Curiouser and curiouser

There was a time when The Age published brain teasers on its comics page, but as the paper has fired Bristow, who would have made a superior editor, the riddles now sometimes appear on the front page, as is the case today.

The paper has wrapped itself in an extra sheet with headlines at the top, as you might expect. Below that, however, is the facsimile of a diagonal tear and the words "Always Curious", the paper's promotional slogan. (Truth in advertising indeed; there are few enterprises more curious than The Age)

Curiousity certainly seemed warranted, as there was no way of knowing what journalistic heroism was contained inside. Less open to question, perhaps, is an assertion emailed some months ago to the Billabong by a professional journalist who, at that point, had yet to be tapped on the shoulder, handed a cheque and told to get lost.

"The word I hear is that [CEO Greg] Hywood gets a $3 million bonus if Fairfax is sold," the correspondent whispered.

No credence was invested in that tip at the time, but after seeing this morning's rag, well, you just have to wonder.