Ziggyzong

Ziggyzonghttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/Looking at interesting things I find online and occasionally rambling about them.en-EUhourly82000-01-01T12:00+00:00Ziggyzonghttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/04/2e6a5e8afa11ffe837ae3bf057177e_160x200.jpgTies = Money. Apparentlyhttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2009/05/28/ties-money-apparently-6191136/2009-05-28T12:21:03+02:00 <p>Facebook is ready to make money as evidenced by...its CEO wearing a tie everyday to the office.<br> It's in the article at the very bottom. I think it should have been the headline.<br><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aKLGItgfmt48">Link</a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2009/05/28/ties-money-apparently-6191136/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Facebook is ready to make money as evidenced by...its CEO wearing a tie everyday to the office.
It's in the article at the very bottom. I think it should have been the headline.
Link

]]>The importance of accuracy in reportinghttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2009/02/25/the-importance-of-accuracy-in-reporting-5648743/2009-02-25T18:17:28+01:00 <p>A few days ago,<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/19/john-gibson-compares-eric_n_168377.html"> The Huffington Post </a>posted a video on its website that showed Fox News Radio host John Gibson making a racial slur about Attorney General Eric Holder.</p> <p>Only one problem--the video was fake. It was created by Baltimore TV technology reporter John Sanders as a joke. He made it clear that it wasn't real when he posted it on YouTube.</p> <p>The Huffington Post says it got the video from TVNewser. TVNewser says the video "<a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/fncs_john_gibson_responds_to_doctored_clip_109216.asp">arrived in the anonymous tip box</a>" and it had no idea that the end of the clip included the fake racial slur. This begs the question--why didn't someone watch the whole video before posting it?</p> <p>Anyway, now Sanders is "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/24/AR2009022403215.html">no longer employed</a>" by WBAL-TV. Gibson has had a major blow to his reputation. Regardless of whether you like either of these reporters, they are both suffering the consequences of inaccurate reporting. I'm just wondering when they're going to turn around and try to sue HuffPo or TVNewser.</p> <p>I know my one voice isn't enough to change all the damage that's been done, but I thought it would be good to add to the voices of accuracy.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2009/02/25/the-importance-of-accuracy-in-reporting-5648743/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>A few days ago, The Huffington Post posted a video on its website that showed Fox News Radio host John Gibson making a racial slur about Attorney General Eric Holder.

Only one problem--the video was fake. It was created by Baltimore TV technology reporter John Sanders as a joke. He made it clear that it wasn't real when he posted it on YouTube.

The Huffington Post says it got the video from TVNewser. TVNewser says the video "arrived in the anonymous tip box" and it had no idea that the end of the clip included the fake racial slur. This begs the question--why didn't someone watch the whole video before posting it?

Anyway, now Sanders is "no longer employed" by WBAL-TV. Gibson has had a major blow to his reputation. Regardless of whether you like either of these reporters, they are both suffering the consequences of inaccurate reporting. I'm just wondering when they're going to turn around and try to sue HuffPo or TVNewser.

I know my one voice isn't enough to change all the damage that's been done, but I thought it would be good to add to the voices of accuracy.

]]>Merging mediahttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2009/01/14/merging-media-5377360/2009-01-14T18:14:14+01:00 <p>CBS will be <a href="http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6629251.html">airing a new show</a> in the spring that is on tv, online and on mobile devices. I haven't seen promos or anything, but the idea sounds great. I've been wondering why people aren't doing more to merge media. I know there are some examples, but the area has so much potential...</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2009/01/14/merging-media-5377360/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>CBS will be airing a new show in the spring that is on tv, online and on mobile devices. I haven't seen promos or anything, but the idea sounds great. I've been wondering why people aren't doing more to merge media. I know there are some examples, but the area has so much potential...

]]>Best jobhttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2009/01/14/best-job-5377119/2009-01-14T17:27:33+01:00 <p><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090114.waustralia14/BNStory/International/home">Over 200,000 people</a> have applied for <a href="http://www.islandreefjob.com/">this job</a> in Queensland, Australia, to be the caretaker of an island in the Great Barrier Reef for six months. The website to apply keeps crashing. But as the news article points out, what a great way to attract tourists--no, you didn't get the job, but come visit!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2009/01/14/best-job-5377119/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Over 200,000 people have applied for this job in Queensland, Australia, to be the caretaker of an island in the Great Barrier Reef for six months. The website to apply keeps crashing. But as the news article points out, what a great way to attract tourists--no, you didn't get the job, but come visit!

]]>Brain trickshttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2009/01/13/brain-tricks-5372285/2009-01-13T19:37:13+01:00 <p><a href="http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/graphics/011109_hacking_your_brain/">Here </a>are some cool ideas for tricking your brain. I like the idea that you can cause hallucinations yourself--makes me even more sceptical about charlatan "seers" and anyone who claims to have visions.<br>This kind of thing reminds me of Derren Brown, who is always fun for mind tricks. His usually are more on the physical side like the one that makes you think the rubber hand is your hand.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2009/01/13/brain-tricks-5372285/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Here are some cool ideas for tricking your brain. I like the idea that you can cause hallucinations yourself--makes me even more sceptical about charlatan "seers" and anyone who claims to have visions.
This kind of thing reminds me of Derren Brown, who is always fun for mind tricks. His usually are more on the physical side like the one that makes you think the rubber hand is your hand.

]]>BBC and written journalismhttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/12/24/bbc-and-written-journalism-5271199/2008-12-24T14:13:56+01:00 <p>I've been thinking a lot lately about the BBC's website, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/">bbc.co.uk</a>, because it has one of the highest hit rates on the internet world wide. This makes sense; given the BBC is a respected news source. But it occurred to me that the BBC is respected for its broadcast media, rather than print media—there is no BBC newspaper. And rightfully so, as it is a publicly funded body.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Yet through its website, suddenly the BBC has become a source of written media. News, sports, politics—it’s all being consumed in written form. This change has been so subtle; it seems to have passed many people by unnoticed as it’s just another delivery channel for their beloved BBC. But this is a huge threat to online newspapers. These newspapers take the time to hire journalists known for their writing (or at least attempt to) and they subscribe to certain journalistic principles (well, I like to think so anyway). The BBC faces its fair share of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_the_BBC">criticism </a>for its broadcast journalism, but I don’t know that its written journalism comes under as much scrutiny. There isn’t the same focus on the writers as there is with newspapers.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">No one would ever think the BBC should be able to have a newspaper, why does no one have a problem with it having a website?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">One solution would be for the BBC to move to video and audio content only. This would make sense and with connectivity improving globally, not an impossibility either.</p> <p>But for now, there is no reason for the BBC to change its website, as no one seems to be challenging it.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/12/24/bbc-and-written-journalism-5271199/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>I've been thinking a lot lately about the BBC's website, bbc.co.uk, because it has one of the highest hit rates on the internet world wide. This makes sense; given the BBC is a respected news source. But it occurred to me that the BBC is respected for its broadcast media, rather than print media—there is no BBC newspaper. And rightfully so, as it is a publicly funded body.

Yet through its website, suddenly the BBC has become a source of written media. News, sports, politics—it’s all being consumed in written form. This change has been so subtle; it seems to have passed many people by unnoticed as it’s just another delivery channel for their beloved BBC. But this is a huge threat to online newspapers. These newspapers take the time to hire journalists known for their writing (or at least attempt to) and they subscribe to certain journalistic principles (well, I like to think so anyway). The BBC faces its fair share of criticism for its broadcast journalism, but I don’t know that its written journalism comes under as much scrutiny. There isn’t the same focus on the writers as there is with newspapers.

No one would ever think the BBC should be able to have a newspaper, why does no one have a problem with it having a website?

One solution would be for the BBC to move to video and audio content only. This would make sense and with connectivity improving globally, not an impossibility either.

But for now, there is no reason for the BBC to change its website, as no one seems to be challenging it.

]]>Dumb criminalshttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/12/12/dumb-criminals-5209089/2008-12-12T11:41:16+01:00 <p>Really <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/11/17/2008-11-17_drug_dealers_doing_roaring_trade_on_crai.html">dumb drug dealers</a>. I understand that craigslist is a great way to find buyers when you're selling something. But when you're selling something illegal, e.g. drugs, surely you don't want to use a completly public channel?!?</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/12/12/dumb-criminals-5209089/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Really dumb drug dealers. I understand that craigslist is a great way to find buyers when you're selling something. But when you're selling something illegal, e.g. drugs, surely you don't want to use a completly public channel?!?

]]>User funded journalismhttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/12/11/user-funded-journalism-5203610/2008-12-11T15:56:28+01:00 <p>This is one of the best ideas I've seen in a while. It gets everything right about social media and still keeps to good journalistic content.<br> <a href="http://spot.us/">http://spot.us/</a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/12/11/user-funded-journalism-5203610/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>This is one of the best ideas I've seen in a while. It gets everything right about social media and still keeps to good journalistic content.
http://spot.us/

]]>Practice random kindnesshttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/12/11/practice-random-kindness-5202756/2008-12-11T12:33:56+01:00 <p>This made me smile and needs to be shared.</p> <p> <a href="http://vimeo.com/2268595">In an Absolut World, Everyone Would be Welcomed Home</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/improveverywhere">ImprovEverywhere</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a></p> <p> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/12/11/practice-random-kindness-5202756/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>This made me smile and needs to be shared.

In an Absolut World, Everyone Would be Welcomed Home from ImprovEverywhere on Vimeo

]]>Who keeps a sword, take 2http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/10/02/who-keeps-a-sword-take-4812154/2008-10-02T16:38:33+02:00 <p>I feel like I'm <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/09/02/who-keeps-aswordat-home-4671775">tracking Samurai sword use</a> in the UK now. But I couldn't make this stuff up. A shopkeeper in Bristol fought off a potential <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/10/01/video-hero-shopkeeper-tackles-samurai-sword-wielding-raider-115875-20764334/">robber wielding a Samurai sword</a>. </p> <p>What have I learned from all of this? Samurai swords don't make particularly good weapons in street crime and robberies. Leave them to the movies. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/10/02/who-keeps-a-sword-take-4812154/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>I feel like I'm tracking Samurai sword use in the UK now. But I couldn't make this stuff up. A shopkeeper in Bristol fought off a potential robber wielding a Samurai sword.

What have I learned from all of this? Samurai swords don't make particularly good weapons in street crime and robberies. Leave them to the movies.

]]>Product placement...in songshttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/09/22/product-placement-in-songs-4763039/2008-09-22T16:19:07+02:00 <p>Apparently, companies can now pay to have their <a href="http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/09/products-placed.html">brands mentioned in song lyrics</a>. I suppose it makes sense on the one hand, given that music artists often use brand names in their lyrics. But as the article points out, no one is required to say which words are part of an advertisement in the song. I can sort of picture a scenario where you have 24 hour music going on the radio, but it all sounds the same. The real songs blend into the commercial jingles because everything has product placement. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/09/22/product-placement-in-songs-4763039/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Apparently, companies can now pay to have their brands mentioned in song lyrics. I suppose it makes sense on the one hand, given that music artists often use brand names in their lyrics. But as the article points out, no one is required to say which words are part of an advertisement in the song. I can sort of picture a scenario where you have 24 hour music going on the radio, but it all sounds the same. The real songs blend into the commercial jingles because everything has product placement.

]]>e-book readerhttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/09/10/e-book-reader-4709770/2008-09-10T19:39:09+02:00 <p>I finally saw a Sony Reader in person the other day on the New York subway. It looked pretty cool, but ultimately like an overgrown blackberry/iphone etc. It's not a screen I'd really want to read books on.<br><a href="http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/09/plastic-logics.html">Plastic Logic's new reader</a>, however, looks incredible. Someone's finally realising that if you're going to make a digital book reader, it has to be a device people might actually want to use. I could actually see using this thing, assuming they figure out how to make it fold down so it fits in my pocket. But I expect they will get there. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/09/10/e-book-reader-4709770/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>I finally saw a Sony Reader in person the other day on the New York subway. It looked pretty cool, but ultimately like an overgrown blackberry/iphone etc. It's not a screen I'd really want to read books on.
Plastic Logic's new reader, however, looks incredible. Someone's finally realising that if you're going to make a digital book reader, it has to be a device people might actually want to use. I could actually see using this thing, assuming they figure out how to make it fold down so it fits in my pocket. But I expect they will get there.

]]>Lego Simpsons introhttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/09/10/lego-simpsons-intro-4709432/2008-09-10T18:20:24+02:00 <p>This is fabulous so I had to post. Someone has created the Simpson's intro sequence entirely in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgEIGx0JKL8&eurl=http://www.neatorama.com/2008/09/09/the-simpsons-intro-in-lego/">Lego</a>. I don't know what it is about Lego that is so cool. They make entire video games using Lego style--Batman, Indiana Jones--and people love them. Maybe a lot of us are just retro-babies at heart and like our new technology to still be familiar and have that old school feel. I do wonder if kids under 20 appreciate it though...</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/09/10/lego-simpsons-intro-4709432/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>This is fabulous so I had to post. Someone has created the Simpson's intro sequence entirely in Lego. I don't know what it is about Lego that is so cool. They make entire video games using Lego style--Batman, Indiana Jones--and people love them. Maybe a lot of us are just retro-babies at heart and like our new technology to still be familiar and have that old school feel. I do wonder if kids under 20 appreciate it though...

]]>Who keeps a sword at home?!?http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/09/02/who-keeps-aswordat-home-4671775/2008-09-02T14:42:57+02:00 <p>When a 60 year old man told him to stop urinating in public, a man decided to <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1051682/Man-60-fights-samurai-sword-attacker-striking-head-walking-stick.html">go get his sword</a>. How is that anyone's first thought? "You pissed me off. Now i'm going to slice you with my sword." <br>More importantly, who has a sword lying around at home? What century are we in? I suppose it's safer than if the man had brought back his gun. That would have had a very different outcome. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/09/02/who-keeps-aswordat-home-4671775/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>When a 60 year old man told him to stop urinating in public, a man decided to go get his sword. How is that anyone's first thought? "You pissed me off. Now i'm going to slice you with my sword."
More importantly, who has a sword lying around at home? What century are we in? I suppose it's safer than if the man had brought back his gun. That would have had a very different outcome.

]]>Social Media Researchhttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/09/01/social-media7412df2b1db8cd2a5d4aafdb6c2090d3-4667372/2008-09-01T16:30:47+02:00 <p>Universal Mccann has <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/mickstravellin/universal-mccann-international-social-media-research-wave-3?src=embed">posted a presentation</a> of the results of its research on social media. It defines social media as <br> <blockquote> online applications, platforms and media which aim to faciliatate interaction, collaboration and the sharing of content.<br></blockquote> It's a good presentation with a lot of interesting info. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/09/01/social-media7412df2b1db8cd2a5d4aafdb6c2090d3-4667372/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Universal Mccann has posted a presentation of the results of its research on social media. It defines social media as

online applications, platforms and media which aim to faciliatate interaction, collaboration and the sharing of content.

It's a good presentation with a lot of interesting info.

]]>Virtually wrong. Forget that. Just wronghttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/09/01/virtually-wrong-forget-that-just-wrong-4665785/2008-09-01T10:46:36+02:00 <p><a href="http://cbs3.com/local/kimberly.jernigan.second.2.801089.html">Kidnapping</a> your virtual ex-lover is definitely wrong. And going to such great lengths to do it doesn't help the case. After failing at her first attempt, the woman brought her dog for the second attempt. When she couldn't get her man, she duct-taped her dog. Poor dog.<br>I'm not sure what to make of this. There's a part of me that says that if she were a man, it would be more scary and less comical. But then, I haven't seen or read <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misery_%28film%29">Misery</a>, aside from this wikipedia entry. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/09/01/virtually-wrong-forget-that-just-wrong-4665785/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Kidnapping your virtual ex-lover is definitely wrong. And going to such great lengths to do it doesn't help the case. After failing at her first attempt, the woman brought her dog for the second attempt. When she couldn't get her man, she duct-taped her dog. Poor dog.
I'm not sure what to make of this. There's a part of me that says that if she were a man, it would be more scary and less comical. But then, I haven't seen or read Misery, aside from this wikipedia entry.

]]>Wiihttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/08/26/wii-4639650/2008-08-26T15:25:53+02:00 <p>I just bought a Nintendo Wii this weekend and am now scouting for good games. <br>Obviously everyone has different tastes when it comes to games. I have a DS and can get quite addicted to puzzle games like <a href="http://www.dsfanboy.com/2008/03/07/ds-fanboy-review-professor-layton-and-the-curious-village/">Professor Layton </a>but also platformers like <a href="http://uk.gamespot.com/ds/action/supermariobrosds/index.html?tag=similargames;img;1">Mario</a>. </p> <p>Trying to translate these tastes to the Wii is not as straightforward. Ultimately with the Wii, I feel like games should make use of the motion sensing Wii remote. There's such a big opportunity there that many seem to be missing out on in their game creation. </p> <p>That being said, here's my conclusion for the moment. Looks like <a href="http://www.testfreaks.com/wii-games/madden-nfl-08-51603/">Madden</a> is worth getting. I should have mentioned that game play with the other half is a big factor in my search for Wii games.<br><a href="http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/boomblox">Boom blox</a> looks good too.<br>So does <a href="http://www.testfreaks.com/wii-games/wario-ware-smooth-moves/">Wario Ware</a>, but doesn't seem to have as good multi-player system. (You are all supposed to share the same controller in multi-play)<br>Guess I'll see how it goes and what we buy. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/08/26/wii-4639650/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>I just bought a Nintendo Wii this weekend and am now scouting for good games.
Obviously everyone has different tastes when it comes to games. I have a DS and can get quite addicted to puzzle games like Professor Layton but also platformers like Mario.

Trying to translate these tastes to the Wii is not as straightforward. Ultimately with the Wii, I feel like games should make use of the motion sensing Wii remote. There's such a big opportunity there that many seem to be missing out on in their game creation.

That being said, here's my conclusion for the moment. Looks like Madden is worth getting. I should have mentioned that game play with the other half is a big factor in my search for Wii games.
Boom blox looks good too.
So does Wario Ware, but doesn't seem to have as good multi-player system. (You are all supposed to share the same controller in multi-play)
Guess I'll see how it goes and what we buy.

]]>Modern pentathlonhttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/08/22/modern-pentathlon-4622111/2008-08-22T11:20:24+02:00 <p>I was watching the men's show jumping in the modern pentathlon yesterday. Just a bad show all around. The fact that the ground was wet and muddy wasn't a good start. And some of those horses were not ready for that type of work and environment. But all of that aside, a lot of the riding was disgraceful. And right now the women are on, so far putting the men to shame. I should add that SIX horses were removed from the competition following their performance yesterday. Which is probably best for everyone.<br>The one that really got to me yesterday was John Zakrzewski of France whose horse tripped and fell, flipping forwards. He fell off, got caught in the stirrup, and then got kicked/trampled a bit before managing to get free. The crowd looked on in horror and wondered if he was seriously injured. And then he got up, head bleeding...and proceeded to throw a temper tantrum, stamping his feet and banging the ground with his crop. Not bothering to check if the horse was okay (it had just flipped over!), he then <a href="http://au.sports.yahoo.com/olympics/sports/photos/zoom/-/4945659/pentathlon">got back on</a>. It's good to see the event coordinators <a href="http://www.foxsports.com.au/beijing_olympics/story/0,27313,24222983-5016792,00.html">defending the horses</a> though.<br>On a different note, thankfully the BBC have a better commentator today who actually seems to know something about riding. The man yesterday kept claiming everything was the horses' faults and had no appreciation for what was being done to them. Hooray for today's commentator who just said "this is a good horse and she is NOT a good rider." <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/08wink.gif" border="0" alt=""> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/08/22/modern-pentathlon-4622111/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>I was watching the men's show jumping in the modern pentathlon yesterday. Just a bad show all around. The fact that the ground was wet and muddy wasn't a good start. And some of those horses were not ready for that type of work and environment. But all of that aside, a lot of the riding was disgraceful. And right now the women are on, so far putting the men to shame. I should add that SIX horses were removed from the competition following their performance yesterday. Which is probably best for everyone.
The one that really got to me yesterday was John Zakrzewski of France whose horse tripped and fell, flipping forwards. He fell off, got caught in the stirrup, and then got kicked/trampled a bit before managing to get free. The crowd looked on in horror and wondered if he was seriously injured. And then he got up, head bleeding...and proceeded to throw a temper tantrum, stamping his feet and banging the ground with his crop. Not bothering to check if the horse was okay (it had just flipped over!), he then got back on. It's good to see the event coordinators defending the horses though.
On a different note, thankfully the BBC have a better commentator today who actually seems to know something about riding. The man yesterday kept claiming everything was the horses' faults and had no appreciation for what was being done to them. Hooray for today's commentator who just said "this is a good horse and she is NOT a good rider."

]]>SEO take twohttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/08/08/seo-take-two-4560537/2008-08-08T17:21:10+02:00 <p><a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/08/07/title-4556385">Yesterday</a> I mentioned the problems with everyone catering to SEO strategies. <br>But I was just thinking about how on this blog-site, I can put my own tags on my entries. And then there's delicious, digg, etc., which are all about user tagging.<br>Maybe there is some truth to the theory that people-tagged content, not just algorithms, is the way of the future.<br>I subscribe for a number of auto-trawling emails that give me daily info on technology or specific companies, but there isn't a particularly good filtering system involved. Any time those companies are mentioned, the article appears in my email. No matter how minor or irrelevant. My favorites are the type of articles that say, Bill Gates, Microsoft founder did blah blah blah today. Considering I care about Microsoft but not him, its not so helpful.<br>I also subscribe to <a href="http://www.iwantmedia.com/index.html">I Want Media</a>, which as far as I can tell has a human filter. As in, the creator goes through and makes sure the content is right. This email is infinitely more useful than the trawlers, giving me 1-2 useful articles a day. <br>I don't think computers have beaten us yet. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/08/08/seo-take-two-4560537/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Yesterday I mentioned the problems with everyone catering to SEO strategies.
But I was just thinking about how on this blog-site, I can put my own tags on my entries. And then there's delicious, digg, etc., which are all about user tagging.
Maybe there is some truth to the theory that people-tagged content, not just algorithms, is the way of the future.
I subscribe for a number of auto-trawling emails that give me daily info on technology or specific companies, but there isn't a particularly good filtering system involved. Any time those companies are mentioned, the article appears in my email. No matter how minor or irrelevant. My favorites are the type of articles that say, Bill Gates, Microsoft founder did blah blah blah today. Considering I care about Microsoft but not him, its not so helpful.
I also subscribe to I Want Media, which as far as I can tell has a human filter. As in, the creator goes through and makes sure the content is right. This email is infinitely more useful than the trawlers, giving me 1-2 useful articles a day.
I don't think computers have beaten us yet.

]]>08 08 08http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/08/08/08-08-4559489/2008-08-08T12:30:03+02:00 <p>Everyone can agree that today is 08 08 08 or 8/8/8. No arguments about US vs UK format, it's all the same. Which makes it a nice day to start the Olympics, cuz no confusion.<br> Twitter is <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23080808">trying to celebrate</a> but I have to admit, I don't totally get twitter. I have an account, but it just doesn't do it for me. Maybe it's because I'm under 35--not being age-ist, but in my sampling of people who use it, the people most keen seem to be over 35. Perhaps because the under 35's use their Facebook profiles to update "what they're doing right now". Then again, Facebook doesn't do it for me either. As soon as it stopped being just for students, it lost its purpose. And I think unless social networks have a purpose, ultimately they will fail. It'll just take a while for that to happen.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/08/08/08-08-4559489/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Everyone can agree that today is 08 08 08 or 8/8/8. No arguments about US vs UK format, it's all the same. Which makes it a nice day to start the Olympics, cuz no confusion.
Twitter is trying to celebrate but I have to admit, I don't totally get twitter. I have an account, but it just doesn't do it for me. Maybe it's because I'm under 35--not being age-ist, but in my sampling of people who use it, the people most keen seem to be over 35. Perhaps because the under 35's use their Facebook profiles to update "what they're doing right now". Then again, Facebook doesn't do it for me either. As soon as it stopped being just for students, it lost its purpose. And I think unless social networks have a purpose, ultimately they will fail. It'll just take a while for that to happen.

]]>SEOhttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/08/07/title-4556385/2008-08-07T18:22:28+02:00 <p>Now that I know it works let's roll. SEO (search engine optimisation) is important, most people know this. But as <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/21/charliebrooker.pressandpublishing">this writer</a> shows, it can have its pitfalls.<br> Maybe that's why my first post had a video of a certain celebrity heiress, tagged with her name. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"><br> [See, I can try to be good and not use gratuitous name references] </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/08/07/title-4556385/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Now that I know it works let's roll. SEO (search engine optimisation) is important, most people know this. But as this writer shows, it can have its pitfalls.
Maybe that's why my first post had a video of a certain celebrity heiress, tagged with her name.

[See, I can try to be good and not use gratuitous name references]

]]>The firsthttp://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/08/07/the-first-4556254/2008-08-07T17:41:54+02:00 <p>Blog entry number 1. Mostly a test, but might as well try some things. Just saw this <a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/64ad536a6d">video</a> which I thought was fantastic. As an American in London I'm removed from the election so it's these little things that keep it interesting. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://ziggyzong.blog.co.uk/2008/08/07/the-first-4556254/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Blog entry number 1. Mostly a test, but might as well try some things. Just saw this video which I thought was fantastic. As an American in London I'm removed from the election so it's these little things that keep it interesting.

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