All entries by this author

Tom Paulin on Edward Said *

Sep 25th, 2004 | Filed by

Compares him to Hazlitt, which is high praise.… Read the rest



Steven Shapin Arrives at Harvard *

Sep 25th, 2004 | Filed by

Shapin’s work is more controversial than article acknowledges.… Read the rest



Hitchens on Knowing Who is the Real Enemy *

Sep 25th, 2004 | Filed by

‘The world these fascists want to create is one of constant submission and servility.’… Read the rest



Discover Compares Bush and Kerry on Science *

Sep 25th, 2004 | Filed by

Feints and winks are one thing, action is another.… Read the rest



Compare Kerry and Bush on Science *

Sep 25th, 2004 | Filed by

The candidates answer fifteen questions.… Read the rest



Militant Pro-hunt Groups Target Labour MPs *

Sep 25th, 2004 | Filed by

Animal welfare groups have also been targeted.… Read the rest



Grievance Indeed

Sep 25th, 2004 1:41 am | By

This is a highly interesting interview with Christopher Hitchens by Johann Hari. It’s discomforting in some ways – but discomforting things often are interesting, aren’t they. At any rate, Bush or no Bush (and it’s some of the people around Bush he respects, rather than the W-man himself, apparently), Hitchens says some outstanding things, things that need saying. And saying and saying and saying.

The world these fascists want to create is one of constant submission and servility. The individual only has value to them if they enter into a life of constant reaffirmation and prayer. It is pure totalitarianism, and one of the ugliest totalitarianisms we’ve seen. It’s the irrational combined with the idea of a completely closed society…I

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Howard Gardner on Personality Tests *

Sep 24th, 2004 | Filed by

They are popular but not reliable or valid. Uh oh.… Read the rest



Nigerian Teacher Flees Angry Students *

Sep 24th, 2004 | Filed by

Christian teacher has gone into hiding in northern Nigerian city after offending Muslim pupils. … Read the rest



14 Years in Vegetative State *

Sep 24th, 2004 | Filed by

Florida Supreme Court rules Gov. Bush’s intervention in coma case illegal.… Read the rest



Belief

Sep 23rd, 2004 9:30 pm | By

That discussion below in the comments on ‘Memory Tricks’ about memory and how reliable it is or is not, is highly interesting (I think) and suggests a number of other thoughts and subjects. There is for instance the matter of Elizabeth Loftus and her work and what it suggests: that memory is highly unreliable, easily manipulated and changed, a dubious source for evidence, testimony, and information-gathering generally. Not that that was completely unknown before Loftus’ work (defense attorneys have, I believe, long had a heightened awareness of it, for instance), but her research did add some new elements to the picture, and that at a time when memory and its fallibility were in the news, so to speak. That was … Read the rest



My Dinner With No One

Sep 23rd, 2004 5:26 pm | By

Timing is everything. At least when it is, it is. I say that because in a few days my colleague is going to be in a place with several of our contributors and/or fans and supporters. People I have had energetic email correspondences with, people I admire, people who have a high opinion of B&W which they have conveyed to me with enthusiasm. I would love to be there. These are people I would really love a chance to talk to, to discuss ideas and events relevant to B&W with. In fact I would give a couple of limbs to talk to them. Meera Nanda, for instance, whom I have quoted here so often and who has written several brilliant Read the rest



Focusing on the Wrong Enemy *

Sep 23rd, 2004 | Filed by

So much noise about Bush compared to so little about beheaders and other undemocratic types.… Read the rest



Atheism is Career Suicide for US Politicians *

Sep 23rd, 2004 | Filed by

Moratorium on God talk might level the playing field. … Read the rest



Memory Tricks

Sep 22nd, 2004 7:15 pm | By

Everybody’s favourite Rottweiler, Mr Leiter (maybe it’s Dr Leiter; then again…), cites some Harvard Law professor talking about his experiences of teaching G. W. Bush.

Here’s some of it:

[Bush] was totally the opposite of Chris Cox. He showed pathological lying habits and was in denial when challenged on his prejudices and biases. He would even deny saying something he just said 30 seconds ago. He was famous for that. Students jumped on him; I challenged him.

[In a discussion of government aid for retirees, Bush] “made this ridiculous statement and when I asked him to explain, he said, ‘The government doesn’t have to help poor people — because they are lazy.’ I said, ‘Well, could you explain that

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Murdered for Working While Female *

Sep 22nd, 2004 | Filed by

Doctor, pharmacist, veterinarian, professor, lecturer, two public servants.… Read the rest



Whither Theory? *

Sep 22nd, 2004 | Filed by

Theory, theory, theory, high theory, theory, theory. … Read the rest



Edward Skidelsky Reviews Julian Baggini *

Sep 22nd, 2004 | Filed by

‘If value is not cosmic, then it is social.’ Really?… Read the rest



Labeling, Euphemism, Mistakes *

Sep 22nd, 2004 | Filed by

Should terrorists be called militants? Should fugitives be called terrorists? Depends.… Read the rest



Second Hostage Reported Murdered *

Sep 22nd, 2004 | Filed by

Message on Islamist website claims al-Zarqawi’s group has killed second US hostage in Iraq.… Read the rest