/ blog · 2007
Archive
Posts from 2004 to 2017. This was a personal blog during a fairly chaotic decade in independent publishing — some of it tech commentary, some of it Australia, some of it ephemera. It’s kept here in full for anyone who arrives via an old link.
Current writing lives at SiliconANGLE.
Vale Free Speech Online in Australia
My write up at TechCrunch. I knew it was coming, but I’m still shocked to see them officially announce it. A little of what I wrote last time still sits very true this very, very dark day in the history of freedom in Australia: first they blocked the porn sites, and no one said a […]
The Night Before Christmas In The Valley
Yes, I should be finding serious work to do, but there’s nothing more fun than bastardising something traditional, here’s my effort for 2007 Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Valley Not a startup was stirring, no deals in back alleys The business plans were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes […]
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like (A Traditional) Christmas
Last couple of years have been cold, this year looks like a Christmas of old For my American friends, who will be feeling the cold, some Fahrenheit cheer, I’ll be drinking some beer! Have a great christmas.
Upgrading an iPhone From 1.02 to 1.1.2
Unlike the long northern autumn of discontent as unsuspecting iPhone customers bricked their unlocked iPhones by updating to iPhone OS release 1.1.1, I was smart enough to turn off the auto-update feature in iTunes, and my iPhone has never skipped a beat, running 1.0.2 unlocked using the Optus network. There’s not a lot of changes […]
If You’re Into Online Marketing, Visit Gooruze
I think I may have mentioned this here before, but I’m involved (as a contributor, or “founding Gooruze”) with a great online marketing site called Gooruze run by Vibe Capital (from WA’s glamour couple Rachel and Clay Cook). It’s a social networking come sharing site where you can contribute or read about online marketing advice […]
Simpsons Do The Life Video
Homer every day for 39 years, complete with the same music from the original. Hilarious (via Andrew Sayer)
Battle at Kruger
This is simply one of the most amazing things I’ve even seen. Given it’s had 20 million+ views on YouTube and is appearing in Top 10 lists for 2007 it’s not new, but it’s the first time I’ve seen it.
Where Hippies Come From
This video needs no explanation. Did someone say brain damage? 🙂
Hmmm..Time To Get Moving
She who must be obeyed told me today she’s starting in the new job January 7, and I haven’t even called a removalist yet, let alone called a real estate agent (husband of the boys God Mother is a real estate agent, and he’s one of the few honest ones). Plan is for her to […]
Hidden Inflation? The Bread Test
The latest inflation reports for Australia are showing the seasonally adjusted underlying figure of 4% with headline inflation around 3%, but I’m starting to not believe it. We’ve always been impartial to Bakers Delight White Flour Loaf bread (recommended for those in Australia…just great bread). Around this time last year it was around $2.20 or […]
Moving
Big news, she who must be obeyed has accepted a job offer and we’ll be moving to Melbourne in the new year, roughly mid January. I moved to Western Australia in November 1998 after 2 years in Queensland (I’m originally from Sydney) so it was coming up on 10 years, and possibly time for a […]
Ruddslide
The results are in and it’s wall to wall Labor for Australia. On one hand I’m deeply disturbed; the thought of returning to the days of Hawke and Keating with high interest rates and high unemployment scare me, and yet the Howard Government bought this on themselves. Work choices was bad politics, the legislation went […]
And Now We Wait
Voted. Senate paper went to U with 54 boxes to fill out. Polls close at 6pm AEST so first results from around 6:30pm AEST (or 4:30pm my time). One observation: old people suck at setting up signs and bunting. The Liberal setup at the Riverlinks Community Centre Australind was beyond embarrassing for them. The Independent […]
ALP’s Internet Policy: A Great Firewall of Australia
A couple of days out from the election and neither party has announced a comprehensive ICT policy…because neither party has one. Kevin Rudd today talked about taking Australia up a gear and the need to fulfil our great potential, but apparently IT isn’t part of that future. The real banger: the reiteration of a policy […]
Remember
Remembrance Day 2007. “MCMXIV” from Philip Larkin. It’s modern poetry, but it’s done well. Those long uneven lines Standing as patiently As if they were stretched outside The Oval or Villa Park, The crowns of hats, the sun On moustached archaic faces Grinning as if it were all An August Bank Holiday lark; […]
Crunchies Are A Good Idea
TechCrunch, VentureBeat, GigaOm and another site are getting together for the Crunchies, a Web 2.0 best of annual awards. Nice idea. Full details here. (disclosure: I write for TechCrunch)
New Simpsons Game is Fun Fun
This is pretty close to being one of the weirdest things I’ve ever seen 🙂 (via CG)
Australian Election Update: It smells
Side note: I’m loving these point by point posts: it’s liberating. Verbal feedback has been all positive. If you think they suck…well, it’s this or not post at all ,which I’ve done a lot of this year as my external activities (TechCrunch, Gooruze etc) have increased 🙂 1. I’m sick of the election, and so in […]
Sponsor Nick Hodge: Because I demand that you do!
Microsoft Australia’s Nick Hodge is partaking in Movember, a lets grow some facial hair in November charity event with sponsorships going to the ever excellent Beyond Blue. I’m not a huge contributor to charity; as I’ve written on this blog in the past I use to donate to the Salvation Army until I discovered that […]
Podcamp Perth 07
Just back from Podcamp Perth 07. My thoughts 1. Good turnout, as always for anything held in Perth. 2. Crowd was a different mix to perhaps what I expected, a lot of people in education, teachers, uni folk etc. Always interesting to get different view points. 3. If Podcamp was suppose to be an unconference […]