Why we shouldn’t destroy Al QaedaAs tempting as it is to pull the trigger on the world’s most notorious terrorist network, keeping Al Qaeda intact may be in the world’s best interests: by funnelling extremists into one “social network”, it’s easier to spot, track and contain them.
Archives
Headlines first, research second: how the news really gets written
How do newspapers write those “latest trend” features they’re so fond of? Gawker provides an insight straight from the NYT: devise the “trend” yourself, then find some subjects who fit the mold.
The war is over: Obama to appear on Fox News
The White House appears to have called a cease-fire in its war with Fox News, with news President Obama is scheduled to give an interview to the network next week.
The New Yorker: too big to fail?
While other magazines are shrinking and downsizing, The New Yorker has remained entirely intact, even despite its publisher’s financial woes. What’s the magazine’s secret? It may have something to do with its 60-plus team of staff writers…
A tantalising taste of Sarah Palin’s new book
What’s in Sarah Palin’s new book, Going Rogue? Mark Halperin has the inside scoop: McCain aides and the national media cop a bashing, plus a cheeky “screw you” to the DC establishment.
Why do good boys do bad things?
One of the big questions that underlies all the debates on university colleges, male sports teams and other forms of hooliganism, is: why do some groupings encourage thuggery? Eva Cox explores.
Peter Garrett: Why I rejected the Traveston Dam
Environment Minister Peter Garrett outlines the environmental concerns that led him to reject the Queensland government’s proposal to build a dam at Traveston Crossing yesterday.
Parallel imports: how the war was won
Tom Dusevic lauds the Australian publishing industry’s “spirited, clever, nationalistic, broad-based and expensive” lobbying campaign to retain parallel import restrictions on books.
Too big for Japan
Are you too fat for Japan? Concerned about the prospect of an aging nation afflicted with cardiovascular disease and diabetes, Japanese lawmakers have set a maximum waistline size for anyone age 40 and older.
Kerr: Rudd betrays his party roots for publishers
Kevin Rudd showed celebrity means more to him than education and ideas by supporting the publishing industry over cheaper books for consumers, says Christian Kerr. His ALP forebears would not be impressed.
Stutchbury: Rudd’s book backdown shows a lack of spine
Kevin Rudd’s inability to stand up to Australia’s lightweight publishing industry and a bunch of angry authors betrays his lack of policy backbone in supporting the free market, says Michael Stuchbury.
Rundle: Don’t Minchin the heat
Nick Minchin’s remarks that climate change is just another stage in the anti-industrial campaigns of the Left shows what ancient paranoic nonsense the climate change sceptics are working off, says Guy Rundle.
Allard: Humane, but definitely not tough
So much for “tough but humane”: the Government’s offer to resettle refugees aboard the Oceanic Viking has turned the whole saga into a farcical political pantomime, says Tom Allard. It will do nothing to deter people smugglers.
Rudd’s “secret plan” to increase Sri Lankan migration
The Government is looking to allow more Sri Lankans to emigrate legally to Australia in an effort to reduce the incentive for them to come via people smugglers.
Dear asylum seekers…
Read the letter given to asylum seekers aboard the Oceanic Viking, guaranteeing them resettlement if they get off the boat and are found to be genuine refugees.
Qantas unveils its “Airport of the Future”
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has unveiled the company’s vision for the “Airport of the Future”, a strategy he claims will halve check-in times and allow passengers to check themselves and their baggage in electronically, avoiding the long airport queues.
Illegal: SMH breaks school league table ban
The Sydney Morning Herald says it’s breaching NSW state law today and risking a $55,000 fine by publishing this article comparing the test results of three Sydney high schools, challenging what it says is an “absurd” ban on giving parents information about the schools childrens’ schools. Subversive or sensationalism?
The most powerful people in the world
Forbes has launched a new annual list, ranking the world’s most powerful people. Obama at number one is a pretty safe choice, but names like Google’s Sergey Brin and Larry Page at number five and Putin as number three are sure to stir up debate.
Porsche sues Crocs
Car maker Porsche is suing ugly-shoe-maker Crocs over the its use of the name “Cayman”, which both companies have named a product. Just in-case people can’t tell the difference between a $51k luxury car and a $30 plastic sandle.
What broke the Hadron Collider? A baguette? Or time-travelling birds?
Most scientists believe the recent breakdown of the Large Hadron Collider was caused by a rogue piece of baguette, but two “esteemed” physicists say it was a time-travelling bird, sent from the future to sabotage the machine.
Meet the 237 millionaires of the US Congress
Of the 535 politicians in the United States Congress, 237 of them — that’s 44% — are millionaires. Check out their staggering wallet sizes for yourself. The richest Congressman, California Republican Darrell Issa, is worth more than $250 million.
Europe gets onboard the Road Train to cleaner highways
The EU is exploring a novel way of reducing fuel consumption: linking cars via wireless sensors into “road trains” on Europe’s motorways, with one lead vehicle “pulling” all the others along while the drivers kick back and save on fuel.
revealed 
US security contractor planned a $1m cover-up of Iraqi civilian killings
The US military security contractor formerly known as Blackwater paid $1 million in an attempt to buy Iraqi officials’ silence over the killing of 17 Iraqi civilians by Blackwater guards in 2007, claims the NYT.
NYP editor Col Allan accused of sexual harrassment
Fired New York Post editor Sandra Guzman claims the paper’s Aussie editor Col Allan likes to rub his penis up against his female employees and has offered them promotions in exchange for blowjobs.
Media Matters / Thursday, 12 November 2009
Fox News presenter Sean Hannity has been caught out airing misleading footage during a story about an anti-health care reform rally to make the event look far more successful than it actually was. The investigative reporter with the scoop? The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart.