That sinking feeling

French shipbuilder DCNS launched a spiffy new website last year, sourcing everything - from graphic design to translation - from the same full-service agency. It seems they have noticed some oddities in the English text (you know, that grey stuff in between the rich content). Better late than never. Rumour has it they're in the process of getting the copy fixed. But before they do, this photo caption for the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, the jewel in the crown of the French fleet, needs to go on the record. I wonder how their Russian is?

A game-changing warship

A cutting-edge French warship sailed into St. Petersburg in November to show off its capabilities to potential buyers in the Russian Navy. Bruno Daffix, a spokesman for the French Defense Ministry's export and sales agency, described the ship as a "Swiss Army knife" of military ships - able to carry helicopters, land forces, hospitals or refugees, among other things, the Wall Street Journal reported. But critics of the potential deal in nations neighbouring Russia - such as Ukraine, Georgia and the Baltic states - say it would dramatically increase the military threat from Russia, increasing tensions in some already difficult relations.

LOL: Naval defence can be fun too!

New-generation marketers for a new generation of procurement officers? This animated video was on show at DSEi to promote integrated topside design from Thales.

Israeli missile maker goes Bollywood

Engaging its customers with references to local culture, Rafael is making a break with some of the defence industry’s old-school paradigms, deemed overly serious by a new generation of marketing executives.

Punctuation makes a comeback

Lucy Kellaway's column in the FT suggests that speaking to people in a culturally appropriate way may have its merits after all...

Meanwhile the out-of-work French business school graduate who put himself on eBay got pretty well flamed for his presentation skills and trying to get a job with a CV full of grammatical errors.

Back in the blogosphere

This blog has existed off and on for seven years in blissful oblivion. The experiment continues! Here's one about Obama's oath of office and the trouble being a die-hard pedant can get you into. Maybe someone else would like to post some stuff here too. Let me know and I'll add you to the authors list.