professional good boy // democracy, cities and tech // travisjordan.work // these are my own opinions and not those of my employer he/him // living in Meanjin Brisbanehttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mvoo22xd5s2yI haven’t digested the migration changes yet but in most things, stronger enforcement of generous rules is better than loose enforcement of strict ones. I don’t like a lot of visas (including student ones) because the restrictions don’t make policy sense and are often needlessly cruel.17 Sep 2026 03:01 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvoo22xd5s2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mvlt22ltxc23Services Australia's hold music for their dedicated older person's line is a yacht rock instrumental cover of Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart which seems... on the nose.15 Sep 2026 23:52 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvlt22ltxc23https://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mvloycqprc2aWe’ve all landed on AI “art” as the defining aesthetic of reactionaries — but there’s more to how it’s the favourite tool of NIMBYs. It lets them visualise their fears and anxieties and without confronting obvious inconsistencies. Like a 22 storey building representing a 9 storey development.15 Sep 2026 22:40 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvloycqprc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mv3chu62ts2vNearly a decade ago, the Guardian did a Songs of Brisbane feature series, completely with a reader poll, interviews with critics and musos and some great retrospectives Inspired by all people moving to town for work and the Olympics, I’m making a crash course on Brisbane music — one song each band https://music.apple.com/au/playlist/great-queensland-songbook/pl.u-11zBXD3i8LkBZv09 Sep 2026 10:13 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv3chu62ts2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3muy4u4lfu224One of the tragedies of modernity is the death of hyperlocal sodas. There are few greater joys than going to a fish and chip shop and seeing a fridge full of mysterious drinks time forgot. This message brought to you by a delicious Saxby’s Cherry Cheer on the banks of Taree’s Manning River.08 Sep 2026 03:55 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3muy4u4lfu224https://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mut377pips2lShaking my head and frowning at the beauty of man’s creation [contains quote post or other embedded content]06 Sep 2026 03:42 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mut377pips2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3muqcmbtsxs2vIt’s DISGUSTING how beautiful the Bondi to Bronte Cliff Walk is. OBSCENE. PORNOGRAPHIC.05 Sep 2026 01:17 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3muqcmbtsxs2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3muo6aoifhs2j[manifesting] I WILL be at Freakon this year [contains quote post or other embedded content]04 Sep 2026 04:53 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3muo6aoifhs2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3muauyfjodc22good morning canberra29 Aug 2026 22:03 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3muauyfjodc22https://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mtzrwccz3k2xSome Personal News: I've finished up with QCOSS after a lovely year supporting Queensland's community sector – and I'm back on the hunt for short-term and freelance contracts. I'm a little more mobile and can duck away for a few months for jobs interstate too (if I can make double rent stack up).27 Aug 2026 02:19 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtzrwccz3k2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mtnnqe7iwk2iYou should go see Stephanie Lake Company’s Vista. https://brisbanepowerhouse.org/events/stephanie-lake-company/22 Aug 2026 06:33 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtnnqe7iwk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3msud4bcu622nReal Queensland Patriots know the perfidious IOC conspired to stop Brisbane having the woodchop at the 2032 Games because they fear our masculine power.12 Aug 2026 04:46 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3msud4bcu622nhttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3msu65n3gnc2nBrand new horrors at the Ekka this year. Not satisfied with AI generated art and signage (including official Ekka signage), the new meta for stalls is AI-generated theme songs blaring at you at full volume.12 Aug 2026 03:17 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3msu65n3gnc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3msmqbsgmkk2pI just did my Census and mum's and even both together and having to call mum to confirm things and get my housemate to do her section still took less than half an hour. This felt way quicker than the previous Censuses I've done?09 Aug 2026 04:20 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3msmqbsgmkk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3msh4oer5ak2kWhat this misses is that compared to Melbourne and Sydney, there's little by way of cultural and social experinces in the CBD that keep people after work. Especially small to mid sized venues since Metro Arts moved to West End and Tribal became a Hillsong. https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/are-you-part-of-brisbane-s-missing-20-per-cent-how-much-foot-traffic-has-dropped-20260729-p60jk9.html06 Aug 2026 22:46 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3msh4oer5ak2khttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mseo44znek2hConsider a migration system that explicitly said we're only allowing people to come to the country to do jobs at lower wages and with less investment needed for local training – while sacrificing the pro-social migration rules that promote Australia as an open, welcoming place – might fuel tensions?05 Aug 2026 23:20 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mseo44znek2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mscxcbgnsc2kI'm gonna be driving down to Canberra and Sydney at the start of September (cos I can't look at screens while I'm driving) so if you're there or enroute either way, hit me up for a coffee and a chinwag.05 Aug 2026 06:59 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mscxcbgnsc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3ms7lzvcjj22aWhile I understand and appreciate there are kids with unique circumstances that need some flexibility in their education, one of my most conservative beliefs is that for everyone else, no-one should get the nice special schooling until everyone's able to access it. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/03/montessori-learning-is-being-shut-down-at-leahs-school-is-a-push-towards-explicit-instruction-to-blame03 Aug 2026 23:00 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms7lzvcjj22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mrws2rme722hI got so annoyed at Betoota posting about brick six packs I made a slide deck.31 Jul 2026 10:53 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrws2rme722hhttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mrtb7n2ebk2bI wish I could remember who here remarked that one of the defining features of Teals is that their leadership and voters are genuine technocratic liberals in the purest sense. They don't want member control over policy and strategy, they want someone who is the Most Qualified in charge. [contains quote post or other embedded content]30 Jul 2026 01:14 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrtb7n2ebk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mrojfndkuc2xA Royal Commission into the ENTIRE Victorian construction sector, you say? That's SO INTERESTING.28 Jul 2026 03:57 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrojfndkuc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mrln7apwb22cOnce again the issue of the ACT Assembly's constitution being unfit for modern governance is a hot topic – with the resignation of the Deputy Chief Minister last week causing a talent crisis followed quickly by an independent review finding there's simply not enough MLAs to run a territory. https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9317429/call-for-legislative-assembly-to-expand-to-safeguard-act-democracy/27 Jul 2026 00:27 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrln7apwb22chttps://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mrixi7s72s23I hosted Christmas in July last night 🎅25 Jul 2026 22:53 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrixi7s72s23https://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mr4nfl6iak22Philanthropy Australia's conference is coming to Brisbane next month and I thought I might see if I can go along to network for some of the grassroots arts and urban organisations I work with. Tickets are $2,900 each... That's more than some of organisations I work with have in annual income...21 Jul 2026 01:21 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr4nfl6iak22https://bsky.app/profile/grugstan.bsky.social/post/3mqnwlmu4ks2cLate last year, there was a shocking revelation that the median age of a Queensland LNP member was 72. Today it's been revealed that the Liberals nationwide have a median age well into the 60s and overwhelmingly male. The median Australian is 38 and the median voter is 44 – both Millennials.15 Jul 2026 04:55 +0000at://did:plc:ls4qerushmtkozgce4gbi3fa/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqnwlmu4ks2c