The Algorithm is Toxic - Tech, travel, politics in a world moving too fast for any of us

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me! The algorithm is toxic is a new blog where I’ll be thinking aloud outside my normal travel box. As the name suggests, the pervasiveness of algorithms and technology in our lives will be a theme. I’m not a tech. But I’m an obsessive observer. The corrosive power of Facebook and Google […]

by Mark Bowyer

There’s an exodus of expats from Asia’s COVID crisis. Australians are stuck.

ia has normalised cruelty over many years – now, as COVID’s delta variant sweeps through South East Asia, our citizens abroad are copping it.

by Mark Bowyer

COVID is exposing Australia’s Asia ignorance

Asia is now firmly at the centre of Australia’s economy and security. It’s also the centre of the world’s most serious COVID crisis. Yet from our leaders, to the ABC, Australians are missing when it comes to knowing and understanding their region. The COVID pandemic is drawing this into sharp focus. Last Saturday night I […]

by Mark Bowyer

Vaccines – German Turkish immigrants saved us

Welcome to Episode 2 of Notes from the Sydney Lockdown. This is a random daily (or close enough to daily) diary of thoughts during the Sydney lockdown. I’ll try and focus on things that are slightly off the daily news round – but I probably won’t stray too far. I grant myself broad discretion…. Check […]

by Mark Bowyer

Sydney lockdown notes July 2021 – pity Gladys, Kerry and us

Sydney is in for a long lockdown. Spare a thought for the women carrying the can for the outbreak. They made the call. But political climate is toxic.

by Mark Bowyer

Australia’s ACCC is protecting local media monopolists from Google and Facebook

The stakes have been raised in the Australian government’s stoush with Google and Facebook. Last week, Facebook joined Google in expressing opposition to the proposed new laws, threatening to block news sharing from Australian Facebook users. But the ACCC seems more concerned with protecting the market power of Australia’s old news publishers, and is squandering […]

by Mark Bowyer

In Google’s battle with the Australian Government, there’s no good guy

Australia’s regulator is barking up the wrong tree when it comes to dealing with Google and Facebook and news publishers.

by Mark Bowyer

Google – still enabling scams with impunity

Providing users with high quality, accurate and trusted information is sacrosanct to us.Sundar Pichai, CEO GoogleUS Congress 11 December 2018 When hackers accessed the Twitter accounts of some of the world’s most famous people last month, it was front page news the world over. Hacking the accounts of people like Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill […]

by Mark Bowyer

Close the beach – a very Sydney solution to the coronavirus problem

The closure of Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach in response to coronavirus concerns was typical Sydney problem solving – fire, aim, ready – and punish all for the transgressions of a few.

by Mark Bowyer

The world’s richest can’t save the United States

How could the world’s richest country, home to the world’s most successful drug and technology companies, richest plutocrats, and most prestigious universities, be incapable of providing essential medical care for its people?