Posts by sally jones

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  • OnPoint: On Freedom of Speech,

    If you're not scared of war ghosts entering your vagina...

    If I had a vagina I would be disappointed someone is trying to scare me with it.

    I think it most apt that a discussion that began about freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas has come to this - not sure where 'this' is but I for one can't get enough of talk about vaginas, cunts, twats and ghosts. What ever happened to wanker(s)? I wouldn't want to exclude anyone...

    Just a note on freedom as I understand it. As citizens of a liberal democracy (women and wankers alike - not sure about ghosts) we hold rights to exercise our freedom in so far as our actions, including our words, respect the equal freedoms of others. Most of these freedoms are negative freedoms from interference rather than positive freedoms to act. I believe this means we are not free to say or write - in public - anything we like in protection of the other person's right against harmful interference. To be prevented from harming others or punished for doing so is not an infringement of right. Though it's up to a court or the BSA or other official agency to decide what is harmful - and good luck to them with that in the case of words (not to mention pictures!!!). Sticks and stones are a bit more cut and dry.

    Auckland • Since Sep 2010 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Southerly: At Last, David Haywood's 2010…,

    Interesting - if depressing - David. Cheers :)

    I recall reading about Janet Frame being subjected to a rigorous and, as it turned out, pointless income tax audit in which she was required to devote months of precious time to track various paltry amounts only to find everything was more or less in order. She was also hounded by the NZ taxman for books published overseas. In the end even she barely made a living as an author in spite of numerous grants and literary prizes - and overseas sales of her books to boost more than 'respectable' NZ sales.

    I wonder if we couldn't campaign for a GST exemption on books by New Zealand-based writers to encourage the production and consumption of something that is at least as good for us as fruit and vegetables and in the process ensure an additional rebalancing of the books in favour of the profit maker - against the profit taker...?

    Auckland • Since Sep 2010 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Up Front: Staying Civil,

    There is a classic thought-experiment paradox along these lines, explained on wiki thusly...

    yes, Rich, I have heard this one a few times now. I guessed it the first time as it seemed so obvious. Not because I'm a genius, though that possibility shouldn't be dismissed altogether...but more because I don't live in the dark ages and have always had a woman doctor, even as a small child - which was indeed a reasonably dark age.

    If we're chatting about weddings and churches and such, when we were married, we opted for a conventional Aussie wedding on the lawn - without the church. When lightening struck and all the lights went out just as we sat down to eat, my terribly trad mother cried out into the dark night - "That'll be God and his wrath!" - and they all lived happily ever after with hoots of ludicrous love and laughter...

    Auckland • Since Sep 2010 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Up Front: Staying Civil,

    Actually Master hasn't disappeared. I have a Master of Arts (for instance. Just saying...).

    But more to the point, after my son turned 12 he automatically went from being Master to Mr on various forms, airline tickets, etc. My daughter, on the other hand, has remained Miss through twelve and beyond.
    Once given the option, having reached a certain age, she may or may not opt for Ms. Seems the harder I push (bit likewith healthy food), the harder she, and her peers and most of her teachers, resist. At her primary school there wasn't a single Ms, and at her high school Ms remains in the minority.

    When forms arrive with the standard options: Mr, Miss, Mrs, Ms, - invariably in that order - I go for Dr, which keeps 'em guessing about the number of penises involved - just the way I like it...

    Auckland • Since Sep 2010 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Morning in Auckland,

    Hey, I just think it's horribly unfair to blameless vaginas everywhere to mention them in the same sentence as Paul Henry.

    All due respect to you Craig, I'm not sure I'm any less uncomfortable being a 'blameless vagina' than a 'twat'. If you want to stand up for me - and my kind - you might try calling me a woman - ideally, a blameless woman.
    The fact that, according to Oxford, 'twat' means 1. 'a woman's genitals' and 2.'a stupid or obnoxious person', is doubtless regrettable..., but def 2. is undoubtedly a perfect fit in the case of PH.

    And for the record, I reckon Clark would have a) declined to be interviewed by that particular twat and b), if forced for some reason, would have reacted with instant and sharp condemnation of his blatantly racist, stupid and obnoxious comment.

    Auckland • Since Sep 2010 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: My First Job,

    Cheers Jolisa. Yes, team-teaching with David is a great idea. I could take the north and he the south...
    More good suggestions for the follow-up piece too. Since my husband has decided to grow his hair long to approximate the style of Jon Bon Jovi (though his hair seems to have had other ideas, coming to rest on something closer to a windswept Woody Allen), hairbrush plucking has become an increasingly significant feature in my life. So that's a clear contender.
    The weather bomb has put paid to watching paint dry, though watching paint wet and peel could also make a titillating sequel.
    Then again, you can't beat scrambled eggs.
    I'll keep you posted.

    Auckland • Since Sep 2010 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: My First Job,

    Yes, sleep IS important. I think that was all I was ever trying to say...

    But cheers Jeremy and Bart for the blokes back-up.

    Yes, I should have had this guys balls - don't think I wasn't tempted. I had thought of suggesting he pirouette on his pointy member till it is reduced to a stub - or less of a stub - but then I worried about those rules of engagement and thought better of getting involved in a game of tit (for tat) envy.

    And yes, my husband does deserve (and receive) regular rewards for allowing his wife the freedom to blow off from time to time. Thanks for caring.
    And thanks, Ian for pas de dirt. Very clever. I'm considering it alongside various other suggestions for the much anticipated sequel.

    Auckland • Since Sep 2010 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: My First Job,

    Well now, that's more like it! Cheers Cecelia (will twenties be good for you?). I am sorry to those who found it all a bit of a mouthful for Monday morning - though better than Sunday morning, let me tell you! Ross - yes, it was long; Ian, if you think the sand is hard..., and Chris - you're right, it's not work unless you get paid...

    Auckland • Since Sep 2010 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: My First Job,

    Rest assured you haven't offended me Robyn. With my experience of offensive things, it takes a little more than a slight about the night school David and I attended in our formative years to learn - together - how better to deal with any further offensive things that should arise in the future. I believe the value of these classes shows in my case, but I cannot speak for David's development since he moved south and and we lost touch...

    Auckland • Since Sep 2010 • 179 posts Report Reply

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