DStv adverts
28.2.07
If I have to see one more DStv advert thrown in to the middle of a show/song/programme that I am watching I am going to throw something through my television set. I swear it.
Could someone from multichoice please explain to me why there is this obsessive need to destroy their subscribers programming with meaningless, mindless, irrelevant and badly timed adverts?
Could someone from multichoice please explain to me why there is this obsessive need to destroy their subscribers programming with meaningless, mindless, irrelevant and badly timed adverts?
Labels: DStv
Fresh Faced Comic - Demetri Martin
It has been almost an eternity since I posted my last fresh faced comic. Every comic has a gimmick, Demetri has a guitar and a pointlessly chilled out riff that he has underneath all of his jokes. For some reason I love it. This man has the most incredible one liners from batteries dying to fingering puppets. Hysterical.
Labels: Demetri Martin, Fresh Faced Comic
Million Dollar Avatar
This site aims to promote people with websites. On the backpage I am in the company of Mr. Paul Stamatiou and if you ask me that's not too bad.
Labels: milliondollaravatar, webpromotion
iPhone at the Oscars
26.2.07
For those of you who managed to watch the Oscars last night good on you. Helen, Forest, Martin and others walked away with a golden statue of a naked man missing the good bits.
If you were awake and did not miss a single ad break (and if DSTV/Mnet didn't make the ads local) you could possibly have seen the very first iPhone advert! The commercial is over 18Mb to download so if you don't have a worthy connection (not sure what I am talking about "worthy" pah) don't bother.
The commercial features a collection of scenes from television and film with stars saying “Hello” on a telephone. Nice idea and there is even an awesome Back to the Future scene.
Samsung cell phone flaw
25.2.07
Apparently if you type in "economist" in to an SMS of any of the new models of a Samsung cell phone and then press the "#" key the phone stalls and resets.
Not so apparently. I tried it and it worked on my new D900 and a D820 that I tried. The phone just out right stops working and resets without pin requirement.
I am so interested to know how many other people know about this and have tried it? Let me know if you have a Samsung. Maybe the guys from Mobile Q and A could try this out and give us some feedback.
Not so apparently. I tried it and it worked on my new D900 and a D820 that I tried. The phone just out right stops working and resets without pin requirement.
I am so interested to know how many other people know about this and have tried it? Let me know if you have a Samsung. Maybe the guys from Mobile Q and A could try this out and give us some feedback.
Labels: Mobile Q and A
Massive Media Workshop kicks off
24.2.07
I am sitting at UJ and have been since early this morning. I am actually not too upset by this as I have been given the chance to be the blogger of the conference, so I get to blog for 5 hours solid. Joy. While some of my friends shop all day (har har Carls!) I will be covering events here and providing students with a summery of each speaker and the days events.
Visit the Studentwire Blog for more info
Visit the Studentwire Blog for more info
Labels: Massive Media Workshop
Studentwire and the "Massive Media Workshop"
23.2.07
Keep up to date with the happenings of this conference by visiting the Studentwire Blog where I will be posting about the conference. You can also check out the Studentwire moblog at Studentwire itself or visit the Studentwire flick account.
Labels: Massive Media Workshop, Studentwire, UJ
Egyptian blogger jailed
It seems that in certain countries freedom of speech is a non-existent concept. If that was the case here in SA, I would've been jailed long ago for a much longer period of time as would many of the vociferous bloggers in SA. If I were the al-Azhar university and President Hosni Mubarak, whom Soliman called a dictator, I would also be pissed and call cops, that it is if I actually was a dictator and wanted to appear guilty!
This is not the first time a blogger has been reprimanded or jailed for thinking that freedom of speech existed. This definitely explains to me why so many millions of bloggers remain anonymous at all costs (the cost being jail time nowadays). Things can't be that bad over here if we are all so excited to have our name.com url's.
Facts and image courtesy of BBC News. Thanks to Mich for the lead.
Labels: Egypt blogger, Jailtime
BMW drivers - the worst on the road
22.2.07
Hoping to have an enjoyable evening out with Jen tonight I drove to pick her up from her house. However no drive in Sandton is complete without some moronic BMW driver thinking he owns the road and drives a Ferrari.
Let me tell all of you BMW drivers something; you are not special. You drive one of millions upon millions (scott,maybe you can help out on numbers here) of BMW's out there, there are millions upon millions of other people that drive your exact model. Thus, therefore and hence, you are not special. Do not drive like you own the road, do not drive like your irritating blue lights are cool, they aren't, sorry Kevin.
The reason for this post: While driving to Jen's place I was aggressively pushed on to the right hand side of the road (that's the wrong side of the road if you are wondering) on a right-angle corner by a black BMW. If you are reading this, screw you. I proceeded to do what every man would: I hooted the crap out of my hooter. It gives me satisfaction to do this. I thought I had made my point. I hooted until I couldn't here myself think. We both took the corner following another car in front of us. The three of us are now so closely knit that I can see the ridiculous hairdo of the driver of the black BMW.
Then it happened, to add salt in to the wound of a correct and safe driver, the Black BMW man flicked his stompie (cigarette butt) on to my windscreen in triumph of his idiotic and dangerous driving. Do these people think they are clever by placing other peoples lives in danger? I couldn't give a rats ass if someone like this crashes in to a wall (not in to other people) and hurts themselves. They deserve it. There are enough things in this world that can end a life, why would you want to make your driving another murder weapon.
Take your flashy driving and BMW attitude and stick it wherever is most uncomfortable for you.
This post in no way intends to brand EVERY SINGLE BMW driver an idiot, but do me a favour and help yourselves out a bit, drive like you want to live.
30 seconds to mars
21.2.07
I must say that of all the actor-turned-singers this man is absolutely the best without a shadow of a doubt. Let's not forget the fact that he plays with an entire band who make him look as good as he does.
But seriously, I have not had a mesmerizing reaction in a very long time (since Skunk Anansie I recall) so these guys must have something!!
Labels: 30 seconds to mars
Christmas in February
What is going on with DSTV and the Movie Channels? If I have to see one more movie on these channels with the words "christmas" in it I swear I'm going to do something drastic.
Labels: Christmas
Mobile Q and A...hmmm
20.2.07
Rafiq has a great point, goodluck getting people away from Mxit. But I think that there could be some use in this site if it used correctly. Ask the right questions, review the right phones and deal with a need you have. Interesting.
Labels: Mobile Q and A, Mxit
Pavlov's parrot theory
Well I have an African Grey Parrot at home. This bird shrieks at all and any hours of the day. Initially I thought that it was random but today sitting outside making some calls he/she (we don't know the parrot's sex) didn't make a sound. I started to wonder why. I think that I am being played by the parrot.
Crackers (the parrots name) yells when his/her water is dirty, when there is no food, when he/she is cold or when he/she gets too hot. Crackers yells and waits for a response. If no response comes Crackers yells a bit more and a bit more until I come a runnin' and do all the things that I think will "shut him up". Little do I know but there sits Crackers the Parrot mastermind that he/she is in a little cage making my jump whenever her yells.
Am I running after the parrot or is the parrot running after me? hmmm....
Labels: African Grey Parrot, Pavlov
Ananzi in top ten local websites
19.2.07
Mybroadband recently released the usual top ten for SA websites. I am shocked that Ananzi is anywhere even close to the top ten never mind in the top ten.
I am even more shocked that Ananzi is actually still around. With that said I have just visited the site and am even more surprised to learn that there has been a major redesign that I am pleasantly impressed with. Now I cannot really continue with my little rant about users inability to move the times because it seems as though the product has done so before the user needed to.
I remember Ananzi being frustratingly text heavy and irritatingly cluttered. This is not the case anymore. I haven't used Ananzi for over years because of the issues that I had. I didn't even check the site because of my frustration, this seems to have been my mistake in hindsight!
I will definitely be using Ananzi over the next few weeks and see how it goes because design may be all good but search engines are meant to search effectively. I am not convinced that Ananzi is doing this yet.
I just searched for myself (nic haralambous) on Ananzi, the top results involved Shaun Dewburry, some myspace chick, South African artist called nic, an accounting firm and a business report involving some dude called nic.
That is shocking considering I own and run 4 local websites (one of which is nicharalambous.com). When I searched for nicharalambous I got zilch. Not impressed here, at all. Not only are the results shoddy, but I was asked by the site to put all names with a Capital Letter. Seriously, how much admin is that if you don't know what you are doing and you leave out the capital letter, the search engine doesn't recognise that you are searching for a person... as if that should matter.
Google's search results for nic haralambous returned results involving things that I have done (1st was this blog (3jobblog)) people who have linked to me and sites that I own, all in the top ten!! Now you have to wonder why people use Google. I also didn't need to put my name with capital letters!
I don't know, you tell me, how is it possible that such a rubbish search engine with such a great design (cough, cough) manages to maintain a top ten position for local websites?
I am even more shocked that Ananzi is actually still around. With that said I have just visited the site and am even more surprised to learn that there has been a major redesign that I am pleasantly impressed with. Now I cannot really continue with my little rant about users inability to move the times because it seems as though the product has done so before the user needed to.
I remember Ananzi being frustratingly text heavy and irritatingly cluttered. This is not the case anymore. I haven't used Ananzi for over years because of the issues that I had. I didn't even check the site because of my frustration, this seems to have been my mistake in hindsight!
I will definitely be using Ananzi over the next few weeks and see how it goes because design may be all good but search engines are meant to search effectively. I am not convinced that Ananzi is doing this yet.
I just searched for myself (nic haralambous) on Ananzi, the top results involved Shaun Dewburry, some myspace chick, South African artist called nic, an accounting firm and a business report involving some dude called nic.
That is shocking considering I own and run 4 local websites (one of which is nicharalambous.com). When I searched for nicharalambous I got zilch. Not impressed here, at all. Not only are the results shoddy, but I was asked by the site to put all names with a Capital Letter. Seriously, how much admin is that if you don't know what you are doing and you leave out the capital letter, the search engine doesn't recognise that you are searching for a person... as if that should matter.
Google's search results for nic haralambous returned results involving things that I have done (1st was this blog (3jobblog)) people who have linked to me and sites that I own, all in the top ten!! Now you have to wonder why people use Google. I also didn't need to put my name with capital letters!
I don't know, you tell me, how is it possible that such a rubbish search engine with such a great design (cough, cough) manages to maintain a top ten position for local websites?
Labels: Ananzi, Search Engines
Live Earth Concert
Live Earth is a massive world wide concert that is being held to try and make the world aware of the climate issues we are facing. The artists are trying to rally support for our Earth so lets keep our eyes peeled and our wallets full enough to purchase a ticket.
Word has it that the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, the Foo Fighters and Fall Out Boy will be coming to SA. If that is the case I am sold, in, there, going, gone, done and dusted. I love this game.
Labels: Live Earth
Max rocks SA
Maximillian Kaizen has just posted the first of hopefully many posts to come on SA Rocks.
This wonderful lady has a fantastic way of presenting a point and this post is no different. Rock on down now and check out the post.
Labels: Maximillian Kaizen, SA Rocks
Google might just do some evil
The term Googlebot is fast becoming one that may have more impact on the world than people initially suspected. Co-founder of Google, Larry Page, recently let slip that Google is not as far away from creating Artificial Intelligence (AI) as people might suspect.
I am not saying that this move is an evil one or that it will end badly. I am going to suggest that Google is not necessarily interested in staying within the boundaries of online world.
There are moral as well as ethical issues surrounding AI; if it is self-aware can it be controlled? If it is self-aware is it murder to get rid of it if it is not serving its purpose? These are just two issues of many.
I am not saying that this move is an evil one or that it will end badly. I am going to suggest that Google is not necessarily interested in staying within the boundaries of online world.
There are moral as well as ethical issues surrounding AI; if it is self-aware can it be controlled? If it is self-aware is it murder to get rid of it if it is not serving its purpose? These are just two issues of many.
Labels: Artificial Intelligence, Google
Why Greeks Cannot be terrorists
18.2.07
As we all know I am a South African Greek and proud of it, but I just could not help but post this:
Why Greeks can't be Terrorists':
10. 8:45 is too early for us to be up to board a flight.
9. We are always late. We would have missed all four 9-11 flights.
8. Good looking people on the plane would distract us.
7. We would talk loudly and bring attention to ourselves.
6. With food and drinks on the plane we would wind up dancing.
5. We talk with our hands, so we would have put our weapons down.
4. We would all want to fly the plane.
3. We would argue politics and start a fight in the plane.
2. We would have put the Greek flag on the windshield of the plane.
And the number one reason why Greeks can't be terrorists:
1. We would have told everyone a week before what we were going to do.
Why Greeks can't be Terrorists':
10. 8:45 is too early for us to be up to board a flight.
9. We are always late. We would have missed all four 9-11 flights.
8. Good looking people on the plane would distract us.
7. We would talk loudly and bring attention to ourselves.
6. With food and drinks on the plane we would wind up dancing.
5. We talk with our hands, so we would have put our weapons down.
4. We would all want to fly the plane.
3. We would argue politics and start a fight in the plane.
2. We would have put the Greek flag on the windshield of the plane.
And the number one reason why Greeks can't be terrorists:
1. We would have told everyone a week before what we were going to do.
Labels: Greek Terrorists
Tree-Nation, saving the world one tree at a time
Saving the trees is kind of important I am told. Hell, even Al Gore has gotten involved in the cause so it must be something to concern ourselves with. If you are really and truly one of those jeeks/geeks who has not seen the sun in approximately three years, 15 days and an hour, then Tree-Nation is for you.
for a nominal price you can purchase a tree to plant in a desert area that suffers from desertification. The project aims to plant 8 million trees in the Sahara desert. I am not a tree hugger, hell I don't even recycle but I think that this strange little site is doing something really impressive.
The use of the online medium to engage with people and send them an important message is one of the amazing ways that technology has aided in the progression of change and correction of the errors of the past. So go and buy a tree today. Tree-Nation plants it for, your hands stay clean so you can blog about your hippie movement to saving the trees!
The trees above were used in the making of this paper.
The trees above were used in the making of this paper.
Labels: Tree-Nation
The Citizen, Mike Stopforth and SA Rocks
16.2.07
Mike Stopforth writes a column for the citizen. I think Mikes a great guy and knows what he's talking about, so with that in mind, go and read his column. This week Mike went out of his way to make mention of SA Rocks. Thanks Mike, lets get those offline people online this week!
Labels: Citizen, Mike Stopforth, sarocks.co.za
Good content, niche markets and interesting angles
I have read many posts from many bloggers who claim to know how to create a successful blog. Much of the time I think that these guys are losers who have nothing better to do than to tell other people how to run their blogs. Not so.
For the first time today I realised that the success of a blog depends on the content and concept behind the content. After only starting SA Rocks 10 days ago I officially reached the same Technorati rank as nicharalambous.com. I have been maintaining this blog for over 13 months and within 10 days SA Rocks has equaled the achievements of my personal blog.
In my little tiny blogging brain this has proven to me that you can be the best damn writer in the world (which I am not) and still have no one read your blog. It's about niche markets, good content, interesting angles and meeting the needs of a market. SA Rocks does just this while nicharalambous.com is me blabbing on about my daily life and rubbish, which many millions of bloggers are doing.
Learn your lessons now; if you want readers, think about your angle and plot things accordingly.
For the first time today I realised that the success of a blog depends on the content and concept behind the content. After only starting SA Rocks 10 days ago I officially reached the same Technorati rank as nicharalambous.com. I have been maintaining this blog for over 13 months and within 10 days SA Rocks has equaled the achievements of my personal blog.
In my little tiny blogging brain this has proven to me that you can be the best damn writer in the world (which I am not) and still have no one read your blog. It's about niche markets, good content, interesting angles and meeting the needs of a market. SA Rocks does just this while nicharalambous.com is me blabbing on about my daily life and rubbish, which many millions of bloggers are doing.
Learn your lessons now; if you want readers, think about your angle and plot things accordingly.
Labels: blogging tips, nicharalambous.com, sarocks.co.za
Get hold of the boss man
Finally after 8 days of phone calls and becoming an internet hobo thanks to Telkom I have internet again.
The problem was a simple one that any phone operator could have pointed out... a Telkom phone technician had reset my modem incorrectly when I called first 8 days ago. Well thank you for nothing you bloody idiots.
Oh yes, I forgot about this: There are two people you need to speak to if you are having issues with your internet. One is the supervisor of the phone technicians, Mr Khumalo (ask for him, he digs it i promise), the other is Mr Sifiso Mkhize, he is the big boss man. Wise up and stop talking to the invalid on the line, ask for the boss and the bosses boss and his boss too. Enough of this rubbish, lets all go riot outside Telkom's office.
The problem was a simple one that any phone operator could have pointed out... a Telkom phone technician had reset my modem incorrectly when I called first 8 days ago. Well thank you for nothing you bloody idiots.
Oh yes, I forgot about this: There are two people you need to speak to if you are having issues with your internet. One is the supervisor of the phone technicians, Mr Khumalo (ask for him, he digs it i promise), the other is Mr Sifiso Mkhize, he is the big boss man. Wise up and stop talking to the invalid on the line, ask for the boss and the bosses boss and his boss too. Enough of this rubbish, lets all go riot outside Telkom's office.
Labels: Hellkom
A few reasons why facebook is better than Myspace
15.2.07
I have just read a post outlining the top ten reasons why Myspace is better than facebook. I think that cheezhead has some good points but misses the reason that users and I stress, USERS, make use of social networks.
cheezhead's top ten reasons why Myspace is better than facebook:
My reasons why facebook rocks:
cheezhead's top ten reasons why Myspace is better than facebook:
- Traffic
- Brand leader
- Media powerhouse
- Rock 'n Roll will never die
- Mo' money
- Rupert Murdoch
- Custom URLs
- Customizable pages
- News corporation and phat partners
- Classifieds
My reasons why facebook rocks:
- Groups - facebook has the uncanny ability to link people through groups. I have found tons of mates that I lost contact with years ago through these groups. While Myspace is filled with millions of useless users who become your friends to spam and promote a product or themselves. That's not what users are after. Plus the porn on myspace is terrible.
- Group Creation - the ability to create groups and invite your mates and others in to these groups is definitely a big plus.
- Simplicity - facebook makes users want to return and use their service because it is so ridiculously simple. Part of the simplicity factor is the fact that pages are the same and not customizable. If they couldn't make it easy, they left it out.
- Mini-feed - facebook's mini-feed is absolutely incredible. You can see which of your friends are friends with other people you might know. It allows you to see who is changing their profile pics, uploading photos, adding posts, blogging etc etc etc. This little tool is invaluable when it comes to finding people you know and meeting people you don't.
- Blog RSS - facebook makes it simple to add your blogs posts to your facebook page and allow your mates to read your posts. I have received hundreds of hits on my blog from my facebook profile. Myspace does this too, but screw me if I know how.
3's Tag
The Gypsy just tagged me... those damn hippies
I don't think that I am going to be tagging three people... I don't know why. I'm just not. Sorry!!
Three things that scare me:
Failure
Ignorance
George W Bush
Three people who make me laugh:
Jen
Wilsher
Scott
Three Things I love:
Music (of the rock sort)
my laptop
my Job
Three Things I hate:
Olives
pickles
Ignorance
Three Things I don’t understand:
Ignorance
PHP - but I'm getting there!!!
The media industry
Three things on my desk:
cellphone
wallet
Smokes
Three things I’m doing right now:
Updating 4 websites and developing 1
Blogging
Bee swatting
Three things I want to do before I die:
Sky Dive
Win a proffesional Poker Tournament/Play in the WSOP.
Become a Multi Millionaire
Three things I can do:
Write
Debate
Cook
Three things you should listen to:
Hinder
Bloggers
Mates
Three things I’d like to learn:
Italian/French
how to stop smoking
women
Three favourite foods:
Thai
Greek
A Hamburger
Three beverages I drink regularly:
Water
coffee
tea
Three TV shows/Books I watched/read as a kid:
The wonder year (Yeah Baby)
The Hobbit
Dexter
I don't think that I am going to be tagging three people... I don't know why. I'm just not. Sorry!!
Labels: 3's Tag
To in-breed or not to in-breed
I have a friend (Hi Jen) who is currently in Texas and claims that the in-breeding down south has led a lot to be desired in terms of the type of people that she is meeting and related to. This could be a fantastic explanation for the actions of one G.W. Bush (GWB). I wish that it were actually a viable and trustworthy explanation to justify the moronic behaviour of the 'defender of the free world'. I just don't think that it is. I think that some Texans including Mr GWB are simply idiots who have no brain capacity, let alone independent thought to run a country.
I have heard through the vine of knowledge known as the grape, that there are currently no scientific proofs for the effects of cousins getting it on with cousins and brothers getting it on with sisters (I would have said brothers with brothers but we all know that no child... you get it). So then my simple conclusion is that some people are just morons and idiots and some are not. Furthermore, some people are happy morons and idiots while others like to blame their cousins for their idiotic behaviours and inability to keep it to themselves and out of others.
I have heard through the vine of knowledge known as the grape, that there are currently no scientific proofs for the effects of cousins getting it on with cousins and brothers getting it on with sisters (I would have said brothers with brothers but we all know that no child... you get it). So then my simple conclusion is that some people are just morons and idiots and some are not. Furthermore, some people are happy morons and idiots while others like to blame their cousins for their idiotic behaviours and inability to keep it to themselves and out of others.
Labels: Georg Bush, in-breeding, Texas
I've been away and it's bad
I know I have been absent over the last few days. It's really out of my control. I am so sorry!!
Wow, I sound like a recovering addict of some sorts. I must say, these internet down times provided so willingly by Telkom always seem to come at such bad times. Meetings to organise, interviews and freelance to do using skype. It's just so difficult running an online company in S.A sometimes don't you think?
Anyways, I am making use of Primi Platinum in Rivonia for their internet access and have to shamelessly punt them for their incredible service, smiles and Jack Johnson background music. Thanks to Primi and if anyone out there needs internet, make use of a Primi near you and spend, spend, spend on coffee and smokes!
Wow, I sound like a recovering addict of some sorts. I must say, these internet down times provided so willingly by Telkom always seem to come at such bad times. Meetings to organise, interviews and freelance to do using skype. It's just so difficult running an online company in S.A sometimes don't you think?
Anyways, I am making use of Primi Platinum in Rivonia for their internet access and have to shamelessly punt them for their incredible service, smiles and Jack Johnson background music. Thanks to Primi and if anyone out there needs internet, make use of a Primi near you and spend, spend, spend on coffee and smokes!
Labels: Hellkom, Primi Platinum
Die Telkom die
13.2.07
I have spent over 10 hours on hold with Telkom since Thursday last week. I have been waiting for four days for an idiot supervisor to call me back and all to no avail. I have not had a safe and steady internet connection for over 6 days. Joy.
When I asked a helpline man if in his eight years at Telkom they have ever had any internet down time he answered no. In EIGHT YEARS Telkom has never experienced what we go through. I wonder why.
When I asked a helpline man if in his eight years at Telkom they have ever had any internet down time he answered no. In EIGHT YEARS Telkom has never experienced what we go through. I wonder why.
Labels: Hellkom
South African blog awards 2007
12.2.07
It is official, nominations for the bestest of the bestest in the south are open. So get down to the SA blog awards site now and submit your vote.
Cherryflava appears to be the main sponsor of the awards this year and Your Group of Web AddiCT(s); is heavily involved (Graphic Design/Web application development).
This is a great initiative that is in its third year. Get your votes in and make this whole blogging thing worth while for those who entertain you and get your through your days!
Labels: SA Blog Awards 2007
Comfort amidst war
I received this picture via email. Maybe you've seen it, maybe you haven't. Very interesting.
Upstairs Bamboo
11.2.07
Labels: Melville, Upstairs Bamboo
Mugg and Bean make-out
10.2.07
Who makes out at the Mugg & Bean on a Saturday morning while other human beings are consuming food? I love making out, it really is one of life's small wonders, but, DO NOT make-out when I have just received my food and have begun eating.
I was at the Mugg & Bean in Kilarney Mall this morning when the couple in front of us, clearly in eye-shot began to fondle one another's nether regions. This was a tad weird but I looked past it. Then they began to full out go at it in the middle of the centre with complete disregard for everyone and anyone around them (me included).
Get a damn room. If you are one of these people, take head now, let me tell you that the more considerate of us in the world are out to get you. Next time this happens I will be moblogging it around the world!!!!
I was at the Mugg & Bean in Kilarney Mall this morning when the couple in front of us, clearly in eye-shot began to fondle one another's nether regions. This was a tad weird but I looked past it. Then they began to full out go at it in the middle of the centre with complete disregard for everyone and anyone around them (me included).
Get a damn room. If you are one of these people, take head now, let me tell you that the more considerate of us in the world are out to get you. Next time this happens I will be moblogging it around the world!!!!
Labels: make-out, Mugg and Bean
Eskom darkness
9.2.07
Gmail open to the masses
8.2.07
Gmail can now be accessed by anyone without an invite. Visit this link if you don't already have a Gmail account.
Labels: Gmail
Get your facts straight
7.2.07
There is one thing that no journalist can ever control: someone will always question your story. The thing that I have come to realise is that everyone likes to think that they are in the know. When in actual fact they might not be. There might be some sort of contradiction within certain stories, relaying of stories and the facts within the story.
You can never know for certain, 100% and without fail that someone is telling you the truth. People lie for various reasons. What you can do is make sure that you have yourself covered. Here are some tips that I think will help:
You can never know for certain, 100% and without fail that someone is telling you the truth. People lie for various reasons. What you can do is make sure that you have yourself covered. Here are some tips that I think will help:
- Make sure you have written down your notes.
- ALWAYS try to record your interviews.
- Maintain a good relationship with your translator if you are using one. You never know when you might need them to corroborate your story.
- Check your facts, again and again and again... and again.
- When submitting stories, keep a copy of the original. Things change in the sub-editing process.
Labels: Fact checking, journalism, Media
War on roadside hawkers
6.2.07
I stopped at the robot on the corner of Rivonia Rd and Kelvin today to find 5 police 4x4's pull in to the road where I was meant to be turning. So instead of hooting and shouting (which would be the usual response) I took out my phone and snapped away. Here is what I managed to see:
From these photos you can (kind of) see the police out of their vehicles accosting the hawkers' products, amongst them hangers and black dustbin bags.
Investec Tipping Challenge
5.2.07
Unfortunately for those who do not like to watch rugby, this is a rugby pool. It's free, it's easy and it's highly addictive. So if you and your mates smaak some lekker Rugby then check out this Investec Tipping Challenge.
Labels: Investec Tipping Challenge, Rugby, Sports
Online Industry Summit
We have set up a Studentwire Blog and Courts will be providing up to the minute updates about the OIS. So check out the blog, grab the feed and keep up to date with the conference happenings and Studentwire devel0pments.
Labels: Online Industry Summit, Studentwire
People: the most important part of a corporation
Corporations can be many thing. They can be big and rich, they can be vast and expansive, they can be irritating and ignorant and they can sometimes be personable and intimate. The last two on the list may be questionable, but today I experienced them.
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that the CEO of Virgin Active popped down to the Morningside branch today while I was at gym, but I was made to feel individual and important by a staff member. I have been somewhat ill of late and have been unable to train properly thus missing out over 2 months of gym. Stevie (whom I do not know very well) took the time out today to spot me, talk to me, and tell me that he had been looking for me but had no way of contacting me to see if I was OK.
Virgin Active should give this man a raise. He makes that gym what it is by knowing people's names, jobs and training days and programs. This man is an institution on his own and one of the largest (in physique) and friendliest people I have ever met.
My point: Corporations are many things and one thing that big business needs to recognise and remember is that it is the 'little people' like Stevie the gym instructor who make me want to stay at Virgin Active
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that the CEO of Virgin Active popped down to the Morningside branch today while I was at gym, but I was made to feel individual and important by a staff member. I have been somewhat ill of late and have been unable to train properly thus missing out over 2 months of gym. Stevie (whom I do not know very well) took the time out today to spot me, talk to me, and tell me that he had been looking for me but had no way of contacting me to see if I was OK.
Virgin Active should give this man a raise. He makes that gym what it is by knowing people's names, jobs and training days and programs. This man is an institution on his own and one of the largest (in physique) and friendliest people I have ever met.
My point: Corporations are many things and one thing that big business needs to recognise and remember is that it is the 'little people' like Stevie the gym instructor who make me want to stay at Virgin Active
Labels: Virgin Active
Google Calendar
I was alerted (excuse the pun) by Courts that Google Calendar provided a free SMS service to users. Not the kind that allows you to SMS people, but the kind that SMS's you when one of your events comes round. I think this is an amazing idea. At least it's an amazing idea if you have the time to setup your Google Calendar with all your events, anniversaries and birthdays. If you can do that, then it is well worth it.
I think that it is worth biting the bullet and making use of this particular Google service as it is hosted online which means that no matter where your company is sending you, no matter what country you are in or planet you are from, if you sit on Earth with your cellphone and laptop (either or even) you can know when your sweethearts birthday is and avoiding getting the boot!
Unfortunately for birthdayalarm.com I got wind of the Google product before I got wind of them. Sorry but I refuse to have a service that is mainly aimed at reminding me of peoples birthdays. I have a service for almost everything I can think of, this is not one that is high on my to do list!
I think that it is worth biting the bullet and making use of this particular Google service as it is hosted online which means that no matter where your company is sending you, no matter what country you are in or planet you are from, if you sit on Earth with your cellphone and laptop (either or even) you can know when your sweethearts birthday is and avoiding getting the boot!
Unfortunately for birthdayalarm.com I got wind of the Google product before I got wind of them. Sorry but I refuse to have a service that is mainly aimed at reminding me of peoples birthdays. I have a service for almost everything I can think of, this is not one that is high on my to do list!
Labels: birthdayalarm.com, Google Calendar
Google rules the web
2.2.07
It appears that even error messages and missing links are all being dominated by Google these days. I am not sure what is going on but today my attempts at logging on to various websites have drawn me straight to the Google homepage. I find this unnerving and somewhat confusing.
In an attempt to log on to my facebook account i was taken to the Google homepage while the url in the address bar maintained its facebook status. Very strange.
Labels: Google, web errors
Blogger issues rife
1.2.07
Gizmo Call - free calls around the world
Gizmo Call gives users 10 free call minutes per day to any number anywhere in the world. What an amazing development. The Gizmo Project initially entered the market as a Skype equivalent that required both parties to download the Gizmo software (which is fairly irritating). Gizmo Call has removed this little bug and now provides users with the opportunity to call anyone in the world at the click of a button.
I have tested the product to my land line here in South Africa and it worked fantastically. Skype charges you for any and all outgoing calls to landlines and cellphones. Gizmo Call entices users by providing 10 minutes per day free calls. 10 minutes is not a whole lot, but it is enough to make me switch over from Skype to Gizmo Call
Labels: Free Phonecalls, Gizmo Call, Gizmo Project, Skype
sarocks.co.za launches today
After much debate about domains, hosts, servers, content, themes, blogging tool and other issues, SA Rocks is ready to be introduced to be launched.
The principal behind sarocks.co.za is to create positive hype around South Africa. I feel that there are enough websites and people constantly saying negative things about South Africa, it's time for a positive representation of our country and www.sarocks.co.za.
Everyone and anyone is invited to contribute their positive stories, photos, lines or words about South Africa. Please visit the blog, spread the word and the positivity.
Labels: sarocks.co.za, South Africa
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