My Stream
Unpolished short posts, statuses, tweets, links, videos, and brief thoughts.
http://www.mobilitypass.com/global_voice_sim_card_rates.html
I haven’t used this yet but it looks rather good. If you have tried it add your comments here.
Read MoreHow not to get me to endorse your product…
I recently received the attached email (names blurred out to protect those concerned)
In it, I am told I can get a free licence for a product if I add a link to my blog. While it’s nice that somebody thinks my blog has a value, this is definitely not the way to get me to endorse a product.I know nothing about this product and I’m certainly not going to endorse something without having found it useful myself.
I use a rather excellent piece of Screen Capture Software called LittleSnapper, which makes it easy to grab and organise images, blur out text, etc. I used it making the image for this post. If you want me to endorse your product, here’s the steps I would recommend. 1. Convince me why I would find the product useful.
2. Give me access/the ability to try it out.
3. Wait a while, and ask me if I found it useful.
4. If I did, ask me if I would consider writing about it. If I find something of value, I may well choose to share that.
And you may be able to increase the likelihood of me writing about it with some reward – if we’re already at step 4 – ie I’ve decided I like it and am open to sharing my experience.
But the reward has to be of value. A license for something I’ve not used is not a reward. And this email gives me no incentive to care about the product.
Read MoreGoogle Maps is losing its marbles
I am not sure what is up with Google Maps this week. Usually its public transport directions are very accurate and incredibly useful. But both Mrs Alex and I have experienced some really weird directions from the site this week.
The first image is one Mrs Alex found, suggesting she walk a massive loop to almost back where she started, to catch a bus to a metro station she would have walked past, which is in the wrong direction anyway! The second image is one I got when I asked for directions to a location near McGill University. Apparently I should hop on the metro to McGill, then walk all the way back home, and walk back to McGill again. Crazy! I suspect heads will roll at Google when they notice this regression bug :-)
Posted via email from Bowyer’s Bite-size Blogettes
Read MoreMy first swim in Canada (short version)
I’m a keen swimmer. But that doesn’t mean the same thing in North America as it does in the UK, or even to everyone back home, so I better explain – I love to go to the swimming pool, cruise up and down at my own pace and let my mind wander. If I’m feeling particularly indulgant I might even relax in the jacuzzi (spa/hottub) or steam room afterwards. I’m not a competitive swimmer and have no interest in lap times or personal bests. For me, it’s a pleasant thing to do that has the happy side effect of giving me some regular exercise.
Which is why it’s really sad that I haven’t been swimming in Montréal since I moved here 9 months ago. The thing is, in Canada, it’s not so easy to just “go swimming”.
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The world’s deepest bin – proof that humans value fun
Wouldn’t you like to see this sort of thinking applied to social policy? (from the same people as the piano subway steps)