Author Archives: Michael Wyres

So Hockey Loves The NBN Then?

Despite his constant disapproval for the National Broadband Network, Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey, when discussing the so-called ”gold plating” of electricity infrastructure, was heard today to say: “Never heard before the argument that too much infrastructure in essential infrastructure is a bad thing.” Dooesn’t Joe tell us that the government shouldn’t be building the NBN? […]

Thoughts On New NBN Corporate Plan

With the release today of the Corporate Plan 2012 – 2015 for the National Broadband Network (NBN), we’ve already seen the mainstream media trumpeting of failure, and cost overruns, and delays. This is of course not unexpected, with much of the media having it in for the project from day one. While there has been […]

Why Apple And Samsung Should Just Grow Up

While the are several possible examples of the first “automobile”, it is generally accepted that Karl Benz invented the modern automobile in 1885, and patented it in 1886 – 126 years ago. As described on Wikipedia: “An automobile powered by his own four-stroke cycle gasoline engine was built in Mannheim, Germany by Karl Benz in […]

Taking News Limited Seriously?

Bill Shorten has copped a bit today – (rightly or wrongly) – about what has already become known as “PieGate”, where an alleged confrontation occurred in a shop over the availability of a meat pie. I wasn’t there, I don’t know what happened. But should a major news outlet – (News Limited) – be declaring […]

Broadcast Television Missing The Message

Television viewers are complaining about poor coverage of the London Olympics. The television networks are complaining that people are using the internet to get better coverage, by circumventing geo-blocking systems to view coverage from other countries. In the US, NBC is copping plenty of flack for poor and delayed coverage – (delayed to move events […]

The Reverse Nigerian Scam

I just found the most hilarious piece of spam in my filters. Clearly fed up with their “Nigerian Scams” not working as well as they might, it seems we have something I’ve called the “Reverse Nigerian”: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI. Washington DC. Washington d.c room, 7367 J. Edgar hoover fbi building 935 pennsylvania avenue, […]

Media Blame NBN For Everything

The recent Finklestein Independent Media Inquiry delivered recommendations in regards to changes to media governance within Australia, with particular emphasis on media standards and the mechanisms by which those standards are applied. While I don’t wish to get into a discussion with respect to the pros and cons of the report, the general response from […]

Spelling Misfires!

One would think that if a newspaper is going to write a headline critical of the performance of Australia’s 4×100 freestyle swimming team, that one should make sure one doesn’t misspell that headline. Enter, the Herald-Sun: Misile? I’m sure they meant “missile”…right? Misfire.

Why Won’t You Answer The Question Malcolm?

In the midst of an online Twitter “discussion” yesterday between Malcolm Turnbull, the ABC’s Nick Ross and myself, in the midst of which Turnbull accused the ABC of “relentless propaganda” in favour of the National Broadband Network (NBN), I offered Turnbull a number of opportunities to spell out the cost model of his proposed broadband […]

Copyright Holders Don’t Want To Pay The Price

With online piracy a hot topic the world over – (most visible in Australia with what is known as the “iiTrial”) – it has been interesting to watch how different countries around the world are trying to deal with the issue. One common approach seems to be the “three-strikes law” – (such as France’s HADOPI […]