Prologue: (purloined from http://www.fourthturning.com/html/boom_generation.html) The Boom Generation (Prophet, born 1943-1960) basked as children in Dr. Spock permissiveness, suburban conformism, Sputnik-era schooling, Beaver Cleaver friendliness, and Father Knows Best family order. From the Summer of Love to the Days of Rage, they came of age rebelling against the worldly blueprints of their parents. As their [...]
Eighteen Months ago, I bought a 1 Terrabyte Lacie Big Ethernet Drive from a reseller on eBay for $530.00 (advertised with a three year warranty). I purchased the Lacie because a friend of mine who was in the video production game told me, “You can’t go past the Lacie drives, they’re indestructible.” On [...]
Those of you who live in the city and are able to get broadband via cable or via ADSL with all you can eat plans…. you don't know how lucky you are! Here in the Australian bush – not that where I live is bush really – its just a place where Telstra was stingy [...]
When I was four years old, my family constructed a house. I asked my father how the builders knew what went where. And he told me about the plans and showed me the blueprints. I was enthralled, here was a method to build something. Draw up a master plan, order the lumber, roofing iron, and [...]
Some people are in denial about climate change. But that already puts a pejorative spin on the concept, doesn't it? And some people are in denial about peak oil. As long as you believe in one of the two above read on… Over the next few years we are going to have to solve a [...]
Sometimes you can read a paragraph and skip right over important words. It is not till later that something in the brain clicks and says “Whoa”! The other day I quoted a paragraph from wikileaks: In 2007 a select handful of the wealthiest countries began a treaty-making process to create a new global [...]
While other media companies look at merging their broadcast and catalogue divisions with online broadband delivery companies, (Comcast & Universal) Jeff Bewkes the CEO of Time Warner is placing his bets on content distribution agreements. But just in case that doesn’t work, he’s placing a side bet on owning the distribution methodology, whatever that [...]
Sometimes when you are being serviced by a professional, you have to say “No, I don’t like what you are doing for me. I don’t like your charging regime and I certainly don’t like the lack of results that you are managing to achieve.” Most members of the public consider lawyers are Gods. They understand [...]
Flashback – 1999 – Sydney, Federal Courtroom 23B I carried a box with 5,382 page phone bill to court with me every day. I was ATA Telstra for what I like to term, “inaccurate billing practices”. The Judge upon sitting down would look over his courtroom and espy me and the box in front [...]
It is an unstated fact of life that women provide the nurturing for the men that bring home the bacon. Therefore any potential male suitor needs to know exactly what the bacon is. Guys, a hint, it’s not a 1979 Holden Monaro with mag wheels and a 400 decibel stereo anymore. It’s [...]