School anti-bullying programs make life difficult for the US Army. Senator Conroy illustrates the Rudd government’s non-commitment to transparent by not releasing the NBN report. And some weird-arsed stoush erupts between Australia and Encyclopaedia Dramatica.
So, it’s Friday night and The 9pm Edict is late. Do you care? Really? Here it is anyway.
You can listen to this episode below. But if you want them all, subscribe to the podcast feed, or even subscribe automatically in iTunes.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:33 — 8.4MB)
For more information on what I discussed tonight, check out the Encyclopedia Dramatica article on “Aboriginal” and the story of the Australian Human Rights Commission action and ED‘s owner’s response; the Zen Pundit post on the US Army and Free Range Kids; and Senator Stephen Conroy on Lateline.
If you’d like to comment on this episode, please add your comment below, or Skype to stilgherrian or phone Sydney +61 2 8011 3733.
[Credits: The 9pm Edict theme by mansardian, Edict fanfare by neonaeon, all from The Freesound Project. Photograph of Stilgherrian taken 29 March 2009 by misswired, used by permission.]
Dude, I can so relate to this Edict.
Oh, so funny… “When I was a kid.” Wonderful. Looking forward to the 50 to 50 posts.
I was only recounting the experiences of being a ten year old riding the red rattlers on the Sydney rail system, by the door with the door open. What’s more, I told my wide eyed audience of pre-teens, as the train pulled away from a stop, it was very common to have suits running along and hurling themselves into the moving train. “No way?” they cry. “Yes way,” I say. Further, I explained, when I came to my stop at Lakemba, my mates and I would hop off the train — while it was moving — to slide surf the gravel. If you got caught by a teacher, you’d get a slap to the back of the head and they’d blast you for the lack of respect you had for your shoes, which “your parents pay good money to buy for you.”
On The Edict: Well this does force me to address the last episode’s coverage of the NSW Planning topic, because we have interwoven threads here that are suggestive of a thematic cardigan. (Memory of B. Unsworth appears. Odd.) Anyway…
Whether it be the release of the report Conroy is using to hold open the IT room door, or the machinations of the people responsible for planning and development in this fine state of ours, it is the epitome of bastardry against the public in the way that a lack of transparency still exists and is encouraged when it suits. The anachronistic government practices and government department operations, particularly as it relates to the mechanisms of information management and delivery are a failure. The moves towards opening government data is a positive sign, but still focussed on the opening up of information that’s made it through the pipe, passing through the tick boxes of intermediaries that increasingly represent blockages in the pipes, not solvents to the grime.
[/rant]
You should have sledged those pseudo-arts-loving fuckers living in the inner-West for not letting their children out — in between compulsory ballet, sailing, art classes and of course soccer. For them raising children has become a consumer activity like many other areas of life: You should be shopping for your child or paying for their experiences at all times. It’s what one does (make sure you get a Baby on Board sign for the SUV while you’re at it).
You also can’t ignore the changes in Australian suburbs from generation to generation. A lot of kids now live a long way from open spaces.
I’m not quite sure if this is the end of humanity though… or if it’s entirely bad that American society isn’t building a generation of half-ready soldiers… (who knows… as a nation perhaps they won’t invade people quite so much?)
I like the 50 blog posts idea: perhaps it could mark you graduation to being a genuine grumpy old man?
Oh, and this is very important: Ever ride a cow in the Mt Compass Cup?
@Sylmobile: Ah yes, the joys of travelling in a train with the doors open! I remember it well. It’s the only way to travel on a hot summer’s day when the trains have no air conditioning. I’ll have more to say about that when I get to the part of my life where I travelled 40km day to school and 40km back again.
That’ll be a little while off yet, though. The first “50 to 50” post starts at the very beginning.
@Glengyron: No cow racing for me. The Compass Cup began in 1974, three years after I left the area. But again, we’re getting ahead of the story…
Love the edict. If you need anyone to implement the final clause, give me a call. I fancy being hailed as the greatest hero in Australian history…