My week of Monday 18 to Sunday 24 January 2021 finally started seeing me gear up for the working year with a video stream, a solid article, and more. I even snuck in a conference and experienced a great big rainstorm on Sunday afternoon.
I found some things to report on during the first two days of Linux.conf.au 2021, but that writing won’t appear until the coming week. For the time being, here are my brief Twitter threads from day one and day two.
I’ve also been getting to know the local birds a bit better this week — mostly because I’ve been putting out more food for them. I’ve shot some video, which has yet to be edited.
Videos
- The 8pm Quiz S01 E02, being the second pilot episode of my livestreamed pub-style quiz. Not as many players as last week, but a smoother production and better pacing.
Articles
- Australia’s tangle of electronic surveillance laws needs unravelling, ZDNet, 19 January 2021. My first article for 2021 is depressing summary of a mess set of laws, and a brief summary of part of the massive Richardson Review of Australia’s intelligence laws, but people have said it’s a great way to catch up with what’s happening in this arena.
- I’ve also extracted the very handy Chronology of Australia’s national intelligence community from the Richardson Review. It’s about legislation and structure, not an operational history, but spook nerds will find it handy.
Podcasts, Media Appearances, Corporate Largesse
None of any of these things. Again. But can always read some of my previous writing at Authory, or subscribe to get a weekly compilation of new stories by email each Sunday morning, if there are any. Or listen to the podcasts.
Recommendations
- I know I’ve plugged John Birmingham’s Alien Sideboob before, but this week’s is truly excellent: Not the heralds of power.
- Craig Kelly asked Australia’s top doctors about an experimental COVID-19 cure. When they told him it didn’t work, he promoted it anyway, which is what it says. Craig Kelly is an arsehat.
- The nature of the narwhal: ‘The one that is good at curving itself to the sky’, which is kinda fun.
- Maybe you’re sick of hearing about the Trump presidency, but I’m still fascinated, particularly by the Trump, Inc podcast which investigated Trump’s business dealings. Well let’s call it what it is. His corruption. Don’t dig back unless you’re obsessive. Just listen to the final two episodes. Nobody Wants To Work With The Trumps Anymore documents the exit of his friends and supporters. And the final episode, And Now, The End Is Near, has the journalists putting together a time capsule to be unearthed in ten years. Both are fascinating.
- Are we sick of this genre yet? Björk as mushrooms.
The Week Ahead
Week 45 of my Quarantimes continues at Bunjaree Cottages at Wentworth Falls. This week will also bring January 2021 to an end. How about that!
Monday is another day of covering Linux.conf.au 2021, and while Tuesday is the public holiday for Australia Day I suspect I’ll be writing some conference-related stuff. I really need to get some writing done this week because I’m way behind my revenue targets.
On Thursday night it’s the third and final pilot episode of The 8pm Quiz. It starts at 8pm AEDT on my YouTube channel, and this time there will be ways to send me feedback and be informed of future plans.
The 8pm Quiz, like The 9pm Edict, is supported by the generosity of its listeners. You can subscribe for special benefits or throw a few coins into the tip jar. Please consider.
Further Ahead
Also in the calendar:
- The first of the US Studies Centre’s US Politics and Policy Web Series for 2021, online, 5 February 2021.
- Mimecast Connect 2021, online, 25 February 2021.
- APRICOT 2021 / APNIC 51, online, 1–4 March 2010.
- Australian Cyber Conference, Canberra, 14–16 March 2021 (TBC).
- AusCERT 2021, Gold Coast and online, 11–13 May 2021 (TBC).
[Photo: A juvenile Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen tibicen) stands ready to eat some meat left out for its clan. This is a frame grab from a video shot on an iPhone 12 Pro on 23 January 2021, which will be posted on YouTube.]