back.
Were they wrong, and they've seen the light? Or has the US changed? I guess the latter is the intended meaning. But we should at least acknowledge the possibility... More. Categories
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