Mozilla Firefox and the need for speedFirefox is one of the world’s most popular browsers, but a common complaint is it’s slow and clunky. In the lead-up to the release of Firefox 4, which promises to be faster, Maura Johnston whines about the frustrations associated with slow web surfing.
September, 2010
600,000 plants pruned from world species list
More than 600,000 plant species have disappeared from the dictionary - but not because they’re extinct. An English conservation program has concluded that for centuries botanists have been “discovering” new species that already existed.
Don’t expect an inheritance, warns UK report
A new survey from a European consumer finances group claims the GFC has produced a generation of skinflint anti-inheritance Europeans, with less than ten per cent of those surveyed claiming they will pass on “significant wealth” to their offspring.
Why Sarah Palin is a coward on Twitter
Once upon a time Twitter was touted as a medium capable of tearing down the barriers between the public and politicians. But the opposite often applies and Sarah Palin’s cowardly use of the platform is a case in point, writes Karl Frisch.
Lee: Video game censorship debate a case of déjà vu
Comic book legend Stan Lee has weighed in on America’s video game censorship debate, likening the current state of play to the days in which his comics were said to promote “juvenile delinquency.”
Depicting the devil: Stanton’s top ten Satans
From classic books Dante’s Inferno and Paradise Lost to popular films The Exorcist and Angel Heart, depictions of the devil have long been prevalent throughout culture. Journalist and author Peter Stanford selects his ten favourite incarnations.
Extreme ‘Cyber Storm’ set to shake up the internet
A top secret security exercise involving spy agencies and international corporations will test the capability of Australia and other nations to respond to online attacks. “Cyber Storm III” may sound like the title of a Hollywood movie but it is nevertheless very real, reports Tom Hyland.
The master spinner from Iran
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spins a story better than most PR people. He sidesteps tricky questions by instead attacking the US, changes his answer depending on the audience and relies on a translator, making it easy to ignore interviewers’ questions.
Sweden’s cliffhanger general election
The general election held in Sweden over the weekend has prompted a rash of “too close to call” cliches from media commentators, with the most recent polling suggesting a “nail-biting” clash between the country’s centre-right and far-right political parties.
lol 
PHOTO GALLERY: Foreign dictator fashionistas
One of the greatest photo galleries we’ve seen in a while, wrapping up the fashion choices of the world’s most brutal leaders, from Kim Jong Il’s love of taupe safari suits to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s chic minimalistic suits.
Turnbull: loyal soldier or rogue?
New shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull won’t be out to “demolish” the government — it’s not his style. He’ll balance attack dog with a dash of practical positivity, says Malcolm Farr.
Rallying to protect the burqa: “it is the command of Allah”
A group of Islamic advocates gathered in Sydney on the weekend to protest against proposals to ban the burqa, arguing that western values are hypocritical on issues such as oppression and women’s rights.
Sheridan: Obama gives Rudd the fist bump of approval
He might not be PM, but Washington is pretty happy with Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd leading the “special relationship” between the US and Oz. Rudd even lucked out on a private meeting with Obama at the White House, reports Greg Sheridan.
A portrait of a cyclist as a young man
A new landmark report on professional Australian cyclists seeks to develop a picture of the pathways that cyclists take in the course of their careers and they identified three common elements, says Bob Gosford.
Violence and fraud mar Afghan election
The legitimacy of last weekend’s Afghanistan election was immediately called into question following reports of widespread fraud and violence. At least 11 people were killed in insurgent attacks across the country.
Tracking the oil spill 
The death of the BP well
Five months after the traumatic BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a permanent cement plug has finally stopped the leak, with the federal bureau declaring the well “dead”.
Euthanasia debates comes back to life
Following calls from Bob Brown to reignite the “right to die” debate, Julia Gillard has announced that she will back a conscience vote on whether state and territories have the ability to legalise euthanasia.
Why is the BBC ignoring climate change?
It’s incredible that Richard Black, environment reporter for the BBC, can report on rising global temperatures and melting ice caps without addressing the issue of climate change. But he, shockingly, manages to do just that…
Labor wins the final 2PP
The Australian Electoral Commission has finalised the last of its two-party preferred Labor-versus Coalition counts, and it confirms Labor has won a narrow victory on the national total of 6,216,439 (50.12 per cent) to 6,185,949 (49.88 per cent), a margin of 30,490, writes William Bowe.
GP revenue slump contradicts crowd numbers
As plummeting sales revenue for the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix sends the event further into the major events mire, the race’s official attendance, which makes up the vast proportion of the revenue figure, has grown, according to the event’s organisers.
Advice for Malcolm: start with consumers
Everyone’s talking about Malcolm Turnbull and the NBN but Turnbull’s return suggests a real chance to end the obsession with incumbents in communications policy.
Now we know who won — does it matter?
This year, the system got the right result. But that was due more to chance than to design.
Xenophon puts pilot training, safety standards on the table
Concerns about Qantaslink safety standards and ATSB and CASA secrecy are landing on the desk of independent SA Senator Nick Xenophon.
