Topic: The Lounge / Where is Everybody?

specky

I thought you were going to morph into someone else?

Topic: The Lounge / Jnr Nuts

Thanks St A. Sugar and spice. Now got a houseful. Just as well we got that second set top box. Otherwise footy, golf, cricket, etc would become a figment of imagination.

Topic: ISG Feedback / New ISG Site

I’m sure it’s good if you have time to spend, but I’m not sure why such a radical change was necessary to the whole set up and functionality. Off-putting when you have only a little time to spend looking at topics, etc. Having said that I understand the commercial realities of wanting more prominent advertising.

Topic: iseekgolf Golf Days / ISG Vase IV

QUOTE: Cams @ May 15 2007, 07:07 PM

When someone can be bothered to organize one, normally it's TT, bless him.

Speaking of the eloquent one, has his tacker arrived yet?

Topic: Golf Talk / Ideal foursome

Jessica Alba, Sherelle McMahon and Elle McPherson. An eclectic but hot mix who'd help me forget how badly I'm playing.

Topic: Sports Talk / Who has played Senior Australian Rules?

Played about 12 years senior footy and a year coaching - one flag from one go but then life got really busy. It's a single, young man's game and I read gregorywannabe's story with amazement.

Topic: The Lounge / Eddie Maguire boned

Despite the way he mangles the English language and can't pronounce the name of his own country properly, Eddie has contributed well to the AFL's current financial strength through his promotional influence.

But CEO of a billion dollar-plus entity is a few million steps too far for a Broady Boy.

Topic: Sports Talk / Tagging / Tagger ....

Has everyone forgotten the most sniping prat in the game - Josh Carr? Runs like a goose and he'd win a Brownlow on kidney punches alone.

I don't want to see anyone else run through. I just want to see Brown smash Carr's head in again and again.

Topic: Sports Talk / ACB Contracts

Katich had a modest year with the bat - didn't justify a contract.
Gillespie had a solid year and justified a contract on that basis plus he's insurance against the young blokes not coming on.
Hopes is a good one day player and his stats justify being considered.
Butterworth has only played three first class games. Not sure he's quite there yet Moe. Paine had a poor year with the bat. Tassie's performance this year owed so much to Hilfenhaus it's not funny. None of their batsmen had brilliant years.
Cosgrove had a modest year too and so didn't justify selection - if his attitude was spot on I think he'd be performing better.
Cullen was probably fortunate but then no other spinner really stamped himself as a competitor. And we should remember most spinners take a while to mature to test standard.

The spots up for grabs are between Rogers and Jaques for Langer's spot, and who'll take Pigeon and Warnie's spots.

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Killara

QUOTE: cmillsvasas @ May 2 2007, 11:36 PM

Arghhhhhh any cheap memeberships going around the north shore of syd????

North Sydney Leagues

Topic: The Lounge / Rudd or Howard

Nobby

Don't waste too much time on the interest rate theme to prove your point unless you understand how interest rates interact with a variety of other economic factors. Low interest rates are not necessarily a measure of an economy's success.

Japan had a few years dipping in and out of recession with virtually zero interest rates - low because the demand for borrowing was so low. In a high-saving economy such as wealthy Asian ones (HK, Singapore, Korea and Taiwan are others) then supply of money for investment often exceeds demand.

In Australia, our interest rates at present represent a healthy long-term balanced level on a historic basis - and this is supported by our recent healthy GDP performance, which over the last five years has been top 5 in the OECD. NZ have also done well growth-wise and their interest rates have consistently been higher than ours - foreign people are financing our growth to a large degree (remember businesses borrow a large proportion of our money from overseas as leverage for growth) and this is a good thing because they see us as a good risk (compared to what they saw us in the late 80s when rates were in double digits.

With inflation at 2-3% the real interest rate is only 3-4% anyway, which is actually quite close to what is in place elsewhere in the OECD.

That being said, household debt as a proportion of income is high now. We can cover it when the economy's going well and there's plenty of jobs around, but it's problematic if things turn.

The feel good factor about home ownership is a large reason for this - is it the pollies' fault? My view is only indirectly - I think there should be greater regulation of the property industry because they're able to change consumer habits here (% of the income spent on property) without being held to account for the implications for the rest of the economy.

As for the political debate, I'll be pretty fatigued by election time if I think too hard about it now.

Topic: Golf Talk / Does it count as a Hole in One

QUOTE: Moe @ Apr 19 2007, 06:55 PM

that still doesn't explain it.

I've never heard of such a format? What on earth could possibly be the point of two people in the same match getting a shot on the same hole?

Moe if there's no match index I'd argue that the index 8 hole is the most valid hole for there to be a differential.

Topic: Sports Talk / Cricket World Cup 2007

QUOTE: RobJ @ Apr 20 2007, 08:29 AM

Just look out for the net generation of Murali's coming through.

It's happened already. A chap named Botha played a test for Seth Efrika eighteen months ago in Australia with a decidedlhy Murali-like offie's action. He was sent away for remodelling.

Topic: Sports Talk / Cricket World Cup 2007

daacha

Sorry I've let you down with my absence - been a little distracted by the real world of late - I'll make a mental note to get back into the cyber universe soon.

My prediction was that the Jaapies would look good then choke in the semis. I admit I'm wrong - the Jaapies have not looked good and barely scraped into the semis.

Murali's ability to bend his wrist through his action is what enables him to spin the ball more - it's a physiological argument as to whether or not that ability is due to the deformity in his arm. Either way, the politics of international cricket will not allow him to be banned.

Interesting that Shoaib Malik, the new Paki skipper, has had his bowling action "modified" in the past.

Topic: Sports Talk / West Coast Eagles - bringing the game into disrepute

Faldo's Lovechild is spot on with the biggest issue - Demetriou's stupid social experiment with the drugs policy - apparently it's okay to break the law if you're an AFL player as long as you only do it twice. Actually, as long as you only get caught twice! And as some players have confirmed, you can go a whole eason without being tested! It's a disgrace!

Actually FLC, I wonder if The Shark ever said to Nick that he shagged you on the course? Perhaps that's what made Nick so determined at Augusta in '96?

Topic: Sports Talk / West Coast Eagles - bringing the game into disrepute

um,

wbennett, don't you barrack for Collingwood?

There's some pots and kettles and blackness here somewhere.

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / What hole do you really hate?

JJ, Vintage 11's mound is a little strange. But are you saying you hate it more than Ocean 3?

Australian 7 is a bad hole, but the worst has to be Northbridge 6, which is a semi-blind dogleg par 3 with scrub either side and a million hackers constantly holding up play.

Topic: The Lounge / Do you belive in

I'm sure some have seen the ad on Foxtel that is for some greenie organisation with the Morgan Freeman voiceover. It asks the question why are we here?

He suggests (doesn't state, just suggests - take note religious dogmatics) that it could be that, of all the living creatures on this earth, we are the only ones capable of saving the planet... and ourselves.

I like it.

Topic: Sports Talk / AFL Coverage on Channel 7

QUOTE: Fishman Dan @ Apr 13 2007, 09:33 PM

We get the real footy show at bedtime

here

, so I flick it on, watch Sam offend someone and fall asleep

I think "here" might be something I'm reasonably familar with.

Topic: Sports Talk / Cricket World Cup 2007

The most interesting thing in Australian cricket at present is who'll get CA contracts next month. Am assuming Hilfenhaus is a certainty. Others who could/should - Cam White, Chris Rogers, Phil Jaques.

Let's not forget there's a post Warne/McGrath era ahead. Add to that a possible Gilchrist retirement (which could be stepped - one dayers first).

Of course we have the 20/20 World Cup in August - hopefully it'll be a lot easier to see then...

Topic: Sports Talk / AFL Coverage on Channel 7

QUOTE: Fishman Dan @ Apr 13 2007, 09:22 PM

I don't mind it.

And the Footy Show's incessant whinging makes it even better. If you can't watch a footy match and drone out the commentators, stop watching.

You watch the footy show? Fishy, you're a Blue man. The best non-game show is On the Couch.

Topic: Sports Talk / Collingwood 2007

The Tigger Train thread is mildly humourous because you see passion mixed with bloody mindedness.

This thread is revealing because it's an insight into how some otherwise rational people can completely lose a grip on reality.

It's spoon time boys. And keep spending lots of money kidding yourselves you know how to recruit too - AWB and HIH made some big investments too.

Topic: Sports Talk / AFL Coverage on Channel 7

Agreed almost to a fault RobJ. Cometti's class is ruined by McAveney's sycophancy. For Watson to work he has to give some really clever insights, yet you see most of what he says coming. It's sad.

But then we've struggled for a decent commentary team since Lou Richards and co. Even then I always thought Landy was a complete idiot.

Topic: The Lounge / ISG Confessional

Recently I was at a shopping centre with the wife and daughter (nearly 2). We passed by a kids' display and a large mural of Dora the Explorer was part of the exhibit.

The shoppers on this busy Saturday morning watched astonished as my daughter and I belted out a barely in tune rendition of "We did it", resplendent with arm and leg actions per the cartoon.

Topic: Sports Talk / Hooksey's killer to make Pro boxing Debut

QUOTE: Jack @ Apr 13 2007, 10:08 PM

Come on Peanuts, you know he threw the first two punches. The young bloke was just doing his job. Hookes was blind drunk and brought the whole thing upon himself.

Hookesy deserved to be thrown out. His mates should have been a little more conciliatory at the time. But there's still something rotten in Denmark about the lack of accountability Micevic has been subject to.