Supper Club II – 8 July 2008 – Paul Comrie-Thomson
The Speaker:
Paul Comrie-Thomson was charged with obscenity – for publishing the ‘f’ word – in an undergraduate magazine. In the 70s he worked as a copywriter for John Singleton before becoming Senior Editor of the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine. In the 80s he studied Theology (with Tony Abbott), wrote a lot of radio ads, jingles and a musical and looked after a band called ‘The Saints’. Currently he co-presents Counterpoint on ABC Radio National.
What’s going to stir us up this time?
Why are Greens so happy being miserable? Paul Comrie-Thomson argues that the answer is Religion. Mainstream religions have declined but Paganism with apocalyptic twist is all the rage! He argues that the chatterers have embraced the New Miserabilism because it is more satisfying to feel sorry for oneself and blame the world than to choose to embrace freedom with all its risks. How can you survive the current climate where ‘lack of nerve’ is the default position? Some humorous and serious pointers will be given about how to survive and thrive.
The theme of the evening is: it’s fun to be free; more paella, more sangria, more robust exchange of views!
Then a teaser proclaimed:
Post Garnaut are we all condemned to go to Hell in a solar-powered hand cart?
Do we say: ‘This is so silly you have to laugh?” or, “Stop laughing this is serious?’
And what would Nigella Lawson’s dad say about all this?
Carbon trading, influence peddling, Emissions Infringement Police and the new Gaia – worshipping green religion are all about to be unleashed.
What to do? First up paella and red wine.
Attending were:
Tristan Blakers – IT/Finance
Renee Conellan – Procurist
Shaun Davies – Journalist
Ben Dutton – Advertising
Bronwyn Herbert – Journalist
Ben Hourigan – Editor, CIS
John ‘Temu’ Humphreys – Writer and Traveller
Nev Kennard – Businessman
Bernard Lane – Journalist
John Lee – Foreign Policy Analyst
Dave Lidster – Advertising
Kirsten Lynn – Lawyer
Parnell Palme McGuinness – Advertising
Ilona Millar – Lawyer
James Morrow – Journalist
James Murray – Risk Manager
Andrew Pettinger – PR
Leonie Phillips – Media, CIS
Gregor Stronach – Writer & Freelance Editor
Alison Tilling – Advertising
Victoria White – Musician
Burchell Wilson – Financial Market Economist
Leave a comment