Comments on: Saturday Salon

By: Paul Burns

Paul Burns — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:40:41 +0000

And to think I’ve just received my Visa Card.

By: nasking

nasking — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:26:06 +0000

Altman films I dig: The Player…& M.A.S.H….followed closely by Streamers…Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean…McCabe & Mrs. Miller…3 Women & Nashville. Plenty of others.

By: joe2

joe2 — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:48:22 +0000

“Ain’t teh Internet wunnerful?”

Tis Paul and E.C.
Now lookee here…

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/A-PRAIRIE-HOME-COMPANION-MERYL-STREEP-ROBERT-ALTMAN_W0QQitemZ310066743929QQihZ021QQcategoryZ2304QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
“Nashville” is still my fave, but.

By: Paul Burns

Paul Burns — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:15:26 +0000

EC @ 31,
We cross-posted apparently.
Will keep an eye out for the DVD. Am a massive Altman fan.

By: Paul Burns

Paul Burns — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:09:19 +0000

American Revolution blog is back on line, apparently. Finally worked out how to post a comment on it, via my Google account. Might be getting involved in an historical stoush about whether history from below is socialism. We’ll see. The answer, btw, so far as I’m concerned, is, Not necessarily.

By: Enemy Combatant

Enemy Combatant — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:05:33 +0000

Paul, if you enjoyed joe2’s suggestion at at 27,(remember you commenting many moons ago about the time you spent as a thespian around East Sydney in the 70s) then you might find some magic in Robert Altman’s film finale, A Prarie Home Companion, based around Garrison Keillor’s radio program. G.K. says in the R.N. promo,
“I hope you can be part of the Show”;
but in the film, Altman leaves one no choice.
I’m giving this four and a half stars, Paul:)
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060608/REVIEWS/60606001/1023

By: Paul Burns

Paul Burns — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:07:29 +0000

Joe2,
Thyanks for that.
Ain’t teh Internet wunnerful?

By: tigtog

tigtog — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:55:10 +0000

Originally it was a very basic split about who inherited the temporal and spiritual authority of Mohammed after his death - was it going to be a dynasty or an election from among all the eligible elite?

The Shi’ites are the descendants/converts of those who followed the dynastic succession of the first acclaimed Imam, Ali (cousin and son-in-law of Mohammed), and the Sunnis are the descendants/converts of those who followed the first elected Caliph, Abu Bakr (Mohammed’s friend).

Since then various other theological differences between the two groups have developed over the centuries. [link]

By: Chookie

Chookie — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:01:07 +0000

Sunday is our serious TV-watching night. I know one of the contestants on tonight’s Einstein Factor (which I don’t normally watch, because the Brains Trust is so painful), then there’s Dr Who and the new series of Foyle’s War. Wondering what will be the Significant Moment From WW2 tonight, and how Foyle is persuaded to keep working. And a bit of drooling over Anthony Howell.

Today’s sermon was about the basics of Islam, but the speaker didn’t know any more than I about the differences between Sunnis and Shiites (ie the historical basis). Anyone?

By: joe2

joe2 — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:28:57 +0000

Paul, on Sunday night at 7.00 Garrison Keillor’s Radio Show is on Radio National.
It is a hoot. It can be heard online as it conflicts with Dr Who for the last half hour.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/garrisonkeillor/default.htm

By: Paul Burns

Paul Burns — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:04:12 +0000

Last night, watched the new ABC (British import) police drama, Murder Prevention. Or, part of it, anyway. OMG, weird colour coding, hand held cameras, I think, actors made up so they looked like they came out of an Andy Warhol movie ( and I love Warhol, it was just inappropriate in this context) etc, etc. Will not be putting myself through it again. Getting to the point I might even think of hiring some DVDs next week.
OTOH, the consolation prize is Dr. Who AND Foyle’s War tonight. Foyle’s War is a particularly nice surprise as I thought the series had finished.

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:39:32 +0000

Thanks, wpd. I wonder what the sales were like.

By: wpd

wpd — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:37:25 +0000

Brian from your wiki link

“In May 2005 Beattie released his autobiography “Making A Difference”, in which he described his upbringing, political life and his views on key issues, including health, education and social reform.

The book is part memoir, part manifesto.[10] Beattie says that the reason he released the book while he is in office, rather than when he is retired, is because no-one would want to read about him if he was not in the public arena.

This is Beattie’s third book after his earlier autobiographical piece “In the Arena” (1990) and the thriller “The Year of the Dangerous Ones”.

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:55:05 +0000

wpd at 18 & 19, there is a Wikipedia entry for P Beattie. It mentions Making a Difference in 2005 as his autobiography. There may have been an earlier one, of course.

There’s no mention of fiction.

By: nasking

nasking — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:46:54 +0000

I went to put this comment on Helen’s ‘Blog on a Cast Iron Balcony’ blog & WordPress tells me it has trouble connecting w/ the server or such. Typical.

Helen said: “So she makes a couple of acerbic comments, as the media so loves her to do, and is then portrayed as a rampant! Termagant! Madwoman! who “foams”, and has no sense of humour”

I expect no less from a Murdoch paper…they love creating conflict. Stirring sh*t. Bashing anyone from the Left or Progressive camp who was influential in the 60s & 70s that helped bring about CHANGE & moves towards egalitarianism.

Rupert & his lot must’ve steamed at having to pay those extra tax dollars for affordable health & education, for mature age women to enter University…& raged at the idea that some women, like Germaine Greer, had the guts to speak louder than them…get the attention they craved…and articulated arguments that helped their wives and daughters realise they didn’t have to stay in the CAGE & be bullied by these somewhat ocker elites, putting on airs, sleeping around…and taking their partners for granted. They’re now trying to get their revenge.

But Germaine will always remain unique & a courageous bridge crosser in my books…& no amount of SPIN & BS from the corporate media & its sycophantic enablers will change my view. I imagine the same goes for many others. She’s a GIANT.

Time will show this. She speaks to truth. She’s a FIGHTER.
N’

By: nasking

nasking — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:42:52 +0000

Here’s our wee contribution to the pro-PEACE cause, a song based on one of my poems…the images might evoke some memories and such…there’s further info at the site:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpILgx_YcF0

Dear Jesse (Ascending/Descending) by greenobservesblue

By: David Rubie

David Rubie — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:28:25 +0000

Geez tigtog, rub it in why dontcha!

By: wpd

wpd — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:11:18 +0000

In the Arena being the autobiography.

By: wpd

wpd — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:08:47 +0000

Brian, i think he wrote two.

In the Arena and The Year of the Dangerous Ones.

Good politician. Average writer.

By: tigtog

tigtog — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:04:48 +0000

David Rubie @ #2:

I belatedly responded in the proper spirit. Check it out.