The pick of this morning’s media
June, 2009
New editor for health at The Oz
We’re avid readers of the health section of The Weekend Australian, as one of the few mainstream sources of in-depth coverage of health policy, says Croakey. Leigh Dayton, science writer, will now be at the helm.
Legoland celebrates 10 years with Lego cake
Legoland is celebrating 10 years in true Lego style — with a 10ft cake made entirely from plastic Lego bricks.
Ugh! Tennis officials to crack down on grunters
International tennis officials are considering a ban on players grunting too loudly during matches.
No bail for Judy Moran in Dessie Moran killing case
Judy Moran and family friend Suzanne Kane were denied bail this afternoon after a magistrate deemed them a danger to the public.
Can you trademark a chocolate bunny?
In 2001, Lindt trademarked its jingly bell bunny. Now that legal protection is being challenged, with Europe’s High Court to preside over the Chocolate Bunny Wars.
Diet of an albatross: four lighters, a condom and toothbrushes
This collection looks pretty doesn’t it? What if we told you all these pieces were found in the stomach of a dead fledgling Laysan albatross?
When newspapers’ woes set in
Newspapers used to be wonderful — until their financial possibility was fully realised. Simply, it was poor judgment to build a public enterprise on an advertiser-dependent structure, argues one journo.
Shanghai hosts China’s first gay pride festival
China’s first ever Gay Pride festival was a victory for Shanghai activists and, they hope, a step toward gay rights in China. But it is not, as one observer put it, the great leap forward.
Poland sells off its stock exchange
The Warsaw Stock Exchange, a leading symbol of the country’s transformation from communism to capitalism, is being sold by the government to ensure its continued viability.
Who will teach a new generation to perform abortions?
In America, already 87% of counties have no abortion services. In the wake of the shooting of Dr George Tiller and with abortion providers ageing fast, there’s concern about what happens next.
Artists nix Google’s offer of showcasing their work
When Google recently invited dozens of prominent artists to contribute work to be featured on its new Web browser, the company sold the idea as an opportunity to have artwork shown to millions. But not everyone bought it.
How the GFC affects the whales
Even the environment is affected by the current credit crunch.
Why Calvin Klein hopes you hate its threesome billboard
People are up-in-arms about a steamy new Calvin Klein billboard in New York, featuring a scantily dressed lady and three men about to get down and dirty (in denim) — and that’s just the way they want it,
Silk Road under threat from melting glaciers
The Chinese gateway to the Silk Road is under threat from climate change, suffering dramatic flooding from melting glaciers.
This is serious: getting through to humans
If the science with climate is settled, the thinking goes, then why aren’t people and the world’s nations galvanised? Andrew C Revkin meditates on the green PR problem.
Crikey tweeting Question Time NOW!
A big day in parliament. Will it be the same without Costello? Tune in as Bernard Keane and the Crikey Crew tweet proceedings.
Guy Rundle: Costello death-watch, ch. 675
To the virtual smoke-filled club rooms of the Spectator Australia, where Peter Coleman is doing laps in the merlot-filled jacuzzi…
The chicken wars: KFC v El Pollo Loco
An ingredients listing on KFC’s site reveals that its grilled-chicken burger is flavoured with … beef. El Pollo Loco, a much smaller American chain, is turning the revelation into a commercial opportunity.
Crikey Says: Costello channels Woody Allen
Peter “ing out” Costello used his farewell to parliament to quote Woody Allen on the subject of immortality. Here’s the (slightly redacted) transcript.
Iran: a coup disgrace?
The margin of victory makes it unlikely that the usual forms of vote tampering had been used to rig the result, writes The Lowy Institute’s Anthony Bubalo.
The revolution will not be televised — it will be tweeted
Last night I refreshed the screen every minute as I watched a protest in Azadi square grow from hundreds, to thousands to millions, writes Sara Haghdoosti.
Good news, bad news, but IMF takes a sober line on the US
The risks remain on the downside in the US economy.
Australia’s climate policy Achilles’ heel
If we are going to improve the content or ambition of the Copenhagen agreement, world leaders — including the Prime Minister — will need to step up, begin to break some political deadlocks and inject some momentum into the UN talks, writes Erwin Jackson.
