Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The scandal that keeps on giving

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  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    et tu Brut...

    But surely if they are dry valleys, they should be alcohol free.

    No, I'm sure they must have 'desert wine'
    at least...
    :- )
    But if ya wanna drink McMurdo is the wettest place

    I was told that McMurdo has the highest per capita consumption of alcohol anywhere, any demographic. The store only sells alcohol on certain days, and has started limiting the amount an individual can buy on any day.

    and another scholar notes that:

    And, of course, all these activities can be enhanced by, or substituted for, alcohol. We do like to drink at McMurdo. Unlike 50 years ago when there really was nothing better to do and so the Navy men made “white-out punch” from their stash of medicinal alcohol, it’s not for lack of alternative activities. Still, everyone seems to drink more—or at least more often—than they do back home. Maybe it’s because you never have to drive home, or even stumble very far.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Maybe it’s because you never have to drive home, or even stumble very far.

    And if you do happen to stray while pissed as a penguin, some kind soul might even offer you a lift.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    Just to prove that I'm not close minded about the SIS business, this is what tickles my radar.

    See this timeline? Chch airport was closed to all non-emergency flights until 8AM the day after the quake. I would have thought you needed some serious juice to get three civilians out of Chch via air within 12 hours of the quake, as was claimed by Tulett. This is an aspect of the story that could do with some light shone on it.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    It's only 5 hours drive to Nelson. less to Picton or Blenheim. Could get domestic flights from there.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Bevan Shortridge,

    According to the Guardian, Queen's Roger Taylor is going to update his 1994 solo effort "Dear Mr Murdoch" [Edit: already updated it I gather, as below]:

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 122 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    True. I actually know someone who drove to Dunedin immediately afterwards, to catch a flight from there. Hmmm, ok I retract that.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    It's only 5 hours drive to Nelson. less to Picton or Blenheim. Could get domestic flights from there.

    But chauffered by the local consular head? And the claim seems to be direct flights from Chch - which I agree with Stephen needs some verifying. Brings back memories of the bin Laden family's special chartered flights out of locked-down US airspace immediately after 9/11.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Sacha,

    Yeah, and thinking about it, the last international flights out of AKL are about 2330. You’d need to nail it to make an early evening Nelson-Auckland or whatever to catch that. It’s possible, but not the sort of logistical (or financial) effort you’d expect from an ordinary backpacker.

    [ I had to rush to the UK last year and it took from Sat first thing to Monday night to sort everything out and get going ].

    If one was prepared to go to Aus, there are more options. But it sounds more like a bolt for freedom than a flight home by a traumatised tourist.

    I do have a theory, grounded in very little. The guys were actually, as suggested upthread, engaged in large scale smug druggling and had a seriously illegal quantity of class-As in the van. Having presumably failed to discreetly remove them, they split the country before they got tracked down. Unfortunately, certain (probably uniformed) persons with access to the red zone have unofficially removed said substances and marketed them. This information is being kept quiet, and large amounts of smoke generated to avoid embarrassment for the powers that be.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Or, possibly uniformed people, wanting to track down other tentacles in such a drug-smuggling ring, are keeping quiet for that reason?

    Either way, the story has a kind of explosive feel to it, and the noises coming from the Israeli Embassy - and newspapers in Israel - seem to indicate something
    is not wanted known-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    If there really was clandestine activity going on in the Garden City, then the earthquakes threw all the plans out of whack. Who needs spooks and hidden bugs when there's Mother Nature?

    If it's all a concoction, then churnalism has well and truly taken hold. Jay Pryor, anybody?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Love the sandsick splatter!

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    Love the sandsick splatter!

    It certainly caught my attention back when it was up on the Sunday Star Times site. While I'd like to think that their (probable) school-leaver Photoshop jockey chose the pic for that reason, I suspect that they were strapped for time. And I'm always tickled by how closely Dr Morgan resembles my onetime Sydney neighbour Brucie the tow truck driver.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Goodness, I've missed so much by never having lived in Australia-

    totally OTT irrelevcancy: I 've just invented something nice:

    1 deep toast sandwichmaker
    4 slices Burgen sandwichbread to your taste
    As much garlic as you really enjoy
    As many chunks of a good blue cheese as you like annnnd
    2 large (fit your sandwichmaker) Portobellas-

    mmmmm! Toastytasty!

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    the other most notable being Blair doing the same out of desperation and cynicism- he didn't want to be another Kinnock

    The bitter truth being that he didn't have to. That whopping majority in '97 wasn't just an accident. I don't think it can be overstated how deeply, heartily sick the UK public were of the sleazy tories by that stage.

    Blair could have waltzed out of No 10 the day after the election and announced he was raising taxes, taking all utilities into public ownership and making NI a terrorist organisation, and no-one would have batted an eyelid.

    But he didn't, because he's a cockmunch.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Totally off-topic, but the final shuttle touches down in about 20 minutes - watch live at http://nasa.gov

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Lilith __, in reply to Sacha,

    There are other plausible reasons for foreign security interests in Christchurch at that time. If that’s what this was.

    There are?! I mean I love Chch dearly, but I can't see why spies would be flocking here....

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Lilith __,

    Major negotiations with senior US representatives going on there at the time.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Rob Stowell,

    Apologies if anyone has posted this already. Potter would have liked the last word :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Lilith __, in reply to Sacha,

    There were? Huh.

    ETA love the Potter clip thanks Rob!

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Lilith __,

    There were?

    Yep and yep. Mostly secret, naturally. Wouldn't want the peasants to catch on about what's being traded away in TPPA and so forth. Pharmac, who needs it?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Sacha,

    final shuttle touches down

    mission accomplished...
    I still can't believe that they're not keeping one ready, just in case, hell give one to the Chinese in lieu of a trillion or two - they'll be the next big space power and the only ones who can afford it - Russia is still a tad unstable and must be close to not being able to bankroll a space programme either - Can't believe they're gonna leave the International Space Station with only one supply chain. Or can they still send unmanned rockets?
    This isn't the future I'd thought it would be...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    This isn't the future I'd thought it would be

    The Jetsons has a lot to answer for

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Lilith __,

    Israel Dags...?

    I can't see why spies would be flocking here....

    You've heard of Reds under the beds, well the reason they're there is the flocking in the mattresses, mostly made from wool refuse, which NZ has in abundance - so spies come here for a reliable source, and a spot of training - haven't got a silencer? Use a flock filled cushion! (the silencer of the lambs!!) before ya get to 007 rating (y'know Shorn Connery licenced to kill) ya have to show some shear skill and get past 004 - Licence to Quilt, yer well stuffed if ya don't!

    happy to clear that up for ya...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    the silencer of the lambs

    bravo

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    This isn't the future I'd thought it would be...

    Oh we were brought up on the Space-Race,
    Now they expect you to clean toilets.
    When you've seen how big the world is,
    How can you make do with this?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

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