I have a 1 in 9 chance of winning 2 x return flights to the UK, all I need is the most votes for my photo here: http://josh.tw/pClcIc - do it now & get the people in your house to do the [...]]]> Update: thanks for all the support, the competition is closed now (I didn’t win).

I have a 1 in 9 chance of winning 2 x return flights to the UK, all I need is the most votes for my photo here: http://josh.tw/pClcIc - do it now & get the people in your house to do the same!

As announced, I will be standing for re-election to the auDA board.

In brief, my pitch to auDA members is:

Domain names are essential parts of the Internet’s functionality.  Australian domain names provide the platform for Australia’s online economy; now worth 3.6% of Australian GDP.  Josh Rowe is a current director of auDA seeking re-election.  Josh has [...]]]>

As announced, I will be standing for re-election to the auDA board.

In brief, my pitch to auDA members is:

Domain names are essential parts of the Internet’s functionality.  Australian domain names provide the platform for Australia’s online economy; now worth 3.6% of Australian GDP.  Josh Rowe is a current director of auDA seeking re-election.  Josh has over 19 years experience with the Internet.  Josh is an active participant in the debate of Australian and global domain name governance, engaged through a variety of online and offline forums.  Josh participated in the 2010 Names Policy Review Panel. Josh is a staunch consumer advocate and has completed research on the usability of domain names; www.domainusability.com. 

I am contactable directly via email josh@email.nu and also more than happy meet in person to discuss my views (I work in the Melbourne CBD).

If you’re an auDA Demand Class member and wish to vote for me, here’s how to do so:

1. Vote by Fax or Post using a Proxy

For Demand Class Members who cannot attend the meeting but still wish to vote for me, a Proxy Form (PDF) with instructions is available. If you have any trouble accessing the proxy form, please email jacki.osullivan@auda.org.au.

To appoint me as your proxy my details are Josh Rowe, c/o auDA, 114 Cardigan Street, Carlton VIC 3053.

I recommend voting “For” all these motions:

• Approve the minutes of the 2010 AGM
• Accept the 2010-2011 audited accounts
• Special resolutions to amend the Constitution
  • Introduction of “Life Member” class of members
  • Streamlining removal of members for non-payment
  • Housekeeping and clarifying amendments

Tick “For” next to my name (Joshua Rowe) in the Demand Class voting section.

Proxy forms must be received by 5pm AEDST on Thursday 13 October 2011. Late proxy forms will not be accepted.

Forms should be sent by post OR fax to:
auDA Company Secretary
c/- Robert Gregory, Maddocks Lawyers

Postal Address: 140 William St, Melbourne VIC 3000

OR

Fax Number: 03 9288 0666

2. Vote in person at the auDA AGM

Date: Monday 17 October 2011
Time: 2.00pm
Venue: Maddocks, 140 William Street, Melbourne

My extended candidate statement is below.

For those not familiar with the domain name industry structure, here are the key players in the domain name industry supply chain:

End User – A person who uses domain names to access web sites, email addresses and other Internet resources.  For example; I use web sites; www.bom.gov.au,  www.facebook.com, www.volvoclub.co.uk, and use email addresses;  josh@email.nu, letters@theage.com.au.

Registrant – An organisation or entity that licences the use of a domain name.  For example; Westpac Banking Corporation is the registrant for the  westpac.com.au domain name.    Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation is the registrant for the irctc.co.in domain name.

Specialist – Intellectual property lawyers, marketers, web developers, etc.  For example; Phil Argy is a WIPO Panellist who arbitrates .au domain name licence disputes.  Next Digital develops web sites. Freestyle Media provide online marketing services.

Reseller – Retail domain names to registrants based on any domain name policies in place.  Resellers sell on behalf of registrars.  For example; SnapSite resells domain name licences on behalf of domain name registrar Planet Domain.  NameCheap resells domain name licences on behalf of domain name registrar eNom.

Registrar – Retail domain names to registrants based on any domain name policies in place. For example; Melbourne IT sells domain name licences for .com.au, net.au, org.au, asn.au, and id.au.  GoDaddy sells domain name licences for .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info.

Registry – Assign and maintain a database of domain names on the Internet. For example; AusRegistry is the domain name registry for com.au, net.au, id.au, asn.au, org.au, gov.au and edu.au.   VeriSign is the domain name registry for .com and .net.

Regulator – Set policy and administrate domain name space. For example; ICANN is the domain name regulator for the  ‘root’ domain name space.  auDA is the domain name regulator for the .au domain name space.

I am standing for re-election to .au Domain Administration Ltd (auDA), which is the policy authority and industry self-regulatory body for the Australian .au domain name space.

auDA performs the following functions:

• develop and implement domain name policy
• license second level domain registry operators
• accredit and license registrars
• implement consumer safeguards
• facilitate .au Dispute Resolution Policy
• represent .au at ICANN and other international fora.

Domain names are essential parts of the Internet’s functionality and must be managed as a critical piece of Internet infrastructure for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Domain names are the user interface that allows consumer to transact online.  Australian domain names provide the platform for Australia’s online economy; now worth 3.6% of Australian GDP.

I have over 19 years experience with the Internet and deriving commercial benefits from its use.  In my working career, I have delivered a road range of achievements across business and technology roles, from detailed analysis through to strategic development.  My corporate work experience includes 10+ years successfully operating in leadership roles within a blue chip organisation.  I am a director of key Internet industry bodies and have obtained a postgraduate qualification in eBusiness and undergraduate qualification in Computer Science.

I’m an active participant in the debate of Australian and global domain name governance, engaged through a variety of online and offline forums.  My original passion for domain names came through absolute frustration with the restrictive .au domain name policy in 1999.  I joined the very first .au domain name policy review panel and was part of the sweeping domain name policy changes that allowed much more flexible registration of .au domain names.

I am a staunch consumer advocate.  In the past, rogue domain name operators used deceptive techniques to lure un-expecting domain name registrants to register domain names they probably didn’t really need.  At my own personal risk, I took on these rogue operators to expose their behaviour. Together with legal action undertaken by local and international domain name regulators the end result was that this behaviour has all but ceased and no longer causes Australian businesses to waste their time and money.

I have completed research on the usability of domain names; www.domainusability.com.  The domain name system is not perfect for end users, so I wrote a 35k word thesis about it and then presented it to policy makers from around the globe at an international conference on domain names.  There’s an 18 page PowerPoint version of my thesis too if you can’t stomach 35k words.

Some of auDA’s achievements during my last term as an auDA Demand Class director include:

• accepted the Secondary Market Working Group recommendations
• accepted the 2010 Names Policy Panel recommendations (a panel I was also a member of)
• undertaking review of the governance of .au (in progress)
• noted 2 millionth .au domain name registration
• introduced a public domain name drop list
• managed complex registrar issues relating to financial and security issues

** New bounties & targets added – see below **

I’m doing the World Vision 40 Hour Famine in August.

I am going without food for 40 hours to raise money to help kids around the world who are [...]]]> UPDATE: Target met & exceeded! $1415 in donations received so far – keep them coming!

I am going without food for 40 hours to raise money to help kids around the world who are suffering from chronic hunger.

My goal is to raise $1000

Could you please support me, and them, by making a donation?

Donate online here: http://40hf.com/joshrowe/ -  it’s tax deductible !

To make things even more challenging I am willing to forego the following things during my 40 hour famine if the donation targets are met.

For example if a total of $200 is donated, then I will forgo food, Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Google+ for the 40 hour famine.

Cumulative Total, Bounty : Item – Sponsor(s)

$0, $0: No food
$50,  $50: No Facebook - sponsor: @thehoneybar
$100, $50: No Twitter – sponsor: @thehoneybar
$150, $50: No Foursquare – sponsor: @simonlazenby
$200, $50: No Google+ – sponsor @MarkRCameron
$250, $50: No LinkedIn - sponsor @MarkRCameron
$300, $50: No Instagram - sponsor @MarkRCameron
$350, $50: No Email - sponsor @MarkRCameron
$400, $50: No Angry Birds – sponsors @minuzp, @smili72 & @zidwa
$500, $100: No iPhone (except for phone calls) – sponsors @mattymcg & @jeffo_smith & @mercman350
$600, $100: No Internet Access – sponsors @mercman350, @cbaldwin50 & @andysteele
$700, $100: No MacBook – sponsors @andysteele, @edizb & @grahamjohnson
$800,  $100: No TV – sponsors @grahamjohnson, Jack H & @William_Simmons
$900, $100: No Cinemas – sponsors Kate C, Dan C, @kensh1, Alex M & @Michael_Muscat
$1000, $100: No Football (including the Richmond v Melbourne game on Sunday 21/8) – sponsor @Michael_Muscat

New targets & bounties just added:

$1200, $200: Prepare & cook all meals for family (wife & 3 kids) – sponsors Cam S, Brett M, Michael G & Lyn T
$1500, $300: Personal butler for wife – sponsors Lyn T, Nick A, @johnskenyon, @danmccredden, & Brendan P & more sponsors needed

The 40 Hour Famine weekend officially runs from 8pm on Friday 19 August to noon on Sunday 21 August.

Here’s what happened today.  Following my lodgement of a formal complaint with the City [...]]]> Melbourne Zoo together with the Melbourne Zoo Bistro’s caterer, Liberty Catering Concepts, have apologised for serving bloody uncooked chicken to my four year old child.  I accept their apologies and hope that a mistake like this does not occur again.

Here’s what happened today.  Following my lodgement of a formal complaint with the City of Melbourne 2 days ago, a food inspector visited the Melbourne Zoo Bistro and inspected their facilities and audited their food handling processes.  The City of Melbourne have been very impressive with their handling of my complaint, taking the issue of food safety very seriously and keeping me updated through out the inspection process.

Putting aside the health issues, from a social media perspective it took the Melbourne Zoo two whole business days to respond to a serious customer complaint made through Facebook & Twitter – is that ok in this day and age?

This morning Zoos Victoria posted this message on the Melbourne Zoo Facebook page:

Zoos Victoria  Hi Josh, we’re really sorry to hear about your experience at the Melbourne Zoo bistro – thank you for alerting us to this issue.

We want all our visitors to have a great day at the zoo and this of course includes the experience at our catering outlets. If you would like to chat about this to one of the directors of the catering company we would be happy to arrange this. Our official facebook page is www.facebook.com/zoosvictoria or you can get in touch by emailing zv@zoo.org.au

It’s an amazing looking building which Apple plans to have ready by 2015.

Here is the presentation Jobs gave to the Cupertino Council on June 7, 2011:

For those last 15 years I have had a running joke song request for her to play Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney’s duet; Ebony and Ivory.

This song is not exactly a match for the types of songs she might have played at [...]]]> My sister, Zan Rowe, has been in radio for 15 years.

For those last 15 years I have had a running joke song request for her to play Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney’s duet; Ebony and Ivory.

This song is not exactly a match for the types of songs she might have played at RRR or Triple J where she works now.

However, yesterday it finally got played, listen to how it unfolded:

I’ll have to find another joke song now! Any suggestions?

Google’s new ”+1 button” looks like a version of the Facebook Like button.  They announced it back in March, but I have just started seeing it appear in my Google search results today.

Is this Google finally starting to make the most of their massive customer database to kick start their own social network?

In 1995, when the Internet was young, I launched Josh’s Sanctum as a place to share links through the 1995 version of social media – a guestbook.

The 2011 version of Josh’s Sanctum is my personal blog where I intend to [...]]]> Welcome to Josh’s Sanctum – the personal blog of Josh Rowe from Melbourne, Australia.

In 1995, when the Internet was young, I launched Josh’s Sanctum as a place to share links through the 1995 version of social media – a guestbook.

The 2011 version of Josh’s Sanctum is my personal blog where I intend to share my thoughts on work and life in general.

I don’t know how often I’ll post to this site nor which specific topics I will cover.

Wish me luck!

Josh