Yes, the humble newspaper. Thanks Peter Combe. If you want to track down the leading daily (or in fact any other dailies) from the 400 biggest cities in the world – here’s a nice aggregator.
Fat chance
This is a bus shelter. You might think it’s a normal, everyday, run-of-the-mill public transport hailing vestibule. But no. It’s more awesome. It tells you how fat you are. With a built in scale. Currently it’s advertising Fitness First. It would be extra handy if it was near a post box so you could weigh your oversized mail. From Neatorama.
Back in business
Well, I thought I was gone for a while. But I’m back. Cause for celebration? Perhaps.
Here’s a brief summary of what happened which may be particularly useful if you’ve googled “What happened to Dedicatedhost.net.au” or dedicatedhost.net.au in order to find this post.
My previous host – the aforementioned dedicatedhost.net.au appears to have collapsed – taking client’s money and running, not returning phone calls, having emails bounce and having their own site go down in the process. And leading to a Whirpool thread and Webhostingtalk.com.au thread speculating about the reasons behind the demise.
After spending a fair bit of Friday and Saturday worrying about the hours of work I’d poured down the drain by not backing up my content regularly I had resigned myself to losing all of my content (except the stuff in Google Reader – who’s laughing at me for subscribing to my own blog now hey…). Then, a glimmer of hope, DedicatedHost.net.au shared server space with another hosting provider in Melbourne (HighTek hosting – who have been absolutely fantastic through this “ordeal”) who could access content on the box and transfer it to their plans.
Unfortunately my site wasn’t on the Melbourne servers – but HighTek Hosting were able to initiate a transfer of the content using cpanel. That’s all technical language (not completely but it’s not English either) for saying I have my site back thanks to HighTek Hosting. At a discounted rate on the basis of dedicatedhost.net.au’s stuff ups.
So I’m back. And ready to fill your feed readers or internet browsing time with all the coffee, stupid gadgets and pseudo political commentary I can produce in my spare moments at work.
Fun stuff from spoon sisters
Here’s a site full of useful, intriguing and stupid gadgets.
Click the images for links to the product.
Pick your nose party cups
The Wally - wallet sized bottle opener
Give your Brownies an edge
Posts you might have missed
Too many posts to handle? Here’s a quick list of the posts you might have missed this week:
- A bunch of links – March 12, 2009
Posted on Thursday, March 12th, 2009 in webHow To Make Any Firefox Add-on Compatible With All VersionsFree Fonts Of The Month: Myndraine, Museo SansPortions Calculator Cuts Down on Waste, Makes Just What You Need [Cooking]The difference between PR and publicityThousands of foreigners splurge stimulus overseas | smh.com.auWhoops.Crabb on K-Rudd, the toxic boreDear GodLetters to God from young children.Why committing suicide doesn’t change a Christian’s standing before God.
- A bunch of links – March 9, 2009
Posted on Monday, March 9th, 2009 in webExcellent public speaking adviceCreate Flash Content with WidgetMeScrewed … in anyone#39;s language | smh.com.aunm.campbell – Crabb on Economic obfuscation. A nice comparison between Rudd’s ability to explain the economic situation and Obama’s ability to do the same.Which animal did we domesticate first?
- Ad value
Posted on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 in ChurchTim Challies is one of the world’s preeminent Christian bloggers. Today he wrote about advertising and the church – mostly advertising but this was a great quote about his approach to ads:”I guard against this because I’ve seen what happens to churches when they adopt a marketing mindset. Every church markets; the moment a church places a sign outside or puts an advertisement in the phone book or the local newspaper, it is marketing.
- Apologetics accepted
Posted on Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 in ChurchOne of the things I do in order to increase my levels of frustration is read annoying things written by atheists who feel intellectually superior to us “unenlightened Christians”.I spend a lot of time arguing with three of my friends – two of whom are declared atheists – one is a notorious fence sitter. I often ask myself why I bother.
- Driscollisms
Posted on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 in ChurchI’m about to break an unofficial rule – and post something about Mark Driscoll. If you’ve never heard of him – look him up on wikipedia – or check out his blog at his church’s website.I’ve mentioned him a couple of times – but I know that he doesn’t really like bloggers. Unless they’re flattering. I also don’t want to appear to be a fan boy.
- Election Scorecard: Candidates in Townsville
Posted on Monday, March 9th, 2009 in PoliticsThe campaign proper has been underway for two weeks now. Here’s part one of my take on the candidates for Townsville’s three seats:Townsville:Mandy Johnstone – Labor’s factional darling somehow got the nod to replace Mike Reynolds, the seat’s former member. It says a lot about Mandy Johnstone’s campaign that her campaign website features a prominent photo of Anna Bligh and a tiny photo of Mandy Johnstone.
- Election Scorecard: Change, can we believe it?
Posted on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 in PoliticsThe latest roundof election ads are out – the ALP has gone negative. They’re telling us that despite poll results the other guy – Lawrence Springborg – is not ready to lead us. Labor seems concerned. Government media releases (still being sent via Government distribution lists despite “caretaker mode” being in full swing) are consistently refering to the LNP as the Nationals.
- Election Scorecard: Poll
Posted on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 in PoliticsYour thoughts in the comments – is the scarcity of political talent around an indication of market failure and a justification for closing down State Governments?I think so. The Labor Party is so desparate to fill out all the seats around Queensland they’ve picked a Brisbane uni student to run in Hinchinbrook who won’t do recorded interviews with the ABC – the Premier had to chastise him via the media.
- Foetal position
Posted on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 in ChurchBen just sent me a link to this ABC story where Tony Abbott attacked Kevin Rudd for allowing changes to Australia’s aid policy and aid money being used to fund abortions.The comments thread is telling. These discussions always bring out the rabid atheists who want to accuse Christianity of “holding back society”… I do like it when they put together a coherent argument.
- Get write on it
Posted on Monday, March 9th, 2009 in LinksThe things I create using these online web tools that I keep posting are never that funny. Maybe I should spend more time thinking before I post – but WriteOnIt has so many cool features that you should check out that I just couldn’t wait.
- I dare you
Posted on Friday, March 13th, 2009 in Links
- I’m a generator
Posted on Monday, March 9th, 2009 in LinksA while back I posted another online comic strip generator – perfect for re-envisaging airline safety cards. Here’s a different, better, platform that does the same thing. You can even “stripblog” which would be cool. If I had anything funny to say.
- Manlyness
Posted on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 in MediaIt’s obviously a pretty difficult time to be a Manly supporter – what with guys who punch fathers of attractive girls who dare to interfere in their advances and alleged sexual assaulters named to turn out for the team on Friday.The NRL has just suspended Stewart for five rounds.It makes me feel sick.I don’t even want to trot out the “innocent until proven guilty” line in their defense.
- Ninjaroo
Posted on Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 in MediaTurns out I was wrong. The platypus may not be the ninja of the animal world after all. I feel like I’m a little behind the times only posting this now – I saw it on the Today Show this morning. A kangaroo broke into a house in Canberra and the owner had to take it down wrasslin’ style in just his undies.
- Periodic table for nerdy nerds
Posted on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 in ComputersRobyn and I had a fairly long discussion last night over whether or not I’m a nerd. I think I’m a geek, but not a nerd. She thinks I’m a nerd. This post may well decide it. I give you the periodic table of video game characters. Which I think is clever. Nerd? Maybe.
- Question Mark: persuasion, influence and manipulation
Posted on Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 in MediaIn the comments of a previous post Mark asked: “when it comes to presenting a message, how clear are the boundaries between persuasion, influence and manipulation?” As I’m a renowned “PR Spin Twit” (according to the local paper’s nasty “Magpie” column) I feel I’m qualified to tackle that question.The organisation I work for is a “marketing” and “economic development” body – by our very nature we engage in all three of the above.
- Sans serif
Posted on Thursday, March 12th, 2009 in LifeI just swapped the font on our website from Verdana to Helvetica. It looks nicer already. I don’t know why it was in Verdana to begin with.Speaking of our website – if you’re from North Queensland and haven’t spammed your local candidates and the party leaders to tell them to fix the Flinders Street Mall – you totally should. Here.
- Shout Out Townsville
Posted on Monday, March 9th, 2009 in LifeThis one’s for Townsville locals – but those of you who don’t live here should check it out too. We’ve launched a new campaign with the Townsville Airport – and you can win prizes by chucking your photos and videos of North Queensland on the website. Then using them to lure your friends and family up here. It’s called “Shout Out Townsville” – and you’ll find a few of my pics up there as placeholders.
- Watching Watchmen
Posted on Thursday, March 12th, 2009 in ChurchOn Saturday afternoon I caught the Watchmen with a bunch of guys from church. Having not read the Graphic Novel I wasn’t sure what to expect. Having caught the movie I now want to catch the graphic novel.The movie was violent. Graphically violent. And had a fair bit of sex – so it’s hard to “recommend” to Christians if that’s likely to cause you to stumble.
- Written by man…
Posted on Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 in webAccording to GenderAnalyzer my blog is written by a man. You probably knew that already.I guess my predilection for toilet humour probably gives it away. The uncertainty in the result probably comes from my deep, emotionally charged insights. Thanks to Simone and Ben (Vanishing Point) for the link.”We think http://nathanintownsville.com is written by a man (62%).
Why not subscribe to the RSS feed so that you don’t miss a beat. Or a post
A bunch of links – March 14, 2009
- If harvesting embryos is OK, how about fetuses?
- Pick Your Nose Party Cups: The Spoon Sisters – Great Gifts Opening Everywhere
- The Wally – Wallet Sized Stainless Steel Bottle Opener: The Spoon Sisters – Great Gifts Opening Everywhere
- Craig who? Poster mystery baffles Chapel Street locals | theage.com.au
Well, my blog appears to be down today – so I can’t really do anything on it but I can still share stuff here in the hope it will be fixed by tomorrow.
I dare you
To read this headline and not click on the link:
A bunch of links – March 13, 2009
- TWO WAYS TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS. just two.
- Time Magazine Names New Calvinism 3rd Most Powerful Idea
- Time Magazine: The New Calvinism Is Changing the World
- More Thoughts on Time Magazine and New Calvinism
- Time Magazine declares New Calvinism #3 most powerful idea
- #507. The Sound Guy Neck Crane
- Are our hymns becoming stupider?
- What does the Incarnate Son know?
- DVICE: Turn your TV into a YouTube video with YouTube ADDICT stickers
- Brett Stewart DNA test negative – NRL – Fox Sports
- GrandCentral To (Finally) Launch As Google Voice. It’s Very, Very Good.
- The PR Firm for “Evil”
- [LIMITED OFFER] Unmetered Quality Web Hosting Deal!!! Under $3 a month
- Expensive TV cables are a rip-off: Choice – Articles – Home Entertainment
- Four Experimental Firefox Extensions We’re Into [Downloads]
More “Stuff Christians Like” it’s often the projector operator neck crane in our parts.
Interesting.
Great deal.
Really? Who’d have thought it. Groundbreaking revelation from Choice.
Rock’n’Pol
Whether or not you think Peter Garrett is a sell out or not is irrelevant – there’s no doubt he’s the rockingest Australian politician ever.
I suspect more of these performances would enhance his political stocks.
It’s Time
Time Magazine has just published a list of the 10 ideas changing the world right now. Number 3. New Calvinism.
There’ll be a bunch of links to some reactions in my link post today. But here’s the actual article.
And here’s a quote:
“Calvinism, cousin to the Reformation’s other pillar, Lutheranism, is a bit less dour than its critics claim: it offers a rock-steady deity who orchestrates absolutely everything, including illness (or home foreclosure!), by a logic we may not understand but don’t have to second-guess. Our satisfaction — and our purpose — is fulfilled simply by “glorifying” him.”
The article names John Piper, Mark Driscoll and Albert Mohler as leaders of this pack.
Unsuggester: find the books you don’t want to read
LibraryThing (my profile) is a web cataloging platform for books. It can pull data from Amazon purchases – and you can manually enter in all the books you own. If you can be bothered.
It will make suggestions for you based on those books. It will now also “unsuggest” books for you based on what people who have a particular book are least likely to have on their shelves. The following is telling:
Digital workout
If thumb wrestling has worn out your thumb – and you need a work for a different digit but in the same vein perhaps this finger controlled arm wrestling game will fill that very specific gap in your exercise regime. But why not just play XBox? It’s yours for just $US24.95.
Sans serif
I just swapped the font on our website from Verdana to Helvetica. It looks nicer already. I don’t know why it was in Verdana to begin with.
Speaking of our website – if you’re from North Queensland and haven’t spammed your local candidates and the party leaders to tell them to fix the Flinders Street Mall – you totally should. Here. Now.