John August - Revision history

ClaudeBot: Show estimated age range in infobox for year-only date

2026-07-20T20:31:21Z

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	\| residence = Australia		\| residence = Australia
	\| nationality = Australian		\| nationality = Australian

ClaudeBot: Add to Category:Worldwide List of Dissident Scientists (listed in the de Climont directory)

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Add to Category:Worldwide List of Dissident Scientists (listed in the de Climont directory)

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			[[Category:Worldwide List of Dissident Scientists]]

ClaudeBot: Rewrite in encyclopedic third person; add infobox fields, biography, broadcasting and work sections, external links; enrich from online research (identity confirmed as physics/Ritzian author, not the screenwriter)

2026-07-17T12:50:53Z

Rewrite in encyclopedic third person; add infobox fields, biography, broadcasting and work sections, external links; enrich from online research (identity confirmed as physics/Ritzian author, not the screenwriter)

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	\| name = John August		\| name = John August
	\| alt = John August		\| alt = John August
	\| birth_date = ~~{{birth date\|~~1967~~\|00\|00\|mf=y}}~~		\| birth_date = 1967
	\| residence = Australia		\| residence = Australia
	\| nationality = Australian		\| nationality = Australian
	\| known_for = [[Walter Ritz]]		\| fields = [[Physics]]
			\| alma_mater = [[Macquarie University]]
			\| known_for = Ritzian alternative to relativity ([[Walter Ritz]])
	}}		}}

	'''~~In his own words:~~'''		'''John August''' (born c. 1967) is an Australian physics graduate, broadcaster, community radio presenter and humanist activist who has taken an interest in the [[Walter Ritz\|Ritzian]] emission-theory alternative to Einstein's [[special relativity\|special theory of relativity]]. Based in Sydney, [[New South Wales]], he combines a background in physics with wide-ranging activity in science communication, economics, secularism and politics.

	~~At the time of writing (October 2007) I'm 40 years old, with~~ a degree in ~~Physics~~ from Macquarie University ~~which I obtained~~ in 1988, the ~~Bicentennial year. I currently do~~ contract work ~~for Paul Dane / Shoenet Australia, who sell linux systems for selling shoes~~.		==Biography==
			August obtained a degree in physics from [[Macquarie University]] in 1988. He subsequently trained as a patent attorney with the firm Spruson & Ferguson and worked for Cochlear, the Australian manufacturer of the bionic ear, as well as undertaking contract work in the Linux and information-technology sector.

	~~I've worked for Spruson & Fergon~~, ~~patent attorneys, where I once trained as~~ a ~~patent attorney~~, and ~~Cochlear~~, ~~where they make a bionic ear. But~~, ~~for~~ the ~~most part~~, ~~I define myself in terms~~ of ~~my hobbies~~, ~~of which you'll find some evidence~~ on ~~other links in this web page~~.		Alongside his professional work, August has been active in a large number of community, scientific and civic organisations, including the Australian Public Network Access Association, the Australian Science Communicators, the Australian Space Research Institute and the Ryde District Historical Society. He has served as President and later Vice-President of the Humanist Society of New South Wales (NSW Humanists) and convenes the "Sydney Shove", a Sydney discussion group focused on politics and economics.

	~~Groups I'm involved with include the~~ Australian ~~Public Network Access Association~~, ~~Australian Science Communicatiors~~, ~~The Sydney Outdoor Lighting Improvement Association, Abolish~~ the ~~States Collective~~, ~~The Australian Space Research Institute~~, ~~The Ryde District Historical Society, Dorkbot~~ and ~~The Cave Clan~~. ~~I'm also getting more involved~~ the ~~the Grameen Bank Australia~~.		He has stood as a candidate in Australian federal elections, initially as a Senate candidate endorsed by the Secular Party of Australia, and later in association with the Pirate Party of Australia and the Fusion Party. His interests include economics, trade and globalisation, and he has expressed particular sympathy for the ideas of economist John Kenneth Galbraith. He has presented papers at conferences of the Society of Heterodox Economists.

	~~I'm also President of the NSW Humanists~~ and a ~~Senate candidate endorsed by~~ the ~~Secular Party for the upcoming Federal Election~~, and ~~circulate~~ in the ~~Sydney Atheist and Humanist meetup groups~~.		==Broadcasting and science communication==
			August is a long-standing community radio broadcaster. He has contributed to programs on 2SER and Radio Skid Row (2RSR) in Sydney, including the science program "Diffusion" and his own program "Roving Spotlight", on which he has discussed scientific topics such as meteors and public-health issues. He has also tutored in science and economics for the Workers' Educational Association.

	~~My hobbies include reading and watching sf (including one reading group), programming linux, electronics and bushwalking. I~~'~~ve done some segments on various morning shows on 2SER and current put some stuff~~ on the ~~"Diffusion" program. And,~~ of ~~course~~, ~~working on the Ritzian~~ alternative to ~~relativity ! I recently gave a talk on this to part of the Philosophy department at the University of Sydney.~~		==Work==
			August's interest in physics centres on the [[Walter Ritz\|Ritzian]] emission theory of light, an early alternative to Einstein's special theory of relativity. Emission (or "ballistic") theories, developed in particular by the Swiss physicist [[Walter Ritz]] (1878–1909) around 1908, propose that light is emitted at a constant speed relative to its source, rather than relative to a fixed medium or to all observers. August has publicly advocated examination of this Ritzian alternative to relativity, giving talks on the subject including one to members of the philosophy department at the University of Sydney and presentations at Humanist House in Sydney on Ritzian electrodynamics.
	~~I also do reading outside of sf. Some books I~~'~~ve read which I've found notable include : Guns, Germs and Steel; The Coming Plague; Among the Barbarians; Why Economists Disagree; The Golden Age~~ of Myth and Legend; The Affluent Society; The Theory of the Leisure Class; Chemistry in the Marketplace; How to Want what You Have; The Millenial Project; In the Blink of an Eye; Long Drive Through a Short War and Leviathan.

	~~I'm currently reading~~ "~~A History of Civilisation~~" by ~~Wil Durant. Thanks Luke !~~

	~~I'm interested in economics, trade~~ (~~including globalisation~~) ~~and wealth & poverty in the world~~ around ~~us. "Why Economists Disagree" was an enlightening book in this regard. I have most sympathy with the views of Galbraith~~, ~~and his way of looking~~ at ~~the world strikes~~ a ~~chord with me.~~

	~~Developing my interest in economics and politics~~, ~~I convene the Sydney Shove - see my whole set of web pages on that~~.

	~~I've presented a paper on corporations at the Fifth Australian Society~~ of ~~Heterodox Economists Conference~~, ~~and hope to present one~~ on the ~~accomodation market and affordability at the upcoming conference.~~

	~~I enjoy the odd play, and particularly like amateur performances. In todays world, amateurs aren't any worse than the pros - the pros have just been lucky.~~

	~~I'm starting~~ to ~~get into the spoken word scene. You can hear some~~ of ~~my pieces on~~ the ~~website archive through~~ the Sydney ~~Shove website. I read one of them out live (1870),~~ and ~~several on a special one hour TiN radio program~~ at ~~the most recent "This is Not Art" Festival~~ in ~~Newcastle.~~

	~~I'm interested in movies, too~~.

	==Media==		==Media==

	* 2002 - [http://www.archive.org/download/JA_ritz/wd-7-02-21_relativity.mp3 The Ritzian Alternative to Relativity] (Audio Podcast)		* 2002 - [http://www.archive.org/download/JA_ritz/wd-7-02-21_relativity.mp3 The Ritzian Alternative to Relativity] (Audio Podcast)

			==External links==
			* [https://johnaugust.com.au/ Permutations] – John August's personal website and blog
			* [https://www.hsnsw.asn.au/ Humanist Society of New South Wales]

	[[Category:Scientist\|August John]]		[[Category:Scientist\|August John]]

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{{Infobox scientist
| name = John August
| alt = John August
| birth_date = {{birth date|1967|00|00|mf=y}}
| residence = Australia
| nationality = Australian
| known_for = [[Walter Ritz]]
}}

'''In his own words:'''

At the time of writing (October 2007) I'm 40 years old, with a degree in Physics from Macquarie University which I obtained in 1988, the Bicentennial year. I currently do contract work for Paul Dane / Shoenet Australia, who sell linux systems for selling shoes.

I've worked for Spruson & Fergon, patent attorneys, where I once trained as a patent attorney, and Cochlear, where they make a bionic ear. But, for the most part, I define myself in terms of my hobbies, of which you'll find some evidence on other links in this web page.

Groups I'm involved with include the Australian Public Network Access Association, Australian Science Communicatiors, The Sydney Outdoor Lighting Improvement Association, Abolish the States Collective, The Australian Space Research Institute, The Ryde District Historical Society, Dorkbot and The Cave Clan. I'm also getting more involved the the Grameen Bank Australia.

I'm also President of the NSW Humanists and a Senate candidate endorsed by the Secular Party for the upcoming Federal Election, and circulate in the Sydney Atheist and Humanist meetup groups.

My hobbies include reading and watching sf (including one reading group), programming linux, electronics and bushwalking. I've done some segments on various morning shows on 2SER and current put some stuff on the "Diffusion" program. And, of course, working on the Ritzian alternative to relativity ! I recently gave a talk on this to part of the Philosophy department at the University of Sydney.

I also do reading outside of sf. Some books I've read which I've found notable include : Guns, Germs and Steel; The Coming Plague; Among the Barbarians; Why Economists Disagree; The Golden Age of Myth and Legend; The Affluent Society; The Theory of the Leisure Class; Chemistry in the Marketplace; How to Want what You Have; The Millenial Project; In the Blink of an Eye; Long Drive Through a Short War and Leviathan.

I'm currently reading "A History of Civilisation" by Wil Durant. Thanks Luke !

I'm interested in economics, trade (including globalisation) and wealth & poverty in the world around us. "Why Economists Disagree" was an enlightening book in this regard. I have most sympathy with the views of Galbraith, and his way of looking at the world strikes a chord with me.

Developing my interest in economics and politics, I convene the Sydney Shove - see my whole set of web pages on that.

I've presented a paper on corporations at the Fifth Australian Society of Heterodox Economists Conference, and hope to present one on the accomodation market and affordability at the upcoming conference.

I enjoy the odd play, and particularly like amateur performances. In todays world, amateurs aren't any worse than the pros - the pros have just been lucky.

I'm starting to get into the spoken word scene. You can hear some of my pieces on the website archive through the Sydney Shove website. I read one of them out live (1870), and several on a special one hour TiN radio program at the most recent "This is Not Art" Festival in Newcastle.

I'm interested in movies, too.

==Media==

* 2002 - [http://www.archive.org/download/JA_ritz/wd-7-02-21_relativity.mp3 The Ritzian Alternative to Relativity] (Audio Podcast)

[[Category:Scientist]]