EDITOR'S PICKS

Thomson threw mud in the wrong direction
Rob Burgess
In the attempt to change government through the Thompson scandal, his accusers understand it's trial by media that counts. And in this context, Thomson's parliamentary address missed a key point.

A mining boom cut-off is coming
Robert Gottliebsen
As the flow-on effects of poor labour productivity and softer minerals prices bear down, Australian mining investment is set for a sharp slowdown which will hurt the broader economy.

Kohler's market caution was right
Robert Gottliebsen
Alan Kohler's warning to Eureka Report subscribers in late 2011 has proved prescient given last week's stock market sell-off. While Australia's banks are well prepared for a global funding freeze, it's a different story for the mining sector.

Could Greece prove fatal for Europe's banks?
Karen Maley
Confidence in southern Europe's banks is caving in, signalling a new and lethal stage of the region's debt crisis. And it's doubtful any national promises of deposit protection can be kept.

Europe won't swallow Merkel's soother
Karen Maley
Angela Merkel's 'growth concessions' at tonight's summit are unlikely to resolve the divide over burning problems like Spanish bank debt, which is set for a deeply disturbing revelation.

A media machine to distract Facebook
Alan Kohler
Facebook's future success lies in being able to manage its growth – getting the same advertising yields in Asia and Latin America as it's been getting in the US and Europe. Even the founders admit that's a big ask.

Thomson walks The Wire, audiences flock
Bernard Keane
The scandal surrounding Craig Thomson came full circle in his parliamentary address, completing the transformation of politics into crime drama.

Qantas glides towards accountability
Stephen Bartholomeusz
The Qantas restructure will ironically see the group take on a more conventional look, and while the move will increase transparency and accountability, it will also make Alan Joyce's job more important than ever.

Facebook's flop
Stephen Bartholomeusz
There were a number of negative developments in the lead up to the Facebook float and it was over-priced anyway. This, along with the fact that Zuckerberg isn't focused on making money, makes for an uneasy combination.

TECHNOLOGY SPECTATOR: Spotify's missing profits
Andrew Harris
Some may see Spotify as the saviour of digital music but the service gives artists a raw deal and could be just as bad for them as online piracy.

Craig Thomson's flawed presumption
Alister Drysdale
Since there has been no civil or criminal charge made against Craig Thomson, he had no choice but to attempt to defend his character in parliament in a case where the rule of law is isolated from the court of public opinion.

CLIMATE SPECTATOR: Why Abbott has won the carbon tax debate
Tristan Edis
It only takes some insight from Google to recognise that Tony Abbott's emotive rhetoric on the carbon price has won out.

Time for social media to get real
Paul Wallbank
There are striking similarities between the dot-com bubble of yesteryear and today's social media boom. Facebook's float may signal a boom peak, but the hard road ahead will be worth it.

Facebook and the $100 billion club
Stephen Mayne
A look at the 41 global companies worth more than $US100 billion shows why the US is still chief global superpower, and why Facebook still has much to envy.