It’s amazing how the public’s insatiable appetite for true crime continues to spawn tired and aged trivia masquerading as news, writes former Truth crime writer Adrian Tame.
March, 2011
Morning Market Report: Markets rebound slightly after horror week
The Nikkei closed down 1.4% while European shares gained.
Daily Proposition: Join a laughing group
There’s not a lot to laugh about at the moment. So it might be a good time to force yourself to do just that. A cynical Grace Jennings-Edquist set off to a local laughing group and found just what she needed.
Wankley Awards: And the Wankley goes to… the Herald Sun’s GP love fest
This week’s Wankley goes to the crack scribes at Melbourne tabloid the Herald Sun for their campaign of Grand Prix boosterism in the face of mounting evidence that Ron Walker’s baby is a total turkey.
Media briefs: Tele apologises to mum … SMH & the Greens … Front page of the day …
War of words over Australian profits, losses … Mum’s the word on bully boy … Mixed messages at the SMH … Front page of the Day and more …
Video of the Day: Friday, the day after Thursday and before Saturday
All week long debate raged in the Crikey bunker over whether we should make this a Video of the Day…
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours
More rats from Brumby ranks. Which two former Victorian government ministers will follow ex-premier John Brumby and quit life in opposition in the coming months? Windsor a priority for departments. Contacts in a federal department have been told to treat all correspondence from Tony Windsor as priority regardless of content. One branch alone deals with […]
Crikey Says: Crikey says: a welcome intervention
The UN Security Council’s resolution to take “all necessary measures … to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack” in Libya is a belated but very welcome intervention by the international community.
Murray Murmurings 
Death of the guide
New Murray-Darling Basin Authority chairman Craig Knowles has acknowledged the long-held belief that his appointment symbolised the end of the guide to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in its current form, reports Amber Jamieson.
US to use propaganda sock puppets in social media
The US military is currently developing software to install fake online identities - otherwise known as “sock puppets” - onto social media services. Their mission: to spread pro-America propaganda in non-English speaking countries, reports Nick Fielding and Ian Cobain.
Congress tries to turn off NPR
US Congress voted today to ban funding to American public radio station NPR, just a week after an NPR executive got busted criticising the Tea Party movement. Although it’s unlikely to get passed the Senate, expect the attacks on NPR to continue.
Where does Obama stand on gun control?
Barack Obama’s approach to the gun control debate deliberately seeks to draw fire from both sides. His suggestion of a consensus strategy may actually prove successful on some fronts, writes Dennis A. Henigan.
The copyright lobby’s loose facts
As Crikey has revealed, the data advanced by the copyright lobby on piracy is full of holes. Even the public report into the issue can’t be believed, muddying the debate for industry and creators.
China’s stop-start approach to economic growth
In an effort to counter “bad growth” Beijing often tries to restrain it, then panics and kicks it off again. It’s a rinse, dry and repeat process, writes Michael Pettis.
healthcare Will a public health or a medical approach work best for scabies?
When health problems arise in a community the natural response of many is to look for a medical solution, but sometimes the best approach can be to look for a public health solution. Which one best addresses scabies? asks Professor Lesley Barclay.
Bret Easton Ellis on Charlie Sheen and post-Empire celebrity
Post-Empire celebrity isn’t just about doing illicit things and fessing up. Some celebs “get it” more than others and few more than Charlie Sheen, who feasts on spectacularly destroying illusions of celebrity, writes Bret Easton Ellis.
Qantas and Jetstar no shows before Senate today
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and Jetstar Group CEO Bruce Buchanan are no shows at today’s public hearing by the Senate committee inquiring into pilot training and airline safety in Australia, reports Ben Sandilands.
Let’s play a round of “spot the language of hatred”
According to the Herald Sun’s resident linguistics expert, Andrew Bolt, GetUp have employed “hateful rhetoric” to describe the climate change debate. But what exactly were the hateful words? asks Dave Gaukroger.
Media mutterings: Content Makers returns
After several months absence, Crikey media blogger Margaret Simons returns to her blog Content Makers, noting that she’s sent an FoI request to the ABC to find out the true cost of ABC News 24…
Federal Health Department silos a critical barrier to Aboriginal health reform
There was virtually no mention of Aboriginal health in the Federal Government’s major policy announcements on health and hospital reform, despite the fact that over half a million Australians receive comprehensive primary health care through such services, writes Garrie Gibson.
Scientists hold their breath on Japan’s nuclear disaster
The situation at Fukushima seems to be getting worse, writes Crikey’s Paul Barry. With no scientific consensus, and conflicting reports from authorities, the experts are holding their breath for Japan.
travel Spotting the train lovers in Poland
Wolsztyn, Poland remains one of the most famous cities in the world for trainspotters, thanks to its regular commuter train service pulled by steam trains. Jay Martin went to meet the train fanatics.
