SF area blogger/traveller « EJ » had a very bad adventure when he rented his apartment while away through Airbnb. Private Bn’B may be a good concept, but lacks the reciprocation of flat-swapping, or (as EJ pointed out) the sheer « no-security-whatsoever » of Craiglist, lulling you to a false sense of security (and in that case a 24/7 hotline). But the story is also about bad could-be-better PR. As noted by USAToday: « …travel technology consultant Robert Cole, « the challenge is the structural model » as a reservation service in a fragmented market. And, Cole added, « the hotel industry isn’t disappointed to see these kinds of concerns raised about a business that is potentially disruptive to their own. As painful as it is to this sector of the lodging industry, it’s positive that these issues are being raised early. » [via]
Archives mensuelles : juillet 2011
More Hooverphonic
Th magnificient tree (no video available)
Jouer a travailler
KidZania, decouvert dans l’emission de tele Ne Dites Pas À Ma Mère Que Je Trouve Le Monde Bizarre (Canal+) . Presente comme specifiquement japonais (c’est en fait la franchise d’un groupe mexicain), l’idee de faire evoluer des enfants dans une ville a leur taille ou tous les magasins sont sigles (le fast food, l’hopital Johnson&Johnson, la clinique veterinaire Royal Canin…) choque Diego Bunuel. La television francaise, qui floute le moindre crocodile sur une chemisette, n’a toujours pas compris que les marques font partie de la vie.
Cote positif, cette egalite devant le travail. A KidZania, les enfants jouent a travailler avec la meme intensite (et la meme attention de la part des animateurs) au chirurgien ou au reparateur de ligne electrique. « Ils choisiront plus tard » dit en substance le gerant. Et la voix off de rencherir sur le theme: « Au Japon, ce qui est important c’est bien faire son metier, quel qu’il soit ».
HUMINT 101
Mark Bowden on discovering narrative and the value of beginner’s mind: “only if you are truly ignorant can you ask the truly ignorant question”.
Sherlock Kilcullen
Why rebels and insurgent groups the world over love the Toyota Hilux
pickup as much as their AK-47s. Not difficult, Sherlock K.. Everyone and the NYT knows that even « infamous Puntland pirates (…) driv[e] Toyota Surfs, a light, fast sport utility vehicle that has become the pirate ride of choice ».
links for 2011-07-21
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(The National Archives UK)
strong bodies come in all kinds of shapes and sizes
…and muscles show up in different ways (…) not everyone who is fit is also lean…
100 photos of athletes posing in underwear carefully scanned.
How to Completely Ignore Intellectual Property Rights
There is not one, but three fake Apple store in Kunming, China. Kunmwho?
Packouz and Diveroli
IZ
Ever asked why a music from an overweight Hawaian singer made it to the top of the charts several years after his death?
Here is the answer…
In October 2010, Axe re-ran its 2004 Lynx deodorant advertisement originally aired in 2004.