topicalhuman.com

I am trying to insert a photograph here.

My internet has been down for the last 9 days. This is why I haven’t posted anything in that time. I realise just how much I totally rely on the internet now! Anyway, Optus finally (after 7 days) sent us the equipment we had ordered and required, and I got it working today. Their tech staff were very friendly, but I’m disappointed it took 7 days after the provision of the new service (ADSL2),  or about 3 weeks after the order was given, to get us the equipment we’ve ordered and needed.

I just received an email from Griffith Uni (where I’ve been known to attend a couple of courses) advising me about iOrpheus. As with the Howard Arkley exhibition mentioned below, I won’t be here. Doh!

Nonetheless, I’m fascinated by the premise of an interactive, hi-tech public opera (or musical performance of any kind). Apparently there are ways for the public to be involved making sounds with their mobile phones and iPods. I haven’t delved too deeply, but it looks pretty cool! Check it out, and if you do, leave a comment so I know how it went down.

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Now playing: The Slackers - Crazy
via FoxyTunes

How can he pushers of DRM honestly expect people to suck up their crap? This story of getting seriously inconvenienced by Google Video’s DRM terms is utterly ridiculous!

And by the way, so much for not being evil, Larry and Sergey…

[Update 23/08/07] Google have offered a better arrangement to fix this problem. It still doesn’t change the fact that DRM sucks, though.

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Now playing: Custard - Nice Bird
via FoxyTunes

I just saw this post from Joe Wikert, where he points out it is annoying and frequently unproductive to post only a portion of your syndicated post in the RSS feed. Joe says:

But what really irks me though is the way the blog is handling the RSS feed. I can’t stand blogs that don’t offer full content RSS feeds. If you’re only publishing a headline or teaser and expect me to come to your site, forget it. Life’s too short to keep up on all my RSS feeds and try to visit your site along the way.

Feeds from sites like Treehugger, and the Fairfax Media are a pain in the neck, because I have to visit their site, and not just read the whole story in my RSS reader. Sites like Cheeseburger Brown are cool, because the whole (and often lengthy) post can be viewed from my preferred RSS reader (currently Bloglines).

I’d be interested if anyone had the opposite view, and their reasons for thinking that way.

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Now playing: Darren Hanlon - Elbows
via FoxyTunes

Just a test post here, checking if FoxyTunes/SignaTunes is working the way I want it to…

Looks okay so far…

[Update] Yes, it works, and was super easy to set up (at least it was with Wordpress).

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Now playing: Darren Hanlon - Falling Aeroplanes
via FoxyTunes

Podcasting Tips.

SellingPower.com

LifeHacker.com (and article on Bonsai).

We’ve had an issue overnight with up a client who is transitioning from Microsoft Small Business Server to the ‘full’ versions of Micrsosoft Server and Exchange, using the Microsoft Transition Pack. Now, to put this into context, the client is correctly licensed, and the Transition pack has been purchased to legally give them the license for the ‘full’ products.

However, when we installed the Transition pack it came up with an product activation screen, with a blank installation ID in Step 3. As a result we cannot proceed and cannot log on to the server. Upon speaking to Microsoft Support, they want to charge us $400 to help resolve the issue.

Now, if we’ve done something wrong, we’re happy to pay up, although we believe we’ve followed the correct procedure. If we’ve done nothing wrong, and the client has been properly licensed, I don’t see why we should be made to pay to fix an issue that is a product fault.

So, I’m asking for help from anyone who reads this, with a particular shout-out to those who I know may have some idea how to resolve this: Michael, Frank, Ben, mssmallbiz.

[Update] If anyone can offer any advice, please either leave a comment, or shoot me an email at stephenh {at} centra {dot} com {dot} au. Thanks!

[Update #2] Matthew (my esteemed Technical Director) has managed to get hold of a helpful Microsoft Support person, and will be uninstalling SP1 from the Server component via the Transition Pack console. Hopefully this works fine; we’ve been assured that it will do the trick. However, any ideas or thoughts are still welcome. Thanks to those who have already emailed with suggestions.

Doc Searls has a great post on the ongoing spreading of Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD) regarding Net Neutrality. Check it out.

Just came across this, about the forthcoming Microsoft Home Server. Looks very cool. Just unwrapped at CES in Vegas, but not shipping yet (knowing Microsoft it will take another 18 months!).

This is pretty darn cool if you’re into home computing & electronic gadgetry.