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Retirement reinvented: how to find fulfilment later in life

Retrieved on:

Monday, June 5, 2023

How to stop chores from taking over can become a tricky balance.

Key Points:

How to stop chores from taking over can become a tricky balance.
Indeed, it’s the one time in life when you can really devote yourself to hobbies and interests, leisure and pleasure.
This uncertain picture means that approaching retirement can be a time of fear – retirement anxiety is a real thing.
Similarly, the charity The Centre for Better Ageing has found that social connections are just as important as money and health to a good later life.

Beyond routine

But my research also found that negative notions of ageing can become internalised and prevent people from having fun and making new connections.
In my study, people said they were conscious that others might judge the suitability of their leisure choices.

From anxiety to adventure

It’s a time to embrace the convivial in the presence of others, not just the usual people you see.
But if there is a little something missing, a little fun that could enhance it, consider adding in something new.
Think outside the box of what’s “suitable for your age group”, (what does that even mean?).
If you enjoy that, you could join a community choir, or drag your friends and family to a karaoke night.
Anything you try will make a good story to tell the younger people in your life – they need to know that later life is an adventure worth working towards.

The 'truther playbook': tactics that explain vaccine conspiracy theorist RFK Jr's presidential momentum

Retrieved on:

Friday, June 2, 2023

Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a self-described vaccine sceptic, announced his candidacy to run for president as a Democrat in April.

Key Points:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a self-described vaccine sceptic, announced his candidacy to run for president as a Democrat in April.
Our new study on the rhetorical techniques used to spread vaccine disinformation partly explains Kennedy’s appeal to voters.
We examined the strategies of RFK Jr and American osteopath Joseph Mercola, two prominent members of the “disinformation dozen”.

1. Identity and belonging

COVID truthers offer their followers access to an exclusive in-group identity.
They adhere to a dualistic belief system that divides the world into good and bad actors, light and dark forces.
For COVID truthers, it is not simply that their opponents have acted through ignorance or error – they frame them as corrupt and evil.

2. True knowledge and enlightenment

Figures such as Kennedy and Mercola capitalise on this, appealing to those disillusioned with the government’s official narrative.
They present themselves as having access to privileged knowledge and understanding.
They do this by revealing alternative “facts” that contradict the official narrative, and that they claim have been concealed from the public.

3. Meaning and purpose

COVID truthers provide their followers with meaning, offering a reason to believe in a greater purpose.
This can take the form of New Age spirituality, suggesting that humanity is undergoing a “shift in consciousness”, or a more secular commitment to truth, freedom and justice.
Kennedy frequently deploys the language of social justice in his posts and newsletters, as a rallying call to unite his followers.

4. Leadership and guidance

Kennedy’s campaign contrasts the power of corrupt government institutions, corporate cronyism and nefarious media elites with the powerlessness that the disenfranchised public feels.
As a consequence, he positions himself as an incorruptible leader with the capacity to “clean up government”, restore civil liberties, and speak truth to power.

Why this matters

Filings with charity regulators show that revenue for Kennedy’s organisation more than doubled in 2020, to US$6.8 million.
In our current post-truth era, where opinions often triumph over facts, influencers and celebrities can achieve authority.

No, AI probably won’t kill us all – and there’s more to this fear campaign than meets the eye

Retrieved on:

Thursday, June 1, 2023

These three truths go some way towards explaining the oversimplification and dramatisation plaguing discussions about AI.

Key Points:

These three truths go some way towards explaining the oversimplification and dramatisation plaguing discussions about AI.
Yesterday outlets around the world were plastered with news of yet another open letter claiming AI poses an existential threat to humankind.
Read more:
AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton says AI is a new form of intelligence unlike our own.

Was ChatGPT a ‘breaththrough’?

When ChatGPT was released late last year, people were delighted, entertained and horrified.
But ChatGPT isn’t a research breakthrough as much as it is a product.
Forward to today, and ChatGPT has had an incredible impact on society.
Some of the AI luminaries who signed it expressed concern that AGI poses an existential threat to humans, and that ChatGPT is too close to AGI for comfort.

I don’t consider AI an imminent existential threat

One aspect of AI safety research is to address potential dangers AGI might present.
As such, researchers must rely as much on speculation and philosophical argument as evidence and mathematical proof.
First, it isn’t even close to the sort of artificial superintelligence that might conceivably pose a threat to humankind.
For instance, there seems to be a prevailing (but unspoken) assumption that sufficient intelligence amounts to limitless real-world power.

Why the sudden concern?

Among the prominent figures calling for AI regulation, many work for or have ties to incumbent AI companies.
This technology is useful, and there is money and power at stake – so fearmongering presents an opportunity.
OpenAI’s competitors can (and have) replicated the process, and it won’t be long before free and open-source alternatives flood the market.
Yann LeCun, who leads AI research at Meta, says these models should be open since they will become public infrastructure.

Drilling down on treatment-resistant fungi with molecular machines

Retrieved on:

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Fungi are present on the skin of around 70% of the population, without causing harm or benefit.

Key Points:

Fungi are present on the skin of around 70% of the population, without causing harm or benefit.
Others, like Candida albicans, can be deadly – especially for individuals with weakened immune systems.
Fungal infections are on the rise because of an aging population and an increased prevalence of chronic diseases.

Molecular machines as alternative antifungals

Molecular machines are synthetic compounds that rapidly rotate their components at about 3 million times per second when exposed to light.
Doctors can use a light-tipped probe to activate these molecular machines to treat internal infections, or a lamp for skin infections.
These properties make molecular machines an enticing candidate technology to address the growing fungal threat.

Testing antifungal molecular machines

Compared with conventional drugs, molecular machines killed C. albicans much faster.
Unlike conventional antifungals, which target the fungal cell membrane or cell wall, molecular machines localize to the fungal mitochondria.
At the same time, molecular machines also disrupt the tiny pumps that remove antifungal agents from the cell, thus preventing the cell from fighting back.
In lab experiments, combining light-activated molecular machines with conventional antifungal drugs also reduced the amount of fungi in C. albicans-infected worms and in pig nails infected with Trichophyton rubrum, the most common cause of athlete’s foot.

New frontiers for fighting fungal infections

These results suggest that combining molecular machines with conventional antifungals can improve existing therapies and provide new options for treating resistant fungal strains.
This strategy could also help reduce the side effects of traditional antifungals, such as gastrointestinal upset and skin reactions.
Fungal infection rates will likely continue to rise.
However, continuing research gives hope that these machines could one day provide better treatments for fungal infections and other infectious diseases.

Just 1 in 5 employees in the space industry are women. This lack of diversity is holding us back

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

This week, the Australian Space Summit is celebrating some of our nation’s strengths and achievements in the space sector.

Key Points:

This week, the Australian Space Summit is celebrating some of our nation’s strengths and achievements in the space sector.
But it’s taking place under the shadow of significant cuts to space technology investment announced in last week’s federal budget.

Why diversity and inclusivity matter

The answer is placing a new priority on talent recruitment and expanding diversity and inclusivity in the space sector.
Read more:
Why outer space matters in a post-pandemic world
The sector also needs to make diversity a priority.
We need greater inclusivity of perspectives from people of diverse genders, sexual orientations and ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, as well as people with disability.
Additionally, greater diversity can make it easier to tell the story of why space technologies matter to society.

A national conference on diversity in space

Last month, we brought together over 200 experts from the space industry, government, academia and the community to discuss these issues at the first-ever national conference on gender equality and diversity in space.
The participants agreed that diversity is an overlooked opportunity for the space sector.
3) Establish diversity procurement policies This includes minimum targets to support women-owned and First Nations-owned enterprises in the space sector and giving preference to space businesses that demonstrate improvements to diversity in their workforce.

Australia risks falling behind

In 2025, Australia will host the International Astronautical Conference, the largest annual conference for the space industry in the world.
This is a great opportunity to showcase our leadership in promoting a values-based, diverse, equitable and sustainable space sector.
Yet, without tangible action now, Australia’s space sector risks falling further behind our international counterparts.

Our hybrid media system has emboldened anti-LGBTQ+ hate – what can we do about it?

Retrieved on:

Monday, May 15, 2023

Anti-LGBTQ+ hate from religious conservatives and far-right extremists in the United States, and now in Australia, is a worrying trend.

Key Points:

Anti-LGBTQ+ hate from religious conservatives and far-right extremists in the United States, and now in Australia, is a worrying trend.
Out gay politician Alex Greenwich has brought a defamation suit against Latham over an offensive homophobic tweet.
Yet the issues remain a concern in any jurisdiction where US news media has audiences and digital platforms operate.

Commercialising hate and emboldening extremists

Notions of “sexual purity”, linked to nationhood by religious groups and far-right extremists, are circulated via the “manosphere”: an overlapping group of websites, online forums and blogs that promote masculinity and misogyny.
The Center for Countering Digital Hate estimates that anti-LGBTQ+ extremists are picking up followers at quadruple the rate since Elon Musk acquired Twitter.
The monetising of hate through YouTube includes the sale of mundane items such as sweatshirts and mugs adorned with homophobic slurs.
TikTok is the only platform to have improved on the timely removal of hate speech.

Political permissiveness and the ‘Trump effect’

It can also undermine confidence in democratic elections and propagate climate denialism, feeding the misinformation and disinformation ecosystem.
This has occurred within a broader context of misinformation driven by domestic politicians and permissiveness by digital platforms towards hateful conduct.
Read more:
Clickbait extremism, mass shootings, and the assault on democracy – time for a rethink of social media?

Visibility as a double-edged sword

In Australia, an estimated 11% of the population have a diverse sexual orientation or gender identity.
In the US, 7.1% of the adult population identify as one of these non-heterosexual identities, double the percentage from 2012.
This visibility has become a double-edged sword.
Communities have gained recognition through identity politics, but their visibility makes them a potential target for violence.

Addressing the hate feedback loop

What needs to be done to address the hate feedback loop?
Digital platforms also need to address online hate in a timely manner and their responses need to be coordinated across platforms.
The origins of the anti-LGBTQ+ hate feedback loop are complex.
Not addressing them will leave a growing number of people susceptible to violence, which diminishes us all.

Highlights - Gender aspects of defence, peace and security - Hearing - 24.05.23 - Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

Retrieved on:

Friday, May 12, 2023

Center for Reproductive Rights, Center, Woman, Senior, Diversity, Arms industry, EU, Gender, Hearing

Gender aspects of defence, peace and security - Hearing - 24.05.23

Key Points:

Gender aspects of defence, peace and security - Hearing - 24.05.23
12-05-2023 - 09:03
On Wednesday, 24 May, the FEMM Committee will organise a hearing on “Gender aspects of defence, peace and security”.
The hearing will focus on the impact of armed conflict on women and girls.
Distinguished speakers include Ms Stella Ronner-Grubačić, EU Ambassador for Gender and Diversity, Ms Keina Yoshida, Senior legal adviser, Center for Reproductive Rights, Ms Katerin Jurado Díaz, Lawyer, Corporación Sisma Mujer, joining from Colombia and Ms Kirthi Jayakumar, Founder, The Gender Security project, joining from India.

Despite the end of Title 42, restrictions on asylum seekers are expected to continue under Biden administration

Retrieved on:

Thursday, May 11, 2023

People, Contagious disease, CBP, Policy, COVID-19, Trump, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Title 42 of the United States Code, CDC, Risk, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Lifting, Title 8 of the United States Code, Center, Disease, Drug, Vaccine, Pharmaceutical industry, Property management

But its legacy of restricting asylum petitions may continue as President Joe Biden takes steps to reduce the flow of illegal immigration to the country.

Key Points:

But its legacy of restricting asylum petitions may continue as President Joe Biden takes steps to reduce the flow of illegal immigration to the country.
By itself, the end of Title 42 will not weaken border security, as many conservative politicians and commentators have claimed.
For its part, the Biden administration expected the end of Title 42 and has already dispatched 1,500 active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to help shut down illegal border crossings.
But recent measures established by the Biden administration suggest that people will face more – not fewer – difficulties in obtaining asylum in the U.S. after the end of Title 42.

Grattan on Friday: Peter Dutton warns of threat to 'working poor' in budget reply lacking a big picture

Retrieved on:

Thursday, May 11, 2023

Peter Dutton needed to sketch a big picture in his Thursday night budget reply – to look like an alternative prime minister.

Key Points:

Peter Dutton needed to sketch a big picture in his Thursday night budget reply – to look like an alternative prime minister.
With the Liberals rating parlously among those aged under 40, Dutton should have been speaking especially to these voters.
This week’s budget, whatever criticisms can be made of it and however things work out in the months ahead, has been an elusive target for the Liberals.
He risked the government’s accusation of “punching down”, dividing those on welfare (who have benefitted from the budget) and working people on low wages.
The cost-of-living relief “is targeted at Australians on welfare but at the expense of the many including Labor’s working poor”.
The budget “hurts working Australians”, he declared; “worse, it risks creating a generation of working poor Australians”.
The Greens’ aggressive response to the budget has underscored the challenge ahead for Labor from an increasingly assertive electoral competitor.

It’s being called Russia's most sophisticated cyber espionage tool. What is Snake, and why is it so dangerous?

Retrieved on:

Thursday, May 11, 2023

The malware in question is Snake, a cyber espionage tool deployed by Russia’s Federal Security Service that has been around for about 20 years.

Key Points:

The malware in question is Snake, a cyber espionage tool deployed by Russia’s Federal Security Service that has been around for about 20 years.
According to CISA, the Snake implant is the “most sophisticated cyber espionage tool designed and used by Center 16 of Russia’s Federal Security Service for long-term intelligence collection on sensitive targets”.

The stealthy Snake

The Russian Federal Security Service developed the Snake network in 2003 to conduct global cyber espionage operations against NATO, companies, research institutions, media organisations, financial services, government agencies and more.
Since its creation, Russian cyber spies have regularly upgraded the Snake malware to avoid detection.
Moreover, the Snake network can disrupt critical industrial control systems that manage our buildings, hospitals, energy systems, water and wastewater systems, among others – so the risks went beyond just intelligence collection.

Snake hunting

The Snake malware then disguised the sensitive information through sophisticated encryption, and sent it to the spy masters.
Since the Snake malware used custom communication protocols, its covert operations remained undetected for decades.
While the Snake malware is an elegantly designed piece of code, it is complex and needs to be precisely deployed to avoid detection.

Snake bites

They developed a tool called PERSEUS that causes the Snake malware to disable itself and stop further infection of other computers.
Even though the Snake network has been disrupted, the department warned vulnerabilities may still exist for users, and they should follow safe cybersecurity hygiene practices.

Snake bite treatment

The Snake malware is a sophisticated piece of software that raises yet another concern.
If you have concerns about the Snake malware you can read more here, or speak to the fine folks at your IT service desk.