Most of my family learnt English by listening to the Radio. ABC radio was consistently the choice of English learners in our neighbourhood.

Once again, ABC radio, via Radio National teaches me language.
Tonight Julian Burnside edified the airwaves.
These were my favourite of many fine words,

“Tact is kind; diplomacy is useful; euphemism is harmless and sometimes entertaining. By contrast, doublespeak is dishonest and dangerous.
[…]
Doublespeak uses language to smuggle uncomfortable ideas into comfortable minds.”

On my lengthy journey home from work every night I listen to Radio National. Tonight in perspective (just before the the six o’clock news) Dr. Louise Newman worked her lucid, insistent, just, logical, qualified, compassionate magic!

Image from here

Unlike the rude pundit I never met Hunter S. Thompson.
But I read him.
I shared his rage and through his words felt connected to a saner analysis of the world. Particularly the world of men, power and politics.

In October 2004, writing for Rolling Stone magazine he had this to say:

"Your neighbor’s grandchildren will be fighting this stupid, greed-crazed Bush-family "war" against the whole Islamic world for the rest of their lives, if John Kerry is not elected to be the new President of the United States in November.
The question this year is not whether President Bush is acting more and more like the head of a fascist government but if the American people want it that way. That is what this election is all about. We are down to nut-cutting time, and millions of people are angry. They want a Regime Change."

I miss him.

I’ve been watching Waveaid on Channel V and I feel such pride toward my fellow Australians.

I even have time for the Labor MP for Kingsford Smith. He and Midnight Oil rocked the SCG.

Someone in the crowd held up a sign saying,

"Garrett for PM"

…perhaps in a decade.