#OpenHouse Thursday (Night) 26th August till Monday 30th August 2010

It’s an #OpenHouse invitation/gathering during the last days of #Summer2010  (doors of my home open for people to drop by, stay a while, cook a bit, drink a bit, talk a bit, play a bit maybe even sleep over) on the very edge of the Countryside in Surrey.

Although it is #OpenHouse,  I’m specifically inviting people I love, respect, admire, listen to, learn from, take strength and motivation from. I hope you can come to my place for any amount of time, from an hour to a few days, you’re very very welcome. I’d love to share my home and outdoor space with you.

I have dreamy ideas of great debates with the many brilliant people i have connected with in the last two years (yes it’s that long since Twitter, leaving BBC land and embarking on a new journey. A journey I am really enjoying and that is taking me to places and experiences that you just couldn’t “script”).  I have visions of laughter, silliness and amazement, bad jokes, goood jokes, funny accidents, and great song

We could have days out… Brighton and the Seaside (40mins), The Surrey Hills (15 Mins) , Devils Dyke (30 Mins), plus lots of National Trust sites that are localish,  trips in Central London are only  35 Mins too. Or we can have days “in” lounging. My garden backs onto woodland it’s circa 4/5 miles of fields and woods and walks with views on high. It’s easy to just go hike, and there is a lovely pub about 30 minutes into a walk.

To get to #OpenHouse is really quite easy…

Zone 6 on the Rail Network direct from Victoria, London Bridge 32 Mins and Clapham Junction 25 mins on modern air conditioned trains. From the South around Brighton, it’s a quick whizz up to East Croydon by train and a change for a journey 15 Mins back south.  I’m 10 Mins and a straight road from Junc 6 on M25 too, I can handle up to 6/7 cars if parked right , there’s no yellow lines on the road either.

I’ve connected and built friendships with an incredibly wide section of people via Twitter, I’m really hoping a good slice of you can come and meet each other, swap stories, world changing views maybe.  Everyone is guaranteed a hearty welcome.

What about Kids ? Well look at the garden… of course! they are welcome, lots and lots to explore .

It would be excellent if you came and you’re in to gardening and/or cooking, you’ll be a very special guest indeed – Bring your tools and gadgets, recipes and ingredients.

I’ve got room for 10 or so to sleep each night, I reckon (airbeds, sharing the floor etc), and the garden can take a good selection of tents, even a couple of massive ones!

If @leashless comes, maybe we could build a Hexayurt ? I would really love that!

It would be very cool if you brought along some supplies (anything you like), enough to share maybe ?

I’d defo like a big conversation about #BigSociety. Oh…. music, there will be MUSIC and your welcome to come and “plug and play” wherever you find a set of speakers.  Not BIG! LOUD!  I haz lovely neighbours, but, well, you know, loud enough for the moment.

Not sure how to structure knowing who’s coming when. The Serendipitous potential of the #OpenHouse is something I’m quite excited about, but… I guess it would be good to know who’s maybe coming on what days. EventBrite seems a bit ordered, any ideas ???  Do share, I need some spark of genius

I really hope to see you and yours, thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy some of my garden snaps.

#OpenHouse Garden on Flickr

Daren

#140Conf – Tel Aviv – Israel

I’m still recovering from my trip to Tel Aviv. I’m still thinking about my trip to Tel Aviv and how I happened to find myself there, “representin”.

I have many many people to thank. So I’m going to try like this, A Twitter List for you to follow http://twitter.com/DarenBBC/irlcontributors-4 , some photo’s and some thoughts, experiences and emotions I went through. If that sounds interesting then please do read on, I hope you enjoy, it was EPIC for me.

London Heathrow – T5 – Jayne had the great idea that I drive myself to H/Row and park using long term parking. I found a new service that meets you at the short term parking area and takes your car away for you, then when you return, they meet you back at short term.

Perfect and only a £5 premium, which given a black cabbie quoted £100 one way to heathrow, it was a no brainer.

Heathrow T5 8.45pm on a Saturday night was deserted, if you’re going to fly, fly then, it was heaven.

Take off was 10.30pm and I have to say the British Airways plane was great, got us in 30 mins earlier at 5.00am. I spoke to the crew because I thought the plane was new, but it wasn’t it had been refurbed. Good job, it felt new. Whilst chatting with the crew, I found out that they would be on my flight home, they were staying in Israel the same amount of time as me, 26.5 hours, of which I slept for 1 hour between 8.30am to 9.30am and 3 hours between 1.45am to 4.45am. I’m not complaining, but I;m not in my 20′s anymore, i’m still feeling the pain of no sleep.

Jeff Pulver graciously offered me the use of his hotel room to shower and change before Conference, I woke Jeff up at 6am, I was earlier than expected. Jeff bought me coffee and cake and gave me some background to Tel Aviv and his activities there, the key to his room says how highly he’s thought of in the tech powerhouse that is, Israel.

So…quick kip, shower and change into the suit and tie. I was later to find out I would be the only person in a suit and tie [ I like that]

The cab ride, was I have to say, that of a middle eastern experience, no english from the driver and no idea where the venue was, Coool! I was running a bit late, but, I’ve learnt on my travels, let destiny take it’s path, I’m powerless in effecting the outcome.

I arrive just as Jeff is finishing his intro, the energy and buzz in the room was off the scale, physically, there was standing room only. I had my suit carrier and “man bag” so felt very concious walking to the front of the room, there were 200 people plus. Once settled I was greeted by smiles from the people that surrounded me. Jeff then announced to the audience that I had arrived and the room applauded, I felt joy, embarrassment, great pride and a real sense that I was “welcome”. I was in room of full of Israel’s “thought” and “geek” leaders and achievers.

First up was Yossi Vardi – The Grandfather of the Israeli Tech Sector, founder of ICQ. Amazing charisma, wisdom and humour. See for yourself

The laughter and engagement from the audience was amazing, and so natural, it was just part of what seems to happen when a couple of hundred tech/media/education/spiritual/young/old/political/music/finance related people get togethr in a room. There was a stage, with mic’s and seats for “speakers and panelists”, but that stage was for audience “use” too. I learnt, that Israeli’s take part, they don’t sit back and think it, maybe talk it down in the corridors quietly, they say it, share it, challenge and act. If it was too cold, someone shouted, “turn the heating up” or if someone said something funny ( which they did a lot) lots of people would laugh, but laugh properly and look at each other while they laughed. It’s a tough subtlety to describe, i guess you had to be there .

And “be there” I was… Lot’s of people chipped in cash to make the experience (trip) possible, and I have expressed my gratitude to you all in some way, but there are seven people I’d like to really show my deep appreciation to. They were the catalysts, and often the work of the catalyst is under valued, if valued at all, as it’s often forgotten, but is actually the vital spark that is always required. So…here are the catalysts, thank you once again.

http://twitter.com/digitalmaverick – He suggested asking the community on Twitter for funds – Drew is a teacher

http://twitter.com/bensaint – He made it clear, very clear he would make a major donation early on – Ben owns Evolv Digital

http://twitter.com/gemmawent – She matched Ben’s support within minutes – Gemma is founder of Red Cube Marketing

http://twitter.com/scottgould – He confirmed covering the cost of flying within 30 minutes of my appeal. Scott is a partner in Conference Group #LikeMinds

http://twitter.com/drewellis – He is Scott’s business partner and signed off flight costs within minutes of Scott’s suggestion

http://twitter.com/robocallaghan – My 1st “Chip In” donator, and what a donator. Just amazing.

http://twitter.com/JeffPulver – He invited me to Tel Aviv

Next edit, I will go into some of the people I met. Until then enjoi the music vid. The tempo is reflective of the intensity experienced and the “here I am” line sums up my feeling once I’d settled into my seat for five minutes.

Daren

Do you listen to tweets, real ones ?

July 2010: It was a year ago this week, we had #CozyTweetUp in the Queeens front Garden – St James Park, the blog post from that night is below, it was awesomeness, a lot of love, really. This year we are gathering at Regents Park, and celebrating Glenn @Lesanto 50th Birthday. See you in the park around 7ish – Baker Street tube entrance – somehwere around there. Just tweet #CozyTweetUp.

Skip to the first photo below of a Picnic if you’re not interested in a *Totally* indulgent section about me, it could be be a waste of your time and I wouldn’t want that.

If you know me from Twitter, you can also skip to the picnic photo if you want, as you probably know all the stuff below already.

Where to start, erm…I’m a very fortunate man, discounting monetary value, I  believe I am quite rich, certainly in 2009 anyway, who knows what might happen in 2010 though ?

Why and how am I rich? (you maybe thinking, oh please)

1. I don’t have to work the 9-5 (does that exist?) five days a week , but I do have to work, which I love because, I love my work, so it doesn’t feel like work (most of the time).
2. I have three sons, the age spread is 21, 16 and 8 – all three have different natural talents and they know what unconditional love is. Jayne my partner loves me (still) too. I’m surrounded by love.
3. Physically, despite my best efforts (I smoke too much), I have good health, I am not impeded in anyway,  hearing, sight, touch, smell, no disfigurements and all my limbs function.
4. Mentally, I invest in the fitness of my mind. I’m paid by some to think ( others to talk), so it makes sense for me to spend money on servicing my mind. I am blessed with a two forms of intelligence, the “normal” ( i.e. measured) IQ and Emotional Intelligence (CISCO rate it, I like CISCO, but not academia really, I could be wrong though?).
5. I’m trusted, respected, quoted and I’ve been “missed” (being “missed” is I think the greatest compliment you can receive) both on a personal and professional level.
6. I know how to love men as well as women and I’m not afraid to cry. ( I cried the heaviest for many years a few weeks back when Richard Mitchell died, Richard was just 28 and a truly exceptional young man).
7. I may have another 20 years on the planet with my good health.
8. I know how to use the internet, Wifi and some other mobile devices. I can have a good Mac and when I need to I can buy “Game Changing” gadgets like the iPhone.
9. I’ve worked (and still work) at a senior level in industry, I really get about For example: I’ve been with Bill Gates in a meeting for over the usual  hour.  (please… it’s not a brag, just trying to frame things for later). And right now, my embryonic business is starting to progress beautifully into it’s next stage.
10. I can dance and I love music. But I’m not big on Rock, not sure why, I think because I can’t dance to Rock, I feel stupid when i try to dance to it.
11. Because of Twitter, the number of wonderful people that are a part of my life has  blossomed like a great big like a sunflower over the last 12 months.
12. I belong.

If you have listened to my tweets ( I say listened, because a tweet is a noise right?) over the last year or so, you would know all of that

If you haven’t listened, I don’t blame you I’m noisy, and it’s a bloody noisy place, full of all sorts including Porn Spammers (that’s the internet I’m afraid)

I haven’t always been rich, I started  life very poor (maybe one day I’ll cover the poverty story, this is about life’s richness) which is why this week has been such a special week and I just wanted to share it.

I went to a #CozyTweetUp Picnic this week, I missed the first one (#CozyTweetUp) in the restaurant, because Joe(21) had SwineFlu. But @mazi asked me where we should do the next one, I said a picnic in St James Park London SW1 (Her Majesty the Queen’s Front Garden) and @ilicco agreed. Then as he does @mazi made it happen, even securing a drinks sponsors because of Twitter conversation with @hedgewhytch (pic below)

Sponsor 1. #Magners… who delivered 7 cases (84 bottles) of Pear Cider to my flat in Westminster. Thank you #Magners ( and their London based digital marketing agency), it was delicious I loved it. I don’t drink pints of anything usually. so here’s to Pear Cider

Sponsor 2. #Media140 who I went to the Tesco’s with to grab some wine, plastic glasses, black bin bags and some ice. Ande (#Media140 Founder) picked up the bill out of his own pocket as well as the Black Cab fare to the park. “Well Played” Ande thank you very much.

#Media140 Founder

So… We arrive at the park and someone is “on” Ande within seconds, literally as we were getting out of the cab, nice guy was congratulating Ande on his London and Sydney events being confirmed. Anyway, walking up to the picnic area there are loads of people (scarey to walk up to) under three big and beautiful shady trees, it 30 degrees in London. Thankfully ( I get really nervous entering any kind of gathering, just the entrance bit.) I was greeted by Izzy who had also invited Olie. Olie had decided to do a wonderful spread of food, enough for 5/10 people maybe (see first pic in this post).  Amazing!  he also brought along some nightlight candles to take the edge of the darkness. I had never met Olie, so Olie was, you could say, a total stranger! from Twitter!

Has that ever happened to you ? Someone you’ve never met before, creates and serves food for you by candlelight for no other reason than kindness and a desire to connect. It’s weird stuff some might say, for me, it’s a new age of computing and communication. The art for me will be, how we you use online to connect people offline to deliver real, social and world change. Mankind 2.0 by 2050 maybe

Anyway, back to the picnic! The Picnic was a first for me. Heading to the park, for a picnic with friends and friends of friends after work is something I have never done before, I’m in 41 years old, I felt like a child. But… this is no ordinary picnic, it’s a picnic for “twits” or is it “twats” ?  well I prefer “tweeters” myself, so I can relax and just be a me and enjoy the moments.

The picnic lasted about three hours. And for three hours I was just in this bubble of relaxed pleasure with some great people, (some uber smart and earthy), some I knew, most I didn’t. One person, Britt traveled all the way from Devon for the picnic, and saw her kids in London on the same day. “Well played Britt” [When I use "Well Played" it's in the style of a very pleased Football (Soccer) manager.]

Inevitably I got a little merry on the cider, It doesn’t take much for me to get a little cheeky and say edgey things to shock or make people laugh, sometimes I get it wrong and offend people ( it mortifies me), I’ve seen Jayne cringe several times over the last 21 years (that’s another post I guess).

About 2 hours in, I was stumbling through the darkness trying to avoid treading on rugs and food etc, as I was stumbling around Vikky reached out with her voice, “Daren, this is one of the most lovely nights, this year”. Hearing those words, from a person I had only met a few weeks previously, whom I admire and respect, just melted me.

Why?

Well… I’ve never had a large picnic in the park with friends, especially not in the beautiful St James Park and since being a  kid, I have always dreamt of it.  Vikki re-enforced my own feelings of just how lovely the picnic was, it felt surreal, it was Perfect! actually. I don’t think you can get any richer than that. And “that” is being with friends, feeling at one with them and sharing your thoughts and feelings with them. We often share our frustrations with our family and friends, how often do you share your feelings of enjoyment ?

Thank you Vikki and James who tweeted the same feelings the next day.

So… that’s it really, a beautiful night in a park with friends, for very little expense but with a big bag of Happiness in return. I was brought up to believe happiness was achieved by having more than somebody else, a better car, a bigger house, more fashionable clothes, in my house, even being a better fighter (harder) was supposed make me happier. Luckily that’s all behind me now (my  up bringing), and my son’s have certainly never had a whiff of such nonsense. If you can find some happiness, you’re rich, and you’re richer than most, because to me, it just “feels” like there ain’t (I know that’s not a word) a busting lot of true happiness in society. Except on Twitter of course

The picture slide show below was put together by Benjamin Ellis (great man). The pictures in the show were taken by Paul Clarke, Ilicco and Benjamin. I hope you enjoy the slide show. I like listening to the track from Elbow, performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra (I trained at Ashridge Management College with a wonderful man from the BBC Concert Orchestra team) – One Day Like This.

more about “cozytweetup tag“, posted with vodpod

Big Brother… it’s deplorable.

Summer 2000

A banging Paul Oakenfold track blasts out of the telly.

I’d had the tinter net for 3 years now and just upgraded to a home ISDN  Line - 64k  from BT (or was it 128k) No more “nic dong kao dene, crrrsss, crrrssss, crssss ( my attempt a writing out the sound a dial up modem made), 56k modem.

Top Tech from 1999

Life was good, I had a web agency (Fernhart) that was going great guns, we were working with ITV, Virgin and Domino’s Pizza. Kinda living the life actually. Jayne was 8 months pregnant with Louis too

We (Jayne and me) just kind of stumbled on Big Brother 1 because we watched a lot of Channel 4 back then, although my TV viewing hours had taken a nosedive over the last few years, but BB 1 hooked me. Why… well they were streaming the cameras from the house 24/7 over the web of course!!!

Geeee… what did you think? I wanted to watch people (total strangers to each other) living together in a house, being filmed for editing and TX across the network ? Nah, course not, but I was one of 10 million that watched the final and witnessed the winner give £70,000 to a little girl with health problems.

I was also one of a small group of people watching a TV broadcast live across the internet. Bloody amazing, in it’s day. I saw the nasty Nick and Craig classic live, as it happened. My good fortune.

We didn’t get anywhere near the project as an agency (Fernhart New Media), we were working with ITV, Victoria Real of Brighton had nailed the corridors of Channel 4. Victoria Real did an awesome job, many many other claimed Big Brother involvement, but it was Victoria Real and Peter Pedersen (C4 CTO) who were the heroes. Peter built the online play out (streaming) infrastruture, Victoria Real did front end.

Big Brother (Endemol)  innovated. Thankyou Channel 4 and Endemol.

And that’s it. I had a loyalty for Big Brother for 10 years, I’m a Taurus, I’m loyal.

Oh sorry… one more thing…The title of the post, about being “deplorable”, well a guy on Twitter called @audio thinks Big Brother is deplorable. I don’t agree, but I respect him.

It’s Conference Season

11th October 2009 (Ayden’s Birthday) – Six Months Blogging, two years on Twitter, three years on Face Book, four Years on LinkedIn.

I’m still nowhere close to being a social media “expert” or “guru”. But I do have some views and personal insights (Who am I ? Check the About “Building Better Connections” section). I’ve been doing some practical sessions  (speeches, workshops, consultancy) in the third sector on the subject of Social Media over the last 8 months.  I’ve been speaking to the public sector and civil service too, getting to know folks in that sphere. Finally, of course I’ve met with a good handful of private sector (profit focused) organisations too. There are some great people with some great ideas and case studies in all the sectors, but not really any experts/guru’s yet IMHO.

There is definitely a very healthy appetite to learn about Social Media in all the sectors, so 140Characters.co.uk has a “reason to exist”, which feels very cool I have to say.

Even better, industry peers and conference organisers have placed their trust in me to share my views and insights at various conferences during October and November 2009. Here they are in date order:

16th October 2009 LikeMinds

Exeter Devon, I can’t wait to speak outside of London: Just £35 a ticket ( #LikeMinds )

I’ll talk for 20 minutes on “Organisational Change” and be a member of a 40 minute panel discussion. Thanks Scott Gould

23rd October 2009 – Social Media in Business

London – Under £200 for a full day conference  (discount codes around on Twitter #SMiB09)

I will be introducing the conference and being the “anchor man” for the day. Thanks so much Chris Hambly

October 26th 2009 Media140

Brands + Advertising,  London Under £100 (promo codes on Twitter #Media140) for a full day conference.

I’ll be taking part in the panel debate about Trust & Brands. Thanks for the invite Ande and Kate

Novemeber 17th 2009 140Character Conference

The O2 in London.

I’ll be a “character” really looking forward to that.

Thanks very much Jeff Pulver #140Conf

If you can get to any of the events, please please come and say hello, it would be brilliant.

If you can’t make anyof the  events, defo watch this

Bose SoundLink Wireless Speaker

The Speaker

The Speaker

Protected: #OpenHouse – The Details

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I’m looking to build a team

You’ve probably found this page because you clicked a link, so thanks for that.  

I’m Daren Forsyth and I am the new Chief Marketing Officer for a “Start Up” Charity called 

TAG International Development (TAG ID)  

…and we are looking to hire interns for the summer. Interested ? Read on… 

TAG is different in many ways; our focus is to share unique expertise in developing countries. Our goal: to “Change Lives by Sharing Expertise”. 

For a bit more detail on TAG ID, you can visit the website I have inherited: http://tagdevelopment.org I have altered the text since joining; in all honesty, that is as far as I can improve things without a team. This may be where you come in… 

Here’s our deal: If you don’t know me, or you don’t follow me on Twitter, you could check my LinkedIn Profile to understand a little more about who I am and what I’ve done (Search Google too for some additional info about me, if you’d like). I’m hoping you might be able to help with the next chapter. 

The roles are digital/online-based and the projects are in areas of Social Media, Social Change and Non Profit models that change lives. 

The team I’m looking to build has three components: 

Technical – Geek (only true, real and proud geeks need apply) 

If coding and data are your passion, I reckon I can give you some stretching tasks, as well as some basics support tasks too. 

Do you enjoy creating mash ups? 

Do you know your way around FaceBook, Google, Flickr and Twitter API’s? 

Are you happy working remotely as well as part of a group in a dev/office environment? 

Creative/Digital Designer 

Can you create and design beautiful things to look at, but in a way that the information/content is easy to absorb/access in various media formats: paper, web pages, wallpapers, backgrounds, tee shirts, video credits/edits, anything, really. 

Are you passionate about branding, or are you anti brand? No matter. If brand concepts interest you, talk to me about that. 

You must have a legal copy of Photoshop on your laptop. If you don’t have a legal copy, we will buy you a Student license– if you are a student. 

Content/Conversation/Communication “The 3C Hybrid” (I just made that up) 

Dovetailing with your tech and creative team mates (and me): you’re able to create engagement opportunities and conversations, you always share as much as you can, you’ve always done that naturally, and you adore connecting people with things/stuff that you or someone else knows. 

Maybe people have said to you: “You’re too honest”, “How do you know all this?”, “Wow, your blog post was brilliant”, “How do you do that?”, or “What is it that you do, again?” 

Maybe you have been studying PR, or Media Production, or even Marketing? 

The “3CHybrid” is going to be the trickiest person to find because, truth is, I’m not going to know until I meet you if you’re the right person. So, engage me online, ok?  And let’s see where it goes. 

Now, a little about us and how we are looking at this internship: 

We are always up for listening to *you* and learning from *you* –especially if you have ideas about how things could work better for all of us. (It’s not a one-way street, although making a great cuppa tea can go a long way). 

You can work from home, your local  park, coffee shop, or library. We don’t care.  But you will have to: 

1. Do what you say you’re going to do, when you say you’re going to do it (Fair?) 

2. Come to #ThatLondon when we need you. We will pay your expenses and put you up, when needed. (It could be fun) 

3. Not just talk, but “DO”. We love conversations, and not just those limited to work. But you’ve got to know how to “do”, as well. (Actions, not words, are what you’ll be evaluated on- not what you said or how eloquently you said it.) 

Also: We will pay you a meager weekly wage and some expenses; you’ll get a lunch allowance too, except on days when you’re with me and I’m buyin’. (Remember: there is no such thing as a free lunch.) 

We respect and appreciate everyone’s skills and talents–everyone’s! (We may take the piss a ‘lil’, and we encourage you to give it back.)  

You will be part of a four-person team. There’s no room for prima donnas. If you can’t work in a team, you will struggle and be unhappy quite quickly. (So, if you know you can’t hack it, please don’t apply.) 

We don’t have fixed hours or days of work. We don’t really have holidays, either. But if you need to rest, then rest-and come back to us “up for it”. (We work hard, really hard. We’ll need you to do the same.) 

As part of our team, working with us on game-changing projects, you’ll meet great folks, make invaluable contacts, go to unforgettable events and gatherings. Mainly though, you’ll participate in and deliver something truly amazing this summer. I promise.  

If you’re still reading this, fantastic. Come to Twitter, say “Hi” to @TagDaren, and accompany your greeting with a message that “says” you in 140. Oh, and please add the hashtag, #TagID. 

Good luck! -  Daren

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I’m looking to build a team.

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Hey … You’ve probably found this page because you clicked a link, so thanks for that .

I’m Daren Forsyth and I am the new Chief Marketing Officer for a “Start Up” Charity called

TAG International Development (TAG ID) and we are looking to hire interns for the summer. Interested ? Read on…

TAG is different in many ways; our focus is to share unique expertise in developing countries. Our reason to be is to “Change Lives by Sharing Expertise”.

For a bit more detail on TAG ID, you can visit the website I have inherited http://tagdevelopment.org I have altered the text since joining, in all honesty that is as far as I can improve things without a team. This is where you might come in.

So here’s the deal… If you don’t know me, or you don’t follow me on Twitter, you could check my LinkedIn Profile to understand a little more about whom I am and what I’ve done ( A Google search has a few results too). I’m hoping you might able to help with the next chapter.

The roles are digital/online based and the projects are in areas of Social Media, Social Change and Non Profit models that change lives.

The team I’m looking to build has three components:

1. Technical – Geek (only true, real and proud geeks need apply)

 If Coding and data are your passion, I reckon I can give you some stretching tasks as well as some basics support tasks too.

Do you enjoy creating mash ups?

Do you know your way around FaceBook, Google, Flickr and Twitter API’s?

Are you happy working remotely as well part of a group in a dev/office environment?

 

1. Creative/Digital Designer

Can you create and design beautiful things to look at, but in a way that the information/content is easy to absorb/access in several forms of media format?  You know… paper, web pages, wallpapers, backgrounds, tee shirts, video credits/edits, anything really.

You might also be passionate about branding, or you might be anti brand, whatever… if you have an interest in brand concepts, I’d like to hear them.

You must have a legal copy of Photoshop on your laptop. If you don’t have a legal copy, we will buy you a Student license if you are a student.

 

1. Content/Conversation/Communication “The 3C Hybrid” (I just made that up)

Dovetailing with your tech and creative team mates (and me), you’re able to create engagement opportunities and conversations, you always share as much as you can, you’ve always done that naturally, you adore connecting people with things/stuff you  or someone else knows.

Maybe people have said to you “You’re too honest”, “How do you know all this?”, “Wow your blog post was brilliant”, “How do you do that?” or “What do you do again?”

Maybe you have been studying PR, or Media Production, maybe Marketing?

This is the going to be the trickiest person to find, because the truth is, I’m not going to know until I meet you who the right person is.  So… engage me, online, K!? And lets see where it goes.

A little about us and how we are looking at this internship.

We are always up for listening to *you* and learning from *you* about how things that could work better for all of us. (It’s not a one way street, although making a great cuppa tea can go a long way).

You can work from home, your local park, coffee shop or library, we don’t care, but you will have to:

1, do what you say you’re going to do, when you say you’re going to do it by (fair?)

2, you’ll have to come to #ThatLondon when we need you. We will pay the expenses and put you up when needed.  (It could be fun J)

3, not just talk, but “do” too. We love conversations, and not always about work, but you gotta know how to “do” too OK (actions, not words are what you will be appraised on, not what you said and how you said it).

We will pay you a meagre weekly wage and some expenses, a lunch allowance to accept on days when I buy you lunch (remember there is no such thing as free lunch).

We respect and appreciate everyone’s skills and talents, everyone! (we may take the piss a lil tho and we encourage you to give it back)

You will be part of a 4 person team, if you can’t work in a team, you will struggle and probably be unhappy quite quickly (no Prima Dona’s OK)

We don’t have fixed hours or days of work. We don’t really have holiday days, but if you need to rest, then rest and come back “up for it”. (we work hard, really hard)

Between the three of you (hired interns) and all the connections and projects we have, you will deliver something truly amazing this summer, I promise. You’ll meet some great contacts and go to some great gatherings too.

If you’re still reading – come to twitter, say hi to @TagDaren with your own message and add the hashtag  #TagID.

Good luck J – Daren

50 Words – Fifty Images

Just a little experiement. I’ve heard people talk about  the creativity of crowds and co-creation.

So I’ve got 50 words (some are terms) and I’m looking for fifty images that represent the word/phrase/term.

If you’ve got time and one or two words below grab *you* and *you* imagine a picture in your mind, would you put a link in the comments ? Maybe you can find the image here on flickr or on Google Images

YaY!!! Posterous makes it so easy to ask and share

Thanks for reading, hope to see some gr8 images.

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Knowledge

Greatness

Democratic

Transparent

Respectful

Stories

People

United Nations

United Kingdom

Israel

Human  

Media

Social Media

Corporate Social Responsibility

Global

Healthcare

Preservation

Creative

Training

Tourism

Focused

 Agile

Competence

Wisdom

Sharing

Collaborative

Community

Africa

Connectors

Supply Chain Management

Regional

Youth

Medicine

Volunteer

Life

Natural

Commercial

 Bright

Innovative

Ambitious

Professional

Experienced

Capacity Builders

Social Development

Government

Expert

Sustainable

Asia

Caucuses

Peace

 

 

 

A Quotation from Anais Nin

“It takes courage to push yourself to places that you have never been before. To test your limits. To break through barriers. And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.“

You can learn more about Anais here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ana%C3%AFs_Nin

I thought the quote was beautiful enough to create a page and share.

 

I’m still recovering from my trip to Tel Aviv. I’m still thinking about my trip to Tel Aviv and how I happened to find myself there, “representin”.

I have many many people to thank. So I’m going to try like this, A Twitter List for you to follow http://twitter.com/DarenBBC/irlcontributors-4 ,  some photo’s and some thoughts, experiences and emotions I went through. If that sounds interesting then please do read on, I hope you enjoy, it was EPIC for me.

London Heathrow – T5 -  Jayne had the great idea that I drive myself to H/Row and park using long term parking. I found a new service that meets you at the short term parking area and takes your car away for you, then when you return, they meet you back at short term.

Perfect and only a £5 premium, which given a black cabbie quoted £100 one way to heathrow, it was a no brainer.

Heathrow T5 8.45pm on a Saturday night was deserted, if you’re going to fly, fly then, it was heaven.

Take off was 10.30pm and I have to say the British Airways plane was great, got us in 30 mins earlier at 5.00am. I spoke to the crew because I thought the plane was new, but it wasn’t it had been refurbed. Good job, it felt new. Whilst chatting with the crew, I found out that they would be on my flight home, they were staying in Israel the same amount of time as me, 26.5 hours, of which I slept for 1 hour between 8.30am to 9.30am and 3 hours between 1.45am to 4.45am. I’m not complaining, but I;m not in my 20′s anymore, i’m still feeling the pain of no sleep.

Jeff Pulver graciously offered me the use of his hotel room to shower and change before Conference, I woke Jeff up at 6am, I was earlier than expected. Jeff bought me coffee and cake and gave me some background to Tel Aviv and his activities there, the key to his room says how highly he’s thought of in the tech powerhouse that is, Israel.

So…quick kip, shower and change into the suit and tie. I was later to find out I would be the only person in a suit and tie [ I like that]

The cab ride, was I have to say, that of a middle eastern experience, no english from the driver and no idea where the venue was, Coool! I was running a bit late, but, I’ve learnt on my travels, let destiny take it’s path, I’m powerless in effecting the outcome.

I arrive just as Jeff is finishing his intro, the energy and buzz in the room was off the scale, physically, there was standing room only. I had my suit carrier and “man bag” so felt very concious walking to the front of the room, there were 200 people plus. Once settled I was greeted by smiles from the people that surrounded me. Jeff then announced to the audience that I had arrived and the room applauded, I felt joy, embarrassment, great pride and  a real sense that I was “welcome”. I was in room of full of Israel’s “thought” and “geek” leaders and achievers.

First up was Yossi Vardi – The Grandfather of the Israeli Tech Sector, founder of ICQ. Amazing charisma, wisdom and humour. See for yourself

<embed src=”http://blip.tv/play/g8UBgbTGJwI%2Em4v” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” width=”480″ height=”302″ allowscriptaccess=”always” allowfullscreen=”true”></embed>

The laughter and engagement from the audience was amazing, and so natural, it was just part of what seems to happen when a couple of hundred tech/media/education/spiritual/young/old/political/music/finance related people get togethr in a room. There was a stage, with mic’s and seats for “speakers and panelists”, but that stage was for audience “use” too. I learnt, that Israeli’s take part, they don’t sit back and think it, maybe talk it down in the corridors quietly, they say it, share it, challenge and act. If it was too cold, someone shouted, “turn the heating up” or if someone said something funny ( which they did a lot) lots of people would laugh, but laugh properly and look at each other while they laughed. It’s a tough subtlety  to describe, i guess you had to be there .

And “be there” I was… Lot’s of people chipped in cash to make the experience (trip) possible, and I have expressed my gratitude to you all in some way, but there are seven people I’d like to really show my deep appreciation to.  They were the catalysts, and often the work of the catalyst is under valued, if valued at all, as it’s often forgotten, but is actually the vital spark that is always required. So…here are the catalysts, thank you once again.

http://twitter.com/digitalmaverick – He suggested asking the community on Twitter for funds – Drew is a teacher

http://twitter.com/bensaint – He made it clear, very clear he would make a major donation early on – Ben owns Evolv Digital

http://twitter.com/gemmawent – She matched Ben’s support within minutes – Gemma is founder of Red Cube Marketing

http://twitter.com/scottgould – He confirmed covering the cost of flying within 30 minutes of my appeal. Scott is a partner in Conference Group #LikeMinds

http://twitter.com/drewellis – He is Scott’s business partner and signed off flight costs within minutes of Scott’s suggestion

http://twitter.com/robocallaghan – My 1st “Chip In” donator, and what a donator. Just amazing.

http://twitter.com/JeffPulver – He invited me to Tel Aviv

Next edit, I will go into some of the people I met. Until then enjoi the music vid. The tempo is reflective of the intensity experienced and the “here I am” line sums up my feeling as I had settled into my seat after five minutes

Daren