The US tobacco industry has been secretly meeting with the Solicitor General in a desperate attempt to stay out of the Supreme Court over the landmark 10-year-old racketeering lawsuit that found the industry deliberately concealed the dangers of smoking, AP reveals.
January, 2010
How do you dispose of rubbish in a country with no rubbish disposal?
In Australia we’re conditioned our whole lives to “put it in the bin”. So what do you do when travelling in a country where people throw rubbish out of buses or just drop it where they’re standing? asks Scott Bridges from India.
What do the world’s most evil men listen to on their iPods?
Even evil dictators like to get funky sometimes. Believe it or not, Osama bin Laden likes the B-52s and Whitney Houston, Kim Jong-il rocks out to Eric Clapton and Muammar Gaddafi prefers the smooth crooning of Lionel Ritchie.
Why Fox News’ chief is the real head of the Republican Party
Forget Mitch McConnell and John McCain: Fox News President Roger Ailes is the person really pulling the strings of the Republican Party, says
Howard Fineman. And the real kicker is that he isn’t even trying.
Haiti needs a friend, not a nanny
The US has a long history of misguided paternalism in Haiti and it has gotten the country precisely nowhere. Haiti needs partnership, cooperation and coordination if it’s going to pull itself out of its current crisis.
Where’s the native title property boom?
Native title is frozen in time, with anyone seeking economic opportunities accused of selling out their culture. But, native title isn’t a government handout for righting past wrongs, it’s a recognition of property rights, argues Marcus Priest.
Is it “looting” to feed your family?
How can the meeja say Haitians are “looting” when people are desperate for food, stores are collapsed and there’s a lack of aid, money and authorities? Be a bit more careful with the language, warns Jerry Lanson.
When there’s a Will, there’s a way for an Oz monarchy
Current prince and future king, Prince William, is a great candidate to push the idea of a limited monarchy in Australia. Why? Because he seems just as nice as his late mum, says Ross Cameron.
PHOTO GALLERY: Vintage Apple ads
Today’s ads for Apple products are invariably sleek, trendy and oozing with cool. But that hasn’t always been the case. Check out this great gallery of vintage Apple ads from the days before dancing silhouettes and Justin Long.
Grattan: Abbott both Howard’s love child and troublesome teen
Lib leader Tony Abbott does love his old leader Howard, but even their shared conservatism mixed with pragmatism has a few differences. As Abbott’s popularity rises, can he balance Howardism with Abbott extremism? asks Michelle Grattan.
revealed 
Wyclef Jean’s Haiti charity is a financial mess
Musician Wyclef Jean and his Yele Haiti Foundation has received heapings of praise for recent fundraising efforts — but his financial disclosure records reveal the charity is in a mess, repeatedly having its corporate status dissolved.
Penberthy: Australia Day is a load of rubbish
Australia Day is about getting pissed, eating burnt snags — and very little else, says David Penberthy. Its time to finally kill off this poor excuse for a national holiday to find something really worth celebrating.
Did the UN mislead us on climate change?
The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has egg on its face after its long-held claim that climate change will melt most of the Himalayan glaciers by 2035 has been revealed as pure speculation published in a non-academic pop-science magazine.
Behind the lens in Haiti
NYT photojournalist Damon Winter is on assignment in Haiti. He tells of the endless dead bodies, brutal conditions, and the difficulty of taking a good snap in such circumstances. Plus a gallery of his stunning and shocking images.
rumour 
New York Times to go paywall
New York magazine claims the New York Times is soon to announce that it will start charging readers for access to its website, adopting a “metered system” (ie x number of articles free per day, pay for the rest) akin to that of the Financial Times.
Obama: Why we must save Haiti
US President Barack Obama pens an essay for Newsweek explaining why he has “ordered a swift, coordinated, and aggressive effort to save lives in Haiti”.
web exclusive Haiti: which celebs are putting their money where their over-botoxed mouths are?
Which celebs have gone beyond empty platitudes and actually ponied up some dosh for Haiti? And is the amount even a drop in the ocean of their epic bank accounts? Crikey investigates.
Is Australia finally embracing MMA?
Tickets to Australia’s first UFC show have sold out in near-record time and the media is finally giving Mixed Martial Arts some positive press. Will 2010 be the year MMA goes mainstream down under? asks Ruth Brown.
Amsterdam’s soft-sell on airport body scans
Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport has started the soft-sell approach to voluntary body scanners, with a brochure featuring smiling attendants, happy families, and a distinct lack of crowds or tightly packed queues, reports Ben Sandilands.
Graph nerds: when good trends go bad
“The trend is your friend” is usually a good rule of thumb when analysing polling, economic and demographic data. But for other types — say, oh, climate data — local trends can be deceptive. Possum Comitatis explains.
revealed 
The FBI’s Wall St mole
The WSJ reveals the identity and story of a senior Wall Street trader who worked undercover for the FBI — wire and all — for over a year to help uncover the biggest insider-trading case in twenty years.
Stay away from polygamy, Keysar Trad –- it’ll only break your heart. Literally.
A Public Service Announcement for Keysar Trad from Eva Cox: Give up the polygamy campaign, Keysar –- your heart may be in it, but that doesn’t mean that your heart is up to it.
Galaxy: 56-44 to Coalition in NSW
The first major poll in NSW since Kristina Keneally became Premier finds Labor in familiar dire straits, trailing the 56-44 in the two-party preferred vote. William Bowe has all the numbers.
Why putting a gun in your luggage makes it safer
Most airports in the US won’t allow your luggage to be locked. So, how can you ensure you won’t get explosives put in your bag by Slovakian authorities at the airport or ensure your expensive camera equipment remains safe? Put a gun in your bag. Seriously.
