tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172372612024-03-13T12:29:31.259+00:00Show Me The Canyon!"Don't tell me you need a bridge, show me the canyon!"<br><i>
Giuseppe Delena</i>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-52313683043450864252009-08-28T16:30:00.005+00:002011-12-19T13:15:55.943+00:00Where's the Blogging Gone?Most of my posting these days is done over at <a href="http://www.mba.co.uk/blog">MBA's website</a>.<div><br /></div><div>[Updated the link has moved to <a href="http://www.mba.co.uk/interestingness/">here</a>.]<br /><br />It's a blog of interesting stuff, mainly connected with marketing / advertising. And the occasional opinion / rant.<br /><br />Please check it out.</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-32716297022106426332009-04-24T11:58:00.001+00:002009-04-24T11:59:35.917+00:00The Irrelevance of the “Is blogging dead?” DebateFrom the as yet unreleased blog of the soon to be re-launched <a href="http://www.mba.co.uk">MBA</a> website...<br /><br /><br />An <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/andrew-keen-the-word-in-the-hallways-is-that-the-days-of-blogging-are-over-1671287.html">article in the Independent</a> on Monday 20th April stirred up the ever-present argument about whether blogging (or insert any other new technology) has had its day.<br /><br />Andrew Keen presented two quotes which initially appear opposing. Firstly, from Hermione Way of <a href="http://www.newspepper.com/">Newspepper.com</a> and <a href="http://techfluff.tv/">Techfluff.tv</a>, we get “Blogging as we know it is dead”, “It’s finished”.<br /><br />Secondly from Matt Mullenweg of <a href="http://wordpress.org/">WordPress</a> “Blogs will become aggregation points… they will become personal hubs. Places where we store all our own media content, such as our Flickr photos and Twitter posts.”<br /><br />But as Andrew Keen correctly surmises when evaluating who is right “They both are, of course”. The technology will move on; people will start to use the technology in different and more interesting ways. The original static blogs will evolve into more advanced formats, just as the humble website has developed since its first incarnations. For example, the Wordpress technologies mentioned in the Independent article are just two of the myriad developments:<br /><br /><a href="http://buddypress.org/">Buddy Press</a> is a suite of add ons that turn a multi user Wordpress blog into a social network.<br /><br /><a href="http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/p2">P2</a> adds Twitter like functionality. <p><br /><br />In reality this debate is utterly redundant. As <a href="http://gothamist.com/2004/04/09/clay_shirky_internet_technologist.php">Clay Shirky observed 5 years ago</a>, yes, 5 years ago…<br /><br /><i>“So forget about blogs and bloggers and blogging and focus on this - the cost and difficulty of publishing absolutely anything, by anyone, into a global medium, just got a whole lot lower. And the effects of that increased pool of potential producers is going to be vast.”</i><br /><br />Whilst there is cheap and fast access to the internet, whilst there are cheap and simple technologies to publish information, people will be uploading all sorts of content. Some will use it for specific purposes (income related or otherwise), others will just mess about with friends and others will do everything in between.<br /><br />Websites and technologies will come and go, but people will be sharing content via digital channels forevermore.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-41714272320240711142009-03-24T11:43:00.014+00:002009-03-24T12:44:09.282+00:00New Dimension Of Personal BalanceContemplating Twitter the other day, as one must, and listening to people whinging on about "what's the point of it?", I got to thinking that there is no point until you give it a point. Find yourself an agenda and then speak to it. But that, of course, doesn't just apply to Twitter. It applies to all conversations wherever they're happening.<br /><br />I'm also not quite achieving an optimal work / life balance of late, primarily due to increased online pervasiveness. For example, I use Google Reader primarily for work purposes and access on my iPhone has meant that work RSS feeds are now infiltrating areas previously reserved for offline "life" time. This annoys my wife tremendously. And that is not conducive to a fulfilling life!<br /><br />So I drew this to represent the new balance that I need to manage.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/ScjJ6o2R1XI/AAAAAAAAAnU/TtpagbG6uM8/s1600-h/Balance.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/ScjJ6o2R1XI/AAAAAAAAAnU/TtpagbG6uM8/s320/Balance.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316721369345545586" border="0" /></a>Now this all gets highly personal and subjective. I know you can argue the validity of the online and offline distinction. And also, for some, work is life, life is work and everywhere in between.<br /><br />Here's roughly where my life sits on this chart - I can clearly see where my use of Facebook, Twitter and various blogs sits within this.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/ScjK3FhEMDI/AAAAAAAAAnc/KWL-YPnCXXQ/s1600-h/Balance2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/ScjK3FhEMDI/AAAAAAAAAnc/KWL-YPnCXXQ/s320/Balance2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316722407833350194" border="0" /></a>I'm not convinced this is right, useful or relevant. But it seemed interesting.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-48523293633834025692009-03-16T09:26:00.002+00:002009-03-16T09:26:38.219+00:00Disappointment"No" can be upgraded<br /><br />"Maybe" can be clarified.<br /><br />"Yes" means yes.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-66889392658081114072009-02-27T14:18:00.004+00:002009-02-27T14:42:52.923+00:00Semantics, Consumers & Social MediaJust over two years ago I had a little rant about the use of the word "<a href="http://jamesdevon.blogspot.com/2006/12/lose-consumer-from-your-language.html">consumer</a>". I still firmly believe that it's worth avoiding. Thinking about "people" is so much more useful to good marketing.<br /><br />Now I'm starting to get niggled by "social media". I've a feeling I'm going to loathe it soon.<br /><br />With the assumption that it's a good idea for advertisers to infiltrate the world of social networks, you'll end up with smarter ideas if you think about them as "social networks" rather than as "social media".<br /><br />"Social media" implies that you have a right to be there. "Social networks" reminds you that you don't.<br /><br />On a similar subject, <a href="http://twitter.com/RobinGrant">Robin Grant</a> (MD of <a href="http://wearesocial.net/">We Are Social</a>) posted the same content on two different blogs this week about how brands should use Twitter. The<a href="http://wearesocial.net/blog/2009/02/brands-twitter/#disqus_thread"> first</a> on his Brand Republic blog, the <a href="http://community.brandrepublic.com/blogs/advertising_20/archive/2009/02/25/brands-and-twitter.aspx">second </a>on the We Are Social blog. Not only is the article well worth a read, but it's also interesting to note, by the number and nature of the comments, how differently the article was received in the different contexts.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-31003271941787522802009-02-18T18:03:00.003+00:002009-02-20T16:21:10.589+00:00Seth Godin London Event, Part DeuxWhat I really admired was <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/">Seth's</a> conviction and focus. He has absolute belief in his ideas and lots of examples to back it up. He's a superb presenter who makes you want to go out and change the world. Worth going for that alone.<br /><br />As with my <a href="http://jamesdevon.blogspot.com/2009/02/clay-shirky-lse.html">Clay Shirky post</a> a couple of weeks ago, here are some of the thoughts that I scribbled during the presentation. I'm sure a quick Google will bring you to much more detailed reviews about the themes and detail of Seth's talk but that's not for me (<a href="http://thegingermonkey.blogspot.com/2009/02/seth-godin-london-tribes.html">here's</a> <a href="http://johnwelsh.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/seth-godin-in-london-live-blogging/">some</a>). Readers of his books and blog will not be surprised by the content.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">1. Permission<br /></span>I feel the need to use a quote here.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />“To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.”<br />G K Chesteton.</span><br /></div><br />You know you've got permission to do what you're doing when people miss it and ask for it. A really good check is to ask yourself the question "If I didn't do it, would anyone mind?".<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">2. Remarkable</span><br />This is what Seth's book "Purple Cow" is all about. And he simply defines remarkable as "Something worth making a remark about". In other words an idea that people spread because they want to.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">3. General Sethness</span><br />Build the product to fit the customers' worldview rather than having a product and then working out how to sell it and who to sell it to. The product is the marketing.<br />Old ways of interruption are dead or dying. Internet changed the rules etc. etc.<br />We're trained to be average. Spending marketing money on average products for average people used to work... no longer.<br />Go read the blog and books.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">4. Reframe the Problem</span><br />e.g. Tiffany's charge for the green box not for the diamonds.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">5. Tribes need a mission</span><br />A similar thought as came out of the Clay Shirky presentation, that once the goal is achieved that the Tribe can splinter. What's happening now Obama is President?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">7. What's the new scarcity?</span><br />Rather than concerning yourself with why your business model is crumbling and trying to prevent it disintegrating (luddite music industry), find other ways to make money. Build communities. Create limited edition or unique products e.g. recordings of specific concert delivered next day etc. Well done Radiohead.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Remember we're human</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"The motivations are the same, the souvenirs are different"<br /></div><br />Human needs drive our behaviour, whatever it is we're selling.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">9. "Only connect" - from Howard's End by E M Forster.</span><br />This wasn't mentioned by Seth, but "human connection" was a major theme.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer. Only connect, and the beast and the monk, robbed of the isolation that is life to either, will die."</span><br /><br />Note to self... must read Howard's End to make sure I get this properly (especially the bit about the beast and the monk, I'm not sure why we want them to die), but it feels like it's expressing that we need to find meaning and that meaning comes from being involved in humanity. To live and experience.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Update: </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://blip.tv/file/1793315/">here's</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> video footage)</span>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-83039262849333788362009-02-17T21:11:00.007+00:002009-02-19T11:26:24.324+00:00Seth Godin London Event<div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SZsohVlXxRI/AAAAAAAAAfU/WHyaBiUYe7E/s1600-h/IMG_0544.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 134px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SZsohVlXxRI/AAAAAAAAAfU/WHyaBiUYe7E/s400/IMG_0544.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303877539353576722" border="0" /></a>(Picture taken with the <a href="http://artandmobile.com/quadcamera/">QuadCamera</a> iPhone app. Thanks <a href="http://russelldavies.typepad.com/planning/2009/02/quadcamera.html">Russell</a> for the tip off). </span><br /></div><br />Went to see Seth present today. Inspirational stuff. More soon when I've processed it a bit.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Update: here's a video clip...</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/94xhL8VEjZU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/94xhL8VEjZU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-78874233876175013402009-02-04T12:29:00.006+00:002009-02-10T10:10:47.491+00:00Clay Shirky @ LSE<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cubicgarden/3251239699/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/3251239699_8dfed2e114_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cubicgarden/3251239699/">Clay Shirky at the LSE London</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/cubicgarden/">cubicgarden</a></span></div>Last night I went to see a presentation by <a href="http://shirky.com/">Clay Shirky</a>, the author of "<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Here-Comes-Everybody-Happens-Together/dp/0141030623/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233749895&sr=8-1">Here Comes Everybody</a>". Interesting stuff, but not as illuminating as I'd hoped.<br /><br />He summarised his book as "Group action just got easier". (A similar statement is oft quoted on <a href="http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/004077.html">Gaping Void</a>).<br /><br /><br />Here's a couple of thoughts that I noted from the talk:<br /><br />1. Groups unite against an external threat<br /><br />2. Successful groups act as platforms not as organisations<br /><br />3. Groups no longer need a formal body to organise on their behalf - the workers could unite to disobey the union.<br /><br />4. When your fans break your business model, you know you're in trouble (relating to fans posting content from newspapers).<br /><br />5. Companies can no longer expect to break news on a busy news day to hide bad stories. Someone that cares will find it, republish it etc. etc.<br /><br />6. A big question is one of legitimacy. This is linked to the fundamental flaws of democracy.<br /><br />7. This is all about new tools being made available. It's not a change in human nature, it's a change in access and the ability to connect. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_college">Invisible College</a> in the 17th Century was a group of scientists sharing ideas for the greater good - group collaboration is not new behaviour.<br /><br /><br />One point that Clay made during the presentation was the speed with which events are now made public over the internet, exemplified by the Sechuan earthquake. Here's a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cubicgarden/3251239699/in/photostream/">few</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/katematlock/status/1173762811">links</a> to <a href="http://curiouslypersistent.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/clay-shirkys-polis-lecture-at-lse/">Clay's</a> <a href="http://redcatco.com/blog/communication/mass-collaboration-snow-joke/">LSE </a>talk being replayed on the internet, including a <a href="http://www.charliebeckett.org/?p=1080">blog post</a> from the chair of the evening, Charlie Beckett.<br /><br />You can download audio from the presentation <a href="http://public.me.com/jamesdevon">here</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Update: an official podcast of the event is </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/podcasts/publicLecturesAndEvents.htm">here</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.<br /><br />Update: Image credit to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cubicgarden/3251239699/">cubicgarden</a>. Weirdly, the text placed in the post by Flickr crediting cubicgarden appears in draft format, but not when publised. Apologies cubicgarden for you not being credited initially.<br /></span>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-20514866920435003562009-01-26T22:05:00.005+00:002009-01-27T12:46:40.512+00:00Obama Mania Hits Eltham LibraryNot even the children's section of <a href="http://www.greenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich/Learning/Libraries/FindLibrary/ElthamCentreLibrary.htm">Eltham library</a> is safe from <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=obamania">Obamania</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SX4z21VpntI/AAAAAAAAAag/_QTvK4AnI58/s1600-h/IMG_0484.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SX4z21VpntI/AAAAAAAAAag/_QTvK4AnI58/s400/IMG_0484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295727228958121682" border="0" /></a>And with possibly the worst ever typography on the inspiring quote at the bottom.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SX4z-UNSHNI/AAAAAAAAAao/9QugIgpHaDY/s1600-h/IMG_0485.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SX4z-UNSHNI/AAAAAAAAAao/9QugIgpHaDY/s400/IMG_0485.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295727357503610066" border="0" /></a>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-84633460520306412912009-01-20T09:37:00.004+00:002009-01-20T09:51:06.399+00:00adiZone: Marketing by Being UsefulWell done <a href="http://www.adidas.com/uk/homepage.asp">Adidas</a> and whoever else has been responsible for the adiZones built in parks in some of the less well-off parts of London. From a tiny bit of <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q=adiZone&btnG=Google+Search&meta=lr%3D">Googling</a> it <a href="http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/09/12/launch-of-the-adizone-in-tower-hamlets.php">looks like</a> an <a href="http://www.london2012.com/news/archive/2008-09/adidas-get-into-the-2012-zone.php">initiative </a>with <a href="http://www.london2012.com/">London 2012</a> to create a meaningful legacy from the Olympics. I spotted this one near where I live in <a href="http://tinyurl.com/7gc5lr">Charlton Park</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SXWdI59TaiI/AAAAAAAAAZw/Buj1UumGy1E/s1600-h/photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SXWdI59TaiI/AAAAAAAAAZw/Buj1UumGy1E/s400/photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293309713366346274" border="0" /></a><br />It's a place for young people to let off a bit of steam - robust outdoor gym equipment, a "street" style basketball court and a climbing wall.<br /><br />Tremendous initiative adding value to the local communities. A genuinely useful addition. The only grumble I've got is that the launch wasn't that well promoted, so I missed seeing the <a href="http://www.greenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich/2012Games/OlympicNews/AllBlacksOpenGreenwichAdiZone.htm">All Blacks</a>!Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-3230287943944205872009-01-19T09:15:00.003+00:002009-01-19T19:46:23.663+00:00Mourning MorphIsn't this just the saddest thing?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SXRFkssdBDI/AAAAAAAAAZY/9Aj-8M6z4w8/s1600-h/mourningmorph.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SXRFkssdBDI/AAAAAAAAAZY/9Aj-8M6z4w8/s400/mourningmorph.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292931958842393650" border="0" /></a><br />Thank you <a href="http://www.b3ta.com/board/9105744">b3ta</a> for this <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7836112.stm">Tony Hart</a> memorial.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-18962368294891244722009-01-13T14:47:00.009+00:002009-01-14T12:43:20.233+00:00Futurology: Richard Watson at the RSACheck out the video <a href="http://www.thersa.org/events/vision/vision-videos/richard-watson">here</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"When you think about the future, most people think in terms of new things that are going to be invented. Well, yes that's part of it, but it's equally about the things that are old and familiar that are going to vanish".</span><br /><br />Lots of juicy thought-provoking stuff.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-81940842020687894242009-01-06T15:15:00.003+00:002009-01-06T15:21:14.868+00:00Still Not Getting It Automotive StyleAfter the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7755249.stm">much derided</a> decision to turn up to Washington in private jets, it seems our American car industry friends still haven't got it. World Car Fans reports that Chrysler have used some of their money to fund an ad campaign to say thank you. Doh! Stop wasting money, even to say Thank You.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SWN2SpFwJRI/AAAAAAAAAYA/x39lr6nZXDg/s1600-h/chrysler-thank-you-america-ad.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SWN2SpFwJRI/AAAAAAAAAYA/x39lr6nZXDg/s320/chrysler-thank-you-america-ad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288200450102797586" border="0" /></a>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-55719643897284905862009-01-06T15:05:00.002+00:002009-01-06T15:21:28.176+00:00Proposition for Troubled TimesHot on the heels of Flybe's "redundancy cancellation insurance" emails (see <a href="http://herd.typepad.com/herd_the_hidden_truth_abo/2009/01/sign-of-the-times.html">Herd</a> for details), comes this from Hyundai - a no strings attached deal to hand back your car if you are made redundant.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SWNzlCJv59I/AAAAAAAAAX4/y3J88XrM8YA/s1600-h/hyundai-assurance-program.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SWNzlCJv59I/AAAAAAAAAX4/y3J88XrM8YA/s320/hyundai-assurance-program.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288197467533207506" border="0" /></a><br />Hat tip to <a href="http://www.worldcarfans.com/9090106.009/hyundai-offers-unprecedented-walkaway-vehicle-return-program">World Car Fans</a>.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-70057482301476393812008-12-23T11:12:00.004+00:002008-12-23T11:20:55.780+00:00Still Not Getting ItWarner is <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7795157.stm">threatening YouTube again</a>. Take down those videos of Warner artists or we'll get you! Yawn yawn yawn.<br /><br />The below image is a screen grab of the wonderfully interesting <a href="http://www.will-lion.com/digitalbites/">Digital Bites</a> (found via <a href="http://farisyakob.typepad.com/blog/2008/12/digital-bytes-viral-happens.html">TIGS</a>).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SVDI1bjONYI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/ETyU-qQIx6E/s1600-h/litigation.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SVDI1bjONYI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/ETyU-qQIx6E/s400/litigation.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282943183159702914" border="0" /></a>The quote, from a <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/7702732.stm">BBC interview</a> with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Hurley">Chad Hurley</a> (one of YouTube's founders) is:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"The people that they are trying to go after are their biggest fans".</span><br /></div><br />Precisely.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-76654151962677431362008-12-15T12:12:00.002+00:002008-12-15T12:15:08.884+00:00Star Wars here we come!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SUZJrPkLBeI/AAAAAAAAAUw/MojQuL-T7yk/s1600-h/tie_fighter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 224px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SUZJrPkLBeI/AAAAAAAAAUw/MojQuL-T7yk/s400/tie_fighter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279988620399936994" border="0" /></a><br />"Airborne laser lets rip on first target" - <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026866.200-airborne-laser-lets-rip-on-first-target.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news">here</a> from New Scientist. Cool and scary at the same time.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-24854916179093824642008-12-11T12:27:00.000+00:002008-12-11T12:29:24.210+00:00Save CranberryLovely Christmas campaign from <a href="http://www.cmwlondon.com/">CMW</a>.<br /><br />Save Cranberry the turkey from being cooked <a href="http://getstuffed08.co.uk/">here</a>, or don't.<br /><br />Bonus link: my recent <a href="http://www.cmwlondon.com/blog/post/2008/12/11/When-Obama-Won-The-Election.aspx">CMW blog post</a> on Obama.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-14250524083833931272008-12-04T10:17:00.004+00:002008-12-04T10:24:54.313+00:00Innocent Newsletter (no planning cliches, I promise)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/STeuh5FipsI/AAAAAAAAASc/8yF0mXk_Yao/s1600-h/innocent_news.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 134px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/STeuh5FipsI/AAAAAAAAASc/8yF0mXk_Yao/s320/innocent_news.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275877385770804930" border="0" /></a>Think what you like about <a href="http://www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/">Innocent</a>, but without question they get the need for being interesting. I subscribe to their newletter, not to learn about their new smoothies or latest kerazzeee marketing ideas, but for the links at the bottom.<br /><br />Every week you get 5 or 6 links to weird and wonderful things on the internet. Here's this week's "And finally..."<br /><br /><p class="style2"><span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><b>And finally...</b></span></span></p> <span><li class="style1">Squid with <a title="http://webnews.innocentdrinks.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A835211241670487937036193510&tId=7675397" href="http://webnews.innocentdrinks.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A835211241670487937036193510&tId=7675397" target="_blank"><span title="http://webnews.innocentdrinks.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A835211241670487937036193510&tId=7675397" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">elbows</span></a>. </li><li class="style1">Huge <a title="http://webnews.innocentdrinks.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A835211241670487937036193510&tId=7675398" href="http://webnews.innocentdrinks.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A835211241670487937036193510&tId=7675398" target="_blank"><span title="http://webnews.innocentdrinks.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A835211241670487937036193510&tId=7675398" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">hula hoop</span></a>. </li><li class="style1"><a title="http://webnews.innocentdrinks.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A835211241670487937036193510&tId=7675399" href="http://webnews.innocentdrinks.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A835211241670487937036193510&tId=7675399" target="_blank"><span title="http://webnews.innocentdrinks.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A835211241670487937036193510&tId=7675399" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Veg art.</span></a> </li><li class="style1"><a title="http://webnews.innocentdrinks.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A835211241670487937036193510&tId=7675400" href="http://webnews.innocentdrinks.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A835211241670487937036193510&tId=7675400" target="_blank"><span title="http://webnews.innocentdrinks.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A835211241670487937036193510&tId=7675400" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Leaf mimic</span></a>. </li><li class="style1"><a title="http://webnews.innocentdrinks.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A835211241670487937036193510&tId=7675401" href="http://webnews.innocentdrinks.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A835211241670487937036193510&tId=7675401" target="_blank"><span title="http://webnews.innocentdrinks.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A835211241670487937036193510&tId=7675401" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Whack</span></a>-a-mouse</li></span>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-4712398249570964802008-11-17T10:17:00.004+00:002008-11-17T10:38:27.254+00:00Whether to own-up or not?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SSFF-9fagtI/AAAAAAAAAOs/K7c1Hb6JAKE/s1600-h/quinnybuzz2007strawberry.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SSFF-9fagtI/AAAAAAAAAOs/K7c1Hb6JAKE/s320/quinnybuzz2007strawberry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269569986960720594" border="0" /></a>A year and a half a ago, the wife and I purchased a <a href="http://www.quinny.com/quinny/productdetail.aspx?id=3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Quinny</span> Buzz</a> for our first born. We were very happy with it and recommended it to a couple of friends who bought it too.<br /><br />Now that our little one is a bit bigger and winter is drawing in - we noticed that the straps were getting very tight, without any visible means of lengthening them. A quick Google search found <a href="http://tinyurl.com/67st5z">this link</a>, and several others with the same story. There was a production error on the 2007 models meaning the straps were too short. <a href="http://www.dorel.co.uk/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Dorel</span></a>, the UK importers of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Quinny</span>, were matter of fact when I called them and they've ordered some new parts for me. No trouble at all. (Call 01842 763 281 in the UK).<br /><br />Now <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Dorel</span> / <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Quinny</span> must have sat around a table and decided what to do when they realised this problem. And in my opinion, they've picked less than wisely. Their options were:<br />1. Keep as quiet as possible, hope no-one notices and sort out those that do efficiently. (Which is what they've done)<br />2. Shout loudly that they've made a mistake and get all the products sorted.<br /><br />Option 1 minimises the shock. The shock that sending out all those extra parts means to profit and resource. But it also alienates your tribe (visit <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/">Seth's blog</a> for more on tribes). For those that find out, they tell the same friends as before and so the parts are still required, but you've lost some love and trust. Others will suffer in silence, ultimately not using their pushchair anymore and certainly not recommending it to friends.<br /><br />Option 2 keeps your tribe of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">recommenders</span>, keeps everyone happy, keeps the Buzz visible in all the smart London parks, keeps your business going in the future.<br /><br />It seems to me that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Quinny</span> / <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Dorel</span> forgot the <a href="http://www.cluetrain.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Cluetrain</span></a>. Forgot that their customers move a lot faster than they do, forgot that they can talk to each other (a lot).Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-60937739695285078692008-11-13T12:59:00.003+00:002008-11-13T13:03:33.185+00:00Sun Headlines - A New Blog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SRwlX5JJ5hI/AAAAAAAAANw/OY5iA1_RwTU/s1600-h/The_Sun.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 108px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SRwlX5JJ5hI/AAAAAAAAANw/OY5iA1_RwTU/s320/The_Sun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268126756523075090" border="0" /></a><br />Sun headlines capture the mood and consciousness of the nation. So I've started a new blog to showcase them. I'll be posting the headline of the day as well as some of the classics.<br /><br />Here's the <a href="http://sunheadlines.blogspot.com/">link to the blog</a>.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-70646967381655916502008-10-02T09:24:00.002+00:002008-10-02T09:30:41.553+00:00New Faith In HumanityI simply love it when the public is a bit naughty. It restores my belief in humanity - that people out there are fun loving and generally social rather than knife-wielding loonies.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_roll">Rick-rolling</a> the <a href="http://ema.mtv.co.uk/">MTV awards</a> is a <a href="http://chuckpalahniuk.net/forum/1000026/rick-rolling-mtv-europe-music-awards-2008-pass-it">perfect example</a>.<br /><br />Similar to the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2757067.stm">"Jedi" as a religion meme</a> in the British Census a few years back.<br /><br />Keep on misbehaving people!Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-43723149705546988632008-09-18T11:24:00.001+00:002008-09-18T11:24:50.225+00:00Just Testing......the Lifecast iPhone app. <br/><br/>Posted with <a href='http://lifecast.sleepydog.net'>LifeCast</a>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-91373296177100012272008-08-21T13:51:00.003+00:002008-08-21T13:58:32.433+00:00Visualising Freetext DataFaced with a mighty amount of freetext research data, I naturally wanted a short cut to understand what was there and then an interesting way of presenting it.<br /><br />Then I remembered tag clouds - look down the right hand side of this blog for an example from <a href="http://zoomclouds.egrupos.net/">Zoom Clouds</a>. But my data was in Excel, not on a blog or website.<br /><br />A spot of Googling and a dear colleague found <a href="http://www.tagcrowd.com/">Tag Crowd</a> that makes a nice cloud from any data.<br /><br />Here's a result from the question "What is the worst thing about France?"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SK1z_oJxG_I/AAAAAAAAAIs/Zo55QiymPLc/s1600-h/worst+france.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/SK1z_oJxG_I/AAAAAAAAAIs/Zo55QiymPLc/s320/worst+france.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236969478649093106" border="0" /></a>It would have been a bit better if I'd filtered the results a little - you can do this easily in the Tag Crowd interface.<br /><br />Happy Planner.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-76680636881804543052008-08-21T10:29:00.007+00:002008-08-21T18:35:11.982+00:00iPhone, iCal, Microsoft Outlook and the Sync ConundrumA little bit different from my normal posts, but I've found a fix that's worth sharing.<br /><br />So using <a href="http://www.apple.com/uk/iphone/">iphone</a> for multiple calendars...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">[Note added later: the most effective method for this is to use </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.apple.com/uk/mobileme/">MobileMe</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, but I'm way to cheap to pay for that</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;">So using iphone for multiple calendars </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">for free</span><span style="font-style: italic;">...]</span><br /><br />I have a PC with the usual Microsoft stuff at work. And a Mac with iCal at home. Switching on the calendar element of the Microsoft Exchange stops exchange of data with ical and removes the iCal data. So how do I get both my calendars on my iphone?<br /><br />This isn't perfect but it seems to work (NB I've not done steps 2 or 3 yet, that's a task for tonight!). The trick is to use an internet based calendar. I've gone for Google Calendar, but I've heard you can do similar things in Plaxo.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Step 1: Sync your Outlook with Google Calendar.</span><br />Nice easy instructions <a href="http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?answer=89955">here</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Step 2: Take the feed from this Google Calendar and subscribe using iCal.</span><br />Instructions <a href="http://www.googletutor.com/2007/01/24/syncing-google-calendar-with-ical/">here</a>. As noted above, I've not tried this yet, so fingers crossed for this (& particularly step 3!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Step 3: Sync your iphone with your mac as normal</span><br />Fingers firmly crossed.<br /><br />Not perfect especially as the Google Calendar to iCal sync is unilateral. But a good start nonetheless.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">[Note added later: this all works just fine. Just a pity that iCal doesn't sync back to Google Calendar. You can buy <a href="http://spanningsync.com/">this</a> if you want to solve that problem]</span></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17237261.post-954597076088977752008-08-20T14:13:00.003+00:002008-08-20T14:26:26.038+00:00Community and Antisocial BehaviourThe video in my <a href="http://jamesdevon.blogspot.com/2008/08/anthropology-of-you-tube.html#links">previous post</a> has got me thinking a bit on how the changing nature of community could be impacting on (antisocial) behaviour.<br /><br />So here's another unsubstantiated hypothesis.<br /><br />Community used to be defined by geography and the people contained within your personal catchment area. Now it's about who you're connected to via whatever means you have available. Geography is irrelevant.<br /><br />As you're getting your sense of community and belonging from elsewhere, perhaps you care a bit less about your physical location and its populace. Because you're uber-connected to people and ideals that resonate strongly, you don't need the people and places whose only relevance to you is physical proximity.<br /><br />Link this to a lack of emotional intelligence or <a href="http://jamesdevon.blogspot.com/2008/07/mind-blindness-yoof-of-today.html#links">mind-blindness</a>, and you can explain quite a bit of what appears to be antisocial behaviour.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06407675609320615769noreply@blogger.com2