Election words
Posted by Grant Brewer
The New York Times has an excellent and interesting information graphic that shows how open various words are used by the different speech-makers in the either the Democrats or the Republicans. It is an interesting representation and the actual words that feature are food for thought. The Republicans do talk about God an awful lot!
SA Blook, Chapter 3 — What the world thinks of South Africa
Posted by Grant Brewer
Understanding South Africa is a challenge. It is a country full of paradoxes and extremes. As the setting of one of the most remarkable political transformations in modern history, it is also home to widespread poverty and mind–numbing violent crime. We remain trapped by past beliefs in our strengths — such as the idea that South Africa is a rich country because of its mineral wealth, or that our extraordinary political transition owes us opportunities in a global economy — and we're struggling to define what exactly we contribute to and how we relate to the world around us. How do all these things come together to forge a nation that can define its own meaning for the twenty first century, and in doing so create an emerging land of opportunity.
Vodafone to Offer Apple’s iPhone in Ten Markets
Posted by Grant Brewer
Vodafone to Offer Apple’s iPhone in Ten Markets
Vodafone today announced it has signed an agreement with Apple to sell the iPhone in ten of its markets around the globe. Later this year, Vodafone customers in Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey will be able to purchase the iPhone for use on the Vodafone network.
Best press release I’ve seen in years. 56 words, short and to the point. No mention of exclusivity, so the presumption is that other carriers will have the iPhone in these markets, too.
(Via Daring Fireball.)
Freeing information from autocracy & over control
Posted by Grant Brewer
It is always striking how difficult it is to get hold of information from an organisation as a customer, or even as an employee. It is not unusual to be chased from call centre agent to call centre agent as you try to determine an accurate and truthful answer to your questions. Just as common is the employee that struggles to find the correct information such as the most up to date report or a contract. In today's post-information age, getting access to data in organisations shouldn't be this difficult. People have got used to the ease with which they find information with tools such as Google, and this expectation has got to be translated into organisations. Freeing information is about treating customers and employees as partners and with respect. It is about allowing them the freedom to define their own contribution to your organisation as either a customer or an employee.
Pick ‘n Pay Home Shopping
Posted by Grant Brewer
I decided to register for home shopping at Pick 'n Pay today. I've been a regular user of Woolworths' home shopping site site for many years, but needed to buy things that Woolworths don't stock. So I pointed my browser at http://homeshopping.picknpay.co.za/ expecting things to go smoothly. Well it wasn't to be.
The Independent’s Rugby World Cup front page
Posted by Grant Brewer
Justin Hartman got it right when he praised the cover of The Independent newspaper in the UK on the eve of the Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and England. It takes a very smart copywriter to think come up with the idea, and brave editor to put something without a picture on the cover!
In case you haven't realised, the headline is about England not South Africa! And the “slave song” is Swing Low.