A reassuring Metlink officer at Richmond station said this morning: “We are in the middle of a police operation. I can’t tell you what it is or there might be pandemonium … (in panicked whisper) there might be a bomb!”
June, 2010
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: Nobody panic, but there might be a bomb!
Crikey Says: The nation has spoken — it said ‘meh’
The nation is collectively suffering through a potentially fatal malaise, and it appears to be contagious.
leaked 
Worst case BP spill scenario actually far worse than BP admits
BP’s actions on the oil spill are looking even more dodgy, with an internal BP memo revealing that crude oil may be pouring out of the Gulf spill at the rate of 100,000 barrels per day.
Milne: Penrith loss is about boat people hate
If you think the swing against Labor in the Penrith by-election is just about NSW ALP and not Kevin Rudd and co, then you are a fool, says Glenn Milne. Western Sydney is worried about asylum seekers.
Firing squads: more ethical than lethal injections?
Utah allows death row prisoners to elect to be killed by a firing squad, and it may not be a bad choice. Death by firing squad takes one minute to kill a prisoner, while death by lethal injection takes nine minutes.
interactive QUIZ: Should you become a social media expert?
You can’t say “print advertising is dead” without a social media expert chiming in with their opinion. So take this simple quiz to establish if you too should join the realm of social media gurus.
Reuters delete incriminating bits from Gaza flotilla photos
A Canadian photographer aboard the Mavi Marmara took photos of bloodied Israeli soldiers and a pro-Palestinian protester with a knife and gave them to a Turkish newspaper. But why did Reuters edit the knife out?
leaked The new-look Digg
A new version of Digg/ is available, but right now only a few special people have access to it. Luckily The Next Web has revealed photos of the new Alpha version.
TV review: Hung — an excellent concept
The most interesting program on Channel Sevens schedule in 2010, Hung, makes its first appearance tonight. At its core, Hung is about the changing role of manhood in modern day America, says Dan Barrett.
Writing ‘Australia’ in six languages is tacky, not multicultural
As someone concerned about Australia’s monolingual mindset, I probably should have been pleased to discover a souvenir apron and stove gloves with ‘Australia’ written in six languages. But its tokenism upsets me, says Ingrid Piller.
Farr: Rudd reckons he’ll be knocked about but not knocked out
Kevin Rudd is struggling to understand exactly why he and his government are getting such a beating in the polls and now he’ll take his time calling an election, says Malcolm Farr.
Voters hate everyone
The latest Newspoll has the two party preferred result of 52/48 to Labor — a three point increase to the ALP over the last three Newspolls. But personal satisfaction ratings show intense voter disgruntlement, says Possum Comitatus.
Megalogenis: Kevin has no one to blame but himself
Kevin Rudd’s slide in the polls has been one of the greatest decline in Australian PM history. The economy has been kind to Rudd but Rudd compromised his own values, writes George Megalogenis.
How Twitter makes you a better writer
Twitter isn’t just for networking and making pithy one-liners about your lunch. Twitter is a great tool for improving your writing by helping build buzz about yourself and forcing you to edit your work.
Billionaires, give your money away!
Warren Buffet and Bill Gates are asking US billionaires to pledge at least half of their fortunes to charity. This has the potential to completely change philanthropy forever, says Carol Loomis.
Blood diamonds are back
Angolan diamond miners are still regularly beaten and even killed by military officials looking for bribes. Diamonds may be “conflict-free”, but that doesn’t mean human rights abuses haven’t occurred.
Meet Justin Bieber, the lawyer
The world’s tweens are infected with the Bieber fever of pop star Justin Bieber, so Justin Bieber, an attorney from Philadelphia blessed with the same name, has decided to cash in. But will advertising himself as “another Justin Bieber” ruin his personal brand?
Blockade ease won’t save destroyed economy
While the lifting of the Gaza blockade is welcomed, the mood in Gaza is still bitter and frustrated. The economy is a mess and the Hamas government want sanctions need to be lifted completely.
Israel lifts Gaza blockade
Israel PM Binyamin Netanyahu has eased the Gaza blockade, announcing that all civilian products are now allowed and only weapons and arms manufacturing products will be banned. But will the actions match the words?
Kohler: Telstra deal pays a political price
Telstra has finally agreed to sign an $11m deal for the NBN, with $9m coming from the NBN Co. and a final $2m sweetener from the government. The biggest winner here is Telstra, says Alan Kohler.
Why Rudd’s top mental health advisor resigned
Professor John Mendoza has resigned as Chair of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health. Read his resignation letter: “there is no vision or commitment from the Rudd Government to mental health”.
Shanahan: Labor back in Beazley territory
Yes, Tony Abbott’s maintains high levels of personal dissatisfaction with voters, but he is slowly narrowing the gap of preferred prime minister, says Dennis Shanahan.
Newspoll: Labor up but Rudd down
The latest Newspoll is both good and bad news for Kevin Rudd. Two party preferred is up 52-48 to Labor, but Rudd’s preferred prime minister rating is down three points and Abbott’s up four, says William Bowe.
