The Guardian has an article about the misrepresentations, half-truths and outrights lies going on in the US partisan debate on healthcare: ‘Evil and Orwellian’ – America’s right turns its fire on NHS (they don’t mention the Stephen Hawking faux pas).
Sociology
An old story: the cruel and unusual punishment of prison rape
The distinctively memorable phrase “cruel and unusual punishment” may only appear in the USA’s bill of rights rather than within our own legal system, but surely that is something that any prisoner should be protected from? What else is a routine expectation of sexual assault within prisons but cruel and unusual punishment?
Quickhit: victim-blaming a 12 year old
I’ve just put up a post over at Sack Kyle & Jackie O that addresses some of the questions being asked about whether the whole scandal still matters now that “Rachel” asked police last week to not investigate further and now the claims by family members on last night’s A Current Affair that she wasn’t raped, that the sex was “consensual”. A 12 year old, passed out drunk while at a party she’d lied about going to, had consensual sex with a (not much) older boy with other people in the room, according to them. So why didn’t any of those other people stop it?
Nong of the day: “socialised medicine” division
“People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn’t have a chance in the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless.”
It’s all connected: story and song
Stuff I’m reading [click through to the links for context]: I’m reading girlejones at mynxii’s place: The arts are the mechanism through which individuals of society express themselves, commentate and protest. It’s what gives individuals a voice and it’s a… Read More ›
Quote of the Day: Domestic terrorist networks
“Make no mistake, these are domestic terrorists,” says Spillar. “And we feel the DOJ and the FBI must treat them as such. “
Hottest 100 Women Countdown is ON!
The Hottest100Women countdown is on right now! Check it out – right now they’re up to the fifties – over at the hottest 100 women blog. *sings along to Atomic* [edited 10 Aug to add: warning: the “Positions 25-27” includes… Read More ›
Diplomacy, Kid-Style
We were planning to start watching some Star Trek. Lad: Do they have laser guns? Me: Let me think. Yes, they do have laser guns of some sort. Blasters, I think they call them. And they’ve got communicator devices, and… Read More ›
A national electronic health & social record
I’m officially creeped right the fuck out by Trevor Kerr’s article in Croakey, “Why the secrecy about data, when it could help everything from influenza to child protection“. I find any suggestion of national electronic medical records disturbing at the… Read More ›
Feminism Friday: bell hooks on parenting and feminism
I’m reading bell hooks’ Feminist Theory; From Margin to Center. Coincidentally, I started reading Chapter Ten, “Revolutionary Parenting”, just after reading this thread at Feministe, “Sacrifice, Parenting, and Feminism“, particularly bfp’s comments (21-24, 41-42). It also serves as an important… Read More ›
Hoyden About Town 