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!
The week of Monday 16 to Sunday 22 March 2020 was a week where we all had to start adjusting to a new reality. Yes, there’d been signs that serious changes would be needed. But this week I started to process it more viscerally. Depression resulted, as I’m sure it did for many Australians.
Continue reading “Weekly Wrap 512: More ranting as the collapse continues”
Monday 13 to Sunday 19 May 2019 was a busy enough week, but there’s little to show for it publicly. That was kinda the plan, at least how I interpreted it as things unfolded. I am pleased with that. Stress has been decreased.
I am also pleased that by the time the ABC’s Antony Green called the election on Saturday night, the total in the tip jar was $1908.93. Deducting the initial $400 threshold, half of the rest is a delightful $754.47 for the Black Dog Institute. Thank you so much. I think I might do another such fundraiser in the future.
Obviously the Australian federal election result was a bit weird, but I’ll reflect upon that another time.
Continue reading “Weekly Wrap 468: A relaxed pace ending with a sausage”
My week of Monday 30 October to Sunday 5 November 2017 was a curious one. Two days represented a great surge forward, then the third I slept the entire day. What is going on?
In case you haven’t noticed, I seem to operate on a cycle of busy weeks interspersed with quieter weeks, at least as it might seem from the outside. This was obviously a quiet week, both for health reasons and because I was collecting some material for future writing — including a wonderful conversation about cyber diplomacy.
Still, that was one of the biggest random waves of energy levels. I think I know why, and it’s a good thing, but here is not the place.
None.
After a long gap I’ve finally posted the audio from a couple of my radio spots. Just follow the links.
On Monday, I’m writing for ZDNet, then reviewing the story pitches for the next issue of DirectorTech. On Tuesday, I’m writing another thing for ZDNet.
DirectorTech is that sort-of SEKRIT editorial project I was working on over recent months. The first issue of the subscription-only newsletter was emailed on 15 September. The next will be on 28 November. It’s aimed at the corporate market, but it’s possible we’ll have some other subscription options by then.
On Wednesday, I’m putting together my next crowdfunding campaign, for The 9pm Edict Summer Series, which will probably be announced on Thursday. It’s more than a year since my last concentrated ask-for-money burst, and the gods know my budget needs some input. There’s been changes in the crowdfunding landscape since then, though, so this campaign may work slightly differently from previous ones. The details should be announced on Thursday night.
The week will end with some more writing on Friday.
Remembrance Day is on Saturday, though I haven’t decided how I’ll commemorate the occasion this year.
The next episode of The 9pm Edict podcast will be recorded on Thursday 23 November at 2100 AEST. As has become traditional, it will be streamed live via stilgherrian.com/edict/live/.
You can help support this podcast with a one-off contribution. Any contributions made until 2130 AEDT during the recording will count towards The 9pm Edict Summer Series, and will earn whatever the rewards end up being. You’ll be able to up your contribution to meet that pricing. Stay tuned for the details.
If all goes well, there’ll be another episode of The 9pm Edict before the end of the year, plus another Public House Forum episode much like the last one.
Much of the next few weeks will be about writing, and then making podcasts over summer. I haven’t locked in anything else specific for the rest of the calendar year. Please feel free to make some suggestions.
[Photo: Chicken Laksa being lunch at the MaMa Laksa House in The Grace Hotel, Sydney, photographed on 1 November 2017.]
This Weekly Wrap covers two weeks, Monday 4 to Sunday 17 September 2017. Thank the gods, spring is rolling on, and I’ll be back to weekly posting soon.
The fortnight’s achievements included wrapping up work on that SEKRIT editorial project — I’ll post separately about that on Monday — and the news that I probably don’t have skin cancer.
“Say what?”
So yeah, a spot on my leg that’s been there for years had recently started growing. I did what all of you should do. Rather than ignoring it, I showed it to my GP. He was fairly sure it was nothing to worry about, but to be sure, we sought specialist advice.
A lovely dermatologist chappie quickly identified it as a traumatised angioma, as shown in figures 16 and 17. Mine isn’t as visually prominent as that one, and only half the length.
My GP’s response was dismissive. “Oh, so it’s a scratch,” he said.
He’s been my GP for more than 20 years. He takes liberties. Like eating sandwiches during consultations.
Anyway, on with the show… such that it is.
None, but see below.
The next episode of The 9pm Edict podcast will finally be recorded this Thursday 21 September at 2100 AEST. No really. As has become traditional, it’ll be streamed live via stilgherrian.com/edict/live/. You still have time to support this podcast with a one-off contribution.
Apart from that, I’ll be doing the usual mix of writing and complaining and stuff.
Events I’m covering or speaking at include:
If there’s anything I should add in there, please let me know.
[Photo: Hanging Swamp. The view down into a valley at the terrain known locally as a hanging swamp. This example is at the side of the main track at Bunjaree Cottages, near Wentworth Falls. Photographed on 13 September 2017.]
This Weekly Wrap is actually eight Weekly Wraps in one, covering Monday 6 February to Sunday 2 April 2017, numbers 350 to 357. Eight times the value!
Of these four weeks, I’ve spent roughly a week each in San Francisco, Ho Chi Minh City, and Canberra. I also visited a Cold War relic near San Francisco, namely Nike Missile Site SF-88L at Fort Barry. Other stuff happened too.
There’s so much in this Eight-Week Wrap, the bulk of it is over the fold. I won’t be able to list all the highlights, but I will mention two of the lowlights. I caught a conference plague, which slowed me down a bit. And my stress and anxiety levels, which had not been declining, went through the roof. And they’re still there.
This health issue is being addressed, so no sympathy is needed. (Instead, perhaps send me a tip to help with the revenue shortfall, especially with the low-reveue holiday periods of Easter and Anzac Day coming up.) But it does mean that my alleged plans for the next few weeks should be taken with an even bigger grain of salt than usual.
Continue reading “Weekly Wraps 350 to 357: Gosh is that the time?”
My week of Monday 21 to Sunday 27 November 2016 was even less productive than the previous week, but I know why that happened.
One, a change to my medication dosages screwed up my sleep patterns for a while. Two, I did quite a bit of background work that won’t produce visible results for a while. And three, I was lazy.
None.
[Photo: “Yes! Chase them. Kill them. You can do it. Mwuahaha! Kill them!â€, photographed on 21 October 2016.]
Actually, this photo deserves a fuller explanation.
When taking the SkyBus from Melbourne Airport into the city, I rode at the front of the upper deck. This young man seated immediately in front of me pretended he was the pilot.
“I need speed,†he chanted. “I need speed. I need speed.â€
Then he started threatening to crush the taxis in front of us. “Yes! Chase them. Kill them. You can do it. Mwuahaha! Kill them! You’re stupid. Stupid. I’ll drive you to death! Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.â€
He was really getting into it as we zoomed through that well-known structure on the Tullamarine Freeway.