Top ten ‘did you know?’ facts about MicrosoftDid you know Microsoft was originally spelt Micro-soft? Did you know over 23 million free drinks are consumed on the company campus every year? Did you know Microsoft holds over 10,000 patents? Didn’t think so.
July, 2010
Gillard and Abbott jump on the spending cuts bandwagon
Australians have grown accustomed to politicians with deep pockets, prepared to woo voters with their big-spending election promises. But in 2010 the latest fad is not to spend. This may be admirable, writes Jessica Irvine, but will good policy fall victim to fashion?
Keane’s Talking Points: nothing risked nothing gained; just fine for leaders
Halfway through the first week and no positive policy yet from the Coalition, just detail about what they’re against, including, apparently, regional infrastructure. Labor has eked out two policies, including yesterday’s national apprenticeship announcement, so they’re slightly less negative.
Delhi: An anxious city lies in wake
The 2010 Commonwealth Games are fast approaching and Delhi is an anxious city ahead of its impending transformation. Behind the excitement, however, lies potentially devastating social, environmental and political consequences for the region’s next superpower, writes Mitu Sengupta.
Debates, purse strings and potential Red Faces
Daily Media Wrap: It’s a mixed-bag in the media this morning, with talk of population continuing to overflow, Tony Abbott still getting haunted by the “dead, buried, cremated” Work Choices zombie and political nerds preparing their rebuttle for the leaders’ debate.
Election Tracker: Day 3 — Gillard in western Sydney … Abbott in Melbourne … S-x Party launch …
Three days down, 31 to go and the election tracker is kicking into gear. Team Real Action has covered 2,798 clicks so far, while Team Moving Forward has indeed been moving forward, clocking up a huge 4,496km.
It’s amateur hour at Tony’s house
Four days into the federal election campaign and IR is the topic of the day. But it seems that Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and his party have been caught on the hop, appearing like amateurs and willing to give up a generational-long commitment by the Liberal Party to labour market reform, writes Paul Kelly.
Did BP doctor photos of its crisis command centre?
It appears that BP is not only dodgy at capping leaks, but also dodgy at doctoring photographs. One blogger noticed that the oil giant altered a photograph of its command center. Dadly, too.
Would the Republicans have managed the Gulf oil spill any better?
The Obama administration has come under fire for its response to BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill. But what would the Republicans have done differently, and would they have achieved a better result?
Campaign Crikey morning edition — Day 4
“Wayne Swan is to surpluses what Paris Hilton is to celibacy. They remember it once existed, but they’ll never see it again.”
The front pages: the country moves forward away from election
A look at what the nation’s newspapers are leading with this morning.
Keane: debates are for political tragics — most people don’t give a toss
The debate over the debate – now to be held at the National Press Club at the unlikely hour of 6.30 this Sunday – is a neat summation of the gulf between the political classes – who may or may not chatter as well — and ordinary punters.
Coalition announces new round of savings
It seems increasingly clear the Coalition’s economic policy for the election is to continue its scare campaign on debt and deficits and hope Australians are economically illiterate enough to connect a possible interest rate rise by the RBA in two weeks with Labor’s economic policies, writes Bernard Keane.
Political snippets: Who won the news cycle: a shocker for Abbott
The radio and television interviews by the Opposition Leader were, in a word, terrible.
A tale of two press conferences: parallels between Abbott and the Sex Party
It’s a morning of election campaign pressers. First, a three-headed Coalition monster at the Langham Hotel in Melbourne, followed by a Sex Party knees up at the somewhat sketchy nightclub on the other side of the Yarra.
Campaign diary: Queanbeyan, where democracy is an awkward cup of coffee
Even as we speak, across Australia hundreds of politicians are awkwardly sitting down for coffee in the nation’s malls while the assembled media looks on. Ain’t campaigning wonderful.
Local snapshot: Flinders ALP candidate accuses Abbott of contributing to suicides
Whatever your view of Tony Abbott and his policies, it’s a bit much to accuse him of contributing to suicides. And yet a prospective Labor MP for the seat of Flinders has done exactly that.
Labor’s population
obsession
While Labor desperately appeals to the redneck vote on population, it is heading in the right direction on housing infrastructure because there’s a chance it might actually produce quality policy.
leaked Dick Smith attacks ATSB over inaction on near miss of two jets
Dick Smith has made a politically sensitive attack on the Australian Transport Safety Bureau for avoiding its responsibilities in its inquiry into a close encounter between a Virgin Blue 737 and a Jetstar A320 over a fog-bound Launceston Airport two years ago.
Predicting Bernanke’s next move keeps US investors on edge
All eyes will be on US Federal Reserve boss Ben Bernanke when he delivers his semi-annual testimony to US lawmakers on Wednesday, writes Karen Maley from Business Spectator.
Living in the whaling nations: land of the cold, long winter
Crikey reader Paul Johannessen — an Australian who has a home in Norway and is currently living in Japan — writes part two of a two-part series on living in the whaling nations.
Keane essay, part 2: Gillard’s words are her weapons
For all their differences, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott have arrived at a very similar destination politically as they head towards the 2010 election.
