I watched 60 hours of cable news and survivedWalter Shapiro subjected himself to 60 hours — 12 hours a day for five days — of US cable news and lived to tell the tale. He recounts the lessons and lowlights from the week-long ordeal.
January, 2010
Bush and Clinton: Why we’re joining forces for Haiti
In a joint op-ed for the NYT former US presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton put their differences aside to “spearhead private-sector fund-raising efforts” for Haiti.
Rudd: We’re becoming a bunch of expensive oldies
We need more people, more people working and more people working harder, says PM Kevin Rudd, in a speech about the issues affecting our aging population. He also managed to throw in a “working families” for old times sake.
US military weapons are being inscribed with secret biblical codes
A company producing weapons for the US military has been inscribing every one with coded references to Bible passages about Jesus, ABC News has uncovered. Because Jesus was all about war and killing.
Austin: Brumby breathes a sigh of relief
Long time VIC Labor liability Lynne Kosky quit yesterday, giving Premier John Brumby a political boon in the seriously damaged public transport portfolio, writes Paul Austin. Check out Kosky’s resignation email here.
“Not Labor” is not a campaign slogan
NSW Labor may be a disappointing mess, but Liberal leader Barry O’Farrell needs an image makeover, alternative policies and some serious balls if he’s going to prove himself as a worthy leadership alternative, writes Malcolm Colless.
Life lessons from Google: It’s never too late to do the right thing
Yes it took Google four years and a massive cyber attack to stop censoring the internet in China — but at least it did the right thing in the end, says MG Siegler. Give ‘em a break.
revealed 
Guard blows the whistle on Guantanamo “suicides”
In an explosive Harper’s expose, a US Army staff sergeant who was on duty the night three Guantanamo detainees allegedly committed suicide says the deaths weren’t suicides at all, and the military is guilty of a wide-spread cover-up.
Read the full Newspoll results 
Newspoll: Abbott makes his debut
The first Newspoll of Tony Abbott’s career as Opposition leader sees the Mad Monk scoring the highest debut preferred PM ratings of the Coalition leaders this term, says Possum Comitatus
Newspoll: Labor takes a tumble
The first Newspoll for 2010 is in, and it’s not a promising start to the year for the ALP: the party’s lead has dropped from 56-44 to 54-46, while Kevin Rudd’s approval rating is down three points. William Bowe has all the data.
Why encores are a necessity not a choice
Musicians should know that an encore is essential, writes Al Green concert attendee Amber Jamieson. It leaves the crowd on a high. It shouldn’t matter, but let’s be realistic, it does.
The painful world of IVF addicts
IVF holds only a slim chance of actually making a female pregnant. So, what happens when a woman’s desperation is mixed with a costly medical procedure? asks Mia Freedman.
Bob Ellis: Guns don’t kill people, people kill nature and nature kills people
When are we going to get our priorities and our tax payer dollars in order? The Haiti earthquake just reiterates that natural disasters are killing more people than terrorism, yet we spend billions on a war against terrorism, argues Bob Ellis.
An interview with (now) independent SA MP David Winderlich
Bob Gosford sits down for a chat with South Australian independent David Winderlich to discuss what it was like to resign from the Democrats, the state of democracy in South Australia and the German meaning of ‘Winderlich’.
How friends can make you fatter, happier and sexier
Your choice of social group affects way more than just how you spend your Saturday nights: social connections — even to people you’ve never met — can dictate everything from your weight to how often you get laid.
Film review: Bran Nue Dae — a missed opportunity
Aussie musical film Bran Nue Dae has all the ingredients to be a blockbuster, says Tim Dunlop, but is wasted with a half-arsed production that tells its story badly and seriously buggers up nearly every song in the repertoire.
White knights circling to save The Tote
A trio of white knights look set to assume control of iconic Melbourne rock pub The Tote, which was scheduled to close its doors for the last time today due to a combination of liquor licensing requirements and fees.
Video of the Day: Mike Rann, a lonely man (allegedly)
Adelaide band Hit By Cars has penned a lovely ode to Mike Rann and his very public (alleged) private life:
The Green Army
Who could forget Sergeant Abbott and Corporal Payne and their rag-tag crew of no-hopers and misfits…
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Will Abbott’s Green Army work?
Will, as Crikey reader Peter Lloyd writes, Abbott’s “green” workforce will be without a shadow of a doubt a sham? Plus, readers weigh in on the Haitian earthquake and Matt Brown’s undies.
The bottom line is that China simply won’t crash
It’s a big week for China and those who believe in its current policy direction, and equally, for those who think it is flawed and heading for a crunch, writes Glenn Dyer.
Morning Market Report: Friday’s Wall St fall causes Aussie stumble
Wall St. fell 100 on Friday — the worst fall in four weeks.
Interest rates: trying to second-guess the RBA
With most gurus forecasting a rate rise at the Reserve Bank’s first board meeting on February 2, the central bank is making sure everyone will have no doubt of just what the bank is thinking for the rest of the year.
Taking on China, Google also warms to Australian filter fight
Google will challenge communications minister Stephen Conroy on the effectiveness of the planned filter and his claims that it won’t impact web browsing speed.
