Posts by Rob Stowell

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  • Hard News: Occupy: Don't call it a protest,

    Ah, yes. Dismiss this as anecdata, but I know one elderly white South African woman whose membership in the Black Sash routinely attracted threats of rape, physical assault and harm to her children.

    So, big ups Margaret – you’ve managed to demean a woman whose flaxroots non-violent opposition to apartheid should have your respect not your sneering, privileged condescension.

    You did listen to the clip? Not just the soundbite 'south africans come here' (which, to me, didn't sound like she meant all south africans, anyway- charitable interpretation perhaps) but the rest of it? Cos really, y'know, you are dumping on her by making a point she made herself in the interview, rather more eloquently.
    The points she makes are uncomfortable, and hyperbolic, to a degree, but read with even a modicum of charity don't amount to accusing NZ of apartheid. At least as far as I heard :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Hard News: Occupy: Don't call it a protest,

    I'm curious why a land-tax is preferred over capital gains. Any ideas?
    (My reservation: it seems to punish hippies, greenies, tree-huggers, indigenous folks , etc- anyone who doesn't believe forcing land to produce max $ is always its best use.)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Up Front: Casual, Shallow and Meaningless,

    Reading was used above in its recreational sense. Not as part of a communication process.

    When someone asks "what have you been reading?" only a tiresomely unfunny ass would reply "a cornflake packet" or "a phone number".

    So what if the answer was "Public Address System"? Is *this* reading, socialising, or something else again?

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Politics of Absence,

    Anyone else noticed that National's billboard slogan "For a brighter future" could easily become with a splat or two "For a righter future"?

    I saw one last week (out Halswell way) that said "For a blighted future". Gone the next day, though!

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Southerly: Tower Insurance Have Some Bad…,

    I wonder how that 5,5 we had at 8.34pm
    went down at the fanzone in Hagley Park ?

    Folks were strangely calm, reacted but settled down to the game almost instantly. The big screens did wobble, rather.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Minister's Brain Has Exploded,

    what with the cuts at the University of Canterbury

    Not yet a done deal. If anyone wants to help out a tiny bit- and shares the feeling Canterbury needs a decent, broad-based university- please consider signing this petition from the TEU.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Legal Beagle: Now it's up to you,

    What system do you favour, Graeme?

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Hard News: Friday is for ...,

    Love, ta mate :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Hard News: Angry and thrilled about Arie,

    Not aiming at derailment, just a little side-tracking: anyone heard of Aspiritech? It’s an organisation/company in Illinois that

    champions the unique concentration and detail-oriented strengths of its 15 employees, all of whom have been diagnosed with disorders on the autism spectrum.

    More at TPM.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Southerly: Tower Insurance Have Some Bad…, in reply to merc,

    Just talking to a Merivale person who is currently orange zoned, but will be red in the next six months. This person reported that the first person to visit them was not from insurance, or interested in assessing the house- just there to assess what the land would be worth in ten years, on the market, after remediation.
    NZ Govt 'help out' Chch by speculating on real estate ?!

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

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