Why AI stands for Aussie Idiot!

I’ve written, maybe, 2000+ articles and many are online. So I asked ChatGPT to write an article for me. Can I retire now? Just use AI to write my articles? The results were hilarious but not in a good way. 

The words HUMOROUS and AUSTRALIAN prompted an ANCIENT OCKER text:

Write a humorous article about banks closing in Australia in the style of “Kerry Cue”

Headline: Crikey! Bank Closures Down Under: A Hilarious Twist in the Aussie Banking Saga

Subheadline: The Great Downfall: How Kangaroos and Koalas are Dealing with the ‘No Cash Mate’ Situation

By Kerry Cue | May 19, 2023

G’day, mates! Hold onto your Vegemite sandwiches because we have some ripper news from the land of kangaroos, koalas, and cash flow conundrums. It appears that the Australian banking scene is experiencing a fair dinkum shake-up, with banks closing faster than you can say, “Chuck a sickie!” But fear not, for we’re here to give you a fair-dinkum, tongue-in-cheek tour of this laugh-a-minute rollercoaster ride.

Now, what’s the dinky-di reason for this banking brouhaha? Well, it seems like Aussies have been embracing the cashless lifestyle faster than you can down a schooner of cold brew. Between tapping their credit cards, zapping their smartphones, and throwing payWave magic at every purchase, they’ve left good ol’ bank branches feeling as empty as a snag sizzle without the snags!

As we all know, banks used to be the place where you could pop in for a yarn with Sheila behind the counter while depositing your hard-earned dough. But now, those snazzy self-service machines have invaded our beloved branches, leaving poor Sheila twiddling her thumbs and wondering if her “how’s your day going, mate?” skills are still relevant.

But what about the locals, you ask? Well, they’re in a proper flamin’ state of bewilderment, that’s for sure. Picture this: Barry, your typical Aussie bloke, rocks up to his local bank branch, only to find a note on the door saying, “We’ve gone walkabout, mate!” Poor Bazza is left scratching his mullet, wondering how he’s going to withdraw a crisp twenty to shout his mates a few cold ones at the pub.

And don’t even get us started on the wildlife down under! Koalas are furiously debating how to eucalyptus-tap their payments, while kangaroos are hopping mad because they can’t figure out how to use a smartphone with those pesky paws. Crikey, even the emus are running around in circles, trying to find a teller who can cash their checks!

But fear not, our resilient Aussie spirit won’t be swayed by this banking brouhaha. We’re a resourceful bunch, always ready to adapt and have a chuckle along the way. We’ve already heard rumors of Wallabies hosting financial literacy workshops, teaching fellow animals how to use their joeys to press buttons on ATMs. It’s a sight that’ll leave you laughing like a kookaburra on nitrous oxide!

In all seriousness, though, the closure of bank branches is no laughing matter. Many rural and remote communities are left high and dry, facing the challenge of accessing essential financial services. It’s crucial for banks and policymakers to come together, take a fair dinkum look at the impact of these closures, and find innovative solutions to keep the Australian spirit alive.

So, cobbers, let’s raise our lamingtons and salute the Aussie battlers, both human and animal, who are navigating this “no cash mate” situation with resilience and humor. As we forge ahead into the brave new world of digital transactions, let’s not forget to appreciate the Sheila behind the counter and the sense of community a local bank branch provides. After all, a fair-go attitude and a good ol’ belly laugh can make any banking blues seem like a dropbear scare. Cheers, mates!

Here is my orginal article on banks closing:A Lesson in Modern Banking for the Lost and Bewildered

Everyone-Has-A-Say Science for those who believe, like, anything!

I wrote this article in 2005. In view of the Anit-Vax movement it seems more relevant now than ever. 

Good evening parents and welcome to this Information Night about our exciting new subject Everyone-Has-A-Say Science. In this Year 7 program we don’t just respect individual beliefs; we embrace them.

And here are the fascinating topics your children will study this year:

Matter: Matter is made up of small particles called atoms. Atoms can combine to form big molecules like DNA and big crystals, which have mystical powers. Crystals bestow good fortune and can, obviously, help with homework.

Light: Light is a form of energy. Each colour of light has a different wavelength. A crystal with magical powers can split white light into different colours to form a rainbow. A rainbow is a sign of good luck or that it’s been raining. People’s heads can also split light into different colours. This is an aura. An aura is a person’s energy field. Red is for anger; while the flashing red aura means ‘Warning: I’m about to explode’.

Full Article: New Loony Science

Captain Hook and the History of Oz

From Charming and Colliding Blog

From Charming and Colliding Blog

FROM THE ARCHIVES:

Ministers of Education have been alarmed in the past to discover Australian High School Students know very little about the history of this country. The following essay by Ashlee M, Year 8, Coolathanu High is believed to be included in some bureaucratic report somewhere.

Australia is a large incontinent that lies in the Specific Ocean except for Tasmania which doesn’t know where it is. Australia is very hot because the Topic of Popracorn is in Queensland somewhere, which means Queenslanders are sweaty and can grow topical plants in their ears. But the most important topic is the topic of Cancer because if youse get sunburnt, Omigod, ya gonna die.

Full Article: Captain Hook and the History of Oz

This Writer’s Life: Starting Out

When I first announced that I wanted to write 30+ years ago my friends laughed. ‘You can’t even spell’ said one. In these small ways, we are pressured to limit ourselves. Don’t listen. After 20 books I can say that I now misspell a much higher class of word.

It’s the End of the World. Again.

There’s an energy crisis in Australia today. I hate to say ‘I told you so’. Actually, I really, really enjoy telling you I told you so. Here is the article I wrote on this topic in 2008.  My main point was DON’T LISTEN TO THE POLITICIANS. WE NEED A RELIABLE POWER SUPPLY.

The end of the world is coming to Melbourne.  Again.  In  the  1959  film,  On  the  Beach, Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner waited in Melbourne to die  from radiation poisoning. Now, according to friends, life as we know it will end soon for us. Let me explain. I hang out with engineers. They’re strange folk. I’m married to one so I know. They do  calculations in their heads. My beloved, HRH, doesn’t yell at us to ‘turn off  the  lights’. He  lectures us on how many mega watts will be consumed over a  20-year  period. The family tends to turn lights off just to shut him up.

My friends and some  esteemed  institutions  are  hot and  bothered about power outages. Summer has been hellishly hot. Power  consumption  hit  a  record  in Victoria on the 10th January. It was, admittedly, a 40 degree scorcher, but schools and many businesses were shut. In  the  meantime, folks  are rushing out and  buying  air  conditioners.  But each new swishing, hissing unit adds a burden to the system.

There’s   no   power   crisis   claims   Rob  Hulls  while  advising  Victorians  to  turn  off  air conditioners. There’s no power shortage say suppliers while explaining recent blackouts as problems  with  individual  electricity  companies.  You  can  believe  them  or do the maths yourself.  Victoria  has  a  supply  capacity  of  around  10  million  kilowatts.  Let’s  assume Melbourne has 1 million households-a conservative figure- and that we all want to be cool, which we do. If every household installs a mid-range 10 kilowatt unit, at peak demand, air conditioners alone will use up our State’s full power supply capacity.

READ MORE HEREIt’s the End of the World. Again

Here is an earlier, more light hearted peice I wrote for the Canberra Times in 2006.

READ HERE: It’s the End of the World. Take 1.

Captain Hook and the History of Oz

From Charming and Colliding Blog

From Charming and Colliding Blog

Ministers of Education have been alarmed in the past to discover Australian High School Students know very little about the history of this country. The following essay by Ashlee M, Year 8, Coolathanu High is believed to be included in some bureaucratic report somewhere.

Australia is a large incontinent which lies in the Specific Ocean except for Tasmania which doesn’t know where it is. Australia is very hot because the Topic of Popracorn is in Queensland somewhere, which means Queenslanders are sweaty and can grow topical plants in their ears. But the most important topic is the topic of Cancer because if youse get sunburnt, Omigod, ya gonna die.

Full Article: Captain Hook and the History of Oz