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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.
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 […]
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; […]
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 […]
Governments Don’t Win Elections, Oppositions Lose Them
A week is a long time in politics and its been even longer for the Labor Party this week. The Labor Party’s momentum of the phony election campaign has given way to a Liberal Party that is running a blitzkreig on all fronts. I’m for the Liberal tax cuts: Australia still remains one of the […]
MyMac Australia: The Saga Continues
I tried reaching out to MyMac Australia, but the rather heated person who called me earlier today just sent me this. I find it rather odd but he thinks I’m bullying and threatening him when the first thing he said to me on the call today was get the video down or we’ll sue you. […]
Recommended Viewing: NEWStopia
SBS launched a new show last night, a Shaun McCaulife news-style satire by the name of NEWStopia. It’s playing 10pm Wednesdays for an initial 10 week run. I didn’t see it last night, but read about it in Crikey today, you can watch the show (for the next week) here. It’s actually pretty good, and […]
Cool Battery Hack
I’ve got no idea if the same applies to Australian batteries, but it’s still amazing none the less: 32 AA batteries from 1 6v 6 Volt Battery Hack! You’ll Be Amazed! – video powered by Metacafe
Busy Week
Im sitting in the lobby of the Hotel Adagio San Francisco waiting for check-in. Funny how the staff at an expensive hotel are ruder than the cheap Best Western I stayed in last night: “Check-in isn’t until 3” I was told, where as when I rocked up at the Best Western yesterday at 12 they […]
On The Pod and Travel
Ben Barren was telling me this week that he finds himself posting a whole lot less and instead Twittering: he’s right for me as well, I spend far too much time Twittering and less time blogging, I’m not sure whether this is a bad thing or good thing, and I am still blogging heavily, just […]
Qantas Club Wifi Brisbane Airport
I was upgraded to Silver Status (One World Ruby) last month and the trip East for Influence is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to use it. Checking in at the business class queue in Perth this morning was great, particularly after the at least 2km walk from long term parking at 6:30am (they’ve […]
Strippergate: Don’t Forget How It Touches The Ladies
Interesting online discussion 12 hours after Strippergate hit the headlines. All the commentary I’ve seen so far has been from men who think Rudd has done nothing wrong. Of course they all would have done the same thing in the past (to an extent) although at least in my own credit I’ve never touched a […]
Our Next Prime Minister
An ode to Kevin Rudd (apologies for the nudity, it’s probably less than he looked at, or felt 🙂 )
On The Pod Is Live
Introducing On The Pod: my weekly podcast on what ever takes my fancy at the time. It will be mostly tech but not strictly so, it will depend on the guest. The aim is to talk to folks who might not otherwise have a voice, people who are interesting. I’ll also be aiming to interview […]
Snow
A short note that I’ll be offline for a week, heading to Melbourne and then the snow for a break (also the golden child’s 5th birthday). Limited or no internet access at this time. Back on the 15th. I’d appreciate it if no one burgled the house in my absence 🙂
The Problem With Religion
Warning: anyone religious will find this offensive. (via Larvatusprofeo)
Are Apple Stores a Waste of Space?
One of the last things I did in San Francisco before leaving Wednesday local time was go shopping. It’s not New York but they have a Macys so the golden child has some great polo tops for summer (how is it that I can buy 3 Polo Ralph Loren tops in the US for less than […]