Sustainable, entrepreneurial, web-able, sociable: The life and Blogs of Nick Horslen

Data visualisation: London riots 2011

2012-01-24T16:58:00.000Z

Makes you think when you look at these data visualisations!
Data, access, visualisation and technology paints the pitcure burgess and kubrick did so brilliantly decades ago with Clockwork orange.

The quotes from some of these young people would make perfecting scripting for a 21st century update.

Im as optimistic as ever, looking beyond the language and dealing with people in the real world around me!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/datablog/2011/dec/05/england-riots-distance-travelled-map

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/datablog/video/2011/dec/05/england-riots-commute-map

the tools and the data play well in the emergent world of linked data and open data dont you think?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2011/aug/09/uk-riots-incident-map

The big question on pay?

2012-01-19T12:04:00.001Z

how do markets reward companies, who has the power to ensure those inside those companies are rewarded responsibly?

That a question ive tweeted today, i wonder what replies i will get?
https://twitter.com/#!/nick_horslen

Whats your story!

2012-01-09T12:26:00.001Z

I return to a common theme since I first blogged i.e. my Triple Bottom Line Quest to start my 2012 postings!

Here's a copy from my facebook post:

Forget New Year Resolutions - What was your personal tale for last year and what are you going to make yours this year??

Life and literature is basically made up of 7 stories, whats yours? Was it imposed on you or have you set it or keep r...epeating it?

My "Triple Bottom Line" Quest continues; Create wealth, help communities and people, conserve the environment, why wouldnt we!? ....Or as Richard Branson puts it in his new book "Screw Business As Usual"!!

Since a Prof at Henley Management College challenged me some years ago to set a sustainable Quest, Ive found it essential even above and beyond daily activity, a to do list, a plan or a strategy!!

1.The quest.

2.Voyage and return.

3.Rebirth.

4.Comedy.

5.Tragedy.

6.Overcoming the monster.

7.Rags to riches.

Which is you? People who listen to you will know it!!

My Thanks to Prof Steve Downing, Im still hanging in there!
http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/
http://uk.linkedin.com/in/nickhorslen
https://twitter.com/nick_horslen

See more

What are the seven types of stories in the world

wiki.answers.com

Nano futures!

2011-12-16T12:55:00.001Z

Graphene and other nano innovations http://www.flixxy.com/the-future-of-energy-is-here.htm
This approach to clean energy and adequate water for those that most need it shows how Innovation is our future Triple Bottom Line!

Global growth in wealth and health

2011-11-14T09:13:00.006Z

http://t.co/ogNXYTsp

This is a great additional graphic view to Hans Roslings presentation from the BBC and Youtube which i posted previously:
http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/search?q=remarkable This comes with the historical narrative but without the global map overlay, which is what makes the new link interesting. (see post below once you click on this search link above)

Its humbling to look at the UK growth since 1800 and realise how much people here moan about the recent past and complain about today, but you look at this chart and it makes you wonder:
www.bit.ly/ttqFr5

If you play with the country buttons on the right and compare nations it is a fantastic way to view national histories of economics and health http://t.co/ogNXYTsp

10 Strategies For Building A Successful Social Business

2011-11-09T14:32:00.002Z

I like this post in Forbes!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2011/11/08/10-strategies-for-building-a-successful-social-business/

10 Strategies For Building A Successful Social Business

in summary:

#1: Replace Traditional Marketing with Content Marketing
#2: Recruit a Chief Social Evangelist
#3: Become Your Own Media Publisher
#4: Use Social Analytics to Drive Key Strategic Decisions
#5: Chief Marketing and Sales Officers will be Social or Become Obsolete
#6. Engage External Communities Formed Around Your Brand’s Value Proposition
#7. Invest in Social Media Training and Certification
#8. Deploy Social Platforms to Support Your Social Business Strategy
#9. Leverage Employees, Suppliers and Partners as Sources of Innovation
#10. Re-focus Human Resources on Human Experience

It will be interesting to see how this unfolds across large and small business!

Big days: 9th of October 2011 from 17th Sept 2007

2011-11-09T10:17:00.005Z

So it was just hours and not days for the end of an italian era.
We thought the banks were an issue, we thought Greece was an issue, now with Italy outed what is next in Euro land and beyond?

I stumbled upon a note in my note book back in September 2007 where i wrote a comment picked up after an invite to watch England Play at wembley being wined and dined at the Corinthian club at wembley, before during and after one of their first matches at the new stadium. The guys talking worked for a london bank, seemed like essex boy style traders, certainly not short of a few bob!

Over hearing some comments that id heard elsewhere, cant remember where, it appeared that "Sept 18th 2007 will be a key day for the UK and world banks. Lets see where things are by 2008?" which in hind sight seems spooky.

For example found this via google "18th september 2007 bank":
http://www.federalreserve.gov/fomc/minutes/20070918.htm
I must wordle that!

Things were known then by those with power and money, things are known now in November 2011, lets see what 2012 brings?

Has this really been dragging on for 4 years. recessions are usually a year or two, sustaining this takes us to a new place, a place where no one has been before, does anyone on high have the experience to deal with this?

Berlusconi wins Italian budget vote but fails to gain parliamentary majority .

2011-11-08T15:29:00.001Z

#Berlusconi minutes hours days?

Is this the European Spring about to blossom!

What do we see when we listen to what is being written?

2011-11-08T12:23:00.006Z

This is one way to view europe, the middle east, north america for influence, interest and awareness:

http://bigthink.com/ideas/41004

And what do we see when we look at someone elses future:

http://www.envisioningtech.com/

I love to visualise what the world is about today and tomorrow and what it might have been before!

See previous posts;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbkSRLYSojo&feature=player_embedded

Greece, Euro and IMF?

2011-11-03T13:42:00.003Z

I wonder what has really been going on for the last 6 months, when amateurs like me have spoken of the PIGS for 2yrs and predicted whats likely and those more professional and expert have or must have known more.

Do france and germany know more than we, yes, have they allowed for the smoke screens of announcements over the last two months only to find the Greek PM throw himself on his sword, or has he just had enough.

Whats next?

The unthinkable has been thought in recent weeks about Greece leaving the Euro, today the unspokable has been spoken with politcal leaders saying greece decides if its in or out else there is no bail out, guess what they will choose. When will the undoable be done?

Perhaps this whole charade has been to make the undoable doable, but are they mitigating or minimizing impact.

Look beyond today and then Italy just simply becomes a credibility issue, jokers in charge. People expect more, perhaps they fool themselves. The world needs to be made simpler not more complex these people are only people!

Drinkers help fund microbrewery’s £7m plant - FT.com

2011-10-21T07:56:00.000Z

Intoxicatingly good practice -This is the way to validate your market, have them invest in it not just buy the end product!

Drinkers help fund microbrewery’s £7m plant - FT.com

British Style and Vision: Spaceport America by Foster + Partners

2011-10-20T14:32:00.000Z

Dezeen » Blog Archive » Spaceport America by Foster + Partners

Global and Cosmic leadership from Sir Norman and Sir Richard!

UK Nuclear

2011-10-11T12:39:00.001Z

As it should be if we are ever to reduce burning fossil fuel in time!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15256981?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

"The report makes clear that the UK has one of the best nuclear safety regimes in the world, and that nuclear power can go on powering homes and businesses across the UK, as well as supporting jobs," he said.

"We must however continue to improve where we can, not just with operating power stations and new sites, but by dealing with our nuclear legacy in a robust and effective manner too."

Giving it Airtime!?

2011-10-07T08:42:00.000Z

Napster creators reunite for video start-up - FT.com

one to watch!

$35 Tablet computer

2011-10-06T07:55:00.002Z

RIP STEVE JOBS!!

....and on this sad day, an end of an era........

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/9e714b34-ef53-11e0-918b-00144feab49a.html#axzz1ZnrxMFLu

The world’s cheapest tablet computer, on sale for as little as $35, has been unveiled in India in the latest attempt by the emerging economy to shift from being a global outsourcing centre to one of frugal innovation for lower-income consumers.

Timeline convergences!!

2011-09-28T07:30:00.010Z

Interesting to think about whats going on in the world of business, art, social living isnt it...........

Take what Ive blogged before, like.... (as you click on the links, if nothing appears scroll below to see the search as it also find this article in the search so it leaves it at the top, scroll down!)....

"life bits" http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/search?q=bits October 2009

(ie see below the search of "bits" to find

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9139488/Q_A_Carrying_your_life_in_your_pocket?taxonomyId=16 )

"faster cheaper" http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/search?q=faster LongNow March 2010

Add a bit of Banksy and the "Thierry Guetta" experience as per the film and then his art expo success, the video experience tracking everything, the whole story of what he had, how he presented it and what Banksy saw differently:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Brainwash

“Exit through the gift shop”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksy

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/movies/awardsseason/06bagger.html?_r=1

But when Banksy, another of the film’s subjects, got hold of “Life Remote Control,” he pronounced it unwatchable and took over the camera himself. A few minutes of “Life Remote Control” and some footage from Mr. Guetta and Mr. Levy appear in “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” which subsequently became the story of how Mr. Guetta was transformed, with Banksy’s prodding, from a chronicler of street art into an artist himself, with his cut-and-paste works that now command tens of thousands of dollars. “Life Remote Control” also appears as an extra feature on the recently released DVD of “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” but Mr. Levy’s name does not turn up in the credits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiLaaZjcgWc&feature=player_embedded

Add in a touch of Tim Bernes Lee Linked Data to season

http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/search?q=linked+data March 2010

....and we see the picture emerging perhaps as the Facebook Timeline from Mr Mark Zuckerberg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSZ-J3RNDTg

http://www.facebook.com/about/timeline

It points to the zeitgeist of the Generation Y, in real time, where what ever you are doing, what ever you are reading, what ever you are listening too (the facebook/guardian or facebook/spotify app examples) can allow you to connect with people you know or dont know, where everything is open, people are available, easily commoditised and targetted, prepared to live their whole lives backwards, forwards, FULLY LINKED UP, online.

It brings me back to the point and one of the quotes i posted in my first ever blog post here:

"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards" Soren Kierkegaard.

This era we live in, such an interesting journey of convergence, speed, change!!

What is "Real" and what is just "Language", the "Look" Mr Jacques Lacan??

UK joins laser nuclear fusion project

2011-09-09T08:50:00.001Z

BBC News - UK joins laser nuclear fusion project

Fusion is the answer to off set the lack of understanding of fission both are key to our energy and environmental concerns of the future.

2011, 12 and 13 could be monunmental in changing the geo-eco-political power behind energy and markets, discuss?

UK joins laser nuclear fusion project

2011-09-09T08:50:00.000Z

It’s OK to launch before you’re ready - FT.com

2011-08-03T07:32:00.000Z

It’s OK to launch before you’re ready - FT.com
The LunaTic prototyping example is a good one!

"An ex-colleague of mine, Scott Wilson, has had astonishing success using a similar approach. He had a hypothesis that the iPod nano would make a great wristwatch but didn’t know whether enough potential customers would share this belief. To test market appetite, he placed a short video describing his idea on Kickstarter, a crowdfunding website, and asked people to make commitments to purchase ranging from $1 to $500. Scott’s goal was to raise $15,000 within 30 days but he actually raised almost $1m, shattering all Kickstarter records and instantly validating his designs – all without giving up a single per cent of equity. Scott now runs LunaTik, a successful company based on the watch, but had he been too scared to go public with his idea, it may never have seen the light of day."

Freedom to go it alone - avoid dependency!

2011-07-13T10:27:00.003Z

From my tweets:

nick_horslen nick_horslen

FT: “vicious circle between the conditions of public finances and those of banks”+ house of cards;bank and currency integration v innovation

17 seconds ago Favorite Reply Delete

ick_horslen nick_horslen

Regulation and sovereign debt: a vicious circle? FT Money Supply http://t.co/CdU4pje

Re : Italy and the rest below!

Did someone mention Italy?

2011-07-13T08:52:00.005Z

Euro Contagion..........
How does the world of politics and finance get back under control.

Is there too much inter dependence, are too many implicated in this for the right decision to be found and made, is integration the reverse of "flexible, agile, common sense self interested drivers forming responsibility for a wider world" ie dont lock in - Innovate!:

http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/search?q=italy

http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/search?q=P.I.G.S

I ponder on the fact that in the UK we have had parliament, the banks and now the press NoW/Newscorp hit below the water line simply because of institutional thinking preventing them being hit earlier above the water line ie before things got real serious and when something could have been done about it, ie force pain on JUST those responsible within!

Next?! : Supermarkets, Football clubs, Universities, Pensions, umm??

As well as the Euro crisis and the middle east Spring, what else is going to pile in to make the whole pack of card collapse. Africa, South America, China, etc

What i do suspect is, that the strength of markets like the UK and in particular property, commerical property, is going to be taken down further by the banks as their exposure else where allows them to pass the pain on to others in widing in risk further. That will impact business, retail and investors small and large, pension schemes and private owners. Yes we are all implocates.

George Soro and the Euro: Open society view!

2011-07-11T10:22:00.001Z

True Europeans now need a ‘plan B’ FT The A-List http://t.co/jc2Q4aA

See the early posts on P.I.G.S

Zynga $2bn IPO - FT.com

2011-06-29T08:12:00.000Z

$850M revenues makes it a 23 times revenue bet. Social gaming, does this match the rest in the current gold rush?

Zynga set to rival networking peers with $2bn IPO - FT.com

"Marc Andreessen, the founder of Netscape and a venture capital investor in Zynga, said: “Zynga is an absolute phenomenon. Mark Pincus [Zynga’s chief executive] ... has an unbelievable vision for the next 10 to 20 years. "

TED: The Moral O/S!

2011-06-08T18:05:00.003Z

We are the net! We decide! We make it right! http://www.ted.com/talks/damon_horowitz.html

The internet was predictable, we knew the browser would follow and that content would grow and that ecommerce was next and that search find try and buy would emerge so the cloud would happen and to peak it had to integrate people so social media and mobile convergence was expected and we know that, what decides, is US. Its all predictable and its going to be right!?

Nuclear power: Atomised approach

2011-06-07T14:13:00.000Z

FT.com / Comment / Analysis - Nuclear power: Atomised approach

Even with renewables and hopefully more careful if not reduced consumption, as new technology and new behaviours kick in for a growing global population, Nuclear is still a key answer to energy needs and reduction in CO2 emittions thus helping mitigate climate change.

More careful regulation is what will make it even cleaner and safer.

In 30yrs time I wonder what Germany will look like in terms of consumption, supply and cost of energy? How much nuclear energy will they import from france??

Groupon files for IPO of up to $750m

2011-06-03T12:19:00.000Z

FT.com / Retail & Consumer - Groupon files for IPO of up to $750m

Total valuations $20BN. IPO season hotting up thanks to LinkedIn, FaceBook, Twitter and GroupOn.
Coupons - really!!

See previous years blog entries on this subjects!!

2011-06-01T11:30:00.002Z

DarrylC is making quite a name for himself, a post Dilbert cartoonist based on real live experience and story telling: "PSYCHIATRIC TALES"

I particularly like this one:

http://darryl-cunningham.blogspot.com/2010/12/climate-change.html

But you should also check the archive for the one on Homeopathy, hilarious:
http://darryl-cunningham.blogspot.com

Google's Zeitgeist- George Osbourne: Social data to be 'unlocked'

2011-05-16T16:44:00.000Z

BBC News - George Osbourne: Social data to be 'unlocked'

A chancellor of the exchequer talking about Linked Data, Social media and security and a mash up like http://alpha.gov.uk

Interesting!! Let see. Revisit May 2012!

Millions of Electric Miles | Tesla Motors

2011-04-05T07:55:00.000Z

Millions of Electric Miles Tesla Motors ...and they are suing BBC Top Gear!!

"Web 3.0" Will Be About Data

2011-03-31T08:24:00.000Z

"Explicit and Implicit data"! LinkedIn Founder: "Web 3.0" Will Be About Data "good internet companies do not ambush their customers!"

StartUp Britain portal

2011-03-28T09:12:00.001Z

StartUp Britain: a living market-place for the wide range of enterprise support available on the web. It will be interesting to watch this one take off and see how useful the resources inside prove to be. The people as part of the service will be key as well as the pointers.

http://realbusiness.co.uk/management/startup_britain_launches_today

Inspired by a similar program startupUSA and timely with the govt cuts and big society. Take a look if you starting up! http://www.startupbritain.org/

Poor old P.I.G.S!

2011-03-24T14:45:00.002Z

Poor old Portugal, if only P.I.G.S. could fly!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9434000/9434575.stm

We have to wonder what would have happened to the UK had the roof not begun to be fixed after the sun stopped shinning!

http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/search?q=pigs

http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/search?q=P.I.G.s

Educate Share Learn online: YouTube - Salman Khan talk at TED 2011 (from ted.com)

2011-03-24T12:46:00.000Z

Bill Gates favorite teacher!

1M students a month watching 20k different videos!

This is the power of people on the web, the power of people, the power of the web!!

YouTube - Salman Khan talk at TED 2011 (from ted.com)

Ive features Salmon before on the blog a year ago:

http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/search?q=khan

Revolution 2.0: Inside the Egyptian revolution | Video on TED.com

2011-03-10T17:32:00.000Z

Thanks to the internet and social mobile media "The POWER IN THE PEOPLE is greater than the people in power"!!
Wael Ghonim: Inside the Egyptian revolution Video on TED.com

Introducing the Young Global Leader Class of 2011

2011-03-09T09:19:00.000Z

Video worth watching, listening and acting upon!
Forumblog.org - The World Economic Forum Blog: Introducing the Young Global Leader Class of 2011

Spotify reaches one million PAYING subscribers - Spotify

2011-03-08T11:46:00.002Z

Freemium in action!!

Spotify reaches one million subscribers - Spotify

As you'll see on the FT it gives them a valuation of $1bn already! They are raising funds on the back of this to go into the US market. Great news for a non US startup in this space!

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/460f5e7c-491d-11e0-af8c-00144feab49a.html#axzz1G0WLDHzd

I listen to their service, for FREE, have done for ages since Pandora.com stopped non US listeners!

Planet Money : NPR via Tim Harfords blog and tweet!

2011-02-11T11:12:00.000Z

Tim Harfords highest recommend economics pod cast:
Planet Money : NPR
I will be tracking this one as frequently as i can.
http://timharford.com/2011/02/best-economics-podcasts/

Speed when two slow but long running boats collide!

2011-02-11T09:09:00.004Z

“Today, developers, operators and consumers want compelling mobile products, which include not only the device, but the software, services, applications and customer support that make a great experience,” Stephen Elop, Nokia President and CEO, said at a joint news conference in London. “Nokia and Microsoft will combine our strengths to deliver an ecosystem with unrivalled global reach and scale. It’s now a three-horse race.”

“I am excited about this partnership with Nokia,” said Steven A. Ballmer, Microsoft CEO. “Ecosystems thrive when fueled by speed, innovation and scale.The partnership announced today provides incredible scale, vast expertise in hardware and software innovation and a proven ability to execute.”

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2011/feb11/02-11partnership.mspx

This was always coming with the new CEO appointment but does:

two past missed the boat = one new speed boat?! We'll see:

Please respect FT.com's ts&cs and copyright policy which allow you to: share links; copy content for personal use; & redistribute limited extracts. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights or use this link to reference the article - http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/87803e94-35b3-11e0-b67c-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1DdiNCBke

Nokia and Microsoft in smartphone push

By Andrew Ward in Stockholm

Published: February 11 2011 08:10 Last updated: February 11 2011 08:10

This is a good read from Tim Harford on Nokia and organisations

http://stumblingandmumbling.typepad.com/stumbling_and_mumbling/2011/02/nokia-organizational-capital.html

How to make work-life balance work.

2011-02-10T11:16:00.000Z

Take 10minutes to listen and think:
Nigel Marsh: How to make work-life balance work Video on TED.com
Be realistic, understand the decisions you want to make and the judgements on the way!

Russia’s DST invests where other angels fear to tread

2011-02-03T16:08:00.000Z

This is of broader interest than just the facebook story, read it!

FT.com / Companies / Inside Business - Russia’s DST invests where other angels fear to tread

be creative

2011-02-02T09:59:00.000Z

I LOVE this teaser proposal sent in by students!
Yfrog Photo : yfrog.com/h2rsjynj - Shared by Kirsty_Henshaw

I found this via a twitter post, below, really makes you think about impact and reputation!

Kirsty_Henshaw Worthenshaws Freedom

How cool is this? Sent by some students from southampton. Very different, slightly strange but great http://yfrog.com/h2rsjynj

FT.com / Middle East & North Africa - Egyptians gather for ‘one million march’

2011-02-01T10:46:00.000Z

Can we see a Gandhi style leadership emerge from this people power.

FT.com / Middle East & North Africa - Egyptians gather for ‘one million march’

These historic days we hope will show entrenched leaders of the past how to create a transition legacy or simply be moved aside by people who know what they want; Peace, freedom, human rights, womens rights, anticoruption, civil society and democracy.

When we look back in 10 years time, what will we see of today, of yesterday and of our own democracy as well as the lack of it in these regions.

Next the march for the rest of sub saharan Africa!!

Explosive news: "Hydrogen Town Project" to Test the Viability of a Hydrogen Powered Society

2011-01-25T21:15:00.000Z

Japan Launches "Hydrogen Town Project" to Test the Viability of a Hydrogen Powered Society

How to Jump-Start the Clean-Tech Economy - Harvard Business Review

2011-01-17T15:26:00.000Z

I found this in HBR:

"Like Edison’s, our framework for thinking about new systems consists of four interdependent and mutually reinforcing components: an enabling technology, an innovative business model, a careful market-adoption strategy, and a favorable government policy."

How to Jump-Start the Clean-Tech Economy - Harvard Business Review

....via this:

http://blogs.hbr.org/anthony/2011/01/on_tracking_transformational_trends.html

both are excellent short quick reads!

President Obama's Full Speech at Tucson Memorial

2011-01-13T18:21:00.000Z

22minutes in "....Its not wealth or fame or status or power it whether we have loved....."
YouTube - Watch President Obama's Full Speech at Tucson Memorial

Rough diamonds are our lifeblood

2011-01-06T11:56:00.000Z

FT.com / Management - Rough diamonds are our lifeblood

As George Bernard Shaw said: “All progress, therefore, depends upon the unreasonable man.”

Celebrate every day in 2011!

2011-01-05T10:47:00.000Z

Celebrate!

365 of 2010

2010-12-31T15:36:00.006Z

Well what a year!

Weather chaos at start and finish. Past govt exposed as incompetent for years, no clear winner at election, doubtful coalition get a grip, BP, Banks and Soverign debt, P.I.G.S. and Euro crisis, water leaks and wikileaks, North Korea, China and US politics, Ipad and facebook, twitter and GroupON, whatever next its a right mixed bag.

For me closer to home big issues about the good and bad of the NHS and the care for elderly hit too close to home. Thank goodness some lovely people chose to be nurses and carers.

Men look after your prostrate, your bladder and your marbles. Make sure you have a good pension and a loveing family at hand for when you hit old age. Old age might not be till we are 100 but 60, 70 and 80 can be pretty serious for some. Most of all fight for your health and your rights while staying healthy, sound in diet and sound in mind. Its no joke when your parents, kids or yourself get seriously ill, as there are some seriously inept people out there that dont help in the NHS!!

Good luck in 2011, Im looking forwards to it!!

A fine young man turns into a fine leader of a generation!

2010-12-20T20:44:00.004Z

And a few years ago in the past decade or two he was regarded just as someone who could kick a ball:

http://www.ecademy.com/node.php?id=158360

This is the power of how any young person can grow!

Inequality, instability and unsustainability; All are one!

2010-12-09T11:39:00.003Z

Nick Horslen Bill Cinton TOP3 world issues: "Inequality, instability and unsustainability" - All are one! Triple Bottom Line - Profit, people, planet!

President Clinton on Technology, Wikileaks and the World's Problems

mashable.com

In the closing keynote at Salesforce's Dreamforce conference, former U.S. President Bill Clinton discussed the significance of using technology to solve

Nick Horslen Fortunately its not just billionaires who give something away, 25million volunteers in the UK acount for around £7Bn of GDP contribution to health, education services alone. Sports volunteers accounts for billions too!!
http://www.volunteering.org.uk/magazine/Issues/2005+issues/July+August+2005/features/the-hidden-value-of-voluntee...ring

More billionaires pledge to give away half of their wealth World news The Guardian

www.guardian.co.uk

These items are not just linked through my Triple Bottom Line interests, but through leadership and Winning in your second half, where people deliver so much more once they move beyond their career ambition, career perspective and what they saw as their defining role, self definition!

(See my earlier post on http://www.winnersinthesecondhalf.com/

Cloudy outlook as Google steps up push to rule web

2010-12-09T09:21:00.000Z

This is a good indicator of the current state of play and ambition!
As per earlier postings about the "cloud", its still more about the future than today and it keeps rolling like fog. Fog never turns into a cloud we know that, but the clouds do appear once the fog shifts!
FT.com / Technology - Cloudy outlook as Google steps up push to rule web

OECD global and country growth

2010-12-07T10:25:00.000Z

Business returns OECD Factblog

The OECD figures and charts give room for optimism!

http://www.oecd.org/document/60/0,3343,en_2649_34573_45267516_1_1_1_1,00.html

Great visual representation of global economic and health based progress

2010-12-02T11:40:00.001Z

200 years of remarkable progress across 200 nations and global regions!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbkSRLYSojo&feature=player_embedded

Spain braces itself for a crisis made in Germany

2010-11-30T09:56:00.003Z

Does the good intentions of neighbours eventually lead to a dependency that doesnt endure over the long term. With cycle after cycle the eventual pain comes home. Where is home for those big and small, at the centre or at the periphery, in the anglosaxon or latin tradition!?
FT.com / Comment / Opinion - Spain braces itself for a crisis made in Germany
Is it politics, or economics of societorial I wonder?

The mention of P.I.G.S over a year ago has loomed large in blogs and twitter, mine included. Contagion beyond Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain, seems, as Ive posted before its Italy next:
FT.com / Markets - Debt contagion fears weigh on investor sentiment

This little PIGGY went to market, this little piggy stayed at home, this little piggy went we we we all the way home!

Mike Harris - video tutorials

2010-11-26T20:03:00.000Z

Mike Harris - video tutorials

Follow this guy.
If anyone can help you be a better entrepreneur and leader this guy can. His credentials are exemplar as the ex founder CEO of First Direct, Mercury and Egg to name a few. Garlic being his new company!

Stockdale Paradox

2010-11-26T19:16:00.002Z

Do you know why you succeed, do you know why you fail, do you know what happens next?

The stockdale paradox is like the pendulum that swings, the metronome that ticks, or the scales that do or dont come to balance. On either side is Belief and Rationality, but on either side pushed to far are Delusion and resignation. You need to test both sides and push the space but you need to know what lies beyond when you push to far!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stockdale

"I never lost faith in the end of the story, I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade."^[11]

When Collins asked who didn't make it out of Vietnam, Stockdale replied:

"Oh, that’s easy, the optimists. Oh, they were the ones who said, 'We're going to be out by Christmas.' And Christmas would come, and Christmas would go. Then they'd say, 'We're going to be out by Easter.' And Easter would come, and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart."^[11]

Stockdale then added:

"This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.”^[11]

Witnessing this philosophy of duality, Collins went on to describe it as the Stockdale Paradox.

RSA animate - great stories!

2010-11-20T10:32:00.001Z

Here is a fantastic series of animations put together against other peoples presentations:

YouTube - rsa animate

There are some really interesting topics really well done, from superfrekonomics to Sir Ken Robinson on education.

Green young people

2010-11-20T10:08:00.000Z

Some nice initiatives I heard about through an LA contact

Grades of Green Every shade makes a difference

http://www.greenmyparents.com/

In the UK we are unleashing the green monster!

How to Lose $600 Billion

2010-11-18T10:12:00.002Z

Economy vs Ecology!
Flow and abundance!
Good story to watch the annimation unfold:
Roger Hamilton and Wealth Dynamics: How to Lose $600 Billion

Interesting for entrepreneurs and broader thinking.
At a macro level beware of protectionist thinking though!

Ive commented on FLOW before, powerful in many ways as Malcolm Gladwell has shown in his books in a different context. Read Gladwell!!

Managing Yourself: What Brain Science Tells Us About How to Excel - Harvard Business Review

2010-11-17T15:29:00.000Z

Managing Yourself: What Brain Science Tells Us About How to Excel - Harvard Business Review

Cycle of Excellence

http://hbr.org/2010/12/managing-yourself-what-brain-science-tells-us-about-how-to-excel/ar/1

The process I’ve developed to help kids like Tommy and adults like the three executives I just described is the Cycle of Excellence. It consists of five steps: select the right tasks, connect with colleagues, play with problems, grapple with and grow from challenges, and shine in the acknowledgment of your achievements.

"Worst Practices"

2010-11-17T15:20:00.000Z

Why You Should Focus on "Worst Practices" - Umair Haque - Harvard Business Review

Yes!!

Ask your critics.
Spend a day in the trenches.
Examine your past.
Diet on your own dog food.

Of the last couple of months visitors to my blog this is the break down, thats interesting to me, I wonder what they all thought?

2010-11-17T10:05:00.003Z

Pageviews by Countries

United Kingdom

648

United States

443

Russia

Ukraine

Germany

South Korea

Canada

China

Iraq

Vietnam

Top50 women business leaders - FT Nov 2010

2010-11-17T10:00:00.001Z

Nice interactive chart with good narrative on a lot of diverse ladies:

http://womenatthetop.ft.com/interactive-graphic/top-50

Give Them the Gift of Time and Space - Management Tip of the Day - November 16, 2010 - Harvard Business Review

2010-11-16T11:47:00.000Z

JFDI!!
Give Them the Gift of Time and Space - Management Tip of the Day - November 16, 2010 - Harvard Business Review
They will thank you if not reward you - now there's a challenge!

Facebook expands into e-mail

2010-11-16T11:41:00.000Z

read this FT feature:
FT.com / Technology - Facebook expands into e-mail
and why wouldnt they, they will pick up those future kids and young adults as they get going on the web, start their communication experience and then continue to be the platform for it!
To me thats the way its going, good or bad!

G20 global government, what happened to it?

2010-11-08T15:04:00.001Z

Interesting article, big important issues, not sure I concur with it all but worth reading!

The premise being these seven pillars, constructs or "Seven major axis that divide the world" as the FT tag line put it:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/980b2040-eb43-11df-811d-00144feab49a.html#axzz14hfOzKXB

Surplus versus deficit countries:
Manipulators v manipulated:
Tighteners v splurgers:
Democracies v autocracies:
West v the rest:
Interventionists v souverainistes:
Big v small:

UK has the largest online economy in the world!

2010-11-02T21:19:00.003Z

Linked to the post I made two or three posts below:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet/8091984/UK-has-the-largest-online-economy-in-the-world.html

A reporters view on the Boston Consulting Group report below:

http://www.connectedkingdom.co.uk/downloads/bcg-the-connected-kingdom-oct-10.pdf

11 harsh realities of being an entrepreneur!

2010-11-01T21:56:00.002Z

"Brick walls are there to show you how bad you want something." Randy Pausch.

http://onstartups.com/tabid/3339/bid/17741/The-11-Harsh-Realities-Of-Being-An-Entrepreneur.aspx

Lunch with the FT: Bill Gates

2010-10-30T09:05:00.001Z

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/67672314-e2e0-11df-9735-00144feabdc0.html

".......But Gates is also worried about the environment, so I ask him if the rapid industrialisation of China is a recipe for environmental disaster. Again, his impulse is to look to technology for a solution: “Short of going to war over this issue, the best way would be to find innovative forms of energy generation”. He is excited by solar and nuclear energy, and mocks those who complain about rising Chinese energy use – “I mean, these Chinese are actually using as much energy per capita as the average in the world today, how dare they! How did that happen? The US uses four times the average and the Brits double. But now these Chinese are trying to use the average.”........"

Britain a ‘nation of digital shopkeepers’

2010-10-28T08:23:00.002Z

This story is particularly rewarding to see:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a7b635f8-e200-11df-a064-00144feabdc0.html

“Britain has become a “nation of digital shopkeepers”, with the internet industry as a whole now the fifth-largest contributor to gross domestic product, according to a report.”

even if it was almost 15 year ago that I was involved in leading the charge:

http://www.microsoft.com/misc/features/features_eChristmas.htm

"This project was a chance for European businesses to roll up their sleeves and do something with electronic commerce, rather than just sit around and hypothesize," Horslen said. "These are pioneering days."

BBC News - Mexican student given police chief role

2010-10-21T08:13:00.001Z

This one student Id really want on my team!

BBC News - Mexican student given police chief role

".....More than 28,000 people have been died in Mexico in drug-related violence since 2006, when the government began deploying troops to combat the cartels. ....."

I wonder what the US and European drug taking community can do to help her and the mexican people? Stop!!!

Mass Localism - discuss!

2010-10-14T14:56:00.005Z

For Green, social and economic reasons 2010+ will see......

*The adoption of a mass localism approach could create

a virtuous circle of effective local action, with greater

impact and savings encouraging a greater emphasis on

locally developed and delivered solutions. The way to resolve

the current concerns over the efficacy of localism is to generate

much more of it, not limit it, and to do so in a systematic way.

.............

Advances in digital communication technologies and the trend

towards more distributed production in other parts of the

economy provide an opportunity for this approach to be much

more widespread. Where previously local solutions faced limits

in their capacity to scale and share experience nationally, now

the tools for leveraging greater impact from local approaches

are more widely available."

http://www.nesta.org.uk/library/documents/MassLocalism_Feb2010.pdf

Digging thru the archive

2010-10-13T13:46:00.010Z

Within this blog of the past 5 or 6 years there are still some gems you might not see from a flick or scroll through, so feel free to use the search box above which with terms like these below will deliver selected articles:

Economic http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/search?q=economic

Entrepreneur http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/search?q=entrepreneur
Eco http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/search?q=eco
GAIA http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/searchh?q=gaia
Social http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/search?q=social

etc
etc

If you click on any of these links it will return this article but with a list of different articles below it, scroll down now....

Please post comments if the blog proves interesting!

FT.com / Technology - Google to invest in wind power

2010-10-12T15:15:00.000Z

FT.com / Technology - Google to invest in wind power

Leadership, inspired:

"....

Google said it will make a large-scale investment to harness offshore wind power in a move that shows the search giant continues to diverge from its core business.

The company said that it would join forces with Good Energies and Japan’s Marubeni Corporation to finance the project that will create miles of underwater cables to transport energy from wind farms to US cities. Trans-Elect, an independent transmission company, will lead the project and Google is investing in 37.5 per cent of the equity for the initial development of the project.!

......"

Trio shares Nobel prize for economics

2010-10-11T13:10:00.000Z

FT.com / Global Economy - Trio shares Nobel prize for economics

"As the world struggles to recover from the financial crisis, the Nobel prize for economics has been awarded to three researchers whose work explains how market frictions can hinder the smooth functioning of the economy and its ability to adjust to shocks.

The laureates – Peter Diamond, Dale Mortenson and Christopher Pissarides – have made fundamental contributions to understanding how supply and demand are matched when there are transactions or search costs involved.

Their “search and matching” theories show that it is not enough to have buyers and sellers who can in principle agree on a price; those buyers and sellers must also find each other and decide to enter into a transaction rather than hold out for a better match. "

Futurists view on transport for 2040 timescales

2010-10-08T08:14:00.002Z

This post is someone elses from a forum i follow, it shows the value of social media AND futurists thinking, much of which i aspire to in the sort of things i choose to post on the blog. Excuse the plagiarism, as we know 99% of stuff posted on the web is not original thinking, but we keep trying:

Brian Pomeroy • We futurists sure love flying cars! I don't know if we'll see them by 2040, but we may see some of these transportation concepts instead:

"Pod cars" proposed by GM for congested cities (think souped-up Segways):
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/03/general-motors-en-v

A perpetually moving bullet train that picks up and drops off whole passenger compartments:
http://softhunder.blogspot.com/2010/04/train-that-never-stops-at-station.html

From China, a straddling bus/train that rides overtop auto traffic:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/02/3d-express-coach-pictures_n_667452.html

"SkyTran", a zero-emission mag-lev monorail that uses individual cars, proposed for Los Angeles:
http://www.unimodal.com/PlaySkytran.html

Many of these innovations will be driven from a future in which fossil fuels are increasingly scarce:
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/feature/2009/09/24/oil/index.html

Tesla the Car Company of the Future

2010-09-29T10:22:00.000Z

How Elon Musk Turned Tesla Into the Car Company of the Future Magazine
The man from PayPal puts his money on the accelerator!!

"....Now, on his second visit to the plant—his first as its owner—Musk is trying to get his bearings. Just five weeks earlier, Tesla had gone public, netting $238 million and making it the first American car company to complete an initial public offering since Ford in 1956. As a result, the company has access to more than $700 million, a significant portion of which will go toward retrofitting the facility. It’s a daunting task. Musk walks past row after row of motionless robotic drills. A multiton crane stands idle beside a 60-foot-tall steel press. The ceiling soars high overhead, making even the press look somehow small. For a moment, Musk appears overwhelmed by what he’s gotten himself into.

“Holy crap, this place is big,” he says, but then he flashes a smile. “It’s perfect.”

....."

An inspired story ive followed for 4 yrs now:

http://nickhorslen.blogspot.com/search?q=tesla

wordle my blog

2010-09-23T09:26:00.000Z

H2O - Walk for water, walk for life

2010-09-23T08:33:00.000Z

H2O - Walk for water, walk for life

what a cool idea for water sustainability!!

In this country at this time of year you could even do it in the rain ;-)

FT.com / US / Economy & Fed - Downturn longest since Great Depression

2010-09-21T08:00:00.001Z

FT.com / US / Economy & Fed - Downtu

The longest US recession since the Great Depression

officially ended in June 2009

, the body charged with dating US business cycles said on Monday.

The National Bureau of Economic Research said that the recession lasted 18 months, from December 2007 to June 2009. That was longer than the 16 months of the 1973-75 and 1981-82 recessions.

The announcement highlights the extraordinary length of the recession that began when the collapse of the subprime mortgage market triggered the most severe financial crisis since 1929.nday.rn longest since Great Depression

Questioning the dominant paradigm

2010-09-17T08:45:00.002Z

Great story for any creative person in art, business or politics:

YouTube - Obama And Pop Culture (watch the last section especially)

Just get out there and "question the dominant paradigm" either; art, media, politics, business or success!

I wasnt aware of the story behind this poster until i stumbled on this video via a great blog!

http://artmacguffin.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html

Crowd Accelerated Learning

2010-09-15T14:42:00.002Z

Its real interesting the more i think about it, see 3 below!!

we live in inventive times - people just talking

2010-09-15T14:39:00.001Z

The nick_horslen Daily is out! http://bit.ly/cmdnK5 ▸ Top story : NASA -Exploration Analog Missions

...........how about having your twitter as a newspaper, interesting http://paper.li/nick_horslen check my paper or just do yours on http://paper.li

........even microsoft has come up with a cool ap for twitter http://archivist.visitmix.com and the interactive charts it produces are pretty cool!!

Download Build Your Business Now – The Toolkit | Doug Richard's School for Startups

2010-09-15T14:27:00.000Z

Download Build Your Business Now – The Toolkit Doug Richard's School for Startups

Crowd Accelerated Learning - the future created by the web!

2010-09-14T21:11:00.000Z

the last feature in the last two minutes regards kenya and local people dealing with local problems and sharing the learning in brilliant!!
Chris Anderson: How web video powers global innovation Video on TED.com

check the kenya example out, great videos, all from the peoples mobiles! Powerful!!

Kibera Film School

CEO's - playful little things!!

2010-09-13T13:29:00.001Z

FT.com / Columnists / Lucy Kellaway - Why CEOs cry all the way to the bank

"This is because he accords perfectly with a brand new theory of leadership that is surprising, radical, yet utterly compelling. This theory says that the best CEOs are just like toddlers......

.....It is a splendid start but I feel there are more traits that the finest CEOs share with two-year-olds. They are assertive and jolly good at saying no. They are not hamstrung by inhibitions. They will march straight up to someone and say: “Who are you?” They are good at making decisions. They don’t need Malcolm Gladwell to tell them to trust their instincts.....

....There is one final way in which the toddler is a great role model for the CEO: language. Toddlers say what they mean and say it simply. They never feel tempted to dwell on paradigm shifts or value stacks or synergies. "

Be yourself. Be successful!!

Smart young people and business!!

2010-09-10T12:44:00.001Z

here's a great story about how kids at school set up a business, made money, addressed child obesity and improve the environment, triple bottom line in action and they havent even reach the age to apply for a job yet, GO GENY&Z. We need more of them for our next generation businesses!!

http://www.young-enterprise.org.uk/news/tab:news/art

Small business Supply and Demand

2010-09-09T11:28:00.003Z

For the only thing that matters to a small business, managing supply and demand, check both these tools out, along with the other web2.0 SaaS stuff ive posted before over the mnoths and years:

http://www.eventbrite.com/

http://www.constantcontact.com/

...along with your social media facebook, twitter, linkedin,, blogging, not to mention your RSS, Tags, googleAds and Adwords, etc and if you want some more informed advice beyond me I can recommend http://tonytreacy.co.uk/

Manasge your awareness, audience and community well and you will reward them and they will reward you!

FT.com / Companies / Property - Audio slideshow: The City’s changing skyline

2010-09-07T14:03:00.000Z

FT.com / Companies / Property - Audio slideshow: The City’s changing skyline

With an ongoing interest in charter cities, as they may emerge, and the leadership in china towards joined up sustainable cities (both economically, socially and environmentally) this forms an interesting audio dity on that journey!

DCA: freshwater factory

2010-07-30T19:21:00.000Z

DCA: freshwater factory

parisian firm design crew for architecture (DCA) created 'freshwater factory',
a proposal for the 2010 skyscraper competition.

Very cool, would love to see this happen and to visit it!

Khan Academy: More on Entropy

2010-07-28T19:58:00.000Z

Khan Academy: More on Entropy

these video's are pretty interesting, if you want to be continuously educated. The internet is so powerful thanks to people!

http://www.khanacademy.org/

Britain: Plays well with others

2010-07-27T11:12:00.000Z

FT.com / Comment / Analysis - Britain: Plays well with others

Some really interesting angles on the change in politics after a short honeymoon!

web2.0 advice for business

2010-07-15T14:20:00.002Z

Getting your e-business understanding together and building a strategy to execute on can be a challenge for small business people that do not understand social media and web2.0 so if you wonder about linkedin, facebook, twitter, youtube, blogs, rss, tags, wiki's etc just have a quick browse on google or my archive.

I dont use the business link website much but this looks like a good intro over the area of how to think about web2.0 for your small business:

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?topicId=1081903314&site=210&r.s=e&r.lc=en&r.i=5001600362&r.t=ONEOFFPAGE

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?site=210&r.s=sc&r.l1=1073858796&r.lc=en&r.l3=1081903314&r.l2=1074298365&type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081921480

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?site=210&r.s=sc&r.l1=1073858796&r.lc=en&r.l3=1081903314&r.l2=1074298365&r.i=1081921480&type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081921390&r.t=RESOURCES

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?site=210&r.s=sc&r.l1=1073858796&r.lc=en&r.l3=1081903314&r.l2=1074298365&r.i=1081921390&type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081921728&r.t=RESOURCES

Video case study:

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?site=210&r.s=sc&r.l1=1073858796&r.lc=en&r.l3=1081903314&r.l2=1074298365&r.i=1081921728&type=CASE STUDIES&itemId=1082209261&r.t=RESOURCEs

Tesla shares in strong demand after IPO

2010-06-29T18:07:00.000Z

Wonderful story that ive been tracking for a few years!

FT.com / Companies / Automobiles - Tesla shares in st

The carmaker, based in San Carlos, CA, had on Monday increased the number of shares it was selling to 13.3m from 11.1m and said they would be priced at $17 each, higher than the $14 to $16 range it had previously estimated.

Tesla plans to use the IPO proceeds to help fund its move into production of a mass-market saloon car, the Model S, which will cost about $50,000 including a US government subsidy for plug-in cars.

Hints and tips care of the FT: The keys to web selling

2010-06-29T09:02:00.001Z

FT.com / Entrepreneurship - The keys to web selling

"..........
One avenue many e-commerce business owners do not think to tap, however, is the group of people that have already come to their company’s website, considered buying something but left before completing the transaction...............

One strategy is to email customers who fill a basket on the Glasses Direct website but leave without making a purchase, asking them whether they need any help. This alone has produced a 20 per cent increase in sales among that group."

I strongly recommend the low cost simple to use http://www.constantcontact.com/ SaaS solution, gives you great email and newsletter response information and helps you track specific customers to target their behaviours and needs!

BBC Entrepreneur video series, start with Max Levchin, Slide

2010-06-28T21:28:00.002Z

BBC News - Max Levchin, Slide

There are a whole host of video case studies on this site for entrepreneurs, which is great, Max speaks really well and has the sort of experience and success to die for!

Interestingly out of PayPal also came SpaceX which help fund Tesla, two other companies ive tracked and commented on over the years. Check out Elon Musk at SpaceX and his PayPal link. www.spacex.com/company.php#spacev_people and dont forget http://www.teslamotors.com/

MarketMeTweet - Social Networking for Real Business

2010-06-28T15:35:00.000Z

MarketMeTweet - Social Networking for Real Business

Having been a Tweetdeck user for a year or more, this one looks very interesting.
Al;ong with tools like constant contact these are the sorts of tools small business people should take a little time to understand and take advantage of. LinkedIn being the other big one.

Equally this demo shows how they use youtube and you can so easily do the same and use youtube to promote your product or even train visitors.

www.constantcontact.com
www.linkedin.com
www.youtube.com

Its not new but this is the way of business whatever industry you are in.

Check out www.tonytreacy.co.uk and www.networksunday.com as other small support providers!

Think about it!

TED Blog: TEDx organizers tackle the Gulf oil spill

2010-06-15T17:20:00.000Z

A certain "black solution" needs a clear solution to resolve not only the stopping and cleaning but also the future prevention. As a TED fan I know they will add to the solution - can you? Check out TED and the TEDx local approach!!

TED Blog: TEDx organizers tackle the Gulf oil spill

The web in action - social media, video, debate and all!

US see the triple bottom line being hit

2010-06-14T16:21:00.000Z

People, our Planet and Profits are all taking a hit with this one!

Lives, wildlife, the ocean and atmosphere and tax/pension/investment/jobs are all tarred by the black sticky stuff.

Reputation and responsibility at a Company/board/worker level, at a political level, at a human/local level is painful!

BBC News - Oil spill 'will shape how US thinks about environment'

Will lessons be learned, will we all change our way of thinking as we did after 911?

Football - the beautiful game!! South Africa 2010 Fifa World Cup

2010-06-11T13:37:00.000Z

The power of the game, the power of people!!

Latest World Cup News South Africa 2010 Fifa World Cup

What this has and can do for the people of South Africa is fantastic! What it will do for the rest of us, lets hold our breath and hope for our teams but INSPIRED we are!!

Love for Africa! Care for Africa!!