Security Links: 2008-02-07

1. Cloned Trucks - Criminals are using cloned FedEx, Wal-Mart, etc trucks to bypass security.
2. VoIP Threats - Threats in using Voice over IP
3. NSA Monitoring U.S. Government Internet Traffic

Meaningful Play - Akoha

Congrats to my friend Austin Hill, as his latest venture Akoha is finally coming out from behind curtain. Also checkout their blog, which is a perfect example of blogging as soon as a company is coming out of stealth mode.

Looking forward to some Play It Forward and Meaningful Play from Akoha. (note: Love the two wonderful catch-phrases. Creative and to-the-point.)

P.S. I am also very much looking forward to Austin's own blog entries as he has now promised to blog more. Hey Austin, I am going to hold you to that promise. (smile)

David K. P. Li, et al - Paid SEC $24m to settle illegal insider trading charges

Here is an excerpt from a New York Times report (emphasis mine),

A former Dow Jones & Company director [David K. P. Li] and three associates will pay more than $24 million to settle charges that the associates traded illegally on inside knowledge of the News Corporation’s takeover of Dow Jones, federal regulators announced on Tuesday.

David K. P. Li, a powerful financial and civic figure in Hong Kong who sat on the Dow Jones board, passed news of the offer to a friend on a flight last April from Hong Kong to Shanghai, 18 days before the takeover bid became public knowledge, the Securities and Exchange Commission asserted in a civil complaint.

[via WSJ Law Blog]

Mr. Li, "a powerful financial and civic figure in Hong Kong", currently sits on the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and the Executive Council. It seems the honourable and right thing for Mr. Li to do is to resign from both councils. If not, the HK government should face up to this problem and seek remedy to have Mr. Li removed from both Councils.

While technically there was no admission of any wrongdoing by the four involved but their payment of $24 million dollars to the US SEC was not small change even for the rich and powerful. It just seems the optics is really bad and a quick resign may be the best option left for Mr. Li. A protracted fight may make Mr. Li look worst in the eyes of the public.

When should a company start blogging?

Recently I've been talking to a few friends about corporate blogging. And I thought this may make a good blog entry. So here it goes.

My current thinking is that a company should start blogging as soon as it is known to the public (i.e. out of "stealth mode") and have insights to share with its customers, potential customers, and the public at large.

Should a company wait for the "perfect moment", "perfect blog entry", "perfect ..." to start blogging? I don't think a company should wait as I think Bruce Mau got it right in his "An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth",

"9. Begin anywhere. John Cage tells us that not knowing where to begin is a common form of paralysis. His advice: begin anywhere."

I don't think there is a "right way" to corporate blog. There are as many ways to blog as there are different companies, different personalities and personal tastes, preferences, etc. for different blog writers and companies. Ultimately, companies will find their own voices in time. The voice should be identifiable (there has to be a person behind a blog entry, not just the anonymous "corporation"), and this voice has to be real, authentic, and passionate.

Here are some of the corporate blogs that I read. It should come as no surprises that they can be quite different from each others,

• The Legal Thing - by Mike Dillon (Sun Microsystems' General Counsel) (first entry - "This should be interesting")
• KR Connect - by Kevin Roberts (CEO Worldwide of Saatchi & Saatchi) (first entry - "One From The Heart")
• The Google Official Blog - by various Google executives
• OpenSkies - by Dale Moss (Managing Director of OpenSkies, a new British Airways subsidiary flying transatlantic flights) (first entry - "It's official! Project Lauren becomes OpenSkies.")
• Photo Matt - by Matt Mullenweg (Founding Developer of WordPress)
• on the Java Road - by James Gosling (Father of the Java Programming language)

Start blogging now to share your insights with your customers, potential customers, and the general public at large. It's not just a blog, it is a conversation.

Begin anywhere.

P.S. I hope you've enjoyed and learned something from my first entry at infoport. If not, well, there is always the next blog entry.

P.P.S. It was not an accident that the "Blog Council" was not mentioned in the main blog entry. I thought Jeff Jarvis has covered Blog Council's challenges well in his "It's not just a blog" entry. It also seems strange that the Blog Council doesn't even have a blog. (big smile)

*******

March 7th, 2008 Update: eBay has added a new blog for "Desktop".

Justin Lin - World Bank Chief Economist - It is official

After blogging about Justin in this and this entry, Prof. Justin Lin has now officially been appointed World Bank’s Chief Economist. See news from,

1. First Chinese for World Bank job - BBC
2. World Bank Appoints Chinese Academic as Top Economist - Bloomberg
3. China Wins Top Spot At World Bank - Forbes - Here is an excerpt (emphasis mine),
   • “World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick, praised Lin’s expertise in economic development, particularly agriculture, and said he looked forward to working closely with him “on a number of areas, including growth and investment in Africa, opportunities for South-South learning and bank instruments to better support countries hit by high energy and agriculture prices.”
     

     Lin’s appointment comes at a turning point for China in its involvement in world affairs. China became a top borrower from the World Bank in the last few decades after reversing its long-held disdain for such Western-dominated multinational agencies. Last year, it made its first donation to the World Bank, contributing to an assistance project to the world’s most impoverished countries.

     Lin, 55, is a specialist on China’s rural economy and development theory, and has frequently publicly voiced his views on a range of pressing economic issues. Last year, he called for narrowing China’s yawning wealth gap by reducing investment returns for the wealthy. He has also warned of the negative impact on China’s economy should the yuan be allowed to appreciate too rapidly against the U.S. dollar, predicting it would exacerbate the problem of excess production capacity, thin corporate profits and create deflationary pressures.“

4. Economist: China’s poverty reduction experience helpful - China Daily
5. W Bank economist set to make China’s influence felt - Guardian

After listening to Justin’s 90 minutes long 2007 Marshall Lectures (linked in this blog entry) very carefully (Justin’s English is bit hard to understand), I think his appointment to World Bank is good for the world. In particular, his experiences and insights may be good in the fight against poverty.

P.S. Some people like to think in nationalistic line — that Justin is the first “Chinese Economist …“, “China’s influence felt …“, etc. These views are rather simplistic. I personally hope he is simply a good economist for the world. If his teachers and friends/colleagues at University of Chicago had the right influence on Justin (which I think they had), then the appointment of Justin is a “good thing” for the world indeed. I am willing to “trust, but verify“.

Superbowl 2008 Commercials

Here are some Superbowl 2008 Commercials,

1. Carrier Pigeons - FedEx - funny (8.5/10)
2. James Carville and Bill Frist - Coca Cola - funny (7.5/10)
3. When You're Near Me - Victoria's Secret - OK (6/10)
4. Jackie Moon - Bud Light - Funny for some people (6/10)
5. Spot On - GoDaddy.com - This ad is a waste of money. How dumb do they think GoDaddy customers and potential customers are? - (2/10) Mind, I am not against effective dumb ad. Ah, I got sucked into talking about it ...
6. Pepsi Stuff: Justin Timberlake - Pepsi-Cola - funny (9/10)
7. Icebreakers: Carmen Electra - Hershey's - like the ad except the ending (7.5/10)
8. Sweet Spot - Lexus - beautifully shot (8/10)
9. Wanted - Universal Pictures - neat trailer (8.5/10), just hope the movie doesn't suck
10. Buy Dell Join Red - Dell Computers - (2/10) Another dumb ad. May be it will be effective. I don't know.

P.S. Check 0ut this neat Superbowl wrap-up from Freakonomics.

Re: New CBC president discouraged by attacks on Teamakers’ blog

I am going to blog some more because I think this is very important to my beloved CBC. Here is my comment to the entry “New CBC president discouraged by attacks on Teamakers’ blog” at the official CBC blog “Inside the CBC“.

Note: Here is the official press release of the appointment of Mr. Hubert T. Lacroix as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)/ Radio-Canada.

*******

Hi Hubert,

I am glad I waited for a few days before I comment because I take issues with the tone of your first comment but your latest comment sounds a lot better.

A few quick points before I take some time to blog more later in my own blog,

1) It is important you responded to the Teamakers’ blog entry as open and transparent dialogue is key to understanding

2) I accept your apology in writing your comment like a [legal] memo. Just please promise to not “heretofore” or “hitherto” us in your comment. (smile)

Note: My better half and a few friends are lawyers, so I tell unfunny lawyer jokes sometimes. (smile)

3) May I suggest you start your own blog and leave the comment sections open for people to comment at your blog ?

On this final and very serious point #3 of suggesting you to start blogging and allowing comments. You may appreciate the significance of the following more as you were a lawyer. I recently interviewed my blog friend, Mike Dillon, a lawyer for 23 years and currently General Counsel of Sun Microsystems (a Fortune 500 and publicly listed company). (note: I will be posting that podcast/audio interview later.)

When Mike started blogging in August 2006 at http://blogs.sun.com/dillon/ , he decided to open his comment section against advice of a colleague. Since then Mike has been really happy with his initial decision and he thinks a more open dialogue has been achieved. It will be my pleasure to try to connect you with Mike. (Incidentally, when CBC tried to establish its Blogging Policy (which reads like a legal-cover-your-behind-document) for employees some months ago, I thought CBC might learn a few things from Sun’s clean one page easy-to-read policy but that idea and my and Mike’s offer for help was sadly ignored.)

Again, I comment and blog about CBC stuff because I love CBC. Also, I have blogged and commented with my real name because I think I have pissed off enough CBC senior executives with my often idiotic comments that I know I have a better chance in winning a Lotto than working for CBC. (big smile)

In the world of Blogs and open communications, it is nice to read “I’m reading everyone’s comments with interest and will continue to do so for the next five years …” from you.

Keep reading, you may be surprised what you learn from people who work for you (in all levels).

Best Regards,
Kempton

Links: 2008-02-04 Super Bowl Ads, China firewall, Prentice Copyright, Jerry Yang, IP v6

1. Super Bowl Ads: 2008 - I don’t watch the game but I will watch the Ads
2. China’s “great firewall” faces new opposition
3. Is Prentice’s Copyright Bill Born in the U.S.A.?
4. Jerry Yang e-mail reaches out to Yahoo employees
5. Q&A: IP Version 6 - BBC - (Internet’s new addressing system as of Feb 4th)

Links: 2008-02-03 MacBook Air, NYT Deathwatch, Yahoo, CBC dumbed down, Wonderbra, e-ink phone

1. Taking apart the new MacBook Air - Cool Pix and notes (Wow, just 19 screws to remove the battery. And a total of 88 screws to hold things together. (smile))
2. Inaugurating the New York Times Deathwatch - by Marc Andreessen - kinda funny in a bad way
3. Yahoo! and the future of the Internet - Google Official Blog
4. CBC ‘dumbed down,’ broadcast act architect says by Marke Andrews - Vancouver Sun
5. Wonderbra Rebranding
6. Polymer Vision’s Readius e-ink phone coming mid-2008 to Italy

Democracy Springs from Brushstrokes?

Mr. Szeto Wah (everyone calls him “Wah Suk” in Cantonese, meaning “Uncle Wah“) has been fighting for democracy in Hong Kong and China for over 20 years. Uncle Wah is 77 years old now, and I have to say that I have tears (of support, of sadness …) in my eyes when I watched the following Google video of him writing his Chinese New Year calligraphy (”Fai cheun“, or “Brushstrokes of spring” as my friend translated) on the cold street of Hong Kong to raise funds to fight for democracy in Hong Kong and China.

It takes a lot of determination and stamina to keep fighting day in and day out for over 20 years. These days, I think the likes of Mr. Szeto Wah are really tough to come by anywhere in the world. Visit here to find a timetable of Uncle Wah writing his Fai cheun.

Thanks Daisann for blogging about Uncle Wah and his “Brushstrokes of spring” selling.

Groundhog Day 2008

Me and my better half have been watching Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell's Groundhog Day (the film) on Groundhog Day (Feb 2nd) every year for longer than I can remember. As always, I also discover something new this year. I found this wonderful 2005 Roger Ebert re-review of the film. I tried to find a YouTube clip of a few scenes in the movie that I love, unfortunately I couldn't find any nice ones to include.

P.S. Here are the 2008 Groundhog Day "predictions" so far according to National Post,

The results so far:

Shubnedacadie Sam (Nova Scotia): Spring

Punxsutawney Phil (Pennsylvania): Winter

Wiarton Willie (Ontario): Spring

General Beauregard Lee (Georgia): Spring

Balzac Billy (Alberta): Spring

Buckeye Chuck (Ohio): Spring

Staten Island Chuck (New York state): Spring

Malverne Mel (New York state): Spring

Fair Copyright for Canada: 2008-02-01

1. Two More Opponents of Prentice’s Canadian DMCA
2. Copyright law should distinguish between commercial and cultural uses
3. The Canadian DMCA: A Summary To-Date
4. Michael Geist Ottawa Citizen profile

$1 camera stabilizer - Really Cool

Don’t believe my words. check out this amazing video, “$1 Image Stabilizer For Any Camera - Lose The Tripod“. This one is so simple and useful that I may go out and build it!

[via Cory Doctorow]

Wishing I had bought some shares in Yahoo yesterday?

This morning, many media outlets are reporting the news of Microsoft's hostile takeover bid of Yahoo for $44.6 billion (at a 62% premium over previous day closing price),

1. Microsoft Bids $44.6 Billion for Yahoo - New York Times
2. Microsoft offers $44.6B US in cash and stock for Yahoo - CBC
3. Microsoft bids for Yahoo! to take on Google - Telegraph UK
4. Microsoft Offers to Buy Yahoo for $44.6 Billion - Bloomberg
5. Microsoft and Yahoo A $45 billion bet - Economist, and
6. Profiles: Microsoft and Yahoo - BBC

This may come as a surprise (or dismay) to some people, but I don't wish I had bought some shares in Yahoo yesterday. Not wanting to making a 62% one day return? Yes, that would be right!

The idea of buying shares in a company without much knowledge in the business operations of the company, and, worst, hoping for a hostile takeover may be a foolish risk to take.

P.S. May be a tiny bit of Warren Buffett's investing wisdom is finally settling in my tiny brain. (smile)

The Honourable Jim Prentice Speaks - William A. Howard Lecture

Thanks to The University of Calgary Faculty of Law and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP presenting the William A. Howard Lecture, we are going to get a chance to listen to the Honourable Jim Prentice speaks in person and opportunities to ask him a few questions.

Since Minister Prentice’s topic has not been announced, may be he will surprise us with a talk on “The importance of Fair Use in the upcoming Copyright legislation” ?

I’ve created a Facebook event for interested Fair Copyright For Canada Calgary Chapter members to meet up and attend the lecture together.

Excerpt of the full details from U of C event is as follows,

Event Date
12:15pm, Friday 8th Feb., 2008

Location
Murray Fraser Hall 2370, University of Calgary (UC map)

Description
The Faculty of Law and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP present the William A. Howard Lecture