Pioneering online TV distributionThe rise of the internet combined with relatively inexpensive high quality production equipment has turned TV distribution into an industry no longer in the hands of media moguls. Dan Barrett looks at the emerging online TV playing ground and the world’s first made-for-torrent series, Pioneer One.
August, 2010
Former ed alleges rampant racism and sexism at NYP
The hiring, firing and editorial policies of The New York Post have been called into question following a former editor’s damning federal court complaint alleging widespread racism and sexism within the organisation.
Death by beautification?
Can beauty products kill you? What nasty secret ingredients reside inside your shampoos and soaps? A new proposed US law seeks to require beauty companies to disclose precisely what cleans (or kills) us.
The website for young rich idiots
Are you a young, ridiculously wealthy spendthrift incapable of managing your squillions of dollars of savings? No, neither are we, but a new US website is seeking to tap into exactly this demographic: the niche market of young incompetent brats.
Thou shall retell the Bible, tweet by tweet 
Time Warner lets the bedbugs bite
In recent years Manhattan skyscrapers have been attacked not by terrorists but by a far stealthier enemy: bedbugs. Time Warner is the latest corporation to report an invasion of the tiny parasites.
Beware of billionaire philanthropists
The recent pact made between American billionaires to give away vast amounts of money may seem like an inspiring initiative, but beware: philanthropy can be used to bankroll contentious ideas motivated by rich people’s desire to exert influence from the top, warns David Callahan.
Mackinlay Scotch taken off the the rocks after 102 years
A crate of Mackinlay’s Scotch has been found underneath the house of Sir Ernest Shackelton, frozen for more than a century. Parent company Whyte & Mackay plan to unthaw the whiskey and reproduce it as a new “inspired by Shacko” line of scotch.
Aid fatigue: why donors aren’t coughing up for Pakistan
The Haiti earthquake earlier this year provoked an outpouring of aid from US donors. Problem is, while the Pakistan floods are also horrific, much of the cash has already been spent.
Fears for Pakistan floods: only 20% of UN aid received
Up to 20 million people are currently homeless because of Pakistan’s epic floods, leaving an already politically embattled nation struggling to survive and UN chief Ban Ki-moon pleading for aid from foreign donors.
The world’s top Facebook nations
Facebook recently crossed the 500 million user milestone. Where in the world is the monolithic social networking website most popular? Roughly a quarter of its users come from the US, while Australia ranks down the chart at number 14.
Why WikiLeaks should be more like the military
Leaking its ‘Afghan War Diary’ documents meant that WikiLeaks seriously risked the lives of Afghan informants. Instead of massive documents dumps, blowing the cover on specific cases would make WikiLeaks more powerful.
Penberthy: Abbott’s going to win this
One of the few journos to openly suggest a Tony Abbott win this weekend, David Penberthy is convinced that not only will Abbott be PM, but he’ll win it outright.
Possum Comitatus: Newspoll Monday and trends update
Today’s Newspoll via The Oz shows little movement, running from a sample of 1693 and giving us an MoE that maxes out around the 2.4% mark.
Keane’s Talking Points: at the business end, it’s the disinterested that count
Now we’re into the business end of proceedings. The last three years now come down to five days of campaigning and three days of advertising and either side, or neither, can still win it. Given how bereft of inspiration, vision or honesty both sides have been, a hung parliament would be the most fitting outcome, […]
Crikey Says: Campaign Crikey morning edition: Day 30
“They say voting’s compulsory in Australia, but it’s not compulsory to fill out the ballot paper. You can put it straight into the ballot box, totally blank. That’s what I’ll be doing on Saturday and I urge you to do the same. It’s the ultimate protest vote.”
The front pages: holy mackerel … it’s Tony’s boat phone!
How some of the nation’s newspapers are leading this morning.
Election Tracker: Day 27/28/29
The two candidates stepped up their campaign over the weekend as they looked for that one big push to get them over the line. Gillard announced a carbon credits fund for farmers and visited junior footy, while Abbott wooed miners and shared beer with Penrith locals.
It’s still anyone’s game
Daily Media Wrap: After weeks of campaigning, the race between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott is still fierce. Will it be a photo-finish for PM or will one leader streak ahead in the final stretch?
Boatman to the rescue
Who said this year’s election had no visionaries, no heroes? If the Coalition are elected, border patrollers will have a red phone connected straight to the office of Tony “Boatman” Abbott. Whether or not to turn a boat back will be a Prime Ministerial decision.
How acting and politics became improv-itics
Complaints about a vision-less and passionless election campaign ignore the glorious perversity at the core of it: a combo of farce and improvisation from two candidates who aren’t sure what they stand for or what to say, writes David Burchell.
Sheehan: Gillard’s cookin’ up some yummy porkie pies
To scrape over the election finishing line this Saturday the ALP must focus on six key areas. The most important are the pie-easters — those ravenous folk addicted to big spending, writes Paul Sheehan.
Doorknocking in Melbourne, Part 2: Cath Bowtell presses the flesh
“Hi, I’m Cath Bowtell, Lindsay Tanner’s replacement,” Labor’s candidate for Melbourne proclaimed gutsily in Victoria Street Richmond this week as the battle for the federal seat reached its pointy end
