Leigh :) Stark 🦄
@leighlo.bsky.social
Award-winning tech journalist & editor pickr.com.au.
As heard on ABC, 2HD, 3AW, 4BC, 6PR, and more. Media appearances at pickr.com.au/about/media/
Journalist. Reviewer. SEO. Author. Photographer. Geek dad. Created simplsaver.com. Happy to help.
As heard on ABC, 2HD, 3AW, 4BC, 6PR, and more. Media appearances at pickr.com.au/about/media/
Journalist. Reviewer. SEO. Author. Photographer. Geek dad. Created simplsaver.com. Happy to help.
Pinned
Leigh :) Stark 🦄
@leighlo.bsky.social
· Mar 29
A total surprise last night: my publication @pickrau.bsky.social grabbed the Best Independent Coverage award at the 2025 Australian IT Journalism Awards. Humbled by it all.
I can't fathom for the life of me why the BOM redesign should cost as much as it does. So I wrote some words about it, and what it gets wrong.
But also looking at the code, is it seriously a $96 million Drupal site? I don't think I've ever seen that much for a Drupal site.
But also looking at the code, is it seriously a $96 million Drupal site? I don't think I've ever seen that much for a Drupal site.
The BOM's website is a problem with a cost that makes no sense – Pickr
Every website costs money to build and run, and some cost more than others, but how did a revamp almost hit $100 million? It boggles the mind.
www.pickr.com.au
November 24, 2025 at 12:27 AM
I can't fathom for the life of me why the BOM redesign should cost as much as it does. So I wrote some words about it, and what it gets wrong.
But also looking at the code, is it seriously a $96 million Drupal site? I don't think I've ever seen that much for a Drupal site.
But also looking at the code, is it seriously a $96 million Drupal site? I don't think I've ever seen that much for a Drupal site.
Last week, I wrote a piece about Aussie sites breaking Google with misinformation, something I've continued to track. Out of 142 URLs, 66 were used for misinformation.
In the interest of helping, I provided Google my resources. This week, it's rolling out fixes.
Score one for journalism.
In the interest of helping, I provided Google my resources. This week, it's rolling out fixes.
Score one for journalism.
Google set to fix scourge of misinformation searches – Pickr
The power of investigative journalism manages a win, with Google rolling out fixes for the misinformation plaguing its systems over the past weeks.
www.pickr.com.au
November 20, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Last week, I wrote a piece about Aussie sites breaking Google with misinformation, something I've continued to track. Out of 142 URLs, 66 were used for misinformation.
In the interest of helping, I provided Google my resources. This week, it's rolling out fixes.
Score one for journalism.
In the interest of helping, I provided Google my resources. This week, it's rolling out fixes.
Score one for journalism.
When I read @joshtaylor.bsky.social's story on the misinformation driving laws in Google, I kind of got stuck in trying to work out how many sites were running the info.
Turns out it's a deep hole. Every day, it grows a little more. Here's how and why.
www.pickr.com.au/news/2025/au...
Turns out it's a deep hole. Every day, it grows a little more. Here's how and why.
www.pickr.com.au/news/2025/au...
Australian sites part of a misinformation effort breaking search – Pickr
A concentrated effort to affect search means Google is amplifying lies and misinformation online unwittingly. What's going on?
www.pickr.com.au
November 12, 2025 at 8:12 AM
When I read @joshtaylor.bsky.social's story on the misinformation driving laws in Google, I kind of got stuck in trying to work out how many sites were running the info.
Turns out it's a deep hole. Every day, it grows a little more. Here's how and why.
www.pickr.com.au/news/2025/au...
Turns out it's a deep hole. Every day, it grows a little more. Here's how and why.
www.pickr.com.au/news/2025/au...
I had a few minutes to think, so I waded in. There's a good reason why declaring bias matters in journalism and reviewing: it's how our audiences trust us.
Why it matters for journalists to declare bias – Pickr
As an ABC program points out bias in journalism, it's a reminder to tap the sign of ethics and integrity, because this stuff matters.
www.pickr.com.au
November 11, 2025 at 3:26 AM
I had a few minutes to think, so I waded in. There's a good reason why declaring bias matters in journalism and reviewing: it's how our audiences trust us.
Reposted by Leigh :) Stark 🦄
Updated my article about online reviews and media ethics after last night's Media Watch episode. I kind of feel like I'm maybe preaching to the converted, but I feel strongly that this kind of practice needs a light shone on it.
#reviews #australia #ethics
alexreviewstech.com/the-problem-...
#reviews #australia #ethics
alexreviewstech.com/the-problem-...
The problem with online reviews - Alex Reviews Tech
This week's episode of Media Watch shines a light on a real problem with a LOT of online reviews and reviewers.
alexreviewstech.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Updated my article about online reviews and media ethics after last night's Media Watch episode. I kind of feel like I'm maybe preaching to the converted, but I feel strongly that this kind of practice needs a light shone on it.
#reviews #australia #ethics
alexreviewstech.com/the-problem-...
#reviews #australia #ethics
alexreviewstech.com/the-problem-...
If you have 30 seconds and like Wordle (or even if you hate it, but like word games), I'd love to hear what you think about a game I've made: BleepWords.
It's a soft launch. Any and all feedback is appreciated. Share to friends, family, and people who love words.
It's a soft launch. Any and all feedback is appreciated. Share to friends, family, and people who love words.
BleepWords
Play the game that's all about choosing the right !@#$ing word. It's almost never the one you expect.
bleepwords.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:39 AM
If you have 30 seconds and like Wordle (or even if you hate it, but like word games), I'd love to hear what you think about a game I've made: BleepWords.
It's a soft launch. Any and all feedback is appreciated. Share to friends, family, and people who love words.
It's a soft launch. Any and all feedback is appreciated. Share to friends, family, and people who love words.
Clearly, I needed to change the fact that there weren't any Australian entries in the Bad UX World Cup.
So here's a somewhat evil date picker made for gamers who want to throw their phones across the room, and who will quickly realise you can't cheat on desktop, either.
So here's a somewhat evil date picker made for gamers who want to throw their phones across the room, and who will quickly realise you can't cheat on desktop, either.
Datehack - A Roguelike Date Picker
leighlo.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Clearly, I needed to change the fact that there weren't any Australian entries in the Bad UX World Cup.
So here's a somewhat evil date picker made for gamers who want to throw their phones across the room, and who will quickly realise you can't cheat on desktop, either.
So here's a somewhat evil date picker made for gamers who want to throw their phones across the room, and who will quickly realise you can't cheat on desktop, either.
Last night on ABC Adelaide, a caller doubted my expectation that it was an update that caused the DNS issue.
Turns out it was an update. www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...
Turns out it was an update. www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...
October 21, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Last night on ABC Adelaide, a caller doubted my expectation that it was an update that caused the DNS issue.
Turns out it was an update. www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...
Turns out it was an update. www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...
No prize for guessing what today's radio spots will cover.
October 20, 2025 at 10:40 PM
No prize for guessing what today's radio spots will cover.
Either Apple Music or Sonos just went down, because the rain stopped in one room.
Guessing more AWS fun.
Guessing more AWS fun.
October 20, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Either Apple Music or Sonos just went down, because the rain stopped in one room.
Guessing more AWS fun.
Guessing more AWS fun.
Achievement unlocked: embraced my inner Hank Hill.
October 19, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Achievement unlocked: embraced my inner Hank Hill.
Looking to buy a new bbq, as my charcoal is just a pain (also difficult with a golden retriever that jumps up at me in the backyard).
But trying to do research on BBQs is nuts. There isn't much going on in the reviews space locally, if any.
That seems crazy to me. I might need to change that.
But trying to do research on BBQs is nuts. There isn't much going on in the reviews space locally, if any.
That seems crazy to me. I might need to change that.
October 18, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Looking to buy a new bbq, as my charcoal is just a pain (also difficult with a golden retriever that jumps up at me in the backyard).
But trying to do research on BBQs is nuts. There isn't much going on in the reviews space locally, if any.
That seems crazy to me. I might need to change that.
But trying to do research on BBQs is nuts. There isn't much going on in the reviews space locally, if any.
That seems crazy to me. I might need to change that.
Currently memorising the lyrics to every Kpop Demon Hunters song because the kids want it on repeat.
October 17, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Currently memorising the lyrics to every Kpop Demon Hunters song because the kids want it on repeat.
This is pretty much true for most reviewers, regardless of beat.
I've not seen a lot of hate for tech reviews, possibly because they're companies rather than people. But years ago I wrote a piece about a celebrity collab with a tech company, and the hate from fans rolled in. It's not fun.
I've not seen a lot of hate for tech reviews, possibly because they're companies rather than people. But years ago I wrote a piece about a celebrity collab with a tech company, and the hate from fans rolled in. It's not fun.
October 12, 2025 at 4:40 AM
This is pretty much true for most reviewers, regardless of beat.
I've not seen a lot of hate for tech reviews, possibly because they're companies rather than people. But years ago I wrote a piece about a celebrity collab with a tech company, and the hate from fans rolled in. It's not fun.
I've not seen a lot of hate for tech reviews, possibly because they're companies rather than people. But years ago I wrote a piece about a celebrity collab with a tech company, and the hate from fans rolled in. It's not fun.
Came back from holiday to find my dishwasher has died. Such is life.
October 7, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Came back from holiday to find my dishwasher has died. Such is life.
I think I was in @colbertlateshow.bsky.social's happy place today: Hobbiton. So here are a few from a series I'm calling "Middle-Earth in Monochrome".
October 3, 2025 at 7:38 AM
I think I was in @colbertlateshow.bsky.social's happy place today: Hobbiton. So here are a few from a series I'm calling "Middle-Earth in Monochrome".
Really loved Hamilton Gardens today. What a genuinely lovely place to explore.
October 2, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Really loved Hamilton Gardens today. What a genuinely lovely place to explore.
Really enjoyed checking Brisbane from the ferry back from Bluey’s World. It's a really nice city. Can't believe I've never been before.
September 29, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Really enjoyed checking Brisbane from the ferry back from Bluey’s World. It's a really nice city. Can't believe I've never been before.
You can't take photos in Bluey's World, and while every fibre of my being yearned to, it's easy to see why:
Bluey is about experiencing life through a kid's eyes, and watching your kids experience life in Bluey has to be seen and enjoyed, rather than simply photographed.
Bluey is about experiencing life through a kid's eyes, and watching your kids experience life in Bluey has to be seen and enjoyed, rather than simply photographed.
September 29, 2025 at 8:24 AM
You can't take photos in Bluey's World, and while every fibre of my being yearned to, it's easy to see why:
Bluey is about experiencing life through a kid's eyes, and watching your kids experience life in Bluey has to be seen and enjoyed, rather than simply photographed.
Bluey is about experiencing life through a kid's eyes, and watching your kids experience life in Bluey has to be seen and enjoyed, rather than simply photographed.
In Brisbane with the Bluey family (mum, two girls) for real life.
September 29, 2025 at 3:34 AM
In Brisbane with the Bluey family (mum, two girls) for real life.
Just told my wife the rapture is apparently on. She looked at her watch. The dog burped. I said dog.
September 23, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Just told my wife the rapture is apparently on. She looked at her watch. The dog burped. I said dog.
For SEO folks/journos trying to explain SEO drops this week:
Google changed the rules for results removing 100 at once. Your impressions dive as tracking tools can't scrape more. Less scrapes mean positions improve because views are real.
TL;DR: SEM/SEO tools were manipulating counts in Console.
Google changed the rules for results removing 100 at once. Your impressions dive as tracking tools can't scrape more. Less scrapes mean positions improve because views are real.
TL;DR: SEM/SEO tools were manipulating counts in Console.
September 19, 2025 at 10:16 PM
For SEO folks/journos trying to explain SEO drops this week:
Google changed the rules for results removing 100 at once. Your impressions dive as tracking tools can't scrape more. Less scrapes mean positions improve because views are real.
TL;DR: SEM/SEO tools were manipulating counts in Console.
Google changed the rules for results removing 100 at once. Your impressions dive as tracking tools can't scrape more. Less scrapes mean positions improve because views are real.
TL;DR: SEM/SEO tools were manipulating counts in Console.
I'll be on ABC Adelaide talking about the Optus outage and how these things shouldn't happen, plus how newer phones can theoretically get around outages in an emergency. No telco should lean on that, though.
September 19, 2025 at 9:18 PM
I'll be on ABC Adelaide talking about the Optus outage and how these things shouldn't happen, plus how newer phones can theoretically get around outages in an emergency. No telco should lean on that, though.
Well this is awkward.
So @leighlo.bsky.social decided to add an extra challenge…
Our kamikaze 3yr old is now the only “unbreakable” person in our household who has never broken a bone!
Our kamikaze 3yr old is now the only “unbreakable” person in our household who has never broken a bone!
September 19, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Well this is awkward.
This is an interesting piece. On a related note, I actually dabbled with creating an offensive AI a month or two ago. I quickly found the limits of OpenAI's ability to offend, and switched to something on my machine. www.afr.com/technology/c...
ChatGPT is like a puppy dog. It’s reared to please you – but beware
The human-like qualities of artificial intelligence tools are what make the technology transformative, but their flattery will get you nowhere say experts.
www.afr.com
September 16, 2025 at 8:38 PM
This is an interesting piece. On a related note, I actually dabbled with creating an offensive AI a month or two ago. I quickly found the limits of OpenAI's ability to offend, and switched to something on my machine. www.afr.com/technology/c...