politics

by 2 comments on "Tell me more about this “accepting ambiguity” trick, it sounds strangely fascinating"

It is quite possible to simultaneously believe that Benazir Bhutto’s career was considerably less perfect than her public image, and also that her assassination is likely to have nothing but bad consequences for Pakistan and quite a few other places. I say this because you’d be surprised; opinion has already broken between uncritical Diana-isation by…

Read More Tell me more about this “accepting ambiguity” trick, it sounds strangely fascinating
by 2 comments on "The Dynamic of Extreme Conservative Rhetoric"

This New York Observer interview with Ann Coulter is being heavily blogged (sample), but I think there is an important point that’s being missed here. If you follow the link, you’ll see that the reporter adopts the old trick of shutting up and letting the subject natter; this is a classic of journalistic craft, as…

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by 0 comments on "Death By Bias"

I’ve gradually become addicted to Overcoming Bias, and specifically Eliezer Yudkowsky’s contributions to it. And it struck me, reading the reports on the de Menezes trial, that a good dose of this blog could have done the Metropolitan Police a power of good. Specifically, members of the police command staff recalled hearing a radio message…

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by 0 comments on "Principles!"

This list of Blackwater boss Erik Prince‘s campaign contributions has been getting heavy-traffic blogger attention due to his donation to a fake Green Party candidate. There’s better, though: consider these two line items in relation to one another. Prince, ErikMcLean, VA 22102Prince Group/Chairman PRINCIPLES EXALT A NATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000 primary 01/04/06 Principles, eh?…

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