About

Glen - Presenter

A lot of what looked suspiciously like good news about today: nuclear disarmament, AIDS vaccines, even Damir Dokic is in jail.
What’s going on ? A welcome end to a week that saw an amazing cast assemble in New York for the UN assembly.
Lots of talk - now what ?
How refreshing to see some plain talk and common sense from a US President who takes the UN role seriously.
Speaking of the somewhat over-exposed President, his ubiquity looks to have had another effect :
“ObamaVision”, the term coined by the media to sum up President Barack Obama’s pledge to bring hope and change to America, was this week deemed the most influential English word from television in 2009.

“ObamaVision” was first heard during last year’s U.S. presidential election campaign. It topped “financial meltdown” in the 6th annual list of Top 10 Telewords compiled by U.S. tracking group, the Global Language Monitor.

“Michael Jackson”, whose death in June triggered days of wall-to-wall news coverage, and “Susan Boyle” — the British singer who became an overnight sensation after appearing on a televised talent show — came third and fourth.

The Texas-based Global Language Monitor uses an algorithm to search printed and electronic media and the Internet for trends in word usage, and their impact on culture.

It issues its Top 10 Telewords to coincide with the official start of the U.S. television season in late September.

The 2009 list recognized a website for the first time this year, putting Hulu.com in 5th place; a joint venture between NBC Universal, Fox Entertainment Group and ABC Inc, Hulu.com was launched in 2008 and streams TV shows over the Internet for free.

The Top 10 Telewords of 2009 are:

1) ObamaVision

2) Financial Meltdown

3) Michael Jackson

4) Susan Boyle

5) Hulu.com

6) Vampires

7) Dar Dour (The Iraqi TV show spoof)

8 ) Wizards

9) “And that’s the way it is,” (the signoff of late U.S. news anchor Walter Cronkite)

10) Jiggle

Jiggle??

Really ?

___

Marius - Politics

Anthony Albanese, the effervescent Federal Transport Minister, has provided an interesting insight into the engine room of the Rudd Government and the nature of power.

He was speaking at the Financial Review’s self-described “Power Lunch”, at which the Fin’s “Power List” was presented.

So you get the picture: Power is our concern.

And as it turns out, “Albo” quite likes the stuff.

That’s illustrated by his view on any prospect of returning to the twilight world opposition after tasting the reality of government.

“How long would I be in Opposition for? Not one day. I’m out of there. I respect those who make that decision.”

In case you haven’t caught up with the Fin Review’s list of the most overtly powerful, it’s topped by three politicians: Rudd, Gillard and Swan.

But reflecting on the nature of power, Mr Albanese made the point that it depends on the individual rather than just the position. To illustrate that point he cited Kevin Rudd’s Chief of Staff, Alister Jordan.

“Alister Jordan - AJ in West Wing parlance: if you’ve got AJ, you’ve got the Prime Minister..they’re as one.”

And his two years enjoying power on the government benches Albo says have felt like a long time: “…..it seems a lot longer - and that’s not just that we all live in Ruddland where days last for 50 hours and meetings are held at 2am.”

So what keeps them going through the long, long slog of those early hours meetings…. coffee and triangular sandwiches curling on a plate?

Patriotism? Amphetamines?

Maybe some of the above - but the real drug is power.

___

Mark - Breakfast EP

Good luck to Gerard Whately and the ABC Victorian Grandstand crew who’ll be calling the big game at the “G” tomorrow.

Gerard is a regular on our network, especially in the AFL-starved states of New South Wales and Queensland, where thanks to ABC Sport and the AFL, we broadcast many calls of Friday night and Saturday games, while ABC Local Radio takes care of NRL duties.

Gerard was recently named Most Outstanding Caller (Radio) and was highly commended for Most Outstanding News reporter at the Australian Football Media Association Awards.

One of his co-commentators, Matt Clinch, was a joint recipient of the Clinton Grybas Rising Star Award, while Austinn (Aussie) Jones was highly commended in the Most Outstanding Special Commentator (Radio) category.

We all know who Aussie will be supporting on Saturday.

(For the uninitiated, he’s a St Kilda legend, winning a couple of All-Australian caps during his time at the Saints, where he played 226 games)

Speaking of radio calls of Grand Finals, my most enduring memory is of the famous and dramatic 1977 “tied” final between North Melbourne and Collingwood.

In those days, as well as the VFL (as it was then), ABC Local radio in Melbourne also had the rights to racing broadcasts.

There was a pretty primitive switching system which allowed either location (the races or the footy) to “take” the signal at crucial moments.

The exact details are a bit hazy…..it was 32 years ago….but this is how I remember it.

At three-quarter time, the ‘Roos looked gone for all money.

The Magpies were 27 points in front and appeared on-track for their first flag since 1958.

But “super-coach” Ron Barassi obviously said something pretty inspirational at the break, because North Melbourne powered back, kicking five unanswered goals and a couple of behinds.

Now Collingwood were staring into the abyss.

A minute before the siren sounded, Collingwood’s Ross “Twiggy” Dunne marked about 35 meters out from goal.

This was a moment of high drama.

He needed to kick a six-pointer for the Magpies to level the scores and stay alive.

The radio call went something like this, with the frenzied commentator struggling to make himself heard over the roar of 108-thousand people:

“Dunne’s on a slight angle out from goal…… He’s walking back slowly from the mark ….. He bends down and adjusts his socks….. “Twiggy” knows this is make or break for Collingwood…. The sound is absolutely DEAFENING….. Collingwood fans yelling for Dunne to kick straight, North supporters screaming for him to miss. Dunne’s not hurrying. He turns slowly and lines up….. Collingwood need a goal here or its all-over-rover…. HE’S RUNNING IN…. HE KICKS!! … THE BALL IS ON ITS WAY……IT’S LOOKING GOOD……THE BALL IS WOBBLING SLIGHTLY IN THE WIND…IT’S A…….IT’S A ……….”

There was a burst of static and a different voice came across the airwaves.

“Correct Weight, Caulfield — Race Seven, Correct Weight.”

——————

By the way ABC NewsRadio listeners in Melbourne will be able to hear the NRL preliminary final between the Storm and the Brisbane Broncos from Docklands stadium at 7:30 on Saturday night. In other rugby league states, tune into ABC Local Radio.

Glen - Breakfast presenter

A lot of what looked suspiciously like good news about today: nuclear disarmament, AIDS vaccines, even Damir Dokic is in jail.

What’s going on ? A welcome end to a week that saw an amazing cast assemble in New York for the UN assembly.

Lots of talk - now what ?

How refreshing to see some plain talk and common sense from a US President who takes the UN role seriously.

Speaking of the somewhat over-exposed President, his ubiquity looks to have had another effect :

“ObamaVision”, the term coined by the media to sum up President Barack Obama’s pledge to bring hope and change to America, was this week deemed the most influential English word from television in 2009.

“ObamaVision” was first heard during last year’s U.S. presidential election campaign. It topped “financial meltdown” in the 6th annual list of Top 10 Telewords compiled by U.S. tracking group, the Global Language Monitor.

“Michael Jackson”, whose death in June triggered days of wall-to-wall news coverage, and “Susan Boyle” — the British singer who became an overnight sensation after appearing on a televised talent show — came third and fourth.

The Texas-based Global Language Monitor uses an algorithm to search printed and electronic media and the Internet for trends in word usage, and their impact on culture.

It issues its Top 10 Telewords to coincide with the official start of the U.S. television season in late September.

The 2009 list recognized a website for the first time this year, putting Hulu.com in 5th place; a joint venture between NBC Universal, Fox Entertainment Group and ABC Inc, Hulu.com was launched in 2008 and streams TV shows over the Internet for free.

The Top 10 Telewords of 2009 are:

1) ObamaVision

2) Financial Meltdown

3) Michael Jackson

4) Susan Boyle

5) Hulu.com

6) Vampires

7) Dar Dour (The Iraqi TV show spoof)

8 ) Wizards

9) “And that’s the way it is,” (the signoff of late U.S. news anchor Walter Cronkite)

10) Jiggle

Jiggle??

Really ?

___

Marius - Politics

Anthony Albanese, the effervescent Federal Transport Minister, has provided an interesting insight into the engine room of the Rudd Government and the nature of power.

He was speaking at the Financial Review’s self-described “Power Lunch”, at which the Fin’s “Power List” was presented.

So you get the picture: Power is our concern.

And as it turns out, “Albo” quite likes the stuff.

That’s illustrated by his view on any prospect of returning to the twilight world opposition after tasting the reality of government.

“How long would I be in Opposition for? Not one day. I’m out of there. I respect those who make that decision.”

In case you haven’t caught up with the Fin Review’s list of the most overtly powerful, it’s topped by three politicians: Rudd, Gillard and Swan.

But reflecting on the nature of power, Mr Albanese made the point that it depends on the individual rather than just the position. To illustrate that point he cited Kevin Rudd’s Chief of Staff, Alister Jordan.

“Alister Jordan - AJ in West Wing parlance: if you’ve got AJ, you’ve got the Prime Minister..they’re as one.”

And his two years enjoying power on the government benches Albo says have felt like a long time: “…..it seems a lot longer - and that’s not just that we all live in Ruddland where days last for 50 hours and meetings are held at 2am.”

So what keeps them going through the long, long slog of those early hours meetings…. coffee and triangular sandwiches curling on a plate?

Patriotism? Amphetamines?

Maybe some of the above - but the real drug is power.

___

Mark - Breakfast EP

Good luck to Gerard Whately and the ABC Victorian Grandstand crew who’ll be calling the big game at the “G” tomorrow.

Gerard is a regular on our network, especially in the AFL-starved states of New South Wales and Queensland, where thanks to ABC Sport and the AFL, we broadcast many calls of Friday night and Saturday games, while ABC Local Radio takes care of NRL duties.

Gerard was recently named Most Outstanding Caller (Radio) and was highly commended for Most Outstanding News reporter at the Australian Football Media Association Awards.

One of his co-commentators, Matt Clinch, was a joint recipient of the Clinton Grybas Rising Star Award, while Austinn (Aussie) Jones was highly commended in the Most Outstanding Special Commentator (Radio) category.

We all know who Aussie will be supporting on Saturday.

(For the uninitiated, he’s a St Kilda legend, winning a couple of All-Australian caps during his time at the Saints, where he played 226 games)

Speaking of radio calls of Grand Finals, my most enduring memory is of the famous and dramatic 1977 “tied” final between North Melbourne and Collingwood.

In those days, as well as the VFL (as it was then), ABC Local radio in Melbourne also had the rights to racing broadcasts.

There was a pretty primitive switching system which allowed either location (the races or the footy) to “take” the signal at crucial moments.

The exact details are a bit hazy…..it was 32 years ago….but this is how I remember it.

At three-quarter time, the ‘Roos looked gone for all money.

The Magpies were 27 points in front and appeared on-track for their first flag since 1958.

But “super-coach” Ron Barassi obviously said something pretty inspirational at the break, because North Melbourne powered back, kicking five unanswered goals and a couple of behinds.

Now Collingwood were staring into the abyss.

A minute before the siren sounded, Collingwood’s Ross “Twiggy” Dunne marked about 35 meters out from goal.

This was a moment of high drama.

He needed to kick a six-pointer for the Magpies to level the scores and stay alive.

The radio call went something like this, with the frenzied commentator struggling to make himself heard over the roar of 108-thousand people:

“Dunne’s on a slight angle out from goal…… He’s walking back slowly from the mark ….. He bends down and adjusts his socks….. “Twiggy” knows this is make or break for Collingwood…. The sound is absolutely DEAFENING….. Collingwood fans yelling for Dunne to kick straight, North supporters screaming for him to miss. Dunne’s not hurrying. He turns slowly and lines up….. Collingwood need a goal here or its all-over-rover…. HE’S RUNNING IN…. HE KICKS!! … THE BALL IS ON ITS WAY……IT’S LOOKING GOOD……THE BALL IS WOBBLING SLIGHTLY IN THE WIND…IT’S A…….IT’S A ……….”

There was a burst of static and a different voice came across the airwaves.

“Correct Weight, Caulfield — Race Seven, Correct Weight.”

___

By the way ABC NewsRadio listeners in Melbourne will be able to hear the NRL preliminary final between the Storm and the Brisbane Broncos