Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: When the fast track seems a good track

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  • Stephen Judd, in reply to Jeremy Andrew,

    I once attended a lecture in Germany given by a man who had TWO PhDs, and was a professor. He was introduced as Herr Professor Doktor Doktor Soundso. Nobody but me found this funny.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • David Hood, in reply to Jeremy Andrew,

    Or we could learn from the Germans

    England had Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    He was introduced as Herr Professor Doktor Doktor Soundso. Nobody but me found this funny.

    That would be a "Pair a Docs"

    /coat
    :-D

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    Attachment

    My favourite plan for traffic in the area, invented entirely by myself with no regard whatsoever to such paltry concerns as cost, is to lift up the whole Basin Reserve cricket ground, stands and all, and put the traffic underneath.

    You're not the first to think of that...

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to nzlemming,

    You’re not the first to think of that…

    Who knew!?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    Or at the ferry terminal, where you can even put your car on a ferry and carry on on SH1 on the other side…

    Again, I seem to recall (when NZ actually still owned the ferry service) that it did exactly that. I mean, what idiot would put a state highway through a capital city? But I can't find a reference for it.

    In the South Island, certainly, it starts/ends at the ferry terminal/railway station in Picton.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard, in reply to nzlemming,

    That's awesome!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to nzlemming,

    blue sky thinking...

    You’re not the first to think of that…

    I foresee insufficient stabling and the nearest blacksmith and wheelwright would be blocks away.
    Now sirs and mesdames were you to consider an aerial basin with geostationary dirigible anchoring I believe we could progress to the advantage of all...
    No worries about that wind, these Lockhead Martinet johnnies have made huge strides... I suggest we trouser the interest.
    Nudge. Nudge.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    I couldn't help noticing the rather exciting shooting gallery proposed in the plan. Imagine what one might choose to shoot at (for fun) in Wellington?

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    <random blurt>

    What is TV One thinking?
    ...with a major biosecurity risk and response in inner city Auckland, they lead their news with full coverage of the fact that no one knows what's happening with Dean Barker, like it is important!!!???
    Really?
    WTF?

    Wow!
    Grey Lynn!
    What happens if they stop every vehicle
    every vegetable,
    passing through the perimeter
    the barriers
    of that cordoned area,
    that major artery,
    clogged?

    What happens...

    </random blurt>

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to 81stcolumn,

    Imagine what one might choose to shoot at (for fun) in Wellington?

    According to David Grant's The Mighty Totara: The Life and Times of Norman Kirk, Big Norm enjoyed shooting pigeons with an air pistol from his parliamentary office.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    Dr is highly variable too with value depending very much on the granting university.

    <sucks teeth>

    It is sometimes more helpful to know who examined the thesis (my doctorate in Homeopathy is in the post....).

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • jb,

    The "Herr Professor Dr Dr" comes down to ascription vs performance-based cultures. (In Germany, you're Dr XYZ at the butcher, at the bank and at the petrol station. In Austria, your *wife* might even be assigned your title)
    Had a client from Scandinavia at a German company I worked for who took a look at our organisational chart (sprinkled with Dr This and Dr That) and asked if it was perhaps that of the local hospital and not of his IT service provider...

    a.small.town.in.germany • Since Jan 2007 • 86 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    the cultured artichokes and wild-crafted fennel will survive

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to nzlemming,

    does that really say "Miniature shooting gallery'?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    As to the main post, my experience was with the Kapiti Expressway BoI, which was pretty much a show trial, in hindsight. The Board of Inquiry refused to enquire at all certain facts from NZTA, despite being asked to by several submitters, saying they would make the judgement on the evidence presented. This neatly (for them) overlooked our claims that NZTA were hiding stuff from us. They went on to accept *every* piece of NZTA evidence and none from any of the submitters. On the subject of "independent expert witnesses" which the Act specifies, they accepted all NZTA's witnesses at face value, despite the fact that these "witnesses" were all (bar 2) employees of the companies involved in the Alliance or of NZTA, and were commenting on work their colleagues had done or even they themselves had done. The report castigated our expert witnesses (who were all top of their fields and cost us a fortune) for a) not doing their homework or b) straying out of their area of expertise. One of ours was criticised for the latter, and then, two pages later, slated for not being cognisant of the evidence of another of our witnesses in a totally unrelated field! Had the Board's statements not had the protection of coming from a quasi-legal authority, I believe they would have been actionable for defamation.

    What it comes down to is that the government picks the members of these boards that will give them the decision that they want. The Basin Board had more integrity than the government anticipated.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Sacha,

    does that really say “Miniature shooting gallery’?

    I presume Weta extras were in season...

    </coat>

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to nzlemming,

    As to the main post, my experience was with the Kapiti Expressway BoI, which was pretty much a show trial, in hindsight.

    Thanks. And my sympathies. That sounds like a complete horrorshow.

    Even more than Josh, you’ve outlined the problem with the BOI process. Appointments.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP, in reply to nzlemming,

    You’re not the first to think of that…

    Hip to be square? The long on boundary looks a bit challenging.

    That is quite something. The whole underground shooting gallery, as it were. High friends in low places?

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell, in reply to 81stcolumn,

    I couldn’t help noticing the rather exciting shooting gallery proposed in the plan. Imagine what one might choose to shoot at (for fun) in Wellington?

    I'm sure they're planning a needle exchange under the stands as well

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Paul Campbell,

    Pharmacornucopia...

    I’m sure they’re planning a needle exchange under the stands as well

    ...also it is a short walk to the opium dens of Haining Street...
    NB: The NZ Truth never stinted on its stirring race-abased reporting

    Catton tonic...
    I am almost finished reading The Luminaries - except that I don't want it to end, having lived in Hokitika (and Dunedin) for some 700 pages now, Chchch no longer looks or feels like home !
    I can see why Key and co couldn't finish, or need to belittle the book and its author - the keenly observed characters are laid bare in all their venality or honour - that level of truth and humanity would frighten the Key crew, lest they be judged themselves...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Hmmm. Sounds like more bad faith from Auckland Transport around the St Lukes Road interchange. Cycle Action Auckland has just tweeted this, pending a full media statement:

    @cycleactionak CAA did not "agree" with AT plans to remove trees, nor on intersection. We DID discuss BRIDGE cycle facilities - with NZTA.

    They really need to stop this bullshit.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    What is TV One thinking

    TVNZ has long been the major broadcaster of America's cup - essentially is was self advertising disguised as news

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Russell Brown,

    you’ve outlined the problem with the BOI process. Appointments.

    If one were really cynical one might suspect the govt had learned from previous mistakes and made sure this time that the panel came up with the answer the govt wanted.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    It would be a shame if that’s because the government doesn’t entirely like the results of its own reform.

    They certainly don't at sea, after recent decisions against seabed mining and prospecting. Nick Smith promised further law changes yesterday to make the process more "practical and workable" from now on. We can guess who for.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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