Entries from January 2008 ↓

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Nearly everywhere we go we receive a relentless barrage of green mind-programming via “how to be green” leaflets, ‘we are a green corporation’ billboard adverts, green TV programmes, green TV News items and local green councillors berate us to recycle more of our refuse because the end of the world is nigh.

But the recycling trucks do not collect our special recycling bins/baskets with the seperated out plastic bottles, plastic containers, cellophane wrappers and other platic detrius. Instead they only collect paper and glass bottles.

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Eskom did not heed good advice years ago to build more powerstations.

And so Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabawe must also now suffer alongside South Africa’s population and industry for Eskom’s complete failings and myopia combined with their total lack of intelligent business/commercial insights and forecasting abilities for energy requirements to meet future population/industry growth.

It take 6-8 years to build and get a powerstation online producing energy for the national grid. What are they going to do about it - run a 3rd world country’s 1st world economy between power cuts?!

Guess what - the next exodus to Europe, Australia and America is about to begin.

ESKOM

Axel

Axel faced his final day like a dawg would - wagging his tail, tongue hanging out but meanwhile behind his eyes he knew something was wrong.

I shot the video below in September 2006.

Axel contracted throat cancer which spread like a bushfire to his stomach. He showed no signs of being in pain. He showed no signs that it was his final day, the final adventure. He went peacefully while still under anaesthetic.

Axel was a fine dog. He’ll be missed.

In Memory of Axel

If for nothing else other than becoming the first woman president of the United States of America, I hope Hillary sticks it to the rest of the presidential wannabes and gets elected.

It’ll be a double historic whammy. First female leader of America and first wife of a former president to get elected. It’ll be amazing if it happens.

And I think she is tough enough to lead the country forward and fix the appalling mess that idiot Bush has created. She has faced tough times and knows how to work alongside her former enemies.

Ooze Hillary Clinton

My favourite South African Marketing blogger, Dave Duarte has an importantant bit of news for all SA bloggers.

Click here to read Dave’s announcement

2008 South African Blog Awards

What’s the big deal about Web 3.0?

I don’t know about you but over the past three years I was expecting a whole lot more drama about Web 2.0 than the diluted stream of weak wimpish stuff I have seen and participated in. Should I be expecting a mass blogosphere launch with virtual fireworks displays when Web 3.0 gets unveiled? *

Blogosphere and its marketing blogger community abounds with much stuff about Web 2.0 and what it is. But not a lot is mentioned or raved about what it will be when what they call Web 2.0 jumps the curve to the next level and gets repackaged, rewrapped, rebranded and renamed as Web 3.0

Methinks we are stuck for ideas.

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How relevent is Technorati now?

Dave Sifry and his crew developed a ranking site that ruled the roost. Technorati ruled the rankers!

But then along came Google.

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Question: Can I blog like Brian Clark please?

Answer: No but you could learn to write like Brian does.

I would (and I mean this) stick red hot needles into my eyes if I could this instant write like Brian Clark does. Oh yes.

But alas I cannot - yet. So how will you and I learn to write like Brian Clark?

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Is it pointless breaking out in a sweat, carrying a garland of garlic around your neck and carrying a crucifix while gnashing ones teeth over the prospect of opening a trouble ticket with IT support?

Is your support experience one of those smooth, prompt, courteous and relationsip strengthening affairs where even the most cynical non-tekkie arseholes like me would melt into an admiring gung-ho “support the support team” fanatic?

No, I thought not. I hear you ask why?

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The fatcat bosses at troubled mortgage lending bank, Northern Rock, will still get their huge bonuses. Absurd. Why when the bank is in such dire financial trouble?

Ooze TV Anchors

DISCLOSURE: Resolve in 2008 to speak clear, precise, simple English and avoid acronyms and technospeak like the plague.

I have this thing about Technobilge. If you don’t know what Technobilge is then go read my rant here.

It appears that there is a growing pushback on industry to begin communicating in plain English or mother tongue rather than in acronyms. The use of acronyms is a lazy way for people to gain respect. If people who sound off in acronyms to me think it makes me believe they sound clever, then they better think again.

I actually think it is very rude, arrogant, insecure and not at all clever.

This is what the BBC has to say about it.

Geekspeak still baffles web users
Britons are increasingly tech-savvy but are still bamboozled by tech jargon.
According to research from Nielsen/NetRatings, people are buying cutting-edge technology but often don’t understand the terms that describe what their device actually does.

So while 40% of online Britons receive news feeds, 67% did not know that the official term for this service was Really Simple Syndication.

Click here to read the full article

As well as Auntie BEEB “agreeing” with my sentiment, Matthew Stibbe across at Bad Language has a point to make as well. Click here to read Matthew’s Bad language article

A 2008 Promise

The master blogger smacks the subject right in the bullseye. Seth says this.

Online networking is about who you know. But it doesn’t stop there does it? No. It’s about who you know online and who you trust too. And boy is that so right.

Do not think you will befriend everyone and immediately begin to trust them. You should not and you won’t just as they will not trust you. Trust between bloggers, just as it is between real life strangers, does not instantly exist. It is earned the hard way if ever at all.

So who do you trust online?

Do not tell me you’d buy a car from the guy in the photo above. Oh please don’t shatter my already weakened perceptions. Surely he is the personification of a snakeoil salesman. I mean look at the pose.

All he is bound to see in you and I is a great big red ‘SUCKER’ stamped across our foreheads. He just knows there is a fool born every minute and all they do is wait for us to succumb to their slick ‘n sleazy call, join the queue and fall for the snakeoil charm offensive to encourage us to part with some of our hard-earned cash.

And apparently we do. By the million.

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