I'm clothes shopping at the thrift store, and I found a ginormous black bear onesie... I just might have to get it.

Update: it was $7; I got it.

Abundance of renewable energy protected grid and prevented blackouts during Wednesday's heatwave.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-09/solar-powers-australia-through-heatwave-conditions/106211394

#Energy #ClimateChange #AusPol #GeneralNews

Yesterday I wrote to the Adelaide Festival Board to withdraw my participation from Adelaide Writers Week.

Their decision to intervene in Writers Week programming and cancel the participation of author Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah is completely unacceptable.

As Chair of the Australian Society of Authors, I stand for writers’ rights to participate freely in public discourse, to be engaged fairly and to work under fair conditions.

The Board’s decision is one that undermines all those rights.

Earlier today, the Adelaide Festival Board sent an email to all invited speakers and chairs at this year's Adelaide Writers Week. Through their actions, they've clearly undermined the AWW team and disrespected Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah by uninviting her.

The list of national and international writers now boycotting this once-prestigous event is growing. And First Nations writers are strongly standing in solidarity with Randa Abdel-Fattah.

This was my response to the Board, briefly outlining why I'm withdrawing as a panel chair:

I firmly believe the Adelaide Festival Board's decision to de-platform Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah at Adelaide Writers Week 2026 is a blatant act of anti-Palestinian racism. As an Aboriginal writer, I strongly condemn racism in any form. Discrimination should never be tolerated at writing and reading events in Australia. If this ill-conceived decision to silence Dr Abdel-Fattah, at a time when Palestinian voices are greatly needed, is not reversed then I cannot morally or ethically participate in the sessions I was scheduled to chair this year.

Dr Abdel-Fattah is a highly respected academic and writer who has published a novel that enriches Australian literature, at a time in history when the world continues to witness and mourn the live-stream genocide of Palestinian people. The cancellation of her session will be a great disappointment for many regular attendees of AWW. The Adelaide Festival Board has tarnished the reputation of a treasured South Australian arts event. I urge the Board to reconsider their decision.

Ren Wyld