Is Dr Rowley hijacking the Presidency of T&T?

After reading about nominations for the Office of President in local media, I am forced to ask, “Is the nomination for, and by extension, the Office of the President of Trinidad and Tobago being hijacked by political expediency?”

The Prime Minster Dr Keith Rowley supports the nomination of Ms Christine Kangaloo for President. His grounds are her experience a) as acting President before, and b) Senate President. Dr Rowley seems to have ignored all that is unseemly improper with such a nomination – and to which he cannot plead ignorance. I shall not be occupying my time setting it all out here when it is already in the public domain. Readers have the choice to be well-informed, or not.

Mr Israel Khan SC has accepted nomination for President.

The following are some well-known characteristics of Mr Khan:

1.    He has an enviable record of sound performance.

2.    He has contributed as an Independent Senator in his service to the country.

3.    Nobody owns Mr Khan’s tongue.  He is not scripted, somewhat unfiltered.

4.    He has a way with words – straight talking that cut to the heart of matters – causing most citizens to agree with him – only because what he says is so plain spoken and non-evasive.

5.    Owning his own tongue and being the boss of his own person, he has spoken out frankly, without filter and for the common man against perceived misdeeds by both political parties.

6.    He has spoken out on major scandals without fear or favour, as a lone voice in the legal and public domain. For example, he was the lone senior member of the legal fraternity, bold and with iron fortitude against the Chief Justice Archie debacle. He hung a banner from his Chambers that "All is not well on Knox Street” with options for the Chief Justice, “1) Resign now, 2) Answer S137 Tribunal, 3) Face criminal charge of misbehaviour (15 years jail)”.

7.    On the Vincent Nelson SC constitutional, civil and criminal imbroglio - he called out the ex-AG's advisers on the indemnity agreement with convicted King’s Counsel Vincent Nelson to publicly come clean on their roles in the drafting of the controversial settlement.

8.    He has demonstrated that he is a fierce and tireless fighter for what is right for the grassroots public, both in an out of court.

Basically, Mr Israel Khan will kowtow to no one. He will put ‘boof’ where warranted – within a Constitutional remit of course. You will get it plain just so - ‘not sugar coated’!  Mr Khan epitomises what the country needs at this time to get the elected on both sides of the political divide to do their jobs properly.  He will pull this Nation back from the brink of collapse.

His appeal as a President is that he would bring the lived experience of ‘the man-on-the-street struggles’ to that office. 

The PNM has an opportunity to demonstrate that tribal politics will not be allowed to hijack who gets selected for Presidency and to put the greater good of the Nation at centre stage.

The Prime Minister should take lead and without hesitation change his mind by dropping Ms Kangaloo and supporting Mr Israel Khan’s nomination. I urge Dr Rowley to do the right thing. Rise above your party and leave a legacy that aids the country.

Mr Mohan Ramcharan

Birmingham, England

 

Systems Thinking and the Police

Dear Gary Griffith,

Rather than ‘fight tooth and nail’ with your critics, who are obviously aware that you are failing in your responsibilities as Commissioner of Police (CoP) and as the top ‘crimefighter’, won’t it be better for you to ‘man up’ and recognise the nature of the beast you face? There is no need for you to reinvent the wheel – most of the work has been done for you already.

Police work is what is known as a ‘wicked problem’. Rittel & Webber (1973) identified the following 10 characteristics of a wicked problem:

1. No definitive formulation.
2. No stopping rules.
3. Solutions are not true or false, but better or worse.
4. No immediate and no ultimate test of a solution.
5. Solution is a “one-shot operation’; no opportunity to learn by trial and error, every attempt counts significantly.
6. Do not have a fixed number (or describable) of potential solutions, no set of permissible operations to employ.
7. Every wicked problem is essentially unique.
8. Every wicked problem can be a symptom of another problem (introducing complexity).
9. Wicked problems can be explained in numerous ways. Choice of explanation determines the nature of the problem’s solution (More on this later).
10. No right to be wrong (planners are liable for consequences of actions).

This brings me to the current problem-solving culture within the police service:

1. there is a historical predominance of traditional hard systems thinking (HST) for problem solving.
2. A culture of evidence-based decisions which place emphasis on numerical data and statistical validity such as randomised controlled trials (RCT).
3. Often impossible to define problems, their causes and effects in absolute terms required.
4. Police managers are increasingly required to respond to high variety, complex problem contexts.
5. Low variety problem-solving approaches such as HST may not be sufficient in new environments.
6. There needs to be greater understanding of systems’ contexts.
7. Whole-systems approaches seek to balance HST, with appropriate emphasis on ‘softer’ problem structuring method e.g. SSM and VSM.

(Adapted from Newsome and Wiggett (2014)).

Crime fighting requires ‘systems thinking’: the ability to view the interconnectedness of the entire “criminal system” inclusive of the police force, in a holistic manner, and looking to see where applying leverage can have the most effect upon the entire system. It means taking into consideration different perspectives, from different stakeholders, applying methodology instead of methods and recognising the limitations imposed by the system itself and that sometimes there are no solutions.

Newsome and Wiggett (2014) identified 10 characteristics of systems thinking force:

1. has clarity of purpose, derived from the service users’ perspectives (i.e. the public)
2. adopts a whole systems approach, where interdependencies are understood.
3. Has staff that understand the purpose, and their service responses are flexible to help achieve that purpose.
4. understand that the greatest influences on performance and service are determined by the system.
5. Understand the implications of setting boundaries within a system, and seeks to engage the whole system and make an improvement.
6. Uses a variety of measurement and information to understand system performance, so as to identify learning and secure improvement.
7. Understand the variety of its demand and how services can be optimised to satisfy this.
8. Trust staff to apply informed professional judgement in support of achieving purpose.
9. Has a culture of learning and continuous improvement where staff are empowered and equipped to understand and improve performance.
10. Respects and encourages the staff’s sense of vocation, and recognises the value of this in improving their well-being, commitment and whole system performance.

Traditional policing methods will have a high probability of failure in a modern society. That is not to say that they don’t have their place. But the police force must evolve, from the perceived “brute squad” to a highly effective thinking and performing unit. It will take a lot to make these changes – systems have a way of resisting change. You may want to investigate Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and Viable Systems Model (VSM), a combination of which has been identified by Kinloch et al (2008) as a more effective tool.

If you want to succeed, rather than further alienating your detractors, identify the core problem you face, which is that your current police force is not effective in its present form and drastic changes are needed. Begin there.

Bad Arguments

I am regularly disappointed to see critical thinking/logic escape citizens when issues are raised in the public domain. In plain language, people tend to argue from emotive viewpoints, whether that emotion comes from tribal affinity for kind, or from ‘feelings’. Many persons have no clue what lies in the backdrop of issues. Worse, they do not understand the implications issues may have politically or legally.

Sometimes, issues go far beyond what citizens allegedly ‘know’ or think they ‘know’. One recent example, ongoing for many months, is the sad saga of a Chief Justice (CJ) with a pattern of breaking rules.

“…with a pattern of breaking rules” … now I expect a lot of people to jump on that phrase like a Rott on a roti. Why? Well, about half will see a black man being persecuted. Another large percentage will get side-tracked about who is making the complaints, e.g. Martin Daly, LATT et cetera. In both instances those who make the fallacious arguments will not look at the facts… that the CJ did break rules in several different matters (I will not rehash these, they are out in the public domain and this is not about the CJ per se).

The core issue is ONLY about whether the CJ broke rules. Did he? No? We need evidence. Yes? We need evidence. Don’t know? We need evidence. His behaviour in office is suspect and therefore, one way or the other an investigation must be done.

Fallacious arguments are common. You may well ask what a fallacious argument is… or what is a fallacy? It is simply ‘an error in reasoning’ or wrong thinking. It is NOT an error of fact. There are approximately 300 bad arguments made on a daily basis. Examples are: Appeal to Tradition, Appeal to Normality, Reductio ad Absurdum, Fallacy of Composition, Fallacy of Division, Cherry Picking, Sunk-Cost Fallacy, Self-Sealing Argument, and Shoehorning.

Here is another example of bad thinking. An employer ‘disciplines’ an employee using an improper or unfair process. The employer arrives at a decision, but insists the decision is fair. Employee points out that the disciplinary process does not meet the rules of natural justice so is procedurally incorrect. Employer insists that it is not a legal matter, it’s ‘our internal policy’.

This is a classic example why so many disputes end up in court, costing both sides time, expense and goodwill. Ask yourself why… go on.

It is because no internal policy can ignore legal rules. We all must obey the law and any employer attempting to discipline without reference to law will ultimately lose if he ignores the law in favour of some ‘policy’ which breaches the rules. The law should guide your policies.

People who want to contribute to their societies in meaningful ways, should know spotting and refuting a bad argument is essential.

Yet another reason why the Rock does not progress

I am reading the BBC News and the headline jumps out at me:

New domestic abuse law comes into force

A new law is in effect. Law which " target those who subject spouses, partners and family members to psychological and emotional torment but stop short of violence.

It paves the way for charges in cases where there is evidence of repeated "controlling or coercive behaviour"."

Given that such behaviour as described above is all too commonplace on the Rock, one wonders why similar legislation has never been brought into effect. The answer obviously, is that Trinidad and Tobago is quite content to remain backward. Successive governments are all too eager to maintain the status quo which protect friends and family and which rewards people for corruption, party support, and brown nosing.

How I long for the day when a duly elected government will see fit to update and modernise laws and look out for the entire population as  elected to do.

Yet another duncey homicide!

Once more, a police duncey has committed a homicide upon an innocent bystander.

While escorting the man through the crowd, he escaped, causing the officer to pull out his firearm and open fire on the man. The officer missed his target and instead shot Mohammed, they claimed.

The duncey version, of course, is different.

Inspector Henry Dan, who confirmed reports that about 5.30 am yesterday, a uniformed officer on duty at the party observed a group of men smoking marijuana.

“The officer seized the marijuana and was speaking to the group when one of the men grabbed his firearm. A struggle ensued during which one shot was discharged. The man, who is unknown to police, managed to escape after that.” Dan said it was at this point that the policeman “asked if anyone was injured and persons directed him to a man on ground. He (Mohammed) had been shot in the neck. Officers took him to Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival sometime before 6 am.”

Knowing the penchant of police for resorting to firearms under any circumstances, I know that the police version sounds most unlikely to me. It’s just ‘spin’ to clear the duncey of a charge, but once more, looking at the bigger picture, a life is lost in vain.

Lemme call some names... Shazard Mohammed, Sheldon Des Vignes, Tota-Maharaj, Joel Charles, Simon Khan, Mustapha 'Taliban' Edwards, Hansraj Harripersad and the list goes on... and on... and on... Allyuh see the pattern?

Now, there will be no charge against this duncey, even though he was quick to pull a gun and shoot under cicumstances where, in the civilised world, no such action would be taken. But as Martin Daly said previously:

I always thought that from time immemorial, at least since democracy bridled the power of kings, emperors and fathers of nations, the assessment of evidence of witnesses is the function of the Courts where witnesses are seen and heard and tested by cross-examination in an open manner in contrast to a presentation on paper assessed in the clandestine cloisters of legal chambers.

It is also my recollection that this might not be the first time that a member of the protective services has benefited from intervention before due process could take its full course and I am wondering whether we truly do have categories of persons... ...who qualify for favourable treatment by secret processes outside of the courts.

For 2014, in 9 months, the police killed:

1) Janus Alphonso, 28, on January 10
2) Walcott Ali, 51, January 11
3) Nicholas Sylvester, 19, January 20
4) Kevon Charles, 26, January 31
5) Akeem Price, 22, February 4
6) Anthony Hepurn, 29, February 11
7) Junior Noel, 31, Feburay 14
8) Anderson Deo, 22, February 14
9) Jeremy Innis, 19, March 10
10)  Adrian Charles, 24, March 18
11)  Satrohan Ramhanie, 22,
12)  Anthony Hospedales, 18, March 26
13)  Jerome Clunis, 23,
14)  Gilbert Browne, 25, March 27
15)  Naim Dean, 21, April 11
16)  Roy Thomas, 29, May 1
17)  Chandrabhose Samaroo, 32, May 5
18)  Anthony Amogan, 43, May 9
19)  Antonio  Swan, 21, May 13
20)  Nigel Long, 35, May 13
21)  Dillon Mason, 20, May 21
22)  Jerome Cross, 27, May 22
23)  Joel Apparicio, 31, May 22
24)  Chaquille McCoy, 21, June 5
25) Hakeem Alexander, 16, June 9
26) Tevin Alexander, 15, June 9
27) Christian Ashby, June 19
28) Abba Diaz, 25, June 19
29) Kishawn Daniel, 19, June 21
30) Kareem Stuart, August 13
31) Keron Guy, August 13
32) David Baker, 28, August 17
33) Rubin Richens, 23, August 17
34) Kareem Edwards, 19, August 17
35) Ricardo Mohammed, 17, September 28

Approximately 4 persons per month!

Not for the first time, I am asking for dunceys to be disarmed and a special SWAT team put in place to act when criminals are armed. The average duncey appear not to have the psychological capability to carry a weapon, nor the intelligence to know when to use it.

The latest - Walker and Jumbie for awards?

Read not all about it!!

How school kill creativity

If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.

Ken Robinson

Death Penalty

The judiciary–a stray dog?

In his address at the opening of the 2014 law term, Chief Justice Ivor Archie made several suggestions, some of which were jumped upon by the public and thereafter throttled to death. I refer of course, to his suggestions of trials without jury and the decriminalisation of marijuana.

The less discerning would perhaps see these as the most obvious and public-affecting news. But in his speech the CJ hinted at a more disquieting situation that is more worrisome, not only for the length of time it has been ongoing but also for the impact it has upon the dispensation of justice to one and all.

I refer of course, to the funding allocated to the judiciary on an annual basis.

Archie’s words: “A critical issue for which the Judiciary has remained vigilant has been the fundamental basis for inspiring public trust and confidence – the separation of powers and judicial independence” left me with the usual unease I experience every year.

I wonder, not for the first time, how a judiciary can be truly independent if the finances are squeezed at the neck by the administration, controlled of course by the legislative Parliament, via the Cabinet.

One only has to remember Patrick Manning and his mere pittance of $42.5 M allocated to the judiciary in 2009, a direct attempt to ‘muzzle’ the judiciary. Never mind that the request to pay salaries and other expenses was for $349 M.

Essentially, every year the judiciary is strangled for the want of funds, making it dependant on the administrative arm of the State. This is completely against one of the fundamental principles espoused in the rule of law (a term conveniently bandied about by Moonilal, Rambachan et al when it suits them) as postulated by Dicey, Unger, Raz and lately Tom Bingham in his excellent book, “The Rule of Law”.

If a judiciary is dependent on the administration financially, then it can never be truly independent, hence in the UK, where the judiciary is the most mature (oldest) in the free world, the finances are paid out of the Consolidated Fund.

“Certain expenditure is by law charged directly to the Consolidated Fund and is not subject to Parliament's annual budget process, ensuring a degree of independence of the government. Services funded in this way are known as Consolidated Fund Services and include judges' salaries,... In the case of the judges, this is to ensure the judicial independence introduced by the Act of Settlement 1701.”

I point out that this procedure is followed by countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius etc… and therefore no reason can be put forward why it should not be implemented in Trinidad and Tobago. Lack of political will is no excuse.

Perhaps it is time that the relevant change is made and the judiciary stops begging every year for the scraps fed to it by the central government. The judiciary is not a stray dog.

A useless Commission in need of Disbanding

Integrity Commission Notice

The above are persons who failed to file relevant documents with the Integrity Commission in TnT (Thanks, ‘Scene).

Going back to 2003, a full 10 years ago, the failure to file has me wondering why do we need an Integrity Commission… jobs for the ‘boys’?

Some things about Scotland you may not know

The photo above is a panorama of the Scottish highlands, and lies on the way to Ben Lomond. It shows Loch Tulla in the valley. The Bridge of Orchy is under repairs.

The above shows a panorama of Loch Lomond at sunset. Loch Lomond is the largest body of fresh water in the UK, holding more volume than all the rivers and lakes of England and Wales combined… or so the guides said.

This photo shows the beginning of Loch Lomond, at Balloch. To the right rear of the building is a children’s play park and entrance to the hiking/cycling trails. The boat in the middle background is the Maid of the Loch, a paddle steamer that is currently being restored. Her ‘twin’ is the oldest steamer in active service, named after lawyer and writer Sir Walter Scott.

Loch Lomond is also known from a famous song, the chorus of which is very recognisable:

O ye'll tak' the high road, and Ah'll tak' the low (road)

And Ah'll be in Scotlan' afore ye

Fir me an' my true love will ne'er meet again

On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomon'

Wemyss Bay in early sunrise.

It was only when I visited Scotland that I began to see the rich (and I do mean RICH) history of the Scottish people. Listed below are some famous Scots and their accomplishments:

1. James Young                       Inventor of Paraffin (kerosene)
2. James Young Simpson      Pioneer of Anaesthesia
3. Robert Liston                       Pioneering surgeon noted for speed in surgical procedures
4. George Forbes                   Scientist and inventor of carbon brushes for electrical motors (still used today)
5. Sir Walter Scott                   Lawyer and writer
6. David Hume                         Historian, writer and noted philosopher
7. Robert Burns                        Poet
8. John Logie Baird                 Inventor of television
9. John Boyd Dunlop               Inventor (independently) of the modern rubber tyre
10. Robert W Thompson           Inventor (independently) of the modern rubber tyre

A more complete but still partial list of famous Scots can be found here.

What it is, is religion

George Carlin

Essential reading for Rock Leaders

Well, not because it’s essential reading means it’ll be read, understood or implemented, with any speed. The attitude of rock-crawlers goes something like this, “Why dem white people in Englan’ doh come dong here and sort out t’ings, instead ah makin’ big speech. Dem eh know nutn whuh going on here nuh!”. And, “Who dee ass is Cyaptain Walker tuh come tell we w’at tuh read!? Steups!!”

Of course, many will be baffled by my style of writing which is most discouraging of anybody taking any notice of my posts or their content. For me it’s quite simple: my mission is not actually to cure stupidity. I don’t expect the stupid to read anything of importance. I only expect they will be ruled by those who have a higher degree of functional intelligence. This is actually real world stuff. You may not like it said so plainly but that is reality.

So, my posts are targeted at those who will see through to the needs of a Nation as the big issue and not stumble on my ‘attitude’, which is of no real importance on the world stage.  Therefore, I’m entirely satisfied if ‘you’ vex wid me and don’t read any of what Lord Neuberger has to say below.

Lord Neuberger Speech: A Delicate Balance

A ‘New’ Browser

I can’t remember ever mentioning a browser called SRWare Iron on this blog. SRWare Iron (or just Iron) is a browser based on the Chromium source code. It is fast, faster than Firefox, and works with all the Firefox extensions I normally use… that is, the workable versions are found in the Chromium Web Store. Not only are the extensions available here but there are also many other apps that can be found in the Store, including games. But what exactly does Iron do that is different?

First, Iron is more private.

Google's Web browser Chrome thrilled with an extremely fast site rendering, a sleek design and innovative features.  But it also gets critic from data protection specialists , for reasons such as creating a unique user ID or the submission of entries to Google to generate suggestions. SRWare Iron is a real alternative. The browser is based on the Chromium-source and offers the same features as Chrome - but without the critical points that the privacy concern.

We could therefore create a browser with which you can now use the innovative features without worrying about your privacy.

Regarding some differences in privacy settings:

Privacy:

Comparison of Iron and Chrome at privacy:

	Problem			Chrome			Iron
	Installation-ID			A copy of Google Chrome includes a generated installation number which will be sent to Google after the installation and the first usage. It gets deleted when Chrome checks first time for updates.If Chrome is received as part of a promotional campaign, it may generate a unique promotion number which is sent to Google on the first run and first use of Google Chrome.			does not exist in Iron
	Suggest			Depending on the configuration, each time you put something in the address line,this information is sent to Google to provide suggestions.			does not exist in Iron
	Alternate Error Pages			Depending on the configuration, if you have typed a false address in the address bar, this is sent to Google and you get an error message from Google's servers.			does not exist in Iron
	Error Reporting			Depending on the configuration, details about crashes or failures are sent Google's servers.			does not exist in Iron
	RLZ-Tracking			This Chrome-function transmits information in encoded form to Google, for example, when and where Chrome has been downloaded.			does not exist in Iron
	Google Updater			Chrome installs a updater, which loads at every Windows in background.			does not exist in Iron
	URL-Tracker			Calls depending on the configuration five seconds after launch the Google homepage opens in background			does not exist in Iron

I have been using Iron for the past few weeks as my default browser, and so far, it exceeds the performance of Firefox, and has not disappointed me.

Two Talks on Leadership

 

Cuts

I admit, I am not the font of all knowledge. Google is. So when I was confused looking at all the different names for cuts of meat, over  the wide array displayed at the market, and , and not knowing where they came from, I turned to Google:

 

 

 

 This is a diagram showing beef and lamb cuts, and where they originate on the animal.

 

 

 

This is a diagram of pork cuts.

I post this so that others may not be as confused as I was.

The war you don’t see.

If you watch this, be prepared to question yourself into what you believe.

This is a 2010 ITV documentary in how war is sold and the public minds manipulated.

Travelogue 1

Some time ago, I had undertaken a trip to Lugansk, Ukraine. Why, you may ask? It is after all, a somewhat offbeat place for a Trini of all nationalities, to find himself. Well, way back in 2007, I made a  Ukrainian pen friend (from some pen pal website I cannot recall now), who wanted to improve her English.

My friend is a PhD University lecturer in economics, and that reassured me a lot that I wasn’t being gypped into one of these fake ‘friendship/marriage’ sites where Russian women try to scam money out of unsuspecting Westerners. But she is a native Russian/Ukrainian speaker who, like many foreign students of English, struggles with understanding the oddness and quirks of the language.

Anyway, considering the airfare was affordable, and the trip is not so long via air (just over 4 hours) I thought I’d see what the Eastern part of the world was like… and explore what was previously behind the Iron Curtain. I felt a bit adventurous.

My friend lives in Lugansk, on the Eastern part of Ukraine. To get here, I took a flight from Birmingham, via Schiphol in Amsterdam and then to Borispol (Borispil in Ukrainian) Airport, then a train to Lugansk. It was my first experience in a ‘sleeper’ car and I immediately connected it with the train seen in the Harry Potter movies. You know, with the carriages having a corridor to walk through and enter into compartments, rather than the ‘regular’ trains.

Yes, it was marvellous fun! 15 hours on a train rocking me while I sleep… life was an exciting adventure at last… much nicer than experiencing a heart attack.

You can get hot water to make coffee, or tea on the train. I even got a souvenir cup holder engraved with the train company’s emblems.

Anyway, upon arriving next morning in Lugansk, we took a taxi to my friend’s home. Lugansk is not as well developed as the capital city of Ukraine, Kiev but definitely brought me back to some childhood memories of Trinidad.

Lugansk (or Luhansk in local spelling) has some nice places to visit. For example, I was impressed with the local BBQ stop called “Oh Barbecue” (Oh Mangal [Mangal is Russian for ‘grill]) which is a treat for the eyes and the tongue… conveniently located a mere 10  minutes walk from my friend’s flat.

The off menu dish included BBQ duck, which was a ‘had to try’ dish, merely because the close-minded Trinis only seem to know about curry duck. Boy, was I ever so pleasantly surprised. The taste, according to ‘Punks’, was like ‘heaven in my mouth’.  Only downside… no hot sauce (pepper sauce) and they bled me £8 for 5 ml of flipping Tabasco sauce… but only when I saw the bill after eating and could not regurgitate to return the damn thing.

Still, it was an experience to remember, not only for the Tabasco sauce, but also for the taste… and the overall cost for 2 persons was a lot less than the same meal in England.

That little round dish you see in the photo is black currant jam served with the BBQ duck… odd combination but it was marvellous. Note to my brother… get out of that Trini curry mind-set. Many foods are damn nice!

Next… some places I visited.

Idiocy rewarded and intelligence shunned in T&T

Recently, a close friend of mine was asking me why, with all the qualifications I have, I don’t apply for a Government job.

I told him I had looked into it at some point, but nothing had ever materialised. Then he asked: “Did you send in all your qualifications, all your degrees?”

I told him I had, and why shouldn’t I? Isn’t that how you apply for a job? He shot back: “No, that is not how you do it; is ah kinda fight-down ting here in Trinidad and if you are more qualified than the person who is hiring you, you will not get hired. It’s a crab-in-the-barrel mentality. So if the job is asking for five passes, just send in five passes.”

Wow, that is just tragic! But he is not the first friend to say this to me. Another friend of mine, who had spent about seven years studying and living in France, had told me something similar.

I had just returned to Trinidad and sent her my resume to proofread for me. She had said I should remove the fact that I had attended university abroad; that to leave the fact that I had several degrees to my name would cripple me. Whoa!

I suppose this is why another friend of mine, also the office manager at a revision institute where I work, one day said to me, “They don’t want you to be intelligent. It is not okay to be intelligent here.”

This young man had lived and studied in England for a few years well, and had recently returned to care for his ailing mother. He has already had it up to here. Imagine: a young woman who does not have a pass in CXC English has received a promotion.

Customer service is bad here. A document that should be processed within days takes months. A cellphone that should be returned in three days after repairs takes eight days (and I got that phone back on the eighth day only because I went to the company’s office and let them have it; and why is it that in order to get something done in this country I always have to tell off someone?).

I think I understand now. I think I get it now. Idiocy is rewarded and intelligence shunned.

And this attitude is not just in Government ministries. 

Akilah Holder

Speaks for itself, innit?

Some useful FREE software

It’s been a long, long time since I reviewed any software here on this blog. Today I’d like to recommend a few I find particularly useful.

Slimdrivers:

SlimDrivers uses crowd-sourcing to spider and aggregate millions of devices. Using our cloud-based system, SlimDrivers not only detects when a driver needs updating, but also identifies the proper executable for your system and initiates the driver install automatically.

Despite Windows updates downloading some drivers, I found over a dozen drivers on my system that needed updating. SlimDrivers updated them all, and even updated the firmware for my motherboard. Excellent freeware.

IOBIT Advanced system care free:

IObit produces some really fine software. ASC Free is one-stop-shop for cleaning, immunising and optimising computers. It also has a paid professional version but the free version does all a regular user needs, including a deep uninstaller, registry cleaner, RAM manager etc. Comes with a Turbo Boost function to shut down non-essential system resources for gameplay etc. I was particularly impressed with the Firefox optimisation as it sped up my Firefox several times over. This replaced the old IObit Toolbox. If you just wish to optimise Firefox or Chrome, go for the Toolbox version.

IObit smartdefrag:

For those not wishing to use the ASC Free mentioned above, SmartDefrag is a hell of a tool. It is quicker than Windows defrag and most paid defragmentation software. My choice of use.

“IObit SmartDefrag is 100% free for personal, home and small business.”

“Smart Defrag does NOT constantly perform analysis and defrag, which does damage your hard drive and shorten its life. Smart Defrag has a "Safe Intelligence" technology that can assure the health of your disk by deciding When and How to execute defragmentation.”

PC Decrapifier:

“The PC Decrapifier will uninstall many of the common trialware and annoyances found on many of the PCs from big name OEMs. You get to see the list of items it detects and then choose what will be removed automatically.”

Self explanatory really. Useful for setting up a new PC, out of the box.

Finding Files:

Far better than Windows Indexing is Google Desktop and Copernic Desktop Search. Since Google Desktop is now discontinued, try the CDS Home version.

“Stop searching and find it with Copernic Desktop Search. Simply install this search tool on your computer or laptop to search your computer's content (Word, Excel, emails, PDF, text, Zip files and many more). CDS instantly finds the information stored on your computer and displays search results by category.”

I regularly use all of the software above, and have been using them for years without problem. As I also repair computers, I find them useful tools to have on a USB pen drive for quick action.