Author Archives: henryhenrycollins

What do you do when the technology has become cleverer than you? When it anticipates your thinking and intention? When it suggests for you to perform actions you have not yet thought through? If this dilemma involved heavy industry or transport, the outcome could be dangerous, even fatal. Do you really want a car thatContinue reading “Clever?”

There are many irritating aspects of the modern world and I have commented on some of them before. I would like to add another – the recent obsession with the use of random sounds – beeps, whistles, clangs, hoots and so on. It is impossible to use any piece of equipment without being challenged byContinue reading “Those bloody bells”

What are banks for? Until recently I thought they were for looking after depositor’s funds and enabling the transfer of monies between deposits. But have you tried recently asking one to handle a cheque, from a local or a foreign source? Apparently, cheques are no longer issued by, or acceptable in Australian banks! All movementContinue reading “Chequemate”

After my previous whinge regarding the bewildering complexity of modern equipment I had a further thought. Given how easy it seems to be to invent new functions for pieces of modern equipment, why not also include lessons on how to learn to use them? Instead of working out how to use a mobile phone, orContinue reading “Useful technology?”

Time for a whinge! The mantra of manufacturers these days is that: If something else is possible with our product we will include it. No piece of equipment does solely what it is meant to do. For example, I was born before WW2 when telephones were simply a means to communicate with others who alsoContinue reading “Technology gone mad!”

Modern humans are all one species with the scientific name Homo sapiens, Latin for ‘Wise man’. The name was coined when scientists were nearly all men, and men ruled society and made all the decisions. Women were not expected or encouraged to be involved in Science. The human race was viewed as predominantly male –Continue reading “Scientific reality?”

I can understand why religions arose and why they were necessary. Human experience back then was limited to what was happening physically at the level of the surface of the Earth and because any human action was confined and shaped by the close presence of others. The results were sets of beliefs and rules ofContinue reading “Beliefs, who needs them?”

The war between Russia and Ukraine appears to have no end. If either country ‘wins’ or ‘loses’ the outcome will be unstable and impossible to maintain in the long term. Russia aims to reconquer Ukraine and take it back into the Russian fold; Ukraine aims to regain territory and retain its independence. Similar impasses occurContinue reading “Possible end to Putin’s war?”

Several months ago I lost my mobile phone and commented in a blog how much I enjoyed the freedom ( see Join the club). In the mobile-free months since its loss, there has been little change in my existence or in interactions with others. There have been small disadvantages such as not being able toContinue reading “Now what do I do?”

This war threatens to continue indefinitely and casualties will continue to mount. There is no sign of either side seeking a cease-fire: Ukraine because it aims to take back lost territory and remain independent, and Russia because Putin and his supporters yearn for a return of the situation when Russia dominated all the countries ofContinue reading “Stopping the Russia v Ukraine war”