Comments on: Abortion and the US Republican Party

By: Heather Hastie

Heather Hastie — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 00:56:07 +0000

In reply to nicky. Yes, those things have all been commented on here at length. NZ in general is impressed with your win. Also pretty disgusted that some of the English wouldn't wear their medals.

By: nicky

nicky — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 07:45:17 +0000

Thank You! South Africa needs these exploits where a racially mixed team does well.
Yes, their loss to Japan in 2015 taught them never to take any match for granted. They have improved very much since under Rassie Erasmus.
I note that SA is the only team that never lost a final (the opposite of France that lost all their three finals).
Their defeat in the group stages to the AB’s was also a first: the first time a team that lost a match in the group stages went on winning the cup.

By: Heather Hastie

Heather Hastie — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 01:07:17 +0000

In reply to nicky. I hope SA's fantastic win has cheered up your son! ou thoroughly deserved to win. I also think England had nothing left after beating the ABs. They'd been focusing on that game for years, and won it well, but unfortunately for them they didn't meet them in the final like they expected to. They arrogantly underestimated everyone else. (Typical of Eddie Jones.) Being beaten by Japan was a bonus for you. ;-) You guys were fabulous! Congratulations!!!

By: nicky

nicky — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 11:28:42 +0000

And they did, in fashion. They dominated from the first minute. I find it hard to believe this was the same England team that beat the All Blacks so comprehensively.
There was only one time The Roses appeared threatening, around 30 min in the first half, but that only resulted in a 3 point penalty. Had that resulted in a try, it might have changed the match, but the Bokke’s defense was solid. For the rest England was nowhere. A comprehensive, monumental win. (32-12)
I’m a great fan of Cheslin Kolbe, and he did not disappoint, sealed the Roses doom with his typical brilliant try. And they didn’t even use Kobus Reinach or Kwagga Smit.
Several firsts, the first time a ‘black’ captain (Siya Kolisi) wins the Ellis cup, the first time the Bokke actually scored tries in a final, and with the All Blacks the second team to win the cup three times.
Mr Garcez has often been maligned in SA, generally not really justified, but his refereeing in this match was class.
I’m quite happy, as you can probably understand.

By: Heather Hastie

Heather Hastie — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 23:40:39 +0000

In reply to nicky. I just want to wish all the best to South Africa for next weekend. I hope they win!

By: Heather Hastie

Heather Hastie — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 23:57:55 +0000

In reply to nicky.

Thanks Nicky.

I thought initially we wouldn’t meet England until the final, and then with the way things fell, we’d be meeting you guys. Your son is channeling our whole country! However, we played poorly, and England deserved to win. Anyone who knows anything about rugby knew how they would try to beat us, and still we didn’t manage to counter their attack. As you say, bad days happen, and that was a really bad day. No one likes it, but that’s sport. England were simply better on the night. However, I suspect it will be a long time before they beat NZ again! 🙂

By: nicky

nicky — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 05:17:34 +0000

I hope you’ll be able to sort things out. Looking forward!
[And I’m sorry that the All Blacks lost yesterday (my now 9 year old is distraught). I thought the final would be NZ vs SA, but even the All Blacks can have an off day, it seems.]

By: Heather M Hastie

Heather M Hastie — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 00:36:20 +0000

No, I just haven’t felt up to writing for some time due to some personal issues. I’m very sorry if there’s anyone who’s missing my posts. I will be back. I don’t know when, but things are looking up so I hope it won’t be too much longer.

By: nicky

nicky — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 14:03:03 +0000

Heather, is this website now officially defunct?

By: nicky

nicky — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 15:43:02 +0000

It should be noted that nowadays, with Misoprostol (especially in combination with Mifepristone). illegal abortion has become much less risky. The mortality rate of illegal abortions must definitely have dropped substantially.
By the very nature of illegality, precise numbers are obviously difficult to come by.
Only where abortions are completely legal, and records are kept, can we have precise numbers
There were abortion is more or less illegal, precise numbers are not available. Relatively reliable estimates could be made by extrapolating from botched abortions and back alley abortion deaths. But now with Misoprostol even those estimates become less reliable.