Posts by Paul Baker

  • Hard News: Superannuation: Back to the Future,

    It strikes me that there is little point in looking at the issue of retirement age and the future of superannuation without a much broader discussion about the future of work itself. It is increasingly clear, despite the strident promises of Trump et.al that many jobs in modern economies are disappearing for good (as opposed to being 'stolen' by pesky Mexicans and Chinese) and are unlikely to be replaced in anywhere sufficient numbers by new jobs created by technological advances. In light of this, the real concern should be less the relative decline in working age people but the likely dramatic decline in tax-paying employment in general. Radical though it may seem currently, the idea of a universal basic living allowance for all citizens may increasingly be seen at as a fix for a failing capitalist model (which needs consumers with cash) and could make the idea of pensions obsolete.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2015 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • Polity: Key peddles cynical “interest…,

    Sadly, I'm not sure he's gambling - he's been in the game long enough now to know he can get away with it.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2015 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: What I learned in Class: Should…, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Now that made me chuckle!

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2015 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Apple Music: Taking a dump on…, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I'm trusting it will evolve quickly to address some of the issues users have been quickly identifying. Good column here by Ben Lovejoy, pointing out the frustration of Apple Music not 'knowing' what is already in your iTunes library: http://9to5mac.com/2015/07/07/apple-music-diary-review-one-week/#more-387820. Still for this dinosaur, who never really got into Spotify, the positives are outweighing the negatives - and having caught the tale-end of the Rocket Hour show I have to agree about Beats 1.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2015 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Apple Music: Taking a dump on…,

    I get all the negative concerns being expressed here, but as someone who just thought he'd have a look during the 3 month trial period, I have been really impressed so far and it is both making me think about my attitude to music (perhaps jettisoning the old-fashioned need to own!) and immediately exposing me to more sounds (and rekindling enthusiasm for trying the new). Apart from the odd crash of iTunes, it works as advertised for me and I particularly enjoy the ability to add stuff to my music library and download to listen to offline. My only disappointment (but one I fully understand given that I am not purchasing music this way) is that I cannot get music without purchasing it onto my ancient 10-year old iPod that I use in the car. I'd certainly recommend trying it out during the 3-month trial period, but make sure you turn off the auto-renew feature in preferences until you are sure you want to continue to subscribe once the pay period kicks in.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2015 • 5 posts Report Reply