#Australian Web Design

[batshit-auspol]

When creating the new Australian National University in 1946, the Australian parliament can probably be forgiven for being far too polite to ever raise the suggestion that the acronym ANU may one day lead to problems.

And so it is in the year 2023, that Australia's highest ranked university has to regularly remind people not to add a possessive 's' to their name in headlines, lest the web address be shortened like so:

Likewise the unfortunately named ANU Sports has to go to great lengths to make sure that their name never appears as an acrostic, or on a single line without spaces:

But the award absolutely must go to the ANU Soccer Club magazine, cheekily named 'SCUM' by a student in the 90s much to the ongoing horror of design teams to this day

[henk-heijmans]

Sequin spider web gown by designer Loris Azzaro, 1972 - by Helmut Newton (1920 – 2004), German/Australian

[drempen]

I've never done a spidersona before but they looked like a lot of fun so I wanted to try one 🕷

Name: Robin Tkachenko

Alias: Silver Weave

Pronouns: he/they

Ethnicity: Ukrainian/Chinese

Powers: can weave webs and make spider constructs out of light, spider strength/reflexes/flexibility, no spider-sense but can sense movement within a certain range and with their webs, night vision (resulting in super sensitive eyesight during the day)

Design based on:

The Australian silver orb spider

[fuzzygraphics]

Now for the patrons! (Two of which aren’t technically patrons yet, but shh)

Angel Dust

I wanted to go hot pink for Angel, just because it’s his color. My main focus was making his spider design more clear, as a lot of people struggled reading him as spider. I thought it would be fun to give him a literal “cross-dress” since he’s into drag!

One side is a classic suit with spider-web design and the other is a cocktail dress

I gave him four eyes, 3 on one side 1 on the other

Sir Pentious

I like Pentious’ design a lot, but I don’t like the flat face 😭

So I gave him a more snake snout!

My main tweaks to his design are coloration, leaning more towards the yellows in his design so that the red has a sharp contrast. I also gave him robotic arms since well…snakes don’t have arms. Maybe he had arms in life and being a snake is a way of penitence, like “do no evil” sort of thing.

Cherri Bomb

Okay now I know her name is Cherri and I got rid of the red…BUT

The punk scene was a huge part of Australian culture in the 80s, and I feel like Cherri is the perfect candidate for an alt-punk aesthetic.

And I ended up making her a space alien. I found a lot of scene culture overlaps with alt and punk, and I feel like Cherri is the type to want to emulate that “men fear me, kids look up to me” look. Besides, she is named after a punk song!

Mimzy

Okay so my main gripe with mimzy’s design is that it doesn’t really fit with the others at all. She feels more like a BG character than someone who will be reoccurring. So I basically wanted to make her design more. I read somewhere she was meant to be based on birds? But I can’t really confirm whether or not that’s true. I ran with it anyway!

I sort of took features from a lot of different song birds, she doesn’t have any goetia connections, but I imagine she’s snuck into their parties at least once.

[babywitchofthesouth]

Spring Samhain/Halloween Decorations Inspo 🌸👻

Floral Broomstick - created with dried flowers and twigs, tied with a linen bow around a larger stick (1 for an instructional video, 2 for more inspo)

Painted Pumpkins - paper maché pumpkins, white or pastel orange, painted with floral designs and leaves (1 for the maché, 2 for the floral designs)

Crochet Ghost Charms/Garland - mini crochet ghosts on a green crochet vine for your phone or to hand (1 for the charms and ghost pattern, 2 for a vine garland)

Crochet Witchy Frog/Duck - crochet amigurumi frog/duck (or other spring animal) wearing a witches hat (1 for realistic-ish frog, 2 for cute frog, 3 for cute ducks, 4 for tiny witch hat)

Floral Spider Wreath - twig wreath with paper or died flowers, mini plastic spiders and fake spider web through the centre of the wreath (1 for spider wreath inspo, 2 for flower wreath inspo)

Here’s the explanation for fellow baby witches:

Alright so every Australian knows Halloween happens in Spring. Pumpkins are crazy expensive since they're not in season, we have no orange leaves, and Samhain meaning ‘the end of summer’ is not accurate. We also have like, nothing to harvest (as Samhain is a harvest festival) except flowers, because it's still basically winter.

I've mentioned before that if I celebrate the Wheel of the Year, I'll generally celebrate it opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. But I've decided to mix Beltain (celebrated on the 31st of October in the Southern Hemisphere if following the seasonal calendar) and Samhain (celebrated on the 30th of April, reasons as above), so I can still express Samhain through Halloween with the rest of the world.

So these are some basic and creative diy ideas for a Spring Samhain and Beltain crossover, all inspired by brookestyless post on instagram.

Not sure if I'll have the chance to try all of them, but if you do, add the hashtags #springsamhain and #springhalloween so other Southern Hemisphere witches can be inspired! Also, feel free to tag me because I'd love to see how you all celebrate.

[australia-the-zoo]

G'day.

I know I'm a bit late to the party, but I've recently gotten really into Planet Zoo and have decided to try and build and Australian themed zoo inside the map of Australia.

(Sadly this is the earliest screen cap I took. What you can see are some rough habitat boundaries, but we'll get to all that later)

Here are the quick details:

Franchise mode

Oceania temperate biome (cuz we're girt by sea)

Focussing on natives

Aiming for (reasonable) realism with the locations of habitats

Crossposting to Reddit

Would love to document this on YouTube, but tbh I don't know where to start with that so probably not going to happen.

About me:

I am Bridget, an aspiring graphic designer and web developer. Australian but living in New Zealand. Didn't think I was homesick, but playing this game has definitely made me miss all our weird aussie animals back home... so I guess maybe I am? Dunno. Doesn't matter.

What you can expect to see on this page:

Progress screen caps (maybe speed builds as we progress)

Explanations of design choices

Habitat and construction mood boards and planning

Cool facts about Australia's places and animals

Reblogs of inspiration (will endeavour to tag)

Anything else that I might tenuously link to this project while I am in between content dumps

I hope to see you along for the ride!

Peace.

[bethanythebogwitch]

Wet Beast Wednesday: platypus

Since I've been designing original Pokemon for a hypothetical Australia-based region I've been doing some research on Australian fauna and one of them (which I made into a starter) is the famous platypus. Join me and we will learn why these animals are so weird I don't blame the European naturalists who thought they were hoaxes until presented with a live specimen. I mean you can blame European scientists of the time for a lot of things, but doubting the platypus isn't one of them.

(image: a platypus at the surface of the water, seen from above. It is a brown, furry mammal. Its legs are very short, with long webbed tows. Its tail is broad, flat, and furry. It has a large duck-like bill at the front)

The first preserved Platypus specimens brought to Europe were thought to be hoaxes made by taxidermists attaching parts of different animals together, like the Fiji mermaid or jackalopes. Its pretty clear why they thought this as platypi (there's not definitive plural of platypus and platypi is the one I refer) look like real-life chimeras. A mole-like body (indeed, they were originally thought by naturalists to be species of mole) with a duck's bill, otter's feet, and beaver's tail. In fact, platypi are none of the above but are instead one of five surviving species of monotremes, the smallest and most basal lineage of extant mammals alongside the marsupials and placentals. Monotremes possess many traits distinct from other mammals and taxonomists currently believe that the monotreme lineage split off from the lineage of live-birth giving mammals prior to marsupials and placentals diverging from each other. Differences that monotremes have from all other mammals include a lower body temperature, lack of external ears, different jaw and inner ear structures, a cloaca (combination of the excretory and reproductive tracts into a single hole), more reptile-like embryo development, and the fact that they lay eggs instead of giving live birth. Many of these traits (especially the cloaca and laying eggs) are believed to be holdovers from pre-mammalian ancestors and thus monotremes are highly valued by scientists studying mammal evolution.

(image: a platyus standing on a person's hand. It is around the same size as the hand. It is seen from the front, with its head turned to the right. Its mouth is slightly open)

Platypi are semi-aquatic animals found in rivers and streams along eastern Australia and Tasmania. They are the only living members of their genus and family, though fossil relatives have been found. Their size varies based on habitat and ranges from 0.7 to 2.4 kg (1.6 to 5.3 lbs). Males average 50 cm (20 in) and females average 43 cm (17 in). Platypi are covered in fur that traps a layer of air to insulate them while swimming. The fur is bioflourescent, producing a blue-green glow when exposed to ultraviolet light. The tail is used to store fat and will glow larger in a well-fed individual. All four feet are webbed, the front feet more so. The style of swimming used by platypi is unlike that of any other amphibious or aquatic mammal. Other mammals use their hind feet and/or tails for propulsion. Platypi instead use their front feed for propulsion. The hind feet and tail are only used for steering. When on land, platypi curl up their front toes and walk on their knuckles to protect the webbing between their toes. The eyes are small and weak and are not used when hunting.

(image: a platypus seen from above and below, fluorescing under black light. Its top looks dark blue with splotches of purple while the underside is a lighter green-blue with purple towards the middle)

The bill is the most important organ for finding prey. All living monotremes are capable of electroreception, the detection of electric fields. These fields are produced when prey contracts its muscles and the platypus is sensitive enough to detect very small prey. The electroreceptor organs are located on the bill and run in lines from front to back. The distribution of the organs in distinct lines allows the platypus to determine the direction of the source of an electric field by sensing which line feels the field most strongly. The bill is also covered uniformly in mechanoreceptors used for touch. Platypi hunt by digging their bills through the sediment at the bottom of the water and detecting prey. This method of hunting and use of electroreception allows platypi to hunt in very murky water. Prey consists primarily of worms, insect larvae, and crustaceans. Platypi are born with teeth in their bills, but they fall out quickly and are not replaced. Some fossil species apparently retained their teeth into adulthood. The insides of the bill are lined with ceratodontes, plates covered in rough, keratinized surfaces that are used to grind up food.

(image: a platypus foraging for food at the bottom of a river. The front of its bill is poking into the sandy river bottom. There is a submerged log in the background and multiple small fish in the foreground)

(image: a scientific diagram showing three drawings of a platypus from three angles and the area it can detect electric fields. source)

As if all that wasn't strange enough, platypi are also one of the few species of venomous mammals. The male platypus has spurs on the hind feet that inject venom. This venom is powerful enough to kill dogs, but is not fatal to humans. Instead, it causes swelling and increases sensitivity to pain. This can last for weeks to months and can be agonizing. Female platypi are born with the spurs, but they never develop venom and fall off by their first birthday. Males use their spurs to fight over territory and mates.

(image: a person showing off a male platypus's spur. The platypus is mostly out of frame, but a hind leg and some fur is visible, wrapped in a sheet. A human hand is gripping the hind leg near the toes and holding it in place. The spur is curved and conical and larger than any of the actual claws. It is located near the heel)

Platypi live in simple burrows dug along the water's edge around 30 cm above the surface of the water. They are often hidden behind roots or plants. Platypi spend most of their time in the burrow sleeping for up to 14 hours a day. When not sleeping, they spend most of theer time in the water hunting. Dives last up to 30 seconds with a 10-20 second surface interval. Platypi will travel up to 7 km (4.3 miles) from their burrows to hunt. They maintain territories and will attempt to chase competitors of the same sex out. Males have larger territories than females and their territories usually overlap with those of 3 or 4 females. Platypi are nocturnal and crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) but have been known to come out on cloudy days. They are typically active for 12 hours per day and spend most of that time hunting. A platypus eats up to 20% of its body weight daily. Platypi are preyed upon by snakes, goannas (monitor lizards), various birds of prey, and possibly crocodiles and invasive foxes.

(image: a drawing of a cross-section of a platypus burrow. The burrow is located in a river bank with the opening right by the water. A long tunnel leads to a round chamber. In the chamber is a platypus with two eggs. Art by David Nockels)

Platypus mating season lasts between June and October every year. During this time, males will compete with each other for mates using their venomous spurs. Some males will maintain territories and force other males out while other males are more transitory and will go looking for mates. Females only mate with a single male every season. Strangely, females have two ovaries but only the left one is functional. After mating, the female will retreat to her burrow. While most egg-laying animals will lay they eggs as soon s they are formed, platypi retain their eggs internally for 28 days before laying them, after which they will continue to develop for 10 days before hatching. Most layings result in 2 eggs. The female curls around her eggs to incubate and protect them. Newborn platypi are called puggles and they are blind, hairless, and defenseless. As with other mammals, they feed on their mother's milk. Platypi do not have nipples and instead, the milk is secreted through the skin and into grooves on the mother's belly, where the puggles lap it up. While the puggles are developing, the mother spends less time out foraging, though she will increase the time foraging as her offspring develop. Weaning happes at 3-4 months, after which the juveniles will leave the burrow and set out on their own. Mothers have been observed laving behind soil plugs at the entrance to their burrows while there are offspring are in them. They are used to squeeze off water as the female returns to her burrow, preventing cold water from reaching the offspring.

(image: a reconstruction of a mother platypus and puggles. They are in a dirt burrow lined with bits of leaves and bark. The mother is on its back and looking toward the camera. There are three puggles, which share the same body plan, but are very small and entirely pink. Tey are sitting on the mother's abdomen)

Platybi are classified as near threatened by the IUCN, though some argeu they should be reclassified as endangered. Their habitat range has decreased since European colonization of Australia and they are threatened by habitat loss, dams, pollution, and bycatch. Aboriginal Australians historically hunted them for food and Europeans also hunted them for fur, which was outlawed in 1912. The platypus was and is culturally relevant to Aboriginal peoples sharing its range, particularly the native peoples of the Murray river. There are multiple Dreamtime stories of the platypus, many dedicated to explaining how it ended up the way it is. In one, originating from the upper Darling river, a female duck named Daroo or was either seduced or kidnapped by a male water rat named Biggoon or Bilargun. After escaping, she laid two eggs that hatched into the first platypi, inheriting their mother's bill and webbed feet and father's body and fur. Another story from the same region says that the land animals, water animals, and birds all wanted the platypus to join their group and tried to convince it to join. The platypus decided that it didn't need to join any of the groups to be special, but still wanted to be friends with all of them and so took on traits from all groups.

(image: the Ironbarks Platypus, an Aboriginal Australian rock carving of a figure typically interpreted as a platypus. It is very simple, with a roughly rectangular shape with one rounded end. From one end is a simple loop usually interpreted as the platypus's bill. Four stick-like linbs emerge from the sides)

[ao3feed-blakeyang]

Local Idiots walk into a group chat and fight God

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/n9CAp0V by Drako1234658 Furina, during her time with Lumine, accidentally creates a group chat, and now she has to do things. 1. Help a girl named Ruby save the world from a pissed off immortal 2. Help find a 'Matrix of Leadership' 3. Help save a colony of robots from death drones. 4. Help someone become a 10 star chef 5. Help a unicorn survive his two friends 6. Help rescue the concepts of Transmission and Emotion from a psychopath fashion designer What has her life become now? Warning: Canon has died in a ditch Words: 420, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: 原神 | Genshin Impact (Video Game), Charlie the Unicorn (Web Cartoon), Toriko (Anime & Manga), RWBY, Transformers One (2024), Murder Drones (Web Series), Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: Multi Characters: Furina (Genshin Impact), Ruby Rose (RWBY), Optimus Prime, Charlie the Unicorn (Charlie the Unicorn), Komatsu (Toriko), Toriko (Toriko), Megatron (Transformers), Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, Yang Xiao Long, Lolz the Blue Unicorn (Charlie the Unicorn), Roffle the Pink Unicorn (Charlie the Unicorn), Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Ying | Lumine (Genshin Impact), Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Alya Césaire, Nino Lahiffe, Chloé Bourgeois, Sabrina Raincomprix, Lila Rossi, Juleka Couffaine, Rose Lavillant, Luka Couffaine, Nathaniel Kurtzberg, Marc Anciel, Lê Chiến Kim, Max Kanté, Markov (Miraculous Ladybug), Zoé Lee (Miraculous Ladybug), Ivan Bruel, Mylène Haprèle, Kagami Tsurugi, Alix Kubdel, Fei Wu (Miraculous Ladybug) Relationships: Furina/Ying | Lumine (Genshin Impact), Ruby Rose/Weiss Schnee, Megatron/Optimus Prime, Blake Belladonna/Yang Xiao Long, Charlie the Unicorn/Starfish (Charlie the Unicorn), Uzi Doorman/Tessa James Elliott/J/N/V, Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug/Lila Rossi, Ivan Bruel/Mylène Haprèle, Alya Césaire/Nino Lahiffe, Chloé Bourgeois/Alix Kubdel, Zoé Lee/Sabrina Raincomprix, Lê Chiến Kim/Ondine, Marc Anciel/Nathaniel Kurtzberg, Juleka Couffaine/Rose Lavillant, Kagami Tsurugi/Fei Wu Additional Tags: Crack, Everyone Is Gay, Useless Lesbian Ruby Rose (RWBY), Useless Lesbian Weiss Schnee, Lesbian Disaster Yang Xiao Long, Blake Belladonna is a Mess, Optimus Prime Needs A Break, Protective Megatron (Transformers), Brat Furina (Genshin Impact), Ying | Lumine is So Done (Genshin Impact), Everyone Loves Komatsu, Gremlin Uzi Doorman, Good Boy N (Murder Drones), Feral V (Murder Drones), J is Bad at Feelings (Murder Drones), Australian Tessa James Elliott, Protective Chloé Bourgeois, Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir Is Sunshine, Lila Rossi Redemption read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/n9CAp0V

[spiderreviews]

The Spider and her flashy Boyfriend from Webbed!

Buddy and her Boyfriend - Webbed

GORGEOUS little beasts, it's delightful to engage with designs clearly grounded in real (and very cute!) spider species.

I don't have the self control to play puzzle games without landing a homicide charge, so this game is unfortunately out of my reach, however on a purely visual level I'm truly enamored with these designs. What a charming homage to some of natures most squee-inducing animals. Though that's not to say I don't appreciate what I know of the story, we love a girlboss here.

Rating - Four kid-friendly webs precariously suspending a long-lost rubiks cube in an Australian hedge.

[forex-brokers-review]

FP Markets Review ☑️ Top Forex Brokers Review (2025)

Welcome to our in-depth FP Markets Review, where we explore everything you need to know about this well-established forex and CFD broker. Whether you're a seasoned trader or just starting your trading journey, this review will provide valuable insights into FP Markets' services, features, and its position in the competitive forex market of 2025. As part of our analysis, we’ll also touch on the broader forex market landscape and how FP Markets compares to its competitors. This review is brought to you by Top Forex Brokers Review, your trusted source for unbiased and detailed broker evaluations.

FP Markets Overview

Company Background

FP Markets, founded in 2005, is an Australian-based broker with a strong reputation for reliability and transparency. Over the years, it has grown into a global brand, offering a wide range of trading instruments and services. Headquartered in Sydney, FP Markets has achieved several milestones, including expanding its regulatory footprint and introducing advanced trading platforms to cater to a diverse clientele.

Regulation and Security

FP Markets is regulated by multiple top-tier authorities, including:

Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)

Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)

Capital Markets Authority of Kenya (CMA)

Financial Sector Conduct Authority in South Africa (FSCA).

This robust regulatory framework ensures that FP Markets adheres to strict financial standards, providing a secure trading environment. Additionally, the broker segregates client funds from its operational capital, further enhancing safety and trustworthiness. 

Services and Features

Trading Platforms

FP Markets offers a variety of trading platforms to suit different trading styles and preferences:

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5): These industry-standard platforms are known for their advanced charting tools, automated trading capabilities, and user-friendly interfaces. They are available on desktop, web, and mobile devices.

cTrader: This platform is ideal for traders who value the depth of market visibility and advanced order capabilities. It also supports algorithmic trading through cAlgo.

IRESS Platform: Designed for trading equities, indices, and futures CFDs, IRESS offers a high level of customization and transparency in market pricing.

TradingView Integration: FP Markets integrates with TradingView, a popular platform for technical analysis and social networking among traders.

Account Types

FP Markets provides several account types to cater to different trading needs:

Standard Account: Aimed at beginners, this account requires a minimum deposit of AUD 100 and offers spreads starting at 1.0 pips with no commissions.

Raw Account: Designed for experienced traders, it also requires an AUD 100 minimum deposit but offers spreads from 0.0 pips with a commission of $3.50 per lot per trade.

IRESS Accounts: These include Standard, Platinum, and Premier accounts, each with varying minimum deposits and brokerage fees. They are tailored for active traders and offer Direct Market Access (DMA).

Islamic Accounts: Swap-free accounts adhering to Sharia law are available for both MetaTrader and IRESS platforms.

Range of Tradable Instruments

FP Markets boasts an impressive range of over 10,000 tradable instruments, including:

Forex: Over 70 currency pairs, covering both major and exotic pairs.

Shares: Access to more than 13,000 global shares.

Indices, Commodities, and Cryptocurrencies: A wide selection of indices, commodities like gold and oil, and cryptocurrency CFDs 9.

Leverage and Spreads

FP Markets offers competitive leverage options, with forex leverage up to 500:1. The Raw ECN account provides spreads starting from 0.0 pips, making it an attractive choice for cost-conscious traders 

Additional Services

FP Markets goes beyond trading by offering:

Educational Resources: Webinars, trading guides, and video tutorials to help traders improve their skills.

Market Analysis: Daily market updates and insights to keep traders informed.

Customer Support: 24/7 multilingual support via live chat, email, and phone.

User Reviews and Feedback Customer Satisfaction

FP Markets generally receives positive feedback from users, particularly for its:

Competitive Pricing: Low spreads and transparent fee structures are frequently praised.

Platform Variety: The availability of multiple platforms like MetaTrader, cTrader, and IRESS is well-received.

Customer Support: The broker's 24/7 multilingual support is highly rated.

Common Criticisms

Some users have noted areas for improvement, such as:

Limited features in the proprietary mobile app compared to industry leaders.

Higher spreads on the Standard account, which may not be ideal for traders seeking commission-free options.

Forex Market Landscape in 2025

Geopolitical and Economic Factors

The forex market in 2025 is shaped by several key trends:

Geopolitical Tensions: Ongoing conflicts and rising tensions between major powers like the US and China are driving market volatility.

US Political Climate: The return of Donald Trump to the White House is expected to influence the US dollar through policies like tariffs and increased spending.

Central Bank Policies: Interest rate adjustments by central banks like the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank are pivotal in shaping currency values.

Technological and Regulatory Developments

AI in Forex Trading: The integration of AI tools is democratizing market analysis, enabling traders to make more informed decisions.

Regulatory Changes: Enhanced oversight in forex trading is improving transparency but may increase operational costs.

Implications for FP Markets

FP Markets is well-positioned to thrive in this dynamic landscape by leveraging its advanced trading platforms and robust regulatory compliance. Its focus on emerging markets and technological innovation further strengthens its competitive edge 

Competitive Analysis

Top Competitors

FP Markets faces competition from brokers like IC Markets, Pepperstone, and XM. While these brokers also offer competitive pricing and advanced platforms, FP Markets stands out for its extensive range of tradable instruments and strong regulatory framework 

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths: Regulatory compliance, competitive pricing, and platform variety.

Weaknesses: Limited mobile app features and higher spreads on Standard accounts 

Conclusion

FP Markets is a reliable and well-regulated broker that offers a comprehensive range of services and features. Its competitive pricing, extensive platform offerings, and robust regulatory framework make it a strong choice for traders in 2025. While there are areas for improvement, such as mobile app features and Standard account spreads, the overall user feedback is positive. For traders seeking a secure and versatile trading environment, FP Markets is undoubtedly worth considering.

[sunshinecoastwebdesign1]

Website Maintenance and Support In Australia

In today's digital landscape, a strong online presence is essential for businesses of all sizes. In Australia, where the internet plays a vital role in consumer behavior, maintaining a well-functioning website is more important than ever. Website maintenance and support are crucial components that can significantly impact your business's success. Here’s why investing in these services is essential. #Sunshine Coast Web Design

Why Website Maintenance Matters

1. Security

Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, and Australian businesses are not immune to attacks. Regular website maintenance includes updating software, plugins, and security protocols to protect against vulnerabilities. This proactive approach helps safeguard sensitive customer data, ensuring your business remains trustworthy and compliant with regulations like the Australian Privacy Principles.

2. Performance Optimization

A slow-loading website can deter potential customers and harm your search engine rankings. Routine maintenance allows for performance optimizations, such as image compression, code minification, and caching strategies. These improvements enhance user experience, reduce bounce rates, and ultimately lead to higher conversion rates.

3. Content Updates

Your website is a reflection of your business, and keeping content fresh is vital. Regular updates to blogs, product listings, and service pages not only engage visitors but also signal to search engines that your site is active. This can improve your visibility in search results, driving more organic traffic to your website.

4. Technical Issues

Websites can experience various technical problems, from broken links to server downtime. Routine maintenance helps identify and resolve these issues before they escalate, ensuring your site remains functional. Quick response times to technical glitches can mean the difference between losing a customer and retaining their business.

5. User Experience

A well-maintained website enhances user experience. Regular audits and updates to navigation, design elements, and mobile responsiveness ensure that visitors can easily find the information they need. An intuitive user experience not only retains existing customers but also attracts new ones through positive word-of-mouth.

Choosing the Right Support

When it comes to website maintenance and support in Australia, selecting the right partner is crucial. Here are some factors to consider:

1. Experience and Expertise

Look for a company with a proven track record in website maintenance. They should have a strong understanding of various platforms, coding languages, and best practices in web security.

2. Comprehensive Services

Choose a provider that offers a range of services, including security updates, performance monitoring, and content management. A one-stop shop simplifies the process and ensures all aspects of your website are covered.

3. Responsive Support

In the digital world, issues can arise at any time. Opt for a support service that provides timely responses and assistance, ensuring minimal downtime for your business.

4. Custom Solutions

Every business is unique, and your website maintenance plan should reflect that. Look for providers that offer customizable packages tailored to your specific needs and budget.

Contact Us Today! 

🌐 : https://sunshinecoastwebdesign.com.au/ 

☎: +61 418501122

✉: sales@sunshinecoastwebdesign.com.au 

🏡: 32 Warrego Drive Pelican Waters Sunshine Coast QLD, 4551 Australia

Conclusion

Investing in website maintenance and support is not just about keeping your site functional; it’s about enhancing your brand's reputation and customer trust. In Australia’s competitive online market, a well-maintained website can be a significant differentiator. By prioritizing maintenance, you ensure that your website continues to serve as an effective marketing tool, driving growth and success for your business. Don’t wait until issues arise—embrace proactive website management to stay ahead of the curve.

[mexcine]

Swipe File #6:

Here are some examples of paperback/magazine covers which photo-referenced movie characters -- sometimes in context, sometimes not.

The strangest one is the portrait of Guinn "Big Boy" Wiliams (a stalwart Hollywood supporting actor but by no means a star) for the cover of "Dollar Western" (an Australian publication). I mean, why would you go to the trouble of doing this? Couldn't you use your imagination to paint a generic cowboy?

My favourite of these four is "Feline Frame-Up," which -- while still a blatant swipe of Jane Russell from "The Outlaw" -- has really fine art and design.

While the internet makes it easy to find an image of just about anything (I recognised Big Boy Williams, and it didn't take me long to find a photo that approximates the pose on the cover, and the others were even more easily discovered), artists in the pre-Web days had to maintain files of photos, newspaper and magazine clippings, etc.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

I'm on tour with my new, nationally bestselling novel The Bezzle! Catch me next weekend (Mar 30/31) in ANAHEIM at WONDERCON, then in Boston with Randall "XKCD" Munroe (Apr 11), then Providence (Apr 12), and beyond!

#20yrsago Disneyland jacks up admission at 190% of inflation https://web.archive.org/web/20040404060758/https://www.yesterland.com/tickets.html

#15yrsago British cops identify 200 schoolchildren as potential terrorists https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-identify-200-children-as-potential-terrorists-1656027.html

#15yrsago Bletchley Park rebuilds the bombes — code crackers that won the war https://makezine.com/article/technology/computers-mobile/code-cracker-remade/?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890

#15yrsago Verified by Visa: British banks phish their own customers https://web.archive.org/web/20090331094020/http://www.links.org/?p=591

#10yrsago Motion picture industry continues to stagger under piracy with mere record-breaking income https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/03/piracy-notwithstanding-mpaa-enjoys-a-very-strong-year-again/

#10yrsago Sen Lamar Alexander: if shills have to tell Congress who’s paying them, it will “chill speech” https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-republican-street-fight-over-transparency-in-government

#10yrsago Ethiopia: the first “off-the-shelf” surveillance state https://www.hrw.org/report/2014/03/25/they-know-everything-we-do/telecom-and-internet-surveillance-ethiopia

#5yrsago How hedge funds, Goldman Sachs, and corrupt executives used Gymboree’s chaotic bankruptcy to cash out while destroying the careers of loyal employees https://theintercept.com/2019/03/25/gymboree-bankruptcy-severance-scam/

#5yrsago Study finds 95% of all Bitcoin trading volume is fake, designed to lure in ICOs https://web.archive.org/web/20190401033546/https://go.technologyreview.com/134-fake-bitcoin-trading

#5yrsago Sting operation: the NRA explains to white nationalist Australian political party how to deflect gun control calls after a massacre https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/3/26/how-to-sell-a-massacre-nras-playbook-revealed

#5yrsago Millennials are killing McMansions https://web.archive.org/web/20190920074507/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/millennials-vs-baby-boomers-big-houses-real-estate-market-problems-2019-3

#1yrago What comes after neoliberalism? https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/28/imagine-a-horse/#perfectly-spherical-cows-of-uniform-density-on-a-frictionless-plane

[a-solitary-sea-rover-backup]

Skatewing: The Tumbling, Tipsy Tale of an America’s Cup Legend’s Less-Impressive Invention

Everyone has a few mistakes and failed projects they’d rather not talk about. Nobody hits it out of the park every time. And we do mean everyone, no matter how bright or skilled they are. With Australia II’s historic victory in the 1983 America’s Cup, its designer Ben Lexcen received tremendous fame and recognition. (How many other nerds can you think of who were in beer and car commercials?) At some point in the mid-1980s, Lexcen was also approached by a surfer named Peter Hawks, who wanted to work with him to design a new type of skateboard.

Like Australia II, the resulting Skatewing board was colorful, unusual-looking, and launched with high aspirations— it was sold with a membership brochure for the “Flight Commanda’s Club” that promised world championship competitions and an even more unusual follow-up board called The Black Bat.

Unfortunately, this time the wing was NOT the thing. Compared to regular skateboards, the Skatewing was big, heavy, and unwieldy to ride. The wings and back often cracked under the stress of being ridden. (Is this the correct terminology? I don’t really know anything about skateboards.) This video even called it one of the worst skateboard inventions of all time.

The Skatewing understandably didn’t catch on. You can still find some web discussions where Australians who had them as kids in the late 80s and early 90s talk about how difficult they were to ride. And the pictures in this post all come from these two useful posts on the blog Skate And Annoy, where some modern skateboarders offer their assessments. You can see a video of the Skatewing in action here (some bad language).

Ben Lexcen would die of a heart attack in 1988 and be inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame in 2006, remembered— in the words of the Skatewing brochure— as a “world-famous scientist and yacht designer”. As for his collaborator, I can’t seem to find anything about Peter Hawks online. (Searching for for “Hawk(s) + [anything related to skateboarding]” is pretty much a lost cause for obvious reasons.) But I’d like to hope he was also so successful in other endeavors that the Skatewing was just an embarrassing footnote to his life story.