It’s Sunday morning in the Perkins household. My wife, Natalie, is fast asleep still after having a nightmare (should I be sharing that? Oh well) and I’m pondering the future of my website. As you might remember, I moved my blog to http://www.nicholasperkins.com/blog/ a few week ago, and there was a reason for this.

Recently I’ve been working with Drupal a lot. I worked on getting Natalie’s new portfolio site up and looking awesome (if I do say so myself). Drupal is not really a CMS, although it can be used as one. Drupal is more of  framework that gives web developers the tools to create very complex sites without having to hand code thousands of lines of PHP.

In the case of Natalie’s site, I still needed to hack into some of the modules code, wrote a few lines of customer PHP database lookups to create the dynamic sub-menu and a few other bits and bobs. What I didn’t need to do is create an entire CMS from scratch. When I wanted to have a new content type for her portfolio images, I didn’t need to design the database structure and code the posting and editing and whatever else functions. Drupal just made it happen.

So I’m now considering moving my blog across to Drupal as part of a larger site redesign. I’m currently looking at creating a main website for my Excel and PHP development business, which is why I moved the blog. It will be a few months before I have the design and content ready to go up though, but that gives me plenty of time to get Drupal into shape.

What I am wondering is whether I should transfer my blog into Drupal and away from Wordpress.

Wordpress is probably the best blogging software I have ever used. The interface is clean and easy to use, the plugin and themes are so easy to install, configure and “just work”. When I helped Natalie with http://www.axisoffat.com/ (it’s on Drupal as well) I wondered if it was really the best option. It did work out in the end but it required more fluffing around to get it to work just the way we wanted it to.

I’d be interested in your thoughts on both Drupal and Wordpress, but also any other CMS/Framework solutions you have used. The decision on what I use for my own site is critical. Whatever I choose I will have to work closely with and become and expert at using and modifying as required so that I can offer similar services to my clients.

I’ve moved the blog this evening to a subdirectory of my website. You’ll now find my blog at http://www.nicholasperkins.com/blog/. For the next month or so you will be automatically redirected, so please update your bookmarks/delicious tags/etc. The RSS feed is still located at http://feeds.feedburner.com/NicholasPerkins so if you have subscribed (and there are more of you there than I remember last time I checked – welcome!) you need do nothing but wait for the next glorious installment.

So why did I move my blog to the new address? Well there are some big changes coming to my life over the next six months or so, and I’m welcoming them with open arms. I don’t want to reveal too much at the moment as things are only in the early stages of formation. I have a lot of ideas going on in my head, I’m about to reach 30, and it’s darn well time I acted on some of them.

On the ‘now’ front, I’ve been feverishly working on a couple of secret projects of the last month or so. One is something that I can never ever tell you about. Sorry but I would be killed (or sued) if I broke the Non-Disclosure Agreement on that one. The other one is still super secret, but I can reveal all soon. Let’s just say that I’ve finally (90%) finished a project that has been outstanding for a while, and my wife is very pleased. Stay tuned for more there.

I best get back to work. I’ve just had another request come in via Windows Live Messenger.

A Northern Territorian father has lost his five year old daughter and been fined $1,000 for disciplining her with a belt. She has been placed into inter-state foster care, despite the court hearing that they had a “wonderful relationship”. Well I’m sure she’ll thrive being a ward of the state, away from her Dad wondering just why he doesn’t love her any more. Brilliant work guys, just brilliant.

Magistrate Greg Cavanagh said that the assault on the girl was “outrageous”.

“The trust that is given to adults and to fathers to bring up and nurture their young babies is a very precious thing indeed – the most precious responsibility and trust you’ll ever have,” he said.

“You have abused that trust and you have abused your love of her by giving her a beating.”

Yes, you heard correctly. Smacking your child with a belt four times is a beating. We don’t know the specifics of the belting, but there has been no mention of excessive force or injury being inflicted on the poor little girl. But magistrate Cavanagh wasn’t finished there.

“In this modern age, physical punishment of children is seen to be barbaric,” he said.

“I’ll bet you she screamed and cried when you did this to her.”

You bet she screamed and cried, just like I did when I got a smack. Generally as a last resort and after much reasoning and intelligent conversation. Because five year olds do reason fairly and justly, and always follow direction. I’m right, aren’t I?

I never understand those who look in from the outside and judge others. I would agree that smacking your child around (or your spouse or anyone) is not on. Violence in the home is never welcome and should be dealt with promptly and with full force. But when did the right to discipline children with a smack with a belt get taken away? I don’t remember signing up for that.

Some wacko commented today on the couriermail.com.au website that a belt was a “Criminal Weapon.” The last time I heard of a belt used as a weapon was by Michael Hutchence, and that was on himself in a Sydney hotel room.

Too soon?

As long as there are no other issues surrounding this case (and who knows, it’s not like the media to just gloss over a few chunks of data that they aren’t interested in, is it?) then there needs be serious reconsideration of whether foster care is the right route to take. It’s seems a tough road to send a child on.

Do you think I’m nuts? Actually agree with what I’m saying for a change? Why hide away anonymously reading when you can actually TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK. Leave your comments – I do read them and often respond.

Plus sitting on the fence will leave you with splinters.- Nicholas

Senator Stephen Conroy has posted a new blog post called “Minister Conroy on: Promoting a civil and confident society online“. Sounds like crap, Senator.

Sen. Conroy’s blog post is nothing more than Government spin doctors working the media. What concerns me most is this section:

We are happy to have an open debate about these technical issues. However, the Government does not view this debate as an argument about freedom of speech.

Freedom of speech is fundamentally important in a democratic society and there was never any suggestion that the Australian Government would seek to block political content. In this context, claims that the Government’s policy is analogous to the approach taken by countries such as Iran, China and Saudi Arabia are not justified.

Australian society has always accepted that there is some material which is not acceptable, particularly for children. …  All the Government is now seeking to do is to examine how technology can assist in filtering internationally-hosted content.

Why am I concerned? People are buying it.

At work, the verdict is that I’m into Child Pornography. Why? Well why else would I want there to be no filter? I’m wanting to access illegal sites.  The rest just don’t give a toss about whether there is a filter or not. It won’t affect them and that’s all they care about.

So what can we do to win over the average Joe?

1. Take action in a professional manner.
2. Take action in small teams.
3. Take action to get the facts right.
4. Take action now.

Take action in a professional manner

It is important that we look at who we are trying to win over. We aren’t after the radicals or the net-savvy geeks – that is preaching to the converted. We need to speak to the educated middle class. Remember that the education standards are higher than ever, so people want a polished look.

Having the right equipment (PA systems, data projector, an appropriate room) conveys messages of authority and professionalism. Having a smartly-dressed presenters(s) making good, clear arguments adds to the message. Banner waving isn’t going to convince them.

Take action in small teams

We need to make small efforts to make big wins. One small group of people at a time, properly informed on the issues and implications is better than hundreds and hundreds of people who know nothing about the argument. Each person we get enthused and involved helps to keep the message moving.

Having well informed supporters provides more chance that the message will stick and be consistant. Hand out flyers, hold presentations in librarys or perhaps go to the meeting of a local social group (perhaps a playgroup or local sports club) and give them the facts to take home and think about themselves. Small progress will bring big results.

Take action to get the facts right.

There is no point in taking all this action if the information is wrong. We need a strong and solid message to take to the people so that each time they hear it, it consolidates their support. We need to have the facts right from the first go. No pseudo-science — only the truth. If we don’t know it, take the question down, go find the answer and come back next time (or email/call to give the answer) .

Getting it right now means staying on message and understanding all the facts and information. That way Government misinformation can be combatted swiftly. Further research may bring new points which support our position.

Take action now

There is no better time to act than now. Momentum is being won day by day thanks to the Government getting their message through to the ordinary Australian. If we want to continue to have the freedom to use an unfiltered Internet service, you need to start working now. This isn’t a case where you sit back and think, “They’ll never do it!” They are doing it!

Form local groups. Start a wiki with tips on how to support the cause and the facts of the case.  Start video blogs. Why not make a presentation at the local library or hold an information session? Write a presentation, have it filmed and DVD’d to people who request it through a website!

It might seem all a bit much, but this fight is a whole lot more than a bit much. We need to take action now before we lose our rights. The solution does not solve the problem.

(Reposted from another online forum)

I’ve been stewing on this for a bit but I think it needs to be said.

In my opinion, a major error with today’s rallies (and it seems not just the Brisbane one) is the connection to other political parties/agendas. I’m glad that there are many groups interested in this as an issue, but as soon as you bring the Socialist Alliance, The Greens, or the Raelians you’ve lost Joe Public.

And what of this Digital Liberation Coalition? “The Digital Liberty Coalition (’DLC’) is a non-profit grass roots community driven coalition of organisations who are standing up for free speech online.” (Always love a good quote)

So why is there very little information on which groups came together? Shouldn’t people who are signing up for membership or donating money know exactly where this money is going? Why so little transparency on their website? I’m sure it is innocent enough. Just like blocking child porn through a mandatory filter seems like a good idea.

Joe Public is sceptical of the ‘Commies under the bed’ or ‘the bloody Greenies’. On the Raelians, I’m sure some people will take the jump from Intelligent Design to Scientology as well. Do we really need to be fighting an uphill battle before it started?

What is needed to get the ear of all voters is a truly independent effort. Whatever our colour, creed and political/religious beliefs, we should be united about this one issue and have no others jumping on the bandwagon for the ride.

Selling the “Green Left” (and other publications) in the middle of the speeches? Tacky and an unneeded distraction.