Monday 20 August 2007

Having used all of the available techniques to counteract the effects of jet lag, I pondered many important matters as I lay wide awake at 2 am this morning.

The last ten days or so have seen some significant, possibly momentous, movements in the world stock markets as the edict, popularised by Milton Friedman, "there is no such thing as a free lunch" once again comes to haunt those bank employees who had been enjoying their expense accounts. The term "real economy" used in many commentaries, for example in "will the decline in the FTSE have any effect in the real economy?" intriguingly suggested a virtual world occupied by surreal financial avatars. I guess there is some truth in this given their unreal end of year bonuses.

Hurricane Dean has been battering everything in its path across the Caribbean giving cause for concern for the thousands of families who give little concern about booking holidays in the hurricane season in a hurricane basin.

A tool was launched revealing many organisations who edit Wikipedia. At best this is mere fluffery of any entry related to the editor and is bad form. At worst it is misleading as everyone treats internet information as gospel. Religious texts the Wikipedia of their day? Discuss.

A sixty year old Australian woman has been a victim of an unwelcome sexual assault by her pet camel. Somewhat sad, a horrible way to die but maybe not the best choice of pet? (Please note and applaud the deliberate avoidance of any reference to humps).

The compact disc celebrated its 25th birthday with the download poised to make it of historic interest like the wax cylinder, the gramophone record, the 8-track cassette and Leo Sayer.

The 24 hour direct action against British Airports Authority at London Heathrow Airport by environmental activists who demonstrated their commitment by braving inclement weather, being on the receiving end of police measures brought in as part of the "War Against Terror" and spending the best part of a week inhaling airplane jet engine exhaust fumes.

The floods in South Asia continue and affect over 28 million people. The scale is unimaginably vast and horrific yet results in a much smaller emotional impact in the UK than the local floods last month which affected two per cent of this figure. More proof of the journalistic dictum of the importance of proximity.

The X-Factor has returned to British television. Once again I missed the auditions. Once again my family heave a sigh of relief.

Manchester United have made their worst start to a football season for fifteen years. Wondering through the mists of schadenfreude, is this the result of bad luck, over confidence or the pressure from television to start the season before new school uniforms have been bought?

Rightly or wrongly these matters just flit in and out of my mind without sticking for any real consideration. However, one thing does spin round and round without reaching resolution. Having spent a very enjoyable day with close friends at Lord's Cricket Ground watching Durham and Hampshire contest the Friends Provident Trophy final, I am left wondering whether first class cricket has ever seen the like of Ottis Gibson's performance - a six off the first ball he faced and a wicket with the first ball he bowled. Has it? Please put me out of my misery and let me know.