VS Naipaul has had a tumultuous week. On Monday, he patched up a feud with Paul Theroux. On Tuesday, he said he knew of no woman writer, including Jane Austen, who could match his talent. Of Jane Austen in particular, he spoke dismissively of “her sentimental ambitions, her sentimental sense of the world”. “Women writers,” said the 78 year-old, “are different, they are quite…

Politicians say the dumbest things. Over at Slate they’ve compiled their favourite Palinisms, tweets, Facebook updates and other wit from former Vice Presidential hopeful, Sarah Palin.

And she’s got plenty to say. Even in a tweet of 140 characters she manages to reflect on feminism: “Who hijacked term:‘feminist’?A cackle of rads who want 2 crucify other women w/whom they disagree on a singular issue…