Posts by Simon Poole
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As a non-married but happily-coupled straight man (for 12 years) the only thing that annoys me is that if we were to get married, we would get a truckload of pressies from friends and relatives.
So while I keep my "marriage = meh" attitude I don't get any serving platters or salad tongs or money towards overseas trips. Total gip.
+1
Four years here. Firstborn due in a month or two. Wedding-type presents would be much welcome (A range of new linen, place-settings, cutlery, cookware, and perhaps a dining table would be fantastic, ta) but are not forthcoming.
Have bibs and booties up tha yazoo however.
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I've lived in Canada for a cumulative total of about 5 years. Visited 8/10 Provinces. Driven through rural areas for days at a time.
Number of pigs seen = 0
Of course it's possible they're galavanting about in large, centrally heated barns making pigs of themselves.
Actually, I believe pigs are actually quite prone to catching disease and illness. For this reason, they are kept away from the roadside and the public in general. Just because you can't see them, does not mean they're in a barn somewhere.
Of course, just because you can't see them, doesn't mean they aren't in a barn somewhere. I gather Canada has a huge intensive pig-farming industry.
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Free range chicken meat is hard to find, unless you live in Ponsonby.
Quite. And it hurts having to pay $20 for a size 14 free-range corn-fed at the local supermarket. My partner and I pick one up every couple of months, but mostly chicken is off the menu.
Now, if we can also work on the sustainability of our fisheries (Red Cod, why are you so cheap, overfished and delicious?) and effluent run-off on dairy/cattle farms, we might be getting somewhere.
Clean and green, we most definitely are not. (Tasty though)
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Watching Close Up last night, I found it interesting that a) the guy from the pork board denied knowledge of farmers engaging in such practices but then b) went on to accuse Mike King of "being aware" of the goings-on in the industy.
I have no doubt that Mr King was anything but sincere, given the obvious strength of his emotion, but if he was supposed to know then surely the pork board was more than aware that some of its farmers were engaging in dubious, if legal, practice.
I was never a huge fan of pork itself, but I stopped eating bacon/ham about a year ago if it wasn't declared free-range. The taste difference is noticable, and I would encourage anyone to research the conditions their food is raised in.
Yesterday, my brother said:
Much as I'm of the firm belief that cows willingly commit suicide and then miraculously turn into steak and mince, I've also at least seen that they're raised on open paddocks in something approximating their natural habitat. Cages ain't, to put it simply. If that means an increase in the cost of ham and pork, well, so be it.
I imagine he will weigh in shortly.
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I've got the Bulls v the Chiefs in the finals with a triumphant but bloodied Chiefs' squad arising victorious after a hard fought battle in South Africa. You may see things differently.
I'd love to agree, but with Leonard and Ben May gone for the season and Kahui a touchy prospect, I think if the Chiefs topple the Hurricanes for the second time in a month, they'll struggle to match the Bulls at Loftus.
I hope you're right, but after an uncharacteristically injury-light season for the Chiefs, their legacy has finally caught up with them.
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Oh, and for once in my life I'm wanting the Crusaders to win. Good luck with that flight though.
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Final four decided - Same order as before the weekend. Had been desperately hoping for a 3-try Sharks win, but it wasn't to be.
Hurricanes make the flight back to Hamilton for 2v3, and I'm really hoping we can scrounge a couple of fit props and a halfback.
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Geoff, what's the crowd average for Waikato Stadium this year, do you know?
Overall, numbers are dropping all around the country. The Chiefs will sell out for the Brumbies, and then their semi, but watch what happens at the start of the next season. First game good, second game average, third game worse.
Not enough people are interested in the competition, or the spectacle that it has to offer.
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Oh, and horror result for the weekend?
Chiefs (5th) get slaughtered by the Brumbies(4th). Hurricanes win (2nd), Crusaders win with a bonus point (3rd).
Somehow, we have to put up with the smug Australians claiming the crown (damn you Brumbies) or the Bulls. (Rather than, of course, them putting up with the arrogant Kiwis claiming rugby superiority, despite an inability to win the world cup)
As for the Super 15: Fuck it. The Super 14 didn't work. The Super 12 barely worked. The playing window isn't big enough for a decent competition, the crowds don't care (Why should people in Manukau cheer for the Chiefs?) or aren't catered for, and our coverage is shit. I can see why the countries up north sneer at our pathetic local competitions.
We have an antipathy to decent governance. Seriously, SANZAR are hopeless when it comes to making a decision because no one wants to be seen as weakening their own personal fiefdom. I'm all for ditching a kiwi team, but would hate to pick which. (Personally I'd merge the South-Island teams and make the Chch based team play in the various venues. It's not like they can raise a crowd at AMI Stadium (Is that what it's called these days? Lancaster) worth a damn anyway. But by the same token, why do SA and Australia want an extra team each? Half the teams they do have are shit, and the new ones certainly won't be any better. We want a competition worth watching, not a big love-in where any average joe can pull on a jersey and make the grade.
Frankly, we're being sold short with an expanded competition that doesn't include any new markets. Unless something drastic happens to make viewing more compelling for NZers, the unions are going to continue to bleed money.
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Final four? As now, but swapping Chiefs and Bulls (bonus point win to the Chiefs, who take first place by points differential as Bulls narrowly beat Sharks.)
Dream result: Chiefs smash Brumbies, Hurricanes ditto Reds. Crusaders do whatever. Sharks narrowly beat the Bulls. meaning no kiwi team has to do the run to South Africa.
Chiefs/Hurricanes rematch in Hamilton for the final, provided the Hurricanes can avenge the card-a-thon rematch in Wellington against the Bulls.
Willie Ripia re-lives his nightmare and misses a penalty kick on the final whistle to lose after a previously-flawless kicking display. Blame the bells.
Munters in Hamilton get drunk and go to the Outback.