Posts by Richard Wain
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It's a small country.
Compared to Russia, Canada, America, China, Brazil and the like, yes. Compared to many, many of the world's countries, no.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_area
I know I'm being pedantic, but NZ is bigger than the UK. It's not a small country, there's just not many people.
And totally agree about John Campbell's interview with Rennie. As I posted on Twitter:
Congrats @CampbellLiveNZ on in-depth chat with Mr Rennie. Almost 15 minutes, & no shouting. We need longer interviews, & better manners
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Hard News: When "common sense" isn't,
I only started wearing a bike helmet years after the law changed... because I was sick of cops chasing me... because I wasn't wearing a helmet!
Seriously, it seemed to set cops off like nothing else. The number of risky rides I had to outrun the fuzz...
IMHO: helmets don't stop death. You hit the road or a car with your head, you're fucked. Making cyclists wear helmets is a bandaid... cycle lanes is the answer, and decent penalties for the drivers who actually infringe.
This morning a car gunned past me at about 5 centimetres away from killing me - if I'd swerved even a little at the wrong time I was toast. Seriously considered following the shithead and punching his lights out at the next red light... but he got a green. Probably for the best all round...
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Up Front: The Up-Front Guides: The…,
As ol' Mikey Havoc always used to say about the National Party minister... Secret Smile Tony Ryall... Sheesh.
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Hard News: Music: K Road Sings,
The Hard News Friday Music Post is sponsored by: theaudience
Um, it's Wednesday...
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Hard News: Friday Music: When there were…,
That Suren Unka sure is some nice business. But WTF with this The Audience bullshit that you can only log in to download/vote etc with Fbook etc? That is a bunch of arse... restrictive and counter-productive.
And it's a fcken app. So it broadcasts whatever it is you're doing with it too.
Muppets.
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Hard News: Back to mediocrity,
As a long-suffering Canes fan who's now 2 from 2 for wins whilst watching them play at Eden Park... watching Mr Smith dot down with 15 seconds left was priceless.
Though I didn't pay this time as I was in the press box, and naturally enough tried not to show my total happiness too.
And where, BTW, the Blues provided delicious finger food and free (non-alcoholic) drinks. Too bad someone can't sort out something similar food-wise for the punters (and alcoholic drinks-wise)...
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Can I just point out, in the context of running red lights on a bike, that traffic lights actually don't pay attention to cyclists. Try it sometime - if there's no other traffic (and it's not that particular kind of light system that just switches automatically on cue) then the cyclist could sit there forever without ever getting a green light.
Which is one reason why I run lights all day, every day on my bike. The main one though is, it's a lot safer - as previously discussed. Ditto taking up the whole lane on every two-laner, such as P-Road here in Auckland. There isn't room for a bike and a car in most lanes, so being all passive and sitting on the left is just inviting trouble.
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Legal Beagle: Referendum Fact Check 4:…, in reply to BenWilson,
Ditto what Ben says... struggled to understand the STV bit as alluding to our cousins over the ditch (which makes me wonder how many Aussies get it too) but very good analysis.
Alas, I doubt very, very much that most folks will think anywhere near as hard about the referendum - let alone their actual vote... which is where democracy is sadly far too representative all round IMHO. Who was it said the best argument against democracy was five minutes with the average voter, Churchill?
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Hard News: The Sound of Music, in reply to Grant McDougall,
Oddly... many, many musicians of my acquaintance know a damned sight more than I about rugby. And football. Actually football even more than the oval ball code. But perhaps that's just musos being more well-rounded types or something...
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Hard News: The Sound of Music, in reply to Megan Wegan,
The relevance of the mariachi thing is, everyone can't help but go "Wahey!!!" very loudly.
You sort of have to be there... though TBH me and anyone I've been watching any games with do it at home too...