Comments by Laurie Fraser

Comment #260653 by Laurie Fraser on October 5, 2008 at 8:17 pm

Haha - very good link, Mitchell, and too scarily true. I count it as a mark of great fortune that one of my countrymen now owns a majority of the world's media.

Not.

702. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260615 by Laurie Fraser on October 5, 2008 at 6:44 pm

As well, Goldy, you could point out to wife that cold water combined with the ecstatic effect of being saved from eternal damnation can have a very stimulating effect on certain other parts of the anatomy:)

Speaking of wives, mine is standing behind me with a saucepan demanding that various chores be done. See you all later, chaps.

703. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260603 by Laurie Fraser on October 5, 2008 at 6:29 pm

Gregg, as an outsider I've always been freaked by the religious right's ability to harness its forces at election time. Are you suggesting that the Palin gambit is even too big a lump of horeshit for the moral majority to chew on? I hope you're right.

704. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260601 by Laurie Fraser on October 5, 2008 at 6:24 pm

I'm with you, 8 - triple dare, Goldy!

Here's some inspiration:

http://churchofrationalism.blogspot.com/2008/09/where-angels-fear-to-tread.html

705. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260594 by Laurie Fraser on October 5, 2008 at 6:18 pm

By the way, fellers - if you haven't checked out root's blog, do so. It's hilarious:

http://root2squared.wordpress.com/

706. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260593 by Laurie Fraser on October 5, 2008 at 6:16 pm

Comment #260591 by Goldy

Aw, Goldy - isn't that nice? I'm sure you'll be donning a white sheet and getting down there pronto!

707. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260592 by Laurie Fraser on October 5, 2008 at 6:14 pm

Hi Mord, root - I've written elsewhere about the perils of patriotism, but briefly, there is a difference between the "my country, right or wrong" delusional patriotism (typically shared by right-wing 'tards such as DP) and a genuine love of one's country, which incorporates the responsibility and courage to ruthlessly criticise it when it is wrong. That's true patriotism, and is something idiots like DP will never get.

708. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260584 by Laurie Fraser on October 5, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Good morning anti-American, far-left whingers. Looks like there's nothing here for me on this thread - DP seems to be hanging on, in true pitbull style, to a bunch of delusions that only a right-wing patriot can. He's learning something though - the difference between "to" and "too". Only a matter of time before he's waving an Obama flag and screaming for the incarceration of Bush and Cheney.

709. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260208 by Laurie Fraser on October 4, 2008 at 10:38 pm

We've got some fuckwits, of course, root - but nothing of the order of fuckwittitude as Palin.

We had a woman called Pauline Hanson about 12 years ago who was a total racist, xenophobic moron and charlatan. She was so stupid that she once declared that if the Aborigines didn't like the way they were being treated, then they should go back to where they came from. You gotta admit - that's pretty out there for ineptitude, eh?

710. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260204 by Laurie Fraser on October 4, 2008 at 10:31 pm

Says that our troops are air raiding villages and killing innocent civilians

And he'd be wrong about that?

711. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260160 by Laurie Fraser on October 4, 2008 at 7:41 pm

If "average isn't good enough", then Palin isn't good enough by a long, long way. Her performance on the debate was one of the most dismal I've seen by any politician, anytime. She is clueless about almost every issue, simply repeating apple-pie homilies.

712. 'Space elevator' would take humans into orbit

Comment #259879 by Laurie Fraser on October 4, 2008 at 4:19 am

Comment #259868 by Vaal

Me too, mate - and I had hoped that we'd also be free of the cancer of war by now. I guess the symbolism of the astronauts looking back at an earth with no boundaries and borders was too much to count on. Oh well, dream on, eh?

713. 'Space elevator' would take humans into orbit

Comment #259866 by Laurie Fraser on October 4, 2008 at 3:40 am

Comment #259864 by decius

A fair point, decius, but wouldn't you think that "pushing" this sort of development could be a wise move economically, considering the benefits?

714. 'Space elevator' would take humans into orbit

Comment #259863 by Laurie Fraser on October 4, 2008 at 3:29 am

Vaal, I agree. I am contemptuous of the ignoramuses that decry such science (this does not mean you, Decius - your reservations are reasonable) on the basis that it is too expensive. We spend some number of trillions every year on machinery designed to wipe each other out. Perhaps the effort needs to go into convincing the world that discovery programs such as this are really what we need to be doing with all of that wealth.

P.S. Vaal - I thought you *were* one of those Apollo astronauts!

715. Christian group calls for a Christian university in Britain

Comment #259850 by Laurie Fraser on October 4, 2008 at 3:01 am

This kind of thing reeks of a last-ditch effort by a superstition that has been digging its own grave for years, and realises it is reaching the bottom. "Christian universities" are simply fancy coffins that pretend to the believers that the rotting corpse inside doesn't stink.

Bring 'em on, and the rational world will continue to stick sharpened stakes through their hearts.

716. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259073 by Laurie Fraser on October 2, 2008 at 8:33 pm

Come on, 8 - admit it: you didn't hear a single word she said; you were too busy mentally tapping her :)

717. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259060 by Laurie Fraser on October 2, 2008 at 8:10 pm

Maybe someone could organise a hunting expedition with Palin and Cheney, 8.

718. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259057 by Laurie Fraser on October 2, 2008 at 8:04 pm

See you, Goldy. So, who "won" the debate?

719. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259054 by Laurie Fraser on October 2, 2008 at 8:01 pm

Gooday 8 - bit feisty today, are we?

720. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259052 by Laurie Fraser on October 2, 2008 at 7:58 pm

As the great Frank said:

"We need an Ark to survive the drool
Of micro-Publicans raised on hate"

Sums Palin up, methinks.

721. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #258308 by Laurie Fraser on October 1, 2008 at 7:36 pm

Well, usually, Root, I practise with the head of a white supremacist!

*runs*

722. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #258304 by Laurie Fraser on October 1, 2008 at 7:26 pm

Root, I was going to rip into this debate and give you a hand, but I can see you're doing fine. I'll go back out to the backyard and continue practising the back foot drive.

Morning, everyone.

723. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257178 by Laurie Fraser on September 30, 2008 at 7:06 am

Nice, Decius - now I imagine you'll take that "quote" and stick it up on nicedoggies as evidence. :)

724. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257167 by Laurie Fraser on September 30, 2008 at 6:45 am

Al, I think you and I are going to have to agree to disagree on much of this. I'll just say this:
1. My socialism does, indeed, lead me to interpret events from a certain perspective, although I am by no means a hard-liner.
2. I don't see Hamas and Hezbollah as "freedom fighters." They have refused to co-operate in negotiations far too often, and have resorted to tit-for-tat violence when repudiating violence would have been far more effective, for that.
3. On that point, I have the same opinion on the extreme right in Israel. Both groups have shown no consideration to giving peace a chance, and are equally deserving of condemnation.
4. I have never, and never will, be associated with any group that condones violence, or to travel any "treacherous path" with such a group. I am a pacifist. Pacifism is, perhaps, my strongest, and most deeply held attitude. It is a hard philosophy to hold, but I do so because I have spent 45 years looking at the fiasco that violent means and measures make of every situation. Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr are my heroes.

725. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257153 by Laurie Fraser on September 30, 2008 at 6:13 am

As I said, Al - I'm completely unconcerned. I'm not resiling from what I said about Fanusi's association with the nicedoggies site, though. I'm very worried that Fanusi, who is a guy I've often had hard, but reasonably amicable arguments with, might get way too involved in that sort of nonsense. Wouldn't be good for him. I was being vitriolic on purpose. He needed a wake-up call; that kind of shite-site can damage the brain. I hope he thinks long and hard about what those lunatics on that site are saying, and distances himself from them. The one thing I'll give him is that, compared with every other drongo on the site, he at least sounded a little moderate. If calling him out on this influences his views about that kind of over the top extremism, then I'd say we will have done some good.

726. Pullman defiant over US protests against Northern Lights

Comment #257135 by Laurie Fraser on September 30, 2008 at 5:16 am

Comment #257129 by shaunfletcher

I think you might be a bit confused, Shaun. We're talking about small Gods, not small Dogs :)

727. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257120 by Laurie Fraser on September 30, 2008 at 4:44 am

At the music store where I used to teach guitar, a sign on the wall said "Customers are encouraged to try out the guitars. However, the playing of "Smoke on the Water" and "Stairway to Heaven" is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN."

728. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257115 by Laurie Fraser on September 30, 2008 at 4:38 am

Comment #257104 by Mitchell Gilks

I am unconcerned, Mitchell and CFL - that's just Al. He goes off his nut from time to time and serves up the old vitriol sandwich. It was obviously my turn, again. And it was so ridiculous you couldn't do anything but have a giggle.

729. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257111 by Laurie Fraser on September 30, 2008 at 4:32 am

"Smoke on the Water", CFL? I believe that is a musical number performed by a moderately successful lounge-bar band, no?

*ducks*

Actually, I lied. There were no Lebanese in the band. A Sudanese, though - and a Muslim by accident of geography. When you're really cranking, nobody gives a fuck about your race, religion or politics.

Sorry, mate, but we have a full compliment of Anglos already (although if you know any Mongolians, tell them to give me a call.)

730. Pullman defiant over US protests against Northern Lights

Comment #257103 by Laurie Fraser on September 30, 2008 at 4:20 am

The central concept of the trilogy was excellent; the execution was sometimes lamentable.

731. Why There Almost Certainly Is a God, By Keith Ward

Comment #257099 by Laurie Fraser on September 30, 2008 at 4:10 am

He says that the universe is too weird to be physically real.

Just like the Dow Jones.

732. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257095 by Laurie Fraser on September 30, 2008 at 4:05 am

Perhaps, CFL, it was because the trumpet player and percussionist - both Lebanese - had me hog-tied with a guitar lead.

Personally, I think the answer to most of the world's problems is to only appoint good musicians to positions of power. Get them all together, jamming, and you'll always reach consensus eventually (and amicably and peacefully).

733. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257084 by Laurie Fraser on September 30, 2008 at 3:43 am

Hi there everyone - just had a wonderful afternoon playing big band swing.Two Jews in the band, and I didn't assault either of them. What an achievement. (Actually, they were both better musos than me, the bastards, and funny.)

Thank you, one and all, for your kind words about me. Much appreciated.

Edit: And Titania, no need to defend me, really. I've got God on my side :)

You know, Quetz.

734. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256916 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 6:05 pm

Thanks Decius. I've just read over the post I put up about 2.30 this morning. I think the "offending" line was this:

Do I hate Hamas and Hezbollah? Only as much as I hate the Israeli government, or the U.S. government, or the Australian Liberal Party. This does not want me to see any or all of those groups extinguished

I can see how this might be misconstrued. The meaning was this: it is useless to "hate" one or another party. We must take account of the fact that these antagonistic groups exist, and understand (yes, use reason, Al) why the enmities are so deep. Any honest discussion of the problem of terrorism, for example, will concentrate on the reasons for its existence, and those reasons include the awful record of states such as Israel and the U.S., as well as the idiocy of islamic extremism.

735. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256903 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 5:33 pm

Have just read through the thread. Haven't got time to engage much; must go to work.

I'd like to clarify what has obviously been mistaken by Al and some others.

1. I am a pacifist, through and through. Always have been.
2. I have never advocated violence by any group, including Hezbollah, which I consider to be entirely wicked.
3. I have never frequented any "hate" sites, ever. I would no more think of contributing to a site that posted jihadist hate as I would regarding the nicedoggies site. Both of these branches of extremism repulse me.
4. I do believe, however, that the resolution to the general problem of terrorism is for the governments and countries that have introduced evil into the Middle East, including the U.S. and Israel, to repudiate the continued escalation of hostilities and tit-for-tat violence. Negotiation, with the parties working towards agreement on basic principles is the only way.

736. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256664 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 10:05 am

If you have a look at the nicedoggies site, you'll see that all of the comments endorse the white supremacist line. Try posting anything contrary on it, and see how far you get.

Anyway, 3 a.m. Thanks, all for a stimulating discussion, as usual.

737. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256651 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 9:54 am

Al, don't be disingenuous with me. Of course I'm a socialist - every sensible person is, right? Do I hate Hamas and Hezbollah? Only as much as I hate the Israeli government, or the U.S. government, or the Australian Liberal Party. This does not want me to see any or all of those groups extinguished. Reason is the answer - and that's not a trite observation, by the way - we will only get people of various factions to agree if we provide the opportunities for negotiation to occur. While we have sites like "nicedoggies" around (and, Al, I can't believe you would, for one moment, support the infantile crap that is on that site), the possibility of negotiation is limited.

Sorry for being a socialist - i.e. one who supports the right of the vanquished to speak.

738. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256625 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 9:32 am

Guilty as charged, Laurie. Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, HAMAS, the whole bloody lot of the Jihadis, yes, I want them extinct. And, yes, I do hate them.

You're on the wrong site, Fanusi. Go back to your little militants and play with your toy guns, espouse hatred, and jack off to the tunes of "Tomorrow Belongs to Me". I'm over you, you cretin.

739. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256600 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 9:16 am

Titania, once again - excellent work. I knew that you, being a lawyer, would come in handy :) I second your comment to Al; Al, if nicedoggies is not inciteful to violence; if it is not pure hatespeak; and if Fanusi is not at least a willing collaborator, then what and who is? I do not get any sense whatsoever that Fanusi is posting on that site in order to repudiate, or even offer reasonable refutations of the fascistic ravings emblazoned for all to see; what I see is a soul so completely lost in his hatred that his reason has been turned towards a program of extinction of the enemy.

740. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256586 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 9:02 am

Titania, thanks for your sterling efforts. You have alerted people to the fact that Fanusi is a friend and supporter of extremist, right-wing militarists (for all his protestations that it is merely a "rant" site). Anyone who reads the nicedoggies site with an open mind would not be less than appalled, and Fanusi, the "Loyal Citizen", is up to his neck in it.

741. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256578 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 8:49 am

Fanusi expressed this in one of his posts on nicedoggie:

Well, there’s a difference between supporting Milosevic’s antics (which I don’t) and saying that we had a moral obligation to stop him (which we didn’t).

Beautifully nuanced, Fanusi. This was in response to another loony who had called for Milosevic to be virtually promoted to sainthood. A decent person would have condemned the idiot outright, but Fanusi posts a nice little comment that equivocates just enough to keep him on the good side of his scumbag feral friends, whilst maintaining enough distance to seem somewhat even-handed. So we didn't have a moral obligation to stop Milosevic? Cause Milosevic's targets were Muslims. Says it all, really.

742. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256558 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 8:28 am

Steve, PM for you.

743. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256541 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 8:17 am

Comment #256535 by GoatBoy36

I agree, gb - it is not in any way out of character to appreciate someone else's concern for your kin. To criticise Fanusi for that is stupid and churlish. The real problem comes from Fanusi's obvious deep association with a site that preaches hate and violence. That's what needs to be dealt with, and for that, I'm agreeing with Steve and flagging him as troll.

744. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256512 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 7:42 am

Thanks, Mitchell - I'm wondering why all of the "LC"[insert name] posters on the nicedoggies site use that appellation. The fact that there are various appellations that are militaristic-sounding leaves me to conclude that the site is an extremist para organisation that designates to its members certain ranks. Somewhat more scary than being called "lurker" or "newbie".

Edit: Al, check it out - it's pretty disturbing stuff.

745. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256507 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 7:33 am

Al, you will no doubt have a look at the nicedoggies site, and the accumulated posts of LC (Lieutenant Commander?) Fanusi. I think they speak for themselves. Fanusi is part and parcel of an extremist organisation spouting hate and malfeasance. He has been trolling on RDnet for a long time, and I think it's time to cut him adrift. This site is (supposedly) one on which people express reasonable ideas. Many of us disagree with each other, but do so in the spirit of open inquiry. That, obviously, has never been part of Fanusi's agenda. I am, frankly, appalled at what I've read tonight.

746. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256492 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 7:16 am

I've just visited, and read a fair amount of, the site that Titania (thanks Titania, mind-blowing investigative work, there) has alerted us to.

I'm all but speechless. I've previously been reluctant to accuse Fanusi of fascistic sympathies, but the lunacy of the "nicedoggie" site, and Fanusi's posts on it, leave me no alternative. Fanusi, you are a disgrace.

747. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256468 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 6:55 am

Decius, that is one beautiful response.

Goat Boy, are you seriously asking what are human rights? OK, I'll take another tack - how has the idea of "human rights" evolved? The answer lies in the concept called "civilisation". Why do you think the Bible is, to modern eyes, such a violent and unforgiving text? Because civilisation has evolved. We no longer consider it an appropriate punishment to stone a teenager to death for disobeying his parents (Deuteronomy 22). Why is that? How could it be? Why aren't our laws eternal?

Human rights are memes; that is, they are intellectual and moral precepts built from our civil evolution. One hopes they'll become even more sophisticated, when we decide that bombing the fuck out of everyone with whom we disagree is not a particularly sane thing to do. Bigotry, for instance, is one violation of general human rights which is still tolerated by the less evolved.

748. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256442 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 6:27 am

Comment #256436 by Serdan

Well, well - thanks, Serdan, although it's one of those semi-acronyms, like www, that almost take longer to say than the words they represent. And why not OKTYB? (A bloke could go nuts trying to work out all this computer-speak; I've only just learnt what BTW stands for.)

STFTIAIBGBTYWITAISM

749. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256435 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 6:17 am

OK al, I'll bite - what's kthxbai?

750. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256432 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 6:15 am

One suspects, Steve, that Certain People have a less-than mature understanding of the concept of human rights.

BTW - Australian government is to press ahead with maternity/paternity paid leave provisions for all employed new parents! Super - although there will be some who regard this measure as a sign of the creeping socialist evil of the current Labor government.