Empathy trumps accuracy
When we answer a question or solve a problem, what answer are we seeking to provide? Is it better to give the answer we feel is right or the answer we know is right?
Not possible is not impossible
‘Not possible’ can feel like it means exactly the same thing as ‘impossible’. However, there’s often a big difference. And I’ve recently encountered businesses using ‘not possible’ to suggest ‘impossible’ and avoid the truth which is simply ‘We don’t want to’.
The missing dimension in on-street parking
Local authorities face the challenge of enjoying revenue from parking fees, while also needing to tackle congestion and pollution caused by cars. Metered on-street parking is missing a dimension that could help square the circle.
How much is my Starbucks coffee?
Today’s quiz question. How much is my Starbucks coffee if the price shown behind the counter says £3.55? (Here’s a clue… it’s not £3.55.)
When is an e-bike not an e-bike?
Fires caused by batteries on e-bikes have been grabbing the headlines. But the headlines don't tell an accurate story, and are spreading a misplaced fear of e-bikes. Here's one way to fix it.
Stop buzzing in!
Buzz in if you know the answer... or you think you know the answer... or you have the answer to a question you think I should have asked. ‘Buzzing in’ has become an increasingly annoying phenomenon we are all having to suffer and navigate around.
Dear J Salmon… wish you were here!
J Salmon, Britain's oldest printer of postcards, went out of business in 2017. Did the sun really need to set on this 137-year-old company?
Don’t be a pain in the asterisk
The word asterisk comes from the Ancient Greek ‘asteriskos’ meaning ‘little star’. But while some asterisks really are helpful little stars alerting us to informative footnotes, others have a darker side!
Anyone for talk tennis?
Have you noticed how more and more of the audible communication that vies for our attention is taking place in a tennis-like fashion? Rather than the full message or story being delivered by one person, two take it in turn to serve us sentences.
Why food banks should BOGOF
Food banks have been in the news a lot. As has the bad guy of supermarket marketing tactics, the Buy One Get One Free deal. It’s time the two walked down the aisle together.