rgmerk

@[email protected]
2 Followers
222 Following
92 Posts
NameRobert Merkel
BioUsed to teach software engineering, now do it.
rgmerkNov 17, 2022
david robertsNov 17, 2022

Can I tell you a fun story? It's a little braggy, but it's also about the power of journalism, so, indulge me.

In his latest (sadly subscriber-only) newsletter, @[email protected] writes about @[email protected], the new system of satellites meant to track GHGs.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/opinion/environment/surveillance-state-climate-change.html

Opinion | The Global Carbon Surveillance State Is Coming

The conventional picture of climate change and what is causing it is about to change.

rgmerkNov 17, 2022
kcarruthersNov 17, 2022
Yes! "The Morrison government sat on a Privacy Act review for two years. Now is the time for action. The Medibank, Optus and NDIA mass data breaches demand urgent rights-based change which could be summarised in a five-point plan, including an individual right" https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/17/australian-companies-dont-value-keeping-our-data-safe-because-they-have-little-to-lose-our-laws-need-to-change-that?CMP=share_btn_tw
Australian companies don’t value keeping our data safe because they have little to lose. Our laws need to change that

Our nation’s data security practices have been so sloppy that recent major data breaches could have been avoided with simple protections

The Guardian
rgmerkNov 17, 2022

It’s still incredible to me how problems can go from intractable to straightforward on any number of dimensions, by what from the outside seem the subtlest reframings.

Not new or original, I know, but still an underappreciated point. #softwareengineering #engineering

rgmerkNov 16, 2022
Jenny ChaseNov 16, 2022

If I had ten billion dollars to spend on combatting climate change, I'm honestly not sure what I'd do with it, and I rather think that if you are then you haven't really looked into the question.

(For obvious reasons this is not investment advice).

rgmerkNov 16, 2022
WilsoNov 16, 2022
Coprolite may not be my favourite fossil. But it's a solid number two.
rgmerkNov 16, 2022
Currently doing a work-related thing and it’s truly astonishing the number of complex lurks that the UK has so that upper-middle class people can avoid paying tax (distinct from the lurks of the seriously rich). Those parts of the Tories that aren’t owned by oligarchs must be owned by financial planners. Australia has its issues in this area but we’ve got nothing on the UK.
rgmerkNov 15, 2022
Nice to be writing something more elegant than a release note for once. Looking forward to sharing once I’ve finished.
rgmerkNov 13, 2022
Ratio of stain on furniture/stain on clothing acceptable
rgmerkNov 13, 2022
Show threadLiam Nov 13, 2022

[soon]

SQUIGGLE: ORIGINS
All you know about Mr Squiggle is UPSIDE DOWN

rgmerkNov 12, 2022
david robertsNov 12, 2022
A new brief from @[email protected] arguing: "It is increasingly clear that global fossil fuel demand reached a peak in 2019 and we are now bumping along a plateau before the inevitable decline sets in." https://www.dropbox.com/s/gf1oq793mps8l5r/Global%20peak%20fossil%20fuel%20demand%20final%2011.pdf?dl=0
Global peak fossil fuel demand final 11.pdf

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