Friday, February 24, 2012

The Australian (Federal) Labour Party...

Seems to have a death wish.  Surely someone has told these people that messy, intrigue filled leadership contests are a bad way of convincing voters that you will be able to provide a stable government if you are elected?  Even the mess that is the Republican primary system in the US at the moment seems better than what is going on here with Gillard and Rudd.

Monday, February 6, 2012

This is just silly...

Outrage in NZ over a Smokefree ad featuring Piri Weepu, in which he bottlefeeds his young child!  Bottlefeeds! As if breastfeeding were not good enough!  (Forget, for the moment, how difficult breastfeeding would be for him).

Really?  Really?

I would take it as a good thing that a man is being portrayed as a nurturing, involved figure in a popular ad campaign.  Complaining about this can only be counterproductive for the pro-breastfeeding groups making the complaints.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Rolling Stone: Best news source in the US?

At the very least, they do a wonderful line in long form journalism.  That talent is noticeably under-represented in more traditional new media.  For a thoroughly depressing example, take a look at this piece about how a small town in Michelle Bachmann's home district is creating such a strong anti-homosexual vibe (linked, naturally, to the strength of evangelical religion in the area) that many young kids have killed themselves there.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Articles online:

'The New Political Blogosphere', in Social Epistemology, here.

'The Limits of Criminal Disenfranchisement', in Criminal Justice Ethics, here.