Lounge Ruminator

A number of things have come up this year in my feeds that have discussed the history, value and disadvantages of email.

Recently, I noticed that popular job site Indeed has a real issue with centring certain elements of its website.

I stumbled upon this hilarious article by The Betoota Advocate about a nationwide study that confirmed: the long-held belief amongst many, that the Republic of Sydney is, in fact, the worst city in Australia, with only one of its suburbs making it into the

This year is a major anniversary for the beloved iBook, which was first announced and released in 1999. 20 years!

We all know that newspapers are experiencing a slow and painful death.

Image source: icon8 Since the Mac App Store’s visual refresh, one of my favourite features has been the stories that highlight various apps, developers, extensions and usage tips.

Image source: Inexhibit (2016) If you’re a tech enthusiast, you’ve certainly heard that Apple’s Chief Design Officer (CDO), Sir Jony Ive, has announced that he is leaving the company to start his own firm, LoveFrom.

Whether marked on the door of a public toilet, a factor in the colour of the clothing that you choose to wear or simply the pronouns that you hear, gender and sexual expectations and conventions are virtually inescapable.

Image source: ‘The Nib’ and Gemma Correll I’m a huge fan of The Nib.

On the weekend, whilst out grocery shopping, Natasha and I saw a man who was searching hurriedly for something in the freezer section.

I was reading SBS News and found this interesting article about how women work better in higher temperatures.

Over the past few years, alongside the controversy that has plagued Facebook, Twitter has also received its fair share of criticism.

Writing at The Conversation, author Jennifer Grygiel of Syracuse University contributed this fantastic article about Facebook’s announcement of its new cryptocurrency, Libra.

One trend that I’ve noticed increasingly—with a minor level of concern—is the sale of outfits that match the colour scheme of The Handmaid’s Tale.

Look up the word ‘courtesy’ in the Oxford English dictionary and you’ll find the following definition: The showing of politeness in one’s attitude and behaviour towards others.

Some time ago, on the popular ABC TV programme Gruen, the panel analysed the coffee industry and how its advertising has become more dramatic and ridiculous.

Last night, along with my sister, I had the privilege of seeing Jónsi and Alex Somers perform their ambient album Riceboy Sleeps for the first time at the Sydney Opera House.

Image source: Apple (2019) People love stories.

Image source: Apple (2019) Like every other year, there have been so many WWDC feature wish lists that I would simply be repeating others’ points if I were to write my own extensive version.

Image source: Apple (2019) Earlier this week, 9to5Mac writer Guilherme Rambo tweeted about the appearance of keywords ‘independent’ and ‘independence’ in yet-to-be-released watchOS code.

Back in March, I had a big whinge about how people misuse (or rather, don’t use) hyphens.

There’s been a lot discussion recently about the state of Mac apps, particularly on what the future holds with Marzipan bringing iOS apps (and their design language) to macOS.

I’m assuming that you, dear reader, have visited restaurants and cafés before.

Back in March, I ruminated about the horrendously boring meme culture on LinkedIn in a piece called Key Leadership ‘Learnings’ of Collaborative Synergy and Digital Disruption #AI #blockchain.

During this weekend’s federal election, Australia showed that it is a nation divided, indeed, a nation of great contradictions.

Image source: Apple (2019) Apple has been at the forefront of accessible hardware and software design for years with both macOS and iOS.

When Apple News first launched with iOS 9 in 2015, I was enthusiastic about its potential to deliver a variety of high-quality news sources and stories, in contrast to the algorithmic, sensationalist tripe that is surfaced by Facebook, Twitter and other s…

For as long as I’ve been staying in hotels, I’ve been fascinated by the ubiquitous Holy Bible from The Gideons in bedside tables and cabinets.

Image source: IMDB Each year, Natasha and I attend the Spanish Film Festival at Palace Cinemas in Sydney.

Image source: Intego On the latest episode of the The Talk Show, John Gruber and John Moltz discussed macOS’s confusing history of version numbers.

Image source: Apple (2018) Earlier this week, Shortcuts specialist Matthew Cassinelli published a quick piece about how Apple News notifications can quickly get out of hand, particularly if you don’t interact with the app regularly and very deliberately.

Image source: SOHO (ESA & NASA) Last week, M.G.

These days, we constantly hear about the inexorable march of artificial intelligence, which is fuelling the Fourth Industrial Revolution and will make humans useless in most (if not all) jobs.

Late last year, I wrote about how café workers have the ridiculous habit of soiling your napkin by placing it between your food and the plate.

Flowing on from yesterday’s Daily Rumination on urban planning, I’d like to discuss briefly the notion of ‘liveability’.

Image source: Apple (2019) On 25 March, Apple invited celebrities and members of the tech and entertainment press to the Steve Jobs Theater for a range of special announcements.

Whilst munching on dinner this evening, I read this fantastic article by Vox: Barcelona, Spain, urban planning: a city’s vision to dig out from cars.

Ever since the early days of iPhoto, I have used Apple’s photo-management software to collect, edit and share my family memories.

I spotted an update from LinkedIn today called Top Companies 2019: Where Australia wants to work now.

Earlier this evening, I had the great opportunity to hear Dr Brendan Nelson, Director of the Australian War Memorial, speak at an Illawarra business dinner.

In 2010, I joined a new, exciting social network called Instagram.

Earlier today, Natasha and I visited Sydney Town Hall for the last day of Dr Gunther von Hagen’s Body Worlds Vital exhibition.

Whilst it can sometimes be unclear what constitutes Belgian chocolate Belgian (other than where it’s from), really, who doesn’t love it?

Normally, before I start to talk or write about a show or film that I have seen, I try to finish it in order to reflect on its overall themes, plot and quality.

In today’s world of hyperconnected, digital capitalism, we hear constantly that careers should be rewarding, fulfilling endeavours that create meaning for our lives.

It is interesting to consider the term ‘common sense’.

In many ways, Australia is a very intelligent country.

For years and years, people have complained about emails.

When it comes to radio and television, I ignore all commercial networks in Australia and stick to SBS, ABC and Triple J.

Today was the New South Wales state election and I’m displeased to hear that the Liberal Party has retained power.