Yesterday evening, I watched Boris Johnson deliver the daily coronavirus briefing from No 10, with questions from the media entirely devoted to the Dominic Cummings kerfuffle (view on that from the Guardian and the Telegraph). If Boris had thought that his measly statement about it would have been enough so he could move on, he was sorely mistaken. In essence, he robustly defended his advisor saying he had spoken to him at length and was satisfied that his actions in driving over 250 miles to … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson’s self-isolating kerfuffle
COVID-19
FIR 195: UN call to educate, uplift and inspire the world
In the last few episodes of For Immediate Release: The Hobson & Holtz Report, we've been highlighting great examples of how organisations are engaging with employees, customers and other stakeholder groups during this time of coronavirus lockdown. In this episode 195 for May that Shel and I recorded a week ago, the example of what the United Nations is doing captured our imaginations leading to a great discussion. In a global call to action at the end of April, the UN asked for help in … [Read more...] about FIR 195: UN call to educate, uplift and inspire the world
SDF 35: We would have recorded you a shorter podcast …
The May episode of the Small Data Forum podcast gave Sam, Thomas and I a lot of space to get a few things off our chests about the present lockdown status in the UK we're all experiencing in one form or another. Recorded last week via Zoom, episode 35 is dominated by some big topics. Government communication with daily TV briefings, big-brand marketing and face masks; the politics of priorities in the wrong order; Colonel Tom, and more. It's actually the topic of priorities in the wrong … [Read more...] about SDF 35: We would have recorded you a shorter podcast …
Living in Lockdown
On March 23, 2020, the UK went into lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic and the consequent emergence of the COVID-19 infection. Since then, it's been a time of staying home for large numbers of the population, regaled daily by government spokespeople, advertising and social media messages to "Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives." It's been a time of an emerging 'new normal' that began with panic buying of some household basics especially toilet roll and hand gel (sanitizer); and, … [Read more...] about Living in Lockdown
SDF 34: “If broadband goes down, we’re all screwed”
In the midst of coronavirus lockdowns just about everywhere, I suppose it's natural for some people to wonder if the Internet can hold up and not collapse under the strain of millions of people suddenly working at home, schooling at home and playing at home, all during the so-called working day and beyond, for an extended period of continuous months. As someone who works for an organisation that's all about the resilience of the Internet, I also suppose it's inevitable that I'd be the one to … [Read more...] about SDF 34: “If broadband goes down, we’re all screwed”