Jon Piccini
@jonpiccini.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer. Reviews editor. Union Thug. ADHD haver. Writing a history of Australian empire. Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will. Tweets mine. He/him
Pinned
Jon Piccini
@jonpiccini.bsky.social
· Nov 21
Tourism, Americanization and the Vietnam War R&R Scheme in Sydney, Australia, 1967–71 - Chris Dixon, Lisa Featherstone, Jon Piccini, 2024
Australia's addition to the Vietnam War R&R scheme in September 1967 brought some 280,000 short-stay tourists to Sydney, and particularly its notorious ‘red lig...
journals.sagepub.com
Excited to see this, the first output of our ARC project on Vietnam war R&R in Sydney, live at Journal of Contemporary history. We look at how the scheme awkwardly positioned white Australia within an emerging neo-colonial tourist economy. And it's OA! journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Jon Piccini
Bad Bunny has a consulting historian. news.wisc.edu/pop-star-bad...
Pop star Bad Bunny needed a Puerto Rican history scholar. UW–Madison had just the one.
Bad Bunny collaborated with UW–Madison history professor Jorell Meléndez-Badillo on Puerto Rican narratives that accompany the new album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.”
news.wisc.edu
February 9, 2026 at 4:46 AM
Bad Bunny has a consulting historian. news.wisc.edu/pop-star-bad...
Reposted by Jon Piccini
You know, it’s just possible to feel really bad about the violent deaths of Israeli Jews, the genocide in Palestine and the deaths of Australian Jews all while being neither anti-Semitic or Islamophobic.
Somehow that has become impossible for the political class.
Somehow that has become impossible for the political class.
February 8, 2026 at 9:55 PM
You know, it’s just possible to feel really bad about the violent deaths of Israeli Jews, the genocide in Palestine and the deaths of Australian Jews all while being neither anti-Semitic or Islamophobic.
Somehow that has become impossible for the political class.
Somehow that has become impossible for the political class.
This is so sad. What a wonderful bloke. Thinking of his family and friends.
Jon Kudelka, much-loved Australian political cartoonist, dies aged 53
Jon Kudelka, much-loved Australian political cartoonist, dies aged 53
Award-winning Tasmanian artist’s work was published by The Australian, The Saturday Paper and The Hobart Mercury
Jon Kudelka, the Australian political cartoonist, has died at the age of 53.
His wife Margaret Kudelka announced the news in a statement on Tuesday: “We are sad to tell you that our beloved, brilliant Jon Kudelka died peacefully in South Hobart on Sunday afternoon, surrounded by his family and friends.” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:28 AM
This is so sad. What a wonderful bloke. Thinking of his family and friends.
Reposted by Jon Piccini
Proud to announce bookings (free) are open for Rivers of Reason: Blak & Arab Writers in Conversation. Monday 2 March 2026, 2.30 - 7.30 in town hall, Tarntanya (Adelaide). As part of Constellations writers festival. Info about program & speakers on booking page >
events.humanitix.com/rivers-of-re...
events.humanitix.com/rivers-of-re...
February 8, 2026 at 6:51 AM
Proud to announce bookings (free) are open for Rivers of Reason: Blak & Arab Writers in Conversation. Monday 2 March 2026, 2.30 - 7.30 in town hall, Tarntanya (Adelaide). As part of Constellations writers festival. Info about program & speakers on booking page >
events.humanitix.com/rivers-of-re...
events.humanitix.com/rivers-of-re...
Reposted by Jon Piccini
they fired everybody who knows that Puerto Ricans are American
The Super Bowl halftime show, with Bad Bunny showcasing Latin music before a global television audience expected to top 100 million, will illustrate the nation’s immigration divide whether or not the reggaeton star delivers an explicit political message.
The enthusiasm — and scorn — surrounding Bad Bunny’s star turn at the Super Bowl
The halftime show will illustrate the nation’s immigration divide whether or not the reggaeton star makes an explicit message about Trump’s deportation drive.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:25 AM
they fired everybody who knows that Puerto Ricans are American
I mean at least 5 workers died building it, potentially as many as 14, but yeah go off I guess.
February 8, 2026 at 5:06 AM
I mean at least 5 workers died building it, potentially as many as 14, but yeah go off I guess.
John Safran was pulling this gag in the late 90s and it wasn't funny then.
February 8, 2026 at 2:44 AM
John Safran was pulling this gag in the late 90s and it wasn't funny then.
Wait, Matt Perry did what to Japan?
February 7, 2026 at 8:17 AM
Wait, Matt Perry did what to Japan?
Who could possibly have predicted this?
After US strikes, Iran accelerates work at secret underground nuclear site
Since the US bombed Iran's key nuclear sites last year, analysts say work has increased at a secret underground facility that could be used to restart Tehran's nuclear program.
www.abc.net.au
February 7, 2026 at 2:04 AM
Who could possibly have predicted this?
Reposted by Jon Piccini
All of a sudden President Isaac Herzog’s visit brings his declared backing for Israel’s mass killings in Gaza to Australia. This at a time when we all want to protect our grieving Jewish friends after the Bondi beach massacre. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
Herzog's Australia visit unfortunately links two previously separate events
Unravelling the threads of antisemitism and anti-Israeli sentiment will require both more political courage and more community tolerance than we have seen to date.
www.abc.net.au
February 7, 2026 at 1:28 AM
All of a sudden President Isaac Herzog’s visit brings his declared backing for Israel’s mass killings in Gaza to Australia. This at a time when we all want to protect our grieving Jewish friends after the Bondi beach massacre. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
Reposted by Jon Piccini
This would fix me
Physics of a direct hit from an RPG type projectile
February 7, 2026 at 12:28 AM
This would fix me
All this talk of an 'Independent Europe' in a multipolar world makes me think the Eurocommunists weren't wrong they were just 50 years too early.
February 5, 2026 at 9:43 AM
All this talk of an 'Independent Europe' in a multipolar world makes me think the Eurocommunists weren't wrong they were just 50 years too early.
Reposted by Jon Piccini
Reposted by Jon Piccini
I think there is something to this argument. The Greens have been almost invisible since the Federal Election in May - their return to polite 'constructive' reformism clearly isn't cutting through or working
Two good pieces on the Aus Greens and how they should be pushing way harder towards seizing on public discontent with elites right now
www.jonathansri.com/greensdeadend/
www.deepcutnews.com/p/the-greens...
www.jonathansri.com/greensdeadend/
www.deepcutnews.com/p/the-greens...
February 4, 2026 at 10:31 PM
I think there is something to this argument. The Greens have been almost invisible since the Federal Election in May - their return to polite 'constructive' reformism clearly isn't cutting through or working
Another acceptable title would have been: "Australia to return a portion of the billions it stole from East Timor under a gas deal we secured by bugging their negotiating team".
Australia to hand Timor billions in gas revenue to counter Beijing
Australia will donate at least a third of the revenue it would receive from the Greater Sunrise gas development to Timor-Leste as part of a new partnership.
www.afr.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:49 AM
Another acceptable title would have been: "Australia to return a portion of the billions it stole from East Timor under a gas deal we secured by bugging their negotiating team".
Reposted by Jon Piccini
Repression will continue until cohesion improves
February 3, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Repression will continue until cohesion improves
Reposted by Jon Piccini
What's the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Japanese meal??
February 3, 2026 at 9:43 PM
What's the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Japanese meal??
Reposted by Jon Piccini
i had imposter syndrome trying to talk about fascism alongside Alberto Toscano, but i'm glad i did coz it was an incredibly generative conversation that helped distill & crystallize my own thoughts about fascism worldwide today & it's differentiations from the past.
www.tni.org/en/article/l...
www.tni.org/en/article/l...
Lifeboats, steampunk and colonialism – fascism today | Transnational Institute
In this fascinating opening interview for State of Power 2026, scholar activists Toscano and Walia explore the historic roots and current capitalist dynamics that have led to the rise of fascism world...
www.tni.org
February 3, 2026 at 9:43 PM
i had imposter syndrome trying to talk about fascism alongside Alberto Toscano, but i'm glad i did coz it was an incredibly generative conversation that helped distill & crystallize my own thoughts about fascism worldwide today & it's differentiations from the past.
www.tni.org/en/article/l...
www.tni.org/en/article/l...
Reposted by Jon Piccini
Give it up for your trillion dollar hype bubble, ladies & gentlemen!
‘A big new survey of executives in America, Australia, Britain and Germany… shows that almost three-quarters of businesses are using AI in some way. Yet 86% of bosses across these four countries report the technology has had no impact on labour productivity over the past three years’
February 3, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Give it up for your trillion dollar hype bubble, ladies & gentlemen!
A state? Let's start with overseas territory and see how it goes.
OPINION: In this new era where the rules-based order has ruptured, we need to be bigger to survive. Joining Australia will protect New Zealand, enhance Australia and benefit us all.
Time for New Zealand to become the seventh state of Australia
OPINION: In this new era where the rules-based order has ruptured, we need to be bigger to survive. Joining Australia will protect New Zealand, enhance Australia and benefit us all.
dlvr.it
February 3, 2026 at 10:53 AM
A state? Let's start with overseas territory and see how it goes.
Reposted by Jon Piccini
'For those of us who want a radically different kind of life for the people of the earth explaining the operation of money in general and inflation specifically is important. The Left in Australia has failed to do either. And there is a desperate need to do so.'
withsobersenses.wordpress.com
February 3, 2026 at 6:55 AM
'For those of us who want a radically different kind of life for the people of the earth explaining the operation of money in general and inflation specifically is important. The Left in Australia has failed to do either. And there is a desperate need to do so.'
Reposted by Jon Piccini
me finally owning a home in a walkable neighborhood when im too old to walk
February 3, 2026 at 3:31 AM
me finally owning a home in a walkable neighborhood when im too old to walk
Reposted by Jon Piccini
they should make a movie series about how it’s irresponsible to use technology to mess with the natural order of things for profit
Xfinity has just released its Jurassic Park-themed Super Bowl ad that features a digitally de-aged Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum. https://bit.ly/4rmRhrK
February 3, 2026 at 3:32 AM
they should make a movie series about how it’s irresponsible to use technology to mess with the natural order of things for profit