How Twitter stole the federal electionThe Kevin07 election may have been the Youtube/Facebook election, but this year’s federal election is shaping up to be “twitterised”. But some pollies — looking at you TonyAbbottMHR — need to up their Twitter game.
February, 2010
The fear that dare not speak its name: Tony Abbott as leader of Australia?
It’s the fear being whispered in inner city bars and cafes, can Tony Abbott really become Australia’s next PM? asks Ben Eltham. The Coalition is making Labor feel uncomfortable, but Labor die hards shouldn’t panic yet.
Name that band!
From Cradle of Filth to Kajagoogoo, a band’s name can make or break them. Tim Dunlop wants to hear your fantasy band’s name (come on, you know you’ve got one). “Warriors of the New Green Morality” is taken, though.
Film review: The Hurt Locker — white knuckle warfare
There are intense films and then there are films as throbbingly white-knuckle as The Hurt Locker, a swear-you’re-there war pic about the rush, dangers and complexities of bomb defusing in Iraq, writes Luke Buckmaster.
Not all Aussies are true blue Barnabys
Barnaby Joyce is an “authentic” politician because he’s a gaffe-prone country boy? Joyce is no more “real” than any other Australian pollie, and this phony populist, anti-elite stance needs to end, writes Dennis Glover.
Betting Market Friday: Coalition drops under $4
Almost all of Australia’s betting agencies have shortened their odds on the Coalition winning the next election this week, reports Possum Comitatus, with most now running below $4
Grattan: Can Abbott tame the WorkChoices beast?
Other disposed Lib leaders wouldn’t touch industrial relations with a ten foot pole, but Tony Abbott says “WorkChoices wasn’t all bad” and is pushing his own, more tightly reigned in version. Will it work for Abbott? asks Michelle Grattan.
Adelaide election: 50.5-49.5 to Maywald in Chaffey
A new poll in the South Australian state seat of Chaffey, held by the state’s sole Nationals MP, Karlene Maywald, finds an effective dead heat between Maywald and Liberal candidate Tim Whetstone, reports William Bowe.
Penny Wong: Climate change deniers are the cigarette supporters of yore
Penny Wong launches a scathing attack on climate change deniers, including the lies of Climategate and says the worst thing about Copenhagen’s failure was the smugness that it gave sceptics.
Rudd puts his finger on the double dissolution trigger
Is Australia headed for a double dissolution election? That’s what the pundits are predicting this morning, with the Government’s sudden switch in focus from the ETS to the private health insurance rebate means test.
How America was conned into buying 16m bottles of cheap French plonk
French wine merchants passed off 13.5 million litres of cheap wine as “Pinot Noir” — and US drinkers lapped it up.
The UK releases 15 years of UFO records
The British Ministry of Defence has released hundreds of UFO reports from 1994 to 2000, including sightings from the RAF and politicians, plus crop circles, mysterious illnesses and flying Toblerones.
Larissa Behrendt talks: postcards, the walk-off and the Intervention
Bob Gosford chats to Professor Larissa Behrendt about some hot-button issues affecting Indigenous Australians — including the sale of postcards featuring naked Aboriginal children.
PHOTO GALLERY: A year of Obama feigning interest in boring things
Being President of the US isn’t all hanging out with Oprah and organic veggie gardens: you have to spend a lot of time visiting factories and schools and other snoozefests. Marvel as Obama fakes interest in bolts, lab projects, wire and more.
Crowd-funded journalism
Journalist Paige Williams had a great yarn about a redneck-turned-rocket-scientist-turned-environmentalist, but every magazine in the country rejected it. So she put it up free online, and asked people to pay as they saw fit. So far, she’s earned $1500.
Garrett fingered over dodgy solar panels, but story ‘a beat up’
Dodgy home solar panel installations are putting lives at risk and Peter Garrett is solely responsible, if you believe the news reports doing the rounds today. Except, that’s not quite the whole story.
The Senate lends Scientology a helping hand
Last week, the Senate allowed Scientology to respond in Hansard to allegations made against them. As usual, the cult used it as an opportunity to attack its former members.
St Kilda in damage control as the Lovett saga unravels
AFL club St Kilda lost Luke Ball to Collingwood and gained the tainted — and now booted — Andrew Lovett. Now they’re very anxious down at Morrabbin about how the media will spin it, writes Ashley Browne.
Moguls and ministers mix it up
There’s a good old-fashioned stoush between politicians and media proprietors under way. Grab some popcorn, sit back and enjoy.
Eddie and Mick feel the heat in Vancouver gay row
Mick Molloy and Eddie McGuire have prompted a blizzard of complaints to Nine with their “homophobic” schoolboy sniggering while commentating US figure skating champion Johnny Weir.
Video of the Day: Yale, the musical
Yes, it’s a seemingly non-ironic 16 minute musical ad about the best parts of Yale university.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Mike Rann et al (and a new cagematch in the making…)
Crikey readers weigh in on Mike Rann, Queensland’s antiquated abortion laws and the My School website. Plus, Senator Nick Xenophon gives his take on an anonymous tip.
Business As Usual: Bricks and mortar, fleecing Greece, grog goes with Coke
Weak figures from the construction sector, new reasons to hate Goldman Sachs, everyone’s are back on the booze, why debt is about to peak, and more business briefs.
