Word-whore. I write 'em. I talk 'em. Information, politics, media, and the cybers. I drink. I use bad words. All publication is a political act. All communication is propaganda. All art is pornography. All business is personal. All hail Eris! Vive les poissons rouges sauvages!
I’ve just changed a couple of things about the website:
That bitter old queen Sir Elton John has called for the Internet to be closed down. Yeah, sure, whatever you say. Elton John Strains Limits of Irony, says Wired. [Update: The original rant is in The Sun (of course).]
Information Architects Japan have published a great guide to What Works on the Web — a good read for anyone wanting to do business online.
One section touches upon what I’ve been calling radical transparency — something which can shock clients more used to their suppliers spinning bull.
The openness with which we communicate here is not common. It has gotten some people suspicious and angry. We talk about clients that screwed us over (without mentioning their name, or even giving hints of course), contracts we didn’t get because we were not good enough, we shoot against people that are potential clients, we mess with one of the lungs of the blogosphere and one of the biggest marketing agency in the world started to get nervous after we opened fire against them and their unprofessional dubious practices.
This openness is to a certain degree an experiment, to a certain degree unavoidable, as it goes back to the character of iA’s peculiar owner. iA’s openness is based on the assumption: That being real works better that being virtual. In the so called virtual world as well as in the real world. Yes, in the business world as well: Because if you show your clients who you are, you are more likely to get the ones that understand you.
The definite reality check on that one is yet to come. But we are pretty optimistic.
I’ve written about transparency before, but it’s great to find a like-minded firm. Hat tip to Zern Liew.
Last night this curious little coven of witch’s hats caught my eye.
This photo was taken on Enmore Road, Newtown in Sydney — as usual with my trusty Nokia N80 pimple-cam.
Some time — when I get the time! — I’ll set up the workflow so I can post this sort of thing directly from the phone.
The N80, like the rest of the Nseries, actually has single-timeline video editing software built in, which means I should be able to make video podcasts directly from the phone.
I know it’s “easy”, but it’s still one more thing to do…
Last night was weird. Not only did I see a new social networking site before it was launched, I met two very cool people who really know this stuff.
Laurel Papworth is one of Australia’s real bloggerati. She writes regularly about online communities and how they’re Changing The World. She presented at Webjam 3, and I actually booed her presentation at a previous Webjam — and I’m looking forward to discussing our disagreement another time. Way cool.
Lee Hopkins is a communicator from Adelaide who… well, check his website for more. He and I got along just fine once he asserted that if a PR company was paying for the wine, it was our moral duty to finish it.
Give that I hate “networking”, this is a good result. And to the others in the room, well, you were cool too but I just didn’t get to swapping cards etc. Next time.
New York DJ and producer Moby is giving away music. mobygratis.com is for “independent and non-profit filmmakers, film students, and anyone in need of free music for their independent, non-profit film, video, or short.” Nice.