Birdsong from the expectant mum in the rafters this morning.

Separation of Church and Hate: Religion in Public Life John Fugelsang’s Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds arrives at a moment when the intersection of re...

Separation of Church and Hate: Religion in Public Life blakandblack.com/2025/10/15/s...

The Albanese govt’s first term was the second most secretive on record.

Rather than changing their ways, they’re doubling down and tightening our FOI system to make it even harder to get information. Not a single expert or member of parliament outside of the Labor party has backed their new bill.

Try this. Archived online version 2 hours ago.

Is shaken baby syndrome landing innocent people in jail?
archive.md/IFF15

Someone's celebrating today, aren't they @blakandblack.bsky.social ?

Diagnosing murder For decades, the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome has been putting parents in jail all over the world. But some jurisdictions are beginning to ask: are heartbroken people being put in the dock for cr...

I'll be looking more into this. www.theage.com.au/interactive/...

Watch: Moment Florida dog leads deputy to missing 86-year-old Bodycam footage shows the officer responding to a call from a man concerned about his wife's whereabouts after she went for a walk.

The very bestest boy.
www.bbc.com/news/videos/...

Police are alerting hundreds of accused sexual offenders that they are re-examining the work of a digital forensics officer based in Bendigo.

The ABC understands police are auditing the work of the officer from June 2016 until August 2025.

#BREAKING | Israel's government commanded the IDF to halt plans to occupy Gaza City (Doron Kadosh)

IDF Spokesperson:

In accordance with the directive of the political echelon, the Chief of Staff directed that preparations be made to implement the first phase of the Trump plan for the release of the hostages.

Maeve, a small tortie cat sits, looking back over her shoulder at Crumpet, a grey cat, sprawled on his side. Crumpet is grabbing at the feather wand I am holding, with both front paws outstretched.

The world is full of horrors and bullshit, so please accept this photo of Crumpet being coaxed into playing with a feather wand.

I also saw a wedge-tailed eagle and TWO peregrine falcons this morning, so it's not all bad.

Lamb shanks bought 2 weeks apart. On the left, out of the freezer bought in person. On the right, shopping online & delivered to my boot. Most of the meat removed on the latter. Seems it pays to shop in person. I'd have looked at other meats.

What fabulous news!

It's the best kind of news.

What To Do If You’ve Been Doxed Or Placed On A Watchlist We map out steps you can take right away, and steps you can take to build resilience longer term against doxing.

This is such a useful resource from @penamerica.bsky.social

"What To Do If You’ve Been Doxed Or Placed On A Watchlist"

Please consider letting others know that this exists.

pen.org/what-to-do-i...

Platypuses hunt underwater (their bills detect the electricity given off by their preys' muscles), and cram the food into cheek-pouches, then come to the surface to chew it up.
#Tasmania #MammalWatching #WildOz #platypuses

Reading this while listening to her conversation with Richard Fidler on ABCSydney currently being rebroadcast.

Ruminations on the Passing of a Giant: Jane Goodall Legacies are forged, not written. They are the imprint left long after our departure.

Some deaths are monumental. My Ruminations on the Passing of a Giant: Jane Goodall blakandblack.com/2025/10/03/r...

😆 All good. The lamb shank is cooling.

The Namco model 9 is in action.

You are hilarious! And Yarndi is clearly adored!

Banksy, Political Commentator and Genius The brilliance of Banksy's judicial commentary lies in his understanding and acceptance of the response yo his message.

The unfinished. When the master teaches the student a lesson.
blakandblack.com/2025/09/14/b...

The University of Melbourne English and Theatre Studies Statement on the closure of Meanjin. 12 September 2025 Melbourne University's English and Theatre Studies Programme calls on the University of Melbourne to act on its educational mission and find a way to support Meanjin, one of Australia’s most precious cultural institutions. For generations Meanjin has offered established and emerging writers a home for testing talent, fostering debate, and exploring ideas. But Meanjin needs no defence. It speaks for itself. It speaks for its former publisher as well: that Meanjin is the only publication cited—twice—on MUP’s “About Us” page is evidence enough that it carries much of the literary prestige to which the press can lay claim. The decision of Melbourne University Publishing’s Board to close Meanjin involved no consultation with those of us at the University of Melbourne most invested in its past and its future. The only rationale offered by the Board—that the decision was taken “on purely financial grounds”—is, as others have noted, both inexplicable and an act of "cultural vandalism.” It is also a betrayal of the University’s role as an educator, enricher and supporter of cultural life. Meanjin has a value that cannot and should not be measured in financial terms.

A way forward can and must be found that allows Meanjin to continue its important work, in consultation with the University’s most affected communities, disciplines, and concentrations of expertise—including creative writing, literature and theatre studies, publishing and editing. We call on the University of Melbourne’s leadership and the board of Melbourne University Publishing to work together to preserve Meanjin’s future on grounds that take into account its ongoing cultural value, whether in Naarm or Meanjin. Dr Sarah Balkin, A/Prof Justin Clemens, Prof Deirdre Coleman, Dr Sara Fernandes Crouch, Dr Michael Falk, Dr Lindsay Goss, Dr Margaret Harvey, Dr Joe Hughes, Dr Ryan Johnson, Dr Jessica Marian, Prof David McInnis, Dr Beth McLean, Dr Marc Mierowsky, Dr Lynda Ng, Prof Peter Otto, Dr Elliot Patsoura, Prof Paul Rae, Dr Miranda Stanyon, Dr Mairi Stirling Hill, Prof Stephanie Trigg, Prof Clara Tuite, Prof Denise Varney

The University of Melbourne English and Theatre Studies Statement on the closure of Meanjin.

12 September 2025

Charlie Kirk: A Retrospective on Provocative Rhetoric and Its Consequences Introduction Charlie Kirk emerged in American political life as an energetic, unapologetic conservative voice who sought to remake campus politics and the broader conservative movement in his image. B...

Charlie Kirk: A Retrospective on Provocative Rhetoric and Its Consequences blakandblack.com/2025/09/13/c...

Oh, I've known few beauties, so may argue you on that, but that's OK!

Oh my, Rob. She's very pretty.

Well over 70,000 marched in Naarm/Melbourne on Sunday calling on @albomp.bsky.social to #SanctionIsraelNow.
#auspol #springst #GazaGenocide

Echoes of Country: A Welcome A welcome that echoes, unbroken, across sandplain and billabong.

Here, ‘Country’ means all, earth, sky, water, breath,
A kinship web spanning millennia’s unbroken threads.
To stand here is promise: to tread lightly, to listen deeply,
To offer respect to every root, every stone, every heartbeat.

blakandblack.com/2025/07/29/e...