My week of Monday 20 to Sunday 26 December 2021 was spent in Ashfield in Sydney, and it was remarkably unproductive. As I explained last week, it was the final few days before Christmas, and everyone had pretty much given up anyway. But do read on.
I did get a bunch of health-related things done. Just some routine tests. I can confirm that my eyes are much the same as two years ago. But it was good to get them out of the way. And I managed to do some… relaxing, I think it’s called? At least I did some thinking about life and such.
My Pozible crowdfunding campaign The 9pm Summer Series 2022 continued too.
We reached Target One on Christmas Day in the morning, so that has locked in four special-guest episode of The 9pm Edict podcast in January and February. Thank you, everyone.
At the time of writing we’re already now 70% of the way to Target Two, which will lock in two more. The campaign ends on Thursday 6 January 2022, so you’ve still got plenty of time to do the needful.
Podcasts
- The 9pm Extra: Talking Tech Policy episode 2, “Replumbing Power”. It’s a cross-post of a new podcast from the Tech Policy Design Centre at ANU on which I was a guest.
The 9pm Edict is supported by the generosity of its listeners. Please consider pledging your support to The 9pm Summer Series 2022 crowdfunding campaign. You have until 6 January 2022.
Articles
- Updated: Australian cyber-related legislation before parliament, plus current inquiries, yes updated yet again on Friday. Of particular note is the new House Select Committee into Social Media and Online Safety which has already held two public hearings in the last few days before Christmas, and wants public submissions by 12 January 2022.
You can read my previous writing at Authory, where you can also subscribe to an email compilation of any new stories each Sunday morning.
Media Appearances
- On Wednesday I spoke about the major content platforms and your (lack of) rights on ABC Brisbane.
Photos, Videos, Corporate Largesse
None. However you can subscribe to my YouTube channel for when new videos do appear. I’ll probably edit and upload some videos across the holidays.
Recommendations
In a bold move last week I said: “Next Sunday is Boxing Day. I’ll post the Weekly Wrap early and include a huge list of recommendations for your holiday enjoyment.” Nah, I won’t. But here’s a few.
- Are some of us destined to be dumb and is there anything we can do about it?
- The author of that restaurant review has posted a follow-up piece, What We Talk About When We Talk About Food.
- A remarkable little Twitter thread about a dangerous situation on the Polish railways.
- Another remarkable thread about naturalisation practices in Switzerland. Basically, local communities can vote against someone becoming a Swiss citizen for any number of daft little reasons. Many of them are just coded racism.
- Richard Herring’s RHLSTP podcast with actor Miriam Margolyes is simply fabulous.
The Week Ahead
As the week begins I’ll still be in Sydney being hissed at by an ungrateful cat.
Update 29 December 2021: The next two paragraphs have been deleted and replaced with versions that better reflect reality.
On Monday I’ll record an episode of The 9pm Edict podcast and do very little else.
On Tuesday I’ll be writing some quiz questions. That night I’m watching the TwoSet Violin 2021 Virtual World Tour. I return to the Blue Mountains on Wednesday.
On Wednesday I’ll record an episode of The 9pm Edict podcast before returning to Wentworth Falls. I’ll also watch the recording of the TwoSet Violin 2021 Virtual World Tour because for some reason the livestream didn’t start automatically for me.
On Thursday I’ll write some quiz questions because…
On Thursday night it’s The 8pm Quiz of the Year 2021, with the livestream starting at 8pm AEDT.
Remember both the bad and the even worse of a fabulous year for no prizes whatsoever.
Thursday and Friday will also see me putting some gentle thought into what will happen in 2022.
Friday night is New Year’s Eve and Saturday is New Year’s Day, but I haven’t thought about any of that yet. And then it’ll be 2022. May the gods have mercy on us.
Further Ahead
- linux.conf.au 2022, online, 14–16 January 2022 (TBC).
- APRICOT 2022 / APNIC 53, 28 February to 3 March 2022.
[Photo: This sign caught my attention because it’s a mix of new measurements in kilometres but old expressions in 1/2 rather than 0.5. It was photographed at Macdonaldtown station in Sydney on 22 December 2021.]