Friday, July 30th, 2010
Here’s our list so far, but we’d love you to add to it…
Federal Election 2010 (Crikey)
And election-related hash tags for Twitter…
#ausvotes
#electionwire
#2010election
#mofo
#ozpolitics
#ausvotes
#aus2010
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD MORE
Monday, May 24th, 2010
Behind the scenes at Future Tense. Some photos for your enjoyment/amazement/puzzlement…
Welcome to our humble abode
We value your input
Wall of masks - choose your mood!
Technical operator Jim Ussher eating on the run
Antony's desk
Our modest mini-studio
Editing on desktop
Cramming for an interview
Monday, May 17th, 2010
Charles Emmerson is the author of a new book called ‘The Future History of the Arctic’. He joins us as a guest on Future Tense to speak about the new geopolitical interest in a region which many think of as a barren wasteland.
AUDIO PREVIEW – Charles Emmerson
NOTE: full audio now available here.
Thursday, May 6th, 2010
We’re launching a new initiative with La Trobe University.
We’re calling it Generation F (Future).
It’s about getting the future visions of young people to air. It’s also about audience participation.
Here’s a flyer from La Trobe’s online magazine called ’Upstart’.
Thursday, March 11th, 2010
In November last year we did a program on the future of space. As part of it we discussed the SKA-Pathfinder telescope. Well here’s an update from itnews on the telescope which is being built in WA.
Here’s our original program – and what a fine program it was!
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
Looking for examples of alternative currencies operating in Australia. Not barter – nothing against barter, but I think that takes us into a different area.
If you have any suggestions post them here…
Friday, February 12th, 2010
We got the following email from Val Sherwell about the way the year 2010 should be pronounced…
Dear Anthony
I have got you in my sights; nothing I might say about the quality of your program which is always interesting, but because you refer to the year as ‘Two thousand and ten’. Why on earth anyone would use that long-winded expression is beyond me. Never before, ever, has the year not been expressed in a neat fashion like 1920, 1500. So why not twenty ten? I have addressed several people on RN about this, and thankfully they have dropped the ‘two thousand and blah blah’, though I am sure this is not because I was the only one who wrote about it. Thank you. Maybe next week it will be twenty ten, one can only hope.
A good question. And here was my response…
Val,
Okay, now I have some time for a decent reply. By the way, you are in fact the only person who has raised this with me.
I wasn’t actually aware that I expressed the year in the way that you described, but there we are. That said, on reflection I think it’s not a bad way to describe it.
I would argue that there was a change in the naming convention at the beginning of this century (actually in the final year of last century to be accurate, ie: the year 2000).
Throughout this first decade of the 21st Century there was near universal acceptance of the longer form of description, ie: it was commonplace to describe 2008 as ‘two-thousand and eight’, not ‘twenty-o-eight’. Even the year 2000 was described in this way, never as ‘twenty-hundred’.
This was very different (as you point out) from past centuries, where for instance 1908 was universally described as ‘nineteen-o-eight’ and the year 1900 as ‘nineteen hundred’. So in a sense my usage of ‘two-thousand and ten’ could be argued to be more consistent than ‘twenty ten’.
I am also a believer in the idea that we should, by and large, follow common discourse and I think most ordinary people say ‘two thousand and ten’. Though I stand to be corrected and certainly wouldn’t die in a ditch over it. Will also have to check what the ABC style-guide says.
Cheers Antony
And Val’s response to my response…
Sure. I think the two thousand and ….. came about because somehow twenty whatever is difficult when you have another nought in front of the 20. However, having said ,that once you get to a whole number, i.e. 10 it is much easier, neater and closer to our historical way of expressing the year.
I hear lots of people using ‘twenty ten’, and many using what I call the long-winded way. As you say, what it really matters is a row of beans. Wonder what your blog readers will think. Let me know as I do not waste time on blogs, too too busy reading silly jokes!
Your thoughts?
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
NEWS FLASH: RN presenters now operate from outdoor BBQ tables in order to save on the expense of building new studios…
Not really - filling in as the presenter of Australia Talks (Paul Barclay did his back in on the day). I’m the one in red. This was an outside broadcast from the Cotton Tree Caravan Park in Maroochydore on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
www.abc.net.au/rn/australiatalks/stories/2010/2766080.htm
Friday, February 5th, 2010
Picture: KraetzschePhotography
We’ve begun a new irregular series of interviews with people whose occupation involves predicting the future.
We’re calling it ‘Only fools and marketing types’.
Our first guest is Dr Rebecca Huntley, the Director of Research for Ipsos Mackay. Her newly-released study is called ‘The Future’.
Find the interview here…
www.abc.net.au/rn/futuretense/stories/2010/2811132.htm
Some ideas for future talent:
Thursday, January 28th, 2010
Photo:Dan Brady
We’re exploring how our world is changing as people give up their landlines. What does it mean for our mobility? What are the implications for business in the future? Etc, etc, etc.
If you have a story to tell us, drop us a message.
