NYC drops the N-word

New York City has announced a sort-of ban on broadcasting the word "nigger", in the hope it might stop the casual use of the racial slur in the entertainment industry.

The ban is symbolic - there's no actually punishment attached to the offence. Chris Rock - whose act, under the rule, falls outside the law 78% of the time - was less than impressed:

Rock said politicians were trying to divert attention from real problems: "Enough real bad things happen in this city to worry about how I am going to use the word."

Although well-meaning, the decision to ban the word rather than condemn the act would seem to cause more problems for black artists than white racists.