Posts by Stephen Judd

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  • Hard News: Prospects,

    Hey ho. The feckless are a constituency too, and they deserve their turn. I was born under a National government. My first political memory is Kirk's death, and nine years of Muldoon after. The Labour government that followed disappointed us as much as it did good. A year or three (if it lasts that long) of a Key government is no disaster, and it's how the world turns. Maybe they'll surprise me to the good as much as the 88 Labour party let me down.

    And Winston Peters is gone, along with the NZ First remoras and Philip Field. Silver lining.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Prospects,

    The electionresults site is also using umlauts

    How embarrassing.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Prospects,

    Is anyone watching TV3 then?

    Yes. My inner pedant is not impressed.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Prospects,

    Nice show, Russell. But don't pump your dining mates so full of drink next time. Distinct slurring is so off-putting... not that I hold the moral high ground just now.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Prospects,

    ... coconut matting... my hair is not my best feature.

    The M is slowing becoming a U, and it's a long torturous journey towards billiard ball for me. Alas! Eheu! Aue!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Prospects,

    braiding his silver tresses

    Cornrows? French plait?

    I miss long hair sometimes.

    Anyway, I've tested my USB digital tv stick, and it works with Ubuntu. So I'll be keeping tabs on the Media 7 special.

    Any other recommendations for coverage? Drunken liveblogs?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Prospects,

    I feel a wee bit squicky about any party doing that, to be honest, because odds are they're targeting this by having scrutineers taking down the line/page numbers of people who've voted. Which is legal, but still something I'm not that comfortable with either.

    Well, it's standard Get Out The Vote stuff. And it's a secret ballot, so I'm sure there are plenty of National voters who will be grateful for the ride.

    The scrutineers recording who voted are protecting the integrity of the process. Far from being squicky, they are performing a public service. If they weren't doing that, I'd be more inclined to listen to proposals to require ID.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Prospects,

    Yeah, the integrity of the vote pretty much relies on party officials challenging anything they think might be dodgy.

    Over the last few months I've had some involvement with the electoral enrolment process, and I think it's marvelous how we try very hard to ensure anyone who might possibly have the franchise gets to exercise it. Contrast with the US, where the Republicans in particular try hard to deny it where there might be any doubt.

    Something I've just been mulling over: we just got a call from the Labour party to see whether we had voted and if we would like a ride.

    When I was a kid, I remember this being standard operating procedure for all parties, but in the last couple of decades I've never been rung by any party.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Busytown: I believe in miracles,

    I mean, "my heart constricted". It's been a while since I had to think about impersonal constructions.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Busytown: I believe in miracles,

    Uber-Yiddish-Nerd time:

    עס האָט מיר פֿאַרקלעמט דאָס האַרץ

    es hot mir farklemt dos hertz, it constricted my heart.

    farklemt.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

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