Everest - Top Banana!

Really excited as the final cut of "Everest - Top Banana!" is nearly ready.

Fellow Everest expeditionist Mike Crawley has been working on the film since we returned from Nepal at the end of Novemeber 2008 and has announced that he is working on the final edits with producer Ellen Crawley.

I'm going to encourage Mike to make the film available on YouTube and hope to then link to it here at "140 and then some".

Mike trekked to Everest Base Camp as part of an organised trekking group, of which I was part of. Whilst I was bored and looking for a different kind of vacation, Mike used his trek to raise money for EACH (East Anglia's Children's Hospices).

I have included my travel diary from the trek to give an idea of what we experienced:

Day 1 – Arrival in Kathmandu
After a long day of travelling our senses were assaulted by many different sights, sounds and smells as we arrived in bustling Kathmandu. We were quite thankful for a free evening at the hotel to catch up on lost sleep and refresh before meeting with Prakash, our guide, and the rest of the group for more details on our trek. It’s not quite sunk in what we are here to do yet.

Day 2 – Kathamandu city tour
Woke very early this morning (2am) due to jet lag but luckily we both managed to drop off to sleep again. Prakash took us all on a city tour today, visiting 4 key historical/cultural centres in and around Kathmandu. We visited Monkey Temple/Swayambhunath Stupa, The Ghats at Pashupatinath, The Royal Palace at Pratan and the Boudha Stupa. The heady mix of Buddhist and Hindu culture at these sites, interspersed with the hectic traffic and advertising bill boards makes Kathmandu an intriguing city.

Day 3 – Lukla and Phakding (2800m)
Today we left the city for the mountains. The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla is certainly an experience we will never forget, the views are unbelievable as you weave in between the mountains before coming in to land at the short, uphill airstrip at Lukla. Prakash eased us in slowly today with a gentle two hour downhill walk to the village of Phakding and at 2800m we can definitely feel a difference in the air.

Day 4 – Climb to Namche (3600m)
Slept very well last night and extremely glad as today was very very tough going. We climbed roughly 800m up some pretty steep and rocky paths. The air is getting a lot thinner and we found ourselves taking frequent breaks just to catch our breath. So proud to make it to Namache, despite the aching feet and sore thighs from all the climbing.

Day 5 – Acclimatising
We spent today acclimatising in Namche, but it wasn’t a rest day. Prakash took us up to the Sagamartha Park museum by the army base, and then up further to the helicopter landing strip. All in all we climbed another 400m before heading back down into Namche, a very vibrant place, busy with lots of trekkers and stores selling everything from pain killers and toilet paper to mars bars and souvenirs. Had our first sighting of Everest this evening from the museum plateau, peaking enticingly over the Nuptse wall as the sun began to set. Suddenly realised where we were heading.

Day 6 – Thyanboche (4000m)
Climbed anothe 400m today. Saw some amazing views of the Khumbu valley, Ama Dablam, Nuptse and of course Everest just peaking over the Nuptse wall before reaching the Thyanboche monastery where we are staying tonight. We had a chance to go into the Buddhist monastery and watch/listen to the monks chant. The wall paintings and tankas decorating the chamber were beautiful, bright reds, greens, blues and highlighted with gold leaf. Stunning.

Day 7 – Dingboche (4400m)
Several of the team were feeling pretty unwell today due to undercooked pastries for desert last night. Everyone battled through and took it slow, making it to Dingboche by the afternoon. We’re all feeling the thinness of the air and struggling to catch our breaths but the path only climbs gently from now on. It’s also getting a lot colder in the evenings the higher up we go. Although warm in the sunshine, as soon as the sun goes down the temperature plummets.

Day 8 – Acclimatising
Staying in Dingboche today to acclimatise. Prakash took us up to roughly 4700m today and it hurt. Could barely catch my breath and felt shaky on the way down the path. By the time we got back to the tea house I was exhausted and had a head ache. Pain killers and a nap later, Dan and I took a walk around the village and appreciated a little quality time together.

Day 9 – Loboche (4800m)
Today we climbed to the final stage before “Everest Day”. Loboche is very cold and basic. There is very little to do but have dinner and head to bed to keep warm. We have an extremely early start tomorrow morning (5am) and at this altitude a couple hours sleep is the best we can hope for.

Day 10 – Gorak Shep and Base Camp (5456m)
After breakfasting on mars bars we started our long day to base camp. Whereas most of the previous days were only about 5 hours of walking today we maxed out at 10 hours. Our first stop after roughly 3 hours of following the Khumbu glacier was Gorak Shep. After an hour’s break we set out for base camp, another 3 hours away. The path to base camp crosses into the glacier itself and the eerie silence is mirrored in the twisted formations of rock and ice. At 5400m the altitude really got to me and I considered heading back down, although only 10 minutes away from my goal. But we made it together thanks to the encouragement of our team of guides. Whilst I wrapped up warm at base camp, Dan headed down to the edge of the treacherous Kumbu icefall. Un-acclimatised at such thin air and to make it back to Gorak Shep before dark we could spend little more than 15 minutes at base camp before heading back down to the village.

Day 11 – Decent to Oshey
Whilst some members of our team braved the freezing morning temperatures to summit Kala Pathar for further views of Everest, the majority of our group began our decent. Having acclimatised to the high altitude, heading down was a breeze! We also had the chance to take in more of the scenery and pause for photographs which we were too tired to take on the way up. We also had more breath to chat and get to know the members of our group even better.

Day 12 – Back to Namche
Back in Namche and a chance to celebrate with Everest beers. Moving the party from the Tea house to the highest pool bar in the world we went to bed the latest we had for two weeks, 11pm!

Day 13 –Phakding again
Another night in Phakding and we met a group at our Tea house who were about to start their trek the next day. They were clean and nervously excited about their trip to base camp. We on the other hand were now dirty, smelly, and had gotten to know the other members of our group extremely well.

Day 14 – Final night in the mountains, Lukla
We made it! All the way there and all the way back again. Celebratory hugs all-round as we passed back under the gate arch as we returned to Lukla. For our final night with our guides and porters we all had dinner together and enjoyed some traditional Nepalese music and dancing before another pool competition.

Day 15 – Kathmandu and a shower
Flying out of Lukla was like a rollercoaster ride and as we circled back round to Kathmandu we saw our last views of Everest, Nuptse and Lotse. From the solitude and simplicity of the Himalaya’s we were once again assaulted with the sounds of car horns and street sellers and smells of spices, rubbish and pollution in the city. Following a much awaited shower and nap we joined the group for dinner at the famous Rum Doodle restaurant, decorated with the signatures of all those who have summited Everest.

Day 16 – Last supper in Kathmandu
For our last day in Kathmandu we headed over to the Thamel district, frequented by tourists and full of souvenir shops of puppets, hats, pashminas, tea and spices amongst a whole manner of other goods. Sad to be leaving the Himalaya’s and Nepal we all joined again for dinner to say goodbye to our guide, Prakash, before re-packing our bags for our early flight in the morning.

Day 17 – Home
On reflection we miss the Himalaya’s, the simplicity of life and the fantastic Nepalese people we met during our trip. Although tough at times there isn’t a single thing we would change about our trip. The expertise of our guides reassured us that we would make it to base camp and that as long as we took their advice, we would get there in one piece. Our photographs could never do the scenery justice and there are no words to describe the sheer beauty of the Himalaya’s, they are a truly natural wonder of the world.

Doomsday - really?

I’ve been hearing a lot of cynicism, excitement and concern over the direction in which Twitter is taking recently in regards to marketing and advertising. It’s true that in the last 6 months the marketing profession as a whole has really hopped in to the Twitter nest and is exploring all the possible ways they can exploit, monitize and convert to sales. Naturally, the “Originals”, the established Tweeters who relished in this new, geeky, media are now foretelling that the end of Twitter is neigh. But is it?

Twitter is evolving. Just like Facebook which evolved from a bunch of college mates to social groups worldwide, Twitter is evolving from a micro-blogging platform for the geek elite to a mainstream social media platform. Where Facebook app developers paved the way, Twitter is now giving birth to the next generation of social applications and plugins. By its very nature, Twitter is being moulded and shaped by the very community that uses it. And when the Original geek elite move on to the next shiny toy, Twitter will continue its evolution.

Check out Twitter - the Beginning of the End, or the End of the Beginning? For an interesting insight.

Is evolution real that bad?

A recipe for Owl Cake

I have had lots of response today to the Owl Cake that was discussed at the @tuesdaytweetup and mentioned in my previous blog entry.

Please let me clarify - this is an Owl Cake. Not a cake made of owls but a cake of an owl. Simples.

One of our Brownie Brown Owls was retiring from our District last night and I was tasked with baking The Cake. A sticky, gooey, chocolate fest of an Owl Cake. It turned out pretty well.



Thanks all for your lovely comments on Twitter. As a special treat, here's a naughty way to have homemade cake whenever you want:

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE!!

4 tablespoons self raising flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract and your favourite tipple
1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to your largest mug and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using), vanilla extract and a drop or two of your favourite tipple, then mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high).
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

EAT and enjoy! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

The TuesdayTweetUp

Last night a flock of tweeters gathered in a basement bar in central Southamtpon to meet, share ideas and generally have a good night. As media, marketeers, developers, students, educators and entrepreneurs mingled and networked, the first Tuesday Tweet Up was born.

The Southampton Tuesday Tweet Up was the brain child of @tuesdaytweetup (real name Lisa) who, with the help of partner @spindrwoody, spent a month working the Twitter machine to raise interest in a local networking event. Many of us assumed @tuesdaytweetup had a background in PR/Marketing or Event Management, but as a project manager from a large insurance firm “Tuesday” (as Lisa became affectionately termed around the TweetUp) had only started on Twitter as a personal hobby. Speaking to me at the event, Lisa seemed pleasantly surprised at the power Twitter had, that over a month she was able gather 125 followers and arrange a meeting where at least 50 unique Twitter users showed up (95% of whom where total strangers to her).

For myself, I had a great time at the TweetUp. I had the chance to meet with users I had been following for almost a year as well as re-connect with an old uni friend from halls (@cminion). The TweetUp gave everyone a forum to not only discuss Twitter but also their businesses, interests, and aspirations. This is what social networking is about, making connections online that carry through to the “real world”.

The night really was varied, from about 7pm to when I left at 10.20pm the following topics were amongst those discussed at the TweetUp (there were more I am sure):

Twitter – Ok that’s a given but people discussed its use as a personal medium, news aggregator, within business, and for PR and marketing

Ghost tweeters

3D printing

Solent Uni vs Southampton Uni

Virtual worlds

The ultimate set top box

Owl cakes – not made of owls but looking like an owl

Unique business cards – best of the night was from @RAndyVee. Each card had a different photograph on the back which had a story to it. First time I’ve been given a business card with a padded cell on the back!

Children using social networks and internet safety

Healthcare on Twitter (and chickenpox)

I didn’t get a chance to meet everyone in the room and I really wish I had, which is why I am excited that @tuesdaytweetup is planning on making this a regular event. As Lisa explained, there are a lot of events/tweetups/conferences/un-conferences happening in London but nothing locally. A regular networking event for likeminded people is just what Southampton is after. Check out www.tuesdaytweetup.com for more pictures, video footage and information about the TweetUp and to vote on how often you think they should run. @TheRoryJackson and @mynameisbainsy also knidly interviewed attendees and recorded footage of the event which will be available on www.tuesdaytweetup.com and YouTube shortly. I'll blog and tweet when it's available.

If you attended the TweetUp please leave a comment below and tell me what you thought, who you met and what you talked about. Better yet, leave a comment or email @tuesdaytweetup!

Google Street View - really a threat to national security?

I received the following press release this morning through Technology4Media:

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Google Street View Poses Threat To UK's National Security

Infosecurity Europe Says Google Street View Poses threat To UK's National Security.

The organisers of the Infosecurity Europe, Europe’s No. 1 information security event, say that they are expecting a storm of controversy to erupt over the introduction of the Google Street View facility in the UK.

"The introduction of this service in the UK, which has already attracted vociferous criticism in the US, is regarded by many as a voyeuristic intrusion of privacy. But the invasion of personal privacy is nothing compared to threat this service poses to the national security of the United Kingdom," said Tamar Beck, Group Event Director, Infosecurity Europe.

"I find it deeply disturbing that critical sites such as police stations and army facilities are accessible on the service, thus posing a serious threat to national security, since terrorists now have the electronic equivalent of a dummies' guide to 25 of the UK's major cities," she added.

According to Tamar Beck, whilst Google Maps' satellite view option has previously provided some degree of information to would-be terrorists on the Internet, the viewing angles are sufficiently limited to be of little use to a potential terrorist.

With Google Street View, she says, all the limitations go out of the window, giving terrorists instant - and anonymous - access to major UK cities on a street-by-street basis, where they can pick and choose terror targets from their training camps in Afghanistan, Iran and other volatile areas of the world.

It is to be hoped, she went on to say, that the UK Authorities take action to opt sites such as police stations and army barracks out of the Street View service, so as to make life more difficult for anyone involved with threats to UK national security.

"Not only is Street View a gross invasion of privacy, it's also a major threat to national security. This is something that will be a hot topic at next's months Infosecurity Europe event," she said.

"The world has changed immeasurably due to the Internet and not the changes it engenders are positive. The next few weeks and months could be crucial in the way the Google's UK Street View service evolves,"
she added.

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And in response I posted a comment on Twitter:

Is Google Street View a threat to UK national security? Just received a press release adamant that it is.

I was intrigued to see what other people's views were on this statement and it wasn't long before tweets came in:

@CatStormont More or less, the twitter could be a threat to national security - doesn't it show the movement/daily agenda of PM? :)

@CatStormont more so than leaving data on the train? Or having confidential documents in see through carriers? Pff!

It's true, how can Google compromise national security when the UK government very openly publicises the movements of the PM and other foreign dignitories. Recent tweets from DowningStreet demonstrate:

DowningStreet: No10 admin waits in car for PM and Nicolas Sarkozy to emerge and head to EU Council in Brussels. Stiff breeze, Tricolore flys full above us.

DowningStreet: The PM will deliver a speech on nuclear proliferation in London from around 11:00 GMT. Watch live via http://www.number10.gov.uk

I won't get into the matter of confidential documents being left on trains, or flash drives being "lost", or computers still holding data being removed from facilities, or more confidential documents being openly walked through the streets of the City in clear plastic wallets. But if anything, it appears the security of the UK was perhaps compromised long before Google Street View went live.

NB. Thank you to all who tweeted a reply. In the interest of security I have chosen not to publish your Twitter names.

Click Here

I saw this article on TechCrunch (Why Advertising Is Failing On The Internet) ping up in a tweet by @guyweston of @CoolPink and was intrigued. I fully intended on reading the article, honestly I did but I was drawn in by the banner ads on the right hand side. Ironic when you consider the title of the article!

With print advertising becoming more and more expensive, and with more and more people using the internet as an information resource, I am completely behind Internet advertising – as long as it is done well. And in this day and age where demonstrating ROI in extremely important you can’t just stick up a banner ad with masses of text and with a click through to your corporate homepage. The banner ads on the right hand side of the TechCrunch article effectively demonstrate how you need to direct and encourage the viewer to take action.

Click here
Learn more
Register now
Get this here
Go here now

Pschologically, we follow these types of instructions. We are so used in life to following directions on maps, from our SatNav, in buildings, at the supermarket, it is only natural that when we are told to “Click here” on a website we innately want to follow the instruction.

And when we “Click here” where do we go? Hopefully not to a non-specific home page. We want information, to sign up to something, to download something. Send us to a dedicated page. Take our details and populate your database. We’ve gone to the trouble to “Click here” so we obviously want something, we’re interested, you have our attention.

Your ROI for a web banner should be measurable from an increase in unique page impressions and leads captured from your landing page, whether that is from an enquiry form or specific subscription form.

SEO SPAMMERS - we hate them but can we learn from them?

I received the most informative, helpful and insightful email this morning from Tracey at clearpathtraffic.com, it read:

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We can put your site at the top of a search engines listings. If this is something you might be interested in, send me a reply with the web addresses you want to promote and the best way to contact you with some options.

Sincerely,

Tracy Phillips

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On searching for clearpathtraffic.com I was surprised to see that that the domain was unrecognised. How unfortunate – and stupid – to send out SPAM marketing and not have an operating website.

Please note the hint of sarcasm in this blog post.

Indeed on investigation, the only references on the web to clearpathtraffic.com was the following blog:

“Hey Jason Adams, Mike Lewis, Paula Reynolds of Keyword Placement Inc and Key Placement SEO - Please Stop Sending SPAM” – Jill Olkoski

And this server blacklist:
Legacy Mail


Check out the Cedar Hill Community blog to see the name iterations that Keyword Placement Inc, PowerPoint SEO, Placement Technologies, Placement Auditors have been using.

The thing that really annoys me about this is that, other than being spammed, these people are really really bad at what they are trying to do! But perhaps we can learn from them. Lets count some of their ridiculous mistakes:

1. The email I got had no contact details for clearpathtraffic.com. No registered company name and address and no legal disclaimer.

2. There was no personalization. The email just jumped right in there telling me what they could do, but with no mention of my name as the web administrator or of the company I work for, or even our web address.

3. They had done NO research other than data mining our email addresses. If they had they would have realized that, in fact we rank very well thank you very much within our niche market area.

So, whether you are a large corporation or a small business/one man band, do not get suckered in by these SEO twerps (yes, I used the word "twerp"). If you can’t verify who they are on the web how the heck are they going to “put your site at the top of a search engines listings”. If you want to improve your organic search rankings you can do it yourself, there is plenty of FREE advice out there on blogs and Twitter or you can learn what to do with support on a course like that by Business Marketing Online.