Several of The Chaser boys — and Graeme Garden from The Goodies are recording a pilot show for Channel Seven. Dan Barrett gets speculating.
April, 2011
Miles Franklin 2011: the short shortlist
Only three books have been shortlisted for the Miles Franklin award this year, and all three are a fairly narrow view of Australian life — Outback, wars and sheep stations told by a male voice, notes Angela Meyer.
Review: Anyone for Tennis? in Prepare to be Tuned (MICF)
Andrew Doodson and Jason English-Rees prove that if you have enough talent for it, writing songs about menstruation and being angry at dandelions can pay off, writes Matt Smith.
The gay kiss Facebook won’t let you see
After two men were booted out of an English pub for kissing, a ‘Kiss-In’ was planned at the pub to raise awareness of gay rights. But a photo advertising the event — surprise surprise, of two men kissing — was removed by Facebook for violating its code of conduct. Why?
Goodluck, Nigeria: democracy and disunion in west Africa
This may be setting the bar fairly low, but west Africa has been getting more news coverage than usual this year.
Cartoonists honour slain Libyan artist
Libyan street artist Kais al-Hilali was killed last month shortly after painting a caricature of Colonel Gaddafi on a street mural. Other international cartoonists draw their respects.
Bad restaurants? Sooner or litre you’ll find one
Good food, good wine, good company. It was shaping up to be a stellar weekend until Michael Vaughn and his friend encountered a restaurant so awful all they could do was laugh.
The Stream: where social media meets TV news
Al-Jazeera has had enormous success lately thanks to its coverage of the Middle East protests, and is about to launch a new social media show focusing on news from citizen journalists and bloggers.
Benz, Beemer and that pool … Gore doing bankruptcy in comfort
Craig Gore was able to avoid paying almost $500 million in legally owing debts, but it appears that the former rich-lister hasn’t had to give up some of life’s finer things.
Must-miss: the White House Deficit Summit
Vice US President Joe Biden will be the host and mediator of the White House’s recently announced Deficit Summit. There’s nothing like a good ol’ fashioned exercise in vitriolic futility, writes Adam Sorensen.
Flood inquiry: bureau ‘had no responsibility to report flash floods’
The disbelief was tangible at the Queensland flood inquiry yesterday when the Bureau of Meteorology gave evidence that it has no ability or responsibility for forecasting flash flooding. Amanda Gearing reports from Toowoomba.
Here’s something I prepared earlier…
The Herald Sun’s resident military correspondent, Andrew Bolt, raises concerns that the Defence Minister is turning the ADF into some kind of PR outfit. But this post is the intellectual equivalent of fast food, says Dave Gaukroger.
Maley: US economy gets a Standard & Poor’s slapdown
Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s has delivered a stunning vote of no confidence in US political leaders to come up with a solution for swollen budget deficits, writes Karen Maley, of Business Spectator.
Journal review: Kill Your Darlings Issue Four
Issue four of Kill Your Darlings devotes space to three pieces of short fiction as well as some reviews, essays and commentary. It is a high quality journal that feels plucky and youthful, writes Lisa Down.
Review: An Audience With Charles Barrington (MICF)
An Audience with Charles Barrington is the perfect first base for Melburnians yet to charmed by Barrington’s hilarious brand of faux Euro sass, which comes on like a smooth malted scotch, writes Luke Buckmaster.
The pains and perplexities of Phnom Penh
After several months living in Cambodia, some of its charming quirks — shower heads that are too short for a six foot tall man, streets wide awake from 5am — have turned into daily annoyances for Allan Soutaris.
infographic Dear Customer, Customer Service is at your Service
A customer service flowchart, sent to First Dog on the Moon by Crikey reader Tim, shows the joy of customer service and frustrating management in beautiful graph pr0n.
Essential: 54-46 to Coalition
The weekly Essential Research poll has Labor slipping another point on two-party preferred to trail 54-46. The Coalition is up a point on the primary vote to 47 percent, with Labor on 35 percent and the Greens on 11, writes William Bowe .
Freedom fighters in Yemen
Protests about Yemen’s troubled government started back in January, but with the government still clinging on to power, it’s meant months of military clashes and public demonstrations.
Witnessing humanity’s darkest hours: the life of a court reporter
Channel Seven journo Kate Obsorn writes on the trials of court reporting, in light of the recent traumatic case of four-year-old Darcey Freeman, thrown to her death off the Westgate Bridge by her own father.
More clicks, more moolah for journos?
USA Today may give bonuses to journalists based on the page views of their stories. Sure, gossip sites like Gawker do it, but is this the direction ‘serious’ journalism outlets should head? Barbara Sehr says no.
theatre reviews Zebra — Wharf 1, Sydney
Bryan Brown, Nadine Garner, a terrific set and a funny script are the stars of new Sydney Theatre Company play Zebra, writes Lloyd Bradford Syke.
Essential: voters still unhappy about carbon price
Recent falls in support for a carbon price and the NBN have reversed in this week’s Essential Report.
SBS gets a new boss — so what about merging with Aunty?
So what was the board of SBS trying to achieve by appointing backroom boy Michael Ebeid to the top of our second public broadcaster? And where might this appointment take the organisation, which is currently in financial difficulty and struggling to redefine itself?
