Posts by Jacqui Dunn

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  • Busytown: A new (old) sensation, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    Surely Socrates meant that ironically? I can’t recall the passage but I would be shocked if he actually meant that.

    When I heard that one, it was offered as if it were a serious comment, not an irony. Used to highlight complaints in the 60s that kids were no good, insolent, lazy etc. to show that really, there was nothing new, not even attitudes to young people, under the sun. (Or that young people really are guilty of all those negatives.)

    ETA: I'm just showing by this post that I'm really slow off the mark. Note to self: Read through to the end of the thread before commenting on earlier stuff.)

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report

  • Busytown: A new (old) sensation, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    I was going to airdrop Borges into the conversation

    Yes. I last read Borges' "Labrynths" at least 20 years ago (reminds self to do it again asap), and have vivid mental pictures of several stories. The ones I didn't connect with at the time are probably the ones I should begin reading again.

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report

  • Busytown: A new (old) sensation, in reply to Jolisa,

    Is it like music? In that, what you listen to at a certain point (or during certain events) burrows into your soul, but after that, the rest is noise?

    +1 plus Ben's.

    @Islander: Your house looks wonderful. (Remembering that you built it yourself.) I was a bit nervous of asking if you had any photos of it, and even though it's just one room I can see, I like it so far.

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report

  • Hard News: Time to get a grip, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    Um, yes.....can't argue with that.

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report

  • Hard News: Time to get a grip, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    basically perfect Gov Gen material.

    And a thoroughly nice woman to boot. (I mean in the "as well" sense, folks!)

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report

  • Hard News: Limping Onwards, in reply to Robert Fox,

    I think the social value of people going to university and studying literature, philosophy etc is currently a negative value, since the net result is generally a person who is unable to communicate their ideas about art/philosophy/whatever to a non-academic audience

    I agree with what you say, and would add that surely some spirited arguments among people studying the same subjects would lead to a honing of communication skills. You can't have those discussions if you're studying in isolation.

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report

  • Hard News: Time to get a grip, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I think she has the odd glass now, but she stopped drinking for a long time.

    I had to give up the booze for a whole year, which wasn't that hard for me - I was the occasional glass of beer-type then. Wouldn't like to do it now, though :)

    But it was the fatigue, and the fast-changing moods - the utter rage that used to take over that I remember most.

    Perhaps she's still not quite up to par?

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report

  • Hard News: Time to get a grip, in reply to Russell Brown,

    To be fair, she was still recovering from viral hepatitis

    Which explains a lot. It's a very nasty, debilitating disease. And, it can take a very long time to recover from, especially if you're fond of wine. (I'm not suggesting she's a lush, by the way, just that alcohol is very hard on a recovering liver.)

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report

  • Hard News: Time to get a grip, in reply to BenWilson,

    Tizard had been completely invisible during the election campaign

    Not the first time I've heard that one.

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report

  • Busytown: A new (old) sensation, in reply to Jolisa,

    Except sometimes, when I’m not.

    But always so readable. I enjoyed those, and realize that by not getting the Listener any more, I'm missing something rather splendid.

    Love your work!

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report

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