Daily Media Wrap: Julia Gillard is under heavy spit-ball fire from all sides of the classroom today, facing shonky builders, angry teachers, stubborn unionists and smarmy Australian columnists.
April, 2010
Hartcher: We totally messed up the Indian students debacle
Australia has failed to address the violence against Indian students issue , leaving dramatically reduced student numbers and a severely damaged Australian reputation. This will have a major long term effect, writes Peter Hartcher.
Syvret: Kevin, I’ve got some questions for you
It’s a big year for Chairman Kevin and his confusing Ruddspeak. So let’s clarify once and for all — our economy is doing well because a) we sold it to the Chinese or b) Barnaby’s not running the show? asks Paul Syvret.
UK Election: Parties make their pitch
The UK Labor and Tory parties have released their manifestos for this year’s election: two very different visions for the future of Britain, with two tellingly different covers.
Pulitzer Prize winners announced
The winners of journalism’s most coveted gongs have been announced: The Washington Post won the most awards, while investigative outfit ProPublica clocked up one for online journalism with a nod for its excellent expose on New Orleans hospitals post-Katrina.
Album review: Johnny Cash’s Ain’t No Grave
Tim Dunlop looks at the latest (and hopefully final) posthumous release from country legend Johnny Cash. It’s a decent album, but it’s time to say “thanks for the memories”, and let this be the end.
Why authors should write apps, not e-books
Authors shouldn’t just think of the iPad as another place to publish their books, says Cody Brown: they should see it as an opportunity to communicate their stories and messages in new, “mind-blowing” ways.
A review of Australia’s first 3D TV
Samsung has announced it will begin selling 3D TVs in Australia next week, starting at $2899 a pop. So are they any good? Not a bad start, says AVHub — provided you don’t mind dorky glasses, and don’t watch while drunk.
PHOTO GALLERY: Premier League stars draw self portraits
Professional footballers have drawn self portraits of themselves for a charity auction. The Independent asked a graphologist to analyse what they tell us about the players. Our guess: that they can’t draw.
Essential: Voters live up to stereotypes
The latest Essential Report comes in at 54-46 to Labor — no change from last week. But when it comes to foreign policy, voters are split predictably down party lines, says Possum Comitatus.
How we work — if we’re artists, writers, Fred Astaire or Ricky Gervais
W H Chong examines the wisdom from writers, designers and other arty types on how to balance the creative juices with actually getting some work done. Like, don’t allow yourself a cuppa.
My life with no money
For the last 15 months Mark Boyle has not spent a single cent, instead he grows his own food, uses a compost toilet and lives in a caravan he picked up for free. The only thing he misses? A drink at the pub.
must read I was a pregnant embedded journalist in Afghanistan
Elizabeth Rubin tells of her time as a pregnant war journo embedded with the US military, dealing with injured mothers and children, relieving her bladder in drink bottles and watching the Taliban kill those around her.
Are billionaires Macs or PCs?
Forbes asks billionaires: are you a Mac or a PC? Most are Macs, but apparently the truly wealthy are rich enough to afford not to need computers at all.
A few words about Russian jets
The crash of a Polish government jet, which killed the country’s president, has brought out the usual cliches about dodgy Russian airliners. But the real problem is much more about how badly they are flown than design limitations, explains Ben Sandilands.
Stokes’ successful merger hides behind-the-scenes campaign of spin
The Seven Network and WesTrac are set to merge, following a concerted campaign of intimidation and aggressive lobbying by the Seven-Stokes camp.
New Tote proprietor to press Brumby on liquor changes
New Tote Hotel proprietor Jon Perring has called on the Victorian government to immediately fix its liquor licensing laws, to avoid a repeat of the saga that forced the hallowed rock venue to shut its doors.
Video of the Day: Live from the Bangkok protests
Watch as the red shirt protests in Thailand turn from peaceful to violent in a matter of seconds, as the military opens fire. WARNING: Violence and naughty words
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: A matter of principle in the asylum seeker debate
The immigration and population debate is getting heated in Crikey’s comments section, with economic migrants vs. actual asylum seekers and whether boat people are just paying to jump the queue.
Business As Usual: Finally, China has a trade deficit … Greece now rated a notch above junk status …
China had its first monthly trade deficit in six years in March, although it still had a $9.9 billion surplus with the US … Another small bank bites the dust in the US … Greece’s credit rating has been dropped to BBB, a notch or two above junk status …
While indicators show another malaise, optimistic markets ignore grey clouds
Despite myriad indicators that financial markets will fall into another malaise, it appears that Mr Market remains in a state of blessed optimism, ignorant of the grey clouds appearing on the economic horizon.
Greece bail-out defuses crisis … for the moment, anyway
The deal by eurozone finance ministers to approve an emergency aid mechanism for Greece will reassure markets that Greece will not implode — for the time being.
