Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling
mirth of sun-split clouds

Via www.zerohedge.com and econstories.tv, the choice in economics explained through the medium of music:

See also

• Banks, economic interventionism and the cause of the credit crisis
• Now it’s looking like V for victory over recession

A friend recently sent me this celebrated letter on the absurdity of bureaucracy. If you have not seen it, enjoy:

Rt Hon David Miliband MP
Secretary of State.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA),
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR

16 July 2009

Dear Secretary of State,

My friend, who is in farming at the moment, recently received a cheque for £3,000 from the Rural Payments Agency for not rearing pigs.. I would now like to join the “not rearing pigs” business.

In your opinion, what is the best kind of farm not to rear pigs on, and which is the best breed of pigs not to rear? I want to be sure I approach this endeavour in keeping with all government policies, as dictated by the EU under the Common Agricultural Policy.

I would prefer not to rear bacon pigs, but if this is not the type you want not rearing, I will just as gladly not rear porkers. Are there any advantages in not rearing rare breeds such as Saddlebacks or Gloucester Old Spots, or are there too many people already not rearing these?

As I see it, the hardest part of this programme will be keeping an accurate record of how many pigs I haven’t reared. Are there any Government or Local Authority courses on this?

My friend is very satisfied with this business. He has been rearing pigs for forty years or so, and the best he ever made on them was £1,422 in 1968. That is – until this year, when he received a cheque for not rearing any.

If I get £3,000 for not rearing 50 pigs, will I get £6,000 for not rearing 100? I plan to operate on a small scale at first, holding myself down to about 4,000 pigs not raised, which will mean about £240,000 for the first year. As I become more expert in not rearing pigs, I plan to be more ambitious, perhaps increasing to, say, 40,000 pigs not reared in my second year, for which I should expect about £2.4 million from your department. Incidentally, I wonder if I would be eligible to receive tradable carbon credits for all these pigs not producing harmful and polluting methane gases?

Another point: These pigs that I plan not to rear will not eat 2,000 tonnes of cereals. I understand that you also pay farmers for not growing crops. Will I qualify for payments for not growing cereals to not feed the pigs I don’t rear?

I am also considering the “not milking cows” business, so please send any information you have on that too. Please could you also include the current Defra advice on set aside fields? Can this be done on an e-commerce basis with virtual fields (of which I seem to have several thousand hectares)?

In view of the above you will realise that I will be totally unemployed, and will therefore qualify for unemployment benefits. I shall of course be voting for your party at the next general election.

Yours faithfully,

Nigel Johnson-Hill

Further reading

• Mises, Bureaucracy (PDF, buy at Amazon)

What would you like to do at Holywell Mead? The Council wants to see the complex reopened as a leisure facility. The challenge is to make the mix of leisure activities exciting enough to make this a well used service that operates at no cost to you, the Council taxpayer, with, hopefully, all year round programmes to make Holywell Mead a vibrant attraction for all.

Until this year the Council operated two swimming pools at Holywell Mead, which were costing just under £80,000 to run each year, with additional costs for major repairs to the building and plant. Over a number of years declining numbers of visits were made to the outdoor pool. We would like to reverse this trend by providing a modern and inviting mix of leisure activities that will be popular with residents and visitors. To this end we are inviting local residents to tell us what they would like to do at Holywell Mead so that we can provide a facility that people will actually use.

Consultation starts on Monday 23 November and closes on Friday 22 January 2010.

You can access the consultation survey in a number of ways[...]

Participate here: Holywell Mead public consultation.

"The heart & soul of biking."

Following a number of private meetings across the Wycombe constituency yesterday, from Fingest to the town centre, I had the pleasure of meeting Wycombe Motorcycle Action Group.

From MAG’s about page:

The Motorcycle Action Group, (MAG), is a voluntary organisation, drawing membership from across the whole spectrum of motorcycling.

Whatever you ride MAG has something for you!

MAG was born out of protest against legislation, introduced in 1973, making it compulsory to wear a crash helmet.

Since then MAG has evolved from a single issue group to a highly respected political lobbying and campaigns group which is central to all aspects of policy and legislation affecting motorcycling.

We covered a wide range of motorcycling and other issues (inevitably, MPs’ expenses!) but the overwhelming themes I perceived were that MAG campaigns for freedom and responsibility and that MAG members have, on the whole, well thought through and logically consistent views which go to the heart of what it means to live in a free society.

I believe we agreed, amongst other things, that:

• Wearing a helmet and protective clothing is a very good idea and that we would not wish to emulate the gentleman I saw in Greece riding a scooter in nothing but Speedos and flip-flops.
• Responsible motorcyclists obey the law and make sensible decisions about speed.
• Excessive vehicle noise, whether from motorcycles or cars, is a counterproductive intrusion on people’s right to quiet enjoyment.

It was a delight to spend the evening discussing how to live free and responsible lives. I am reminded of a quote attributed to Rose Wilder Lane:

Freedom means self-control; no more, no less.

I am glad to write that I have joined MAG.

Five-way assembling (click to enlarge)

Once the wind subsided, we had a great day. Eight jumps, knocked out as fast as possible: first an eight-way, then five-ways when three lads left for the airport.

More photos when I’m not behind a filter blocking flickr.

Just uploaded a few shots from Hibaldstow. Here’s the bus to 15,000 ft:

In the end, I made eleven jumps this weekend, seven yesterday and all good fun. Here I asked a tandem cameraman to shoot a solo exit:

Exit Steve
Originally uploaded by stevenjbaker

I find I must make way too much effort to match my fall rate to the average skydiver, particularly in big formations (which fall slower), so here goes the diet…

After nearly two months of distractions¹, this week I have returned to the important business of riding my motorcyle.

I tend to imagine I have mostly owned sports bikes — ZZR600, YZF-R6, Fazer 600, K1200S — but I suppose half have been trailies — TS125X, KLR650, 640 LC4 Supermoto and 950 Supermoto. We Brits seem to obsess about having the fastest bike man has ever known² but there are in fact speed limits and being bolt upright without a fairing tends to reinforce a proper desire  to ride within the law.

More importantly, the 950 combines agility with tremendous acceleration, two joyful features which have not yet been spoiled by the passionless individuals who seem determined to extinguish the flame of humanity wherever it may be found. Hooray!

Throw in some luggage — and I can report that two dry-cleaned suits fit — heated grips and hand guards, and we have an all-rounder of accomplishment. I suppose if one wanted something faired and a bit duller, the GS is available; I will bide my time.

So there we have it: my finest motorcycle is a giant high performance trail bike with sports wheels, tyres and brakes. What a magnificent idea: I congratulate the Americans on the invention and the Europeans on their commitment to it.

Oh yes, and today I softened the suspension to mid-way between standard and sport, making the ride much more satisfactory.

1. Earning a living, poverty, banking and a transformation in motoring… it’s a quiet life. [↩]
2. I just bet MCN still has a headline like “BMW S1000RR humbles Fireblade” or whatever… [↩]

The weather was unsettled at the Royal International Air Tattoo today. Nevertheless, the aircrew achieved some fantastic flying in the murk, particularly the pilot of this Hornet, who displayed in awful weather.

Of course, the Red Arrows were superb:

Follow the link from the photos for more.