The world’s biggest sport event, the FIFA World Cup, is just weeks away and here’s a little reminder for those who’ve forgotten how important football is to the rest of the world. Yes, it is a Nike ad, but it’s a beauty.
May, 2010
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: Sydney’s Metro blowout
The compensation bill for the NSW government’s failed Metro to Rozelle has blown out far beyond the reported $500 million. But to exactly how much?
Crikey Says: Mind the gap
How to sift out the spin when much of the talk around the Resources Super Profits Tax is based on market sentiment, a fickle beast at best?
The report that demolishes the mining case, Beacher: tabloid media laughing at David Campbell, Rich List preview 
Why Australians live longer than Americans
A huge new study has found the risk of dying young in Australia has fallen dramatically over the past 40 years, but America is lagging badly behind. The difference? Universal health care.
30 years of Pac-Man
Classic video game Pac-Man is celebrating 30 years of being chased by ghosts, eating dots and finding Ms Pac-Man inappropriately hot. Wired has a great interview with its creator Toru Iwatani about how the game came to life.
Kohler: The regulators are wrong
European regulators are out in force, attacking hedge funds, short selling and proprietary trading. Too bad that these issues didn’t cause the GFC or Greece’s mess, says Alan Kohler.
great read 
The net worth of every US President compared
The Atlantic has calculated the net worth of every US president in today’s dollars, shedding an interesting perspective on Obama’s wealth: he’s positively poor compared to the likes of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, JFK and Lyndon Johnson.
Eat it, Pac-Man’s the most influential video game ever
On the weekend, classic video game Pac-Man celebrated its 30th birthday, with even the Google logo joining in the festivities. The little gobbling blob was the first video game to ever win mainstream popularity.
The Cape Cod oil spill: 40 years on
It’s been more than four decades since 200,000 gallons of oil were spilled in Florida’s Cape Cod, and the effects are still being felt today. The recent BP spill is hemorrhaging as much as 4,200,000 gallons a day…
Why does James Murdoch hate public libraries?
James “Son of Rupert” Murdoch has hit out at the British Library and its evil information sharing ways. Roy Greenslade has a memo for him: libraries don’t care about your bottom line.
The Jock Wrap: Barry explodes, building implodes and roller derby
Celebrity cartoonist First Dog on the Moon and Leigh Josey try to talk about sport but get sidetracked by talking rubbish (about sport). It’s all because First Dog went to the Roller Derby!
How frugal Fitness First is creating a market for fake pop stars
Aussie gyms are now required to pay royalties for original songs played in their aerobic classes. But instead of coughing up the cash, they’ve replaced the top 40 tracks with budget brand cover versions.
Why China is really pumping billions into Australia’s mining industry
China is investing in Australia’s start-up mining companies in an effort to undermine BHP and Rio Tinto. Many Australians have become overnight billionaires, but where will this ride on the great dragon lead us?
Porn, air travellers and the Customs confusion
Australian customs officials are now asking on airport arrival forms about pornography, technically requiring travellers to decide whether any photos they have of themselves and their lovers is ‘pornography’, explains Ben Sandilands.
Why I’m ditching my iPhone for Android
Tech journo Daniel Lyons is breaking up with his iPhone. Google’s new Android OS, Froyo, blows Apple out of the water.
How TV shows became art
Since Hill Street Blues in the ’80s, commercial TV drama series have evolved from popular entertainment to popular art, argues Richard Beck. Shows like The Sopranos, The Wire and Lost have made TV acceptable intellectual fodder.
Rudd and Blair: doppelganger PMs
Former UK PM Tony Blair was a triumph of spin over substance and our own Kevin Rudd is the same. Christopher Pearson compares the two, from insincere mea culpas to their love of celebrities.
Meet Rand Paul: the new Sarah Palin
Republican Senate candidate and Tea Party pin-up boy Rand Paul is being called the “new Sarah Palin”: a popular political novice making big headlines — for all the right and wrong reasons.
I was an illegal immigrant
At 13, Wendy Carrillo found out she was an illegal immigrant. As the DREAM Act hits the headlines — legislation to give alien US high school students permanent residency upon graduation — Carrillo reflects on life as an illegal.
North Korea, open for business
It’s not easy doing business in North Korea, since trade sanctions could kill your business at any moment. But low overheads and cheap, hardworking labour make it an interesting spot for foreign investors.
Is Google evil?
Google has become the all powerful controller of the internet, giving its own content priority and raising serious issues of competition law. The regulators of Washington are watching it very, very closely.
Tony Abbott: liar or bullshitter?
Lies are forgivable, but bullshit is sticky and gets into corners where it can’t be reached, explains Crikey’s resident word nerd Piers Kelly. So what particular flavour of dishonesty is Tony Abbott peddling?
The ALP: wolves in geeks’ clothing
Everyone’s laying into the Coalition for its tech policies (or lack thereof), but the ALP really isn’t much savvier, says Renai LeMay. Its NBN, internet filter, e-health and telco policies have all been very messy.
