The second of my two weeks in Sydney, Monday 13 to Sunday 19 October 2025, was another pollen-rid distraction, although I did get a podcast recorded.
On Monday I had my second vaccination for shingles (herpes zoster). I’d been warned it might knock me about a bit, and yes it did. Combined with the endless hay fever and scratchy throat from the London plane trees (Platanus × hispanica), it led to me spending a couple of feverish days in bed. But having had shingles as a kid, I reckon this is a small price to never have it again.
Fortunately as I post this on Sunday night, I’ve fled Sydney.
Podcasts
- On Thursday I posted an episode of The 9pm Edict with journalist Erin Cook, about the Philippines and about the upcoming ASEAN summit. That will be posted this coming Tuesday, I reckon.
The 9pm Edict and Another Untitled Music Podcast are supported by the generosity of you, their listeners. Please consider supporting them. You can to throw a few coins into the tip jar directly or subscribe for special benefits. There’s also some specific benefits for supporting AUMP.
Articles
- The Weekly Cybers #89. Deloitte’s corrected report needed more corrections, discourse continued as Australia’s social media age restrictions loom, 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.
Photos, Videos , Media Appearances, 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
Only two today, because I’m running late.
- The TimeGhost team has done a great little history of the Ku Klux Klan and its three phases. The threads run deep. White Hoods, Bloody Hands: The Klan as America’s First Terrorists.
- Mushroom in the Wild Playing Keyboard. Or possibly a man torturing a mushroom with clamps.
The Week Ahead
I’m back in the Blue Mountains now and I’m hoping there will be less pollen. It’s also Aussie Bird Count all this week, and it’s always good to be part of science.
On Monday I’ll get back into a certain client project. Then on Tuesday I’ll edit the podcast I recorded with Erin Cook.
[Update 23 October 2025: Unfortunately I was hit with a mild fever and other symptoms on Wednesday afternoon so I’ve had to rearrange things a bit.]
On Wednesday evening I’m recording a rescheduled episode of The 9pm Edict with Dr Alice Gorman and Rami Mandow about what’s happening in space. If you have a TRIGGER WORD or CONVERSATION TOPIC for this episode, please let me know by 11am AEDT this Wednesday 22 October.
On Thursday I’ll edit the podcast I recorded with Erin Cook. It should be online mid-evening.
On Friday there’s a client meeting, and then The Weekly Cybers newsletter as usual. On Saturday I’ll be heading down to Sydney because the Saturday activities I described last week will be continuing.
Further Ahead
OK, so I still haven’t locked in those podcast recordings 100%. However I have pencilled in infectious diseases physician Dr Trent Yarwood who’s been on before, and motoring journalist Peter Anderson, both some time in November.
- RESCHEDULED: The 9pm Edict recording with Dr Alice Gorman and Rami Mandow, 29 October 2025 (TBC). 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.
- NEW: Frog ID Week, 7–16 November 2025.
- ATARASHII GAKKO!, Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, 4 December 2025 (TBC). This Japanese group is well worth exploring. I’m not sure who I’m taking to this gig yet. Make me an offer.
[Photo: A crane towers over some London plane trees near Sydney Central station while three seagulls circle. Photographed on 11 October 2025. It isn’t a very insuring photo but I didn’t have a particularly inspiring week.]