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

photo by Garry'

photo by nosha

photo by Garry'

photo by Brentbat

photo by apdk

photo by Matt-Stewart

photo by claustral

photo by claustral

photo by huntz

photo by *TreMichLan*

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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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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’

Click here to view the embedded video.

2. Speeches

Click here to view the embedded video.

3. Bushisms from David Letterman

Click here to view the embedded video.

4. Ultimate George Bush Collection

Click here to view the embedded video.

5. Behind the Bushisms – The Reason Why George. W. Bush Acted Stupid!

Click here to view the embedded video.

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.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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.

So you know what the Top Ten Apple Commercials Ever are. But do you know what the Top Ten Get a Mac ads are? If your not sure what I’m talking about, I am referring to the “I’m a Mac, and I’m a PC” commercials.

These are a great little set of commercials which have been running for a few years and Apple just keep releasing more of them. They are simple, but yet smartly written and acted. The following ten are my pick of the best, let me know what you think should make the top ten.

10. Goodwill

Even during the holiday season PC can’t get over his hate for the Mac.

Click here to view the embedded video.

9. Better Results

This is quite a funny little ad showing ease of creating great movies on a mac.

Click here to view the embedded video.

8. Out of the Box

Mac and PC emerge to the world, but PC is not quite ready to go. I love this ad for its simplicity in outlining how easy it is to get a mac up and running.

Click here to view the embedded video.

7. Computer Cart

Personally I have always managed to have trouble with my PC’s. Something has always gone wrong. Windows would always die, or have an error. It’s great to not see the Blue Screen of Death on a Mac.

Click here to view the embedded video.

6. Genius

I love the fact this particular ad plays off the advantages of PC. PC is impressed with the Mac Genius because she is just as smart as he is.

Click here to view the embedded video.

5. Security

This is what really annoys me about Vista. Having to accept or deny changes is just ridiculous. Sure it could be useful, but having the box pop up all the time is just crazy. Seriously!

Click here to view the embedded video.

4. Misprint

PC World put out a report saying the fastest machine running Windows was actually a Mac. In this ad PC has taken to trying to talk PC World out of their review because it is against the ‘laws of nature’.

Click here to view the embedded video.

3. Happy New Year

In this ad PC is down because he hasn’t achieved much through 2007, however he has a plan for 2008. I love this ad, I think it is one of the funniest Get a Mac ads around.

Click here to view the embedded video.

2. Sad Song (Long Version)

I think this just sums everything up about Vista and why people are switching to Mac. I love the song, it paints the perfect picture for Apple and the not to perfect picture for Windows users.

Click here to view the embedded video.

1. Bean Counter

This is one of the latest ads from Apple, and I think its fantastic. The idea that Microsoft just throw so much money into advertising but don’t bother to spend it fixing Vista; it’s something most Windows users know about.

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you missed the Top Ten Apple Commercials Ever check them out HERE.

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]]> http://enspri.com/2008/10/23/the-top-ten-apple-get-a-mac-mac-vs-pc-commercials/feed/ 0 http://enspri.com/2008/10/22/the-reason-apple-sold-so-many-macs-in-2008-is-happiness/ http://enspri.com/2008/10/22/the-reason-apple-sold-so-many-macs-in-2008-is-happiness/#comments Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:08:06 +0000 Kristofor Lawson http://enspri.com/?p=319

If your anything like me you just live for statistics. I don’t mean you love to sit there trolling through boring numbers, but I do mean that you love the interesting numbers.

For instance you will know that Apple sold 2,611,000 Macs during Q4 of the 2008 year (9to5Mac). You would also know about Apples 1.14 Billion dollar profit for the same quarter (MacRumors). Both figures are up significantly on last year and sent share prices higher after they were announced. 

I just have one question…. what is driving this growth?? Apple says its due to record Mac and iPhone sales. I however really want to know what is driving people to buy Apple??

Obviously the iPhone is a huge draw-card. Especially with it turning 3g and showing its face in as many countries as it has. However what is driving the Mac sales??

Is it the iMac? Is it the MacBooks? Is it the super slickness of the MacBook Air? What is causing people to buy Apple?

A Possible Answer…

Recently there was a study published in Australia which I think may explain why Mac sales are up.

You see I believe its all to do with happiness. Sure users are not happy with their PC’s and with Vista so their switching to Mac. But its got to be more than that! Is there a physical reason people are switching to Mac??

I think I found it. 

The 2008 Happiness Index is a survey of 8500 Australians and has some interesting findings. 

Australian men prefer to surf the Internet than spend time with their partners or have sex.

I spoke with Seonaid Anderson who is a Director at The Leading Edge who ran the study.

She says that men are much more self indulgent compared to females who are more interested in their families.

“For men, they’re really interested in surfing the Internet, sex and watching sport. So very much a kind of escapism or self-fulfilment. Whereas females are really much more into having a family meal or playing with their pet or playing with their children.”

So there you have it. Men are much more self indulgent. So therefore are physically likely to buy a cool looking mac.

So when you see that Mac which you just have to have, if your a guy your more likely to buy it so you can go about the happy activity of surfing the net. Don’t worry though girls, I think you might be able to justify a spend… after all the Mac’s are great for the family!

If you loved the post don’t forget to send a link to your friends, or Digg this page. You can also stay up to date with Enspri by signing up to our RSS feed. 

Photo credits, flickrich and sean-b

At Queensland University of Technology where I currently am studying Journalism, one of our subjects requires doing some television news production.

Today the first group of students has added their stories. For students work I think that they are reasonably professional. On the whole though they need much more work to bring them to professional quality. One of the girls sounds like she already possesses a broadcast voice, which will serve her well in the future. 

The reason I am taking interest in these stories is that I will have to produce some of these towards the end of October.

My personal interest is in radio broadcasting. Radio has an intense and immediate nature that television does not have. Don’t get me wrong I love TV, but TV needs pictures. If something major happens with radio you can be on the airwaves in seconds. Television requires you to wait until you have something to show. This can be hours later!

Anyway, if you would like to check out the QUT NEWS productions check here!

Ok so plenty of people have been watching the video I posted the other day on the NYC Bicycle Drag Race. Now comes London’s turn!

After the Olympics the Brittish think they own everything cycling. While I am an Aussie and generally think Australia is the best country. I am more than happy to say that the British have nothing on the NYC Bicycle Drag Race. Seriously… They call that traffic!

Check it out.

Click here to view the embedded video.

]]> http://enspri.com/2008/09/10/london-tries-its-hand-at-the-bicycle-drag-race-have-nothing-on-nyc/feed/ 0 http://enspri.com/2008/09/04/new-york-city-bicycle-drag-race-are-these-guys-crazy/ http://enspri.com/2008/09/04/new-york-city-bicycle-drag-race-are-these-guys-crazy/#comments Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:21:16 +0000 Kristofor Lawson http://enspri.com/?p=199

If you have ever cycled to work you may have had to deal with some traffic. Here is a video I found. These guys are either really silly, or highly skilled cyclists who have no where else to ride. Take your pick but it makes for exciting viewing.

(Dont try this at home)

Click here to view the embedded video.

What do you do with all those old PlayStation consoles you have lying around? Well one company decided to finally put their PlayStation’s to good use… as a chair.

Brittish company Pli Design has announced their new offering of chairs which are made from Recycled computer games consoles.

The chairs contain 2.4kg of plastic which has been recycled from just one source. Most recycled products currently draw on several product sources. The Reee Chair (yes thats the name) contains only one source of plastic. PlayStation Consoles!

Sony had obviously been wondering what to do with all their spare PlayStation 2 consoles… seeing no one purchased any.. and has allowed Pli Design to launch the chair at Sony Entertainment Europe on the 10th of this month.

What do you know…. the PlayStation finally has turned Green!

[via ITwire]