Bingo. You’ve reached David Astle dot com, a carnival of words, puzzles and more words. Feel free to play the Storms and teasers and other regular language games in the DA Blog, or just observe and choose your moment to join the conversation. For news and events, browse the DA Ads below, or surf the main menu to see what else is going on. Welcome aboard, and have fun.
New Word Order
Food coma or lemon socialism? Stretch goal or photobomb? Which word (or phrase) will be crowned as king of the verbal heap next week? Fracking or burqini? Tweep or totes? Let us know your faves on the Macquarie Dictionary website [missing asset] , or wait for the fuss in early February, when the noble panel (of which I am an ignoble part) will speak its mind. Should be plenty of intellectual kabadi (look it up!)
Carnage & Sabotage
Sounds venal, a literary quarterly called Kill Your Darlings, and my confessional piece called I, Vandal – but I swear no animals were harmed in the sealing of this transaction. The KYD team had me along as a guest blogger to help plug a bookish event this Friday, which is booked out anyway. So if you don’t have tickets for the latter, then scope out the sabotage lying rife in the former.
What's Up, Doco?
Film students from RMIT performed a home invasion in September, pinning me against a bookshelf and grilling me for crossword lore. The upshot is a cute mini-doco called Cryptopia which you can see here. The piece also involves the prime movers behind the DA Trippers, Antonios Sarhanis (AS, or Tony) and Roderick Campbell (RC, or Rodd). Worth a look if only to peek inside the Word Cave.
Media Circus
This Sunday (October 23), you can catch a punchy session about language and the media on Radio National’s Big Ideas. At 5.05pm, the show is a highlights recording of Julian Burnside, Kate Burridge and this black duck debating which medium has the greatest verbal clout. Erudite entertainment for all lingo lovers.
Under the Volcano
For two weeks, from October 5, those in Melbourne have the chance to see two convicts escape. That’s the gist of my short play, Luminous, ‘running’ at the old Carlton Courthouse. Seven plays make the bill of MelBorn, a mixed menu of short stuff entailing a volcano, a birthday candle, a dark alley and a girl who thinks she’s a bird of prey. More here. All local writers and a bunch of fine performers. Come along.
Conversation Slot
Podcasters (or those with a radio handy), tune into Jon Faine’s Conversation Hour this Thursday, which is going nationwide this week out of 774ABC Melbourne. You’ll be able to hear Sonya Hartnett talking about picture books, a MENSA member named Peter Liston unravel the mystery of poker machines – and your own blog host rapping language, spruiking for new L&N contestants.
Murray River and More
Two big events are looming on the calendar. The first is Write Around the Murray, a literary fesitval in Albury from September 7-11. If you check this site you’ll see I’m giving two sessions, a comical keynote and a clue-flavoured lunch. While for Sydney citizens, get your verbal selves to the Style Council symposium on Saturday, Sept 10. Bookings and details here. Great to see you at either throng.
Tennis & Fish
This Sunday morning, at 8.45 on ABC radio, I’ll be linking fish with tennis. The exercise is part of a think-piece I wrote for the Science Show, how setting or solving cryptic clues invites compulsory imagination, what any brain needs to keep supple. And subtle. The slot is called Ockham’s Razor. If you miss the frolic in real time, catch the podcast.
Reveal the Conundrum
Good news for fans of Letters and Numbers – the show resumes taping this August, with a new block of 100 episodes slated, including the delayed showdown for Series 3. (Can’t wait to see how the best will contest.) You can also look forward to some cute word stories too, including nacho, jacuzzi, chamcha and hikikomori.
Wang Wingding
Just in case you live in NE Victoria, or you’re on the assizes circuit, then you could be close to the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre this Thursday [30/6]. If so, please come hear Jane Clifton and me gas-bagging about moving homes (Jane) and moving letters (the other one). The gig is free, with some book giveaways. Though don’t ask for a Wangaratta anagram – those As are rascals.