Bloggers, of course!
Commenter harry wrote a while back, in answer to my question, “To what degree do blogs represent a source of news or commentary on politics for you?”:
Great source of useful links to news. Good for breaking news but often this is surrounded by a lot of spin. Probably the best commentary because blogs comment on the media commentators as well as the issues.
On his last point, yeah, that’s one of the greatest contributions of the blogosphere. Chris Sheil had a wonderful feature called the “Shorter Hendo”, which Rob Corr and I have intermittently kept alive. I’ve given out some kudos to Julia Baird and we all vigorously debated Miranda Devine.
Now, Immanuel Rant seems to have accepted the mission of the Miranda watch. I really like his latest entry on the Devine Ms M’s thoughts on sex, secularism, Kinsey and Christmas. I think everyone should go and read it.
Irant writes –
‘Alas the Devine Miss M does not elaborate what this “degrading hooking-up sex”
Think I saw a reflection of miranda’s attitude in the midday movie the other day (“Getting Away with Murder” with Dan Akroyd and Lily Tomlin).
After their marital consummation, the marvellous Tomlin disclosed that she did not really like sex. A somewhat relieved Akroyd asked her about it. She responded that it was nothing against him – it was just sex in general. However, she added, “But you can have it any time you want. It’s my duty as your wife.”
There is something seriously sick in one party to a marriage deceiving the other right from the start.
I know I do not want to have sex with someone who treated it as a “duty”.
Irant writes, “.. the Devine Miss M fails to remember what sex was like ..”. Sums it up really.
And just when I was thinking that what the Talibans of this world need is a Kinsey of their own to shake them out of their spiritual rut, the Devine Miss M seeks to take us back again. Whose side is she on?
Mark, Thanks for the recommendation but I don’t remember signing anything for this mission? (then again if I signed it last night then it is understandable why I don’t remember anything). Believing that everyone should have an irrational obsession (this one is better than the one I had against the Monkey Bar in Balmain) blogging provides a fine outlet for such activities. ;) At least I don’t have to buy the Telegraph to read her.
What I find puzzling (and the Devine Miss M mentioned it again today) is her support for the student who was raped on the Tara school trip juxtaposed with her views on sex and morality. I will say that I generally agree with her so far on the Tara issue. As I try to point out, that sexual liberation is a good thing for women in general. Or I am misreading feminist thought.
As my comments are members’ only due to spam, I appreciate yellowvinyl’s comments. I do agree that the meaning of sex changes as you grow older. And it is empowering how sex can affect people positively as over the years I saw that happen with a few partners and it was illuminating.
Re wbb’s comments and whose side she it on, I think she has a dual personality when it comes to journalism.Miranda writes the odd article that not bad in terms of the general premise (though I think her writing and research is sloppy). What happens next is that she remembers that she is supposed to be Australia’s Anne Coulter (and writing for the Herald no less) so she goes off the deep end parroting the expected right wing views without much thought.
As for wbb’s first comment, I showed Miranda’s piece to my fianc
No worries, Irant. I’m inclined to agree with your fiance, btw…
thanks, Irant. in my case, i had cancer when i was a teenage girl and as well as having one leg amputated, became a stick thin androgynous thing for a while. so as you can imagine, finding that i was desirable and enjoying my body sexually when a little older were big signposts on the road to recovery in terms of my self-esteem.