Tag Archives: Michael Olivier

Manley Communications cannot distinguish between ‘copy and paste’ cribbing by Michael Olivier and a ‘review’ for the newly opened Grande Roche Hotel and Viande Restaurant!

It has been some years ago that I criticized lazy ‘copy and paster’ Michael Olivier for his lack of ethics in posting stories about wine estates and restaurants on his Blog. Earlier this week my eye caught a glowing thanks to Olivier by Manley Communications, as follows: ‘Thank you dearest Michael Olivier for the fantastic review’. Except that it wasn’t a review at all, it appearing that Olivier has not even visited the newly refurbished Grande Roche nor eaten at its new Viande restaurant! A PR company therefore praising its own media release content has morals as poor as those of the ‘copy and paster’ Olivier!

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Twitter newbies: some guidelines to gain more Followers !

TwitterAfter six years or more of Twitter being an important part of the Social Media mix, it is a surprise to still see new Tweeters joining Twitter. Surprising is that so few Twitter newbies understand the medium, and many have a slim chance of attracting new Twitter followers when they follow one.

We occasionally check our Twitter Follower list, to see if any of our new Followers are worth following back, initially thought to be the right thing to do.  But increasingly we note that fewer and fewer new Followers are worth following back, the most interesting Continue reading →

Opening of Parliament/SABC2 Sweet Service and Cape Wine Trails Sour Service Awards!

ParliamentThe Sweet Service Award goes to the Opening of Parliament, and the SABC2 coverage of the President’s State of the Nation Address last night, the best one hour comedy show which the TV channel has ever broadcast!  It was an entertaining mix of the cellphone signal being blocked in the House, no water provided, regular TV black-outs, ‘scrambled’ audio which made it impossible to hear President Zuma, the Speaker, and other speakers speak, the continuous raising of questions by members of the House, the eviction of the EFF by armed police from the House, and the voluntary walk-out by the DA.  Comedian Pieter-Dirk Uys Continue reading →

Top UK wine journalist criticises wine writers for ‘ripping off wineries’ in charging for wine writing!

wine glassesJamie Goode is a well-known award-winning ‘wine journalist‘ and wine judge from the UK, writing his Wine Anorak blog for the past 14 years.  Uncharacteristically he has lashed out at ‘wine writers ripping off wineries’, describing this as a ‘disturbing trend‘!

Goode wrote on his Blog last week: ‘A rant. I don’t rant often, but I’m driven to do it today. As a wine writer, I’m alarmed by the recent trend for other wine writers to behave parasitically by charging wineries to reproduce reviews.  I’m Continue reading →