The power of proper paper #writing
Messy, unwieldy, noisy, and yet … Kurt Harden hits on the unique delight in reading an actual, paper, newspaper. I love reading the Economist or (London) Times on my iPad, but real paper is different. You see different things, the format allows for greater serendipity. It’s more tactile, too. And, of course, paper is lower […]
The cost of dumbing down – @thisissethsblog #contentmarketing
Seth Godin on the hidden cost of chasing that last 2% of understanding. “When you find yourself overwriting, embracing redundancy and overwhelming people with fine print, you’re probably protecting yourself against the 2%, at the expense of everyone else.” Read the full post, here.
Thoughts on Ad-blockers
Ad-blocking software has been big news over the last couple of weeks. This week, even The Times devoted a leader to it (Ad Armageddon, firewalled, though it should be accessible via my Tweet). That increasing numbers of people now choose to avoid intrusive, irrelevant and increasingly annoying ads is no surprise. I research a wide […]
Hunter-Gatherer: the full list
50. Never let the fire go out. For the hunter-gather of the 21st century, the full list from Nicholas Bate, here.
Casual contempt for the customer #Volkswagen
The discovery that Volkswagen’s US models were fitted with a device that automatically cheated environmental tests will cause huge damage to the firm. Already, facing fines that could reach $18bn, the company’s shares have plunged 23%. However, fines may only be the most concrete issue; a company that has long traded on its reputation – […]
Credibility in online reviews #writing #contentmarketing
Here’s an interesting article on the credibility of online reviews from the New Scientist, flagged by Helen Guyatt (@inkpodcomms). In discussing the need to clean up the world of online reviews, researchers identify that “reviews with a balanced tone tend to be trusted.” and that “slick-looking reviews can actually weaken that trust.” Those are interesting […]
Greatest speeches in history? #writing
Here’s a great resource: the 35 greatest speeches in history, according to the Art of Manliness blog. The list, with descriptions and excerpts, ranges from the Ancients up to date; from Cicero and Demosthenes, via Chief Joseph and William Wilberforce, up to Churchill, Kennedy and Reagan. Definitely a post to bookmark.
The neuroscience of story #writing
Here’s an interesting piece on the neuroscience of storytelling, from Melcrum. The difference between story and dry facts lies essentially in the different associations that story creates, activating different parts of the brain. Worth a read.
Pfeffer on Power
I loved Jeffrey Pfeffer’s 2010 book Power: Why Some People Have It – and Others Don’t. Here’s an overview of Pfeffer’s work (from Theodore Kinni), along with a five minute video of him talking about Power.
More hunting and gathering
The next dozen from Nicholas Bate: Stare at night skies unpolluted by light. … … Establish rituals: writing, building & crafting, reflecting … The rest, here. The first 12, here.