The Townsville Bulletin completely sells out – but not at the newsagency counter.

Yes, without a whimper but the rustle of mega-dollars, The Astonisher surrenders its last vestige of credibility with an Australian first in the newspaper industry.

Indeed, The Magpie goes all Media Watchy, because in the past few days, the Daily Astonisher has been so - well, astonishing, let the old bird count the ways ... 

... and the dangers of zoo poo: the Darwin Awards start rolling in for 2014.

All that and a lot of other trinkets here in the nest at www.townsvillemagpie.com.au

DID YOU MISS IT?!? Yesterday’s introduction to the Townsville Bulletin’s new tactic … the Seinfeld front page?

Yes, loath though he is to admit it, The Townsville Bulletin gets under The Magpie’s guard with a cunning Baldrick-like plan to outfox the old bird. The Pie is devastated.  But a closer look, and it ain’t so much unintentionally funny as it is intentionally callous.

Also this week, Brisbane sucks another business out of the ‘Ville …

An interesting list comparing council rates around Queensland – it was supplied to the Daily Astonisher which chose not to run it – wonder why?

And more naughty fun with unfortunate font styles from overseas , all here in the nest at www.townsvillemagpie.com.au

And they said he'd never make it - The Magpie becomes a double centurion!

It is about to be your pleasure – or, if you are a lawyer, work for News Corp or Townsville Enterprise, or are certain TCC councillors, it may be your distasteful but essential duty – to peruse the old bird’s double century in cyberspace.

Yup, welcome to Magpie’s Nest blog #200.

But this regular load of cobblers is proof of the adage that the more things change, the more they stay the same, soooo …

To paraphrase the Creedence Clearwater ditty ‘Still I wonder, who’ll stop the drain’ – the latest readership figures show that the Townsville Bulletin’s readership is well and truly down the gurgler.

Returning the compliment: Simpo Templeton graced us with his assessment of councillors’ performances last week, so we thought this week, it's only fair we should start rating journos’ performances …

And is Kid Crisafulli seeking Federal office, with a bid to join Tony Rabbit’s new style diplomatic corps? He gets Quote of the Week, and political pest Paul Jacob gets joke of the week …  and wait, that’s not all,  The ‘Pie will throw in a few extra verbal steak knives as well at www.townsvillemagpie.com.au

It is no contest … this week's Chicken Little The Sky Is Falling Award takes pride of place on Townsville Bulletin's crowded awards mantelpiece.

It’s been an all-round hilarious week on several fronts for the Astonisher … The Magpie counts the ways …

… the biggest mystery about a mystery Chinese visitor to Townsville recently is why was it a mystery? …

… Is one of the Townsville Ratba ...  errr ... Ratepayers Association leading lights in for a hiding … perhaps that should be whipping – in court later this month.

And exclusive … the pic the paper missed out on which graphically shows the devastation of Cyclone Dylan …  all that and other odds and sods unearthed during the week here in the nest at www.townsvillemagpie.com.au

What was she thinking ... a classic brain-fade from Townsville Enterprise – but it’s no laughing matter.

Kid Crisafulli startles some Townsville’s be-wigged bigwigs …

Did the Townsville Bulletin know of a massive criminal activity but didn’t report it because the culprit was a big corporate advertiser – or is it just dangerous ignorance of language …

A no-holds-barred round-up of the Gold Coast’s rorting mayor Tom Tate … (mostly a link you can open or not) ....

And the cruelty of parents … a name or two that makes you wonder about that, all here in the nest at www.townsvillemagpie.com.au.

Boy, are those Pinnacles pushers about to to be pissed off – as will be the Townsville Bulletin which gets the appropriately-named Steggles Egg On Face Award.

Yup, the developer of the proposed Pinnacles satellite town has done a massive back-flip with tuck and pike, which gives the finger to all those shrill dollar-hungry locals who have backed the silly and irresponsible Bulletin campaign to get the project up.   

A tale of two surveys: how the Townsville Bulletin drops all pretence of objectivity and declares a vendetta against the Townsville Council majority - The Magpie takes a look at the effects of the global News Ltd culture on Townsville.

On the international scene, first the government wanted to burn their boats, now they want to give them boats … Bentley takes his sharp pen to the issue of Tony's latest cunning plan ...

... plus some funny and clever signs from the States, the greeting card that is causing double-take in newsagents,  and a really rude but side-splittingly funny pic which is not for the easily offended (no one 'round here like that anyway) all here in the nest at www.townsvillemagpie.com.au

The House That Cassimatis Built … that ugly, angular jumble on Melton Hill … looks like going on the market again.

And its current owner is said to be in more strife than the early explorers.

A final word on a pack of absolute Bs ... as in bats, Beattie and Bligh …

Those unfortunate acronyms keep piling up …

… and toilet humour – believe it or not, it can be good clean fun, as things always are here in the nest at www.townsvillemagpie.com.au

That was the year that was – test your news knowledge with this special Magpie Mindbender Quiz about the biggies of 2013.

The ‘Pie also reports on a looming legal kick in the nuts for slovenly editorial management at – where else? – the Townsville Bulletin, which could cost them a pretty penny …

As we emerge from the silly season, we look at a couple of the silliest yarns you may have (mercifully) missed in the past few weeks …

… and not all the trash talking in cricket is out on the pitch; language is a minefield of exploding metaphors and limping language in the commentary box, too.

All here, along with the party trick of the season, in the first nest for 2014 at www.townsvillemagpie.com.au