Author Archive
What would you grab?
One of the unspeakably tragic deaths in the Christchurch earthquake was that of one victim who reportedly escaped from a shop with the owner, then ‘dashed back’ inside to grab her cellphone (perhaps to ring family and check on them/let them know she was OK?) and died when the building collapsed on her. We’re all […]
Good to see Steve Jobs
Good to see Steve Jobs doing his thing for the assembled oohs and ahhs at the iPad2 launch. A little bit of gloating 15 million iPads later (and 100 million iPhones!!) … well, you can’t take away from that success. I laughed at his joke about the ‘unbelievable price’ of the original iPad — “just […]
The Stenning Tweebs try to roll with the punches
Ripples of disappointment continue to emanate from the Stenning performing troupe’s roadshow/sales tour through Asia, during which the smooth-talkers (!) apparently sold platforms/products offering quick-and-easy (‘just three clicks?’) internet riches. As the ‘refund movement‘ heats up against another Shaun Stenning-fronted ‘enterprise’ (spotted the pattern, anyone?) it looks like the gang, through Ian Naylor, is trying […]
More SEO fakery … highly automated
No big outrage: Received today through the Empower Education feedback form … which asks for feedback in these terms: Send Us Your News, Views and Rave Reviews Your Comments and Questions We value your feedback. Please let us have your advice on features, content (and any bugs!). Use the following form to contact us with […]
OK. So some impersonation is acceptable, even useful
I know I sometimes rail against online impersonation and sock-puppets being used for foul and dishonest purposes (case in point: Anonymous comment vs IMPERSONATION and yesterday’s post about Aaron Barr of HBGary Federal‘s dastardly scheme.) But there are exceptions (besides Fake Steve Jobs). From The Atlantic‘s Alexis Madrigal: Revealing the Man Behind @MayorEmanuel Feb 28 […]
A guide …
TOP TEXTING FAVOURITES – ‘ZOMG’ from AAP via NZ Herald The top 25 “Teenglish” buzzwords for 2009, as nominated by 2000 users of the teen social networking site Habbo Hotel: 1 diss – Disrespect. 2 fail – Expression of disapproval for something or when someone does fail at something. Sometimes spelt with a ph and […]
Dan Conover: Advertising is not enough
Very excellent and insightful piece on the past and future of “news and advertising in the 21st century” by Dan Conover at Xark … What I’m challenging is the prevailing wisdom that because advertising shaped and subsidized journalism in the 20th century, the reinvention of journalism in the 21st century is simply a matter of […]
Facebook = ‘public’
And here is a ‘definitive’ answer from the Poacher’s Union Press Council … Facebook ‘public’ says watchdog 27 February, 2011 The Press Council has rejected a complaint against the Herald on Sunday by a man upset a picture off the social networking site Facebook was used in print. Api Hemara said the picture, run in […]
James Arthur Ray on trial for being a bully-boy
You may or may not be aware of the manslaughter trial under way in Arizona of personal development guru James Arthur Ray following the deaths of three people during/following a sweat lodge exercise on a pretty intense ‘Spiritual Warrior’ course led by Mr Ray. Here is a document from the prosectors which forms part of […]
In the cross-hairs: low quality, low value websites
A comment today on the Is this how Shaun Stenning handles a request for a refund? thread implies the dissatisfaction with his snipr ‘product’ is widespread: Re: SNIPRscam’ Hi, is anyone else in Melbourne/Australia interested in forcing a refund from Shaun Stenning for his Snipr scam? It seems that asking him nicely doesn’t work. I’ve […]
Christchurch earthquake
Gut-wrenching stuff. If you want to help, donate to the NZ Red Cross relief efforts.
Miracle escapes and sad fatalities
My family and I are feeling pretty subdued by the disaster in Christchurch. Miracle escapes and sad fatalities. We humans are resilient and fragile (another paradox). One can’t help but be positively impressed by the bravery and determination of some of the rescue workers … and co-ordinators/spokesmen, like Christchurch’s eloquent mayor Bob Parker. These are […]
