Things of note for the week ending Friday July 29th, Sunday July 31st 2016.
Wow, I was tired last week! Thanks to those of you that spotted the missing item number three. For those that spotted it and didn’t email in, the big thing was supposed to be:
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3. THROWING A BBQ?
Buy some bananas and some chocolate – and do this. Then tweet @markofrespect and tell him I said to say thank you.
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Mind. Blown.
I know. Almost as much as that time I heard about grated bacon. Almost.
OK, so that’s the admin out of the way.
Onwards – to THE THINGS!
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1. TEAM BUILDING
Kicking off things this week with this really quite excellent long read on creating the perfect team (via the NYT Magazine).
“Five years ago, Google — one of the most public proselytizers of how studying workers can transform productivity — became focused on building the perfect team. In the last decade, the tech giant has spent untold millions of dollars measuring nearly every aspect of its employees’ lives. Google’s People Operations department has scrutinized everything from how frequently particular people eat together (the most productive employees tend to build larger networks by rotating dining companions) to which traits the best managers share (unsurprisingly, good communication and avoiding micromanaging is critical; more shocking, this was news to many Google managers).”
What follows is an excellent analysis that uncovers the profound effect that group behavioral standards can have on the interplay, impact, and ultimately the overall success of the group involved. These norms may manifest themselves as unwritten rules or simply just part of the known culture.
If you work in a team – or are a member of any kind of group – then this is a must read.
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2. WHO’S TALKING?
In a week(end) where an old white dude proclaimed that the gender diversity debate was ‘all over’ (as well as a personal fave: ‘millennials don’t do leadership‘), was subsequently lambasted by an entire industry, and then pretty much told to go stand in the corner and think about what he’s done by his boss (it remains to be seen if he’ll be allowed back); you’re probably ready for some kind of useful tool to help test Mr Roberts’ theory yourself.
Right? Well, maybe.
Whatever, I’ve got just the website for you.
It’s called: are men talking too much?
CLICK IT!
Dead handy.
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3. TWITTER FOR DUMMIES
Twitter isn’t having the best of times right now (if anything, it’s mid-pivot and struggling to sell that in (that or it just needs to ‘enable instagram‘ – jeez)) however, be that as it may, some people are still only just discovering it.
If anyone ever asks you ‘What is Twitter and how do I use it?’, you now have a useful guide to hand – as written by the always-amusing Stu Heritage.
Save it for later.
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4. NO INTERNET
Believe it or not I’ve spent several days and weekends completely disconnected from the Internet. TRUTH, I tell thee. TRUTH. That said, these days it’s genuinely quite hard to find places where you can escape the umbilical cord of connection and truly be alone in the world.
Fortunately, ‘White Spots’ can help you find them.
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5. A BAG, DEAR?
This week in GOOD NEWS, six months ago the UK introduced a 5p charge for any and all plastic bags normally just given out over the counter. Since then, plastic bag usage has dropped a staggering 85% since said charge introduced.
Too little too late? Or a sign of [better] things to come.
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6. TINA THE T-REX
This is so awesome it’s probably my favourite thing all week.
I am so excited, in fact, I might slip into ALL CAPS.
YOU GUYS. THANKS TO THE AMAZING PEOPLE AT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS, YOU CAN NOW TALK TO A TYRANNOSAURUS REX VIA FACEBOOK MESSENGER.
WANNA TRY IT?
GO TO THE NAT GEO KIDS FACEBOOK PAGE AND HIT ‘MESSAGE’
HERE –
I TRIED IT AND IT WAS BRILLIANT.
LOOK!
This stuff is wicked. I’m very much in a chatbot place right now (more, later) and to see wicked little executions like this really warms the heart.
Got kids? Let’em play!
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7. SEVEN MINS THAT SHOOK THE DNC
Khizr Khan. I hope you already know his name. If you don’t, go and watch his speech.
It’s incredible.
That is all.
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Bonuses this week are as follows:
- You may have already spotted this on your internet travels (and it’s a bit old now but), in case you missed it, Tesla’s Master Plan: Part Deux is well worth a quick glance [into the future of cars once more].
- The [original] Addams Family set in colour is simply gorgeous.
- Uber is building its own maps system; interesting against the backdrop of autonomous cars.
- Mark Ritson is being Mark Ritson again (worth a watch)
- Love Seinfeld? You’ll like this.
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Thank you, as ever, for tuning in.
If you liked it, tell a friend.
Until next time…
Whatley out x
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