Posts by Tze Ming Mok

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  • Yellow Peril: Bai bai,

    Comments now closed.

    SarfBank, Lunnin' • Since Nov 2006 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • Yellow Peril: Bai bai,

    Is that the actual North and South Asian Angst cover kitty?

    Nope, the Lucky Cat belongs to us, always.

    SarfBank, Lunnin' • Since Nov 2006 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Too busy with First Life sorry,

    While Second Life may often be empty and boring, I have had a few constructive private business meetings there. ...But having 20 countries come together in a virtual world creates a much better sense of 'prescence' and team interaction than a group conference call, even video conferencing, would.

    Exactly. Working as I do now for [redacted] that overall, engages in vast amounts of needless carbon-chewing air travel in order to ostensibly save the world, I totally disagree with Russell. I think SL is precisely the kind of boring, empty, pointless virtual 3-d space that could really work for frustrated bureaucrats and NGOs who know that actually important stuff happens in the corridors, not during the meeting itself, who have found informal networking is impossible during phone conferences, and who don't want to destroy the planet with their pointless conference travel. Oh yeah, and who can't type fast enough to IM effectively. The biggest drawback with all this, is the massive digital divide, particularly with regard to Africa. But it's not like anyone here (in this particular non-real forum, not [redacted workplace]) is thinking about Africa... or are they?

    SarfBank, Lunnin' • Since Nov 2006 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Maoriland Calling,

    There are, it should be noted girls'-own stories amongst the Maoriland works too

    Actually, Bernard and Jack's 'Adventures with the Maoris' was written by a chick. A worthy predecessor to Enid Blyton.

    SarfBank, Lunnin' • Since Nov 2006 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Maoriland Calling,

    The Boy's Own style 'Amongst the Maoris: a Book of Adventure' is particularly... illuminating, as to the nature of heathen Maori as dirty, smelly, flea-ridden kidnap-happy savages, who are far too fond of laughing.

    Poor Bernard and Jack.

    ...the general appearance of the people was dirty, and the smell which came from them was very disagreeable.

    “Why is it that most, if not all, barbarous people love dirt?” said Bernard to Colonel Bradshaw as the two stood outside the hut after dinner.

    “Cleanliness is next to godliness, they say, you know,” answered he. “I think the Christian Maoris are cleaner, though they might wash their blankets oftener. I suppose as they become more civilized they will get cleaner.”

    “But it cannot be natural to be dirty,” returned Jack, “for animals are always clean.”

    “That is true, but it is not an argument. Animals follow their instinct in this as in everything else: they know it is unhealthy to be dirty. Men seem to be without instinct, excepting on rare occasions.”

    “Well, my instinct induces me to feel very sick,” said Jack.

    SarfBank, Lunnin' • Since Nov 2006 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Because that's how I roll,

    You know, I used the phrase "that's how I roll" just yesterday, after a discussion about my commitment to staying up past 7 pm on Silent Swiss Sunday to put up my IKEA kitchen shelves with power tools. Black people are not going to forgive us for murdering their idioms.

    I think I've got a bit in that Grant Smithies book. Hell, does everyone on this site?

    And:

    Having finally located the UN staff union, I should be able to figure out soon whether I can keep blogging...

    SarfBank, Lunnin' • Since Nov 2006 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • Yellow Peril: My black heart bleeds,

    I always thought it was "fetters and sodas."

    SarfBank, Lunnin' • Since Nov 2006 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • Yellow Peril: My black heart bleeds,

    Rugby IS an anachronistic macho game. Its a game for men

    Um... isn't the New Zealand *women's* rugby team the one that is famous for always winning?

    SarfBank, Lunnin' • Since Nov 2006 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • Yellow Peril: My black heart bleeds,

    So it doesn't count if someone says "My partner beats me when we lose at the rugby" because that's just an anecdote?

    I think distinction we're drawing here is between qualitative and quantitative analysis. Just because the evidence is qualitative (oral police reports, 'anecdotal' evidence, frontline basic knowledge at refuges) rather than quantitative - exactly how many - does not mean it isn't evidence. But yes, pretty unsatisfactory news story.

    SarfBank, Lunnin' • Since Nov 2006 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • Yellow Peril: My black heart bleeds,

    Switzerland is brilliant at yachting though!

    That most 'manly' of sports. Aren't the crew all New Zealanders? I don't follow the America's Cup either. I laughed my ass off that time the random Maori sovereignty dude broke into the case and gave it the bash in the 90s. God, I am a traitor!

    SarfBank, Lunnin' • Since Nov 2006 • 154 posts Report Reply

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