PHOTO GALLERY: A spectacular Saturn at equinoxNASA’s Cassini spacecraft sent back some amazing photos of Saturn and its moons during equinox (when the sun crosses the celestial equator), including close ups of moon craters and Saturn’s famous rings.
October, 2009
Krugman: Big Banks are still buggered
Don’t be fooled by their cash splashing bonuses and reported “record profits”, says Paul Krugman: the big banks are still in deep poo; they’re just really good at pretending they’re not.
CPRS conspiracy theories: The Oz dons a tin-foil hat
The government is facing one of the greatest policy challenges in recent times, but instead of thoughtful, insightful and informed commentary from the national broadsheet, it’s reporting straight from the grassy knoll? suggests Sophie Black
Oops 
No hope for Obama artist fraud
Artist Shepard Fairey — creator of the iconic Barack Obama ‘Hope’ poster — has admitted that he knowingly submitted fake evidence in his legal case with Associated Press in an attempt to conceal his use of a copyrighted Obama photo.
White House vs. Fox News: why Obama can’t win
Fox News may have baited them, but Barack Obama — who has always tried to depict himself as above petty partisan squabbling — should never have allowed the White House to bite, writes David Carr.
How Cuban spies sent the US on a post-9/11 wild goose chase
In the six months after 9/11, Cuban agents around the world sent US intelligence on a wild goose chase by providing them with false terrorism tip-offs. It’s allegedly all part of a wider Cuban espionage plot to “mislead, misinform and identify” US spies.
Everyone’s a loser in Africa’s leadership awards
This year’s $5m Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership will not be awarded, due to a lack of viable contenders. Sadly not a problem faced by the Prize for Achievement in African Ruthless Dictatorships.
NY Times to cut 100 newsroom jobs
The NYT has announced it will cut 100 jobs from its newsroom. Read the rather poetic memo to staff from Times Executive Editor Bill Keller: “I yearn for the day when we can do our jobs without looking over our shoulders for economic thunderstorms.”
Scroogenomics: Why you shouldn’t buy presents
Tight arses rejoice! Christmas may be around the corner but don’t splurge on unwanted gifts to boost the retail sector. Economist Joel Waldfogel says dead weight crap presents are a drain on the economy.
Our Kev: the ultimate political chameleon?
Kevin Rudd is a man of many faces. Mister tough guy on asylum seekers, the friendly benefactor of $900 tax free cheques, a major global leader. What’s his real side? asks Malcolm Colless.
Joyce fights back: I’m not crazy — the ETS is mad!
After Virginia Trioli made the international sign of crazy at Barnaby Joyce, Joyce has come out swinging, explaining why the ETS is more insane than him. Why? Because it will raise milkshake prices.
Please explain: Barnaby Joyce, the new Pauline Hanson?
A former Pauline Hanson adviser, John Pasquarelli, laments Australia’s ‘forgotten people’. No, not Indigenous Australians, but rather mainstream Australians, getting overrun by gangs and immigrants. Can a Barnaby Joyce-type be their new leader?
Kerr: Chaos rules as Costello runs down the clock
Parliament resumed yesterday, and the big news was that Peter Costello would not be giving a valedictory speech. Instead, he held a doorstop presser to talk about himself. Christian Kerr has all the highlights.
Crabb: Parliament’s back!
Parliament resumed yesterday, and it was like they’d never been away, says Annabel Crabb: Rudd was hurling figures, Hockey was breeding and tweeting, and senators were trying to get a peek in Kerry O’Brien’s wallet. Business as usual.
Why the US can’t beat the Taliban: their secret finances revealed
It’s no longer just opium poppies funding the Taliban. Fundraising from foreign donations, kidnappings and extortion have created a financial monopoly so strong that the US military have publicly admitted they are struggling to fight it.
US spies buy a stake in social media
America’s spy agencies are pumping money into a software firm that specialises in monitoring blogs and social media services like Flickr, YouTube, Twitter and Amazon. So what do they want with our tweets and twitpics?
The evil genius of Gawker‘s Nick Denton
The latest move of Gawker Media blog empire monarch Nick Denton is to let readers post videos and pictures and tag their own comments, effectively turning the site into an anarchic version of Facebook.
How Ted Turner lost CNN, Jane Fonda and $7 billion
An interview with (former) media mogul Ted Turner, who says he feels “like a dummy” for selling his cable TV channels, which are now worth billions, but he doesn’t have enough cash to get back into the media business.
The full Newspoll results Possum: More pain for Malcolm
Over the last few months, the Opposition has played every card from the Howard era: rising interest rates, Labor’s debt, boat people — and yet it’s still suffering in the polls, with today’s Newspoll dealing another blow. Possum Comitatus crunches the numbers.
Boat people can’t sink the ALP
This week’s Newspoll shows Labor’s lead widening to a two-party preferred vote of 59-41, despite the government’s recent discomfort over boat arrivals, reports William Bowe.
Breakfast Media Wrap: The political talk goes on over boat people and emissions trading
The pick of the morning’s media
revealed 
Obama’s secret deal with Iran
Iranian nuclear experts and world powers met today to negotiate the future of the country’s uranium stockpiles. But Barack Obama has been personally wheeling and dealing secretly with Iran for four months now, TIME reveals.
Fox News is un-American
“The Australian-British-continental model of politicized media that Murdoch has applied at Fox is un-American” says Jacob Weisberg, calling on journalists to boycott appearing on the network. Hey, don’t blame us, Weisberg!
Food you can make from scratch — but never realised you could
It’s cheaper, healthier and greener: Planet Green rounds up 45 recipes food you probably never realised you could make in your own kitchen, from vanilla extract and baking soda to bacon, ricotta and even fruit roll-ups.
