Tag: spring

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Weekly Wrap 276: Pain, flowers, and a high-level podcast

Floral Orbit: click to embiggenMy week of Monday 14 to Sunday 20 September began in pain, thanks to lugging around a heavy back of recording equipment and an old shoulder injury.

The pain lasted most of the week. My shoulder was returned to its correct configuration on Thursday. But a day of writing on Friday — that is, keyboard work and poor posture — really wasn’t the rest that my tendons and alleged muscles were demanding. Codeine to the rescue!

All that said, the spring weather helped me make a return to productivity at the very end of the week, as the rest of this Weekly Wrap reveals.

Podcasts

  • “The 9pm Malcolmgasm”, being The 9pm Edict episode 50, was recorded and posted on Sunday. It’s mostly about Australia’s new Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and my interactions with him over the last four years, but there’s plenty of other stuff there too.

Articles

Media Appearances

None.

5at5

The was one, on Friday. Why not subscribe so you’ll get all the future ones?

Corporate Largesse

None.

The Week Ahead

It’s a busy one, starting off with a Monday that is planned to include writing two columns one column for ZDNet, as well as some routine systems administration task, as well as running a couple errands locally in Sydney’s inner west — which is where I’ll be based for the week.

Tuesday will start off with some systems administration and administrivia, including bookkeeping and the analysis of The 9pm Urgent Hardware Refresh, and perhaps some writing, and then I’ll be turning my UTS lecture from the other day into some sort of online presentation.

On Wednesday, I’m popping into the ABC at Ultimo to be interviewed about crowdfunding and the media, and then taking the afternoon off — because at 1821 AEST it’s the Equinox, and I’d like to celebrate appropriately, and then I’m probably covering the Labor for Innovation panel discussion, The Future of Work in a ‘Gig Economy’.

On Thursday, I’m writing for ZDNet, I think, and then heading out for drinks with Sapphire Communications and some of their clients.

Friday through Saturday are unplanned, at least in detail, though I’ll need to address the backlog of supporter-sponsored content for The 9pm Edict, and work on a couple of SEKRIT projects. Stay tuned.

Update 1830 AEDT: Edited to reflect some changes to the plan for this week.

[Photo: Floral Orbit, photographed on 20 September 2015.]

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Weekly Wrap 275: Spring springs, and there was a pub…

Almond Blossom at Bunjaree Cottages: click to embiggenMy week of Monday 7 to Sunday 13 September was over more than a week ago. So let’s just list what happened and get on with the day, shall we?

Podcasts

  • “The 9pm Public House Forum 1”, being The 9pm Edict episode 49, was recorded at the Australian Arms Hotel in Penrith on Saturday, and edited and posted on Sunday. I’m moderately pleased with the results of this Public House Forum. That means we’ll see another one before too long.

Articles

None.

Media Appearances

  • On Monday, I spoke about the death of handwriting on ABC 891 Adelaide.
  • On Friday morning, I delivered my guest lecture at the University of Technology Sydney. A recording will be posted on Wednesday 23 September, but for now you can check out the references and reading list.
  • On Friday afternoon, I spoke about the massive service outage at Commonwealth Bank on 1395 FIVEaa Adelaide, but I did not record it.

5at5

None. Why not subscribe so you’ll get all the future ones?

Corporate Largesse

None.

The Week Ahead

Well, it’s almost over. It’s already Sunday. But later today, there’ll be an episode of The 9pm Edict podcast, and another Weekly Wrap. Today is also the day that new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announces his first cabinet, and I have to write an analysis for ZDNet, so I’m hoping that I can get everything done.

[Photo: Almond Blossom at Bunjaree Cottages, photographed on 14 September 2015.]

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Weekly Wrap 274: Spring has sprung, with many thoughts

Wading in Kuala Lumpur: click to embiggenMy week of Monday 31 August 2015 to Sunday 6 September was a bit all over the place, but I did achieve most of what I wanted to achieve.

I did take some time out to do some bits and pieces which I’ll explain another time — but that’s why this week’s list looks a bit thin.

Articles

Podcasts

Media Appearances

  • On Tuesday evening, I spoke about various tech stories with Tim Brunero on ABC 702 Sydney and Local Radio around NSW. I chose not to record it.
  • On Wednesday, I took part in the closing debate of the ACCAN National Conference. A recording will appear in due course. I have now posted a video recording and transcript.

5at5

There were three editions of 5at5, on Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday. Why not subscribe so you’ll get all the future ones?

Corporate Largesse

None.

The Week Ahead

On Monday, I’ll be doing the laundry, shopping, and tidying the Ashfield apartment, ready for its inhabitants’ return, and eventually making my own way back to the Blue Mountains. With luck, I’ll also finish the ZDNet column that I started writing on Friday and catching up with a couple of people. On Tuesday, I’ll finish some chores before returning to Wentworth Falls.

On Tuesday Wednesday, I’ll be going to Parramatta to buy the audio gear that’s been funded by The 9pm Urgent Hardware Refresh, testing it all, and creating the software configuration to use on Saturday.

On Wednesday Thursday, I’ll be preparing my UTS lecture, and writing for ZDNet again.

On Friday, I’ll head to Sydney on an early train, because I’m presenting my guest lecture at UTS at 0900. I’ll then return to Wentworth Falls around lunchtime to prepare for the weekend. This includes some more detailed testing of the audio gear.

On Saturday, it’s the recording session for The 9pm Edict Public House Forum in Penrith, and on Sunday that will be turned into a finished podcast.

Update 8 September 2015: Edited to reflect a change to this week’s schedule. Update 27 September 2015: Edited to add link to ACCAN debate recording.

[Photo: Wading in Kuala Lumpur, a bird of unknown species photographed on 12 September 2011.]

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Weekly Wrap 228: Snow, at least nearby, and privacy

A narrow-leafed drumstick (Isopogon anethifolius): click to embiggenMy week of Monday 13 to Sunday 19 October 2014 must have been influenced by the photo I posted last week, because it did end up snowing in the Blue Mountains — but no closer than 8km from me.

So, in the interests of triggering pleasant spring conditions for the week ahead, I’ve kicked off with another pleasant photo from my archives.

Articles

I’ve also written a second piece for ZDNet Australia, but it won’t appear until Monday.

Media Appearances

Corporate Largesse

None.

The Week Ahead

It’ll be a busy one. While I haven’t mapped out exactly what will happen each day — I can’t do so until a certain tardy clients pays me and I can lock in certain commitments — there’s plenty of media objects to make.

A new ZDNet Australia column and a new Corrupted Nerds podcast will appear on Monday, as I said. After that, I’ve got two ZDNet Australia pieces to write, and an episode of The 9pm Edict to produce. I also want to resurrect the 5at5 newsletter, but that has a lower priority.

The weekend is unplanned.

[Photo: Yellow, being a narrow-leafed drumstick (Isopogon anethifolius) photographed at Bunjaree Cottages on 1 November 2012.]

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Weekly Wrap 226: Warm weather, but little productivity

Crossing the Harbour: click to embiggenThese Weekly Wrap posts have fallen into disrepair, haven’t they. Well, they’re back in operation again now. Whether the missing weeks’ posts will ever appear is as yet unknown.

My week of Monday 29 September to Sunday 5 October wasn’t as productive as it could have been. That’s down to a mix of pain and depression, but I won’t belabour the point.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy the warm spring weather.

Articles

I wrote my usual column for ZDNet Australia, but it won’t be appearing until Tuesday.

Media Appearances

  • On Tuesday I spoke about the new social network Ello on ABC Gold Coast.
  • I was one of the panellists on ABC Radio National’s Download This Show this week. We spoke about Ello and Australia’s new national security laws.
  • On Thursday I was interviewed for a student project at the University of Sydney about virtual communities, hacking and hacktivism, amongst other things. I’ll post a link to that when it appears in a few weeks.
  • On Friday I recorded some audio for a SEKRIT project.

Corporate Largesse

None.

The Week Ahead

This will be the final week of my sojourn at Hurstville in Sydney’s southern suburbs. I’ve been housesitting a friend’s apartment while she was on holidays overseas. I’m going to miss the place.

Monday is officially a public holiday in New South Wales, but I’ll be starting work on an episode of The 9pm Edict podcast.

On Tuesday I’ll be planning a couple of feature stories for ZDNet Australia, planning some changes for my other little technology business, resurrecting the 5at5 daily newsletter thing, and finishing off the podcast.

The rest of the week isn’t planned out in any kind of detail yet, but there’s be a ZDNet Australia column to write, and I’ll be returning to Wentworth Falls on Friday.

[Photo: Crossing the Harbour, a not-very-scenic view from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, as seen from the lower deck of a train on 3 October 2014.]

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Weekly Wrap 221: An exhausting end to winter

Sydney skyline at dawnMy week of Monday 25 to Sunday 31 August was hectic. Again. Hence so many missing blog posts until now. But it also marked the end of winter. I therefore have some hope that today, 1 September, will mark some new beginnings.

“New beginnings” sounds a bit naff, I know, but “spring cleaning” sounds a bit naff too.

Podcasts

Articles

Media Appearances

  • On Wednesday I spoke about internet banking security on Radio 2UE Sydney. A link to the audio recording will appear here in due course.
  • Also on Wednesday, I spoke about ASIC’s big IP address oopsie on ABC Radio’s PM. This was later turned into a news story that quoted my description of ASIC’s actions as “both hilarious and frightening”.

5at5

Only one edition this week.

Head to the 5at5 site to subscribe or browse through recent editions.

Corporate Largesse

  • On Monday and Tuesday I covered the Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit, a task made slightly more burdensome by the lingering effects of food poisoning the immediately previous Sunday. I was suitably fed and watered at Gartner’s expense. Also, Vormetric Data Security gave me a t-shirt.

The Week Ahead

It’s another busy one. Monday has already gotten off to a slow start — though deliberately. I’m writing this post on the train from Sydney to the Blue Mountains. En route and later this afternoon I’ll be planning a month-long fundraising campaign for my podcasts, and particularly The 9pm Edict.

On Tuesday I’ll launch that fundraising campaign with a podcast and appropriate noises on Twitter. I’ll also be starting some spring cleaning, starting off with the backlog of audio recordings that need sorting out.

Wednesday will see a continuation of the spring cleaning theme. It’ll also see 5at5 number 100, so I might mark that occasion in some way. Bursting into tears, perhaps.

Thursday will be a day of writing, with the usual column for ZDNet Australia, and perhaps something else. Friday will also be a day of media production, but I’m not sure what that’ll entail, apart from another mini-podcast.

Saturday is a day of cleaning and tidying at Bunjaree Cottages, before heading to Sydney to spend a month housesitting in Hurstville.

[Photo: Sydney skyline at dawn, photographed from Camperdown on 31 August 2014. Not quite the first day of spring, but it certainly had that feel about it.]