A new team of Australian troops are about to head into Afghanistan, but our allies are questioning whether Aussie soldiers are really up to the fight at hand with complaints their counter-insurgency skills aren’t up to scratch.
July, 2009
The Apollo 11 photos you don’t see
There are many classic photos of the Apollo 11 moon mission, and some that get overlooked, writes Ben Sandilands.
Grey army to conquer the world
Heavens to Betsy! Within 10 years, the world’s elderly will outnumber the world’s infants, putting a strain on economic growth and global scone supplies.
Ashes 09 Media Wrap: Lord’s, Day Five
Freddie Flintoff. The “magnificent” Freddie Flintoff. A lion hearted individual effort from England’s best player saw the old enemy claim its first Ashes Test victory at Lord’s since 1934 and go 1-0 up in the series.
Lord’s, Day Five: Freddie rises, Australia crumbles
Before this Ashes series I thought Freddie was only good for cameo performances, then he announced his retirement, and while I didn’t write it, I thought maybe he could do slightly more. Today he did. Way more.
Forget about the moon, let’s fix Earth first
“What the hell do we have to show for manned space exploration besides neat pictures and a brief feeling of patriotic goodwill in the middle of Vietnam?” asks Gawker. Space isn’t going anywhere soon — why not fix problems on Earth before we start wrecking other planets.
Why an Ashes Test at Lord’s is one of sport’s great contests
The Ashes, The Open and an England World Cup win top my 100 must-see sporting events
Hawk-eye analysis
How England claimed their historic victory.
Damien Martyn: It’s time to regroup
As Ricky Ponting said in his post-match interview, Australia were outplayed in all parts of the game from ball one of the Second Test at Lord’s
An interview with Ricky Ponting
Australia captain Ricky Ponting told Grandstand’s Jim Maxwell he is confident Mitchell Johnson and Phillip Hughes can recapture their best form following the 115-run loss to England in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.
VIDEO: Landing the Eagle
Footage of Neil Armstrong successfully landing the lunar module, with commentary by space expert Christopher Riley.
Andrew Flintoff: international cricket career in pictures
All the Freddie photos you can handle (c’mon he might be English but he is awesome).
Essential Research: small slip for Labor
The latest weekly Essential Research survey has Labor’s two-party lead down from 57-43 to 56-44. Poll Bludger has the numbers.
Going nuclear: a necessary part of our future?
Whether we go nuclear ourselves or not, nukes will be part of Australia’s future — and it may not be as bad as many now perceive, says Larvatus Prodeo.
VIDEO: Japanese robot chefs
Robots can now prepare sushi, flip burgers and slice vegies. Humans are officially obsolete.
Nate Silver’s climate change challenge
Statistician pin-up boy Nate Silver usually applies his maths magic to political data, but climate change sceptics have got him all riled up, so he has issued them a challenge…
Americans like their conflicts in black and white
Americans like their conflicts with good guys and bad guys, says Tony Karon, but in situations like Iran, Darfur and China, trying to make everything fit a Cold War script can have a tragic outcome.
Boris Johnson: We’re too spineless to walk on Mars
Britain needs to harden the f- up, or we’ll never see man walk on Mars, rambles London Mayor Boris Johnston in an op-ed for the Telegraph. More astronauts in schools!
Why Americans aren’t feeling stimulated
The $787 billion stimulus package crafted by Obama’s administration wasn’t engineered to maximize its economic impact. It was mostly a political exercise. That’s why it’s not working, says Robert Samuelson.
How the Jakarta bombers did it
Jakarta’s Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels are reputed to have tight security since the bombings there six years ago. Not tight enough, it turns out. Time looks at how the latest gang of bombers slipped in.
Ashes 09: Lord’s Day Five preview
Jarrod Kimber sets the mood.
Laying down the Law: Nine tightens the belt
Nine have some spare dosh for cheque-book journalism, but not for their own staff, apparently.
$360,000 final price tag for the Golden Tonsils
Radio 2UE has been ordered by the Federal Court to pay $360,000 for 13 separate breaches of sponsorship guidelines in John Laws’ final months on-air.
Smells like Rick Astley
What happens when you mix Rick Astley with Nirvana? You get one amused Crikey editor.
