One year on, the same issues remain pressing

In 2011, the issues that I spoke about during my campaign remain as pressing as they always did.    We still need better, wider and earlier consultation, whether we streamline current processes or create new ones for citizen engagement.    We still need to build a city-wide wifi network, one which exists but needs a […]

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Stefan Engeseth hits 1,000 posts on Detective Marketing blog

Martin Lindeskog Congratulations to my good friend Stefan Engeseth on reaching 1,000 posts on his blog today!    It’s even more of a milestone when you realize Stefan is not blogging in his native tongue. Add to that the fact that he suffers from dyslexia.    But we follow his blog because we admire several […]

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It’s nice to be believed

The bug I wrote about a few days ago that’s emerging when I use Autocade is now filed with Telstra Clear—and it’s been escalated.    For years I would report various faults, including with Telstra Clear, and I would not be believed. What a difference now that I am believed.    For around two years, […]

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Facebook resets email preferences, after it removes gay photo as ‘abusive’

Not only does Google Ads Preferences Manager reset on a regular basis and bugger what your preferences are, Facebook has today reset (at least for myself and one other friend) email settings. ‘Set emails to spam.’    Why Facebook does this regularly, I have no idea—but this is relatively minor compared to their removal of […]

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National thinks the internet is ‘Skynet’ as copyright amendments pass second reading

This would be humorous if the implications of the copyright amendments were not so serious: Also speaking in favour of the bill, National MP Jonathan Young compared the internet to Skynet, the fictional artificial intelligence network in the Terminator movies that tried to destroy mankind. That was in the National Business Review.    I believe […]

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Errors abound in the New Zealand internet as government flip-flops again

This one hasn’t happened for a while (over a year), and, the last time I blogged about it, I managed to solve the issue—after putting up with it for years prior to that. (The solution before December 2009 was to wait for the computer’s foul mood to pass—hardly scientific.)    Unfortunately, this fix no longer […]

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A great first few days collaborating with Keith Adams on Autocade

I’m pleased to announce that automotive writer and historian Keith Adams is now collaborating with me on Autocade—and doing an incredible job.    Keith has been as good as his word: not only has he fulfilled his promise to work with me on Autocade, he has got so much into the spirit of the site […]

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Two years on, the mainstream media wake up over BYD’s ethics

I said it in 2009, and apparently, so did a diplomat whose note was leaked via Wikileaks: BYD might not stand scrutiny in a non-Chinese court over its vehicles.    When I raised it, a few BYD fans (agents?) came commenting, trying to pick holes in my post, though they were unable to deny that […]

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It’s about content, especially when reality is more appealing than reality TV

It’s shows like The Apprentice that have kept me away from watching TV. I was surprised to learn, in conversation last week, that TV viewership is up, while print is down.    Shows you can’t base too much of what the general public does on your own experience.    I estimate my magazine and book […]

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The new Honda goes at over 400 mph

I have to hand it to Honda. The next new model from the Japanese firm is faster than the NSX and its old Formula 1 cars. It goes at Mach 0·72.    The simplified version of Honda’s history goes something like this.    Once upon a time, Mr Honda wanted to make cars. He wasn’t […]

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