Stilgherrian – Stilgherrian

21 April 202521 April 2025

The 9pm Triple Mammal Chinese Spy Ship Panic with Snarky Platypus

On a bright blue sea against a bright blue sky is a modern bright blue ship with white superstructure. The bow is high and rugged-looking. The stern has cranes and such. — *Chinese marine research vessel Tan Suo Yi Hao*. (Photo: Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering) *Inset: A platypus, but not that one. (Taronga Conservation Society Australia / Chris Wheeler)*

The summer series is dragging on, and there’s still so many things on our minds. So joining me for a bonus episode is my good friend Snarky Platypus.

20 April 202520 April 2025

Weekly Wrap 777: The music podcast has finally appeared so let’s look at an old railway station

The view from a bridge looking down over Mount Victoria station, a classic Victorian-era sandstone building with, for the most part, a slate roof. On the platform nearest the viewer stands a NSW TrainLink V-set train, with fluted stainless steel sides, and its distinctive two-deck layout. The fluter silver texture of the train’s roof contrasts nicely with the fluted and relatively new corrugated iron roof of the opposite platform.

Yes, in my week of Monday 14 to Sunday 20 April 2025 the first pilot episode of Another Untitled Music Podcast was finally posted, and people seem to be liking it? And this season’s crowdfunder hit its first target, thank you. I am a happy little boy.

13 April 202520 April 2025

Weekly Wrap 776: Check that grass and check that podcast, if you can

Viewed from below and seen against a bright blue sky are the upper parts of tall grasses with fluffy cream-coloured flower remnants, ready for the wind to carry away their seeds. They sparkle in the backlighting. *Miscanthus sinensis*, or Chinese silver grass, is native to East Asia and South-East Asia, but it’s escaped from gardens in the Blue Mountains and here we are.

I am pleased to report that my week of Monday 7 to Sunday 13 April 2025 saw me return to more normal levels of productivity — although that’s still relatively low by most people’s standards. And a certain podcast nearly appeared, finally.

06 April 202516 April 2025

Weekly Wrap 775: The pollen turns their poo yellow!

Close-up of a banksia flower, probably a variety of Banksia spinulosa, or hairpin banksia. The tall cylindrical inflorescences (flower spikes) have hundreds or even thousands of individual little flowers arranged along its length like a bottle brush. Each one is yellow, ending in a dark red hook. Sitting on this flower is a small bee.

My week of Monday 31 March to Sunday 6 April 2025 wasn’t very productive, but I’m feeling much, much better after a too-long period of fatigue. Have a flower. Have a bonus bee.

30 March 202506 April 2025

Weekly Wrap 774: Magpies are so talonted, yeah?

Close-up photo of the feet of an Australian magpie perched on a wooden doorframe. On each foot, there are three curved toes with claws in front of the wooden frame and one behind. All is shiny and black. Slightly out of focus in the upper background is the lower part of the bird’s body, white feathers below and black chest and wing feathers above.

During my week of Monday 24 to Sunday 30 March 2025 the numbers of my magnificent Magpie Army started to swell again, with 18 of them visiting the other morning. I took a photo. I also produced a podcast, launched a crowdfunder, and squeezed out a newsletter.

26 March 202526 March 2025

The 9pm Dreams of American Empire with Associate Professor David Smith

*Associate Professor David Smith smiles in the face of an increasingly dangerous world. (Photo: US Studies Centre)*

There’s a lot going on in The America. You may have noticed. So as the summer series grinds on — way behind schedule — we’re joined by Associate Professor David Smith from the United States Study Centre.