Word-whore. I write 'em. I talk 'em. Information, politics, media, and the cybers. I drink. I use bad words. All publication is a political act. All communication is propaganda. All art is pornography. All business is personal. All hail Eris! Vive les poissons rouges sauvages!
My week of Monday 3 to Sunday 9 August 2026 was another productive one, but once again I can’t show you much of it yet. However I’ve noticed how I’m now becoming more interested in the humble bin chicken since I’ve been living near a colony of the. Yes, the Australian white ibis is much … Continue reading "Weekly Wrap 845: Productivity despite the bin chickens"
Monday 27 July to Sunday 2 August 2026 was a busy week, and I’m very happy with that — although there isn’t much that I can show you right now. So much administrivia! And yet so handy for reducing stress. I said last week that something interesting would be happening on Wednesday. Well, the literary … Continue reading "Weekly Wrap 844: Secret productivity, so have another pub"
Monday 20 to Sunday 26 July 2026 was another productive week, which pleases me. I don’t have that much else to day, apart from that I’m happy. So here’s a photo of some graffiti over in Burwood. After the annoying glitch last week, the new-season crowdfunder is back on. The 9pm Spring Series 2026 is … Continue reading "Weekly Wrap 843: Happy productivity, unhappy graffiti"
A few weeks ago I went to Newcastle, the Australian one, and spent some time chatting with the voice of Newcastle herself, Carol Duncan OAM. She was ABC Radio’s morning presenter for quite some years, then she was a city councillor, and she does a lot of other things too. In this episode we discuss … Continue reading "The 9pm Sweet Times with Carol Duncan OAM"
My week of Monday 13 to Sunday 19 July 2026 was moderately productive. I posted a podcast, did some client work, continued working on my compensation claim — it’s so close to being ready to file! — and even spent a lovely afternoon riding Sydney’s train network with David Feng. You’ll remember David from a … Continue reading "Weekly Wrap 842: I rode some trains but here’s a pub"
Back at the start of the year, my good friend Snarky Platypus and I created a bingo card for 2026. A set of 25 things that might happen. Well, we’re half-way through the year, so let’s see how we went. We discuss music, SpaceX, OpenAI, the war with Iran, and much more. You might want … Continue reading "The 9pm Half-time Bingo Card Update 2026 with Snarky Platypus"
I had another couple of days off this week, Monday 6 to Sunday 12 July 2026, visiting Wollongong after a gap of 21 years. Very enjoyable. But when combined with my lovely time in Newcastle last week, it means I’m now well behind where I wanted to be this month. And now I’m running late … Continue reading "Weekly Wrap 841: Enjoying Wollongong, but heaps late"
What a week! From Monday 29 June 2026 to Tuesday I was suffering quite a bit of back pain, for which I received treatment on Tuesday. But from Friday afternoon through to Sunday 5 July I was in Newcastle, where I did a lot of walking and caught up with a couple of friends. There … Continue reading "Weekly Wrap 840: Darting up to Newcastle to see a darter"
I like trains. Do you like trains? I hope so, because today we’re talking about trains. There’s a strong focus on China and on high-speed trains, and our guest on the internet from Beijing is Chinese-Swiss international rail visionary, it says on his YouTube channel, David Feng. In this episode we discuss China’s high-speed rail … Continue reading "The 9pm Not Quite All of the Trains with David…
I ended my week of Monday 22 to Sunday 28 June 2026 with back pain from a rather nasty series of spasms, which kicked in on Saturday and are kinda still with me as I write this on Monday. I’d recorded two podcasts, but didn’t have the energy to edit them. I haven’t taken many … Continue reading "Weekly Wrap 839: Podcasts and pain, what a week!"
I ended my week of Monday 15 to Sunday 21 June 2026 by losing my keys. Possibly at the pub — not the one on the photo but another local — or possibly in the street. Very annoying. Maybe I’ll find them again? Either way, that topped off a somewhat stressful week, although I still … Continue reading "Weekly Wrap 838: The key to handling stress is avoiding it"
Today’s episode is a bit different. It’s more personal. I, Stilgherrian, was born in Gawler, South Australia, and lived there from ages 11 to about 17. Last year I visited the town with my good friend Snarky Platypus, and he asked me some pertinent questions. In this episode, there’s memories of school, some history of … Continue reading "The 9pm Hometown Visit to Gawler"
I observed quite a few ibises during my week of week of Monday 8 to Sunday 14 June 2026, including a parent feeding its offspring. I also managed to schedule a few new things. Overall, not as productive as I’d hoped, but then it was a short working week after the King’s Birthday holiday. On … Continue reading "Weekly Wrap 837: Feeding an ibis, Your Majesty!"
My week of Monday 1 to Sunday 7 June 2026 did see me post a podcast and get some client work done, but there were also two big disappointments. One disappointment is illustrated above. On Sunday I looked at my list of Sydney suburbs and chose one at random. Chullora, population 14, because its warehouse … Continue reading "Weekly Wrap 836: Old wine, but two big disappointments"
Is Pluto a planet? Currently, officially, no. But the Trump-appointed head of NASA wants to reinstate Pluto’s planetary privileges. Why? Let’s find out with space archaeologist Dr Alice Gorman aka Dr Space Junk and astrophysicist Rami Mandow. In this episode we also talk about new ways to make black holes, glitches, drones, the explosion of … Continue reading "The 9pm Rockets are Always Blowing Up…
May has come to an end! My week of Monday 25 to Sunday 31 May 2026 was another one disrupted by illness, although I did manage to produce a podcast and get some client work done. But it was a grey week and I was in a grey mood. Oh yeah. But I also won … Continue reading "Weekly Wrap 835: A grey building during a grey week"
How long does UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer have left? And what is the Chelsea Flower Show? Today’s special guest is Scottish author and social researcher David F Porteous, and he can help us with neither of these things. In this episode we talk about British politics and, yes, the Chelsea Flower Show. But … Continue reading "The 9pm Capybara of Hope with David F Porteous"
Despite my week of Monday 18 to Sunday 24 May 2026 being dominated by a viral infection, I managed to get a few important things done. Just slowly. Also, it was a sunny week. If you follow my every move, you’ll know that last week I said I had “just some random respiratory infection”, but … Continue reading "Weekly Wrap 834: Sunny, but with a layer of virus"
My week of Monday 11 to Sunday 17 May 2026 was moderately productive despite coming down with the dreaded lurgi, causing some things to be postponed. It’s just some random respiratory infection, but it did mean I missed a few things, including Takashi Wakasugi’s comedy show on Saturday night. I am say. As for the … Continue reading "Weekly Wrap 833: Why does the ibis clan hate this car?"
Have you seen what’s going on in the Philippines? They’re trying to impeach the vice-president — again — and there was even a shootout in the senate building. It’s time to chat with journalist Erin Cook, who specialises in South-East Asia. And as always we talk about a lot of different things. Erin produces the … Continue reading "The 9pm Shootout at the OK Philippines with Erin Cook"