Success Mastermind Alliances

Happy New Year from London

2012-01-01T18:01:00.003Z

Happy New Year 2012

A chilly new year morning in London slowly gave way to a mild rain soaked London evening...:)

London at night (30/12/2011)

Clock Tower

Houses of Parliament

London Eye

I'm back

2011-12-21T15:11:00.008Z

I'm back and...
It feels like I've been away forever...

My absence was unplanned. I'd hoped to post a lot earlier than today, I guess life got in the way.

It feels good to be back.

About Christmas

Had planned to send cheapo Christmas cards this year (I know, they should have been sent by now...will now have to send them 1st class...they probably won't get to their destinations until after Christmas...hope they make it before the New Year!).

I've received some super lovely Christmas cards from close family members, so I guess the planned cheapo cards will have to keep...:-)

Beginning to wonder if I'm taking this thrifty lifestyle a bit too far...:)

Autumn leaves - willow

Copyright © Abi. 2011. All rights reserved.

Burden of Proof

2011-05-16T14:52:00.012+01:00

Burden of proof
When I was a law student, criminal case laws were always clear-cut to me.

Until two weeks ago, I had assumed (for some bizarre and illogical reasons) that all cases were presented clearly in court, that witnessness are either credible or not so credible...

I was a juror for nine days, from 3rd May - 13th May. The cases were not remotely clear-cut...

My copious notes, taken as I listened to :

the Crown Prosecutor Service's barrister - who had the unenviable task of burden of proof

the defence barrister - whose only task, it seems, is to cast doubt as to his/her client's guilt in the minds of the juror

the Judge - intervening between the barristers as necessary on legal matters; making witnesses as "comfortable" as possible in a Court of Law; often checking that the jurors are not too exhausted and sending us off to stretch our legs when he noticed that we were flagging; summarising the arguements for the Crown and the defence and reminding us (the jurors) that the Crown prosecutor has the burden of proof - hence, shoild we (the jurors) have any doubt as to the guilt of the defendant, then we are obliged to return a "not guilty" verdict.

witnesses for the Crown

witnesses for the defence

Oh, the agony of deciding that burden of proof...

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2011. All rights reserved.

Union Street Urban Orchard

2010-08-09T16:01:00.006+01:00

100 Union Street Urban Orchard

Union Street Urban Orchard

100 Union Street was re-purposed into an urban orchard and community garden for the London Festival of Architecture 2010.

The site is to remain functional as an urban orchard and community garden until September 2010.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2010. All rights reserved.

Alexandra Palace Park: BBC Springwatch Wild Day Out

2010-06-04T13:27:00.015+01:00

Alexandra Palace Park

If you don't find the facade of Alexandra Palace stunning, then meandering through Alexandra Palace Park should make up for your disappointment.

Wander leisurely through the park a few times and you will fall in love with Alexandra Palace as well:-)

Having abandoned their television recording studio at Alexandra Palace after WWII, the BBC will be returning to the site to film a wildlife programme in Alexandra Park.

This blog is going to focus on the 196 acre Alexandra Palace Park (also referred to as Alexandra Park) and a BBC Springwatch Wild Day Out episode, which is to be filmed in the park.

BBC Springwatch

Nature detectives are invited to Alexandra Palace Park on the Saturday, 5th June to a "Springwatch Wild Day Out nature festival".

Nature lovers were introduced to new discoveries, including :

the many "creatures, critters and creepy-crawlies" living in Alexandra Park.

the discovery zones where "bug hunting", "worm charming", "butterfly hunting" and a tree trail tantalised visitors.

BioBlitz

The BioBlitz, a wildlife hunt against the clock. It aimed to spot as many species as possible in its allocated 24 hours. Nature enthusiasts joined scientists from:

The Open Air Laborotaries (OPAL).

The Natural History Museum.

Local Wildlife experts.

in searching for the many species of wildlife in the park.

The BioBlitz base camp retained some of the species spotted on the day for closer inspection by wildlife enthusiasts. The species found at the Park are to be released back into the wild of Alexandra Park at a later date.

Nature Hero

Nature heroes can help local wildlife by learning how to save them.

Learning activities on the day, included:

making a mini beast hotel

sowing seeds

cooking a "feast for the birds"

Updates

Photos of the day with comments
Photos from the BBC Springwatch Wild Day Out

BBC Breathing Places

BBC Springwatch group photos

Reports on the Springwatch wild day out is still filtering through,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/06_june/18/springwatch.shtml">Possible new species to be confirmed after DNA tests

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2010. All rights reserved.

Alexandra Palace Park Bird Ringing

2010-05-05T08:57:00.022+01:00

Ringing

I've never felt comfortable watching bird ringing on films, videos or in real life, for the first time, about two years ago.

I imagined, despite assurance that the birds are distressed at being captured and ringed.

A few weeks ago, at a guided walk around Alexandra Park, we spend some time with ringers and I saw how they went about their work.

What strikes me most was how caring the ringers were as they carried out their crucial work of:

collecting relevant data from each bird captured and ringed

understanding birds' lifestyle

helping the conservation of the birds' habitats and breeding grounds.

Getting a Ring Ready

Ringers

The British Trust for Ornithologist organises bird ringing in Britain and Ireland.

In Britain, birds are ringed by qualified volunteers.

Bird Ringing Worldwide

In Britain, more than 2,400 trained and licensed volunteers ring over 800,000 birds each year.

On average one in every 50 birds ringed are subsequently found and reported. Each report of a ringed bird is of value to the data collection. If you find a ringed bird, report to the BTO, British Museum

Euring, "the European Union for Bird Ringing promotes research needed to inform the conservation and scientific understanding of wild birds"

Ringing a Blue Tit

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2010. All rights reserved.

Women in Science & Technology :Samantha Brown

2010-03-25T19:04:00.018Z

Ada Lovelace Day Pledge

For the Ada Lovelace 2010 Day, I pledged to write a blog on a woman in science and technology who has inspired me.

For me, an inspirational woman in science and technology is Samantha Brown, president of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE).

Samatha Brown at Cranfield University, Systems Engineering Presentation

What is Systems Engineering

"Systems Engineering is an engineering discipline. It creates and executes an interdisciplinary process that ensures customer and stakeholder's needs are satisfied in a high quality, trustworthy, cost efficient and schedule compliant manner throughout a system's entire life cycle."

The complexity involved in the above definition can be decomposed, the decomposed elements retained, managed and controlled within the systems engineering.

"Engineers are now taking functionalities from human and placing them in machine. Embedding decision making in systems" - Professor Philip John, Head of Department, Systems Engineering, Cranfield University.

Samantha Brown as president of INCOSE, wants to increase awareness and application of systems engineering in everyday life and in schools...

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2010. All rights reserved.

Ada Lovelace

2010-03-25T05:29:00.031Z

Ada Lovelace

Rightly or wrongly Ada Lovelace (or rather Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, to give her her correct title) is said to be the first computer programmer, based on her work on Charles Babbage (unbuilt) analytical engine.

In recognition of Lovelace's contribution to computer programming, March 24 has been designated Ada Lovelace Day - a day to blog about women in science and technology.

Conferences were held in Copenhagen, London (Ada Lovelace 2010 Potluck Unconference), and Toronto.

Ada Lovelace 2010 Potluck Unconference

Have to admit, finding the venue was a challenge (partly because I assumed that it was close to King's Cross underground station - it was. A bit convoluted because of trek through unfamiliar back streets around King's Cross).

[Easy peasy on the way back to the underground station (trekking through King's Cross back streets was unnecessary)].

Thankfully, K (one of my nieces), whipped out her GPS enabled mobile phone. We allowed the GPS to guide us to the venue (amazingly bumped into their Mother, who had parked her car to work out the best route to the venue to join us). Thanks girls... you were brilliant.

At the "unconference", we were given 3 minutes to talk about our most inspiring women in science and technology - happy to report that it was a fun and edifying evening...
Maggie Philbin (ex. BBC Tomorrow's World presenter was the opening speaker)

Here's my summary for the evening:

Maggie Philbin
Spoke of her admiration for two women: her Mother (for her work in the signal corps during World World II) and Tomorrow's World producer, Cynthia Page.

Diane Parker (Education Technologist) - was inspired by the British astrophysicist, Jocelyn Bell Burnell.

Bell Burnell discovered the first radio pulsars as a postgraduate student. Her thesis was supervised by Antony Hewish.

Antony Hewish and Martin Ryle shared the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery.

Sue Black: is inspired by the British Computer Society (BCS) women, BCSWomen.

Janet: was inspired by Phyllis Pearsall, the creator of London A - Z

Sunanita (apologies if spelling is incorrect): was inspired by American scientist and first elecronics computer programmer, Grace Hopper.

Brian Condon is inspired by actress and co-inventor (with George Antheil) of frequency-hopping-spread-spectrum concept.

Early applications of frequency hopping was used to reduce the risk of detection or jamming of radio-guided torpedoes by enemies.

The concept of frequency hopping is the basis of technologies such as Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM), used in Wi-Fi network connections, and Code Division Multiplexing Access (CDMA), used in some cordless and wireless telephone).

Other inspiring women mentioned:

Helen Harrop was inspired by Maggie Aderin-Pocock (space scientist)

"kevglobal" was inspired by Ory Okolloh and Julianna Rotich, lawyer and journalist respectively, founders of Ushahidi (Swahili for testament).

I am inspired by Samantha Brown, President of International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE). Samatha Brown's vision during her presidency, is to introduce Systems Engineering to everyone, including school children.

With thanks to the organizers of Ada Lovelace 2010 Potluck Unconference, Suw Charman-Anderson (and the behind the scene team), Lloyd Davis and Brian Condon of Centre For Creative Collaboration. It was a fun evening.

ALD10 Potluck Unconference - blog and video

Resources

Ada Lovelace
Ada Lovelace Day: Right Idea, Wrong Woman.
The Powerhouse Museum celebrates Ada Lovelace Day
Hedy Lamarr

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2010. All rights reserved.

Water

2010-03-22T10:41:00.014Z

Water

Realization of our dependence on clean water is mouth gawping, awe daunting.

The 2030 Water Group Report report, "Charting Our Water Future. Economic frameworks to inform decision-making", makes our dependence on water and the increasing shortage of water, acutely clear - "Competing demands for scarce water resources may lead to an estimated 40 per cent water shortage by 2030".

Water supply

An estimated 900 million people across the world do not have access to a safe water supply.

Making a difference.

Water saving

Without wishing to preach, there are many ways to save water, including:

Harvesting rainwater - for watering the garden and washing the car. There are simple and complex rainwater collection systems on the market. For domestic use, a water butt can be connected to the rainwater collection drains from the roof of the house. It requires an overflow bypass to be fitted for excess water. See also rain water harvesting

Grey water - grey water recycling, that is, recycling of waste water from baths, showers and washbasins is estimated to provide savings of around 33 per cent of daily household water requirement.

Washing Machines and Dishwashers - Modern washing machines use water more efficiently (and cost less to run as well). Dishwashers are also becoming more efficient water user.

Showers and Taps - a dripping tap could waste up to 140 litres (almost 31 gallons according to an online converter) of water a week. Some modern shower and tap water fittings now have water saving features, saving up to 80 per cent of older fittings.

Resources

Climate Change and Water Supply

"World Water Day: Why Business Need to Worry"

"Taking Action For World Water Day"

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2010. All rights reserved.

IET Appleton Lecture 2010

2010-02-05T18:28:00.029Z

Small Satellites

The IET 45th Appleton Lecture, titled, "Small Satellites - Big Future" was given by brilliant and witty presenter, Professor Sir Martin Sweeting.

In my ignorance, until I attended the Appleton Lecture, I had presumed that all satellites were similar in size and cost to most of NASA satellites. It came as a surprise to learn that small satellites are made, deployed and that they have their own relevant and important applications...

Small satellites are also known as microsatellites, smaller and getting smaller as a result of nanotechnology, they are also less expensive to build and launch into orbit.

Professor Sir Martin Sweeting is the founder and Executive Chairman of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd and Director of Surrey Space Centre (SSC).

Microsatellites

Though small satellites are also referred to as microsatellites, there are also nano-satellite, and mini-satellites...

Examples and applications of these small satellites include:

the International Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) - provides imagery for commercial applications, government use and for rapid response following disaster

the GIOVE-A Galileo navigation satellite for the European Space Agency (ESA)

the 5-satellite RapidEye Earth Observation (EO) constellation - providing data for industries and service solution providers.

RapidEye EO constellation provides data for:

Agriculture - such as crop identification, yield forecasting and damage assessment and risk management for agriculture insurance.

Forestry - infestation detection, harvest mapping.

Security and Emergency - for example, aftermath disaster management for tornadoes, hurricanes, drought, floods, landslides, hail, fires and earthquakes; Environment, Spatial Solutions, Energy and Infrastructure.

Skype Balance Expiration

2010-01-07T19:49:00.008Z

Skype

Call me naive, but I joined Skype because it promised free calls...I have yet to make a free call using Skype.

I've continued to use the service for a few years now...though calls via Skype is infrequent, for people living in Europe, skype's minimum telephone credit top up is 10.00 Euro.

Balance Expiration

Yes, I've had balance expiration before on this skype account. The remainder of my money on the account(usually 2 - 4 Euros) swallowed up by skype, while immediately asking me to buy more credit...

Skype swallowed 8,73 Euro of my money tonight, announced the fact under, Item - Balance Expiration, with an order number for good measure...

Searching skype's Help menu in the hope of clarification, I came across skype "180 days inactivity" clause - a clause skype uses to justify creaming off money from their user's account.

Skype Balance Expiration

As long as an account remains open, money already spent to buy credit for that account and credited to the account should not just be pocketed by Skype due to "inactivity"...

Skype's balance expiration policy is unfair, it's unjustified and its unacceptable.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2010. All rights reserved.

Happy New Year

2010-01-03T18:54:00.010Z

2010 - Happy New Year

Bit late I know...but here's wishing you a Happy New year...

Christmas came and went...

It seemed that the end of 2009 went by in a blur and before I knew it, 2010 was here...:-)

Preparing for Christmas was fun...a guided walk on Hampstead Heath (lost all the photographs I'm afraid...camera's mechanism seized up, due to the very cold weather on the day, I think...it meant that I couldn't shut the power down...a lot of photographs erased...*sigh* such is life....)

Went on a guided Christmas Walk in Hyde Park , learnt more about Hyde Park...:-)

Then the snow came...in bucketload...settled and became dangerously slippery...

Saw a matinee production of Oz on Ice at Alexandra Palace...had lots of much needed small mince pies and tea during the interval...:-)

Here's to 2010

Christmas came and went...here's to a successful and healthy 2010.

The year of robots and tablet pc?

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2010. All rights reserved.

Peace

2009-11-08T04:06:00.015Z

Peace

Today is Remembrance Sunday. Dona Nobis Pacem.

The Royal British Legion believes that "Remembrance Sunday, the second Sunday in November, is the day traditionally put aside to remember all those who have given their lives for the peace and freedom we enjoy today. On this day people across the nation pause to reflect on the sacrifices made by our brave Service men and women."

In remembering the sacrifices of the service men and women:

For The Fallen (1914)- Fourth stanza
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
- Laurence Binyon (1869-1943). Poet and art critic

War and tragedy

We often forget the tragedy that is, war. The torn and broken lives of those that are left behind.

It is some of those left behind after the "Great War (World War I), forced to continue the sacrifices - mothers, sisters, widows (many with young children), and sweethearts, who in 1933, created the White Poppies - a symbol for peace. The white poppy is now a symbol for "peace without violence."

Peace One Day

Filmmaker and founder of Peace One Day, Jeremy Gilley fostered a United Nations level agreement for a designated day for Peace One Day (21st September - "an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence day)

World at War

Despite the many wars, many sacrifices and the many blood already shed, our world is till at war.

War amongst neighbours (near and far neighbours), war between brothers and sisters.

The white poppy and its symbolism is more needed than ever in the current climate of hatred and intolerance. It is for this that this blog beseeched:
Dona Nobis Pacem. Grant us Peace.

Symbolic Garden of Peace

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2009. Copyright © Photograph by Abimbola Akanwo 2009. All rights reserved.

Climate Change

2009-10-14T15:12:00.075+01:00

Climate Change

Copenhagen is hosting the final gathering of world leaders for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The struggle to agree to global, effective, sustainable and practical solutions to stop, slow the pace or reverse climate change due to global warming and save Planet Earth, from an untimely demise (due to our self indulgent, unseeing, selective hearing lifestyles) continues unabated - despite national, economics and political differences.

The Greenhouse Effect

The effect of global warming (also called the greenhouse effect), is sapping the life out of our planet.

Researchers have linked the greenhouse effect to a range and concentration of different gases in the earth’s atmosphere.

While water vapour is reported to be the most significant contribution to the greenhouse effect, it is followed by carbon dioxide (CO2) emission in the atmosphere.

The increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide in particular, and the adverse consequences for the global climate are raising concerns.

The atmospheric content of these gases in the environment has risen rapidly over the latest 250 years, and especially in the last 50 years.

The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is currently about 385 parts per million (ppm). Prior to the Industrial revolution, the concentration of carbon dioxide was an estimated 280 ppm.

Analyses of air contained in ice from the Antarctic ice cap implies that current atmospheric carbon dioxide is at its highest level (in comparison to the previous 650,000 years).

The implication is that the greenhouse effect is becoming stronger - consequently the earth is becoming warmer. Despite the raw visual evidence of climate change (extinction of plants and animals, more frequent extreme weather), some people continue to question the causal link and dispute the degree of change in the earth's temperature.

The 2007 assessment, the most current assessment available from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), concluded that the earth’s average temperature rose by 0.74 degrees between 1906 to 2005.

The earth temperature rise is reported to be stronger over land areas than over the sea, hence it is strongest in the northern hemisphere. Concurrently the occurrences of heat waves and violent downpours have also increased, ocean levels have risen, and ice at the world’s poles and on its mountains are melting.

Scientific researchers maintain that these events and conditions are directly linked to the Earth's greenhouse effect and global warming.

The Thames Barrier

The Thames Barrier was designed to protect London from flooding, up to the year 2070. The estimated defence level, made in 1970, included long term changes in sea and land level as understood around 1970. After 2070 the protection afforded by The Thames Barrier was expected to decrease, but remain within acceptable safety limits. Since then, sea level rise due to global warming has been identified. Currently, the Thames Barrier is expected to be able to cope with projected sea level rises until around 2060–2070. In 2005, a replacement for The Thames Barrier was publicly discussed and is currently being investigated, estimated cost is astronomical.

In its most recent report, the IPCC's assessment report concluded that the average temperature will continue to rise. However, the assessment implies that the extent and the duration of this rise, and the severity of its consequences will depend on how quickly and how effectively greenhouse gases emissions can be restricted and reduced.

Global Impact of Increase in the Earth's temperature

The Met Office (the UK's national weather service) have released a map of the expected global catastrophe if an agreement is not reached in Copenhagen to ensure that the earth temperature increases by no more than 2 degree Celsius by the end of the century.

Global catastrophe if world leaders cannot agree a solution to global warming in Copenhagen include:

rise in sea level

crop failure

food shortage

shortage of clean drinking water

Impact of a global temperature rise of 4 degree Celsius (7 degree Fahrenheit).

The Head of Climate Change Advice at the Met Office (UK's national weather service), Vicky Pope concluded that, "If emissions continue at the current rate the global average temperature are likely to rise by 4 degrees Celsius by the end of this century or even substantially earlier. The science tells us that this will have severe and widespread impacts in all parts of the world, so we need to take action now to reduce emissions to avoid water and food shortages in the future."

Director of the Science Museum and Professor of Climate Science at University College London, Professor Chris Rapley CBE, added "The map provides graphic evidence of the dramatic transformation of our world that a 4 degree (Celsius) global temperature rise would trigger. It leaves no doubt of the paramount importance of a successful outcome of the Copenhagen negotiations."

Looking for solutions

The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) (chaired by Ed Millibank, UK Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change) highlighted "solutions", such as:

Carbon sequestration - a geoengineering technique for long-term storage of carbon dioxide (and other forms of carbon).

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

However, USA Secretary of Energy, Dr Stephen Chu pointed out that these "solutions" would only account for 20 - 25 per cent of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Additionally the technologies are untested, need to be disseminated and their capacities and capabilities monitored and measured in situ. The New York City Parks Department considers London Plane Tree a good contender for carbon capture and storage in their city.

The South Africa Minister of Energy, Elizabeth Dipuo Peters concluded that while evolving African States may not be able to contribute financially towards these new technologies, their focus remains on:

promoting efficient use of energy

promoting renewable energy sources

Bringing together appropriate representatives of the "developed", "developing" and evolving nations for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is a good way forward... it brings a global, economically and environmentally sustainable and viable agreement to the interpreted analyses, ongoing causes and possible solutions to Climate Change that much closer to becoming a reality.

While the Kyoto agreement was an important first stage implementation of workable solutions in decreasing the rate of greenhouse gas emissions and the adverse effect of climate change...more needs to be done and is being demanded by those whose homes and livelihood are in immediate danger of been swallowed by the rising sea level.

It is to be hoped that common sense will prevail and override political differences at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in Copenhagen, 7th - 18th December 2009.

Update

Climate Change - Discussion and Negotiation begins
With thousands of protesters marching towards the conference hall in Copenhagen, representatives from the "Industrial Countries" complaint that that the Climate Change draft should have made stronger demands on major developing countries like China and India.

Update

COP15 in Copenhagen failed to agree on capping the world's carbon emission...however, all is not lost. Countries worldwide are adopting effective, renewable and sustainable forms of energy.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo, 2009. Photograph by Abimbola Akanwo 2009. All rights reserved.

Open House London

2009-09-22T18:41:00.046+01:00

Open House London 2009

"Unleashing my inner nosey neighbour" instincts at this year's Open House London weekend was restricted to just the Saturday.

Visited:

Alexandra Palace: the old BBC studio (where the first high definition TV was transmitted) and the Alexandra Palace Theatre (from a distance, due to health and safety issues).

Royal Academy of Arts (unplanned, but glad to have made it to the last tour on the day).

Alexandra Palace, BBC TV studio
The Open House London official book implies that 35 people at a time would be allowed into the old BBC tv studio.

To comply with health and safety regulations, firemen inspected the tv studio a few days before the event and decided that only 10 people at a time would be allowed into the studio.

Alexandra Palace, Open House London, direction

Unsurprisingly, the queue for the BBC TV studio was already fairly long by 10:45 hrs; the queue was already beyond the "expect a 1 hour wait from this point" sign, taped on the low railings positioned to help aligned the queue.

The documentary "BBC Television at Alexandra Palace" in the Londesborough Room seemed more inviting than a long wait in the queue (in bright and burning sunlight).

Alexandra Palace, Londesborough Room - Open House London

The queue had grown longer by the time I rejoined it after watching the documentary. An hour and a half after rejoining the queue, ten of us were counted into the BBC Tower 9the building housing the transmitter and the tv studio).

Two short flight of stairs later, we gazed in amazement and delight at the studio reconstruction - the "result of many hours of voluntary work by the Alexandra Palace Television Society, the Ferguson Group and the Test Card Circle".

Poster: "Television Comes To London"

BBC TV Studio Museum

Many thanks to the members of the Alexandra Palace Television Society, the Ferguson Group and the Test Card Circle who were there to explain and answer questions on the exhibits.

We were promised that next year, we will be able to have our photographs taken, standing or sitting amongst the TV studio waxwork. Madame Tussauds could have a competitor...

Reconstructed BBC TV control room

About Alexandra Palace

Royal Academy of Arts
Deciding to go to an Open House London guided tour at the Royal Academy of Arts at Burlington House was a spur of the moment decision.

Best decision of the day - we were treated to a jam-packed two hours of knowledgeable and insightful talk and descriptions by Richard Kirwan, a Senior Tutor at the Royal Academy Schools.

Our Royal Academy of Arts' tour included:

the history of Burlington House (the Royal Academy of Arts have been based in Burlington House since 1867).

the ongoing work in The John Madejski Fine Rooms.

brief historical background on some of the founder Academicians - Sir Joshua Reynolds, Benjamin West (an American), Thomas Gainsborough...

we were taken to the Royal Academy Research Library (despite having overstayed our welcome by this stage! We thankfully had some knowledgeable people in our group who kept asking questions, the rest of us just listened raptly to the questions and the answers!).

We were welcomed by "John" in the Library (sorry, didn't catch the surname). John mentioned that they refer to the nameless Roman statue in the Research Library as "wounded knee":-)

The Royal Academy Research Library is described as the "oldest Institutional fine Arts Library in the United Kingdom", it is an amazing room.

we were shown around the Royal Academy Schools Understandably we weren't allowed near the students' ongoing work. Various sculptors and masterpieces doted around the Schools were pointed out to us.

The Royal Academy of Arts Research Library and the sculpture, "Wounded Knee"

Outside in the Annenberg Courtyard, Anish Kapoor's new sculpture, "Tall Tree and the Eye" (which was being installed in the Courtyard) took on a more fascinating meaning and understanding).

We walked out onto Piccadilly to hear the Fortnum & Mason clock chime six o'clock. We watched as the two figures popped out of the clock case, stood still to be admired, pirouette once, returned to their original position then moved back inside the clock case...

Fortnum & Mason clock

We had cream tea at Patisserie Valerie, a few doors from Fortnum & Mason. A perfect end to a perfect Saturday morning and afternoon.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. All photographs taken and owned by Abimbola Akanwo. 2009. All rights reserved.

Freerunning

2009-08-16T22:46:00.042+01:00

Freerunning and Freerunners

The world of freerunning and freerunners came to Trafalgar Square on Saturday, 15th August and consigned Anthony Gormley One & Other project to the sideline.

Watching a Plinther in Trafalgar Square - evening, 10th July

Freerunning

The phrase freerunning (free running) was introduced to the English speaking population during the filming of the documentary Jump London, by means of presenting parkour to the English-speaking world.

Jump London was a 2003 Channel 4 feature documentary about parkour and free running (directed by Mike Christie and produced by Optomen Television; its sequel also directed by Christie, Jump Britain was televised in January 2005).

Jump London filmed three French traceurs, Sébastien Foucan, Jerome Ben Aoues, and Johann Vigroux, as they free run around some of London's most famous landmarks, including Royal Albert Hall, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, HMS Belfast.

While movements associated with parkour seem disciplined, calculated, controlled and described as a philosophy; freerunning seems acrobatic, showmanship oriented, very much a street discipline and requires spectators.

Trafalgar Square:Freerun - stage set-up

Trafalgar Square: Freerun stage and Nelson's Column

The World Freerun Championship packed Tralfalgar Square to the brim. 8,000 tickets were issued. The rest of us without a ticket had to queue up for 3 - 4 hours before we could get in.

Trafalgar Square: Stage, Freerunner and Spectators

Freerunner, Tim "Livewire" Shieff (UK)

Incredibly on a sunny day with so much going on in London (including the ITU Triathlon in Hyde Park), we all queued patiently.

Children peered through the tiny narrow gaps between the barriers; people stood on the bus stop seat to look over the barriers; policemen, security people and the National Portrait Gallery staffs came out onto the already condoned off steps of the Gallery pleading "keep moving" as we gathered on the steps, camera trained at the freerunners on the stage intent on getting a good shot, any shot to be honest...:-)

One & Other

The Plinthers on the fourth plinth were (sadly) totally ignored before and during the freerunning competition.

A Plinther on the plinth, looking away from the workmen setting up the stage for the Freerun championship

We briefly looked towards the fourth plinth when someone shouted "Oh, look, he's pogo jumping", we glanced at the Plinther, only to see him pogo-jumping and watching the freerunners on the stage...:-)

Winner, Runners-up and Official Photographs

1st - Tim "Livewire" Shieff (UK)

2nd - Victor "Showtime" Lopez (USA)

3rd - Jason Paul (Germany)

Please Don't Try This At Home

Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

2009-07-08T11:14:00.040+01:00

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Got drenched as I walked from Charing Cross Station to Leicester Square for the World Premiere of the Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince.

Had assumed that the heavy rain would have scared off most of the fans and my late arrival at around 5:30 would not be too much of a disaster for getting a good position to take photographs...fat chance:-)

Most fans were better prepared with some camping out overnight according to the BBC report of the premiere.

Running mascara and screaming Harry Potter fans

Leicester Square was jam-packed. The heavy rain had not made a difference - if you ignore the running mascaras on some women, rain matted hair and very wet clothes, Leicester Square was just like any other premiere.

Oh, okay, there's another difference, most of the fans at the premiere were girls, young girls with good lungs and not afraid to use them - my eardrums are still recovering...The boys and men (wisely) stood at the back - not wishing to get in the way.

Worldwide fans at the World Premiere

Actually, there was another difference, I suspect some fans had travelled to London to be at the World premiere...I recognized at least two languages (Spanish and German) spoken urgently and rapidly into mobile phones, followed by relieved laughter (it's easy to lose a friend or relative at these crowded London events).

Poster: Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

The fans clamoured with outstretched hands for the large damp cardboard posters depicting scenes from Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince.

It was a good night...

Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and the rest of the stars...

We were told that Emma Watson (who played Hermione Granger) and Daniel Radcliffe (who played Harry Potter) were already inside the cinema...

Some of the fans demanded that the "star guest greeters" (no idea what their official title is) should go into the cinema and bring Watson out... no joy there.

However, I took a some photographs of
Helena Bonham Carter (who played Bellatrix Lestrange in the film) and (squeal!) JK Rowling.

For the film trailer, click Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

[NOTE : You have to click on the MENU once the page loads - Enjoy...:-)]

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2009. All rights reserved.

Secret of Success

2009-06-11T14:35:00.008+01:00

Secret of Success

Richard St John's TED talk on the 8 secrets of success was funny, concise (delivered in 3.30 minutes) and relevant.

Worth listening to, ("an idea worth spreading"):
[NOTE: At the time of writing, there's some sort of interaction issues between Google Chrome and TED talk videos, you may need to watch using another browser. I watched the video using Internet Explorer (IE) 8. It's been pointed out to me that Firefox would be a better choice of browser. You may also prefer Opera or Safari to the IE].

Best secret to success?

At a guess, it would have to be a toss up between passion or persistence.

Persistence implies continuous action (passion doesn't necessarily involve action - it's an intensity of emotion, though crucial to success as well...)

So, the best secret to success from St John's TED talk presentation was "Persist through failure... Persist through CRAP [Criticism, Rejection, Assholes and Pressure = CRAP]

Thank you TED. Thank you Richard St John. Here's to success.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2009. All rights reserved.

Robots

2009-04-21T09:58:00.044+01:00

Robots

The robotic industry is a fast growing market in Japan and Korea.

An acceptance of robots as more than moderately intelligent machines built for domestic, manufacturing and industrial servitude is filtering from Japan to the rest of the world - examples include:-

PARO - the "healing" seal pup. PARO learns ways of making itself more acceptable and likeable to its owner - by learns from its owner. PARO is now sold in the USA as well as in Japan.

Asimo - car maker, Honda Motor Co. developed Asimo. While Asimo is not exactly human like, it is described as a "humanoid" robot. Asimo can walk, talk, run and follow instructions given to it.

Saya - Professor Hiroshi Kobayashi (Tokyo University of Science) developed Saya (one of his many robotic creations). Humanoid Saya with sophisticated hardware and software voice recognition is multilingual. Saya has been deployed as receptionist, a secretary and is now capable of taking roll call and set school children tasks from a text book. After a successful trial at a Tokyo primary school, Saya is scheduled to start teaching at a Tokyo school.

Saya's latex face was modelled on a university student. Motors wired to Saya's latex face enables the face to be "expressive". Saya's latex facial expression include surprise, sadness, happiness, fear, disgust and anger.

Repliee Q2 and Geminoid HI-1 were developed by Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro at Osaka University Intelligent Robotics Laboratory. Ishiguro's actroid - humanoid robot with lifelike appearances and visible behaviour (such as facial movements) are a testament to his claim that one day robots could fool humankind into believing that they are human.

The growing robotic industry and trends can be divided into:

Academics and research robots - the military is expected to be one of the biggest buyers of robots.

The cost of war in terms of loss of human lives is increasingly seen as unacceptable. Besides, autonomous robots,unmanned ground vehicles, robot planes and mini drones can gather intelligence, transmit the data to base for analyses and fight wars more efficiently than humankind

Design and development robots - Duke University and the University of Mexico engineers are developing a system based on the pursuit-evasion game "Marco Polo" that will allow robots to detect a moving target and intercept it.

Practical applications are expected to vary from security systems (for tracking intruders such as enemy ships, burglars or endangered species) to hazard detecting systems (for radiation or environmental hazards)

The researchers main challenge is in developing the artificial intelligence to control the robots and their sensors without direct human input.

Industrial robots - covers industrial automation robot such as the mobile “ROPTALMU” (the International Strategic Manufacturing Award 2008 winner).

ROPTALMU is a light portable robot. It's function is to drill holes with a high degree of precision in large aeronautical components - such as aircraft wing spans, during the assembly stage.

Normally designed for specific set of functions, industrial robots are unable to detect obstacles, such as a humankind standing within the swing radius of its reach - industrial robots are therefore considered dangerous to approach while in operation (fatalities have been reported in Japan, Korea, and Europe).

Most industrial robot manufacturers specify a blocked off safety area around the robot to prevent anyone approaching the robot while the robot is in operation.

Reported accidents tend to occur while a robot is being programmed, repaired, or walked through the process of learning a new procedure - when engineers and technicians are more likely to be within the danger zone and the robot’s actions are less predictable than under normal conditions.

Personal robotics- the Japanese designed PARO robot is designed to look like an harp seal pup.

Covered in pure white synthetic fur, PARO's built-in intelligence provides psychological, physiological, and social effects through physical interaction with human beings.

PARO imitates animal behaviour - responding to light, sound, temperature, touch and posture, and eventually develops its own character.

The goal is to turn the robot into a “living” cherished pet that provides companionship, entertainment and relaxation to the owner.

PARO is described as perfect for those who cannot take care of real animals and those who live in places where live animals are prohibited, including hospitals, elder care centers and nursing homes. PARO went on sale in Japan in March 2005. It went on sale in the USA in January 2009.

Service robots - South Korea's robotic industry is one of the fastest-growing area in the country's successful electronics and high-tech manufacturing sectors.

South Korea sees its robotic industry a major contributor to the country’s growth in the next five years.

With plans to have at least 10 per cent share of the world's robotic industry market by 2018, South Korea is investing 1 trillion won (741 million USD) into the industry for development, research, marketing and joint-ventures).

South Korean's and the world's first robot-themed park, Robert Land in Incheon is scheduled for completion in 2014.

Security and Defence robots
Military worldwide are in need of autonomous robots for their defence operations and for warfare.

The USA military for example has used unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) such as iRobot’s PackBot successfully for explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) - the UGV simply roll up and set off the explosive.

Robot roles in the military are evolving, PackBot and other UGVs have been used for varied tasks from EOD to route clearance, reconnaisance, observation, and, in combat situation replacing (point position) an infantry squad clearing buildings, caves and other enclosed spaces.

While most robots are currently used for reconnaissance duties, military history (predator UAV) suggests that robots could soon take on strike roles as well as logistic roles such as automated supply convoys.

21st century wars are likely to be fought by autonomous robotic systems

Robotic - a glimpse of the future

The future robots - actroid

In 2009, the Australian Government initiated Next Generation Military Robot competition, MAGIC (Multi-Autonomous Ground-Robotic International Challenge) should produce some innovative ideas and implementations of next generation warfare robots.

The Warfare Conference 2010 promises to be a "must go to" event.

Update
Meet Zeno...character robots are a fascinating development area - some of the latest developments are summarised here.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2009. All rights reserved.

IET Centenary Kelvin Lecture:Creating the Invisibility Cloak

2009-03-16T07:52:00.033Z

IET Centenary Kelvin Lecture

The IET Kelvin Lecture was established in 1908 as a memorial to the life and work of the Irish Physicist and Engineer, William Thomson (1824 - 1907).

Professor William Thomson later became the First Baron Kelvin of Largs.

Thomson was made a Peer of the Realm in 1892. He chose the name Lord Kelvin after a river that ran next to the University of Glasgow

Thomson, a member of over 80 institutions and scientific societies, was the President of the IEE in 1874, 1889 and 1907.

The IEE (Institution of Electrical Engineers) and the IIE (Institute of Incorporated Engineers) merged in 2006 and formed IET (The Institution of Engineering and Technology).

The IET Centenary Kelvin Lecture was given by theoretical Physicist and Condensed Matter Theorist, Professor Sir John Pendry (Imperial College London); topic - Creating the Invisibility Cloak: New Horizons in Electromagnetism.

Creating the Invisibility Cloak: New Horizons in Electromagnetism

Electromagnetism is a mainstay of most of current modern technology.

Electromagnetism is the capability and ability to deploy materials that can control the component electric and magnetic fields.

Pioneering research has created novel materials, metamaterials.

Metamaterials's extraordinary abilities and capabilities include:

perfect lens with negative refractive index

lenses unconstrained by the wavelength of light, whose resolution is constrained only by limitations in the lens manufacturing processes.

Meta materials provide the ability to cloak. Cloaks have been designed and built to hide objects within them, while they remain completely invisible to outside observers.

Metamaterials's properties are determined by their internal physical structure and their chemical composition. The structure are less than the wavelength of light.

Meta materials's responses to a wavelength can be described by an electrical permittivity and magnetic permeability.

Creating the Invisibility Cloak: New Horizons in Electromagnetism

Professor Sir John Pendry, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London.

From: The IET Centenary Kelvin Lecture.

2009-03-12 04:45:27.0 Electronics Channel

>> go to webcast >> recommend to friend

About Lord Kelvin

Thomson studied and is credited with laying the foundations to current understanding and applications of thermodynamics, electrodynamics, hydrodynamics and geophysics.

Thomson successfully:

established a laboratory at the University of Glasgow, where he was the Professor of Natural Philosophy (from 1846 - 1899). He was one of the first Lecturer to teach Physics in a laboratory.

correctly estimated the age of the earth from solidification

introduced an absolute unit increment of temperature, kelvin, symbol K. Kelvin is now one of seven International System (SI) of units.

The Kelvin scale is a thermodynamic (absolute) temperature scale. At absolute zero,(0 K), the theoretical thermal energy is zero.

constructed instruments and tools, including:
- a siphon recorder and mirror galvanometer for telegraphy
- a tide predictor (constructed in 1872, Thomson used his tide predictor to form a theoretical framework for the revolution of the earth's poles and the cause of ocean tides - Thomson's theory was confimed by computers in the 1950s.

Thomson’s successfully took over and redesigned cable laid in the failed first Atlantic Cable of 1858. He had shown, theoretically that electricity could be transmitted through cables under water.

His theory was successfully proven when a cable linking India and Europe via the Persian Gulf was laid in 1864 and telegraphy transmission was established between India and Europe.

About Professor Sir John Pendry

Professor Sir John Pendry is a leader in the research and applications of metamaterials - the interaction of electrons and photons with surfaces.

Metamaterials have the potential and capability for invisibility and a perfect lens where the lens resolution is unconstrained by the wavelength of light.

Pendry and scientists at The Marconi Company designed a series of metamaterials. Metamaterials properties are a congruent of their micro-structure (rather than the constituent materials) - forming novel materials that are not found in nature.

Pendry's many pioneering and ingenious research work includes:

electronic and photonic interactions

solving problems in photonics by introducing computer based methodology to study metallic (hence dispersive) photonic crystals.

International Polar Year (IPY)

2009-02-25T07:53:00.011Z

International Polar Year

The International Polar Year (IPY) is possibly the largest interdisciplinary scientific research programme focused on the polar regions (the Arctic and the Antarctic).

The IPY programme covered science, education and outreach. Scientists from over 60 countries are involved in the IPY project.

50,000 people (scientists, researchers and others ) from more 60 countries are involved in research ranging from anthropology, astronomy, health, history, genomics and glaciology.

The fourth International Polar Year, from March 2007 to March 2009 is almost concluded. The data collected are now undergoing analyses.

The "observational period" of IPY 2007-8 has just began. The observational period will include:

comprehensive data analyses

development of new scientific understanding about the polar regions.

Early results from IPY 2007-8 will be presented in Norway, in June 2010. Further data analysis results will be presented in Canada in 2012.

Evidence of global environmental change

Results from the IPY multidisciplinary research implies new evidence of the widespread effects of global warming in the polar regions.

Initial analyses of research data implies that:

snow and ice are declining in both polar regions (the arctic and the antarctic)

the melting snow and ice are affecting the inhabitants of the region ("human livelihoods", local plant and animal life in the Arctic are all affected.

the melting snow and ice are also affecting oceans, atmospheric circulation and sea level

International Polar Days

During the IPY 2007-8, frequent International Polar Days raised and increased awareness about specific aspects of the polar regions.

The IPY Joint Committee released the ‘State of Polar Research’ report on the 25th February.

International Polar Days: March 17th - 26th, the Polar Oceans. Polar Oceans is promising to focus on marine biodiversity, physical oceanography and more.

Looking forward to it:-)

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2009. All rights reserved.

Translator

2009-02-11T17:16:00.003Z

Translating my blog

Okay, this is either going to work, which would be brilliant or I would have wasted valuable time and get very cross with google.

According to my understanding, this google tool should translate this blog into any of the selected languages given in the list.

Fingers crossed. Test...

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2009. All rights reserved.

Metamaterials - Creating the Invisibility Cloak

2009-01-22T15:14:00.018Z

Meta Materials and the invisible cloak

J.K Rowling's Harry Potter's invisible cloak raised a laugh or two in the Harry Potter books.

A 21st century class of materials, metamaterials - using electromagnetism, modern technology, deployment of materials that can control electric and magnetic field components are about to provide us with practical invisibility cloak.

Metamaterials

Metamaterials properties are determined by their physical structure and their chemical composition. The novel materials exhibits properties not found in nature.

While the micro-structure properties reflect traces of the constituent materials, the metamaterial properties are independent of the constituent material.

Applications of metamaterials have created micro-structure with negative refractive index and lenses whose resolution are not constraint by the wavelength of light but by constraint of precision manufacturing.

Invisibility Cloaks

Invisibility technology designs and build cloaks that envelope and hide object within them, the cloaks are invisible to external observers.

Professor Sir John Pendry's research into the surface interaction of electrons and photons highlights the potential for invisibility, cloak invisibility and perfect lens with resolution unconstraint by the wavelength of light.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo 2009. All rights reserved.

The Seven Things You Don't Need To Know About Me

2009-01-07T09:49:00.022Z

Seven things You Don't need to know about me

Left to my own devices, no one would know much about me apart from the odd bits and piece strewn across the various things I'd written or posted on the web.

It would be difficult to piece them all together unless you are really determined and likes reading or you're comfortable with text data mining and have appropriate data mining tools:-)

Jo McLeay tagged me with the "seven things you don't need to know about me" meme. Thanks Jo!.

You don't need to know...

Seven things about me that I don't particularly want to disclose (personal disclosure seems narcissistic, it feels uncomfortable somehow).

Besides, why would you want to know or not know personal things about me?

For what it's worth, here goes:-

About me

I have 5 brothers and 3 sisters. I'm the oldest.

My first language is Yoruba. When I tried to speak Yoruba at my maternal Grandmother's funeral in Nigeria, my cousins practically rolled about laughing. I was their entertainment for the day (with my childish, outdated vocabularies, the hesitant words spoken with a bad accent):-)

I speak Yoruba with an accent apparently. One cousin finally admitted (while clutching her side with laughter), that I speak Yoruba with an English accent!!. I'm still not sure what she meant!!

Loves cars but I don't drive. Never got round to focusing on driving lessons long enough to pass the test. Would love to take a car apart and rebuild to my own specifications. Well on my way to being a "petrol head".

Loves snow but not really keen on walking on snow. I once fell down on an icy patch. Needs to get over it:-)

I've read and studied "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill:-)

I'm a "Jack of all trade, master of none..." type. My interests range from Physics to Law. I particularly like the analyses of legal matters and legal (national and international Law) applications.

Physics and Law are a deliciously dangerous combination:-)

I like systems engineering, software design and engineering, coding, testing and configuration:-)

Thank you...

Thank you for reading.

I'm done here...

Jo, my obligation's concluded.:-) Cheers.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo 2009. All rights reserved.

Digital cameras

2008-12-04T12:56:00.035Z

Digital camera, DSC-P10

A digital camera is a must if:

you feel that photography is time consuming

good photographs need patience

patience is not one of your forte

My Physics course included six weeks on photography and photograph development. In a group of 14 students, I was the odd one out who hadn't taken a photograph and developed it by the third tutorial workshop.

Refusing to accept the lame excuse that I didn't own a camera, our tutor shoved the Physics Department's camera at me after the third session of passive inactivity on my part. Told to make sure that I came back with a photograph for the next morning's workshop session, I figured that I didn't have much option.

Wandered aimlessly into the local park early the next morning looking vaguely for something photogenic.

I chose an old oak tree and to my surprise (and horror, to be honest) started to enthusiastically photograph the tree from different angles. The photography development session went well. I never did thank the tutor for the push. This is my thank you.

My first camera is a compact digital camera. A Sony digital camera, Cybershot DSC-P10.

Idiot-friendly cameras

I needed my own camera to take snap shots at family gatherings.

Despite the feel good experience during the almost forgotten Physics photography workshop, I still wasn't too keen on standing around waiting for the perfect camera shots, nor did I want to take a lot of camera shots in the hope that one will turn out trumps.

I wanted a camera, but it had to be a straight-forward camera, nothing fancy.

After checking out various digital cameras, Sony DSC-P10 won. It did everything I wanted, photo, video and it has a smart zoom. For me, it was idiot-proof and idiot-friendly, my kind of camera. Set, point and click for photos or just set and point for videos.

Some photographs taken with Sony DSC-P10:

London rooftop - showing the BT Tower

Gadget manuals bore me to tears. Preferring to try things out and find out what works and what doesn't, I avoid referring to equipment manuals unless I'm really stuck. So for a long time, my Sony DSC-P10 showed the date on each photo I took:-)

London rooftop - the London Eye can be seen in the distance

Fund raising event by members of Barnet Busters for Breakthrough Breast Cancer Walk 2005:

Barnet Busters members, friends

Barnet Busters members - home-made cake stall

Barnet Busters members on knick-knack stall

Sony DSC-P10, my BF?

Oh, alright maybe I exaggerate a little. My Sony DSC-P10 is not exactly my best fried, it is however, now, an extension of me!.

The camera goes everywhere with me.

A friend borrowed the camera and reset it so that the date no longer deface the photographs!!.

More recent photographs taken with my compact DSC-P10 camera are here

Camera limitations and moving beyond idiot-proof cameras

Now fairly comfortable with the DSC-P10, its limitations are becoming too restricting.

Now on the lookout for another camera, not necessarily a compact digital camera, This time, there's the motivation to learn to be semi-professional for the sake of a good photograph.

With infinite expectations now in place, only an SLR camera or a digital SLR camera will suffice.

An SLR (single lens reflex) or a digital SLR (DSLR - digital single lens reflex) will probably be taxing and no doubt will try my patience to the nth degree, but the improved photographs should theoretically compensate in some way;-)

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo 2008. All photographs are by Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved.

21st Century Cars

2008-11-12T10:29:00.017Z

Concept cars

It seems that for a car to be a viable option in the 21st century marketplace, it must:

be compact - think Smartcar or better

use fuel efficiently

have a "negligible" carbon footprint

be good-looking or be very ugly

have some of the above features, plus special features - see Lotus Concept Ice Vehicle or the Nissan Terranaut or World Largest Truck Goes Robotic

The Science Museum's special exhibition, Japanese Car - designed for the Crowded Globe and Motor Development International prototypes and concept cars appear to be the essence of 21st century cars.

Japanese Car - designed for the Crowded Globe

Extreme Vehicles, written a few months ago concluded that concept cars and 21st century car engineering and technology could soon be in family cars on our roads.

It looks as if 21st century engineered cars could be on the roads, highways and motorways (and mines) sooner rather than later:-)

One of the fascinating and exciting thing about the Science Museum's special exhibition (organized in conjunction with Design Platform Japan) is that the creativity behind the car designs is from unexpected sources - Kenya Hara (responsible for Muji as we know it today) and Shigeru Ban (Japanese architect - designer of a satellite gallery in Metz, for the Paris Pompidou Centre).

So, these innovative ideas for cars of the future are not just coming from Engineers and Technologists. The innovative thinking and ideas are also flowing from people in all areas of expertise.

"Japan Cars - designed for the Crowded Globe" exhibition is at the Science Museum from the 29th November. Should be worth visiting, highly recommended.

Besides, the Science Museum is always worth a visit.

Air Powered Vehicle

Motor Development International (MDI) and Guy Negre's air powered vehicles are the latest concept cars about to appear on the roads.

The sound ecological vehicles are probably not the most beautiful looking cars around. However, it wasn't that long ago that most of us gave the Smartcar a definite and resounding, "no thanks".

In today's global economic crisis, not forgetting the need to tackle global warming, air powered vehicles and others of their ilk could be welcomed relieve and a solution.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2008. All rights reserved.

50 Things We Should Know About Obama

2008-11-10T15:09:00.022Z

50 facts about Barack Obama, according to the Telegraph

Accoding to his wife, Michelle Obama he's an okay guy:-)

Er, no, I'm not going to list the 50 facts that the Telegraph feels that we might not know about Barack Obama, check the Telegraph yourself, the links is above:-).

But here's what I like about Barack Obama from the Telegraph's list of 50 facts:-

He collects comics - Spider Man and Conan the Barbarian. [Ace, good taste]

He's was a good basketball player.

His favourite meal is apparently, his wife's (naturally) "shrimp linguini"

The audio version of his memoir, Dreams From My Father won a Grammy award in 2006

He has read all the Harry Potter books. (Is that ace or what?)

He speaks Spanish.

He plays scrabble and poker

For the rest...

Get a copy of the Telegraph or check the remaining facts online. Link as before, Telegraph

Enjoy reading:-)

Thanks to Willie Crawford for his tweet pointing the Telegraphy article out to me in Twitter.

1 missing fact we should know about Obama

The Telegraph assumed that we all know how to spell Barack Obama's first name. Well, I have news for you, I've seen the chap's first name spelt:

Barak

Barrack

Baraka

Barach

Barrak

Borac

Borack

The name is Barack. Barack Obama.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2008. All rights reserved.

Obama Setting Politics Aside

2008-11-08T09:06:00.012Z

Economic Crisis

In a speech on the American Economic Crisis (read World Economic Crisis), I'm glad to see that Obama's setting politics aside as he puts his team together in preparation for the White House.

Likes..

I like Obama's attitude, words like:

"I'm not going to anticipate problem..."

Set politics aside..."

are reassuring.

I look forward to seeing applications of effective, long-term solution(s) in due course.

Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved.

Hope

2008-11-05T09:27:00.010Z

Hopes and Dreams becomes Reality

Now the Real Work Begins

The US President Election 2008 has been a long and sometimes frightening spectacle for onlookers. Finally, we have a President Elect.

Congratulations to President Elect Barack Obama.

Now the real work begins.

Bill Cunningham

The voice of Bill Cunningham "on the Street, After-party" - fashion and a dose of "good healthy show of legs...". Delectable news and people during and after the US Election 2008.

Thank you Mr Cunningham - love your podcast.

Thanks also to Plurk friend, Myrnaslist for plurking the podcast:-)

Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved.

Growing with Plants: New York Botanical Garden - more autumnal inspiration

2008-10-21T16:13:00.000+01:00

Growing with Plants: New York Botanical Garden - more autumnal inspiration

© 2008. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances See bite-sized

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is every Month

2008-10-08T09:13:00.028+01:00

Breast Cancer Awareness

It's October. The breast cancer awareness month.

I'm so glad that October has become breast cancer awareness month internationally.

The incidence (number of people diagnosed with breast cancer) of breast cancer is increasing. Early diagnosis is still the best chance of a "cure". Breast cancer awareness is every month, not just October.

Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

Diagnosis for breast cancer is slowly moving into the 21st Century.

While Mammogram is still regarded as the standard for breast cancer tumour detection, MRI imaging and Ultrasound tests are creeping into the medical lexicon for breast cancer detection.

Breast Cancer treatments

Mastectomy, Chemotherapy followed by Radiotherapy are thankfully no longer the only available treatment for breast cancer.

Tamoxifen is now recognized as not always the best after-care treatment for the long term treatment of breast cancer patients and breast cancer survivors.

Herceptin (with adverse effect recognized and documented) is now accepted for use for some cases of breast cancer. Breast cancer tumours with specific type of HER2 protein.

Some doctors are still far too eager to recommend mastectomy.

Breast Care Clinics

In some hospitals, under the umbrella of breast clinics:

the mammogram unit

breast cancer clinic

breast cancer after care clinic

clinic consulting for both men and women

are all under one roof with medical experts (oncologies, consultants, surgeons, plastic surgeons (for any reconstruction work) and radiotherapists) all working together as a team, making life easier for their patients and their often anxious relatives.

Thank YOU

Thank you to:

the millions of people around the world who are raising funds for the various breast cancer charities.

researchers into breast cancer

the medical world for slowly moving into the 21st century and adopting the technology it offers. I don't need to remind anyone that speed of diagnosis and fast, relevant and appropriate treatments are critical factors to each breast cancer patient.

the White House for turning pink for a day

Concluding

In conclusion, least we forget, breast cancer awareness is every month, not just October. Be aware of the risk of breast cancer. Take care.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo 2008.

Re: CNN: Sarah Palin Has Never Seen Russia From Alaska

2008-10-01T14:53:00.003+01:00

I so much want to be fair to Sarah Palin during US Election 2008 campaign, and then I see this CNN report: "Just when you thought the whole "I can see Russia from Alaska" thing couldn't get any funnier: it turns out that Sarah Palin has never seen Russia from Alaska. CNN's Tuchman went up to the part of Alaska from which you can actually see Russia, a remote island called Little Diomede. Turns out Palin has never been there." I despair. Is there anything to be said to redeem the situation?

read more | digg story

About "googletruth" - three Google designers

2008-09-23T18:34:00.001+01:00

Google was created by three people. Not just the two people, Larry Page and Sergey Brin that we have come to associate with Google's development. There was a third person, Hubert Chang.Chang is now telling the world his story. Forced to go public after a rebuff he hadn't expected or deserved (?). This washes Google's dirty linen in public.

read more | digg story

Wideband and Ultrawideband Technologies

2008-09-09T12:34:00.020+01:00

Wideband and Ultrawideband Systems

Wideband and Ultra-wideband (UWB) systems and applications have graduated from research concepts to:

Tangible products

Applications for the consumer electronics market.

Applications for the defence market

An integral technology for future wireless multimedia communications

An integral technology for personal area networks.

An integral technology for positioning systems.

High-speed communications technologies, based on UWB data transmission, are used for cable replacement in consumer goods, allowing large files to be transmitted over short distances at 480 Mbits/second and above.

Wideband and Ultra-wideband systems and applications have arrived.

Research into UWB

Research into UWB networks and applications was started in early 1990s, following pioneering work by Robert A. Scholtz and Moe Z. Win at the University of Southern Califonia (USC).

Deployment of UWB was instigated by the decision of the USA signal frequency regulator, Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC granted unlicensed operation of UWB, with the proviso that the power spectral density (PSD) emission is masked.

PSD is the amount of power per unit (density) of frequency (spectral) as a function of the frequency.

The FCC licence allowed intentional emissions in the frequency band between 3.1 and 10.6 GHz with a power spectral density of -41.3 dBm/MHz, an agreed value for the already existing regulations for unintentional emissions from electronic devices in that frequency range.

Regulations licences in other countries followed slowly. In 2006, Japan allowed UWB transmissions in the 3.1 - 4.8 and 6 - 10 GHz bands, with the proviso that for frequencies between 3.1 - 4.8 GHz, UWB transmitters must employ a "detect and avoid" (DAA) implementation.

DAA means that UWB transmitter must detect a possible "victim" device and stop transmissions that might disturb the device transmission. The band frequency between 4.1 and 4.8 GHz is exempt from this DAA requirement until 2010.

European (EU) regulators authorised (with some restrictions) UWB transmission in 2007. The restrictions imposed on UWB transmission are expected to be lifted in 2008.

IET: Wideband and Ultrawideband Seminar

Organised by the IET Antennas and Propagation Network group, the IET wideband and ultra-wideband seminar will focus on:

Specific areas in future wireless communications.

Related challenges and technologies.

Original contributions on innovations that will define the future direction of Wideband and Ultrawideband Systems.

Spatial channel modelling.

Wideband multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) techniques.

Othogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).

Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) techniques and wireless system integration.

You Are Invited

A wide range of interested parties are expected at the IET wideband and ultra-wideband seminar, an indication of the significance of wideband and ultra-wideband technology deployment in future wireless systems.

Those expected to attend include:-

Technical Managers.

Regulators.

Researchers and the Academic Community.

Telecom Operators.

Service Providers.

Equipment Manufacturers.

Simulation Software Developers.

Radio Frequency (RF) Engineers.

Wireless Systems Engineers.

Everyone and anyone with an interest in Wireless, RF and Antennas.

The seminar aims to bring together relevant researchers, engineers, technical managers and everyone with an interest in antennas and propagation for the various communications technologies that are likely to be deployed in future wireless systems.

IET Wideband and Ultra-wideband Seminar:Keynote Speakers

The speakers include:

Emery N Brown, M.D, Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA.

H. Vincent Poor, Dean and Michael Henry Strater University Professor, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Princeton University, USA.

Professor Lajos Hanzo, Head of Group, Communications Research Group, Southhampton University, UK.

Thomas Kaiser Professor, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Oliver Hundt Dipl.-Ing. Dortmund University of Technology, Communication Technology Institute, Germany.

Date, Venue, Registration

Date: Thursday, 6 November 2008

The IET, Savoy Place, London, UK

Online booking

Email the IET: Eventscs2@theiet.org

Browsers

2008-09-02T13:19:00.012+01:00

Browsers Requirements

Web browsers were initially designed just for browsing web pages on the Internet. Today, most web users use their browsers not just to browse web pages but to use applications such as watching and loading videos, chatting, playing web-based games et al.

Browsers should therefore:

be stable (for writing emails and editing documents.

be faster (start faster, load faster).

enable javascript to run a lot faster for web applications.

be secure (based on what's known about mass browser exploits).

adopt architectural changes to protect against malware.

have clean, simple and efficient user interface.

be open source - for others to adopt and enhance.

So says Google Chrome Team. Google Chrome beta is to be launched today, 2nd Sept.

Is this the start of a new fast, secure, fit-for purpose browser with a privacy policy?

Open source rendering engine

The test-driven designed Google Chrome will use webkit, an open source rendering engine.

The teams working on Android are also using webkit. Webkit is said to:

use memory efficiently.

be easily adapted to embedded devices.

be easy for new browser developers to learn

Virtual Machines

The google chrome browser project team are collaborating with the V8 team in Denmark. The V8 Team are virtual machine experts.

Virtual machines are safe, platform independent and they enable dynamic code generation.

The V8 team described the core design flaw of current javascript engine as "...bad garbage collection behaviour".

While existing javascript virtual machines use "conservative garbage collection", V8 virtual machine uses "incremental garbage collection", resulting in:

"quick garbage collection round-trips"

"better interactive performance of web applications" (leading to smoother drag and drop).

Google Chrome will be using a specific V8 API (Application Programming Interface), the core part of the engine is browser independent.

Browser Security

Malware and Phishing affect trust and confidence in the web. They are also a problem for web users.

Carlos Pizano, a google chrome software engineer team member chillingly warned, "You will eventually encounter malware".

Google Chrome open source browser project seems to be searching to implement a solution for a better, safer, faster and secure browser.

Google Chrome Browser Project

The beta version of the project is to be launched today in 100 countries. Testers of new tools and applications, here's a chance for your 15 minutes of fame:-)

Internet Radio Music

2008-08-31T21:34:00.033+01:00

IFA Berlin

IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) in Berlin is described as the media event of the year. IFA is the
electronics gadgets platform of choice for innovative electonics designs and new technology.

Radio Netherlands's Internet Producer and Media specialist
Andy Sennitt broadcasted the World’s first DAB Surround® internet radio music at IFA in Berlin on 29th August 2008 - 12:30 UTC.

IFA showcased the next generation of digital audio broadcasting, the world's first internet radio station broadcast in DAB (digital audio broadcasting) surround® and mp3 surround internet radio.

The 2007 IFA in Berlin attracted:

Over 6,500 accredited journalists from 62 countries.

Over 1,300 international media agents.

1,212 exhibitors from 32 countries.

222,780 people were at the event

2.75 billion euros of orders were placed at the event.

IFA 2008 is from 29 August – 3 September

Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)

The next generation digital audio broadcasting technology, DAB surround® is a German invention.

The German radio stations Rock Antenne and Antenne Bayern became the first station to broadcast their music program in DAB Surround® and provide mp3 Surround Internet radio.

DAB Surround®

DAB Surround technology was developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (IIS)in Erlangen. DAB surround technology promises to enhanced the quality of digital radio at no extra cost to the broadcaster while processing and compressing the audio data.

DAB Surround&re; features

Unique special features of DAB Surround:-

it uses the same data rate as stereo DAB for its enhanced audio quality.

the new MPEG Surround standard doesn’t require a higher data rate than stereo DAB to achieve the enhanced audio quality

The new MPEG Surround standard, compresses the six channels of a surround music track to the same memory size as a compressed stereo signal.

radio broadcaster save on cost as they do not need to transmit simultaneously in stereo and DAB surround.

DAB surround technology compresses the original 5.1 data to produce a stereo mix and sets of parameters (few kilobits/sec )for the DAB surround sound. The stereo and DAB surround sets of parameter are transmitted together.

the bandwith required for DAB surround® is the same as for stereo transmission - so broadcasting cost is unchanged for DAB surround®

At the moment standard radio receiver will ignore the DAB surround® sets of parameter and transmit the stereo signal. In future, DAB Surround® receivers will reproduce the original 5.1 data audio sound with enhanced quality.

Internet radio listeners can link to Antenne Bayern and Rock Antenne web radios.

Listen to DAB surround® using the mp3 Surround Player freeware or the latest version of WinAmp.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo 2008. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances See bite-sized

Olympic Handover, Beijing 2008 to London 2012

2008-08-21T10:53:00.040+01:00

London Olympics 2012 celebration starts here

To celebrate the Olympics host city changeover, Guo Jinlong, the Mayor of Beijing, China will handover the Olympic Flag to Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London on Sunday, 24th August.

Or, as Boris Johnson describes the handover in an interview "...“The Mayor of Beijing hands the flag to the guy from the IOC, the IOC guy then hands it to me and then I twiddle it around and hand it back.” :-)

London will mark the occasion at the Beijing, China Olympic Stadium (nicknamed the "Bird's Nest") with an eight minutes collaborative performance by the:

Royal Opera House

CandoCo

Zoo Nation

The performance is described as reflecting London in dance and music. The performance is expected to be watched by around 1.5 billion people worldwide.

Olympics 2012 celebration start here...

UK wide celebrations will mark the occasion when London officially becomes the Olympics host city.

London plans to celebrate the Olympics handover with:

a concert (Visa London 2012 Party) on The Mall.

live link-up to the Beijing 2008 Olympic closing ceremony shown on screens around London.

A red Arrow flypast.

Guest appearance at the concert include some of Beijing Olympics stars, including USA 8 Gold medal winner sensation Michael Phelps.
BBC1 program showing the event on television.

BBC Radio 2 program.

Permanent screens at Canary Wharf and Trafalgar Square will show live streaming of the concert and a live link-up with Beijing for the closing ceremony.

London 2012 handover Party

The 40,000 ticket for the Visa London 2012 Party on The Mall have already been allocated.

No one should lose out however:-) You can watch the artists at the Visa London 2012 Party on screens, erected at Canary Wharf, Trafalgar Square, Notting Hill, Greenwich, Hackney and Waltham Forest.

If you plan a morning stroll in St James's Park on Sunday, do stop at Buckingham Palace and watch the Changing of the Queens Life Guards at 10 am. Quiet fun:-) Oh, very wet weather is allowed to disrupt this historic ceremony:-)

Other London events celebrating the Olympic handover:

1948 Hoxton Street Party: A 1948 costume themed party in Hackney

The Olympic-themed float at Notting Hill Carnival's Children's Day parade in Kensington and Chelsea

London 2012 flags will be raised in various ceremonies including on the Jubilant in Richmond, Barking Town Hall, Swiss Cottage Library, Wood Green Library, Brixton Library and Walthamstow Town Square.

Lewisham residents will be opening a new Olympic Garden of Flags made by local residents.

Out of the Blocks at St Paul's Cathedral: an afternoon of music, circus and street theatre, bringing together the LSO (LSO Brass), Barbican, Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

The Havering Show: a day-long town show with music and entertainment in Harrow Lodge Park.

Greenwich Handover at The O2: afternoon outdoor performances in Peninsula Square.

Dance Celebration in Victoria Park: from hip-hop to Bollywood plus live music from the London Breakbeat Orchestra.

CREATE08: a celebration of arts and culture in the 5 host boroughs for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Beijing Olympic Games closing ceremony photos

The Paralympics Games

The Paralympics Games takes place after the Olympic Games.

The Paralympic Games handover will be on Wednesday, 17th September.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo, 2008. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances See bite-sized

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

2008-08-14T11:20:00.020+01:00

Radio Frequency Technology (RF)

An article on the use of e-ticketing (at sporting events) and smartcards (for automated access control) was compelling enough to persuaded me to park existing work and research RF technology and one of its applications, RFID technology further.

E-ticketing and smartcards

The article, in the Aug/Sept IET Enginerring & Technology magazine described the use of rfid tag technology. It limit itself to e-ticketing and smart cards in use at sporting events and stadia, including the Beijing Olympics' 31 venues.

However, as this sort of articles are meant to...:-) It alerted me to the potentials of rfid tag technology, its uses and indirect impacts on privacy and security.

Result...?

I submitted my first article, on rfid technology and... to an article directory:-)

smartcard technology

Smart cards are in use for automated access control to stadia in the UK and around the world.

In the UK, football clubs using smart cards for access efficiency include:

The "Emirates", Arsenal Football Club's home ground.

The City of Manchester Stadium, Manschester City Football club's ground.

The Madjeski Stadium. Reading Football club's home ground.

The proven advantage of using smart card technology (despite the cost) are the reduced queueing time for sport fans.

Smart cards also improve security handling:

the smart card's embedded microchip is difficult to forge

because the cards carry rfid tags, lost or stolen season tickets can be blocked and replaced with ease

rfid smart cards carry their own power supply or generate the minute amount of power supply that they need depending on rfid type and the antenna, so external energy supply is not a problem.

For more on rfid technology...

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2008. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances. I'm also at bite-sized

'Olympets' held in Hong Kong

2008-08-10T19:26:00.005+01:00

First ever Olympets, organized by a pet shop owner in Hong Kong for 400 pets. Unsurprisingly some of the pets aren't too keen to take part despite the unashamed and desperate bribe from their owners.:-) Still, it was all good clean fun.

read more | digg story

Corrupt African Leaders - a word...

2008-08-10T11:43:00.009+01:00

It's time to pack a bag...

Gather up your croonies of "elite vampires", your distainful hatred-filled murdering followers and go somewhere else. Any uninhabited, isolated island will do.

Blind and Clueless

Corrupt African Leaders you have, for too many years insisted on your "divine" right to leadership, "...the blind leading the clueless..." You have refused to accept responsibility and accountability for your deeds and actions.

Corrupt African Leaders "...you are sucking the vitality out of our people". Enough.

Corrupt African Leaders - a word

You've had your time. Your leadership has been a failure and a burden on us. It's time to go. Safe journey.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo, 2008. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances See bite-sized

Brainstorm your Business to Success

2008-07-28T10:47:00.032+01:00

Brainstorm

Brainstorming with people on the same wavelengh is a buzz:-).

To celebrate and promote the launch of his new book on the real-life stories of current, successful online entrepreneurs, "ClickHereToOrder", Joel Comm is holding a competition.

You can win a "full day, all expenses paid trip to Loveland, Colorado" and join Comm and his team to brainstorm and mastermind your online business to success. Check for more details of the competition here. Sorry, I couldn't resist that...:-)

Due to a "hold-off for now" request from the book stockists - Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders et al (apparently because of a greater demand for the book than had been originally anticipated), the launch of Comm's "ClickHereToOrder" has been postponed until Tuesday, 2nd September.

This means that you can still enter the competition.. Good luck. Enjoy your brainstorming and private mastermind day in Northern Colorado with Comm and his team.

What's the catch...

None that I can see.

You do need to be aware of Comm's book, "ClickHereToOrder", now planned for launch on the 2nd September.

"ClickHereToOrder" is a book of true-life stories of successful internet entrepreneurs; what they did, how they became successful and what they're doing to remain successful.

The competition asks two questions. Er, no I'm not telling you what the questions are, go find out yourself.:-) See brainstorm your online business to success.

Have fun and good luck with the competition.

real-life stories of successful online entrepreneurs.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo 2008. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances See bite-sized

Africa, Monopoly, Bad News - the connection?

2008-07-25T09:31:00.028+01:00

Rewarding the Best of Africa Entreprenuers

Africa seems to have a stranglehold, a monopoly on bad news in the International media.

It's exhausting for anyone reading or watching the news.

Eric Kacou, the OTF Group Managing Director is refusing to accept the image of a helpless Africa. Kacou is urging entrepreneurs from 11 African countries to apply for the 2008 "Legatum Pioneers of Prosperity Awards".

(Source, an interview article in Google Alert, Think and Grow Rich, quote for today):

"As an African, I have an issue regarding Africa being the monopoly of bad news in the international media. It is not true that Africa is all about war, disease and poverty and somebody has to invest in telling that story."
- Eric Kacou (OTF Managing Director)

Read the full interview and details of the competition.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2008. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances

Music Downloads

2008-07-24T14:45:00.019+01:00

Illegal Music Downloads

Six UK Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are on a warpath against illegal music downloads.

The ISPs have agreed with the music industry on a strategy to prevent illegal music downloads.

The UK Government recognized the agreement as a world first, a "landmark" agreement by the industry to address unlawful file-sharing.

Secretary of State for BERR (Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform), John Hutton said: "This is an intelligent approach to tackling unlawful file-sharing by industry and ISPs. It tells consumers what they can do, rather than just what they can't."

Counting the Cost of online piracy

About 6.5 million people in the UK are said to have downloaded music and films illegally in the past year. The cost of illegal downloads to the recording industry is estimated at approximately £1 billion over the next five years.

Preventing Online Piracy

The ISPs plan to prevent (or at least reduce) online piracy by sending letters to identified "offenders" informing them that their activity has been detected and is being monitored.

The ISPs, film and music companies have reached an understanding that:

The ISPs are to develop legal file-sharing services.

The ISPs will engage their customers and inform their customers that it is illegal to share copyright protected music (I guess it's worth another try).

The ISPs, film and music companies will develop a code of practice together on how they will deal with infringements.
The Government will look at the proposals from the ISPs, film and music companies and decide on the most effective means of backing the proposals by new laws.

Major UK ISPs

UK's six major ISPs:

Virgin Media

Orange

Tiscali

BSkyB

Carphone Warehouse

signed a MoU (memorandum of understanding) with the BPI (British Phonographic Industry). BPI represents the interests of record companies in the UK.

The MoU means that some parents could learn first hand from the letters that their children have been using their PCs or laptops for illegal online piracy.

Legal Websites for Music Downloads

Major music vendors such as iTunes and Napster have over a million tracks in various music genres.

Some labels and artists are now selling MP3s directly from their own websites.

Legal music freebies are available to download:

some websites provide promotional tracks by up-and-coming artist.

some labels will allow a free song download to help promote an album

Check, verify (and check again!!) the terms and conditions for the free music downloads. Check and veryfy before you download any free music

Legal music and film downloads retailers and supplier:

Amazon - "Amazon MP3 is currently only available to US customers".

Artist Direct - you'll also find some legal free music downloads here.

AudioLunchBox - focuses on independent artists. Offers free music downloads.

Bleep - range include electronic and indie sounds.

IET Innovation Awards

2008-07-22T12:11:00.067+01:00

IET Innovation Awards 2008

The IET Innovation Awards are in recognition and celebration of the emerging "products, technologies and processes in engineering and technology".

Entries for the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) 2008 Innovation Awards closes in three days time, 25th July.

Three days is cutting it fine if you still need to get your materials together:-)

The IET will promote winners and short listed entries throughout the Engineering and Technology community. The awards are announced at an exclusive gala evening.

You can submit your entry application on line.

Awards Entry Categories

There are 15 categories.

Entry to the IET Innovation Awards is free to enter. Entry is open worldwide to everyone. Entry can be submitted in more than more category.

The categories and their sponsors are:

Asset Management - sponsored by National Grid

Built Environment - sponsored by Halcrow Yolles

Electronics

Emerging Technologies - sponsored by RS

Information Technology - sponsored by Amplicon

Measurement in Action - sponsored by NPL

Power/Energy - sponsored by Siemens

Product Design - sponsored by BT

Project Team - sponsored by Accenture

Security
Software in Design - sponsored by The Mathworks™

Start Up - sponsored by Cre8Ventures

Sustainability - sponsored by ABB

Telecommunications

Transport

Some entries for the IET 2008 Innovation Awards

From Ghana: Solution to end the counterfeit drug problem

From a UK-based company: Next generation of energy efficient lighting

From Argentina: Low cost roof-integrated solar generator

The IET Innovation Awards is an annual event. The IET Innovation Awards has been running for 4 years.

The IET Innovation Awards 2008 ceremony will be on the 3rd November at the Park Plaza Riverbank, London.

Copyright © 2008. Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances See also bite-sized

Save This Page

iPhone 3G

2008-07-11T10:52:00.084+01:00

3G Phones

The launch of iPhone 3G (phone, ipod and fast internet access) implies a much needed convergence of 3g wireless devices at a reasonable cost to users.

So, why would Apple spoilt iPhone 3G launch by rationing the supply of the device as well as imposing bothersome restrictions on cellular network carriers of the gadget.?

In the UK, for example, the only cellular network carrier is O2.

The device can only be bought from:

Apple stores - mind you, it's a good excuse to meander through the Apple stores, especially the big Apple stores like the one in Regent Street, London. The store stay open late as well - perfect:-) Oh, and their staffs are brilliant - polite, helpful and they know their products.

Carphone Warehouse

3G cell phones

3G technologies provide iPhone 3G cell phone with worldwide fast access to the Internet over cellular networks.

Simultaneous mobile multi-tasking of voice and data is a main feature of iPhone 3G. It enables users to surf the web, download email, get directions, watch video while on a call:-) Welcome to 21st century lifestyle.

Using HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) protocol, iPhone 3G download data over UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) networks.

Email attachments and web pages load twice as fast on 3G networks as on 2G EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) networks.

Seamless switching between EDGE, 3G and Wi-Fi (faster than 3G) means that iPhone 3G users can access the best available speed on the cellular network for their data download.

In areas without 3G network, iPhone 3G will connect calls using GSM (Global System for Mobile, originally Groupe Spécial Mobile) and EDGE for data.

Using two antennas, the compact iPhone 3G delivers its voice and data features over UMTS, HSDPA, GSM, Wi-Fi, EDGE, GPS, and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR.

iPhone 3G - a business tool

The iPhone 3G integrated secure mobile access enables it to be considered as a feasible business tool (in direct competition to BlackBerry®), iPhone 3G supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, delivering push email, calendar, and contacts.

The device provides mobile users with secure access to corporate resources using Cisco IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) VPN (Virtual Private Network)and wireless network services with WPA2 Enterprise and 802.1X authentication.

Email on iPhone 3G looks and acts like email delivered to a computer. The gadget supports Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, PDF, JPEG, and iWork. Attachments can be viewed exactly as they were designed to be viewed. Zoom in on information with the tap of a finger:-)

iPhone 3G - maps with GPS

Integrated maps with GPS on iPhone 3G means that it won't be easy to get lost even in an unfamiliar territory:-)

Be warned, it also means that your contacts/friends/colleague may be able to locate your whereabout:-)

The device allows you to find your location, get directions, and see real time traffic. Maps on iPhone 3G combines GPS, Wi-Fi, and cell tower location technology with the multi-touch interface to create the mobile map application.

Using GPS or by triangulating a position using Wi-Fi and cellular towers, iPhone 3G will locate your position. Areas and places of interest can be located using keyword search on the device. Follow the guide list of "turn-by-turn" directions or read the highlighted map route and track your progress with a live GPS tracking:-)

App store

Apple's App Store is for everyone, you, your inner child and your children:-)

With over 500 applications to download, Apple App store caters for your business and leisure time needs. Developers have created iPhone 3g applications for games, chats, social networking, travel, news, sports, finance and business.

New applications are continuously being developed and added to the App store, ready and waiting for you to discover:-)

Some of the applications are free download. You can download the applications via iTunes to your iphone 3g cell phone.

It's just as well the iphone 3g comes in 8GB (available in black only) and 16GB (available in two colours, black or white).

Applications designed for iPhone 3G leverage iPhone technology, such as the multi-touch interface, the accelerometer, GPS, real-time 3D graphics, and 3D positional audio.

Some of the applications available to download include:

eBay - using the eBay application, you can tap, flick, and pinch the iphone 3g multi-touch screen to browse eBay auctions, place bids, and track items of interest or item you're selling on eBay.

iphone games - iphone 3g mobile game console responds to your wrist movements.This means that rolls "tap-and-tilt" games like Super Monkey Ball can be played on your iphone 3g.

Loopt - the loopt application use location feeds to locate you and your friends:-).

BlackBerry Bold

2008-06-29T18:30:00.033+01:00

BlackBerry

BlackBerry® Pearl™ found its way into Hollywood "A" lister handbags with the help of clever strategical marketing. Research In Motion (RIM), the designer and manufacturer of BlackBerry® can now claim with some justification that BlackBerry is not "just a business tool".

Blackberry® Bold™ is the latest addition to the blackberry family of smartphones. Blackberry® Bold™ was called BlackBerry® 9000 before it was launched.

Claimed to have been designed to "challenge Apple's iPhone for style", the features of blackberry bold are still aimed at business users (it wouldn't do to upset the existing customer base). Research In Motion's co-CEO, Mike Lazaridis argues that "Not everyone can type on a piece of glass. I think our design gives us an advantage over Apple's iPhone".

BlackBerry smartphones

iphone v blackerry bold

Lazaridis pointed out that "Putting all the bells and whistles aside - the device is great at delivering email because it does exactly what it says on the tin. It gives you the same experience whether you are on 3G or GPRS. Mobile broadband is not why people buy Blackberry". Hmmm:-)

BlackBerry Bold features (the "bells and whistles")

BlackBerry® Bold™ is the first BlackBerry smartphone to support tri-band HSDPA high-speed network worldwide.

With GPS and Wi-Fi capability, BlackBerry Bold's next-generation 624 Mhz mobile processor speeds up large email downloads, streaming video and web surfing.

BlackBerry Bold has 1GB of storage and 128MB flash memory.

© 2008. Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances

Nanotechnology

2008-06-25T13:51:00.051+01:00

Nanotechnology

The concept, research and current applications of nanotechnology is intriguing, fascinating and like it or not, seems to be here to stay.

My concerns about nano research and applications became manageable when I read the blurb on the speaker of the IET's 2008 Microsystem and Nanotechnology Lecture. Professor James Gimzewski (UCLA - University of California, Los Angeles) researched nanoscale science and technology for more than 18 years at IBM Zurich Research Laboratory.

In researching nanotechnology, it could hurt no one to remember (even this late in nano research and development) that Maria Sklodowska-Curie, also known as Marie Curie, died in 1934 from aplastic anaemia.

Sklodowska-Curie's death was directly linked to her exposure to radiation during her research and co-discovery of polonium and radium (the Curies also researched and isolated radium elements).

Because the damaging effects of ionising radiation were unknown at the time, Sklodowska-Curie's work had been carried out in a shed with no safety measures:-(

Sklodowska-Curie had carried test tubes containing radioactive isotopes in her pocket and stored them in her desk drawer, entranced by the pretty blue-green light the substances gave off in the dark:-(

The 2008 Micro and Nanotechnology Lecture

The jointly organized IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) and ION (Institute of Nanotechnology) lecture will be at The IET, Savoy Place, London on the 8th July. Registration and drinks reception at 17:30 hrs. Introduction to the Lecture commences at 18:30 hrs.

The Lecture, sponsored by Unilever, is in celebration of the launch of a joint IET and ION Micro and Nano Technology Network. The Lecture has been given the working title "The age of nanotechnology".

"The age of nanotechnology" by Professor James Gimzewski.

The event organizers promise that Gimzewski will talk about:

the strongest material ever made

the reality of space elevator.

how the electronics industry kick-started the nanomedicine revolution

the potential for programming single molecules.

his passion for the artistic interpretation of the nano world

The nano world continues to elicit some exquisite art form.

STM (Scanning Tunneling Microscopy)

Gimzewski was one of pioneering nanoscientists to image single atoms and molecules with STM.

Involved in projects ranging from the "operation of X-rays, ions and nuclear fusion using pyroelectric crystals, direct deposition of carbon nanotubes and single molecule DNA profiling" Gimzewski collaborates with the UCLA Medical and Dental Schools.

Gimzewski's joint-venture art-science projects have been exhibited in museums world-wide.

I'm expecting a scintillating evening lecture and networking at the IET (organized this time by the IET's Micro and Nano Systems Network).

Here's a taster of what is happening in nano world:-

© 2008. Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances

Royal Ascot 2008

2008-06-18T16:08:00.015+01:00

Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot is the highlight of the Season and is a hoot:-)

Forget the jump and flat thoroughbreds horse racing and the four million pounds of prize money.

Its the fashion, hats or "substantial fascinators" (substantial fascinators are feathered adornment according to the Telegraph) that fascinate, entrance or sometimes leave me jaw-droppingly bewildered:-)

I thoutht "substantial fascinators" are the seemingly impossibly engineered contraptions some daring women seem to manage to like enough to willingly have placed on their head and wear/carry to Ascot, but the Telegraph says its feathered adornment:-).

More on substantial fascinators:-)

Today is the second day of Royal Ascot 2008 (17th - 21st June), despite being given a list with the dress codes (issued with each ticket) some racegoer's attirements (or lack of) are still causing exasperation:-)

Dress codes

Royal Ascot has a dress code. Formal day dress for women, in the Royal Enclosure a hat or "substantial fascinator" is also required. For men (in the Royal Enclosure) - black or grey morning dress including a waistcoat and a top hat. So nothing too onerous.

When you have an occasion where the Queen (in her "signature 3 strand pearl necklace") arrives in a horse-drawn carriage pulled by windsor greys, led by Royal deliveries, the least we should expect is a bit of decorum on our part:-)

No such luck:-)

Newspaper headlines such as "Ascot chucks out the chavs":-) "No minis, no streaky fake tan and no knickers on show..." seemed to have fallen on deaf ears:-)

I look forward to Ladies Day (Gold Cup day):-)

For the history of Royal Ascot.

Pictures of first day at Royal Ascot

Copyright © 2008 Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances and Bite-Sized

London Jewellery Week

2008-06-03T21:51:00.024+01:00

Coutts London Jewellery Week

The first London Jewellery Week is from 11th - 15th June.

Paris, Milan, Mumbai, New York, eat your heart out!

London Jewellery Week promises to be fun. Much more fun than London Fashion Week, where the talk is more about egos, supermodels and some unwearable loud clothes:-)

London Jewellery Week is about the products and the designers, showcased in spectacular settings around London, such as the Tower of London, home to the Crown Jewel.

We get a chance to admire inspired designers' creativity and ingenuity and the the end-products, the dazzling array of jewellery.

Expect to see jewellery in the standard materials of gold, silver, platinum with precious and semi-precious stones and contemporary materials.

Current “UK Luxury Jewellery Award" winner, David Marshall London will be showcasing their jewellery designs.

For affordable jewellery, consider Argent of London, who "prides" themselves on their "... ability to create stunning, timeless classics without the Bond Street price tags." Boodles are also a considered option.

Confusingly, Argent of London also add that they specialize in "bespoke jewellery".
Isn't "bespoke" haute culture speak for expensive? If you decide that Argent of London is too expensive, check London Jewellery Week for special offers.

With over 100 designers, the Coutts sponsored London Jewellery Week promises to lift, inspire and ignite our imagination with its classic and contemporary cutting-edge design diversity.

Burlington Arcade

Burlington Arcade, Britain's first shopping arcade was opened in 1819.

Burlington Arcade will be hosting a catwalk presentation (on Monday, 9th June, 18:30 - 20:30) to celebrate the Arcade’s more traditional classically beautiful jewels and the creative talent of London College of Fashion’s Cordwainers (Cordwainers' traditional area of expertise is in footware and accessories).

Models will be dressed in cashmere and jewellery (very British) from Burlington Arcade.

The Cordwainers Graduates of 2008 and some of their acclaimed alumni, such as Jimmy Choo and Linda (LK) Bennett, will supply the shoes.

Guests will be plied with champagne and canapés.

Place : Burlington Arcade
Venue : Piccadilly,London W1J 0HH
Day : Monday 9th June
Time : 18:30 - 20:30
Nearest Tube: Green Park

Enjoy:-)

Copyright © 2008. Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved.
For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances See also bite-sized

Marketing Ideas

2008-05-25T06:10:00.052+01:00

And the speaker is...

Sir Berners-Lee, Director of the World Wide Web Consortium, on "Invention to Phenomenon".

Early this morning, I picked up my notebook and came across notes I'd made at the IET John Pickerton Lecture in September. I laughed...

Tim Berners-Lee was the speaker at the sold out IET Pinkerton Lecture in September 2007.

Berners-Lee did not disappoint, he was articulate and his speech was funny and intelligent on the day:-).

Marketing Ideas

On "marketing" his idea for the world wide web to the Physicist at CERN, where he was working as a contract programmer, he commented that "...the idea was pretty straight forward, as was the programming." However,

"Getting people to buy it"

"Getting people to imagine its use"

was a problem:-)

When months later, one Physicist finally got round to reading Berners-Lee's documented proposed ideas and decided on a follow-up with Berners-Lee, Berners-Lee had "moved on":-)

Luckily for mankind's evolution, Berners-Lee's idea for the web was reviewed by the relevant people at CERN. One priceless early reviewer commented that the idea "...was vague but exciting...":-)

In 1989, Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, the "internet-based hypermedia initiative for global information sharing" phenomenon, while at CERN (the European Particle Physics Laboratory)".

In 1990, Berners-Lee wrote the programme for the first web client and server.

Berners-Lee's specifications for URIs (Uniform Resource Identifier), HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and HTML (Hyper Text Markup Langiage) were refined as Web technology evolve.

Asked if...

Asked if on hindsight he would have done anything differently, Berners-Lee replied "No - except perhaps for the http - the http was unnecessary..."

Berners-Lee did explain his reasons for including http in the URI, but you know what? I'm not going to tell you...:-)

Suffice to say that we all laughed at the explanation:-).

If you get a chance to see Berners-Lee speak live, GO... you may get to hear the reason http is now part of the history of the web...:-)

Berners-Lee's parents were at the 2007 IET John Pinkerton Lecture.

Berner-Lee's parents are Mathematicians. This didn't stop Berners-Lee poking fun at Mathmaticians... and Physicist:-)

Berners-Lee's parents had both worked with John Pinkerton on the LEO project. LEO was the world's first computer designed for business applications. John Pinkerton was LEO's designer.

John Pinkerton and the LEO computer project

John Pinkerton was the pivotal engineer on the LEO computer project.

LEO (Lyons Electronic Office) was the result of a vision for radical improvement in the business operations within J Lyons, the catering company. The LEO project was started in 1949 and the system became operational in 1951.

John Pinkerton and his small team transformed the University of Cambridge's developed EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator) computer into a business computing tool.

"No corporate goal can ever succeed if it cannot also provide the ambitious individual with the challenges of extraordinary difficulty and the promise of self-fulfilment... nothing had so much meaning, relevance and truth as the set of values I saw in the early LEO days." - Leo Fantl, a member of the LEO team.

LEO's transition from innovation to application was an extraordinary example of a successful development. An application of a user need driven innovation, guided by an incredibly visionary man, John Pinkerton.

"...the simpler the conception and the design of any item of calculating equipment, the better it will be understood by the operators who use it and the engineers who maintain it" - John Pinkerton (1919 - 1997).

Lyons created a subsidiary company, LEO Computers Ltd - to manufacture and sell computers.

One of LEO Computers Ltd's first customers was the Ford Motor Company. The Pinkerton team developed and produced a commercially successful LEO range - engineered and enhanced with new ideas and technologies.

The Institution (the IET) inaugurated the annual John Pinkerton Lecture in "commemoration and honour of John Pinkerton".

On the day...

I'd called the IET event manager for the Pinkerton Lecture a week or so before the event, to check that I wouldn't be committing a "faux pas" by taking photographs at the Lecture and the drinks reception afterwards.

The chap wasn't happy at the suggestion :-) He said they hadn't thought about it but he felt that taking photographs would not be "the done thing" and that Berners-Lee wouldn't be happy. Sigh...

Nevertheless, I took my digital camera, determined to ask Berners-Lee himself. I wanted a photo of Berners-Lee and me:-)

Sadly, Berners-Lee was a "no show" at the drinks reception. He was cloistered in another room with some people he'd promised to see after the Lecture.

On hindsight I realized that one of the cloistered few was Sue Black (from London South Bank University). During the Pinkerton Lecture, Black had championed the need of women web users in her other role as BCS Women organizer.

I'd congratulated Sue Black for asking her question as to how the W3C and the WSRI (Web Science Research Initiative) were planning to meet women web user requirements. I was still talking to her (having been joined by other people) when someone "signalled" to her and she excused herself without saying why...

I joined another group and was too busy nattering to notice that Berners-Lee still hadn't appeared at the drinks reception. A pause in the conversation gave me a chance to quickly scan the room. I noticed a young chap (looked about 14) wearing his name badge with Berners-Lee's autograph on it - gnash...

With renewed impetus, I went in search of Berners-Lee. Thankfully (I was in danger of wearing out the carpet), an older member of the Institution rescued me by asking who I was looking for:-)

On being told that I was looking for Berners-Lee, he explained that Berners-Lee was in a meeting and that he won't be joining the drinks party as it was likely to be a long meeting. He quickly added "...we can do better and introduce you to Helen Pinkerton".

Helen Pinkerton

Helen Pinkerton is John Pinkerton's widow.

I was given a quick resume as I was expertly guided in her direction. Meeting Helen Pinkerton was for me, the highlight of the evening.

Helen Pinkerton is highly intelligent and mischievous. She had a high profile Civil Service career and I'm 90 per cent certain (though I wasn't categorically told, I simply read between the lines), that she did something "hush-hush" during WW2.

After I was introduced to Helen Pinkerton, other people joined our group and we chatted for a while. Helen Pickerton told a clever mischievous joke which we all laughed at...

NO, I won't repeat the joke, and NO, it's got nothing to do with political correctness - which is just consideration for other people's feelings, in any case.

Helen's joke was clever and funny, but would be hurtful to another race group..., so I'm not repeating the joke:-)

On mentioning that she was leaving but hadn't arranged a lift, our little group became a little apprehensive about her walking to the train station by herself. Since I had to walk in the same direction for my tube, I volunteered to walk with her.

Helen Pinkerton and I walked to the station (about 8 - 12 minutes walk). We talked as we walked. She pointed out a now defunct basement restaurant she said they (she and her colleagues) used as a meeting place. I saw that dusty and darkened basement in a new light:-)

Helen Pinkerton told me her greatest wish. Mrs Pinkerton, I know your wish will come true. Until we meet again, take care.

"Invention to Phenomenon"? I had a phenomenon evening, thanks to John Pinkerton, Helen Pinkerton, Tim Berners-Lee and the IET.

Copyright © 2008. Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances. See also bite-sized

UEFA Cup: Man United v Chelsea

2008-05-22T10:12:00.019+01:00

UEFA Champions League Cup

In case you haven't heard, Europe's premier footbals club competition, the UEFA Cup final between Manchester United v Chelsea FC was decided on a penalty shootout in the pouring rain at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow yesterday.

Watching the football game on a beautiful warm evening in London (ditto Manchester - warm evening I mean), the rain was comforting:-)

The Man U and Chelsea FC players with their army of 42,000 British fans must have felt at home:-)

Mind you, I don't think I've ever seen such a huge rain downpour in the UK:-)

Chelsea were reduced to 10 men, thanks to Didier Drogba. Manchester United won the penalty shootout, 6 - 5.

Didier Drogba

Whatever possess Didier Drogba to "slap" Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic ? Drogba got sent off for his trouble, reducing his team to 10 men, in a Cup final:-(

Lucky Man Utd

Chelsea should have won the Cup. Man U were jammy:-)

Comfortinmg words aside, I guess the best team won on the day.

Difficult not to feel sorry for Chelsea FC. John Terry's face was a picture in misery. Avram Grant's body language after collecting his medal was so despondent, anyone with half a heart would have reached out and pat him on the back.

Better luck next time Chelsea.

Copyright © 2008. Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances See also bite-sized

Champions League

2008-05-20T15:56:00.026+01:00

Champions League Final

There's something special about tomorrow's Champions League final at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. It's an all English final, being decided in Moscow:-)

An Arsenal fan, I normally don't bother with any football competition which doesn't include "my" football club:-)

Man U v Chelsea is bound to be a grudge match.

Chelsea's season could have been better - (I know, I can't point a finger, Arsenal's haven't even featured in any final this season). Manchester United are probably feeling cock-a-hoop at the moment:-) Man U recently beat Chelsea to the Barclays Premier League Championship.

I was at a conference in Fulham and Hammersmith on the Sunday the Barclay Premier League Championship was decided. The Earl's Court area of Fulham and Hammersmith was swarming with disappointed Chelsea supporters. Not a sight for the faint-hearted:-)

Hope you can keep it clean on and off the pitch guys. Come back safely.

About Champion League final (for the uninitiated):
Champion League
An annual UEFA (Union of Europe Football Association) competition. The 2008 final is between two English footbal clubs, Manchester United (also referred to as Man U, Man Utd) and Chelsea FC (or simply Chelsea).

The 2008 Champion League final is to be played in Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium.

Copyright © 2008. Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances See also bite-sized

Pangea Day May 10

2008-05-09T22:31:00.016+01:00

Pangea Day

Egyptian American documentary film director Jehane Noujaime wanted to build bridges for world peace.

Pangea Day is Jehane Noujaime TED Prize wish in 2006. Pangea Day is on the 10th May 2008.

TED kept its promise. Jehane Noujaime got her wish. The world get to share an inspired wish, granted by an inspiring organization.

Pangea Day is not just about world peace. Pangea Day is also about extraordinary people like Carolyn Porco going the extra mile to ensure that as many people around the world as possible get to share their knowlege.

Pangea Day is a 4 hours live broadcast event coordinated from 6 locations around the world.

Pangea Day Live Broadcast Location

Pangea Day Program

24 short films will be shown (selected from over 2000 films submitted from over 100 countries).
The program will include live music and talks from diverse inspiring speakers including Jonathan Harris, Lisa Ling, Karen Armstrong and Robert Kurzban.

Where to watch Pangea Day events

The Pangea Day Organization will be broadcasting the event live.

MSN International will stream the live event in all 23 of its market.

The Panagea Day program will also be hosted at various public venues around the world.

Friends of Pangea Day will feature live feeds of local Pangea Day events in several cities, including Brooklyn, Milano, Toyko, Jerusalem, and Vienna.

Copyright © 2008 Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances and bite-sized

Android Developer Challenge

2008-04-28T11:49:00.060+01:00

Android

Android is an Open Handset Alliance project.

Google launched the Android Developer Challenge, with a 10 million USD prize award up for grabs in 2008.

The award prize money (to be used for further development) will be divided equally between two Android Developer Challenges:

Android Developer Challenge I started accepting applications from 2nd January to 14th April 2008

Andriod Developer Challenge II will commence in the second half of 2008, after the first handsets build on the Android platform become available.

Open Handset Alliance Members

Open Handset Alliance is an impressive and innovative group of mobile operators, semiconductor companies, handset manufacturers, software companies and commercial service providers working together to accelerate innovative mobile applications for the benefits of end-users. You and I are the end-users:-)

A summary list of Open Handset Alliance Members include:

Mobile Operators:
China Mobile Communications Corporation,
KDDI Corporation,
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. ,
Sprint Nextel,
T-Mobile,
Telecom Italia,
Telefónica

Handset Manufacturers:
HTC Corporation,
LG Electronics, Inc.,
Motorola, Inc.,
Samsung Electronics

Software Companies:
Ascender Corp.,
eBay,
Esmertec,
Google Inc.,
LivingImage Ltd.,
LiveWire Mobile,
Nuance Communications, Inc.,
PacketVideo(PV),
SkyPop,
SONiVOX

Semiconductor Companies:
Audience,
Broadcom Corporation,
Intel Corporation,
Marvell Semiconductor, Inc.,
NVIDIA Corporation,
Qualcomm Inc.,
SiRF Technology Holdings, Inc.,
Synaptics, Inc.,
Texas Instruments Incorporated

Commercial Service Provider Companies:
Aplix Corporation,
Noser Engineering Inc.,
TAT - The Astonishing Tribe AB,
Wind River

Wireless Week awarded Android and the Open Handset Alliance the 2008 Emerging Technology Award in its 11th Annual Excellence Awards Program. The award was presented at the CTIA Wireless 2008 in Las Vegas.

Enkin

Enkin is one of the entries for the Android Developers Challenge.

This Enkin prototype is a handheld navigation application for mobile devices. Enkin displays location-based content, a merger of real-time and map like presentation using GPS, orientation sensors, 3-D graphics, live video, web services and an "intuitive" user interface navigation system.

Enkin on Vimeo is a presentation video of Enkin hosted on vimeo:-) The Enkin video presentation really does look impressive. Enjoy:-)

© 2008. Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances and bite-sized

Speed reading is okay, how about speed-listening?

2008-04-23T21:35:00.037+01:00

Audio Speed-listening with new software, FasterAudio

When I first read the blurb about "faster audio", I sniggered as I prepare to listen to the samples, looking forward to an amusing few minutes of entertainment:-). I was expecting to hear some poor sod's audio converted or somehow tranformed into an impersonation of a chipmunk or at the very least someone high on helium:-). I was right and wrong:-) Mark Benda's new software product is a revelation.

Following in Napoleon Hill's Footsteps

I had never heard of Mark Benda until I read an email detailing
Ted Ciuba's latest project, a series of interview of todays "millionaires and achievers". Ciuba will be interviewing Mark Benda at 9 pm EST today (23rd April 2008) as part of his latest project.

Ciuba's latest project is his centenary tribute to the now famous Napoleon Hill's project (Hill started his project of interviews in 1908). Napoleon Hill's project lasted 25 years and culminated in Hill's acclaimed business and self-motivation book, Think and Grow Rich, published in 1937.

Hill, a reporter at the time (on Andrew Carnegie's instigation), interviewed 500 rich, influential and business pioneers of 20th century America, in an attempt to discover and document the secret of their wealth and success. Napolean Hill established the 13 principles of success in Think and Grow Rich.

Think and Grow Rich has been described as the book that launched a million millionaires. "Napoleon Hill's People - A Brief History", is a bite-sized account of some of these 20th century American business pioneers.

Ciuba has been described as "...TOP Think and Grow Rich Expert". He has chaired and led mastermind group analyses of the book, Think and Grow Rich.

I was part of one of the mastermind group of "analysts", a mastermind group consisting of "East and West" entrepreneurs, the "Think and Grow Rich East-West Success Mastermind group" (TAGREW). We were entrepreneurs from the South-East Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, South Korea) and the West (USA, UK and Australia).

Ciuba is the author of a 2007 published book,
The New Think and Grow Rich.

The New Think and Grow Rich was a 2007
USA Book News finalist in the "Business: Motivational" category.

Mark Benda's "FasterAudio"

We have speed dating, speed reading, now we have FasterAudio, the new software for "speed-listening":-)

The human brain is apparently programmed from birth to process up to 600 words/minute (most people speak at between 125 - 150 words/minute). The FasterAudio software promises to convert or transform an audio so that it can be listened to at 100%, 125%, 150%, 175% or 200% of normal speed without voice distortion (the "chipmunk effect").

You can test (at normal speech speed) and speed test FasterAudio before you buy the downloadable software. The salesletter cleverly has samples of each testimonial converted, so that the testemonials can be read and speed-listened to at the various FasterAudio speed.

I tested each testimonial, including a sample audio of The New Think and Grow Rich. I could not detect any noticeable difference in voice clarity at 100%, 125% or 150% of normal speed.

At 175% of normal speed, there was a noticeable sound distortion of some voices, but not all. I could still make out what was said when I listened closely to the words. This is said to be one of the benefits of "FasterAudio", it focuses the mind on what is being said on the audio.

At 200% of the normal speed, most of the testimonials sound as if the relevant speaker was shouting at the listener (the voice distortion was unappealing).

Getting FasterAudio software update

Mark Benda's promised that he will make all new technology and update of the FasterAudio software available to all his customers. I expect that he will soon sort out the voice distortion at 200% of normal speed.

FasterAudio impressed me. It does require a higher level of concentration at 150% of normal speed and upwards. The brain will tire quicker (though, I'm pretty sure that it could be trained to adjust) when a higher level of concentration and intensity is required.

Mark Benda promises that FasterAudio will reduce the listening time of a 60 minutes audio to a speed-listening time of 40 minutes. It's worth a try, but please not while driving.

© 2008 Abimbola Akanwo. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances and bite-sized All rights reserved.

read more | digg story

London Marathon 2008

2008-04-13T01:41:00.072+01:00

London Marathon

Former Olympic champion Chris Brasher wrote an an article for The Observer in 1979, hours after running the New York Marathon. The article began, "To believe this story you must believe that the human race be one joyous family, working together, laughing together, achieving the impossible. Last Sunday, in one of the most trouble-stricken cities in the world, 11,532 men and women from 40 countries in the world, assisted by over a million black, white and yellow people, laughed, cheered and suffered during the greatest folk festival the world has seen." He concluded the article with a question as to "..whether London could stage such a festival?"

The London Marathon was born within months of the article's publication. Brasher played a central role in setting up the London Marathon with trips to America to study marathon race organisation and finance of large city marathons such as New York and Boston (the oldest large city marathon in the world).

Having secured a £50,000 contract with Gillette, Brasher established London Marathon as a charitable trust and laid down six main goals for the event.

The first London Marathon took place on March 29th 1981. More than 20,000 applications were received, 7,747 applicant runners were accepted and 6,255 runners crossed the finishing line on Constitution Hill. Cheering crowds lined the route.

35,674 runners crossed the finishing line in 2007. The BBC reported that over 40,000 runners will be taking part in the London Marathon 2008.

London Marathon Exhibition

On April 9th, six Maasai Warriors opened the 2008 London Marathon Exhibition at the Excel in London's dockland.

The Northern Tanzania Maasai Warriors left Tanzania for the first time early in April 2008, to acclimatized to the UK whether, run the Flora London Marathon and raise £15,000 to build a well in their village. The Maasai Warriors will run the london marathon wearing their traditional clothing.

The 2008 Flora London Marathon Exhibition showcased the biggest ever london marathon store. All the major athletic brands were present. Other exhibitors showcased and sold a range of varied items, socks, GPS navigation devices and the latest niche products.

The London Marathon 2008 store did not disappoint novice and serious distance runners. It caters for all levels of sport enthusists with its range and number of manufacturers, international races, charities, running publications, medical companies and the best selection of retailers under one roof.

London Marathon start

The London Marathon organisers are advising spectators not to accompany their runner to the "Start". See
start map.

Spectators can however travel on the same trains from Charing Cross, Waterloo East and London Bridge, but will need to buy a ticket. Only runners can travel free on these train to the start point. These trains will be extremely crowded.

Trains go to Blackheath (for Blue Start runners), Maze Hill (Green Start runners) and Greenwich Stations (Red Start runners).

Spectators are not advised to travel to Blackheath or Maze Hill Stations as there are no Underground or Dockland Light Railway (DLR) connections from these stations. The only way to get to a viewing spot is to return to these Stations and get a train back into central London, this is likely to take some time.

Greenwich Station (Red Start) is in the town centre. Greenwich Station connects with the DLR. Runners have a 20 minute walk to the Start assembly area from Greenwich Station. The assembly area is for runners only.

Spectators are advised to say goodbye to their runner(s) at Greenwich Station and watch the race in Greenwich (avoid the area close to the Cutty Sark, this is a busy area) A better option would be to transfer onto the DLR and head out to Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs where there are some much easier viewing spots.

Spectators' Guide

For a spectator's guide and map, see interative map

Flora London Marathon spectators are a fluid crowd:-).

Most spectators like to try and see runners at more than one location on the route, take in some of the landmarks, and pick up some refreshments on the way too.

All the roads will be closed to traffic. The only way to get around is by public transport. Both London Underground and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) run extra services on Marathon Day. Public transport is the best way to get around London during the London marathon.

Before setting-off, do:

Travel light – you will be standing for hours on end. Carry few items. Leave your valuables at home.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Be prepared for a typical April day in London, sun,showers and wind - or all at the same time:-)

The day will be crowded and busy - you will often have to queue. Some stations may be forced to shut temporarily while they manage and control the crowd to an acceptable health and safety standard.

Expect a lot of walking (including stairs and escalators) – re-think your plan if you'd planned to take young children. Pushchairs can be problematic in a crowd.

Take a map of Flora London Marathon route , especially one which shows the stations and mile and km locations.

Finish

Avoid if possible arranging to meet your runner at the Finish. The finish is the busiest area of the London Marathon.

The closest undergroung stations to the Meet and Greet point on Horseguards Parade are Westminster and St James’s Park.

Both of these stations will be extremely busy. Expect queues getting in and out of these stations. From lunchtime onwards many spectators will be making their way to the Finish.

Congestion will be compounded by runners who have already finished and are leaving the area with their families plus London tourists visiting the landmarks nearby:-)

Other Underground stations relatively close (and less crowded)to the Meet and Greet area are:

Charing Cross (15 minutes), Embankment (20 minutes) and Victoria (45 minutes). Where stations are on the ‘wrong’ side of the route, you will need to use the designated crossing points. These are clearly signed and marshalled. Again these will be busy and you will often need to wait before you can cross.

A tube map will show the various connections to each relevant station. See London For Transport (lft)journey planner.

The main interchanges from the DLR to London Underground stations are at Canary Wharf (Jubilee Line), Tower Gateway (walk to Tower Hill, District & Circle Lines) and Bank/Monument (Northern, District & Circle and Central Lines.)

Other Meet and Greet area are pubs and cafes on the South Bank. Once through the Finish, runners can walk over Waterloo or Hungerford Bridges (confusingly also labelled on some maps as the Golden Jubilee Bridge)to the South Bank.

The City is to the east and Covent Garden is to the north of Horseguard Parade meet and greet point. For a post-race rendezvous runners are only a short tube journey from the Finish to the City or Covent Garden:-)

If planning to meet at a venue, check in advance (by ringing) to ensure that the venue is open to the public on the day. Many charities hold post-race receptions for their runners and supporters.

For further details on the finish area, see Finish map.

Disabled access

Parking facility suitable for wheelchair users is at the Bishop Challoner School, Hardinge Street, London E1.

If arriving after 08:00 am when road closures are in place, access will be from the north – via Commercial Road, Devonport Street, Cable Street and Hardinge Street. Stewards will be on site to assist with vehicles parking. An accessible lavatory within the school will be available.

It is a short, level walk to The Highway where the marathon passes by twice. At the junction of The Highway and Glamis Road there is an underground subway which has a ramp suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

For the tube and DLR map showing stations the easy access (without stairs or escalators from street level to platform), see
access guide.

Spectator Routes From Central London Stations

See Spectator routes from the centre of London.

Places To Avoid

Avoid:
Greenwich and especially the area close to the Cutty Sark (very busy area, what with popular Greenwich Market, the nearby Naval College, Cutty Sark a tourist attraction in it's own right and the Greenwich Tube station close by).

Tower Bridge and the route east of the Bridge (East Smithfield) and west of the Bridge (Tower Hill.)

Anywhere from mile 25 to the Finish in The Mall. Avoid this area for as long as possible until late in the day if you have to meet your runner at the Meet and Greet area in Horseguards Road.

The closure of the East London Line until 2010 means that you cannot plan your journey the East London line.

© 2008 Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances and Bite-Sized

National CleanDesk Day AND Rainforest Cafe

2008-01-09T15:19:00.001Z

Today, 9th January is according to this Troy White's article in the Total Package a "National Clean Off Your Desk Day", the first line of the article "...why give the desk a false hope." made me laugh:-) Why indeed. And, why waste so much time and energy on a perpetual ineffective chore like tidying up a living working desk?

read more | digg story

Field of Remembrance

2007-11-11T22:08:00.000Z

We will remember them

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Robert Laurence Binyon (1869 - 1943)

In memory of Majorie Jordine

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning", I also remember Majorie Jordine, who lost her battle against breast cancer on the 8th September 2007 at 00:47 hrs, the morning I joined over 1000 people on a sponsored 44Km (26 miles) walk through London in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo 2007. All rights reserved.

"Millionaire minister quits to join car race"

2007-11-08T08:34:00.000Z

Out and About

I bought the Evening Standard on my way to an Embassy function yesterday evening, intending to skim read the newspaper on the tube. My outward tube journey to Kensington High Street (District Line) was so smooth and fast (and that included changing at King's Cross) that I barely had a chance to read more than a couple of pages.

The London Transport Authourity (LTA) should be proud of themselves. King's Cross Underground has been transformed. Getting across from the Victoria line to the Hammersmith and City line and the Circle line used to be a nightmare. Now, its a joy and a breeze:-)

I can't wait to meander through King's Cross, the new 800 million pounds refurbished St Pancras en route to the Eurostar terminal and hopping on a Eurostar train to Paris:-)

Homeward bound

On my returned journey from the Embassy reception, still clutching my barely read newspaper, an umbrella (yes, I know, I took an umbrella with me, sad or what?) and a large long stem deep red rose that a nice gentleman had given me at the Embassy reception. An Embassy colleaque of one of my best friend, "Nad", he had been moving the large beautiful flower arrangement inside the reception room out of the way when he suddenly snatched two roses from the flower arrangement and presented one to me and one to Nad. Luck of the draw meant that I got the longer stemmed and larger rose:-) Sorry Nad:-)

So weigh down with a relatively small handbag:-), an umbrella and a rose, I didn't bother to open the Evening Standard on the way back. I got round to reading the paper this morning and came across the news that Lord Drayson, the Defence Minister and founder of PowderJect Pharmaceuticals had decided to take a "leave of absence" from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) while he pursues his passion for motor racing:-)

Drayson, was a 2007 speaker at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). See my old post, "The IET- Science and Engineering in Defence".

Passion

Paul Drayson, according to his reported letter to Gordon Brown, stated that his passion for motor racing had led him to compete in the British GT championship (in a British designed, environmental friendly bio-ethanol fuelled Aston Martin DBRS9). His success at the British GT championship qualifies him for the American Le Mans series, a feeder (appparently) for the Le Mans in France.

Drayson now plans to take his success at the British GT Championship to the next level and compete in the American Le Mans series with the ultimate goal of competing in the Le Mans in France, while showcasing British motorsport technology at the same time.

I find any form of motor racing too scary to watch. I acknowledge the power of passion, a powerful motivator, Drayson's bound to succeed, no doubt about it. I hope the IET and science and technology as a whole hasn't lost a good and influential friend at the MoD.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo 2007. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances

Body Shop

2007-09-10T23:17:00.000+01:00

Dame Anita Roddick and Body Shop

Anita Roddick became one of my favorite businesswomen when I lived in Brighton, East Sussex, England.

She opened her first Body Shop in Brighton. The Brighton Body Shop was one of my favourite haunts when I lived in Sussex. I always managed to find something to try:-)

When Roddick sold Body Shop to L'Oréal, I accepted her decision and her explanation for selling while wondering if L'Oréal will retain my favourite stuff.

Honey Lip Care

Body Shop Honey Lip Care SPF 15 is the only lip balm that doesn't make my lips swell up within hours of using it. I normally buy six at a time (saves time and effort). I found out last week, to my horror, that L'Oréal may have discontinued the Honey Lip Care. Unable to find the Honey Lip Care at any of the Body Shops that I've tried. I was going to try a few more Body Shops before writing a letter of complaint to both Roddick and L'Oréal.

Anita Roddick Dies

I've just stumbled across the sad news of Anita Roddick's death from brain haemorrhage. She was only 64.

The sad news makes my petty complaint just that, petty.

© A. Akanwo. 2007. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances

Africa - the next emerging market opportunity?

2007-08-01T23:23:00.001+01:00

South African investment banker, Euvin Naidoo opened the TEDGlobal 2007 talk in Tanzania, Africa with his talk, "Africa as an investment". Initially, sceptical, he convinced me with his well structured financial analysis of some of the 53 countries in the African continent. Naidoo didn't waste time discussing Africa's perceived "problems".

read more | digg story

IT Most Fertile Development era ever? - Update

2007-07-23T05:24:00.000+01:00

Dana Gardner's BriefingsDirect blog

I summarized/reviewed Gardner's blog, "IT enters its most fertile development era ever" in my last blog. I blogged from my digg id:-). Welcome to the world of seamless integration:-). I also printed the blog to follow up some areas.

This update summarizes info. and services provided by two of the companies Gardner mentioned in his blog.

One Team Tech is an "online service for do-it-yourself web database applications, myWebDB" and Bungee Labs. At this stage (both companies are relatively new) I do think these companies and their products/services will reduce time-to-market without compromising the quality of their clients' product.

One Team Tech

I've abbreviated this Web 2.0 application provider's name to OneTTech (sorry, it saves typing time:-)). OneTTech provides the tools for business and IT users to create process or project management database applications without "any coding, interface design or previous programming experience". This sounds like a reuseable simplified product development management tool.

However, I'm not sure about the overall cost breakdown for this OneTTech product, service. How the testing (a thorough verification and validation of the application will be required) and maintenance will be done is also unclear (at least it's unclear to me).

The design, implementation and coding are engineered in the background - this effectively hides the complexity of the database application development.

Process and project applications will be quickly created, but how quickly would modifications and/or enhancement to the application be made? What will it cost?.

Perhaps the ease of use and a well planned business/marketing time-to-market could justify the cost and yield the required Return On Investiment (ROI) for the management tool.

I'm unsure as to how the applications will be maintained. I guess maintenance is possibly one of the back-end services OneTTech offers (or will offer).

I still think OneTTech is worth considering for any process and/or project management applications. The database application makes the development easily reuseable.

Bungee Labs

Bungee Labs aim to reduce development time and simplify Internet Application Development (IAD) for Web developers in an Integrated Development Environemnt(IDE).

Bungee Connect is Bungee Labs vehicle enabler to rapid, rich Ajax IAD that can be deployed on Bungeee Connect's infrastructure grid. Bungee Connect promises integrated cross-browser compatibility Web development. Browser compatibility for Internet Explorer (IE), Firefox, and Safari are already implemented. Compatibility to Opera is being investigated.

Bungee Grid is Bungee Labs'(see Bungee Builders)distributed application system environment infrastructure for computing and storage.

Bungee Pulse is an Ajax implementation enabler that developers using Bungee Labs can utilize to rapidly create and deliver applications without coding in Javascript or XML.

To foster the community aspect of Bungee Labs, Bungee Share enables registered developers (and their employers) to access, search, examine, browse and retrieve components from Bungee Share and to contribute components.

Bungee Connect provides developers with online what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG), drag and drop, Ajax interface creation tools.

Web application can be created from:

Library of Bungee functions web applications.

An own service requirements

Mash-up ones from providers, Amazon, Google, Salesforce.com, Yahoo!, Real Networks, Windows Live, Paypal and eBay.

IT most fertile development era ever?

2007-07-16T14:40:00.001+01:00

My subscription to Google Alert (GA), "Think and Grow Rich" (TAGR) has been one of my better ideas:-) Yes, I know, Google's search result can be refined further. I think Google is getting there.The latest gem from my GA TAGR is a blog by Dana Gardner'. Blogging in Dana Gardner's BriefingsDirect, in a blog titled "IT enters its most fertile development era ever." Gardner based his argument on two points. 1." The number and types of people who can actively participate in software development are expanding". 2."We’re seeing a rapid compression in the effort, cost and risk of taking apps from concept into full production"I have to agree with him on the two points above. As to whether this is IT's most fertile development era "ever", I can't say, it is however a fertile (and exciting) time for software developer.The blog is a gem. It relates the above two points to how entrepreneurs are seizing the enterprising innovation that can be glipsed from Enterprise 2.0, development process such as "application lifecycle management 2.0", open source development communities like Eclipse and an understanding and acceptance of Agile development practices. It's no wonder IT managements are becoming less fearful of project "misfires":-)I like Gardner's concept of "tinker-to-success mentality". Gardner gave Google as a prime example of this mentality, not sure that I agree with hime, but as a leader in any field, IT or otherwise, surely the "tinker-to-success mentality" has to be a part of the business strategy?What excite me most about Gardener's blog is his reference to "new automated development workflows and requirements gathering that bring non-developers increasingly into the act of defining, adjusting and implementing applications". Since developers (read engineers) and non-developers (read the rest of the world) don't always appear to speak the same language, this has to be the best solution for software development in this era.:-) Most IT project overrun their budget or failed because of requirement issues. Requirement gathering is one of the most crucial aspect of systems design, yet in my 18 years in telecommunication (much of that time was spent capturing requirements, discussing requirement issues, developing and testing the solution) I saw sloopy requirement capture that cost us to overrun our budget, and that was requirements gathered by engineers from engineers. The problem then was that the person with the vision (the idea) is normally about two engineers remote from the engineer stating the requirement. I have long argued for automated requirentment capture. Where non-developers are involved in specifying the requirement, not only do we need to automate the requirement, we still need to ensure that the developers can understand what the non-developer means, and actually want. I think we also need an automated interpreter as a go-between. This means that a developer can review a non-developer's requirement and then clarify any issue by asking a series of questions which the non-developer can answer to as "yes", "no", "you haven't understood my requirement!!". I hope the Chicago based "One Team Technologies" tool has taken this onboard. Requirement automation without an understanding of the dissimilarity in the written and spoken language of developers and non-developers will be an improvement but not the complete solution to requirement capture that is needed to truely abolish the fear of money-blackhole and failed project from the project sponsors. Gardner's blog also mentioned Bungee Connect which debutted at Web 2.0 Expo (I somehow managed to miss Web 2.0 Expo. Note to self - get on the right mailing list!!!). Bungee Connect sounds like a must try for any software developer and anyone in service deployment. See you there:-)

read more | digg story

Walking to Breakthrough Breast Cancer

2007-07-14T16:33:00.000+01:00

London Calling

London's been busier than usual recently.

Tony Blair handed power to Gordon Brown in an apparently seemless transfer.

Wimbledon came and went. Centre Court was uncovered,cue lots of brollies and play stopped quiet a few times (we have to wait until 2009 for the sliding roof to be in place:-)

One Australian article that I came across in a Google Alert on Wimbledon described Wimbledon 2007 as a building site!! Gosh. steady on:-)

It was no real suprise when Federer won the men's cup (Nadal did put up a good fight). Venus Williams came from nowhere to clinch the women's cup!!

At least one Murray (Jamie, not Andy - where on earth have you been for heaven's sake? Andy Murray pulled out of Wimbledon the day before Wimbledon started due to injury) won the mixed double cup (with Jelena Jankovic).

Yes, okay, I'd only vaguely heard of Jamie Murray a couple of times:-)

The thrills of Le Tour de France Prologue and Grand Depàrt came and went.

Part of the UK was flooded - that made grim viewing actually. Massive damage to properties and household goods. Some people died, unfortunately.
London had the Gay Pride Parade, the 10Km London marathon... and rain

The rain - effect on Training for the 44 Km London Walk

While the media and the whole country have been complaining about the rain, I have been quietly thankful for the cool weather.

It's meant that I could get in some training for the one day 44 Km (just over 26 miles) sponsored walk for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. This is in recognition of the 44,000 people that are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK.

Having just researched the causes of breast cancer, I'm also walking in recognition of the thousands of people all over the world that are diagnosed with breast cancer every day.

I (stupidly?) signed up for the Breakthrough Breast Cancer London walk a few months ago:-)It's just dawning on me, how much training I'm going to need in preparation.
My 44Km London Walk. The London marathon is also 44Km by the way:-)

I know two very fit people who did the London marathon in 3.1 hours (male) and 3.9 hours (female - she'd ran in place of a friend who couldn't make the marathon!!!)

It should be interesting to see how long I take to complete the 44 Km walk:-)

My training had been adhoc until recently. Now I'm doing 1.5 - 2 hours walk early in the morning before breakfast. I normally come back from the training ready to eat the house:-)

Hmmm, I guess I need to organize myself better somehow:-) I shouldn't really be doing this much exercise without eating a hearty breakfast first:-)

Thankfully, on the day of the walk itself, Breakthrough Breast Cancer will serve a decent breakfast before the walkers and support crew members set off from
Richmond Park.

Sponsors are welcomed at My 44Km London Walk.

© 2007. A. Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances and Success Mastermind Alliances Blog

Mike Filsaime's "7 Figure Code"

2007-07-03T23:15:00.000+01:00

New Product Launch - 7/7/07

Mike Filsaime (Butterfly Marketing, ProSender and other Online Marketing products) is launching his latest product for Internet Marketer on the 7th July.

Keeping the Product A Secret

Mike's keeping the product very much under wrap.

On Friday, 6th July, everyone who has registered an interest prior to that date will be told where to access the sales letter. The hoi polloi may have to pay a higher price for the product.

To register your interest in Mike's product, you need to watch the video, 7 Figure Code and insert your information in the company's database to enable their automated administrator to contact you when the sales letter is ready.

It's better for your pocket to get to see the sales letter as soon as the sales website is up. The price is staggered (sorry, this is Mike's marketing strategy for this product, based on the law of demand and supply, I guess). The price is programmed to increase as the number of products sold increases.

"The 7 Figure Code" Product

Mike has called this new product "The 7 Figure Code". He's refusing to reveal the product's features at this stage. However, he's promised to make the product affordable to everyone by pricing it at an initially low price.

Product Promises

Mike promises that the product:-

will have a big impact on our future online success.

will be inclusive and will be required by every Online marketer, including anyone still looking to make their first dollar online.

will make running a 7 Figure online/offline business achievable.

Mike suprisingly and publicly shares the secret of his business strategy in this video (watching the video is free of charge). See
7 Figure Code

The short video is an introduction to Mike's business module. You get to eavesdrop on more of his business secrets once you've registered your interest in "The 7 Figure Code".

Follow the leaders:-) Enjoy the videos.

Here's to good health and success:-)

© 2007. A. Akanwo. Rev. A. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances

Simplified Product Development (SPD)

2007-06-25T07:48:00.000+01:00

Simplified Product Development (SPD) Guide

I've called Willie Crawford's 5 dollar report an SPD guide.
This SPD guide is:-

Experimental.
You'll need to read the report to find out why it's experimental:-)

Informative and useful for newbies and relatively new product developers looking for a fast starting point.

Directive. It gives directions to "idea banks" (my definition). Idea banks are where you go to find ideas for products with an existing or potential market.

Product Development

The SPD guide discusses downloadable digital product developments and software developments. Leverage of Private Label Rights (PLR) to reduce product development time is assessed.

Conclusion

This guide simplify product development. It does not attempt to go into product development engineering (a specialist subject).

The guide's focus on downloadable digital product development such as e-book will help anyone who has ever thought of writing a book and profiting from an area of interest or expertise.

The guide's idea of using PLR to shave-off development time is useful (the guide tells the user how this can be achieved).

The guide's main aim is to generate profit for its users within 24 hours.

Test the theory behind the concept. Creat your product faster with
Willie Crawford's 5 dollar report, a recommended SPD guide.

An effective customer support is also promised on the order page. Let me know how you get on.

© A. Akanwo. 2007. All rights reserved. For and on behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances and Success Mastermind Alliances Blog

Thank You Stephen Pierce

2007-06-24T08:04:00.000+01:00

Feeling Blue

I recently found that working on any long term project requires constant motivation. It can be emotionally and physically exhausting, especially when immediate results are not obvious.

I've been working on some long term projects for a while. Feeling drained and jaded (and irritable) I was beginning to think the unthinkable.

Err, no (just in case you're expecting a "spill"!!), I'm not going to give you the full monty:-) Way too personal for public consumption!!.

Holomagically, Stephen Pierce's email with the subject title 'Do NOT Quit On You!' arrived just when I almost despaired. A link directing me to a nine page PDF FREE report.

A kick up the "bside"

The nine page report, a combination of motivational words of encouragement and Stephen Pierce's usual "take-no-prisoner" straight talk, was the proverbial "kick up the b***side" that I needed at that point in time:-)

Thank you, Stephen

I owe Stephen Pierce a big thank you. He didn't try to sell the report (or try to get me to "opt-in" into anything), he just sent the link to the report in his broadcasted email (or rather, his support people sent the link in the broadcasted email).

I've often found Joel Comm's broadcasted emails encouraging as well as informative by the way. Thanks Joel.

FREE SPSTalk Report

I've called Stephen's free report "Stephen Pierce's Straight-Talk Report:'Do NOT Quit On You'", for reference purpose (or "SPSTalk" for short):-)

Worried about copyrights issues etc, I had been relunctant to give the report's link address in this blog. But I've just re-read the email, Stephen gave permission for the report to be distributed, see the signature extract from his email:
[ "God Bless YOU and YOURS,
Stephen Pierce
www.StephenWorldTour.com

P.S. Feel free to share this report with your family,
friends and associates" ]

So, if you're:

feeling blue.

fed-up.

lacking motivation

in need of motivational straight-talk.

in need of a kick up the "bside"

go seek out Stephen Pierce's Straight Talk (SPSTalk) Report. :-)

It may help. It helped me. It could be the missing motivational catalyst that you need. Good luck. Oh, try and remember to laugh, it often helps:-)

Life's fun really:-)

Here's hoping you find whatever you need to motivate you and keep you focused.

Catch you later:-)

© 2007. All rights reserved. For and on behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances and Success Mastermind Alliances Blog

The IET - Science and Engineering in Defence

2007-06-08T13:19:00.000+01:00

Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

The IET is sometimes referred to amongst its members as the "Institution". The IET is a global organization with a global membership. There are branches all over the world. It organises the Faraday Lectures to inspire young school children.

IET members, non-members, nerds and geeks

A member of the IET, I sometimes go to the evening lectures. The lectures are opened to non-members as well. Non IET members may find their first visit less puzzling if accompanied by an IET member:-).

The evening lectures and networkings are friendly, chatty and unfussy. Most engineers and technologists (E&T) are fun people. Yes, really, forget the sterotypical rubbish you sometimes hear or read about "nerds" and "geeks".

Some E&T do talk obsessively (and in jargon!!) about their area of interest/expertise, it's just the way their brain's wired:-). That same behaviourial characteristic has given us:

The Internet - as we know it today.

Internet based technology such as Voice over IP (VoIP) - Skype is an example of the possibilities ahead.

IPTV - implies a range of features that belies the simplistic name once the architecture, access and robustness issues have been ironed out. Watch and see. No pun intended:-)

Video technology - advancing at an incredibly exciting pace. For a bite-size of the various range of online video content and the talents behind them, see Pixelodeon

Radio technology - still growing, still exciting.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)- you must be comatose if you're indifferent to AI's possibilities and potentials:-)

Robotic technology - still in its infancy in many ways. A huge area with incredibly wide ranging applications.

Savoy Place, London

The IET's Central London Network evening lectures are held at its Savoy Place headquaters, in Central London. The building's neo-classical architecture is impressive. The building's foyer and ground floor area are stunning. A statue of Micheal Faraday (our spiritual leader, I guess) stands guard beside the building.

Science and Engineering in Defence

Thursday, 7th June's evening lecture was on "Championing Science & Engineering in Defence". "A priority for the 21st Century". The lecture was giving by Lord [Paul] Drayson (with a PhD in Robotics, he was the Managing Director of Lambourn Food Company (1986- 1991), he co-founded PowderJect Pharmaceuticals plc, and was its Chief Executive until 2003, he was a Chairman of the BioIndustry Association (2001 - 2002), Chairman of the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign since 2002 and has since 2003 been the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Said Business School, Oxford University.)

Lord Drayson was appointed in May 2005 as the Under Secretary of State and Minister for Defence Procurement and as the Labour Government's House of Lords Spokesman for Defence. He is now Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support with Ministerial responsibility for the Defence Industrial Strategy (which focuses on the through-life management and commercial policy for the procurement and support of MoD equipments).

Lord Drayson is committed to opening up Defence opportunity to the wider scientific and technology communities. He's looking for innovation and promotes investment in emerging technologies as part of the MoD's Technology Strategy. Lord Drayson came to the IET with two army chaps in attendance.

The army chaps were both in uniform. One also donned the very uncomfortable looking extra clothing and gears worn on patrol in volatile and hostile environments. The demonstration was to show the bulkiness and leaden weight of the clothing and gears.

The bulkiness and leaden weight are becoming ineffective and possibly dangerous in 21st century war zone environment. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is holding a competition to find new engineering and technology based flexible solutions that is more suitable for the 21st century.

Drayson implies that robotic, radio and AI technologies may provide feasible solutions.

Wine and Savories on a Summer Night

The IET headquaters overlook the River Thames. It is directly opposite the SouthBank Centre with its newly refurbished Royal Festival Hall (RFH).

The view across the river from the third floor's private members dining room (used for celebratory dinners, award ceremonies, or like yesterday, when a Member of the Cabinet is visiting and/or giving a keynote speech:-)) was spectacular as we sipped wine (or apple juice, water or whatever the "violent pink" drink was) with the provided savories, chatting amicably. The balcony offered the best uninterrupted view across the river - the RFH, the precision engineering of the London Eye and Waterloo Bridge provided a visual gourmet of some of London's old and modern architectures.

Next Series of Evening Lectures at the IET

I suspect we'll be returning to the Kelvin lounge bar for future after lecture refreshment and networking. The view from the ground floor bar is pleasant but mundane. The IET provides limited free alcoholic drinks for these occasions. The free alcoholic drinks (red and white wine) usually cause a stampede for the bar after a lecture. Mind the elbows:-). Non-alcoholic drinks, bottled water and at least one fruit juice are also normally available for those driving and for teetotallers.

The next series of lecture will start in September. We've been promised a "Ken and Jeremy" lecture. Ken Livingstone is the Mayor of London - an intelligent and considerate man (if in doubt, try and listen to his 2007 State of London Debate speech and the subsequent after-speech debate). I met Livingstone at the 2007 State Of London Debate. Jeremy Clarkson is a broadcaster, journalist and a presenter on the BBC TV motoring program, Top Gear. Clarkson was described by British journalist, Tony Parsons, as a "dazzling hero of political incorrectness". Ken Livingstone (he introduced the London Congestion Charge) and Jeremy Clarkson have been invited to share the same platform at an IET evening lecture. I'm gleefully expecting ruffled feathers and fireworks:-)

IET TV

The iet.tv is an internet source of interractive engineering and technology content. It provides flexible on-demand access to the IET's video content. The latest video featuring keynote speakers may be seen on the News Channel. A video of the "Science & Engineering in Defence" lecture is available on the News Channel now.

You can search the list of video using the speaker's name and the year to narrow your search. Lord Drayson was the keynote speaker for the "Championing Science & Engineering in Defence" lecture.

The iet.tv is worth exploring even if you're not interested in engineering or technology. I dare you not to find something of interest on iet.tv.:-)

If you're an Engineer or a Technologist and you're not already an IET member, then you really need to explore the IET via iet.tv. Enjoy!!

© 2007. A. Akanwo. Some rights reserved. Rev. C. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances and Success Mastermind Alliances Blog

Customer Care does Matter

2007-05-30T12:05:00.000+01:00

Discovering Harry Potter

I discovered J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter while struggling to condense an English Law Assignment from my pathectic 5000 words effort to the required 3000 words.

Oxymoronically, I decided to escape from my Edinburgh apartment in search of divine intervention.

Waterstone's

I wandered along Princes Street until I reached Waterstone's. Waterstone's was taking pre-publication order for "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and promoting the rest of the Potter series at the time.

Having ignored children and media excitement when the first two Harry Potter books came out, I went into the book store. Half-an-hour later, armed with my copies of the first two Harry Potter, I made my way to the "pay here" counter. The polite chap behind the counter didn't laugh when I asked if J. K. Rowling still autograph her Harry Potter books, he just said "Oh, she doesn't do that anymore..."

Half-way through the "Philosopher's Stone" I membered that I had an assignment to complete. Assignment appropriately completed, I returned contentedly to Harry Potter.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I orderd what will be J. K. Rowling last book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in February/March (to be published on the 21st July 2007)from Waterstone's, in their Oxford Street branch.

A chap from Waterstone's left a message on my answering machine this morning saying words to the effect "I have some bad news about your Harry Potter order...".
In brief, Waterstone's branch in Oxford Street has closed, but I can collect my "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" from Waterstone's Piccadily branch. He left the Waterstone's Picadilly's branch telephone number. That's what I call customer care.

Hundreds of children (and this adult blogger) have been planning to queque up at Waterstone's Oxford Street on the 21th July (at 12:01 a.m) to bag our pre-ordered copy of J. K Rowling seventh and last Harry Potter. We now know that we will have to go to Picaddily instead. See you there, witches, wizards and muggles:-)

Thank you Waterstone's Oxford Street branch for being a thoughtful caring local branch of a caring company.

Thank you Ms. Rowling

I guess I'm unlikely to ever meet J.K. Rowling (although Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities and I do stay in Edinburgh for at least a week once a year) so, I'll say my thank you to Ms. Rowling now.

I have enjoyed reading Harry Potter. I've bought the adult version as well as the children's version of each Harry Potter since the "...Prisoner of Azkaban". I have yet to read any of the adult versions. I've been saving them for a "rainy day".

Harry Potter has made me laugh and cry (especially when good main characters die).

The rumour is that two good main characters die in the "...Deathly Hallows". I look forward to the 21st July:-).

© 2007. A. Akanwo. Rev. B. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances

The Next Internet Millionaire Competition

2007-05-09T16:51:00.000+01:00

The Next Internet Millionaire is the latest of Joel Comm's fronted initiative. Comm is a google adsense expert, product developer and author, see Play The AdSense Game! , Google AdSense Secrets 3.0 ebook.

A prize and a promise

Comm's promising $25,000 dollars to the winner of the competition plus a chance to a joint venture with him. Wimps like me are invited to watch and learn:-)

Training the contestants

I like the concept of this competition because Joel Comm has lined up 12 very good (by any standard) online/offline veteran marketers to train the 12 chosen for the competition. The implication is that the veteran marketers are indirectly competing against each other. Hmmm, this should be fascinating to watch:-)

I hope everyone can remain friends after the competition. Online marketing has until now (to my knowledge), been very much a case of what Rich Schrenfen described as "incestuous drawficism", a deep culture of customer sharing based on loose or deep friendship/association.

Is online marketing about to witness its first "reality show" and its first bloodbath?

If you don't mind bloodbaths and you're competition fit, Comm wants you to audition for the competition by submitting a video. Good luck. I'll be rooting for you.
The Next Internet Millionaire

Meet your teachers

Oh, if you're still undecided, the master teachers are (in no particular order, do read their bite-sized profile):

DISCLAIMER: This blog author is not responsible for the contents of any external link.

Mark Joyner, "marketing legend, best selling author of ebook, Search Engine Tactics and the book MindControlMarketing.com."

Armand Morin - "motivational and seminar expert."

Jeff Walker - product launch expert.

Marlon Sanders - "product creation and sales expert."

Mike Koenigs - "online video expert."

Brad Fallon - "SEO and E-Commerce expert".

Jeff Johnson - "web traffic expert".

Mike Filsaime - viral marketing expert.

Ray Edwards - "copywriting expert."

Dave Taylor - "blogging and Web 2.0 expert".

Perry Marshall - "pay-per-click (PPC) and guerilla marketing expert."

Rich Schefren - "business building expert."

Courage and Humour!!

After you've won The Next Internet Millionaire contest, please don't feel shy about offering me a cut of your $25,000 and a cut of you and Comm's profit from your joint venture:-)

Here's to courage and a sense of humour:-)

© 2007. A. Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances

World Internet Summit (Singapore)

2007-05-09T11:36:00.000+01:00

World Internet Summit (WIS)

WIS does its share of trekking the world, Australia, Dubai, London, Singapore.

I went to my first World Internet Summit in October 2004 at Wembley Conference Centre, London. I also went to the London 2006 World Internet Summit where we had drama galore:-).

London 2006 WIS - dramas

Brett McFall broke an arm and was carted off to the nearest A&E chaperoned by Alan Forrest Smith.

For his presentation Alan Forrest Smith wore a kilt (without a sporran - I'm not too sure about Scottish dressing etiquette, but isn't that akin to be underdressed or something?).

Andrew Reynolds who co-organized the London WIS 2006 insisted on stage that the event's proceed should go to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH). As a result Andrew Reynolds was able to donate over three hundred thousand pounds (£300,000) to GOSH. I guess the actual organiser of WIS London 2006, Ted Ciuba, Tom Hua and Brett McFall left London a bit poorer than when they arrived:-). I don't think anyone else was credited with Andrew Reynolds magnanimity to GOSH. Life can be like that:-)

Ted Ciuba announced that he was "taking a breather" from WIS to focus on other business ventures. We helped him celebrate his brave decision by clapping, cheering and and hollering as he danced to his "signature tune song":-).

WIS Singapore 2007

This one is dubbed World Internet MEGA Summit Singapore. It's at the
Singapore Expo, Hall 2 on Sat 26th May - 29th May.

Tom Hua's latest *e*Vision newsletter implies that 3000 people have registered for the event.

The impressive list of presenters (including six names from the nominees for the Online Marketer 2007 Competition) are online and offline marketing veterans:

Stephen Pierce (on Strategy and Product Creation)

Ewen Chia (on Affliate Marketing)

Mike Filsaime (on Viral/Internet Marketing)

Joel Comm (on Google Adsense)

Armand Morin (on Product Creation)

John Childers (on Teleseminar/Public Speaking)

Tom Hua (on Viral Marketing)

Brett McFall (on Copywriting)

Jay Abraham (the Godfather of direct marketing") created a special presentation for WIS Singapore

Mark Joyner ("the Godfather of Internet Marketing" on Simpleology presumably.)

Optimizing your entry fee investment

At big event seminars like the WIS, it's easy to feel lost after the first few speakers. Maximize your investment by researching the speakers first. Decide on the area of focus for your business. Absorb the atmosphere. Talk to your neighbours (that is anyone sitting in the same row as you, in front of you, behind you etc). You might need to be "pushy" in introducing yourself. Go for it, it is expected in a bid seminar environment. In any case you won't know until you try:-)

WIS/holiday destination

The WIS tend to take place at good holiday destination, Melbourne, Australia, Dubia, London, Singapore

Enjoy WIS Singapore:-).

© A. Akanwo 2007. Rev. B. All rights reserved. For and on behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances

The Online Marketer 2007 Award

2007-04-30T12:47:00.000+01:00

Internet Marketer 2007 Award

You must have received by now an email from at least one of the online marketers taking part in the Internet Marketer 2007 Competition:-)

I think the "The Online Marketer 2007" competition is a Russel Brunson initiative.

Competition or Marketing Hype?

I'm sure it's a genuine competition. I gathered that each entry was by nomination. I have no idea how the online marketers were choosen. The email detailing the competition probably answered the above question, but it was a long email and I'm rationing my email reading time at the moment. Sorry.

Naming Names

As I've bought at least an item from at least six of the nominees (and I regularly get broadcasted marketing emails from them) I received at least a total of six broadcasted emails from the marketers involved in the competition. Each email telling me about the competition. One or two of the broadcasted email(s) invited me to vote for a specific marketer:-)

The most amusing email (as well as a good marketing tactic: it mentioned his near future business plans) was from Joshua Shafran (NPOD). Pleading that he didn't want to win the competition, he nominated another marketer on the basis that they have identical surnames:-) I only noticed three minor similarities in the surnames, Shafran and Schefren. Both surname start with the letter "S" and both surnames have the letters "h", "f", "r" and "n" :-)

I'm probably showing my ignorance again, but despite the Germanic spelling of the latter name I guess the two surnames could have the same linguistic origin.

Will the best marketer win?

Hmmm. I suspect that all the nominees are good (some acclaimed as "wealthy") online marketers. They obviously know how to maximize leveraging their customer base list. I know from broadcasted emails that some of the marketers are friends, Stephen Pierce admits to been friends with Mike Filsaime. Rick Raddiz and Armand Morin have joint ventured on a few products.

A few of the online marketers were new to me. For example, I've only met one of the female nominees. Based on the bite-size profile of each nominee, there are some very interesting marketers online. I look forward to getting to learn from a few more marketers than I do at the moment, especially the Web 2.0 marketers.

I decided not to add my email address to the competition email list (my spare time is severely constraint at the moment while I complete Phase 1 of one project and start another). I, however now have names of marketers I'ld like to "follow-up" when time permits:-)

As to wheather the best online marketer will win, I doubt it. It's more than likely that the best online marketer is too busy to even consider being nominated for the competition:-)

In any case, can we really in the dynamic world of the Internet choose a 2007 online marketer in mid-2007?

It's good to know that some marketers are NOT too busy to share their knowledge with the Internet community. Good luck to everyone in the competition. I know each Webnair will find an eager audience.

Joint Venture - Saving "The Blue Rigi"

2007-03-25T22:41:00.000+01:00

Joint Venture - Leveraging a responsive list

As a Tate member, I'm used to receiving invitations to major exhibitions at Tate Britain and Tate Modern. However, I was puzzled when an enveloped arrived with the usual "TATE" written on it and "TheArtFund". What on earth I thought, is the TheArtFund.

Intrigue and running late for a meeting, I took the letter with me, opened and skim read the letter as I walk to the tube station.

The gist of the letter was that J. M. W Turner's "finest" watercolour The Blue Rigi (one of three studies Turner made of Mount Rigi from Lake Lucerne), had been bought by a private buyer at auction for £5.8 million. The buyer was planning to take the watercolour out of the UK.

The TheArtFund gird its loins as its wont on these sort of occasions (it had already ensured that Velázquez Venus and the Macclesfield Psalter were wrenched back from private buyers intent on taking their goods out of the UK).

The Culture Minister, David Lammy, was persuaded to slap on a temporary export ban, giving the Tate, The National Art Collections Fund (TheArtFund) and The National Heritage Memorial Fund 47 days to raise and match the price payed by the private buyer. With tax concessions in place there was only £4.9 million to be raised in 47 days:-) The Tate had pledged £2 million pounds of its members money.

Leveraging the Tate member list

The letter from TheArtFund's director David Barrie, asked Tate members for a donation to the campaign to save The Blue Rigi for the nation. The Tate in a joint venture with TheArtFund (for this campaign) allowed access to its member list database, hence the letter with both the Tate and TheArtFund written on the envelope.

Success Mastermind Alliance

The mastermind alliance between the Tate, TheArtFund and The National Heritage Memorial Fund was a success. The £4.9 millions necessary to save Turner's Blue Rigi was raised within 4 weeks.

I look forward to my invitation to view the watercolour, preferably in the company of its "sisters" The Dark Rigi and The Red Rigi (these two are seldom on display in the UK). I live in hope:-)

© A. Akanwo 2007,
SuccessMastermindAlliances
All rights reserved.

Global business, global time zones

2007-03-22T10:59:00.000Z

Ted Ciuba's email

Ted Ciuba's email subject line made me laugh.

The subject line initially confused me with its "Ted Ciuba's Featured in 'United Kingdom Time'!". I opened the email and read (I've edited the email to avoid a breach of confidentiality)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
My good friend, "AX", from WealthThing,
will be grilling me on a number of my
valuable secrets from...

*The New Think and Grow Rich*,

...and you can listen in for *free*.

It's happening today, at 8pm UK GMT on
Thursday 22nd March 2007, and I promise
you'll get a ton out of being there...

http://www.HoloMagic.com/a/wealththing.html

Yep, it's especially conveninient for you, my good
friends in the UK, and, btw, if you've already
joined us independent home-based, Internet
Marketing folks, really kool for the US! Aussies,
you gotta be early risers!

USA
Eastern - 4pm
Central - 3pm
Mountain - 2pm
Pacific - 1pm

UK - 8 pm

Singapore, Malaysia, Honk Kong, China - 4 am

Australia
Sydney/Melbourne - 7 am
Perth - 5 am

I've got new wealth-building news to share
with you that I've never shared before... These
are NEW discoveries!

To register for the call simply
sign up here:

==> http://www.HoloMagic.com/a/wealththing.html

I look forward to catching
you on the call.

Your wealth coach and friend,

Ted Ciuba
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Satisfying a global customer

On reading the above different time zones for the teleseminar, USA (P.M), UK (P.M), I paused in my glee to briefly commiserate with "collegues" in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China (4 A.M), Sydney/Melbourne (7 A.M) Perth (5 A.M). Sorry about the early start time for you guys.

Suffice to say that I'm really happy that for a change, I'll be able to listen to a teleseminar in my day clothes (as opposed to my nightwear and half-asleep).

I know some teleseminar allows at least one replay or allow access to the archived MP3 (another European engineers invention by the way). Nothing beats a LIVE teleseminar or a live video webcast. It's the interactive part of the activity I think.

Looking forward to a good evening:-)

© 2007 A. Akanwo. Rev. B. Success Mastermind Alliances. All rights reserved.

The 3GSM WORLD CONGRESS 2007 - BARCELONA

2007-02-13T10:34:00.000Z

3GSM WORLD CONGRESS

The 2007 third generation(3G) mobile multimedia world congress is taking place in Barcelona from the 12th - 15th February. The 3G world congress is now a premier event in the mobile technology and social calendar.

Keynote Speakers

List of Keynote Speakers

Forums

"Mobile Entertainment"

"Technology Symposium"

"Technology Breakout Session"

"Mobile Entertainment Summit"

3G World Congress 2007

Client List Building

2007-02-12T22:15:00.000Z

List Building

"Disgusted of Turnbridge Wells"

"Everyone at the Workshop"

"People - Bob Bly"

"People - Mr X (of the Adwords Black Book fame)"

"The MasterListBuilder FUN Workshop"

My List Building Strategy

At least I now know that I'm not completely mad:-) My list building strategy is doable. I'm still searching for an integrated dynamic solution to List building. Err, sorry, my business can't at the moment afford to pay a King's ransom for the priviledge:-).

Possible future solution to Integrated List Building?

A few years ago in Telecommunications, when small operators (especially the mobile operators)were springing up everywhere, someone came up with a solution whereby different operators could share an telecommunication exchange. The stumbling block then was security. How to ensure that each operator's security (business, customer base, accounting, billing etc) is not breached. If there's a way of ensuring "complete" security, this may be a solution to Client List Building by small businesses - sharing a secure integrated List Building System and thus reducing the cost per business. The solution needs to be integrated as it simplies overall interaction testing - verification and validation.

I'm always wary of stand-alone solutions where there are interaction and interconnectivity issues involved. The testing - verification and validation for stand-alone solutions requires better specialised knowledge and planning.

I look forward to working on an Integrated List Building System with anyone whose's on the same wavelenght:-)

© 2007. Abimbola Akanwo. Rev. B. For Success Mastermind Allinaces
All rights reserved.

First Entry

2006-11-03T21:50:00.000Z

Finally, my first blog entry.

I was shamed into starting this blog. Even the UK "blog day" a week ago didn't motivate me enough to start blogging.

Success Mastermind Alliances will be about:

copywriting news,
online and offline marketing news,
business tools and gadgets,
travel news, ( as we can't seem to do business without travelling:-) )
online and offline business conferences
online and offline business seminars

The blog wil be linked to http://www.successmastermindalliances.com