Posts by Russell Brown
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And with the happiest of timing, Richard Easther has published his analysis of the Conservative Party's stance on climate change, which is apparently partly caused by "astological events" [sic].
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Hard News: Friday Music: Old, New, New, Old, in reply to tim,
this is a really great mix of NZ artists & remixes, put together by The Jewel School
Wow. That's quite a track listing. I'll get that.
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Hard News: Friday Music: Old, New, New, Old, in reply to bob daktari,
album of the year for me thus far, can’t see it being beat
Okay, you guys have sold me on that one.
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Hard News: Friday Music: Old, New, New, Old, in reply to Peter Johnston,
Pretty sure I saw The Bird Nest Roys open for Sneaky Feelings at The Cricketers (or maybe the Clyde Quay) in Welli sometime in the mid-80s – maybe Ian Dalziel has a poster for that to jog my memory!
That recording of 'Jaffa Boy' is from a gig in Wellington, 1986. Maybe that's you, Pete! Maybe we can hear you clapping!
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Hard News: Friday Music: Old, New, New, Old, in reply to Ian Dalziel,
Thanks for all these, Ian -- nice work!
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Up Front: Dropping the A-Bomb, in reply to Moz,
The possibility of a conclusive genetic test done around the time of conception is seeming less likely the more I learn about it.
Probably. But I wouldn't be surprised to see a pre-natal test that purports to meaningfully screen for ASD. That would be a whole other can of worms.
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Up Front: Dropping the A-Bomb, in reply to B Jones,
Anyway, that’s a digression that’s uncovered some surprising, to me, points of view. I had thought people react to abortion and disability because abortion. It seems to be bigger than that.
Well, more complicated. I certainly see a difference between a dietary supplement to reduce the chance of neural tube defects and the decision on to proceed with a pregnancy. But that doesn't set up the disability-or-abortion dichotomy you're offering. Maybe the issue is pre-natal testing?
I think Im far from alone in the autism community in dreading the arrival (if it ever happens) of a pre-natal test for ASD, not least because it would be a blunt instrument. We'd start to run into some very challenging issues about what normal is supposed to be. One of our boys is here because of a change of mind on a termination. How might our decision have been more difficult or different?
I've indicated several times in this thread that I think abortion on request is the only acceptable legal position. But saying "it's society that has to change" doesn't actually magically fix everything or make the complex simple. You have to allow that some people, through their experience, are going to find the issues more complex than others.
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Hard News: Friday Music: Old, New, New, Old, in reply to Che Tibby,
<quiet voice> album length is an artifact of vinyl, CDs aren’t much longer or shorter</quiet voice>
The arrival of CDs changed the nominal length of an album – and not generally for the better. A vinyl record is rarely longer than 40 minutes. An album on CD isn't often shorter than that.
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Up Front: Dropping the A-Bomb, in reply to BenWilson,
I’d agree the point could have been made in a way that seems less offensive, but this is a debate in which offense is pretty common at every step. There is a case to answer about why making a choice not to have a particular kind of child should be allowed. But equally there’s a case to answer about why it shouldn’t. I’d like to hear both cases. Hilary seems to have feelings about that which are hard to express.
There are personal, family elements of this I simply don’t feel able discuss here. It’s perilous territory. I would ask everyone on whatever “side” to show restraint and respect, please.
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Up Front: Dropping the A-Bomb, in reply to giovanni tiso,
I found working on Down screening policy really challenging and complex
I know a woman who’s doing her PhD on that.
She certainly hasn't picked the easy path, then.