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gapingvoid – “being young”

The presentation below from Google docs explains the way Subprime worked. This is a rather complex system. But all the system bears on a very simple assumption: House prices should always increase. Of course it couldn’t work for ever.

Subprime Explained – Google Documents

I found this funny video that shows how people think life is at Microsoft. I like the end: "you don’t need tech support".

Life At Microsoft – The Truth Revealed

Life At Microsoft – The Truth Revealed | Tina Wood | Channel 10

BBC released on their web site a very good historical Flash Game called Viking Quest.

Daily Writing Tips published here a great vocabulary test. It’s short and fun. They plan to publish other vocabulary tests regularly:

The vocabulary tests will be based on the “Word of the Day” category. Every 20 posts on that category a new test will be released.

There is a very good comment on the post explaining the difference between Marketing, Public Relation, Advertising and Branding. The comment is from a guy called Tricky and explains other forms of interaction between companies and consumers like Tech Support, Direct Marketing, Telemarketing, … I reproduced it below: 

The buzz word in today’s business world is MARKETING. However, most people often ask for a simple explanation of "Marketing."

Here it is:

You’re a man and you see a gorgeous woman at a party. You go up to her and say, "I’m fantastic in bed," That’s (((Direct Marketing)))

You’re at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous woman. One of your friends goes up to her and pointing at you says,"He’s fantastic in bed," That’s(((Advertising)))

You see a gorgeous woman at a party. You go up to her and get her telephone number. The next day you call and say, "Hi, I’m fantastic in bed," (((That’s Telemarketing)))

You’re at a party and see a gorgeous woman. You get up and straighten your tie. You walk up to her and pour her a drink and then say, "By the way, I’m fantastic in bed," That’s (((Public Relations)))

You’re at a party and see a gorgeous woman. She walks up to you and says, "I hear you’re fantastic in bed," That’s (((Brand Recognition)))

You’re at a party and see a gorgeous woman. You talk her into going home with your friend – That’s a (((Sales Rep)))

Your friend can’t satisfy her so he calls you – That’s (((Tech Support)))

You’re on your way to a party when you realize that there could be gorgeous women in all these houses you’re passing. So you climb onto the roof of one situated toward the center and shout at the top of your lungs, "I’m fantastic in bed!" That’s (((Junk Mail)) 

 

Ads of the world published a funny set of pictures that explain the difference between Marketing, Public Relation, Advertising and Branding:

Image courtesy of Neutron, LLC.

Hans Rosling is a genius of statistics. He knows how to bring out insights from boring statistics. The following video show one of his presentation at TED:

In a follow-up to his now-legendary TED2006 presentation, Hans Rosling demonstrates how developing countries are pulling themselves out of poverty. He shows us the next generation of his Trendalyzer software — which analyzes and displays data in amazingly accessible ways, allowing people to see patterns previously hidden behind mountains of stats. (Ten days later, he announced a deal with Google to acquire the software.) He also demos Dollar Street, a program that lets you peer in the windows of typical families worldwide living at different income levels. Be sure to watch straight through to the (literally) jaw-dropping finale.

Several mini skits where the Hip Hop star Kanye West parodies himself:

Reuters Pictures reports some photos of this Little Paris in China:

An aerial view of Tianducheng, a residential area on the outskirts of Hangzhou in east China.