I began my week of Monday 29 August to Sunday 4 September 2022 in Sydney, spending an evening in a pub before returning to the Blue Mountains. Three days later I was exhausted, my body ached, and I spent the day in bed. I can guess what happened.
We know that people can still get covid-19 even if they’re vaccinated, and in my case that’s four doses. But of course the vaccines do work: A serious and potentially fatal disease is turned into a couple days of discomfort, with viral loads kept so low they don’t even trigger a rapid antigen test. Twenty-first century medical science is pretty cool, eh?
It might not have been the ’rona, of course. All manner of random viruses will batter you for a couple days. But the pattern seemed about right. Oh well. This is the new normal.
Articles
- Digital developments from Canberra 4, 4 September 2022. Quite a lot from the eSafety Commissioner today. Starting next week, these posts will appear on Saturdays — though not every Saturday — rather than Sundays.
You can read my own previous writing at Authory, where you can also subscribe to an email compilation of any new stories each Sunday morning.
Media Appearances
- My 2020 article Twitter bots and trolls promote conspiracy theories about Australian bushfires continues to be the most-cited. This week it appeared in Promoting and countering misinformation during Australia’s 2019–2020 bushfires: a case study of polarisation, to be published in the December 2022 issue of Social Network Analysis and Mining.
Podcasts, Photos, Videos, Corporate Largesse
None. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel to be notified when new videos appear.
Recommendations
- An interesting-looking PhD thesis which I haven’t read yet, The Development of Nuclear Propulsion in the Royal Navy, 1946-1975.
- The headline makes this ABC News story sound like it’s boomer-nostalgia, but in fact it’s a great summary of Australia’s (un)employment policies since the end of WW2. What was the Commonwealth Employment Service? Why are people calling for it to return?.
- Worried about that nuclear power plant in Ukraine that’s been taken over by Russia? This episode of the Arms Control Wonk Podcast may or may not reassure you: Stealing the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
- There’s been some fantastic episodes of the Off Menu podcast lately. Maybe try those with Sir Lenny Henry and Professor Brian Cox.
- Have I Got News for Boris: A Special Tribute is a very special episode of the British comedy news panel show Have I Got News for You.
- An amazing little DIY project: I turned my Commodore 64 into a Theremin (with a spoon, a clamp, and six more components).
- AI is getting better at generating porn. We might not be prepared for the consequences.
- Yes, you can reheat food more than once. Here’s why.
- Finally, if you love watching fast military jets, check out Growler Ball 2022.
The Week Ahead
On Monday, federal parliament kicks off two sitting weeks, so that should be a source of endless fun.
On Tuesday night, Bond on Tuesday brings you the first effort of Timothy Dalton in the role in The Living Daylights (1987). Find a stream and get ready at 8.30pm AEST. We press PLAY at 8.40pm.
Thursday is a day of errands and lunch with a co-conspirator in Penrith, rather than going all the way to the Sydney CBD.
On Friday or Saturday I’ll record a solo episode of The 9pm Edict podcast, and I’ll also write a “Digital developments from Canberra” post.
Further Ahead
- UNSW AI Institute Launch, University of New South Wales Sydney, 13 September 2022.
- The 9pm Edict podcast recording with Scientia Professor Toby Walsh, acting director of the UNSW AI Institute, 13 September 2022. If you’re a supporter with TRIGGER WORDS or a CONVERSATION TOPIC for this episode, please let me know by 7pm AEST on Monday 12 September. The podcast will be posted later in the week.
- Win the Week recording, ABC Ultimo, 13 September 2022.
- APNIC 54, Singapore and online, 13–15 September 2022. I won’t be travelling to Singapore.
- Win the Week recording, ABC Ultimo, 20 September 2022. This is the final episode in the series.
- Aussie Backyard Bird Count, 17–23 October 2022.
- Federal Budget, 25 October 2022.
- NetThing: Australia’s Internet Community Forum, online, 27–28 October 2022.
- Victoria state election, 26 November 2022. I’m sure I’ll do something special.
- NSW state election, 25 March 2023.
[Photo: Flowers of some random wattle species, somewhat damaged by the rain. Photographed at Bunjaree Cottages on 4 September 2022.]