A Good Read

If you fancy a good read over Easter I'd recommend Jeremy Rivkin's The Empathic Civilisation ... there is hope.

Cultural Inflections

So one of my British colleagues has recently returned from attending a workshop in Sydney where he was confronted with the full force of Australian directness. Asking another participant what they had thought of the previous speaker's presentation, the Australian researcher replied: 'Personally, I think it was a load of soft cock'. My colleague is still recovering although now he's used to it at least that's one person I can swear in front of. Oh the agony of having to watch what I say in the office (or on the street ... twice I've been told off now by complete strangers for swearing in public when almost involved in cycling accidents).

And if you thought deciding whether to use Miss, Ms, Mrs, or Mr was bad, try filling out a government form in the UK. Here you get to choose from:

Baron
Baroness
Dame
Dr
Judge
Lady
Lord
Miss
Mr
Mrs
Ms
Professor
Reverend
Sir