Only nine months into President Obama’s term and the enthusiasm gap has gone the wrong way on the Democrats. Thank goodness one other American measure of public feeling is going his way.
September, 2009
Breakfast Media Wrap: Global climate talks overseas, footy finals at home
The pick of Monday morning’s media.
Video of the Day: Jon Stewart interviews Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton talks Obama, healthcare reform and going 007 in North Korea in this full, unedited version of his interview on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Gittins: Rudd gets his microreform on with Telstra
With the split of Telstra, Kevin Rudd was finally prepared to do something that’s unpopular with a lot of people and not merely undertake ”reforms” that involve spending taxpayers’ money, applauds Ross Gittins.
Putting classic movies on the map
MovieFill has drawn up a world map pinpointing the location (within the film’s narrative, not the filming location) of every Academy Awards “Best Picture” winner. Hot tip, Hollywood: New York and London are gold-mines.
Investigative journalist bids $60k for dinner with Sarah Palin
Journalist and true-crime writer Joe McGinniss bid $60,101.01 in the eBay auction for dinner with Sarah (and Todd) Palin, but was unfortunately pipped at the post by a real Palin supporter.
How Monopoly helped WWII POWs escape
The ultimate “Get out of jail free” card: the incredible true story of how Monopoly sets containing hidden maps, compasses and tools were delivered to captured British soldiers during WWII to help them escape.
Breakfast Media Wrap: Mr Nice Guy PM shows factional bosses he can swear too!
The pick of Sunday morning’s media
A peek inside the PM’s office
Katharine Murphy spends 24 hours inside the Rudd batcave, meeting the notoriously industrious — and overwhelmingly young and male — spinners and staffers who keep the country running.
Bill Maher: Fat people can’t complain about health care reform
Comedian Bill Maher proposes a new rule: you can’t complain about health care reform if you’re not willing to reform your own health. Teabaggers, he’s looking at you.
Former Merrill Lynch CEO: “I should’ve gone to Ikea”
Former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain now regrets buying a $68,000 antique credenza and $1400 wastebasket for his office after the company lost $15.3b and was bailed out by the government.
The world’s most valuable brands
Interbrand has released its annual report [PDF] on the world’s most valuable brands. Coke came in at number one for the ninth time running, while Google and Amazon have shot up the list.
Breakfast Media Wrap: With climate change there’s much to be depressed about
The pick of Saturday morning’s newspapers
The cold, hard facts about the Kokoda crash
The stark details in the preliminary official report on August’s Kokoda plane crash run contrary to many previous rumours and reports, writes Ben Sandilands.
The cut-and-paste ethics of photojournalism
Photographer David Hume Kennerly recently had a photo he took of Dick Cheney published in Newsweek, but the image was heavily cropped and totally out of context — a move, he says, discredited both him and his profession.
PHOTO GALLERY: the freaks and geeks of Guinness World Records 2010
The newest entries to the Guinness Book of World Records. Some old standards (tallest man, longest fingernails etc) and some newer additions. Like the world’s biggest ball of cling wrap.
Jill Dupleix: Aussie restaurants need to embrace inner ocker
After ten years away, celebrity cook Jill Dupleix is back in Australia and throwing her critical eye over our restaurants: too dark, too loud and too expensive.
What are the secrets to a happy marriage?
A variety of well known bloggers give out their marriage secrets, from pancakes and coffee in the mornings to writing love notes and having drunken sex whenever possible.
Can Oprah and Dan Brown save the publishing industry?
The recession-racked US publishing industry is hoping sales of Dan Brown’s new book, The Lost Symbol and the return of Oprah’s Book Club will be enough to carry them through the pre-Christmas period.
The shape of jets to come
Airbus has released some tantalising glimpses of future airplane designs — but is it all just another pie-in-the-sky fantasy from the aircraft manufacturers? asks Ben Sandilands
Crikey Says: Fairfax as the national leaders in quality journalism? Ahem.
While the house burns, Ron Walker and the Fairfaxes fight over the silverware. Unfortunately for everyone, quality journalism isn’t a shiny platter.
The shape of jets to come, maybe
Airbus have released some teasers overnight about the future of aviation. Are these the shapes of jets to come or just a whimsy on the part of Airbus?
The death penalty: clumsy, costly and morally dubious
Stories of grotesque bungles abound in death penalty literature, writes Lizzie O’Shea. So, why does the US continue to hand it out?
Time / Friday, 18 September 2009
Few commentators are dividing US public opinion right now as much as Fox News’ Glenn Beck. Advertisers are boycotting, but ratings are soaring. Tea Partiers love him, the left hate him, and the pundits love to hate him. But is he hurting America by fueling his fans’ fears?