Twitter Is Getting A New Layout - And I Have Pics!
Well I opened up my twitter account two days ago and I realised it was different. The thing I did not realise is that it had not changed for everyone until Techcrunch posted an article HERE about the new layout. The big difference is how the search is on the right side column, plus the trending topics are also shown. The menu has also changed, and now updates are found under the @kristoforlawson rather then ‘updates’.
Here are some pics!
You will initially notice the difference with the right-hand column. The links are different sizes, there is a search bar, and a list of tending topics.
When you do use the search feature results are also shown in the twitter main layout, and are shown in REAL TIME!! This is much better then the previous search function.
The best feature is that the updates page which is now listed under @username e.g @kristoforlawson shows all the updates mentioning your username. This is fantastic because Twitter now picks up Re-tweets in the list which it didn’t before. Previously it would only show updates directed at you. This now makes the updates page much easier to use and more in-line with other twitter clients.
Take a look and let me know if yours has changed in the past few days??
Also If you loved the post please Stumble It or Digg It, and don’t forget to stay up to date with Enspri by signing up to our RSS feed, you can also follow me on Twitter @kristoforlawson.
The Fight From Within: A Small Papers Dream To Stay Alive Is Over
Journalists from all over the world know the impact which the current economy is having on local papers. Even without the credit crisis, newspapers have been struggling in an endless battle with online news and social media. Publications which have been institutions in their communities have been shutting down left, right and centre. Major newspapers like the New York Times are even becoming at risk of closure if they don’t start to increase revenue.
When any newspaper shuts down its a sad event, however even more so for the readership of the Rocky Mountain News. The Rocky Mountain News shut its doors on Friday after 149 years and 311 days! Just 44 days shy of it’s 150 year anniversary! This is a great loss for Denver, and for the journalism industry as a whole. Many news sources including online blogs have voiced their sadness at this loss.
However the Rocky Mountain News did not go down without a fight. The staff did everything they could to prevent the closure. Check out this very moving video which details the final days in the lead-up to the closure.
Final Edition from Matthew Roberts on Vimeo.
Images of Australia - 12 Amazing Pictures
What better tribute to Australia Day then to check out some of the amazing images which have been taken in this country. I hope you will find them as amazing as I have.
photo by Gary Hayes
photo by koumarou973
2009 Australian Of The Year Awards - Australians Who Inspire The World!
It’s that time of year again! It’s the time when Australians get together and celebrate all that’s good about our fantastic country. Most of us celebrate by throwing some snags on the barbie, and watching a bit of Cricket or catching the Tennis action of the Australian Open. However Australia Day for many people means so much more.
Many people choose Australia Day to become Australian Citizens. They choose to make themselves part of this fantastic country. Celebrations happen all around the country to celebrate. It is a truly special moment for all involved. If you ever have the privilege to attend one of these events it is well worth the effort.
Australia Day is also the time where we celebrate some of the most inspirational people you will ever meet. These people generally have done whatever they can to make a difference in the world. They have done whatever they can to bring about change. They range from educated professors, to scientists, to human rights advocates, to sports personalities, to elderly people who have dedicated their life to their careers, to the young Australians who are just starting out. The Australian Of The Year Awards not only celebrate everything that Australia stands for but they celebrate people who are really changing the world!
Here are a few of those people!
2009 Australian Of The Year - Professor Michael Dodson AM
Professor Dodson is an Aboriginal Leader and proud Australian who has played a significant part in the push for equal rights for indigenous people. He played a key role in pushing for the Australian Government to say sorry to the stolen generation in 2008. Professor Dodson serves as Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia, and has worked in roles for numerous organisations including the UN. Professor Dodson is a brilliant but yet humble Australian and represents all the values which Australians believe in. He is a very worth recipient of the highest award offered on Australia Day.
Find Out More About Michael Dodson HERE!
2009 Senior Australian Of The Year - Pat LaManna OAM
The Italian born Pat LaManna moved to Australia in 1948 and suffered years of racism and financial trouble before he found his calling as an entrepreneur. However Pat LaManna did not ever forget his background and used his skills to benefit many charities and organisations. He founded the highest fundraising Lions club in Australia, The Lions Club of the Melbourne Markets in 1972 and has been elected president of the club seven times. Pat LaManna has also raised significant amounts of money (over $1.5 Million) though the Pat LaManna Cancer and Research Stroke Foundation. Pat LaManna is certainly an extraordinary Australian and worthy receiver of this award.
You can find out more about Pat LaManna HERE!
2009 Young Australian Of The Year - Jonty Bush
29 year old Jonty Bush has already experienced terrible tragedies in her young life. While she was 21 her sister was murdered. Not only did that cause immense sadness and grief but just 5 months later her father was killed in an unprovoked attack. Most people would take a long time to recover, however Jonty decided to volunteer for the Queensland Homicide Victim’s Support Group and help others through their time of need. From her excellent work as a volunteer Jonty was made CEO by the age of 27. Jonty has also been a campaigner to prevent further tragedy by starting the One Punch Can Kill campaign. The campaign has been so successful that the Queensland Government has taken it on in an attempt to prevent further deaths. Jonty is no doubt a worthy recipient of the Young Australian Of The Year award and is certainly an inspiration for all other who have gone through any kind of tragedy.
You can find out more about Jonty Bush HERE!
2009 Australia’s Local Hero - Graeme Drew
Graeme Drew is a professional fisherman living in Bremer Bay, Western Australia. Graeme has played a significant role in making the oceans off Western Australia safer. He is involved with Sea Rescue and founded the Bremer Bay SES. He has been known to always help out in times of need, often at the sacrifice of personal time and money in the search for missing people and vessels out on the water. Graeme started a trust to help with ocean safety in honour of his nephew, who was swept out to sea by a rip and died in 2003. Graeme Drew is a true Local Hero and worth recipient of this award.
You can find out more about Graeme Drew HERE!
Congratulations to all the recipients! You are all truly inspirational and deserving of your awards.
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Taking It To The Big Guys - SmashLAB’s Open Letter To Discovery
Remember SmashLAB? They’re the Canadian design guys who are behind the new social media site MakeFive. Well it appears that Discovery has created a TV show with the same name and really annoyed them.
Normally this would just frustrate a business owner and leave them helpless. (I know this for a fact as I had the name of this website stolen from me by a Collagen Company with not many options available to me.) However when you add it to the fact that Discovery’s Smash Lab has received plenty of Negative PR and the fact that SmashLAB has been around since 2000, (well before the Discovery show), you can start to understand the potential issues here.
The great thing is though that smashLAB is not sitting around doing nothing. They are standing up for their name! They have written an open letter to Discovery and posted it on Smash Lab Sucks (http://www.smashlabsucks.com/).
I really admire what these guys are doing. They deserve to have an open apology from Discovery!
If you want to support the guys in their effort against Discovery head to Smash Lab Sucks and Digg It or stumble it. You can also follow along on their twitter account @smashlabsucks.
UPDATE: It now seems that TechCrunch has got into the action. Check out their article here.
If Discovery would like to respond to the comments made of them they can contact me by emailing blog at enspri dot com.
Also If you loved the post please Stumble It or Digg It, and don’t forget to stay up to date with Enspri by signing up to our RSS feed, you can also follow me on Twitter @kristoforlawson.
Top 5 Videos on George Bush! - This Is Why Change Is About To Come!
So you have spent all your Christmas holidays listening to all the talk about Barack Obama taking over as the most powerful man alive. In fact, you have probably been swept up with all the hype. I know I have.
If you are an American this should be a truly proud moment for you. Your country is taking the next step towards equality. Your country has finally chosen to move forward. However it would be wrong to celebrate change without remembering the reason you needed change. George. W. Bush.
Here are my Top 5 videos which will demonstrate the reason change is needed in America.
1. 8 Years Of ‘Bushisms’
2. Speeches
3. Bushisms from David Letterman
4. Ultimate George Bush Collection
5. Behind the Bushisms - The Reason Why George. W. Bush Acted Stupid!
After 8 years of Bush, America finally choose to say ‘Yes We Can’, and although I am an Australian I still find it incredibly powerful. Here is a reminder of your next President.
Also If you loved the post please Stumble It or Digg It, and don’t forget to stay up to date with Enspri by signing up to our RSS feed, you can also follow me on Twitter.
Apple Hiring For New Retail Stores In Brisbane, Melbourne, And Gold Coast
As of today it appears that Apple Australia have started hiring staff for new stores to be in Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. 
Now I am not just talking about the little ‘fake’ stores in Myers. Apple have started hiring for all major staff positions on Seek.com.au for stores in Brisbane, Melbourne, and on the Gold Coast. While these could be for an expanded Myer store experience, it appears that these would be in their normal retail stores. These are positions such as the Apple Genius which you don’t see in the little areas in Myer. The Melbourne positions are at a new Doncaster Store, and the Gold Coast store will be at Robina, however there is no word on where the Brisbane store will be.
The possibly new stores would be in addition to Apple’s two Sydney stores which were opened earlier in the year.
If you want to check out the jobs on offer head HERE.
UPDATE: It appears that Apple has listed a Brisbane position on Seek but there is no Brisbane position on their website…. strange…
Weekly Rant: Where has Kristofor gone… and what Telstra should do about it
The Weekly Rant is a new weekly story based around an issue which I have had in the past week and what I think should be done about it.
So you haven’t seen a post for a week and I bet your wondering where’s Kristofor gotten to??
While I have been trying to keep up the posting rate over the past few months, this past week it seems that we have exceeded our internet usage for the month. In fact I wont really be able to post much until Friday! Generally that does not happen, in fact I am not sure why we have gone over the limit. We are on the biggest hosting plan Telstra offers. Bigpond Broadband Hi Speed Cable with 60GB download.
So far it’s been great, however when you exceed 60GB Telstra charges 15cents per extra MB!
Now call me crazy but that just can’t be fair! When purchasing the top plan I expect some sort of service without these added costs if I go over my limit. Why does Telstra not just shape their internet plans when you exceed the limit on the top account? They really should just shape the plans down to 64k speed so we don’t receive extra charges in excess of $100 for overuse. It is a complete money grabbing scheme which fails to look after Telstra’s serious clients.
Just because you have the biggest network in Australia doesn’t mean you should have this disregard for your customers.
What should Telstra do about it?
Telstra needs to start offering some really competitive internet plans. They need to get over their positon as the Giant in the pond, and start listening to their customers! Start being competitive already!!
If they want to prevent overusage, then they need to start shaping the usage when you exceed your limit. I would be more then happy for them to do this. At least then I could get online and do some blogging!
While your at it Telstra, perhaps you could start offering decent prices, and downloads for your Next G Wireless coverage! You might also want to stop offering some of the worst iPhone plans in the world!
Why Twitter Can’t Yet Play With The Big Boys
If you have spent any time on Twitter you may on occasion get a ‘fail whale’ overload screen…. this is the very reason why Twitter cannot yet match it with the big tech companies.
Twitter is becoming an ever popular site of late. Barack Obama used it to aide his presidential campaign with great success. I have been using Twitter actively for the past few weeks (@kristoforlawson). It is a great site filled with many active users. However this popularity may well be Twitter’s big downfall.
What is the problem?
Suffering under huge strain from the number of people using it, Twitter often displays images of a ‘fail whale’ telling Twitterers that it is over capacity. Now for many people this might not seem like a huge issue, after all the site is back live generally within seconds, but for the success of a site like Twitter this creates a potentially massive problem. Read the rest of this entry »
If You Were A Crayon What Colour Would You Be??
Have you ever thought about what colour you would be if you were a crayon??
I was listening to the radio yesterday as they were running through some questions that people wanted to ask Andrew Denton (if you don’t know who he is, he is Australia’s answer to Sir Michael Parkinson). Now there were some very cool and interesting questions, however one which Denton mentioned specifically was “If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?”. In fact Denton said that it just blew his mind.
Now on first thought I figured, sure, as if that was a question that would be mind blowing. It’s such a simple question. However upon reflection it is not actually one which is so easy to answer.
My initial thought was I would be Red because that’s my favourite colour…. but there is so many more dimensions to the question.
Is choosing your favourite colour really the best choice?
It would be easy for me to answer the question with Orange as being my favourite colour.. however is that the right choice? Is the question much deeper than that? Read the rest of this entry »
