Open mike 06/04/2010

Written By: - Date published: 2:40 am, April 6th, 2010 - 36 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

It’s open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

Comment on whatever takes your fancy.

The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

36 comments on “Open mike 06/04/2010 ”

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  1. lprent 1
    6 April 2010 at 2:54 am

    Released this early so I could check the swarming by the bots informed of the post being released.

  2. travellerev 2
    6 April 2010 at 6:11 am

    Let me be the test case then.

    I thought it of interest to mention here that while our MSM are still singing praise of our “heroes” fighting the Taliban far away so we don’t have to fight them over here, corrupt president Karzai is scaring the shit out of the US government with Obama zapping over there to convince Karzai to step in line, because he seems to think that the Taliban will become a legitimate insurgency if the those bloody foreigners keep on meddling in Afghanistan’s affairs. Fancy that.

  3. Armchair Critic 3
    6 April 2010 at 9:21 am

    The government confirms that the wealth transfer from taxpayers to the road transport industry will be increased, as of next month.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10636549
    I’m astounded that the government can not even advise how much of the subsidy will be transfered to councils, through rates based funding. Surely this would be one of the essential pieces of information needed before a decision could be made.

    • Draco T Bastard 3.1
      6 April 2010 at 5:49 pm

      Yeah, saw that. Bloody ridiculous. Just another payout of taxpayer money to NACTS owners.

      • Armchair Critic 3.1.1
        6 April 2010 at 8:15 pm

        Bunch of thieves. Amazing what $30,000 from the Road Transport Forum can buy.
        Worst thing is they are destroying the value of one of the other major investments the last government made.

  4. lprent 4
    6 April 2010 at 9:34 am

    Looks like the generator of the sitemap was causing blockages this morning. Turned it off to look at later.

    Pretty heavy read traffic..

  5. Leopold 5
    6 April 2010 at 9:52 am

    All comment functions now working – Thanks for all your efforts – the life of a sysops bod dosent appear to be all that glamorous!

  6. Tigger 6
    6 April 2010 at 10:57 am

    Well, the Supercity IS kind of like the Death Star. And Banks makes a passable Vader…

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sideswipe/news/article.cfm?c_id=702&objectid=10636479

  7. felix 7
    6 April 2010 at 11:15 am

    I see kiwiteen123 is back with a new blog. Anyone considering commenting there should be aware of this little gem from said blog’s rules:

    “Both bloggers reserve the right to publicize your name, ip address or email address as we see fit in extraordinary circumstances.”

    And that’s all I have to say about that.

    Nice to see you back again anyway, kiwiteen123.

    • kiwiteen123 7.1
      6 April 2010 at 11:37 am

      I will not get into a debate with you about this as I feel I am about to reach my daily (self-imposed) quota.
      If you also read my other rules it will show that we are reasonably flexible. Impersonating others or obvious libelous material is the only thing against our rules.
      I do not see a situation where I will publicize someone’s details but it may arise after several warnings.
      I’m sure I will see you there Felix!

      • travellerev 7.1.1
        6 April 2010 at 11:54 am

        Had a look and Nah, I don’t think so. LOL

        • the sprout 7.1.1.1
          6 April 2010 at 2:01 pm

          i expect he’s only using the ‘blog’ to get at people’s IPs

          • kiwiteen123 7.1.1.1.1
            6 April 2010 at 2:13 pm

            I can assure you that I have no intention to exploit people’s ips.

            • the sprout 7.1.1.1.1.1
              6 April 2010 at 2:18 pm

              your assurances are about as convincing as your persona and comments.
              you even published an admission you would misuse contributors’ IPs.
              fail again dumb arse

              • kiwiteen123 …
                6 April 2010 at 2:25 pm

                Oh Sprout! I did not miss you at all.
                Please learn how to construct a sentence.
                I have notified people that if they break MY rules continuously and after warnings the will be named and shamed. This is not misusing them as I have clearly notified everyone prior to any comments being made.
                I have even fewer rules than The Standard does and instead of blocking them I will name and shame.
                If you do not impersonate others or make highly defamatory comments you are fine.
                I trust you will make no such comments.
                As far as I am concerned this conversation is now closed.
                I do not want to clog up posts but I will reply to personal attacks.

    • BLiP 7.2
      6 April 2010 at 12:41 pm

      Did you notice the wee rider below Rule 2:

      Both bloggers reserve the right to add, change or remove any rules upon consultation with each other and without consultation with our readers or anyone else.

      Its like a couple of kids in a tree house – Rule 3 is “No Girls”.

      • travellerev 7.2.1
        6 April 2010 at 12:45 pm

        yeah right. Falling of chair while LOL.

      • Kiwiteen123 7.2.2
        6 April 2010 at 1:16 pm

        Would you like us to consult with you?

        • travellerev 7.2.2.1
          6 April 2010 at 1:29 pm

          LOLLOLLOL. God, their so cute when young.

          • prism 7.2.2.1.1
            6 April 2010 at 1:44 pm

            It is an interesting example of civilised behaviour. The rules have been drawn up with thought and to cover unforeseen eventualities. There is a recognition that rules are needed to make the boundaries, the lines in the sand etc. and they have decided if tried and found wanting, they dan be changed. Sounds like an admirable practical effort to me,

            It isn’t easy to run anything well without rules. I have to go to a meeting tomorrow and bring up faults in treatment of a member and whether confidentiality rules have been set and are being properly applied.

            The internet rule of not using all capitals, because it has been generally accepted as equivalent to shouting is an interesting example of creating a virtual civilisation.

  8. prism 8
    6 April 2010 at 1:52 pm

    Interesting discussion on leaky homes this morning on nat radio. The chap who has been a lead investigator suggests that govt should get on with remedial work, and arrange low or no cost loans to homeowners for this. Next step is to find out who is at fault – a lot of evidence about this will come to light as the repairs are done, wall lining, decking pulled out etc. And last good point, the deterioration continues while the arguments go on, so worse is what it will get unless govt pulls finger out (my inelegant phrase).

    • BLiP 8.1
      6 April 2010 at 2:06 pm

      What happened to caveat emptor – why are these people squealing and running hand in cap to the government for a hand out?

      I’m only half-joking, of course, but for those interested in pushing deregulation of the “the market”, just remember the leaky homes debacle. The businessmen responsible have long since scarpered with thier suitcases full of cash, the BIA is holding its hands in the air and saying “who, me?”, the local authorities are dragging victims through the courts in a drawn out battle of financial attrition, and the government (including Labour) are playing a divide-and-conquer strategy.

      • Armchair Critic 8.1.1
        6 April 2010 at 8:25 pm

        “What happened to caveat emptor why are these people squealing and running hand in cap to the government for a hand out?”
        I’ve always understood that the best party to pursue for damages is the one with the greatest ability to pay.
        Seriously, the approach of trying to assign blame first has not worked. The idea of approaching the leaky buildings issue as a disaster, then working to solve it, has more merit than continuing the finger pointing.

      • prism 8.1.2
        6 April 2010 at 10:54 pm

        Yes very right Blip. It’s knowing that both governments have been involved in so much stuff, lie leaky homes, that isn’t just mildly faulty but takes damaging to a new level that hurts.

  9. Rex Widerstrom 9
    6 April 2010 at 3:03 pm

    LP, did we ever getv a definitive answer on “Peter” from yesterday?

    Sorry, maybe I should have raised it back on the original post on which he appeared. And sorry also, I know you’re busy taping up and rubber banding the server.

    Just that you said you were going to have a chat to Telecom…

    Natrually I’m interested because victims talking about crime has a very powerful affect on public opinion. It’s bad enough when the likes of McVictim openly exploits their grief… if some bastard is impersonating them I want his testicles.

    Especially since I’m trying to work out how I can get funding to bring a very articulate and reasonable woman who’s been the victim of horrendous abuse as a child and as an adult to NZ to spark debate on how we respond to crime…. (anyone has any ideas on foundations who might be up for a couple of airfares, a bit of internal travel and maybe some accommodation (we’d billet where we could) let me know – rexwiderstrom [at] hotmail [dot] com).

  10. BLiP 10
    6 April 2010 at 6:56 pm

    America

    America I’ve given you all and now I’m nothing.
    America two dollars and twenty-seven cents January 17, 1956.
    I can’t stand my own mind.
    America when will we end the human war?
    Go fuck yourself with your atom bomb
    I don’t feel good don’t bother me.
    I won’t write my poem till I’m in my right mind.
    America when will you be angelic?
    When will you take off your clothes?
    When will you look at yourself through the grave?

    Allen Ginsberg

    • nzfp 10.1
      6 April 2010 at 8:21 pm

      Hey BLiP
      Would you like to see the modern face of the United States in all it’s ugliness? Pop on over to the WikiLeaks latest leak at http://collateralmurder.com/ and watch the leaked video all the way through. For a taste of tone of the video, wait right to the very end where you get to hear the heroic US Marines say “who brings their children to a battle?”. If you weren’t anti-war before watching this video, you will be afterwards. To think we have SAS fighting Americas wars in Afghanistan too. It makes me ill just thinking about it.

      http://collateralmurder.com/

    • nzfp 10.2
      6 April 2010 at 8:25 pm

      Oops I just spotted your link “Amerika” at the top of your post. Tell me, how did that video make you feel?

  11. Herodotus 11
    6 April 2010 at 7:21 pm

    Mr Key on Newstalk commented 7:45 this morning commented on his support on thedeath of the last 3 1/2 days that shops are closed.
    RIP.

  12. artist not on the dole 12
    6 April 2010 at 7:57 pm

    Curia Market Research are doing one of their polls tonight. Some of the questions are really broad and easily misrepresented. The callcenter worker seemed a little taken aback when i asked who was funding it ” ah um — umm i um can’t tell you who is um paying for the poll” i smiled and carried on as a good little statistic.