Despite a very hostile initial reaction, there’s going to be no let-up in the major campaign launched by Australian retailers for the federal government to level the tax playing-field, writes Henry Rosenbloom, founder and publisher of Scribe.
January, 2011
Queensland floods: clean-up fanfare for the common goal
It was a surreal but heartening scene, seeing all these people work together for the common goal, writes Brisbane resident Ben Graham.
Possum: floods, prices and mortality
Just about every large destructive event — be it flood, fire or cyclone — has consequences on the prices of goods and services at the local level.
Essential: why we love to shop online (and reject paying GST)
The vast majority of Australians reject moves by the big retailers to apply GST to online purchases, not surprisingly, with new Essential Research polling revealing how ingrained online shopping has become for consumers.
Remote NT education crisis: lost in the Warlpiri triangle
Bob Gosford takes a closer look at the crisis at the heart of the administration of remote education in the Northern Territory, examining attendance levels in Lajamanu, Alice Springs, which is about as remote as you can get in the NT.
Floods around the world
The Queensland and Victorian floods dominated local media this week, and rightly so. However, other nations, including Sri Lanka, Brazil and South Africa, are also suffering severe flooding, although their governments may not be as equipped to cope with the devastation, reports Amber Jamieson.
Smart summer reading: Carr’s The Shallows — a big grizzle about the net
The internet is turning us into “pancake people” — flat and wide, with no depth to our thought, according to Nick Carr. But is that shallow thinking? asks Ben Gook.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Bob Brown has got it totally wrong
Crikey readers have their say.
Morning Market Report: European markets down, US markets closed
European finance ministers met to discuss a doubling of the eurozone debt rescue fund, although there is German resistance to the idea.
Daily Proposition: Make some time for the classics
Angela Meyer, of Crikey’s books blog Literary Minded, is going to read 20 classic, modern-classic or cult books in 2011. All book-lovers have gaps in their reading — will you join her in catching up?
Media briefs: Advertiser loves itself … ‘vibrator’ slip … Nova news gaff … The Age goes farming …
The problem with putting your application on iTunes is you open yourself up to scrutiny. In fact, many of the comments on News Limited’s roll-out of iPad applications have been positive. Plus, other media news of the day.
Video of the Day: Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes
It’s the speech that set tongues wagging the world over and made Hollywood go troppo: Ricky Gervais’ biting opening Golden Globes monologue in which the British comedian verbally smacks down some of the movie industry’s biggest names from Charlie Sheen to Hugh Heffner and Johnny Depp. Entertainment commentators reacted to the speech with endless reiterations […]
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours
Greg Smith tale gets murkier. I read with interest weekend media regarding the NSW member for Epping Greg Smith, his opposition to some local housing projects, his son Nathaniel’s employment as a lobbyist at Hugo Halliday (odd employment choice for a plumber), Hugo Halliday’s lobbying efforts for Tesmar Group (property developers) and Smith spending some […]
Vintage First Dog: the end times are imminent!
First Dog on the Moon is still on holidays. He’s somewhere south of Bermagui and will be returning to your Crikey email sometime at the end of the month. We will be featuring classic First Dog cartoons until his return. Today’s cartoon is from 6 February 2009.
Crikey Says: An out-of-control ego
The Australian’s ego continues to distort its coverage. Was there really ever any doubt that Premier Bligh would rightly set up an inquiry over the Queensland floods, and ask all the relevant questions?
What we can learn from Tunisia
The collapse of authoritarian rule in Tunisia reminds us of some important lessons — particularly that drastic political change is often unpredicted and while no Western government can take credit for it, they can now play a vital role, writes Thomas Carothers.
aviation industry Jetstar has an ‘O’Leary moment’ in China
Jetstar have announced low fare flights between Singapore and Hangzhou (Shanghai) from March 22, which is as misleading as an infamous claim about flights to Germany by Ryanair CEO, Michael O’Leary, reports Ben Sandilands.
aviation industry Hainan Airlines comes with bigger things than its A330s
Hainan Airlines flights to Sydney, which begin at this end of its Hangzhou and Shenzhen services this Thursday, come with bigger things to consider than another three return flights to China on a medium sized airliner, reports Ben Sandilands.
Twitter 
Hashtag chats: what they are and which you should follow
Most people on Twitter aren’t familiar with “hashtag chats” - pre-scheduled Twitter conversations about specific topics. Media Bistro compiles their 15 most recommended.
20 classics in 2011: reading my way through the ages
I am going to read 20 classic, modern-classic or cult books in 2011 to help fill the gaps in my reading, declares Crikey book blogger Angela Meyer. First up: The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James and The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood. Want to join in?
Getting beaten up in cyber space? Pfft, stop whinging
Internet debate can be coarse, but it really does hold journalists and politicians to account. The only things I have censored on this blog involved gratuitous obscenity and scatology, says Richard Farmer.
healthcare Does Australia have the guts to tackle childhood obesity?
Australian governments have not had the guts to tackle junk food advertising and its contribution to childhood obesity, according to a new paper from the Parliamentary Library. Those aren’t exactly their words but it’s very much the impression it leaves, writes Melissa Sweet.
