Painting With Shadows

The blog of photographer Kim Ayres

Negative Growth

19:05
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I love the term, "Negative Growth" which appears to have become one of the buzz phrases of the moment. It opens up a whole new way of talking about actions and events.

This week, for example, I achieved negative weightloss; I drank too much and became negatively upright, and found myself negatively progressing with my tax return.
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24 comments

Anonymous said...

In my comment on "Money", I mentioned "paper losses." Now you say "negative growth." I'll see your negative growth and raise you "unrealized losses."

We might as well gamble whatever we don't have left.

8:08 pm, January 19, 2009
Eryl Shields said...

There's rather a lot of negative activity in this house at the moment too: negative job prospects, negative cash flow, and I am achieving negative interest, let alone progress, in writing a project report. On the other hand, blogging activity is seeing unprecedented positive growth. As is cheap chocolate consumption, and hours spent staring into space.

9:15 pm, January 19, 2009
savannah said...

in the face of all this negativity i must say: yes! i agree, we are fucked!

xoxoxo

9:45 pm, January 19, 2009
Kim Ayres said...

Charlie - mmmm... I'll see your "unrealised losses" and raise by "printing money"

Eryl - Now that you mention it, I suddenly realise I've definitely been suffering from negative staring into space. I miss it. I need to timetable some in.

Savannah - not if the growth is negative we won't be...

11:22 pm, January 19, 2009
Apex Zombie said...

This post is good. That is to say, unbad, or not ungood. In fact, I'd definitely say my non-hate for it is not small :D

Or something ;)

11:36 pm, January 19, 2009
Pat said...

I wish I could say there was negative growth in the dust in my house. I know it stops growing after three inches but I can't bear to look at it and I have so little energetic time. I'm seriously thinking of getting help in the house although it will be trial for both of us.
Having Karen in the garden is a joy but that is an afternoon gone.

11:44 pm, January 19, 2009
debra said...

I am experiencing negative cleanliness, which will accompany my negative cash flow.
On a positive note, today is the last day that George W. Bush will be the President of the US.

12:49 am, January 20, 2009
Anonymous said...

Ah yes, as in "negative growth going forward."

1:00 pm, January 20, 2009
Kim Ayres said...

FLG - you're comments don't not displease me...

Pat - well it might be an incentive. I know people who have a home help and they clean and tidy the house before she gets there, so as to appear presentable

Debra - there's nowt negative about Bush's last day, other than it's taken 8 years too long to get here.

Conan - you're not not right

2:38 pm, January 20, 2009
Kanani said...

I've also had some negative weight loss. At the moment, we've got negative moisture in the air, it's 93º and it's only January. I'd have to say at this point there'll be negative irrigation in the garden in the summer due to negative rainfall.

Of course, the unrealized gain from all this is that I get to wear shorts, though I am scrupulous in wearing sunscreen so that I don't acquire parched skin.

6:27 am, January 21, 2009
Namaste said...

Isn't negative growth an oxymoron? Like, jumbo shrimp?

5:20 pm, January 21, 2009
Kim Ayres said...

Kanani - we're suffering from a lot of negative sun & negalive warmth at the moment

Namaste - you would have thought that, now wouldn't you?

6:07 pm, January 21, 2009
Jeff said...

I thought negative growth happened when a man jumps into a really really cold swimming pool!

In regards to current economics you would have to believe there was actual real growth for there to now be negative growth. If the markets lose 15% in a day where did the money acutally go? Did it really ever exist?

The folks that have been running the markets for the last decade are just modern day snake oil salesman.

Peace

2:34 am, January 22, 2009
Namaste said...

As we say in the states:

"I'm not sayin', but I'm just sayin'..."

Which also makes entirely no sense to me. :)

3:46 am, January 22, 2009
Mary Witzl said...

We've had some positive developments, Kim: a positive break in our car's engine, a positive number of teachers laid off in our institution, a positive increase in the dust build-up under our bed, and a big fat positive increase in our grocery bill what with food prices going UP, not DOWN. So think positive! I know we do...

And oh boy, taxes! Thanks for reminding me!

7:16 am, January 22, 2009
Kim Ayres said...

Jeff - if everyone believes they have more money, they go out and spend it. It's only when someone points out they don't that the whole system falls apart. Part of the problem is the last "boom" has lasted more than a decade, so even those who usually play safe began to become convinced

Namaste - that's a great phrase :)

Mary - I've always loved your positive outlook on life!

9:18 am, January 22, 2009
The Brokendown Barman said...

negative success??? could this be the new buzz word??
" i had to close my business. it was very successful, but mostly negative success"
"i had negative success on the lottery last night"
any way im off to turn a few positive pints into negative pints.
ta ra

6:49 pm, January 22, 2009
Kim Ayres said...

Barman - welcome to my ramblings and thank you for taking the time to visit and comment :)

7:03 pm, January 22, 2009
xerxes said...

Maroon quitting his blog (how else do you read his last post?) is part of it too. And if I'm wrong, well, then the recession will be over.

5:56 am, January 23, 2009
michael greenwell said...

Orwell suggested that as a cure for the not un formation you should memorise and repeat this sentence...

"A not unblack dog was chasing a not unsmall rabbit across a not ungreen field." George Orwell

1:06 pm, January 23, 2009
Kim Ayres said...

Inkspot - nothing about Dr Maroon is ever that straightforward. Well, it probably is in his own head, but...

Michael - double plus good!

2:33 pm, January 23, 2009
The Brokendown Barman said...

my pleasure old boy!!! been readin un for a while, just never commented b4!!

3:16 am, January 24, 2009
carla said...

huh. we're supposed to do tax returns?

1:54 pm, January 25, 2009
Kim Ayres said...

BD Barman - ooh, a lurker!

Carla - if you can afford it, get someone else to do it for you.

6:41 pm, January 26, 2009

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