Posts by James Francis

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  • Hard News: Big Norms,

    Nice analogy, Craig. Fatuous and predictable. He comes on and I have this powerful urge to throw things at the television. (It's not illegal to throw things at the television is it? Yet?)

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report

  • Hard News: Big Norms,

    Is it just me or do I detect a certain partisaness when I hear Scott Campbell and Duncan Garner reporting on Parliament?

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report

  • Island Life: The longest last time,

    I'm with Andrew. I don't know what to say. So if I may, I'm going to use somebody else's words.

    It's a poem I saw a few years ago and I remember the big lump in my throat when I first read it.

    We have an 11 year old daughter. She occasionally causes us grief - what 11 year old girl won't. The poem reminds us, if we ever need reminding, how extraordinarily lucky we are.


    Oh little one
    if I had known
    it was to be
    our last day together
    I would have
    done it all
    differently.
    I would have taken you
    to the beach
    to hear the waves
    and to the mountains
    to feel the snow.
    I would have shown you
    rainbows and
    Christmas trees
    and ferris wheels.
    Or maybe
    I would have done
    exactly what I did.
    Sing you to sleep
    and tuck you in with Teddy
    and whisper
    goodnight.


    Thank you, David.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report

  • Hard News: Breaking up the Band,

    I've always found Michael Bassett to be something of a pinch-faced zealot. What profoundly irritates me is that he wears the cloak of an historian. A good historian is detached and objective. Bassett is neither.

    It's interesting that his book is coming out in this election year with Roger Douglas standing again for ACT.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Sutch Files,

    I heard the news on National Radio and then the interview with Kathryn Ryan. This is a slight tangent but there's one thing I found interesting. In all of the lead-ins it was "Bill Sutch, who was acquitted of dah de dah..."

    It occurred to me that, in that label, there is an eternal question, even damnation.

    We all have things that we haven't done ( and would never contemplate doing) but just imagine if we were defined by that?

    I'm not sure where this is going but it seemed to have a currency in light of the recent high profile court cases and acquittals.

    Better minds may find a way to tease this out. Mine, on the other hand, is going to have a cup of tea and a lie-down.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report

  • Southerly: My First Stabbing,

    David, forget the beers. Ask them for advance sales.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report

  • Southerly: My First Stabbing,

    Brilliant.

    For one who was (a) six weeks old and (b) asleep, you have a phenomenal and detailed memory of the event. Your mother was absolutely right in her theory that reading to a sleeping child aids its mental development.

    Are you going to publish your stories? You should do. Your writing makes me smile. So, thank you.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report

  • Hard News: Birthday Cheer for Ricky the…,

    Somehow - goodness knows how - I managed 702,567 km. Now I feel really bad both because (a) I find out she's a really good person and (b) I played the game in the first place.

    On the other hand, if I could find Peter Brown listed...

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report

  • Hard News: Case Studied,

    Lyndon, this sounds like the Hemmingway Challenge where EH was challenged to write a story using six words.

    Absolute Power? Wishart whines. Absolute dross.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report

  • Cracker: Labour Weekend,

    Tell Mike Williams he's not allowed to speak in public without written permission of a responsible adult?

    That being Helen Clark?

    I think you've unwittingly (or wittingly?) found the slogan for the election.

    "A Government of responsible adults"

    No. It doesn't really work, does it.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report

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