Just learned that art (music, literature, painting, etc) were Olympic events until 1948. You could win a gold medal for sculpture. I know a lot of obscure stuff, but have never heard even a hint of this before.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_compe…

Congrats to Dr Annie Wu and George Vamos (George Vamos) for finally getting this great piece on seasonal workers published in Geographical Research. Grateful I was also able to help out.

25 years after its vote for independence Timor-Leste has come a long way, but formidable challenges lie ahead.
eastasiaforum.org/2024/02/20/pre…

eastasiaforum.org/2024/02/20/pre…

‘He blocked me a few years ago because I called him a nematode. 🙄’

One of the funniest lines I’ve seen on Twitter in a while.

Sovereignty is sacred: in Timor-Leste’s remote Oecusse Enclave, a border dispute threatens to open old wounds theconversation.com/sovereignty-is… via The Conversation - Australia + New Zealand

Ian Graves #EnoughisEnough.#EndDomesticViolenceNow Room for this guy? #binnight .

But IMHO it’s been watered enough already.

The illusion of hope

You know that UK academia is well and truly broken when your former PhD supervisors reach out to ask you - a precariously employed academic on a fixed-term contract - if you know of any upcoming opportunities because they’re about to lose their jobs.

My joke used to be that he was hanging around Earth, mostly because he knew they had a special place waiting for him in hell.

The degree to which this ‘nightmare scenario’ for home owners is also a dream scenario for those who are effectively locked out of the housing market really speaks to what an inegalitarian dystopia ‘the Lucky Country’ has become.

apple.news/Av119WGi4R4yTS…

Best thing ever

Love how the current lot of 'key selection criteria' I'm wasting time on demands first, 'a completed PhD in anthropology and then, separately, a 'demonstrated specialization in anthropology'. Like I found my PhD in anthropology from the ANU in a cereal box or something.

Exclusive Interview! For those who don’t watch it religiously Radio Television Timor-Leste talked to me about labour migration for their English language bulletin at 6:29.

youtube.com/live/RRQ-DOtwa…

A new one for me, invited as an ‘expert’ to brief Timor-Leste’s parliamentary commission for development on labour migration to Australia. Thanks to the deptutadus for asking some sharp questions (and putting up with my Tetun) and my assistant Nelia for taking notes and photos.

Hakmatek (kicking back) in Dili after a busy/stressful week with sotu, es teh and a sea breeze, later a swim up in the hills where the water is clear and croc free. ++diak

‘Um batar satu dollar.’

Back in the rai doben (Beloved Land/Timor-Leste). Never simple. Never easy. Never boring.

Not a good tourism slogan, but it works for me.