What is a social network?
- A map of relationships between people
- A network of connections built around objects
Check out this link for an influential post on the topic of social objects.
Tags: SocialNetworks, socialobjects

There has been much speculation in the Australian media about the possible return of Kevin Rudd MP as the leader of the Australian Labor Party, currently the Federal Government.
He was deposed by his deputy in a ‘bloody coup’ (only metaphorically speaking) last year.
The media has had a field day with the Rudd to Return speculation, which is odd as I simply can’t see it happening.
During his tenure as PM and leader of the party, Rudd was exposed as a very poor leader, he was shown to be controlling and unable to negotiate or compromise. It was widely accepted that he was obsessed with style over substance, manipulative towards the media, travelled too much, enjoyed pointless talk fests and presided over poorly managed public sector programs.
Crucially, he was also very unpopular with everyday Australians.
For these reasons his return would be a kamikaze move by the Labour Party and simply won’t happen.
Yet we’re subject to the endless speculation by the media and the opposition (and possibly fuelled by Rudd), which undermines the Government and detracts from the very very important issues of the day.
There are only two possible explanations – either they think we’re stupid or they actually believe this stuff, which makes them stupid.
The Guardian is reporting on Andy Coulson’s payments from News International (NI) today.
Coulson received ongoing health insurance coverage, a company car, legal advice and severance payments from his old employer during his time as an advisor to David Cameron, according to the paper.
Coulson and The Conservative Party ‘categorically denied‘ any such payments when asked about them. A parliamentary investigation will follow.
This saga leads to another question for me, which is to wonder what NI received in return for the continued support for its ex-employee, who now found himself at the heart of the British Government with unfettered access.
There must have been some justification for this considerable financial expense – what was it?
Tags: cameron, coulson, Government, Murdoch, NI
We often have CNN on in the office at work.
The hop topic of late has been Obama. The so called political commentary now includes direct and personal attacks, which seem to the new norm in politics.
Closer to home in Australia, we’re seeing a similar trend.
The Prime Minister has been re-branded as Juliar Gillard and is regularly on the receiving end of that jibe during parliamentary sittings and Question Time.
You don’t see this kind of behaviour in the business world or amongst normal people, how can it be acceptable in public service?
Shouldn’t politicians in all countries be setting standards for respect and constructive debate between people rather than lowering the bar.
Criticism towards the actions of big business will ultimately lead to a well used defence:
“They have to protect the fudiciary interests of shareholders.”
The implication is – “we’re protecting you”. But you hardly need to scratch the surface of this argument to see it for what it is.
Shareholders/stakeholders aren’t enriched in equal measure.
Often the actions of big business have a negative impact on the wider community/environment/future that far outweighs my dividend return as a shareholder.
And has anyone noticed that share markets are in freefall or at best out-of-control-volatile?
The duty of big business should be to protect everyone’s interests (present and future), not just vested interests.
And as global issues such as climate change, famine, civil unrest and resource shortages demonstrate we’re all shareholders at the end of the day.
*** Update *** Interesting conversation here around the concentration of wealth, which has resulted in the US becoming a centrally planned economy.
Tags: business, ethics, markets, shareholders, shares