Robert Peston

As well as watching in awe at the current financial crisis - i've been wondering whether this BBC Financial Reporter is actually getting any sleep. I've been subscribing to his blog via RSS for quite a few months now - and he is posting seven days a week and at all hours. He is also on TV at all hours - first thing in the morning on breakfast news then on newsnight about 11pm.

Excellent postings they are too.

I must say having Outlook 2007 and the RSS feeds as part of it is very good - though that is probably the only additional feature they have added to make it worthwhile upgrading.

I was chatting to someone the other day and I was predicting that in 10 years time Microsofts dominance will have been seriously eroded. I hardly ever us much more than the bare minimum of features in Microsoft Office these days. I still haven't got my Linux machine up and running yet - haven't had time - very very busy with work at the moment - so cannot tell whether it is any good for the average user.

Another prediction of mine is that the Government will raise VAT to 21% in the next few years - maybe not in the next 12 months but next 2-3 years. Irish VAT is at 21% yet their corporation tax is much lower - so could be a way to go - either way the uK government is going to have to fill this hole - and whilst inflation is already high they could almost 'bury' the hike in prices - then a year later when it drops out the road to recovery is clear. VAT is also harder to dodge - but I guess is also much harder on the low paid.