The perfect storm: there’s a spike in users being told by Facebook they have malware today

30.12.2017/13.04

Many years ago, I was locked out of Facebook for 69 hours. It was completely a Facebook database problem, but in those days, they just locked you out without any explanation. It happened on a Friday. I believed I would not get back in till Facebook staff got back to work on Monday—and I was […]

Happy 40th birthday to The Professionals

/12.16

‘Anarchy, acts of terror, crimes against the public. To combat it I’ve got special men: experts from the army, the police, from every service. These are the professionals.’ Forty years ago, ITV began airing one of the UK’s most iconic TV series. There’s more at Dave Matthews’ The Authorised Guide to the Professionals, […]

Developer creates a tool to expose bigoted, fake Twitter accounts; Twitter bans it

28.12.2017/13.12

In theory, one of the positive things about social media should be the fact that a company has as much chance of succeeding as an individual. Another is that it shouldn’t matter who you are, you have the same opportunity to get your word out. No one should get special treatment. But, on Twitter, […]

Even before the exposés, I never used Über

/10.57

I really don’t know why anyone would use Über. All the sexism and misogyny aside, I actually don’t know how anyone could use it. For example, on my phone, I installed it (before I learned about their totally inappropriate behaviour), tried to log in, and the app would tell me I have used […]

Endorsing Laurie Foon for Southern Ward

16.12.2017/11.43

While I no longer live in the Southern Ward in Wellington, I know whom I would vote for if I still did. It’s after a lot of thought, given how strong the candidates are—I count several of them as my friends. One stands out. I have known Laurie Foon for 20 years this year […]

Being an optimist for a better post-Google, post-Facebook era

15.12.2017/13.55

Interesting to get this perspective on ‘Big Tech’ from The Guardian, on how it’s become tempting to blame the big Silicon Valley players for some of the problems we have today. The angle Moira Weigel takes is that there needs to be more democracy in the system, where workers need to unite and respecting those […]

Solving my BSODs with Windows 10 Creators fall update—it’s not the usual culprits

11.12.2017/11.44

Amazingly, Microsoft Windows 10 Creators fall update arrived last week on my desktop PC, and it took all of 25 minutes to do (running a Crucial 525 Gbyte SSD). (Add an extra 35 minutes for me to put my customizations back in.) This is in contrast to the Anniversary update, which took 11 attempts over […]

After 10 years, it’s time to reduce Facebook sharing even more

/10.15

Wallula, shared via Creative Commons The following status update was posted on my Facebook wall to some of my friends earlier tonight, though of course the links have been added here. I realize there’s some irony in posting this on Facebook. Some of you will have noticed that I haven’t been updating as frequently. […]

New Zealand slips to 17th in latest Good Country Index

/08.29

Above: Simon Anholt, giving a talk at TEDSalon Berlin. Out today: my friend Simon Anholt’s Good Country Index, with the Netherlands taking the top spot from Sweden, which drops to sixth. New Zealand is in 17th, failing in prosperity and equality, and in cultural contribution (previously we had been 5th and 12th). On the plus […]

Stefan Engeseth’s Sharkonomics out in China with a new edition

/07.48

My good friend Stefan Engeseth’s Sharkonomics hit China a year ago, and it’s been so successful that the second edition is now out. It looks smarter, too, with its red cover, and I’m sure Chinese readers will get a decent taste of Stefan’s writing style, humour and thinking. I even hope this will pave […]