From across the pond

A friend of mine across the pond pointed me at an article in the Washington Post by Charles Krauthammer (who I’d never heard of before), discussing anxiety-induced Obama Underappreciation Syndrome. The condition he describes is oddly familiar from our last lot of glorious rulers, if only we understood the wonderful things they were doing we’d stop complaining. “Opening a whole new branch of cognitive science — liberal psychology — Obama has discovered a new principle: The fearful brain is hard-wired to act befuddled, i.e., vote Republican. But of course. Here Obama has spent two years bestowing upon the peasantry the … Continue reading

Freespeech in Europe

Over at Samizdata it’s reported that Gert Wilders is on trial for his film Fitna. A film which saw him banned from the UK despite not having broken any law and being invited here by the Lords. The BBC cover the matter briefly when you consider the precedent this trial will have on freedom of speech across Europe – as so eruditely expounded by Archbishop Cranmer (from where I’ve shamelessly stolen the image used here). After all as has been said many many times, freedom of speech is an all or nothing affair, and even if you disagree with Mr … Continue reading

Appearance and aspiration will be subject to state control

They really can’t stop them selves it seems, proving that they can be just as keen on controlling every aspect of our lives as the last lot. To counter the cultural pressures of thin models our new equalities minister has it seems decreed that the new approved size and shape to aspire to is size 14 and buxom. She will apparently be holding a body confidence summit to try to persuade fashion editors to impose a new body fascism on the fairer sex in this country. No longer will they need to aspire to being thin, instead they’ll just have … Continue reading