Gloomy news for the immediate future of racing clubs as well as the environment.
October, 2009
Political snippets: A gloomy outlook in Copenhagen
Auntie gives Rupert a helping hand with Punch
Anyone watching the media over the past week might have been tempted to think that there was a war going on between News Limited and the ABC. Except, there is a big gap between rhetoric and reality.
When minimal accountability and mind-numbing tedium reign in Canberra
This week, Senators are conducting Supplementary Budget Estimates for the whole week, rather than sitting. For the most part it’s a colossal waste of time and money.
Rio’s cloud has a silver lining
It’s hard to imagine it at first, but last weekend’s carnage in Rio de Janeiro may actually have one positive result. It may give the world a deadline for coming to our senses about drug prohibition.
Bligh faces fresh dissent over abortion law
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh is facing fresh dissent in internal party ranks over the future of abortion law reform, despite at least 60% of the Queensland public supporting a woman’s right to choose.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Pepsi joins the soft drink wars
Pepsi fights back in the soft drink marketing wars. Plus, an official Telstra reply alongside further Telstra complaints about bad service.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: Book launch of the year?
What book launch — dubed a “warts-and-all autobiography” — next week in Sydney is expected to ruffle a few media feathers? And ABC TV plans a big management and structural revamp.
Take note, Myer: there’s a bit to like in DJ’s approach
Myer’s share offer closes tomorrow so its doing some market massaging, with slightly dodgy sales information that lacks key figures. Why can’t Myer follow the honesty of David Jones?
Fox News vs. The White House: it’s on
A bloody fight is brewing in the US media. In the blue corner, the White House. In the red corner, Fox News. Will Obama’s message of hope beat the the right wing shock jocks in submission? asks Aaron Flanagan.
Why fructose-laden drinks when there’s a healthy option on tap?
In the name of getting enough water, Australia’s school canteens are selling kids a drink sweetened with 21g of pure fructose. When did we become a nation requiring constant hydration, anyway?
The issue is refugees, not boats
If the Left really wants to re-fight and win the asylum seeker issue, they’ll leave the ranting and rhetoric to reactionaries and stop being so easily goaded into elevating the issue into a test of the national character
Kohler: Never mind Centro, how about ASIC’s class action ruling?
The more important legal development with the Centro case was the ruling othat all shareholder class actions are managed investment schemes (MIS), and must be registered as such.
At risk of banging on about this, we’re all going to die
It now seems certain that without urgent and more stringent emission cuts are within the next few years, humans will be powerless to stop the shift to a new climate on Earth.
Morning Market Report: US market reverses in the last hour
The US market reversed in the last hour last night, with Wall St falling 92. The local market is down 3, but the Aussie dollar is up to 92.89c.
Is that a dog whistle in your pocket or are you just Wilson Tuckey?
I can’t see how the relentless focus on asylum seeker issues is helping anyone, given the scale of the problem, writes Bernard Keane.
Crikey Competition: Brendan’s banner: The Winners
Crikey readers are full of wit. It’s been a tough decision, but we’ve narrowed down the finalists (and winner!) of the ‘name Brendan Nelson’s banner’ competition.
Smiths’ “Do Us A Flavour”: When snack foods get crowdsourcing right 
Rudd the naughty choirboy
Kevin Rudd’s religious beliefs are well known, from his weekly church door-stops to his writings in The Monthly. So, how well is his Christian faith sitting with his current hard-line asylum seeker stance? asks Chris Uhlmann.
Video of the Day: Fiji Meat Man
Apparently this is an actual commercial in Fiji. Better than Sam Neill anyday.
25 bloggers you should read (but probably don’t)
Mediaite has put together a list of the “most talented and influential bloggers” who often fly under the internet’s radar. It’s a great list full of must-reads, though we’d contend that the likes of Andrew Breitbart and Michael Arrington hardly count as “underrated”.
Reporting from Death Row
Reporter Michael Graczyk may have the worst — or at least the most difficult — beat in the world: he covers capital punishment cases in Texas, and has so far watched over 300 people be put to death by the state.
UK’s Channel 4: File-sharing is here to stay. Embrace it.
Today’s “internet native” generation are never going to give up sharing and downloading things illegally over the internet, says an editor from the UK’s Channel 4. Attempting to lock up content will always fail: the future of the media is “spreadable and shareable”.
McSweeneys / Thursday, 22 October 2009
“LISN bud LISN” — can you tell the difference between words written by American poet E.E Cummings and comments posted on YouTube? Take McSweeney’s quick quiz.