The great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways, and history is literally present in all that we do.
‘I feel like a man from another era’: Neanderthal hunter Ludovic Slimak Guardian
Literary representations of intoxication
Aga of Tatranka fame courtesy of Fotografer Karel Plicka
Lesson From The Tax Court: Tax Protesting—A Hobby That Eats
*How to Know a Person*
The author is David Brooks, and the subtitle is The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen. I think of it as a book on how to appreciate others, even if you do not necessarily deeply know them, which is slightly different from David’s subtitle. (Am I too skeptically Freudian when it comes to “knowing people”?) An excellent book, I read it straight through, and I view it as a milestone in David’s career. Does that mean I appreciate him? Know him even? Maybe just the former!
Due out October 24, you can pre-order here.
As I wrote to a friend: “If those who needed it would heed it, it would be one of the most useful books.” The rest is up to you.
“In a series of papers, Blumberg articulated his theory that the brain uses rem sleep to “learn” the body.” New Yorker link here.
Look into the secret world of numerology and puzzles in Bach aeon
Inside the forgotten third World Trade building occupied by CIA that burned down on 9/11 New York Post. Amazed anyone is trying to relitigate this.
Guess who’s joining Stephen Jones on his Euro jaunt?
Joining the Financial Services Minister’s delegation are representatives from an insurance industry under extraordinary regulatory scrutiny.
Myriam RobinColumnistWhen does a junket turn into a “delegation”? Perhaps when it involves the mind-numbing topic of reinsurance.
Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones will on Tuesday depart the country to lead “Australia’s first international insurance delegation”, featuring the leaders of the nation’s major insurance companies.
On the agenda in meetings with reinsurance companies from London to Munich will be “the impact of extreme weather risk”. Jones hopes to let global reinsurers know about “the government’s ambitious agenda to tackle climate change [and] curb the risk profile so that consumers start to see insurance price relief”. All very worthy stuff.
Stephen Jones: deeply immersed in the insurance industry. Natalie Boog
Of course, for the insurance executives attending, it’s also an awful lot of time spent with the minister who regulates their industry, all while the sector comes under enormous regulatory scrutiny.
Attending the European sojourn alongside Jones and Insurance Council of Australia CEO Andrew Hall will be IAG chief Nick Hawkins, QBE’s Sue Houghton and Suncorp’s Steve Johnston.
In June, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission estimated all three insurers were key contributors to the $815 million in promised discounts withheld from customers since 2018, a situation ASIC’s Karen Chester described as “beyond disappointing”.
By far the biggest offender was IAG, responsible for $447.2 million of total pricing failures and the subject three weeks ago of yet another set of civil proceedings by the regulator, this time for deliberately inflating premiums for loyal customers (the insurer is fighting the suit).
Suncorp has its own reasons to keep the government onside. Its highly contested merger with ANZ has after an ACCC knock-back been appealed to the Australian Competition Tribunal, and will need sign-off from both that body and Treasurer Jim Chalmers if it’s going to eventuate.
As for the trip’s stated aim, being better pricing from the global reinsurance giants, it’s not clear why Australia’s insurance titans need Jones at all to argue their case. Seriously, what’s next? Transport Minister Catherine Kingaccompanying Qantas to meet fuel suppliers in Norway?!
Jones is not being sent to Europe on the insurance industry’s dime. His costs for the trip – which will also include meetings with “UK government officials, regulators, think tanks and industry associations” – will accrue to the taxpayer, under normal parliamentary arrangements.
The Insurance Council of Australia and members are meanwhile funding their own travel, which must be expensive this time of year. Several members of the delegation have just concluded their attendance at the annual Reinsurance Rendezvous in Monte Carlo. Suncorp and IAG’s executives, we’re told, normally stay at the Le Meridien Beach Plaza.
Insurance might not be the most exciting field to specialise in but you can’t fault the tours.