Things of note for the week ending Friday January 6th, 2017.
Oh hello, 2017. And hello to you too, gorgeous reader (yes, you – you know I’m talking directly to you, don’t you?) – how have you been? Sorry to miss last week. I was busy. Holidays and stuff. We have to take breaks sometimes you know.
OK. I forgot.
But hey, I remembered this week and now have a NEW YEAR and NEW THINGS.
Onwards.
Shall we?
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1. SOCIAL MEDIA BREAKS. TAKE THEM.
I found the following piece via Jyri Engestrom. He posted it with the following quote highlighted –
“The idea of purposefully introducing into my life a service designed to fragment my attention is as scary to me as the idea of smoking would be to an endurance athlete, and it should be to you if you’re serious about creating things that matter.”
Well, when you put it like that, ‘Quit social media. Your career may depend on it.‘ makes sobering reading.
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2. THE SLOW TRAIN TO CHINA (FROM BARKING)
You guys, the BBC is reporting that China Railway is going to start a freight train service from Wiwu, China to Barking, London. This is awesome. Alright you can’t actually ride the train itself but STILL, this is awesome.
Look!
How cool is that?! A TRAIN that goes all that way! Amazing.
Admittedly, I may have done something similar before but that was from Moscow to Beijing (via Ulanbataar). Imagine being able to tap in with your Oystercard and then tap out for ACTUAL CHINESE OYSTERS (that worked better in my head).
Brilliant.
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3. CARRIE FISHER: SCRIPT DOCTOR
You may have read a few things of late about how the late Carrie Fisher was more than a metal bikini and a couple of hair buns. Well, quite. However, the following article if probably the best researched piece I could find on precisely what and how Fisher came to be one of the best script doctors in Hollywood.
Other notable Carrie Fisher things worth reading:
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4. INTERNET CONNECTED FRIDGE
Any excuse to link to this website, admittedly BUT STILL, what with CES happening as I type, Internet-enabled devices are seemingly, EVERYWHERE. But what if you’re not in Las Vegas / have a ton of cash lying around to spunk on a new-fangled t’internet fridge?
Well, Terence Eden has the answer (and a How To guide).
Off you pop then, go and CONNECT YOUR FRIDGE.
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5. BEATING MEN AT THEIR OWN GAME
My first job for the team was seat-occupier – in other words, bimbo – sitting next to the famous card counter Ken Uston. That man was so egotistical, I’m surprised he thought I was good-looking enough.
It was 1978, the year Atlantic City opened for gambling. New Jersey’s state legislature had developed the city’s rules for blackjack, but unfortunately they didn’t employ a maths mind to look them over, and so allowed a technical rule that gave card counters even more of an edge.
Consequently, every counter in the world swarmed to the famous boardwalk. When the doors of the new casino, Resorts International, opened at 08:00 in the morning, there was a stampede for seats.
Cat Hulbert, writing for the BBC Magazine section (I didn’t know this was a thing) on her long career as a poker player.
A great read.
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Bonuses this week are as follows:
- The MARVEL slate (TV and FILM) for 2017 is looking pretty busy.
- Stan Lee Cameo – supercut!
- Not that we need reminding BUT Elon Musk really doesn’t mess about.
AND WE ARE DONE!
WOOOO!
Last thing – The Ogilvy Key Digital Trends 2017 doc that we published mid-last month just passed 100k views. Yay. To celebrate, Marshall and I are hosting a free webinar next week where we’ll basically read the slides to you over the course of an hour.
Fancy that? Sign up here.
LATERS.
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