Wednesday 23 February 2011

Everything you learned in Math class is wrong

Here's proof that 2=1

a = b

So...

a^2 = b^2

and

a^2 - b^2 = ab - b^2

and if we unpack that....

(a-b)(a+b) = b(a-b)

a + b = b

Which means that

b + b = b

2b = b

2 = 1

Monday 21 February 2011

Back to the Tech Valuation Future

There was a great piece in this weekends Observer talking about the second Dot-Com bubble a lot of money around driving the 'next' tech company valuation up. You can read it here

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/feb/20/is-this-the-start-of-the-second-dotcom-bubble

What is interesting about this is the basic principle of valuations that are based on future, or even wishful, earnings. Groupon turned down $6n, Twitter doesn't make any money but is valued at $10bn and Facebook was recently valued at $67bn. This is all in the hope that the information that Facebook users or Groupon buyers provide the platform will provide relevant consumer information for targeted advertising messages

So if we do the basic maths Facebook is worth $67bn so revenues would be around $17bn...with 550m users it means that each 'fan' is potentially worth $31 to a marketer.

A good CTR on a targeted Facebook ad is 0.5%.....looks like a bubble

Monday 14 February 2011

Who'd have thought it?

Let's get this straight, I have never been a fan of Victoria Beckham, or the Beckham brand. I always had Victoria down as a very driven but ultimately limited on talent.

How wrong I was.

What I have always admired about VB is she always looks polished; sure there have been some disasters - his and hers matching leather suits and high heeled baseball boots to pitch at Dodger statium. However that said there aren't many people who can rock the whole pencil skirt thing the way she can.

When she started the fashion designing I thought 'here we go, can't do music, can't do TV, try fashion...' and of course I don't think I was the only person who wondered whether her first collection was a too closely 'influenced' by Roland Mouret

However, as her fifth collection went down the catwalk last night at NY fashion week it really feels like she has grown as a designer and is stretching her creativity. There is a Japanese sensitivity that I love and that hooded dress is an instant classic.




Over the time Victoria has designed it seemed as though she wouldnt break out of the tight fitting corsety style thing, but this collection is loose and has structure. I am no expert but it feels difficult to pull off sleek without being harsh and this softer side of Mrs Beckham looks like a winner.

Thursday 3 February 2011

Linked InMaps

This is great, mapping my entire LinkedIn professional network. First thing I realise is that I have a very closed network...not surprising, I've only had 3 jobs and they are all related - with long lasting client relationships.

Colour shows my networks - Not surprisingly I see that my client colleagues and digital natives have huge networks - i need to connect into their hubs!



generate your own here....

http://inmaps.linkedinlabs.com/network

Wednesday 2 February 2011

Oh...So I found the insights! #checkins



WOW!

Foursquare Checkins Nearby!

Thanks Neil for the PA GroundHog day heads up today...have you guys all got yours yet?

Despite the fact that there are no surprises here I love that Foursquare data has become available in this simple, beautiful format.



I desperately looked for a surprising insight in here but nothing really there - food checkins dominate, and spike when we eat. Office checkins when we are in the office...nightlife at night. Who'dathoughtit?

Tuesday 1 February 2011

Battericine

I always always always seem to forget reload my vitamin container when I am traveling. I'm usually running around that morning, the car service waiting outside as I throw clothes into a case randomly. Frankly, vitamin B12 is not on the list of things to collect when its 6am and you need to get to the airport

However cool designer Adityaraj Dev has come up with an innovative pill container that keeps you updated about the number of pills or doses are inside.



“Battericine,” is a compact container in a battery shape allowing you to remove the top and bottom part with a simple click. The positive and negative signs, indicating the intake of pills and improved health, means you feel and look good simultaneously