If the news that Italy is to get its fleet of candy red high speed Ferrari trains next year isn’t enough to excite those who would rather rail than fly between Melbourne and Sydney, get an eye full of the interiors, writes Ben Sandilands.
December, 2011
Top 20 best-selling children’s books
What do The Cat in the Hat, Scuffy the Tugboat and The Tale of Peter Rabbit have in common? They’re all kids books, yes, and they’re all listed in the top ten best-sellers of all time.
Mario maestro Shigeru Miyamoto on the future of Nintendo
Shigeru Miyamoto’s greatest stamp on popular culture was Super Mario Bros, which he created in 1985. Miyamoto talks to Wired about Nintendo’s ongoing quest to expand the definition of video games, the company’s future and his desire to work on smaller projects.
Mark Scott: at the forefront of the digital revolution
As the man in charge of our national broadcaster, ABC boss Mark Scott has tremendous power over one of Australia’s most loved and important national institutions. And he’s doing a fine job, writes Paul Barry.
healthcare 
Analysis of new Health Minister, Tanya Plibersek
What do we know about the Member for Sydney, Tanya Plibersek, who has replaced Nicola Roxon as Health Minister? What advice might Roxon give her? Croakey asks a panel of experts.
The tale of PNG’s two governments
Crikey media wrap: Our northern neighbour Papua New Guinea remains in political crisis, with former leader Sir Michael Somare sworn in as prime minister this morning after the Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the current government was unconstitutional.
Trump: I might still run for president
Donald Trump has bowed out of moderating a Republican primaries debate, citing a potential conflict of interest. “I am not willing to give up my right to run as an Independent candidate,” the business magnate and The Apprentice host said in a statement, reports Matt Negrin.
Emirates announces in-flight internet charges, but bigger picture remains clouded
Emirates has announced affordable sky internet charges but left unanswered questions as to how it will deal with bandwidth assassins and other issues, writes Ben Sandilands.
The Canberra reshuffle … at Fairfax
Stressed Fairfax hacks holed up in the warrens of Parliament House are dreading their return from holidays in January when they will be confronted with a new tri-masthead “Canberra bureau” dreamt up by new national managing editor Mark Baker.
theatre reviews Nothing Personal — Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
With each new and passing play, David Williamson seems to confirm his best work is well behind him. The same old themes rear their tedious heads in Nothing Personal, which is based in the world of publishing, writes Lloyd Bradford Skye.
travel Visiting Japan’s tsunami-devastated towns eight months on
During the One Day on Earth project — held on 11.11.11 — Paul Johannessen headed into Ishinomaki, eight months since Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami.
The Human Centipede II ban revoked; cut version green-lit by the Classification Review Board
The Australian distributor of The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) has managed to overturn a ban slapped onto the film late last month by the Classification Review Board, reports Luke Buckmaster.
New dietary guidelines: looking beyond the headlines
When it comes to diet-related health claims, even the “good” newspapers are usually wrong, making recommendations about which foods people should eat (and avoid) that aren’t based on sufficient evidence, writes Warwick Anderson and Rachel Nowak.
Morning Market Report: Ratings pressure forces Euro markets down
European stocks fell the most in three weeks as Moody’s said they will review all the credit ratings of all European nations.
Another day, another set of disastrous building figures
Housing commencements are now in freefall, with long-term consequences for our housing supply.
Memo David Cameron: eurosceptics aren’t really on your side
The EU has its problems. Not just economic, but more deep-seated issues to do with its “democratic deficit” — the way the union has been managed by elites and unaccountable bureaucrats.
Guy Rundle: Rundle: for Cameron, Brussells sprouts a sort of zen veto
The EU could have given the UK kittens, bl-wjobs and Belgium for free, and Cameron, on returning, would have still been portrayed as “the man who sold out to Europe”.
A dumb reshuffle puts spotlight back on Gillard’s woes
Julia Gillard’s federal cabinet reshuffle — promoting Bill Shorten and Mark Arbib while sacking good ministers — again demonstrates her lack of judgment and fragility.
Gottliebsen: a perfect storm for Aussie banks
Suddenly, the year 2012, which promised so much, is starting to look as though it will be ugly for the banking business, writes Robert Gottliebsen.
Murdoch, Baillieu and Morgan: a story of old Melbourne families
Melbourne marked an interesting milestone last week.
Bolt: I want marriage equality for all
To point out the blindingly obvious, many of us regardless of sexuality want to get married; we want the ceremony that is such a significant marker in life’s journey, writes Stephanie Bolt, sister of Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt.
CFMEU out of the WA Labor cold, state conference to decide
WA branch of the CFMEU appears to have succeeded in its botched bid to re-affiliate with Labor, after an emergency meeting of the ALP’s administrative committee referred the decision to state conference.
Cox: more women in cabinet, but social issues slip agenda
My feminist push at present is to put the goal of making society fairer and more civil, and to change the emphasis on economic growth as the only good.
Guy Rundle: An unusual twist in the NotW phone-hacking tale
The Leveson inquiry into the UK print media has taken an unusual turn.
And farewell to all that, Kevin, the hard man of SA Labor
Yes, the turbulent times of Kevin Owen Foley have been tremendous entertainment all the way through his political career, writes Des Ryan.
