MySpace, Virb, Bebo, Facebook, Twitter, Pownce, Vimeo, del.icio.us, Blogs, Flickr, Last.fm (questionable), YouTube — If you’re riding on the Web 2.0 wave, chances are you’re a regular to a handful of these sites. Has Web 2.0 been robbing you of time?

Isn’t it that computers were invented to ease the workload and increase efficiency? Well that’s what I was told anyway. Most recently, news reports are emerging that employees are spending precious working minutes updating their Facebook profiles. There seems to be this moral obligation in Web 2.0 (which I will from here-on refer to as W2) to update the world on what you’re doing and, or how you feel. Especially on social sites, a lapse in correspondence of more than 10 minutes (exceptions apply) between individuals can result in catastrophic friendship melt-downs.

So W2 has made ‘computing’ a chore? It’s all a conspiracy - computers increasing efficiency, but then they leech time off us with all this silly W2 shenanigan. Computer manufacturers, since 2004, have been paid a commission for every hour users are on W2 website (which is paid for by the Web 2.0 Consortium). Ever wondered why computers and parts are getting cheaper day-by-day? Throw away the “technology is advancing, hence cheaper components” or “there is a higher demand” propagandas, and put the blame on Web 2.0.

You see, even I am affected by this cancerous growth called “Web 2.0″… Unsatisfied with original site design and continued interest in climbing the blogging ranks, I too have been robbed of time, spent writing boring articles, spent re-designing and ugly design… which is also ugly. Ah, W2 has captured my heart, soul and big-toe-on-my-left-foot - I am immobilised. Oh save me. Consumed, I drown in a pond of dust, mud, videos, photos and text. That was until I was rescued by the Coastguard - good on ‘em (they’re good guys).

Clarence is dead! Between 11:00pm yesterday and 11:27pm tonight, Clarence has kicked the bucket. Last night he was on his back but, however, was still responsive (eg; he would move when I tapped the container). It’s really weird how insects always die on their backs. It’s like they are waving a white flag to any predators which might stumble across this fine cuisine dish. Wait a minute! Clarence could be tricking me! Nah, we have been like friends over these past few months together, and friends never do such things as that! Why did I even think of that?

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Steve Irwin, the quirky Australian naturalist who won world-wide acclaim, was killed by a stingray barb through the chest on Monday while diving off Australia’s northeast coast, emergency officials and witnesses said.

“Steve was hit by a stingray in the chest,” said local diving operator Steve Edmondson, whose Poseidon boats were out on the Great Barrier Reef when the accident occurred.

“He probably died from a cardiac arrest from the injury,” he said.

Police and ambulance officials later confirmed Irwin had died and said his family had been advised.

Irwin, 44, was killed while filming an underwater documentary off Port Douglas.

Irwin had been diving off his boat “Croc One” near Batt Reef northeast of Port Douglas. A helicopter had taken paramedics to nearby Low Isles where Irwin was taken for medical treatment but he was dead before they arrived, police said.

Irwin won a global following for his dare-devil antics but also triggered outrage in 2004 by holding his then one-month-old baby while feeding a snapping crocodile at his Australian zoo.

He made almost 50 of his “Crocodile Hunter” documentaries which appeared on cable TV channel Animal Planet and won a world-wide audience.

The series ended after he was criticised for the incident with his young son and for disturbing whales, seals and penguins while filming in Antarctica.

Khaki-clad Irwin became famous for his seemingly death-defying methods with wild animals, including crocodiles and snakes.

He made a cameo appearance alongside Eddie Murphy in the 2001 Hollywood film Dr Dolittle 2 and appeared on US television shows such as The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and on children’s television alongside The Wiggles.

Irwin was married with two children, Bindi Sue, 8, and Robert (Bob) Clarence, 3.

His American-born wife Terri was his business partner and frequent on-screen collaborator.

Source: AAP