Posts by Andy Milne

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  • OnPoint: AIA and Maori Seats,

    Rather than build a terminal extension to increase capacity, they might choose to increase fees to price out less profitable flights to, I dunno, Chile or something. It doesn't have to be dramatic or malicious to have a big flow-on impact for the rest of the country.

    Yes I accept that, however the profit-gouging you suggest appears to be a risk with private ownership full-stop, not limited only to foreign investors. If,say, Eric Watson wanted to buy 40% of AIA would that suddenly ok because he has a NZ passport? Your objection seems not to be so much about foreign investment, but private investment.

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 59 posts Report Reply

  • OnPoint: AIA and Maori Seats,

    Everyone seems to be ignoring the fact that Auckland Airport really *is* strategically vital infrastructure.

    I agree, but what exactly is the risk posed by foreign investment here - that the Candians will rip the runways up and ship the whole airport home to Vancouver, or that they will simply bowl it and whack up townhouses instead? Cos at the moment, most objections I've seen appear long on nationalistic rhetoric but short on actual detail.

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 59 posts Report Reply

  • Word of the Year 2007,

    I know Im about a fortnight late with this, but I thought I'd chuck it in here anyway:

    McClarkthyism: a moral panic which causes the afflicted to suffer excessive fear of a minority group and see members of said group under every bed. In extreme cases, sufferers may use their fears to justify poorly-conceived laws. Famous sufferers include Annette King and Chris Carter.

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 59 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Farce About,

    Whew - glad the answer came out before I saw this thread!

    I was going to go with "Come out and play (keep em separated)" by the offspring. But now I realise the line from that song is actually "one goes to the morgue and the other to jail".

    But luckily, the answer came out before I was able to reveal my ignorance for all to see. Now I can just pretend I really knew it was New York Minute all along...

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 59 posts Report Reply

  • Word of the Year 2007,

    I think we need two categories - One for the word that really hits the zeitgeist of the year 2007; and one for the word wore out its welcome in the past year.

    Well, for category B, I'd like to nominate iconic. I am sick and bloody tired of hearing lazy hacks describing something (or worse, some__one__)as "iconic" when they simply mean "well-known" or "popular" or even "quite nice".

    Aaaaaaaaaaargh!!

    </rant>

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 59 posts Report Reply

  • Word of the Year 2007,

    Oh and sorry about the extra vowel in your name Richard, lazy typing there. Maybe my fingers need reconditioning?

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 59 posts Report Reply

  • Word of the Year 2007,

    Yeah I hear that Richaard. OK so that's now a joint entry: "Rotation and Reconditioning". Never before was so much promised, and not delivered, by so few to so many. (Apologies to Churchill)

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 59 posts Report Reply

  • Word of the Year 2007,

    I vote for "rotation" as the word of the year. I can't think of a word that packs so much promise, hope, and yet also pain, frustration and anger into just three short syllables.

    Wot, me still bitter? Nah...

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 59 posts Report Reply

  • "The Terrorism Files",

    And still so few care that the police have criminalised dissent.

    ...which takes us all the way back to plain ol' making shit up.

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 59 posts Report Reply

  • "The Terrorism Files",

    My sister and I also planned to kill my father – down to speculating about what chemicals might induce a heart attack with out leaving a trace. We were very angry, but we knew we didn’t really intend to do it.

    I'm sorry Sara, but your "harmless letting off steam" argument just doesn't fly. As many people have pointed out on this thread (I've just waded my way through it - marathon!), at least some of the 17 arrested had clearly moved beyond the "speculating" stage and into the "equipping themselves with guns and training in the bush" stage.

    Idle BS about asassinations & blowing stuff up = letting off steam.

    Idle BS about asassinations & blowing stuff up + buying the necessary equipment + training to use it = more than just letting off steam, and (IMO) worthy of police involvement.

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 59 posts Report Reply

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