I can only, and will only, eat hotdogs from this day on, after I have been introduced like this

This story about Disney - and Hollywood - in China is wild:

The other fascinating part about Disney’s strategy involves the string of English language schools that they opened in the country.

When they were building their theme park in Shanghai, they knew that a child won’t beg their parents to go to a theme park unless they love the characters that they’ll see there. Disney said, “Well, okay, we don’t have decades of movies to do this with.” And they were not allowed [by the Chinese government] to get a Disney Channel onto Chinese airwaves.

So what they decided to do was to launch a string of schools called Disney English, which would essentially teach young Chinese children English, but using Disney characters: Mickey wants an apple, or Luke Skywalker is 30 years old. I walked by one of these schools when I was there, and I remember that Toy Story 4 was coming out that week; all of the teachers were wearing Toy Story 4 T-shirts. So it doubled as a really effective marketing tool as well. Not only did these kids learn the English that their parents wanted them to speak, but they also left with an affection for these Disney characters that they had been introduced to.

Read more at Big Hollywood movies are being made with Chinese audiences in mind - Vox

James Clear:

"Many people are not ready for their lucky break when it comes to them.

Develop your skills. Study your craft. Save some money. Build a network before you need it. Lay the ground work.

The prepared person is positioned to benefit from unexpected opportunities."

🕵️ Fresh air

Police are now targeting:

• People who don’t know to walk away from the counter after they’ve ordered their coffee.
• Americans who think that America is the only country on earth.
• Anyone named Boris.

Jetstar Informs Passengers Mid Flight That The Trip Has Been Cancelled:

“Thank you for choosing Jetstar.”

Taking a pause from the Tugun Pause

Facebook, weve been married for like 15 years now, I really thought you’d know me better.

Also, Brittany, this is 33% your fault.

Not everyone is an artist

James Dale Davidson:

"In the future, wealth will be measured not just by the amount in your bank account, but in your ability to structure your affairs to realise complete individual autonomy and independence."

A Josh-eyed view of Pullerbopulloke, or as the brits called it, Bacchus Marsh, named after Captain William Henry Bacchus and the marsh he brought his Tassie sheep to.

It’s great that Google’s automatically deleting location history to keep people safe, it’d just be nice if they extended it to include me buying ice cream.

Watching Melbourne wake up this morning from the Maribyrnong River

Nothing says “you’re awesome at decisions” like purchasing a $2 service station coffee at 5pm on a Saturday.

A few observations on flying out of the Gold Coast this morning.

1. I departed through a new fancy boarding gate, they have scales in the floor to weigh carry-on stealthily. The new gates are also a bit confusing to reach.

2. for the first time in over 350 flights over 20 years with Qantas my carry-on luggage was weighed and subsequently checked in as luggage, aka taken off me. Which is fine, it’s the rules. But it’s also why professionals fly Qantas, because they won’t touch our carry-on. If that bag doesn’t arrive in Melbourne, I can’t marry a couple this afternoon.

3. the Qantas staff seem to be sick and tired of … gestures at everything … and can you blame them?

I had 14kg over two bags and was travelling only carry-on because I have a quick transfer and I’m low on faith in the Sydney and Melbourne baggage handlers. Here’s hoping for luggage success.

Over the microphone one of the crew has announced that it’s great to have us onboard, I’m sure it’s not.

Dr. Gabor Maté​:

“The road to hell is not paved with good intentions. It is paved with lack of intention.”

Tom Johnson on realising his attention span has become fragmented:

“Sometimes, I’d occasionally pull out my phone without any particular reason, unlock the screen, and just stare at it dumbly, not sure about which app to open.”

I’d like to start a coffee shop in Cupertino called Appel Perk

The Queensland government is rolling out a plastic ban, which is going to be detrimental to the Gold Coast surgical improvement market.

It's hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they always take things literally.

I don’t know which PAW Parrol parents need to hear this but: Mayor Goodway is the mayor of Adventure Bay and Mayor Humdinger is the mayor of Foggy Bottom with a population of one - which is him.

Both are current mayors in the generally same location.

"Hopefully this makes you really angry or confirms your preexisting biases and worldviews. Best of luck xoxo"

• The Algorithm

From my boy @JayT0pp's email:

"The tourist seeks out culture because in our world culture has disappeared into the maw of the spectacle. Culture has been torn down and replaced with a mall or a talk ­show. Because our education is nothing but a preparation for a lifetime of work and consumption-because we ourselves have ceased to create."

Gold Coast winter’s sunset

View to Surfers Paradise in 1986 versus 2022.

1986 photo by Leo Meier, published in Above Queensland in 1986, purchased in an op-shop for $1 in 2022.

Allow yourself the uncomfortable luxury of changing your mind

Abortion Banned In Parts Of USA, So Children Can Live Long Enough To Be Shot Dead At High School

Kevin Kelly in The Need for World Government

"It seems obvious to me that planetary problems demand planetary government."

owner

Some personal news: we’re moving to Mexico later this year. It’s time to get off the hamster wheel.

“I want something more concise, more simple, more serious; I want more soul and more love and more heart.”

– Vincent van Gogh

Please sign my petition to have butter knives demoted to flat metal sticks. They're clearly not a type of knife.

Get behind me, devil!

The British Embassy versus the USA Embassy versus the Iranian Embassy in Canberra.

Fav YouTube of all time: New Yorkers missing the train

I don’t want to be the one to tell them that’s not how podcasts work

What a Story // Brisbane

Spent today making profile and branding photos for a Brisbane cybersecurity firm which failed to protect these bread rolls from pigeons so I’m not sure if they’re any good.

Stolen valour: Christianity Today’s Mike Cosper publishes a damming review of some Christian leaders that have made news of late.

“an interesting evolution of what it means to be a pastor”

Good morning, Gold Coast

Sign me up for this reading

Just a note for my obituary, if you’re looking for extra things to mention: every time I encounter a wrong address, or entry, or error on Apple Maps I report it.

Adults, we must rise up.

We have the power, we have the means, we have the skills, we have the tools.

We must delete, remove, stop the Baby Shark.

For five years the shark has tormented us, enough is enough.

Flying my drone to capture the sunrise this morning and on the way back home I stumbled across these magnificent creatures

The moonrise tonight over the Paciifc Motorway at Ormeau

Derek Thompson:

“work is not life’s product, but its currency. What we choose to buy with it is the ultimate project of living.”