Willis's Walkabouts Newsletter 127, April 2024 ― Our Future
The world is changing. There is little we can do about some things but there are others where we have a choice.
The Stop Press section contains information about yet another attack on the NT environment and what you can do to help.
Imagine a world where our past has disappeared. The first article in the 'Misc' section of the Artificial Intelligence section shows how this could happen. The first article about AI Bias shows how it's already happening.
Imagine a world where a somewhat senile old man has the power to destroy it. The End Of The World As We Know It explains how this is likely to happen.
If you are viewing this on a mobile, the newsletter and many of the links should work better in a horizontal format.
Restricted content. Articles marked * or ** are on restricted websites Click for more info, including how you can sometimes avoid the paywalls.
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In this issue
WW 2024 ― Major Changes
The Bad News
All across Australia, more and more people are booking holidays closer to departure than ever before. Our advance bookings are the worst I can recall for this time of year. We can't cope with late bookings unless we have enough early bookings to guarantee a departure. That's why we offer our advance purchase discounts. By and large those discounts are no longer good enough. We've already had to cancel all but one trip before June. If we don't get bookings, the first two June trips will be cancelled a week after this newsletter gets posted on the website. The rest of July will follow soon after.
The Good News
We have strong bookings on some trips, already have bookings on two trips in 2025 and have a limited time offer covering more trips than we've ever done before.
Australia
Below is a list of the trips which already have both bookings and space available.
- Kakadu Highlights No. 5: 23 June - 6 July
Two sections, either of which can be done on its own. We need only two more bookings to run this trip. - Bungle Bungles: 7-15 July
- Kakadu Highlights No. 5A: 8-14 July
New Trip. Definite departure, probable guide: Sébastien Heritier.
Jim Jim to Twin short loop. - Kakadu Highlights No. 6: 14-28 July
Two sections, either of which can be done on its own.
Probable guide for section 2: Don Butcher - Mitchell Plateau No. 2: 21 July - 4 August
Two sections, either of which can be done on its own.
Probable guide: Paul Blattman - Kakadu Mindfulness Retreat: 11-19 August
We will be there during a week when road access is closed to the general public so we will almost certainly have the area to ourselves.
Guides: Cassie Newnes and Wendy Haynes - Baroalba Hill 420: 1-14 March 2025
If we get more bookings, this will be the first time we've been able to run this trip since 2015.
Special Mention
- Gulf Country: Limmen & Lorella: 9-29 June
After last year's trip I want to go back, so much so that I've kept the price so low, I'm not paying myself a wage and will run it for as few as three people.
Cyclone Megan dropped a lot of rain in the area in mid March so this should be an exceptional year to visit.
The trip begins with relatively easy day and short overnight walks allowing you to acclimatise and be properly prepared for the one week walk at the end.
Guide: Russell Willis
I've posted five videos about the trip on our YouTube Gulf country playlist. Look at them all and you should understand why I want to go back.
Special Offer! We have extended our 20% advance purchase discount on every trip still in the program until one week after this newsletter goes onto the website.
Overseas
We have two trips, both of which are definite departures.
- Namibia: 11 August - late September
The trip will be divided into two sections, 1)11 Aug - 1 September and 2) 1 September onwards. Section two is still a work in progress so I can't give an exact finish date.
We've got a number of people doing only the first part so if the trip is too long, there is room for oters on either half.
If you'd like a taste of what it will be like, click the links to some or all of the videos toward the bottom of the first section on the trip page. More will follow.
Guide: Russell Willis - New Caledonia: 6-27 October
It will be possible to do only part of the trip. There optional add ons at the end.
Guide: Sébastien Heritier.
Your Health
- The pitfalls of ageing
Why are older people happier? - The tiny killer linked to heart attack, stroke and death
"More than half of people undergoing surgery for clogged arteries had blood vessels riddled with microplastics, the study found, and those patients had a far greater chance of heart attack, stroke and death compared to people whose arteries were free from plastic." - Women may get a bigger longevity boost from exercise than men **
Whether it's vigorous activity or muscle building, women can make big gains in longevity while doing about half the exercise that men do -
The surprisingly simple exercise that can lower your blood pressure **
This isometric exercise is found to lower blood pressure even better than some cardio workouts - Why are my muscles sore after exercise? Hint: it's nothing to do with lactic acid
- From New Scientist, Ultra-Processed food. The truth is more complicated than simply being bad for you.
- 62-year-old receives gene-edited pig kidney in milestone transplant surgery **
- Why acting out in dreams may signal a health issue **
- Women are getting off birth control amid misinformation explosion **
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Why is the male body the scientific default when the female body drives the reproductive success of our species?
One small quote shows how the whole article is worth reading
"Female adipose tissue, 600 million years old, stored around our butts and thighs, is necessary to the development of babies' brains. It is so necessary that girls begin storing it in childhood and when women liposuction it out of their lower bodies it returns in unexpected places: the armpits, for example. Bohannon points out that the possible repercussions of liposuction on the brain health of future offspring has not yet been studied."
Tech
Sexting
We teach school kids about safe sex. We need to teach safe sexting too
"A 2021 survey of almost 7,000 Australian teenagers (aged 14 to 18) found sexting was “ordinary practice” for young people. Of those surveyed, 86% reported they had received sexts and 70% said they had sent them."
Screen Time & Kids
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Screen time robs average toddler of hearing 1,000 words spoken by adult a day, study finds
Research into 220 Australian families over two years concludes exposure to television, phone and other screens hinders young children's language skills -
Virtual reality grooming is an increasing danger. How can parents keep children safe?
Children tend to have difficulty distinguishing between what occurs within VR and in the real world.
As children identify with their avatars, the boundary between them and the VR device is blurred when playing in the metaverse.
Children can even develop traumatic memories when playing in virtual worlds. Due to the immersive nature of VR, the sense of presence makes it feel as if the child's avatar is actually "real".
To help them understand what their children experience in extended reality environments, parents must familiarise themselves with VR and the metaverse. If parents experience and experiment with the VR technology themselves, they can have conversations with their children about their experiences and understand with whom the child might interact with.
A Few fight Back
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The Teenager Leading the Smartphone Liberation Movement *
Logan Lane gave up her smartphone. That changed her life. - 'Luddite' Teens Don't Want Your Likes *
When the only thing better than a flip phone is no phone at all.
Privacy
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These camera doorbells from Amazon, Walmart aren't safe **
These video doorbells have software vulnerabilities that could let in hackers. Retailers keep selling them.I would be very surprised if it's not the same in Australia. - Privacy Reset: A guide to the important settings you should change now **
From Facebook to Apple's iOS, stay on top of your privacy with these key settings - Apple's new Vision Pro is a privacy mess waiting to happen **
The Vision Pro brings us a whole new dimension of privacy risks. Apple appears to have only partial solutions. - One of the Last Bastions of Digital Privacy Is Under Threat *
- Australians able to opt out of targeted ads and erase their data under proposed privacy reforms
Individual rights could be modelled on the EU's general data protection regulation or GDPR - The above, was, alas, wishful thinking. Here are three newer articles on the same subject.
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Personal data to get greater protection, but targeted ads will keep coming
Political parties don't want to lose their ability to hit you with targeted ads. - Government to overhaul privacy laws, including opting out of advertising, a right to be forgotten, and new rules for small businesses
- Fed's privacy response: targeting opt-out provisions dumped; Fights brewing over personal information, targeting definitions ⁹ ad industry tools up for next clash
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Personal data to get greater protection, but targeted ads will keep coming
Social Media
- How to Fix the TikTok Problem *
While Congress has been up in arms about TikTok, it has failed to pass even the most basic comprehensive privacy legislation to protect our data from being misused by all the tech companies that collect and mine it. - Social media is a stinking global toilet: clean it up or escape the trap
Fixing social media might seem impossible ― the Big Tech execs have already shown their true colors. But less poisonous online discourse certainly is conceivable, and it's worth fighting for. But how? - Instagram Struggles With Fears of Losing Its 'Pipeline': Young Users *
The app, hailed as Facebook's growth engine, has privately wrestled with retaining and engaging teenagers, according to internal documents.
"'Teen time spent,' a term denoting how many hours a day teenagers are on Instagram, also dipped. That was alarming because Instagram relied on teenagers to spend an average of three to four hours a day on the app, nearly double what adults spend on it, they said."
That's a ridiculous amount of time. if it's viability depends on people spending that amount of time on the app, better it ceases to exist.
Big Tech
- This Is Why Google Paid Billions for Apple to Change a Single Setting *
- European Union targets tech giants in digital market crackdown
The European Union is targeting Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet, Facebook owner Meta and TikTok parent ByteDance under new digital rules aimed at reining in the market power of online companies - Google loses appeal against €2.4 billion fine: tech giants might now have to re-think their entire business models
Interesting precedent may have far reaching consequences. - Google's Privacy Backpedal Shows Why It's So Hard Not to Be Evil *
There is a saying in Silicon Valley that when a product is free, the user is the product.
That's a diplomatic way of describing what amounts to tech companies' cynicism toward their own customers. - Why is the government suing Apple? Look at your iPhone's restrictions. **
These things you can't do with your iPhone are the heart of new allegations that Apple is an illegal monopoly.
Misc
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'Shrinkflation' as big telcos sneakily cap mobile data speeds
Providers are capping mobile internet speeds without lowering prices. - I Used Google Ads for Social Engineering. It Worked. *
Ad campaigns that manipulate searchers' behaviour are frighteningly easy for anyone to run. The article is now a few years old. I bet it's even easier now. - Silicon Valley's Safe Space *
Slate Star Codex was a window into the psyche of many tech leaders building our collective future. Then it disappeared.
I'm not sure where it fits into the bigger picture, but I found it interesting reading. I hope some of you do too.
Electricity ― How much longer can we take it for granted?
Increased Demand
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Amid explosive demand, America is running out of power **
AI and the boom in clean-tech manufacturing are pushing America's power grid to the brink. Utilities can't keep up. -
Blackstone Is Building a $25 Billion Empire of Power-Hungry Data Centers **
The private equity giant says landlord QTS could be one of its best investments ever ― but the resources needed for growth are vast. -
AI Needs So Much Power That Old Coal Plants Are Sticking Around **
Power companies are scrambling to satisfy the needs of data centers and new factories in a country where the grid is already strained.
"To cope with the surge, some power companies are reconsidering plans to mothball plants that burn fossil fuels, while a few have petitioned regulators for permission to build new gas-powered ones. That means President Joe Biden's push to bolster environmentally friendly industries could end up contributing to an increase in emissions, at least in the near term." -
Europe's Energy Crunch **
The rising cost of gas and electricity is stressing household energy bills, threatening businesses productivity and testing government policy.
"There is a lot of data center growth happening and that growth is not evenly distributed across the US,” said Arman Shehabi, a scientist at California's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, who is studying data center power needs for the government. “It's consolidating in certain locations, and this could create a power crunch in those areas."
Attacking the Grid
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Australia's electricity grid increasingly vulnerable to hackers via solar panels, smart devices
Two of Australia's top cyber security advisors said the electricity networks of Russia's adversaries would be firmly in sight as part of any attack and Australia was not immune.
Their comments came amid warnings that Australia's embrace of rooftop solar and technologies that communicate with the grid through the internet could make the country more vulnerable to hackers. - Attacks on Electrical Substations Raise Alarm *
After recent attacks caused thousands of people to lose power in Washington State and North Carolina, experts and legislators are calling for tighter security. And the F.B.I. is offering rewards.
Old tech, not cyber. It could happen as easily in Australia as in the US.
Misc
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Andrew Forrest says big companies are 'forcing' customers to 'destroy the planet'
large energy companies are forcing customers to "destroy the planet for their kids" by not offering a green alternative to power generated via fossil fuels. He contends that consumers only care about having access to energy rather than how it is generated, and energy companies should ask them if they are prepared to pay more for clean energy. Forrest adds that the fact that Coca-Cola is a sponsor of COP27 bothers him, and he has urged the company to increase its investment in research into the recycling of plastics. -
As Australia's net zero transition threatens to stall, rooftop solar could help provide the power we need
It's more complicated than you might think. - Worn-out solar panels and batteries face Queensland landfill bans
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Heat pumps are defying Maine's winters and oil industry pushback **
Fossil fuel industry groups say the technology isn't ideal for the state's climate. Mainers aren't buying it.
We don't need as much heating, but we do need some. It all adds to the pressure on the grid. - To address rising energy costs, Australians want long-term solutions from the government rather than temporary reliefs
Sadly, few politicians can look past the next election. Maybe we need some way to tie their super to the long-term results of their decisions.
The End Of The World As We Know It
If you read nothing else in this newsletter, read these two articles. They paint a frightening picture, all too often ignored. If you want more, there are other links.
- In the United States, it's up to one person to decide whether the world becomes engulfed in nuclear war. *
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Nuclear war is often described as unimaginable. In fact, it's not imagined enough. *
"The possibility of a nuclear strike, once inconceivable in modern conflict, is more likely now than at any other time since the Cold War."
Artificial Intelligence
AI Bias
I hadn't realised just how biased AI can be until I read an article by Jared Dillian in a subscription only newsletter. I was so impressed that I asked for and received permission to use it in this newsletter. The first two pages are the relevant ones. The last one is a free extra. The important point, "AI is being trained with a
very explicit bias by its makers." Google Gemini.
Google Gemini Follow Up is a collection of excerpts about Google Gemini mentioned in Jared's newsletter over the three weeks that followed the original.
Other similar articles
- From Time, Google Left in 'Terrible Bind' by Pulling AI Feature After Right-Wing Backlash
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Google's hidden AI diversity prompts lead to outcry over historically inaccurate images
Inserting depictions of diversity into AI images creates revisionist history, critics say.
Good photos showing what happens -
Google chief admits 'biased' AI tool's photo diversity offended users
Sundar Pichai addresses backlash after Gemini software created images of historical figures in variety of ethnicities and genders
Search for yourself. There is a lot out there.
Misc
- A.I. Is Coming for the Past, Too *
"History can be a powerful tool for manipulation and malfeasance. The same generative A.I. that can fake current events can also fake past ones. While new content may be secured through built-in systems, there is a world of content out there that has not been watermarked, which is done by adding imperceptible information to a digital file so that its provenance can be traced. Once watermarking at creation becomes widespread and people adapt to distrust content that is not watermarked, then everything produced before that point in time can be much more easily called into question." - Fake Reviews Are Rampant Online. Can a Crackdown End Them? *
A wave of regulation and industry action has placed the flourishing fake review business on notice. But experts say the problem may be insurmountable. - I found the smartest politician on AI. It's no one you'd expect. **
The suggestion as to what would be the best thing for the US to do in regulating AI is not what you'd expect. -
AI is creating fake legal cases and making its way into real courtrooms, with disastrous results
AI models are trained on massive data sets. When prompted by a user, they can create new content (both text and audiovisual).
Although content generated this way can look very convincing, it can also be inaccurate. This is the result of the AI model attempting to "fill in the gaps" when its training data is inadequate or flawed, and is commonly referred to as 'hallucination".
Political Corruption
- Indigenous leader accuses NT government of 'clear conflict of interest' with online gambling industry
The government sought feedback on its draft bill from all 28 online gambling companies licensed in the NT, including international giants Bet365 and Sportsbet. It did not approach anyone based outside the NT, including regulators, gambling researchers, academics, treatment centres or financial counsellors.
Does this suggest that we've got the best politicians money can buy? -
More than 900 parliamentary questions on health and aged care unanswered
'It is disappointing that this government's commitment to transparency is clearly only measured by what they think they can get away with.' - Withheld Australian report has 'gut-wrenching facts' on climate crisis
As best as I can tell, the government still hasn't released the report. (If you can find it, please let me know where.) What do they have to hide? -
The Jacqui Lambie Network is the latest victim of 'cybersquatting'. It's the tip of the iceberg of negative political ads online
"Her party's website is lambienetwork.com.au. You might understand her anger, then, after finding out the Tasmanian Liberal party created a website to campaign against her, called lambienetwork.com. It's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it difference."
"the government can ban cyber hijacking or squatting of politicians or parties' web addresses or social channels. It can restrict negative advertising, and bring in green ticks to verify truthful advertising."
"If it's so easy, why hasn't it been done? Because that requires political support. Considering politicians are the ones who benefit most from the existing framework, we don't need a negative ad to tell us how unlikely they are to do anything about it anytime soon." - MPs claiming thousands on taxpayer-funded trips for official parliamentary duties that coincide with sporting events
Transparency International calls for tightening of rules but MPs claim the events help them connect with stakeholders.
“Public funding shouldn't be used for attending a footy match, the cricket or a horse race. Most people would think you earn enough, put your hand in your own pocket and pay for that" - One from America.
Unusual exemption to California minimum wage law massively benefits long-time Gavin Newsom donor, Panera billionaire
Newsom is the governor of California. If for some reason, Biden drops out of the presidential race, Newsom seems to be the most likely replacement.
Flying
Almost everyone flies these days. Here are a few things to consider.
- LATAM flight 800 'just dropped' in mid-flight, injuring dozens. An expert explores what happened, and how to keep yourself safe
- Airlines Are Coming for Your Carry-Ons
The story is from America. How long before we face the same? The original was behind a WSJ paywall but this link should work. -
The overhead bins are empty. Why do airlines make you check your bag? **
Airlines don't want your carry-on. It slows them down.
I've never had this happen to me. How common is it in Australia? -
Bucking the trend: Is there a future for ultra long-haul flights in a net zero carbon world?
long distance flights must carry substantially more fuel and, as a result, fewer passengers, making them markedly less efficient - How air travellers can cut their door-to-door emissions right now ― by as much as 13% on the Sydney-Melbourne route
Getting to and from the airport is an overlooked aspect of air travel that offers an immediate way to cut total carbon emissions from the trip by a surprisingly large amount. - TikTok Can't Get Enough Boeing Jokes. Guess Who's Not Laughing. *
Social media users have managed to turn the troubled airplane manufacturer's headlines into punchlines, though some play fast and loose with the specifics.
Your Clothes
When I recently read the first of the articles below, I was reminded of some others that I'd been meaning to include in the newsletter for a long time. Food for thought.
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Ultra-fast fashion is a disturbing trend undermining efforts to make the whole industry more sustainable
Ultimately, our collective choices wield immense power. By understanding the consequences of our fashion habits and advocating for change, we can all be catalysts for a more sustainable and just fashion industry. - Two from New Scientist
- Fast fashion is ruining the planet ― here's how to make it sustainable
This is a long article, good for those who want to learn more of the details. - Sustainable fashion: How to cut the environmental cost of your clothes
- Fast fashion is ruining the planet ― here's how to make it sustainable
- One of the New Scientist articles referred to the
Fashion Transparency Index
A spotlight on how much information the world's largest fashion brands disclose about their supply chain practices and impacts, to fuel your activism and drive greater accountability.
When I had a look, I had to include the link. - When You Return Those Pants, There's a Price You Don't See *
Online returns create 16 million tons of carbon emissions or the equivalent of 3.5 million cars on the road for an entire year. - Why secondhand markets and apps are not a solution to clothing waste
"secondhand markets are built to increase consumption, not cut it back. Charity shops, for example, under increasing pressure to be profitable, have to take on more professionalised and “for-profit” merchandising habits." - Three ways your wardrobe could help you avoid fast fashion
- Why you should almost always wash your clothes on cold **
But, what about me? Personally, I still occasionally wear some clothes I first bought over 50 years ago. And yes, I do normally manage to recycle my rags. And for a bit of 40 year old nostalgia, What about me?
The Lighter Side
Dementia Test
When you get to be my age, you begin to wonder if your mind is deteriorating. I recently came across a simple dementia test. If the statistics included are correct, I'm better than most. Only four questions. See how you go. Dementia Test.
Humour
Misc
Three interesting articles that don't fit anywhere else.
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From political bees to talking pigs ― how ancient thinkers saw the human-animal divide
"The idea that, in one way or another, our humanity is entangled with the non-human has a much longer and more venerable history. In the West, it goes all the way back to Classical antiquity ― to Greek and Roman views about humans and animals." - How Spanish conquistadors, and a tiny cactus-dwelling insect, gave the world the colour red
- Finally, an Easter special. Art depicts Jesus in a loincloth on the cross – the brutal truth is he would have been naked
Stop Press ― Will It Never End?
Our current NT Government (and probably the opposition) seem determined to make decisions benefitting the few at the expense of the tourist industry and the enviromnent on which the industry depends. In my last two newsletters, I referred to the Georgina Wiso Water Allocation Plan which threatens Mataranka Hot Springs and the Roper River (3rd dot point). Unbelievably, it's got worse. "The Mataranka Tindall Limestone Aquifer Water Allocation Plan would allow 62 billion litres of water to be taken from the underground aquifer system which supports the Roper River and the iconic springs of Elsey National Park, Rainbow and Bitter Springs."
You can find out more on the Territory Rivers website. There is a link which allows you to make a submission. Please do. You can edit the form. Tourism is one of the largest employers in the NT. Let the NT government know that if they destroy enough of our natural environment, people like you will no longer have any reason to come to the NT.
Please pass this along to anyone you know who might be willing to help. Thank you.
News About This Newsletter
Restricted websites. The NY Times allows non-subscribers to look at ten free articles each month. I've got more links than that in this newsletter so I've marked them with a red asterisk (*) so that you can choose which are of most interest to you. Bloomberg allows three free articles. The Washington Post and The Economist both have limits but I'm not sure what the current limits are so I've marked their articles with a double red asterisk (**).
How to Get Past a Paywall to Read an Article for Free
Even if you regularly support journalism by paying, sometimes you need to get around it.
Coming Next Issue
• Economics
• Disposing of the body
• Science and society. Not sure what else. It will be a surprise to me as well as you.
• When? Hopefully by May
As always, I welcome a bit of feedback about some of the things in this newsletter and suggestions for the next one.
Sending the newsletter
I'm now using a paid version of MailChimp to send all of the newsletters. I'm not sure what I'll do if the list goes over 2500.
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If you know someone you think would enjoy this newsletter, please forward it to them. The more people who get it, the more likely it is that I'll be able to run the trips which might interest you.
I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed preparing it.
Russell Willis