There’s been some noise online about Amazon’s plans to replace 600,000 workers with robots by 2027, supposedly saving 30 cents per item. On the surface, it sounds like one of those efficiency wins that corporate types love to brag about in quarterly earnings calls. But dig a little deeper, and it’s just another chapter in the story of late-stage capitalism eating itself.

Let me be clear: I’m not a Luddite. I work in IT and DevOps, I’m fascinated by technological advancement, and I’ve spent enough time automating workflows to understand the appeal of efficiency. But there’s something deeply unsettling about the way we’re approaching this particular wave of automation.

Been following the latest drama unfolding with the US government shutdown and the air traffic controller situation, and honestly, it’s a perfect example of what happens when ideology crashes headfirst into reality. Sean Duffy, the former reality TV host turned Transportation Secretary, is threatening to fire air traffic controllers who are calling in sick during the shutdown. His brilliant logic? “When you come to work, you get paid. If you don’t come to work, you don’t get paid.”

I’ve been mulling over this idea that’s been doing the rounds lately - reducing the pension age for people in physically demanding jobs. On the surface, it sounds reasonable enough. After all, we’ve all seen the tradie whose back is absolutely shot by 60, or the labourer who can barely walk without wincing. But the more I dig into it, the more I realise this isn’t just about fairness - it’s about the messy intersection of work, dignity, and how we value different types of labour in this country.

The recent news of Tesla’s sales plummeting by over 80% in Sweden isn’t just another business headline - it’s a fascinating case study of what happens when Silicon Valley’s “move fast and break things” mentality collides with established Nordic labour traditions.

Looking at the numbers is staggering - from being one of the top-selling car brands in Sweden just months ago to dropping behind companies that sell big rigs. But what’s even more interesting is how this spectacular decline reflects a broader story about corporate hubris and worker solidarity.

The discussion around public holiday surcharges always gets heated, especially during the Australia Day long weekend. This year, there’s been quite a bit of confusion about when businesses can actually apply these surcharges, given that January 26 fell on a Sunday.

Let’s clear something up straight away - today, January 26, isn’t technically a public holiday in Victoria. The official public holiday is tomorrow, Monday, January 27. This means hospitality venues can’t charge a public holiday surcharge today, though they can still apply their regular weekend rates.