The John Batchelor Show

RAVENS BEFRIEND DALLAS AND DISPLACE THE COCKATOOS Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Zakis updates the backyard wildlife saga, noting the arrival of intelligent Ravens that have befriended his dog, Dallas. Unlike the aggressive Cockatoos that damaged a neighbor's roof, the Ravens displayed strategic dominance by organizedly displacing the Cockatoos from a pine tree. Zakis describes the Ravens' "surgical" approach, using vocal harassment and gradual escalation rather than brute force to claim the territory. He observes that while the Cockatoos still lurk, the Ravens have established control. Additionally, he counts at least five Magpie families in the area, with several actively visiting his property to interact with Dallas.

THE FINAL ASHES TEST IN SYDNEY AND THE FUTURE OF TEST CRICKET Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Jeremy Zakis discusses the final Ashes test in Sydney, noting that heavy storms threaten to wash out the match, potentially handing England a "moral victory" if they perform well before the rain hits. He observes that Englandsurprised him by employing a hybrid strategy—mixing conservative play with their aggressive "Bazball" style—which allowed them to accelerate strategically. Conversely, Zakis notes that Australia stuck to a conservative tempo and failed to counter England's aggression quickly enough, causing their run rate to lag. He views this final game as a glimpse into the future of test cricket, anticipating Australia might test younger players or T20-style tactics.

EASTERN BROWN SNAKE ATTACKS AND CRITICAL FIRST AID Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Zakis details two recent attacks by venomous Eastern Brown snakes seeking shelter from the heat. He describes an incident in Morton National Park where a hiker stepped on a snake that subsequently lunged and bit his wife, requiring a helicopter rescue. A second incident involved a professional snake catcher bitten at home, though both women are recovering due to rapid medical intervention. Zakis outlines critical first aid—applying compression bandages and immobilizing the victim to slow the heart rate—and strictly advises against trying to photograph or capture the snake, urging immediate transport to a hospital instead.

AUSTRALIA'S EXTREME HEATWAVE AND THE SOLAR PANEL REVOLUTION Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Zakis reports on Australia's extreme weather, describing a heatwave moving east with temperatures exceeding 110°F, exacerbated by winds acting like a "fan-forced oven." He warns that recent rains fueled vegetation growth that will quickly dry into kindling, creating a "tinderbox" risk for wildfires within a week. Culturally, Zakis notes Australians no longer "tough out" the heat; instead, they use air conditioning early, supported by a "solar panel revolution." This widespread solar adoption has reduced pressure on the electrical grid, eliminating the need for public service announcements urging power conservation during these heat spikes.

JEFFERSON'S DEFENSE OF AMERICA AND THE MCGUFFEY READER Colleague Professor Robert G. Parkinson. Thomas Jefferson discovered Logan's Lament in 1774 and later used it in his Notes on the State of Virginia to refute French claims that everything in America was "degenerate." Jefferson presented Logan as proof of Native American intellectual equality, effectively cementing the story of Cresap's guilt in the public mind. This sparked a feud with Luther Martin, a Cresap in-law who attacked Jefferson to clear the family name. Consequently, the lament became a standard recitation text for schoolchildren in the McGuffey Readers, embedding the narrative of the "vanishing Indian" into American culture. NUMBER 7