Urban Affairs
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 I'M on my first visit to Australia right now - and what an introduction to your country. A two-week run of four major cities where I'm meeting politicians, journalists and ordinary Australians.
Spare me harsh realities, slay that dragon and let the movies cast a spell
Clem Bastow When economic times are tough, fantasy and cinema come to the rescue, again.
The Indian obsession with fairer skin sinks to a new low
Amrit Dhillon A new vagina lightening cream is helping peddle self-hatred to women.
New body needed to fill cracks of corruption
George Williams 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,...
Indonesia's moral police a threat to democracy
Michael Bachelard 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.
Policy on drugs endangers youth
Vivienne Moxham-Hall 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...
Macquarie's mitts all over our supposed Strine
Germaine Greer Australian academics have been laying down the law about my mother-tongue — oops, I mean, of course, mother tongue.
Shop wars are a dirty business
Julie Szego 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.
A moderate lament for the imminent passing of privacy
Tim Soutphommasane Our constant connection through Facebook and its like may have a downside.
Facts behind the active decline
In a society that is facing serious health issues, the importance and quality of physical education in our public primary schools are often neglected.
Industry's learning difficulty
When a federal Coalition MP says a group of public employees deserve to have their wages more than doubled to a top rate of $150,000, listeners are bound to wonder if their hearing is faulty.
Silence doesn't work: it's time we talked about suicide
Kate Carnell This week, the national spotlight was again shone on the tragedy that is suicide with the death of Don Ritchie OAM, often referred to as “the angel” of the notorious Gap in Sydney.
How to rekindle interest in the great Australian stories
Michael Heyward We are in the thick of a debate about how we value our literary heritage. So many writers who matter are out of print. Australian studies are on the margin at many of our universities.
Memories of stage fright at a festival in this old town
Martin Flanagan 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...
Children a gift that keeps giving
Adele Horin Does having children make you happy? Everyone assumed it did until the era of happiness research revealed parents to be a miserable lot.
It's not just Big Brother: even his toys are watching
Guy Rundle Total surveillance is just another nail in the coffin of civil society.
Toe sucking, truth and the hardcore facts
David Dale Is the cult of celebrity losing its gloss or are we getting our fix in new ways?
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