What a cretin.

I heard a part of a report today about children in Australia not doing so well at school. The reason...? They are not reading enough. I'm sure with the huge power of tv, pc games and the like kids are heading for an electronic future rather than one of readin' and writin' and playing and socialising. I hope the powers that be can reverse this trend before it's too late.

Literacy rates are dropping here. There has been an increase in the number of children starting high school who don't have the basic skills needed. It is sad, but my kids are going to be reading and writing machines. I am, so they already have a good example for it. I will also be studying myself again in the next few years, and I hope that this will encourage them more too. Make a competition out of who completes their assignments first but with high quality. My 4 year old can already read some letters and numbers and is starting to recognise some words too.

It's great to hear from a responsible, thinking parent.

yup it sure does!

Exactly. He's just blaming Dolly's visit for their own inadequacy at holding meetings. His comments about her bra size showed him to be a jerk indeed.

It's you that's whinging, about the quips, they're nothing to get your knickers in a twist about. How can you find them rude and not find keeping people waiting for an hour more rude? An odd sense of values. all the best urban

I feel justified in my opinion urban and from the looks of the discussion the majority agrees with me. Read the whole discussion, there are some really good points made. Perhaps you argue/debate with someone just for the heck of it. You are very good with words, it's a shame you lean towards personal attacks on the original poster. That's not what myLot is about. Again, thanks for offering your take on things and for joining in.

It was a delay of an hour. Not something worth getting his knickers in a twist about. Why are you being rude to me? It may be a humorous quip to you but I found it offensive. Thanks for joining in anyway. :)

I see, forgive me then for accusing you of worshipping at the shrine of celebrity, I see now it is only Ms P you worship. Whilst much maybe said against the behaviour of councillors it is not, usually, on a par with that of celebrities and being a lot poorer than celebs they cannot afford good PR agents and other panderers. Therefore, I still think it is far more likely that it was Ms P that demanded the time. Your view may be somewhat biased as you admire Ms P. I, on the other-hand have little regard for either and am thus a more dis-interested observer. all the best urban

Urban sweets you know we have had different opinions before and discussed them and I respect that you express your opinion , usually articulately and sometimes point blank when needed but I really think your response earlier in this post did your intelligence and convictions any favours. I think in this instance also that you missed the point - do you honestly think that it was Dolly Parton who insisted on the timing of this meeting - I think you will find it was the other council members and 'dignitaries' who arranged the meeting for this time and they after all are the ones who would have known the council meeting was due to take place - do you honestly think that Ms Parton should have known that the meeting was being delayed or that it was because of her? Come on mmy friend you know better than that - you usually think your point of view through thoroughly! As for the comments this thoughtless councillor made they were derogatory and although a lot of women wouldn't mind this being said in jest without a large audience these comments were made to international reporter - well I know I would take offense at that - how do you think he would have felt if she commented on his willy in the international press? xxx

Urban sweety I know you have some council experience and so do I and your council runs far more efficiently than most from the sounds of it! Also from my experience when there are visitors they are give a selection of times that are suitable and they work from there - I don't know why you assumme it is more likely to be Miss P who insisted on this time rather than the council members or dignataries - specially when these so called dignataries usually feel that the world revolves around them. As for me worshipping at the altar of celebrity I am afraid you are very wrong, I worship one person and that is my God and creator and I am usually quite cynical of celebrity , rather I admire Ms Parton for her proven track record in business and charitable organisations, the work, time and effort she puts into many areas and tries to make this world a slightly better place when she leaves than it was when she started. As for her physical attributes and her so called use of them - you can bet if she tried to cover or hide them then the press would still have made much of them, and they are after all god given and not made - she would have had to mutilate her body and cut them off for the media not to focus on them. Hope this response finds you well sweety xxx

Yes, he seems to have over-reacted under the circumstances. To resort to childish comments was just over the top.

Having attended many council meetings I have yet to witness on delayed by the consumption of tea and biscuits. all the best urban

Sadly, a lot of these people who have a position on council or otherwise in the public arena have a very high opinion of their importance...they are sadly mistaken of course. And yes, I feel the issue of the meeting being held up was simply an excuse to sound off his mouth to the fact that this lovely lady was going to be there. He would have been better served to welcome her and the program she was advocating.

I titally agree MsTickle! Urban you must have a very efficiet and well run council unlike many of those of us from different areas - maybe you could give us some advice to improve our councils performance and save us all some public money and to achieve more for our cities? xxxx

I am sure he did get his come-uppance. Funny thing you should say he is a right Burke...That is my last name..lol. I seen Dolly Parton on a program the other day a program from almost 50 years ago when she first started out and she totally looked different her hair was light fussy brown and she stiill sings as good today as she done back then. I bet he has to write a retraction or apology for his actions(words). It would be best anyhow. Better then getting dirty looks for his actions(words). Well,I bet next time he will think twice before sticking his foot in his mouth..

That was an unfortunate coincidence. My apologies for that unintentional error. He sounds like a mean, whingy, whiny man. He's probably miserable. I hope he gets an opportunity to wake up to himself soon.

Yes, he's made himself look a right Burke. He's behaving like a spoiled brat. He needs a clip over the ear and to be taught to respect his betters. Ms Parton is charming as well as talented and has a heart of gold in my opinion. I hope he got his come-uppance.

I think an emphasis on the "little" is rather a good idea. And wolves can be snarly if they want to. Hope you're ok now...:)

Hahaha!!!

Yes, that's just what he did. Even if he is right by some weird stretch off the imagination, his attitude was soooo wrong.

Yep! LOL. I'm sure he regrets his comments...he's made an idiot of himself...lol.

He should have welcomed her and praised the work she's doing. He certainly shown his ineffectual true colours.

You've made some excellent points here. Thanks for joining in.

Yes, schedules change and I'm sure Ms Parton would have been kindness itself and done whatever necessary to co-operate if given the chance.

Your reactions seem like mine. This guy ticked me off. A councillor can be petty as he wants behind closed doors but you don't proclaim your undignified complaint to the world press. This guy has shown us what a d!ckhead he is....lol.

I'm sure these fellows DO go home. And I'm sure they are not very hard done by. I guess we'll never know who erroniously scheduled the meetings to co-incide but I hardly see how Ms Parton and her staff can be blamed. In any case, there is no reason for anyone to be rude...these people should have diplomacy as part of their personality.

You and I think alike faith. You always put things so clearly and politely. This bloke could take a lesson from you friend. :)