Battle of the Blogotariats

In the dying last quarter of 2011 that terrific Australian blog aggregate site, Blogotariat, decided to change its format and content and I’ve been groaning ever since.

Now before you rightly mutter than I’m a geriatric blogger who dislikes change which challenges my ability to read or negotiate a website easily, I have to say I’m not alone in my groaning – Maud up the Street is fair choleric over its metamorphosis into Punch & HuffPo Downunder (or any combination of the commercial media-owned ‘blogs’ you like to name) and she is not the only one.

But never fear, for those who liked the old Blogotariat (which actually promoted Aussie blogs) there is still hope of ol’ Bloggo goodness being read here.

Whale Wars 2012: Forest Rescue boards Japanese vessel Shonan Maru 2 off West Australia coast

Approximate position of Shonan Maru 2 on January 5, 2011
MarineTraffic.com
Click on map to enlarge

Statement from Forest Rescue on January 7, 2011

We have come from the forests of Australia to defend the whales being slaughtered in Australian territorial waters.

We are Australian citizens and we have boarded the Japanese flagged Shonan Maru #2 in Australian territorial waters at a position of (32 degrees zero minutes south and 115 degrees 21 minutes east) We have taken this action of boarding the Shonan Maru #2 to protest the fact that this vessel is part of a whaling fleet that is operating in contempt of the Australian Court and is in Australian waters in defiance of the Australian Federal court ruling and the will of the Australian people.

“We are onboard this ship because our government has failed to uphold its pre-election promise to end whaling in the Southern Ocean.” Said Simon Peterffy.

Forest Rescue has decided to take action to prevent the Shonan Maru #2 from tailing the Steve Irwin back to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Forest Rescue is making a stand to assist Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in their campaign to end illegal whale poaching in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

We are taking this action to remind the Australian government of their obligation to enforce existing laws pertaining to the prohibition of whaling ships in our waters.

We as Forest Rescue are insulted and disappointed in our government for allowing the transit of whale poaching vessels in Australian waters.

Forest Rescue Contact: Michael Montgomery 0451058005

Forest Rescue Media Contact: Amy Flee 0428048632

File photo of the Shonan Maru 2 from Sea Shepherd archives

Watching the watchers watching NSW North Coast concerned citizen groups

It would appear that the Australian Federal Attorney-General Nicola Roxon (like her predecessor) is rather interested in protests which may be occurring around Australia.

Of course that also means that from time to time she is interested in concerned citizens living on the NSW North Coast.

Particularly those who organize and/or attend community meetings, rallies, protest events concerning water and food security - eg. keeping the Clarence River system undiverted and unpolluted, stopping hazardous mining in the upper reaches of the Nymboida River, protecting agricultural land from the negative impacts of coal seam gas mining, saving remnant rainforest and koala habitat from being destoyed by urban or industrial development.

Her department has employed a private surveillance company National Open Source Intelligence G  aka Global Edge Group Pty Ltd or National Open Source Intelligence Centre since 2007 and its current contract (worth est. $16,500 annually) is in effect until 20 June 2012.

This Victorian-based group, allegedly jointly owned by Jody and Amanda Lambden, specializes in the provision of protective security intelligence and actively monitors the Internet, television, radio and print media for its clients. In the case of the Attorney-General’s Department it will supply protest alerts.

Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson, who requested the additional surveillance, has been prompted by energy company lobbying to urge stronger criminal penalties against protests that disrupt critical energy

On its Australian website it states:

NOSIC seeks to identify and provide both information and intelligence on upcoming events in Australia and abroad that require consideration of a visual police presence or implementation of protective security measures.

NOSIC also provide tactical intelligence support in response to spontaneous events and incidents where knowledge of issues can be of use to decision makers to neutralise or minimise disruption.

In 2006-2008 the company had a rather more expensive contract with the Australian Federal Police to monitor the internet communications and websites of anti-war campaigners, environmentalists, animal rights activists and other protest groups.

According to The Age on 7 December 2012:

NOSIC also provides services relating to specific events. These include a $15,400 contract with the AFP for "information services" between October 24 and November 17 last year ....

When monitoring cyberspace it appears to use Queensland-based servers in IP ranges 202.125.32.0 - 202.125.47.255 and 202.148.128.0 - 202.148.159.255.

The group's headquarters is said to be in this residential block in Hewish Street, Croydon, Vic:

* Images from Google Images and The Age

That's it! Kraft's off the menu on Australia Day

At first I thought April Fool’s Day had come early this year, then I remembered that we’re talking about Kraft here.

The company that wants to celebrate Australia Day by defacing an Aussie icon in the lead up to 26^th January 2012.

“VEGEMITE is taking its national iconic status to a whole new level - it's changing its name to "Australia".

Why stop there? How about giving the Eureka Flag a design makeover, rechristening Ned Kelly, banning Sunday barbies and dyeing tap beer pink for the rest of the month?

Drongos!

Internet security on the home computer in 2012

With The Daily Examiner newspaper’s website triggering so many PC threat alerts for a couple of days this week and with a growing number of people on the NSW North Coast now reading much of their daily news online – perhaps it’s time to refresh our memories concerning Internet security:

McAffee 2012 Threat Predictions

Cisco 2011 Annual Security Report

Sophos Security Threat Report 2011  

Classic Aussie Blackboard Advertising

Courtesy of Aunty ABC

Google Maps: Going to Whoop Whoop via Wollongong anyone?

Alerted on 3rd January by @R_Chirgwin Google Maps has to be taking the piss this time: http://t.co/yEZKWRqz, it became obvious that Goggle Maps was having a bit of a 2012 breakdown.

By 6th January the Pacific Highway had virtually disappeared as a desired route to anyway along the NSW east coast:

According to ABC North Coast News:

Drivers travelling between Sydney and the Queensland border are being steered inland.

A Google Maps request for directions between Sydney and Byron Bay recommends an inland route through Armidale and Tenterfield, rather than the more direct Pacific Highway trip.

Transport Management Centre spokesman David Wright says he is aware of the problem.

"The issue we're experiencing is due to a third-party map provider which does have some routing issues at the moment," he says.