Stilgherrian – Page 2

10 May 202610 May 2026

The 9pm David Attenborough from 1984

Photograph of an audio cassette in its plastic case. A handwritten insert reads “Science journal 29.8.84 84/35” and then a list of the program items. (See later on the web page.) On the right-hand side is a the scan of a scratched-up black and white photo, with 35mm film sprocket holes. It’s a hotel room. A middle-aged white man in a grey suit sits on the couch with his elbows on the coffee table. He looks very tired. In the foreground, out of focus, the hands of someone off-camera load a reel of quarter-inch tape onto a Nagra recorder. Conversation is imminent. — *An audio cassette recording of Science Journal 84/35 from 1984. (Photo: Stilgherrian) Inset: David Attenborough, seen in 1984. (Photo:* Robin Goodfellow.)

Something different to kick off the mid-2026 series. Just two days ago, on the 8th of May, Sir David Attenborough celebrated his 100th birthday. As it happens, way back in 1984, I interviewed him when he was just Mr Attenborough, and here is that interview.

04 May 202611 May 2026

Weekly Wrap 831: Look at that lovely Sydney city pub!

It’s nighttime. A typical old Sydney pub dominates the corner of two typical old Sydney city streets. It has four floors. The ground floor yellow-painted brick above deep green tiles. The next two floors up are reddish-brown brick. And up top there’s a brick level inset behind a terrace, with gable windows, Empty beer kegs are stacked by one door. The edge of the verandah is black, and is labelled “Hotel Sweeney’s” alternating with “Guinness”. Window trim and such are painted mid-green.

Near the end of my week of Monday 27 April to Sunday 3 May 2026 I walked past a pub, because I’d just been at one pub and was on my way to see a show. I did get some things done this week, though, including a little client work. Please pat my head.

26 April 202628 April 2026

Weekly Wrap 830: Local excitement despite the fatigue

A typical row of Sydney suburban shops from around a century ago. Downstairs is a hair salon, Hera Hair, totally burned out. The area is cordoned off by police tape. On the right is a glass door leading to the business upstairs, Equiton Solicitors. On the left is a Chinese BBQ joint.

The week of Monday 20 to Sunday 26 April 2026 brought drama to Campsie when a car crashed into a local business and caught fire, but I was also quite tired for a lot of it.

19 April 202625 April 2026

Weekly Wrap 829: Sleepy, but with spectacular sunsets

Looking down a narrow street between a towering railway embankment on the left and a pub on the right. It’s just after sunset, and the sky is a deep orange thanks to hazard reduction burns out west. The pub bears an illuminated sign, “Avondale”, and there’s naked bulbs under the small verandah.

This week of Monday 13 to Sunday 19 April 2026 brought some deep orange sunsets thanks to some large-scale hazard reduction burns to the west of Sydney. I tried to get back into a proper work routine, but in the first half of the week I seemed to be fighting a lurgi and was very, very tired.

12 April 202613 April 2026

Weekly Wrap 828: Slowly settling into Campsie and a routine

Monday 6 to Sunday 12 April 2026 was the short working week after Easter. I was tired, sure, and frustrated by the longer-than-expected unpacking process. But I’ve also started settling into a new routine.

12 April 202617 April 2026

The 9pm Cornucopia of Tech Policy Pleasures with Johanna Weaver and Zoe Jay Hawkins

Two women stand looking into the camera. Both are wearing white t-shirts. Both have their arms folded. On the left is Johanna Weaver, with brushed-up greying hair, bright pink earrings, and glasses. On the right is Zoe Hawkins, with long straight black hair worn loose. Both are trying to look more serious than they actually are. — *Johanna Weaver (left) and Zoe Jay Hawkins from the Tech Policy Design Institute. (Photos: Supplied)*

From Australia’s teen social media ban to AI safety, there’s so many tech policy matters these days! So to wrap up the summer series — finally! — I decided to chat with Johanna Weaver and Zoe Jay Hawkins from the Tech Policy Design Institute in Canberra.