Update: Jan 4 2010 – I received this response from Stephen Conroy today.

Senator Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy announced that the Federal government would go ahead with plans to filter internet access for all Australians.

It has yet to pass caucus. So it’s not too late to do something about it.

Apart from the whole “police state” mentality this brings, the whole scheme is simply not going to work. It will NOT protect children from unwanted net predators.

Here’s a copy of the letter I wrote using the campaign on GetUp:

Dear Mr Conroy

As a web-savvy parent of 2 children. I urge you to re-think your strategy for tackling “net threats” to children.

The answer lies in educating parents and children.

Making the filter mandatory is an infringement of our personal freedom and clearly the wrong choice from a technology perspective.

You said there would be a public consultation process, now is your change to listen to the people.

A quick search in the internet shows the vast majority of Australians do NOT want their internet filtered. The same search shows how easy the proposed filter can be bypassed.

I realise it’s difficult for the government to admit it’s made the wrong decision. This is a great opportunity to show strength and do the right thing.

Thanks for listening.

Some links for further reading:

• ISP filtering pilot results on the DBCDE website
• Why the Internet filter is not the solution we wish it was (Penny Sharpe MLC)
• Net censorship move a smokescreen: expert (SMH)
• Bypassing Australia’s Net Filter
• Do these people have no idea? — the folly of the Internet Filter
• My thoughts on the mandatory Internet filter – Lauren Cochrane

What you can do

Write to the government and put your name down.

• No Clean Feed website
• GetUp Campaign

The last thing we want is to end up with our freedom controlled by an ill-informed government.

I haven’t posted in a while, been busy with work but this was too good to not share.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCq6E6tnQKg

via GeekAdvancement

There’s no doubt social media is experiencing unprecedented growth. Twitter is a micro-blogging service that has genuine business uses as well as personal.

Here are some links to help you get started.

Twitter use explodes

Twitter growing 3 times faster than Facebook

Put Twitter to work

Twitter Flies into the Enterprise

Connect to Customers with Twitter

Got Twitter?

Battle of the multicolumn Twitter clients

Please help.

The 2009 Victorian bushfire Fund to assist individuals and communities affected by devastating bushfires in Victoria has been launched by the Premier John Brumby in partnership with Red Cross and the Federal Government. A number of corporate organisations including NAB, ANZ, CBA and Wesfarmers have also contributed to the fund.

Donations can be made using their secure online donations form or by phoning 1800 811 700.

Source: Victorian bushfires 2009 – Appeal

Buy 5 SitePoint books for price of 1 and EVERY DOLLAR goes the bushfire victims: http://sale.sitepoint.com/

The UK Mirror has published an interesting story about marriages and relationships.

As kids we are taught that honesty is the best policy but what happens if you tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth to your wife for a year?

Welshman Cathal Morrow, 43, did just that with 39-year-old Patti, his wife of five years and the mother of his two sons.

Cathal and Patti both tell part of the story in the article.

I wonder why they only tried this for a year? Why not be honest all the time?

You can read the full article here.

Just saw this about Snow Leopard – the next version of Mac OS X:

Snow Leopard could be the biggest OS X update ever thanks to one killer feature – speed and performance that will take everyday computing to the next level.

Read more on TG Daily

As humans, we’re all prone to making mistakes from time to time. For most of us… it’s often the only way we learn.

Do we deserve a second (or 3rd or 4th) chance to redeem ourselves?

When I say “second chance”, I’m referring to the situation where the same mistake is made more than once.

I think we do deserve a second chance and I think that’s best granted by those who bore the brunt of the mistake. It seems like a waste of experience if we can’t show those who are most directly effected, that we have understood and learnt. Ofcourse, that assumes that we have learnt and are ready to make amends in whatever way is appropriate to the mistake.

What about retribution? In other words, what punishment suits the crime?

I can’t answer that specifically. I do feel that regardless of the punishment, those who were effected need to experience first hand, what has been learnt from the person making the mistake. It doesn’t seen beneficial to anyone if the person making the mistake is not given the chance to redeem themselves with those were immediately effected.

Consider this:

Imagine being complimented on something you made. Your friend says, “How did you learn to do that so well?”

You reply, “Through mistakes I made at my old workplace.”

They say, “I bet they’re sorry to see you go.”

Your answer … “I don’t know, they fired me when I made those mistakes”.

Sound familiar? What are your thoughts? I’d like to hear your comments.

Here are some articles I found when considering this:

• Do good people who make horrible mistakes deserve second chances?
• Mistakes and second chances

Please leave a comment

There is nothing more awe inspiring than nature. Today I came across the image below at the Astronomy Picture of the Day on the NASA site.

The Crystalinks site has this definition:

Lenticular clouds, technically known as altocumulus standing lenticularis, are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes, normally aligned at right-angles to the wind direction. Where stable moist air flows over a mountain or a range of mountains, a series of large-scale standing waves may form on the downwind side. Lenticular clouds sometimes form at the crests of these waves. Under certain conditions, long strings of lenticular clouds can form, creating a formation known as a wave cloud.

The image below is from the NASA site, there are more pics on the Crystalinks site.

Lenticular clouds

Awesome.

According to The Vine, schools in Australia are finding ways to use iPods as a learning tool.

A pilot program in which teenagers used iPods for school work has increased attendance and increased enthusiasm for homework.

This comes as no surprise really. There are so many applications out there now for the iPhone and iPod Touch, it was only a matter of time until the education sector picked up on its’ potential.

More detail is on The Vine website at the link below.

Homework fun on an iPod touch – Tech | thevine.com.au .

Nice one.

Remember the Etch-A-Sketch?

An Etch A Sketch is a thick, flat gray screen in a plastic frame. There are two knobs on the front of the frame in the lower corners. Twisting the knobs moves a stylus that displaces aluminum powder on the back of the screen, leaving a solid line. The knobs create lineographic images. The left control moves the stylus horizontally, and the right one moves it vertically. – Wikipedia

The image below is by the artist George Vlosich. It took 80 hours to produce.

Portrait of Barack Obama

Check out more of his work at the Mail Online website:

The Etch-A-Sketch President: Artist uses toy to draw famous faces.