Labels added

With around 1,700 articles in CairnsBlog archive now, I thought I'd make it easier to locate previous stories.

I've added a handy new search feature. On the right sidebar, just above the Blog's archive listings, you'll see a 'label' drop down menu. From here you can instantly access any articles with a given word or title.

You can still use the Google CairnsBlog search (located at the top) to locate stories, however I will progressively add key words (names etc) and catalogue articles via the new Labels function.

If you want me to add any specific category, just drop me a line and I'll include it.

Google the Campaign

If you're a real political nerd, and you want to know where the mighty leaders of Bligh and Springborg are, then look no further.

The good folk at Google have put together an interactive map, so you can track every movement, well, almost every movement!

No CairnsBlog for Council staff!

It's official. The Cairns Regional Council is more a closed shop than the old mob!

Who would have thought? Even under the right wing Kevin Byrne, this didn't happen.

It was leaked to me last week that Council computers have been blocked from accessing CairnsBlog.

This alone would be of some concern, but what was more interesting is that I was told this censorship did not extend to Dennis Quick's CairnsWatch blog.

I wonder who made the decision to do this.

Councillor Lesina says this is normal. "Based on my own personal experience, I believe that almost all outside websites are initially 'blocked' by Council computers," she said today. "The user is required to click through to the website after acknowledging that any outside websites they visit may be monitored. I am not sure if the Cairnswatch blog is 'blocked' but the ABC News website is and often comes up with an additional warning about 'offensive content'," says Kirsten. "Even google is initially blocked, I hope that sets your mind at rest," she advised.

However, Councillor Robert Pyne says that you can no longer 'click through to the website' after acknowledging that any outside websites may be monitored. Robert confirmed this. "You can with the ABC [news] and Cairnswatch, but not CairnsBlog. Di can confirm this."

And indeed the rooftop protester did indeed confirm this.

"CairnsBlog is indeed blocked from council computers," Councilor Forsyth said this evening. "I have raised with Val, not sure if she mentioned it to CEO, I will take it up with him."

Dianne said that it's been blocked for nearly two weeks. "Yet we can still access Dennis Quick's Blog," Di said.

Kiwis vote: 2008

Kiwis go to the polls in a month's time to boot out Helen Clark.

Google have put this handy tool together, for Kiwis wanting to follow 2008 election news.

My former Parliamentary mate, and partner in crime (it was a minor one) David Farrar of KiwiBlog, has launched his Blogmobile, to travel the country and provide national independent news for the next four weeks, in what will be a gripping election race.

May the best man, or woman, win.

How to comment on CairnsBlog

I made the decision, after much deliberation, to request everyone who wants to post comments on CairnsBlog, to use their name.

There was some strong reactions from a few, to say the least.

I first raised this subject last November, to much debate. I suggest to have a peep at the raft of objections poised about why names are a no no. I said back then that some comments bear more relation to toilet wall graffiti than intelligent debate.

If for some godforsaken reason you think the secret police will ram your door down at 3:04am if you say something on here, then use a pseudonym, a nic name, your cat's name, or something that you wish to be known as. Just no more Anons!

If you feel it's OK to make blatant statements and comments about others and public issues - like I do every day -you need to be open to a fair response. My aim is that this should encourage healthy open debate, which we need in Cairns. I think we are all sick and tired of closed door politics.

A regular CairnsBlogger said "I am a widow and frankly, too nervous to leave my name on a blogsite. I regret having to do so [stop posting], as I have been a regular contributor, but my safety comes first."

I find it hard to believe that someone’s personal safety is in question by commenting publicly, if one can substantiate what is being said. However, if they think safety is compromised, they should go to the police, or perhaps ask themselves why? Do they think Kevin Byrne or the developer they're writing about, is going to come and beat them up? If we, as a community, are airing legitimate issues in a open forum, what have we got to hide or to be scared of? This is called a democracy. After all, I've put my name (and dodgy photo) on the line, and provided this forum for anyone to engage and debate.

Another comment poster, who was a great contributor, emailed me the other day and said that after I removed the 'Anon' posting feature, she was unable to log on to provide comments. "It seems I have been expelled, most likely because I am a woman," said Ms Anon. "I note all the women participants, most of whom were known to me, have also left. I guess this was the intention all along, to make 'CairnsBlog' a male only site.

Well, I admit it, the Internet is really a boys-only zone. After all, you girls have your knitting, walks in the park, collecting shells, shopping, wearing lots of different shoes, gosh, you even run our city now, what else do you want?

To do this, it's rather simple, you'll need to have an account with one of the following providers:-
- Google user
- OpenID name
- Live Journal
- WordPress
- TypeKey

I use Google (love you guys!), but you are welcome to use anyone of the above. You can prevent other readers / viewers seeing your email address and any other identifying details.

People should speak up and be heard – we live in Cairns, not flamin Zimbabwe for crying out loud (as a friend reminded me the other day).


POSTING LINKS IN COMMENTS
This is easy and you'll be impressed with yourself! If you want to place a link to another website as a reference, this is how you do it, instead of copying the entire http:////////// stuff.

URLofLINK which could be this....

www.CairnsBlog.net>The greatest voice in Cairns

Which would appear like.... The greatest voice in Cairns


Finally, please be aware that the posting policy is still to be observed, and the main reason a comment will be removed, is if it's not on the topic under discussion.

That said... be active. Be involved. Be brave. Be outspoken. Be loud. Be heard. Be honest.

No more Anons

I guess after a while, a Blog wants to grow up.

It's time for those that post comments to do so as well. Like a number of my 1,000 daily readers, I'm over the raft of anonymous comments from anyone who's too frightened to leave their own name or at least a name.

My rationale is that if you're willing to to publicly state an opinion for the masses, then you should be prepared to put your name by it.

Andrew Griffiths has also contributed his feelings that if a public forum like CairnsBlog is to have credibility, make it should be mandatory for everyone making a comment to put their name on it.

And I agree. I've raised this subject before, and a number said that the anonymous feature allowed them to express themselves without fear of intimidation etc. Well, the freedom of the Internet allows us to be whoever we like, but as this Blog has gained critical mass, it's time to strengthen the rules and the way in with those that want to contribute to this online democracy, can do so in a way that is more mature.

"I love freedom of speech and the fact that we can make comment about anything we want, and that is what keeps people honest - fear of being caught, Andrew Griffiths tells me. "But you do have a lot of people who are misinformed, making slanderous comments about individuals, based purely on what they 'perceive' is the truth in their world - and they do it all with a mask to protect them. Not very brave or open really is it?"

Andrew, like myself, enjoys CairnsBlog and what it sets out to achieve, but we don't want it to be a sounding board for "lunatics to fire barbs from the comfort of their computer late at night, with no means of true come back for the people on the receiving end."

With this in mind, if you wish to leave a comment on CairnsBlog now, you will need to have a user name to post comments.

This is rather easy and will not slow down your access to make a comment on here. If you don't already, set up a OpenID name, a Google user name, Live Journal, WordPress, or TypeKey.

This system will also prevent Spam and unsolicited messages being posted.

Post away.

Anon.

PS: Did you know that there's 112 million blogs on line?

Google can have my babies

With the launch of Google's interactive addition to their mapping service, Street View, it really tops off their amazing service.

Last year they added 3D buildings to major cities and landscapes via it's sister web application Google Earth. It's hard not to be a Google nut, when they give all this away for free. The technology was originally developed in Sydney.

As you can see in the pic below, on Sheridan Street, across the road from the Courthouse, you can clearly identify all the rego numbers on the cars, even though there was some claim about these being removed. Personally, I don't give a rats what they photograph in a public street. I mean, if you were outside in your pyjamas when the Google cam-mobile drove past, then that's your problem.

Privacy advocates have objected to Street View. You can see people leaving strip clubs, people entering adult video stores, protesters at an abortion clinic, sunbathers in bikinis, etc. Google says that the photos are taken from public property, however they have removed photos of domestic violence shelters, and allows anyone to notify images for removal.

Here's the detailed photo that was captured when they mapped Sydney recently.

A Pittsburgh couple is suing Google for invasion of privacy. Aaron and Christine Boring, yup, that's their name, accuse Google of an "intentional and/or grossly reckless invasion" of their seclusion and privacy since they live on a street that is "clearly marked with a 'Private Road' sign," according to a lawsuit filed. However, a photograph of the Boring couple's home was already available on the county tax assessor's website prior to their lawsuit.

You'll need Broadband to access this service. To search, type in "Sheridan Street, Cairns, Queensland, Australia" then click the Street View, you can go full screen. Click and drag the photo and scroll around 360 degrees. By clicking the arrows, you can move along the street every few meters.

Not every street in Cairns is photographed, only the blue highlighted ones that you will see on Google Maps. Street View is now fully integrated into Google Earth 4.3 and you can also embed Street View into websites, to show others where your house or business is.

Many remote roads and towns have been captured including 1675km across the Nullabor Plain on the Eyre Highway. However, our most famous monolith, Uluru is not there as permits to photograph some Northern Territory locations, were not granted. All the Eastern seaboard was snapped, and much of the west coast, revealing towns unfamiliar to many.

If you want some real fun, here's the best collection of some zany views found. Enjoy!

Cool new Cuil

Try out Cuil (pronounced "cool") is a search engine launched today.

The developers have aimed to provide a more comprehensive search engine with more relevant results compared to prominent search engines.

It organises web pages by content and displays relatively long entries and pictures for each result and claims to have a larger index than any other search engine, with about 120 billion pages.

Cuil is managed and developed largely by former employees of Google, however unlike Google, Cuil's privacy policy says it doesn't store records of users’ search activity or IP addresses.

What history?

Imagine letting the Cairns Port Authority in change of the waterways of Zurich, Switzerland.

The building with the blue shutters is the Zurich Boat club. It's 700 years old.

Maybe it should be demolished to make room for some apartments?

Here it is in Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Jucy, not juicy

I snapped this pic on the Captain Cook Highway, just alongside the Go Kart track, that offers annual races under water.

This new campervan seems to have emerged recently, as I've spotted a few around the streets. It's called Juicy, or at least I thought it was. What a disaster from a marketing perspective. They actually named the business Jucy.

It doesn't pass, what we call in the advertising game, "bus proof". This is where you should be able to pick up the primary 'call to action' in this time it takes a bus to drive past you.

A google search on Juicy of course doesn't net the Jucy campervan.

Besides that, I love the bright green design. Fab! Although they are probably crisp and clean inside compared to the infamous Wicked Campers, these bright green machines don't come close to the humour level of the folk at Wicked.

I posted a small collection of some favorites last year.

If you've spotted a funny camper, let me know!

Firefox 3 is out

I've been looking through some of the site stats here on CairnsBlog.

I run server software that monitors visitor activity, recording where the traffic is coming from. I also use Google Analytics which tells me way too much about everyone that logs, their patterns, and who they shagged last Saturday night in City Place. I rarely bother trawling deep down into the data, but it's sometimes nice to have a peep.

During the run up to the Council election, I had two formal requests to track users who posted objectionable comments. This is provided done in very extreme cases, where something seriously defamatory is posted by a reader. It is always only up to my discretion if I supply such info, unless the police get involved, which is hardly likely to occur. Anyway, I didn't want to freak anyone out, but if you haven't already, my Privacy Policy highlights this. Out of 130,000+ unique hits to CairnsBlog, only two baddies isn't that bad.

The stats engine gives me all kinds of stuff, like when a Councillor or staff were reading CairnsBlog at 10:34pm at night, a week out from the election!

The majority of folk have embraced this new media in Cairns, which has allowed instant dialogue debate and rebuttal. 99.99% of comment is not censored, edited or banned. So long as commenters who write follow the Posting Comments Policy, I'll encourage any debate. I'll even allow you say rude words on here like Floppy Bananas, Rate Rises, Big Pussy (ABC's Pat Morrish did that on air!), even 'Bryan Law is a nutcase' (however, he will tell you he's the most peaceful nutcase in Cairns).


Back to the purpose of this wee rant. At times I hark back to my school days of being a data nerd, so I'm going to publish on a semi-regular basis, the site stats, for all to see. I did this in November. So, I was looking at the type of web Browsers visitors to CairnsBlog are using and here's the breakdown of the main web browser that read this site....

• 49.9% use Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE ver 7+)
• 19.8% use Firefox
• 16.7% use IE ver 6
• 8.2% use Apples Safari
• 3% use Opera

I use both IE and Firefox. At times, FF is way more stable, even on Vista. The IE browser is getting smarter, which predictive searching in the search bar, as you type. Some of these features are powered by Google Apps plug ins I have to admit.

Firefox pioneered multiple tabs. It also remembers what you have opened if your system crashes, and if you're like me, I have around 10 pages open at any one time. Gosh, where were we all pre-Windows! Oh that's right, WordPerfect 3.1 !

I've just installed the new Mozilla Firefox today, so will let you know how it goes. The folk behind Firefox, were aiming to set a world record for most downloaded software in a 24 hour period, with its release of version 3.0 (this happened on Tuesday just gone!). Over than 8 million downloads were recorded.

Those already who use Firefox will need little encouraging to get the latest version. You’ll love the new plug-ins. For net freaks, here's a tech review of IE 7 and the new Firefox.

Anyway, if you're reading this at the office, get back to work, or I'll tell your boss!

World press freedom day

If you have a minute or two to spare on Saturday 3rd May, you're invited pop in to FUSION Organic Cafe, corner Aplin & Grafton Streets.

There you can sign, write or donate, to the 'Uncensor' project to protest the limitations on the media (including internet) in China.

It is part of Amnesty Australia's focus this year on issues of human rights in China.

Cairns-based Dr Carole Ford says that many countries do not have the freedom of speech that we enjoy in Australia. In China people are in prison for using the internet to send out information on human rights abuses.

Access to many news websites is blocked. 30 journalists and at least 50 internet users are known to be in jail in China right now. Many are beaten and tortured to extract ‘confessions’.

Whereas in Cairns, you used to only get sued every five minutes from the previous mayor for raising issues about city councillors travelling to China!

Reporters Without Borders ranks China's media situation as 'very serious', the worst ranking on their five-point scale. China's Internet censorship policy is labeled as 'pervasive' by the OpenNet Initiative's global Internet filtering map, also the worst ranking used.

China's Internet censorship is regarded by many as the most pervasive and sophisticated in the world. According to a Harvard study, at least 18,000 websites are blocked from within the country. Banned sites have included Wikipedia, Google, YouTube, Flickr, and even the BBC.

You can get more info from Janet Walder or telephone her on 4053 3426

Everyone's a fool

Google, famous for their annual pranks, launched an Internet search engine that will access tomorrow's news today and an email service that will deliver in past time. Handy. Not content with that, they teamed with Virgin to launch Virgle.

Virgin's Richard Branson also announced half price air fares if passengers were prepared to stand: "no chair fares". Then we heard that the Pope will celebrate a mass for gays in Australia. Bliss. I mean, bless.

Sydney Morning Herald said that a Darling Harbour Japanese restaurant was cooking up whale meat.

Melbourne's Herald-Sun said that cars would be ferried along the Yarra River because of the peak-hour traffic problems.

ABC's science news reported that stress from high house prices and sporting failures was shrinking brains. I think that might be a fact.

ABC Far North's Pat Morrish, who is retiring at the end of August, announced that her morning show will be replaced with Triple J's youth-orientated radio. It drew a chorus of callers complaining before the penny dropped.

Mayor-elect Val Schier announced she'd get a new hair do. Actually, I think that is true.

And CairnsBlog, fielded numerous requests for the special CD of the "Un-recorded Speeches of Kevin Byrne" today. I don't know how you can have a CD of recordings that were never recorded! I know Sno and Alan were far from amused. Must check with Andrew Griffiths to see how many orders he had to deal with.

Thanks to the spirit of April Fool's, it's such a fun tradition.

Oh, and Cairns Central shopping centre won't be scanning customers for baddies, anytime soon ;-)

Factman revealed, kinda

If this is true, Council's full time, and highly-paid staffer from the Cairns Works & Services Dept, has admitted writing as the mysterious "Factman".

Murray Langdale is Technical officer and Investigator at Cairns Works & Services, for Cairns City Council.

This is of note because, if Murray Langdale has been scribing entries on CairnsBlog over the last six months - even some of them - some serious questions need to be asked if this is an appropriate role for a Council staff member, especially during work time and on work computers.

• ----- Original Message -----
  From: Murray Langdale
  To: wethepeople
  Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2008 8:31 AM
  
  No worries John ... Nothing personal, I admire go-getters like yourself.I just get so pissed off with the attitude of "change the Councillors and all will be better."
  
  It wont make any difference. Council has a depleted workforce, minimal technical and other professional staff these days.There is much better money outside with private employment.
  
  The demands on Council officers is growing by the day and at the same time, their numbers are being depleted.
  
  So I defend the efforts of the remaining few officers and workers against the overwhelming critisism [sic] that these blogs bring.
  
  I'm not absolutely pro Bryne [sic] ... I just stir things a bit to bring out some interesting responses.
  
  cheers
  Factman
  ======================
  
• On 09/03/2008, Cairns Blog.net wrote:
  
  TO: m.langdale@cairns.qld.gov.au
  
  Is this true Murray Langdale, in an email you sent to John?
  
  Regards,
  Mike
  CairnsBlog@gmail.com
  
  =========================
  From: Ian Pearl I.Pearl@cairns.qld.gov.au
  Sent: Monday, 10 March 2008 7:50 AM
  To: cairnsblog@gmail.com
  Subject: RE: Factman reveled, kinda
  
  Mike,
  
  I suggest you need to discuss this private matter with him direct. He will be back in the country at the beginning of April.
  
  Regards,
  Ian Pearl
  Coordinator - Works Investigations
  Infrastructure Management
  Cairns City Council
  Tel: (07)4044 3134 Fax:(07)4044 3838 Mob:0428 735304
  Email: i.pearl@cairns.qld.gov.au
  
  =====================
  From: xstasee [mailto:xstasee@gmail.com]
  Sent: Monday, 10 March 2008 8:27 AM
  To: cairnsblog@gmail.com
  Subject: Re: Factman reveled, kinda
  
  Yep, you got me Mike ...
  
  I was stupid enough to not check my google account status.
  
  I guess you can do three things now ...
  
  1. Expose me as the nobody I am, (in fact, the Mayor doesn't even know me)
  2. Let Factman continue to add his "facts" as before
  3. Ignore me.
  
  I enjoy your blog, it's very entertaining.
  cheers
  Factman
  
  PS: Murray Langdale, born Wellington 1949, attended Rongotai College.
  Lived in PNG 1982-94, Holloways Beach, Cairns ever since.
  Loved the video of Wellington airport, I landed there 3 weeks ago.
  Presently in England with my wife having a well deserved holiday.
  Will miss the election but I would have voted for Margaret Cochrane. She's a good sort.
  

Premature jubilation

Like a Thai prostitute, I'm flat out and working all night long.

But, evil rests for no one.

You know, I should have been a detective. I simply love intrigue and mystery. I also question and wonder. These are attributes any writer should posses: the yearning to ask why.

This story has none of that. It's a no-brainer. It does, however, have a whiff of a dirty election trick though.

You see, I was wandering along the Esplanade lagoon on Monday afternoon, and stumbled over a piece of paper fluttering on the pavement. I did a 'Kathy Plath' - squatted down to pick up the rubbish - an automatic reaction after my Clean Up Australia day efforts on Sunday.

Low and behold, it wasn't a piece of rubbish, but an invitation! I felt like Charlie and the Chocolate factory, discovering the last golden wrapper. I'd stumbled across an invitation to a special birthday. This was no ordinary birthday. This was the birthday of our lagoon. OUR Lagoon. And it was about to turn 5 years old. What an achievement!


I should have dashed home and knitted a pair of booties for the baby, but the detective in me, made me think. I mean, there's an election in just over a week, and the Council are about to throw a big birthday bash for this fantastic Esplanade that they were involved in.

Then the penny dropped. The dirty little cheeky buggas.

I have a great memory, and with my secret weapon called Google, I put this smelly jigsaw together.

You see, this Council were holding a huge publicity-driven public birthday for the peasants to thank the Council for putting this Esplanade together - 5 years ago - to the day - this Saturday. But wait, it's not 5 years ago is it. Oh, No.

The Esplanade was completed and officially opened on 29th March 2003. The 5th birthday is therefore two weeks after this election, not before.

Here's the rather obvious evidence, that I snapped in front of the Lagoon pool.....

Why is this important? Well, this tired Council appears to be trying to slot this big pr event in and grab some nice photo ops on their "achievements", right before the election. I wonder if the Cairns Post will buy into this scam.

I really don't have much more to add. Sure you may say there's a simple explanation for this... it was double booked on that date. I doubt that. And I'm allowed to be a cynic on this occasion. This clearly smells of a political ploy by a desperate Council trying any last minute trick to fool you.

This party is not only premature, it's cheap and repugnant political stunt.

NB: The follow up, two days later!

Google maps Council divisions

Now this is nice. I've been hearing a lot lately, that many simply don't know what Council division they're in.

ECQ are using Google's embedded map system, which makes it a quick and easy way to see your boundaries:

• Division 1
• Division 2
• Division 3
• Division 4
• Division 5
• Division 6
• Division 7
• Division 8
• Division 9
• Division 10

CairnsBlog calender added

Smart bloggers will have noticed I've added an interactive calendar to the Blog's sidebar.

I will be happy to add any event of general interest to the community, just email me the details.

If you are aware of election forums etc, that I have not included, please send these as well.

It's relatively simply to navigate, and if you click on the event name, it will display the details. You can add these events to your own Google calendar, to give you reminder notifications, if you are the forgetful type.

Praetorian starting up

I just came across this in a google search.

Someone has set up a new website called The Cairns Regional Council Praetorian.

It has the byline: "Ratepayers of Cairns Regional Council deserve a ‘Peoples Mayor’… not a ‘Developers Bagman!’ "

Praetorian is a very old word. Some dictionaries just state it comes from "praetor," which means "an annually elected magistrate of the ancient Roman Republic."

However, it also has a corrupt meaning to it: "A large praetorian bureaucracy, filled with ambitious, possessive . . . and often sycophantic people, makes work and makes trouble"

So far there's nothing on line, besides an empty listing titled 'Dirty Deeds File'

Wonder what type of Praetorian we will get in 28 days time?

New direction for Blogger

Google's Blogger, that drives CairnsBlog, have launched their blogging interface into Arabic, Hebrew and Persian.

Blogger is now available in 37 languages, and Google has 159 country sites.

The difference with Arabic, Persian, and Hebrew is that they are written from right to left, and therefore the back-end of the editing tools had to be flipped completely.

If you want a permanent link to instantly translate any text, you can add your own particular one to your Favourites.

It's tremendous that such a big player like Google is helping facilitate independent freelance journalism by encouraging more to join the blogging community.

And if you thought most blogs were in the English, you are wrong! Japanese is the top blogging language and we come a close second. In the State of the Live Web, Japan takes the top spot with 37% (up from 33%), with English at 36% (down from 39%). Italian overtook Spanish for the number four spot. The newcomer to the top 10 languages is Farsi, just joining the list at 10.

Both English and Spanish are more global languages based on consistency of posting, whereas other top languages, specifically Japanese, Chinese, and Italian, are more geographically correlated.

Technorati is now tracking in excess of 112 million blogs. This is one of them.

Google your dates

It's official, Kylie Minogue googles to find a shag.

I sometimes use this method too.

Kylie has been single for about a year after ditching Olivier Martinez.

"I can't lie. I did it with a friend and she would out me! I can't tell you who I did it with though. I simply cannot reveal this information at this time."

Even sister Dannii had googled for love. "I have a crush on a singer called Robin Thicke. I saw him singing on the American Idol finale and his song really stuck in my head. I typed his name into Google and was really upset to find out he is already married!"

So, Blog Buddies, tell us all, have you googled like Kylie as well?