Our current generation of politicians, on both sides, should closely study even Howard’s necessarily biased account of his time in government for answers to the fundamental problem of how to successfully prosecute major economic reform.
October, 2010
Finance for dummies: currency war 101
Recently tensions between China and America have sparked much speculation about a currency war between them. But what exactly does the term “currency war” mean and how can you judge the winner?
travel 
Yuendumu: country music, Collingwood and a horse-eating dog
Over a few plastic cups of nice red, Bob Gosford last weekend met fellow online writer Liam Campbell. Campbell has contributed a ruminative piece to The Northern Myth reflecting on his experiences in Yuendumu.
VIDEO: Democrat busted receiving text tip-off
During an ad break in a nationally televised debate Floridian Democrat Alex Sink was busted breaking the rules when an adviser showed her, in clear sight of her opponent, an illicit mobile text message.
Coming to terms with Joe Hockey
The media struggle to untangle two core components of Joe Hockey’s personality: his easygoing and affable personality and his doggedly determined political mindset, writes Nicole Love.
Does Andrew Bolt have a special interest in regional media?
Today Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt blogged about Peter Costello’s column damning John Howard. But instead of linking to The Age or The Sydney Morning Herald Bolt chose to link to the Bendigo Advertiser. Why? Some sort of interest in regional media?
The Qantas paddle pop stick debacle
Where airlines and ice cream intersect: the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association claims that Qantas planes are breaching safety standards with faulty cockpit doors that can allegedly be opened with papple pop sticks, writes Ben Sandilands.
Portrait of a poodle
W H Chong draws a portrait of Darko the Wonder Poodle: incorrigible licker, a great leaper on laps and a “whirling dervish.”
Film review: Paranormal Activity 2 — extra ordinary spooks
The sequel to last year’s phenomenally successful small budget thriller Paranormal Activity should be applauded for its minimalistic approach, were it not crassly employed and devoid of psychological edge, writes Luke Buckmaster.
Bligh looking to remove optional preferential voting
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has reportedly asked the Attorney-General to look into whether optional preferential voting is leading to an increase in the informal vote in Queensland. Maybe, just maybe, boosting ALP electoral prospects has something to do with it, writes Possum Comitatus.
Karl Rove’s mysterious midterms movings
The man known as one of the masterminds behind George W. Bush’s career, Karl Rove, is oddly embroiled in this year’s midterms. Criticized by the left and the right, he nevertheless appears to be relishing every moment, writes Kenneth P. Vogel and James Hohmann.
Assange on King: shame on you, Larry
Notorious WikiLieaks founder Julian Assange appeared on Larry King Live in a tetchy exchange during which the late night talk show host rankled Assange by questioning him about an interview he walked out of last week.
McCrann: Gillard’s trio of lies
During the election campaign Julia Gillard made three big promises - concerning boats, carbon tax and miners - and all of them have amounted to big fat nothing, says Terry McCrann.
Joe’s formula: resist protectionism, forge reform
Joe Hockey has responded to Julia Gillard’s accusation of “economic Hansonism” by criticizing the government’s record and reiterating his views that marketing failures were caused largely by a lack of competition in the sector, reports David Uren.
Grattan: Costello’s spray pulls no punches
Peter Costello has unleashed a vicious spray against his old boss in a Sydney Morning Herald opinion piece, effectively calling him a liar and a tyrant. It’s a rant littered with ridicule and sarcasm, writes Michelle Grattan.
The Howard and Costello reunion tour
Crikey Media Wrap: The launch of John Howard’s book Lazarus Rising has reignited the epic stoush between the former PM and his former deputy Peter Costello, including prompting a vitriolic spray from Pete in today’s Sydney Morning Herald.
An ode to sports’ big boned heroes
Yesterday, Tasmanian batsman Mark Cosgrove smashed 159 against Victoria at the MCG. Crikey Sports looks at the chubby history of some of sports’ greatest “athletes”.
It’s time to take no balls by the horns and clean up Pakistani cricket
ABC TV’s Four Corners last night conformed what every cricket fan already knew: Pakistan cricket is a disgrace and it needs to be acted on, writes the SMH’s Peter Roebuck.
Space tourism the next big thing…in pollution
Space tourism: it’s long been held up as the future of travel, but could all those rockets have a big impact on climate changes? Why yes they will, say new computer simulations.
Why the NFL should follow rugby’s example
Rugby, a game very bit as Vicious as NFL, doesn’t use helmets or padding. Is it time for the NFL to follow rugby’s lead? The Globe and Mail’s Eddie Pells asks the question following the debate over helmet safety engulfing American football.
World Series: the magic and unpredictability of San Francisco
A Biblical rainstorm and a deadly earthquake: when it comes to a World Seires in San Francisco anything can, and usually does, happen, writes The New York Times’ George Vecsey.
Life after legalisation for Mendocino County
Next month, Californians will vote on Proposition 19 — a bill which legalises the possession of certain amounts of marijuana and allows governments to control commercial distribution and collect taxes. Mendocino County, one of the biggest growers of pot, is preparing for life after legalisation, John Gravois reports.
Give me a why? — when cheerleading goes bad
Jezebel investigates the dark side of cheerleading in the USA.
