Over 20 years ago we made an indie film called Purpose. We were trying to explore the connection between making money and making a difference. Entrepreneurs, I believe, are driven by passion and excitement to do something that they feel people will want and value. And when they get it right, they make money. Sometimes though, people forget the mission and focus only on the bottom line. These become poor businesses, even if they make buckets of cash.

Fast forward to the pandemic and the money printing extravaganza that took place over those two years, and today the world is in a situation where inflation is sky rocketing and the markets are anxious. This is the age of the day traders and the Bitcoin gurus. No one wants to work any more. Speculating, er, gambling, seems to be the the new norm. There are still are entrepreneurs out there, breaking ground, but so much bad product comes to market, especially in the tech world. This is largely because of venture capital funds that fuel these half-baked ideas. Too many things are rushed to market with unicorn tinted goggles. Purpose has taken a back seat. Profits don’t even seem to be important. Grow and flip. Who cares about the foundations. Financial engineering is the name of the game because the fundamentals are not that evident any more.

The subprime mortgage crises which erupted around 2008 in the US was never dealt with head on. Just a few slaps on the wrist and the can got kicked down the road. That mess contributed to the rapid rise in American home prices and it was the start of some serious bad shit. At some point though someone has to pay the price for all this greed. I reckon this has been on the cards for a while and it is about to come and bite us all in the ass. A serious reckoning is coming. I am surprised it has taken this long, but it is coming. I am pretty convinced of it.

There are still the constant crazy tech evaluations based on high earnings multiples. It feels like there is a big bubble that is set to deflate. I am not sure about burst, but this party can’t go on forever. The money printing has stopped, and the inflation we are experiencing globally is intense. From food prices to fuel to just about everything. It is hurting the masses.

The war in Ukraine, which makes me very sad, is a catalyst in this perfect storm. There is a lack of unity in the West and weak leadership. And dictators are having a field day. Putin has spurred them all on. The war in Ukraine may have dropped off your social media feed but what we are starting to see is that food prices and energy costs are going up and up. And this affects everyone. There are some very tough times coming to the world. The pandemic was a walk in the park. The biggest disease in the world is greed, and it is out of control and we are all going to pay the price.

We got to get back to the fundamentals. Can we? I think so. We need the crypto guys to save us all. Now there is an honorable profession. I have met a bunch of people over the last few years that they tell me they are working in crypto. I honestly don’t understand what that means. I understand technically what is crypto, but how one makes a career out of this stuff is beyond me. Do you they mean they are trading crypto for a living or are they investing in crpyto oriented businesses? Interestingly, most of the crpyto folk I have chatted to seem like nice guys. I just don’t understand what they do. Not that this matters. As long as they are having fun. Ah. yes, fun. The last two decades have been a ball. I could be wrong, but I think there is a big hangover coming this year. The luck is running out.

The war in Ukraine shows no sign of letting up soon. And this recent missile strike on a shopping mall in central Ukraine is just pure terrorism. What is the difference between this week’s Kremenchuk nightmare and that of 911 in NYC? If this shopping mall happened to have been in America the world would change overnight. No one would have anything to do with Russia ever again. So the fact that Russia still does business with the world is just mind boggling.

Zelensky: Kremenchuk strike ‘one of the most daring terrorist acts in European history.’ President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address that a strike on a mall in the city of Kremenchuk was deliberate and is “one of the most daring terrorist acts in European history.” “Peaceful city, ordinary shopping center, women inside, children, ordinary civilians. This is not a mistaken hit of missiles. This is a planned Russian strike at this shopping center,” Zelensky said.

Russia is over, in my view. The war will end at some point and who will ever do business in Russia again. Who could ever trust them. Yes, many Western firms are still operating in Russia and it is disgusting. But I think a lot of those companies will start to wind down their Russian operations sometime this year. When enough innocent people die things will change. I wonder what that number is … ?!

I think I was on Facebook for around 10 years, and Instagram for about 6 years. I certainly had a few laughs. I never really posted anything personal and often would enjoy a few jokes and get some news flashes. But I did have this constant nagging feeling that it was an unhealthy thing, with many dark sides, and that the world would be better off with out it. I never needed social media to be in business or make friends so when Facebook deleted me, I didn’t panic. I did sigh though and wonder about the world we live in. An AI bot must have zapped me because I posted an off kilter joke. Hardly the crime of the century, and considering my intention was to make people laugh, the sentence does seem a bit extreme. But the Zuck knows best, clearly. Now he looks like a guy who can make you laugh.

I have been off social media for 10 days now and I wonder what I actually was doing. I don’t feel I am missing anything. Is Facebook all about ego? Do we all need affirmation all the time? Was I like everyone else? Of course, we all have an ego, and every human being has insecurities. Was Facebook helping me to deal with mine? I am still thinking about this. I am discussing this openly here and I wondering what good came from all the years I was on Facebook. Did I learn a new skill or master a craft? Did I connect with people meaningfully or get closer to someone that is important to me. I don’t think so. Why then do we need these platforms? And are people addicted to these things?

I don’t think I ever showed off on Facebook but I know many people that do. Instagram, for example, is full of pictures of people loving life, in glamorous scenarios. Is this for real? Isn’t this insecurity we are seeing. Maybe I am being a bit cynical here, but I happen to know some people that are flashy on social media and their lives are not a bed of roses. So why all the pretending.

I think the youth are particularly vulnerable as these platforms are designed to be a drug. They figure out ways, with scientific precision, to push youngster’s buttons, and get them hooked. I don’t think it is healthy at all. What ever happened to playing outside and kicking a ball around. Those were good days. And it is all there still, ready for us. But the world is online, sadly, and life is passing by.

I used to use Facebook when on the toilet, waiting in a queue somewhere, and when I wanted to share some movie or work related news. It was a way to drum up support for a project, and even if it was slightly effective, I was convinced that every bit helps. I wonder if it did actually make a difference.

Let’s say I spent 10 to 15 minutes a day on Facebook. This is over an hour a week. That is 4 hours a month. That is two days out of the year. When you think of it like that, that is a lot of time. I would rather spend that time with my family and friends. And the Bunster needs all the time he can get with me.

Facebook certainly did provide some form of entertainment but I much rather prefer sitting back and relaxing with a good movie. But there never seems to be time. Hang on – from my simple calculation above I can watch more movies now. And there’s the thing. If you want to watch a film then go to a cinema or a streaming platform. If you want to read then pick up a book. If you want to laugh then check out a comedian. If you want the news then get a newspaper. We don’t need Facebook.

Have all of us become entertainers? Sit down comedians. Was that me? Is that what social media is about? One thing is for sure, everyone has an opinion on Facebook. Everyone has something to say online and some of it is pretty nasty, so best leave it alone. One could get caught up in an argument with people you hardly know, so quickly, and for what. Rather spend time with people and on things you love. Focus on something you are good at. Master a craft. Do something that adds real value to the world. Posting on Facebook adds nothing to the world.

The thing about technology is that it is meant to help us. And this is the paradox of progress. The more ways we invent to save time the less time we actually have. What value does Facebook add to the world? And it certainly does not save us time, so why do we need it? We are all slaves to technology. We need to control it, and not be controlled by it. We need less electronics in our lives. We need less digital and more analogue. Don’t get me wrong. I did have some fun with Facebook and it had some uses. I will miss seeing Greg on the island and Karl’s jokes were often very sharp. I am amazed he has not been kicked off for some of the things he posts. He has a wicked sense of humour – I like it.

What was the end result of my Facebook journey. Nothing. If you invest time in digital worlds it is very easy to land up with everything being erased, in a second. By an algorithm. Better to build things in the physical world, like real relationships, with real people. If you build a tree house it generally lasts but a virtual place, er, space, can very easily come to an abrupt and confusing end. Hackers can remove you and can cause trouble, and AI algorithms can decide you are not wanted anymore and voila, you are gone.

My closing thought: Perhaps Facebook is one big echo chamber.

PS – I usually posted these kind of jokes on Facebook and Instagram – enjoy.

If you want to be social then be social. But social media is a poor virtual substitute these days, which seems to becoming more and more negative. It used to be fun, and was always good for a few laughs when on the toilet, but anxiety amongst the youth is intense due to online peer pressure, and the amount of hate speech and misinformation on all these social platforms is very sad.

I originally joined Facebook because of the movie “Material”. It was a cool, easy way to share updates on the film’s development and progress, and also, to circulate Material news amongst my friends and colleagues. Then, a few years later, I signed up on InstaGram – that too looked like a bit of harmless fun. I used it mainly to share jokes and make people smile. I think I was doing ok. Sometimes I posted something that was not funny and missed the mark. I believe I have a good sense of humour but I can make mistakes. Especially in today’s world where one has to be overly sensitive and careful. God bless political correctness.

A couple of days ago I must have posted something that was considered to be inappropriate by an algorithm. A few minutes later I was locked out of my IG account and also, FB kicked me off too. It did allow me to appeal and now I am waiting to see … from what I read on Google there is a chance I will not be allowed back in. I have never had an issue like this before so I was quite surprised. Let’s see … it could mean that my social media days are coming to an end. If I am not allowed back in then it was not meant to be, and perhaps I should be thankful. I think Facebook and Putin share a common theme: evil.

What a week this been, and it is only Wednesday. Bitcoin is down, which to me is a good barometer on the world markets and global mood. I figure it means that people want their cash under the mattress. Perhaps Mr. Ramaphosa inspired this action. Yes, the markets are heading south and there are very tough times ahead. All that money printing in the US had to catch up with the world at some point. And we are all going to feel the squeeze. Not much to laugh at at the moment, including my last joke posting, apparently. Joke low, inflation high.

The saddest thing for me is the war in Ukraine. People are dying everyday. Innocent, kind folk, and from my perspective, America and the West are paying lip service to Mr. Zelensky, who is trying so hard to persuade the world’s leading countries to help. Ukraine needs weapons, and fast. If Russia wins this war, which I just can’t believe will happen, then what kind of a world are we living in. A disgusting world. And we will all pay the price if evil is allow to triumph over the truth.

That silly InstaGram page of mine was a way to try add some humour to the world. And yes, I didn’t get it right 100% of the time. And alas, I reckon my social media days have been halted, thanks to the Zuck and his amazing algorithms. It was a bit of silly fun while it lasted. Perhaps I will be unbanned, but it doesn’t look like it. Wow, years of mainly cool jokes, and then a dodgy one and bye bye. Doesn’t feel pretty apt. Which was the name of my IG account: PrettyApt (like this blog).

I am not a comedian, but I am quite funny, even f I say so myself. I was thinking: it can’t be easy for comedians these days. Especially online. One has to be so sensitive and so PC. Phew!

I was going to post the alleged rule breaking joke here on my blog but then I realized that WordPress most likely have the same bots. You can email me and I will send you the trouble making meme. If it upsets you please let me know, and if it makes you laugh, please let me know too. You can reach me on ronnie@prettyapt.com. Yes, I understand the problem but I really don’t get the part about go directly to jail. What ever happened to 3 strikes and you’re out?

As my friend Gus said to me, this is definitely a symptom of troubled times and of a company that is outsourcing decision-making to machines. Difficult times ahead, on the big social experiment online and on life in general. The headlines this week are here to stay. The next 6 months are going to be rough.

“Hello, my name is Marta and I’m from Ukraine. On Feb 24, 2022 I woke up at 4.30 in the morning to hear my city being bombed. Russia invaded Ukraine. A fight for life, humanity and democratic values begun.

Please help me help – buy a R 500 t-shirt with a Ukrainian print. I will transfer all the funds to local Ukrainian charity organizations. I am now in South Africa and I am trying to help Ukraine, my home. Ukraine is 10 000 away from SA, but distance is nothing to human values and love.”

To make your order, please contact Marta on Instagram or simply email her : marta@pygio.com – thank you for supporting peace!

It was three months ago today that we left Kyiv, shocked and scared. We are now in a holiday resort in South Africa, but we are not on holiday. We are still in a state of shock but we are not scared any more. We are unsure though about the future and for now it feels like we are treading water. And that can be exhausting.

I was born in South Africa and I love it here. But my soul was restless and in Kyiv I had found a magical world that was my happy place. I am very grateful that as I write this we are comfortable and safe. Everyday I count my blessings. But all we want is to return to Kyiv.

Most people I know had very little knowledge of Kyiv, if anything at all, until I told them about it. And those who came with me there, who walked the streets and took in the vibe, always wanted to return. Kyiv is a creative center, a place full of energy and spirit, with a booming IT industry, and incredible eating, culture, beauty, adventure … I could go on and on. And just a short time ago I had never heard of a mugging or anything related to crime in Kyiv, and then, just like that, life changed. War came to town.

Magical Kyiv are two words you often hear when people talk about this ancient city. A place where life is embraced to the fullest and where people laugh with their souls. The sense of humour one experiences in Ukraine is so opposite to the stupid stereotype, which will soon change. Ukraine is finally on the map, and it will stay on the map. Putin will not change the face of Europe. If that were to happen it means that evil has won, and I just cannot believe that is possible.

An interesting thing to observe is the currency in Ukraine which has hardly dropped in value since the start of the war. Ukrainians are not panicking and their confidence is reflected in the value of their currency. Also, cinemas opened again in Ukraine the weekend before last. Some rays of light.

Please God this insane war ends soon.

Marta and I were standing on the patio admiring the magnificent view on Sunday morning. And the weather was so lovely and you could just stand there and stare. But neither of us looked happy. Yes, we are very grateful to be staying in this peaceful and beautiful place, but we long to get back to Kyiv and the news from this week gone by continues to be very upsetting.

The thing about being on holiday is that you plan a holiday. You pack to go on holiday. The idea is to switch off and relax. But we are the opposite of switched off. This is no holiday. There is constant news from Ukraine and a lot of chats/text with friends and family back in Kyiv, and outside of the country. The ones in Ukraine tell us about the air raid sirens and the military presence in every direction, but they also tell us about the beauty and the vibe. People in Kyiv love their city and you can hear it in their voices every time they speak. Magical Kyiv. These are two words I hear often. And the folk on the outside all have the same question: when are we going back? A question we keep asking just about every day since we left.

The Bunster looks very happy down here in Fancourt. He runs around all the time without a worry in the world, and the other day he made friends with a cat. It was love at first site, for both the Bun and the cat. If it wasn’t for the Bunster we would head back to Kyiv this week.

This news headline from about a week ago really stumped me. After reading and staring at it, for quite some time, I just scratched my head and wondered. Does anyone reading this blog understand one word of this Bloomberg headline? My interpretation: this is all just sophisticated gambling and game playing. If anyone tells you they are working hard in crypto, whatever that even means, then they are lying to you and to themself.

My old pal Andrew explained to me, “… these were supposed to be the crypto equivalent of US Treasury bonds, a safe store of value pegged to the US$. Except when $1 becomes worth $0.99, people lose trust in the system and panic, and it may as well be worth zero. Which is what happened.” I kinda understand this, but I still don’t get it.

I believe that crypto currency is here to stay and I also believe it is going to be in all our futures. It should be a good thing. But what is not inspiring is the youth that all too often go on about this stuff like it is the meaning of life. The secret to success is to be keep your promises and to work hard. Trust underpins everything. And this crypto world is currently sounding pretty dodgy.

“The crypto world appears to have become the domain of constant speculation and presents no underlying value. We need engineers to go back to building useful things that actually help the world.”

There have been some silver linings to this nightmare war. The most important one for me is the re-connection with family. I have had an unusual journey in my adult life with my brother Alon, for example, and this leaving Kyiv abruptly and coming to SA has done a lot of good in terms of my relationship with my brother. The love and support from him and his family has been so beautiful and we are very blessed. I may not have understood my brother for a long time, and there is lots I still don’t get, and may never understand, but I have been reminded of his many good qualities and will be forever grateful that in this time of trouble that old cliche rings true. Family is the most important thing.

I have had many kind friends also reach out to us and there have been many offers of support. But nothing compares to the love of family. I am not sure why it has to take trauma to open one’s eyes, and heart, but this is often the case in life. When this war is over this will be a positive, lasting aspect of this mad year.

The war has caused all kinds of problems and challenges for everyone in Ukraine. Work projects cancelled or postponed, unplanned costs, money going to help others in need, and so on. Luckily my family and I are still ok, but we have had a few folk reach out to us and offer us financial help. I am very grateful to these kind friends. The thing my brother and his family gave us, which is way beyond money, is laughter, warmth, support, their loving home, care, time, patience, and much more. When we arrived in JHB we were in such a state of shock that to go to Alon’s home and everyone there just look after us was a gift from God. It is hard to describe what we are going through, and I hope no one ever has to deal with something like this, but the trauma is non-stop and this war is still going on and not letting up. All we want to to is return to Kyiv soon and help rebuild. There is going to be a lot of pain and a lot to do.

Alon, if you ever read this, thank you for everything. And thank you for this gift. I have made many mistakes in life, and I am trying harder and harder to be a better person. I love you with all my heart.