A Web Site Not To Use
In my previous post, I mentioned that some web sites, when you access them, open a new browser with a full page advert.
I find this practice very unacceptable. I know that some of the more sleazy tabloids use this practice, but I just opened the web site for the Daily Express. I got a very unacceptable advertisement in another copy of my browser. Incidentally, when I closed this unwanted browser window, it immediately reopened and only by closing the original page containing the Daily Express web site, was I able to continue without being interrupted by offensive advertising.
So I shall be continuing of my policy of never having bought this rag in my lifetime! And I’ll never look at their web site again, unless there is a story there, that I have to look at. But I haven’t needed to yet!
I shall be reporting them to someone. But who?
Unwanted E-Mails From Respected Companies
When I sign up to buy something from a company on-line, I always make sure that the direct marketing links are checked or unchecked, so that I don’t get any marketing e-mails. I don’t know for certain, but I suspect that a good on-line marketing code, that might even be the law, states that you must be able to opt-out of any direct marketing. So I always do.
Obviously for my on-line banking and utility suppliers, I don’t opt out of receiving informational messages like my new bill is ready, but these are not direct marketing.
Recently, I got a promotional e-mail from a respected company that I use, where I knew that I’d set the marketing e-mails settings, so that I don’t get any.
I reported this to the company and they said it shouldn’t happen, especially as the offer was genuine.
On checking I found that the e-mail had not come to the e-mail address, I commonly use, but to an old one that I used to use a couple of years ago. I still monitor this address, as some of my old friends still use it and haven’t updated their e-mail address for me.
It then became obvious what had happened. It had been sent by an e-mail marketing company and they were using a list, which contained my old e-mail address. I’m not sure how they obtained the e-mail, but I could have signed up with any number of companies several years ago and one of these didn’t have an acceptable non-pass on policy. Incidentally, I have checked and find that I still use the e-mail for a couple of subscriptions, so these companies may have sold on the the details. I’m not going to name anybody here, as I can’t be sure how the marketing company obtained the e-mail address.
But this does show a very big dilemma for the marketing departments of respected companies.
If say you are doing a promotion and feel that because it may have popular appeal, you might want to give it to a marketing company, who have a list of e-mail addresses, that they have obtained legitimately.
But this list might contain the e-mail addresses of your current customers, who have signed up with you not to receive marketing e-mails. Some may find this unacceptable and may take their business elsewhere.
So how can you ensure that a marketing list used by a third party, does not contain old or unused e-mail addresses of your current customers.
To put it simply, you can’t!
The only way to ensure it, is not to employ a third party marketing company, that uses e-mail. After all, if you want to obtain new customers through the Internet, you can always use embedded web adverts in respected web sites, like newspapers and broadcasting companies. I have bought quite a few products from this type of advert in the quality newspapers. But I would avoid using adverts that pop-up in a new web browser, when you access some of the tabloid web sites. They just annoy.
After all, you get more business from an existing customer, who you don’t annoy!
One company I deal with is always sending me unwanted e-mails, despite settings to say they shouldn’t. Unfortunately, I need to deal with them, but when I can find an alternative, I will cease my involvement with the company.
If You Want To Get Breast Cancer Get Obese
A study from Oxford University about breast cancer has been featured on the BBC.
As someone, who has lost two close family members to the dreaded disease, it is a study that women avoid at their peril.
This is the last two paragraphs of the BBC report.
Dr Julie Sharp, of Cancer Research UK, said: “This is an important study as it helps to show how alcohol and weight can influence hormone levels. Understanding their role in breast cancer is vital and this analysis sheds light on how they could affect breast cancer risk.
“We know that the risk of the disease can be affected by family history and getting older, but there are also things women can do help reduce the risk of the disease. Maintaining a healthy body weight and reducing alcohol consumption are key to reducing breast cancer risk.”
Enough said.
Happy Hundreth Birthday to the Liver Building
The Liver Building is one hundred today.
Remember that the Liver Birds on the top flap their wings, when a virgin walks past on the Pierhead.
The BBC did a piece about the anniversary this morning and in it Phil Redmond, said that “Liverpool is the Second City of Empire”.
Hackney Bans Smoking In Parks
According to this story, Hackney Council is going to ban smoking in children’s play areas.
I would support a wider ban in the borough to include all parks and bus shelters.
Lakeside On The Slide
The leader of Thurrock Council has said that the development of Eastfield on the Olympic Park will harm the Lakeside Shopping Centre at Thurrock.
Let’s face it, Lakeside is a tired dump and impossible to get to be public transport, so it has no appeal for me. But then when Bluewater opened C and I always crossed the bridge to a much better place. As a coeliac too, where’s the gluten free food at Lakeside?
Ed Milliband Ignores The Internet
According to one of my favourite columnists, Sathnam Sangera, Small Brain wants to introduce new media rules. But what is he going to do about the increasing power of the Internet? Probably nothing! Although many would like all Internet-connected computers to have a government spy system in them! As Sathnam says, in a few years time, there won’t be too many journalists.
But let’s hope there are lots of entertaining columnists and bloggers.
A Boost For All Widows
Darren Clarke’s victory in the Open is to be welcomed. I suspect too, that a lot of widows will find his win heartening. I certainly do!
I do wish he’d give up the cigars though!
The Museum of London Docklands
I ended up here yesterday by accident, as I’d gone to Docklands to have lunch and got caught in the rain. So as it was free I went inside.
Museum of London Docklands
It was definitely worth a visit. I should say that it is very comprehensive and it will take at least three or four hours to see everything.
I particularly liked the section on some of the technology we used to invade Europe on D-Day. It’s the first place I’ve seen a detailed display about PLUTO (Pipe Line Under The Ocean), which supplied fuel to the invading forces using undersea pipelines. The museum also has a large display about the Mulberry Harbours, that were created to land Allied forces in Normandy. Some of the giant Phoenix caissons were actually built in the drained West India Docks, where Canary Wharf has now been developed. I have actually been inside the four Phoenix breakwaters, which were used to bridge the gaps in the dykes in the Netherlands after the terrible floods of 1955 and now form the Watersnoodmuseum.
It covers London Docklasnds from Roman times to the present and all of the important figures like the Brunels and Bazalgette are properly documernted.
During the Olympics, the Museum will become the German House. I wonder what some of them will make of the wartime section!
Ball Bearings, The Mosquito Airliner and The Gay Viking
This story from Coast last night was fascinating, as it told the story of how the British ran the German blockade of Sweden during the Second World War to obtain essential supplies of ball bearings and other advanced technology.
I have been fascinated by the Mosquito, de Havilland’s Wooden Wonder, since I was a child and after reading the definitive book on the aircraft about thirty years ago, I realised just what a superb aircraft it was. Last night, they showed rare film of Mosquito airliners of BOAC, running the blockade to Sweden to obtain the ball bearings.
But they could not carry very much, although they were successful despite being unarmed.The airliners had a pressurised cabin, so they could go very high and remember that at the time the Mosquito was one of the fastest aircraft in the world. So they relied on height and speed for defence.
This was where the Gay Viking and her siblings came in. They were fast motor gun boats, built by Camper and Nicholsons, who are more well-known for their yachts for the rich and famous. They could bring in forty tons of cargo. The trips are described on Gay Viking’s Wikipedia entry.
The Anonymous Widower 