I will now attempt to get some sleep, since it’ll be an 0500 start for me tomorrow. Writing then being on a panel thing.
The Hyatt Hotel Canberra ain’t such a bad little shack…
@GeordieGuy Which software is this?
This table could implode. #poltech
OH: ” So I asked, ‘Who wants to do something with chickpeas?’ And he made a huge pot, twice my size.”
@MadamQ “Mystery Korean Snack Food”? Sounds my kind of mystery! Should I maybe have a couple more pints first?
OH: “I was going to get one of those debit cards, but then I found out you had to use your own money.”
OH, him: “I saw that on Facebook.” Her, angrily: “Yeah, I know. And I saw something else on Facebook too!”
@peterhau I don’t know about dive bars plural in Canberra, but certainly dive bar singular. And I am in it.
The one problem with dive bars is their relatively sparse population of power outlets.
@Lyons_Ben @damonism For some reason I tend to tend to “magnificent dive bars”. Maybe I can see my own future sitting at the bar…
“Looks like CeBIT may be less shit than normal this year.” Ah, the emails I receive… ;)
@damonism But a dive is what I seek! Sought, and found.
ABC? Or fundamentalist church? You decide! http://post.ly/280YE
The Phoenix Bar you say, @obrijo? That sounds promising.
It’s just like Hong Kong http://post.ly/280UL
@nikiaken The bus driver returned my greeting. But then that works in Sydney too, at least for me.
The Nation’s Capital http://post.ly/280Rq
Route 31 to Civic. The man accepted my NSW currency.
I think I will attempt to catch a bus to Civic. This place is weirding me out, man.
@jonoabroad I think if I said anything involving “motherfucker” to these so-called “students” their heads would implode.
OH: “It’s at the Westfield at Woden, as a concierge, so it’s a really good job.” HOW DO THESE PEOPLE SURVIVE WITHOUT BEER?
I mean, I can see rows of refrigerators full of booze, and beer taps, the full enchilada. But it’s all locked behind a metal grille.
I’ve just worked out what’s wrong with this university. The bar isn’t open.
I’ve just seen something described as “a word of mouth marketing platform”. Isn’t that ENTIRELY MISSING THE FUCKING POINT?
@damonism Fortunately I’m in no hurry. My time is flexible until dinner at 1830. I might as well experience Canberra like the proles.
Right. The dark secret appears to be that I can’t just catch a bus. I have to buy some bloody card first. Or it it still in transition?
I wonder if ACT public transport has dark secrets that’d make a trip from Uni of Canberra to Civic complicateder than it should be.
Me at Crikey: “Political tweets eclipse blogs, but parties still don’t get it” http://arseh.at/7if [Paywall’d, free trial]
This “National Digital Economy Strategy” thing. Can someone read it and tell me what to think about it? http://arseh.at/7ic
@mpesce Come on in, the weather is delightful. It’s bright and clear and very Canberra in Canberra today.
Clemons [paraphrase]: If it takes a village to raise a child, the internet is more like a slum town that’s grown up without rules.
Just starting: “Privacy and security in a connected world” with Dr Eric Clemons. http://arseh.at/7g0
@SMinney No $50 cab fare for me, travelling with Microsoft peeps.
In Canberra, dropping bags at hotel then to Uni of Canberra for 1000.
Transmitters off. See you in Canberra.
Bombardier Q400, as advertised http://post.ly/27uv6
Ah. We’re boarding. We’re 15 mins late, says the thing on the internet.
Canberra 1000 today: “Privacy and security in a connected world”, still time to book I guess. http://arseh.at/7g0
Oh. QF1463 is back on the board. But personally if I were planning an 0740 departure I’d probably have started boarding by now.
@peterhau You know a Q400 is just a stretched Dash-8, right?
Erm, QF1463 just disappeared off the departures board. Is that a good sign?
I shall be flying in a Bombardier Q400 today, it seems. I’m in seat 13B, but a regular Dash-8 only has 12 rows of seats. http://arseh.at/7hp
@CIOinOz Oh dear God no! I’m not offering any love to that lot behind the counter! They can make bacon tasteless, their powers… [shudder]
RT @CIOinOz: A bacon and egg roll also needs love, if that’s missing it’s going to taste bad! [True. Unsmiling staff look short on love.]
@R_Chirgwin @darrenpauli I heard that CeBIt, rather than paying panel presenters, were now asking them to pay for the “exposure”. True?
FFS! Bacon and egg roll. That’s bacon. An egg. And a roll. How did you manage to get it to taste so bad?
@juhasaarinen Oh it us all about shopping, I’m sure. But who’d be stupid enough to buy at airport prices? At 7am? I should do a vox pop.
Someone ought to explain to these arseholes the difference between an airport and a department store.
Time to check out and get to the airport. The kitchen here doesn’t open until 0700. That’s something I’ll pay more attention to next time.
Tue plan: 0740 QF1463 SYD-CBR; 1000 Cybersecurity event http://arseh.at/7g0 Uni Canberra; afternoon free?; 1830 dinner with #poltech folks.
Or, @NathanaelB, unless you say MacBook, iPad, diet, pain, mortgage, debt or Bieber. In which case it becomes 130%.
RT @NathanaelB: Unless you drop “sex” or “boobs” or “OMGWTFLOL” in your tweet in which case that figure is 22%. [True.]
I always feel like I’ve been pimping events on Twitter endlessly, but individual tweets are seen by… what? Less than 10% of followers?
Why am I in Canberra, @jmacmullin? This convenient blog posts explains. http://arseh.at/7hk
Senator Conroy launches the National Digital Economy Strategy at CeBIT today. In Sydney. While I’m in Canberra. There’s my reading tonight.
Chooseday. I choose to be awake this early. I make many bad choices.
Baffled. Possibly an early night will help, before an early start for Canberra. Possibly I’ll go slightly mad.
@phonakins Nah. As I said earlier, Canberra is about to be warmer that Wentworth Falls has been the past few days.
I still have time free in Canberra tomorrow and Wednesday afternoon, I think. It’s hard to say, given how my schedule changes so.
Larry Ellison’s tree-blocks-view lawsuit. His photo http://arseh.at/7hf My photo http://arseh.at/6yf I’ll say no more.
@paintmehappy Thanks very much for the offer, but I’d already gone off Twitter to get everything sorted. Just saw your tweet now, sorry.
I’ll wait until 6pm or so, book some accommodation online, and then scarper. Unless a better Plan B emerges. Which I doubt.
I can’t even remember what they wanted to talk to me about. It was their story, @NeilMcMahon, not mine. This is a fool’s errand.
No offer to pay, @Kimota. And to be honest, @drunkenmadman, I couldn’t be arsed drinking tonight. Half an hour, @melissahoyer? That’s gone.
A question of etiquette: How long do you wait at a pub for a journalist? I didn’t note their phone number.
@johnvacy Oh, I have my theories about the eventual demise of the filter policy, or maybe today “denoument” is a better word. We’ll see.
@johnvacy I don’t have an appointment with Senator Conroy on this trip yet, but I’m sure he already knows my views on the “filter”.
I have migrated to a certain place of drinking for my 5pm meeting. With a journalist. This will end well.
@andrew_hedge For this trip, Microsoft has booked a flight. But I do want to do the SYD-CBR train at some point soon.
@damonism Canberra has been warmer than Wentworth Falls the past few days. I’ll live. Though my warmest jacket is still in storage. Sigh.
Wed in Canberra: “Microsoft Politics & Technology Forum” w@IainDaleDale etc http://arseh.at/6h6
Tomorrow in Canberra: “Privacy and security in a connected world: anonymity, data loss, tracking and the social web” http://arseh.at/7g0
Well all this is hypothetical, @katinacurtis. I’m booked onto a flight at 0740 tomorrow morning. I have two vital meetings in Canberra.
I’m thinking the last time I took a long bus trip was in December 2007, Bangkok to Rayong. To look at this view. http://arseh.at/7hb
Hypothetically, that is.
“Popular with backpackers” isn’t exactly a recommendation, is it @obrijo? ;) Unless they share their drugs.
I’ve not considered buses for anything longer than an hour or so in ages, @obrijo. Is it possible to work on them these days?
OK, the SYD-CBR train thing has pressed a few buttons. Yes @beneltham appalling it takes so long. Alas @jonoabroad not steam.
Here’s the schedule for trains from Australia’s most populous city to the capital. Pathetic, eh? http://arseh.at/7h9
“Eye of the Tiger”? Goodness, is THAT the time?
@michaelneale I’ve been meaning to catch the train SYD-CBR some time, but hey Microsoft is paying for this flight, so… [shrugs]
@michaelneale Um, yeah there’s a train SYD-CBR, though it takes 4.5 hours and runs once every six weeks or so. How embarrasment.
This Vivid Sydney thing? More gratuitous energy wastage on coloured lights? I wouldn’t want to be associated with that!
Pondering where, specifically, to spend the night in Sydney before my ugly-hour flight to Canberra tomorrow. I’ll wait for the cheap deals.
@MrFlungabunga It must be a terrible burden working with those colleagues. You have my sympathy.
@Reemski @purserj OK, I’ll have to get back to you, ‘cos no Sydney dates are locked in beyond next week, and currently none are Mon-Wed.
@Reemski I know I’m in Sydney on Thursday morning, but will look at the calendar shortly.
@Reemski Nah I’m more or less on my way, unless it’s starting to get too late for you? A re-schedule would work nicely for me actually.
It’s impossible for me to reach the station without wading ankle-deep in sneakers. Bus, I suppose.
Water 25cm+ deep along the sides of King St. Pavement inundated. Passers-by help prevent fallen man drowning.
King St, Newtown, submerged http://post.ly/27ftd
Oh. Newtown is currently being washed away in a deluge of biblical scale.
Right, that’s lunch, errands and snark done. Mobile again: Newtown station; Wynyard station; 1500 meeting; back to Enmore for MOAR meeting.
Oh no, @IainDale, you need to consider the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Samantha Fox. http://arseh.at/7h4 #qt
IainDale Loving the hairstyle of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition here in Australia. I hear she was Krystal Carrington’s stunt double in Dynasty.
Perhaps one of you lovely #qt junkies could coach @IainDale in the finer points? I’ve just eaten. http://arseh.at/7h3
RT @PeopleMagicHR: At least it’s not criminology. [This is true. But I wouldn’t mind starring in an episode of “Underbelly”.]
@caseyjohnellis It’s Monday, so I’m not sure whether to congratulate you or send someone around to slap you a bit. Perhaps both.
Not quite sure what to make of someone analysing my writing as part of their Honours thesis in anthopology.
@anthonybaxter I get the media releases from O’Connor’s office when they intercept a boat. If you like, I can warn you when it happens?
Juggling conflicting requirements. I never was good at juggling.
I can’t wait until I’m 84.
RT @timelady “An Open Letter to the Gentleman Blow-Drying His Balls in the Gym Locker Room” (5/27/11) http://feedly.com/k/kJbN…
@leslienassar Trainworking is the future, yes, as long as the battery holds out.
“Patch Monday” podcast at @zdnetaustralia: “Real issues for cybersecurity awareness” with @duckblog http://arseh.at/7gt
Crikey story filed. @expectproblems is right, one can get a goodly bit of writing done on a train.
Cold wet rain is cold. And wet.
@expectproblems Well, my writing will be a quick piece based on my interview with @IainDale, so the rain won’t figure strongly.
@expectproblems The mountains are beautiful in this weather. I’ll be writing on the train tho.
Mobile: Cab to Wentworth Falls; quick snack; 1031 train to Sydney; errands and meetings galore.
@R_Chirgwin Nope. Sydney tonight, sparrow-fart flight to Canberra tomorrow, return to Sydney Wednesday night. Bunjaree on Thursday?
@R_Chirgwin Generator off. Battery stable at 51.6V.
“Patch Monday” podcast filed. And now to brave the cold and have that shower. Sigh.
In studio mode, writing and recording a cranky news summary for the “Patch Monday” podcast. As one does.
@R_Chirgwin The generator is on. I think it was 49.1V in the battery before I started, but I was more worried… um, no, not a fuel spill.
@R_Chirgwin You may indeed add something to do with Volts to my schedule. And I’ll get that under way shortly.
RT me: New blog post: “@IainDale on politics, Twitter, radio and authenticity”, a 30-min podcast http://arseh.at/7gj #poltech
Mon plan: Complete “Patch Monday” podcast; write for Crikey; train to Sydney; errands Enmore, Newtown; various meetings; quiet night.
Mudday. Given the rain overnight, I suspect there shall be much mud, both here in the Mountains and in Sydney.
That’s enough Sunday. It’s a busy day for me tomorrow and between now and then I have to not freeze to death. Gone.
@dthvt I wouldn’t be too concerned, I seem to have a very short attention span these days. And I’ll be asleep soon. With luck, anyway.
I never did understand why Cate Blanchett was advising the Pope on pedophilia anyway. Unless it’s a theatre thing.
@dthvt If this is fame then where are my hookers and cocaine? 11pm on a Sunday night and… nothing!
Bugger it, I’m going to delete that tweet since it keeps getting RTd and I’m getting stabby now.
Oh FFS @gregomeara @aindreasmac @dthvt it’s 11+ hours since I tweeted a correction! I will start stabbing people soon!
@rbbayliss I’m really uncomfortable with deleting things. Thin end of wedge etc. But people just don’t see the corrections. Sigh.
New blog post: “@IainDale on politics, Twitter, radio and authenticity”, a 30-min podcast http://arseh.at/7gj
New blog post: “Weekly Wrap 51” http://arseh.at/7gi My usual summary of stuff.
Have you seen my correction, @SatirclAlx @Gleena @kellman @RyanSilvey?
My interview with @IainDale has edited into a rather nice self-contained 30-minute piece. Deciding how to post it. #poltech
Just recorded a great ranty interview with @duckblog for the “Patch Monday” podcast. This’ll be fun and easy to edit.
About to record an interview with @IainDale, some or all of which may well end up in the “Patch Monday” podcast. There’ll be a Crikey story.
@IainDale Anyway, I’m right for a chat via Skype whenever you like tonight, provided your jet lag is fading.
@IainDale Sunday afternoon was the wrong time to ask, it seems. All the politics junkies watch the morning TV and then evaporate.
RT @Pollytics: Because Sunday is “wear a racoon on your head and get outraged by cockspanks” day. I swear it was in the memo! [True.]
I think I’ll turn my attention to the “Patch Monday” podcast, which now consists of the words “Patch Monday” at the top of a blank page.
I am confused.
So, if it’s a Sunday tabloid beat-up, why are supposedly politically aware people going on about? Surely that means they’re puppets too?
Can I be arsed finding out why Cate Blancett is in the news? Or is this another Sunday politics thing that’ll be forgotten by morning?
@acaderama @awelder I’m not ruling anyone in or out, I’m seeking to discover what people think. My followers maybe not the best to ask.
RT @awelder: I’m still waiting for the right-wing Phillip Adams. [What remains of my brain just exploded.]
Here’s a question. Who’d be the right-wing @GrogsGamut? If I’m not belittling Mr Jericho by inserting him into that ancient spectrum…
I reckon @IainDale asks a good question there. Who is it that we take for granted?
RT @IainDale: Who would you say is the most influential or well known political columnist in Australian newspapers? [Laurie Oakes?]
Ta to everyone still telling me my tweet at 1100 was wrong. I corrected it at 1121. I’d rather not delete tweets. That way danger lies.
It really depresses me to see the first, wrong tweet still being RTd though. It means they’re all RTing without reading. I read, but poorly.
I’m now wondering why the story was worthy of TIME. And how I came away with my first impression of events.
Correction. Arrested priest is in the archdiocese of the Pope’s advisor, not the advisor himself. http://arseh.at/7g3
@franksting They won’t let me have a gun at Parliament House on Wednesday, but I’m hoping University of Canberra is less strict.
“Is World War II Still ‘the Good War’?” Or is it time to revise the myths? http://arseh.at/7g1
And they’re why I’m in Canberra on Tuesday and Wednesday. I can’t really explain anything else in my life these days though.
“Microsoft Politics & Technology Forum: Do we trust the internet?” free seminar, Canberra Wed 1 Jun http://arseh.at/6h6
“Privacy and security in a connected world” free seminar, Canberra Tue 31 May http://arseh.at/7g0
Slumday. Grey. Damp. Depressing. And yet at the end of it, there shall be a podcast. Somehow.
And it is “watched on stage”. Watching smart people as passive entertainment. Little endorphin-inducing nuggets. Cleverness by frottage.
Maybe no-one should be allowed into an “ideas” event until they show how they’ve implemented the ideas they watched on stage last time.
As for “social innovator”, sure, let’s just snarf a buzzword and work it into your shtick. Note: Copying someone else is not innovation.
Every time I see the words “thought leader”, @stuarthorrex, I get an uncontrollable urge to urinate.
Oh. The Kookaburra Cocktail is 95,000 IDR in Jakarta. That’s $10. But it still seems a good way to start the day.
@leslienassar “Attendees thinking a bundle of fresh ideas is going to help them execute”, cf another time management course fixing laziness.
Not sure what’s best about this Kookaburra Cocktail, the recipe or that it’s 95 Baht = $3. http://post.ly/26z5C HT @ApostrophePong
The problem with Carriageworks’ natural ventilation systems is that you need three times as much Sarin to do any good.
RT @Unpop_Culture: Festival of execution. Has a nice ring to it. [First sensible thing anyone’s said all day.]
No, we don’t need more goddam “events” at all, @sammarks! We already have people whose JOBS it is to just DO stuff.
@expectproblems Do. Not. Get. Me. Started. On. That. Bullshit. “Dangerous”. Ideas. Fuckwittery. Or. There. Shall. Be. Bloodshed.
Completely over events about “ideas”. We have plenty of ideas. What we need is a bit of effort put into execution.
I’ve washed so many towels this morning. It’s like working at a brothel, apart from the cheap drugs and genuine sense of intimacy.
RT @iain_chalmers: Awww, come on, “disgruntled” and “assault rifle” belong together like “bacon” and “eggs”… [So fucking true, that.]
Sadderday. Disgruntled. Baffled by a mumbled, unidentifiable voicemail left last night. Irritated. And disgruntled.
Wondering… just… wondering…
Dispirited.
At the end of a somewhat unproductive day, my main aim is now to stay warm tonight. I shall be staying inside the cottage.
Alas, none of those reasons work for me, @oberonsghost @dananimal @net_hues. But then maybe I’m “different”.
I do find it odd that so many IT-related companies hand out branded paper notebooks as PR. A lack of confidence in their own industry?
@dananimal Ah, now there’s a thing. Are we too trusting of networks generally, I wonder?
@Steve_Ollis Not sure what could be said about PSN performance other than a whinge. I’d tackle that after security anyway, if I were them.
@TatteredRemnant The extension of the US Patriot Act is just one of a few legal things lately, interesting suggestion.
Pondering topics for the “Patch Monday” podcast. I get the feeling we’re over talking about data breaches, just want ‘em fixed. Yeah?
@NetBank Um, are you missing my sarcasm or am I missing yours?
Ta for that, @quog. Good to see another Big 4 bank putting customer communication first… not. http://goo.gl/Npxb3 http://goo.gl/tS9Gp
@gavincostello Indeed, there was one estimate that there’s 7.5M under-13s on Facebook today, which I thought conservative.
“Moonlight”? WTF? What’s wrong with you people? It’s broad daylight!
Dancing with the devil.
Maybe if I read some of the comments on ABC’s The Drum. That’ll restore my faith in humanity, I’m sure.
Fri plan, unordered: Plan “Patch Monday” podcast; client webby work; lots of email catch-up; stay warm; blame someone for all this.
Hmmm. A poor night’s sleep and some pain leads to fatigue, sure, but I’m feeling more dreadful than that. Not impressed.
Frayedday begins. Very frayed. Bright. Clear. Cold. And with loud, feathered screeching.
I am back at the cottages, calling it an early day, and not worried in the least that “Spicks & Specks” is gone.
I WANT HER BOTOX!
@themaria It’s showing “ET”, and the backing music for a story about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s kids sounds like a Mark Burnett production.
Shouting at the television.
I hadn’t heard the Gold Coast described as “Penrith-on-Sea” before, but it makes sense.
@inanaj I wouldn’t have been at CeBIT anyway. I’m sure it’s an important marketing event but from a news perspective it has little value.
Mobile: Walk the dirt track then Railway Pde to Wentworth Falls; lunch somewhere TBA; shopping; return to the desk.
I’ll have time free in Canberra on the afternoons of Tue 31/5 and Wed 1/6 should anyone need me or want me or desire me.
Replug: Microsoft Government & Technology Forum, Canberra, 1 June, usual suspects, free http://arseh.at/
@oberonsghost Fortunately there is a hand truck, and the gas bottle is changed.
Actually, lugging 32kg gas bottles will not ensue just yet. The only bottles I can see appear to be empty. I must consult with @R_Chirgwin.