James Valentine, talented musician who elevated the art of talk on ABC Sydney radio – obituary Valentine, who announced on-air he had cancer in 2024, nurtured a deep connection with his audience as the voice of the afternoon program for more than 20 years James Valentine was a hugely popular talkback radio star on ABC Sydney, but adjectives often associated with that role did not fit him. Inclusive rather than combative, jovial rather than controversial, he became one of Australia’s favourite presenters for his thoughtful curiosity, his playful manner and the deep connections he nurtured with his guests and audience. Valentine, who has died aged 64, made his mark on Australia’s cultural landscape as a writer, television host and musician as well as a radio presenter. He was a passionate and talented saxophonist who played with the Models, Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, Absent Friends and Pseudo Echo. Continue reading...

James Valentine, talented musician who elevated the art of talk on ABC Sydney radio – obituary

Friends and former colleagues of James Valentine mourn death of much-loved ABC Sydney radio presenter Valentine officially retired in February after almost 40 years in radio, for treatment for a recurring cancer Friends and former colleagues of James Valentine say the much-loved musician and ABC radio presenter has died. On social media, former Triple J and ABC Radio Sydney presenter Robbie Buck wrote this morning “vale to one of the greatest”. Continue reading...

Friends and former colleagues of James Valentine mourn death of much-loved ABC Sydney radio presenter

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URGENT: In a matter of weeks, Tasmania’s upper house will decide whether greyhound racing is phased out.

Tasmania, speaking up right now matters. The vote will be close. Every message counts: https://animalsaus.co/4d7RNWT

Bringing marine life back to South Florida's 'forgotten edge' Seawalls are great at protecting property and people. A new nature-inspired seawall add-on is trying to make them better at protecting marine wildlife too.

Seawalls are great at protecting property and people. A new nature-inspired seawall add-on is trying to make them better at protecting marine wildlife too. n.pr/4rEXmQa

Happy #StGertrudesDay #patronsaintofcats >^.^<

Help Save Our Sanctuary: Sydney Fox and Dingo Rescue Seven years ago, over 500 generous supporters helped us raise $50,000 to put down a deposit on a 100-acre property—and together, we created a permanent home for Sydney Fox and Dingo Rescue/Sydney Ding...

Help Save Our Sanctuary: Sydney Fox and Dingo Rescue chuffed.org/project/help...

An Edward Gorey drawing showing a morose looking black bird on a branch. He (and this feels very much like a he) is pointing downwards with one scraggly wing, and looking straight ahead with debt-filled eyes. His beak is long and sharp, like winter on the Great Plains. He is pointing with his right wing, but this means he is pointing to your left. Your wicked, sinister side. This is no accident. The Bird makes no such mistakes. But he is talking, and the text tells us that he is saying, "Beware of this and that." Honestly, you feel his message in your bones.

Some days I just feel like this Edward Gorey bird gets it.

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Al Green, wearing a suit, is seen being escorted out of the House chamber while holding still the sign. Photo by Eric Lee for The New York Times.

Representative Al Green of Texas brought a sign that says “BLACK PEOPLE AREN’T APES!” to President Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday— a reference to the racist video Trump posted about the Obamas. Green was later walked out of the chamber. Follow updates: nyti.ms/3MwkaTM

Sure, dinner and a film is fine, but can we please normalize bookstore dates, cemetery picnic dates, museum dates, library dates, and stargazing dates?

The funeral for Jon Kudelka was both beautiful and deeply sad - he loved our difficult birds and was a staunch protector of Tasmanian nature - he will be missed and is a tragically gone too soon 💙

Our house has little pieces of Kudelka art in just about every room from the 2026 calendar, to tea towels, a Tasmanian devil covered purse and this tiny Tasmanian tiger canvas
#jonkudelka ☹️

Cartoon by Jon Kudelka. Man and dog bored in the park decide to head to the pub instead.

Man’s Best Friend.

Vale Jon Kudelka.

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Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds review – an electrifying crescendo of faith, fury and fragile joy Fremantle Park, Perth Returning to Australian stages after nine years, the band delivers a fierce, generous set that draws on four decades of music * Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email Dragging his hand across the piano keys, Nick Cave leaps into the air and charges towards the crowd like a preacher breaking from the pulpit. “Bring your spirit down!” he cries repeatedly, arms flung wide as the choir roars behind him. It’s barely 10 minutes into their set at Fremantle Park in Perth, and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds have the audience in the palm of their hands. Touring their 2024 album Wild God in Australia for the first time, they open with the brooding track Frogs and the eponymous Wild God, an explosive crescendo of high-pitched strings, soaring vocals and pounding percussion. Continue reading...

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds review – an electrifying crescendo of faith, fury and fragile joy

#BREAKING 🚨 The National Socialist Network says it will disband because of the federal government's newly-proposed hate speech laws

The group says its disbandment also means the end for the White Australia Party, which it was seeking to have registered for future elections

Nobody admits it but the real reason most people get cats is because they make a really good noise if you prod them while they're asleep.

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Happy New Year everyone 🍾🥂

On faith and the exit ramp Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.                            – Dylan Thomas (1951) Australians often seem rather uneasy about attempting to examine the ...

On faith and the exit ramp www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/topi... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Happy Birthday to Humphrey Bogart 25th of December
*Maltese Falcon from #TheHauntedStudios

how Meg spent Christmas Day

yesterday’s lunch #veganchristmasdinner

some of Christmas Day…

and it’s "ChrEastermas" already
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These finally arrived today
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#TheCharlatans #WeAreLove

Thanks to everyone sharing this post, and indulging my optimist's experiment to see if a book completely ignored by the literary establishment, written by an author with no famous friends and released by a small publisher, with no big marketing budget behind it, can float solely on word of mouth.

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