Out of the mouths of politicians - when mission creep has last word

The thing about mission creep is that it takes control of the politicians and generals who would have us believe that they are in control.

Rio Tinto extends deadline on $3.9bn bid for Riversdale

RIO Tinto has extended the offer period for its $3.9 billion takeover of Riversdale Mining by two weeks as one of its target's biggest shareholders sparked speculation that it might spoil the love-in between the two while it continues to creep up its register.

Lake Boga snags willing workers for its levee

A TWO-PRONGED attack was launched yesterday on the floodwaters creeping towards Lake Boga in Victoria's north-west, where the sausages were yesterday served with sandbags.

Richmond must be respected: Pies

COLLINGWOOD is refusing to treat today's clash against Richmond as a fait accompli despite the battle being between third and 14th on the ladder.

Under The Shifting Sands, A Blessing For The Desert

THE farmlands of West Africa look desperate to the untrained eye - sandy, barren and hostile. But despite much talk of desertification as the Sahara's dunes creep ever southward, a quiet green miracle is taking place. And the efforts of an Australian development worker have provided the impetus for the homegrown project.

Call The Batster For The Big Jobs

WITH the new Batman movie The Dark Knight about to open in cinemas, here are other causes that Batman could champion. Dumped by your boyfriend: Batman will wrap you in his cloak and take you to the Royal Botanic Gardens, where you shall spend the evening hanging upside-down with the rest of the bats, bashing photos of your ex and agreeing on what a creep he was. He will whisper life-affirming words into your ears until morning, after which he will drop you to the ground and fly away. Watch out ...

What I Like About Wollongong

It's 5.30pm and I've been in the car for three hours. The sun has begun to creep down behind the mountain, casting an orange glow on the sky above.

Masked Crusaders Of The Southern Plain

Scene: Wouldn't you like to know where this is happening, you loathsome little pinko smarty-pants? Typical Herald reader! Well I'm not going to tell you. Oh OK, here's a hint. You're somewhere in the Sutherland Shire. See if you can find the address in Das Kapital, you nosy little creep. Harharhar. This is private property. Push off or I'll set the dogs on you.

Rogers Slots In Under The Radar

NOTHING has come easy for Chris Rogers. "He was never the anointed one, the chosen one," said his father, John Rogers, himself a first-class cricketer with NSW. "He was the kid who was never outstanding who would always creep into rep teams."

Kangaroos, Afl Prepare For Crunch Meeting Tomorrow

THE Kangaroos creep closer to making a decision over their future, with members of the club's board meeting the AFL yesterday in preparation for tomorrow's crucial meeting of the full board.

Ei Outbreaks Confirmed In Highlands

THE slow creep of equine influenza continues, with new cases being confirmed at Pheasants Nest and Thirlmere in the past week.

No Stopping The Creep Of Hollywood Gossip

I HAD a fight with a friend this week. And I'm not proud to admit it was about Britney Spears. My friend thinks Britney can make a comeback. I think she's a lost cause.

Drivers Hit By Pump In Petrol Price

ILLAWARRA motorists will be hoping the fuel in the tank will see them through the weekend as prices creep higher than usual towards the end of the week.

Future Present

WHILE most of us flick the topic of diesel versus petrol versus hybrid backwards and forwards the world's car makers continue to creep forward with hydrogen fuel-cell development.

Scientists In Unison: We're Ruining Earth

DROUGHTS will be longer, flooding rains will be rarer but heavier. Cyclones will hit harder. Violent storms and extreme heatwaves will strike more frequently. Evaporation will suck up scarce inland water. Sea levels will creep up half a metre. Oceans will be so acidic that in some places shells and reefs will dissolve.

Vile Words Fill Streets Of Woollahra

Michael Evans even allows a few to creep in hereunder.

Coalmine Creep

COALMINING is the economic force that drives the Upper Hunter.

Government Secrecy

MANY Australian taxpayers would see it as their right to know how much tax the Federal Government collects through personal taxation creep. After all, most taxpayers are affected by creep which occurs when earnings increase but tax thresholds are unchanged.

Exit Strategy Lacking In Gaza Invasion

PROFESSIONAL soldiers are usually keen to warn their civilian bosses about what they call "mission creep" - sending in troops with ill-defined goals and no clear exit strategies.

Losing Sleep Over It

For the past six weeks I've been getting to bed awfully late on Friday nights - so late, in fact, it's the early hours of Saturday morning. Unfortunately, no matter how quietly I creep into bed, my beloved always wakes with the kind of start you'd expect had you set off a firecracker on her bedside table. "WHAA?! NGGGA?! WASSIT?!" she cries as I soothe her and simultaneously yank back the quilt she has annexed for herself. "Calm down, it's only me. Go back to sleep," I say. "Gnagh humpha," she ...