bitcoin – Page 2 – Stilgherrian

01 March 2014

Weekly Wrap 194: Brandis, Bitcoin and many medias

My week of Monday 17 to Sunday 23 February 2014 began with a busy time on the Gold Coast at the Tech Leaders Forum, but when I returned to Wentworth Falls mid-week I descended into food poisoning and related depths. I shall not be drawing a diagram. You shall be grateful.

Nevertheless I got quite a bit done, and I shall now list some of it. But I won’t say much more, because this week ended almost a week ago and I’m moving on.

Articles

I deliberately cut back on the number of written pieces I produced this month, their place in the budget having been filled by the discussion on digital privacy for Hitachi Data Systems. But I’m happy with what I wrote, including this column.

And the digital Antoinettes cried ‘Unemployed? Let them cut code’, ZDNet Australia, 21 February 2014. Contains the line: “the usual-suspect digital libertarian princesses — in the non-gender-specific sense — flouncing around as if they’re Marie Antoinette”.

Media Appearances

This was a ridiculous week for media spots. I did a total of seven radio interviews — and that’s after I’d turned down a couple of others, as well as a TV spot.

On Monday I spoke about Bitcoin on ABC 666 Canberra, but I screwed up the recording. Sorry.
On Tuesday I spoke about digital copyright on Spoke, the weekly social issues program on 3RRR.
That evening I spoke about digital copyright with Dom Knight on ABC Radio 702 Sydney, but I didn’t manage to get a recording of that one either.
Wednesday was the big day. First up, at around lunchtime, I spoke about the Internet of Things on ABC Gold Coast.
In the middle of Wednesday afternoon I spoke about the rumours of an Apple Car on 1395 FIVEaa Adelaide, which led to another lightheartedly cynical discussion of the Internet of Things.
On Wednesday afternoon I spoke about digital copyright on ABC 105.7 Darwin.
And later on Wednesday afternoon I spoke about Bitcoin again, this time on ABC Sunshine Coast.

5at5

Oh dear. It seems that 5at5, the “email letter” that I started three weeks ago, has started to get a bit wobbly. I only managed three issues this week. Sorry.

5at5 number 11, 17 February 2014.
5at5 number 12, 20 February 2014.
5at5 number 13, 21 February 2014.

Corporate Largesse

The Tech Leaders Forum 2014, formerly known as Kickstart Forum, on the Gold Coast ran from Sunday to Tuesday. The organisers, Media Connect, covered my flights from Sydney, airport transfers, and two nights accommodation at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove. Then there were various freebies. Avaya: a 4GB USB key containing media assets. Emerson Network Power: a combination max-min thermometer-hygrometer; and an 8GB USB key containing media assets. NEC: an 8GB USB key; and a little battery-powered Bluetooth audio speaker. Riverbed: a Power Bank model A5 2600mAh external battery with all the connectors; and a 4GB USB key containing media assets, on a bright orange lanyard. Symantec: two bottles of orange juice.

[Photo: Stilgherrian juggling the invisible things at Tech Leaders Forum, 16 February 2014, with freelance journalist Claire Porter on the right. Photograph by Munir Kotadia. This is just crying out for some Photoshop work.]

01 March 2014

Talking Bitcoin on ABC Sunshine Coast

ABC logo I did two radio interviews about Bitcoin last week, but unfortunately only one survives. This one, the poorer of the two.

The first one, on Monday 17 February for ABC 666 Canberra, was sharp, and I pulled off what I remember as being good impromptu explanations. But I stuffed up the recording. This second one, for ABC Sunshine Coast on Wednesday 19 February, was done ~~after I’d followed the bottle of Sangiovese Barbera with a couple pints of cider~~ after a long day of work. It’s less focussed.

This conversation with presenter Mary-Lou Stephens includes the word “cryptolibertarian”. It’s all a bit much. I even squeeze in a mention of Honest Beef.

The audio is also presented here without an introduction or a back-announce, because that’s how it was posted on SoundCloud.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.4MB)

16 February 201401 March 2014

Weekly Wrap 193: Mid-month surge, then rain and planes

My week of Monday 10 to Sunday 16 February 2014 isn’t quite finished, but today is effectively the start of a new working week so… well, here we are. Before breakfast at Sydney Airport. Or right next to it. Call it a wrap of Monday to Saturday.

It seems that I switched from early-month torpor to late-month productivity around mid-week. We’ll see how that pans out over the next few days. But I do think I’m starting to identity a clear pattern here.

Articles

What the Dickens will Brandis do to copyright in the digital realm?, ZDNet Australia, 14 February 2014. I’ve already had plenty of positive feedback about my critique of the Attorney-General’s speech from Friday morning, which makes me happy.
Kim Coindashian? How bitcoin is going the way of the tulip, Crikey, 14 February 2014.

Media Appearances

On Wednesday I hosted a panel discussion on digital privacy for Hitachi Data Systems.

5at5

I suppose I should give better prominence to 5at5, the “email letter” that I started two weeks ago. I’ve actually managed to stick to the daily routine — albeit with some wobbliness in the “around 5pm Sydney time” part of the deal — and it seems like people are liking it. Enjoy.

5at5 number 6, 10 February 2014.
5at5 number 7, 11 February 2014.
5at5 number 8, 12 February 2014.
5at5 number 9, 13 February 2014.
5at5 number 10, 14 February 2014.

Corporate Largesse

Today I’m heading to the Gold Coast for the three-day Tech Leaders Forum 2014, formerly known as Kickstart Forum, an event I’ve attended in previous years. The event organisers cover my airfares and accommodation, and there’s usually plenty of food and drink and various freebies from the vendors who pay for it all. I’ll list all of the largesse next week so it’s all in the one place.

The Week Ahead

I’ll be on the Gold Coast through until Tuesday evening, fully occupied with the aforementioned event. I’ll then return to the Blue Mountains for a solid week of writing. There’s nothing locked in for Sydney at this stage, but of course that may change.

[Photo: Sydney airport before dawn, taken shortly before the post was published.]

31 January 2014

Talking Bitcoin arrests on ABC The World Today

ABC logo On Tuesday, news reached us that two men connected with the digital currency Bitcoin had been arrested in the US — one a prominent advocate, the other the operator of a currency exchange.

ABC Radio’s lunchtime current affairs program The World Today did a story about it the same day, in which I made a few brief comments. The reporter was Tom Nightingale. Here’s the audio.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (1.6MB)

22 December 2013

Weekly Wrap 183: Predictions, food and wine

Here’s the key stuff that happened in my week of Monday 2 to Sunday 8 December 2013.

As I mentioned last time, I’ll do some sort of more detailed post explaining the state of the world — or at least my little bit of it — once I’ve caught up on these posts.

Articles

Snowden’s legacy and the NSA of everything, ZDNet Australia, 2 December 2013. This 1000-word piece was part of a major ZDNet feature on IT Security in the Snowden Era.
Bitcoin: your handy guide to digital pickpocketing, Crikey, 6 December 2013.
Bitcoin: It’s not just loopy tulip land, it’s worse, ZDNet Australia, 6 December 2013. To say that this column generated some feedback is an understatement.

Media Appearances

None.

Corporate Largesse

On Tuesday I went to Verizon’s lunchtime briefing on their predicted trends for 2014 at Rockpool Bar and Grill in Sydney. There was food and wine.
On Wednesday I went to Symantec’s end-of-year media lunch at Gowings Bar and Grill at Sydney’s QT Hotel. There was food and wine.
On Wednesday afternoon I continued on to McAfee in the Park, held in the Rose Garden at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens. There was food and wine. Are you detecting a pattern here? There was also a lion.
On Thursday I went to Websense’s lunchtime briefing on their security predictions for 2014 at Wolfies, Circular Quay. There was food and wine.

10 November 2013

Talking Bitcoin robbery on ABC Radio’s AM

ABC logo More than a million dollars worth of the digital currency Bitcoin was stolen from a Bitcoin wallet service that seems to have been run by a young man who won’t be reporting the theft to the police.

I was interviewed by ABC Radio reporter Will Ockenden to provide some context about Bitcoin and digital currencies generally, and fragments of that interview were used on Friday morning’s edition of the national current affairs program AM. Hit their website for a transcript.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (1.5MB)