Saturday, January 21, 2023

Leadership

Sundar Pichai, the boss of Google, the latest of Big Tech's titans to slash employees in droves. To date, tech's biggest names have slashed almost 50,000 jobs. 

The wave of hi-tech sackings follows Twitter's action of reducing in one dramatic move, half of its personnel. The remaining half is has understood and is starting to take work seriously. Everybody now sees that most of the employees were adding nothing to the profits. Musk is a tremendous business leader, he dared to do the unconceivable and a whole industry is following him. 

I am reading Ender's Game that deals with leadership. I am not enjoying that book.  

Friday, January 20, 2023

To everyone according to its needs"

 
In America, "new" water pricing models are being proposed. 

“While other common goods like roads and libraries are funded collectively through fees, tax revenue, and combination of the two, water services are funded by individual customer payments,” according to the report. “Water and wastewater utilities rely almost exclusively on revenue from residential, commercial, and industrial customers within their service areas.”

With some $4.92 billion in annual revenue loss due to unpaid bills for the water sector, many utilities have turned to customer assistance programs like flexible payment options to avoid shutoffs for lower-income consumers. But many within the industry argue that this is not a fundamental solution to the problem.

Instead, the US Water Alliance proposes the use of “innovative pricing models” that would see water bills decrease for most low-income households and increase for higher-income households through property-based charges that account for things like parcel areas, building footprints, property values, and more.

“By developing rates that are affordable for everyone, utilities can collect more revenue from customers who can afford to pay without burdening those who cannot,” according to the report. “Changes to rate and pricing structures automatically reach everyone: there is no need to apply or enroll, or to track customer data and manage programs.”

Thursday, January 19, 2023

CAPREX

In the University of La Plata, we had to wait in the corridor in front of the exam room, where three professors formed an exam panel of the students at the end of the semester, we all suffered from CAPREX - cagazo pre-examen, the dread before the exam. Our exams were in person and oral, standing in front of a panel of three very serious old professors.  While waiting to be called in, many felt they were not ready and went home. Others took benzedrine pills or gave one more fast re-reading to their notes. My way of diminishing the fear was to talk to other examinees. From yesterday I have to call the BODEK Lior, the examiner of a project submitted to the Ramat Gan Water Corporation, and I was postponing it till today 11 AM out of sheer fear. When called him, he excused himself because he is in and asked to discuss the issue next Sunday. Suddenly, I feel so light and happy!
 

Monday, January 16, 2023

Abulia

 
Abulia, apathy, athymia, lack of will, drive, or initiative for work, is related to dysfunctions with the brain's dopamine circuitry. Having defined my mood, I think it is the winter, the Arctic dark outside, and difficulties with the regulatory bureaucracy. After the breakfast coffee, I slept until midmorning. 

Thursday, January 12, 2023

Exchange Skoda Fabia for this thing


 I want one of these.

Hibernating

 
Cold and rainy outside. I am sleeping all morning. Lack of interest. Probably this is what they call depression. I don't know. Impossible to work. 

Sunday, January 8, 2023

Eternal optimist


 Yes, I think there will be no recession but a big jump in share values. Today I invested in Kenon. This company is building an electricity generation plant in Kfar Saba, a few meters from "the separation wall" from Kalkilia. Based on Israeli gas. I see it when I travel North on route 444. It is an investment in something "real", not a bitcoin that will evaporate as soon as somebody builds a powerful computer.