Saturday 26 April 2008

W la Brigata Ebraica

I don't understand how people who supposedly support the moral values of the "Resistenza", and march alongside those who fought for democracy and freedom, can be even remotely hostile to the Jewish Brigade.

Like partisans, they literally risked their lives for freedom - but for a country that wasn't theirs. Like soldiers they fought an enemy nation - but would be sent straight to Auschwitz if caught. True heroes who deserve utmost respect.

Sunday 20 April 2008

What I've thought for some time (and may therefore be true!) - Part III

Every time I watch Mediterraneo, this is the only quote that doesn't make me laugh, but I still love, and it sticks to my mind.

"...Non ci hanno lasciato cambiare niente...e allora gli ho detto...avete fatto come volevate ma almeno non riuscirete a considerarmi vostro complice..."

["...They didn't let us change anything...so I told them...you did what you wanted to do but at least you won't be able to say I was your accomplice..."]

Sad, but very honourable, ending.

Saturday 19 April 2008

Brechin Place SW7 vs. Via Savona 20144

Random friends knocking on the window to say hi? Twenty times in a weekend, around the clock, literally!?!
That didn't happen since the good ol' times at Brechin Place!

Brechin Place today...not-so-different from 10 years ago!

Thanks to Design Week and to:
- David
- Debs
- Teo
- Andrea
- Cecilia
- Andrea
- Anna
- Luca
- Pietro
- (who else?! can't remember...)

Wednesday 16 April 2008

We only recruit sensibly mad people - Part II



Here's Foscarina. During her working day she's a smart resource of VP's R&I office...then transforms into multiple personalities! In the picture above she's enjoying the Germany 2006 World Cup Final in Berlin. Notice her sober attire and attitude: a true example of Olympic spirit?

Tuesday 15 April 2008

What I've thought for some time (and may therefore be true!) - Part II

Funnily enough, I come across this pearl of wisdom when the outcome of Italian elections becomes clear. Very true...

“Too bad all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving cabs and cutting hair”

--George Burns

Friday 11 April 2008

I stand by Luca Luciani

(Inspired by Valerio's blog - in Italian - and agreed upon by plenty of other bloggers - see updates below)

A perfect example of why Web 2.0 cannot be ignored, by anyone. Over the last 10 days, the "Waterloo incident", featuring Luca Luciani, has spread from a single video posted on YouTube (now removed) to conversations between people who have never heard of YouTube and hardly know who Luca Luciani is. In this short timeframe, videos have first proliferated on YouTube, then published on every major Italian website, linked in hundreds of blogs, and finally reported on all mainstream media - including national newspapers and prime time TV. Surely a great case study for communication and PR courses.



But also a case of a vast number of people reaching horribly harsh conclusions based on scant evidence. Yes, his historical inaccuracy is colossal and memorable. Yes, his language may be deemed inappropriate. Yes, he does earn a substantial salary. Does this mean he is totally ignorant, overwhelmingly arrogant, blatantly inadequate for his job, or ridiculously overpaid - as argued incessantly for days and days on thousands of posts and comments? Can such horribly harsh conclusions about a person be drawn from a 1:49 video taken out of context from a 3 hour event? I don't think so.

In my humble opinion, Luca Luciani deserves better. I have worked with Luca on a few occasions, and believe he is one of the smartest executives I have encountered in over 10 years of management consulting across Europe. He is not only competent, but also incredibly passionate about his work, and a great person to work with. Everyone I know who has worked with him shares the same opinion (Valerio for one), and we are not alone.

Much more significantly, hundreds of employees and business partners keep showing him unwavering support. In at least two cases this has occurred in most dramatic ways! Last Monday (right in the middle of the storm) over 500 field employees and dealers unexpectedly gave Luca Luciani a 15-minute applause and a standing ovation as soon as he emerged from the sidelines at a company event. Today, employees at the company's headquarters produced a cartoon (shown below)showed him their support by signing the cartoon, shown below.

"Luca, with you...even in Waterloo"


Forza Luca. Luca has publicly excused himself, and promised to learn from his mistakes. Yes, I agree with those who say that a self-ironic video response on YouTube would have been much better (and maybe Luca thinks so too?). Nevertheless, in my view he now deserves all the support he is getting, and more. I stand by Luca Luciani.


PS A final laugh. Sorry Luca, but I do find some of the stuff produced around your story these days really funny! My favourite is the Vota Luciani series, with The Rise and Fall of Luca Luciani a close second, and Special Jury Prize to Tolleranza Zoro. I'm sure you will find also these funny one day, if you aren't already ;-)

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UPDATE (11/4): Besides Valerio, Squonk and Giacomo Dotta also published posts in favour of Luca Luciani or against his detractors.

UPDATE (14/4): Two more balanced views on the topic: D'Io and webmasterpoint .

UPDATE (15/4): On Demanews Blog, Brando, Fabio Annovazzi, Roberto, stema71 and particularly Giuseppe Verardi argued valiantly for my point.

UPDATE (16/4): I find out just now that Vittorio Bertola agrees with me completely (and said it much earlier, with supporting comments by frank among a plethora of usual criticism). citofonarelordlucas also says something quite similar.

UPDATE (18/4): Here's Marco Massarotto's analysis in the immediate aftermath of the incident - and very sensible comments, supported by Massimo and Giuseppe (and only one hostile one, for a change)

UPDATE (2/5): Among the smart&funny stuff produced around this story, here's the "History Manual by Luca Luciani"...pretty good! (in Italian)

Here's Technorati's full listing of blogs with.

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Note: I have known Luca Luciani as part of my employment at Value Partners, a management consulting firm that provides services to - among others - Telecom Italia Mobile. This post reflects my own personal views and opinions. I have not received any form of compensation linked to this post by anybody, and will not in the future.



Blogging lesson with Zampe (aka funkyprofessor)

Here's Zampe (aka funkyprofessor) acting as a blog teacher....doesn't he look like a real one?!

Thursday 10 April 2008

We only recruit sensibly mad people



Federica Friz is one of the latest recruits at VP, boasting and excellent CV and an MBA at INSEAD.

Just before joining she anticipated she would be spending a week in Guadeloupe...what she did't say is that she was filmed, broadcast on Sky and published on YouTube...roughly 2.30 minutes into this video you can see her introducing herself, and then getting involved in all sorts of interesting (!?) sports.

(in Italian)

UPDATE: Here's Fede's profile...have a look at her sporting preferences!

Sunday 6 April 2008

What I've thought for some time (and may therefore be true!)

"Ci sedemmo dalla parte del torto, visto che tutti gli altri posti
erano occupati"
--Bertolt Brecht

"La felicità non è uno stato a cui arrivare, ma un modo di viaggiare"
--Anonimo

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one
persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all
progress depends on the unreasonable man."
--George Bernard Shaw, Maxims for Revolutionists

 
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