February 2011
In 2002, a triumphant Nicole Kidman swooped gawkily onto stage to collect her Best Actress statue for The Hours.
With war raging in Afghanistan and memories of the 9/11 attacks still fresh, many had wondered whether the ceremony should even go ahead .
“Why do we come to the Academy Awards when the world is in such turmoil?” Kidman’s awkward question rang out over the auditorium. “Because Art is Important.”
Continue reading "It feels wrong to care about the Oscars" »
Well it’s back by popular demand: Cover it Live Question Time.
We’ll be updating with Mal Farr in the House of Representatives and myself along with anyone else that wants to join in by clicking on the link above.
The carbon price will dominate the debate, with both leaders desperate to claim the moral high ground with the issue.
Latest 2 of 17 comments
-
acotrel says:
CJ Morgan. ‘pugnacious’ is one of his big attractions! I just love the way he goes on the attack, and then Julia blithely knocks him flat on his backside! Read more »
-
acotrel says:
RIchard, You’ve got it completely wrong! I LOVE Tony Abbott and I hope he leads the LNP FOREVER! Read more »
Follow The Punch’s updates of triumphs and faux pas from the Oscars red carpet with our stellar fashion correspondent Nedahl Stelio throughout the afternoon.
MOST UN-BLACK SWAN LIKE: MILA KUNIS
It’s more than that, it’s positively pretty. All lacey and lilac-y and girly and flowy, Mila, who not only managed to hold her own with Natalie Portman in the film, proves that she ain’t bad in the style stakes either.
For her very first Oscars, this is stellar choice. It says, “I’ve made it, kind of, but I’m not going to be flashy about it. I’m keepin’ it real.”
Continue reading "Oscars 2011: The good, bad and extremely good looking" »
Latest 2 of 10 comments
-
Botox bandit says:
me thinks miss bullock has been dipping into Nicole’s drawer of Botox Sandra’s top lip is far to riggid and stiff and alike the whole face of Nicole…looks like concrete is that hard Read more »
-
Shifter says:
Most Phwoooooar: Jennifer Lawrence. Read more »
I appreciate the high standard of human rights we enjoy in Australia just as much as the next person. But when it comes to the possession of illegal substances, I think it’s better to be presumed guilty rather than innocent, even if it intrudes on our basic right to a fair trial.
In 2008, solicitor Vera Momcilovic was convicted of trafficking ice found in her apartment, despite her claims that the drugs were her boyfriend’s and she knew nothing about it.
Now she’s challenging the legitimacy of the state’s drug laws in the High Court, claiming the Victorian Charter of Human Rights effectively invalidates them because they remove the presumption of innocence.
Continue reading "On drugs: Suspend rights and consider them guilty" »
Latest 2 of 132 comments
-
Roselyn says:
I find it aazming that you will go to all that trouble to put yourself in a mind altering state. First you might have a “panic attack”, severe headache, nervous, shacky, anxious for 20 minutes of being really stoned. Yeah, sounds like a really great time. Why don’t you just figure out what… Read more »
-
dmmaseoseoseo says:
Awesome share! Thank you very much Read more »
Bought a new washing machine the other day. It works better than the old one, is quieter, and uses less energy. But one thing is the same. That spin cycle at the end of the wash still takes as long as it always did. Some things just can’t be rushed.
The same cannot be said for the spin cycle of modern sporting scandals. Wayward players and their handlers, wily to the imminent public outcry after a night-on-the-piss gone wrong or equivalent misdemeanour, move at lightning speed to ward off the damage.
This weekend’s Todd Carney drink-driving incident was a classic case. Early Saturday morning, the man who was proudly starting to wear the tag “former bad boy” was arrested for drink-driving.
Continue reading "Spin cycle relegates true remorse to the bench" »
Latest 2 of 34 comments
-
decko says:
Yeah actually George I’m more concerned about one of my relatives getting run over/hit as a pedestrian and killed by a driver under the influence. It’s against the law to drive when you’re drunk, that’s because you kill people, it’s irresponsible and shows a lack of thought for those around… Read more »
-
Tom says:
“prejudices”? ... “prejudices”? ... OMG. At what point is one allowed to make a judgement? Is it after the 55th stupid act? Or the 75th stupid act. You are right about one thing though Yon Toad, it is useless defending him. Read more »
First home buyers have just cause to feel betrayed by the Rudd-Gillard government as they struggle under the strain of seven consecutive interest rate rises which have been exacerbated by loose fiscal policy.
A disturbing new survey by Mortgage Choice has found that 10 per cent of first home buyers, who purchased their homes in the past two years, have either sold their homes or are considering selling because of financial hardship, caused by interest rate hikes.
The survey also found that another 6 per cent would sell if interest rates climbed a further one per cent, while another 14 per cent would sell if they rose another 1.5 per cent.
Continue reading "Labor lured then betrayed first home owners" »
Latest 2 of 227 comments
-
Rohan Chapman says:
Everyone including successive labor and liberal governments always look at the problem form the demand side of economics. Artificially low interest rates and credit easing by the banks in the noughties created a speculative rush and turned the mums and dads into speculators. Governments in Australia have been giving out… Read more »
-
Kane Sherwell says:
7% of home owners sell there PPOR each year, having 10% of first home buyers selling their home, is not surprising. Kane Sherwell Director - We Share “not a mortgage broker, go direct to your bank for $1000 cash back” http://www.weshare.com.au Read more »
Gillard is becoming a very good Prime Minister.
History doesn’t judge a Prime Minister by the quality of Australia’s education or health systems, their foreign policy achievements or empathy for flood victims but by economic management, including a capacity for tough economic reform.
In other words, economic policy makes or breaks a Prime Minister and everything else is just noise. By this measure, Julia Gillard is on the cusp of becoming a very good Prime Minister.
Continue reading "Gillard: From policy dud to economic hero" »
Latest 2 of 267 comments
-
Peter says:
To me, Gillard appears to have wanted the top job. Gave him poor advice so that his popularity went down. Excecuted the incumbent. Now she wants us to believe that she will do everything. I personaly doubt it. For what and how she did to Kevin Rudd I can’t trust… Read more »
-
Matt says:
persephone, I’m gobsmacked that you think any “well-known facts” exist that you use to “critique” Ergas when no legislation or any real policy details actually exist! You keep saying how everyone is going to be compensated. Please, show me who will be compensated (not just low income earners), and exactly… Read more »
Scooby-Doo and the crime-fighting gang are some of the most beloved children’s TV characters of all time.
The original series Scooby Doo, Where Are You! debuted in 1969 and the show ran for 17 years. Its latest syndication of films and straight-to-DVD movies makes Scooby-Doo the longest lived TV cartoon character.
Latest 2 of 15 comments
-
DarkFoxFire says:
@Sheedy’s Left Foot : Dude…. calm down. I think you forget that kids are highly influential and in your own words “aimed at kids” also means influencing kids. First, personally, I do believe in the existence of God, and in the supernatural. But I still found the article an interesting… Read more »
-
acotrel says:
Bugs Bunny is sus! Why even ask ‘what’s up doc’? Read more »
You’ve heard a lot about the asylum policy debate in the media. The Government announces a new policy. The opposition denounces any new policy. Talk back radio goes back and forth about the best way to deal with this issue. If all this noise about asylum seekers makes you almost believe there is thought put into how to develop best practice approaches, think again. You’ve been conned.
For those of you who have seen The Usual Suspects, asylum seekers are Kaiser Sozé. A made up bogey-man criminal used to distract you from what is really going on.
It’s all just a political marketing campaign from both parties aimed at marginal seat voters. They use the boatpeople debate to define their party’s image. ‘Cruel to be kind’ for the Coalition, with ‘tough but humane’ for Labor. The reality is, when you analyse policies from both parties from a purely rationalist public policy angle, they both fail the test.
Continue reading "Both parties are all at sea on asylum seekers" »
Latest 2 of 60 comments
-
Marilyn Shepherd says:
This is utter crap for those who come by the sea. Now the Chinese could go to Russia or Japan I guess but 25% of all asylum seekers in the last 30 years have been Chinese. It makes not one jot of difference how many countries people pass over, no… Read more »
-
marley says:
@Fred - the LTTE were probably the most vicious of all “freedom fighters” - and quite a few countries labelled the organization as a terrorist one. They raised funds by extorting the Tamil diaspora abroad. They were responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, from assassinations to ethnic cleansing… Read more »
Most people agree that we, as a society, want to decrease the number of abortions.
Like any grand statement, the means to getting to this end will be the judge of our seriousness and principles.
Tory Shepherd is right to point out our goals cannot be achieved through “guilt, hate and fear mongering”.
Continue reading "The abortion debate has gone beyond slogans" »
Latest 2 of 50 comments
-
kris says:
I cannot speak to anyone else’s experiences but my own. I had a wonderfully fulfilling and satisfying period of my life when I only had ‘casual’ sex. I never had a pregnancy or disease. I have since been married, happily and faithfully, for 15 years and have had two children.… Read more »
-
Silver says:
What about the 9 year old rape and incest victim’s right to enjoy a childhood free from the demands of motherhood? As a child herself, why can her quality of life, and formative years, be further eroded in favour of another ‘person’ who is clearly not yet at a stage… Read more »
Facebook Recommendations
Read all about it
Punch live
Up to the minute Twitter chatter
RT @CrawfordFund: @farrm51 u may like 2 help spread word of our #foodsecurity journo award http://t.co/FwbMWwJmLf
RT @adamroy37: Just received a phone call from a young girl apologizing for her actions. Lets support her please #racismitstopswithme#Indi…
RT @adamroy37: Just received a phone call from a young girl apologizing for her actions. Lets support her please #racismitstopswithme#Indi…
Australia. Where you die for your country and get a rest area named after you http://t.co/hO6LpfwDvI
Recent posts
The latest and greatest
The Punch is moving house
Good morning Punchers. After four years of excellent fun and great conversation, this is the final post…
Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?
I have had some close calls, one that involved what looked to me like an AK47 pointed my way, followed…
Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”
In a world in which there are still people who subscribe to the vile notion that certain victims of sexual…
Gentle jabs to the ribs
Superman needs saving
Can somebody please save Superman? He seems to be going through a bit of a crisis. Eighteen months ago,… Read more
Latest 2 of 15 comments