Everybody needs good neighbours… The Rudds have just brought a place in a certain street in Yarralumla and shortly after all residents of the street received in their mailboxes a neatly typed missive saying “please respect our privacy”. Goodness me, such an invitation over-rides one’s desire to indeed defer to such a gracious request. NSW […]
October, 2010
Crikey Says: Crikey says: time for Swan to act on the banks
The sight of the government standing four-square behind Australia’s banking oligopoly as it exploits its privileged position to gouge consumers and businesses must be deeply unsettling not merely to progressive-minded Labor MPs, but all those interested in reining in the excesses of this cartel at the centre of the Australian economy.
PHOTO GALLERY 
Refashioned Japanese factory exemplifies eco sustainability
A Japanese architect and conceptual artist have redesigned an old copper mine that’s been abandoned on a tiny island for 80 years. It is now a striking example of eco-sustainability, requiring electricity only to keep the emergency lights working.
A new perk for Google employees: servants
In recent months the US tech industry has experienced a shortage of programmers, resulting in companies like Google and Yahoo using various perks to lure employees. Google’s latest appetiser: servants, writes Ryan Tate.
murray darling 
Is the silent majority in the Basin being sidelined?
The publicity associated with the release of the Guide to the Basin Plan must be kept in perspective: two million people live in the basin and not everyone is dependent on farming for their well being. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have a say, writes Brian Ramsay.
What we can learn from Monopoly
Recently Julia Gillard and Joe Hockey have made noises about economic reform. For a reminder about the debate’s importance and the need for healthy industry-wide competition look no further than the lessons espoused by a popular board game. No prizes for guessing what it’s called.
Vale LimeWire: US disconnects another file-sharing site
Popular file-sharing website LimeWire, which attracts around 50 million users, has gone to that big copyright infringing server in the sky. A New York judge has sealed its fate, pushing the site into the same online cemetery as Napster and Kazaa.
Crunching the numbers on early midterms voting
Analyzing early voting numbers for the US midterms leaves the door open for both sides to claim they’re ahead, and looking at the national polls doesn’t help much either. But there are some interesting developments and Michael P. McDonald provides a national snapshot.
Exploring China’s 14,000 mile border
China’s 14,000 mile border, the world’s longest, straddles 14 different countries. GlobalPost correspondent Kathleen E. McLaughlin and photographer Sharron Lovell explore “Borderland.”
Gorbachev accuses Putin of blocking democracy
Former Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev, now 80, has spoken out against Vladimir Putin, arguing Putin’s leadership is deliberately blocking the path to democracy that Gorbachev forged, reports Clifford L. Jevy.
Coming to terms with the fury of the French
Millions of French people have protested against the raising of the national retirement age, but their fury encompasses a great deal more - including the deterioration of government credibility and the leadership of Nicolas Sarkozy, who only exacerbates the country’s problems, writes Ullrich Fichtner.
Everybody go surfing, surfing…Cornwall way?
As a child Nic Heath was inculcated in the belief that English beaches were crap and Australian beaches were always superior. Driving along the headland above Saunton Sands in North Devon, Heath realized he’d been mislead.
Why are journalists still calling John Howard “Prime Minister”?
At John Howard’s book launch yesterday some journalists addressed him as “Prime Minister.” Here’s a reality check, folks: he’s not Prime Minister any more, even if he does like to talk up his political achievements, writes Jacqueline Maley.
Austin: Brumby is the frontrunner, but it’s no walk in the park
The Victorian election remains Labor’s to lose, with the party considered a virtual shoo-in. But Labor strategists are worried that the numbers aren’t as good as they look and Brumby is in trouble on a number of fronts, writes Paul Austin.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Irrigators don’t have the RSPT of the miners
Crikey readers have their say.
Conan to air on GEM. Yes, GEM.
Conan O’Brien’s new late night talk show has been scheduled to air weeknights starting November 9 and will screen on Nine’s female-skewed channel GEM, which further confuses the GEM branding, writes Dan Barrett.
What does WikiLeaks say about healthcare reporting?
WIkiLeaks’ explanation of what it is raises broader themes about the changing nature of the media landscape that may be relevant to discussions about reporting of health care quality and safety, writes Melissa Sweet.
Newspoll: 52-48 to Labor in Victoria
The Australian reports the latest Victorian state Newspoll has Labor with a two-party lead of 52-48, a return to reality after the 55-45 lead they recorded in the July-August survey, writes William Bowe.
Animal Kingdom dominates the 2010 AFI Awards nominations
It will come as a surprise to nobody with a scintilla of knowledge about the Australian film industry that director David Michôd’s crime opus Animal Kingdom scored big at this year’s AFI Awards nominations, reports Luke Buckmaster.
Is the NBA doomed?
The math doesn’t add up for the NBA, which continues to bleed money at an alarming rate, writes Forbes’ Kurt Badenhausen.
Paul the octopus: the greatest psychic animal of them all
Paul the octopus is dead! Long live Paul! Crikey Sports looks at the life and times — not to mention the poor impersonators — of the great cephalopod.
Remember the West Indies
Fire in Babylon is the title of Stevan Riley’s terrific documentary about the West Indies teams that, from early 1980 until 1995, ruled cricket with an enlightened despotism unmatched, arguably, by any sporting team of any persuasion, in any era, writes Cricinfo’s Rob Steen.
A look back at Michael Jordan, basketball punk
Deadspin runs an excerpt from FreeDarko’s Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History — which looks at a young Jordan, edgy and menacing, who helped make embarrassing music that no one remembers today.
