Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston

Heidi Cassell: Meet the students

My hope is to become fully engaged with this community while learning as much as possible about the online blogging sites by the time I am finished with my studies here. However, after I am finished, I hope to remain an integral part of this community and take it with me to wherever I am headed next –the beauty of the web.

Kimberley Lau: 9/11: Does America really remember?

Terrorism also does not appear to be a major factor when it comes to who they vote for as president in the upcoming elections. Only 12% of Americans consider it an important factor when casting their vote.

john walsh: Crash text dummies: The dangers of getting from A 2 B

Remember a time when cars were only used to get you somewhere or get you laid? Well, the quaint notion that motor vehicles only be used for driving and sex is old school – territory for nostalgia buffs and Webdiarists.

Gregor Stronach: Stroganoff or a load of bull?

No doubt, Australians will be stunned to know that this is the first instance – ever – that the topic of “Stroganoff” has been raised in Parliament. And for that, Mr Murphy should be congratulated – after all, breaking new ideological ground is what being a member of parliament in the southern hemisphere’s greatest democracy is all about.

Heidi Cassell: Sydney historical site to get facelift

Plans are in the works for the facelift of the North Eveleigh / Redfern area. Preparations for the redevelopment began in 2005 and recently went public in April 2008. As part of the North Eveleigh Redevelopment Project, the historical section of North Eveleigh is being renovated or, in some cases, removed completely.

Larissa Varela: Google Street View: Bloody unreal!

In this digital age, when people are getting quite comfortable with shopping, learning, socialising and even managing their bank accounts online, why is having an online picture of the front of their houses becoming so controversial? Is Google Street View really invading our privacy?

Reuben Brand: Art, Australia, and censorship

Australia’s censorship laws came under tight scrutiny at an Arts Censorship Forum convened after the recent furore surrounding artist Bill Henson’s latest exhibition. Hetty Johnston, executive director of child protection agency Bravehearts, called for an arts tribunal to be set up that artists must first approach before working with children.

Suheil Damouny: Cronulla Revisited

Hodges [a candidate in the recent council election for Sutherland Shire (NSW)] has every right to campaign and seek media attention to boost his voting numbers; however, when did racial campaigning become such a news story and part of the normal election process?

Jillian Wolfe: It’s not as easy as “ABC”?

It’s easy to ignore a broken bank as just another greedy institution and that deserves their demise. Not so when you are the nations largest childcare provider to hundreds of thousands of working families. The challenge here is whether the government should intervene and nationalise a private sector entity to ensure delivery of a vital piece of social infrastructure.

Julia Stolzenberg: Youth binge-drinking: A question of responsibility

Who would think of celebrating mateship with a glass of mineral water? Who would have a dry ANZAC day? Alcohol is a central part of Australian social and cultural events which we mark as significant by drinking.

Yun Lou: Ethnic Chinese in Local Government Councils

Burwood (NSW) is a multicultural suburb. Ethnic Chinese are the most populous minority in this area. They have been integrated with the host society and feel an increasing consciousness of taking part in politics. Chinese citizens are no longer marginal and spectators of elections. Chinese people’s sense of political participation in Australia is rising. It is manifested in [various] ways...

XiaoLi PEI: What is the big issue for international students?

As more and more international student are coming to Australia, education has become a big export industry. However, some social issues concerned with overseas students are becoming stubborn.

joanna.egan: Euthanasia and Youtube

Youtube has given a voice to those who otherwise would not be heard by the masses... The personal nature of Youtube videos makes the delivery of the tragic messages from those tangled up in the euthanasia debate all the more confronting – and, as we’ve seen through Australia’s reaction to Ms Flowers’ video, all the more effective.

Christel van Hoof: Smoking kills? Your appetite!

Although these smoking campaigns might be successful, I really wonder if it is necessary to broadcast them on national television. The commercials are very graphical and don’t leave anything to the imagination. By broadcasting them on prime time television every viewer, whether a smoker or not, is exposed to the same horrifying images.

Kacie Bluhm: NSW's Transit Tcard gets a second chance

The Tcard moves transport ticketing into the entirely electronic realm, even claiming the eventual possibility for mobile phone ticketing. While innovative in its concept, the drastic change has many commuters worried.

Lisa Knox: Good on ya Aussie: Paralympics media coverage soars

What an amazing victory for Australian media. Connecting Australia to the heartwarming stories which demonstrate the strength of the human spirit to rise above physical and mental challenges shows our dedication to all of our athletes, limitations or not.

Fiona Yip: Housing affordability hits stress level for Australian families

There was some relief when the Reserve Bank of Australia reduced interest rates and banks also reduced mortgage interest rates. Hopefully, the employment situation will remain stable so that the middle class can hold on to their jobs to support their mortgage payments. Meanwhile, there are signs that property prices are dropping. But this is a double-edged sword ...

Elizabeth Hope: Next step for the Pemulwuy Project

The Pemulwuy Project has finally reached exhibition stage and it is now a waiting game for approval. According to Peter Valilis of the Aboriginal Housing Company, “the only reason the project would be knocked back is because the powers that be do not want Aboriginal people back on the Block”.

Victoria Parker: Coverage of Political Campaigners: The Palin comparison

The name Sarah Palin is one that has resonated in Australia within the last month, for all the wrong reasons. Her personal life has been the focus in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian amongst others. I’m very aware of whom Sarah Palin is but if questioned on all of her political views, without thorough research, I’d be a little rusty.

Prea Peter: The money train

Will the current crisis in the global financial markets adversely affect Australia? Will a sick passenger on a Chatswood train disrupt the Bankstown service? The answer to both these seemingly unrelated questions is something along the lines of “we don’t know for sure. Even if we did, there is probably not much we can do”. Complex networks of tracks or markets definitely have a downside.

Annabella Marquis: Cabbie Crisis

Everyone has the right to protection of some sort. Builders working in particularly hazardous situations are given danger pay – a big bonus on top of their regular pay. Similarly, cab drivers should be afforded protection if and when they want it.

Sandra Ortiz: Barnett’s motion, new doses of hope?

“I intend to reintroduce my motion to disallow Medicare funding following the report of the Senate Committee”. These words said by Liberal Senator for Tasmania, Guy Barnett, this week in the Sydney Morning Herald, were rapidly spread all over the web.

carmen.k.li: Environmental solution or just a lot of hot air?

In this age of environmental awareness and carbon footprint-counting, we are inundated with green alternatives and pressured into offsetting emissions, but are these initiatives really making a difference to climate change or are they just another money making ploy?

Luke Telford: “Class Warfare” Piques Liberal Arrogance

Turnbull does pose a greater degree of competition for Rudd than Nelson did, as he represents the kind of break with the Howard years that afforded Labor such an easy victory earlier in the year. However, the extent to which this benefits Turnbull is questionable.

Michelle Evans: And….Action! Aussies shoot it out on Blu-Ray

As an avid film enthusiast, it gives me great interest to be up to date with the latest entertainment technologies. I am watching the take-up of Blu-ray in Australia with much anticipation, and am eager to hear other peoples view on the subject.

Liying Zhang: Ideological gap – an inevitable misunderstanding

When I found that the Australians are still reading China through Chairman Mao in 21st Century, I was overwhelmed by the frustration of misunderstanding at first.

soharni tennekoon: Blowing hot and cold

Summer’s on its way. And just as the weather picks up and we flock outdoors to our local beer gardens, a dark cloud looms over us. Is it smoke from our cigarettes? No. Ironically, it’s the potential lack thereof. Those who relish the idea of a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other, your days may be numbered.

Darren Boon: Television food advertising targets children

Child obesity is hardly surprising nowadays. Half the food ads shown during children’s television timeslots were for “non-core” foods like chocolate and fast food, according to a new study by obesity researchers.

Bianka Morgen: Urban hunting

Every Saturday the same: stressed people run through Sydney, armed with the Sydney Morning Herald‘s Domain section. It is hunting season - house hunting season! A month ago I was one of them.

Bianca Birdsall: Politicians join BHP blockade

Since I began watching this issue a few months ago, coverage has certainly increased, but public interest largely has not. Even if the effect on agricultural supply and pricing is ignored, if nothing more this is a case study of the needs for appropriate oversight of the planning and development process, and the rights of landowners and the state when it comes to resources.

Jingjing Zhang: More reasons keep Generation Y housebound

After the result of a Housing Industry Association survey being announced two months ago, Bernard Salt, a demographer in Sydney, says there are some other reasons besides expensive house rental keep the trend that Generation Y live with their family going up.

Simon Harris: Is Qantas too old?

Even though 747’s have been around since the late 60’s they have kept the record for the safest aircraft in history so far. They have flown more than half the world’s population in the last 40 years with 3.5 billion people at the end of 2005. The bottom line is the 747, despite its great safety record, is an aging aircraft.

Xin Ma: Sydney-Melbourne

Melbourne is on track to take over from Sydney as Australia’s city of the future. While Melbourne is planning to cut the number of cars, introduce a city bicycle rental system, built more affordable housing and increase public transport, the NSW government is abandoning Sydney’s infrastructure improvement. Economic growth in Melbourne has been double that of Sydney in the past 12 months...

Yuhui Yang: The battle just began

Some of the Socceroos supporters think Australia will have a comfortable journey to the World Cup finals. However in my opinion there still have some tough games on the way. When the qualifying games get underway again, any small mistakes would put the Socceroos’ ticket to the World Cup finals at risk.

Jill Burdett: Mother blame

Acts of incest that produce offspring have sparked inquiry into the personality of accused perpetrators and the psychological and physical effects on victims and their offspring. In considering the extreme and extended nature of these cases I believe it is fair to speculate on the mother’s role in the incest family dynamic.

Feifei Guo: Are the Olympics all about gold medals?

We watch the Games day and night, share athletes’ pain and pride. We want to know how good our county’s sport is. We hold high expectation for our Olympians. We do care about how much gold medals our athletes can win. But the Olympic Games are a global party. They are truly about participation and enjoying sports.

Sarah Jessup: Taking on Kokoda

One of my friends is walking the Kokoda trail this year to raise money for breast cancer research. I’ve seen her fundraising efforts, and that of the other women walking, and I have been really blown away. Viona Young had an idea for raising money for breast cancer research, and in her first year of trying raised so much money that only corporate sponsors raised more than she did. This is one of the few things in recent memory that I have been really impressed by. Good luck to all the women walking.

Maurizio Corda: When selling coffee is not enough

On 3rd August, American giant Starbucks closed 61 of its 85 shops in Australia. After over a month and hundreds of jobs lost, I and many other coffee lovers still think about what went wrong and why did Starbucks fail to break the Australian market.

Kate Hersey: The remote vote – Does it count?

Every time the USA elects a new President, it seems that the whole world is voting. Everyone has an opinion and the media is full of headlines on the topic. On November 4, however, the final decision will be made solely by US citizens. And in an election that looks to be a tight race up until the very end, every vote counts. Including my own.

Catherine Yu Zhao: No Papal Chase in Sydney

Nothing happened. Did the pope have better security protection than George W. Bush? Or the Chaser was afraid of religion? Julian’s answer in the public lecture showed the other side of the program’s logic. It is an international event; it’s religion; the police got preparation this time; and it would have been more or less the same plot if we did it again.

Nicola Mele: Sydney Biennale: A real success?

On 7th September the 16th Sydney Biennale came to an end. As I am originally from Italy, a country where art is a substantial part of everyday’s life, I was interested in seeing how this important event could affect the approach of Sydneysiders towards contemporary and visual art.

Katja Lieb: The luxury car tax: Hardly fair, unjust and not smart

Family First Senator Stephen Fielding has become a surprise power player in the proposed increase to the luxury car tax (LCT), with the Rudd government expected to reintroduce the bill to the Senate this week with changes that both the Family First Senator and the Greens have lobbied for.

Jaya Myler: Mind the gap: 9 out of 10 women call for gender wage gap reporting

Survey results released today by The Heat Group, marketer to Australian women, show there’s been a huge groundswell of support for the demand issued by the ACTU for greater transparency by employers of gender pay data.

Amanda Hawke: Bad apples continue to spoil it for female fans

If the code is serious about bringing a female audience to the game, it will need to ask itself whether it’s a few bad apples in the bunch, or if it’s the sport’s culture that needs to be turfed.

Zhang Xiaojia: Is this a legal hunt?

Animal cruelty cases are not new in Australia. Just under a month ago a koala was found bashed, dead and mutilated in Brisbane’s north-western suburbs. Although the people are searching for the ones who are responsible for these actions, the process is often slow.

Olivia Proud: "Blinded" by binge drinking

Smashed. Plastered. Blind. Hammered. Legless. It almost sounds like a car accident. Pissed. Blotto. Shit-faced. No, we are not in the public toilets. It’s just the response we hear so often when we ask how a mate was last Saturday night. Only for a country that seems to take such pleasure in getting drunk, we sure don’t make it sound like too much fun.