South Africa – Gabriel Catalano®

Heineken Rugby World

‘Continental Shift,’ an advertising campaign starting the countdown to the opening game of Rugby World Cup 2007 in Paris on September 7th. Heineken will once again be the Official Beer of the Rugby World Cup and holds Official Sponsor status.

Supporter roars a war cry in Heineken Rugby World Cup TV ad

Referring to their new campaign theme ‘One World, One Cup, One Beer’, Heineken presents a TV commercial in which thousands of fans from all over the world show their passion for the game of rugby and for Heineken beer. The television commercial was shot in a number of iconic locations around the world, and is based around the idea that rugby fans will do anything to get to Rugby World Cup 2007. The result: they scrum down together to shift the world’s continents closer to Paris.

Click on the image below to play the video in YouTube

Melinda Eskell, Manager Heineken Brand Communication commented, “Bates Singapore have done a great job with the new campaign. It creates a unique atmosphere around the tournament and will bring enjoyment to Heineken rugby fans around the world. We want to show the epic nature of this world-class event and our world-class beer. It’s all about fans, the game and our beer working as one to literally bring the world closer together. Leer más “Heineken Rugby World”

business.time.com | What Should Be Done About Growing Inequality?

business.time.com

America is becoming more unequal economically, and most people find that disturbing. Indeed, the trend toward greater inequality has been one of the consistent themes of the election campaign. Some believe that inequality is necessary to reward hard work, achievement and entrepreneurship but think that the current level is too extreme. Others blame unfair tax policies and see the extent of today’s inequality as a sign that the government has abandoned the goal of equal opportunity.

In fact, whenever inequality increases in a society, there are both good reasons for the trend — that is, reasons we should not discourage — as well as bad ones. To best address the genuine problems caused by inequality today, it’s essential to identify the bad reasons and focus on reducing those.

First, though, let’s be clear: there’s no doubt that the very richest in the U.S. have been getting richer. One of the often quoted indicators, albeit a simplistic one, is the share of pretax income going to the top 1% of the population. These data suggest that the U.S. was most equal right before the oil crisis hit in the early 1970s, and that it has since returned to levels of inequality not seen since the Great Depression.

More sophisticated indicators, like the Gini coefficient, also show the U.S. becoming notably more unequal. As a generality, countries such as Brazil and South Africa rate high on this scale, while most European countries have lower levels of inequality. The U.S. is in between – at almost the same level as China. Prior to 1980, the U.S. was much closer to the European level, and some countries — such as France and Italy — actually had higher levels of inequality at that time.

Leer más “business.time.com | What Should Be Done About Growing Inequality?”

Retaining Great Employees: It’s Not About the Money

Written by Mansur Hasib

As IT managers and leaders, it is our job to foster the professional growth of everyone who works on our team. If we do not do this we are failing as leaders.

I have had many discussions on the topic of training with both employees and managers. Many IT managers are afraid that certifications will make their employees more marketable and allow them to find better opportunities. Employees are frustrated that their managers do not allow them to grow and so eventually they leave to find better opportunities to learn and to grow professionally.

When I was negotiating my budget as a CIO, I asked for and received $2,000 per year for every employee that could only be used for travel or training. It required the consultation of supervisors and could be used for a conference or even a certification. Since some training is more expensive, employees were allowed to trade and give someone their training dollars for one year so they could get it back from the recipient in a subsequent year. At times I was able to recruit someone simply because I had this guaranteed annual training benefit.

Leer más “Retaining Great Employees: It’s Not About the Money”

Facebook Mobile Hits 543 Million Users [Update]

http://www.socialbakers.com

With the Facebook Mobile application becoming faster, how fast is its user base growing?

In May, the Facebook Mobile application for mobile devices had 488 million users. And by the end of June, it reached 543 million monthly active users. That represents a 57% Facebook mobile penetration from the 955 million strong user base.

Faster Application = Faster Growth?

The application has been often criticized for being too slow and unresponsive, but about two weeks ago, Facebook issued a massive update to its iOS app and it is now much faster and easier to use. Not to mention that iPads finally support Timeline and it looks great on the retina screen. Facebook for Android has also gone through a smaller update resulting in faster photo uploads.

Mobile Platforms – The Biggest Changes

North America continues to be the strongest Facebook Mobile continent with over 161 million monthly active users and South Africa, Nigeria and Japan still rule the ranking of the countries with the highest Facebook Mobile penetration. But check out the numbers concerning the penetration of individual mobile platforms! During the last quarter, Facebook for Android has grown the most in absolute numbers (22.5 million new users) and iPad increased its mobile Facebook base by 45%! Now that Timeline is available for iPad, it will be interesting to see how the numbers grow.

Facebook Mobile Infographic

Check out, Share and Like the infographic below and compare it to the results we issued in May.

An Opinionated Lead Gen Landing Page Discussion

http://unbounce.com

This page is actually a microsite with 4 pages – click the image to see them all.

In this post Carlos and myself (Oli) are going to analyze one of our customers –Vinoetic.com – landing pages (after they opted to allow us to get our opinionated hands on it). Our goal is for it to be an educational exercise that can hopefully help improve the page, but let’s have a little fun too, shall we? We’ll be scoring each point in our discussion with + or – points to arrive at a total score and we’ll be arguing on certain points to show that everyone has a different opinion – which shows the importance of testing.

Warning for the creator of the page: There are going to be some criticisms, but our goal is for this to be useful to you so that you can have a more successful campaign in the future.

Let the battle commence!

1. The Main Headline… Leer más “An Opinionated Lead Gen Landing Page Discussion”

Win the Pitch: Tips from Mastercard’s “Priceless” Pitchman

http://blogs.hbr.org

As a growth officer in my early career with the mad men and women of McCann Ericksson, my mom could never quite grasp what I did for a living. But, when we pitched, won and delivered the phenomenon now globally known as Priceless for MasterCard, she could finally brag to her friends at my Aunt Rose‘s kitchen table. From the moment the very first television commercial appeared (You remember it, right? “Two tickets: $28. Two hot dogs, two popcorns, two sodas: $18. One autographed baseball: $45. Real conversation with 11-year-old son: Priceless.”), Mom told practically anyone who would listen that I wrote and executed the entire campaign single-handedly. My role, in fact (promise not to tell her) was that of the Pitchman.

In one of the industry’s most hotly-contested advertising accounts, dozens of agencies’ pitches were winnowed down to two contenders. In a surprising twist, MasterCard declared that the agency with the highest score in consumer testing would win. The heart-wrenching result: Our Pricelesscampaign did not test well. In an act of courage, and confidence, the MasterCard team awarded us the business anyway. When I asked Larry Flanagan, who went on to become MasterCard’s celebrated CMO, about their decision to award us the business for the Priceless campaign, he said, “We bonded because McCann Eriksson understood the deep desire of the MasterCard customer, but they understood MasterCard’s deep desire, too.”

We all make pitches every day — for that highly-prized account; to a client who’s reluctant to accept your scary proposal; for a skeptical CFO to loosen the purse strings; or for a wary new team to believe in you. Here’s what I’ve learned about winning pitches like these… Leer más “Win the Pitch: Tips from Mastercard’s “Priceless” Pitchman”

South Africa: New Reports Chart Progress – and Costs – in HIV Fight

Funding shortage

The HST also launched the South African Health Review, an independent review of the public health sector funded by the South African government. While the report notes that spending has increased substantially since 2007, it predicts the country will need up to US$5.3 billion extra every year to sustain its response, particularly treatment.

The review notes that this year alone the government will spend about $3.1 million on HIV and AIDS; less than a fourth of this comes from donors such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria or the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

The South African government already shoulders about 80 percent of its HIV treatment costs domestically and authors of the review predict that treatment will be the main driver of the escalating costs of the country’s response.

In late 2009, the World Health Organization revised its HIV treatment guidelines to recommend that people living with HIV start treatment sooner, at CD4 counts – a measure of the immune system’s strength – of 350 or below. Since then, South Africa has gradually fallen into line, first extending earlier treatment to at-risk groups, such as pregnant women and TB patients in 2010 and finally to all patients in 2011. While activists bemoaned the wait, policy-makers argued they had to make sure the country, which shoulders about 80 percent of its treatment costs domestically, could afford it.

As of March 2011, about 1.5 million people were on ARVs in South Africa. The review expects that number to rise to about three

http://allafrica.com

Johannesburg — Mothers, babies and newly diagnosed HIV patients are receiving more of the services they need but progress comes at a cost, according to a new report that predicts a funding shortfall for HIV treatment in South Africa.

On 23 February, the Health Systems Trust released the latest versions of its annual District Health Barometer and South African Health Review.

Although in its sixth year of publication, this year’s barometer is the first to include data on early infant HIV testing for babies born to HIV-positive mothers and shows that about half of all babies born to HIV-positive mothers are now being tested for the virus at six weeks of age, an important step to ensuring they access the early HIV treatment recommended for all children younger than one under national guidelines. In 2009, only about a quarter of such babies were being tested using the sensitive polymerase chain reaction – tests that confirm whether HIV-exposed infants are HIV-positive.

The report also found that almost all pregnant women are now tested for HIV, which has helped lower mother-to-child HIV transmission to below 4 percent in the country.

The latest barometer is also the first to include data on tuberculosis (TB) screening among newly diagnosed HIV patients. In 2008, only about a third of new HIV patients were screened for TB; in 2011 about 70 percent were checked.

People who have both HIV and carry latent TB are up to 30 times more likely to develop active TB as their HIV-negative peers and TB remains the leading cause of death in South Africa and among people living with HIV worldwide. Leer más “South Africa: New Reports Chart Progress – and Costs – in HIV Fight”

¿Cuál es el mejor hosting para mi empresa? – infografía

A la hora de elegir el mejor servicio de hosting para una página web hay que tener en cuenta diversas cuestiones, como la finalidad que tendrá la página web o si se recibirán picos de tráfico inesperados. Esta infografía ayuda a elegir el servicio más apropiado para cada página web.

Así, por ejemplo, los sitios dedicados al comercio electrónico no utilizarán el mismo hosting que aquellos cuya finalidad sea la imagen de marca o las redes sociales. Además, también influyen detalles como la seguridad, si se aceptarán pagos, la reputación del negocio…

TICbeat

http://cloud.ticbeat.com

A la hora de elegir el mejor servicio de hosting para una página web hay que tener en cuenta diversas cuestiones, como la finalidad que tendrá la página web o si se recibirán picos de tráfico inesperados. Esta infografía ayuda a elegir el servicio más apropiado para cada página web.

Así, por ejemplo, los sitios dedicados al comercio electrónico no utilizarán el mismo hosting que aquellos cuya finalidad sea la imagen de marca o las redes sociales. Además, también influyen detalles como la seguridad, si se aceptarán pagos, la reputación del negocio…

(Haz clic en la imagen para ampliar)

Infografía: Rackspace.

Website Wikileaks publishes ‘9/11 messages’

A website has published what it says are 573,000 intercepted pager messages sent during the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

Wikileaks says it will not reveal who gave it the messages – some of which are from federal agencies as well as ordinary citizens.

Internet analysts say they believe the messages are genuine but federal authorities have refused to comment.

The attacks on 11 September 2001 left nearly 3,000 people dead.

The messages are being published over a 24-hour period, ending at 0800GMT on Thursday. They are being released simultaneously on Wikileaks and social networking site Twitter.

‘Live’ broadcast The website is broadcasting each message at the time it was sent originally in 2001.

The first message was from 0300 local time (0800 GMT), five hours before the first attack in New York and the last 24 hours later.

The messages are not all about the attacks. Some are mundane questions about what people are having for lunch.

However, many are about the deadly plane attacks and range from people trying to find out if their loved ones are safe, to government messages, to computer server errors.

They include messages such as…

: Image via Wikipedia

By BBC News[1]

A website has published what it says are 573,000 intercepted pager messages sent during the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

Wikileaks says it will not reveal who gave it the messages – some of which are from federal agencies as well as ordinary citizens.

Internet analysts say they believe the messages are genuine but federal authorities have refused to comment.

The attacks on 11 September 2001 left nearly 3,000 people dead.

The messages are being published over a 24-hour period, ending at 0800GMT on Thursday. They are being released simultaneously on Wikileaks and social networking site Twitter.

‘Live’ broadcast The website is broadcasting each message at the time it was sent originally in 2001.

The first message was from 0300 local time (0800 GMT), five hours before the first attack in New York and the last 24 hours later.

The messages are not all about the attacks. Some are mundane questions about what people are having for lunch.

However, many are about the deadly plane attacks and range from people trying to find out if their loved ones are safe, to government messages, to computer server errors.

They include messages such as… Leer más “Website Wikileaks publishes ‘9/11 messages’”

Unusual and Bizarre Street Art by Robin Rhode

This post is dedicated to South African artist Robin Rhode who is famous for his marvelous street art. He has taken the street art to a totally new level of creativity with his imagination and skills.
Robin Rhode does magic tricks with everyday material like chalk, charcoal or paint to create creative and interesting stories and then very imaginatively adds up actors in his play to make it even more grabbing.
Let’s have a look at some of his excellent street arts that would take you to the world of imagination and creativity. Feel free to share your opinion via comment box below.

Posted by WDCore Editorial

Leer más “Unusual and Bizarre Street Art by Robin Rhode”

Great Ads of the 2010 World Cup

The world cup in South Africa continues to be one of the hottest events of the summer and the fascination for this event continues strong as we approach the finals.

Last week we featured the best website designs for the 2010 World Cup (check it out if you haven’t done so yet) and this week we continue with this theme.

In this post, we’re featuring some great ads made for this worldwide event that you can use for fun and inspiration.

The world cup in South Africa continues to be one of the hottest events of the summer and the fascination for this event continues strong as we approach the finals.

Last week we featured the best website designs for the 2010 World Cup (check it out if you haven’t done so yet) and this week we continue with this theme.

In this post, we’re featuring some great ads made for this worldwide event that you can use for fun and inspiration.

Dutch Football Federation T-Shirt

Leer más “Great Ads of the 2010 World Cup”

Hilarious FIFA World Cup Advertising 2010

In 2010 South Africa has given chance of hosting unforgettable memories of FIFA Football World Cup. World is holding its breath to witness. The Striking FIFA Game creating thrilling on the biggest canvas of FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Hare are Fresh Collection of the most Creative and Hilarious Unforgettable FIFA World Cup Advertising campaigns from all over the world.

You must have Javascript enabled in your browser for many of the features to work on this site.

Hare are Fresh Collection of the most Creative and Hilarious Unforgettable FIFA World Cup Advertising campaigns from all over the world.

THRILL AFRICA, THRILL FOOT ! KENAKO SOUTH AFRICA !

World Cup Kenako Africa Lady Skyscraper

Leer más “Hilarious FIFA World Cup Advertising 2010”

Puma vs. Puma

Y van 50 años de conflicto. Ahí es nada. Para los seguidores de las marcas -sea marca producto o marca corporativa-, la lucha de la marca Puma por encontrar su territorio en España -en la enmarañada jungla leal española- es mítica. ¿Os acordáis cuando Borris Becker, cuando era el Nadal de las pistas, antes de hacerse socio honorario del mile high club con una modelo con epiglotis de pelícano -y los que no entiendan la metáfora, no deberían haberla leído, en primer lugar- anunciaba las zapatillas con el logo del PUMA saltando, haciendo énfasis en DASLER PUMA?

por Nacho Villoch

puma

Y van 50 años de conflicto. Ahí es nada. Para los seguidores de las marcas -sea marca producto o marca corporativa-, la lucha de la marca Puma por encontrar su territorio en España -en la enmarañada jungla leal española- es mítica. ¿Os acordáis cuando Borris Becker, cuando era el Nadal de las pistas, antes de hacerse socio honorario del mile high club con una modelo con epiglotis de pelícano –y los que no entiendan la metáfora, no deberían haberla leído, en primer lugar– anunciaba las zapatillas con el logo del PUMA saltando, haciendo énfasis en DASLER PUMA?

Leer más “Puma vs. Puma”

David Beckham for England Manager

It sounds crazy but the FA could do worse than appoint David Beckham as their new England manager. Is there anywhere that he isn’t these days? Supporting the troops in Iraq, smoozing with Prince Harry and Price William, cheerleading England more than Fabio Capello was during yesterdays painful 4-1 defeat to Germany….

As well as being arguably the number one celebrity brand in the UK (and he’s up there in the world rankings), it made me think…

“In these tough times, people are more likely to trust David Beckham than David Cameron”.

Run the national football team, fix the economy, win us the world cup bid for 2018, help organise London 2012. At what point in the future might he also let us know that he’s actually planning to run for prime minister?

by jeremywaite

As well as being arguably the number one celebrity brand in the UK (and he’s up there in the world rankings), it made me think…

“In these tough times, people are more likely to trust David Beckham than David Cameron”.

The Best Website Designs of the 2010 World Cup

The World Cup is currently taking place in South Africa and people all over the world are glued to television sets at home, in bars and in town squares, to watch their country play.

The World Cup is actually everywhere one looks – all over TV, the Internet and even supermarket products.

A lot of interesting graphic design is coming out of the World Cup, so we’ve put together a compilation of some of the best designed World Cup 2010 websites. We’ve also included a few African websites for more inspiration.

Drop us a comment and let us know which of these websites you like the best, and if you know of any other inspirational World Cup sites ones that we may have missed.

The World Cup is currently taking place in South Africa and people all over the world are glued to television sets at home, in bars and in town squares, to watch their country play.

The World Cup is actually everywhere one looks – all over TV, the Internet and even supermarket products.

A lot of interesting graphic design is coming out of the World Cup, so we’ve put together a compilation of some of the best designed World Cup 2010 websites. We’ve also included a few African websites for more inspiration.

Drop us a comment and let us know which of these websites you like the best, and if you know of any other inspirational World Cup sites ones that we may have missed. Leer más “The Best Website Designs of the 2010 World Cup”

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Faster Application = Faster Growth?

Mobile Platforms – The Biggest Changes

Facebook Mobile Infographic

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1. The Main Headline… Leer más “An Opinionated Lead Gen Landing Page Discussion”

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Dutch Football Federation T-Shirt

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THRILL AFRICA, THRILL FOOT ! KENAKO SOUTH AFRICA !

World Cup Kenako Africa Lady Skyscraper

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