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Weekly Wrap 392: Winds light to variable as summer begins

03 December 2017 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

Approaching Sydney Central station Little appeared publicly from me this week, Monday 27 November to Sunday 3 December 2017. I was busy with DirectorTech, and I was planning for the weeks ahead.

Articles, Podcasts, Corporate Largesse

None.

Media Appearances

  • On Wednesday, I was interviewed by ABC Melbourne in an attempt to explain the Cloud.

The Week Ahead

On Monday, I’m wrapping up this phase of work for DirectorTech, at least ideally. There’s a chance it might overflow into Tuesday. Either way, Tuesday will also contain the running of errands in Leura and Katoomba. And on Tuesday or Wednesday I’ll write something for ZDNet.

Thursday will be a long one. It’s a Sydney day, including a briefing from Symantec at lunchtime, the now-traditional Annual Communications Industry Boat Cruise on Sydney Harbour in the afternoon, and drinks and dinner with friends in the evening.

Friday and the weekend are as yet unplanned, but I know there’s a lot to fit in.

Further Ahead

The key items are the two podcasts.

Assuming that the Public House Forum podcast is well-received, I’m thinking of lining up more such episodes early in the new year. There’s support for the idea of doing one in Ballarat, with possibility of doing one in Melbourne en route. I’ll ponder that further in due course.

Other than that, I’ll be writing for ZDNet and generally winding down before the Christmas break. 2017 has been an exhausting year.

[Photo: Approaching Sydney Central station from the south on 29 November 2017.]

Weekly Wrap 381: Hasn’t everything been lovely! No?

17 September 2017 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

Hanging SwampThis 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.

Articles, Podcasts, Corporate Largesse

None, but see below.

Media Appearances

  • On Tuesday 5 September, I spoke about the fragility of the internet on ABC Adelaide. As has been usual lately, I probably won’t post the audio.
  • On Thursday 14 September, Tim Burrowes and I spoke about Facebooks’s new advertising policies on ABC Radio’s The World Today.

The Week Ahead

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.

Further Ahead

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.]

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.]

Weekly Wrap 361: The last pause, I hope

01 May 2017 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

Approaching SingaporeThis Weekly Wrap covers two weeks, Monday 17 to Sunday 30 April 2017, because little happened during this time apart from the continuing throat infection, and grumpiness, and a day off for Anzac Day.

Here’s a list, and a completely unrelated photo.

Articles

Podcasts

None, but I’ll be announcing the next date for The 9pm Edict very soon.

Media Appearances

Corporate Largesse

  • On Thursday 20 April, I covered the launch of Australia’s Cyber Security Sector Competitiveness Plan at the Museum of Contemporary Art, and a lovely buffet breakfast was served. This is what generated the article listed above.

The Week Ahead

Monday will be a day of catching up on work and household loose ends as I finally kill this throat infection. And writing this.

On Tuesday, I’m working on the SEKRIT editorial project, then catching a train down to Sydney for The Double Disillusionists podcast recording at Giant Dwarf that evening. I’ll stay in Sydney overnight.

On Wednesday morning, I’ll be covering the half-day conference Cyber Security — the Leadership Imperative 2017, which I daresay I’ll write about before returning to Wentworth Falls.

Thursday through Sunday are as yet unplanned, but I know there’s lots of writing and editing to catch up on. What the daily plans emerge on Twitter.

Further Ahead

I’m covering the AusCERT Information Security Conference on the Gold Coast from 24 to 26 May; the 5th International Conference on Cybercrime and Computer Forensics (ICCCF) on the Gold Coast from 16 to 18 July, or at least I hope; and the national conference of the Australian Information Security Association (AISA) in Sydney on 10 to 12 October.

Update 17 May 2016: Edited to reflect schedule changes.

[Photo: Approaching Singapore, photographed on 6 March 2017 when I was en route from Ho Chi Minh City back to Sydney.]

Weekly Wrap 358: Amanita see you about the mould (sorry)

09 April 2017 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

Amanita muscaria, or similarMy week of Monday 3 to Sunday 9 April 2017 was largely blown away by illness, but there were some good points. Please skip my whining to see the list of achievements below.

Apart from the conference plague, and the “extremely severe” stress and anxiety levels, which I told you about last week, I managed to get a face-full of The Spores.

I was killing some black mould on a ceiling, and I thought I was being clever by using a window-cleaning sponge-and-squeegee to apply The Killing Solution. That worked, yes, but it also meant that I disturbed the mould, and the spores fell straight down on top of me.

I do not recommend this.

Podcasts

  • “The 9pm End of the World, Definitely”, being The 9pm Edict episode 66. This episode is also available on SoundCloud and Spreaker. This was the first episode in two months. I’d you’d like to help make them more frequent, please feel free to contribute.

Articles

None.

Media Appearances

  • On Monday, I spoke about ISPs selling your web browsing data on ABC Adelaide. I may or may not post this audio. Stay tuned, or something.

Corporate Largesse

None, despite what I expected.

The Week Ahead

Monday will be all about communication, planning, and shopping, most of which will be happening in Katoomba.

On Tuesday, it’s the long commute down to Sydney for a couple of meetings and some errands. On the way there and back, and for the rest of the week, it’s all about writing and editing the words.

Friday is, of course, Good Friday and the start of the Easter long weekend, so I’ll be taking the day off. No plans as yet.

Further Ahead

I’m covering the AusCERT Information Security Conference on the Gold Coast from 23 to 26 May; the 5th International Conference on Cybercrime and Computer Forensics (ICCCF) on the Gold Coast from 16 to 18 July, or at least I hope; and the national conference of the Australian Information Security Association (AISA) in Sydney on 10 to 12 October.

[Photo: Amanita muscaria, or similar. A mushroom of one Amanita species or another, photographed near Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains on 22 March 2017.]

Weekly Wraps 350 to 357: Gosh is that the time?

02 April 2017 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

Sunset over Ho Chi Minh CityThis 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.

Read the rest of this entry »

Weekly Wrap 346: Sliding into 2017, finally

05 February 2017 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

My week of Monday 9 to Sunday 15 January 2017 saw my first media output for the new year, but it was still a slow start.

I’m way behind schedule. This is the first of three Weekly Wraps that I need to power through today. So I’ll stick to the basic information, and maybe some photographs from previous years.

Media Appearances

Articles, Podcasts, Corporate Largesse

None.

[Photo: Sydney Harbour from the AMP Building, photographed on 3 February 2016.]

Weekly Wrap 344: Sleepwalking into 2017 on my stomach

09 January 2017 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

Lower OnkaparingaMy week of Monday 26 December 2016 to Sunday 1 January 2017 was almost non-existent. The time flew by.

I picked up some gastric bug over the Christmas weekend. On top of the mental exhaustion from the Adelaide trip the previous week, as well as the usual end-of-year stresses, it was all a bit too much. So I spent most of the week in bed.

It turns out you can live on a diet of gin and chocolate chip ice-cream for a surprisingly long time, but it does make your poo smell a bit funny.

Articles, Podcasts, Media Appearances, Corporate Largesse

None, for the reasons just stated. Call it a holiday. Everyone else seemed to have one.

[Photo: Lower Onkaparinga, photographed on 19 December 2016. The last few meandering curves of the Onkaparinga River in South Australia before it discharges its water into St Vincent Gulf. The river mouth itself is just below the bottom of the shot. I took this photo from a Melbourne to Adelaide flight just as the aircraft turned to run up the coast to Adelaide Airport. I’ve boosted the contrast and such to highlight the landforms. Consider it an abstract.]

Weekly Wrap 339: The Census disaster and the taxi-killer

04 December 2016 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

“Yes! Chase them. Kill them. You can do it. Mwuahaha! Kill them!”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.

Articles

Podcasts, Media Appearances, Corporate Largesse

None.

[Photo: “Yes! Chase them. Kill them. You can do it. Mwuahaha! Kill them!”, 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.”

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.”

He was really getting into it as we zoomed through that well-known structure on the Tullamarine Freeway.

Weekly Wrap 337: No avalanche, no socks, no birdbath

19 November 2016 in Weekly Wrap by Stilgherrian | Permalink

The Future (as seen in San Francisco, 19 May 2013): click to embiggenMy week of Monday 7 to Sunday 13 November 2016 was remarkably unproductive. A significant podcast appeared, though, and I did a bit of thinking. Which you didn’t see.

What was the thinking about? All will become clear in the coming weeks. Or not. Much like the future of the gentleman in the photograph.

Podcasts

Articles, Media Appearances, Corporate Largesse

None. However I did write a yarn for SBS TV, scheduled to appear in the following week. And I got some of that geek-for-hire work done, though I don’t really talk about that here.

[Photo: The Future (as seen in San Francisco, 19 May 2013).]

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