Business
Are we giving Google etc, too much power?
Jul 8th
I have been sick the past few days and my mind has had the time to idle away, well, just thinking. Browsing around the internet many of you may see, as I do, the many sites that are using the ‘Google Analytics’ tool by none other than Google to track the statistics of their websites. This in itself is pretty harmless generally speaking, but using the analytics tools Google would have the ability to track your visitor’s from site to site, browsing patterns and what not. I’m not familiar with their privacy policies and I don’t think its in Google’s interests to sabotage their clients, but it is just scary knowing the power they have. Even more scary is the fact that its completely free, and at any given moment it could be switched off, leaving businesses without the necessary marketing tools they have been enjoying up to this point. 
Then I thought about GMail, but more specifically the ‘Google Apps’ offering, which I now host the mail for my own domain (ddj.co.za) as well as phpusers.co.za, also free services, with no guarantees from Google, just leaves me feeling slightly insecure. I would almost feel more comfortable paying, if I wasn’t such a cheap skate :]
The thing that really bothers me about this is, not really the reliance on the servers as much, but just the information that these companies have about me. Google has all my mail, highly personal information (banking statements etc) and Facebook knows everything about me, and all the people I know, and all the people they know. Am I being watched, maybe if I was someone more important :] 
All I know is, if I meet people that work for Google or Facebook I will surely be nice to them, or my mail, money and god knows what else will be at their mercy :]
Technorati Tags: Facebook, Google, Big Brother
My First 27 Dinner
Jun 29th
My colleagues Steffi and Uno invited me to my first 27 Dinner on the 27th of June and I was well impressed with the geek community that pitched up.
This is just a quick thank you note to all the sponsors of the event Stormhoek, Charly’s Bakery, Cerebra, Goldee and many others for a great evening.
Warning: Do not order the chicken, as you will not get as much food as you need. 
See all you geeks at the next!
Technorati Tags: 27 Dinner, Charly’s Bakery, Cerebra, Goldee
Chrome Night Club Sucks.
Jun 28th
I can’t really make a title more clear than this. I had the unfortunate experience of going to the chrome night club last night because a friend of mine from Port Elizabeth was in town and it seemed like the busiest place in town.
Why? God only knows. We went in… “you want how much?” “R50?” Yes R50 entrance fee, but, R1 a shooter, so we thought OK excellent we will definately have at least 5 shooters each so will worth it. Wrong. Once you are in Chrome you realise getting service is not easily achieved, after waiting at the bar (the pleb bar, not the VIP, we’re not cool enough to pay extra for tickets) for 45 minutes, this is not an exaggeration, actual time. We had still not been served.
During this time, while sobering up, I started noticing things. The ‘shots’ they sell you are limited to, sambucca, sours, vodka, gin, etc, which is fair enough…but wait. What brand of Alcohol is that? Oh. Its the special ‘Chrome’ branded bottles of Sambucca (and the rest). Yes, the very classy, white photo copied cut out bostick’d onto an old wine bottle. So here I was 45 minutes into the wait, the barman suddenly proclaims, “The R1 special is over”. You have got to be kidding me, I decided then and there I will never give this place one more cent of my money, ever and I will encourage you to do the same.
There is one more nugget I need to share about my experience. During my wait at the bar, my friend decided he was getting a bit hot and wanted to go put his jacket in the car, see you in a few minutes we said and on his way he went. It took him unusually long so when he finally did get back I asked him what took him so long. Upon his return, there was a queue at the door, so he waited patiently, when the bouncer asked, “All those of you with stamps, raise your hands” So everyone who had stamps, did so, the bouncer then shuffled these people over to another queue, and gave the people who had not entered yet, preference. This is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard, to blatantly relegate your paying customers, so you can fill up your door takings.
What an absolute joke, I will spread the word as I was so highly cheesed at the events. Luckily, the night went on to be awesome in the slightly ‘less classy’ cool runnings in Long Street, so big up to those people who actually give a damn about their customers.
Technorati Tags: Chrome, Night club, Cape Town, Crap
Politics at the office
Jun 20th
It never ceases to amaze me as to how much politics happen within an office.
Having come from a freelance background and this being my first stint in the corporate world, it is quite interesting to note what goes on inbetween the walls of an office.
Squabbling, gossip and all the rest of it is amusing as people seem to generally forget that everyone is working in the same company and trying to do whats best for the business in all regards.
Yet for some reason, peoples feelings and personality seem to play a big role with the way they approach problems and conflicts, forgetting that the person on the other side of the table is only trying to do their job as best they can, with the intention of helping the business succeed.
*disclaimer* This is not my personal outcry (as I am so new I haven’t got into the squabbling, yet ) but merely an observation as to the goings on within a business.
Clickatell 2.0
Apr 24th
Clickatell has launched their new website, which is a considerable improvement on the previous edition. Congratulations to all the guys on the marketing team it is really an excellent result. I would urge you to visit the site at www.clickatell.com to find out exactly what is on the table.
