Knock three times
Welcome to Idealog Weekly, the free email newsletter for New Zealand commercial creatives, entrepreneurs and anyone rich with ideas.
Knock three times
People don’t always respond well to uninvited guests, so if you’re thinking about donning your business hat and turning up at someone’s Facebook or MySpace homepage, you better do it right.
Don’t worry too much if you don’t, no one’s going to kick you out, you’ll simply be treated as the weird guy in the funny hat and ignored for all eternity. Happily, Simon Young has written a primer on how to get involved without getting in the way, complete with starring spots from Luke Nicholas of Epic Beer and Bebo founders Michael and Xochi Birch.
And if you’re wondering who’s doing it right at the other end, AOL recently bought Bebo for $US850 million. Who said you can’t make money off your friends?
Thursday horrors
The Weekly loves a good robot, but it’s not sure if love is the right word for The Big Dog. ‘Paralytic terror’ would be if it were a singular utterance. ‘Toilet’ will suffice. Watch how The Big Dog responds to a kick—can’t help thinking the next stage will be the kick back. Dammit, where’s Will Smith when you need him? He’s everywhere when you don’t. (Via 37 Signals)
Over Rover
Many believe the early 20th century was a simpler, safer time. We don’t agree. While in 2008 we let the dog hang out the window in front of its own airbag, in 1936 furry friends were encouraged to “ride safely and comfortably in this sack, which is carried on the running board”. And attached to the outside of your car.
Money on tap
We all pay for bottled tap water anyway, so Unicef, DRAFTFCB and Salt Design are asking you keep doing what you do to provide safe drinking water for children around the world. During Tap Week (April 5–11) diners can donate money for tap water at participating restaurants around the country. The flow of money is simple: take from Coca-Cola and give to Unicef. Coke won’t mind; “We’re all in this together,” they’d say.
If the Tap Project sounds familiar, you might have read in Idealog about its success in the US. New Zealand is the first location outside America to participate in the project.
Patience grasshoppers
We’re miles away from being carbon neutral, but for those who want to follow our progress, inch by inch, a new site has started up to help. Carbonnews.co.nz provides a grateful nation with specialist daily carbon market news so you can cluck over the good, the bad and the life saving.
Half off
It’s a kind of magic. Or a kind of good editing job. Whatever. It’s kinda really fricking freaky when people get cut in half and run away on their hands. Why is Chris Angel still a free magician?
Pay attention
It’s Thursday so you’re probably feeling a bit slow. If not, you really will be after you do this test.
Mind someone else’s business
If your business is having a slow start to the year, do a spot of SME espionage at the Small Business Expo. Forget Placemakers, with 200 exhibitors, a free seminar series, specialist advice, mentoring and business brokering this is the place to get your ‘Know how, can do’.
Auckland event from Wednesday, 16 April to Friday, 18 April 2008. Price: $20 (incl GST), available online or at the door.
Quote of the week
“Innovation is phenomenal when you open it up. Nurturing that as a social network is our main aim”
—Michael Birch, co-founder of Bebo
More at Idealog online
Read more on our website: web exclusives, opinion, Idealog IP, the Idealog blogs and the Idealog podcast. See you at idealog.co.nz.
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