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TALLRITE BLOG You can write to me at blog2-at-tallrite-dot-com |
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“Ill-informed and
objectionable”;
“You poisonous, bigoted, ignorant, verbose little wa*ker.” (except I'm not little - 1.97m) Reader comments |
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Myspace Clocks, Video Clocks, Flash Clocks, Fun Clocks at WishAFriend.com |
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ISSUE #216 - October 2011 [350+1628=1978] |
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Much as I hate to temporarily discontinue the fun of
publishing polls showing |
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 Now that the competition is over, with the All Blacks the worthy champions, I can admit that there is an even better score-tallying website, run by a car rental company of all things. Click here. Hat-tip: Richard O'Toole Back to List of Contents |
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Shalit Released from Hamas Captivity Is one Israeli worth a thousand Palestinians? On 18th October 2011, Israeli Sergeant Gilad Shalit, 25, after 5˝ years of captivity by Hamas, is freed at last, in exchange for over a thousand Palestinian convicts in Israeli jails. He looks tired and dazed, but otherwise healthy, as he replies to questions from an Egyptian TV reporter.
Nothing is as it seems in that benighted part of the world. Meanwhile, in exchange, the Israelis released 1,037 prisoners, nearly all Palestinians and other Arabs, many of them unrepentant multi-murderers. Little good can surely ensue.
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The Irish have the low stress rates because they do not take medical terminology seriously
Click here for more stuff of similar intellectual, er, integrity ...
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Civil Partnership as Sexual Apartheid - 8th October 2011 The most unpopular man in a gay marriage university debate Trinity College Dublin's Philosophical Society is one of the world's most prestigious student debating fora, and regularly invites celebrity guests to speak. “The Phil” as it is colloquially known was founded in 1683 as a paper-reading society for the “discourse of philosophy, mathematics, and other polite literature”. It is said to be the world's oldest debating society and is currently on its 327th annual session. Its patrons, disreputable and otherwise, include
Three years ago I (distinctly not a celebrity) was invited to speak at a debate about drugs legalisation, which I reported on here. Last week (2nd October), they had me back again to speak against the motion “This House Believes Civil Partnerships are Sexual Apartheid”. It's apparently not easy to find someone prepared to make himself unpopular by rejecting the social conformities of the day. But if you need someone to speak against gay marriage, against global warming, pro-Israel, against Obama, I seem to be your man!
My fellow speakers, all but one of whom spoke with great verve and oratory, were: For the motion:
Against the motion:
Anyway, I showed up, was treated to an excellent dinner with Guinness and wine and presented my speech in front of an audience of about 300 attending the debate. I was, inevitably, labelled by other speakers (especially Mr Gay World 2009) “dishonourable”, “homophobic”, “dishonest”, “a bigot” and other colourful epithets I don't remember, and all without a shred of evidence. I also elicited the evening's biggest cry of “Shame!”, of which I am rather proud. So I must have been saying something right. Moreover, I was delighted to see that the spirit and practice of free speech is so alive and robust at The Phil.
Following the debate itself, the evening proceeded with three successive drinking sessions and notwithstanding the earlier fireworks we all became best of friends. It ended with a cohort walking to a nearby night club called Prhomo (which is a sponsor of The Phil) until the early hours; I thoroughly enjoyed my first trip to a gay bar, not least because the beer was only €3 a pint (compared with €4-6 elsewhere). The Phil's own online account of the debate may be found here. And here is my speech. You can make up your own mind as to how “dishonourable”, “homophobic”, “dishonest” and “bigoted” it is.
All humans may be equal in the eyes of God, or Bhudda or Gaia. But in human eyes is a person with testicles equal to a person with a womb? I dunno. It’s a meaningless question; remember that we are all different, each of us is unique – just like everyone else. The argument is often advanced that to deny marriage to two people of the same sex is contrary to Equality. But of course it’s not. They are as free as anyone else to marry, to marry someone of the opposite sex; no-one is preventing them from marrying. Their marital opportunities are the equal of those of heterosexuals. Unless, as a beer-holder your view of “equality” differs – is not the equal of mine as it were. Of course the modern argument is that “marriage” no longer means a union between a man and a woman, as it has for thousands of years. It just means a union. But there we go again, trying to make words mean what they patently do not mean. But nevertheless, let’s explore some ramifications. If the word “marriage” were to be mutilated to drop the inconvenient one-man-one-woman stricture, there would be no reason to stop there. If one-man-one-man becomes OK, then why not
And why must sex be involved? Why shouldn't
Surely all this would be equality in action. But of course I am being ridiculous, as is anyone who wants to pretend marriage means something other than what it does and that “equality” has some role to play. That’s why the concept of “Civil Partnership” or “Civil Union” was invented. And for reasons never adequately explained by the legislators, it has recently become law in this country (and others). In particular, what the State receives in return for marital tax, pension, inheritance and other advantages remains a mystery. Another mystery is why this strange new institution created, supposedly, in the name of “equality”, is restricted to sexual partners yet is unavailable to, say, golf buddies who choose not to share a bed. As far as the golf buddies or those spinster sisters are concerned, Civil Partnerships are most certainly a form of “Sexual Apartness”. No sex, no Civil Partnership (though I wonder who is supposed to police this). But I doubt the drafters of tonight’s motion had that kind of Apartness in mind. I suspect the Apartness refers to the fact that the State has not legislated for same sex couples to enter into a “marriage”, notwithstanding that as discussed this would be an oxymoron. Nevertheless, it is worth restating exactly why, compared with other human institutions, marriage carries certain advantages, in particular tax breaks designed to encourage couples to marry. Governments have no money, they only spend other people’s cash (called taxes). Therefore they have no right to spend anything – or to grant tax breaks – without a clear and likely payback. The marriage payback for the State is twofold, enormous and unique to marriage. Firstly, it is the institution most likely to procreate babies. This is no laughing matter, for without babies there will be no future citizens. Indeed no-one to repay the gigantic €120 billion debt this country has piled up and is still disgracefully adding to at an unconscionable rate of €22 billion a year. Above all, babies are an existential issue: without them there will be no state. Just ask babyless Russia, Japan and Germany which are in the throes of terminal and irreversible demographic decline. The second huge payback comes in the form of the overall quality of those future citizens, because, in general, children fare better in life when raised by their two biological parents in a low-conflict marriage. [Loud outcry of “SHAME”!] This statement is backed by overwhelming documentary evidence (which you can find at tiny.cc/4z5doz) showing that outcomes are, in general, better for children in terms of
While of course there are exceptions on all sides – meaning there are instances of dreadful married parents and examples of wonderful single or gay parents – no systematic studies dispute this crucial finding. Legislation should be dealing with the general not the exception, and thus for the good of the State encouraging marriage over other family forms. For these reasons, there is no case for the State to involve itself in either gay marriage or civil partnerships. Nevertheless it would be grossly unfair and unequal if the State or anyone were to attempt to prevent them taking place. But they should simply be private arrangements and personal commitments made between willing individuals. It’s just none of the State’s damn business and it should keep its interfering nose out. You have to wonder why otherwise somewhat anarchic LGBTs are so keen to bring the State into their bedrooms. So in conclusion, are Civil Partnerships Sexual Apartheid? Well obviously not “Apartheid” so let’s say Apartness. They are Sexual Apartness in the sense that for no rational purpose they are open only to couples who practice gay sex, not those spinster sisters or bridge partners or golf buddies. But in terms of Apartness vis-ŕ-vis marriage, such partnerships have been designed and constructed so as to be legally scarcely different from marriage, despite applying to a situation that is entirely different from marriage. Applying the “same” or “equal” or non-“Apartness” solution to two entirely different situations makes no sense at all. And it’s certainly not discriminatory to treat different situations in different ways. I ask you to vote against the motion. Thank you very much. A voice-vote was held after the last speech. It fell overwhelmingly in favour of one side of the debate. I leave you to figure out which!
Issue 216’s Comments to Cyberspace
- - - - - S T E V E J O B S - - - - - Quote: “The world has lost a visionary, and there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.” US president Barrack Obama pays
tribute Quote: “To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community: I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come. I hereby resign as CEO of Apple.” Steve Jobs, the founder and visionary
CEO of Apple, “10yrs ago we had Steve Jobs, Johnny Cash and Bob Hope ... Now we have no jobs, no cash and no hope!” Anonymous - - - - - L I B Y A - - - - - Quote: “We are asking Israel to use its influence in the international community to end the tyrannical regime of [Moammar] Q'Daffy and his family.” Ahmad Shabani, a rebel spokesman and member of Libya’s
emerging leadership, makes a curious and encouraging
call to Israel for help; Quote: “I am afraid if we don't act, they will burn Tripoli. There will be no more water, food, electricity or freedom.” Libya's Col Q'Daffy, in a Chemical Ali
moment, - - - - - U K - - - - - Quote: “If we want to have any hope of mending our broken society, family and parenting is where we’ve got to start ... So from here on I want a family test to be applied to all domestic policy. If it hurts families, if it undermines commitment, if it tramples over the values that keep people together, or stops families from being together, then we shouldn’t do it.” David Cameron, in a welcome burst of pro-family oratory. Let's see whether he actually promotes such fine words into legislative action. - - - - O B A M A ' s U S A - - - - - Quote: “Your policy has been one which I fully understand - I’m not second-guessing - of one child per family.” US Vice President Joe Biden tells the
Chinese Communist Party
Quote: “I mean in a way Obama's standing above the country, above above the world, he's sort of god.”
Evan Thomas, editor of Newsweek magazine, Well he is a thrilling god. Isn't he? Quote: “Those of us who were bewitched by [Obama's] eloquence on the campaign trail chose to ignore some disquieting aspects of his biography:
Drew Westen, a columnist in the New York Times, It is rare that the NYT will allow any criticism of the Chosen One. Quote: “President Obama - this is personal to you. All the black people was proud - we got a black president. You acting like one now, B. Pay your f**king bills on time!”
Felonius Munk (real name Denis Banks),
Quote: “It's true, I am not an American. I was not born in Hawaii, I wasn't born in the United STates of America, I come from Kenya.” This is an extraordinary, unforced
admission on video But its' a
hoax, - - - - - I R E L A N D - - - - -
David Kelly, 35, whose
soldier-father was murdered Quote: “Just because you are chained to the post doesn’t mean you can’t bark at the dogs.” Dáithí Ó Sé, host of the 2011
Rose of Tralee contest, - - - - - S T E Y N - - - - - Quote: “A woman's place is in the kitchen dressing a 1,200-pound moose she took down out back at dawn.” Mark Steyn, columnist, author and proud sexist - - - - -
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Now, for a little [Light Relief]
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Gift Idea |
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Good to report that as at
FREED AT LAST, |
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BLOGROLL
Atlantic Blog (defunct) Blog-Irish (defunct)
Jihad
Religion
Iona Institute
Leisure
Blog Directory
My Columns in the
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What I've recently
But it's not
entirely honest in its subtle pro-Palestinian bias, and therefore needs
to be read in conjunction with an antidote, such as See detailed review +++++
BP's ambitious CEO John Browne expanded BP through adventurous acquisitions, aggressive offshore exploration, and relentless cost-reduction that trumped everything else, even safety and long-term technical sustainability. Thus mistakes accumulated, leading to terrifying and deadly accidents in refineries, pipelines and offshore operations, and business disaster in Russia. The Macondo blowout was but an inevitable outcome of a BP culture that had become poisonous and incompetent. However the book is gravely compromised by a litany of over 40 technical and stupid errors that display the author's ignorance and carelessness. It would be better to wait for the second (properly edited) edition before buying. As for BP, only a wholesale rebuilding of a new, professional, ethical culture will prevent further such tragedies and the eventual destruction of a once mighty corporation with a long and generally honourable history. Note: I wrote
my own reports on Macondo +++++
A horrific account of:
More details on my blog here. +++++
After recounting a childhood of convention and simple pleasures in working-class Aberdeen, Mr Urquhart is conscripted within days of Chamberlain declaring war on Germany in 1939. From then until the Japanese are deservedly nuked into surrendering six years later, Mr Urquhart’s tale is one of first discomfort but then following the fall of Singapore of ever-increasing, unmitigated horror. After a wretched journey Eastward, he finds himself part of Singapore’s big but useless garrison. Taken prisoner when Singapore falls in 1941, he is, successively,
Chronically ill, distraught and traumatised on return to Aberdeen yet disdained by the British Army, he slowly reconstructs a life. Only in his late 80s is he able finally to recount his dreadful experiences in this unputdownable book. There are very few first-person eye-witness accounts of the the horrors of Japanese brutality during WW2. As such this book is an invaluable historical document. +++++
This is a rattling good tale of the web of corruption within which the American president and his cronies operate. It's written by blogger Michele Malkin who, because she's both a woman and half-Asian, is curiously immune to the charges of racism and sexism this book would provoke if written by a typical Republican WASP. With 75 page of notes to back up - in best blogger tradition - every shocking and in most cases money-grubbing allegation, she excoriates one Obama crony after another, starting with the incumbent himself and his equally tricky wife. Joe Biden, Rahm Emmanuel, Valerie Jarett, Tim Geithner, Lawrence Summers, Steven Rattner, both Clintons, Chris Dodd: they all star as crooks in this venomous but credible book. ACORN, Mr Obama's favourite community organising outfit, is also exposed for the crooked vote-rigging machine it is. +++++
It is really just a collation of amusing little tales about surprising human (and occasionally animal) behaviour and situations. For example:
The book has no real message other than don't be surprised how humans sometimes behave and try to look for simple rather than complex solutions. And with a final anecdote (monkeys, cash and sex), the book suddenly just stops dead in its tracks. Weird. ++++++
It's chapters are organised around provocative questions such as
It's central thesis is that economic development continues to be impeded in different countries for different historical reasons, even when the original rationale for those impediments no longer obtains. For instance:
The author writes in a very chatty, light-hearted matter which makes the book easy to digest. However it would benefit from a few charts to illustrate some of the many quantitative points put forward, as well as sub-chaptering every few pages to provide natural break-points for the reader. +++++
The author was a member of Britain's V Force, a forerunner of the SAS. Its remit was to harass Japanese lines of command, patrol their occupied territory, carryout sabotage and provide intelligence, with the overall objective of keeping the enemy out of India. Irwin is admirably yet brutally frank, in his descriptions of deathly battles with the Japs, his execution of a prisoner, dodging falling bags of rice dropped by the RAF, or collapsing in floods of tears through accumulated stress, fear and loneliness. He also provides some fascinating insights into the mentality of Japanese soldiery and why it failed against the flexibility and devolved authority of the British. The book amounts to a very human and exhilarating tale. Oh, and Irwin describes the death in 1943 of his colleague my uncle, Major PF Brennan. +++++ Other books here |
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After
48
crackling, compelling, captivating games, the new World Champions are,
deservedly,
England get the Silver,
No-one can argue with
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