They work in an industry not exactly celebrated for intellectual achievements. Nevertheless it is incorrect, according to Ranker, to assume porn stars (they list 13 of the smartest) can't be entrepreneurs or Oxford debaters.
We went searching for the most page-turning books, the funniest TV, the smartest theatre, the best books and music and film. After naming the best in politics, policy, media and business, we present the 2011 Cultural Crikeys.
This American Life and The New York Times have banded together for a special look at the lives of ordinary people who passed away in 2011: from aspiring rappers, to grandfathers and poets.
The indisputable fact about Christmas presents is that cash is the most economically efficient gift. But given handing out $$$ is usually socially unacceptable, gift-giving should be redistributive, according to economist Matthew Yglesias.
Sydneysiders would be wise to note that what makes Melbourne’s centre so enviable is the whole box and dice -- buildings, laneways, streets, river, trams, parks and plazas, and so on, writes Alan Davies.
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.
There seems no end to the conspiracy against healthy eating in the modern world, even by quasi-official associations -- such as the Heart Foundation of Australia -- who should know better, writes Michael R James, a research scientist and writer.
Many parents and their babies are not getting the help they need. Instead they are getting advice flavoured by old ideologies popular throughout the second half of the 20th century, writes Pamela Douglas.
Enough about the best films, books, people of the year. Gawker takes a different tact, presenting the 10 least fascinating people of 2011. Take a bow, Michael Bublé.
The festive season is a time for food, family, presents and…alcohol. But what if you're not in the mood for a drop of grog? How do you say no? The Guardian lists some good excuses for staying sober.
