As broken by IrishElection earlier Labour have launched a new website, a bit like Obama’s site with his video saying he is going for President. It actually impressed me as it is Pat Rabbitte looking comfortable and “But are you happy?” is the phrase of the election. It is the new “A lot done, more to do.” I think they might just have beaten FF to the punch on this. It’s a pity I could not get to the conference on Saturday as it feels like they got it right and came up with a campaign that might interest people. 5 simple steps and one great catchphrase. Lets see how strong it stands up to scrutiny now. Well done for putting this on YouTube too. Blogs, YouTube, Flickr. Social networking site next for Labour? I expect Google Ads from all the parties too.
Archive for February, 2007
Labour understand this online thingy, I do believe
Tuesday, February 13th, 2007Business Advisory Group – Share IT – Free training for startups
Tuesday, February 13th, 2007The other, other, other project of mine. After my second BarCamp I started to think that there were so many people there asking the same questions that were asked at the first BarCamp. Whatever is happening between the Enterprise Boards, and EI and other groups and blogs there appears to be a slight knowledge gap of some sort. To fill that gap I’m helping to organise training sessions run via the BusinessAdvisory.ie website called Share IT (name may change if it is already in use).
The idea is that trainers will train startup people, small companies and individuals in areas the trainers have experience in and which is of benefit to the people. All training is free, the trainers volunteer their time to do an hours training and pay their own expenses to get there. More details on this whole idea here.
The first training day will take place in Cork on March 24th in UCC. You have to apply to attend this as spaces are limited. See more on the BusinessAdvisory.ie website. Yes, don’t worry Dublin people, there’ll be one there in April sometime. Hopefully these will start going around the country.
Trainers will always be required so if you are willing to give an hours training in areas that startups need some training in, then leave a note over on the site.
The Business Advisory project itself stems from this idea here and hopefully the “advisory board” will start to take shape during the summer.
Big thanks to Walter, Jenny, Krishna, Conor, Laurence, Richard and Donagh for giving up their saturday and traveling to this.
Also thanks to TJ, Piaras and Joe who are volunteering to do sessions at the Dublin Share IT training day.
Fluffy Links – February 13th 2007
Tuesday, February 13th, 2007Get 10% off Amazon UK DVDs by opening up an Amazon DVD rental account and then closing it again.
When big stars come to the Carrigaline shopping centre, there is no surprise that chaos should ensue.
Lawrence Lessig Rocks. Here’s a typical Lessig presentation. 457 slides in 30mins .
Prankster puts up No Parking signs in a neighbourhood. Cars get ticketed and towed. Owners not so happy.
Slashdot: EU considering forcing iTunes to take returns. If you can do it with Amazon…
That NDP money for IT in Schools? Seaghan Moriarty unspins it and displays the real facts.
Not fluffy enough for fluffy links – Monday February 12th 2007
Monday, February 12th, 2007Want to sponsor Best Blog at the Blog Awards? There’s an auction for it.
With the blog award voting up and running, wouldn’t it be fun to see Presdential Campaign style videos released where people solicit votes. Can you imagine attack ads? “Voting for In, Fact Ah is voting for communism.” 🙂
Balcony TV got shafted by YouTube. Never trust a free hosting service. Always have backups ready to go back online. Lesson learned?
Bruce Schneier gave a talk at the ACLU New Jersey Membership Conference: “Counterterrorism in America: Security Theater Against Movie-Plot Threats. It is now on Google video:
1Million to run RockTheVote.ie?
Sunday, February 11th, 2007Suzy mentioned RockTheVote.ie yesterday. It is mentioned in the Tribune today:
Cosgrave told the Sunday Tribune that the campaign will involve “everything you could ever imagine, ” but repeatedly stressed that he has “no interest in party politics.” He and his colleagues hope to raise around Euro1m and will also involve high-profile people from Ireland’s sport and music communities to spread their message after it launches on 2 April.
Currently, Rock The Vote has “one main guy” as a financial backer and several other smaller funders.
Cosgrave has calculated that it will take Euro7 to mobilise each voter. The project aims to increase voter turnout by 100,000 people.
100,000 people? In a month? As Suzy points out:
However Rockthevote.ie with lots of money and no sense it seems are launching in April 07 – that’s one month before the general election folks.
I’ll remain a little sceptical on that so.
Corruption
Saturday, February 10th, 2007Just watched Syriana for the first time. I actually liked it. But maybe it was because it was the first time in a while that I watched anything. 🙂
and a quote from it:
Corruption is government intrusion into market efficiencies in the form of regulations. That’s Milton Friedman. He got a goddamn Nobel Prize. We have laws against it precisely so we can get away with it. Corruption is our protection. Corruption keeps us safe and warm. Corruption is why you and I are prancing around in here instead of fighting over scraps of meat out in the streets. Corruption is why we win.
Labour Conference – Politics.ie give out about shit facilities
Saturday, February 10th, 2007Via Politics.ie
In short, the media facilities here are apalling. Not to draw any other comparisons, but the last conference (Fianna Fail) the space available was vast, easily accommodating 20+ journalists at a large desk in a vary large room.
The media room is in what can only be called a janitor’s closet, with space for about 7 people I’d say. If there’s no contempt for the media intended, it’s certainly felt, and I’m not the only person of that opinion. I’m currently next door leaning down on the floor to file this, not actually in the media room, there’s no space, so I’ve had to go next door and file from there.
Stay tuned to the front page of Politics.ie for updates throughout the day.
One thing though, at least Labour extended an invitation to the press AND bloggers. More power to them for that.
2007 Awards Voting Round Open
Saturday, February 10th, 2007Vote here. I wish we could have gotten this out the door last week so there’d be more time for voting. It’ll be very interesting to see how many votes there’ll be. Best of luck to everyone. We’ll be releasing lists of all the nominees in a while. Once sleep is had.
Exclusive First Look at Best Videocast for 2007 Blog Awards
Friday, February 9th, 2007The voting for the blog awards will hopefully go live later tonight or in the morning. Until then here are the videos nominated for the Best Videocast Award. (Sponsored by Cork Internet Exchange)
Aine Chambers Dooney Rock, Sligo
Allyn Quigley – DWIC – X-mas No#1
Allyn Quigley – Size Matters
Brody Sweeney on why he decided on politics
Disappear by JL Pagano
Minister to Nowhere – Simon McGarr
PD Election Video
Technolotics #44 – Flying Naked
Uisce In New Hampshire
You pay taxes so we don’t have to
IrishElection to cover Labour conference
Friday, February 9th, 2007More on SiliconRepublic.