Finally, the first, ehm, object, is ready to be sold on eBay - because of my next future moving from Grotta1 ("Cave1", the apt where I live) to Grotta2 ("Cave2", the huuuge apt where I will move in a few weeks). A pocket-size little object: a full complete modular italian-style modern kitchen. Here (via eBay.it, description is in Italian).

The fact is that a new home requires a new kitchen. At least, this is my partner's rule. So, I have to sell my actual one at the unbelievable low discounted price of 1,995 € (that is approx $2,200 USD). Now, why should I buy your kitchen, you will ask, instead of going to a shop and buy and brand new one? Simple.

• wifi connection. You can surf the internet from the horn display;
• Skype. The cooking area is connected via Skype, you can call via VoIP while you cook your favourite dish;
• The big wood spoon is compatible with your Wii console. This way you can substitute your traditional remote controller with the spoon, while you cook;
• Dishwasher has an integrated 3G smartphone (US readers: you will get 3G in 4/5 years, if you live in a big town area and if you have no mountains that act as a barrier). Only issue: WinMobile is the OS (if it crashes, just restart the device).

That's it. If you are interested, the giusecKitchen is on eBay.it, under the cucine componibili category (modular kitchens). If, instead, you are already kitchen-equipped, then stay tuned. A new collection of wonderful objects for geek will be soon added to eBay.

And I am so excited that I need to write more about Wifi and HotSpots. A list of Free Wifi HotSpots in Milan? Why not. Let's start.

• Bitage Free Wifi. Bitage is the first to bring this service to Italy. You just need to register and give your mobile number in order to connect to Bitage hotspots. All locations are in Milan, with the exception of a couple of restaurants in Rome.
  
• Free Wifi restaurant and cafe list, via MilanoTonight. Very accurate and updated.
• Free Hotspot directory, via FreeHotspot.com.

Note. My new superfast HotSpot is protected and not free. But if you ask or if you are my guest...

Just go to the following web sites, enter your blog's URL and the game is over. You will get a text-only, light version of your blog, ready to be dowloaded on your mobile/PDA/smartphone.

• Google's mobilizer service [link]
• Mobile leap [link]
• IYHY.com [link]
• Skweezer [link]

So, as an example, here is the giusec's blog mobile version generated with Google service (no images option).

If, instead, you really want to make your blog mobile-friendly in few minutes (well, this is what the author states) just click on this link and follow's Mike Davidson's suggestions.

Also, a friend of mine is looking for candidates for the position below. Industry is Telecom. Location Milan, North Italy.

We are looking for an Account Manager, age max 32-35 y.o.; we accept candidates with little or no sales experience. Technical backgrond has to be strong in IP-networks, UMTS networks (radio and core), possibily with working experience in International vendors or System Integration companies.

If you are interested, please drop me an email (English mandatory). And good luck. 

Here we go, finally. In less than one hour, Steve Jobs will start his keynote at MacWorld 2007. These are the blogs providing speech and entire event live coverage.

• MacRumors.com
• UNEASYsilence
• Engadget
• The MacObserver.com
  
• MacScoop.com

And all others. Italians: let's not forget "our" Luca!

Update: the iPhone has just been presented! For first pics, see here.

First, Firefox 2.0. Great. Few seconds and puf! Installed. Second, IE 7. Well, still installing. In fact:

1. The (automatic upgrade) first installation crashes. No way to recover.
   
2. So I decide to go with a manual installation; I open my Firefox (IE no longer works) and I start;
   
3. I have to go through a WGA Plugin installation, first;
   
4. Then through a "Genuine Windows Validation";
5. Follows a generation of the validation code;
6. Once I validate my system, I start the download;
7. I install IE for the second time (and it validates the system again).

It's now 15 minutes installing core components. Let's see. How a good day starts.

• Update: after 45 min still crashes. I will switch back to the old version. If I will be able to find it.
• 2nd Update. It's 4pm and I'm still struggling with the damned IE7. 
• 3rd update. It's 5pm now. I found a great turnaround to switch back to a standalone version of IE6. Thanks to tech-recipes.
  

1. This is not an extensive list. This is a list of contacts and companies gathered during my 10 years marketing exec career. I've been working with some of these companies; I have been contacted and interviewed by some others;
2. Give your contribution; again, fix data if it's wrong; if I am missing something, please let me know via comments or email;
3. I am not listing here companies like Michael Page, Mercury Urval, Praxi or Sintex that do recruiting but not head hunting;
   
4. There are many other ways to get in contact with companies which do head hunting and exec recruiting. One is LinkedIn. You may already know how LinkedIn works and you probably have already a LinkedIn account. If you don't, you may want to create one and read the latest post from Guy Kavasaki about how to use it at the best.
5. I am not covering here MBA exec recruiting. There are many other resources for MBA graduates, but I will cover this topic in a later post.
   

Finally, here is the list of Italian head hunters. All sites are in English, if not specifically written. Enjoy and...good luck!

• Egon Zehnder, link
• Ergon Executives, link [Italian]
  
• Spencer & Stuart, link
  
• Russel Reynolds Associates, link
  
• Eric Salmon & Partners, link
  
• AT Kerney Executive Search, link
  
• Neusearch, link
  
• KPMG People Advisory Service, link
  
• Key2People, link
  
• Hudson Highland, link and link
  
• Korn Ferry International, link
  
• Ray & Berndtson, link
  
• Alexander Mann Italia, link
  
• D&G The Amrop Hever Group, link and link
  
• Omnia, link [in Italian]
• Arethusa, link [Italian] and link
  
• Cegos Search, link [Italian] [1]
  
• Right Management, link and link [Italian] [2]
  

[1] not just executive; [2] they mainly do assesments, not exec research.

InformationArchitects publish the Internet Predictions for 2007. Exec summary:

1. Apple keeps its iPod monopoly and increases its OS 5% market share to 5.1%
2. Google scores against Microsoft and Yahoo due to its massive marketing data advantage
3. Blogs bloom, and prepare for the 2008 election
4. Social networks become a place where members make money
5. Newspapers open up
6. Big ad investments start streaming in
7. New Internet focused ad agencies open up
8. Viruses and spam become an even bigger hassle
9. Yet Digital ID initiates a major change that makes the web more reliable, user and investor friendly
10. All in all 2007 is a preparation for the big infolution in 2008 

The full post is here, via IA.

The average number of LinkedIn connections for people who work at Google is forty-seven.
The average number for Harvard Business School grads is fifty-eight, so you could skip the MBA, work at Google, and probably get most of the connections you need. Later, you can hire Harvard MBAs to prepare your income taxes.
People with more than twenty connections are thirty-four times more likely to be approached with a job opportunity than people with less than five.

So, if you are still in process to take a decision about doing an MBA - and where: don't do it. Just sign into LinkedIn (it's free!) and get hired by Google.

The Norwegian National Accounts has been revised back to 1970. As a result, the level of GDP at current prices has risen 0.8 per cent on average. The year-to-year growth rates of GDP at constant prices have also been revised. The main reason for revising the time series has been to adapt to international recommendations for the treatment of financial intermediation services and value added taxes (VAT). For the most recent years, other items have also been recalculated.

I am sure that Mr Berlusconi and his former Finance Minister Mr. Tremonti, supporters of the so called Creative Finance, would have been glad to add this to their portfolio of great reforms.

Here the full press note, from Statistic Norway.

(...) I could get used to this [staying home], I think. But then I look around and realize that travel is mandatory for me. Not just because it's what I do for a living, but because it's what shapes my life and allows me to be happy being home. I love being home because it's filled with the places I have been. The things, the art, the pictures, the books I read, the stories I tell to my friends and family -- so much of it is about traveling and experiencing other places. (...) When I head out again this week I'll have a new appreciation for the fact that all of my travels build my life, but home is where I have the chance to savor it.

This is the last week I will be at home, after the Christmas break. Then travels will start back again. Business will bring me to Germany and North Italy. And new travels will come.