Sibagraphics News Blog

November 29, 2008December 12, 2020

WordPress directions at #wordcampau

#wordcampau participants were lucky to catch up with advances in the popular, versatile blogging software, WordPress with a keynote address by Matt Mullenweg, the developer of WP. WordPress 2.7 will be available in December with loads more features. Matt alerted participants to a new WordPress template http://monotonedemo.wordpress.com/, where page colours and widths alter according to the colour and size photos which are added – could be a winner for a photography site. He tantalised the audience with a reference to the WordPress 2.6 Maxtrix Easter Egg.

The impending release of collaborative plugin BuddyPress was foreshadowed, an innovation set to energise and transform WordPressMU (the multi-user version of WordPress) with social interaction.

The beauty of WordPress is the user friendliness of its CMS (Content Management System), its extensibility with a wide choice of plugins, easy to read Help section and ready availability of templates. A collaborative networking facility will be the icing on the cake.

The online presentation was nifty, demonstrating the versatility of WordPress with integration of video streaming via Stickam, photos via Flickr and the inclusion of a Twitter stream using Monitter.

Other useful hints – collaborative tool ProjectPier, SlideShare, a site for sharing online slide presentations and of significant interest to businesses, the WordPress e-Commerce Plugin highlighted by developer Dan Milward.

November 24, 2008December 12, 2020

Google SearchWiki

How will google deal with the assault on its SearchWiki by spammers? and will it be used in developing page rank?

According to Google:

“The changes you make only affect your own searches. But SearchWiki also is a great way to share your insights with other searchers. You can see how the community has collectively edited the search results by clicking on the “See all notes for this SearchWiki” link.”

Voting on and annotating our sites and coopting our friends, employees and co-workers to do so too may be yet another chore to add to the ever expanding list of compulsory SEO tasks.

July 26, 2008December 12, 2020

Ninderry Manor Japanese dinner

Again, we have enjoyed the superb cooking and hospitality of the Sunshine Coast region’s premier bed and breakfast, Ninderry Manor, with hosts Miyuki and Aki Kitabatake, for a fabulous Japanese dinner in their elegant dining room. Since we have dined there several times in the past and unfailingly return, Aki determined that this time, we would experience some dishes which Japanese enjoy as part of their normal dining.

The mouthwatering and very healthy menu consisted of

(1) Crispy tempura prawns, pumpkin, capsicum and lotus roots with dipping sauce into which we stirred delicious grated radish.

(2) Teriyaki swordfish with lime and lemon pepper, set off to perfection with sesame sauce and homemade pickled ginger.

(3) Kon Nyaku – beef with vegetables, homemade yam noodles and divine shitake mushroom, with seven different spices in a broth of soy, sugar and ginger.

(4) Roasted eel in nori roll alongside a mixed sushi of rice, spring onion, sesame seed and seaweed topped with salmon roe, accompanied by wakame – a miso soup with tofu and seaweed.

(5) The dessert piece de resistance – a quartet of homemade icecreams – vanilla, green tea, black sesame seed and the delicious azuki bean.

Ninderry Manor is not to be missed – for unforgettable dinners and short relaxing holidays on the Sunshine Coast.

January 3, 2008December 12, 2020

Happy 2008

To all our many clients and friends, we wish much happiness and prosperity for the coming year! If you look closely, in the foreground you will see a hungry green critter who shared the solstice season with us sheltering from the wet, enjoying christmas cake.

May 2, 2007December 12, 2020

Fabulous weekend at Ninderry Manor Bed and Breakfast

Antipasti Our yearly luxury weekend at the wonderful Ninderry Manor Bed and Breakfast on the Sunshine Coast trumped even last year’s magnificent experience. From the delicious sunset cocktails and artistic hors d’ouvres to the divine Japanese dinner cuisine dreamed up by Aki to the mouth-watering French inspired breakfasts, we and our friends were relaxed and pampered, enjoying the revitalisation of our friendship in the most elegant, inspirational surroundings. Each stylish bedroom has its charm and boasts as part of the fare a selection of bon bons, chocolates and after dinner port.

The Japanese dinner was absolutely heavenly and unforgettable – except for the names of the dishes! Yet incorporated into the superbly presented four course menu were my favourite food fetish – shitake mushrooms, along with scrumptious parcels of asparagus and beef and Aki’s dessert specialty – sesame seed homemade icecream amongst other delectable surprise fantasies. Nowhere else in our experience is food presented so artistically, and the flavours are just unbelievably unique and delicious.

For the final breakfast, Aki presented us with another delight – caramelised fruit – to die for. We’ll be back – as soon as possible!

Thanks to Aki, here’s the complete menu from our special fabulous dinner.

Tuna Tartar Mixed Japanese Antipasti
– Light Prawn Fritter (Ebi-Shinjo)
– Omelette Roll w/English Spinach and Shimeji Mushrooms
– Smoked Salmon Roll w/Prawn, G-Beans, Carrot and Cucumber
– Scallop Teriyaki w/Japanese Lime Pepper Sauce and Japanese Basil

Tuna Tartar Style

Mini Sushi Rolls Variations
– Salmon Raw – Cod Raw
– Deep Fried Bean Curd (Inari)
– Turnip – Unagi

Main Meal
– Rolled Beef Asparagus with Miso Sauce & Seven Flavoured Chilli

Dessert/ Ice-cream
– Green Tea – Boysenberry
– Black Sesame – Sweet Red Bean Paste

January 1, 2007December 12, 2020

Prosperity, intellect and wisdom for 2007

This year, we send our best wishes for prosperity and peace – it’s about time all of us had a bit of a rest from interminable bloodshed over resources, religion and global supremacy. Rather than using reason to develop a logical, secular code of ethical behaviour which considers the best interests of fellow human beings as well as their own, it seems too many humans depend upon crude instincts and irrational brutish faith to justify baseless feelings of cultural superiority and barbaric slaughter of and stealing from other humans.

To celebrate our alternative peaceful vision for enlightenment in 2007, we’ve made a desktop wallpaper featuring Ganesha, a Hindu deity symbolising intellect, wisdom and prosperity.

We’ve also taken the time to add some of our latest artwork and greeting cards to our online art gallery.

Enjoy!

November 5, 2006December 12, 2020

high societea wins Themed Restaurant award

Kathy Heath’s divine Brisbane teahouse, high societea, triumphed at the prestigious Restaurant and Catering Australia Awards in Sydney this month, winning the Themed Restaurant award. Her site along with the Maleny Manor website constructed by Sibagraphics were also two of the finalists in the best website award.

Congratulations to both of our clients!

November 5, 2006December 12, 2020

Japanese dinner at Ninderry Manor

Our friends Dom and Kev joined us for joint birthday celebrations at the lovely Sunshine Coast Bed and Breakfast, Ninderry Manor for another amazing Japanese feast. After feeding the crowd of kookaburras, butcher birds and magpies on the verandah their dinner, our banquet began with a zingy midori cocktail and dainty nibbles. Then seated at the elegant antique dining table, we sampled a delicious prawn mousse (called something like chow mushy) for entree, followed by Aki’s wonderful Sukiyaki, complete with my favourite yam noodles.

Dessert was a trio of homemade icecreams with fruit salad, including Aki’s specialty – sesame seed icecream – the unique taste of this visually exciting delicacy is unforgettable.

Ninderry Manor has to be experienced to be believed – we thoroughly recommend it as the premier Queensland destination for short, delicious, romantic holidays.

October 11, 2006December 12, 2020

Ninderry Manor – premier Sunshine Coast B & B

The delightful Miyuki and Aki Kitabatake are proud to announce they have won the Bed and Breakfast Book’s People’s Choice award for 2006. Richly deserved! Ninderry Manor is the best B & B we’ve ever stayed at in Australia – and the food is fabulous.

We’re going there on the 23rd for joint birthday parties with Medicine Room author, Dominique Finney and husband Kev from Hintertech Solutions to revel in Aki’s divine celebratory sukiyaki complete with delicious udon noodles.