I’ve finally rid myself of the dreaded lurgi, so my week of Monday 1 to Sunday 7 September 2025 actually saw some productivity. A podcast. A new crowdfunder. Planning. And, alas, some disappointing news. Still, the weather was nice.
On Thursday I learned that long-running literary journal Meanjin, one of my clients, is being shut down, something which is being described as cultural vandalism in some news stories. I don’t yet know what this means for me personally. I have a meeting scheduled on Monday.
However since my focus was the website. The final two editions are to be published later this month and in December, which means the website will still operating. so I’m hoping I may still have some work to do.
[Update 8 September 2025: Melbourne University Publishing has posted Meanjin FAQs which explain the plan for subscriber refunds and such. I will be working on the data wrangling for all this, so it’s not appropriate for me to comment further.]
And as I’ve said, I was also hit by the dreaded lurgi, which for someone who already has limited working hours was a significant problem.
All this means that I’m both looking for more work — journalism, editing, podcast production, website management and all the related things — and the new crowdfunder is of especial importance this season. As is the tip jar.
Please support The 9pm Spring Series 2025 crowdfunder
Yes, the world has started a new season, so on Tuesday evening I launched a new crowdfunding campaign, The 9pm Spring Series 2025.
Your contributions will support my podcasts The 9pm Edict and Another Untitled Music Podcast by providing me with an income to live on.
Depending on the level of your support, you can also buy TRIGGER WORDS or a CONVERSATION TOPIC to insert your brain into the Edict, Recommend a Song to Us or submit a We Will We Will Judge You playlist into AUMP, score yourself a custom audio or video message, or more.
At the time of posting we’re 38% of the way to Target One.
You have until Thursday 25 September to pledge your support. Please consider.
Podcasts
- The 9pm Usual Chaos in Indonesia and Thailand with Erin Cook, recorded and posted on Wednesday. Things are moving quickly, but this is still an adequate backgrounder. The main update is that Thailand has chosen a new but interim prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the conservative Bhumjaithai party, with support from the People’s Party.
Articles
- The Weekly Cybers #84. The social media age assurance tech trial delivered mixed results at best, robodebt victims to get another $475 million compensation, FoI restrictions to be tightened, and much more.
You can read my previous writing at Authory, where you can also subscribe to an email compilation of any new stories each Sunday morning.
Media Appearances
- For reasons which I won’t go into here, on this week’s Rural Concerns podcast, Underpants, uniforms & a pack of dogs, there was a brief discussion of whether I’m an Orc. No, really. Also, I am not an Orc.
Photos, Videos, Corporate Largesse
None of these. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel to be notified when new videos appear and when livestreams are scheduled.
Some Interesting Links
- Carlo Acutis is our first millennial saint.
- It is my sad duty to inform you that Maru the cat has passed away, age 18, after developing lung adenocarcinoma. Here is his 18th birthday commemoration video.
- I ended up posting a thread about US propaganda posters. Do explore all the sub-threads.
- Former RAF V-force pilot Peter Merifield shares his experiences flying the Vulcan bomber during the Cold War.
- Alasdair Beckett-King presents Every 80s Movie.
- And there’s a new Ze Frank video, True Facts: Bats, The Science of The Hunt.
The Week Ahead
Once some other work is out of the way, mid-week I’ll finally edit and post the podcast I recorded with Ariel Bogle and Cam Wilson, authors of Conspiracy Nation. The conversation has been slightly overtaken by events, but we do cover a lot of ground.
On Wednesday afternoon I’ll be heading to Sydney where I’ll be catsitting through until the middle of the following week. This would be the perfect time for Sydney people to take me out for drinks or dinner.
NEW: I’ll be spending Thursday at the Influencing Live media relations conference in Sydney. If nothing else, this may be a handy networking opportunity.
On Friday it’s The Weekly Cybers newsletter as usual.
On Sunday afternoon Snarky Platypus and I will be recording a new episode of Another Untitled Music Podcast. The theme is “The Cover is Better”, which might be an excellent opportunity to Recommend a Song to Us. If you’re quick. The finished episode will be posted the following week.
The 9pm Edict and Another Untitled Music Podcast are supported by the generosity of their listeners. Please consider supporting this season’s crowdfunder.
If you miss the deadline of 25 September, or if you prefer not to use Pozible, you might still like to throw a few coins into the tip jar directly or subscribe for special benefits. There’s also some specific benefits for supporting AUMP.
Further Ahead
I’ve finally started to add some new items to the schedule, and there’s more to come.
- NEW: The 9pm Edict recording with Scottish author and social researcher David F Porteous, who’s been on the pod many times. If you’re a supporter with a TRIGGER WORD or CONVERSATION TOPIC for this episode, please let me know by 4pm AEDT that day.
- NEW: The 9pm Spring Series 2025 crowdfunder wrap-up, 25 September 2025, 9pm AEST.
- NEW: Cabramatta Moon Festival, 28 September 2025 (TBC).
- NEW: More housesitting in Sydney, 4–20 October 2025 or part thereof (TBC, or at least the specific dates are).
- NEW: Another Untitled Music Podcast recording, 6 October 2025.
- NEW: The 9pm Edict recording with Dr Alice Gorman and Rami Mandow, 15 October 2025. If you have a space-related TRIGGER WORD or CONVERSATION TOPIC for this episode, please get it to me by 11am AEDT that day.
- Sam Campbell: Window Sucker, Sydney, 31 October 2025.
[Photo: For a change of pace, here’s some vintage medicines. Greenwell & Thomas Pharmacy in Katoomba has a wonderful collection of old pharmaceuticals and medical instruments on display, including these, so it’s worth making an excuse to pop in. Photo taken on 6 September 2025.]