With the release of the much (over?) hyped doco of Michael Jackson’s final concert, This Is It, MTV has a roundup of some of the world’s most critical reviews. Is it a Thriller, or just plain Bad?
October, 2009
Bring the troops home
Obama faces an “either-or” situation in Afghanistan, says Eugene Robinson: he either commits the 40,000+ troops requested by the US commander, or pulls forces out entirely to pursue a counter-terrorism strategy. The latter is the right choice to make.
Is Barack Obama sexist?
Following on from the mini furor this week over Obama finally playing golf with a lady, Hadley Freeman explores the PC nonsense and the ridiculous sexist claims bombarding Obama. Sarah Palin may have been the conservatives favourite female, but being a woman is not the same as being good for women.
Mia Freedman: My surreal day in parliament with supermodels and Kevin
Mia Freedman reflects on the day she went to Canberra, hung out with ‘Kevin’ in the PM office, gave a speech to a press conference and then presented a report on body image to Kate Ellis in front of 60 waiting media. Just another day at the office? Not quite.
John McCain: We must fight on
America must succeed in Afghanistan as a matter of national security, writes Republican senator and former presidential candidate John McCain.
We outnumber the Taliban 12:1. Why aren’t we winning?
There are about 172,000 international troops in Afghanistan working with a 200,000-strong local force, fighting no more than 25,000 Taliban rebels. Yet more allied soldiers are dying than ever before. Is it finally time to “cut and run”?
Is a Hummer-driving vegan greener than a beef-eater in a Prius?
MySpace and Facebook to team up?
Facebook has well and truly bested MySpace in the social networking game, but MySpace still has one ace up its sleeve: music and entertainment. Instead of competing, the two are apparently putting their differences aside to share content across the two networks.
UK climate chief: Give up meat to save the planet
British climate guru Lord Stern of Brentford has caused a ruckus by declaring that the world will need to go vegetarian to combat climate change, predicting that, as people become increasingly aware of the carbon content of their food, they will naturally make the switch.
CHOICE names and shames the shonkiest brands of the year
Consumer advocate CHOICE has named its picks for the shonkiest Australian products and services for 2009. Brands coming under fire this year include Aldi, L’Oreal, Tiffany, Qantas and Tiger Airways.
Why good programmers go bad
Why do computer programmers turn to a life of online crime? Poor education, a criminal record and a dislike of authority, according to an undercover investigation by IT researchers — but some are just good people who can’t resist the lure of the dark side.
No more Mr Nice Guy: Obama needs to toughen up
This whole soft and sweet Barack Obama act isn’t working on a global scale, if even Hamid Karzai is ignoring Obama’s “smart diplomacy” writes Mark Steyn. Obama could learn some tough guy lessons from George Dubya.
Downing Street plots to buy Blair’s way into the EU Presidency
British PM Gordon Brown is planning to buy off Angela Merkel and Nikolas Sarkozy’s votes for the European Union Presidency by offering them big jobs within the Union should Tony Blair get up.
The frenemies bringing Israel down
Recently Israel has got public endorsement from controversial supporters like Holocaust denier BNP leader Nick Griffin and Polish politician Michal Kaminski, who has made questionable comments about Jewish massacres. This is a publicity disaster for Israel, writes Miriam Shaviv.
Karzai’s opium baron brother and his dirty dealings with the CIA
The parents of Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karazi may be a little ashamed of their son’s alleged involvement in vote rigging, but that’s nothing compared to their other son. Meet Ahmed Wali Karzai, a suspected opium baron who works for the CIA as a US-Taliban go-between.
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A graphic history of newspaper circulation
The Awl has combined circulation figures for the major US newspapers going back to 1990 to create an eye-opening chart of media carnage. One of these things is not like the others…
podcast Canberra Calling: The boat people podcast
Crikey’s Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane and editor Jonathan Green take refuge to produce your favourite almost weekly podcast, where they discuss the politics of the aylum seeker issue.
Crikey Says: Australia takes its pick of the refugee litter
Humanitarian migration allows Australia to siphon off the best-educated and most-talented citizens of embattled countries, while poorer refugees remain trapped in camps and on leaky boats.
Better latte than never to get excited about Goat Island again
Sydney ruthlessly expunged most of the “working harbour” aspects of its heritage years ago, rendering it blandly safe for the café latteratti set and retail mall developers, says Ben Sandilands. So why are Sydneysiders suddenly getting historical about their harbour again?
Drink to the end of an Intervention era
The NT intervention is going military, writes our NT insider, with a leaked invite to a going away party for NT boss of the Department of Family and Community Services, Housing and Indigenous Affairs, Brian Stacey.
American consumers give up, go home
The unhealthy position of the big market rally has been exposed for the high-wire act it is by a sharp fall in American consumer confidence, to 47.7 in October.
Can it ever be ethical to let women die?
So refusing an abortion should be a doctor’s right, even if that refusal may see a woman die? asks Leslie Cannold. Religious freedom is important, but it shouldn’t trump other human rights.
Shareholders strike again at Transurban execs
Australian shareholders are revolting as company directors (and their hired help) design long-term incentive packages that continue to unjustly enrich executives.
