Scottish Independence

FWIW if I were eligible to vote in the Scottish referendum I’d probably vote no. I don’t think it Scottish leftists will be satisfied with the outcome of independence in 10 years time. Just a quick (and fairly speculative) explanation: 1. Britain is not a terrible place to live in, and Scotland already has powers … Continue reading →

Christina Odone is not good enough for the Catholic church

Christina Odone, a leading (and horrible) Catholic public intellectual, is actually not in communion with the Catholic church. Few people realise just how unpleasant an institution the Catholic church is. In order to fully participate in the church you have to go to mass each Sunday, and take communion. If you miss a mass (or … Continue reading →

On the use of the word stupid

I’ve been guilty of using words like “stupid,” “thick” or “idiot” as insults before, but I don’t do it anymore. I’ve been thinking about what we mean when we use these words. Stupid might be used to mean “low cognitive ability.” It seems pretty nasty to be unpleasant about people with low cognitive ability*. I … Continue reading →

Cameron and nuclear weapons

I was just thinking about Tony Benn’s question to David Cameron back in November. Tony Benn, former Labour minister Under what circumstances, and against whom, would you be prepared to use British nuclear weapons? “As Tony Benn well knows, the point of having nuclear weapons is to deter people and not to use them, and … Continue reading →

The Nanny State?

So, from now on any time patients have any contact with the NHS, we are to get a lecture on our lifestyle choices: “In future if you come for your flu vaccine at a GP’s surgery or pharmacy, the health professional should give you your injection but also use the opportunity to talk to you … Continue reading →

Why do people value pointless work?

I really don’t understand why people value extra pointless work. Here’s an example: I don’t much like cooking, so when I do cook I tend to use pre-chopped veg, rather than spending ages chopping carrots, onions etc. It’s very much easier than chopping veg myself, and gives me a good chance of cooking reasonably often. … Continue reading →

I love humans: Against misanthropy

It’s very fashionable for people to talk about how much they hate all humans. Or, after a long day, to talk about how they want to be by themselves and “avoid all humans.” Here’s an example of an internet misanthrope: Sometimes I can’t f**king stand humans! Well most of the time actually. The stupidity and … Continue reading →