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Created
Sat, 15/03/2025 - 10:54

This food timeline started as a way to explore the revolution in Australian food that has occurred during the baby-boomers’ lifetime, but has since expanded to include more about the previous decades (and century) as well. Also included are overseas events and trends that had an impact here. The entries are brief, but there are lots of links if you want more information.

Egg shortages in supermarkets

It seems periodic egg shortages are something we may have to get used to. The main culprit is avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. Ironically, the increasing preference for free-range eggs in the name of animal welfare makes hens more susceptible to the pathogens carried by migratory birds and therefore more likely to contract […]

Created
Sat, 15/03/2025 - 04:58
The results of the Western Australian election on Saturday give credence to the latest opinion polling showing a trend back towards Labor in the past few weeks. Until mid-February the polls were suggesting the Coalition would have sufficient support to form (at least) a minority government. Making generalisations about national trends based on the WA Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 15/03/2025 - 04:57
I Sveriges vassaste ekonomipod — Starta pressarna — diskuterades igår socialdemokraternas utspel om att inrätta en ny ‘Totalförsvarsfond’ om minst 250 miljarder kronor som ska göra det möjligt att tidigarelägga investeringar och påskynda utbyggnaden av Sveriges försvar. På många sätt är detta så klart ett bra förslag — men också lite sorgligt att det skulle […]
Created
Sat, 15/03/2025 - 04:56
There’s a simple solution to the problem of Chinese warships sailing around Australia: a reciprocal agreement – you don’t sail off our coast and we won’t sail off yours. I have no doubt China would accept and adhere to such a reciprocal agreement. The obstacle is not them. It’s us, Australia, or more precisely the Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 15/03/2025 - 04:54
The failure of media to ask obvious questions was on full display as three ships from the Chinese People Liberation Army-Navy completed their circumnavigation of Australia. One of the most important, often frustrating, aspects of dealing with the Chinese is the importance of what is not said. No, it’s not some conundrum taken from the Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 15/03/2025 - 03:55
The blue-ringed octopus! An elegant little creature, native to the southwest Pacific, particularly the waters around Australia. Pretty to look at… but mostly famous for being very, very venomous. The blue-ring’s bite is deadly.  A single sharp nip can kill an adult human in minutes. But why? The blue-ring is a modest little creature that […]
Created
Sat, 15/03/2025 - 03:30

TO: Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
FROM: Department of Grammar Efficiency (DOGE)
RE: Guidance on grammar

The federal Government is eliminating inefficient grammar. NO ONE understands how to properly use an em-dash or semicolon. Therefore, those types of punctuation are now ELIMINATED to protect hard-working American Citizens from further confusion. YOUR WELCOME.

The American People have registered their distaste for long words. You will no longer have to look up the word “sesquepedalian” in the dictionary. In fact, President Trump now forbids Americans from owning dictionaries.

From now on, the president requires Agency Heads to promptly stop using metaphors or similes when communicating within their agencies, with other agencies, or with the general public. It’s like riding a bicycle; you will get used to it.

THERE IS TO BE ABSOLUTELY NO HAIKU IN EMAILS.

Created
Sat, 15/03/2025 - 00:00


“At some point you see somebody do a lot of the same thing and call them a hack. And then I thought, How do you become a hack? At least hacks make a living.”

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Over a year ago, a mutual friend let the artist Michael Smith know I was interested in doing an interview with him. The friend showed Smith the previous piece I’d published, an interview with someone also named Michael. Smith’s only response, as far as I know, was, “Which Mike is he going to interview next?”