Friday, December 05, 2008
Monday, December 01, 2008
Warning: UK fraudsters target online car sales
The typical scam involves a "buyer" purporting to be a garage wanting to pay the price and pay you extra for you to pay his shipping agent directly. Say you sell your car for £5K and shipping costs £500. You accept his offer, receive a cheque for the car plus extra for the shipping (£5.5K). Your bank informs you that the cheque has been paid to your account. You pay the shipping agent as instructed for £500, usually through Moneygram. A few days later, your bank informs you that the cheque has bounced and withdraws the amount from your account. Leaving you with having paid "shipping fees" of £500 to some unknown untraceable "shipping agent".
You have been warned.
Zinio: Search and read over 50,000 international magazines... for free.
As read on Micropersuasion.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
World Philosophy Day: Something to think about.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
iPhone Google application baffled by British accents
I can't imagine what my French accent would have produced...
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Long Tail: When faith meets facts
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The economics of Spam: 0.00000008% response rate = $3.5M turnover
First read in The Register.
Full study here.
Monday, November 10, 2008
How to monetize bloggers' ego?
2. Mass-email bloggers to enter the award.
3. Charge $275 per blog for entry ($195 if you enter before November 14, $250 before December 15).
4. Mass-email bloggers to vote for their favourite blogs in the proposed categories (less work for you).
5. Laugh all the way to the bank. Repeat next year.
Chapeau!
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
The World has voted: Change we can finally believe in
Across the World, Obama won 9,115 electoral colleges vote against 203 for McCain. The only countries where McCain overtook Obama were
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Email error ends up on road sign
Amazon's one-click patent invalidated?
Via TechCrunch.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Ground breaking Youtube ad for Nintendo Wii Wario Land game
Seller threatens lawsuit after negative eBay feedback
Thursday, October 23, 2008
The end of Web 2.0?
Monday, October 20, 2008
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Japanese restaurant takes cost cutting to the extreme
Friday, October 03, 2008
Ultrasound machine 'turns cheap plonk into fine wine in 30 minutes'
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Google puts 2001 search index back online to celebrate 10 years anniversary.
Beyond PR in Advertising Age top 100 European marketing blogs
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
First skyscraper to be built in Paris for 30 years unveiled.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
How America is becoming the United States of France
Friday, September 19, 2008
Futurologist Richard Watson's 2050 vision
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Great Wine Swindle
Forget Facebook's redesign, here is an issue you should be really concerned about: According to Malcolm Gluck, wine producers use "a host of additives" to disguise the flavour or inferior grapes without listing them on the labels. The list includes sugar, hydrochloric acid, yeasts and ascorbic acid (sometimes they use harmful substances to raise alcohol content and traces of fertilisers have been found in some champagnes). I am not surprised here but what bothers me is that the Wine and Spirits Trade Association is exempt from labelling rules. Their spokesperson says that "it is possible for drinkers to find out what is in their wine by talking to the maker or importer". So the next time you are in Waitrose, make sure you brush up on your French or Italian to call the maker or importer of every bottle you are considering buying, should you find their phone number. Operators are on standby to confess that they top up their wine with ethanol... This is laughable in a pathetic way.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
CARNAGE AS FACEBOOK MOVES EVERYTHING SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT
Friday, September 12, 2008
Six Technologies with Potential Impacts on US Interests out to 2025
From the National Intelligence Council. Fascinating read as a glimpse into our future.
uStart, your customisable start page
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Brands fight bloggers with 'fact' websites
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Wikipedia founder launches Green Wikipedia
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Eat less meat to fight climate change
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Singapore Animated: First public screening of Singaporean animated short films at the ICA, London
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqjR1vH5EetCx2vwJosbRsuKbVu4YTsCPziCIXmqwJzwTuUu68106mu2DUEq5uuh2rlLPLkEpo-UoAIhkwqLqZN6zDSWybuO9Dg8wcMm06QDb1ZMVaPdYQR7L9_GWfoOrucp5Hg/s320/FB_banner.jpg)
If you like animation and short films, don't miss Singapore Animated at the Institute of Contemporary Art on the 25th of October.
Organised by the Singapore Creative Network UK, the event is the first public screening of some of the best animations from Singapore curated by Gavin Lim, an award-winning director in the Singapore International Film Festival.
Mysteries of the Universe to be solved next Wednesday
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Google v. Microsoft, the browser war
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
UK to become the biggest country in the EU in 50 years' time,
- UK 77 million
- France 72
- Germany 71
- Italy 59
- Spain 52
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Qik.com: Stream video live from your phone
Monday, August 18, 2008
Met Police launches Google crime map
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Beware of a new Facebook scam!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Creativity and Personal Mastery, summarised in one video
Friday, August 08, 2008
Apple removes I Am Rich, a $1,000 featureless iPhone application
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Google offers free music in China
Friday, August 01, 2008
Google Lively, a Second Life killer? Yes but a slow death.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Growth slump may force Italy out of eurozone
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Technorati state of the Blogosphere
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Second Life's economy is dominated by women's clothes
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Google Knol, a Wikipedia rival?
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Beyond PR #24 on top 50 PR blogs in the world
Shapeways lets you create real 3D objects
I am very excited about the possibilities for artists and designers, from anime figurines to limited edition jewelleries.
See how it works here:
Monday, July 21, 2008
StudiVZ sued by Facebook?
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Do problems with Wikipedia presage social networking’s end?
Monday, July 14, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Is there a point to business training? Britain's most mickey mouse training courses
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Monday, July 07, 2008
Google v. Your Privacy
Friday, July 04, 2008
Biofuels to blame for 75 per cent increase in price of food
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Man sues old schoolfriend for libel after he made 'fake' entries on Facebook
Friday, June 27, 2008
Icann's new naming system is a brand owner's nightmare
Article on Outlaw.com
Given how companies are already struggling to cope with existing limited domain names, not to mention the confusion over the .eu domain name, this will fun to watch.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Why are gas prices rising?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Google launching research and media planning tool for professional ad planners
Apply for Google Ad Planner beta login here.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 09, 2008
Photoshop Disasters, the Blog
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Thursday, June 05, 2008
What makes a viral ad?
- Controversy is the mother of advertising.
- Get viewers to wonder whether it is real or not
- Ignite communities
- Thrown down the gaunglet
- Make it hilarious if it has to be fun
- Titillate...
Monday, May 26, 2008
Cannabis blunder at Tokyo airport
From the BBC.
University of Southern California releases generally accepted PR practices study
This is an academic study conducted by Jerry Swerling, Professor and Director of PR at the USC. I am blogging about it as although this is a US study, the findings apply to European markets:
- In 2007, PR budgets increased on average by 7%
- Organizations remain reluctant or unable to allocate adequate resources to PR evaluation, preferring to focus on execution (so true...)
- Increasingly the PR function reported directly to the C-Suite at 64% reporting to human resources, legal, finance and strategic planning.
- PR was ranked as the top contributor to success among respondents at government agencies and among all but the very largest not-for-profits, suggesting that one of the benefits of working in the government or not-for-profit arena is the extent
to which PR is seen as an important player.
- GAP Best Practice #1: Maintain a higher than average ratio of PR budget to gross revenue (GAP PR/GR Ratio).
- GAP Best Practice #2: Report directly and exclusively to the C-Suite.
- GAP Best Practice #3: Optimize the C-Suite’s understanding of PR’s current and potential contributions to the success of the organization as a
- whole.
- GAP Best Practice #4: Establish an effective social responsibility strategy for your organization.
- GAP Best Practice #5: Establish an effective digital-media strategy for your organization.
- GAP Best Practice #6: Establish an effective issues-management strategy for your organization.
- GAP Best Practice #7: Optimize integration and coordination within the PR/Communications function, and between it and other organizational functions.
- GAP Best Practice #8: Encourage highly ethical practices across the organization, beginning with communication.
- GAP Best Practice #9: Encourage the organization-wide adoption of a long-term strategic point of view, beginning with communication.
- GAP Best Practice #10: Encourage the organization-wide adoption of a proactive mindset, beginning with communication.
- GAP Best Practice #11: Encourage the organization-wide adoption of a flexible mindset, beginning with communication.
- GAP Best Practice #12: Optimize the integration of PR and reputational considerations into top-level organizational strategies.
- GAP Best Practice #13: Measurably contribute to organizational success.
Check out the full study at USC.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
BrandTags: See what people think of brands
Check it out: BrandTags.
Do you know who I am! Ladbrokes CEO bullies British Airways.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Fifidel: real time negotiation engine for product sales
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Affordable Mobile Broadband on the go with Three
If you are a business nomad, you would want to consider Three’s mobile broadband offer. I am testing it courtesy of the folks at 3MobileBuzz.
The first SIM I received was faulty but I got it replaced quickly. This is my second experience with their call centre and I must say that once again they did a great job: professional and courteous. So dealing with it wasn’t the hassle I anticipated.
Setting-up your connection is pretty easy, at least on a Mac:
- Insert the SIM card in the USB modem. You only need to do that once.
- Plug-in the dongle
- When it mounts, click on the “Mobile Connect” application.
- Click on “Connect”.
That’s it, you are online.
Connection speed varies a lot. My very first test was at my school in Baker Street. The connection was unfortunately too slow to check-out my emails. I did subsequent trials at various locations around London and the speed was good enough to check emails and surf the web. I plan to try a Skype video call this weekend, which would be the ultimate deal clincher for me.
Three has a special offer and retail their USB modem from £49.99. On contract plans, you get 1GB allowance for £10, 3GB for £15 and 7GB for £25. This is similar to the 2 other companies offering mobile broadband in the UK: Vodafone is also charging £15 for 3GB allowance so is T-Mobile. The latter has an “unlimited data” plan, which is in fact a 10GB allowance for £35 a month. Telecom plans are notoriously difficult to compare as companies have all incentives to make it look like it is different from their competitors so I am going to ask a few questions to my contacts there so I could work out where the real value is in the market.
In the meantime, I will make the most of the sunshine with some outdoor blogging.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
The triumph of form over substance: Boris Johnson wins London
Thursday, May 01, 2008
How Europe can shape the global system?
On a totally unrelated topic, I am testing Three's new mobile broadband offer and will report on it very shortly.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS, CONFIRMS UNITED NATIONS
All explained in the Daily Mash:
"We're planting crops for fuel instead of food in order to make it cheaper to drive to the shops where we then buy food that is much more expensive because we've planted crops for fuel instead of food."(...) "Meanwhile, the banks are borrowing money from taxpayers so that they can then lend the same money back to the taxpayers at a higher rate of interest than they borrowed it from them in the first place."
It is so funnily true that it is sad.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The world 50 best restaurants, where is Asia?
In 2008, Spanish El Bulli is number one again, The UK's Fat Duck back to number 2, French Pierre Gagnaire is number 3.
I mapped the top 50 per countries only to find out that there are no restaurants listed in Asia. I can't believe that there are no kitchen in Hong Kong, Shanghai or Tokyo that serve better food than in Hakkasan or Nobu (just to mention 2 "asian fusion" restaurants listed in the UK).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-M8ViXz1CxLdKq6lBvCD9SWYenLtEJfw81fEjEfQDmbGv12ihQdkFWSD4q8T_gr27oYIBCqXNlT7gX0vhtnfchz4RIAkfGSlQtONJMjRGwTVpyinjnPs7Jf6EmMzCNGhZ1KE1gA/s320/WorldTop50Restaurants.jpg)
Saturday, April 19, 2008
A decade of web design
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Hey this is my 500th post!
Monday, April 07, 2008
An iPhone for £78 (US$150)
The secret strategy behind viral videos on Youtube
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Technology of tomorrow, soon available in London
The event's website hosts a few video interviews. I might attend. These are the topics I am interested to hear about:
- What are the strategic challenges in delivering new products or services to market?
- How does a CEO manage through technological change?
- How does the right leadership strategy influence the fostering of innovation in your people?
- What new technologies are likely to shape the consumer technology market, and how will social lifestyles evolve as a result of these technologies?
- Are we expecting to see greater network bandwidth, if so, how will that affect feature rich application software?
- What does mobile computing look like in the next 5 years from the PDA/Mobile to PC computing?
- What does Web 3.0 look like in terms of using the cloud (internet) to do more computing?
- How will social and business networking technologies evolve on the web?
- What new web-based applications can we expect to see in the next 5 years?
The Daily Mash
Monday, March 17, 2008
You can opt-out of Facebook but you can never leave
The way out? "To delete your details permanently you must first unearth the anonymous-looking customer service form that is hidden away at tinyurl.com/2xv52v. (...) When completing this form tell Facebook in both the subject and the message fields that you wish to have your account deleted. To check if this has been done properly either create a fake Facebook account or ask a friend to search for your details a few days later."
French ruling party taking a beating at local elections
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Have you heard of eco-tourism? Help me test a new business idea and win...
I am working on a new business project in the area of sustainable tourism / eco-resorts. I am particularly interested to hear from Canadians, Brits and Americans as these are our target customers. Your opinion will make a difference on how we position and market our project:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=OI4Mv_2bxYjAgEjOHF57X7xw_3d_3d
This survey takes 5 minutes to complete only and you will stand the chance to win a $50 Amazon voucher.
Thank you for your help, and good luck with the draw.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Misery makes Britons happy, says US writer
The Telegraph
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Warner music declares war on Apple with £5 iPod album
Warner: £5, Apple: £7.99. Price war! It is about time...
Daily Mail
Note2be, teachers rating website lost court case
This could apply to any website ratings individuals (plumbers, accountants, consultants...).
French article in Liberation.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Man charged £11,000 to download 4 episodes of Friends on his mobile phone
Article in the Telegraph.