Posts by Rich Lock

Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First

  • Hard News: Smack to the Future,

    I was the willing to give the media the benefit of the doubt on Sunday morning. Who hasn't made "trivial typing errors" or infelicitous turns of phrase slip through hard on deadline. But when you're running a misleading factoid -- and allowing lobbyists to repeat it unchallenged -- five days later? My patience is officially exhausted.

    Without wanting to get all 'moon landings filmed in a hanger' about it, the 'No' campaign has been taking out an awful lot of full-page, front of shop advertising in the print edition recently....

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Up Front: Does My Mortgage Look Like a…,

    Dangling things off your ears shows you have strong ears, an indispensible quality in a prospective mate. The ability to apply mascara, on the other hand, is an indicator that you obviously had the skill to become a thoracic surgeon, but could afford not to.

    Alright, you've got me on the ears (as it were). I've no blimmin' idea what errings are all about.

    Mascara: helps to define and emphasise by contrast the remainder of the eye - especially the white. Which is also a visual indicator of good health.

    My point is that all of these things started off as quite reasonable ways to increase attractiveness, but humanity (as it tends to do) takes the ball and runs off in entirely unexpected directions, so you end up with, for example, thigh-length PVC boots.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Up Front: Does My Mortgage Look Like a…,

    Just as an aside, has there ever been a more insular musical movement than drum 'n' bass?

    Punk.

    Perhaps it's about showing status?

    "I don't need to be able to walk in these heels, I have a limo"

    "I don't need to be able to dial[*] the phone with these nails, I have a secretary"

    Wearing a heel lengthens the leg, and tightens and thins the leg musculature. Which increases the visual attractiveness.

    Nails are a ggod visual indication of health - they get very manky in people with bad nutrition, for example. So visually attractive nails = ability to attract a mate.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Hard News: Smack to the Future,

    Instead, Key rather politely said "fuck off". Good chap.

    He has gone up several points in my estimation since that announcement.

    He trots out the "88% of New Zealanders have spoken"

    Mary Wilson may understand the difference, but New Zealand's Paper of Record (tm) continues to Epically Fail Stats 101.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Hard News: Smack to the Future,

    Hammer time?

    Rofflenui

    My parents want to hit me, so hard
    Makes me say, oh my Lord
    Thank you, for giving me
    Amended Section 59 supported cross-party.

    You can't touch this (child).

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Up Front: Does My Mortgage Look Like a…,

    As a slight aside - if there are any women on here who are interested in doing self-defence classes*, I can recommend these guys.

    They were running women-only classes at the beginning of this year, and will probably do so again if there is enough interest.

    There is a 2-day women's self-defence seminar tentatively scheduled for early next year.

    *obviously this sort of thing shouldn't be necesary, but hope for the best and prepare for the worst, etc.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Hard News: Smack to the Future,

    STOP.............

    Hammer time?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Hard News: Home, straight,

    The cheesecutter site notes that there are modifications you can make to make them safe for motorcyclists. No costings given, but surely less expensive than steel barriers ? I wonder if thick coreflute is the go. If so, we could sell advertising on this things - they'll pay for themselves ! :)

    I understand there are a number of ways they can be modded, reasonably cheaply and easily. The key thing is for a body (or car) to slide along or bounce off on the same side of the road, or for the impact to be absorbed.

    Corflute is probably fine for sliding or bouncing. Most impacts are probably going to be at a shallow angle, so the panels don't have to be that thick - just thick enough to deflect any impact.

    Large bushy shrubs growing up and around the wires have also been suggested - a whole bunch of small branches would act as 'springs' to absorb any impact. Advantageous from a green perspective, but would require a wider central strip, and would make maintenance difficult.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Hard News: Home, straight,

    That's not exactly a helpful comment, Tom.

    My reply:

    "Tom, don't do X"

    Please feel free to insert your own value of X. It should be something you enjoy doing, but which is arguably somewhat dangerous and not necessarily adding to the sum total of humankind's safety.

    Smoking, drinking, cycling, skydiving. Whatever you like.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Hard News: Home, straight,

    I was told that the cheap as chips "Cheesecutter" barriers so disliked by motorcyclists cost around $100,000 per km to install.

    They are cheap as chips because they have been banned (on safety grounds) by quite a few countries. So the manufacturers are quite happy to offload their unusable surplus at a discount rate.

    Motorcyclists call them cheesecutters with good reason.

    Whether you like the idea of them as a car driver or not depends on how you feel about instant convertibles.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

Last ←Newer Page 1 218 219 220 221 222 273 Older→ First