So in the Cimitière Montmartre I found one of my heroes. Émile Zola   That is to say, I found the memorial. He is interred at the Panthéon. Why a hero? Amongst his many writings Emile Zola wrote this, which is as relevant today in our political discourse and climate as it was almost [...]

Astroturfing is a form of advocacy in support of a political, organizational, or corporate agenda, designed to give the appearance of a “grassroots” movement. The goal of such campaigns is to disguise the efforts of a political and/or commercial entity as an independent public reaction to some political entity—a politician, political group, product, service or [...]

One of the things that so disappoints me about the election result is that I am the standard bearer for values and ideals which matter,” babbled Mr Abbott

Watching the bible-bashing Liberal MP David Clarke ranting on Stateline why was one reminded of right-wing shill Alan Jones and flatulent royalist David Flint

The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. Take the test!

So what’s next? A series of essays by Sarah Palin about the Large Hadron Collider and the mysteries of dark matter? An MIT lecture series by Rush Limbaugh regarding the thermodynamics of black holes?