The Blather

Recent changes to the supporting mothers’ benefit have been engineered with both cost cutting and ideology in mind. In this interview with Linda Seaborn, the blather explores the consequences of this new attack on women (and their children) which is being promoted under the banner of a promoting the rigid framework of a "traditional" nuclear family. The blather also explores the broad context of these 'reforms' as Linda relates them to the impending changes to workplace conditions under the new IR bill. Linda Seaborn is a member of the National Council for the Single Mother and Her Child. Many resources are available through the NCSMC website. NATSEM Report: The Distributional Impact of the Proposed Welfare-to-Work Reforms Upon Sole Parents, (pdf)as commissioned by the National Foundation of Australian Women Welfare to Workfare Public Campaign Kit. the blather#5: 31 mins, 29.7Mbs Listen: Mp3 (Right click to download to disk) Listen: Mp3 streaming

The Venezuelan Revolution a special blather edition on the Venezuelan revolution featuring an interview with Paul Benedek who has recently returned from Venezuela which he visited as part of the solidarity brigade.Benedek is the author of a new booklet: Venezuela: Diary of A Revolution. Click book cover for further details Music for the broadcast:--Quirpa de Santa Inés (I) --Vota NO (Grupo Madera)These Venezuelan songs can be downloaded here. Further information about Venezuela is available from the following web sites: Green Left WeeklyVenezuela SolidarityVenezuela Analysis The blather # 4 : Ratbag Radio 8pm Sunday, October 30, 2005 Podcast/Mp3 download and streaming -- also broadcast over Pirate Radio Network overnight Sunday and overnight Monday from 10pm. Length: 45:42 mins. 41.8 Mb. Listen: Mp3 download

Listen: Mp3 Another mix and match experimental edition of the blatherLead in tune/identifier chat (on the big issues of the day) selected music more chat end song example: The Red Flag interpreted by the New World Order Kazoo OrchestraSelected Music: Uh ah Chavez no se va (Grupa Madera) from http://216.72.128.20/mribas/ Starting next Sunday the blather will be broadcast and uploaded every Sunday night. Program schedule: the blather on Sunday nights (RRT)Dave Riley is slowly cranking up broadcast-speak. Not quite DJ material but we’re going places here on Ratbag Radio. Stick with us on this journey. 14 minutes/12.8Mb

Listen: Mp3 PROGRAM NOTES:Show feed from Democracy Now! broadcast for Wednesday, October 19th, 2005, which features a long interview with Mike Davis, professor of history at the University of California, Irvine. He is a renowned urban theorist, social historian and author of six books including City of Quartz. His latest book, which has just come out is, The Monster At Our Door: The Global Threat of Avian Flu.This is an important interview with a lot of information that is not being ciruclated about Avian Flu. For transcript. Visit HERE. Democracy Now! is a daily US based current affairs news and views hour from Pacifica which offers its own podcast feed which can be accessed here.

This episode of The Blather explores the geography of our opening phrase; “From within the shadow of the Golden Circle Cannery...” as an excuse to test walk Ratbag Radio’s new recording setup around our neighborhood. 24 min 13 sec / 80 kbps / 44kHz / 13.86 MB / Mono PLAY AUDIO The Blather's recording rig: ifp iRiver 795Sony ECM-DS30P Compact Electret Condensor Stereo Microphone powered by ODEO

The Blather considers its options in regard to Work Choices -- the new industrial relations package bought in by the Australian federal government. The Blather also attends a boisterous Mayday event and learns, along with some proletarian others, to chant a special chant. 15 mins 50 secs / 80 kbps / 32 khz / stereo /9.07 Mb Listen: Mp3 download

The Blather goes to an antiwar rally on March 18th and talks with participants who are protesting against the continuing occupation of Iraq. This event marks the third anniversary of the invasion and the protest in Brisbane , Australia,was one of thousands world wide. 15 min 22 secs / 7.04 MB / Mono / 64 kbps / 44 kHz Listen: Mp3 download

The Blather talks to our very own genetic designer (who makes a special appearance just to be on the show); chews the fat with a singer in a rock and roll band; tells Tasmanians how they should vote at their upcoming poll;defines what it means to be Aus-tral-ian (yet again!) and says a very very dirty word. 28 mins 33 secs / 13.07 MB / 64 kbps / 44 kHz Listen Mp3 download Listen: Mp3 streaming Andorra interview (Joel Beasant)Andorra web site: http://www.andorramusic.com.au/ Andorra songs: Baxter (background to interview) and Xia Xia Market. Andorra Mp3 files can be played here: http://www.andorramusic.com.au/tunes.html

The blather #12 plays some heavy rock music, chats with the Casual Workers Alliance, and drafts a special examination paper for all those who seek to enter fortress Australia. Listen: Mp3 download Listen: Mp3 streaming Email : Ratbag Radio Baxter -- Andorra: “Andorra is a political rock band that organises shows and events where we try to communicate positive resiliance to the things we caree about..” The band is based in Sydney and their latest song , Baxter, focuses on the Baxter Migrant Detention Centre -- a place where Australia locks up ‘outsiders’ -- then throws away the key. Andorra band members are: Eric Mackenzie - guitar, Matt Campbell - hammond organ and piano, Greg Penkow - bass, Steve Barrett - drums and Joel Beasant - singer Andorra web page: http://www.andorramusic.com.au/ The Baxter Detention Centre is located in the desert in outback South Australia. Refugee rights links and information: http://www.socialist-alliance.org/refugees/sarefugees_links.shtm Amelia Taylor Interview Amelia Taylor is an activist with the United Casual Workers Alliance -- Gold Coast, Queensland. UCWA web page: http://ucwa.org.au/ For information about New Zealand’s Supersize My Pay campaign: http://www.supersizemypay.com/ Unite Trade Union: http://www.unite.org.nz/ Entrance Examination: Australia Written and performed by Dave Riley Background audio -- a version of Advance Australia Fair which was recorded in 1937 and is held by the National Library of Australia http://www.nla.gov.au/epubs/waltzingmatilda/index.html Running Order Theme music -- jawsharp 00.00 Welcome to the blather Andorra’s new song, Baxter 02.23Information about Andorra’s activities 05.16 Interview with Amelia Taylor 06.54 Satirical monologue: Entrance Examination--Australia 24.00Announcements 29.17 29mins 47secs/ 64 kbps / 44 khz / 13.64 Mb / Mono Ratbag Radio...keeping an ear out for you

This episode of The Blather is an exercise is getting the audio right or at least 'better'. After being the victim of some sloppy recording protocols, heretofore, Ratbag Radio has gone back to the DIY textbooks to improve the business to hand. Have the Ratbaggies been succesful? I'm sure you will let us know: 00.00.00 Jawharp theme and welcome01.20.00 The war on terror is upon us all....and we're all going phobic. DIY diagnosis of a new pandemic.(satire)03.19.00 The new industrial trinity -- a message and discussion about the spiritual significance of the new IR legislation recently passed by the federal government.(satire)06.18.00 Complementary closing remarks.07.21.00 The Blather ends with the same bang and bluster with which it began.3.5MB / 7.21 Mins / 22 kHz /64 kbps Ratbag Radio...keeping an ear out for you Listen: Mp3 download Listen: Mp3 streaming Email : Ratbag Radio

Proudly Un Australian! The blather this time around exchanges words with Melbourne based artist, Azlan McLennan. McLennan's latest art work -- a burnt and mounted Australian flag -- was confiscated by local police because treatment of the flag that way was deemed (by them, apparently) to be "offensive". Read GLW article here and 7.30 Report transcript here. The seizure of the art work without due process has raised the issue of censorship especially in the context of a major roll back of democratic rights --such as the recently passed anti terrorism legislation with its wide interpretation of what constitutes' sedition'. In response to this incident a national campaign has been generated in support of McLennan's democratic rights and against political censorship. Go to Azlan McLennan's websiteProtest Political censorship: campaign resourcesSign on line petition The blather also shares with its listeners the wherewithall to create your very own DIY, burnt flag, UnAustralian art work. Just the thing for the lounge room wall above the mantle piece! 27 min 29 secs / 12.59 MB / 64 Kbps /22 kHz TECH NOTE:The interview was recorded over a standard landline speaker phone using an iRiver T30. Once Ratbag Radio generates a capital reserve (donations of money please!!!)we will be improving our hardware options via a retooling program. In the meantime we'll make the best with what we got. Ratbag Radio ... Keeping a ear out for you! Listen: Mp3 download Listen: Mp3 streaming Email : Ratbag Radio

The week Ratbag Radio's the blather talks about a very big ship, a dejected political party trying ever so hard to re-invent itself and a contagious disease. So there's sure to be something for everyone --and if not, half the fun is in the browsing, ain't that the way? 000 Intro orchestration (jawharp) 030 Welcome and such3.25 Ratbag Radio's special organic sound scape4.10 The Blather visits Ronald Reagan9.00 Discursive commentary on parliamentary parties9.30 Bertie Wooster re-invents the Australian Labor Party12.00 Some thoughts on phobias12.75 What to do with self combusting un-Australians 15.25 Envoi. See ya later.Urls of podcasts referred to: HansIsland Nimbin RadioMindwalkYou are the GuestRatbag Radio's special organic sound scape comes to us through Medialint via the FreeSound Project.15 min 08 secs / 64 kbps / 24 kHz / 6.93MBRatbag Radio... keeping an ear out for you Listen: Mp3 download Listen: Mp3 streaming

Ratbag Radio celebrates Australia Day -- January 26th -- by sharing with its listeners its unique POV thus: Lead in with a special kookaburra chorus accompanied by RR’s own in-house band of jaws-harpists.A meditation on the nature of what it means to be Australian.A promo for the HansIsland podcastAn eulogy to the late Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer -- beloved son of the nation.The Blather concludes with our own especially made up version of the Australian national anthen -- Advance Australia Fare -- played by the New World Order Kazoo Orchestra. Ratbag Radio: keeping an ear out for you. Be upstanding. 11 min 29 secs / 56 kbps / 24 kHz / 4.73 MB Listen: Mp3 download Listen: Mp3 streaming

Two satires In this edition of the blather we take it upon ourselves to generate some satiric mischief. Our first concern for the new year is sex (egads!) and the fruits of many a man's loins.Our other distraction is multiculturalism --flavoured with a clove of garlic -- here in circus Oz.10mins 42sec / 32 kbps / 2.45 MB Listen: Mp3 download Listen: Mp3 streaming