Today’s cartoon is from Wednesday, 23 December 2009.
December, 2011
Crikey Says: Kim Jong-il, not so funny
It’s easy to laugh at the dearly departed Dear Leader Kim Jong-il.
Best Aussie ads of 2011
mUmBRELLA picks the best television and cinema advertising in Australia for 2011. Sydney’s Opera House gets the top spot for its clip of music stars including Paul Kelly, Martha Wainwright and Neil Finn.
What did Kim Jong-il and Vaclav Havel have in common?
Tyrant Kim Jong-il and humanitarian Vaclav Havel died within 24 hours of one another. They are similar in the sense that they had nothing in common, yet a sad truth can be learned by comparing their legacies, writes Lee Zachariah.
111 years of Sherlock Holmes films
Guy Ritchie’s latest Sherlock Holmes movie is the newest in a long line of Holmes adaptations that date back 111 years, to 1900 — when Sherlock Holmes Baffled became the first detective movie in history, writes Scott Meslow.
Time to opt-out of opt-in?
When Google recently rolled out new facial recognition technology, it did something uncharacteristic, empowering users by allowing them to ‘opt in.’ But this is not necessarily a positive outcome, writes Evgeny Morozov.
Kim Jong-un’s family: alcoholics, psychos and power-mongers
With young Kim Jong-un appointed to fill his father’s shoes, is there anybody else in the family who might make a grab for power? Philip Shenon explores the family tree.
Interview with Joe Cross, director of Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead
Joe Cross weighed 140 kilos and suffered from a rare autoimmune disease. After 60 days drinking nothing but juice, he became a different man and captured his transformation in the inspiring documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. Cross spoke to Luke Buckmaster shortly before the film’s DVD release.
Ding dong North Korea’s Dear Leader is dead
Crikey media wrap: North Korea’s “Dear Leader” Kim Jong-il — who has led one of the world’s repressive governments for the last 17 years — died yesterday, leaving his younger son as the dictator-in-waiting.
Curation will rule in the kingdom of Social TV
The value of the rapidly emerging platform Social TV will come not from the platform itself but from those who curate content. Quality signifiers will help cut through the echo chamber of friends voices and provide distinct new choices, writes Dan Barrett.
Crikey Award sandals for most gratuitous reference to personal appearance
The Australian’s Miranda Devine caused a dust-up of outrage on Twitter when she scolded Margaret Simons for her choice of footwear. Now the sandals will be awarded to the most gratuitous reference to personal appearance in the media.
Bicycle helmet debate should steer towards Europe
Rather than arguing for the end of mandated cycle helmet wearing Australian governments should focus on strategies that have been proven to work in Europe, writes Sydney-based epidemiologist Tim Churches.
The best Kim Jong-il impersonations
He was a ruthless dictator, but he was always ripe for parody. Over the years Kim Jong Il has been portrayed in a range of TV and films including Team America and 30 Rock. The HuffPo compiles the best Jon Il impersonations.
travel Who advised your trip? Reviewing the top travel review sites
As the year winds up, the Christmas holiday season kicks off. But how do you pick one hotel over another? Which travel sites do you trust? Jess Gregory has some pointers.
Kim Jong-il dies, 69
North Korea’s state media have reported the death of their ‘Dear Leader’ Kim Jong Il in a special broadcast. According to the broadcast he died of “great mental and physical strain,” reports AAP.
Everyone might get what they want in Qantas dispute
Job security at Qantas was supposed to be impossible to guarantee. It was supposed to be fatal to the airline’s ability to escape from the confines of Australia’s borders and become competitive.
The 2011 Crikeys: our best and worst politicians
Who are our best and worst political performers for the year? The award goes to …
Race for the White House: what to watch for in Iowa
The Republican presidential campaign has already provided plenty of drama and entertainment, but things are about to get even more interesting.
Foreign investment in Aussie farmland on hold
Foreign investors in the past year have spent a record $12 billion buying up Australian farmland and agricultural businesses but, according to a new report, are putting off further investment. Larry Schlesinger explains.
Essential: Gillard will go, and Labor deserves no economic credit
Most voters believe Julia Gillard will lose the prime ministership within 12 months, with new polling recording more disapproval and predictions of doom for the Labor government.
New Kid on the Block: Review throws Spaniard in the works
Given the doom and gloom surrounding most discussion of print media, some might find it surprising that there is a flurry of hard-copy start-ups in Australia at present.
Maley: a taste of French ratings fear
Are France’s political leaders softening up voters for an imminent loss of the country’s precious triple-A rating? That was certainly the impression last week…
House price experts off key on the new reality
Not everyone appears to have quite caught up with the new reality facing Australian property investors.
What WikiLeaks says about Blue Lantern, a probe into defence exports
US State department cables released by WikiLeaks have provided dramatic revelations, writes freelancer Grahame Bowland.
