As the temperature rises across the eastern states, Croakey puts together a list of the best hints for keeping cool. Be careful of electric fans!
January, 2010
First Agassi, now McGwire. Who next? Benaud?
So baseball legend Mark McGwire has joined the long list of drug taking sportsmen, admitting to taking steroids in 1998; the year in which he broke the single-season home run record. Jeez, who’s next? asks Leigh Josey.
Bartlett: Do we as say, not as we’d do
Whilst holding a government to its promises has a lot going for it, urging the government to do something that you believe yourself is a bad idea just because you are the Opposition is a bit of a non-sequitur, writes Andrew Bartlett.
Cold comfort on climate change
While SA and Victoria swelters with high temperatures, north-Western Europe are suffering with a cold winter snap, with the media reporting the freeze along with a discussion of how it has given heart to greenhouse denialists.
Can the iTablet do to publishing what the iPod did to music?
There’s a million questions floating around about Apple’s new secret tablet, from how much control will Apple have to whether it will revolutionise the publishing industry. Macworld attempts to predict the future.
Mr Clean of Croatia
After months of political scandals, Croatia’s new president Ivo Josipovic has come to power on the promise of cleaning up the system and fighting corruption. Can he do it?
Foxy Sarah Palin hits the screen
She’s back! Republican Sarah Palin has nabbed a new gig with Fox News, where she will host a series on the network occasionally. She’s gained official wingnut status now, but let’s hope she doesn’t get “too Hollywood”, says pundits.
Risky refugees trap Rudd
Four of the Tamil asylum seekers from the Oceanic Viking kerfuffle have been rejected for security reasons, putting the government in a difficult conundrum. They can’t send them back, can’t give them Australian visas and its unlikely any other country will want them. What now?
Westminster 2.0: UK pollies on Twitter
With the UK’s electoral battle heating up, The Independent has a guide to the best tweeps in British Parliament — and beyond.
How China has the world electronics industry by the balls
China mines more than 95% of the world’s supply of rare earth metals used in laptops, mp3 players, mobiles, medical equipment and hybrid cars. What if the country just stopped exporting them? We may soon find out…
Why are women writing about their bra colour on Facebook?
Female Facebook users all over the world have been telling the world about the colour of their bras — and no one knows why. Is it to raise breast cancer awareness? Or just plain pointless?
What lies beneath: state polling data
Possum Comitatus takes a look at the state-by-state figures of Federal polling data and finds some interesting action happening beneath the very stable national numbers.
Film review: It’s Complicated — fun loving fogies go hump in the night
The niche genre of middle-aged-and-then-some kinky comedies has just got an exciting new entry thanks to the new Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin led rom-com It’s Complicated.
How can we reduce the road toll?
In the wake of some terrible road smashes during the holiday season, Croakey has been wondering about what might be done to improve road safety and reduce the toll. What are some evidence based suggestions?
Antony Green: The date of the 2010 Federal election is…
Balancing footy grand finals and the possibility of a double dissolution election, it looks like the Tony and Kev battle will occur between early August and mid September, speculates Antony Green.
Australia Post: the People’s Bank?
The big banks need to absorb more of their funding cost pressures rather than passing every rise onto the customers. With standard mail becoming a thing of the past, Australia Post should turn to banking, argues Christopher Joyce.
Poll Bludger‘s SA Election GuideNews goes on holiday
It’s summer in Australia, and that means shark attacks, bushfires and new years resolutions spreads. Help Crikey name and shame some of the worst fluff the Aussie media is using to pad out column inches and air time.
Productivity Commission strikes out on curbing runaway exec pay
While the Productivity Commission report was not without merit, when it comes to actually curbing runaway pay, it will be of little or no effect, writes Adam Schwab.
Has China peaked too soon?
Will China power the world out of its economic slump? Ken Phillips investigates whether the dragon has enough fire in its belly.
Summer reading, had me a blast: best of the blogs
Just because you were lying on a beach debating whether it was time for your next sunscreen application, doesn’t mean the Crikey bloggers were. Here’s our pick of the best from the past 2.5 weeks.
Guy Rundle: Get Nicked, that’s no spell cast on the Left
According to the The Oz’s authorised left-winger, Nick Dyrenfurth, the Left is humourless and the Right make better drinking companions.
Media briefs: The tasty flavour of Facebook … is the mag nakedness really necessary?
From Marie Claire to Madison to the latest UK Grazie, are all these naked women actually inspiring anyone? Plus, more bloggers getting book deals, New Idea vs. Bjork, NY Time stuff ups and other media gossip.
Death star: a case of disaster porn gone wrong
One reason the “disaster porn” pushers in critical areas such as health and climate change are so frustrated is that the shriller the message the more suspicious and resistant the public becomes.
The New Republic / Monday, 11 January 2010
Pakistan’s mainstream media is increasingly pushing an ominously anti-American line, claims The New Republic, and at the forefront is newspaper The Nation and its editor Shireen Mazari — the country’s answer to Anne Coulter.