nutbean

you are just being "gingerist"

Always gets his arms up high over the tackle so he can get the handball away. I love the way he does that. It draws a player in and he still gets the ball away. I don't think it is taught - it is instinctive. Jones ( who I love ) doesn't get his arms up so when he is tackled in traffic more often than not it ends up in a ball up.

I mirror this with the exception of being 25 years older, my left leaning started earlier. My first foray away from the libs was Howard. Didn't like his politics but I firmly believe that as a leader he would be up there with the best ( all save his last year where he outstayed his welcome). I was a fan of Costello and would have probably voted Liberal had he got the top gig. Couldn't vote for Turnbull as it was no secret he absolutely compromised himself to the hard right of his party to get the top gig. And.... Cannot bring myself to vote for Shorten, he is a lightweight of the highest order. I honestly struggle with politics these days, I don't feel either major party represents me in any meaningful way and voting a minor party just seems to clog up the works. I'm sick of politics.(acknowledgment to Choke for the last paragraph)

Yearning for the days of yore ? In the 80's AIDS was a death sentence, car fatalities were higher and compared to car registration was significantly higher and we weren't serious enough about smoking and all its associated health problems. When I was in early high school ( eek..late 60's) a boy in our class who was gay hanged himself - the school at the time really failed to offer anything and pretty much chose to ignore but we knew he struggled with his sexuality and identity ( or at the time - "being a full on sissy") and I would like to say that we his classmates were really understanding but I would be lying. We talked about this at our 40th reunion and discussed what our school does now to help these crisis of identity and sexuality. Whilst not perfect there are systems in place. I sometimes do yearn for what I perceived as simpler times. Whether we consider all progress good, bad or otherwise, one thing is certain - you can't halt progress.

If you can't blame Jack Watts then you are not trying hard enough.

I would be most interested to see the extensive research supporting that claim. I am not defending the overconsumption of junk food but your statement is a tad overreach ?

My qualm is fitness for office. If you look at the voting record of Pence he is harder right than Trump and although I disagree on most of Pence's stances he would not be unfit to be President.

Absolutely no fan of Rudd and egomaniac ? yes .. Bully ? yes. But he is not even close to being in the same league. And I did not see him as unfit to be Prime Minister - ( although I did see him as unfit to be a Representative after he was deposed )

You don't think ? He has kicked so many in the nuts on the way through that there is now unprecedented scrutiny both internally and externally on everything he says and does. To remain in power he has to keep his own party backing him and they are running for the hills. He can't separate his personal dealings with the Presidency. He will be lucky to last 4 years let alone get re-elected. At Ladbrokes he is 10/11 not to last out his first term. No rage - just watching with interest.

"Trump is unhinged" ( Fake News reporter Jake Trapper CNN) . Has there ever been a President where so many are questioning his mental stability and his fitness to serve as President ? I can categorically state that there have been Prime Ministers of this country who I have not agreed with any of the policies they espoused - but even in their worst moments I have never thought we have had a Prime Minister who is unfit to serve.

Playing devils advocate - having studied the old testament and Talmud ( years of my life i wont get back) - even the most ultra orthodox jews are not advocating a return to the harsher Judaic laws - for example - stoning of adulterers ( read an interesting Talmudic tractate on false witnesses and in certain circumstances it carried the death penalty) . However are not advocates of return to strict Sharia Law looking for total adherence ?

I see what you did there...

everything in between the quotation marks ?

I have this embroidered in gold lame thread on my jacket.

I'll address the first two words. I have never understood the argument "but Clinton won the popular vote" . What does it matter ? The bottom line is the system is not based on a popular vote. In 1998 Labor won the popular vote in the Australian election but lost.

I think what it does is point to is a disregard for any semblance of "certain rules apply". ( or probably more to the point - due to the intense scrutiny on everything that Trump ( and his appointees) say and do, these guys are just getting caught). Kellyanne Conway got herself in a pickle by spruiking Ivanka Trumps clothing line. I saw the interview and it was so innocuous and was hardly an "informercial", What it was is plain dumb. My gut feeling is Trump will come undone in exactly the same way and I am tipping that it will be through his inability to disconnect his business interests from the Presidency.

one down. National Security Adviser - Mike Flynn has resigned. Not unusual to lose staff - but 25 days in, to lose a new appointee for "inadvertently briefing the President and Vice President with incomplete information" - is not a good look.

American politics is a swamp - just different animals are now occupying the swamp - a swamp is a swamp...

Went to absolute sensational gig at the Caravan Club on Saturday night - Gregory Page - solo. Only 40 people in the audience - must be the time of the year. He was captivating and made you feel he was singing to you and you alone. ( any Sydney'ites - he is on at Leadbelly Newton on the 12th Jan - if roots ( if 1930's jazz is your thing - he is the bomdiggety)

Caravan Club are doing their first festival and it is going to be a rip snorter - in particular three of my favourites are playing - The backsliders, Jeff lang and Chris Russell's chicken walk.

Great weekend of music. Saw Vika and Linda Bull for the umpteenth time - man can those ladies sing...wowee.. The surprise packet for me was Henry Wagons ( who I have not see before) who crosses so many genres - he stalked the stage like a caged animal - he was fantastic

What is the deal these days with De Niro ? From being "the" man as far as acting is concerned he is now making some absolute stinkers.

I like quirky movies.

the hateful eight ? Wasn't his best for sure - but I just think Tarantino is taking the [censored] in his films and this one was no different

I don't mind the films you have mentioned but i also like the quirky Guy Ritchie produced a couple of crackers. Hey picket - what's your view on Tarantino films ?