As I was browsing through online discussions, I stumbled upon a conversation about local council candidates in Bacchus Marsh, and my eyes landed on Paul Tatchell. His campaign slogan, “I don’t do Woke,” left me scratching my head. What does it mean to “do Woke,” and who exactly is Paul Tatchell?

From what I gather, Paul is a Bacchus Marsh council candidate with a rather…let’s say, “interesting” approach to politics. His decision to capitalize “Woke” is a telling sign of his stance on social issues. It’s clear that he’s trying to appeal to a certain type of voter, but in doing so, he’s coming across as out of touch and, quite frankly, a bit cringeworthy.

As I scrolled through a recent online discussion, one post caught my eye. The author had compared the prices of a meal from El Jannah, a popular Lebanese restaurant in Sydney, on the restaurant’s website versus on Uber Eats. The difference was staggering – a 63% markup on the same meal when ordered through the app. This got me thinking about the proliferation of food delivery apps and their impact on consumer spending.

As I sipped my coffee at a busy Melbourne café the other day, I noticed a familiar sight: a sign on the counter warning customers of a debit card surcharge. It’s a small but annoying fee that many of us have become accustomed to, but it’s about to become a thing of the past. Under a new plan announced by the Albanese government, shoppers will no longer pay fees when using debit cards from 2026.

I was dismayed to hear that some companies are asking their staff to pay for their own Christmas party. Yes, you read that right – the company that made a whopping $500 million in the last financial year is expecting its employees to chip in for the festivities. I’m not sure what’s more astonishing, the fact that they’re making such a brazen request or that some people seem to think this is normal.

I was having a cup of coffee with a friend at a café in Fitzroy the other day when we started talking about the latest news from Tesla’s Cybercab event. You know, the one where Elon Musk unveiled his new Optimus robots? Yeah, those ones. As we were discussing the potential implications of this technology, my friend turned to me and said, “I bet you anything they’re just humans in disguise.” I chuckled and said, “You’re being paranoid, mate.” But fast forward a few days, and lo and behold, it turns out my friend was right. Sort of.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the rapid advancements in AI-generated media lately, and I have to say, it’s both exciting and unsettling. A recent video I came across showed a skillfully crafted, AI-generated montage of various high-profile individuals in humorous and absurd situations. While entertaining, it also made me realize just how quickly this technology is progressing and how it might change the entertainment landscape forever.

The video itself was undeniably impressive, with surprisingly realistic depictions of well-known figures like Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and even Elon Musk. It was like watching a surreal dream, but with a hint of familiarity. However, what struck me most was the potential implications of this technology on our society. If AI can create content that’s this convincing and entertaining, what does that mean for the future of media and entertainment?

I’m sitting here, sipping my coffee in my cozy Melbourne home, and I’m still reeling from a conversation I had online about a seemingly innocuous Scrub Daddy sponge. For those who might be unaware, Scrub Daddy is a popular brand of cleaning tools, known for their smiley faces and durable design. However, as it turns out, the Scrub Daddy community has been plagued by counterfeiters selling fake, subpar products on Amazon.

You know, sometimes the news can be a right downer – politics, crime, tragedy after tragedy. But then, something amazing happens, and you’re reminded that there’s still good in the world. Like the time a Melbourne man stopped traffic on a busy street to let a family of ducks cross the road. I mean, who does that?! Apparently, this guy does.

As I watched the video, I couldn’t help but think about the conversations I’ve had with friends about the way people drive in Melbourne. You know, the ones who think the hook turn is an abomination, or that tram tracks are just an obstacle to be navigated (pro tip: they’re not). It’s easy to get caught up in the frustration of city driving, but this guy? He’s out here saving the day, one duck at a time.

As I sat in my local café in Melbourne, sipping on a flat white and scrolling through my news feed, I came across a story that left me feeling rather unimpressed. Qantas, our national carrier, had just been fined a whopping $120 million for selling tickets on flights that they had cancelled. Now, I’m all for corporations being held accountable for their actions, but a penalty of $120 million for a company that made a post-tax profit of $1.25 billion last year seems like a slap on the wrist.

It’s not every day you see a giant capybara on public transport in Melbourne, but that’s exactly what happened on the Belgrave line recently. A photo of a man sitting with a massive capybara on the train has been making the rounds online, and I have to say, it brightened up my day.

As I was scrolling through the comments, I noticed a few people mentioning that the capybara was likely won at the Royal Melbourne Show. I’m guessing that’s correct, given the time of year and the fact that showbags often feature oversized plushies. Whoever this guy is, he’s definitely living his best life.