Crikey Blogs

Telling you what they won't

The Stump

Abbott keeping mum on real parental views

I wouldn’t trust Tony Abbot to be a serious supporter of policies that would make it easier for us to combine parenting and paid work. He claims to have had a recent conversion, but I suspect it is fairly superficial because his other views seem to have stayed much the same, writes Eva Cox. Comments (9)

Pollytics

Tony Abbott – Running With Scissors

Fresh from the virginity quips – which, as one of you lot pointed out in comments,  makes us wonder when we’re going to get a “Better Party to Manage” poll on that issue – comes a new episode of Tony running with scissors on the female vote. The audio (all 20 seconds of it) can [...] Comments (24)

The Poll Bludger

Nielsen: 54-46

The latest Nielsen poll has Labor’s two-party lead at 54-46, down from 56-44 in November. The Coalition is up four points on the primary vote to 41 per cent, with Labor steady on 42 per cent (no figure is provided for the Greens as far as I can see). The Prime Minister’s personal ratings have [...] Comments (1,146)

The Content Makers

Journalists Should Not Work for Free – The Story Continues

The rush of information and comments following my appeal to freelancers to let me know what they are paid and how they are treated continues. Here is a table summarising the latest data. It adds to the one published on this blog yesterday. Comments (1)

Pure Poison

Now we can mention it

In the Daily Telegraph’s tim Blair’s original, brief little reference to Sarah Palin’s expensive speech to “tea party” conservatives the other day, he noticeably refused to acknowledge the controversy – of which he must have been aware – regarding her writing her talking points (yes, her talking points, all three of them) on her hand. [...] Comments (36)

Rooted

Bin Laden’s Climate Wedge Tactics

Osama Bin Laden, a murderer who shows no concern for human lives, has suddenly condemned America’s climate change policy as too weak. His plan, it seems, is to de-rail any US climate bill that may emerge by driving the wedge even deeper between those who want action on climate change, and those who don’t. Comments (41)

Back in a Bit

Coming home

Due to a family illness Lisa and I have decided to end our trip and come home. We'll be back in Melbourne later this week. While neither of us are in any doubt that our decision is the right one, it's still a sad decision to make, writes Scott Bridges. Comments (9)

Croakey

Plane Talking

Futility meets impossibility in costly new Australian air travel security measures

Looked at clinically, the $200 million air travel security upgrades including body scanners announced by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today are a case of futile measures meeting an impossible task. Comments (0)

Cinetology

Valentine’s Day film review: too many celebs, not enough smarts

At some point in the not too distant past someone in Hollywood got a fat bonus, a hearty pat on the back and instant respect from his peers for inventing a brilliant way of advertising when new films arrive at the cinema. Wait for it: you simply name the production after its release date! Brilliant! [...] Comments (2)

Johnny's in the Basement

View from the gum tree: riffing on the Down Under decision

I’m just finishing up writing a song.  It’s really great.  I’ve been recording it with a band and we are about to do the final mix.  A major label has already agreed to release it.  We’re all confident it will be a big hit.  I played it for a friend last night and he said, [...] Comments (8)

Culture Mulcher

American Christianists: mad, bad and totally, awesomely nuts

What is it about American Christianists? How can one say that a catastrophic earthquake, with a death toll of at least 100,000 people, and that might rise to half a million, be “a blessing in disguise”? Comments (1)

LiteraryMinded

Corporate Engagement

Goodbye and thanks.

I have a busy year ahead of me. I am in the throes of doing the interviews for my PhD (the fun bit) and then comes the hard bit – the analysis and writing. I’m very much looking forward to it. Comments (1)

The Northern Myth

Two fantastic nights on two (and three) wheels at Arunga Park Speedway

This weekend took me back to my childhood and errant youth, when I was a member of the St. George Motorcycle Racing Club in Sydney. My Dad and I tracked all over New South Wales going to all manner of bike races, including the last of the Speedway races at the Sydney Showgrounds and beyond. Comments (1)

First Blog on the Moon

I’m even famouser than I was earlier

Holy Space Cows! I have been “interviewed” by an online e-blog. It is called “New Matilda” and they seem nice enough. Go hither. Comments (5)

Crikey Sports

AFL season 2010 preview: everybody is fantastic

It's a great time to be an AFL footy fan as Season 2010 is just around the corner. Comments (2)

Crikey Team

You’re auditioning for MasterChef; what do you cook as your signature dish?

Many claim that they could tingle the tastebuds of George, Gary and Matt in front of millions of Australian viewers . So what would our signature dishes be if we were auditioning for MasterChef? Comments (15)