Posts by Richard Llewellyn
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Speaking of Bernard Malamud, I really loved The Natural. Far better than the vaseline tinged film version with Redford. Excellent book.
In fact I loved all those 50's driven novels that used a sport or hobby as a device to look at human (usually male) frailty, the excellent Walter Tevis books spring to mind, The Hustler, and the Colour of Money.
Don't have the Simon Templar books anymore, in fact don't have many books from that time (not even the Doctor Who collection, sob) .......
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Speaking of Listener writers/novelists, I thoroughly enjoyed a book by Keith Stewart I found a few years back in a 50c bin at a second-hand book shop in Sydney.
From memory it was called After Heat, and it was a cool cross-generation story about identifying yourself as a young kiwi abroad, with a bit of wine terrorism thrown in (as you do).
Also have to thank my older brother for introducing me to the many delights of Modesty Blaise (and her side-kick Willie Garvin) at a very impressionable age.
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Right on brother!
Absolutely spot-on - the empty stands has been a disgrace, and neither the ICC or the local administrators have accepted responsibility.
And the poor home team have lost their trump card, i.e. fanatical home support at the actual games.
Go the Black Caps
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Heh - amidst the faintly righteous back-slapping about how tolerant we are in comparison to other blogs (and rightly so), I feel a little unease about sentiments aimed at 'limiting these dicks' - even though dicks some of them most truly are ......
Not that I in anyway condone 'dick-ism' but I guess its about trying to keep online debate at a civil, non-personal, non-abusive level rather than simply expelling those whom we violently disagree with, right? (otherwise its just like-minded people continually talking to themselves isn't it?). The question is how to you prevent the slide into 'dick-ism'?, Is is possible?, is 'dick-ism' nature or nurture? Do they deserve rehabilitation?
Which reminds me, off topic, one of the latest US based HR hot trends is the rather obvious ' Don't hire Arseholes' policy.
Thats why I think fessing up to your real name is a great starting point, and why PAS generally works so well. In saying that I understand that not everyone can or should or wants to, but it certainly limits the ease with which a robust debate can end with someone anonymously slipping into 'loony fringe-speak'.
Not sure if that makes sense. To paraphrase Sam Neill, I'm wary of the 'Blogosphere of Unease' ........
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Good point Stephen, and of course the answer in this case should be 'no'.
I'm not suggesting it is right, or even palatable, only that there is some degree of inevitability and symbiosis about supply and demand.
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Heh, legitimacy v prurience, thats a tough one.
In the eye of the beholder I suspect, while we can point the finger at tabloid journalism, I often wonder if they lead or follow public demand. While media have a certain power to influence perceptions and set the agenda, there is always an eager audience ready and waiting to perceive.
No real winners here, I have a lot of sympathy for the zoo, who have gained a lot of unwanted attention that is probably outside their experience, and of course the Burton family.
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Stephen,
Hmm, it's hard to say without knowing more about how the arrangement between the Mason clinic, the rehab programme, and the various employers (in this case, the Zoo) works, but in principle, if you are an employer who has taken a decision to support such a programme, then I agree this was an opportunity to support and promote it in both word and deed. In other words, to back your own judgement and explain your rationale.
I personally would think better of the zoo if they took the approach you suggest above. However, I am sure that if they did, some of our more sensational media outlets would have made the ongoing presence of Mr Burton at the zoo a matter of further public attention. I can see the breathless 20/20 expose now .......
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Ouch Stephen, as a sometime 'weasel' that smarts, I reckon the advice to zoo management could just as easily (and possibly more likely) have emanated from another noble profession, the legal fraternity :-)
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Erm, yes, that is a bit too weird.
I guess Robin has been busy. All that energy, to what end?
My earlier reference to 'idealogues and dissenters' was about another blog, on the other side of town, a place where I hope PA never goes ......
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It is a shame that this will overshadow the tournament, but it shouldn't be any surprise that this is a legitimate media sensation.
A leading coach murdered after his team is massively upset? - A more cautionary tale of taking sport too seriously could not be scripted.
It reminds me of the Pablo Escabar killing in Colombia - something that makes sport-lovers stop and think about how important the game really is.
Poor buggar.