Curiouser and curiouser: Alice in Wonderland and algebraWhat does Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland have to do with maths? Quite a lot, apparently. In fact, the entire thing is one big piss-take of abstract mathematicians. And you thought it was all a drug metaphor.
December, 2009
The hot new item in stores: frugality
Conspicuous consumption? It’s not 2007, writes Tom Elliott. With our basic ‘needs’ fulfilled, our greedy ‘wants’ drove our spending. But the GFC brought a new frugality and luxury brands are crying into their cashmere. Will it last?
Rock critics don’t actually like rock music anymore
If you needed proof that rock critics are now entirely redundant, look no further than the AP’s Best Rock Albums of 2009 list, which is curiously absent of music that actually, y’know, rocks.
The Taliban doesn’t want your help, Western jihadists
Thinking of running away to join the Taliban? Apparently it’s not that easy — the Taliban doesn’t need Westerners, who are only good as “cannon fodder”, preferring local recruits, who already know the land and language and look the part.
The AF447 disaster: there were known issues
The second interim report on the Air France flight AF447 that killed all 228 people on board has been released. May it serve as a warning for aviation bean counters looking for cost saving in flight maintenance, says Ben Sandilands.
Great unsolved mysteries in the War on Terror
It’s been a year since Bush left the White House, yet so much about his “War on Terror” is still unknown: what did Cheney really know? Where have all the CIA’s prisoners gone? Who forged the Yellowcake documents?
How India could fall to militant Muslims
If Pakistan fails, its territory and population could be consumed by India — adding 180 millions Muslims to the country, many of them a little upset about the loss of a Pakistani state. Throw in some radical Hindu nationalists and neo-Maoist guerrillas, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.
Stephen Colbert: America’s favourite covergirl
Why would Sports Illustrated make comedian Stephen Colbert its latest cover star? Because he’s pure sales gold, already generating huge sales boosts for the likes of Rolling Stone, New York, Wired and Newsweek.
Fran Kelly: Fight, fight, fight, fight… Abbott’s itching for one
Former boxer and current Liberal leader Tony Abbott may be chomping at the bit for an election battle, but a look at Labor history shows aggressive Oppositions don’t win elections, notes Fran Kelly. Remember Mark Latham?
How Obama boosted “Brand America” by $2 trillion
Since taking office a year ago, Barack Obama has come a long way in restoring America’s image on the global stage, boosting the value of the country’s “brand” by over $2 trillion, according to economist Simon Anholt
Where do Australia’s ISPs stand on the filter?
ZDNet has quizzed the big Aussie Internet Service Providers over their positions on mandatory internet filtering, compiling a list on who stands where. Does your ISP hate freedom?
2009: The year of The Great Stabilisation
Rather than 2009 turning into the year of the Great Recession, the biggest financial news was our ability to avoid global catastrophe and stabilise our economies. But there was some collateral damage. Like, lots of unemployed people…
Nuclear energy: the Coalition’s next big power struggle
The Coalition’s internal squabbling is far from over, and the next big battle will be fought over the highly-divisive issue of nuclear power, says Jim Green, when Abbott is finally forced to take a position on it next year.
The biggest PR blunders of the year
A US PR company has compiled a list of the biggest PR cock-ups for 2009, including the boy scout spork, Domino’s Pizza YoutTube grossout and, of course, Kanye.
The end of Copenhagen, or just the beginning?
As Copenhagens winds down, Anna Rose reflects on how far the climate movement has come — and just how much further it has to go. But with little time left and no climate deal in sight, is Copenhagen really a new beginning, or the beginning of the end?
Controller Rudd must halt the NSW runaway train
The NSW ALP government is in such a shambles that it risks damaging Kevin Rudd’s chances next year. It’s now time for Rudd to intervene and stop the NSW ALP from destroying itself, says Nick Dyrenfurth.
leaked 
What’s in the Google phone?
Hackers have infiltrated Google’s uber-hyped new phone, Nexus One, to find out exactly what the gadget will have to offer. So far, they’ve turned up a light sensor, an accelerometer, a WiFi/Bluetooth/FM radio, a magnetic compass and a 5MP camera with autofocus and flash.
Monica Lewinski’s back
It’s the political scandal that never rests: Monica Lewinsky is back, accusing Bill Clinton of lying under oath about their sexual encounters in an explosive new book about Clinton’s impeachment trial.
Conroy’s filter is bound to fail
The new internet filter will censor those that don’t understand the net. The irony being that young people — whose delicate minds the filter is to protect — get the internet better than most, writes Nina Funnell.
The UN plot to oust Karzai
Following revelations of wide-spread fraud in the Afghan election, fired senior UN official Peter Galbraith planned to enlist the US’s help to replace President Hamid Karzai with “a more Western-friendly figure”. Is that the real reason he was given the boot?
Grattan: Abbott’s on the offensive
Malcolm Turnbull feared an early election, Tony Abbott says bring it on. Turnbull pushed for an ETS, Abbott turned ETS debate into a tax fight. Abbott is ready to battle Rudd at the next election, says Michelle Grattan.
Shanahan: Copenhagen’s failure puts climate back on the Aussie election agenda
With the likely failure of any real deal on climate change in Copenhagen, and an Opposition leader willing to fight an election with a strong anti-ETS line, Rudd could face a big backlash from voters — and Abbott actually has a shot, says Dennis Shanahan.
leaked 
Copenhagen will lead to 3C rise
A confidential UN document obtained by the Guardian says the emissions cuts offered in Copenhagen so far will lead to a 3C rise in global temperatures. Despite a $100b pledge by the US last night, talks are still at a standstill.
How to hack a US Predator drone for under $30
The WSJ reveal how insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan are using cheap, off-the-shelf software to hack into the video feeds of US drone planes — and the Pentagon has known about the vulnerability for over a decade.
