Jo
@jo8may.bsky.social
I am an Australian, a retired academic and historian.
Choose Public Education!
Urging parents to consider the kind of Australia they want their children to grow up in when choosing their school. Public schools promote inclusion & cohesive citizenship, not division and exceptionalism. A well supported public school system is a bulwark of democracy.
Urging parents to consider the kind of Australia they want their children to grow up in when choosing their school. Public schools promote inclusion & cohesive citizenship, not division and exceptionalism. A well supported public school system is a bulwark of democracy.
January 23, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Choose Public Education!
Urging parents to consider the kind of Australia they want their children to grow up in when choosing their school. Public schools promote inclusion & cohesive citizenship, not division and exceptionalism. A well supported public school system is a bulwark of democracy.
Urging parents to consider the kind of Australia they want their children to grow up in when choosing their school. Public schools promote inclusion & cohesive citizenship, not division and exceptionalism. A well supported public school system is a bulwark of democracy.
Florence Fuller c1900 “Inséparables”. The act of reading signalled the importance of education in the achievement of women’s autonomy. If you are in Sydney, don’t miss “Dangerously Modern”, a brilliant exhibition of 50 Australasian women’s art making.
January 20, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Florence Fuller c1900 “Inséparables”. The act of reading signalled the importance of education in the achievement of women’s autonomy. If you are in Sydney, don’t miss “Dangerously Modern”, a brilliant exhibition of 50 Australasian women’s art making.
Tonight my family and I joined thousands of our beautiful diverse community for the annual 9pm fireworks gathering. Peaceful, harmonious and joyful, we celebrated our lives here in the (other) harbour city of New South Wales, Australia. Sending love and light for a better year in 2026.
December 31, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Tonight my family and I joined thousands of our beautiful diverse community for the annual 9pm fireworks gathering. Peaceful, harmonious and joyful, we celebrated our lives here in the (other) harbour city of New South Wales, Australia. Sending love and light for a better year in 2026.
🎭 1/2 Saw King Lear at the Belvoir Saturday night. The minimal staging allowed us to concentrate on the words, difficult words despite our familiarity. Standout performances by Peter Carroll as the Fool and Raj Labade as Edmund. Alison Whyte’s Gloucester amazing and cathartic.
December 22, 2025 at 5:41 AM
🎭 1/2 Saw King Lear at the Belvoir Saturday night. The minimal staging allowed us to concentrate on the words, difficult words despite our familiarity. Standout performances by Peter Carroll as the Fool and Raj Labade as Edmund. Alison Whyte’s Gloucester amazing and cathartic.
This evening at Albury, the mighty Murray River, Milawa, giver of life in Wiradjuri country. This river marks the colonial boundary between New South Wales and Victoria, an invisible construct unknown to the original peoples of this land. They had other much older maps to go by.
December 9, 2025 at 11:32 AM
This evening at Albury, the mighty Murray River, Milawa, giver of life in Wiradjuri country. This river marks the colonial boundary between New South Wales and Victoria, an invisible construct unknown to the original peoples of this land. They had other much older maps to go by.
Very annoyed and embarrassed by Sarah Ferguson’s interview with former US Vice President Kamala Harris which was too concerned with Biden. Gotcha journalism is anathema to good journalism. Apologies Kamala.
October 29, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Very annoyed and embarrassed by Sarah Ferguson’s interview with former US Vice President Kamala Harris which was too concerned with Biden. Gotcha journalism is anathema to good journalism. Apologies Kamala.
Vale Diane Keaton, the essence of cool, who brought joy to millions through her work. Didn’t every 60s girl want to be her?
October 12, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Vale Diane Keaton, the essence of cool, who brought joy to millions through her work. Didn’t every 60s girl want to be her?
A good climb is always metaphorical whether we like it or not. Today …
October 3, 2025 at 2:36 PM
A good climb is always metaphorical whether we like it or not. Today …
“I told him, Albo don’t go. Don't go Albo, I said. Don't go, it's the Ides of March. … If I told him once, I'd told him a thousand times, Albo, don't go ... Albo, don't go, I said. It's the Ides of March. Beware already.” With apologies to Wayne & Schuster, 1954.
September 23, 2025 at 2:07 PM
“I told him, Albo don’t go. Don't go Albo, I said. Don't go, it's the Ides of March. … If I told him once, I'd told him a thousand times, Albo, don't go ... Albo, don't go, I said. It's the Ides of March. Beware already.” With apologies to Wayne & Schuster, 1954.
Christine Keneally on the limits of AI and the act of writing. “…there is a difference between the clever ways we can use maths to shuffle words and the irreproducible journey of a specific person through a fateful moment in the history of the world.” Yes! themonthly-admin/christine-ke...
September 23, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Christine Keneally on the limits of AI and the act of writing. “…there is a difference between the clever ways we can use maths to shuffle words and the irreproducible journey of a specific person through a fateful moment in the history of the world.” Yes! themonthly-admin/christine-ke...
Reading Gore Vidal’s “Inventing a Nation” where he presciently describes Trump’s economic ‘theory’ (to put a finer term to it than he deserves) as “the great American formula: socialism for the rich, free enterprise for the poor.” (p.120 pbk)
September 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reading Gore Vidal’s “Inventing a Nation” where he presciently describes Trump’s economic ‘theory’ (to put a finer term to it than he deserves) as “the great American formula: socialism for the rich, free enterprise for the poor.” (p.120 pbk)
Australia take note!!
2. Article 33 of the Italian constitution “… Institutions and private individuals have the right to establish schools and educational institutes, without charge to the State.”
2. Article 33 of the Italian constitution “… Institutions and private individuals have the right to establish schools and educational institutes, without charge to the State.”
August 19, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Australia take note!!
2. Article 33 of the Italian constitution “… Institutions and private individuals have the right to establish schools and educational institutes, without charge to the State.”
2. Article 33 of the Italian constitution “… Institutions and private individuals have the right to establish schools and educational institutes, without charge to the State.”
1. Article 33 of the Italian constitution “Art and science are free and the teaching is free. The Republic dictates the general rules on education and establishes state schools for all orders and grades.” See this image of educated graffiti from today in Bologna.
August 19, 2025 at 6:58 AM
1. Article 33 of the Italian constitution “Art and science are free and the teaching is free. The Republic dictates the general rules on education and establishes state schools for all orders and grades.” See this image of educated graffiti from today in Bologna.
A miraculous formation at ephemeral Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. “A mound spring on the surface formed from underground pressure pushing water, sand and silt to the surface”. From The Guardian. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
July 27, 2025 at 2:42 AM
A miraculous formation at ephemeral Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. “A mound spring on the surface formed from underground pressure pushing water, sand and silt to the surface”. From The Guardian. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Washington Week is the go to review of Washington politics every week. This week has Franklin Foer of The Atlantic as moderator; Peter Baker of NYT; Eugene Daniels of MSNBC; Susan Glasser of The New Yorker; & Jonathan Karl of ABC. For my money Susan Glasser has the most incisive commentary of all.
July 26, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Washington Week is the go to review of Washington politics every week. This week has Franklin Foer of The Atlantic as moderator; Peter Baker of NYT; Eugene Daniels of MSNBC; Susan Glasser of The New Yorker; & Jonathan Karl of ABC. For my money Susan Glasser has the most incisive commentary of all.
Always was, always will be …
July 5, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Always was, always will be …
Watching Tonight’s excellent Four Corners “Trading In Chaos”
I just hope the Australian Government does not cave in on our check on the rampaging Tech Bros. As publishers, they should pay for the news Australians produce. Their “business model” rests on “users” who are creators of free content!
I just hope the Australian Government does not cave in on our check on the rampaging Tech Bros. As publishers, they should pay for the news Australians produce. Their “business model” rests on “users” who are creators of free content!
June 30, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Watching Tonight’s excellent Four Corners “Trading In Chaos”
I just hope the Australian Government does not cave in on our check on the rampaging Tech Bros. As publishers, they should pay for the news Australians produce. Their “business model” rests on “users” who are creators of free content!
I just hope the Australian Government does not cave in on our check on the rampaging Tech Bros. As publishers, they should pay for the news Australians produce. Their “business model” rests on “users” who are creators of free content!
Great to see Tania Plibersek, Federal Minister for Social Services, on our screen this morning, talking about her important portfolio (when Mr Interruptor, David Speers, would let her) … the current Labor Australian Government is full of talented people. Tania is absolutely one of them.
June 28, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Great to see Tania Plibersek, Federal Minister for Social Services, on our screen this morning, talking about her important portfolio (when Mr Interruptor, David Speers, would let her) … the current Labor Australian Government is full of talented people. Tania is absolutely one of them.
As an engaged outsider, this dissenting opinion by SCJ Ketanji Brown Jackson is alarming. I fear for the USA, and send all anti-MAGA supporters strength and courage in the face of these outrageous assaults on the USA as a nation of laws.
June 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
As an engaged outsider, this dissenting opinion by SCJ Ketanji Brown Jackson is alarming. I fear for the USA, and send all anti-MAGA supporters strength and courage in the face of these outrageous assaults on the USA as a nation of laws.
Best wishes to everyone on June 14. HCR writes: “But the celebration of ordinary people who fought against tyranny will be happening … all across the country, as Americans participating in at least 2,000 planned No Kings protests recall the principles American patriots championed 250 years ago.”
June 14, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Best wishes to everyone on June 14. HCR writes: “But the celebration of ordinary people who fought against tyranny will be happening … all across the country, as Americans participating in at least 2,000 planned No Kings protests recall the principles American patriots championed 250 years ago.”
Every winter Sydney Australia lights up for “Vivid”. Surely one of the wonders of the modern world. If you get the chance to come, bring your scarf and gloves!
June 11, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Every winter Sydney Australia lights up for “Vivid”. Surely one of the wonders of the modern world. If you get the chance to come, bring your scarf and gloves!
10:30am Sunday morning. Just watched this fabulous Broadway production from my home in Australia. Thank you CNN. Five Stars!
June 8, 2025 at 12:39 AM
10:30am Sunday morning. Just watched this fabulous Broadway production from my home in Australia. Thank you CNN. Five Stars!
Beautiful life pushing up through the Carrington Mangrove boardwalk in Newcastle NSW. There has to be a metaphor here somewhere.
June 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Beautiful life pushing up through the Carrington Mangrove boardwalk in Newcastle NSW. There has to be a metaphor here somewhere.
Wishing Laura Tingle all the best for her new gig. She will be missed as the sanest of voices on Australian federal politics. Simply the best.
May 29, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Wishing Laura Tingle all the best for her new gig. She will be missed as the sanest of voices on Australian federal politics. Simply the best.