Dave Hall 🌻

Dave Hall 🌻

@skwashd.wtf

Once won second prize in a beauty contest. Independent consultant into software engineering leadership, ProactiveOps, serverless, python, DevOps and AWS. Views not endorsed by family/friends/clients/pets.

385 followers306 following1.2K posts

Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

On my flight one of the movie options was Big Hero 6. I decided against watching it because I hadn’t seen the previous 5 in the franchise.

Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

No future in print

Stilgherrian@stilgherrian.com

“Australia’s longest-running technology magazine, APC, is ceasing print publication as publisher Future shutters its local print operation.” mumbrella.com.au/apc-to-close...

mumbrella.com.auAPC to close after 46-year run as Future exits Australian printAustralia’s longest-running technology magazine, APC, is ceasing print publication as publisher Future shutters its local print operation.The title, formerly known as Australian Personal Computer, was...
Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month. Can we just take a minute to congratulate the industry? It’s really outdone itself this year. This week there’s been a lot of mainstream media coverage of cyber security. Even heads of state have weighed in. I’m not sure how they will top it next year.

Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

Looks like everyone who hates AI and crypto is going to be facing a dilemma very soon. Time to buy some corn futures 🍿

Dare Obasanjo@carnage4life.bsky.social

A key member of the Ethereum team is sounding the alarm that given this week’s series of math breakthroughs by OpenAI, the crypto industry should prepare for the possibility that AI cracks the digital signatures protecting Bitcoin and Ethereum. He says this could happen in months, not years.

Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

Has anyone noticed that’s it’s no longer the sophisticated state actors doing all the hacking? It’s always AI. Maybe, just maybe, none of this was ever very hard. Could it be organisations have always been bad at security?

Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

With 0% of the votes counted this race is too close to call. We’re not seeing a clear winner emerge. It could be a long night ahead.

casey briggs@caseybriggs.com

Polls are closed in the very remote eastern Arnhem Land seat of Mulka in the Northern Territory and we'll soon find out who voters have chosen to represent them in NT's legislative assembly Latest results here: www.abc.net.au/news/electio...

abc.net.auMulka By-election 2026Overview of the Mulka electorate in the Mulka by-election 2026
Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

Woman from my bank asks if I want to learn more about the new credit card interest rates coming next month. I decline and say it is a cash grab for shareholders. Some how that’s now a formal complaint with the bank about them being greedy bastards. I look forward to a boilerplate response in 6 weeks

Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

In 2026 posting malware on GitHub is considered “sophisticated cybercrime”?

ABC News Bot (unofficial)@abcnewsbot.bsky.social

Two West Australian men face court for their alleged role in a "sophisticated cybercrime syndicate" that allegedly created malicious open-source software to rob thousands of global businesses.

abc.net.auYoung Perth hackers key players in global cybercrime syndicate, says FBITwo West Australian men face court for their alleged role in a "sophisticated cybercrime syndicate" that allegedly created malicious open-source software to rob thousands of global businesses.
Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

Kinda fitting for an event sponsored by TCS.

ABC News Bot (unofficial)@abcnewsbot.bsky.social

Runners who finish the Sydney Marathon will receive a medal featuring a football stadium in Germany instead of Moore Park due to an "unfortunate error".

abc.net.auWrong landmark spotted on Sydney Marathon medal a week out from eventRunners who finish the Sydney Marathon will receive a medal featuring a football stadium in Germany instead of Moore Park due to an "unfortunate error".
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Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

Melbourne IT had flagged the domain with Telstra and held the registration. Someone from Melbourne IT read the email from Telstra where they had replied confirming the registration was approved. It didn't go down well. I then got to meet some other Melbourne IT folks and we had a laugh. 11/12

Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

Out of Telstra's screw up I got ~2kAUD in credits, a domain name and a one hell of a story. Don't let big companies push you around. They're often just trying it on. And yes, I'm still a Telstra customer. Outside of the big cities there's no alternative. 12/12

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Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

I was at the AWS Summit in Sydney in 2016. At the Melbourne IT booth a sales guy approached me. I said I did knew the company and I had a domain registered with them. He told me a lot of people did. I told him which domain it was. He froze. It turns out he was the account manager for Telstra. 9/12

Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

I got to learn about what happened when Telstra leadership found out about the domain. Telstra got Melbourne IT leaders on a call. Apparently there was a lot of swearing. Telstra were insisting Melbourne IT cancel the registration. Melbourne IT pushed back. 10/12

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Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

A few days later we had a call to discuss the situation. He confirmed that legal were involved. They'd asked for some changes to the webpage, including not mentioning Telstra had paid for the domain. I refused as it was a fact. The lawyers also didn't like the bit saying "fuck you too" to them. 7/12

Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

A couple of days later I got this email confirming that'd I won! Telstra were "disappointed". I was happy. I was keeping the domain. I was keeping my services. I was keeping the "good will" credits that totalled ~2kAUD. The story doesn't end quite there 8/12

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Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

About a week later I was on the phone with the guy dealing with my complaint. I was getting a bunch of "good will" credits. Towards the end of the call he raised the domain. He told me that a team was preparing to give me 7 days notice before cancelling all my services over the domain name. 5/12

Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

I started DMing a few journalists in my network preparing them for when the disconnection notice arrived. I was going to go out swinging. I also found the head for small business at Telstra was on twitter. He asked me to email him the details and he'd look into it, which I did. 6/12

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Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

Immediately I get an email saying that my registration was being held for further verification. I thought Telstra would block it. I replied to the email asking what was the issue. Days later I get a voicemail from India. "Mr Hall your new domain *pauses* you new domain is registered <click>" 3/12

Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

I'm 99% sure that the pause was where the guy was suppose to read the domain name, but instead realised his mistake. So he hung up and hoped no one would notice. I had the webpage ready to go. It was a twitter embedded search page for Telstra and a list swear words. There was a lot of content! 4/12

Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

I signed up for a new business plan that bundled a bunch of services. The switch didn't go well. Telstra seriously screwed up the provisioning. It wasn't getting fixed. The plan included a free domain name, so I spent an evening reading the ICANN rules. I hesitated as submitted the form. 2/12

Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

I hope this kid is competing youtu.be/WADdeYZYmrE

youtu.beUncle Tobys That's No How You Make Porridge 1980s Advertisement Australia Commercial AdYouTube video by Australia Past
Guardian Australia@australia.theguardian.com

Breakfast of champions: Australia’s best porridge makers cause a stir at inaugural national competition

theguardian.comBreakfast of champions: Australia’s best porridge makers cause a stir at inaugural national competitionOn Saturday, a sold-out crowd cheered on as 15 contestants battled it out to claim the championship spurtle – with a pinch of Celtic salt the deciding factor Oatmeal sloshes out of pots and into stovetop flames as contestants frantically fumble with their finishing touches. The timer is ticking down but spectators clap and cheer, their whoops ringing through the rafters of Pearl Beach memorial community hall before a voice cuts through the chaos: “please make way for the porridge carriers”. The five cooks step back, glance at each other’s mess, and hope they’ve done enough. Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading...
Dave Hall 🌻
@skwashd.wtf

Playing the classic T.I.S.M. track to mark the passing of Derryn Hinch. youtu.be/ozA39Gd63qU

youtu.beThe Penis Is Mightier Than The Sword (Live)YouTube video by TISM - Topic
ABC News Bot (unofficial)@abcnewsbot.bsky.social

A man of colourful contradictions, Derryn Hinch was a larger-than-life fixture on Australian radio and television over five decades who died on Friday morning at the age of 82.

abc.net.auThat's life: Derryn Hinch's most memorable media momentsA man of colourful contradictions, Derryn Hinch was a larger-than-life fixture on Australian radio and television over five decades who died on Friday morning at the age of 82.