An example of a story I read online well before media picked up on it

The Age

Apples iPod code Cracked

Asher Moses
October 24, 2006

The iPod has just had its fifth birthday, but Apple’s celebrations may be cut short thanks to a 22-year-old Norwegian who claims he’s cracked Apple’s proprietary iPod-iTunes ecosystem.

GigaOm (I read it on boingboing)

Posted Monday, October 2 at 7:55 AM

DRM-buster DVD Jon has a new target in his sights, and it’s a big piece of fruit. He has reverse-engineered Apple’s Fairplay and is starting to license it to companies who want their media to play on Apple’s devices. Instead of breaking the DRM (something he’s already done), Jon has replicated it, and wants to license the technology to companies that want their content (music, movies, whatever) to play on Apple devices. This may not be good news for iTunes the store, but it could make the iPod even more popular.

calling caffeine addicts and programmers

Just a heads up that coles is selling four-packs of V for $5 at the moment. That’s roughly equivalent to 50% off so its well worth stocking up 🙂

Just be aware that some stores are already selling out so get in quick. The special officially runs until Sunday. If they do sell out keep in mind that you can get a rain check if you ask them but they will only allow one per customer so if you want to buy in bulk then you’ll need to hit a number of stores.

A really good day

I had one of those days where the world repays you for all the shit its thrown at you so far.

I woke up in the morning to discover that the lab report I was worried about had been done almost in its entirety by my group members.

I then headed out to go to uni and stopped on the way to get a couple of cans of red bull. In order to do this I had to cross Hoddle street without the aid of a pedestrian crossing (well the closest one was several hundred meters away!). This can be hard at the best of times but it was in the rush hour and there was construction work happening on the road. However, low and behold a construction worker with one of those stop/slow signs stopped the traffic so I could cross!

So I gave him a little wave and a smile and flitted happily across the road to my bus stop, only to discover that it was in the shade and freezing. So, I decided to walk up to the next one. Usually when I do this I end up missing the bus but this time the bus arrived just after I got to the bus stop.

Then, the train arrived just as I got on the platform.

So all in all a good morning.

This afternoon I went and had an explore of my new neighbourhood and I love it! Its all pretty and there are lots of trees and some really good shops nearby for fresh food and other stuff.

Then I headed back to my new house in order to clean it before all the furniture and stuff arrives (I cant bear the idea of other peoples dirty ickiness in the house). My day has been so good that not even exhaustion after three solid hours of cleaning can kill my good mood!

Successful people aren’t afraid to make mistakes

In the most recent episode of G’day World; Cameron Reilly, Richard Giles and Tony Goodson were talking about successful people and how they make their own luck. One important point really stood out to me:

Successful people aren’t afraid to put themselves out there and make an arse of themselves.

This is a major problem for me. I’m the person who when confronted with a crowded room sits in a corner and avoids eye contact. I’m also a perfectionist and I won’t try something if I don’t think I can be great at it straight away. The few times I have put myself out there and had a go at something I thought I’d suck at I’ve discovered a talent I never knew I had.

So now I have a new goal. To stop caring about what everyone else thinks and just go after my dreams and to stop being so damned shy. If I continue over thinking everything my opportunities will disappear before I realise they’re there.

Edit: Wow its my 100th post. Rather appropriate really 🙂