Tomb raider

I'm getting more and more confused because of the direction this thread has taken. Young, eloquent, concerned and obviously well-educated South-Africans (all of them white, typically) are telling us their country has gone downhill ever since the end of apartheid. Hmm, yeah, I bet things were better when their fathers and grandfathers ruled the country by claiming all the benefits for themselves... Leaving the blacks inferior education, inferior health care, inferior public services, inferior jobs, inferior food, inferior water, inferior roads and inferior houses turn out to have been miscalculations now those blacks are in charge. No, really! If you consider all this, it's a shame the 'Groot Krokodil' ever had to step down from office! None of the Botha-criticasters on this forum ever stated that the abolition of apartheid can be considered a complete success. I've never visited South-Africa, but I'm well aware of the huge problems that the country still has to overcome. However, I firmly disagree with any suggestion that apartheid should not have been abolished in the first place. Of course mistakes have been made, and of course some processes might have gone way too fast, but a civil war was avoided and even the most vicious racists among the apartheid-government had a chance to start with a clean sheet only if they cooperated with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, no matter how much blood was on their hands. Yeah, things could have gone better for the white upper-class, but you have been a bunch of lucky bastards not to have been hanged on the spot in 1990-1994. Instead of looking back nostalgically to the good old days you should be working hard to clean the mess your fathers left.

Wiki says he is a cricketer, so obviously the answer is 'no'. In fact, it's a compliment if you've never heard of him. Were you the guy who would rather watch paint dry than discussing South African politics on this forum? Well, I'm the guy who would prefer the paint over watching cricket.

Well, let the ranters come in! The chap was 90 years old and had been out of the spotlights for quite a while, but I would enjoy a racial rant or two tonight. (The missus is watching Gilmore Girls, the football (on stream) is almost done, so I'm going to get bored in a couple of minutes...)

Is this going to be the trend for 2007: cursing people in latin?!

At first sight, I thought the post said: 'Pinochet faces chemical castration'... That would have been a hell of a headline!

I would agree - in general. Paul Hunter is an excellent snooker player, but not the best. He also showed little "guts" (understandably) in his losing performance yesterday. I too hope he recovers. you prick!! I'd say there is enough to dislike about this thread without digging up some ancient post relating to a long-forgotten event to reply to... Many, many, MANY other ranters handled this more sensible than this lady did.

I might try that too (once I turn 36). My girlfriend (25, no medical degree, but quite skilled with a pencil and remarkably pretty) was wondering: is the Chinese guy rich? And if he is: does anyone have his msn?

Why would those ranters express their grief and offer their condolences on this forum? To whom do they think they're talking to? Paul Hunter's wife? His 10-months-old daughter? I don't expect the two of them to visit this site, especially not now... (They might, of course... Isn't it a weird idea that some of the celebs included on deathlist might be regular visitors? I'm sure this remark has been made plenty of times on the forum, but hey, did I never apply for the originality prize?)

Today, several dutch newspapers mention a health scare for Toots Thielemans (84). Because of his frail health, he's unable to complete his tour through the Netherlands. 'For the first time in his career, his doctor prescribed him rest for the rest of the year,' according to the Bimhuis, a jazz-podium in Amsterdam where Thielemans was supposed to perform this evening. Can't find an english site yet to confirm the news, but I read it in this paper, and the Bimhuis is mentioning it here.

It's not the death that's dull, it's the life. Well, if you've been f*cking up a country for decades, screwed the miners, public health, public transportation, unnecessarily went to war over some desolate rugged islands at the other side of the world and made good friends with some of the nastiest dictators in the world, your life is far from boring. So I thought I'd pick her. His movies are an utter bore, I agree, but Bergman had quite an interesting life, I presume. He was married five times, had nine children, of whom only two were born by wives of his. (And of whom only one was legitimate, as he married the mother of one of his children twelve years after she gave birth to his son.) He won three oscars, met (and mated) with all the big moviestars of his days and inspired several of the greatest directors. (I bet they didn't fall asleep watching his movies, as I did.)

Gosh... it happened 94 years ago... Being compassionate is a fine thing, but grieving wholeheartedly for the Titanic-victims and their families almost a century after the event is taking it a little bit too far...

I voted for the Right Honourable The Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS. As we say in Holland: 'the desire is the father of the thought'. And I'm sure that Maggie's death won't classify as a dull event. Good enough for you, OoO?

Come on guys! It's a golfer we're talking about... If watching a white posh rich boy shoving a little ball in a hole does not constitute enough excitement for you, what does?!

And don't forget Harriet the tortoise. I would have loved to shake er... fins with someone that old (who was supposed to have been pawed by Darwin!) I bet Steve (the Crocodile Hunter) must be brokenhearted by now. I say: cheer up mate! You still have one of the coolest jobs on earth!

Well, eight Astors in the state of New York, none of them named Brooke. I suppose a notoriously rich philanthropist could do with a secret number...

Huh?!

We seem to be well on track for 12 successes this year, I almost got used to that number! I've been around on this site for years, but I completely forgot to check whether Haughey had a DL-nomination when I saw his obit on a dutch news-site... Shame on me! Can't feel too sorry though, as I never heard of the guy before. Anyway, DL does increase my general knowledge. I already impressed my family by telling them the true story on the Von Trapps, the details on the last Titanic-survivors and I might show off tonight by lamenting Charles Haughey, the man who lead Ireland towards a state of economic prosperity. ('What?! You never heard of him? THE Charles Haughey!') I can't wait for Brooke Astor to pass. It would give my reputation as a trivia-master an enormous boost.

Well, they consider the floods as a justified punishment for the heretics. (cf. Matthew 7:24-27 and Luke 6:46-49)

With special reference to the chapters on the Deluge, I presume? (Genesis 6:5-9:7)

A most remarkable article there. You would expect Suharto's lawyer not to undermine his client's claim to be too sick to stand trial... And you would expect the family not to undermine their own claims of not being extremely rich because of large-scale corruption...

At 79 isn't it possible that he just died of old age? Yes it is, but he didn't. He died from liver cancer. And by the way, 79 is not that old. Especially not for the Japanese, who tend to grow ridiculously old, probably because of the raw fish and the sake.

God, you're spreading the incomprehensable gibberish talk all over the forum! Don´t know what time it is in the states, but let´s hope you found yourself a bed and something to vomit in.

Have you been drinking a lot, lately?

Some of the confusion is due to my er... little joke. (Please people, don't choke!) BS is of course referring to our beloved Banshees scream, but is also the abbreviation for a (rather american) rude term to describe something which has turned out to be rubbish. I very much hope you're not questioning my gender? I'm sure you'd wish the avatar to be a selfportrait, but I'm afraid it isn't. (O, that would have been fun! Touching yourself all day must be quite delightful if you're Angelina Jolie!)

And I'm afraid it turned out to be CPesque (which means it was BS). Sorry guys. I very much tried to think him in the right direction.