Society & Culture
Roddy Meagher, the man who dared to be different
PAUL SHEEHAN In this age of individualism, when everyone can turn their personalities into public personas via the internet, we are discovering that genuine eccentricity is rare.
Australia you are not a good friend
Martyn Awayang Namorong Opinion Papua New Guineans are sick and tired of Australia's attitude to them.
Spare me harsh realities, slay that dragon and let the movies cast a spell
Clem Bastow Opinion When economic times are tough, fantasy and cinema come to the rescue, again.
Heckler
Future is not what it used to be
Opinion AS A baby boomer, I must say I'm terribly disappointed with modern science and technology. I mean, where's my robot? Apparently Leonardo da Vinci invented the first robot in 1495. How long does it take?
The Indian obsession with fairer skin sinks to a new low
Amrit Dhillon Opinion A new vagina lightening cream is helping peddle self-hatred to women.
Heckler
Music not to ears of everyone
Opinion BACKGROUND music in cafes, restaurants and clothing stores has been around ever since Major-General George O. Squier patented the idea back in the 1920s.
Indonesia's moral police a threat to democracy
Michael Bachelard Opinion When I wrote in March about the Indonesian religious affairs minister wanting to ban mini-skirts because he believed them ''pornographic,'' one comment on the Fairfax website stood out.
New body needed to fill cracks of corruption
GEORGE WILLIAMS Opinion The debate over allegations of misbehaviour by our federal politicians has an important subtext. Does Australia have the right laws and institutions in place to deal with accusations of corruption, including misuse of travel entitlements and electoral fraud?
Nice card, pity about inquisition
HECKLER Opinion YOU really don't want a Health Care Card - believe me.
Caroline Milburn
Industry's learning difficulty
Opinion The drive to lift education standards is at risk because Australia's smartest students shun teaching, writes Caroline Milburn.
Policy on drugs endangers youth
Vivienne Moxham-Hall Opinion When you get to high school, you are taught that drugs are ''bad''. The teachers show you pictures and tell you the horror stories about drugs, but at that age, you can never really believe that something which looks like a sugar pill can wreak all that damage and the stories never really quench any curiosity.
A moderate lament for the imminent passing of privacy
Tim Soutphommasane Opinion Our constant connection through Facebook and its like may have a downside.
Christina Curry
Facts behind the active decline
Opinion Physical education needs to be treated with the same respect as any other subject, writes Christina Curry.
Toddlers all dressed up in their shrilling best
HECKLER Opinion EVERY now and then someone of considerable rank in the fashion industry tells us that the more effort we put into our outfits, the happier we'll be. I just wish someone would share this great wisdom with Australia's youngsters.
Who we are
Toe sucking, truth and the hardcore facts
David Dale Opinion Is the cult of celebrity losing its gloss or are we getting our fix in new ways?
Haven for kids living on the edge
CHARLES WATERSTREET Opinion Atlanta and I travelled in a taxi driven by a fat man who spoke no English.
Hidden truths behind family spending
Matt Wade Opinion We can be surprisingly vague about family finances.
It's time to embrace a stabilising force
Peter FitzSimons Opinion Those who don't support gay marriage because they think children should have a mother and a father are missing the point.
Let's make up our own minds
SHELLY HORTON Opinion Last week the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, did something shocking and controversial.
Living in the jet stream
MICHAEL DUFFY Opinion HAVE you noticed how Sydney is reshaping itself around the airport?
Let's hop back to beer, in the spirit of good health
Sam de Brito Opinion Is there not a whiff of self-congratulation in the media coverage that Australians are drinking less beer?
Decoding the email of the species
ANNABEL CRABB Opinion Email. Was there ever a more delightful, terrifying, treacherous invention?
Good cop, mad cop routine is fine for Hollywood, but let's keep it there
Bruce Guthrie Opinion Joyriding is dangerous, but police were way out of line last week.
It will take more than a few gay celebrities to empty the closet
Jane Calvert Opinion A state gay and lesbian advisory committee can't hurt.
It's not just Big Brother: even his toys are watching
Guy Rundle Opinion Total surveillance is just another nail in the coffin of civil society.
What's your type? A bomber or a kisser, you are what you email
ANNABEL CRABB Opinion Email correspondence has spawned a whole new genus of office personalities.
From sweet notes to sour ones, let's stay in tune with The Voice
Wendy Squires Opinion Remember when we all tuned in to The Voice because it made us feel good? I do, but on Monday night something changed, and it wasn't just the live sound quality.
It's a snacky scam: turns out tapas translates to something quite rude
DANNY KATZ Opinion Tapas is a type of meal where you get tiny portions of food that come on tiny little plates and you pay a tiny percentage of an average-sized home-loan for each of them.
Memories of stage fright at a festival in this old town
Martin Flanagan Opinion In the theatrical presentation that precedes the AFL's Dreamtime at the 'G game tonight, Shane Howard will sing Solid Rock, the protest song that slipped past the guardians of Oz popular culture 30 years ago and became a national hit.
Shop wars are a dirty business
Julie Szego Opinion The sign in the shop window near Acland Street caught my attention on a recent afternoon stroll: ''If you don't shop locally, there won't be any local shops.'' In a flash I resolved to never step inside that particular St Kilda shop again.
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