The Stump

Spun out of control

In one sense there was nothing unusual about how Prime Ministerial press secretary Tony Hodges acted on Australia Day. Getting unfavourable publicity for your opponent is as much a part of the spinning game as getting your own boss seen in the best light. The difference this time was that the inspiration for the incident [...] Comments (3)

The Poll Bludger

Galaxy: 59-41 to LNP in Queensland

Two days late with this one, but let the record note that a Galaxy poll of 800 respondents shows the LNP retaining a huge lead of 59-41 on two-party preferred and 49 per cent to 32 per cent on preferences. This does represent a narrowing on the previous such poll, conducted in WHEN, which had [...] Comments (0)

Pollytics

Australian Exceptionalism

Australian economic and social overview - wealth, income, distribution, growth and human development. Comments (122)

Croakey

Improving mental health: beyond a framework driven by health care suppliers

The National Mental Health Commission held its first meeting in Sydney this week, and one of its first priorities, according to Minister Mark Butler, is to deliver the first annual National Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention In a related interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, the Commission’s chair, Professor Allan Fels, highlighted [...] Comments (0)

Cinetology

Meet the Critics: Jake Wilson – no tele teen turned Age cine-scribe

Jake Wilson’s journey into the realm of professional criticism is a traditional one, in many senses: a talented writer and a bona fide film geek spends an inordinate amount of hours during high school planted in front of screens and some years later lands a job at a newspaper from a combination of skill, experience [...] Comments (0)

White Noise

The 400 Club – Episode 47

This week we see the return of Prue to the podcast. And just in time as her thoughts on the new NBC musical drama Smash were sorely needed. On the show this week the panel of Prue and Dan discuss: Parks & Recreation (S04E12) Happy Endings (S02E12) Smash (S01E01) Be sure to visit us on Twitter / Facebook, [...] Comments (0)

Curtain Call

REVIEW: A History Of Everything (Sydney Festival) | Wharf 2

Compressing the history of the universe into 90-odd minutes of compelling theatre is a reasonably ambitious task to set. Yet this is precisely what Belgian company Ontroerend Goed has done with A History Of Everything. Director Alex Devriendt and performer Joeri Smet have collaborated on the fast-paced text and, thanks to its construction, we know how [...] Comments (0)

The Northern Myth

Vale Andrew McMillan, 1957 – 2012

Andrew was one of the Territory’s great eccentrics—but also one of its best contemporary writers,” said Mr Mackinolty. “He came to the Territory chasing music as a journalist, which led to the influential book Strict rules which covered the Warumpi Band/Midnight Oil tour of the Territory and never looked back as a writer. “He followed this with Death in Dili, Catalina Dreaming and An Intruders Guide to East Arnhemland—the latter led to his being awarded NT Writer of the Year in 2009. Comments (0)

Back in a Bit

Welcome to Albania, where ice on the road gets the bus driver dancing

At a certain point I asked someone when the bus to Theth would arrive, at which he laughed heartily, said “minute!” and shrugged. So the two of us have just stood here, watching local life cartwheel by, until, just as we’ve given up hope, everyone around us starts shouting “Theth!” and pointing to an ancient yellow minibus that has magically appeared across the road. Comments (0)

Culture Mulcher

Summer: beach, bbq, shaggy dog

Early one morning, a neighbour who has been summering down the coast was telling Constant Gardener — the dog leash community — the news about her labrador. She’d been walking on the beach and pooch had gone exploring. She found it further on, chewing on something near what had been obviously been a bbq site [...] Comments (1)

Fully (sic)

Senior Aussie of the Year

Often when you open the newspaper the news is full of doom and gloom, but today there was a story that put a permanent smile on my face. Laurie Baymarrwaŋa has been given the Senior Australian of the Year award. Baymarrwaŋa* is the senior custodian of the Crocodile Islands, off Arnhem Land in Australia’s Northern Territory. [...] Comments (0)

Plane Talking

And you think the weather at SYD sux?

Maybe we complain about the lousy summer weather in Sydney too much. NYC Aviation, a great US planespotting and aviation site worth every hour you spend going through it, has been kind enough to post to the public on Facebook this image of a C-17 being deiced recently at the Lewis-McChord base in central Washington [...] Comments (0)

Rooted

Murray Murmurings: irrigators should embrace protecting the Murray-Darling’s water

After 20 years of water reform and 12 months of good rainfall, irrigators have never been better placed to deal with the adjustments necessary to restore the Murray-Darling to health. Comments (0)

Pure Poison

First with the speculation

As if the story of who said what about Tony Abbott’s comments and whereabouts to members of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy wasn’t already a first class clusterf*ck, we’re now treated to up to the minute pieces of speculation from our gallant press corps. First we hear from Misha Schubert at the Age: Labor figure Kim [...] Comments (25)

Crikey Sports

If they made a movie about the Hobart Test…

Following from my rant yesterday, I decided to make a poster of what the movie would look like... Comments (2)

First Blog on the Moon

First Dog’s First Ever Podcast Guided Tour Extravaganza!

Oh my goodness! Here is your handy spoken word guided tour of my exhibition The Universe According to First Dog on the Moon in the form of a Podcast! My first one ever! I am quite excited. If you download it on to your mp3 player, and then go and walk through the exhibition whilst listening [...] Comments (5)

Laugh Track

Podcast: A Talk with John Richards

John Richards talks to Matt Smith about his upcoming show Outland, a new comedy show coming to the ABC about a gay science fiction club. In this podcast, John enlightens us with the show’s six year development, and explains who has the bigger closet to come out of. Podcast: A Talk with John Richards. Outland [...] Comments (0)

earworm

The Big Pink: Future This | album review

The Big Pink: Future This [4AD/Remote Control] Who decreed synths are suddenly acceptable again? They’re everywhere. The 1980s are back in a big way. The Big Pink are on the synth-pop bandwagon with the ironically-titled — considering its 1980s throwback nature — Future This seeing English duo Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell pitching their sound directly [...] Comments (0)

Letter from the Editor

Mexican drug cartels turn 2.0

Maria was found decapitated with a handwritten message linking her murder -- not to the coverage of the drug wars in her paper -- but to her postings on social networks. The cartels have moved online. Comments (0)

This Blog Harms

Update: Colbert’s (sort of) presidential campaign

Last week, comedian Stephen Colbert announced his entry into mucky world of American electoral politics with a satirical bid for nomination in the Republican South Carolina primary. In this short space of time Colbert was able to momentarily overshadow the deep banality of the Republican nomination process and cast attention on the absurd system of [...] Comments (3)

Liticism

On the call for a return to an Australian canon

All occasions provide an opportunity to reflect – upon achievements as well as failings – and in the lead up to Australia Day there has been a focus upon the recognition and preservation of our literary history. On Sunday, Fairfax provided an interesting editorial that noted our ‘tendency to anti-intellectualism and…veneration of physical achievement’ and [...] Comments (8)

The Urbanist

Does urban sprawl really make us fat?

A common view among politicians, the media, planners and health professionals is that urban sprawl is a key cause of the modern obesity epidemic. Higher population densities and more walkable neighbourhoods, many argue, are an essential strategy for fighting this scourge of the affluent lifestyle, e.g see here and here. The trouble is both propositions are dubious. [...] Comments (9)

Game On

The Game Making Game: Melbourne’s 48 Hour Game Jam

Pouya Aflatoun is here to make videogames. Around him, the room is full of activity. One group of young people crowd around an upturned whiteboard, another are busily assembling two lists on butcher’s paper – one titled ‘To Do’, the other ‘In Progress’. Neither list has any content, yet. A man in a dinosaur suit [...] Comments (0)