Traditional economic models assume that people are self-interested in the narrow sense. If “homo economicus” - the stereotypical rational actor in these models - finds a wallet on the sidewalk, he keeps the cash inside. He doesn’t leave tips after dining in restaurants that he will never visit again. And he would never vote in a presidential election, much less make an anonymous donation of money or time to a presidential campaign.

This posture stems from the so-called free-rider problem, a cornerstone of rational-choice theory. The problem, as described by Mancur Olson in his classic book, “The Logic of Collective Action,” is that even those who share a presidential candidate’s policy goals will reap no significant material advantage by donating their time or money. After all, with cash donations legally capped at $2,300, even donors who give the maximum have no realistic hope of influencing an election’s outcome. Nor can any individual volunteer — even one whose efforts resulted in hundreds of additional votes for his candidate — realistically hope to tip an election.

Although the logic of the free-rider problem may seem compelling, people’s behavior strikingly contradicts many of its predictions. Die-hard proponents of self-interest models sometimes counter that by becoming involved in campaigns, volunteers reap a variety of personal advantages. They often meet interesting people, for example, or they may learn about attractive employment opportunities. Major donors, for their part, are often rewarded with ambassadorships or other prominent positions when their candidate wins.

Researchers at the intersection of economics, psychology, sociology and other disciplines have had interesting things to say about the anomaly inherent in collective action. Albert O. Hirschman, an economist at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, was one of the first to grapple seriously with it. In his 1982 book “Shifting Involvements,” he acknowledges that self-interest indeed appears to be the dominant human motive in some eras. But over time, he argues, many people begin to experience disappointment as they continue to accumulate material goods. When consumption standards escalate, people must work harder just to hold their place. Stress levels rise. People become less willing to devote resources to the public sphere, which begins to deteriorate. Against this backdrop, disenchanted consumers become increasingly receptive to appeals from the organizers of social movements.

Eventually, Mr. Hirschman argues, a tipping point is reached. In growing numbers, people peel away from their private rat race to devote energy to collective goals. The free-rider problem ceases to inhibit them, not only because they now assign less value to private consumption, but also because they find satisfaction in the very act of contributing to the common good. Activities viewed as costs by self-interest models are thus seen as benefits instead.

From an informal survey of 20th-century American social movements, Mr. Hirschman concluded that these cycles have an average duration of about 20 years. But sometimes patterns take much longer to recur.

Self-interest is surely an important human motive, perhaps even the most important motive much of the time. But it is never the only important motive. And during at least some moments in history, narrow self-interest models miss the essential story line completely. This may be one of those moments.

Read the full article at The New York Times.
Robert H. Frank is an economist at the Johnson School of Management at Cornell University. E-mail: rhfrank@nytimes.com.

“…We don’t need more heat in government, we need more light … Hope … That thing inside us that exists, that despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better is waiting before us around the corner; but only if we are willing to work for it and fight for it. To shed our fears and our doubts and our synicism. To glory in the task before us of remaking this country block by block … There is a moment in the life of every generation where, if we are to make our mark on history, this spirit must break through… Our moment is now”

George Galloway:
“I could run through the world now, tyranny by tyranny and virtually every one of them is backed by the United States. It only stays in power, because of the United States. The Pakistan example, which is the perfect crystallisation of this; a soldier called ‘The General’, called himself a president, you’ll remember that, president Bush couldn’t remember his name, he was blaggarded by everyone, put on the black-list, pushed out of the commonwealth, subjected to an arms embargo and on September the 12th, a huge red carpet was rolled out in front of him and we all started calling him president, and this mistake you’ve (the United States) played out, over and over and over again, all over the world. You’ve backed dictatorships and tyrants; and now you come here bucolically speaking against dictatorships. What hypocrites you are.”

Robert McGeehan:
“You just don’t know what you’re talking about on this as well as everything else”

George Galloway:
“we’ve already worked out that I’m stupid and the 80,000 people who elect me every 4 years, they must be stupid too. We’re all out of step except Uncle Sam over here, the whole parade ground.”

Sure it feels like the end of the road for what is a light entertainment/Factual show…
Or Cruelty TV as we knew it…

Racism was the last taboo, these type of show had never tackled. While class war, sexism, etc…had already been through the big brother machine… Having said that…Isn’t it the very function of CBB and his ‘brother’ show BB to higlight the ills of our society and to somehow weather the storm…?

And my point is…although I feel for the poor Shilpa….she is actually - bless her - bearing the brunt of what a lot of us are experiencing on a daily basis whether at work or at school or while being stopped and searched in the streets….She is almost a martyr for a just cause….

If a stunning ‘princess’ out of Bollywood’s finest can suffer racism …then it says a lot about what ordinary Asians (and others by proxy) are going through on a daily basis….
If people are ready to behave in such a way on National Tv…then it says a lot about our society…and I am not only talking about Jade who has been made the ‘EscapeGoat’ (To use a Goodysm) but also Danielle and Jo, who often were more plain in their speech, albeit behind closed doors and far away from Shilpa….

If people can reach the level of ‘fame’ and income reached by the three Witches and still behave so appallingly against a particular individual while displaying a level of ignorance and miseducation seldom seen on National Tv.. it does say a lot about the society we are living in…

Rather than brushing it under the carpet let’s expose the ills of our society in prime time TV. And yes (poor Shilpa) thank you for your grace and dignity in such a horrid time…

I also applaud the 30 000 peoples whichever background they are hailing from who complained about her treatment. Ultimately, the producers are rubbing their hands and seemed to be willing to keep that storyline alive…Although I was for the show to be kept on-air, they also have a duty of care for the people they do invite on the show and if their livelihood or safety might be at risk by appearing on a Tv Show, then they should take their responsibility of course and inform the ‘contestants’ properly.

Next? The ’storm’ will hopefully go away, new standards of behaviors and etiquette will be introduced on national Tv…As for our daily lives? Do not expect much I suspect, although Gordon Brown must have just been able to salvage the Anglo-British trade relations. As for Jade, who is said to be on ’suicide-watch’… I suspect her camp has hired the PR machine that got Kate Moss off the hook and turned cocaine addiction to ‘Cocaine Chic’….What will be the PR Buzz word for that: ‘Goby Chic’ …’Chavy Chic’…? But I’m just an old cynical…

The Private view of the ‘Alien Nation’ exhibition at the ICA on the 16th of November was interesting… It was an exhibition about ‘Alien Art’ a direct homage to the 50-60’s early 70’s Alien movies which mostly reflected the anti-communist, xenophobic & anti-nuclear fears of the time.

Few masterpieces came out of that strand but vintage Serie B or Z movies completely outdated and so much visually enshrined in their time. The wacky special effects and the non-existent acting or dialogues were there to reinforce the feeling of uselessness those films carried throughout their non-glorious runs in theater. Although a mostly US phenomenon, Japan had its own version with the ‘Godzillas’ and only the maverick and young Turks of the late 70’s, 80’s with the likes of Lucas (Star Wars) Cameron (Terminator, Alien ) Ridley Scott ( Blade Runner, Alien) really took the genre seriously enough to invest the time and funds to create proper storyline and build new worlds…

It is hopefully the start of a wider campaign towards the recognition of sci-fi comic books, like Marvel, DC Comics… who can now command serious power in tinsel town, but have been overlooked by the art and literature establishment for decades. A good sci-fi movie is as good as his aliens or robots…should be the premise of any Do’s and Don’t of the Sci-fi rulebook. We had them in the top room with what seemed to be spaceship of a different order. Shinny made of metal pieces, jewellery and shinny artifacts…it does verge on the tacky but hey you are watching a spaceship here, so who is to say what is tackiness in the future? A wide range of artists, with the expected reference to Star wars and… Zapata…the Mexican revolutionary and his sidekick the under-commandant Marcos Downstairs… A few films, some paintings … a not homogeneous lot but a common thread that should enthuse a young and hip audience in search of space frisson. I recommend it if you are wandering towards the Mall on a dark afternoon. Just do not forget that laser beam of yours and those thigh-hugging Lycra pants.

On BBC’s Bias:
The BBC lacked insight and awareness of continental football when dealing with the World-Cup. As did ITV by the way. Luckily the BBC had Leonardo and Desailly to give us much more balanced view on the game. Obviously, they have played in different countries and had the ability to judge different systems, players etc… I enjoyed M. O’Neil and I. Wright but much more for the comical value of the duo. T.Venables and Gullit at ITV tried to rescue what was at time atrocious punditry but couldn’t really save the ship from sinking.

On England:
I am a big fan of Franck Lampard and to see him being lambasted around chat rooms is painful, but he knows that by his high standard he has performed below anything I have seen from him in the last two years. A big let down, sure. Yes, the English players were not only over-hyped, but failed to perform when it mattered and showed a certain lack of erm…bottle in key moments. The big money players have to deliver in the money time and they didn’t: Three miss-kicked penalties…On that evidence, it should tell you that something wasn’t together in the mental and psychological department. I have heard that France and Italy for example had blocked all intrusion from the press and family before reaching the second round, where they were allowed a day of rest and visit before going back into siege/bunker mood.
We now know who went to the finals.

The whole WAGS business/phenomenon was a real joke as well. Having your WAG making front page of the papers partying till dawn is not ideal preparation. A back to basics policy is required here. A real one that is! As for Mr Mc Laren, hopefully he will establish a more strict and austere regime, where players will think about football first and not about partying at Beckingham before the W-Cup. I hate to do that, because I really wished England would reach the semis. They did not and it is now soooo easy to throw bricks at them. But sometimes, they seem to present us with the right stick to beat them with …

Enough!

Team of the Tournament
I will agree with the proposed line-up and complaint about the Makelele omission. I would not put Viera in the first eleven, but the second. Makelele has played the whole tournament and has been a stalwart at the heart of France midfield. I can only be frightened at the sight of a defense made of Cannavaro and Thuram. Those two were truly the best performers at the final in my opinion.

Best 11
Buffon- Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Thuram, Lamm - C Ronaldo, Ballack, Makelele, Zidane- Henry, Klose
Materazzi
Just have a look at this authentic DIARY of a Dirty player:
No comment.

Zidane
Best player of the tournament? I don’t know…We will never know to be honest. Yes against Spain and Brazil he was walking on water. What is the legacy left by a man who suffered racial abuse on such a day and could not keep his cool? You may need to suffer racial abuse yourself to understand what went through his head. Some lip-readers helped us decipher what was said:
Z: “Ordinanza de tirare il costume!!”
(Stop pulling my shirt)

M: “Taciti, enculo, hai solamente cio che merite…”
(Shut-up wanker you only get what you deserve)

Z: “si e cio…”
(Yeah right…)

M: “meritate tutti ciò, voi gli enculato di musulmani, sporchi terroristici”
(That’s all you deserve, you muslim arse-holes! Bloody terrorists! )

Make up your own mind. Others publications are already handling the matter now. The war on terror was also present on the pitch somehow….
Going back to the football, ZZ was less efficient against Portugal who found a way to isolate him, however in the final he scored that incredible penalty a la ‘Panenka’ and in the second half of the final he was pulling the strings in midfield. Overall, the tournament has been poor in offensive bravado and his sight brought all the lovers of the ‘beautiful game’ together. Italy could have played Del Pierro…to give us a clash between two ‘fuoriclasse’ (exceptional players) but all Italy wanted was to reach the penalties…sad.

Footie & Politics
Well, we have seen everything. From the non-event: Iran was expected to have its president arrested or summoned to court. To the non-threat from Germans, Dutch, eastern Europeans and English hooligans: Fantastic!
To the amazing efficiency of German organization: Germany probably had one of the best organizations ever seen, although I was told that Japan’s in 2002 was excellent too. And positive results for the economy too from what I have gathered. A. Merkel ridding the ‘Klinsi’ horse and jumping on the feel-good bandwagon, linking herself as Chirac did in 98 in France to a successful World-Cup campaign: re-election beckon…Who’s to bet against her now?

The Italians are still master at the dark art of ‘combinazione’. (Corruption, bribery,…) You would have thought that after the pre-1982 World-Cup season which saw Paolo Rossi among others being suspended for a year, that they would have learnt their lesson. Obviously not. I was still glad to see their president in Englsih talk about the country’s pride in victory… They face another ordeal in their own courts now. Call me cynical, but I will be surprised if anyone’s of substance get indicted. They will be remembered though, for their amazing performance in the semis against Germany. Probably the game of the tournament with France vs Brasil…

Ach Zidaaaane….

The post World-Cup hangover is not over yet…and it requires that we all handle the Zidane-gate with the necessary cautious approach favored on the other side of the Alps.

Those events just showed us that words can be as hurtful as actions. From Aragones the Spanish coach calling T. Henry a ‘N…r’ on a training pitch, to R. Atkinson leaving a mike opened at half-time of a game and delivering the ‘N…’ word again…to Matterazzi saying whatever he said, probably in the heat of the moment and ZZ reacting probably in the heat of the moment, the way he did…

Football and its rulers are not under scrutiny. The racists and closet racists are not safe anymore. What was tolerated decades ago is no longer and the son of immigrants will not accept any tampering with their rights and pride. Having said that, I don’t like the press game, which is trying to stir a story not out of the two main men, who both seem to regret what they respectively did, but through relatives, friends, lip-readers, anti-racists campaigners, far right so-called ‘leaders’ etc…

Yes Italy plays dirty but so did Portugal and other nations and France wasn’t that clean either. This World Cup will be remembered as a ‘morally dirty’ World-Cup from the negative tactics, to the poor refereeing and now racism…

FIFA has not been able to restore its dwindling image and proactive attitude in all those areas, as it is done in US sport on a regular basis.

The football authorities have to seriously start clamping down on racist behaviors or I can guarantee you that this is not the last incident of such nature we have seen on a football pitch, parole!

I was bitterly disappointed by the outcome of the England-Portugal game. But was even more surprised by the lack of dignity in the comments of certain elder statemen of the game or The three grumpy old men…

You know the guys seating atop of the balcony during the Muppet show. True legends like ‘Wrighty’, ‘Shearo’ should know better… and Gary ‘crisp’ Lineker should have moderated their outburst suggesting that Wayne ‘Rooo’ Rooney should scythe Ronaldo when they are both back in training ground at Carington is ridiculous:

1. It’s just a game
2. If W. Rooney wants to lift that cup he will have to learn one thing or two about behaving in front of millions of viewers, or embrace a Gazza-like destiny.
3. Ronaldo is a cheat…so what? Ronaldo was with Heargreaves the man of the match without a doubt. But his reaction is I’m afraid justified…although I didn’t link the wink…and the jury is still out on that one…

We all love the premier league, its swashbuckling cavalier attitude, high-tempo and that almost old-fashioned code of chivalry that really ensure that the game is played in the right mindset. But international football is not played that way. In European cups competitions, deficiencies are hidden by high-priced and high-quality foreign import both at manager and player’s level…(When was the last time an Englishman won the P-League? )
However, if we want it to continue, then we should also forget about winning anything at world cup or European level…
.If flair players like Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Maradona, Henry, …or the whole Italian team are ready to do it and actually win trophies at the highest level, then to use that code as an argument become a cope-out and nothing else…
An excuse for the looser or an item in the chicken rule book…

ou either want to win at all-cost because you are a winner or are ready to loose by your idea and principles.
In that case, no needs to build false expectations as you know roughly how it will end-up anyway…
You get me?

However, just reverse the situation one minute and have Ronaldo towering over English’s player crown jewels. Would you not react similarly if your teammate was hit so low? Club-mate or not…

ABOUT SVEN…

And the millions of excuses invented by everybody. Yes he made bad squad choices…Yes his relax approach was detrimental to the squad, with the WAGS making more headlines than the players…Physically? England lacked a second gear throughout the tournament, that’s a fact…although at ten against eleven they finished stronger than Portugal…You can’t help but still believe that physical preparation was not thorough…If you compare it to running teams like Spain, Ghana, South Korea, Germany,…Mentally? See below…Tactically? He had to make-do with his choices and cope with injuries, hence the tinkering.

ULTIMATELY…

The big players never lived up to their expectations and reputations…Rooney got a Red card…Albeit a dubious one…Lampard, Gerrard, Carragher missed penalties at a world-cup quarter finals. I had never seen that before….and that is not down to ability. Steven Gerrard almost won the C-League in 2005 on his own. As for Lampard, he is by a mile the best midfielder in the second best league in the world (After Spain’s La Ligua of course) and third RANKED FIFA’s PLAYER OF THE YEAR!

Those two ain’t no mug! And ‘Carra’ neither…
What happened then? It was all in the head. Mental preparation was lacking and mental preparation was probably ‘Big Phil’ Scolari’s first weapon. A dedicated student of Sun Tzu with the ability to show raw passion and emotion on the touchline and humble Luis Figo. The man has now entered world cup’s folklore as a touchline legend. Maybe just maybe the FA did their best move in the last five years, in trying to bring him to Soho Square. Pity it didn’t go through though…

The Beeb pundit, the other day summed-up how the German game against Italy should finish: By one of those three likely occurrences.

A fitting triumvirate for what was a…

…MISTAKE
Poor Ronaldo. Again one of the best player yesterday and probably the best youngster we have seen on show at the world-cup. To be hated, jeered and heckled around the ground by everyone must have been tough. But he’ll learn and will rise to become the next Figo. Portugal will need another two like him.

…THE GENIUSES
Ballack, Kaka, Fabregas, Torres, Zokora, Klose, Essien, Apiah, Cannavaro, Pirlo, Marqez, Robben, Henry, Viera, Makelele, Figo, Ronaldo, Maniche, Frings, Metesecher, Thuram., J. Klinsmann for coaching an impressive German team, able to break away from his dour image. A short-sleeved manager on his way to become a football guru and a man who gave us a much nicer image of Germany in the 21st century….Gerrard, A. Cole, Lehman, Buffon,…
Those are my geniuses for this W-Cup…and yours?

..AND THE PENALTY
…Taker…Well, I almost forgot the genius to top them all: ZINEDINE ZIDANE. Nerve of steel…eagle-like look…dropped shoulders, bag of tricks, wizzardry aplenty,..aching back and tigh..bald patch…economy of smile and words..No Wags allowed…the beauttiful game as it should be played, with class, instinct and balance in the air….sit down and enjoy a maestro at work…unique sight on a football pitch…’The Zizou code’ might never be broken again…He will now be remembered in the same breath as one of the true great of the game, fellow number 10, main driving force behind a team’s revival and inspiration to a nation: Diego Armando Maradona…

Bonsoir!

The opening night sees an evening of classical opera extracts performed, including Carmen, Nessun Dorma, The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro and many others at The Hackney Empire.

East London Metropolitan Opera continues to bring together top professional musicians with members of the local community and children from Hackney schools accompanied by a full orchestra.

For those with more contemporary, independent tastes, a hip triple bill on the 13th July with Billy Childish and the Buff Medways, Ed Harcourt and Paul The Girl, is not to be missed. A cult figure in America, Europe and Japan, Billy Childish is arguably the most prolific painter, poet and songwriter of his generation. In a twenty-year period he has published 30 collections of his poetry, recorded over 90 full-length independent LP’s and produced over 2000 paintings. High praise comes from Alternative Press, USA, “Of all the ’70s punk survivors Childish is one of the select few who didn’t sell out, or end up sucking.” Whilst Time Out describes Billy as “terse, gutsy and powerfully humane.” Ed Harcourt, reviewed by the Observer Music Monthly, has been praised also, “the blissful sound of a besotted drunk in love…Harcourt retains a composer’s eye for detail which repays whatever attention you care to give it.” British artist, Paul The Girl is an admired and accomplished musician; The Guardian review wrote,”…on her own tiny label, Paul is making the most original music of any British artist, of either gender.” Spice festival goers will be spoilt for choice with the line-up of drama performances. From Cardboard Citizens; an clectic mix of theatre, circus and music developed and devised by This Way Up, the UK’s largest arts performance programme for homeless people, to Rajni Shah Theatres’ story of Queen Elizabeth I, a traditional Indian bride and according to the synopsis, “…the relationships we have to the land we live on, and the theatres we all invent.”

Let’s not forget the little people for whom the Movingstage Marionette Company bring double bill, Captain Grimy and The Three Little Pigs, a charming puppet show re-telling these familiar, timeless tales. Also presented by Spice Festival is Richard Pinner, Gold Star BAFTA award winner who will be performing, “excellent close-up magic,” as described by The Stage.

The diverse drama available includes internationally renowned theatre company Rotozaza presenting their unique and innovative acts without any rehearsal. Actors perform by following live instructions. ROMCOM or The Distance Love Can Be Maintained Between Any Two Fixed Points, by Glen Neath is performed by two unprepared actors with headphones telling them what to say and do. The Glasgow Herald likens it to,”…one of Godards movies…as well as comedy it’s a complex study of compatibility and communication.”

2005 Events

Opera Gala Evening:
Hackney Empire:
Tuesday 12th July: 8pm, Tickets: £8, concessions £2.50

Billy Childish and The Buff Medways, Ed Harcourt, Paul The Girl:
Hackney Empire:
13 July: Doors 8.15pm Tickets: £10, conc. £7.50

Cardboard Citizens:
Acorn Theatre:
Thursday 21st July: 7.30pm

Rotozaza:
Hackney Empire:
17th July: 3pm: Tickets: £12/£8

Rajni Shah Theatre:
Acorn Theatre: Sunday 24th July: 4pm & 7.30pm: Tickets:£10/ £7

Movingstage Marionette Company:
Acorn Theatre:
16th July. 11am & 2pm: Tickets:£6, children £4.50.

Richard Pinner:
Bullion Theatre:
Sunday 24th July: 2.30pm: Tickets: £6 children, £4.50.