Forget the lotteries or a long shot quadrella. The easiest way to make a million dollars and earn the respect of your peers to boot is to win a Nobel Peace Prize.
The rules are invariably flexible. A winner has to do something ‘good’ within fairly broad confines of what good is but then can do a lot of stuff that is extremely bad. Or you can do many bad things early on and then do a little bit of good and next thing you know you’re standing on the stage at the Stockholm Concert Hall, smiling for the cameras with the presentation cheque in hand.
The 26th President of the United States, Teddy Roosevelt was a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Before becoming president, the redoubtable Teddy was both Secretary of the Navy and the leader of the Rough Riders, a US volunteer cavalry outfit that saw action in the Cuban theatre of the Spanish-American War of 1898.
Teddy frequently charged ahead of his men and blasted away at anything that moved. He wrote a rather chilling piece of reportage where he spoke of his euphoria after killing his first man at the Battle of San Juan. Even his admirers, of which I am one, would acknowledge Teddy liked war a little bit too much.
Full column here.
Kohler nails it and one cue the right wing fruit cakes jump in prove him right.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/alan-kohler/our-energy-policy-still-stuck-in-coal-country/news-story/a5298fada8ade351e72ae43a470e0ff8
Given that around 14,500 people watched the Weagles/Giants last night, what’s the big deal about having a final or two at Kardinia Park?
I reckon there’ll be two excellent matches next weekend.
Go the Cats!
kardinia would be used so long as the mcg is utilised as well..didn’t work out this year unfortunately
I’m a bit concerned about those activist Yes campaigners (some Faculty involved as well I hear) harassing the group at Sydney Uni when they put up a stall saying that it was OK to vote No.
They need to realise that although I don’t agree it is OK to vote No. Bullying people (particularly Australians) into voting a particular way is sure to backfire.
Never a truer word said Penny
They’ve been reared on the idea that only their own feelings matter. Solipsism turned into an ideology.
I think trying to force opinions down people’s throats generally has the reverse result, Dwight.
Irritation with this will produce a lot of NO votes, or no vote at all, where it might not have happened.
The result will be interesting. But dragging it out to November seems ridiculous. More time for angst to propagate.
I agree, Penny. That type of aggression will not wash with what I think is a very conservative, or apathetic populace. Except for some young folk I’ve mainly heard from people who say they will vote no. I think the No vote will be emphatic and prevail. Not for the right reasons but because the wrong reasons have not been addressed.
We are seriously lacking in strong, smart and forward thinking pollies in this country. Or are we and our media is quick to shut them down??
I have similar concerns Penny. People don’t like to be told what to do or think they are being bullied. If they are uncommitted to start with then it could push them to vote no.
I was going to vote No until I saw those TV commercials with those mothers going on about compulsory child sex-change operations and so on. I hate scare-mongering so now I’m voting Yes even though I disapprove of SSM.
Just kidding – and interestingly, you won’t actually find a Yes voter making that kind of claim. But my point is that it’s rather lame to decide one’s vote (on anything) based on other people’s behaviour, however appalling, instead of your own beliefs. In fact, I don’t really believe people who say that’s what they’re doing. Like Trumpers and Brexiteers who try to excuse their own bizarre choices as helpless reactions against progressive “smugness” or whatever, No-voters who blame the tone of the other side are trying to make someone else responsible for their own narrow-mindedness. If it really is OK to say No, then own it!
JOH. I believe you are talking abut “locus of control” unfortunately it seems many cons have the external “locus of control” hard wired in.
Oh look, he learned a new term!
Dwight, that is the difference between cons like and Thinking people. You no longer have the ability to learn. You got stuck in ’74 and that was it. Some of us choose to continue to challenge ourselves.
You, in particular, are very challenged Dismal.
You only need to capitalise ‘Thinking’ when you finish and title your Thinking 101 assignment, Dismayed. And puhlease don’t ask for any more extensions young man, the faculty has been waiting years.
Things have got to the stage where even Fidel might qualify for a Nobel prize.
I can report that I didn’t spot JB in Cuba when I was there recently.
Contrary to many reports, including from Australian politicians, I think that Cuba does a lot of things well. The locals I talked to said that health and education are very positive aspects of Cuba, with all Cubans having free and fair access to both. The economy isn’t so good, but Cuba is addressing that through allowing some foreign investment, particularly from Spanish companies and also Canadian companies. Hopefully, this should help to address some of Cuba’s economic woes. Contrary to how many Cubans thought Raul would rule Cuba, he’s been surprisingly flexible, given that he was Fidel’s defence minister, as he’s provided greater opportunities for entrepreneurship. It’s a real shame about Irma, as the hurricane will undoubtedly set Cuba back economically, not to mention the lost lives. When I left Cuba, three days before Irma hit there, there didn’t seem to be much concern from the Cubans I talked to.
For all Fidel’s faults, he did a lot of good things in Cuba, as the place was run by the Mafia and CIA before he took over. The US got their just desserts with the Bay of Pigs invasion. Another plus for is that Cohibas were initially made personally for Fidel. Of course I had to get some of those, along with some Montecristos and Romeo & Juliets – much better than the Dominican stuff.
2 right in the afl and 2 wrong in the nrl. the epl is a nightmare for tipsters.
and nice to see the mighty Burnley humble the Liverpool luvvies like Trivalve and Tracy. I note Penny not having a bite when they beat Chelsea.
Comrade Miltonavitch getting uppity again…….who you calling a luvvie?
Be that as it may, Jack, but I fail to be convinced by any tele-hostess who does *not* have faaabulous hair, great nails, slender thighs and feigned anguish.
Moving right along. Next … ?
If politics is a spectator sport, HU, there should be good watching when Malcolm Roberts is cross examined by AG Brandis in the HC on Thursday.
What a hoot!
I just love it , when people start off a sentence with ” Be that as it may ” it’s as bad as saying ” As one would have it ” .
I’m not a racist, but…
I’m not racist I hate everyone the same?
Hey Bill. Good to see/hear you.
Now here’s something for our male bloggers to consider…..
September in Provence is the time for cultural festivals – many of which involve bulls. Running them through the village streets, the real cruel bull-fighting in the Roman arena in Arles. But there is another type of bull competition. It’s a bit like touch footy except every man is playing for himself against one exceedingly angry bull that is looking to kill one of them if possible. I went up to watch a session.
So about 8 trim, taut and terrific young lads get into the arena and run around harassing the poor creature into charging them.
The bull has ribbon bracelets around his horns and the object of the game is for the guy, using a sort of hand held knuckle-duster hook to snatch off a bracelet when the huge, foaming at the mouth, charging bull gets close. They leap to safety over the arena barrier like Olympic athletes – often followed by the bull looking like he’s in an equestrian event.
But that’s an aside. What I wanted to let you guys know was that these muscled macho kids (Nick Kyrgios lookalikes some of them) greet each other with the “three kiss routine – left, right and left again. I was mightily impressed – but then, the French are tres elegant.
But try as I might, I just cannot picture this routine amongst our okker Aussie footy boys 🙂
What a spectator sport. I doubt my interest would go to actual participation.
Kissing or the bull running JTI ?
Well, watching AFL players do the “three kiss routine” would be a huge spectator sport for me. Geez, one could probably sell tickets for it!
40 grit sand papering x3…yeah bewdy triffic can’t wait, really lookin forward to it,
bonza stuff
Good one, JS.! For you macho blokes I woukd imagine it would be a really tough decision – maybe braving the bull would take preference? 🙂
It was interesting, although I feel sorry for the bull. But it seems these bulls are champions too. Each bull only does 10 minutes and gets cheered off to the stirring March of the Toreadors from Carmen Guess it’s a better option than getting slaughtered in the ring.
Lots of bull meat saucissons for sale in the produce markets!! 🙁
That’s where most go anyway, Boa.
Bullfighting is an atrocity that should have been banned long ago Boadicea like any sadistic ‘sport’ using animals for human entertainment.
What you witnessed seems fairly harmless but no doubt the animal would be stressed by having to perform that silly ‘game’ surrounded by so much loud noise.
I hope you’re making the most of your holiday in that beautiful country & it’s pastries. 🗼
Having a great time Bella. It’s a beautiful country – it’s the history and the culture of Europe that makes it so.
No running around amending plinths and tearing down statues here! It is what it is. They are proud of their history.
I agree with you re the bull-fighting. I could never watch a “real” bullfight. Just ghastly.
I always thought it was a Spanish thing so am surprised to find it a big part of the culture here. At village markets paella is the traditional takeaway. Always a big dish cooking!
But I am here to involve myself in village life so will go along to the bull run through the street next week – and up to the local little arena to see what happens. I am assured by my landlady that no bull is harmed.
She’s like you – doesn’t like it. Doesn’t go.
The bulls are accompanied by the horsemen who work on the farms should be quite a spectacle.
If they are taking on a bull to get a bracelet, then I am not surprised the boys are kissing each other, Boa.God knows what they would do to the bull if it was a wearing some Manolo Blahnik’s.
Manolo Blahniks?……….ooh, pick me, pick me.
Ha – my landlady was telling me about an American woman who jumped into the middle of the road, yahooing as they do, (sorry Dwight don’t mean to offend) to take photos of the oncoming bulls.
They ran straight over the top of her and killed her!
Landlady’s comment was “it’s not Disneyland” !
They don’t like Americans and even less the Poms. But tolerate them, as they are good for the tourist dollar.
I try to always speak French when here but am always quick to point out I’m Australian!!
Looks innocuous until one is in a front row seat – as I was. Those beasts are bloody fearsome, I can tell you. Anyway, the bull looks quite pretty with his ribboned horns for a while there.
Too old and slow for bulls, Boa. Got any arthritic sloths?
It’s “No country for old men” in that arena Dwight.
Young, quick and nimble is the go!
did you call me Yvonne?
Why, is that your real name, or going out name?
Don’t be homophobic Milton Dismal is many things to many people…….
milton and razor will from here on be called neal and bob because that is what they do. HAHAHAHA
What did we tell you about projecting, Unmade?
Hey, whenever I see or sense trouble i’m outta there – where’s my peace prize?
Dear Milton for your undying support for your Tones Abbott you Sir deserve a Nobel Peace Prize. Cheers
Thanks Hank!
here have this one…sorry its empty.
milton, Your mind sure aint “Young, quick and nimble “
WINX takes out the Group One George Main Stakes at Randwick to earn 20th consecutive win, Mr Insider, what can one but what a magnificent champion horse, shades of Manikato!
http://tinyurl.com/y8tvkkap
It was beautiful to watch, HB. Not a big horse, not the huge stride of Black Caviar but such incredible leg speed and stride. I swear Winx’s hooves made contact with the ground twice as often as its opponents at the pointy end of the race yesterday. Bring on the Cox Plate.
I’d retire her after the plate. Too much could go wrong. To be totally honest I’d retire her now. She’s a mare remember.
Surely the romantic in you wants to see her win no.3, Razor. After that, yes, off to a big paddock.
One of the saddest things I have seen at the races was the day champion, Shogun Lodge – brought out of retirement, God knows why – dropped dead under Glen Boss 100m out of the gate. Glen took out Makebediva’s (sic) third win that day.
Greed and ego take precedent over the horse’s welfare.
I’d love to see it JTI but the image of Dulcify looms large.
Hey, let’s not say anything we can’t take back.
Enough to bring a tear to the eye of any hardened old “crustacean”, Mr Insider. AN 11-year-old boy’s dream has come true with Donald Trump accepting his offer to mow the White House lawns free of charge. Frank Giacco penned a letter to the White House offering his landscaping services. Linked clip of young Frank doing the deed with an admiring POTUS Trump looking on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut4obeeJDOg
Slavery?
White slavery at that Jack.
He’s probably the first person to have ever cut the Donald’s grass, and he hasn’t even started shaving yet.
NY Times reporter slammed after saying boy mowing White House lawn sends bad signal on child labor
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/09/17/ny-times-reporter-slammed-after-saying-boy-mowing-white-house-lawn-sends-bad-signal-on-child-labor.html
I am happy to call this an example of child exploitation. That is exactly what it is.
Got to disagree with you Jack. The kid wrote to POTUS to promote his lawnmowing business. Trump got a kick out of the letter and agreed.
Kid gets facetime with the President and front page coverage. He now has the most high profile lawn business in the USA.
He’ll be telling the story for years. I love it. Smart kid.
Sure, I appreciate that and I know he has volunteered to do the lawns for nothing as a PR exercise. In a country where real wages have stagnated pretty much for 25 years, the minimum wage is a sorry joke and where child labour is, happily, illegal, it sends a very poor signal around. It is not especially different to an unpaid internship and this form of unpaid labour has reached epidemic proportions in the US and here. I disapprove of these things, like I disapprove of Mammamia not paying their freelancers. As someone who is sometimes asked to work for nothing — the MMEA asked me to make an appearance for zip at the Walkleys some years ago. No money but “Oh, Jack think of the networking.” — I take a dim view of this stuff. I was rather firm with the MMEA and that is perhaps why they have never asked again. Telling someone to fuck off where justified is an effective practice, I assure you.