Mental Notes: July 2009

MELBOURNE–How’s your job? I’m soooo not complaining, but while putting two hours of live news and current affairs radio together each day from 5-7am live – as in warts and all – my 3am walk to a junky/clubber street in St Kilda to get a cab is worse than the the sad stories we cover.

Glance of human togetherness in Kazakh’s Tulpan

Many people consider the steppes of Kazakhstan as a largely desolate place – the large, flat plains that cover about half of the country being the home of shepherds, sheep and hot dry winds. But last year’s most awarded international film, Tulpan, has shown audiences worldwide that the most simple settings, and the most simple … Continue reading “Glance of human togetherness in Kazakh’s Tulpan”

India outsourcing to survive Satyam fall

At the start of this year, India was rocked by revelations that the huge software and outsourcing group Satyam had overestimated its profits to the tune of around $US1 billion. Before his arrest, chairman and IT poster-boy Ramalinga Raju said he had been “riding a tiger, not knowing how to get off without being eaten”.

Cambodia’s top cop dies in chopper crash

Cambodians celebrating their national day on Sunday woke to the news Monday that their most senior police chief, along with a 4-star army general, had died in a helicopter crash. Chief of Police Hok Lundy had held the position for 14 years, and was a trusted offsider to Prime Minister Hun Sen. Last year, the … Continue reading “Cambodia’s top cop dies in chopper crash”

Claims RAMSI is creating fear in villages

The deputy premier of the Solomons’ Guadalcanal has reiterated that villagers in the southern region, where police and RAMSI troops are hunting murder suspect Alphonseus Toghovotu, continue to be fearful in their armed presence. Bradley Tovosia has also alleged that villagers have complained of night raids by armed officers, scaring them even further.

Indonesia blockbuster sinks Titanic

Indonesia is currently experiencing a movie phenomenon not seen since the theatre-filled days of Titanic. That film sold more than three million tickets in Indonesia during its three-month run in 1997. But the locally-written and produced Ayat-Ayat Cinta is set to eclipse the box office any day now – and in under a month. The … Continue reading “Indonesia blockbuster sinks Titanic”