(no subject)

Ye gods. In the past couple of days, a comment from someone accusing me of saying men are never victims of domestic violence or sexual harassment; and an email demanding to know why my Web site doesn't say that battered husbands deserve recognition. What an excellent opportunity to use my new ikon. The feh-muh-nist ikon, surprisingly, isn't appropriate, because in both cases, it's a reading comprehension problem. In the first case, the comment, I'd said that men are not equally the victims of such abuse; the commenter decided this meant they are never the victims of such abuse. In the second case, the email, my correspondent simply hadn't bothered to read the Web pages. I suspect that the Internet actually exacerbates this sort of laziness; we expect information instantly, on a platter; there is no-one to immediately correct our screwups with a gesture or word. I know I've been guilty of this sort of online blundering plenty of times myself. So a warning for the Twenty First Century, kids. Read carefully, lest you too end up looking like a dunce.

Today's unpaid political announcement

Today's topic is asylum seekers:

The poor bloody Iranian asylum seekers imprisoned in the desert at Baxter IDC are in a bad way, terrified of being deported to torture or death. Some are turning to desperate measures, such as hunger strikes.

Senate Inquiry - Howard did lie about children overboard. I don't know why Howard bothers to continue denying it, since the voters don't mind!

Things you can do! Donate to help asylum seekers temporarily released on Bridging Visas, who aren't allowed to work and can't use Medicare. Subscribe to the Australian Democrats' email bulletin on asylum seekers by sending an email to refugees@democrats.org.au. Call talkback radio and express your concern about the Iranians at Baxter - this press release has the facts and the numbers to call.