Posts by Hadyn Green
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I rather liked Dame Barbara Goodman's attitude to the whole prayer thing, when she was an Auckland City Councilor - which, if my memory serves, was that she didn't really think it was that big a deal, but as a Jew she wasn't going to participate either. Which sounds like an entirely sensible one, and dare I say it 'liberal' and 'tolerant' in the best sense.
(deep breath) - I'm gonna disagree. Ignoring for a moment that whole "separation of church and state" idea, there are places where I, as an atheist, tolerate sitting through prayers: funerals, weddings, and all other religious ceremonies I might be at (for example the brilliant midwinter swim held by the Druids in Wellington.
But when the prayer (or chant or ceremonial cutting) has nothing to do with what is about to occur then there is no reason for it and especially no reason for me to have to sit through it.
dare I say it 'liberal' and 'tolerant' in the best sense.
I heard a speaker at a stats conference (of all places) talking about tolerance. She said (something to the effect of): There is a difference between understanding and tolerance; I understand that my teenage daughter wants to go out drinking with her friends, but I won't tollerate it!
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Tussock: it's Playstation (or Xbox) no more. Nintendo Wii is the here and now. And easy to use? Good god, is it what!
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This is going to sound horrible, but... I love singing the Maori version of the anthem because I have no idea what the words mean. I mean, I know the odd word here and there but not whole sentences. And I learnt it when I was knee-high to a grasshopper.
It just sounds nicer.
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I wonder how long before an argument breaks out on PA System about interpreting those stats?
No bet, you can't misinterpret stats*. And these aren't too controversial anyway.
*if you agree with me :) -
cheers for the link Weston
The number and proportion of people indicating that they had no religion continued to increase in the 2006 Census. In 2006, 1,297,104 people (34.7 percent) stated that they had no religion, compared with 1,028,052 people (29.6 percent) in the 2001 Census.
compared to
In the 2006 Census, just over 2 million people, or 55.6 percent of those answering the religious affiliation question, affiliated with a Christian religion (including Māori Christian). This compares with the 2001 Census, when 60.6 percent of people affiliated with a Christian religion.
Christians drop 5 percentage points, Atheists pick up 5.1 points! Watch out, we're catching up!
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argh, the typo and grammar gods.
That's what you get for not sacrificing a goat before each comment.
I didn't, and wrote BSA instead of ASA, thanks for the catch Graeme
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And can I register my immense distaste at and irritation with the crying-little-kid-my-pet-is-dead-because-mummy-and-daddy-didn't-get-kitty-insurance ad at the top of the page?
Is that what that is?! I only get the crying kid and the "Pet Medicare" showing up in my browser (for some reason, ::cough:: IE ::cough::) With nothing between the two I thought maybe Petmedicare had upset the little girl.
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Say, what is 'Pacifics Triple Star' anyway?
North, South and Stewart
That's the generally accepted answer though Max Cryer dedicated a few pages to it in one of his books as there could be a few different explanations (none of which I can remember).
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sorry to drag this thread in a different direction but when I heard about those stupid bloody Burger King ads being taken off air I was over the moon!
I felt just like the Mensa group who took over Springfield in that Simpsons episode with Stephen Hawking. Take that ya hicks!
The illuminati are in your BSA raising your denominator. (spelt correctly on purpose)
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Danyl, you weren't at the GOVIS conference by any chance?
No - I work in a biology department and mostly go to biology and biotech related conferences.
Just wondering because they showed that youTube vid at it.
Jon: "Not many (perhaps any) comments from females either"
How do you know who is a woman here? On the internet nobody knows your a woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a dog.