21/09/2009 by admin.

I got this text from 07765 165359 at 7.32pm:

Our records indicate you may be entitled to 3750 pounds for the Accident (sic) you had.To claim for free reply with YES to this msg. To opt out text STOP.

Remember the Accident Group which fired its entire staff by text? (In fact they didn’t…I saw the actual message and it simply warned against trying to draw wages. But newsdesks across the country wanted the more dramatic version so it became a fact)

These spammers know that out of every 100 random texts they send, at least 30 people will think they’ve had an accident. And even if you text STOP, you are simply confirming that your phone is active.

Everybody has to earn a living but this is pretty low…

Posted in technology, Business, Society | Print | 1 Comment »

19/08/2009 by admin.

CAPITALISING ON THE CONVERSATION: FREE WEBINAR BY SOCIAL MEDIA MAGIC

Just taken part in the above….I spent half a day looking for my microphone because I thought it was going to be a discussion. After ten minutes, I discarded the headphones and mike and just listened through the computer speakers.

Some useful stuff…particularly  recommendation to use two little-known networks to improve Google standing.

It was free but about threequarters of the way through, the sales pitch started – not quite subtly enough. It reminded me of a how to stop smoking course run by the Seventh Day Adventists I attended 30 odd years ago.

Everything was going well until, about half way through, the instructor said: “If you put your hands together in prayer, it is very difficult to smoke a cigarette.” That was the only religious reference in a whole week but it was enough to put a lot of people off.

Personally, I didn’t give up smoking for another 20 years!

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09/07/2009 by admin.

The man to lead us through the tech revolution? Nathan Smith of Smith&Smith PR. A couple of years ago I spent almost £1200 with the Charetered Institiute of Public Relations doing some courses in London.

Excellent though they were, this man has just delievered a free seminar on social media for the Chamber of Commerce which was every bit as good!

Posted in technology, Journalism, Business | Print | No Comments »

23/10/2008 by admin.

I had to give a Powerpoint presentation to some important people at EWS in Doncaster. I sent it off in advance by email and they set it up for me before I made an entrance.

Imagine my horror when I walked in, glanced at the screen and saw:

“Opportunities and difficulties of rail freight companies in they liberalised European frieght markets in the European Union.” 

Spot the deliberate mistake…

Posted in technology, Journalism, Transport | Print | 1 Comment »

26/08/2008 by admin.

When I started this blog, I was mortified not have thousands of comments. Now I am getting so sick of marking “comments” as spam that I’m looking for a way of doing without them altogether. Parasites!

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08/07/2008 by admin.

Just switched from Internet Explorer to Safari for a change and you know what? I think I might stick with it!

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22/06/2008 by admin.

What’s the point of having a website if nobody keeps it up to date. I’m sitting here under a flood warning at Keswick in the Lake District. The River Greta could sweep us all into Derwentwater at any time but don’t worry….the Environment Agency floodwatch is on the case.

 Except that when you log on to this location, it says that there is no warning in force….dated January 2008!!!!!!!

Posted in technology, Travels | Print | No Comments »