Open Forum Discussions and Debate

Jeb, you yourself coyly refer to 'those who can dish it out but can't take it'.

Mamcita, I cringe when I see (as I did on this site earlier) the phrase 'I don't think America is ready for a black/female president'. To my mind, voicing such sentiments gives them a spurious legitimacy. If people have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century...so be it.

Mary, I am at a loss here. I can tell you've never stood on a tee box with three other old geezers and listened to the artillery flying back and forth. Or sat in with a group of old buddies at their morning coffee and listened to the laughter when one of them steps in it and gets skewered for his effort. I think what I see unfolding here is another of those huge differences between men and women. Some things will just never be understood. Like that nice Viet Namese family in the next block over that didn't understand its not OK to hunt squirrels for supper in their neighbors back yard.

Yes Mary, Repeated sentiments often allow others to become emboldened to state their prejudices under cover of the 'unprepared', 'not ready' statements.... I have found that often these same people are unaware that they hold predjudices...that same unawareness, allows people to state things under the guise of 'helpful' advice, but when the tables are turned, and they are on the receiving end of this type of comment or advice, they become incensed...hence they are often referred to as thin-skinned....not meant in a mean spirited way, but simply a comment on their perspectives.

BTW Mary, Many countries have had strong women at the helm of their countries, but none, has had a person of color as a leader of a diverse nation.... what are your feeling about the ability of either to be a successful leader? Why do you think others will agree/disagree with your opinion. I'm just interested since you were kind enough to be the first to respond to my questions or thoughts and the fact that you cringed when reading disparaging statements.

Jeb, While I somewhat understand that all that has gone wrong in the last several administrations, the smoke and mirrors, etc. and that perhaps you feel as though you may be spitting into the wind, I feel that only by continually staying involved can any change be wrought....and I'm really disappointed that you have chosen to opt out of the discussion.

Don't take all that to mean I'm not going to vote when the time comes. What is discouraging is when you feel you vote is being cast for the least worrysome, not the best that we can do. Who is by the way, out there. Whoever that person is just knows better than to subject themselves to all the tripe that being a candidate entails.

My reticence in becoming involved in politicl discussions is because I haven't been following politics for several years now and know practically nothing about the current state of affairs. The closest I came during Clinton's first campaign was asking those who were just ga-ga over the guy, if they would buy a used car from him. For some reason, they became offended.

LOL....I had to chuckle over the used car bit....As president I think Clinton was okay at somethings, very good at others, a complete disaster at still others, He was smart, but I also found him condescending to many, and I would never buy a new or used car from him.... he wasn't the most trustworthy person in the world.....As far as voting, glad you will at least express your choice from column A or B. Now ....since when does one have to KNOW ANYTHING about the current state of affairs(Please all...Know that this is said tongue in cheek) to Know all there is to be known and comment....yes I know thats a big part of the problem......

Jeb,I appreciate your point and in the spirit of comradeship and international goodwill, am not going to hunt you down and kill you for referring to me as 'old geezer'.

Mamcita, a person's gender or skin tone has, of course, no bearing on their ability to govern. I think that if they have what it takes to get there, they have earned the right to the job. To be honest, I don't think the US has had a worthy incumbent for many, many years. Too much money and influence has corrupted the procedure and, as Jeb points out, they have lost sight of the 'governing for the people bit'.

oops, the 'bit' should be outside the inverted comma... Also, back to the convo, doesn't it say somewhere important that 'all men are created equal'?

Nelson Mandela was a democratically elected president of a diverse country. I believe he did a good job.

But I am wracking my brains to find a predominately 'pink' country that has elected a person of 'another tint'.

My dear mother would clip me fair for inffering geezership on any lady regardless of her handicap. As far as hunting me down, beware, I grew up hunting and am more than somewhat adept at putting the ambuscade on any wily deer or turkeygobbler that might venture near.

consider yourself clipped....handicap??? Methinks you should ponder deeply on your comments...don't forget...I know where you live!!!!!

"What we have here is failure to communicate."

Not one scrap of venison ever landed on my table by me just sitting around 'where I live'. The operative word there was 'beware'.

Mary...Thanks for reminding me of Nelson Mandella, I had said 'except Africa' in my original comment which didn't go through, but hadn't named him specifically....and I was thinking Yellow rather than pink...but I loved your take better....I have heard it said that other countries see a growing maturity in the USA by having reached a point where a person of color could win the nomination of a major party, and wondered about that take. I sure agree that we the people have been ill served by many in our recent history, but we can't be seen as blameless in allowing this to happen over the years...Too many people would rather stay home on election day instead of voting, AND when dissatified...they continue to vote the same way ....At least this year, we have seen an increased interest in voting...hopefully, whoever wins will do a better job for all. Thanks much for your thoughts...loved the by-play with Jeb too .....

It would be nice to spell this giant's namecorrectly....Nelson Mandela

Now Jeb, I'm sure that if I stood on a street corner in Kansas, maybe on a 'tee box(?)' and hollered 'Hey Jeb', your old geezer mates (not that I'm including your esteemed self in that description),when informed that you had cast nasturtiums on a lady's honour, would readily hand you over...

Cannon fire on Ft. Sumter and now nasturtiums cast upon a lady's honour! That is more than a gentleman can abide. You shall be obliged to meet me on the field of honour in the early morning mist at the bend of the river. Select your second well and bring lunch. The duel will be to the death. For weapons I have chosen sausage casings at 20 paces.

to the death, eh? You DO realise that I am a past gold medallist in sausage casing dueling......Ahh the Rome Olympics...now THERE were sausage casings!!!!

I can still smell the garlic

Can I eat...urrr...I mean second??? Can I? ...Please can I???? I'm going to find something to stick into my mouth now....I'm hungry..... nite all...( and not my foot either....lol)

So, that was you??!!!

Aha! Victory was mine...you weren't...were you?????

I've always believed that sausage casing duelings had originated in Greece or is that Grease... one never knows. I must say that it is a privilege to meet a former gold medalist in such a prestigous event... Mary skins off to you. Are you and jeb having a duel? May I suggest the Braunschweiger or a largish kielbasa to start it off...

'Twasn't me. I was the R&A USGA (Royal and Ancient United Sausage Grinders Association) rules official, observing closely for any unsportsmanlike behvior which, by the way, can result in a two stroke penalty or the equivalent of having one eye tied behind your back (opponent's choice).

Given that I am the World Record Holder in Sausage Casing Dueling (Heavy Weight Title)in the European event (I was using Chorizo skins at the time -they are hardy and indigestible) I should say that under the official rules I once chose to have both eyes tied behind my back after I chewed off the end of an opponents Bockwurst skin ( i hadn't had breakfast) - it was deemed as exceedingly unsportsmanlike behavior, BUT I still won!...I'm wondering now if that was you jebbles that nearly cost me my title - were you sporting a moustache?

Full and total hirsut regalia neatly trimmed, nearly snow white in these later days.

André, I hold many gold medals, but have always held that one close to my heart. It is wedged between the third and fourth rib. Yes, Jeb and I are duelling, but I am distracted by designing my lunch menu, what does one have after a duel to the death? Quiche seems a little frivolous....

I suspect Mary... and in all truth can only hazard a guess... that after death it remains bloody pointless to eat... liver, fava beans and a nice chianti perhaps... (I just can't make those nice sucking of lips sounds through type!).

I have a medal from my 'kill the ants days' when I took on the might of the red myrmicine ants. It's a basic number made of that cutting edge tin material, fashioned from an old Heinz beans can. I wear it through a small hole in my nose to ward off future attacks, many have tried to emulate my style but... as an aside H. G. Wells did want me to star in his movie 'Empire of the Ants' but I reclined as I was eating my breakfast at the time. Joan Collins eat your heart out.

the underlying thesis of this whole debate appears to be: "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" - to eat or not to eat...the consequences could be/may be/should be/would be dire/life-changing/momentous/somewhat interesting...btw bertie isn't a small hole in your nose...a nostril?

yes, billy and my brain has been leaking for a few days...

Viagra has been added to the list of performance-enhancing drugs banned by the international athletics authorities. Unlike some other stimulants, it shouldn't be too difficult to detect, especially given the skin-tight Lycra running shorts they all wear these days. How could a pill designed to help out in the bedroom department give an athlete an advantage on the track? I'd have thought it would be more of a handicap in the hurdles and the high jump. I suppose it could give you the edge in a tight photo-finish, though it might also give rise to terrible confusion in the 400 metres relay when they come to pass the baton. But in what other events could Viagra tip the balance? Pole-vault, may be....
In all seriousness do you think that once an athlete has been banned for drug use she/he should be allowed to compete in world class sports once the ban has been served?

Nope, they should be relegated to the status of lab rats and placed into service as testing platforms to further research the effects of whatever drug they were caught using. If they survive that to the age of 50 then they can be retrained for drug sniffing and replace retireing beagles.

swimming? who could forget the winning edge given by Australia II's winged keel?
gymnastics? another source of balance on the bars?

Hi Everyone,

I'm just doing some testing to try & improve the speed of the forum sections.


Gath

well judging by the time of your post Gath, you're flyin'(WA Time 5.14pm)

Well Gath the speed of comments being posted on this page seems almost non-existent (present company excepted; billy, Mary, Mamacita 2 and jeb... so I shouldn't worry too much. But I'd send out a questionaire to all the members and ask them why they are so reticent to post on the site. There must be hundred's of members lurking who must have some valid/interesting/exceptional/witty comments to make... in addition to all the members who post on a daily basis... aren't there at least two a day who join?
Of course it is their right to remain silent but it would add to the mix and brighten up a dull day... it doesn't do to have rain every day a bit of sunshine makes all the difference.