Remember the good old days when switching energy providers felt like hitting the jackpot? Those juicy sign-up bonuses, gift cards, and credits that made the hassle of changing providers worth every minute spent comparing deals. These days, scanning through energy offers feels more like searching for a needle in a haystack.

The current state of energy deals reminds me of the cryptocurrency boom-bust cycle. One minute, companies were throwing money at customers like there was no tomorrow; the next, the well dried up faster than a puddle in the outback. Looking at the offers now, most seem to have either vanished entirely or come with catches that make them less appealing than a sunburn in December.

Last night brought an unexpected reminder of how close we really are to nature, even in our suburban sprawl. My wife messaged me a photo of what turned out to be an eastern long-neck turtle, casually hanging out at our front door like a late-night delivery that nobody ordered. Living in the eastern suburbs, we’re used to seeing these remarkable creatures, but usually they’re much smaller and stick to daylight hours.

Scrolling through social media this morning while waiting for my code to compile, I stumbled upon something that made me do a double-take - a rather questionable piece of fan art featuring the Scrub Daddy sponge mascot. For those unfamiliar, Scrub Daddy is that smiling sponge that changes texture based on water temperature, and somehow it’s become a cultural phenomenon.

The internet’s ability to transform mundane household items into viral sensations never ceases to amaze me. Remember when we just bought cleaning products because they worked well? Now we’re creating fan art and developing parasocial relationships with sponges. It’s simultaneously fascinating and slightly concerning.

The recent social media buzz about Buddhist monks queueing for croissants has sparked an interesting conversation about food culture, religion, and the peculiar phenomenon of waiting in ridiculously long lines for baked goods. The sight of monks in their traditional robes waiting patiently for pastries certainly adds an amusing twist to Melbourne’s already eccentric food scene.

Let’s be honest – our city’s obsession with queuing for trendy eateries has reached almost mythological proportions. The fact that we’re willing to stand in line for hours just to sample what is essentially butter and flour (albeit expertly laminated) says something profound about our culture. Perhaps it’s FOMO, or maybe it’s our endless quest for the perfect Instagram story.

The recent news about the UK government ordering Apple to disable Advanced Data Protection has sent shockwaves through the tech community, and rightfully so. This isn’t just another local policy decision - it’s a concerning move that could have global implications for digital privacy.

Standing at my desk in my home office, looking at my iPhone and MacBook, I’m struck by the irony of the situation. Here we are, living in an era where digital security is more crucial than ever, yet governments seem determined to tear down the very protections we need.

Just when you thought the tech industry couldn’t get more bizarre, here we are watching a drama unfold that would be rejected as too far-fetched for a Netflix series. The latest revelation about a DOGE staffer’s previous dismissal from a cybersecurity company for leaking secrets reads like a plot from a rejected Silicon Valley episode.

The sheer absurdity of putting sensitive government systems in the hands of individuals who couldn’t pass basic security clearance checks is mind-boggling. Working in tech, I’ve had to jump through countless hoops just to access relatively mundane corporate systems. My junior developers need thorough background checks just to peek at our codebase. Yet somehow, we’re watching people waltz into positions handling potentially sensitive government data with apparently less vetting than what’s required to work at your local Bunnings.

Everything started with a simple thought: “I’ll just set up Plex on my NAS.” Famous last words. Looking back now, I can’t help but laugh at my naivety. That innocent decision has spiraled into what can only be described as a full-blown obsession with self-hosting and digital independence.

The catalyst was frustration with streaming services. Remember when Netflix was the only game in town? Now we’re expected to juggle half a dozen subscriptions just to watch our favourite shows. Even then, content appears and disappears at the whim of corporate licensing deals. It’s maddening.

The tech world has been buzzing about DeepSeek lately, and watching the mainstream coverage unfold has been quite the experience. Walking past Federation Square yesterday, I overheard someone confidently explaining to their friend how they could run this “revolutionary Chinese AI” on their gaming laptop - and honestly, I had to resist the urge to jump into their conversation with a well-actually moment.

The surge of misinformation around DeepSeek is both fascinating and frustrating. Major news outlets are fumbling with basic facts, comparing DeepSeek to completely unrelated tech companies, and making claims that range from misleading to outright incorrect. It reminds me of the early days of cryptocurrency coverage, when every journalist suddenly became a blockchain expert overnight.

The other day, while updating my details at the local pharmacy, I witnessed something that made my inner tech worker cringe. The customer ahead of me recited their phone number in what can only be described as a freestyle jazz interpretation of numerical sequences. “Oh-four-triple-two-double-five-eight-nine…” They might as well have been reading out their grocery list.

Let’s be real here - there’s a proper way to format Australian mobile numbers, and it’s 4-3-3. That’s it. End of story. It’s not just about being pedantic (though I’ll admit there’s a bit of that); it’s about clear communication and reducing errors. Every mobile phone system, every web form, and every database is designed around this format. It’s not a coincidence.

Reading through various career change stories online today got me thinking about the incredible journeys people take when they decide to completely switch paths. From burnt-out healthcare workers to hospitality veterans, there’s a growing trend of professionals making bold moves into entirely different industries - and thriving.

The stories that caught my eye weren’t just about salary increases (though doubling or even tripling income certainly grabbed my attention). What really resonated was how many people described finding unexpected happiness in roles they’d never previously considered. Train drivers who left hospitality behind, nurses transitioning to medical sales, and event managers stepping into tech - each story painted a picture of people breaking free from their comfort zones.