God I was I had a open source blog on days like today.

From Slashdot:

Firefox 1.5 beta1 is out! It includes many new features including a new automatic update system, reworked options dialogs, faster browsing, new error pages, memory and stability updates

The autoupdating is good, having to reload Firefox everytime there is a bug release is nearly as painful as using Internet Explorer.

Got to love the Onion for stuff like this
Onion Katrina Coverage.

I don’t think I’ve ever got anything close to this.

(screenshot from the Blog Herald WP interface)

I turned 30 yesterday. As well as doing the usual things one does when turning 30, such as vowing to quit doing bad stuff (such as drinking and regular McOz burgers from McDonalds) as the reality that you are no longer immortal starts to set in, its a good time to reflect.

I can remember that movie from Jennifer Gardner of “suddenly 30″…I saw it last year and I can totally relate. Sometimes I feel like I’ve blinked at where at 1 minute I was 14 now I’m 30. And shit, all the things I would have done differently. And of course I haven’t become a millionare yet so I’ve still got a lot of work to do.

You know I was born when Gough Whitlam was Prime Minister, when Australia still had television licenses and when computers were still run with punchards. What an amazing 30 years. The kids of today have got it so easy. But then again I miss my Amstrad 6218 and writing little programs on it in Basic. I sort of miss the sound of a gigantic dot matrix printer. I miss a time when I could play a computer game for 6 hours straight and not be disturbed.

Oh well. Only another 40-50 odd years to go. Next stop 40.

Well, I f@cked up. It wasn’t nice, a bit tired and emotional so to speak. So sorry Jason. We all make mistakes, sometimes I do tend to more than others 🙂

Yes, its not dead, but its time for a fresh coat of paint here at duncanriley.com and a bit of a fresh start after some time away from the person blog as many, many other things have gotten in the way.

I’ve got a new project on the way shortly as well which is great stuff. No word from me yet, but hopefully sooner rather than later.

The new look: well its the Weblog Empire plate with a new header, myself and Declan at Perth Zoo. Its funny really, v2 of duncanriley.com was the first WordPress site I ever ran with. I’d abondoned 1.0 in 2003 because like this site alot it gets forgotten from time to time. Its rebirth was an experiment in using WP 1.2 before I implemented it on the Blog Herald. It came complete with one of the very first versions of the Kurbick template (which of course is now standard on WP1.5) and the comments didn’t work…and I never got around to fixing it. Good news in the comments are working again and unlike the last experiment I’ve probably got a dozen and a half WordPress blogs under my belt now.

I stupid question to be sure, but why plant frost intolorent grass in an area that gets the occasional frost? its a serious question I’ve been asking myself as the grass in my temporary residence whilst my new house is being built turns a yellow-white colour due to the nasty frosts the ridiculously cold weather this winter has delivered.

Check out Donklephant for a different mix of politics, the latest from Weblog Empire.

Spotted this one on kuro5hin.org today in an article about Google Aquisitions –

Where2 – This Australian mapping company was also mentioned in the 2004 annual report, but not much is known about it. It also had something to do with Google Maps.

Maybe at long last we are going to get a mapping service from Google for Australia, I really hope so.

I’m pleased to announce that my wife is now an elected councillor to our local council, the Shire of Harvey. Sure, I aim for higher things, but the better half is now in Government so she wins….! Seriosuly though, one of us made it, and I’m happy its her.