My week of Monday 7 to Sunday 13 September 2026 relatively ordinary. I didn’t get a lot done, but it wasn’t a disaster either. I ate fish. But most importantly, a fun little film was released, one which I’d played a small part in. The photo of the pub is totally unrelated.
I also gave this season’s crowdfunder a bit of a push, and The 9pm Spring Series 2026 is now 59% of the way to its first target. Thank you all so much.
Meanwhile the saga of The Lost Module is entering a new chapter. The company which had the big wooden crate that contained one-third of the goods I’d had in storage for a little over 15 years is now saying that maybe they didn’t even have it in the first place. Maybe the previous storage company, which they took over, had already lost it. They made a laughable offer. I made a counteroffer. They didn’t respond. So off to court we go.
One of my tasks for the coming week is turning the compensation claim I’ve already written into the standard format used by the Local Court of NSW. It’s just all so fucking tedious. I have’t yet decide whether I’ll get a lawyer onto the case, because the process does seem straightforward enough.
Podcasts
- On Thursday I recorded a podcast with Erin Cook. It’s a lot of fun, but I didn’t get around to editing it. I’ll do so on Monday, and it will appear on Monday night Sydney time at The 9pm Smoke and Durianomics with Erin Cook or in your podcast app.
Articles
- The Weekly Cybers #133. Australia rolls out its planned digital duty of care and algorithm opt-out laws, Anthropic researchers claim that AI has a greater than 10% chance of killing us all, and much more.
Videos
- The UFOs from Outer Space is a parody sci-fi short film, written and directed by my good friend Elissa Black, in which I play the voice of the ship’s computer, G’DAY-GPT. It’s very silly. It was shot in May, and I recorded my bits in mid-June, but it was finally released on Saturday.
Photos, Media Appearances, Corporate Largesse
None of these this week. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel to be notified when new videos appear and when the occasional livestreams are scheduled — such as the one coming up in just a few days.
Some Interesting Links
- The world has a new electrik ekranoplan, the REGENT Viceroy Seaglider, which flew for the first time earlier this month.
- This has to be the most amazing astronomical photo ever.
- ‘Exciting’ signs of survival as quolls and bandicoots reintroduced to outback.
- I quite like the writing of Sydney-based writer and critic Michael Sun, so I was quite amused by this Fashion Journal piece from 2024 on his fashion style. There’s some fantastic quotes.
- This week’s suggested follow: I’ve linked to some of his material before, but I reckon it’s worth keeping a regular eye on his YouTube channel: Patrick Boyle is “a hedge fund manager, a university professor, and a former investment banker”, and he explains what’s going on with global finance in an accessible an entertaining way. I’ve learned so much from him.
The Week Ahead
Monday is about podcast editing. Tuesday is a mix of random client work, research, writing, administrivia, and recording some video for something coming up later in the week.
On Wednesday I’m recording an episode of The 9pm Edict with Dr Alice Gorman and Rami Mandow, so obviously the theme is space. If you’re a supporter with TRIGGER WORDS or a CONVERSATION TOPIC for this episode, please let me know by 2pm AEST this Wednesday 16 September. The finished episode will be posted early the following week.
UPDATED: Thursday marks six months of living in Campsie, back in Sydney. So to mark the occasion I’m holding The 8pm Six Months in Campsie. This little video livestream will contain thoughts and updates and complaints and perhaps some disturbing mental imagery. Also, video footage of the neighbourhood. Also, a very brief quiz. It’s at 8pm AEST, but it’ll be available for replay any time after that.
The Weekly Cybers newsletter will appear on Friday afternoon as usual.
On Saturday I’ll head to the Plateia Festival 2026 in Earlwood. It’s another typical suburban street festival, and as usual I’m looking forward to the food.
NEW: On Sunday I’m taking part in the community first look at the upgraded Campsie Station, which will form part of Sydney Metro Southwest that will be opening soon. I think it’ going to open in’ll be the second half of October, but it hasn’t been announced officially. It’s only a half-hour slot on the middle of the day, but really, how much is there to see at one small railway station?
After that we’ll be doing some household things that I might mention on the day.
Further Ahead
- Another Untitled Music Podcast recording, 26 September 2026. Yes, Snarky Platypus and I have finally managed to schedule time for another recording. If you’re a supporter with a We Will We Will Judge You playlist or want to Recommend a Song to Us, please let us know by midday AEST on Saturday 26 September. If you’re not sure whether you’re owed the or any other rewards, just get in touch.
[Photo: The Station House Hotel in Camsie, Sydney, photographed on 11 September 2026. This wan’t originally a pub, but an inter-war commercial building described as “a run-down mix of 10 oversized apartments atop mixed retail, including a dentist and barber”.]