@sparky said in Sam Cane - All Blacks Captain:

Which test was Andrew Hore ABs captain for?

It was a club game.

@cantab79 said in AB Test Team v France.:

Can't believe people are seriously suggesting that Steve Hansen has not called up Akira Ioane because he is saving him for the Maori team. Is there any precedent to back up this theory? Luke Whitelock has outplayed Ioane at both Super Rugby and Mitre 10 Cup levels this year, and that's why he's been selected.

How does that pie taste?

Took a drive yesterday (only 5 km over the regional border) to a farm in the Wairarapa and picked up a new pup. 3 month old black lab. Very cool little fella. This will keep me busy.

Look. Tana and BOD have buried the hatchet and are sharing a laugh.

Next on Tana's list are @Kirwan and @Duluth

@jegga said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

@booboo said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

@jegga said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

@jegga said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

Apparently BOD was a pundit on the Irish coverage and didn't take the result well. If anyone has the footage and can post it I will be eternally grateful

Was on the ITV coverage.

He had the look of a man who's swallowed a wasp during during a live TV interview and that distracted him from the fact he's also having a severe bowel spasm.

Excellent.

A quarter final exit is an Irish tradition isn’t it?

Planet Rugby’s Ireland fans are still delivering gold

“We knew all of this in advance.
That’s why Joe player what he felt was his best team.

In cooler weather, better ref, neutral location both teams given the same amount of rest and our B team puts 40 points on them.

Do we really think that Japan making the quarters wasn’t just what WR wanted?

At this rate Japan might make the semis or better.

Reminds me of Korea/Japan WC in the football.”

Also a whole thread about how bent Gardner is

http://forum.planetrugby.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=91481&sid=5594db999ca625c55956a0becc14a9dc

I don’t remember bok fans being this graceless at all and their team came back and gave ours a hell of a game in the semis.
I hope Heneke Meyer had a smile on his face last night .
The only downside for Japan is no one in their pool is going to take them lightly so they’ll be playing their top side if possible.

As a neutralish observer (I was obviously backing Japan) I didn't notice any obvious issues with the officiating. Did anyone? (Haven't read the thread.)

What are their specific whinge? Or is it just victim mentality?

Some of them have been saying Japan had an advantage because they play in the super rugby comp and are more used to the way Gardner refs .

Victim mentality, delusions of grandeur or just ungracious arseclowns? Take your pick

According to comments on the42 Ireland were beaten by some fella called Hugh Middity.
He wasn’t on the team sheets but must have been there because everyone is saying “Hi, Hugh Middity”

@allblacksfan72 said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

How about George bridge? Has all the qualities needed for test rugby

A red and black jersey?

Can someone please correct this thread title. It is doing my head in.

What about stupid people that think they can coach and select the ABs but have no clue about it. They can piss right of!

@Catogrande said in Are you watching the death rattle of all authentic sports?:

@MajorRage said in Are you watching the death rattle of all authentic sports?:

@Victor-Meldrew said in Are you watching the death rattle of all authentic sports?:

@Crucial said in Are you watching the death rattle of all authentic sports?:

Freedom of speech still exists - anyone (in most countries) - anyone is free to say anything. What happens as a consequence is the debated point

A society where you can lose your job for legally expressing an opinion is not a society which has freedom of speech.

Sportsmen and woman who express an opinion and speak out for gay rights (rightly) aren't dropped from their teams - but those with an opposite view are.

As you say, sport reflects society.

Legally, I can call my boss a fucking piston wristed gibbon. I can shout it from the rooftops if I want, legally.

Freedom of speech means I can’t lose my job?

It would help us enormously if we knew who you worked for.

Self employed?

@Winger said in US Politics:

@canefan said in US Politics:

@Winger said in US Politics:

@Crucial said in US Politics:

The bit I find the funniest is the misinformation implying that Jo got the prosecutor fired to protect Hunter where the reason that everyone wanted the guy fired was that he was the corrupt one and was being too lenient in his investigations

The reason that you happen to accept as the truth. My view is this action by Joe stinks (really bad). And whats worse (as I believe a good number of politicians are corrupt as all hell) the fool bragged about it on video.

You seem intent to trial Biden by twitter. I am sure the authorities have more in depth methods of investigation, and they seem to think its all clear. But keep digging if you must

Who has said its all clear?

And the recently released emails point to (thats all so far) Joe getting a cut. It's an area that needs further investigation. And if the mainstream media wasn't so controlled and useless it would have happened by now.

https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54268887

Beneath the headlines, however, the report does detail the breadth of Hunter Biden's connections to questionable foreign interests and business leaders in Ukraine and China - creating "criminal financial, counterintelligence and extortion concerns". It suggests Joe Biden's son was profiting from his family name - a potential conflict of interest that is unsavoury but not unusual in Washington's corridors of power.

Did you read the link I posted from 'The Atlantic'?

@Winger said in US Politics:

@Crucial said in US Politics:

The bit I find the funniest is the misinformation implying that Jo got the prosecutor fired to protect Hunter where the reason that everyone wanted the guy fired was that he was the corrupt one and was being too lenient in his investigations

The reason that you happen to accept as the truth. My view is this action by Joe stinks (really bad). And whats worse (as I believe say up to 50% of politicians are corrupt as all hell) the fool bragged about it on video.

Read the facts

@canefan said in US Politics:

@Crucial just the really big lies

An ever changing yardstick

@Winger said in US Politics:

@canefan said in US Politics:

@Winger said in US Politics:

@Crucial said in US Politics:

I'm not trying to claim that they are completely independent, but also think that they aren't quite the one-eyed monster many make them out to be. After all they provide Trump himself with his biggest lie and inference tool It's only when he directly pushes known disinformation that they 'block' it.

Are you the best person to fairly adjudicate on this matter though

It is funny you should call Crucial's judgement into question

Based on his own post regarding Trump. I doubt if am the best person to pass judgement as well. But who is now. Most are either pro or anti Trump and see everything through these (often invisible to them) beliefs.

Read the post again. I'm not sure that you didn't stop reading at certain words you bolded.

Trump uses twitter as a main communication tool, doesn't he? He also tells lies (endless independent fact checkers back this up). Do Twitter stop his ability to use the platform for that reason? No.

@Rugby72 said in I cant take Sky Sport rugby anymore - Any other options??:

@Rapido Yes I agree, I really like Justin Marshalls insight, it's perfect for in game commentary during the live event.

Even I will admit that Meg's on the spot comments around some things is quite insightful. He has the vision to spot plays and tactics.
Someone just needs to gag him when there is a contentious ruling.

For coverage obviously Sky has the NZ domestic scene sewn up. Going elsewhere will just get the same thing from a different broadcaster.
For tests you could look for ways to get the feed from the opposition but buyer beware

@nostrildamus said in NZ Politics:

@Crucial It might be getting cheaper now that international tourism is dead!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/120920551/heres-where-the-cheap-properties-are-likely-to-be-in-covid19-aftermath
And yes I think it is cheap enough if I don't have to pay for it (I think I did also say Queenstown/Wanaka) rather than just Queenstown.

That article is pretty old and the predictions are proven wrong. There has, if anything, been price increases.
As for Wanaka. They simply don’t have the infrastructure to plonk a large increase in population. There are already major battles over trying to upgrade the airport or build a new one and that is just for tourists. There is certainly no prospect of affordable student accommodation

@Rembrandt said in US Politics:

@Crucial said in US Politics:

@Winger and @Rembrandt (as you seem to be the most excited about this) can I ask how you would feel if you lost a laptop and instead of wiping it someone decided that despite no illegality on your behalf they would publicly release the contents to try and paint you and your family in a bad light. This could include naked shots of you and photos other people took with your phone when you were wasted.
Forget all the SM and MSM crying for a second and tell me whether this is acceptable behaviour by Rudi G.

Well I'm not the son of a presidential nominee whom looks to have been involved in illegal activities and maybe even along with the father potentially dodgy and maybe even treasonous dealings with foreign entities. Quite different circumstances.. might even be in the publics interest just before a presidential election.

Also remember this was provided to the FBI in the first place but nothing came of it. It is certainly in a IT repair stores remit to report illegal activity to authorities.

From what has been released so far I think there are 3 main points.

1. Hunter is a complete druggie loser degenerate who thanks to who his daddy is has been given high positions at a ridiculously high salary in firms he has no knowledge or experience with. As you rightly say this is hardly new information.

With zero relevance to the fitness of his father to be POTUS (apart from judging him on his children). Again. No need to release these private photos except salaciousness.

2. There is now evidence in emails released, contrary to what Joe Biden has publicly stated, that he has been involved in Hunter's business dealings with Barisma with an introduction, the Biden camp has denied there was an official meeting on Biden's schedule however importantly don't rule out an unofficial one during the blank space on his schedule. This is important when tied together with the firing of the Ukrainian prosecutor who was investigating Barisma, a firing that Biden publicly on video bragged about causing through his influence.

You seem to still have that story really wrong, despite much being investigated and written about it. I totally agree that it was a bad look for Hunter to be on the Burisma board. But no wrongdoing and no illegality. Here is a good article that explains the culture of companies like this using 'name' westerners in an attempt to gain prominence and/or legitimacy. Burisma and Hunter are not alone. But no wrongdoing and no illegality. The bit I find the funniest is the misinformation implying that Jo got the prosecutor fired to protect Hunter where the reason that everyone wanted the guy fired was that he was the corrupt one and was being too lenient in his investigations. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/09/hunter-bidens-legal-socially-acceptable-corruption/598804/

3. There is emails talking about a split in equity for a deal with a Chinese energy firm (a firm with ties to CCP and a chairman who has since 'vanished'). This had 20% going to Hunter Biden, 10% of which Hunter is to hold on to for "The big guy". Fox news has reported that they now have confirmation from one of those on the email trail that "The big guy" is Joe Biden. (Initials used in the email matches the names on the email thread)

I completely fail to see how that has any difference to the many deals that Trump Inc has around that world and with his children and spouses. Is this illegal? No. Has Biden hidden an overseas investment that he hasn't declared? That is the only potential here and it has also been investigated.

There is no 'head-shot' here. But there is enough to raise very significant questions on someone who might yet be the next US president. The fact that the Biden camp has not denied the authenticity of this data is very relevant. In my mind the mass unprecedented censorship from Twitter and Facebook is also relevant, if Biden can't deny the authenticity for fear of trapping himself in a lie then the only option they have left is to prevent the spread of this information.

“When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2020/10/15/you-havent-heard-more-about-hunter-biden-emails-because-twitter-and-facebook-didnt-want-you-to/#4f7752fe6fc6

So I'm not sure how to answer the last bit here as it goes of in tangents, but 'what are the significant questions'? What has been raised that is so bad that it warrants someones personal photos and emails being spread around except for reasons of mudslinging?

To me you cannot disconnect that from the actions of FB and Twitter. 'Hacked' (yeah, grey area) material with no valid reason for dissemination except to make personal attacks.
As I have answered above, yes they show actions of bias at times. But they draw lines and act when they get crossed.
In the case of Twitter they have already adjusted their policy to avoid blanket banning that stops discussion.

@Siam said in US Politics:

@Crucial said in US Politics:

@Winger said in US Politics:

@Crucial said in US Politics:

@Winger said in US Politics:

@Crucial said in US Politics:

@Winger and @Rembrandt (as you seem to be the most excited about this) can I ask how you would feel if you lost a laptop and instead of wiping it someone decided that despite no illegality on your behalf they would publicly release the contents to try and paint you and your family in a bad light. This could include naked shots of you and photos other people took with your phone when you were wasted.
Forget all the SM and MSM crying for a second and tell me whether this is acceptable behaviour by Rudi G.

Not excited. More like concerned (and disgusted) by it all (I would sooner it wasn't true)

And Hunter didn't lose his laptop. That in itself is interesting. Why would he do this? Drop it off with all this information on it and then not pick it back up and pay for the work done

Concerned and disgusted by what? You are still shouting at clouds.

The guys a druggie. Dropped his laptop of to be fixed and not only didn't bother to return and pay for the work but was dumb enough to hand it over to a Trump supporter that was enough of a scumbag to go through his client's emails and pass them on.
I would certainly hope I could trust a tradesperson more than that (even if I didn't pay them). I'd say that every day businesses wipe hard drives without going through them and respecting people's privacy.
Why do you find it 'interesting' ? Do you have a conspiracy theory to regale us with?

So if you so illegal stuff on a laptop what would you do?

For the umpteenth time. What illegal stuff?

You seem inable to coherently answer that question.

A question that might have been handy when you were promoting Russiagate

Don't think I 'promoted' Russiagate. I have always said that there was plenty of smoke there to check out though and that the authorities would not have been doing their jobs properly if they hadn't investigated. When the players were caught lying then the investigation hardens.

In the same vein I think that the Bidens/Burisma thing also required investigation. It got that and no wrongdoing was found.

So the latest email stuff has added nothing further that adds to or contradicts the investigations. The Republicans themselves admit no wrongdoing.

My comments on this latest stuff were simply asking why some people found them valuable or important or were getting excited. I was asking for someone to poiint me to new evidence. So far no one has been able to do that. At least @Rembrandt has had a crack (which I will address below)

@Siam said in US Politics:

@Kirwan yep, this story is not about the effect of corrupt or lying politicians (excuse the tautology), but more concerning is the agenda driven dissemination of information and "truth".

The politician part is easily dealt with, we have a mechanism for that - voting.

The dishonest, non objective influence of communication publishers (let's not deny the obvious, they don't behave like platforms) is entirely troubling with no easy solution.

We will have no peace while the richest companies in the history of mankind are able to manipulate our sense of truth, as easily as they do now.

It's way more complicated than that and I think you know it. They are actively trying to clamp down on the spread of disinformation. If it comes from the usual culprits at the moment it seems to affect one side more than the other.
There's a big element here of the user behaviour. If people dialled back on the divisiveness they wouldnt have to deal with the issue as much and have perceived bias show