What’s on the door can count more than who runs the shop

I walked into the National Bank yesterday to sort out something for Dad—years ago, we gave each other signing authority on our accounts. They had misplaced that authority—a bit worrying if a bank doesn’t hold on to things over 10 years old—but, with the transition of the National Bank branding to ANZ, it reminded me […]

Read More… from What’s on the door can count more than who runs the shop



A fresher Lucire (the web edition) for 2013

When Lilith-Fynn Herrmann, Tania Naidu, Julia Chu, Tanya Sooksombatisatian and I redesigned Lucire in 2012, we went for a very clean look, taking a leaf from Miguel Kirjon’s work at Twinpalms Lucire in Thailand. I’m really proud of the results, and it makes you happy to work on the magazine—and just pick up the finished […]

Read More… from A fresher Lucire (the web edition) for 2013



A look back at 2012: from an Italian Job remake to a royal pregnancy

Last year, it was quite humorous looking back on 2011 and what appeared on my Tumblr. And since my decade summary in December 2009 was a bit of a hit for some of you, I thought it might be worth a review of the year. In case you thought you missed out on much from […]

Read More… from A look back at 2012: from an Italian Job remake to a royal pregnancy



The modern phone shifts how I consume technology—but only slightly

  This has been my year for acquiring new technology, beginning with a new external hard drive just after Christmas 2011, to a new desktop machine right after New Year. The keyboard, printer, scanner have all given way to replacements; while even the internet package and modem are new. TelstraClear then gave me a new […]

Read More… from The modern phone shifts how I consume technology—but only slightly



Thinking to the future as Lucire turns 15

I’ve written so many editorials about Lucire’s history for our various anniversaries that now we’ve turned 15, I feel like I’d just be going over old ground. Again. I’d do it maybe for the 20th or 21st, but the story has been told online and in print many times.    But 15 is a bit […]

Read More… from Thinking to the future as Lucire turns 15



Wayne Sotogi’s thoroughly modern Mini (the 10 ft long variety)

When BMW showed its Mini Rocketman concept, a lot of people applauded it: here was something that was roughly (1959) Mini-sized, rather than the larger car that it has become. In fact, the Mini Countryman gets the most criticism because it is not mini at all, but 4·1 m long (the original Mini was just […]

Read More… from Wayne Sotogi’s thoroughly modern Mini (the 10 ft long variety)



Facebook’s explanations check out after all

After a day of worrying about a potential Facebook privacy breach—and some very simple questions no one seemed to be asking—Richard MacManus’s Facebook status update attracted a comment from Jesse Stay: Someone needs to go back through their email notifications, and if we can find one that matches a wall post, where the email notification […]

Read More… from Facebook’s explanations check out after all



Vodafone sends me invoices and spam (and I’m not even a customer)

I recently posted this apt quotation on my Tumblr: It’s marketing 101—[Vodafone New Zealand] seem to breach the rules quite regularly and you’d have to hope that these significant fines are a signal to them that they can’t continue to do that. It’s from Sue Chetwin, CEO, Consumer New Zealand, on how Vodafone is cavalier […]

Read More… from Vodafone sends me invoices and spam (and I’m not even a customer)



Google’s Penguin updates might not always be to blame; and the task of finding a keyboard

Creative Commons   It’s been fixed now, but for a few weeks in July, Lucire’s online-edition hits took a dive. Not in the main part of the website, but the news section. Luckily, because of an abundance of feature stories in the main part of the website during July, thanks to Julia Chu’s design work, […]

Read More… from Google’s Penguin updates might not always be to blame; and the task of finding a keyboard



A triumphant Olympics was helped by a well organized Olympic Delivery Authority—lessons for business

I’m glad to see that the third Foundation Forum’s notes (originally sent to me by Medinge life member Patrick Harris) are now public, which means I can refer to them. The latest one is on the Olympics, at a forum held in June, where the speakers were Olympic medallist Steve Williams, Dr Pete Bonfield, CEO […]

Read More… from A triumphant Olympics was helped by a well organized Olympic Delivery Authority—lessons for business