After a nine hour journey from New York City to visit my 81 year old mother-in-law and arriving late at night I parked in a clearly marked and signed 'visitors bay' close to her home.
This was clearly not enough for the patrol of Carleton Parking Management who decided at 04:12am the following morning to issue a parking violation no less before I woke up with day-break and put an additional notice in the vehicle indicating we were visiting a home there.
A call early the following week with the office manager provided me with a lady who was adamant, based on her computer notes, that there was adequate signage and they were determined to enforce my 'infringement' of the rules - with no potential leniency.
The owner of the business Malcolm Dubois clearly is seeking to run a shoot-first ask questions later policy - if I wished to dispute the issue they informed me I could pay $50 or else pay $75 at small claims court (and therefore either travel back to Ottawa in person or have my 81 year old mother in law attend).
A pathetic entry for the 2011 jobs worth award.
According to the website http://www.wikidomo.com you can reach Malcolm at his home address;
2660 Southvale Cres #217,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada,
K1B-4W5
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
The Cellular War of the Worlds
The Cellular War of the Worlds
Forget the Cold War, conflict between competing ideologies in the Mobile communications world is the one in people's minds. Communism versus Democracy - blackberry versus Apple versus Android, it is the latter holding sway. The world before smartphones seems like the neolithic period awaiting invention of the wheel. Before camera phones, the Dark Ages.
On planet Apple people are anxiously awaiting the release of the latest incarnation of the iPhone on October 4th. Also the Apple iPad, a keyboard-less 'tablet' computer, has caused such fervor that already the third incarnation is on the hyperbole horizon.
Against this background you could almost be forgiven for forgetting the pioneer of mobile email - Blackberry. Blackberry world, it is fair to say, is currently optimistic though probably suffering with acute anxiety. After a long period of dominating corporate communications devices, Apple is making inroads. The latest blackberry devices - the Bold and Torch (in all-touch or touch screen plus slide-out keyboard) especially have touch screens and a revamped, faster Blackberry 7 Operating System. Blackberry's tablet, iPad challenger - the Playbook is currently being heavily discounted amid stagnating sales.
Meanwhile occupying the middle ground between the trendy Apple devotees and wealthy, small 'c' conservative Blackberry users is the Android sphere. Providing George "(c)" Lucas with yet more royalties (as if the record-breaking sales of the Blu-Ray Star Wars Saga were not enough achieving $84m in one week) for use of the word 'Droid'.
Everyone has an application or 'app' store so you can fill your phone with life-saving to life improving to mind-rotting apps. In case you thought 'apps' were uninteresting just look at the download statistics - by summer 2011 Apple's users have clicked to install some 15 billion applications, Android's "App Market" had some 4.5 billion downloads and although raising the largest revenue per app the Blackberry "App World" lagged in third place with 1.0 billion installations. That's not the end though, just think - some apps are paid for, others free, though all draw on monthly data packages supplied by the phone networks where a free wifi connection is unavailable - adding $$$ to their bottom line.
So what about the future ? If the resort to court action for infringement of patents has any correlation with maturity of a market then the smartphone market is definitely mature. Apple's legal battles with Samsung and the billions paid by Google to acquire patents from Motorola against a, wait-for-it, coalition of Microsoft and Apple speaks volumes.
That said, Do you remember a time when a cell phone was just for calls ? a time when a camera was carried in another pocket or purse ? Perhaps the next evolutions for smart phones will be in terms of ease-of-use. For example voice-activation which really works, even in a concert or sports arena. Though of course, what we are really waiting for is the invention of a means to handle the calls you do not want to without the recipient knowing they are getting the brush-off...
Forget the Cold War, conflict between competing ideologies in the Mobile communications world is the one in people's minds. Communism versus Democracy - blackberry versus Apple versus Android, it is the latter holding sway. The world before smartphones seems like the neolithic period awaiting invention of the wheel. Before camera phones, the Dark Ages.
On planet Apple people are anxiously awaiting the release of the latest incarnation of the iPhone on October 4th. Also the Apple iPad, a keyboard-less 'tablet' computer, has caused such fervor that already the third incarnation is on the hyperbole horizon.
Against this background you could almost be forgiven for forgetting the pioneer of mobile email - Blackberry. Blackberry world, it is fair to say, is currently optimistic though probably suffering with acute anxiety. After a long period of dominating corporate communications devices, Apple is making inroads. The latest blackberry devices - the Bold and Torch (in all-touch or touch screen plus slide-out keyboard) especially have touch screens and a revamped, faster Blackberry 7 Operating System. Blackberry's tablet, iPad challenger - the Playbook is currently being heavily discounted amid stagnating sales.
Meanwhile occupying the middle ground between the trendy Apple devotees and wealthy, small 'c' conservative Blackberry users is the Android sphere. Providing George "(c)" Lucas with yet more royalties (as if the record-breaking sales of the Blu-Ray Star Wars Saga were not enough achieving $84m in one week) for use of the word 'Droid'.
Everyone has an application or 'app' store so you can fill your phone with life-saving to life improving to mind-rotting apps. In case you thought 'apps' were uninteresting just look at the download statistics - by summer 2011 Apple's users have clicked to install some 15 billion applications, Android's "App Market" had some 4.5 billion downloads and although raising the largest revenue per app the Blackberry "App World" lagged in third place with 1.0 billion installations. That's not the end though, just think - some apps are paid for, others free, though all draw on monthly data packages supplied by the phone networks where a free wifi connection is unavailable - adding $$$ to their bottom line.
So what about the future ? If the resort to court action for infringement of patents has any correlation with maturity of a market then the smartphone market is definitely mature. Apple's legal battles with Samsung and the billions paid by Google to acquire patents from Motorola against a, wait-for-it, coalition of Microsoft and Apple speaks volumes.
That said, Do you remember a time when a cell phone was just for calls ? a time when a camera was carried in another pocket or purse ? Perhaps the next evolutions for smart phones will be in terms of ease-of-use. For example voice-activation which really works, even in a concert or sports arena. Though of course, what we are really waiting for is the invention of a means to handle the calls you do not want to without the recipient knowing they are getting the brush-off...
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
The Hacking scandal and News Corporation International: What are the real implications ?
The Hacking scandal and News Corporation International: What are the real implications ?
Yesterday in the United Kingdom the British Government held a public session to investigate the mobile phone hacking scandal which has engulfed British politics. Questioned were Rupert Murdoch, Chairman of News Corporation International and his son James along with former CEO of the British print process Rebekah Brooks.
Leaving aside the obvious theatre as Members of Parliament relished the chance to 'have a go' before heading off for the Summer recess had a touch of English public school (USA: Private schooling) about it, "let's have old boy Murdurs in for a damn good thrashing!" you could imagine one of the Committee members yelling. Shaving foam pies aside what significance do these events have for the Murdoch's, the Company and for UK and US politics ? A British committee hearing is not a court of law and whilst interesting and at times insightful those desperate for more blood will have to await the Courts, where no doubt the Murdoch's have a phalanx of lawyers in preparation.
In the meantime, here are a few suggestions and implications as to possible outcomes;
1. This scandal severely reduces the likelihood of Rupert Murdoch establishing a dynasty at News Corporation International. Assuming the Murdoch's survive the UK legal process unscathed the name will become tarnished and may become regarded as synonymous with heavy-handed, no holds barred journalism and a monopolistic hold on media. The only way to even begin to diffuse this timebomb is to appoint trusted internal and external senior management. Consequence: Investors and politicians will likely not stand for a Murdoch succession.
2. The current situation does also bring into sharp relief the future for News Corporation International when Rupert Murdoch moves on. It is clear that he has been the driving force behind the business, though unlike say a Steve Jobs at Apple, helming a 'must have' product business like an iPad or iPhone. The print newspaper business is going through tumultuous times akin to the record labels and this scandal does raise the question of whether News Corporation and other media conglomerates are wise to retain a print newspaper business in their business model ?
3. The UK legal investigations could be dangerous for senior management at News Corporation in terms of cash payments (i.e. non-taxed) made "from a safe in the senior editor's office" to sources, police and otherwise. There are obviously tax implications and, like in the USA, the Inland Revenue (IRS) is a formidable adversary.
4. UK Politics: The scandal has given the opposition Labour Party a platform to act cohesively about and support their new leader. For the ruling Conservative : Liberal Democrat coalition this situation is far from pleasant. On the one hand the Liberal Democrat body-politic will regard News Corp with anathema and blame their Conservative partners at the subliminal level, at the very least, for 'dragging' them into it.
For Prime Minister David Cameron, run though he might, it will be difficult to escape the perception of him as a 'Murdoch Man' - not helped by having hired a former News Corp employee from the paper at the center of the scandal. Time will tell, though a General Election to capitalise on any feel-good factor (such as the Olympics ?) must seem attractive this morning.
5. US politics: Perhaps even more interestingly is the impact of this scandal on US politics. Reaction in the US has been muted on the whole, however Fox News is regarded as being one of the strongest supporters of Republican views and prospective Presidential candidates, such as Sarah Palin. The question for the likes of Sarah Palin is should they distance themselves now from the Murdoch empire before getting serious about the 2012 Presidential election ? For the Obama Administration their hatred of the Fox Network is pretty well known - If they can use this situation well, that coupled with the rapidly accumulating cash mountain in the re-election bank account should secure Barack Obama a second term.
6. The X-Factor - What about Wendy ? About the only positive for the Murdoch's is how Rupert's wife, Wendy sought to protect her husband from the shaving foam pie has gone viral world-wide. Perhaps centering a PR campaign on her values and credentials may make her the ultimate winner as the public face of a new News Corporation International.
Is anyone ready for the first Chinese, Female Executive of a global multi-media news organisation ? You read the forecast here first...
Yesterday in the United Kingdom the British Government held a public session to investigate the mobile phone hacking scandal which has engulfed British politics. Questioned were Rupert Murdoch, Chairman of News Corporation International and his son James along with former CEO of the British print process Rebekah Brooks.
Leaving aside the obvious theatre as Members of Parliament relished the chance to 'have a go' before heading off for the Summer recess had a touch of English public school (USA: Private schooling) about it, "let's have old boy Murdurs in for a damn good thrashing!" you could imagine one of the Committee members yelling. Shaving foam pies aside what significance do these events have for the Murdoch's, the Company and for UK and US politics ? A British committee hearing is not a court of law and whilst interesting and at times insightful those desperate for more blood will have to await the Courts, where no doubt the Murdoch's have a phalanx of lawyers in preparation.
In the meantime, here are a few suggestions and implications as to possible outcomes;
1. This scandal severely reduces the likelihood of Rupert Murdoch establishing a dynasty at News Corporation International. Assuming the Murdoch's survive the UK legal process unscathed the name will become tarnished and may become regarded as synonymous with heavy-handed, no holds barred journalism and a monopolistic hold on media. The only way to even begin to diffuse this timebomb is to appoint trusted internal and external senior management. Consequence: Investors and politicians will likely not stand for a Murdoch succession.
2. The current situation does also bring into sharp relief the future for News Corporation International when Rupert Murdoch moves on. It is clear that he has been the driving force behind the business, though unlike say a Steve Jobs at Apple, helming a 'must have' product business like an iPad or iPhone. The print newspaper business is going through tumultuous times akin to the record labels and this scandal does raise the question of whether News Corporation and other media conglomerates are wise to retain a print newspaper business in their business model ?
3. The UK legal investigations could be dangerous for senior management at News Corporation in terms of cash payments (i.e. non-taxed) made "from a safe in the senior editor's office" to sources, police and otherwise. There are obviously tax implications and, like in the USA, the Inland Revenue (IRS) is a formidable adversary.
4. UK Politics: The scandal has given the opposition Labour Party a platform to act cohesively about and support their new leader. For the ruling Conservative : Liberal Democrat coalition this situation is far from pleasant. On the one hand the Liberal Democrat body-politic will regard News Corp with anathema and blame their Conservative partners at the subliminal level, at the very least, for 'dragging' them into it.
For Prime Minister David Cameron, run though he might, it will be difficult to escape the perception of him as a 'Murdoch Man' - not helped by having hired a former News Corp employee from the paper at the center of the scandal. Time will tell, though a General Election to capitalise on any feel-good factor (such as the Olympics ?) must seem attractive this morning.
5. US politics: Perhaps even more interestingly is the impact of this scandal on US politics. Reaction in the US has been muted on the whole, however Fox News is regarded as being one of the strongest supporters of Republican views and prospective Presidential candidates, such as Sarah Palin. The question for the likes of Sarah Palin is should they distance themselves now from the Murdoch empire before getting serious about the 2012 Presidential election ? For the Obama Administration their hatred of the Fox Network is pretty well known - If they can use this situation well, that coupled with the rapidly accumulating cash mountain in the re-election bank account should secure Barack Obama a second term.
6. The X-Factor - What about Wendy ? About the only positive for the Murdoch's is how Rupert's wife, Wendy sought to protect her husband from the shaving foam pie has gone viral world-wide. Perhaps centering a PR campaign on her values and credentials may make her the ultimate winner as the public face of a new News Corporation International.
Is anyone ready for the first Chinese, Female Executive of a global multi-media news organisation ? You read the forecast here first...
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