Category: News

After the revelations by Edward Snowden in 2013, most people seemed to be up in arms about the extent the NSA keeps an eye on everyone around the world.

Interestingly the outrage did not seem to last long. Internet users still seem to trust Google to handle all their data. Also, the fallacious claim, if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to worry about, was shouted at those who were concerned about their privacy.

Services and software that offer good encryption when communicating online has existed for a while, but they have either been a bit too obscure or a bit daunting for non-savvy computer users.

Now that most people either have an iPhone or an Android phone there is a higher expectation that apps should be easy to use by anyone — even apps that offer to protect your privacy.

Keep in mind, nothing is and can be 100% secure. But the more difficult you make it for someone to eavesdrop on your communication, the better.

Wickr
The company claims to offer the user military-grade encryption of text, picture, audio and video messages — where encrypted messages are not stored on their servers. When sending a message to someone the sender decides for how long the message can be available to the receiver after it has been read.

Wickr’s cofounder Nico Sell even turned down FBI’s casual request to allow them access. Showing they are dedicated to protect your privacy.

It is available for both iOS and Android.

Confide
This app has recently been released and gotten a lot of attention. It has a different approach to how you read your messages, where you have to reveal the message by swiping your finger across each word. After you have read it, the message is then deleted.

For now it is only available for iOS, but they seem to be working on an Android app.

Both of these apps seem to do what they promise, but what might still worry some is that they are based in USA. Which means the company and their servers are subject to US legislation.

This is why Hemlis might be a better option, when it is released, as they intend to host their servers in Iceland.

Hemlis
One of the cofounders of this app is Peter Sunder, whom is also the cofounder of The Pirate Bay and Flattr.

They have not said when it will be released, but given the background of those behind it and, as stated, it will without a doubt become very popular. Especially if they stick to the promise to host their servers in Iceland, where privacy laws are very strong.

When it is released it will be available for both iOS and Android.

Before you think these apps are only for those whom are paranoid or deal with sensitive information, take some time to look at how you communicate with colleagues, friends and family when talking about a sensitive topic.

Using apps like these is no different from when you look over your shoulder, lean in towards someone and quietly tell them something you want to be kept secret.

The only difference is that when communicating digitally it is much harder to notice if someone is eavesdropping on your private conversation.

Over to you, the reader, what do you use to keep our communication private?

Queensland Arts Minister Ian Walker has congratulated Queensland Indigenous artist Danie Mellor on his international success, with the National Gallery of Canada purchasing a major work.

Mr Walker said the Gallery’s purchase of Mr Mellor’s triptych Maba-I-Bala Rugu (of Power in Darkness) showed the benefits of the Newman Government’s arts programs.

“Danie Mellor, born in Mackay, is an artist whose star is on the rise,” Mr Walker said.

“The Newman Government provided $25,000 to support Mr Mellor to show his work in the Berlin Art Fair in September 2013, where he appeared alongside fellow Queensland artists Brian Robinson and Christian Thompson.

“The showcase attracted international attention and led to the purchase from the National Gallery of Canada.

“Queenslanders can see Danie Mellor’s work on home turf with the exhibition Danie Mellor: Exotic Lies Sacred Ties, now on display until 27 April at the UQ Art Museum in Brisbane.

“The State Government is committed to the arts sector and we are delivering on our election commitment to give more Queenslanders access to the arts.

“The success of Danie Mellor also shows the benefits of the Backing Indigenous Arts International Arts Initiative.”

Mr Walker said Danie Mellor’s work is in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia, the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) and private collections nationally and overseas.

UQ Art Museum Director Dr Campbell Gray said Mr Mellor worked in media including ceramics, drawing and mixed media installation, with an eye to Australia’s colonial past.

“Mr Mellor came to national prominence when he won the 26th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award in 2009 and his work has continued to demand attention for compelling images of this country’s shared history,” Dr Gray said.

Mr Walker said the Backing Indigenous Arts International Arts Partnership Program, delivered by Arts Queensland, helps to build a sustainable and ethical arts industry, taking the unique art of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to the world.

For more information on Danie Mellor: Exotic Lies Sacred Ties go to http://www.artmuseum.uq.edu.au/current-exhibitions

Hi there folks, the Ruddster Anthony Ackroyd here.

I’m the Bullet Train for Australia candidate in the Griffith by-election.

I’ll be your new member of parliament once you great people vote for me on Feb 8.

Along with putting Australia’s first comedian into Canberra (excluding the current clowns), you will also get a brand new Bullet Train that takes you to Gold Coast and Sunshine coast in just 15 minutes!

Griffith has a great story. The Story Bridge. But the story doesn’t end there. We have 8 great bridges in Griffith: the Go Between, Goodwill, Kurilpa, Victoria, Grey Street, Pacific motorway, and railway bridges. And we’ve also got a tunnel called Clem.

But, my good peeps, something is missing – we don’t have a bridge to the future. We’re missing out.

We’re being ripped off by the boring parties and their ‘time warp’ approach to nation building.

That’s why we need to build the Bullet Train for Australia. And that’s why YOU need to vote for ME, your good old buddy the Ruddster – Anthony Ackroyd.

A Bullet Train for Australia will be our greatest infrastructure project ever. It will mean fast travel times to the beach, and interstate; over 100,000 new jobs, and less aircraft noise over your house.

You can sleep easy knowing that there will be fewer planes in the air, less cars on the road, and less pollution in the air as we start travelling in 350+ km/h Bullet Trains.

Who do you know? Who do you trust? Who do you really want to represent you?

Not the big party politicians. That just means more of the same rubbish and lies.

I’m the man for you, and you’re the people for me, and I won’t go seeing other electorates on the side like some ‘local’ members. I’m committed to Griffithites – this is no casual affair for me.

So let’s you and I consummate on Feb 8. Griffith needs more than a stock standard, puffed up politician to represent them in Canberra – Griffith needs a man with style, flair, wit, killer gags and a Thank you in advance for delivering me a glorious victory.

All aboard for an exciting future!
The Ruddster – Anthony Ackroyd

See other candidate statements on the Westender

Its chai teas and haloumi platters have enthralled the likes of Geoffrey Rush and Vanessa Redgrave and there aren’t many who can resist the lure of the ever bounteous cake cabinet.  Now, after 18 years in the game and more than a few flat whites to his name, Three Monkeys owner Ralph Stamos has decided to retire from his post.

It’s hard to believe now but at the time, The Three Monkeys was one of only two coffee shops in West End.

Stamos bought the shop with son Jordan in 1995, extending it from a boarding house and small cafe into a multi-room eatery with a popular suntrap courtyard. “We saw it on the Saturday and we bought it on Tuesday. I could really see a lot of potential,’ explains Stamos. ‘When we bought the shop, what’s now the Turkish Room was only a garage and the courtyard was only a very small area. We opened the whole courtyard up to the back wall and started doing renovations to the deck. Before, the place could only hold about 95 people and now it fits 180.”

The full interview with Ralph will feature in February’s print edition.

Look out for it on the street.

State Library has been transformed into an explosion of colour for new exhibition Our Dreaming: animating country.

Large scale projections, three-dimensional art installations, augmented reality, hands-on activities and a wide range of animated films combine in the exhibition, which showcases stories from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Acting State Librarian Prashant Pandey says the exhibition carries a message about the importance of storytelling and the role of new technologies in continuing this tradition.

“State Library is dedicated to preserving Queensland’s diverse stories. Our Dreaming: animating country explores how new technologies have contemporised traditional storytelling, preserving these stories for future generations.”

Mr Pandey said that visitors are encouraged to leave their mark on the exhibition by way of interactive activities.

“There are opportunities for both the young and the young at heart to draw inspiration from the exhibition, bring their own stories to life and add them to the space for other visitors to discover.”

Our Dreaming: animating country takes place throughout the library until 9 June, with three exhibition spaces to explore.

SLQ Gallery has been transformed into a neon wonderland showcasing 18 animations from The Dreaming series by Aboriginal Nations Australia (ANA). The award-winning animation series is used widely as a teaching resource in Australian educational curricula. This is the first time the series has been featured in an exhibition in Australia.

Philip Bacon Heritage Gallery has been transformed into an animation studio, offering a behind the scenes glimpse of how animation artwork is created and providing an opportunity for visitors to try their hand at stop-motion and traditional two-dimensional animation.

Our Dreaming: animating country in the kuril dhagun space tells Indigenous stories through Indigenous voices. Featured are nine digital storytelling projects that have been carried out in recent years in Indigenous communities. The resulting films present a collection of retold traditional stories, new urban legends, and personal stories about country.

“Our Dreaming: animating country is a celebration. It celebrates the vibrancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, the power of animation as a storytelling medium, and each person’s own unique story which we hope they will share with us,” said Mr Pandey.

Our Dreaming: animating country runs until 9 June 2014. For more information on the full program, visit slq.qld.gov.au.

45,000 people in seat of Griffith have solar, thanks to Renewable Energy Target.

Analysis released today by the Australian Solar Council shows over 45,000 residents in the electorate of Griffith have solar PV or solar hot water systems on their homes.

“This analysis confirms the importance of the Renewable Energy Target to the people of Griffith, who will be electing their new federal MP on 8 February”, said John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Australian Solar Council.

“There are tens of thousands more considering getting solar PV or hot water right now and they would be horrified to hear the Federal Government is considering radically changing the Renewable Energy Target.”

“Those other Griffith voters are entitled to invest their own funds to get the same power savings benefits as the existing 45,000 people in Griffith who already have installed solar.”

“The Renewable Energy Target works. It helps Australians reduce their power bills by installing solar, and in the future will help build big solar plants throughout the Sunshine State.”

“The Renewable Energy Target has also helped create an important new industry, with more than 18,000 Australians working in the solar industry. Given the size of the Griffith market, it’s likely that a hundred or more people in Griffith work in the solar industry.”

“Make no mistake – if the Renewable Energy Target is abolished, there will be massive job losses and hundreds of thousands of Queenslanders will miss out on the chance to reduce their power bills.”

“The Australian Solar Council calls on all candidates in the Griffith by-election to support an expansion of the Renewable Energy Target to ensure Queensland reaps the benefits of being the Sunshine State.”

“The Australian Solar Council calls on Griffith voters to ask their candidates the hot question: do you back the Renewable Energy Target?”

“Analysis by the REC Agents Association shows the cost of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme – a key part of the Renewable Energy Target – will be just 0.3% of the power bill in 2015. That’s $1.90 out of an average $500 quarterly power bill.”