Posts by Paul Williams
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
That's actually a good idea. I'd still like to be able to offer a direct reward for financial contributors, but there are lots of ways of doing that.
Done and re the annual sub/donation/whatever. I entirely agree.
Not everyone's flush, and that's bloody important to remember, but if you're able, I reckon a regular contribution to offset the costs, at least, of this community is well justified.
-
I'm in the middle of a major Paul Kelly bro'mance. He supported Dylan last week, doing a small acoustic set with his nephew Dan Kelly. I also saw him at a book signing. Sadly I missed his concert series, A - Z, each and every song. Cool.
-
I love Throw Your Arms, it is one of my favourite Aussie songs... Where I used to live, in Newtown (Sydney), I once was walking down King St and could hear it being sung but couldn't work out where. As I walked I realised it was a local pub, the Coopers Arms, and essentially the entire pub was singing along to an acoustic duo. It remains one of my "must dos"; spontaneously singalong to a Hunters song or perhaps the Streets of Your Town by the Go Betweens:
or even Cattle and Cane:
As to the NZ equivalent, surely its Don't Dream it's Over...
-
Hard News: Any excuse for a party, in reply to Islander,
I’m unfamiliar with that poll Chris. Fortunately, neither a poll nor even for that matter a majority of electors of even MPs is sufficient to excuse the crown’s responsibilities under the Treaty. It is a matter for the courts, international courts if necessary as it was a Treaty between two sovereign parties. Any process toward republicanism would necessarily involve an agreement transferring any responsibilities owed by Elizabeth R to the NZ government. Anyone advocating for republicanism on any other basis is either wrong or foolish.
-
Chris, becoming a republic doesn't necessarily disrupt any obligations under the Treaty, it might transfer them but the reality is that the UK offers no real contribution beyond access to higher courts... oh hang on...
-
Lea, Russell's answered the question as I would have. The US republic is a particular arrangement and separates the legislature from the executive in a unique way. We'd not have to, or want to, follow their approach... which is federalist too. My preference for a republic is to simply replace the Governor General with a domestically appointed head of state with largely the same, ceremonial powers (I'll leave others to talk about the "reserve powers" if they so wish).
There is an issue of how they are appointed of course. Debate over this - appointed by all of parliament or by through a separate election - was partly what derailed the 1999 Australia referendum
-
Russell, that's a bloody great show you've got going there!
-
Ffion
Is it wrong that I think that’s a lovely name?
Look, Key is simply embodying the standard NZ male abroad experience of being invited somewhere and feeling like an under-dressed clod
Reckon you’re right. Also, and excuse my complete ignorance on these matters, does NZ have many “name” menswear designers? When I last live in NZ, a suit from Mandatory was considered pretty cool.
-
I was shocked at how secretive everything is in Canadia.
Or in Australia - NSW at least. jus' sayin
-
Cracker: RIght On., in reply to Kumara Republic,
No, a little more recent, 7 April this year in fact.
Short version: Brisbane's Lord Mayor, Campbell Newman, (equivalent to Len Brown) announced he'd simultaneous contest a parliamentary seat and also the leadership of the Liberal/National parliamentary coalition. There's a suggestion (leak) that the current leader of the Liberal/National Coalition was encouraged to stand aside for Newman with various inducements of extra-parliamentary offices. Given Qld's history of corruption, this is a matter that's been referred to the Qld Crime and Misconduct Commission.
Here's a useful link to the ABC story around the time.
I confess I've not followed the story since.