I have a parallel experience. I minored in Computer Science and work as a programmer now. All the training in designing systems did not prepare me at all for the a huge part of the process of software design – all the negotiating before…

It's a while since I did my legal training (My last lecture was the day after the Companies Act 1993 was passed – which made exam notes a pain as we'd been talking about the Bill all year).

I've had a far from typical career trajectory as I…

Not even Old?

Old skool is borderline no skool. But I wouldn't even claim that.

Paul

I'd not have said it taught you one approach per se, in fact, it teaches different approaches and this, IMO, is the real benefit.

I would hope so, although many approaches taught by the…

and doing a job which more or less required me to operate on a default setting where I had to look for faults, and be pessimistic not pragmatic.

Rachel, having not practiced law I can't entirely relate but this gives some insight. I think any work can become boring if…

I find it interesting that lawyers talk unabashedly about being inculcated with a value system at university, like it was the best thing that ever happened to them

Personally, it took me a while to realise that was what was happening. I remember doing the Negotiation and Mediation course with…

like it was the best thing that ever happened to them. I always saw a major point of higher education was to challenge established value systems in your own mind.

I'd not have said it taught you one approach per se, in fact, it teaches different approaches and this, IMO,…

I'm going to read some more of those splendid stories about Don Camillo, thanks very much.

Great! Well, I'm sorry you're sick, but that you like the book is a silver lining.

I claim no school

Not even Old?

"It's a little thing called cadence", huh?

In this instance, mostly paracetamol. When I go back upstairs to lie down, by the way, I'm going to read some more of those splendid stories about Don Camillo, thanks very much.

It punctured certitude. I found that helpful.
It commanded attention. I was in need of that.
It demonstrated the elusive nature of an answer. I still believe this to be true.

Spoken like a speechwriter. "It's a little thing called cadence", huh?

like it was the best thing that ever happened to them

It punctured certitude. I found that valuable.
It commanded attention. I was in need of that.
It demonstrated the elusive nature of an answer. I still believe this to be true.

The best thing that ever happened to me,…

I guess it's…

I watched The Paper Chase at about age 8, and have been able to quote John Huston ever since:

Ah, the Socratic method or, as an acquaintance of mine defines it, "paying through the nose so some pretentious bully can wank off in your face."

I remember reading a profile on him – I think he was Romanian, and spoke 4 languages at the age of 3.

Yes I could google – but where's the joy in googling everything all the time? Why not share the odd imperfect memory?

This reminds me slightly of the…

I remember reading a profile on him – I think he was Romanian, and spoke 4 languages at the age of 3.

Yes I could google – but where's the joy in googling…

“The directing of a picture involves coming out of your individual loneliness and taking a controlling part in putting together a small world. A picture is made. You put a frame around it and move on. And one day you die.…

have been able to quote John Huston ever since

Huston or Houseman?

YouTube has it, but won't permit embedding. See it here

But the opening narrative is still burned on my mind.

Giovanni – sounds interesting – I think that we need new metaphors to refresh our viewpoint every so often. It's like the quadrant approach to leadership, or personality, or time management. The value lies not so much in the earth-shattering new…

maybe you won't mention the thing you have for high school uniforms.

500 points for any new MP who can carry that off. There must be a constituency.

"And then, of course, there is the 'thing' I have about high school uniforms.

"I recall as if it were yesterday, when…

It's tricky sometimes, when an idea or concept or metaphor becomes so much part of your belief system – e.g. the Stephen Covey "watering the bamboo" metaphor from 7 habits.

We call it feeding our son Joseph. He was a real shortie until his fourth year, when suddenly he grew…

Have linked to it on by blog already, so in some sense, I already have! Although I do try not to plagiarise.

It's tricky sometimes, when an idea or concept or metaphor becomes so much part of your belief system – e.g. the Stephen Covey "watering the bamboo"…

Not to channel Oscar Wilde, but I wish had written that.

Don't worry, Rachel, one day you will have. (Is that how it went?)

Not to channel Oscar Wilde, but I wish had written that. Will have to suffice with linking to it copiously instead.

This isn't the culmination of their life's ambition, at least it shouldn't be.This isn't the culmination of their life's ambition, at least it shouldn't be.

Not…

Disestablishment is doubleplusungood!

I am definitely an Antidisestablishmentarianist!

Management language is the curse of the modern world.

Front page of today's Dom Post. Our illustrious leader sez:

There will be some new bodies established and there will be some things that are disestablished over the course of the next three years

Disestablishment is doubleplusungood!

Does Roger Douglas get another crack at a maiden speech, or are you ever allowed only one maiden?

Just the one (assuming he got one the first time 'round). To the Standing Orders!

350 Maiden and valedictory statements
(1) A member who has not made a maiden speech during…

Speaking. Individual. Words. As. Complete. Sentences. To. Indicate. Seriousity.

(Also, be careful not to just invent new almost-words on the fly. GWB, I'm lookerating at you.)

Uh oh. Politicians + thesaurus

In hindsight I can see that was unwise.

It can only conclude in emissions from the lachryl duct.

Thesaurus: not a small dinosaur

Uh oh. Politicians + thesaurus = "I'm ardent for New Zealand. Together, we can manufacture a more luminous eventuality."