Social commentator Bettina Arndt earnestly told readers in The Australian that prejudice can make life miserable for children with same-s-x parents, writes Brian Greig, former Democrats senator and gay rights campaigner.
December, 2011
Rundle's ruminations: The war decade, the Enlightenment armed, and 101 uses for a dead Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens was a well-known journalist, based in the US, and quite the bon vivant, or so I hear! He died last week. Perhaps some of you knew this already.
Wikileaks Keane: why I signed a letter in support of Julian Assange
As an Australian citizen, Assange has a right to expect his government will seek to ensure that he is accorded due process by other countries seeking to prosecute him.
Durban revealed climate’s many shifting allegiances
Canada’s reversal on Kyoto won’t undermine the sense that the Durban climate conference achieved more than many expected, writes Michael Jacobs of Inside Story.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: The death knell of the US democratic republic
Crikey readers have their say.
Morning Market Report: Fitch downgrades push markets down
Over the weekend Fitch cut France’s rating outlook to negative and put six countries on review for a downgrade.
Media briefs: Egypt media war … Twitter OWS ban … Somali journo killed
In today’s Media Briefs: media war breaks out in Egypt … Twitter suspends Occupy Wall Street tweeter … Somali journalist killed and more …
Power Shots: Power Shots: Hillsong’s Xmas … Santa Palmer … year for the rich …
Hillsong power in determining sound of Xmas. It’s difficult to ignore the role of the Hillsong Church when determining who really runs Christmas in Australia. The Church not only commands the attention of its followers at this time of year, but can also dominate the music charts and put on some of the country’s most extravagant Christmas pageants. […]
Political snippets: Measuring economic surprises
It was timely of a Washington Post blog to refer me to an intriguing measure of just how accurate — actually inaccurate — economic forecasts turn out to be.
Video of the Day: Bradley Manning Had Secrets
This striking short film from animator Adam Butcher, based on the Bradley Manning chat files that were later used against him, explores Manning as a young solider with a crisis of gender identity. Bradley Manning Had Secrets from Animate Projects on Vimeo.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours
Vic public service policy-free zone? Apparently Ted Baillieu’s public sector purge will particularly target roles bearing the title “policy”. “The belief is that the public service should not be involved in such areas,” our Spring Street insider says. Council leg-up for son’s application. Some funny things go on in some municipalities. One anonymous tipster reports: “In one […]
Decorate your face off for Christmas!!!
Click here to download the PDF of the exciting DIY decorations!
Crikey Says: Crikey says: and the best politician of 2011 goes to …
Today we kick off the 2011 Crikeys with our Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane’s wrap of the best and worst from our politicians in 2011.
What impact will Facebook Timeline have on the workplace?
Facebook’s latest design upgrade, Facebook Timeline, could spell trouble for job seekers by placing new emphasis on past events, reports Patrick Stafford.
Pod and Prejudice: W H Chong’s favourite podcasts of 2011
W H Chong presents his favourite podcasts of the year, which include Crikey’s Canberra Calling, the BBC’s World Book Club and The Guardian’s Politics Weekly.
book reviews Women of Letters — beautifully nostalgic
Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire’s Women of Letters seeks to revive ‘the lost art of letter writing.’ There are some funny and beautiful pieces in this collection from writers who have spoken at Women of Letters events, writes Bethanie Blanchard.
10 funniest animated GIFs of 2011
2011 cemented the return of an archaic web trend: the animated GIF. Mashable compiles ten of the year’s funniest, with cameos from James Van Der Beek and David Hasselhoff.
The Pope’s deteriorating health may lead to early retirement
Speculation is building that Pope Benedict XVI — who is old, frail and has cut down on meetings and off the cuff comments — might be the first Pope in hundreds of years to resign from the job, writes Nicole Winfield.
PHOTO GALLERY 
Faces of post-war Iraq
Citizens of Iraq have had good reason to flee their homes in recent years, but many chose to stay and build their lives there despite war and decaying infrastructure. Andrea Bruce offers a beautiful gallery of Iraqi pride.
Has Peter Higgs found the ‘God particle’?
If British professor Peter Higgs has found the ‘God particle’, scientists stymied by a conundrum known as the ‘Infinity Puzzle’ will finally have a formula to measure the previously unmeasurable, writes Frank Close.
Vale to the witty and wise Christopher Hitchens
Essayist and thinker Christopher Hitchens died last Friday after a public battle with cancer. George Eaton pays tribute to Hitchens’ political views, his take on religion and his glorious hedonistic life.
Doing journalism, and doing it right
The deterioration of the core business model supporting journalism has eroded the quality of news analysis but great writing still emerges. The Failed Estate’s inaugural FEIJOA Awards acknowledges bonza efforts from journos such as Laura Tingle, Hugh Riminton and a couple of Crikey’s own.
Is this the beginning of the end for Vladimir Putin?
Mikhail Kasyanov, Russian prime minister from 2000-2004, has come out swinging on the weekend with a damning appraisal of Vladimir Putin’s character and political future, claiming Putin is ‘running scared’ and would lose an honest presidential election, reports Andrew Osborn.
Tragedy at sea: over 160 asylum seekers feared dead
Crikey media wrap: Over 160 people are feared dead after an unseaworthy boat packed with asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Iran sank off the coast of Indonesia yesterday.
