australia

Joe Klein Cannot Read

Hamilton Nolan · 06/30/10 12:44PM

In your illiterate Wednesday media column: Joe Klein fails reading comprehension, Gerald Posner does the Gerald Posner thing again, Photoshop model disclosure in Australia, a Conde-Hearst talent war foreshadowed, and Playboy grows ever less sexy.

Spacecraft Re-enters Atmosphere, Explodes into Cosmic Fireworks

Max Read · 06/17/10 02:25AM

Hayabusa, a Japanese spacecraft containing material from a moving asteroid, re-entered the atmosphere this week, putting on an amazing light show after ejecting its cargo to parachute safely into the Australian Outback. Click through for video of the explosion.

Meet the Australian Who's Saved 160 People from Suicide

Max Read · 06/15/10 12:48AM

Don Ritchie lives across the street from the most famous suicide spot in Australia: A cliff known as "The Gap." Most people would move, but Ritchie's stayed for almost 50 years—saving an estimated 160 people from suicide.

American Teen Sailor Loses Contact At Sea (Update)

Jeff Neumann · 06/10/10 11:28PM

Abby Sunderland, the 16-year-old California sailor attempting to circumnavigate the globe alone, activated her distress beacon Thursday after hitting rough weather in the Indian Ocean. A search is now underway. Update: She has been found "alive and well."

World's Biggest Hamburger Takes 12 Hours to Cook

Richard Lawson · 06/07/10 02:15PM

Here's a little news that ought to put starving people the world over in good spirits this blah Monday: an Australian cafe has made the world's biggest hamburger. It's 178lbs and costs $1500. It takes four men to flip. [Reuters]

The Cutest U.N. Commission of All Time

Max Read · 05/17/10 12:30AM

For his new installation, Australian artist Bennett Miller has assembled a meeting of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in the Melbourne Museum plaza. The part that is "art" is that all of the delegates are dogs. All together: Awwwwww.

Ian McKellen Mistaken for Hobo

Richard Lawson · 05/12/10 09:48AM

Sir Ian McKellen, England's second most famous wizard, was sitting outside the Comedy Theatre in Australia in his Waiting for Godot costume when someone walked by and dropped money in his hat. They thought he was a real tramp. [Telegraph]