Comments by Laurie Fraser

Comment #256420 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 5:52 am

Well, partly, Laurie, because I can just see myself, on the day of the referendum, getting hectored by someone like you about how it's my sworn duty to support this, and then voting no out of sheer irritation.

Well, that'd be a pretty fucking limp-wristed excuse, Fanusi. On the subject of equal rights for ALL people, there can be no equivocation from anyone who's halfway intelligent.

BTW, Lee Harris' "objection" is along much the same lines as PBUM's. Largely to do with the institution of marriage as being inherently biased. And why, for the love of dogs, would you be more concerned about gays and polygamy than you would about straights? Doesn't make sense.

In a few decades down the road, I'm hoping that those Muslims who are now intellectually moribund will accept gayness as natural and normal, like some elements of Christianity have done, after being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

752. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256408 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 5:40 am

Comment #256405 by Peacebeuponme

Fair enough, Peace. My wife and I got married after living together for eight years - it has made not one scrap of difference to the hatred we have for each other!!!

*Hides monitor in case she's looking*

753. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256407 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 5:38 am

Comment #256395 by decius

Put that absinthe away immediately, Decius!

754. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256401 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 5:33 am

I see where you're coming from, Peace, and agree. However, in a world where married couples are afforded better breaks, isn't it reasonable, if we're not going to throw marriage out altogether, to accept that those who are gay should enjoy the same rights?

755. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256397 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 5:29 am

Seriously, I'd probably vote yes

Why "probably", Fanusi? What's there to prevaricate about? Any decent person, when asked that question will give a loud, clear "Yes". There is no dispute about the rights of anyone gay to marry. No dispute amongst the intelligent, anyway.

756. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256387 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 5:22 am

Sorry, Titania, I've got my cure sitting in front of me as we speak: Dimple.

757. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256381 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 5:18 am

Comment #256334 by Titania

Yeah, I read your proposal, Titania. Agreed. The Atheist State is a good idea; we get to throw out anybody who believes in god, is anti-evolution, and doesn't subscribe to materialism. Then we burn their homes.

Hang on, I've channelled Fanusi. AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH......

758. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256325 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 4:19 am

why should one member of the human family, the retarded, thuggish, useless member of it, be allowed to wreck things for everyone else?

That's your quote, Fanusi. The context leaves no doubt that you're referring to the adherents of Islam.

Hoist by your own petard, bigot.

759. Brunswick school board to consider creationism teaching

Comment #256289 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 3:31 am

Diacanu - you're obviously not shooting straight enough.

760. Brunswick school board to consider creationism teaching

Comment #256278 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 3:20 am

Whether or not they end up teaching the creationist fantasy, something tells me that the students of Brunswick County are still going to become gun-lovin', god-fearin' idiots.

What the fuck is the U.S. still doing allowing local school boards to a) exist anyway, and b) determine what will be taught to students? A conservative government tried this on in New South Wales some time ago with the formation of "School Councils." They were a crashing failure, and disappeared altogether. The School Council of my kids' school (of which I was president), voted itself out of existence six months after it was formed. Good thing, too.

761. Blinded by a divine light

Comment #256244 by Laurie Fraser on September 29, 2008 at 2:19 am

As my son might say: pwned! (whatever that means.)

762. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256164 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 8:08 pm

night, root.

763. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256141 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 7:33 pm

root - and he's clearly deranged. hitler was a terrible orator :)

764. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256127 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 7:07 pm

Frankus, good point. There is absolutely no reason on earth why schools, in particular, should ignore the law, In Australia I believe it against the law for anyone under 16 to marry, anyway.

765. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256121 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 6:55 pm

My father got to see Bradman in his later years. Dad was a very fine grade cricketer, and he said that Bradman always looked as though he'd already seen the forthcoming delivery before it was bowled, his footwork was that good.

Edit: That, and the fact that every shot he played seemed to go exactly where Bradman had planned it. There are other batsmen who are almost as good (I'd put the little master right up in Btadman's class, as did Bradman himself.)

766. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256112 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 6:30 pm

We have a large Indian community in Australia who always cheer for India at our test matches. There's no better atmosphere than a day at the Sydney Cricket Ground with Australia v India. Never a hint of trouble, everyone applauding the great cricket from both teams,people sharing food, etc. I think it was Dravid who played one of the great test innings when I was there, and when he was finally out everyone, Australian and Indian, stood and cheered him off the ground.

767. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256107 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 6:23 pm

Comment #256095 by root2squared

Hmmm... Bradman, Chappell, Ponting, are there any others, root?

768. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256093 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 6:06 pm

Comment #256090 by root2squared

Well, root, the good Prof is an Englishman, so like many others, his attitude towards the England team can probably best be summed up in the words of a great Pink Floyd song:

"Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way..."

769. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256083 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 5:50 pm

Now, now, root - haven't I always been generous in my praise of the second-best team in the world? :)

770. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256081 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 5:46 pm

Comment #256077 by cerebate

Does England have a cricket team, cerebate?

771. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256080 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 5:43 pm

Hi everyone - and howdy, wp; glad to see you're still in the land of the living!

A beautiful spring day convinces me to clean the pool so little one can get in it...

Meanwhile, root, I second Titania's comment. For as long as I can remember, my motto's been "Give Peace a Chance", which, when you really think about it, is way way more than an empty, hippy slogan.

772. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256057 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 5:22 pm

Hah - At least one Aussie and two Indians on the thread; this means we can legitimately derail it and start talking about the Test series!

773. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256055 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 5:18 pm

Mord

Your intellect obviously outstrips everone else's on the board. So please continue to enlighten us all with your pearls of wisdom. I have no doubt that us uneducated folk will find your profound utterances of great value, as we go about our daily lives.

GB might be a thug, but at least he tells the truth!

774. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #255674 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 2:24 am

The idea of a world parliament intrigues me.

Well, it's called the "United Nations", Sargeist, and it's been around for a fair while.

Seriously, the concept of the U.N. is, essentially, brilliant. Especially when you consider that we live in a world of globalisation, where nations must co-operate with each other and sort out their power differentials. This is why the U.S., in particular, is recalcitrant in committing fully to the idea. (And why wouldn't it be - after all, it has only its own economic and strategic power to lose.)

Edited for clarity.

775. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #255666 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 2:11 am

Stick it up 'em, root!

776. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #255664 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 2:08 am

Yeah Mord, without inviting an attack from Fanusi, I'm quite a fan of Chavez's. They've already had the "24 hour coup", which was eventually seen for the travesty it was. John Pilger's film documents it beautifully.

777. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #255659 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 2:01 am

Mord - always wanted to go to Venezuela...

778. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #255654 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 1:58 am

Yeah, Steve, put those faggot gay retards in their place, like, oh, fer sure, um....DUDE!

Hey, is this the new, hip Steve Zara we're dealing with? Go, bro! (or whatever it is that young people say to each other these days.)

Notice the use of cool Youtube language, Steve? Am I learning?

P.S. Agree with your post entirely, dude.

779. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #255648 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 1:52 am

Fanusi - my comment was actually serious; I'd forgotten you were a libertarian, therefore I was pointing out that the distinction between our philosophies invites disagreement.

Seriously, it was an innocuous comment.

780. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #255635 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 1:43 am

Stupid, and unfair, Fanusi, and you know it.

781. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #255633 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 1:42 am

Hawt - "the kuda" means "the best" :)

782. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #255630 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 1:40 am

Sorry, Fanusi, I'd forgotten you're a libertarian. Those of us who believe that government is necessary and indispensable might disagree with you.

root -

I'm thinking at least one of the pitches may also surprise you :)

Which ones, root? - come on, give me the drum, I need to give Ricky a call. :)

783. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #255625 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 1:35 am

Comment #255618 by mordacious1

Yeah, I do, Mord. Sorry, should have made that clear - I'm just as aghast at the Australian propensity to grovel after its master.

784. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #255621 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 1:32 am

I'd just turn that around on you, Fanusi. How can anyone take you seriously? The U.N. is the only bastion of global negotiation that we have. Instead of the U.S. trying to tear it down at every opportunity, it should (if it were actually concerned with equitability) support the concept of a world parliament.

785. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #255609 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 1:22 am

To "worship", is it, Fanusi? The poverty of your rhetoric is transparent.

786. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #255606 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 1:17 am

That's because, Mord, there is absolutely no logic in it. (Just thought I'd let you in on that insight :) )

787. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #255603 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 1:14 am

I hope we have a good India-Aus test series in Oct.

Amen to that, brother! I'm really looking forward to this series: big changes for both teams; I think some of our new players (especially the bowlers) will surprise you.

788. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #255599 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 1:10 am

Hawt - you're the kuda! (as we say here.)

789. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #255597 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 1:08 am

root, they're not just hypocrites in their dealings with Saudi Arabia. Fanusi's laughable attempts to pass off the U.N. as some sheltered workshop for atrocity mongers can simply be dismissed for the infantile guff it is. One of the U.N.'s biggest problems is that the U.S. has reneged on its dues for years, and then has the hide to criticise it for being ineffective (whilst the U.S. goes about vetoing anything and everything it can in the Security Council.)

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

Comment #255591 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 1:03 am

Excuse me, but I'm trying as hard as I can to stop yawning.

791. The world according to Hitchens

Comment #255584 by Laurie Fraser on September 28, 2008 at 12:50 am

Of course the Iraq war is criminal, immoral and has nothing to do with fighting terrorism. It's a sham. Don't assume all people on this website support the war in Iraq based on some posters who do.

Exactly, root. We all (or most of us) know precisely why the U.S. invaded Iraq. It was the culmination of years of pre-positioning for both strategic and economic reasons. That it has spectacularly backfired is no surprise; the U.S. has a sorry history in its foreign excursions right back to Korea and Vietnam, and has not once done any good for the poor inhabitants of the countries it has invaded. Which is why Hitchens' support of the Iraq disaster is all the more befuddling, considering that he does have a reasonably good brain.

792. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #255556 by Laurie Fraser on September 27, 2008 at 11:40 pm

Comment #255553 by Fanusi Khiyal

Er, no you didn't. Try again.

793. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #255555 by Laurie Fraser on September 27, 2008 at 11:39 pm

Geez, Titania, the appeasement. The appeasement! You're starting to sound like a lawyer!

794. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #255551 by Laurie Fraser on September 27, 2008 at 11:35 pm

Fanusi, please take the time to read my previous post (3181) carefully. Then try another reply that deals with my contention about perspective.

795. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #255536 by Laurie Fraser on September 27, 2008 at 10:52 pm

Mmm...Junior mints - thanks, Diacanu, like a Jaffa?

796. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #255533 by Laurie Fraser on September 27, 2008 at 10:48 pm

What a ridiculous post, GoatBoy - the people who don't listen are those of you who are so obsessed with the global takeover of Islam that you're completely blinkered, and refuse to listen to what reasonable people have to say. You will not find one of Fanusi's "Certain People" who does not acknowledge, and is not worried by, the threat of islamic jihadism, terrorism, call it what you will. On the other hand, many reasonable people like to put things in perspective, but because of the obsession that accompanies the Fanusi brigade, any reasonable positing of that perspective is mis-read as acquiescence, and therefore shot down in flames. You should read "our" posts more carefully, without the cognitively limiting constraints of your extremism.

797. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #255531 by Laurie Fraser on September 27, 2008 at 10:41 pm

We'll now return to normal programming...

798. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #255508 by Laurie Fraser on September 27, 2008 at 9:01 pm

goatboy - appropriate name. Hawt is a woman. Still feel like taking her down in a carpark?

799. Mathematics and faith explain altruism

Comment #255504 by Laurie Fraser on September 27, 2008 at 8:23 pm

He said he and other scientists try to describe the mechanisms by which creation works, without reference to a creator. "Science a priori excludes any possibility of the interaction between the creation and the creator. . . . You have never, ever actually proven in science that there is no God."

This idiot is in semantic heaven. He reminds me of the egregious Jesus86.

800. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #255274 by Laurie Fraser on September 27, 2008 at 7:29 am

Fuck me! Go out for a nice meal with wife, come home, find that Jesus86 hit his head on a door carefully opened by Titania - good riddance - and now see that Fanusi's pitbull is in full stride. When will the idiocy ever end, Styrer? At least Fanusi does make the occasional decent point, amidst his hysteria. You, on the other hand - just hysteria. Settle down, mate; you obviously don't drink enough.