Newsphobia

I’ve noticed that in these links I have a tendency to focus on US-based politics news more often than not. The last few weeks this could be forgiven as Australian politics was just getting up and going again. Parliament was sitting again, we had all the ABC shows we know and love back, including the PM on Q&A with, from what I could tell, were a bunch of Young Liberal and Young Labor kids where the questions veered from Dorothy Dixers, to preppy school kid “why can’t I get what I want?” type questions. And apart from that not much happened. I think these two stories are ripening but I don’t think we will see the full fruition of them for a little while yet.

Oh and we did see the illustrious denier-in-chief Lord Monckton debate climate scientist Tim Lambert with supervision by Alan Jones (gee, that sounds fair). Lambert was calm, well reasoned and performed well. It’s just a pity the crowd was full of one world government conspiracy theory nuts.

Climategate Revisited

One of the biggest non-controversy controversies last year was Climategate. This article brings us up to date on exactly how little it actually means and also how those who seek to dismiss climate change as not being influenced by man use ignorance to their advantage in making this case.

The common factor I tend to notice in climate change deniers is that they exhibit the same closed-mindedness they say so-called “warmists” have when presented with evidence that contradicts their own proofs. Despite Monckton’s entire argument being ripped to shreds by so many many different scientists and journalists, he’s still seen by these people as the second coming. And the coverage these people get is way over the top, and yet they still scream they have not been given the time to air their views. The current Doctor Media Watch host Jonathan Holmes covered it best here.

Fruit and Loins

It really disturbs me how much the Australian governments (state and Federal) listen to the Australian Christian Lobby. The ACL’s Jim Wallace was consulted by Stephen Conroy shortly before the release of the findings on the internet filter plan but Conroy also refused to meet with opposing groups. I’m not entirely sure how Wallace’s group can claim to represent anything other than an extreme right-wing fringe of the Christian faith and still claim to represent all Christians.

The Queensland Government addressed the issue of surrogacy for same-sex couples this week, so it was only natural that Wallace have a word. According to the World of Wallace, straight parent environments are the only safe, and stable environment for children to be raised. Pity about all that anecdotal evidence otherwise.

Aco*kalypse Now: Fear of the Gay Penis

The theory that gay men would join the army just on the off-chance of seeing a bit of straight guy penis is absolutely absurd, and borders on a gay panic defense. Here’s a hint guys: chances are, if you’re straight, gay guys don’t find you attractive. And, as the video points out, clearly nothing says “lets have gay sex” like getting shot at in Afghanistan.

CBS: Support for Gays in the Military Depends on the Question

A poll out this week from CBS shows that more people in the US are in favour of “gay men and lesbians” serving in the military than “homosexuals” serving in the military. It’s an interesting case in semantics, though I wish it had been more broad to encompass other reclaimed words like the all-encompassing “queer” or the F word. The pure clinical nature of “homosexual” draws back on 50s style fear campaigns, while gay and lesbian is so desensitised.

Fox News Tea Party Survey Fail

I’m not sure this is totally a fail if they put this as an option in the first place but it’s amusing that the result is even higher after all the attention. Especially considering that they managed to get a slight jab at them removed from a Captain America comic.