This week, Monday 11 to Sunday 17 March 2024, I wrapped up my summer series of podcasts and dealt with a chunk of geekery for a couple of clients. That left no time for any proper photography, apart from more damn birds and other critters, and you’ve seen enough of them lately. That’s why you’re looking at a ship from 2018. Exciting.
Actually on the photography thing, the main problem is that I only left the compound once this week, and that was just a brief shopping run. The lack of fresh and varied photography is more about my current stay-at-home lifestyle than lack of inspiration. I should probably fix that.
Podcasts
- The 9pm International Cyber Law without Vodka with Professor Johanna Weaver, recorded on 8 March and posted this Tuesday. The mention of vodka relates to one of Johanna’s anecdotes. I was completely sober for this episode. And thus ends the summer series. I’ll have the first details of the autumn series very soon.
The 9pm Edict is supported by the generosity of its listeners. You can throw a few coins into the tip jar or subscribe for special benefits. Please consider.
Articles
- The Weekly Cybers #9. It’s many small items this week, plus a podcast about international cyber law and things — the latter being the one mentioned immediately above.
You can read my previous writing at Authory, where you can also subscribe to an email compilation of any new stories each Sunday morning. That will include a link to The Weekly Cybers if you don’t mind clicking through.
Photos, Videos, Media Appearances, Corporate Largesse
None of these. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel to be notified when new videos appear and when livestreams are scheduled.
Recommendations
Coverage of Elon Musk is become ever more like celebrity gossip and disaster porn than news of an actual competent business operator and technology investor. So, in a way it’s more accurate.
- Donald Trump says he ‘helped’ Elon Musk as president and confirms recent meeting, reports NBC News. I think they mean that Donald Trump as president helped Elon Musk.
- Donald Trump Discussed Selling Truth Social To Elon Musk, Report Says.
- “Earlier this month Elon Musk sued OpenAI for keeping its technology [ChatGPT] secret. Today he promised to give away his own ‘truth-seeking’ chatbot Grok for free,” reports WIRED. I’m not sure about the word “promised” there.
- Former CNN host Don Lemon was in talks with Musk over hosting a talk show on X. Those talks fell through because Don Lemon demanded way too much, including a Cybertruck, a $5 million advance on top of an $8 million salary, equity in X, and “the right to approve any changes in X policy as it relates to news content”. For the initial show interviewing Musk, Lemon wanted a private jet flight and for the company to “pay for their day drinking and massages”. Oh no, not day drinking!
- ‘I don’t have to answer that question’: Musk interview with ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon gets tense. My favourite line from Lemon in this brief report: “He seemed really averse to facts.”
- Meanwhile Musk, who says he doesn’t care about criticism, compared Lemon to the spoiled child Veruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Anyway the full Musk interview is due out tomorrow.
- Musk’s SpaceX is building spy satellite network for US intelligence agency, sources say, reports Reuters in an exclusive.
- SpaceX Starship disintegrates in third test flight but is still labelled a success.
- Elon Musk’s brain implant company offers an intriguing glimpse of an internet connecting human minds.
- Brain chips: the Sydney researchers ‘miles ahead’ of Elon Musk’s Neuralink, and of course they’re not alone. Musk often implies that he’s the first to do something, and because his slack-jawed Musketeers know no better they believe him. But there’s a whole world of science out there.
In other news:
- Michael Spicer’s latest short video essay will resonate with the many of you who I know have to use airports from time to time: Airports are a Stain on Our Society.
- It turns out that for Australian magpies, intelligence depends on the size of their social group.
- If you’re in Australia, SBS On Demand has just added all four series of the truly magnificent German drama Babylon Berlin. You can watch it free but with ads, but I think it’s only HD rather than 4K. But Netflix only ever had series 1 to 3, and now it doesn’t have it at all. Hunt for it elsewhere on JustWatch.
- The J Paul Getty Museum just released more than 88,000 works under a Creative Commons Zero (CCØ) license, putting these digital images into the public domain.
- “Shigeichi Negishi, the Japanese engineer who gifted the world one of its greatest inventions — the karaoke machine — has died… He was 100.”
- Finally, an excellent explainer: Why Japanese TV is Full of Text.
The Week Ahead
On Monday and Tuesday I’ll attempt some client work. Stop laughing.
On Wednesday, the building I inhabit at Bunjaree Cottages is scheduled to be fitted with a new roof. The tradies are booked in to arrive at 7am, as tradies do, so I’m planning to get out of the way. I’ll spend the day in Sydney for various purposes. It’s also the Equinox at 1407 AEDT so I might celebrate that in some way.
Currently, however, rain is forecast for Wednesday. If that forecast holds up, which it probably almost certainly will, the roofers will postpone their work. Nevertheless, I will still do my Sydney trip that day, because I’ve already locked in a bunch of appointments. — back maintenance, a routine eye test, a haircut, and various errands and logistical necessities.
[Update 19 March 2024: I reckon it’s almost certain that the roofers will postpone their work so I have in fact rescheduled my Sydney day and all those appointments to Thursday. How exciting!]
[Update 20 March 2024: So the roofers had meant to say “20 May” not “20 March”, and they only discovered their mistake this morning. Hilarity ensued. Still, they’ve managed to reschedule it for this Friday 22 March, which is fantastic service.]
On Friday I’m starting a session of housesitting in Sydney which will run through to 2 April or thereabouts. Should you be wanting to catch up with me in Sydney, this would be a good time. I’ll probably schedule some podcast recordings in there too.
[Update 22 March 2024: Yet another change of plans. The materials for the new roof have been dropped off Friday morning, but the actual work will now be done on Saturday. I hope you’re enjoying the narrative.]
On Saturday it’s the state election in Tasmania, so in the evening I’ll catch up with a co-conspirator (yes that one), open a bottle of wine (or maybe two) and watch the ABC’s Antony Green do his special thing on TV.
Further Ahead
- AI Confidential, Info Sphere Education, online 27 March 2024. “Join your hosts, Kate Carruthers and Kobi Leins, for an online session where we delve into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact across industries.”
- NEW: ABC Radio’s RN Drive “Big Tech” spot, Radio National, 1650 AEDT and then around Australia at 1650 your local time through the magic of digital delay.
- Meanjin Autumn 2024 launch, Gleebooks, Glebe NSW, 24 April 2024 (TBC).
- Aaron Chen’s Funny Garden, Sydney, 27 April 2024. I am thrilled for Aaron because he’s now doing six performances at the State Theatre. As a prelude, you might like to watch his show from last year, If Weren’t Filmed, Nobody Would Believe. As he says, “Lucky were filmed”.
- He Huang Tiger Daughter versus the World, Chatswood NSW, 5 May 2024.
- Nina Oyama is Coming, Marrickville NSW, 12 May 2024.
- The Sydney Dialogue, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Sydney and online, 2–3 September 2024 (TBC).
[Photo: Cruise liner Ovation of the Seas at Circular Quay, Sydney, during the Beforetimes on 13 March 2018.]