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Weekly Wrap 395: The three phases of pre-Christmas

24 December 2017 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

This Weekly Wrap covers three weeks, from Monday 4 to Sunday 24 December 2017, a varied period.

My work involved, in order, finishing the second instalment of DirectorTech, writing for ZDNet, producing two podcasts, and winding down for the holiday season. Plus laziness about these posts.

Podcasts

Articles

I also did quite a bit of work on the second instalment of DirectorTech, though just editing and production this time, no original writing from me.

Corporate Largesse

  • On Friday 15 December I went to Watterson PR’s Christmas Party at The Deck, Luna Park. To say that there was plenty of food and drink would be an understatement.

Media Appearances

The Week Ahead

Monday is Christmas Day, which I’ll be celebrating in the company of a kitten in Ashfield. I’ve got a few errands to do on the following days, but this year I’m taking it easy through until the New Year. And that’s as far ahead as I’m looking. Happy Holidays.

[Photo: Cockatoo Swoop. A sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) swoops down to investigate my shopping trolley behind the Coles supermarket in Katoomba on 19 December 2017.]

Weekly Wrap 373: Three weeks, ending in sunshine

23 July 2017 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

Approaching Gold Coast AirportThis Weekly Wrap covers three weeks, Monday 3 to Sunday 23 July 2017, because I just simply didn’t get around to it. Sometimes the pace needs to be pulled back. Especially when you’re in Queensland.

There was plenty of productivity, but it was in the background. You’ll see hints of it in the lists.

Articles

Podcasts

None, but see below.

Media Appearances

  • On Wednesday 5 July, I spoke about the Medicare data breach and the dark web on ABC Adelaide.
  • On the same day, I spoke with journalism students at Macleay College about the tech press, and my thoughts on journalism generally. They’ve published an article and edited video.
  • On Friday 14 July, I spoke about the Australian government’s cryptography plans on ABC Perth.
  • On Thursday 20 July, I spoke about various ways to help secure your email on ABC Gold Coast.

I probably won’t get around to posting audio of those last two.

Corporate Largesse

None, apart from the food and drink provided at the conferences.

The Week Ahead

Monday through Wednesday will be days of writing and editing, for both ZDNet and the SEKRIT project. The latter is very close to completion now.

The next episode of The 9pm Edict podcast will finally be recorded this Thursday 27 July at 2100 AEST, and streamed live via stilgherrian.com/edict/live/. You still have time to support this podcast with a one-off contribution.

On Friday, I’m heading down to Sydney, and the University of NSW in particular, to help celebrate the 30th birthday of the Australian Privacy Foundation. How time flies.

Further Ahead

At some point between 26 and 28 July, I’m recording the pilot episode of a new podcast. Even though it’s a variant of The 9pm Edict, it won’t be streamed live. It’s a different sort of thing. Details soon.

Later in the year, I’m covering SINET61 on 26 to 27 September; the iappANZ Summit 2017 on 3 October; the Australian Information Security Association (AISA) in Sydney from 10 to 12 October; and Ruxcon in Melbourne on 21 to 22 October.

If there’s anything I should add in there, please let me know.

[Photo: Approaching Gold Coast Airport (OOL/YBCG) from the north, photographed on 16 July 2017 from Virgin Australia flight VA517, served that day by Boeing 737-800 registration VH-YVA.]

Talking civil use of metadata on ABC 105.7 Darwin

23 December 2016 in Conversations, Internet, Media, Politics, Privacy by Stilgherrian | Permalink

ABC logoWhen mandatory telecommunications data retention legislation was first introduced — the so-called “metadata” retention laws — Australia’s favourite Attorney-General Senator George Brandis QC stressed that it wouldn’t be used for civil proceedings. Guess what just happened?

On Tuesday, Brandis’ office announced a review of the laws to see whether retained metadata could be used — wait for it — in civil proceedings.

On Wednesday I wrote about this in a ZDNet column titled Brandis rushes to release telco metadata for civil proceedings.

And on Wednesday afternoon I spoke about it with Kate O’Toole on ABC 105.7 Darwin. Here’s that conversation.

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:53 — 4.2MB)

This audio is ©2016 Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Weekly Wrap 334: Cybers in both Sydney and Melbourne

05 November 2016 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

Bus Stop Skink: click to embiggenMy week of Monday 17 to Sunday 23 October 2016 was both busy and productive. But this Weekly Wrap is rather late.

I’ll just get on with the facts.

Articles

Podcasts

None, but see the next item.

Media Appearances

  • On Sunday, I was part of the panel discussion that closed the Ruxcon information security conference. I recorded it, and it will soon appear as a Corrupted Nerds podcast.

Corporate Largesse

  • Tuesday through Thursday I was covering the Australian Information Security Association (AISA) national conference. There was food and drink.

[Photo: Bus Stop Skink, photographed at a bus stop in Lilyfield in Sydney’s inner west on 19 October 2016.]

Weekly Wrap 317: Does the Solstice herald a good new year?

27 June 2016 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

Sydney Harbour at sunset: click to embiggenMy week Monday 20 to Sunday 26 June 2016 saw me emerging from the mysterious illness, and starting to get back into work. Still, I made good progress on most work fronts, even if there’s nothing much to report

Podcasts

This is the final episode of what I’ve called “series 4” of the Edict. There’s a new series and a new schedule from 1 July. I haven’t announced that yet, however, except to say that there’ll be one episode during July. Stay tuned for details.

Media Appearances

Articles and Corporate Largesse

None. For obvious reasons.

The Week Ahead

I’m spending this week in Ashfield, in Sydney’s inner west, but Monday will be a day of travel: errands to Enmore and Lilyfield, then the long commute up to Wentworth Falls and back. Why? To collect some documents I need for my neverending tax compliance catch-up.

Tuesday will see me working with those documents.

On Wednesday, there’s a lunchtime briefing by VMware in the SydneyCBD, after which I’ve got a meeting related to a SEKRIT media project.

On Thursday I’m recording an interview in the morning, then heading to the Sydney CBD to get a haircut, pre-vote for Saturday’s federal election, and get a democracy sausage.

Friday will be a mix of research, writing, and more tax compliance work, depending on my mood at the time.

There’s also geek work scattered through the whole week, but I won’t go into the details here.

Saturday is federal election day in Australia. While I’m not sure what I’ll be doing during the day, the evening will doubtless be spent watching to election specials on TV. It’ll be a close result, by all accounts, so I’m really looking forward to it.

Further Ahead

While the following few weeks are still be be organised, I can say that I’ll be going to theGartner Security & Risk Management Summit in Sydney on 22-23 August, and the AISA National Conference in Sydney on 18-20 October.

[Photo: Sydney Harbour at sunset, photographed on 22 June 2016 while crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.]

AusCERT 2016 Speed Debate: Video

06 June 2016 in Conversations, Internet, Media, Politics by Stilgherrian | Permalink

Stilgherrian speaking at the AusCERT 2016 Speed Debate, flanked by Justin Steven and Steve WilsonThe closing event of the AusCERT 2016 information security conference was, as is traditional, the Speed Debate. It was me very great pleasure to take part once more.

Below the fold is the full video of the debate, which took place on Friday 27 May. MC Adam Spencer introduces the panellists early up.

Read the rest of this entry »

Weekly Wrap 312: How can this possibly be right?

22 May 2016 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

Sydney Harbour Bridge from 35 Clarence Street: click to embiggenMonday 16 to Sunday 22 May 2016 was another week that went pretty much to plan. That’s two in a row!

I won’t jinx it by saying anything else.

Articles

Podcasts

None, but I’ve started work on the next episode of The 9pm Edict.

Media Appearances

None.

Corporate Largesse

  • On Tuesday, I went to the Sydney media launch for Huawei’s Mate 8 smartphone. Drinks and canapés were served, and I now have a loaner review unit of said phone. I’ll post my comments in due course.
  • On Wednesday, I went to a lunchtime briefing by SimpliVity at GPO Prime Steak Restaurant, where the food and wine was as stunning as ever. We also received a goodie bag containing SimpliVity-branded Google Cardboard VR viewer, Chipolo Bluetooth tracker tag, and pen.

The Week Ahead

Monday morning begins with sorting out a billion loose ends. Well half a billion. Then I’ll finish that episode of The 9pm Edict podcast.

On Tuesday, I’ll take the train to Sydney to deal with a few errands, and then at 1510 catch VA527 SYD-OOL. From Tuesday evening through to Friday afternoon, I’ll be covering the AusCERT Cyber Security Conference on the Gold Coast. Apart from my usual conference coverage, once more I’ll be on the panel for the event’s closing Speed Debate. And then at 1705 I’ll be heading back south on VA536 OOL-SYD.

I’ll then be staying in Sydney overnight, and probably for the weekend, but that latter part has yet to be confirmed.

Further Ahead

On the afternoon of Saturday 4 June, I hope to be recording The 9pm Edict Public House Forum 3 at a location to be announced. If nothing else, it’s half-way through Australia’s interminable election campaign, so I suspect that may be one of the topics for discussion. I have left the organisation a bit late, however, so I may have to drop it back to an ordinary episode.

Another episode will appear some time around Monday 20 June.

[Photo: Sydney Harbour Bridge from 35 Clarence Street. Photograph taken in the late afternoon of 17 May 2016 from the rooftop bar at 35 Clarence Street, Sydney.]

Weekly Wrap 311: A week that went to plan, mostly

15 May 2016 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

Red Dawn: click to embiggenMy week of Monday 9 to Sunday 15 May 2016 went pretty much to plan. I think that’s all that needs to be said.

Articles

Podcasts

None, but earlier today I made a special announcement.

Media Appearances

None.

Corporate Largesse

None, but there’ll be quite a lot next week.

The Week Ahead

Monday is about bookkeeping and sorting out a billion loose ends.

Tuesday will be a geek-work day, and in the afternoon I’ll be heading to Sydney for a launch event for Huawei’s new Mate 8 smartphone. I’ll be staying in Sydney overnight.

On Wednesday, I’m going to a media lunch with Doron Kempel, founder and global CEO of SimpliVity. While I tense up every time I near their buzzword “hyperconvergence”, Mr Kempel is one of those tech CEOs who can talk intelligently about the industry as a whole without turning everything into a product pitch. The day ends with drinks with a friend.

Thursday will be a writing day. I’ll also be returning to Wentworth Falls.

Friday will be another bookkeeping day, with a medical appointment in Sydney at the end.

The weekend will see me put together an episode of The 9pm Edict podcast.

Further Ahead

On 24-27 May, I’m covering the AusCERT Cyber Security Conference on the Gold Coast. Apart from my usual conference coverage, once more I’ll be on the panel for the event’s closing Speed Debate.

On the afternoon of Saturday 4 June, I’ll be recording The 9pm Edict Public House Forum 3 at a location to be announced. If nothing else, it’s half-way through Australia’s interminable election campaign, so I suspect that may be one of the topics for discussion. Another episode will appear some time around Monday 20 June.

[Update 15 May 2016, 1750 AEST: Edited to reflect changes to “The Week Ahead”.]

[Photo: Red Dawn. Smoke from the hazard-reduction burns in the Blue Mountains National Park may have made the air more difficult to breathe, but it also made for some spectacular dawns. This was the view from Rosella Cottages at Bunjaree Cottages, near Wentworth Falls, on 12 May 2016. Not bad for an iPhone camera in low light.]

Weekly Wrap 301: Canberra, with quite a few cybers

13 March 2016 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

The End of Summer: click to embiggenMy week of Monday 7 to Sunday 13 March 2016 was another moderately steady improvement, in both productivity and mood. I am moderately pleased.

The Canberra trip went well, as you’ll see immediately below, but it was also exhausting. The rest of the week was therefore relatively quiet.

If you follow my Twitter stream, you already know all of this, and more.

Articles

Both of these articles are derived from material presented at the Australian Internet Industry Association (AIIA) Navigating Privacy and Security Summit on Tuesday.

Podcasts

None. I know you’ve heard this before, but I do want to wrap up that episode of The 9pm Edict podcast very soon. See below.

Media Appearances

None.

Corporate Largesse

The Week Ahead

On Monday, I’m heading a few kilometres up the Great Western Highway to Leura for part of Tech Leaders, namely a keynote by Labor’s communications spokesperson Jason Clare, and then reporting on same for ZDNet. I’ll probably have lunch in Katoomba after that.

I then plan to spend the rest of the week working on three geek-for-hire projects that have fallen behind schedule, and catching up a big chunk of that bookkeeping for the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

That said, I hope to make the day trip to Sydney one day for a medical appointment and various errands. I’m also looking at doing that episode of The 9pm Edict podcast one evening. And I should probably write a ZDNet column in there somewhere too.

I can’t make final arrangements until Monday afternoon, however, and I need to keep the pace reasonable, so stay tuned for details.

Further Ahead

The following two weeks are the two short weeks either side of the Easter long weekend, and will mostly be an extension of the plan just described.

I then plan to be in Canberra on 12-14 April for the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) Conference. The trick will be organising travel and accommodation.

I’ll definitely be on the Gold Coast on 24-27 May for the AusCERT Cyber Security Conference.

[Photo: The End of Summer. These are the colours of an Australian summer, as you can also see from last week’s photo — and we’ve had a long one this year. Photographed from VA654 on final approach to Canberra airport (CBR) on 7 March 2016.]

Algorithms and the Filter Bubble references for 2015

11 September 2015 in Conversations, Internet, Marketing, Media, Personal, Politics, Privacy by Stilgherrian | Permalink

UTS logoThis morning I delivered version six of my now-regular guest lecture to media students at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), “Algorithms and the Filter Bubble”. Here are the references and further reading.

The links over the fold start off with some background material that sets out my worldview, and then things are in roughly the same order as presented in the lecture — with the order becoming less coherent further down the page. There’s more material linked here than I mentioned in the lecture itself. Enjoy.

A recording of the lecture will be made available in roughly one week on Wednesday 23 September on Friday 25 September, as the change in Prime Minister has triggered the demand for some of my commentary. This page may be updated with further links at that time.

Read the rest of this entry »

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