Posts by Paul Rowe
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Tony Ryall?
he's not an estate agent too is he?
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My kids go to school with kids who were on the Tampa. I can't see the back of that horrible excuse for a human being soon enough, sorry.
Don't apologise Emma, I'm coming from a low base.
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There is, after all, a line between being pragmatically slutty and the cheapest of cheap whores.
Craig, I'm going to try and find occasion to use that phrase in a conversation. it is that good.
I guess the line depends on where you're standing. And maybe age. I've got more respect for the old slut now than I ever did before. It would be a shame for him to retire after losing to Clarkson. Like Muldoon, I expect him to die in office (which is probably an idle fancy for many people). Not that you'd catch me voting for the bastard.
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Oh, how about we try gaming coalitions after we've had this queer thing called a general election?
Cos we did that in 1996 and Winston chose the wrong side. Then, when we thought we'd backed him into a corner in 2005, Winston floated like a butterfly (Mexican standoff, "my job is not a bauble") and chose the wrong side again. The guy can't be relied upon to choose the right side (whoever that may be) this time.
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I'm still undecided about the ELVs. My first thought was that if referees policed the old rules effectively, did away with the coaching ("roll away 7") and blew up misdemeanors at the tackle more quickly, we would have improved the game immeasureably.
There is still inconsistency amongst referees in how quickly they blow up transgressions at ruck time, so the hard word from the referee coordinator needs to come sooner rather than later.
That said, if this tosser is agin them (without even seeing them in action), maybe I am in favour:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby/article3454931.ece -
She doesn't post, because she remains emotionally attached to her comments, and gets worked up when people disagree with her (or ignore her posts). So she doesn't find the effort worth her while, and is quite happy to lurk, read and enjoy.
I found that quite hard to get over, myself. And still occasionally fall into the trap.
more inhibitions about writing for public consumption; possibly less writing experience
Given that some writers seem to encapsulate their thoughts so well in a few sentences, this is a major obstacle for mee, too. Esp when I try to add nuance or context (and avoid sounding like an opinionated twat).
I also found the less political columns easier to comment on, people are just as passionate about TV or music, but a more inclined to hear othersides of an opinion without taking it personally. (cheers Graham)
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On a slightly related note to the religion in politics stuff. This happened close to where I live the other night:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10495024
Last night a guy came around collecting signatures on a petition to get judder bars installed (not before time, there can be as many as 20-25 kids playing out there on a given evening). He looked kind of familiar and when we had finished talking he introduced himself as leader of the Family Party. Now, I'd never vote for him, and a cynic would say he is doing it for political reasons, but that useless fucker Field would never have sullied his loafers to walk down our street. Labour should be very careful about neglecting South Auckland - I haven't seen any Labour activists out there since 05, though the Family Party seem to be upping their profile in the area.
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Um, no Paul. I'd like Mike Huckabee, for example, to get it into his fucking fool head that the President of the United States swears to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States not the Bible as understood by the Southern Baptist Convention. (Or fundamentally erroneous heretics, as they're affectionately called in my house. :) I'm very relaxed about living in a secular parliamentary democracy which defends and values religious freedom; rather than a theocracy, even if it happened to be one run according to Catholic canon law.
Actually Craig, I can't quite figure out if we agree or disagree here.
After reflecting on my comment last night and the bit about Trudeau, I think I stand by my original comment with a bit of a caveat.
I interpret Trudeau's statement as saying "if the needs of my country come into conflict with the values of my religion, I must choose the needs of my country". Too right, the country elected him after all. Power to him for understanding the basis of a secular society. The opposite, to my way of thinking, is "the needs of my country can never come into conflict with the values of my church".
It seems to me the separation of powers makes it very hard for a US president to govern in that way, no matter how Bush has tried.
Bill English could sacrifice goats and worship the Edmonds Cook Book for all I care. As long as he governs for the people (not the goat) if/when he becomes PM/Min of Fin
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Pierre Trudeau, while Canadian PM did just that, famously declaring that if he were forced to choose between the interests of Canada and its religiously diverse population, or his religion's doctrine (Catholic, educated in the Jesuit tradition), he would choose in the former. He was true to this and legalised abortion during his time in office, and despite this being in exact opposition to his personal beliefs. He frequently expressed the opinion that no one in pubic office had the right to allow their personal religion influence the way they served their religiously diverse constituents.
Interesting. As I wrote that I was thinking of Kennedy who said something similar about conflicts between the State and Catholocism when he was campaigning in 1960.
I was perhaps thinking more of a general approach to life being coloured by your upbringing. As the comments here have shown, most (many?) people are pragmatic about the bits of their religion that they are more attached to than others.
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Always wondered how a Pope would decide he was being infallible. You know, he wakes up one day and says, "Oh, yes! I'm just in the zone here, things are really humming, and I'm just going to do something pretty damn infallible, I can feel it in my bones!"
Maybe through a similar process that Brian Tamaki went through to appoint himself Bishop, or whatever he is now.