The Vole That Roared
En route from Navy Mess to Situation Room, Wilbur warned me to expect one unusual amid the gathering. Unusual how? A character seen mainly at night, in office or hallway, at to whom you might
Read more
Author: Ewen Shearer
Suicide by Code
Such were the times, infatuated by the dream of artificial thought, few noticed their dominion ebb as the Age of Reason slid to an early grave. In those heady days when artificial intelligence first challenged
Read moreOn Swatting Magpies
During the past half century Australians have absorbed their legendry with the quaint fervour of tribal sports fans. A key pillar of this self-adoration is the mighty assertion that our animals are the planet’s most
Read more
Trojan’s Cusp
When Enterprise is Predator Insane forces erode jungles, stifle atmosphere, sterilize oceans, and greedily combat the species-potpourris nurturing them. Worming through neo-classical economics, seducing state and nation to plunder in consumptive frenzy the entire estate
Read moreThe Haircut That Ate Kew Trinity Grammar
Oh, down at the catching pen an old shearer stands, Grasping his shears in his long bony hands Click goes his shears; click, click, click. Wide are the blows, and his hand is moving quick
Read moreFake the 1969 Moon Landing?
An old friend reflected on his experience during the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing. He was employed by Australia’s Postmaster-General’s department (PMG) – you know it today as the privatised gouging entity, Telstra. In those
Read moreHaircutgate ~ A Grammarian Comedy
As The Cigar waded through the stream of anguish, the unfolding tragedy at Kew TGS – Trinity Grammar School’s “Haircutgate” – the hilarity of it all grew unendurable. In this leafy walled garden of Melburnian
Read moreSA Election Softens Energy Erections
Throsby has a theory on elections and coin tosses. Experts on chance proffer the counter-intuitive fact that each coin toss has a 50-50 chance of being heads or tails, no matter how many times either
Read moreBondi Snobs Hobble Pavilion’s Millions
Never get between an Australian Liberal (conservative) and a piece of public property. Behind every Liberal-run government lurk deep pockets and acquisitive eyes with a ready case to make this or that infrastructure “profitable” and
Read moreWeatherboard Boarder Disboards in Disorder
Throsby can admit but awe and humility at the leader of the National Party’s overwhelming command of retail politics. Barnyard – or Beetrooter, as we have come to cherish him in so short a time
Read more