Toluu

Anton's Hat

Musings on a web space interface...

Swappsies: Books I’ve read that might do someone else some good.December 3

I love books and they are always an inspiration to me and I have been thinking lately about our current economically challenging times. I’ve decided that once I’ve read some of them I should pass them on to others to use and enjoy. Some of these were great for me some were ok, some I don’t mind if they get swapped on to someone else and one or two I’ll definitely want back to read again.

The E Myth - Michael E. Gerber

A great read for those starting one man shows or any other small business

first, break all the rules - Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman

Nifty little book highlighting the idea that really great managers don’t do the same as everyone else.

50 Management ideas you need to know - Edward Russell-Walling

This is an interesting overview of different management techniques that have been used throughout the years.

The Search - John Battelle

Great book on the story of the search industry

Screw it Let’s Do it - Richard Branson

Simplistic book about the start of the Virgin empire. You can have this one if you want it.

The Dip - Seth Godin

Got this one in an airport before I knew who Seth Godin was. Interesting ideas and it certainly makes you think.

Powerlines - Steve Cone

A look at various different ad campaigns throughout history and how choice of words was often so important to great brands.

Words That Work - Dr. Frank Luntz

Another book on

The wisdom of crowds: Bubbles and SmokescreensNovember 28

I’ve been having a debate tonight with Tom Foremski about an article he wrote about “The wisdom of crowds and financial bubbles” on twitter

I’m writing this to explain what I feel is obvious about the notion of the wisdom of crowds.

The wisdom of crowds essentially states that given certain conditions a crowd on average will predict an outcome of a give circumstance better than an expert individual in that crowd. It seems to me that it’s blatantly obvious that individuals in the crowd and the nature of the question being asked will affect the accuracy of the prediction.

Tom asks the question

I wonder if the recent financial speculative bubbles will do much to erode the accepted notion of the “wisdom of crowds?”

I can’t help but think that Tom is laying the blame here at the wrong door.

The most basic problem I have with this is that the current financial problems have absolutely nothing to do with the ‘wisdom of the crowd’ paradigm as it is used by web 2.0 companies at all. In fact it is more due to the far more prevalent problem of herd mentality. Which is to say that a lot of behaviours in all marketplaces are to do with people following leaders (experts) due to a false belief that their expertise has weight. This creates an ‘everyones doing it because everyones doing it effect’ which is the a

Keith Meere: Up and coming rider in ClareNovember 1

I had the good fortune to attend my neighbours Halloween party tonight and I met an interesting fella by the name of Keith Meere.

Keith rides motorbikes, which is something I don’t know much about to be honest, but he has a keen interest in how he can maximise his potential for sponsorship through improving his brand. Naturally I suggested a few online methods as well as some more traditional ideas around differentiate himself and raise recognition of himself as a brand which is important in his sport.

It’ll be interesting to watch how his career develops over the next while andI’ll give a few updates as I get them. Watch this space…

Loren Feldman with a great take on web videoSeptember 18

Via Michael Gray’s blog which I found via this video on Loren Feldmans blog.

Loren Feldman of 1938 Media with some great advice tips and pointers for those getting into web video from both a personal blogging perspective and a corporate perspective.

He makes a load of very valid arguments about the value of video and what it can do for a business and also has some great suggestions about the most poweful advertising methods.

HAd to take the video off becaus eit was an autoplay and was driving me crazy. Sorry I’ll post link later.

Why assisted suicide is logically flawedAugust 21

This started out as a comment on Twenty Majors blog post about how he wants the right to end his own life.

I’d like to start by saying I have a serious problem with the phrase "the right to die". It is emotive and political in nature and totally irrational. You cannot remove someones right to something that is inevitable. This is used to turn something which is not that, into a rights issue. People think that language and your choice of words doesn’t matter. It does…

I understand the pain of looking at sick relatives and the wish that there pain could be eased one way or another (been there, still there actually).

The problem with assisted suicide is actually, importantly, a logical one.
The discussion must start with a simple question

1)Is it wrong to kill yourself?

This is a yes or no question. You either think that it is wrong or you do not. If you think it’s ok your position is clear and anyone has the right to kill themselves without interference. If you think it’s wrong then your position is pretty clear too.

Most people in this argument though are guilty of a case of Orwellian doublethink. It goes like this…

So you think it’s ok in certain circumstances, like if the person is extremely ill etc. but generally it’s not ok. Lets examine that…

Twenty’s argument centres around the ide