Word-whore. I write 'em. I talk 'em. Information, politics, media, and the cybers. I drink. I use bad words. All publication is a political act. All communication is propaganda. All art is pornography. All business is personal. All hail Eris! Vive les poissons rouges sauvages!
It’s still an attack even if the defences were useless. It’s still a crime even if it were easy to commit. Optus may have been a target ripe for the taking, and may well have been negligent, but the hackers are still the baddies here.
Continue reading “Yes of course Optus suffered a “cyber attack”, just one which looks like it was trivial to accomplish”
Despite my original intentions, my week of Monday 27 September to Sunday 3 October 2021 was a bit of a lazy one. No articles or podcasts emerged, although there was some geek-work that you can’t see. But I did see a skink.
Continue reading “Weekly Wrap 592: A lazy week in spring that ended with a random skink”
In recent weeks Australians have started receiving unsolicited packages from China containing seeds, as have random people in other countries. It’s part of a scam called “brushing” and it’s not quite what it seems.
Continue reading “Talking about the seed brushing scam on ABC RN Breakfast”
Monday 29 April to Sunday 5 May 2019 was a good mix of research, writing, and vast podcast arsehattery. I’m a happy possum.
Continue reading “Weekly Wrap 466: Cool weather finally arrives, with cybercrime”
I don’t know what to make of my week from Monday 3 to Sunday 9 September 2018. It felt like I was quite busy, but there isn’t as much visible output to show for it. Oh well.
I wrote a third piece for ZDNet that should appear on Monday.
None. I am very embarrassed not to have done the podcast on Wednesday as promised. I did make the journey to Cronulla the recording session, as foreshadowed last week, but it turned out that I wasn’t quite recovered from illness, and needed to rest. But see below.
It’s a Sydney-centric week. I’ll head down the hill on Monday morning for least one meeting that afternoon.
On Tuesday and Wednesday I’m covering the AI & Machine Learning Summit. Thursday and Friday will be therefore about writing.
The next episode of The 9pm Edict will now be recorded on Tuesday 18 September at 2100 AEST, because that week looks less hectic. Listen on the livestream or on Spreaker apps, or listen later on the usual feeds.
Beyond that:
[Photo: The Right to Strike. Trade union members leading a protest march through Pitt Street, Sydney on 6 September 2018. It was a big event, with the column stretching for maybe two kilometres, yet it received little media coverage. As for this photo, I wish I’d had a wider angle lens and been able to bet in closer.]
I was a busy possum during the two weeks from Monday 9 to Sunday 22 April 2018. The first week was spent in Canberra covering some cyber events, and the second was spent writing, and working on the SEKRIT editorial project which I’ll tell you a tiny amount about… now!
I’m the series editor on a project for Crikey, one that they’ve crowdfunded via a Pozible project called Crikey Digs. Some of you may have seen me tweet that part of it is about businesses that misuse Australians’ personal data, or trade it in a dodgy way. More will be revealed in the coming week.
Meanwhile, all these things…
I’ve fallen out of the habit of posting the audio from my radio spots. Would you like me to return to that habit?
None. However see below for a bit of a plan.
The next few weeks see me based in Ashfield, Sydney, working through the SEKRIT editorial project, and writing for ZDNet much as usual. I’m hoping to get some walking in, however, and I might post some stuff about the places I visit, including photos.
On Tuesday night I’m doing a radio spot for ABC Melbourne, some time between 1900 and 2200 AEST. We haven’t locked in the time yet.
Wednesday is Anzac Day. It’s a public holiday, so I may take it easy. But I also might get up early for the Dawn Service. Undecided.
The next episode of The 9pm Edict, will be recorded and streamed live on Tuesday 8 May at 2100 AEST.
Other things I’ve pencilled in:
[Photo: Parliament House, Canberra, photographed on 13 April 2018.]