The Death of Jacintha Saldanha, Kate Middleton’s nurse – My Lessons Learned

Everyone were shocked when hearing the tragic news of the suspected suicide of mother-of-two Jacintha Saldanha, one of Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton’s nurses prank called at the King Edward VII Hospital. I feel the pain from reading the statements & reactions from the key parties including Jacintha’s family, King Edward VII Hospital, St James’s Palace. The beautiful occasion of an expecting birth is now forever remembered along with the tragic death of Jacintha.

To me, every human life on earth is precious and I feel we must try to find some lessons to learn from this tragedy. I will group my observations & lessons learned into three categories: Media, We the Public, and Us as Individuals.

*** Media ***

After the tragic news was announced this morning. Many people online went up in arms to demand the Australian DJs who prank called the hospital be punished and even fired. To me, prank calls to the royals or famous people (click to hear the Australian DJs’  call & read the transcript) happen around the world regularly (including a Canadian DJ prank calling the Queen). The prank calls are usually treated as silly fun. And sometimes the unfortunate victims would even laugh along with the prank callers afterwards.

With the worldwide report of the initial prank call and the knowledge that Kate’s private health information was released, I can understand the tremendous pressure and embarrassment Jacintha must have felt inside her. Once the prank call was made successfully revealing Kate’s private patient information, the media at large had no choice but to report it.

To be honest, I did question in my mind why private patient information was released so easily but I am not trying to lay blames here. (note: If I have time, I may write about how Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily and magazine Next Magazine have been crossing some serious and harmful “journalistic” lines in recent years in a future article.)

My lesson learned: I don’t know if Jacintha was ever singled out directly by any press in UK or anywhere for the hospital’s releasing private health information to an unverified caller. In hindsight, it is a tough call for the press to make. Whether to single out any individual? Or to put the focus on the system instead? More importantly, would the public be better served by laying out the challenges and some possible improvements? These are bigger freedom of press issues. Coming back to the prank calls, while we have a tragic death today, I would not blame the prank callers.

Note: By the way, for private financial or health information, stop short of not release any sensitive information over the phone to anyone, one solution is to restrict the release of information only to confirmed & verified registered phone number by dialing out. Call out by using a confirmed phone number on file (e.g. the patient’s home/work number on file, or calling the bank at its number on the back our credit/bank card) thus avoiding prank/fraud.

*** We the Public ***

By “We the Public“, I mean us as a collective, as a group of people. How “We the Public“ react to the original prank call and the tragic aftermath of the prank call. (timeline) When I heard the hospital released private patient’s info so “easily” to a prank caller, I felt a bit angry of the hospital. And now, I am deeply saddened for the death of Jacintha. I can also imagine the guilt the two DJs must feel now. And the expecting parents Kate & William being saddened by this tragic news.

My lesson learned: Be more forgiving of others’ actions/mistakes. If we didn’t criticize the hospital as much, would nurse Jacintha felt less pressure? Of course, I am not blaming the media on reporting the breach of privacy, but I have to wonder. We are all humans and sometimes our actions have unfortunate or even tragic consequence that are out of our control.

*** Us as Individuals ***

I want to state clearly that neither the expecting parents nor the hospital has blamed or want to punish Jacintha. St James’s Palace stated that,

“At no point did the palace complain to the hospital about the [hoax] incident. On the contrary, we offered our full and heartfelt support to the nurses involved at all times.“

And the hospital stated that

Jacintha ”was recently the victim of a hoax call to the hospital. The hospital had been supporting her throughout this difficult time.“

My lesson learned: Ultimately, we are sometimes our own worst critique and we, collectively, have to learn to be more forgiving of ourselves (our own actions/inactions/mistakes/words ... etc etc) A big part of me think, only if Jacintha had forgiven herself more, this wouldn’t have happened.

*** Concluding thoughts ***

Every single one of our lives is precious. Talk to your parents, friends, talk to anyone, call a suicide help line in your area for help: UK (via NHS), Canada (via gc.ca), US (via cdc.gov), or wherever you are!

Killing yourself is NOT a solution. Remember the friends, families, communities you will hurt and leave behind.

P.S. I read that Jacintha is a mother of two. Jacintha’s children are in my thoughts tonight.

Cantonese chat re Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney to lead Bank of England

(廣東話) 經濟分析師陳心田與獨立記者林錦堂講一講加國行長Mark Carney空降英倫銀行

(in Cantonese) Economic Analyst +Wallace Chan & Independent Reporter Kempton Lam chat re Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney to lead Bank of England.

Interviewing Sir Salman Rushdie from Calgary – Who is Joseph Anton?

To many readers, Sir Salman Rushdie is most well-known, unfortunately, for his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses (1988), which lead to death threats made against him, including a fatwā issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in February 1989. To some film-loving Calgarians, Rushdie will also be known for his second novel, Midnight’s Children, the 1981 Booker Prize winning novel which was made into a movie that was premiered in Calgary International Film Festival last week.

So who is Joseph Anton? Rushdie answered, “Strangely enough, it is me. Because during those years, the police who were protecting me [from the fatwā] at these undisclosed locations needed to have a pseudo name to call me by so that they didn’t accidentally use my real name when they were at the local corner store. So they asked me to invent one. So I invented a name based on two of my favourite writers. Joseph Conrad. And Anton from Anton Chekhov. Put them together and that name lasted for ten years. Truthfully, I always disliked that name.” Rushdie used that name as his memoir’s title because he wants to give readers a sense of how strange it was during those ten years.

Rushdie initially wrote the book in the first person “in the ordinary” way. He didn’t like it. He felt it “too much self-regard, too narcissistic“. When he finally wrote it in the third person, he felt he could have “a little more distance” from himself. Rushdie said, “Also it was a long time ago, the story began in 1989, twenty-three years ago.” He felt there is enough of a difference between him now, and him then. So using the third person allows him to express the idea that the person he is now is different from the person he was then.

Rushdie’s new book is out, check it out from your bookstore or library, “Joseph Anton: A Memoir“.

P.S. It was an honour for me to hangout with Sir Salman. Many thanks to the wonderful Maria Quiban and the Fox LA crew for the great hangout.

Note: This article is cross-posted by me at examiner.com

Jan 22, 2013 Update: Here is the Hangout video with Sir Salman,

The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet

I love interview shows like Charlie Rose by the insightful Charlie. The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet, hosted by Amanda and executive produced by Amanda and Demi Moore, since I had the pleasure to Google+ Hangout with Amanda, has quickly become one of my favourite interview shows! Yes, Amanda is that good!

In this episode (free online), Amanda interviews Lady Gaga, Portia de Rossi, Rita Wilson and Leslie Bennetts (author). Great episode to watch.

May 25, 2012 Update: Also check out the premiere episode with “Gwyneth Paltrow, Jane Fonda, Sarah Silverman, Zoe Saldana“.

Michael Bublé, 15-year-old Sam and his mom Paula Holyman

Michael Bublé is one super cool Canadian singer recently featured on 60 Minutes (the behind the scene stuff is a ton of fun to watch). Have a watch of the following GREAT video of Michael and the 15-year-old Sam singing on stage after his brave mom Paula Holyman created the opportunity.

Check out this BBC Radio interview with Sam singing, ”Teenager Sam Holyman sings at Michael Buble concert – A Stafford teenager got the surprise of his life when jazz singer Michael Buble invited him to perform live on stage.“

Also see this Toronto Star piece with quote from Sam’s mom Paula “Video: 15-year-old’s impromptu performance wows Bublé“

Prime Suspect TV Series – US vs. UK Classic

I love the UK Prime Suspect series (thanks to Calgary Public Library for having all the previous series). Will see how the new US Prime Suspect series stated as a “re-imagining of the British television hit starring Maria Bello” is like. I love many of Maria Bello‘s work so I will see.

Here is a preview. I hope I will like Maria Bello‘s Jane but my first love is still the smart and cool DCI Jane Tennison (played by Helen Mirren) in UK Prime Suspect series which I watched all 21 hours over the years!

Another trailer, Prime Suspect – Out There

Ricky, Steve and Karl

Ricky, Steve and Karl answer BAFTA’s questions

Via Ricky “Week one hundred and eighty-four – September 2011

I’ve had one of my big ideas. (photo)

What do you think of this?

A live 3 hour podcast during The Golden Globes. Me and a few chums (like Louis CK, Chris Rock, Karl Pilkington, John Stewart, Larry David popping in and out) doing our own alternative commentary.

People at home can have the telly on with the sound down listening to us online say things that no broadcaster could get away with.

No one could do a fucking thing.

The biggest live webcast ever? Who knows? Who cares? What’s fun is the shit we might come out with. No money. No sponsor. No guide lines. Fuck me I can’t wait.

Maybe I’ll do a non-broadcast practice with The Emmys to see if it works. I’ll let you know.”

Video of Rupert and James Murdoch at the select committee

Guardian has done a great job in posting the video and transcript plus insightful commentary, “Rupert and James Murdoch at the select committee – interactive presentation – Video and text of Rupert and James Murdoch’s appearance before the culture select committee, with commentary from Lisa O’Carroll“

Life’s Too Short

I am a big fan of Ricky Gervais, so I highly recommend you check out his and Stephen Merchant‘s new comedy series Life’s Too Short, starring Warwick Davis, when it is finished and aired later this year. For now, check out the following clips.

Warwick Davis talks Ricky Gervais, Life’s Too Short and Cat Deeley, with Brad Blanks

Life’s Too Short – Ricky introduces Warwick

Guardian Nick Davies: Death of a Reporter – Sean Hoare knew how destructive the News of the World could be

Here is an excerpt from a very insightful and moving piece by Guardian Nick Davies, “Sean Hoare knew how destructive the News of the World could be – The courageous whistleblower who claimed Andy Coulson knew about phone hacking had a powerful motive for speaking out“

“At a time when the reputation of News of the World journalists is at rock bottom, it needs to be said that the paper’s former showbusiness correspondent Sean Hoare, who died on Monday, was a lovely man.

In the saga of the phone-hacking scandal, he distinguished himself by being the first former NoW journalist to come out on the record, telling the New York Times last year that his former friend and editor, Andy Coulson, had actively encouraged him to hack into voicemail.

That took courage. But he had a particularly powerful motive for speaking. He knew how destructive the News of the World could be, not just for the targets of its exposés, but also for the ordinary journalists who worked there, who got caught up in its remorseless drive for headlines.

Guardian’s Alan Rusbridger: How We Broke the Murdoch Scandal

Here is an excerpt from Guardian’s Alan Rusbridger Newsweek article: How We Broke the Murdoch Scandal - Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger on his dogged reporter, a U.S. ally—and a gamble that finally paid off,

“The tipping point came some time around the new year. The stream of civil legal actions became a torrent. The police became seriously engaged at last, appointing a new 45-strong team to do what had so glaringly not been done back in 2006. It has so far said that it has informed 170 out of nearly 4,000 targets. The regulator ripped up its old report as worthless. And then came the revelation by Nick Davies that NoTW had hacked into the phone calls of the missing teenager Milly Dowler, deleting her voice messages so that it could listen to new ones. That single action—which had given Milly’s parents hope during the dark days before it was confirmed that she had been murdered—caused a surge of revulsion from which NotW found it hard to recover.

Rarely has a single story had such a volcanic effect. Suddenly you couldn’t keep the politicians, journalists, police officers, and regulators off the TV screens. Police officers lined up to apologize for oversights and errors of judgment. M.P.s were suddenly saying very publicly things that, a fortnight earlier, they would only have whispered.

Webcast of Rebekah Brooks, Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch testifying in front of UK Parliament Committee on Tue 19 July 0730MST/0930EST

FYI. Assuming Canada hasn’t been geo-blocked for viewing by UK Parliament (which I think shouldn’t and I hope wouldn’t). [HT Jeff]

UK Parliament HOC CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT COMMITTEE Tuesday 19 July - Meeting starts on Tuesday 19 July at 2.30pm [7:30am MST , 9:30am EST]

“Phone-hacking Witnesses:

Rebekah Brooks, Chief Executive Officer, News International Ltd, Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, News Corporation, and James Murdoch, Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, International News Corporation”

Richard Sambrook, Global Leader of Edelman Crisis and Issues Management, former BBC’s Director of Global News confirms zero involvement in Rupert Murdoch PR file

Since Edelman was hired to handle Rupert Murdoch‘s phone hacking scandals, news media like Guardian and I had openly wondered if news insiders like former BBC’s Director of Global News Richard Sambrook, Global Leader of Edelman Crisis and Issues Management (link), has been involved in the Murdoch file.

Today Richard kindly confirmed in response to my earlier tweets,

“@tom_peters will see if the global contagion can be halted by PR firm Edelman w brains like @richardwedelman @sambrook #fail #disgust #world“

“PR: Rupert Murdoch meets with family of murdered schoolgirl. #fail Love to be a fly at Edelman / inside minds of @richardwedelman @sambrook“

with Richard saying in a tweet,

“@kempton sorry to disappoint you but Im not actually working on it!“

I am not disappointed at all that Richard isn’t working on Murdoch‘s phone hacking scandal file. In fact, as someone who used to read Richard‘s blog and respect his opinions, I am actually relieved/happy that Richard is NOT working on Murdoch’s phone hacking scandal PR file!

Of course, as a reporter, I have to wonder why not?

May be Richard has another more important and urgent file that he is working on at Edelman?? But wait, the Murdoch‘s phone hacking scandal is the talk of the whole wide world. Easily the largest “crisis” any corporations have ever seen. A multi-billion dollars deal was killed because of this. Some suspect the scandal has the potential of bringing down or severely weaken Murdoch‘s media empire (a media company without trust or respect is not much if anything). And even capable of bringing down a government (just look at David Cameron’s recent damage control and tell me he is not worried)!

So as Global Leader of Edelman Crisis and Issues Management, yes Global Leader, why is Richard NOT involved in this most important and high profile Edelman file? I hate to put Richard on the spot because I used to admire him a lot and hope I can still admire him (but, what can I say, he is a “PR man” now). Will Richard be involved in the Murdoch‘s phone hacking scandal later, just not now? Or is Richard NOT involved by choice, quoting his own words when he joined Edelman,

“I don’t expect to check my values in at the door…“

The creditability of a man, especially a newsman, takes a lifetime to earn. I hope Richard‘s creditability and reputation can remain intact after the Rupert Murdoch‘s phone hacking scandals have passed with whatever outcome it will result in.

I want to close with Jeff Jarvis’s point, which I still think is right on, “Murdoch hires Edelman PR. This ain’t a PR problem, folks. It’s a moral problem.“

*******

11:48am Update: I added the following comment in a CBC News Facebook poll “Murdoch apology: Is it enough? – Your Community” asking,

“No, we shouldn’t let the handy advice by global PR firm Edelman fool us so easily. Saying sorry in every single UK newspaper for ONE DAY can’t compensate for the news media culture established *personally* by Rupert Murdoch for close to *60 YEARS* since 1953.“

12:24pm, 16 July 2011 update: Here is a video interview with President & CEO of Edelman, Richard Edelman. Have a watch of what he thinks as he is the man leading the PR firm that is advising Murdoch on his handling of the phone hacking scandals.

[HT John]

Here is an interesting official Edelmon London video of Richard Edelman talking about trust, especially interesting in light of Edelman‘s role in Murdoch‘s scandals. And it is unfortunate that I come across a claim of a quote that Richard Edelman said in a media training session, “Sometimes, you just have to stand up there and lie.“ (See AdAge 2008 Feb, “Blog Wars: Gawker vs. Edelman – Blog Suggests PR People Lie; PR Chief Takes Umbrage”)

***

For the record, Feb 2010 press release “BBC’S RICHARD SAMBROOK JOINS EDELMAN” (emphasis added),

“Richard Sambrook, the BBC’s Director of Global News and a member of the BBC’s Management Board for the last ten years, will be joining Edelman, the world’s largest independent PR firm, as Global Vice Chairman and Chief Content Officer in May.

Rupert Murdoch’s PR moves after hiring global firm Edelman

July 16th update: “Richard Sambrook, Global Leader of Edelman Crisis and Issues Management, former BBC’s Director of Global News confirms zero involvement in Rupert Murdoch PR file“

***

Call me old school and cynical, I agree with Jeff that “This ain’t a PR problem, folks. It’s a moral problem.“ Since hiring global PR firm Edelman, Rupert Murdoch had Rebekah Brooks “resigned” (to be diplomatic), and now Murdoch has met with the murdered girl’s family. To me, both are clearly PR moves to do damage control. Yes, if Murdoch had these many days ago before this thing blow up in their face, then may be they can appear to be sincere. But flip-flopping re their House committee attendances next week really sunk their reputation or trust facto to the ground.

At this point, I believe allegations of illegal dealings against Murdoch‘s vast media empire should be fully investigated in both UK and US. It is important the UK public inquiries and all the legal authorities to uncover all the problems hidden over the years.

As I tweeted and I mean it, especially the last bit. (with notes added)

PR: Rupert Murdoch meets with family of murdered schoolgirl. #failLove to be a fly at Edelman / inside minds of @richardwedelman [global CEO and President of Edelman] @sambrook [leader of Edelman's Global Crisis and Issues practice]

Business management writer Tom Peters tweeted,

“I’m sure Mr Murdoch genuinely sorry for incident with murdered girl–but as hands on guy, he sets the “cultural tone” for the organization!“

Saw this insightful tweet by a stranger on Twitter,

“Wonderful to see-as throughout history-its ordinary people not politicians nor business that leads – NOTHING beats people power“

The Independent, “After 52 years, mogul’s ally [Les Hinton, publisher of The Wall Street Journal since Mr Murdoch bought it in 2007] quits to protect jewel of US empire“

***

12:24pm, 16 July 2011 update: Here is a video interview with President & CEO of Edelman, Richard Edelman. Have a watch of what he thinks as he is the man leading the PR firm that is advising Murdoch on his handling of the phone hacking scandals.

[HT John]

Here is an interesting official Edelmon London video of Richard Edelman talking about trust, especially interesting in light of Edelman‘s role in Murdoch‘s scandals. And it is unfortunate that I come across a claim of a quote that Richard Edelman said in a media training session, “Sometimes, you just have to stand up there and lie.“ (See AdAge 2008 Feb, “Blog Wars: Gawker vs. Edelman – Blog Suggests PR People Lie; PR Chief Takes Umbrage”)

The Beginning of The End of Rupert Murdoch? – Rebekah Brooks resigns over phone-hacking scandal

Given the business smart of Rupert Murdoch and the firepower one can buy from hiring Edelman, the largest global PR firm, it may still be too early to say this is the “Beginning of The End of” of Murdoch. But at least it is easier to say this may be the beginning of the end of Rebekah Brooks.

Guardian, “Rebekah Brooks resigns over phone-hacking scandal – News International chief stops short of full apology, saying she no longer wants to be ‘focal point of the debate’“

Guardian, “Rebekah Brooks resignation: the key quotes – We look at today’s key quotes on phone hacking and Brooks’ resignation as chief executive of News International“

Guardian, “Rebekah Brooks: where it all went wrong – News International chief executive resigns after criticism from second largest shareholder and Rupert Murdoch’s daughter“

BBC, “Phone hacking: News International chief Brooks quits“

BBC, “Profile: News International chief Rebekah Brooks“

Rupert Murdoch hires PR firm Edelman – PR problem or Moral problem?

July 16th update: “Richard Sambrook, Global Leader of Edelman Crisis and Issues Management, former BBC’s Director of Global News confirms zero involvement in Rupert Murdoch PR file“

***

From Guardian, “Phone hacking: Rupert Murdoch calls in PR firm Edelman - PR company will report directly to general manager of News International“

Jeff Jarvis has a point in saying, “Murdoch hires Edelman PR. This ain’t a PR problem, folks. It’s a moral problem.“

In case you care, Edelman’s Global CEO and President Richard Edelman blogs here.

On a personal note, I started paying attention to global PR firm Edelman probably around the time Richard Sambrook (former BBC’s Director of Global News & member of the BBC’s Management Board) joined Edelman in Feb 2010.

As you can see in my 2010 Feb comment left in Richard Sambrook’s blog entry, while I congratulated Richard on his move, I expressed my serious concerns and reservations of seeing a respected newsman joining a PR company. While we don’t know if Mr. Sambrook is involved in this engagement personally according to Guardian,

“Edelman last year hired the BBC’s former director of news, Richard Sambrook, to head up its “crisis and issues practice”. It is unclear whether he will be part of the firm’s News Corp team.“

I will not be surprised if his insights have a very strong influence in the Murdoch file. This is why big bucks are paid to hire Edelman to have access to people like Mr. Sambrook.

More excerpt from “Rupert Murdoch calls in PR firm Edelman” (emphasis added),

Smart or Stupid: Murdoch defies U.K. parliament in hacking probe – Breaking: Rupert & James Murdoch will appear before Commons committee on Tuesday

11:0 am MST update: see breaking news update:

Guardian, “Phone hacking: Rupert and James Murdoch make Commons U-turn – Murdochs will join Rebekah Brooks in being questioned by MPs on the Commons culture select committee“

***

I don’t know enough about the rules of UK parliamentary committee hearings or US’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act but I think “Murdoch defies U.K. parliament in hacking probe” may be neither smart nor stupid, and simply legal moves to keep the old man and the company out of more trouble. While I don’t think Murdoch is going onto the same path as Lord Black (yet), I am openly wondering whether it would get to that one day?

News references worth reading (including breaking news):

Guardian, “Phone hacking scandal – live coverage“

“[breaking news update] * Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks will all appear before the Commons culture, media and sport committee on Tuesday. The Murdochs originally refused to appear, but pressure appears to have forced them to reconsider (see 4.45pm). [...]

2.42pm: Eliot Spitzer, the former governor of New York, who resigned over reports that he was a client of prostitution ring, claims at Slate that it is “unlikely” News Corporation’s “shoddy ethics were limited to Great Britain”. Furthermore, he argues that US law may have been broken on the facts we know already. He refers specifically to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which bars American companies from paying bribes abroad.

So acts in Britain by British citizens working on behalf of News Corp. create liability for News Corp., an American business incorporated in Delaware and listed on American financial exchanges.

Phone hacking scandal: Is this Britain’s Watergate? Is this the beginning of the end for Rupert Murdoch?

Excerpt from UK Independent, “Hacking scandal: is this Britain’s Watergate?“

“David Cameron was forced to cut Rupert Murdoch and his newspaper empire loose from the heart of government yesterday as he tried to deflect public anger about his failure to tackle the phone-hacking scandal.

Mr Cameron turned on Mr Murdoch’s son James, saying there were questions “that need to be answered” about his role during the phone-hacking cover-up, and criticising him for not accepting the resignation of News International’s chief executive Rebekah Brooks.

He also admitted that his desire to win support from the company’s newspapers had led him to turn “a blind eye” as evidence grew of widespread illegality at the News of the World.”

I still won’t bet against Rupert Murdoch yet. But I am asking, “Is this the beginning of the end for Rupert Murdoch?“

* Guardian UK LIVE update report, (warning: this Guardian link is giving me some strange warning in Chrome, I hope it is not hacked!) “News of the World phone-hacking scandal – latest updates – Reaction and developments as Rupert Murdoch is due to arrive in the UK as the phone hacking crisis threatens to turn into a crisis for his global media empire“

* NYT (and yes, New York Times is owned by Murdoch), excerpt from “Phone Scandal Poses Defining Test for a Murdoch Son” (emphasis added),

“On Thursday afternoon, James Murdoch assembled senior executives in the top-floor boardroom in the News Corporation’s London headquarters and told them of a momentous decision: to shutter the 168-year-old tabloid at the center of a deepening phone-hacking scandal and the original heart of the Murdoch media empire in Britain.

Will you hire brand Will and brand Kate as your king and queen? – The Will and Kate in Canada Special – Part 8/8

Will you hire them as your king and queen? Yes, “hire”. For a moment, change your mindset and consider Will and Kate two of the many applicants for the future jobs as our king and queen of Canada. In this article, I plan with deal with the money side of the monarchy business. I will keep this short and in points form. Feel to share your thoughts and insight in the comments.

(note: By the way, we should not forget Kate’s father-in-law and mother-in-law. Yes, I won’t wish ill on anyone, but I believe King Charles and Queen Camilla will necessary come first in line of succession. And yes, Will comes with Charles as a doubled-up-package.)

Assumption:

(note: feel free to correct me if you can provide verifiable gc.ca or reputable newspaper sources, etc)

I will assume/guess the 9-day trip cost $5 million, another $5 million for security, for a total of C$10 million.

Observations:

*) Canadian clothing designers that Kate (and Will) wore put a nice spotlight on Canadian designers. You may not know it before this, but Canadian designers do great work too! Kate wore those Canadian designed clothing because they were well designed and look good on her (not just because they are Canadian designed). Again, this kind of worldwide attention and spotlight meant a lot for those Canadian businesses.

Check out “Kate Middleton’s stylish impact, by the numbers“. [via NP]

*) To me, “news” are the best form of advertising.

And the amount of positive news generated for tourism purposes around the world is definitely worth multi-millions easily. The businesses visited by Will and Kate should benefit for a long while for their moments with Will & Kate.

Happy 10th anniversary The Office (Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant)

Accounting for time difference and a little bit of cheating, I want to wish The Office a happy 10th anniversary! Thanks Ricky and Stephen for being true to your own sense of what is funny and what is not! For breaking path and redefining what is funny! It will definitely be one of the “classics” that I remember.

Check out this very insightful UK Sun article, “Early audiences hated the fact there were no jokes in The Office but we wouldn’t allow the BBC to change it, Says Ricky Gervais“.

Watch my video interview of Ricky in this 2010 Banff World TV Festival report with his funny award acceptance speech.

Here is an excerpt from “Early audiences“,

“Ricky, 50, is still fond of his iconic comedy creation but admits growing Brent’s trademark goatee for these pictures made him instantly recognisable.
He said: “It feels good to be Brent again – although I left the facial hair to the last minute.
“I get spotted more when I’ve got it – it’s like people need that visual aid to work out where they know me from.

[…] “None of my characters have been as much fun to play as David Brent. People say he was a b****** and the ‘boss from hell’, but he wasn’t. He was just a twit.
“He was a man whose biggest mistake was confusing popularity with respect.”
When The Office first aired on BBC2 on July 9 2001, it was panned by several critics.