Posts by Steve Barnes
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And for those of you who worry about getting Ripped off or Scammed, here is the difference...
How to spot a fake power balance braceletSo for the people considering buying one and worried about getting scammed: relax. I have a very easy guide as to when you’ve been ripped off.
1. If you buy it direct from power balance: you’re getting ripped off.
2. If you buy one from an authorised dealer or distributor: you’re getting scammed.
3. If you buy a fake one you will also be getting scammed, albeit slightly less. The difference is entirely down to a single metric to determine how much you’re getting scammed. If you pay $59.95 then you’ve been scammed 59.95 units on the power balance scam-o-meter (also known as Australian dollars or AUD). If you have some shifty looking guy (well.. a shifty looking guy who isn’t officially affiliated with the power balance company) sell you one for $29.95 you’ve been scammed out of twenty-nine bucks and ninety-five cents BUT that means when you stand next to the person who bought a “real” one: you’re actually $30 less scammed than that guy. So in essence you’ve got the same placebo for half the price.
So, there's the difference.
It is not known if the Prime Minister believes in the benefits of the band, and he did not return calls made by the New Zealand Herald last night.
A Spokesman* said it was given to Mr Key as a present.
*note; actual spokesman may differ.
It's a bit like not borrowing for Tax Cuts but borrowing for things you could have afforded before the Tax Cuts.
Magic. -
Key: I want RWC in Christchurch
Gobsmacked, surely they have greater needs?. -
Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Christopher Dempsey,
His resignation is a loss to the National Party and us all, and I shudder to think what ‘talent’ will fill his shoes.
Joyce? or, heaven forbid, McCully.
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Sacha,
Yes, the issue is that it’s not at all what Steve meant in the original post – and he knows that full well.
Mind reader now eh? A failed attempt at a little light heartedness is all it was.
Steve, tone matters.
That seems to be the most important here.
Attacking me helps no-one.
Enough already. -
Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Sacha,
not helpful – and you do want to help, right?
Do You?
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to giovanni tiso,
Suggesting that people should leave the region or move into bouncy castles is still going to be frowned upon, I would hope, now and forever.
Then frown on.
Examples of inflatable shelters.
The 40 Second
Inflatable Shelter
Airshelter
LifeCube -
People fleeing their homes because, at twilight, groups of people roam around casing houses for burglary.
Yet the Police seem to be concentrating on the CBD and have been stopping concerned family members from searching for their loved ones, I know these people are "Not Qualified" and "Maybe a danger to themselves and others" but the breakdown of public order at the fringes of society are a greater problem. We do not want a free for all instead of an organised response but neither do we need further disempowerment of the local populace, the feelings of helplessness are turning to desperation in the poorer parts of town and the people would be better served by increased aid and protection where it is needed right now rather than the blanket shutdown of society by the police, as seems to be their reaction to all situations where they feel they need to be in charge.
We remember the outcry over their control over the Pike River disaster, the feeling that the families and friends, in fact the entire country, were shut out of the information loop, we know that a lack of clear information leads to speculation and distrust so why the heavy hand?. The Police would do well to remember that they are empowered to serve not control, to protect not persecute.
Unless this situation is addressed by the Government then I see the social damage from this horrendous set of events becoming a nightmare of its own. -
Gordon Campbell accuses Bill English of Playing Politics with the tragedy in Christchurch.
If it looks like English is trying to exploit the earthquake for party political purposes, that’s because it is exactly what he is doing. Barely a week after the quake – and while many people in Christchurch are still lacking basic services – the government has begun to play politics with their plight.
I have been told several times to "STFU" and that "Now is not the time or place" to mention such things. However. The game goes on and we should not let our eyes off the ball. We know what these people want and we know they will do all in their power to get it, let us not give them any more power by turning a blind eye in the name of sensitivity.
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Hard News: The First Draft, in reply to Rich Lock,
They are an excellent tool for easy visual identification of credulous fools. The best part about this particular tool is that you don’t need to pay for it yourself.
And our esteemed Prime Minister has one. God help us.
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Robyn Gallagher,
I’ve been interested to discover that the cathedral spire has sustained previous earthquake damage and been rebuilt. Quakes in 1881, 1888 and 1901 damaged the spire, with the tip being rebuilt in timber and copper, lighter than the previous builds in brick and stone.
And I'm thinking, sentiment aside, that a City that has suffered more than 5 major earthquakes in its 150 year history is in the wrong place.
Perhaps if people really want to live there may I suggest inflatable buildings, I've seen some pretty neat Castles.