Clive Palmer gets a judicial smack-down from a judge who didn’t mince her words in finding against him.

Also, nominations for the annual Townsville City Council Community Awards are now open – The ‘Pie makes his picks, and invites you to post yours.

… and word warriors unite! A campaign has started  to save some old and fading words that deserve to come back into vogue – this includes a ripper for Palmer, and several more for a few other notables.

All that and any other bric-a-brac still lying around in this, the final open nest for 2013, here at www.townsvillemagpie.com.au

No Christmas spirit – or beer and wine – for Charters Towers council workers. The Grinch decrees a dry Christmas.

Yup, as the great Dr Suess said ‘the term grinchy will apply, when Christmas spirit is in short supply’. Or was it just a bit of payback?

Also, further news about why that Strand Park V8 concert ballyhooed and unquestioningly promoted in the Daily Astonisher a week or so ago WON’T be happening - not there anyway …

The Magpie remembers his time close to Ronald Biggs, and the (true) inside story about how he evaded Melbourne wallopers by just minutes …

And given the clicks on Facebook, we’ll just have to repeat The ‘Pie’s favorite Peter O’Toole line ... all that and lots of other nonsense here in the nest at www.townsvillemagpie.com.au

This week, The Magpie introduces a new occasional award, the Pisstake of the Week , with two outstanding contenders vying for the inaugural gong. Both inventive, biting and hilarious.

Also, there’s a bit of a witch-hunt is on down in Walker Street, and could it end up with the CMC?

The Ghosts of Mooneys Past comes back to haunt Townsville ratepayers ….

Resident doodler Bentley goes batty,  but some helpful Magpie advice comes too late…

And as promised, some light-hearted silliness which dropped into the nest during the week, all here at www.townsvillemagpie.com.au

‘Resentment is drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies’ – Nelson Mandela’s timely philosophy for some Australians.

With passing of the great man, one of his guiding principles is a stark message for those in the aboriginal industry promoting  ‘Invasion Day’ ceremonies to counter Australia Day …

Also, the lunacy of the law, Queensland style  - the latest one is framed to get someone killed sooner or later.

 

Clive Palmer and his inner bogan …

… and the cheekiest rib-tickling headline of the decade plus we revisit a couple of comments from the week.All that and lots of other stuff as usual here in the nest at www.townsvillemagpie.com.au

Toula Cassimatis takes a toweling in court … and is Mayor Mullet playing ducks and drakes with Steggles over the Pinnacles proposal?

And The Astonisher really does astonish … questioning the police claim that they seized a haul of synthetic drugs from a CBD shop. well, that's what they say.

And on that subject, The Astonisher is happy to tarnish the name of all small businesses in the old mall strip by refusing to name which shop is involved. The Magpie isn’t so shy.

And the old bird will tell you – yet again - some other things that the paper wouldn’t, couldn’t or just lazily didn’t know, all here in this week’s nest at www.townsvillemagpie.com.au

At last – gremlins defeated and The Pie is proud to present that promised report into the V8’s value to Townsville.

Also as promised, race critic Mike Shearer’s detailed analysis of that JCU report ... and The Magpie has a nasty little surprise you may have missed on the issue as well.

Architects tell us we are what we build, which means one Middle Eastern country makes a bold declaration of what they are …

An Indian politician proposes an innovative campaign technique, let's hope the Newman Government doesn't hear about …

... Also, The Courier Mail loses the plot, going all out for gimmicky front page censorship, and our own Astonisher has painted itself into an interesting corner, all here in this week’s nest at www.townsvillemagpie.com.au