It seems like a lot of the current rage over the AIG bonuses is more or less due to poor word choice. Specifically that is, the fact that the word 'bonus' has been used by AIG to describe a mandatory payment, not tied to the performance of either company or employee, which is actually not at all like a traditional bonus in any way. Essentially, what they are calling a bonus is just a part of their employees' basic annual pay.

Mind you, there's plenty of reason to be outraged at executives of failed companies taking home paychecks of that size, whatever they're called, but all the same it seems like a lot of the angriest comments I've seen in response to the bonuses have been much more focused on the fact that the people involved are getting an extra reward for good performance, a bonus, than on the actual numbers involved.

In other news, apparently not only does our Science Minister possibly not believe in evolution, he doesn't even understand what evolution is. And, judging by the reader comments below the article, he is far from alone. It is things like this that make me embarrassed for my country.