My week of Monday 17 to Sunday 23 June 2024 was a curious one. An evening of delightful cocktails midweek may or may not have had something to do with a lingering sore throat. A client project received a bullet in the head, much to my relief. And I started mapping out my podcast’s winter series, for which a crowdfunder is running.
I can’t say much about the client project, of course, except to say that it had become more complicated than first understood. I’m pleased that the client did not fall into the trap of the sunk cost fallacy. Fortunately this was also just part of what I do for this client.
As for the cocktails, every now and then I spoil myself at Champagne Charlie’s, the cocktail bar at that magnificent high-Victorian pile, The Carrington Hotel in Katoomba. It’s very good and you should check it out when you’re next in the Blue Mountains. I guess this is a bit of a contrast with the next section, but anyway, in that photo you’re looking at a rusty nail.
The 9pm Winter Series 2024 crowdfunder continues
We’re just over a week into this season’s crowdfunding campaign, The 9pm Winter Series 2024.
As usual it’s about organising more special-guest episodes of my inappropriate and often disturbing podcast for grown-ups The 9pm Edict and other projects.
This week I pencilled in two more guests, so it’s coming together nicely .
Please click though, read, and consider. You have until 4 July. At the time of posting we’re 22% of the way to Target One with just 11 days to go.
Articles
- The Weekly Cybers #23. Medibank and Optus cyber practices slammed, Australia’s FOI regime also, and yet more new eSafety rules.
You can read my previous writing at Authory, where you can also subscribe to an email compilation of any new stories each Sunday morning.
Podcasts, Media Appearances, Photos, Videos, Corporate Largesse
None of these. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel to be notified when new videos appear and when livestreams are scheduled.
Recommendations
Will I continue my regular look at Musky news in the new financial year? Who knows. I’ll decide next week. Meanwhile, here we are.
- Elon Musk is trying to woo advertisers after telling them to ‘go f–k yourself’. I think I know how I’d respond and I think you do too.
- “Musk’s suggestion that all electronic voting machines are vulnerable to hacking draws the billionaire into a contentious topic in India.”
- “At a Tesla investor briefing Elon Musk teased three new vehicles, saying reductions in the cost of Tesla vehicles ‘is essential going forward,” reports CarsGuide. A slide in his presentation shows “three new products under a shroud… two small traditionally-shaped silhouettes, alongside a boxier silhouette which some are suggesting could be a delivery van”.
- At The American Prospect, Elon Musk and the Decline of Tesla. “The megalomaniac CEO extracted $48 billion from his shareholders. But the company’s future does not look good.”
In other news:
- As TimeGhost TV’s World War Two Week-by-Week series approaches its finale — there’s 976 videos so far but it’s not yet over — they’re launching The Korean War by Indy Neidell, another week-by-week video series that’ll run for, obviously, three years. Very recommend.
- It’s from three years ago, but still fascinating. A Korean photographer is on a mission to document the portraits and stories of Korean War veterans. It’s called Project Soldier.
- YouTube has decided that I need to know about Stevyn Colgan and this invention, and perhaps you do too. I particularly like his throwaway line about “leftover plastic saxophones” as if that is a totally normal state of affairs.
The Week Ahead
It’s yet another week when my primary focus will be client work.
That said, on Monday or Tuesday I’ll be recording a small solo episode of The 9pm Edict
[Update 25 June 2024: Or maybe Wednesday or Thursday. I’m juggling work and errands and stuff. Update 28 June 2024: Maybe not at all, because a bit too much fatigue hit me this week. We’ll see.]
On Saturday I’ll be in Sydney to record a podcast with my good friend Snarky Platypus in which we’ll assess the half-time progress of 2024 against our bingo cards. At least one of the things has happened! If you’re a supporter with TRIGGER WORDS or a CONVERSATION TOPIC for this episode, please let me know by 8pm AEST this Friday 28 June 12 midday AEST this Saturday 29 June.
The 9pm Edict is supported by the generosity of its listeners. Have a look at the crowdfunder detailed above. If you miss the 4 July deadline, you can always throw a few coins into the tip jar or subscribe for special benefits. Please consider.
]Update 28 June 2024: I’ll remain in Sydney until Monday, because reasons.]
Further Ahead
- Podcast recording with Dr Miranda Bruce, who worked on the World Cybercrime Index, 3 July 2024. If you’re a supporter with TRIGGER WORDS or a CONVERSATION TOPIC for this episode, please let me know by midday AEST on Tuesday 2 July.
- NEW: Launch of Meanjin 83.2 Winter 2024, Gleebooks, Glebe NSW, 3 July 2024,
- NEW: The 9pm Winter Series 2024 crowdfunding deadline, 4 July 2024, 9pm AEST.
- UK General Election, 4 July 2024. I’m not sure what I’ll do to celebrate this, but it’s certainly a significant date to be aware of.
- NEW: Podcast recording with Barbara Minchinton, author of the new book Madame Brussels: The Life and Times of Melbourne’s Most Notorious Woman, 11 July 2024. Check the Wikipedia entry. If you’re a supporter with TRIGGER WORDS or a CONVERSATION TOPIC, please let me know by midday AEST on Wednesday 10 July.
- TechLeaders 2024, Hunter Valley, 11–12 August 2024.
- The Sydney Dialogue, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Sydney and online, 2–3 September 2024 (TBC).
- NEW: Australian Internet Governance Forum (auIGF) 2024, formerly known as NetThing, Melbourne and online, 28–29 October 2024 (TBC).
[Photo: A delicious rusty nail at Champagne Charlie’s, the cocktail bar at The Carrington Hotel, Katoomba, photographed (and consumed) on 19 June 2024.]