Jun 17 2010

On Vuvuzelas.

Published by James under Misc

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Regular readers may be aware that I was fortunate enough to spend four amazing years in South Africa, from 2000 to 2004. I remember vividly driving along Constantia Main Road on the afternoon of 15 May 2004, listening to Sepp Blatter on the radio as he announced that South Africa would host the football World Cup on 2010.

The moment the announcement was made, you could hear the cheers. And yes, there were Vuvuzelas.

Way back then, though, the Vuvuzela was a local curiosity. Manufactured (mainly) in Khayelitsha by Masincedane Sport, and I’m sure I remember reading of all sorts of schemes to make them out of recycled plastic bags and PET bottles. The South Africans are ingenious like that.

Fast forward six years … your ‘proudly South African’ vuvuzela is, more likely as not, manufactured in China from all new plastic. And whilst Masincedane still make the ‘Proudly South African’ Vuvuzela, Neil van Schalkwyk, the man behind it all, has branched out into earplugs.

Progress?

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Jun 14 2010

Keeping up with the cool kids?

Published by James under Tech, Web2.0

This week I’m going to play with DropBox and Flickr. Why? No real reason, other than everyone else I know seems to use them. And the iPad integration looks cool.

I didn’t think I needed EverNote a while ago, either, but now I use it all the time. On the other hand, I didn’t think I needed Digg or StumbleUpon, and I was probably right. ReadItLater I’m undecided on as yet – it should be useful, but it doesn’t integrate properly yet.

Waaay too many new services to get to grips with at the mo. (yes, I know they’re not all new, but bear with me).

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Apr 19 2010

Say that again?

Published by James under Comms, Media, Russia

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I must be slacking.

I’d missed, until today, the announcement a couple of months ago that Ketchum had fused with Pleon. I’d probably still not have noticed it, but for receiving an email from someone there today.

All good mergers involve a bit of rebranding. So the new firm is called, perhaps understandably, Ketchum Pleon. Except that the email I got today wasn’t from Ketchum Pleon.

It was from (anonymised to protect the sender) ineedafavour@ketchumpleon.com. Let’s look at that again:

ketchumpleon.com

How’d you pronounce that?

Why, it’s

ketch-UMP-lee-on,

of course.

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Apr 18 2010

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-04-18

Published by James under Misc

  • Apparently Tiger Woods was off his game yesterday, but still managed a 69. #
  • @jedhallam if you’re still looking for push, try #boxcar – simple but effective. #
  • Installed #operamini Looks good. But until Apple lets you change your default browser … #
  • Mini review of #operamini It’s quite good. #
  • Late May? LATE MAY??!! #
  • UK in Russia is now officially on Twitter, @ukinrussia #
  • @redexile BBC Ent & 24 both available on Hotbird here – I have a guy you should talk to. in reply to redexile #
  • All these debate parties, election-night parties … have to say I’m rather missing being in the UK at the mo. Boo. #
  • @JFrayne give him the chance and find out! in reply to JFrayne #
  • Aargh, nearly out of API calls! #
  • @tobyberesford you old cynic, don’t you remember my glorious campaign in ‘87? in reply to tobyberesford #
  • ‘kay, nearly 2am, school tomorrow. ‘Night. #
  • Mmmm. (@ Starlite Diner) http://4sq.com/9sac3h #
  • @anishathakker do you have a mobile number? #
  • PS just realised that sounded dodgy. It’s not – I’m from the British Embassy. RT @jamesbarbour: @anishathakker do you have a mobile number? #
  • @paris_100 Are you stuck in Moscow? Shout if you need any help. #
  • @AshAlerts Isn’t that an A320 going _to_ Kaliningrad? SU753? Or were there two? in reply to AshAlerts #
  • On my way to Sheremetyevo #moscow #ashtag #

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Apr 11 2010

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-04-11

Published by James under Misc

  • Enough procrastinating. Off to the gym. #
  • Now off to the office. Bank holidays rock. #
  • Owl City. Fantastic, feelgood synth-pop. Amorphous, instantly forgettable, and none the worse for it. Just brilliant. G&T essential. #
  • Forced to update to 3.1.3 yesterday by #evernote Now I have to jailbreak again because I can't live without Intelliscreen. Meh. #
  • It would be churlish not to mention iPhone OS 4.0, given that everyone else is. Bet we can't actually get it today, though. #
  • Giving #foursquare a try – saw @JFrayne using it so it must be the thing. #
  • Inspired take on training from the Daily Mash: http://is.gd/bkZaZ #
  • I'm at ?????????? ??????????????. http://4sq.com/9fy3pG #
  • I just became the mayor of ?????????? ?????????????? on @foursquare! http://4sq.com/9fy3pG #
  • Polish President Kaczynski's 'plane crashes on approach at Smolensk. 87 dead according to ITAR-TASS. #
  • RIAN: Polish President Lech #Kaczynski First Lady, 85 others confirmed dead in Tu-154 crash at #Smolensk on their way to Katyn ceremony #
  • @ableandhow we always work weekends – always something happening somewhere. in reply to ableandhow #
  • Russian and polish ministries now saying 130+ dead, including President #Kaczynski according to RT. #
  • 130+ a lot for a Tu-154. But numbers aside, a tragedy for Poland, RF & all other nationalities on board. #Kaczynski #Smolensk #Russia #crash #
  • @johnny_winter but I want #tweetie NOW, for #readitlater integration. I could just shell out the £1.79, but once upon a time that was a pint in reply to johnny_winter #
  • @johnny_winter it's like ppl have suddenly got the need 4 integration. #tweetie #firefox #googlereader #4square across desktop & iphone. in reply to johnny_winter #

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Apr 06 2010

Purdah.

Published by James under Politics

shhhhhh.

(no change there, then)

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Apr 04 2010

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-04-04

Published by James under Misc

  • Apols for having a quiet twitter day. Rather busy. And everyone else seemed to have it covered … #
  • Eugene Terreblanche. Thoroughly unsavoury character, and some might say a fitting end. But does anyone deserve to be bludgeoned to death? #

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Mar 28 2010

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-28

Published by James under Misc

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Mar 21 2010

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-21

Published by James under Misc

  • Opening major UK Lifestyle Industries in 5 mins. Huge planning effort by our UKTI team, and it's all looking fabulous. #
  • RT @MarkRPritchard @redexile You can do it, Red! #
  • Thinking about buying a '75 Zhiguli 2103. Then subtle mods – Fiat twin cam, lower it a bit but keep it looking stock. Whaddyareckon? #
  • That's what I call keeping the faith. RT @jkerrstevens Despite every set back, I really, really enjoy working for gov. #
  • Interviewing five candidates today. One doesn't show, another pitches up two hours early. ?! #
  • About to make a speech on 'Alice in Wonderland' as it personifies perceptions of modern Britain. #
  • RT @foreignoffice "A journey well travelled – farewell": Grace Mutandwa's last FCO #blog from #Zimbabwehttp://ow.ly/1ooSn #
  • SVO C, on my way to Tbilisi. Via Kiev. Direct flight would have been really nice. #
  • Terminal blissfully quiet though. And the new lounge is nice. Forgot my UK – Europe mains adapter and the duty free don't have any. Grr. #
  • @v_at_l Good point – I'll stop complaining then! in reply to v_at_l #
  • @TFALO 1A :) #

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Mar 14 2010

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-14

Published by James under Misc

  • Did they get Vladimir Pozner to do the announcements on the SVO Express? #
  • Corey Haim?! #
  • Respect to Boingo. Blogged about Boingo / SkypeAccess; follow-up comment within hours. #

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