pingudownunder.com

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Today Americans go to the polls to vote in a new president.

Now it is a completely fair call to hear comments from Americans such as Who cares? Its our president we’re voting for, not yours. However, for better or for worse, the United States pretty much the only superpower left since the end of the Cold War.

By basically ignoring the will of the United Nations (who unfortunately are good at talking, but not at action), the USA pretty much sets the agenda for the world. For whatever reason, we all suffer when the US decides to set that agenda -whether its illegal wars in the Middle East, or dodgy economic practices and fraudulent activites in the financial sector, or blatantly ignoring the issues of global warming and the destruction of the natural environment; we all collectively have to suffer for the actions of their elected government. America sneezes, the rest of the world catches the ‘flu.

So … three Icelandic guys came up with a thought experiement. Today anyone can vote at iftheworldcouldvote.com. And it is very interesting the results so far. Wether this is a result of media portrayal (unlikely - given most global media outlets are not biased like the US ones are) or by a global disenchantment with the US Administration (which reflects on peoples views about the US in general), i don’t know. But as of the time of writing, and evene acknowledging that the result isn’t totally scientific, 97% of the world wants Obama to be the next president. Time for change.

I believe the world should wake up. The past eight years of a single country’s administration ignoring world opinion on a variety of issues and taking unilateral action. The United Nations needs to get more teeth, or at least another superpower to provide a balance. China in particular could become that superpower, but I personally don’t agree with the communist ideals. Russia seems to be going backwards into the cold war scenario under its current leadership (even if he is no longer the president).

I believe that if Europe could get its act together, stop the internal bickering, put the past in the past (the UK and France are the guilty parties here - move on!) and speak with a common voice, it would be the ideal counterbalance to keep the US in check. And hopefully, we don’t have to suffer the past eight years of agony again.

written by Simon Harvey \\ tags: opinion, politics, uselection

(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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A Pommy “journalist” recently published an article about an alleged Googlebombing of British MP Hazel Blears without doing her research and understanding the technical facts behind the “internet craze”.

Of course, the Internet community has sought to help her understand the context and to correct a such an evil accusation as well as reprimand her for not correctly crediting the author of the image in her article. In a mature manner, of course.

Whilst I normally wouldn’t bother with this kind of thing, look at the other cra… erm …rubbish she has wriiten in works of fiction like The Sun and The Daily Mail over the years. Particularly this shocker about “nazi racoons” invading mother England.

So, just for you Julie, with credit due to Daniel Hoffman-Gill (as I can’t be fussed capping my own lolracoon):

What a tw@.

written by Simon Harvey \\ tags: blogging, daft, evil, funny, google, julie moult, lolcats, media, racist, shame, twat

(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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A colleague of mine at work started blogging again last weekend, highlighting a very good point that if 2-Factor Authentication is being offered to online gaming players, they why the hell are there still governments and financial institutions across the world that still rely on basic UserID and Password authentication to their online services?

Although an interesting debate, I’m not going to go into a rant about this today. What has caught my eye though as an article in todays Australian IT highlighting that a survey reveals that the majority of Australian Organisations are confident in the security of their IT systems, have rarely had that tested and can withstand all types of attacks.

Although I would like to see the details of the survey, this statement scares me. The article describes how:

[…] organisations have reached a level of comfort with security, as most internal security projects have been completed.

Continue reading »

written by Simon Harvey \\ tags: compliance, governance, grc, infosec, marketing, organisational, risk

(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Going through Digg this evening, I came across this article in the Pommie Times that resonated with me, particularly for the past two or three years. I’ve only just turned 30, but apparently I am a SPURMO - a Single, Proud, UnmarRied Man Over Thirty.

For proof, check out the self-test: Continue reading »

written by Simon Harvey \\ tags: spurmo

(5 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Most of you will know that I have recently moved away from my beloved Queensland out west, to work for a pommie-based banking group out of Western Austraia. Although I’m trying my best, i still don’t get or understand AFL, but am pleasently suprised that they play real rugby (i.e. Union) out here.

On the topic of rugby, albeit League, soon it will be time for State of Origin, where Queensland will most likely whip NSW yet again for the third year in a row. Of course, who can forget our glorious victories at Lang Park, as well as in Sydney, over the past two years.

Even more, for our cockroach friends south of the border, due to our elite sporting (and possibly drinking) prowess we still keep our initial takeover offer (mirror) open. But do hurry, the tide of Victorians still keeps moving North, and we do need your help to keep AFL away from the state (even though we got rid of the Kangaroos) - and don’t forget, they’re going for West Sydney too …

written by Simon Harvey \\ tags: australia, culture, new south wales, queensland, rugby league, state of origin