Boxing legend Smokin’ Joe Frazier died yesterday after a short illness with liver cancer. He was 67. Frazier was an Olympic gold medalist, although his boxing immortality is a result of his participation in some of boxing’s greatest ever bouts, coinciding with him being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in 1970. It’s his […]
November, 2011
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours
Jobs at risk under Westpac changes. Westpac has confirmed changes to its Enterprise Testing Services division, with about 188 positions affected. But the company denies reports of further outsourcing of its workforce and many more jobs at risk, as one tipster suggested to Crikey, promising loses would come from “natural attrition”. The bank says the rumours […]
Crikey Says: Crikey says: nothing to see here, folks
For a group of people who expend thousands of working hours each day holding every other industry and public figure to account, the “quality newspaper” industry has a deeply hypocritical view when it comes to its own accountability.
How our detention centres are run: the government’s contract with Serco
Serco is the company that runs detention centres in Australia. New Matilda uncovers for the official contract between Serco and the Department of Immigration, outlining the experience required of Serco staff and how it deals with issues of detainee depression.
PHOTO GALLERY 
First look at Bill Murray as Franklin D. Roosevelt
Bill Murray will ditch his lackadaisical comedic schtick to play the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, in a new film to be released next year, reports Luke Buckmaster.
How ’bout shutting down Twitter during civil unrest? Brits say: do it
According to a new survey conducted by a British security firm around 70% of Brits agree — with slight reservations — that shutting down Twitter during times of civil unrest is a good idea, reports Lauren Dugan.
How Australian Pollsters lean
Do particular polling firms lean towards one party or the other? asks polling guru Possum Comitatus.
Did Iran work to ‘miniaturise’ nuclear weapons?
Recent intelligence from more than 10 countries claims Iran worked on developing new, smaller nuclear weapons until at least 2010, reports Jonathan Tirone.
Are business leaders psychopaths?
Good heavens, what a question! You may be shocked by the answer, writes Paul Barry, which is essentially: yes.
Damien Tampling: the digital deal-maker
Digital media is a deal-maker’s delight and Damien Tampling, Deloitte’s youngest ever partner, is the go-to guy for getting handshakes made across the industry, writes Angela Priestley.
Bye bye Mr Bunga-Bunga: Berlusconi on the way out
Italy’s controversial gaffe manufacturing Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has announced he will resign after new austerity measures are passed, reports The Financial Times.
Will Brett Ratner lead the Oscars to disaster?
Rush Hour director Brett Ratner, appointed as the producer of next year’s Oscars ceremony, was recently quoted saying “rehearsal is for fags.” He’s a doofus frat boy and the Academy ought to have known better, writes Richard Rushfield.
Carbon tax passes but blood pledge remains
Crikey media wrap: It’s taken years of debates, discussion papers and fallen leaders, but yesterday the senate passed Australia’s first carbon legislation.
first dog Upcoming First Dog on the Moon official exhibition
Thousands of Melbourne’s commuters pass through an exhibition space underneath Flinders Street station every day. Memo to Melburnians: First Dog on the Moon will be filling the space soon!
Lorna Fencer Napurrurria: wry, mischievous, shitty and a great artist
Paintings don’t “shimmer” or “glow” for Bob Gosford, though many of the works by artist Lorna Fencer Napurrurrla burst off the wall with a physical or emotional force that a photograph just cannot capture.
Occupy and the problem of local council regulations
The major challenge that has emerged for the global Occupy movement is not shadowy networks of capitalist conspiracies or repressive totalitarianism but something far more benign: discretionary local council by-laws, writes Robin Cameron.
film reviews Midnight in Paris — Woody Allen’s blissful stroll through cinematic yesteryear
Woody Allen’s enchanting rumination on art, romance and writing, Midnight in Paris, is the prolific 75-year-old writer/director’s best film in many years, writes Luke Buckmaster.
AFP warned over Oz‘s terror scoop timing
Ex-police spinner Nicole McKechnie warned the AFP a botched plan to distribute copies of The Australian exposing an anti-terror raid the morning it occurred was flawed.
healthcare Does media coverage of health reflect the grant cycle of medical researchers?
Why does the average number of stories about healthcare increase from nine to around 21 in July? It could have something to do with grant applications, writes Amanda Wilson.
Glowing reference for officer charged with leaking to The Oz
The Victoria Police officer charged with leaking to The Australian’s Cameron Stewart receives a glowing character reference from ex-colleagues at a committal hearing.
It’s the Greens’ day, anyway you look at it
The passage of the government’s carbon pricing package is a major victory for the Greens. Even if it’s so weak it needs to be bolstered by an extensive array of taxpayer spending
Media inquiry: ‘marketplace of ideas’ not working that well
The public hearings of the federal government’s media inquiry got under way this morning with a distinctly anti-statutory regulation tinge.
Power Shots: Power Shots: biz psychopaths … media inquiry who’s who … Turnbull’s jacket sale …
Are business leaders psychopaths? Good heavens, what a question. But you’ll be shocked by the answer, which is essentially Yes. The Power Index’s attention has been drawn to a British study from 2005, comparing the psychological profiles of 39 senior business executives at leading British companies with those of mental patients in the UK’s Broadmoor Special […]
