What is it?

…a week of conferences, workshops, networking, awards and exhibitions bringing together the digital industries in and around London.

Anyway, check it out if the agenda floats your boat… I’m unlikely to be there, not because it doesn’t look like it might be interesting (what’s a Facebook Garage? Are we bored of Camps?), but because its two weeks before I get married and I’m likely to have other things on my mind!

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In any case, (and I’m not paid to promote these guys), if you want last minute father’s day gifts, you should…

Feckless Shoppers Warned Against Smash-and-Grab Gift Buying Kiss goodbye to panic gift buying: new website LateLateGifts.co.uk is helping thousands of last minute shoppers cope with Father’s Day. The idea behind the site is simple. Users can browse 60+ shops that offer immediate, same day or next day delivery gifts to take the stress out of last minute shopping. Time is of the essence for the feckless gift giver, so the easy to navigate website offers simple search options to help users find the presents they need pronto. Shoppers who are really racing the clock can search same day delivery gifts. For those with a day or two’s grace, Late Late Gifts lists retailers offering delivery by the following morning. The range of shops means there’s an ideal gift for everyone. From electricals, gadgets and computers to jewellery, chocolates and experience days, it’s all on offer – and delivered fast. Late Late Gifts creator, Richard Kershaw, was inspired to build the site by his own shoddy gift-giving habits: “I know all too well the stress of last minute smash-and-grab gift buying. But I was certain I wasn’t the only person who was, well, just a bit rubbish at buying presents. “I couldn’t find anything out there to take the pressure off buying gifts for your nearest and dearest. I hope that Late Late Gifts will make Father’s Day and those other big occasions a little less daunting.”

Thank you Kay Smith of LateLateGifts.co.uk.

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The name – “From Shorthand to Broadband” – inspired this video which summarises the development of the media story. Have we got the whole story in? Is there something else you would have included / subbed out?

My personal view? From a business perspective, we’re at a really interesting point; one business model (traditional, ad-sponsored, print and broadcast media) is struggling in the wake of having to share its revenue with the online world, and the online world hasn’t yet developed a business model more substantive than relying on Google adwords. From a consumer perspective, broadband and web technologies are available and accessible to the point where the way everyone interacts with media has changed, whether they realise it or not. Not everyone’s there yet, of course, but where a few years ago you wouldn’t have been that surprised if someone from a different generation didn’t know how to Google something, today I’m having conversations with my mother about Facebook, and helping her organise to deliver a plenary speech at a conference via Skype video conferencing.

From a PR perspective — with journalists having to work differently, is it surprising that PRs will have to as well? Conversations in the industry — even with technology companies traditionally on the edge of new things — indicate how early on we are with this part of the story. A lot has changed since the ‘Martini lunches’ of legend, and even more is set to.

Be interested to hear from people who’ve been in one side and out the other — whilst there’s a lot of “web 2.0″ that’s hype, I have a feeling that where we are with “social” media today is a pale, pale precursor to the way we’ll interact online in the future.

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I think its pretty funny (and no, I wasn’t involved in this one). The service is good too; mobile phone recycling, for which they give you money. Check it out.

This year really has been the year where the world realises that the things we do have an impact. It’s not all about Al Gore’s PowerPoint skills, I’m sure, although no doubt its helped.

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It’s a good policy. Nice to see some businesses paying attention to trackbacks… If you want 200 div6 points, please link to me. Preferably telling people how awesome I am.

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I’m sure it’ll work well, though doubt it’ll reach the £15m heights of Christmas – people just don’t drink quite as much at Easter time, do they?

Anyway, click here for more info from Hugh, and here for the coupon. Share and enjoy!

Via: Vecosys

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3,569 visitors (+631%)
6,877 pageviews (+870%)
717% more referrals from Google
5100% more referrals from Technorati (I know, I get very few T’rati referrals)

My humble post has been viewed 5,406 times and is the most popular post on my blog ever (no 2 is this one with 1,827 views).

My bandwidth usage is also at 340MB of a 1GB cap (4 days into the month) — typically I use 600MB of bandwidth by the END of the month. All of my photos are hosted on Flickr, so don’t contribute. Cripes. Fortunately it seems to be dying down.

On the story itself, Hugh has full updates over at Gaping Void – particularly interesting is how the mainstream media picked up on the story, and the impact it has had on Threshers. Threshers’ employee Sam commented here on division6 today on how it is affecting him on the ground (and how to get six bottles of the same kind of wine if they don’t have it out front – ask – apparently it is hard to keep restocking with current demand!).

It’s all pretty durn impressive. Good stunt. I remain impressed. And plan to use my voucher this Saturday, if my local Threshers hasn’t run out of stock of everything.

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Great hit, Threshers, Stormhoek, Hugh, and everyone else who was involved. I plan to make use of the voucher this weekend if there is any wine left in my local branch! The store finder is here, if you want it.

Update: various people have pointed out that, as the 3 for 2 offers are invalid with the 40% discount voucher, you would only be receiving a 7.67% additional discount. Still, not too shabby!

Update 2: It’s 10%. My maths stinks.

Update 3: The BBC wrote an article, and I had 1,500 visitors yesterday (usually I get about 70-80). My bandwidth bills are going to be up a bit this month…

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Great marketing stunt and very entertaining videos.

Via: Scobleizer.

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The people in the small Romanian town Sacha Baron Cohen filmed in are complaining [paywall], though, as they weren’t really given enough, in their opinion, for the humiliation the film puts them through. The 73 year old woman who plays Borat’s mum was paid €30 and 200kg of concrete, which she is now using to make some repairs to her house.

If you get past the paywall for the FT, or have Saturday’s paper about, do read the full article. The mayor of the Romanian province’s comment was bizarre (and funny, given the film involved) – something like “If they got paid I am sure they are happy. Those gypsies would sell their own father.” A strange piece to read in the FT!

In the meantime, Borat is getting sued by the idiot students, has had an awesome opening weekend and you can make prank calls to your friends using the Borat soundboard. Deleted scenes are appearing on YouTube and the internet sensation continues to grow.

This movie is genius.

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Via The Official Google Blog

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It has 65,548 blades, one for each hair, and when you press the power button, a crack team of Thai gogo girls turn up and vibrate the blade gently against your face. Until they are dismissed by the Thai military forces coordinating their activities, that is.

That’s one smooth shave.

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