tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39599442978976166722024-03-19T11:44:22.113+02:00Digital ideas, pixelated perspectivesDigitaltoybox is a blog on things I find interesting. This may cover anything from business strategy, financial markets, to interesting projects, innovation, scuba diving, photography and anything else in betweenCogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-16672989085010012982014-05-30T14:24:00.001+02:002014-05-30T14:36:46.167+02:00Entrepreneur & StartUp Survey<h3 style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://bit.ly/startupentrepreneursurvey" target="_blank"><img alt=" Click here to take the survey!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJwNGxwlubw5t5v-1NqHIjBbE7G44WDoFwnOj_uh7RILDITHjAAV7T4KV7hy0WkxC3jTxuEWxfDxl0xJGZOWMwzH7Y8NGDvX1S4o76NhMxsRXSduOADsv4iLelH4QZ1RthBM8joIP8wE/s1600/THIS+IS+IT+copy.gif" height="305" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: lime;">To take the survey click on the picture above</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: lime;"> or</span><span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://bit.ly/startupentrepreneursurvey" target="_blank">click here</a></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entrepreneur & StartUp survey</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are an entrepreneur or thinking of starting a business, or in the process of doing so, kindly participate in this suvey by clicking on one of the links provided - will open a new window.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your input and feedback would be highly appreciated if you </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">currently fall into one of the following categories</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thinking of starting your own business somewhere in the next 1 month to 36 months?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Currently busy setting up a startup / new business venture?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not sure if you should go e-commerce? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking for other fellow founders to assist you with setting up your start-up?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Want to protect your idea and Intellectual Property, not sure what is the best way to do it?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Struggling with the business plan?</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpvL-KR7ars5dYdndriKB4TicSNPUurRCqB0FzTQTe05MtR7cmVdzhVDZeyYfNyDUgXWrfs92p3oR5FPGcOTVv04QIw3Ojhg3yWGyCmUsRPpX8ThXpm6_BYE8rw9zkvdK7mFmVgvP2BQ/s1600/Process+(bizvalu).gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpvL-KR7ars5dYdndriKB4TicSNPUurRCqB0FzTQTe05MtR7cmVdzhVDZeyYfNyDUgXWrfs92p3oR5FPGcOTVv04QIw3Ojhg3yWGyCmUsRPpX8ThXpm6_BYE8rw9zkvdK7mFmVgvP2BQ/s1600/Process+(bizvalu).gif" height="247" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Which best resembles your business model ?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4w_tXbJWAxe6gHzC4ufh1XRXZBBa_UH5Kytzbo4HPyMwjh7fvbh_6uWgkoTpSlGn_lqpPPJmkxhYRmQ5TzEHqzH2E-8BX5YYp7XbKu1kNTXCGLNbWmrl_cUMo-69Z91mm5GV-hOLhEo/s1600/business+model.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4w_tXbJWAxe6gHzC4ufh1XRXZBBa_UH5Kytzbo4HPyMwjh7fvbh_6uWgkoTpSlGn_lqpPPJmkxhYRmQ5TzEHqzH2E-8BX5YYp7XbKu1kNTXCGLNbWmrl_cUMo-69Z91mm5GV-hOLhEo/s1600/business+model.jpg" height="288" width="320" /></a></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have difficulty making sense of the business model?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are your metrics making sense?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can't scale your business?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying to figure out what a Lean Start-up is about?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finding all the red tape, administration and regulatory requirements frustrating and difficult to deal with?</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dkyirfW0eMBn88kE4UgrmGb7lO9NTxT4dw4W_EJatLIvTXnJHXJqCarmHzOGLvSYfjo0RBKD9l5b_o7RpoE9JFRmERiGFZBfbTt4piO0pHKmWnNLGGIe0ASmxItJv867xNO7FaR8wsY/s1600/red_tape_71.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dkyirfW0eMBn88kE4UgrmGb7lO9NTxT4dw4W_EJatLIvTXnJHXJqCarmHzOGLvSYfjo0RBKD9l5b_o7RpoE9JFRmERiGFZBfbTt4piO0pHKmWnNLGGIe0ASmxItJv867xNO7FaR8wsY/s1600/red_tape_71.gif" height="320" width="237" /></a></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Need investors ? Busy raising capital?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is the minimal viable product?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Struggling with customer development?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sales not going according to plan?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or maybe just not sure what to do next?</span></li>
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click here to take the survey:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #0000ee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><a href="http://bit.ly/startupentrepreneursurvey" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/startupentrepreneursurvey</a></u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This survey works on computers, tablets and smart phones</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Reason for this survey</u></b></span></span></div>
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This short questionnaire is intended to conduct market research and collect information from entrepreneurs, founders and start-ups <i>primarily in South Africa</i> but also elsewhere in the region. But if you are from somewhere else and want to participate, please give it a go and let us know what you think!<br /><br />The objectives of this survey is to identify specific areas or steps in the process of getting a start-up off the ground where entrepreneurs may experience difficulties, or where they require assistance to assist in achieving lift-off.<br /></span><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you know of other entrepreneurs, founders and start-ups, specifically in South Africa or in the region, please forward this link to them so that they can also participate in this survey. We will really appreciate it if you do - thank you! </span><br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click here to take the survey:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"> </span></span></b><b style="color: #0000ee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://bit.ly/startupentrepreneursurvey" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/startupentrepreneursurvey</a></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Depending on responses this survey should be open for a couple of weeks starting today.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for taking the survey! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">- Leopard - unsplash.com by martyn seddon</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">- Confused model - with apologies to bizvalu.blogspot</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Happy guy with business model canvas - Goodreads.com</span> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3; font-size: x-small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">- Red tape - </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://entreprenerdblog.wordpress.com/</span></span></div>
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Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-1357126696114058282014-03-15T18:10:00.001+02:002014-03-15T21:41:40.683+02:00How 3D printing can disrupt the building industry<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Imagine the end of slums... The end of multi-year construction projects... Imagine radically different costing approaches, and construction projects being completed for substantially cheaper, and much much faster than currently possible.... Imagine how cheaper infrastructure can vastly improve the lives of many. The enormous impact on public budgets if savings can be realised...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3D printing has the potential to completely disrupt a number of industries. To date most of the attention seems to have gone to the potential impact on the manufacturing industry. Various models of affordable entry-level 3D- printers are now available that can print all kinds of interesting items in the comfort of your own house. The technology is perhaps not quite there yet to e.g. print your own stylish clothes, bit I am sure somewhere somebody is working on just that already.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now new developments in technology, and importantly new applications, and the potential impact of these on the building industry is now also starting to draw attention. </span><a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/how-to/blog/contour-crafting-how-3d-printing-will-change-construction-16594743" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read the Popular Mechanics article here</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/JdbJP8Gxqog?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: TED Talks</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">If you own a construction company, its maybe time to start paying attention, that is if its not too late for you already</span></div>
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Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-14544784429136597562014-02-12T17:28:00.002+02:002014-02-12T17:28:52.276+02:00How rats save lives around the world ... yes, rats. Big rats !<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: lime;">RATS CAN SAVE LIVES</span></h2>
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Now here is something you don't read about every day. Yes, you read that right the first time - Rats can save lives!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBd1tBx_wpWeIiPjwPlW_ANrmU8B-NZw5k7R3-YqXXn25bc3U-EIKFZ1BD9-u2egMHrkehL7nel3mHc4Uki2oXmgbYL-0gObhS5azPHgwX2tuaeb6JgTyPiDqxsPmJtwTB-P9Hr79U2I/s1600/hero+rat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBd1tBx_wpWeIiPjwPlW_ANrmU8B-NZw5k7R3-YqXXn25bc3U-EIKFZ1BD9-u2egMHrkehL7nel3mHc4Uki2oXmgbYL-0gObhS5azPHgwX2tuaeb6JgTyPiDqxsPmJtwTB-P9Hr79U2I/s1600/hero+rat.jpg" height="170" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: yellow;">Hey mister, did you move my cheese?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pic - Courtesy of http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/05/12/herorat-no-ordinary-rat/</span></div>
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But it is not just any old rat.... Introducing <a href="http://www.apopo.org/" target="_blank">APOPO</a>'s specially trained <b>heroRAT</b>s. <a href="http://www.apopo.org/en/" target="_blank">APOPO</a> is a Belgian NGO currently operating in Tanzania, Mozambique, Thailand, Angola and Cambodia.<br />
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As you may have guessed, these are not your run of the barn, common garden variety grey rat. No Sir. These are specially trained <i>African giant pouched </i><em>rats.</em><br />
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And did I mention that they are huge?<br />
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So how do they save lives, you might wonder ...<br />
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Detection of land mines</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4d0DvpechjN8RBoHF93Ypsd3WoTTlha8MmvcBfTUgQ7bqiVIYoNvdK3N6veyaCScl6wtlg9hWvI69_DUB032a1kqD9kU_-Z8_piVPPODYoHZ_n-Yn9aLOkMRyf9o13nenWReAzfYvt4/s1600/hero+rat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4d0DvpechjN8RBoHF93Ypsd3WoTTlha8MmvcBfTUgQ7bqiVIYoNvdK3N6veyaCScl6wtlg9hWvI69_DUB032a1kqD9kU_-Z8_piVPPODYoHZ_n-Yn9aLOkMRyf9o13nenWReAzfYvt4/s1600/hero+rat2.jpg" height="198" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pic -Courtesy of http://blogs.cfr.org/campbell/2011/06/20/herorats-corner-landmines-and-tuberculosis-in-africa/</span></div>
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The <b>HEROrats</b> have been used with great effect to clear land-mine infected areas in Mozambique , Angola, and areas as far as Cambodia, where many many still un-exploded landmines, bombs and other devices remain as potentially fatal reminders of the wars thought in these countries in years gone by.<br />
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This short video clip below explains how the rats are trained to detect land mines:<br />
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/_eAGtAYW6mA/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/_eAGtAYW6mA&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/_eAGtAYW6mA&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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Some of the statistics to date indicated below. These stats from the <a href="http://apopo.org/en/mine-action/about" target="_blank">APOPO website</a> pretty much speak for themselves:</div>
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<b>MOZAMBIQUE</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qaKRloqNIWnb-G5W7Vo6GWABcTLUQVUz56N-VsT5Z5bdw4roC0mlEQRIr_B05_vfl2UtUZKi-eiIQpRFh2fTQY1zXWe8gvnu1cqDngvT3wy6Xb4ZAI6HKpsbtSyeHl-lbr-Pld3hgKY/s1600/Mozambique.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qaKRloqNIWnb-G5W7Vo6GWABcTLUQVUz56N-VsT5Z5bdw4roC0mlEQRIr_B05_vfl2UtUZKi-eiIQpRFh2fTQY1zXWe8gvnu1cqDngvT3wy6Xb4ZAI6HKpsbtSyeHl-lbr-Pld3hgKY/s1600/Mozambique.PNG" /></a></div>
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<b>Cambodia</b></div>
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If you think about the fact that each of the landmines detected (if still active), and each weapon and each item of ammunition detected through this process, are theoretically capable of killing or harming many, many individuals and or livestock, the number of human lives potentially saved through this intervention are enormous.<br />
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Now think of the amount of economic activity (farming, manufacturing, businesses) that now can use the newly reclaimed land for economic activity to operate on, creating jobs, supporting families, - think of the multiplier effect this could have on an economy.<br />
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At least 11 <a href="http://apopo.org/en/about-apopo/press/publications?topic=MA" target="_blank">scientific papers</a> have been published on the use of rats to clear explosives to date.<br />
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Detection of Tuberculosis</span></h3>
But wait, there's more - the HEROrats can also sniff out tuberculosis (TB). You can read more about the TB sniffing process <a href="http://apopo.org/en/tuberculosis-detection/how/training" target="_blank">here</a> or watch the short video clip below.<br />
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It takes about 9 months to train a rat how to detect TB. But once trained, the rats can assess batches of samples faster than their human lab-assistant counter parts - and in fact they have found that in only 10 min, <i>one trained rat can assess more samples that a human lab-assistant can complete in a day</i>.<br />
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To improve the accuracy, teams of 3 or more rats are used to screen the samples. Positive identification is reward with a sound and food treat - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Pavlov" target="_blank">Pavlov</a> would have been so happy. To keep the rats honest, every now and again a known positive sample is slipped in between the other test cases (planted so to speak) to check if they still detect it. <br />
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Over the last few years in only 1 country these clever rats have identified almost 3,000 wrongly diagnosed TB patients - not a very high number, but it would surely have made a big difference to those 3,000 people and their families. Added to which, you need to consider how infectious TB is - one person infected with TB can over the course of a year infect 10-15 others, which in turn can infect 10-15 others. Etc.<br />
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At least 10 <a href="http://apopo.org/en/about-apopo/press/publications?topic=TB" target="_blank">scientific papers</a> have been published on the TB detection process to date.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">
More about Bart, APOPO and his army of HEROrats</span></h3>
This relatively young organisation was started by Bart Weetjens, who used to keep rats as pets during his early childhood. As a young adult, Bart started investigating the highly problematic issue of landmines in Sub-Saharan Africa, and eventually quit his job to pursue this. There are still currently approximately 66 countries and 7 territories in different parts of the world which are affected by landmines, as well as other types of explosive remnants of war. Not only do these items pose a real risk to human and animal life and limb, but they also pose structural barriers to development and economic growth in the regions and countries where they remain.<br />
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During Bart's research he discovered an article written in the 1970's about gerbils, dealing specifically with theirÂ’ ability to detect explosives in a laboratory setting. This got him thinking of his ratty childhood friends again. The Belgian Directorate for International Cooperation (DGIS) provided the initial financial support to develop the concept in 1997. In the next year APOPO vzw was registered under Belgian law as a non-profit, and started its first research. </div>
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Bart and his HEROrats have been featured around the world - here he is giving a TED talk.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">
Want a novel gift for that friend that already has everything?</span></h3>
Give him a rat. Even better, give an APOPO HEROrat.<br />
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APOPO is an NGO and will greatfully accept any individual and corporate contributions and donations. They have created an "<a href="http://apopo.org/en/adopt" target="_blank">Adopt a HEROrat</a>" programme which allows interested individuals the opportunity to support the cause and contribute to saving lives by adopting a HEROrat.<br />
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Your friend can even pick a name.<br />
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<a href="https://plus.google.com/112648604949912292356?rel=author">Google+</a>Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-46964706244702232002014-02-06T17:30:00.001+02:002014-02-08T20:36:09.001+02:00Sochi 2014 - a closer look at the Winter Olympics <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Olympics, World Cups, and other large scale projects qualify as mega pr</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ojects. These projects are huge in scope, have large budgets, and sometimes very complex requirements. They typically impact not only the local community, but have an international reach - as anybody close to a TV or radio over the next couple of days will tell you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Its that time again - at time of writing this blog, the Sochi Olympics are in full swing. The 22nd Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place from 7 to 23 February 2014, in Sochi, Russia, with some events held in the resort settlement of Krasnaya Polyana. <br /><br />For the fans, here is a link to <a href="http://www.olympic.org/sochi-2014-winter-olympics">their official website</a>.<br /><br />The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics has not really been the media darling in the last couple of months. Quite far from it actually. Sochi has recently been in the news for all the wrong reasons - really not what you expect from an Olympic Games.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: orange;">Firstly it has been slated</span></b> and tarred <b><span style="color: orange;">for</span> </b>perceived, and actual legislated <b><span style="color: orange;">discrimination</span></b>. This topic was the cause of quite a lot of public debate and negative feedback. But this is an article about <b><u>mega projects,</u></b> so that part of the discussion will have to wait for another day. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: orange;">Secondly</span></b>, the press has been abuzz with news that the<span style="color: orange;"> <b>facilities will not be complete</b></span>. This picture of surprisingly social toilet facilities went around the world on Twitter. The Olympics are known for breaking down borders (literally) - maybe they intended to create new opportunities for bi-lateral discussion ? </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Humour aside, in the weeks and days prior to the event, specifically</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> the Western press has been particularly negative about the extent of preparations. They have been grilling Sochi 24/7, as can be seen from the following rather non-flattering selection of articles:</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://gizmodo.com/sochis-olympic-village-is-half-built-and-full-of-trash-1512657018" target="_blank">Sochi's olympic village is half built and full of trash</a></span></li>
<li><a href="http://mashable.com/2014/02/04/sochi-olympics-hotel-pics/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Sochi Olympics Off to Rough Start Before They Even Begin</a></li>
<li><a href="http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/02/05/n-olympics-sochi-hotels-unfinished.cnnmoney/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some Sochi hotels not ready for Olympics</span></a></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/02/05/15-signs-that-russia-is-not-very-ready-for-the-olympics/" target="_blank">15 signs that Russia is not very ready for the Olympics</a></span></li>
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<i>Originally 1 more pic included but it turned out to be a fake, so I removed it</i></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This type of negative commentary is sadly quite normal, as the hosting country and host city or cities are put under a microscope in full public view with a spot light like never before. And, journalists are out in full force to create stories - that's their job. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, it does happen that not everything might not be 100% finished. It might even be that due to shortage in resources, the project teams had to prioritize and decided to rather install the curtain rail in a hotel room before installing the man-hole cover on the pavement. I am not saying that that is the way it should be, but give credit where it is due. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even the smallest item gets blown out of perspective and becomes an international media feeding frenzy. Everybody seems to find sadistic joy (<i>schadenfreude</i>) in downplaying the hosts' ability to successfully deliver the event. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When comparing against other events, the state of preparedness is not necessarily far off. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the Greece <b>Athens Olympics in 2004</b>, there was huge public hysteria, wet paint and work done up to the day of the event. About 3 years after being awarded, the IOC had to reprimand Greece for the lack of progress and they had to call in international assistance. To catch up and save money they e.g. abandoned the construction of the roof over the Olympic swimming pool, cancelled landscaping of certain public areas</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even in Germany, the pinnacle of efficiency, there were challenges during the <b>2006 World Cup</b>, with the Organizing Committee only getting access to their offices in the main stadium in as little as days or hours before the opening event. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">South Africa risked a so-called "Plan B" in the event of not being ready for the <b>2010 FIFA World Cup, </b>but still managed to complete stadium and other preparations months in advance.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So yes, it is possible to run slightly late or re-prioritize certain parts of the infrastructure planning. Normally the event is an enormous success regardless.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The problem is not with either of the above issues, but rather clearly with the following:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="anno-span"><b><span style="color: orange;">Thirdly, and most importantly - cost.</span></b> "According to an <a href="http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2238053">analysis</a> by Bent Flyvbjerg, chair of major project management at the University of Oxford, and his colleague Allison Stewart, all Olympic games since 1960 have had a cost overrun. On average, they cost nearly three times the initial budget. " - read Akshat Rathi's <a href="http://qz.com/172180/the-sochi-olympics-are-going-to-cost-more-than-the-last-13-olympics-combined/" target="_blank">full article here</a></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what happened in Sochi? Well they decided to use a resort town that did not have sufficient or appropriate type of facilities to host the Winter Olympics. Fortunately this is a winter Olympics and not the summer event, so it only has to host about one third of the number of events. This might be where you can expect a saving, right ?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Surprisingly not so. Despite having to host a smaller number of events, <span data-num="2">on average, then, each Winter Olympic event will cost +- $520m. Bargain. But wait, there is more .... </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span data-num="2">The Sochi Olympics originally proposed a budget of around $12 billion during the bidding stage. This has since mushroomed to an eye-watering $ 50 billion - making Sochi the most expensive Olympic event ever. <b><span style="color: orange;">MOST EXPENSIVE EVER...</span></b></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Source: http://qz.com/172180/the-sochi-olympics-are-going-to-cost-more-than-the-last-13-olympics-combined/</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Based on an analysis completed by Dutch media, <a href="http://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2014/02/01/sotsji-duurder-dan-alle-vorige-winterspelen-bij-elkaar/" target="_blank">Sochi is more expensive than all previous Winter Olympics combined </a></span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8_aU7LAHx9u3k-afRDLoOWR6HrqblHmABnlee8fMORBs67lFRZuqQYT4h83SMHNVKrDD_JlW8OhqaCEgCue9yQzCGDGcF_sOVztDoHvav8BjQI7uXvvhLwTn792pr8_zhCtZbG-v0_4/s1600/Sotsji_kosten-568x623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8_aU7LAHx9u3k-afRDLoOWR6HrqblHmABnlee8fMORBs67lFRZuqQYT4h83SMHNVKrDD_JlW8OhqaCEgCue9yQzCGDGcF_sOVztDoHvav8BjQI7uXvvhLwTn792pr8_zhCtZbG-v0_4/s1600/Sotsji_kosten-568x623.jpg" height="320" width="291" /></a></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No detail breakdown of expenses has been made publicly available to date, and I doubt that it it will. So it is not clear what type of expenses have been included and or excluded from this total cost of $ 50 billion. What is known is that Stochi required quite a bit of work in the line of new venue infrastructure, hotels, and similar to be ready for the various events. </span></li>
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<ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCFEphEOHuuRfMo6PitoPbWWOGonfDDqTG6HKrRLmeqwgoFc5OZm8HzDpn9bfqZEOkecPOYr6TaiFJyZZeFbkepqwCIsEupJTi6lyH4dGX6o2qNbQdahyFPhelonDBhPifGEvYFuTmYU/s1600/sochi2014venueguide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCFEphEOHuuRfMo6PitoPbWWOGonfDDqTG6HKrRLmeqwgoFc5OZm8HzDpn9bfqZEOkecPOYr6TaiFJyZZeFbkepqwCIsEupJTi6lyH4dGX6o2qNbQdahyFPhelonDBhPifGEvYFuTmYU/s1600/sochi2014venueguide.jpg" height="246" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Graphic courtesy of CNN</span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we were however to have a look at the following </span><a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/01/31/sochi-olympics-costs-and-corruption-a-look-at-the-massive-venues-and-the-tycoons-behind-their-construction/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">infographic (courtesy of National Post)</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, a whole new picture starts emerging:</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sochi Games are also home to one of the most expensive road and railroad combos in the word at $ 9 billion ($ 8.7 to be more precise) for about 31 miles to connect the various towns - <a href="http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21581764-most-expensive-olympic-games-history-offer-rich-pickings-select-few-castles">read the story on The Economist</a>.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This road / rail project is more expensive than the total cost for preparations for the <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-02/the-2014-winter-olympics-in-sochi-cost-51-billion">last Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010</a>.</b></span></li>
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<li><a href="http://content.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,3067054983001_2163099,00.html" target="_blank">Times article</a></li>
<li>This <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/threats-sochi-olympics-whistleblower-drowned-blood/story?id=22270000" target="_blank">ABC investigative story paints a sad picture</a>. </li>
<li>CNBC believes it is <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/101385144" target="_blank">money well spent</a>?</li>
<li>The Guardian <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2013/oct/09/sochi-2014-olympics-money-corruption" target="_blank">had this to say</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/the-costly-distraction-that-is-vladimir-putin-s-sochi-olympics-1.2521816" target="_blank">Pres Putin will have his hands full </a>- as the negative press may very well drown out the good news from Sochi</li>
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Closing thoughts</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I have said above, some of the bad press is due to journalists doing their jobs perhaps a bit too well. However, the flip side is that most people would be fired for blowing a budget by more than $ 10, or 20, or 30 billion ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Direct comparison is always difficult. Montreal paid off their Olympic stadium only in 2006, 30 years later. Wonder how long the Russian people will have to pay tax to pay this off? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have no doubt that the Sochi Olympics will be a tremendous success and wish them all the luck. For anybody who has ever been involved in something like this, it takes a tremendous lot of planning and intensely hard work to make an event of this size work. And even more effort to make it a success. I therefore wish to congratulate everybody that put their hearts and souls into planning and operations of the event, as well as those athletes who reached </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this level where they compete internationally - I take my hat off to you. <br /><br />But maybe we need to reconsider what the modern Olympics symbolize in terms of human endeavor - after all, the Olympic motto is Citius—Altius—Fortius, which is Latin for "faster, higher, stronger." <br /><br /> It is not supposed to be a competition where construction companies and politicians compete for gold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Comments welcome. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/112648604949912292356?rel=author">Google+</a></span></div>
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Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-10330965819861000872014-01-31T17:52:00.003+02:002014-01-31T17:53:48.279+02:00CONTAGION <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMi9S0Z3FdIy6dfiaMjAOVFWsjDExgtuDxWhwzDGFIFPpzk_etbDqZVC4UvHd40EsoFP-sd1Y8SoeCCsAsFv1xK30jMHQrkxR6hvy4L-k58yZ_w1Ae90Uvj0PPK6B7WOV_F8pNRTXGxc/s1600/Contagion_Logo.png"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMi9S0Z3FdIy6dfiaMjAOVFWsjDExgtuDxWhwzDGFIFPpzk_etbDqZVC4UvHd40EsoFP-sd1Y8SoeCCsAsFv1xK30jMHQrkxR6hvy4L-k58yZ_w1Ae90Uvj0PPK6B7WOV_F8pNRTXGxc/s1600/Contagion_Logo.png" width="200" /></a><br />
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This story that broke on Bloomberg yesterday (30 January 2014) is what I had hoped not to hear for at least another couple of months. The word <b><span style="color: red;">"contagion"</span> </b>is generally <i>not used lightly </i><br />
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You can read<a href="http://bubblespotting.blogspot.com/2014/01/interesting-times-ahead.html"> this story</a>, or some of the other finance related posts on on my <a href="http://bubblespotting.blogspot.com/">Bubblespotting blog</a> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-vKL0izq-hpY%2FUuvEggz04AI%2FAAAAAAAAASo%2F2_R4GFoxKdg%2Fs1600%2FContagion_Logo.png&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMi9S0Z3FdIy6dfiaMjAOVFWsjDExgtuDxWhwzDGFIFPpzk_etbDqZVC4UvHd40EsoFP-sd1Y8SoeCCsAsFv1xK30jMHQrkxR6hvy4L-k58yZ_w1Ae90Uvj0PPK6B7WOV_F8pNRTXGxc/s1600/Contagion_Logo.png" -->Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-82037264618580081202014-01-31T15:45:00.000+02:002014-03-21T12:38:28.522+02:00Recycling abandoned fishing netsIt is estimated that approx 50% of the world's remaining coral reefs either is dead, dying or at the very least damaged. Some estimates go as high as 70%.<br />
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There are many causes, sadly most of which have a common denominator - man. One of the major problems - abandoned nets. These throw away nets are not only a risk to coral, but to all wild sea life.<br />
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One company is making an effort to stem the tide - See the video below for corporate social responsibility in action<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kb6DUSv4c1Y?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Now to figure out a way to get rid of all the other rubbish, oil and garbage<br />
<br />Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-29214907401853507692014-01-25T16:17:00.003+02:002014-01-25T16:17:52.853+02:00Onewheel - self balancing electric skateboard <br />
Ever thought of yourself as a skater boy / skater girl / skater ... erm ... person ? Flying downhill, wind in your hair, doing tricks and being all cool ... just before you fall out your 2 front teeth ? You haven't ? Well why not ?<br />
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Well here is something that can change that - introducing the <a href="http://rideonewheel.com/" target="_blank">OneWheel</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0S6nig71lwot8n2Q_DY-A-VATxDscKlYxN3IrC7tiAy8zYJTX7KxlmoxPrrj_BF1l2pD6rdBSLBO54RbIjqqlRoPRiDGw1d7xFwXWO5xdLAjeEIXAKe0qDauqIAyI54v13rf56GpCMQY/s1600/onewheel+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0S6nig71lwot8n2Q_DY-A-VATxDscKlYxN3IrC7tiAy8zYJTX7KxlmoxPrrj_BF1l2pD6rdBSLBO54RbIjqqlRoPRiDGw1d7xFwXWO5xdLAjeEIXAKe0qDauqIAyI54v13rf56GpCMQY/s1600/onewheel+1.jpg" height="320" width="176" /></a></div>
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It might take a second or two to realise that this is no ordinary skateboard. At first you notice the shape is a bit off from what you might be used to. Wait - what happened to the wheels ?<br />
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<a href="http://rideonewheel.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" Website" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbUHMxh-vReaI1qsBL3vK7maWyze7D7GopnfqJX1EX99Bg1sAUdss4SnRHggV2ET2D5Xk7TBwvJtIqberjpYzyXYi7vwvBuScxEaQ8bJSivPyJDOtC6YAOdIvUXkOFCe6gKc71P3BtWg/s1600/onewheel3.jpg" height="129" width="320" /></a><span id="goog_1760588822"></span><span id="goog_1760588823"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
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Onewheel, as you may have guessed by now, only has one wheel. But to make up for it, it is a really big and chunky wheel. But wait, thats not all - Onewheel also is an <b>electric, self-balancing skateboard</b> - watch the quick Youtube video below -</div>
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<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ns7RFZPTfpc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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So you might even get to keep your front teeth.</div>
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The Onewheel has a direct drive motor, seated in the hub of the wheel. It comes with a lithium battery and sensors that control speed and balance (watch the video above). It can reach speeds of 12 mph (20km/h) and has a range of about 4-6 miles (6-9 km).<br />
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The Onewheel project is the brainchild of Kyle Doerksen, who set up Future Motion - the company based in Mountain View, California which is developing Onewheel. This product has been literally shooting the lights out on <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/4422853/onewheel-the-self-balancing-electric-skateboard?ref=live" target="_blank">kickstarter</a>, read about them <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/4422853/onewheel-the-self-balancing-electric-skateboard?ref=live" target="_blank">here</a>, and on their <a href="http://rideonewheel.com/" target="_blank">own website</a><br />
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Very cool, I think<br />
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<br />Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-63578605539754773732014-01-23T13:49:00.003+02:002014-01-24T16:50:21.153+02:00Hover-bike<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Hot on the heels of the <a href="http://digitaltoybox.blogspot.com/2014/01/but-will-it-fly.html" target="_blank">Sky Whale</a>, comes the Hoverbike, an invention by an Austrian Chris Malloy.</span><br />
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The pic pretty much says it all - yes his feet are not touching ground (and it doesn't look like he was jumping either). Its inventor believes the bike can travel up to traveling at speeds of up to 173mph at 10,000 feet. (or for those of us who live in the real world 278 km/h at a height of 3 kms). That height might be a bit of an issue for Air Traffic Control, I think</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHiVXptSGHubs56MDX1vCbVfT5xpPiL01n5Z3pgeKrhmRRKm4P-3rxn-uuB6e1N8pWhhdyPTtZm6QM3GaaxIsLOvUCiLIzPI_JmSzeVNDiRM5YVMln6nthHVqst83Wz5AC9npsTKu8bQ/s1600/hoverbike-chris-malloy-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHiVXptSGHubs56MDX1vCbVfT5xpPiL01n5Z3pgeKrhmRRKm4P-3rxn-uuB6e1N8pWhhdyPTtZm6QM3GaaxIsLOvUCiLIzPI_JmSzeVNDiRM5YVMln6nthHVqst83Wz5AC9npsTKu8bQ/s1600/hoverbike-chris-malloy-8.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out the video (scale model):</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a top down view with some key specifications:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdy2Fzdfb2WyebGqK9Eyq-elJ0H_VYDY6gqfIN0Z4mItG4sl6fDJ-w6v7U1WfMTjPgAHSJV0np4B1ZOO5bOGa5zPRZCqAMe-uJAuv9hlabn6owYZ1fs3Gwlad1wkAgUl210pq86MBh_M/s1600/hoverbike-chris-malloy-1.+jpg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdy2Fzdfb2WyebGqK9Eyq-elJ0H_VYDY6gqfIN0Z4mItG4sl6fDJ-w6v7U1WfMTjPgAHSJV0np4B1ZOO5bOGa5zPRZCqAMe-uJAuv9hlabn6owYZ1fs3Gwlad1wkAgUl210pq86MBh_M/s1600/hoverbike-chris-malloy-1.+jpg.JPG" height="170" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click here to visit the <a href="http://www.hover-bike.com/index.html" target="_blank">Hover-bike Website</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pretty cool stuff!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-36190152711730706952014-01-21T23:08:00.003+02:002014-01-24T16:54:40.463+02:00But will it fly ? <span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/AWWA-Sky-Whale-Concept-Plane/11891085" target="_blank">Oscar Viñals</a>, a Spanish industrial designer by trade, is clearly a very big aviation enthusiast. So big in fact that he has released details, and his own incredible pictures, of a new proposed airplane he calls the "greenest aircraft imaginable."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/21/travel/sky-whale-future-of-flying/index.html?hpt=hp_c5" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sky Whale - Full story CNN</span></a></span><br />
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<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/21/travel/sky-whale-future-of-flying/index.html?hpt=hp_c5" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt=" The Sky Whale - full story CNN" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fu0j08wBVJJ-MMn2wnCcgslQ2O8qXMEhAAhVrRkT7rLAO98e4xB4IUcHS__pbqw6-qm_SCbnVhwZ32JnCjNY5-M_Ly8lv04TxKJJwumM9ucqCTC1SC114e_khCumSAfyxWtMLB0xmO4/s1600/140121125347-sky-whale---aerial-horizontal-gallery.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the graphics are anything to go by, the Sky Whale makes the average Airbus look like an antique. I would so fly on this !</span></div>
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<a href="http://inhabitat.com/oscar-vinals-sky-whale-is-a-three-story-gargantuan-green-aircraft/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt=" Sky Whale" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2__opjw_3kPQ5j8rsUSNpjOE9RpkpgibC8ktGky9H7cwfh8Ri_Xw-1abuC1p7rzC6eCEJlJ1-ec0qofAvZlCC3m6GBzOleeKxBC2SifmB8JmRp7I_c0gNzW2vGhSAnih8xFtXgSfS7w4/s1600/oscar-vinals-sky-whale-future-of-air-travel-2.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; line-height: 19px;">In my opinion it has a bit of shark in it, maybe a whale shark</span><br />
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<a href="http://divezone.net/whale-shark" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt=" Whale Shark" src="http://divezone.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/CocosWhaleShark4.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And you guessed - I like it!</span></div>
Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-76572741033446165022014-01-19T11:58:00.001+02:002014-03-21T12:37:34.749+02:00I like thisCheck this out ... it is not completely fresh off the press but the potential is massive<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ptUj8JRAYu8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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I wonder how far they got with their research ? If you know, please let me knowCogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-74475808381429254742014-01-19T11:45:00.003+02:002014-03-21T12:38:09.685+02:00Cool 3D printing toysRecently I have been discovering a whole bunch of exciting 3D printing tech. So I might as well research this a bit<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/31jkjsZPjtQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Read more here:<br />
<a href="http://rt.com/usa/3d-printed-concrete-house-727/">http://rt.com/usa/3d-printed-concrete-house-727/</a><br />
<br />Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-66826055519728767812014-01-16T10:59:00.006+02:002014-01-16T16:33:34.756+02:00AboutIn case you were curious:<br />
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That sums it up nicely :)</div>
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I also have another blog - <a href="http://bubblespotting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bubblespotting</a></div>
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Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-53835689331826657812014-01-14T20:03:00.001+02:002014-01-14T20:22:04.146+02:00This is sadI came across this blog on Facebook, telling the tragic story of a dad and son and their Christmas gone wrong<br />
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<a href="http://tecrec.padi.com/2014/01/07/a-deceptively-easy-way-to-die-by-rosemary-e-lunn/">http://tecrec.padi.com/2014/01/07/a-deceptively-easy-way-to-die-by-rosemary-e-lunn/</a><br />
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Also:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2529634/Father-son-die-tragic-Christmas-day-diving-accident-trying-new-equipment-cave-thats-described-Grand-Canyon-cave-diving.html" target="_blank">Christmas dive gone wrong for Dad and son (Dailymail)</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.wfla.com/story/24307201/2-hernando-cave-divers-drown" target="_blank">News Video</a><br />
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Here is a Youtube video on cave diving:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z1iaa04rCf0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br />Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-51372782009439152092014-01-14T12:42:00.000+02:002014-01-14T12:42:36.383+02:00Zombies do a Public Service Announcement<br />
This looks like a scene from a movie, but actually its an important Public Service Announcement<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrU3Y4yieORt7FwP7l1jHyV6zM0EUO7QUxnjK5P2umCj_GttyJn6d9nBSLSWis6uNg-CHeJLOf3yAKOxmeNnbhx_Acsenqm3sCEWsm1HVJkR8MNH7Mp9zIprX41tDcfVXO0wV5a3ZPhjE/s1600/Screenshot-zombie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrU3Y4yieORt7FwP7l1jHyV6zM0EUO7QUxnjK5P2umCj_GttyJn6d9nBSLSWis6uNg-CHeJLOf3yAKOxmeNnbhx_Acsenqm3sCEWsm1HVJkR8MNH7Mp9zIprX41tDcfVXO0wV5a3ZPhjE/s320/Screenshot-zombie.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://holykaw.alltop.com/this-bizarre-psa-features-zombies-and-might-just-save-someones-life-video?tu4=1" target="_blank">http://holykaw.alltop.com/this-bizarre-psa-features-zombies-and-might-just-save-someones-life-video?tu4=1</a><br />
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<br />Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-65914082251171759692014-01-12T11:48:00.002+02:002014-01-13T21:29:34.101+02:00The British Railway BubbleBut wait, there's more ...<br />
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In the 1800s there was a railway building craze sweeping through Britain. Just about every Tom, Dick and Harry opened their own railway company - resulting in the British Railway Bubble<br />
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You can read about it here - <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/BenjaminvanAs/bubble-spotting-british-railways" target="_blank">British Railway Mania</a> and here <a href="http://bubblespotting.blogspot.com/">http://bubblespotting.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/29760903?rel=0" style="border-width: 1px 1px 0; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px;" width="427"> </iframe> </div>
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<strong> <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/BenjaminvanAs/bubble-spotting-british-railways" target="_blank" title="Bubble Spotting - British Railways Mania">Bubble Spotting - British Railways Mania</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/BenjaminvanAs" target="_blank">Benjamin Van As</a></strong> </div>
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<br />Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-78864549855057795742014-01-07T15:17:00.003+02:002014-01-21T20:54:30.608+02:00Market BubblesFor just about as long as I can remember, I have been interested in stock markets and investments<br />
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So as part of my investor education, I have decided to do a little research into market bubbles. What causes them, where do they come from, what happens - those kinds of things<br />
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I have created a series of presentations on Bubbles which I would like to share with anybody who may be interested - I have also created a dedicated blog for Bubbles specifically - you can find it here: <a href="http://bubblespotting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://bubblespotting.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/29758318?rel=0" style="border-width: 1px 1px 0; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px;" width="427"> </iframe> </div>
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<strong> <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/BenjaminvanAs/bubble-spotting-2-dutch-tulip-mania" target="_blank" title="Bubble Spotting - Dutch Tulip Mania">Bubble Spotting - Dutch Tulip Mania</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/BenjaminvanAs" target="_blank">Benjamin van As</a></strong> </div>
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Comments or feedback welcome</div>
<a href="https://plus.google.com/112648604949912292356?rel=author">Google+</a>
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Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-67360891393041598132014-01-04T10:25:00.003+02:002014-01-24T16:57:27.454+02:00More Capital Projects<br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, FreeMono, monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">Here is a 2nd Slideshare on Capital projects.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, FreeMono, monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, FreeMono, monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">This one covers major projects in Egypt (2x), Kenya, Equatorial Guinea and Angola</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/29171198?rel=0" style="border-width: 1px 1px 0; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px;" width="427"> </iframe> </div>
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<strong> <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/BenjaminvanAs/capital-projects-chapter-2-african-future-cities-overview-of-selected-projects" target="_blank" title="Capital projects (Chapter 2) - African Future Cities (overview of selected projects)">Capital projects (Chapter 2) - African Future Cities (overview of selected projects)</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/BenjaminvanAs" target="_blank">Benjamin van As</a></strong> <br />
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If you like it, feel free to share it. Comments welcome too.</div>
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Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-49606568728313768222013-12-30T16:12:00.000+02:002014-01-13T21:24:29.907+02:00Diving - stop and smell the rosesCouple of months ago I went to a popular South African scuba diving resort.<br />
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While diving, I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye. So I turned my head and looked straight into a wall of these guys:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCg-QSgQh5brw6dj0xKZ1y2IwLhuEjjE1fM-_-uyVAqTI2tA0XqYjg1WiwKdLieC51jFG3emkok4whUbHN_AJWq2RVw2ZwwDbV0H47_yXylfVlgqU8tiqmbU2nvi1RyQD1I-miIewNMo/s1600/NL_129_1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCg-QSgQh5brw6dj0xKZ1y2IwLhuEjjE1fM-_-uyVAqTI2tA0XqYjg1WiwKdLieC51jFG3emkok4whUbHN_AJWq2RVw2ZwwDbV0H47_yXylfVlgqU8tiqmbU2nvi1RyQD1I-miIewNMo/s320/NL_129_1-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Not thinking about it twice, I turned my camera sideways, fired off a shoot, and off I went on my mission without as much as looking back.<br />
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Pity I didn't stop to admire (and photograph) the scenery properly. Living inland I don't get to go diving in the sea that often, and it can be months between dives. Which is quite a long time if you wish to practice underwater photography.<br />
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Lesson - always take the time, and make the effort to stop and smell the roses (or the fish for that matter).
<a href="https://plus.google.com/112648604949912292356?rel=author">Google+</a>Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-72065117097930612562013-12-30T14:29:00.001+02:002014-01-24T16:57:02.515+02:00What is a Mega Project (Mega Capital Projects) ?Mega projects are typically huge and complex projects, by virtue of size (in the US a mega project is above $ 1 billion, but in other areas of a world, complex projects with smaller budgets may also be considered mega).<br />
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As a Management Consultant, I have been fortunate to be involved in a couple of very large capital projects (programmes) - mega projects by local standards. I hope I will soon again be involved in something exciting of this nature<br />
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Because they are so enormous, they are complex, and affect the lives of many, and impacts on much. That's why I like working on them - really flexes your brain a bit. Specifically if you sit somewhere from where you have a bird's eye view. There is a lot to consider and keep in mind because there are so many touch points.<br />
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I have decided to do a bit of research on capital and mega-projects in Africa. Hope to post updates from time as I discover new projects.<br />
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You can read about the first batch of mega projects here <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/BenjaminvanAs/capital-projects-african-future-cities" target="_blank">Capital projects: African future cities</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fT9ObQZsxdMCVQXX8HIMsMVwEpMBIHi_Wk3CKz_apio0fHq4o4w5uStJ7SMwbI64rPKK9k5RpgYZzCqrAHY2D6kMhkYm4jdH_CiByy9Xi00-MQB9uTPSYAdgd3Z1vQzVN_mKoONPdRo/s1600/page+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fT9ObQZsxdMCVQXX8HIMsMVwEpMBIHi_Wk3CKz_apio0fHq4o4w5uStJ7SMwbI64rPKK9k5RpgYZzCqrAHY2D6kMhkYm4jdH_CiByy9Xi00-MQB9uTPSYAdgd3Z1vQzVN_mKoONPdRo/s320/page+1.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you like it, feel free to share it.
<a href="https://plus.google.com/112648604949912292356?rel=author">Google+</a>Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959944297897616672.post-69991051800631491152013-12-30T14:08:00.001+02:002014-02-02T11:39:38.091+02:00Perspective on the past year<h2>
This time of year people tend to wonder about the year that flew past... </h2>
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Some wonder where it went and how they missed it. Some fondly remember the good times, and others are stuck in the past. After Christmas many may wonder where all this extra weight came from, whilst others are celebrate that which they had shed.<br />
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As for me, it was an interesting year. Many things have gone right. Some did not pan out as planned. Learned a lot. Made major changes, this blog being one of them (call it an early new year's resolution).<br />
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In the end it all boils down to perspective. That what is perfectly normal for the scorpion, might be very poisonous for the frog. One's opinion is likely to differ somewhat, depending on where you stand in the story (either on the sideline, or being the frog, or scorpion) . It then follows that it could be very beneficial to get some perspective on a situation first before making up your mind. Sometimes it feels like you are taking a step forward, but meanwhile it was 2 steps back. <br />
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Perspective on the year is past good, up to a point. Some (like me) tend to over-analyse. That much I figured this year - downside of trying to be a perfectionist I guess. But much more important to look forward I think. To take that step and not just talk about it.<br />
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In this blog I hope to share things that I find interesting - this may be large projects, new business ideas, interesting technologies, my opinion on the world which could be anything from financial markets, business or whatever, just about anything else in between. Sometimes it might be a humorous perspective, and sometimes not. <br />
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I came across an interesting quote earlier the year - I can't remember where, or who said it. It goes like this</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"When you get to a fork in the road, take it" - Anon.</span></div>
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Cogniplexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578500826343458794noreply@blogger.com0