Posts by Scott A
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Holy shit.
I'm also aghast at the implication that any WINZ / MSD staff member can see sensitive information held by another unit. Have they no concept of information security? Do they not care that there have been prosecutions of their staff for committing fraud based on the internal information, and still done nothing to do basic folder / directory security?
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The more I think about this, the more I'm grinding my teeth at the constant use of the term "super-premium".
What does that mean? "Premium" beers are those like Becks, Heineken, Stella Artois. Generic light lagers, indistinguishable in any kind of blind taste test, sold on image, brand loyalty, success-association, not about the quality, variety or taste of the beer.
Is "super-premium" that, but more so? Even more focus on brand, image, success-association, even less attention to quality, variety and taste of the beer?
You'd certainly think so, based on the guff in the prospectus. I admit to not close reading the whole thing, but I didn't see any mention on the variety, quality or taste of Moa's beers - some of which are outstanding ales.
I drink craft beer for the taste experiences new and varied beers bring. I also partake in the culture because it's not about New Zealand's "beer culture". It's not about lowest-common-denominator blokey sexist promotion. It's not about objectification of women. It's about the beer, the people who make it, the people who enjoy it (and, yes, women drink beer too!), and the relationships between them.
Moa's advertising of their product abandoned that culture years ago. Now their promotion to investors seemingly confirms that they don't see themselves as a craft beer brewer. They want to play the old school, old boys club, big beer manufacturer, where they sale is done on brand and image, not the beer itself.
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It's broken the back for this craft beer drinker. And it hurts me, because Moa brew some of my favourite beers; the Five Hop and St. Joseph in particular.
But they've been lurching near the 'what a pack of dicks' line for so very very long. But now they're confirming they want to be a big brewer, with the stupid big brewer marketing, and investors who don't give a shit if the beer's any good, or not.
The sad thing is the man who actually brews the beer is one of the best brewers in this country. I hope he unhooks himself from this company - who clearly have no interest in the hard work and bloody excellent beer he creates - and goes it alone.
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I can sometimes go on a bit when I submit to a committee, but this time I just wanted to get to what is, for me, the point:
I am writing this submission in support of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill.
The Government Administration Committee is surely going to receive many submissions on this bill, some very emotive, painful, angry or fearful.
I wish to keep mine short. I wish to simply let the Committee know that it is time. It is time for equal rights with regards to marriage to be extended to all adult New Zealanders, regardless of the gender of the person the love and wish to make a formal, legal commitment to.
No one will be hurt by this legislation being passed. Many many people will be benefited.
I sincerely plead for the Committee to do what is, simply, right. Right for all the men and women who have lived in fear and frustration by not being able to exercise a right simply because of who they fell in love with.
Thank you.
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Curious... Does anyone actually know how the State Department do their transcriptions? Would they be using speech-recognition software, perhaps?
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“certain group within society which causes problems for the community”?
They're absolutely talking about white urban liberals, aren't they?
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Well, having checked the album out, I'm going with the more pervasive internet commentariat - apart from the singles, it's a bit rubbish, really.
The lyrics, in particular, become particularly twee after a while.
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This story brought tears to my eyes, not least because my family just doesn't do this. Sad, for us, I guess.
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Capture: Cats Love Cameras, in reply to Hebe,
Our Billy the gorgeous grey knows this by instinct; whenever we happen to leave the music channel on tv and GunsnRoses comes on, Billy goes googly-eyed and sits rigidly to attention until Slash finishes his yowling.
Mine yowls along to the tiddly tiddly tiddly guitar solo at the end of Hotel California. Sort of embarrassing, really.
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Capture: Cats Love Cameras, in reply to Isaac Freeman,
Yes, Hatstand. No more late-night silly-names-for-the-new-kitten competitions for me.
Heh. And that's how mine got Cypher. Should've been "Cipher", but I thought the 'y' looked better and it was still - just - within the bounds of the winning entry of naming the cat after my favourite Headless Chickens song.
And, no, I wasn't going to call him Donka.