around the traps

• When it comes to professional sport and gambling sponsors, one Australian state tops the scorecard - ABC News: the NRL had the most teams sponsored by gambling companies across any sporting code — 10 out of 16
• April 2025 - by Liam Callaghan - Maroon Observer: Last year and early this year, the lazy tropes trotted out by Badel and co gave us to understand that Maguire was going to [be] a hardass, a disciplinarian, that was going to fix the Backstreet Broncos Boys and turn them into real men. Given the evidence to date, either that was at best, a mischaracterisation, and at worst, mislaid toxic masculinity.
• Labor's landslide victory obscures a disturbing trend for the major parties - ABC News: there is a strong chance that the combined independent and minor party vote will beat one of the major parties for the first time in seven decades The count isn't finished so it may not be this election, but the trend shows it's just a matter of time unless the major parties can start winning voters back from minor parties and independents.
• A quieter place: Sound designer Eddie Gandelman on composing a future that allows us to hear ourselves think - DesignObserver: Barcode scanners like this one have medium and high pitch settings at 3,250 and 4,200 hertz, respectively. Higher-frequency sounds, often classified as those starting at 2,000 hertz, can activate the sympathetic nervous system. Our fight or flight response kicks in, and our body braces for danger: Our heart rate increases, blood vessels constrict, and stress hormones like cortisol flood the bloodstream. All to price-check a stalk of broccoli.
• Nationals call it quits on decades-long coalition with Liberals - ABC News: Mr Littleproud said he was hopeful the two parties would be able to come to a new agreement before the next federal election in three years. It would be very surprising if they did not re-form the Coalition for the next election. ....aaaaand the split lasted four days: Outraged Liberals say short-lived Coalition split has 'shredded' David Littleproud's leadership | Australian politics | The Guardian
• 'Bulky new neighbour': Norwegian man wakes to find cargo ship in his backyard - ABC News. Cue "you can't park there mate" jokes.
• Expert calls Musk's 'Doge' involvement 'one of the greatest brand destructions' | Elon Musk | The Guardian: Galloway said Trump's billionaire businessman adviser alienated the customer base of his electrical vehicle manufacturer Tesla – one of his most important holdings – while aligning himself with a president whose allies aren't interested in the kinds of cars the company makes. [...] Toward the end of April, Tesla was reporting a 71% dip in profits
• Elon Musk backed Donald Trump seconds after an assassination attempt. Now their relationship has turned ugly - ABC News. Those two busting up is probably the least-surprising thing to ever happen in the history of US politics.