February 10: Herzog human rights horror ; Australia's solar era is here; nevermind gold, we have silver fever

Australia starts the week in that rarest of states in February — not on fire that much. The major bushfires in Victoria are mostly out, with only a stubborn blaze in the Otways left smouldering. Elsewhere, a Category 3 cyclone hovers off northern West Australia, storms roll across the country, and Melbourne is enjoying a fleeting run of days in the “low‑to‑mid‑20s” — the local definition of paradise.

The biggest heat this week, however, is political. In Sydney, police clashed with protesters demonstrating against the visit of Israeli president Isaac Herzog — a man whose photo‑ops and war record in the genocide in Gaza come trailing more controversy than diplomacy. The Albanese government’s decision to host him is being sold as a gesture of social cohesion, which is one way to describe widespread outrage. Meanwhile, an explosive ABC report suggests intelligence failures preceded December’s Bondi Beach attacks, adding more sparks to an already volatile national mood.

There’s at least one bright spot: Australia’s first large‑scale solar‑battery hybrid has gone live near Parkes, marking a milestone in the race to make renewable energy both affordable and useful after sundown. Big power companies are, predictably, not thrilled — especially as new rules will soon force them to offer free midday electricity. Somewhere, an accountant just burst into flames.

On the cultural side, the baby boomer generation has discovered a new way to avoid downsizing: installing home elevators. Because why sell when you can simply rise above it? And as gold and silver prices surge, Australians are raiding op shops for antique cutlery, hammering spoons into bullion, and proving that resourcefulness isn’t dead — it’s just being melted down.

A week where the fires cool, the protests flare, and the nation keeps finding new and ingenious ways to turn pressure into power — electrical and otherwise.

So here's a description of how the term bush doof became a thing in Australia - especially for those 90s kids in Melbourne.

Songs played

Touching the Untouchables - Men At Work (1981)

Back of My Hand - Bel Air Lip Bombs (2025)

Horatio Luna - Bush Doof (2025)

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