Apple's top designer Sir Jonathan Ive grew up in England watching Blue Peter, the BBC series that moved last year from BBC One to the CBBC kids diginet and still holds the title of the world's longest-running kids' TV program.

Ive was was recently paid a visit by show presenter Barney at Apple HQ in Cupertino, Calif., during which he judged a viewer design contest and received a gold Blue Peter badge, which judging by his reaction may have been a bigger thrill than being elevated to a Knight of the British Empire by the Queen.

Watch below, with a hat-tip to The Unofficial Apple Weblog for spotting this gem.Continue reading...

Chief Executive magazine has named Ford CEO Alan Mulllay as its 2011 Chief Executive of the Year in recognition of last year’s culmination of his five years of work in turning the automaker around, making bold bets on everything from debt to new products — and also presumably for spurning the federal-government bailout offers that General Motors and Chrysler accepted.

“The success he showed in the face of incredible difficulty was just extraordinary,” said James Turley, chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young and a member of the magazine’s 2011 selection committee. “He was thinking for the good of the country as well as his company and industry.”

Ford’s turnaround has been “due largely to his talents, leadership and courage,” chipped in Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant, another committee member, and the magazine’s 2010 Chief Executive of the Year.Continue reading...

Now that she has more time, Oprah Winfrey has taped a new promo for co-OWNer Discovery touting its original programming and OWN HD. Winfrey, who will be honored at the upcoming Daytime Emmys, will have a Chicago street named after her (when the paperwork's filed). She's also being credited for boosting travel to Australia with her Down Under specials earlier this year.