My week of Monday 15 to Sunday 21 April 2024 was a relatively easy one, deliberately, before what I know will be a hectic few weeks. That said, I actually managed to get some client work done, which is magical. And apart from that, here’s some interesting links.
[Update, moments later: Once again, I’ve just noticed that I used this exact same image last year, even though I’d tagged it in my image database as having been used! Oh well, it’s a fun photo.]
Articles
- The Weekly Cybers #14. New defence strategy to boost cyber and space capabilities, AFP runs into AN0M problems, and Chinese hackers target think tank ASPI.
You can read my previous writing at Authory, where you can also subscribe to an email compilation of any new stories each Sunday morning.
Podcasts, 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
Elon Musk is a man of many contradictions. And yes, I am continuing to track them.
- “Tesla is again seeking to award boss Elon Musk the biggest pay deal in corporate American history, worth $56 billion.” Which is amusing given that…
- Tesla to cut more than 14,000 jobs as troubles deepen.
- Elon Musk email says Tesla sent ‘incorrectly low’ severance packages to laid-off employees.
- “Elon Musk has taken to bringing his 3-year-old son X to events around the world, all while he is in the midst of a custody battle with X’s mother, Grimes.”
- “Elon Musk has postponed his planned trip to India, citing “very heavy” obligations at Tesla.”
- Elon Musk and X to fight Australian eSafety order to remove content relating to Sydney stabbing.
- Oxford shuts down institute run by Elon Musk-backed philosopher.
In other news:
- From National Geographic, some astounding footage. Emperor penguin chicks jump off a 50-foot cliff in Antarctica NEVER-BEFORE-FILMED FOR TV.
- Fossil of ‘largest snake to have ever existed’ found in western India. “Scientists estimate Vasuki indicus was up to 15m long, weighed a tonne and would have constricted its prey.”
- From finance YouTuber Patrick Boyle, Neom – The Line – The Rise and Fall of Saudi Arabia’s Linear City. It may take a while to get past his Kermitesque on-screen presence, but he knows his stuff and his delivery is suitably dry, if also flat. A bit like a desert. It’s half an hour long, but it’s also a forensic dismantling of the entire concept.
- It’s 1968, and science presenter James Burke is sitting in an Eero Aarnio Ball Chair. Watch him present Is this the FUTURE of TELEVISION?, and reminisce about when your family’s household had one of these machines.
- A blog post about a curious piece from 1950 predicting what future women would be like: In The Future, All Women Will Be Amazons.
- This week’s AlienSideBoob from John Birmingham is titled The map of days and it’s truly profound. Please take the time to read it slowly and without distractions.
The Week Ahead
It’s quite a hectic week for me. Let’s not even mention the client work.
On Monday I’m recording an episode of The 9pm Edict podcast with Ketan Joshi, researcher and communications consultant on climate stuff. He’s been on the pod before, back in 2021. If you’re a supporter with TRIGGER WORDS or a CONVERSATION TOPIC for this episode, please get them to me tonight, Sunday 21 April.
The finished episode will be posted later in the week. [Update 26 April 2024: I’ve had to move this podcast post-production back a few days, so I’ll appear next week.]
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.
On Wednesday I’m heading down to Sydney for some health-related appointments and, in the evening, the Meanjin Autumn 2024 launch at Gleebooks. Book here. I’ll be staying in Sydney overnight.
Thursday is Anzac Day. I don’t have anything in particular planned, but I’ll be returning to the Blue Mountains in the late afternoon because Friday is a work day for me.
On Saturday I’ll return to Sydney for Aaron Chen’s Funny Garden. I am thrilled for Aaron because he’s now doing six performances at the State Theatre. You might like to watch his show from last year, If Weren’t Filmed, Nobody Would Believe. As he says, “Lucky were filmed”.
I’ll stay overnight again, doing some shopping in Sydney on Sunday before returning to the Mountains.
Further Ahead
- He Huang Tiger Daughter versus the World, Chatswood NSW, 5 May 2024.
- UPDATED: One Million Years Celebration, inner Sydney location TBA,
11May 2024. Next month (but not on 11 May) I’ll be one million years old, in binary. My last end-in-zero birthday happened during the Quarantimes, so this is intended to make up for that. I’ll be choosing a family-friendly pub somewhere in the inner parts of Sydney for the Saturday afternoon, 3pm to 7pm. Please RSVP so I have some idea of numbers and can tell you where it’ll be. - Nina Oyama is Coming, Marrickville NSW, 12 May 2024.
- NEW: The 9pm Edict podcast recording with digital rights chap and hexagon enthusiast Justin Warren, 21 May. We’ll be looking at the digital things in the federal Budget, among other things. If you’re a supporter with TRIGGER WORDS or a CONVERSATION TOPIC for that episode, please get them to me by 7pm AEST on Monday 20 May.
- The Sydney Dialogue, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Sydney and online, 2–3 September 2024 (TBC).
[Photo: The confusing corner Railway Parade and Taylor Avenue in Wentworth Falls, where Railway Parade is also in a different direction entirely. This photo is from a year ago, 15 April 2023, but nothing has changed.]