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Archives for September 2012

Megan Learns A Lesson

September 23, 2012 @ 19:31 By Gavin Webber 7 Comments

Thanks for all the great comments on the last post titled “iPhone Marketing Tricks“.  

It turned out to be very popular with you all.

Long time readers may know that I have four wonderful children, three of which have grown up and left home, leaving Ben living with Kim and I on the urban farmlet. My youngest daughter Megan as always struggled with the beast that is popular consumerism, however our frequent little talks are slowly working.

Megan works in a mobile phone shop, to pay her way through University, of which I am very proud. Yesterday I sent her the link to the iPhone post via facebook as a fatherly nudge in the right direction. To my surprise, her reply was as follows (posted with permission);

“Dad, I am well aware that this new phone is a crock of shite and a sad excuse to bring out new accessories that generate billions of dollars in revenue for Apple alone under the rouse of ‘needing’ to change the charger to make the phone thinner.  

However in the case of the mobile world – build and they will come, as such. No one that is buying this new phone has a legitimate reason to do so they just ‘want’ it or are lead to believe, through very clever marketing techniques, that they ‘need’ it.  

It is sad to see so many people so driven by the supposed ‘status’ that comes from being an iPhone 5 user.  

I came to my senses and cancelled my pre-order after I saw the ridiculousness of the whole spectacle. 

You never know Dad, your ways may be rubbing off on me and changing my consumeristic ways.”

I have a big fatherly smile from ear to ear.

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Filed Under: consumerism, Family

iPhone Marketing Tricks

September 21, 2012 @ 22:43 By Gavin Webber 13 Comments

The media is full of the latest phone craze, the iPhone 5.

Yes, I agree that it is a good looking phone (that’s it on the left).  Yes, I agree that it is a very useful device, as are iPads, Kindles, Android phones and other tablets.  To have all the functions of a larger computing device in one small object is just simply amazing, and I am being very sincere.

Think about holding many hundreds of books in the palm of your hand without the need to cut down any trees for paper.  It is an amazing environmental benefit.  I realise that mining some of the rare earth metals that are required for the phone/devices has an environmental impact, such as the coltan mining which is driving mountain gorillas out of their habitat, but otherwise this benefit is impressive.

Whilst I have resisted many times to purchase a tablet type device, and still do, I have however succumbed to a smartphone, in the form of the iPhone 4S, simply out of necessity.   After all, there are not many options for just a plain old phone any more.   It may sound hypocritical, especially when I abhor consumerism so much, so let me share with you what I have learnt from first hand experience.

Marketing Devices

Smartphones and Tablets are some of the best marketing devices ever!  Yes, that is what they are primarily designed for.  As content consuming machines.

After you have played with all the free stuff, and there is not much of it, what is the next thing that you do?  You go and buy some content.  Apps, or newspapers, or even eBooks like the ones I publish, then maybe some music or a movie, or even a TV series.  There literally are millions of content items to choose from.  The range is endless.

So, the main goal is to entice you to buy content, and lots of it.  Why do you think the iTunes store or Google Play looks so cool and helpful.  To entice you!  In the end the content could cost you many more times the price of the original device.

Designed Obsolescence

The secondary goal is to create a desire in the buyer to consume more devices.  My last phone, a Nokia died after 7 long years of faithful service.  It became unrepairable.  I did not want for a new phone during its lifetime.  However, I must be a rare breed indeed, especially since I work in the IT industry.  Many people upgrade their phones as soon as the next model is available.

All computer manufacturers design electronic devices with a specific lifespan in mind.  However, Apple is one of the supreme masters of designed obsolescence due to their non-user replaceable battery in all iPod, iPhone, and iPad devices.  The battery has a limited lifespan and soon degrades in as little as 18 months.  You can replace it yourself, but not without some considerable heartache because you have to buy a special screwdriver to dismantle it and it voids the warranty.

The designed hardware capability is no better.  I recently found that when I upgraded to iOS 6, my phone’s operating system is now double the size of the old one, and the phone is slightly slower in its operation.  Each version of the operating system is designed to add new features that the older devices just cannot handle, which forces or convinces the user to upgrade to the new hardware, hence making more profit for the said company.

Manufactured Demand

All companies try and manufacture demand for their products.  Apple seams to have a knack at doing it better than all the others, and I am not sure why.  Is it because they market simplicity and sexiness in their products.  Can a phone be sexy?  I am not sure, but I have noticed that at the launch of each of their new products, there is a mass marketing campaign like no other, and an associated consumer craziness that goes along with it.  Release little additional features like a slightly larger display, or thinner body, or better camera at each model release is one way, but there is an even more subtle way.

Why, I ask you, that upon release of a new Apple product does there always seam to be a sudden shortage?  Is this created on purpose to stimulate an artificial demand?  Surely Apple would know how high a demand the last product release had when they release a new one?  Learning from past releases would be in a companies best interest, would it not?  Or would it.  A limited supply creates an artificial demand in the minds of the consumer, some who would sell their first born child to get their hands on one!  Yes readers, this is simply a marketing technique from the marketing masters.

Awareness

So dear readers, I am not disparaging anyone from purchasing one of these devices, even Apple products, because they are useful and attractive.  As I said, I own one myself.  But let’s speak truthfully and acknowledge their real purpose.  It is to separate you from your hard earned cash, create desire, and boost profits and shareholder value.
Plain and simple.

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Filed Under: consumerism, e-waste

Mozzarella & Ricotta Course – October

September 20, 2012 @ 00:21 By Gavin Webber 1 Comment

After a bit of negotiation and some fortuitous and wacky events, I have become our towns local cheese guru and have managed to get a cheese making course into the Melton Learning Directory.  Yippee!!!

So lets make cheese! What better way to get busy and learn a new skill for the future.  I have the pleasure to be offering a Cheese making course in October 2012.  Details below;

Mozzarella & Ricotta Cheese Making Workshop

In this workshop you will:

  • make your own Mozzarella cheese to take home. 
  • learn the techniques about the correct cultures to use, setting the curd, draining, and curd stretching. 
  • demonstration of Ricotta cheese being made from whole milk. 
  • Bread sticks provided for tasting cheese after completion. 

Workshop length: 3 hours

Milk, cultures and ingredients provided.

Price is around $50 (the centre takes a cut)

Day & Date: Saturday 27th October 2012
Time: [1:00] pm to [4:00]pm
Place: Melton South Community Centre, 26 Exford Rd, Melton South, Victoria.
For bookings call 97478576 or email msccentr@bigpond.net.au


I am so looking forward to teaching another class.  I have missed the interaction, and after two cancelled courses in at Spotswood Community House, I was a bit disheartened.   Not any more!

Now here for the ironic part.  During the interview for the job,  I found out that the two old ladies that taught me how to make cheese at the very same location, way back in March 2009, have retired.  Apparently people have been asking the community house for more cheese making courses.

Here is the weird bit.  My post lady is also a member of the community house’s committee, and Kim and her often have a chat about all sorts of sustainable living things, including, you guessed it, cheese.  It was she who dropped my name to the Program Co-ordinator at the centre!  Weird or fate huh?

Anyway, someone’s chakra must have aligned somewhere, so I got the gig, replacing the instructors who taught and gave me the cheese making bug.  In some karmic sort of way I feel honoured.

So if you want to come along and learn how to make Mozzarella and Ricotta, please book with the centre.  Learning a new skill is great fun.  This quote is most apt;

“Cheese is milk’s leap towards immortality.” – Clifton Fadiman

Who’s coming to make some leaping cheese with me?

P.S.  Thanks to one of my readers, Tasos for making the image for me.  You can catch his work at  www.TasosPhotography.com.  

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Filed Under: Cheese, Sustainable Living

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An Ordinary Australian Man Who Has A Green Epiphany Whilst Watching A Documentary, Gets a Hybrid Car, Plants A Large Organic Vegetable Garden, Goes Totally Solar, Lowers Consumption, Feeds Composts Bins and Worms, Harvests Rainwater, Raises Chickens, Makes Cheese and Soap, and Eats Locally. All In The Effort To Reduce Our Family's Carbon Footprint So We Can Start Making A Difference For Our Children & Future Generations To Come.

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  • Always inspiring and entertaining!
    August 4, 2016 by floriographer from Australia

    I've crowed about Gavin's podcast before but I just have to recommend it once again - I love that he shares his learning as well as his successes - it helps the rest of us try try try again! Thanks Gavin!

  • ms
    July 22, 2016 by Ketaea12 from New Zealand

    I really enjoy listening to Gavin, he has a kind lovely voice. He covers some great relevant topics for the everyday greenie. With lots of tips or how to or what not to do. Thanks Gavin, love it!!

  • Well worth your time to tune in
    October 23, 2015 by A Vision Splendid from Australia

    I can highly recommend Gavin’s podcast ! I have followed Gavin’s blog since the very beginning and have loved to see his journey unfold. Gavin has a lovely speaking voice so this podcast is always very easy to listen to. Gavin has a very authentic approach to his green living lifestyle. He shares the ups and downs but always provides motivation and practical steps that we can all implement.

  • very good
    June 28, 2015 by Scared pax from United Kingdom

    This is a great podcast if you want to improve your life in so many aspects and become a more sustainable person. I love the soothing voice, the good pace, and it contains lots of useful information. Recommended!

  • opened my eyes
    May 25, 2015 by Gorn4lyfe from Australia

    A wonderful show!

  • Inspiring
    April 30, 2015 by Alan Whelan from Ireland

    This is a great podcast if you're looking for practical info on saving money by living more sustainably from someone who's made that journey over the last few years. Told in a nice, easy conversational style

  • Green Living, inspiring and practical
    January 8, 2015 by EliseMac from Australia

    Thanks Gav for sharing what has (and hasn't) worked along your journey for living a greener lifestyle. Inspiring and achievable for anyone, I look forward to this podcast weekly.

  • Local food equals less waste
    December 27, 2014 by allotmentadventureswithjean from Australia

    Another brilliant podcast from Gavin Webber encouraging us, and showing us how, to cut down on food miles, growing our own food, and cutting down on food waste. Gavin is a really interesting speaker, showing us how to eat better, growing our own food and how to live more sustainably.

  • Honestly australian
    December 15, 2014 by HodgepodgeOz from Australia

    Fantastic podcast, with a wide variety of well thought and researched topics. Gavin is a honest, forthright pod aster with a genuine interest in helping others get green. Like a day alongside is a day wasted, so too is a week without listening to Gavin. Highly recommended for people starting out, or those in the midst of their new lifestyle. Keep it up Gavin, wish there were more great reviews! Kimberley

  • Morning motivation
    December 8, 2014 by Bunnyworm from Australia

    Gavin has a great passion for living this greener lifestyle that motivates others to do the same. The podcasts are always interesting and informative. :)

  • Passionate Advocate
    October 18, 2014 by BoomOpGirl from Australia

    Gavin's enthusiasm and passion for creating a more sustainable world is nothing short of contagious. Thanks Gav, you are my weekly source of motivation for living a sustainable life! :)

  • Gavin speaks from the heart
    October 13, 2014 by Green gavin from Australia

    Gavin's podcasts are required listening for anyone planning to live a more sustainable life. He doesn't preach, but tells you his story from the heart. You'll laugh, smile, share in his concerns and along the way you'll pick up some great tips on living a simple life.

  • Green thoughts, so well iterated
    October 9, 2014 by Kwasikwami from Australia

    This is a wonderful podcast. Not only does Gavin talk knowledgeably on a range of sustainability topics from gardening tips all the way to the issues facing humanity as a whole, but he does so in such a wonderful voice, it's like listening to my Dad, love it!!

  • Easy listening inspiration on being green
    September 24, 2014 by Broomedy from Australia

    Gav knows how to share his journey to a more sustainable life in a manner that shows just how easy it really is. Not to mention healthier, economically beneficial and generally rewarding. The podcasts are an easy way to absorb Gav's great lifestyle. I recommend to anyone.

  • Thanks Gavin!
    August 31, 2014 by Honeywoodmilk from Australia

    Great practical advice for a greener lifestyle. This podcast is for anybody interested in growing their own food in suburbia, saving electricity, brewing beer, making cheese, all that wonderful business and most of all, saving money! Thanks Gavin, love the podcast mate!

  • Enjoyed those ideas for staying warm
    August 15, 2014 by enduringdragon from United States

    Like you we are having winter here in Chile—brrr! Every bit we can save on heating we will.

  • Green Podcasts
    July 26, 2014 by Carneu from Australia

    Excellent podcasts, which are full of information to help get started on a sustainable lifestyle.

  • Practical ideas and inspiration
    July 19, 2014 by HeathrowHeath from Australia

    I highly recommend Gavin's podcast and blog. Down to earth, entertaining and inspirational. Thank you.

  • Interesting & easy to listen to
    April 27, 2014 by Velocity3 from New Zealand

    Gavin & his guests make this green journey lots of fun.

  • Great green listen
    April 18, 2014 by Obscurenickname from Australia

    Gavin is a great down to earth, tell it like it is aussie with a passion for sustainability and growing food and making cheese

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