News: Betty White is 90 and awesome.

Golden Girl Betty White turns 90, laughs about it

Oh to have this much grace at age 90. The wonder girl of American film and television celebrated her milestone birthday this week with a TV special. She celebrated with the likes of Amy Poehler, the “Parks and Rec” star. Poehler kicked off the 90-minute celebration with a few jokes about just how old White is. Poehler called the actress a pioneer: “I call her a pioneer because 90 years ago she literally arrived to California on stage coach.” Even Obama taped a message and asked to see Betty’s birth certificate to prove her age … a nod to real conspiracies the President was born outside the US. Betty White started her career on radio in 1947 and is best known for her turn in the Golden Girls. “I’ve been the luckiest old broad on two feet to have all the jobs that I’ve had,” she said. Awesome. And because we can, here’s a look at Betty through her career:

Should private health be means tested?

The Federal Government has used the latest figures from the private health insurance industry – which made $15.4 billion in revenue last year – to show that the industry was in a strong position and would cope if a means test was brought in for the 30 per cent Government rebate. The Government has twice before tried to pass legislation that would see individuals earning more than $80,000 a year and couples earning more than $160,000 lose out on the rebate. It says the measure would save $2.4 billion from the budget. That means 2.4 million would be affected but 8 million would continue to claim the rebate. Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said: “Because the private health insurance industry is in a strong financial position, it is not appropriate for lower and middle income Australians to be subsidising the health insurance of millionaires. And while the industry grows, so does the cost to taxpayers of the private health insurance rebate – so that if we don’t act now the rebate will deprive the wider Australian health system of $100 billion over the next 40 years.” The Government needs support from one of four remaining crossbenchers to clinch the deal.

Shane Warne’s spat with cyclists grows

After a series of tweets saying cyclists should learn the rules of the road, cricketer Shane Warne claimed cyclists should also have their bikes registered after an altercation on a street this week. Warne claimed the cyclist pushed in front and then ‘smacked’ the front of his car twice. The cyclist came forward after the incident and counter-claimed that Warne ‘lurched his car forward forcing my bike wheel and almost my leg under the front of his car’. “Dumbfounded at how overtly aggressive the driver had been and aware that we were now holding up the traffic, I pulled my bike from under the car and attempted to continue riding. My wheel was jammed against the frame of my bike and the chain was tangled so I had to carry it to the footpath.” What do you think about the call for bike registration?

Brain surgeon says racism still alive in Australia

Dr Charlie Teo, the maverick brain surgeon, addressed the NSW Australia Day Council yesterday saying racism was still rife in Australia … but it was still the best country in the world to live in. “I don’t quite like it when I hear politicians reassuring the Indians there’s no racism in Australia. That’s bullshit. Racism is still very much alive in Australia.” But he also said immigrants needed to play a role in embracing Australia. “I get upset when I see ethnic minorities behaving in a bad way,” Dr Teo said. “I know it’s controversial but you can’t expect Australians to embrace immigration unless immigrants who come here are respectful.”

Cindy Crawford’s daughter takes to modelling

Kaia Gerber is the new face of Young Versace and did her first photo shoot with her mother nearby. And she’s all of 10-years-old. “Like her mother, Kaia has a very special gift. The camera really, really loves her,” Donatella Versace, Creative Director of Versace, said. “Having Cindy on-set for the shoot took me back to all the amazing Avedon shoots we worked on together. It was such a special treat watching Kaia walk in her mother’s footsteps!”

We’re on the edge of another financial crisis

The World Bank says the global economy is teetering on the edge of a financial crisis as big as, if not bigger than, the 2008/09 banking and sub-prime disaster that sent resulted in recessions and downturns around the globe. Australia, relatively speaking, avoided the last recession but the World Bank said countries wouldn’t have the resources to fight back this time. The global growth rate was cut from 3.6 per cent to 2.5 per cent. Even the economies Australia has relied on like China and India are in for markedly slower growth. Part of all these concerns stem from the sovereign debt crisis sweeping Europe. If you need an explanation on that, check out our cheat sheet here.

Jay-Z writes poem, imposes self ‘bitch’ ban

Update: Jay-Z’s publicist has revealed the story to be a fake.

The rapper husband of Beyonce has apparently given up using the word ‘bitch’, so enamoured with his newborn daughter Blue Ivy Carter. He penned a poem which he was due to publish on his website to announce the fact. It was leaked. “Before I got in the game, made a change, and got rich/I didn’t think hard about using the word bitch/I rapped, I flipped it, I sold it, I lived it/Now with my daughter in this world I curse those that give it. I never realised while on the fast track that I’d give riddance to the word b..ch/To leave her innocence intact/No man will degrade her, or call her name/Forever young you may pass/Blue Ivy Carter, my angel.” No word on why he didn’t strike the same epiphany when he met and fell in love with Beyonce.

What else is on your mind and in the news?