OnPoint: Election 2011: GO!
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recordari, in reply to
Thanks Rich. As mentioned above, it was as much my bad, as anyone else due to other stuff, but also being a bit of a tc. The rational had left the building via a brick through the window.
No hard feelings. Am quite pleasantly reassured by how much forgiveness people have here. Emails have been exchanged, and hopefully rifts fixed, although I will be trying to keep my head down over political discussions from now on.
Might see you on one of the outings, should the opportunity arise.
ETA:
Thanks also Ben. Ok, I'm feeling all coy now... -
Jacqui Dunn, in reply to
Ok, I’m feeling all coy now
Well, feel worse, my friend! I'm also one of those who was looking forward to meeting you, among others, recently, and can only hope it will happen very soon.
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Having been away from a 'puter for the last few days, I've read almost all of the posts on this thread since Thursday. FWIW, it's really gratifying to read the sincerity evident in all contributions; sincerity and a commitment to the continued good health of a great community of people. Some day I'd very much like to you all in person (and I'm often available for coffee for visitors to Sydney).
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I'm surprised nobody else is foaming at the mouth over this The Government is close to striking a deal with Telecom and Vodafone for its multi-million rural broadband initiative What happened to competition?, you remember, the whole reason for selling OUR assets. Seems Steven Joyce can't keep his tongue out of Telecom's trousers. Kordia/Woosh should have been a shoo in.
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Not just the competition - we were promised FTTH at the last election - I know that the Nat's represent the farmers and all that but what about some better internet for the cities (outside of downtown Auckland and Wellington)
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Telecom already got that one, Telecom front-runner for rest of broadband project, back in December Telecom keeps control of premium broadband service Which is why I'm spittin tacks now, where's the fairness, where's the... oh what the fuck, this is what the nation voted for eh? National bollocks things up again.
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Oh and by the way, the business model totally sucks for us, the taxpayer, As soon as the utility has a chance of making any money, we sell it to Telecom* Taxpayers carry the can if new service slow to win customers
* As Telecom is the countries largest ISP (hopefully that will change) -
In a similar manner you can see the shortcomings with Fletchers appointed to handle the Chch recovery – my view is an independent board with should have handled the matter with Fletchers and other interests contracting to it on a competitive basis.
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Steve Barnes, in reply to
Now there's a disaster waiting to happen. A lot of local builders are, like totally pissed off about that. It was their chance to become the next Feltcher's, no chance now. Thank you Mr Brownoselea, minister of skulduggery.
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Danielle, in reply to
If we somehow recognize each other, I’ll see you at Sufjan Stevens. Well, I’ll know you’re enjoying it too, at least. ;-)
How fucking awesome was THAT? Waaarghh!!!
(And I got to meet Geoff. Hooray!)
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recordari, in reply to
Waaarghh!!!
I concur. What a splendidly wonderful lunatic genius. Looked for someone with a PAS flag, but as we were sitting in the last two seats at the back of the top level, possibly not the best vantage point for people spotting.
The whole show was amazing, but I was very pleased with his encore. Concerning the UFO sighting... was just perfect.
Politics shmolitics ;-)
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a PAS flag
I'm imagining a red flag with a hammer, sickle, glass of champagne and a felafal in the top left-hand corner, surrounded by stars.
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recordari, in reply to
surrounded by stars.
We need to represent coffee somehow. A plunger shaped like the Sky Tower?
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Danielle, in reply to
What a splendidly wonderful lunatic genius.
It was almost - ALMOST - as good as the Flaming Lips at the BDO (the standard by which all splendidly wonderful lunatic genius shows should be measured). As I said on FB, it was like "the Tom Tom Club and the Langley Schools Music Project playing imaginary retrofuturist spacecapade Simon and Garfunkel songs while dressed like Boney M and Parliament". (Except there wasn't that one guy in a nappy.)
A plunger shaped like the Sky Tower?
A plunger? A PLUNGER? I challenge you to a duel, sah!
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recordari, in reply to
“the Tom Tom Club and the Langley Schools Music Project playing imaginary retrofuturist spacecapade Simon and Garfunkel songs while dressed like Boney M and Parliament”
While I agree in part, the word I used was “unique”.
A plunger? A PLUNGER? I challenge you to a duel, sah!
Yes, well, how you gonna get a Two Group Espresso machine on there? Maybe a La Pavoni then? Whoops, we’re bringing the Politics thread into disrepute. Perhaps we should continue this elsewhere.
Enough of this self flag elation.
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Matthew Poole, in reply to
Enough of this self flag elation.
Ian may be gone, but his memory remains.
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Russell Brown, in reply to
It was almost – ALMOST – as good as the Flaming Lips at the BDO (the standard by which all splendidly wonderful lunatic genius shows should be measured).
My tweetstream went mad last night with Sufjan love.
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recordari, in reply to
but his memory remains
About that, I may not have adequately apologised on that front also, as of course it was noted, and of course people here cared and have acted accordingly.
Still beating myself up over that one, just to continue the theme.
And, I am but a spec on the technicolour dream coat that is Mr Dalziel. He’s an easy act to follow, but a hard act to beat. Not that it’s a contest, or anything.
It was almost – ALMOST – as good as the Flaming Lips at the BDO (the standard by which all splendidly wonderful lunatic genius shows should be measured).
And one I missed. Damn it. My standard is Jeff Buckley at St James, 1995. Not the lunatic bit, just the genius.
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Paul Williams, in reply to
And one I missed. Damn it. My standard is Jeff Buckley at St James, 1995. Not the lunatic bit, just the genius.
Oh, a fav gig thread... Mine's either Camille (but possibly 'cause I didn't know her music at all so had no expectations) or Arcade Fire both in Sydney in '09.
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He’s an easy act to follow, but a hard act to beat.
Y'know, I being wondering for some time how long Ian would be able to keep it up. I really appreciate what he was trying to do, but found it very difficult to say so. His poetry was often amusing playful asides, but also he tried to engage the main discussion stream too, and also sparked off many a thought for me, but it was difficult to engage it in this forum. Poetry is by nature mind opening, direction opening, and I think it withers under the storm of heavy argumentation, which is usually seeking to pin down, to tighten, to lock in, to get specific. Isn't that what you're reacting to, recordari? Too many black thinking-hats? Too little ability to just chuck an idea down, and see if it grows, because such attempts are weeded out the moment the sprout shows? I know you are not alone in feeling this way.*
*Edit: I don't really have a solution, though. I don't think we should ban black thinking-hats, which do, after all, drive in quality. But I think I can say to you that it would help a lot to meet the people, and for them to meet you. Tory my arse.
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Paul Williams, in reply to
Tory my arse.
I'd not object to PAS fostering more conservative (if that's the word) voices. My politics are distinctly left however, I want to better understand the thinking behind some of the policies/priorities pursued by this government (and I don't subscribe to the view that they're entirely cynical). Colin James has written an thoughtful piece that locates the assets sales in a coherent program - it's one I'm suspcious of but he's at least explained what he thinks they're thinking).
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I know you are not alone in feeling this way.*
Time and a place. Is everyone Ok with this ongoing psychoanalysis? Just checking.
Well, at times I feel my engagement here has been more than just en-passant, but it is a hard discipline when the more seasoned 'black thinking-hats' (your words) get going. My minority view, and being slightly blue-blooded is the least of it, believe me, makes defending a position feel quite solitary, and therefore gets defensive very quickly.
That should be Ok, because self-respecting people know how to regulate their behaviours and avoid putting themselves in situations that could lead to 'harm'. Right?
Step one: Awareness.
Since you mentioned poetry, here's one I wrote at 21 (obscure Sufjan reference), and it seems surprisingly to have stood the test of time.
Some Guy
Some guy flies in
casing the joint
gassing the point
a sack of books
and new looks to boot;
no fly buzzing by.But one night waking
I saw his spirit making
rainbow kites,
chasing jet streams
out across some great abyss
wishing his body would stop
chasing after his mind
so he could stay a while,
pick a flower or two
for everyone that's new.
And you.Some guy sighs
and warily flies.We apparently have a pot-luck opportunity coming soon, and if some guy is in the neighbourhood, he will endeavour to drop by.
Step Two: Stop talking about yourself in the third person.
Step Three: Buy a black hat. -
Paul Williams, in reply to
Step Three: Buy a black hat.
Just quickly, please don't.
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Jacqui Dunn, in reply to
My minority view, and being slightly blue-blooded is the least of it, believe me, makes defending a position feel quite solitary, and therefore gets defensive very quickly.
I did feel, at a point following which you seemed to spit the dummy somewhat, that a rather funny joke had been made. I laughed, and then when I read your first response, realized you hadn't found it at all amusing. However, thinking in your defence (see, you're absolutely not alone) I remembered that you were having trouble sleeping. Sleeplessness and stress can blunt even the sharpest funny bone. I put it all down to that.
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here’s one I wrote at 21 (obscure Sufjan reference)
I get it. I think there is an immediate and pressing need for a Sufjan Stevens love-thread. What a fucking amazing show.
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