21 Square

Annoyed

It is hard to not be annoyed with our economic condition at this point.  When warnings were called out they were quickly hushed as fear mongering and cast aside.  This when if the concerns had been heard and addressed we likely wouldn’t be making a ridiculously late scramble to do something about our impending economic slide.

Look back at all of those who warned of the risk of our economy overheating over the last few years.  Look back at all of those who warned that the US was in for a downturn that would likely impact Bermuda quite heavily and that we should be prepared.  Look back at all the cautionary measures we took to prepare in case such a thing happened.  Oh right, don’t waste your time on that last one.

A step in the right direction

I like this.  Were these worldly town crier competitions a part of a tourism promotion to win a trip to Bermuda? The article doesn’t say.

Ultimately these are the kinds of thing we could be leveraging YouTube to promote and incite a bit of user generated content momentum.

Vexed, how could you?

Who else is appauled at what Vexed Bermoothes has to say about our Premier's commentary regarding the Summit of the Americas?

"the Premier avoids mentioning the breathtaking allegations of corruption and mismanagement in TCI. It’s worrying that the Premier would attend such a high profile event, and this is all he has to offer."

Vexed, how could you?  Clearly you missed the very important detail where the Premier and his wife got the chance for a photo-op with Obama.  Obama! 

Why should we waste our time with trivial details like the potential of Cuba opening up to American tourists and effectively slaughtering our already poorly performing volume based discount approach to tourism?  Please.  That'd be like admitting that the nitwit that writes that 21 Square blog actually may have been on to something when he never shut up about shooting for exclusivity over discount tourism.

Thankfully we don't have to and shouldn't believe anything the Royal Gazette prints as clearly our Premier covered all of this and allayed the concerns of our people but the biased media prevailed by not printing it.  No, the PLP.bm website doesn't need to be updated with full exerpts of what he actually said, nor does gov.bm which doesn't load anyway.  Get your facts straight people!  Talk to the right people in the know and when in doubt 'believe'.

Better

This I like.  It's not what I've been pushing, but it's a step in the right direction.

Late night pondering

Here's a little can't sleep thought...  What happens when you combine the atmosphere typically associated with low cost housing with the atmosphere expected of a luxury hotel?

New Zealand Tourism jumps on the bandwagon

Another example of successful tourism campaigns utilizing user driven content via YouTube is the one New Zealand Tourism put on. 

via stuff.co.nz

Tourism New Zealand has done a $US320,000 ($NZ450,000) deal to promote its new campaign over popular internet site YouTube.

Tourism NZ will take over the paid video space on the YouTube homepage for 24 hours, starting at 4pm on September 18.

It would use the homepage space to show its new 100% Pure New Zealand commercial.

The 24 hour contract will be followed by three months of a New Zealand branded channel.

via the Otago Daily Times

As the tourism industry braces for a tough few months, a New Zealand marketing campaign on social networking sites has chalked up its 100,000th viewing on YouTube.

The video "raves" are collected from international visitors at a mobile recording studio, edited and posted on the networking sites by Tourism New Zealand (TNZ).

The campaign was chosen by Britain's Sunday Times newspaper as one of "10 most ingenious travel offers" the travel industry has come up with to get bookings.

South Africa Tourism innovates

South Africa is truly living the ‘gold standard’ by winning awards with their tourism campaigns.  Not long ago South Africa Tourism won the Global Gold Award in the International Awards for Innovation in Media through their “My South Africa” campaign.  South Africa serves as another tourism destination thinking outside the box when it comes to marketing.  Again, why can’t we do that?

via sagoodnews.co.za

The campaign was launched in June 2008 with the aim of raising the profile of South Africa among CNN's elite audience of globe trotters. The multimedia campaign is CNN's first ever user-generated content driven advertising solution.

'My South Africa' encourages CNN viewers worldwide to upload compelling photographs, moving images and stories that encapsulate their experiences of South Africa, via the 'My South Africa' website.

By submitting you get the chance to win an all expenses trip for 2 to South Africa.  You can check out the site at www.mysouthafrica.tv

Not limiting themselves to just CNN, South Africa Tourism has launched a similar campaign on YouTube as well which inspired people to submit their impressions of South Africa for a chance to win a trip.

Now that’s an example of thinking outside the box with lower cost ideas that create tremendous buzz for their money.  What are we doing?  Oh right.

Evolving public transport

Streetfilms.org has an excellent documentary about the rapid transit system in Curitiba Brasil which is an inspiring model for ideas of how to improve our own transportation infrastructure.

Of note, a few of the ideas are actually quite applicable here:

• High capacity buses running very frequently on express lines
• Raised height entry/exit to speed the rate at which passengers can board/exit (also possible, low floor buses)
• Prepaid fare systems prior to boarding the bus

Our system unfortunately is very cumbersome.  We use buses too large to move quickly, send them to areas far too congested and waste a huge amount of time loading and unloading passengers.  On top of that, the buses aren't even all that convienent as there are many portions of the island that they cannot access.

Is there a better way?  Are there ways we can change the dynamics of public transport in order to make things far more efficient and satisfy the needs of more Bermudians?  If so, getting from where we are to where we want to be begins with measuring the problem and then adapting a plan to solve those problems.

As we've noted, the present system is less than ideal though rather than embark upon random untested and unpredicted solutions to problems that may not exist it would be valuable to spend some time understanding the problem.

Ideally, we should be monitoring and modelling our entire transport system.  We've already covered how anonymous cell-phone signal tracking can be a non-invasive means of monitoring private transport usage so we're left with how to monitor usage of the public systems.  The combination of GPS and automatic passenger counters would enable us to track and model where and when people get on and off such that we could better understand the overall usage and capacity of our transport infrastructure.

Once we actually understand how our transport infrastructure is used we can better adapt and evolve it to better meet the needs of our people.  Through modelling we could discover that there are core bus stops that service the majority of people leading us to create a set of express bus lines that only service those stops.  We could identify spots where buses are frequently stuck waiting for traffic to let them out and add special traffic lights at those points triggerable by bus drivers to force traffic to yield to let the buses out.  We could discover that town is a huge culprit towards the slowdown and resolve to create bus depots outside of town and switch to a minibus system for serving town from those depots.  The possibilities are endless however if we don't take the time to start measuring the problem we'll unfortunately never succeed at managing it.

Look before you leap

An old adage suggests "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail".  It is what comes to mind when considering how we often rush to implement new ideas without first taking the time to think them through.  Not taking the time may cut bureaucracy and yield expediency but does so at the risk of tarnished results.  Thus are there cases where planning is essential in order to achieve the best results?  Do solid plans created before implementing an idea save the hassle, frustration and lack of forward movement when there isn't one?  Planning such that we identify tangible goals, turn those goals into actions and those actions into quantifiable results?  If so, is it possible to do so while not bogging ourselves down with unnecessary clutter and still ensuring we stay on track?  Sure, but it begins with accepting that we need to plan ahead to start making a difference.

The consequences of a lack of planning once again loom over our heads as we hear that Sales Focus has been dropped as our marketing service provider.  After a snap announcement and a rocky introduction this about face illuminates the consequences of not looking before you leap.  The latest quick fix for tourism has turned out to not be a fix at all as we again find ourselves no further ahead than where we started.  We've burnt time and money but have little to show for it.  Unfortunately quick fixes rarely address the underlying problems.

Some would argue that foresight and planning can hinder the creative process and many would agree.  The word bureaucracy wouldn't hold such negative connotations if it did not often take an age and a day to get simple things done.  Indeed, it was the hallmark of our previous leader to progress at a snails pace which led to the desire for change to a man of less talk and more action.  The problem?  All too often we reap what we sow as rather than finding a balance between talk and action the pendulum has swung too far the other way.  Jumping from one extreme to the next rarely yields the results you seek.

Is upfront planning worth the hassle and frustration you save by not having planned to begin with?  By attacking early with adequate planning and sufficient feedback you're more likely to see your idea bloom into a success.  This rather than witness it bogged down with endless course changes and quick fixes which will surely leave you running in circles.  Planning early means establishing where you're going before you try to get there.  Converting wavy bright ideas into tangible goals and then those goals into actions to establish a definitive means of filling in the steps to get from A to Z without glossing over those 24 letters inbetween.  Of course no plan is bulletproof so criticism is essential and should be embraced as it can point out weaknesses that would have held your plan from succeeding.  In the end, adequate feedback will yield a stronger result as your actions will be more likely to reach for those goals you've set in order to succeed.  

Without being able to determine where you are and how you got there you'll have no idea if you've gone anywhere. Thus comprehensive metrics to track the progress of your actions are essential to ensure you're progressing towards and not away from your goals. If you find yourself side tracked, it's essential to reevaluate from the beginning of these steps to get back to the right path.  Knowing where you're going and staying on track is one of the best ways to actually get there but one we all too frequently overlook.

Unfortunately too many projects have succumbed to an act first, think later approach.  An approach that yields little more than greater bureaucracy every time we try to change gears and come up with a new quick fix  This rather than getting down to solving the core problems through concrete planning before we act.  Education is a good example.  What is our plan?  What are our goals?  What actions are we taking?  How are we measuring our progress?  Few know, but we seem to be changing gears alot.  Other programs suffer the same symptoms.  Future care.  Where's the plan?  Casinos.  Do they meet a goal through an action that serves a part of a clear plan or are they simply another quick fix?  The same could be said of many venues.  Whether or not there are plans for such circumstances, they certainly are not communicated very well and feedback is muted, not encouraged.  As long as we don't conclusively identify what we're aiming to achieve and strive for feedback before setting a path we'll end up achieving nothing and going nowhere.  

The fear is that by not planning we're planning to fail.  Sure planning means more talk and a little less action but without it, we're risking endlessly poor results.  Not planning can cost us more in the long run as we always chase that next quick fix like a dog chasing it's tail, assuredly going nowhere.  Planning may not cut the time it takes to get results but in the end it can make those results more worthwhile.  Does it not make sense to develop solid plans before beginning?  Can we identify tangible goals, turn those goals into actions and those actions into quantifiable results?  This while not bogging ourselves in unnecessary clutter and getting sidetracked on a whim, on the next quick fix?  When we have a plan, can we ensure we stay on track by continuously reevaluating whether we're getting closer to or further away from where we want to be?  Perhaps, but our first step is to admit we need plans so we can agree upon where we are and where we're going before we find ourselves diving blindly into depths unknown.

The magic of spin

*satire*

You've got to love the attempts to spin anything and everything as a positive as it has reached a point where is it just plain humorous.  The latest?  Health Minister Nelson Bascome's suggestion that the high level of interest in Future Care is indicative of it's success.

"Although there has been some concern in the media about us creating limitations on who can access the plan in the first year, I believe that this concern is also an endorsement of how well we have done in creating FutureCare."

"While there was limited interest in the Government's HIP, the interest shown towards FutureCare tells me that we have gotten it right."

Sure.  Clearly last election could have included the promise to make every Bermudian a millionaire and no doubt we'd be in the same predicament.  Subsequent to the election it would have been realized that it wouldn't actually be as simple as printing more money, millions would have been handed out to a handful of people with most Bermudians having gotten the shaft.  Despite this, clearly the program would have been a tremendous success given that every Bermudian scrambled to apply and the media raised questions about how it'd be paid for.  Right?

Clearly since everyone signed up to be a millionaire and there was previously limited interest in our "you're poor, so here's some foodstamps" program, the make everyone a millionaire program is a tremendous achievement.  Nevermind that only a handful made it now, don't worry, we'll get to you later.  Concern over how we'll afford it when we do you say?  That's trivial babble talk as we're taking a 'phased approach' and no indication whatsoever should be required as to how those other than the handful would also receive their millions.  Those are none other than boring actuarial minor details that no one needs to be bothered with.  Don't focus on the fact that you got nothing, focus on the program's success because everyone wants to be a millionaire and you were almost one of the lucky ones who got the chance.  Remember the program is a success people!  A success!

It's magic.

Fool me once...

In late 2007 the PLP were elected on a much heralded, much hyped word:  Free.  The problem?  Nothing in life is free.  They came out guns blazing announcing Free Transportation, Free Daycare, Free Education and nearly free Healthcare.  Unfortunately, as usually happens in politics, Bermudians were so enamoured by the magical promise of 'free' that few took the time to question the reality of such promises.  Worse, many rose to condemn such questions turning a blind eye as if our leadership could do no wrong.  Sadly we can now look back in hindsight and wonder if our leadership had misaligned good intentions or put winning above the betterment of all Bermudians.  Either way, one could not be condemned for wondering if we've been played the fool.

The word free was the PLP's magical word to victory.  Quaintly listed on the their 2008 platform were such wonderful initatives as 

• Free daycare for Bermudian families.
• Interest-free down payments to five hundred first time home owners.
• Free bus and ferry transportation.
• Free Bermuda College tuition to make education accessible to all students.

Interestingly, “Free daycare” quickly became means tested daycare assistance.  The follow through on the promise of interest-free down payments has yet to surface and “Free bus and ferry transportation” became free transportation for students, not everyone.  To their credit, at least we have seen free tuition come to fruition, though at much debated impact on enrollment levels and results.

We can subsequently examine the promises of affordable healthcare as mentioned in said platform:

A key policy priority is to provide affordable health care for our senior citizens. The PLP Government believes that a fair society is one that takes care of the needs of all. A key policy of the PLP Government is “PLP Future care”.

Unfortunately now we question whether the introduction of FutureCare has been fair or rather far from it.  The discovery of its rather sly introduction under the guise of requiring registration in HIP while coincidentally closing registration raises more questions than it answers.  Is this the case of a leadership being ignorant to the costs and now forced to rapidly backpeddle to conceal mismanagment?  Worse, could this be evidence of a willingness to decieve in an attempt to do anything it takes to win? If mismangement, how long should we leave them unaccountable and unchecked?  If deception, should we be concerned at the emerging pattern of winning first, Bermudians second?

When the PLP announced these programs, far too many Bermudians would hear nothing of the questions of their practicality.  We far too easily rose to condemn any who question the will of government simply on the basis of a precident set by previous administrations, one which holds the bar much lower than it should be.  As such we have given rise to an anything goes mentality with our leadership and are sadly beginning to reap the rewards of our own ignorance.  Regardless of whether it is our leadership's inability to foresee the consiquences of their actions or a deliberate intent to 'mislead' us, one underlying question lies at the root of all of this.  How long are you willing to leave our leadership unquestioned, unaccountable and without remorse as you continue to be played the fool?

The best job in the world

Queensland Australia's ‘best job in the world’ tourism publicity stunt has to be one of the best out there.  Here’s an example of a tourism department thinking outside the box for a mass marketing solution that beautifully promotes their area, does so at low cost and capitalizes on viral marketing.  Too bad we don’t have that caliber of marketing power behind our tourism department.

What is ‘The best job in the world’ you ask?  It’s a well disguised gimmick to promote Queensland tourism.  Very simply, Queensland tourism came up with the idea of offering a well paid 6 month job as ‘caretaker’ of a string of islands in the great barrier reef.  Your duties?  Stay in a plush 3 bedroom house, tour around and blog about your activities.  Absolutely brilliant.

How do you get ‘The best job in the world’?  You go to the website filled with beautiful pictures and information about the islands and submit a video entry to suggest why you should be the caretaker.  Unsurprisingly this site has been a viral hit gaining free coverage in newspapers and magazines while also leveraging the power of people passing the link on to their friends. 

Here you have a small investment of likely a few hundred thousand that by *Beyonce platinum period* marketing measures must be returning gajillions worth of advertising.  Imagine, you go to the site, fall in love with the idea of being the island’s caretaker and ultimately submit an entry.  You spend months dreaming about being selected and all the while get more and more used to the idea of visiting the islands.  Even when you’re not selected, you’re more inclined to read the blog and watch the video updates of the person who was and are likely to dream for some time about what it would have been like if it was you.  Ultimately you resolve that Queensland is a place that you want to visit.  Now that is tourism marketing.

What’s our idea of innovation?  Beyonce concerts, themed nights at baseball parks and wayward spending on non-mainstream publications.

Lame.

Still no solution?

 

Why has this not yet been solved?

Yesterday's stoppage follows two months of bus drivers and support staff being on a work-to-rule sparked by safety concerns that motorists were using Washington Street for through traffic, resulting in accidents.

Can someone please explain why we haven't combined the RFID systems with rising road blockers to restrict access to Washington Street to buses only?

As for the union, we've already discussed our feelings towards strikes

Recover waste heat from your shower

Remodeling your bathroom?  Take a look at the EcoDrain which allows you to recover waste heat from the water that runs down your drain.

Essentially it is a heat exchanger that pulls heat from the water running down your shower drain and reuses it to heat up the cold water line going to your shower.  This means you ultimately can use less hot water for the same hot shower cutting your energy usage by 25 to 40 percent.

EcoDrain via WorldChanging

Level the playing field

Education Minister El James' recent comments concerning his confidence in the private school system over the public one only further highlights that the public school system is broken and should be scrapped in favour of a voucher based system.  Our island will never overcome the historical effects of racism if we cannot level the playing field for opportunity.  The education ministry has simply added far too much beurocracy and time and time again failed to rise up to the standard set by the private schools. so why not cut out the middle man and give everyone the means to the same level of education?

Quoted recently in The Royal Gazette, Minister James suggested

"We have an education system that we want to make the number one choice on this Island," he said. "If it's not the number one choice at the moment, everyone has the choice to put their children where they want."

Unfortunately this isn't the case.  Everyone with the means to put their children in the private system can do so, but not everyone has the means, especially those Minister James' party claims to represent.  Thus, the cycle perpetuates where a wealth disparity once created by racism is no longer maintained by racism but the maintenance of the status quo.  Namely, those who are and have become wealthy can pass on the opportunity of a good education however those who are not and have been deprived of the opportunity have no means to provide it to their children.  Sadly, the rich continue to get richer and the poor poorer.

Minister James continues

"I'm going to look at where [the private schools] are; I'm going to use their levels as my target. That's where I want to be or even better."

Why use private schools as a target when you could cut out the middle man and actually use the private schools?  Simplify the system but cutting the Ministry of Education down to an oversight and standards body, sell the public schools to the private sector and give every Bermudian student a voucher they can use to attend the school of their choice. 

Both a UBP government and a PLP government have proven is that education is not working in the hands of the public sector.  We continue to change tack, strategize, add level upon level of beurocracy and in the end all that happens is that those without the means continue to suffer.  It is a terrible shame that no Bermudian should be proud of.  Can we please just cut out the middle man and pursue a voucher system so everyone can have the means to opportunity as opposed to just the rich?

 

 

A 6 month trial of the congestion tax

Long time readers of this blog will note that the topic of a congestion tax has come up numerous times, including the suspicion that the addition of radio frequency identification tags set the stage for it.  Hopefully our government will take a page from the principles of open democracy and announce that they're going to trial a congestion tax for 6 months (aka The Stockholm Trial), produce a report and then put the ultimate decision to the people by way of a plebicite (aka a public vote similar to a referendum).  By doing so, they can save face by not being blamed for introducing something that turns out to be hated but can also gain the credit if it turns out well.  Ie, let the people decide.

For those interested, I've rambled on about congestion in the past so no need to be a bore.  Here are a few links

Discussing congestion

Is a congestion tax around the corner?

Traffic solutions: The Stockholm Trial Solution

Causes thereof

Understanding congestion

Slow moving trucks

Measuring congestion

Cell phones help track traffic flow

Bermudamaps.bm linking to real time traffic modeling 

Also of note:

Traffic solutions: car-sharing

Car-sharing revisited

Curbing demand (electronic market priced street parking)

Another sustainable development comment - Taxi-buses

We need dedicated school buses