May 30 – June 5, 2015

News

Australian Greens leader Richard  Di Natale.

News

An eastern grey joey waits to be fed at Barbara Morrow’s Shamrock Wildlife Shelter.
The littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth arrives in Singapore.

Comment

Letters, Cartoon & Editorial

Cartoon

ReadCartoon image, links to full cartoon page

Editorial
More equal

Letters

Insight into realities of pokies

Drew Rooke’s article about poker machines (“Highs of the machines”, May 23-29) was excellent. Too few objective people have seen the reality of the poker machine industry. …

Liberals’ beliefs there for all to see

In asserting that the Abbott government believes in “nothing except prejudice” (Paul Bongiorno, “Bonfire of the insanities”, May 23-29) the ALP opposition merely …

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Books

Image for article: Girl at War

Sara Nović
Girl at War

Image for article: Naked at Lunch

Mark Haskell Smith
Naked at Lunch

Image for article: Blood Year: Terror and the Islamic State

David Kilcullen
Blood Year: Terror and the Islamic State

Life

Image for article: LOLs, trolls and rickrolls

Technology

LOLs, trolls and rickrolls

If 'trolling' is an inescapable product of anonymity, could it also be a wellspring of creativity?

Image for article: The Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota

Travel

The Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota

The Oglala Lakotas build a self-determined future amid memories of a bloody history.

Image for article: Scoring goals: Kyah Simon, 23, soccer player

Sport

Scoring goals: Kyah Simon, 23, soccer player

Growing up, Kyah Simon was inspired by Cathy Freeman. Now the Matilda hopes to motivate a new generation of sports stars.

The Quiz

1. In which 1990s film did Nicole Kidman play a weather presenter?
2. Which Japanese car manufacturer’s badge features a six-star cluster from the Taurus constellation?
3. Which country is home to the city of Mecca?
4. How many of Henry VIII’s wives were beheaded? (Bonus points for naming them.)
5. Which Australian political commentator wrote the 2014 bestseller The Wife Drought?
6. How many feet in a yard?
7. What sort of hat did fictional detective Sherlock Holmes famously wear?
8. Australian Jack Miller competes in which sport?
9. Who wrote the music and lyrics for the musical Anything Goes?
10. Which jewellery house is famous for designing elaborate jewel-encrusted eggs?

Click through for answers.

Quotes

POLITICS

“There’s no option to have them both, is there?”

– Wyatt RoyThe short man from Longman considers in a podcast quiz whether he would rather Paris Hilton or Nicole Richie. For what, it was never made clear.

CORRUPTION

“He wears a toupée, you must realise that.”

– Luigi SquillaciotiThe cousin of former Victorian education department boss Nino Napoli explains how he was encouraged to bill the state thousands of dollars for a hairpiece. Napoli is accused of running a $2.5 million fraud ring at the department and, presumably, of being bald.

WELFARE

“This document is not an Ikea catalogue to go shopping for benefits.”

– Scott MorrisonThe minister for social services introduces amendments to government support for young people. The modular package is called Gåtfökt Pönkts and can be accessed only with an Allen key. It takes at least four weeks to assemble.

JOURNALISM

“… it’s articulately written. Everybody should read The Saturday Paper …”

– George BrandisThe attorney-general takes time out from cretinising the arts and reversing the onus of proof to praise The Saturday Paper in senate estimates. For reasons of space and self-regard, this quote does not appear in its entirety.

SPORT

“I was treated like a crazy person. Now the FBI has told the truth. There is no soccer. There is no transparency.”

– Diego MaradonaThe soccer great celebrates the arrest of nine FIFA officials on corruption charges. Because the only thing rigging football matches should be the Hand of God. Or cocaine. Or ephedrine.

MONEY

“The ability robustly to assert the rights of the trust against the former trustee.”

– Paul BreretonThe Supreme Court justice appoints Gina Rinehart’s eldest daughter, Bianca, to control the $4 billion family trust, noting the characteristics that prepare her for the role. “Former trustee” is an exceedingly polite way of saying “mother”.