The cold turkey social media experimentAccess to social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter was prohibited for one week at an American university earlier this month as part of an academic exercise to test how students would react. A social media expert has spoken out against the experiment, labeling it “too extreme.”
September, 2010
Was Obama burned in Obama’s Wars?
The Obama administration - including the President himself - cooperated with author Bob Woodward for his new book Obama’s Wars, which details America’s involvement in the war in Afghanistan. Leslie H. Gelb discusses how Obama was portrayed and whether or not he was “burned.”
My Cup Of Tea: Online, arts criticism is flourishing
Criticism is one of the most important aspects of the arts and culture, but sadly one of the least understood. It’s also amongst the hardest of professions to make a living in. Just ask the host of online bloggers, who are feeding a great debate, writes Ben Eltham.
Van Onselen: Tony’s dodgy backflip
It’s absolute bull that Tony Abbott backed out of the speaker parliamentary reforms because they may be unconstitutional. He’s just lacking in honour, writes Peter van Onselen.
Shanahan: Shaky start for Gillard govt
There’s no Speaker yet, the Greens keep pushing a carbon tax and euthanasia and the Coalition want Wild Rivers legislation. It’s a precarious position for a new PM to be in, says Dennis Shanahan.
Ahmadinejad: 9/11 “a big fabrication”
At the UN General Assembly yesterday firebrand Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad prompted a walkout by representatives of more than 30 countries, describing the September 11 attacks as an American concoction engineered to “save the Zionist regime.”
Grattan: Get ready for war
Forget all that talk about a pleasant new political paradigm with smiles, handshaking and a gum drop house on Lollipop Lane. With such tight numbers, this parliament will be summarized by one word: war, writes Michelle Grattan.
Clean energy moves ahead amid climate policy carnage
Passage of the enhanced 20% renewable energy target is one hard fought victory for climate change policy amongst the wreckage littering the corridors of parliament house in Canberra, says Rob Grant.
Film review: The Last Airbender — shame on you, Shyamalan
How the career of the once promising writer/director M. Night Shyamalan has plummeted so spectacularly is a mystery for the ages. His latest is his worst yet: all fat and no fire, all slog and no sizzle, writes Luke Buckmaster.
Air superiority crisis … 14-minute warning hard to ignore
On YouTube there is a 14-minute warning — about the air superiority crisis facing Australia as a US ally — that new defence minister Stephen Smith and every member of the new parliament needs to review.
Better than online, TV in courts … under oath, the camera doesn’t lie
Law academics are divided over a proposal for courts to publish their own newspapers. But one expert says transparency of legal proceedings should go even further — with television broadcasts.
The final numbers: roughly democratic
The final election figures say some important things about how Australian democracy actually works.
Commonwealth Games: why New Delhi has no excuse
There is no excuse for large-scale sporting events to fail. Sure, there can be security issues, but there is no good reason why Indian organisers should fail in their fundamental duties, writes Naomi Levin.
Casualties of the US zombie banks
The number of US households at risk of foreclosure has been estimated at one in five, writes Karen Maley.
Bolt in court: freedom of speech v the prohibition of race hate
Short of force of arms, there is surely no more awesome power in the modern world than the ability to define and represent people in the public eye.
Crikey Wrap: India’s shame Games
Eleven days out from the Delhi Commonwealth Games and rather than working on the best sporting clichés, the world’s media is going for gold examining the current shambles in Delhi.
Coalition plays smart on speakership
The Opposition may not be adhering to the spirit of the parliamentary reform agreement, but it’s playing smart politics.
Come in Spinner: Words, sticks and stones…
One of the great achievements of the post-World War II consensus — the moderation of political language — is starting to unravel a little bit, writes Noel Turnbull.
High-rise developments … there are high risks, too
While the changes in foreign investment rules may appear to benefit developers — they may in reality be creating a new set of unforeseen risks.
Impartial advice from connection services? It’s just not TRU
A utility connection provider that promises a “real choice of services” has angered customers by preferencing an energy company with an undeclared ownership stake in the business. Jason Whittaker and Nick Johns-Wickberg report.
Neighbours’ move next door takes Ten’s drama quota with it
Ten’s new digital channel raises questions about an issue the Government appeared to want to put off until 2012: the local content quota.
Former Age senior exec breaks silence over circulation tactics
A former senior Age executive has broken his silence over the circulation tactics he helped mastermind, claiming he achieved record increases to The Sunday Age’s circulation by extending the newspaper’s controversial “education” scheme to the weekend.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Of detention centres and detainees
Crikey readers have their say on detention centres, detainees and who’ll be our next speaker of parliament.
Morning Market Report: Markets down as financials underperform
The S&P 500 has its biggest fall in two weeks but remained above the 1130 technical resistance level.
