We are all to blame with our pathetic mimicking of the American arrogant entitlement to drive anywhere we want. But fast rail lines, like those seen in Spain, are exactly what Australia’s public transport system needs.
October, 2009
Media briefs: Embrace your imperfections, but don’t look at my laugh lines
Embrace diversity said Sarah Murdoch, MP Kate Ellis and Mia Freedman, while launching the body image guidelines. Too bad that Sarah seemed horrified at the sight of her laughter lines without digital altering.
How much cash will the states get under the CPRS? Zero.
Unfortunately for those of us who ever rely on the public health, education or transport systems, the CPRS is estimated to cost state budgets more than $2.1 billion in 2013, writes executive director of the Australia Institute, Dr Richard Denniss.
The Press Council enters its Disney era
The funding of the Australian Press Council has been under debate lately, and the incoming head, Julian Disney, says the body needs secure and long-term funding.
Political snippets: Let the Olympic lobbying begin
A promising start for the Australian Olympic Committee’s four-yearly campaign to keep their funding gravy train on the rails, how much should we pay for some African goodwill? real interest rates return, and more meaty chunks from Richard Farmer.
The Media Monitors' Top 20: Volume returns to pre-Grech times
Kevin Rudd is back to dominating Malcolm Turnbull in the media — but maybe that’s how Turnbull likes it. And what’s Sandra Bullock doing in there?
How to become a federal MP: the minor parties
Just what does it take to ascend to the lofty heights of federal parliament in a minor party? It seems that compared to the factionally obsessed Libs and Labor, the preselection process is a reasonably democratic one.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Hamilton, Higgins and hot air
Crikey readers on Clive Hamilton’s Higgins tilt, abortion law, dangerous emails, whether Mike Carlton is a shock jock and the “most stupid” item we’ve ever published.
Question Time fun: See Kevin run. See Kevin hide.
The pursuit of the Prime Minister over the Oceanic Viking made, inter alia, for a rather more interesting Question Time yesterday than we’ve had in some months.
NAB continues its billion dollar profit gouge
With such a strong result under its belt, you would have thought the NAB might have had the grace to mention the help from the federal government and Reserve Bank.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: More heads roll at ABC Enterprises
Secret sacking at ABC Enterprises, the government wants your organs, vultures descend on the carcass of the Trading Post, fishy shark photos, and more tips from Crikey insiders.
Hoaxes: sometimes we lie in wait for them
Chastising the media for reporting the balloon boy story in the US or attacking the guerrilla tourism marketing campaign involving a fake Danish single mother won’t prevent hoaxes such as these from occurring, writes Simon Caterson.
Blame the states when RBA lifts rates
When the Reserve Bank lifts interest rates next Tuesday and again either in December or February, you can thank the lazy, fat, rapacious State Governments.
Coastal erosion goes beyond global warming
Coastal erosion happens constantly and has many causes. Spits and points grow too and bays and inlets shallow or disappear completely. Climate change isn’t completely to blame, writes Crikey naturalist Lionel Elmore.
Keating, a rusted-on luvvie, leaves a legacy
Guy Rundle’s recent assault on Paul Keating’s cultural cred was irritating and thrilling by turns, writes arts reporter Stephen Feneley — it shouldn’t be so surprising arts folk have such fond memories of Keating given what came after him.
Morning Market Report: Aussie dollar rises again
The market is down 23. The SFE Futures were down 21 this morning. The Aussie dollar has also increased slightly from 91.61c to 91.66c yesterday.
ASIO can’t be bothered: less accountable, less productive
Despite ASIO’s endlessly increasing budget, its latest annual report shows an organisation doing less work and being less accountable — even the report itself is lazily cobbled together.
Diary of a Surgeon: Doctors on the market?
Marketing of products is something all surgeons must live with on a daily basis. Representatives visiting and discussing new products is appropriate. Free giveaways are not, writes Professor Guy Maddern.
Print your First Dog Halloween masks
Get set to party like it’s Halloween 2009 with your own cut-out-and-keep First Dog On The Moon Halloween mask — or masks! Why wear just one? Saturday night’s the night, so warm up the dot matrix, and sharpen the scissors. Here are the links to PDFs of the individual masks (right click and “save as”). Print them […]
How breast cancer can disappear when left alone
With October being the pink-washed month for breast cancer, comes news that some breast and prostate cancers vanish without medical treatment in a medical anomaly. Early detection has meant treatment is occurring on tumours that may disappear naturally.
revealed 
The historical horrors of naval warfare: how Admiral Nelson lost his arm and was back fighting 30 mins later
Journals written by surgeons upon British naval vessels in the 18th and 19th century have come to light, revealing amazing bloody stories of wounded serviceman during the Battle of Trafalgar and the amputation of Admiral Nelson’s arm.
A girl always remembers her first time: a tribute to GeoCities
Yahoo has finally pulled the plug on GeoCities. Though most will say “good riddance” to the home of eye-searing fluro text, badly animated GIFs and never-ending Midi tunes, Ruth Brown looks back fondly on the site that popped her HTML cherry.
A history of Scientology’s legal battles
In light of today’s fraud conviction against the Church of Scientology in France, CSM looks back at the organisation’s long and abiding relationship with courts all over the globe.
