Why I hate the internet

It may sound like an odd thing to say for an individual who lives and breathes the Internet in both his personal and professional life, but it's true - I am not a fan of the Internet.

Sure I see the benefits. I use it every day. It's a networking tool. A general knowledge hub. A sales tool. An awareness engine. The list goes on. But I'm still angry at the damned thing. Here's why...

Do you support a charity... or a brand?

Giving is good – regardless of what you're donating. Hard earned cash or time out of your day, if you're able, giving to help those less fortunate than you is an important thing to do. But here's the clincher: the things you are giving have value. So how do you know that you're spending wisely

Think of it in terms of investment. If you're taking time to invest your resources in a cause, improving the wellbeing of someone or something else, you're going to want a return. You're going to want to know that an impact is felt. Brand, as with most things, has a huge part to play in helping you form a decision on the charity you're going to support. But it's important not to let marketing hype cloud your vision.

Why Costa is EVIL

A suitably Halloweeny title you might say. But this post (*rant) is one of personal perspective regarding something I am truly passionate about. It's about something many blue and white collar workers are probably passionate about. Something that, for many, is the fuel for the fires of business. Coffee.

You see, good coffee - I mean truly good coffee - is something of a rarity in my opinion. Much of it tastes the same. Most of it is commercialised, mass produced sludge of indiscernible flavour. For years I would only brew my own at home which was cheaper. Better. More fulfilling. Then something changed. I got busy. My mornings started earlier. Home-brewed coffee became a weekend indulgence. So, for my sins, I turned to the coffee houses for my morning pick-me-up (and my mid-morning; elevenses; lunch; late lunch; mid-afternoon; afternoon; and home time pick-me-ups for that matter).