Daniel Andrews’ signature phrase travels to the Motherland

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says his political decisions are “the right thing to do”. Victorians know all about that phrase.

news.kawaii.gdn/ZsfLpm
Published: 29 Jul 2025, 19:00

OpenAI launched a "study mode" for ChatGPT today, and it appears to be almost entirely implemented as a system prompt

Thankfully OpenAI mostly don't take measures to protect their system prompt these days so it's easy to extract it and see how it works simonwillison.net/2025/Jul/29/…

5 Reasons Why Writers Need Privacy

Author Tiffany Jenkins shares five essential reasons why writers need privacy to truly be successful with their writing goals.
The post 5 Reasons Why Writers Need Privacy appeared first on Writer's Digest.
writersdigest.com/5-reasons-wh…

#BeInspired #TheWritersLife #WritingHabitsandPractices #MentalHealth #Privacy
@indieauthors

5 Reasons Why Writers Need Privacy

^{Writer's Digest}

Sydney’s fare-free train days just got longer, even on the expensive airport line

The free-fare period will even apply to stations at Sydney Airport, which would otherwise charge up to $17.92 on top of a train ticket for a one-way trip.

news.kawaii.gdn/S3yFkT
Published: 29 Jul 2025, 19:00

I found an amazing restaurant overseas, but I won’t go back

Sometimes it’s best if you keep your travel secrets to yourself.

news.kawaii.gdn/WpwbMe
Published: 29 Jul 2025, 19:00

US Grammy winner Ciara becomes citizen of Benin under new slavery descendants law
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgm2vvmdy28o?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into World @world-BBCNews

US Grammy winner Ciara becomes citizen of Benin under new slavery-descendants law

Benin in West Africa is trying to forge ties with the African diaspora and boost tourism.

^{Wedaeli Chibelushi (BBC News)}

Unshakeable artist cancels Smithsonian show after attempted censorship of Black trans woman painting
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/07/unshakeable-artist-cancels-smithsonian-show-after-attempted-censorship-of-black-trans-woman-painting/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into LGBTQ Nation @lgbtq-nation-LGBTQNation

Unshakeable artist cancels Smithsonian show after attempted censorship of Black trans woman painting - LGBTQ Nation

The administration tried to replace her art with a video of people discussing it. She said no.

^{John Russell (LGBTQ Nation)}

A third of students are falling behind in NAPLAN. Here’s a school that is bucking the trend

Students from migrant families outperformed their Australian-born peers in all year groups and areas tested.

news.kawaii.gdn/admkQb
Published: 29 Jul 2025, 19:00

Personally, I don't think natural language programming is desirable.

I think the strictures of formal languages forcing you to think in slightly more narrow and constrained ways drives you toward the understanding to think like the computer.

I think for this reason, something of value was lost when we started moving away from the 8-bit machines era, where your introduction to computing was a bit of BASIC and then having to put your machine's ASM into the interpreter typed out of a magazine.

I learned more about making the computer do a thing from working with PETI's microcontroller than I did in 20 years of casual computing or the 6 years of python I wrote before that.

VDLM2 Message From: N37419 / UA2384

Message: RR FOR WX AVOID..ROA. NIOLA

Track Aircraft

Area: Gaithersburg, MD, USA

#acars #vdlm2 #N37419 #UA2384

Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

The world’s most popular flight tracker. Track planes in real-time on our flight tracker map and get up-to-date flight status & airport information.

^{Flightradar24}

What to know about the brain-eating amoeba that killed a boy swimming in a lake
https://apnews.com/article/brain-eating-amoeba-south-carolina-boy-killed-8370a5140a7cbb6214cbeed18afad575?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into Top Stories @top-stories-AssociatedPress

What if people just want better jobs, not more stuff

What if, instead of pursuing an ever-higher material living standard, governments focused on improving workers’ job satisfaction? A good way to lose votes? I doubt it.

news.kawaii.gdn/uyDhb5
Published: 29 Jul 2025, 19:00

What Americans think about Israel's military action in Gaza, according to a new Gallup poll
https://apnews.com/article/israel-military-gaza-netanyahu-trump-poll-dc79937460ed55e9a020acba652eba4b?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into Top Stories @top-stories-AssociatedPress

Colorado dentist accused of poisoning his wife felt trapped in his marriage, prosecutor says
https://apnews.com/article/colorado-dentist-wife-poisoned-trial-craig-97da1f1a7d3eeed11318aa2af50d36ca?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into Top Stories @top-stories-AssociatedPress

Just because you have the money, doesn’t mean you’re ready to buy a property

Property is overrated as an investment – and it’s not a beginner-friendly asset.

news.kawaii.gdn/u6gUNh
Published: 29 Jul 2025, 19:00

How far property prices rose last time interest rates fell

Lower rates pushed up home prices in five out of the last seven easing cycles, but the gains vary widely, and this time could be different.

news.kawaii.gdn/T9B66g
Published: 29 Jul 2025, 19:00

Was talking to my adult kid, who was sitting at the dining room table, while I had my back turned cleaning the sink. Things were going fine when I asked, "When you're done eating and dressed, can you empty the dishwasher?" And I didn't get an answer... I turn around an my kid's not there, empty breakfast plate still on the table.

(Don't ask me why they're in a bathrobe and having breakfast at 3pm. I have no control over that. Gave up years ago.)

California, other states sue Trump administration over bill defunding Planned Parenthood
https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2025-07-29/california-other-states-sue-trump-administration-over-bill-defunding-planned-parenthood?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into California @california-LATimes

California, other states sue Trump administration over bill defunding Planned Parenthood

California and other liberal-led states sued the Trump administration Tuesday over a measure aimed at defunding Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide.

^{Kevin Rector (Los Angeles Times)}

Australian stargazers to enjoy two meteor showers this week – and you can leave the binoculars at home

The Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids showers are best viewed on Tuesday or Wednesday between 11pm and dawnStargazers and night owls in Australia will be in prime position to catch a glimpse of two spectacular meteor showers this week as they pass through our...

news.kawaii.gdn/4WbKG2
Published: 29 Jul 2025, 08:06

Wet August tipped as weekend Tasman low threatens NSW

Parts of southern Australia have recorded their wettest July in decades, and as the calendar flips to August, the rain events are forecast to continue.

news.kawaii.gdn/YcWSHS
Published: 29 Jul 2025, 19:23

Australians don't know how the tax office is performing because the ATO doesn't know itself

A decade ago the Australian Tax Office traded people for programs in an effort to cut costs.

news.kawaii.gdn/psacPE
Published: 29 Jul 2025, 19:00

"They cast Ezra so perfectly for live-action"

yahoo.com/entertainment/articl…

#starwars #disney #starwarsfan #darthvader #jedi #themandalorian

The first look at Ezra Bridger in Ahsoka season 2 has hit the internet from SDCC, and Star Wars fans think he looks perfect: "They cast Ezra so perfectly for live-action"

The first look at Ezra Bridger in Ahsoka season 2 is here

^{Molly Edwards (Yahoo Entertainment)}

Recorded #OnThisDay 49 years ago:

Joan Armatrading - Peel Session 1976

The complete session recorded by Joan Armatrading on 29 July 1976 for the John Peel show on BBC Radio 1 and broadcast on 25 August 1976.

Tracklist:

1. Kissing and Hugging (0:07)
2. Down To Zero (4:36)
3. Help Yourself (8:20)
4. People (12:30)

vibracobra23.blogspot.com/2015…

#JoanArmatrading #PeelSessions #OTD

Joan Armatrading - Peel Session 1976

The blog for the uploads to the group of Vibracobra23 channels on YouTube, featuring thousands of John Peel Sessions.

^{vibracobra23.blogspot.com}

Liam Neeson on Why ‘The Naked Gun’ Reboot Is Needed: ‘Because We’re All F—ed’
#Variety #News #JustForVariety #LiamNeeson #PamelaAnderson #TheNakedGun

variety.com/2025/film/news/lia…

Why The Naked Gun's Liam Neeson Thinks the Reboot Is Needed

"The Naked Gun" star Liam Neeson thinks the comedy reboot is needed "because we're all f---ed.'

^{Antonio Ferme (Variety)}

Apr 29, 1999, NATO bombs tore thru 2 def-min bldgs in Belgrade. The targets were chosen more for symbolic reasons than op ones: US-led coa: wanted to send the C’s authoritarian govt, at that time engaged in a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, a msg: HR weren’t just words -backed by weapons.

Today, Vučić is Serbia’s pres—an apologist for RU -attacks the press +accused of nurturing close ties to org crime.

Trump's🚨building a Tower in Belgrade.
#Protest #USPol theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…

The Death of Democracy Promotion

Despots and human-rights abusers can rest easy now that America has gotten out of their way.

^{Brian Klaas (The Atlantic)}

Labor's history on Palestine helps us understand the present moment

Both Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley are past convenors of the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine group when they were backbenchers, more than two decades ago.

news.kawaii.gdn/sXu6kn
Published: 29 Jul 2025, 19:00