Posts by TracyMac
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Since I'm not a Labour voter, my (queer) opinion is moot, but I wouldn't be keen on Robertson as leader either. I think some of the observations that others have made about him seeming to be very much in the "Wellington machine" are apt.
Personally, I think professional politicians are a great thing in the kind of democracy we have, in terms of getting the work done. However, since we seem to have a fascination with "leaders", choosing someone with a reasonable degree of charisma, a broad support base, and the ability to not be seen as engaging in politics for politics' sake, seems like the best thing.
I think the fact that Key's family background, occupation, and roots in Canterbury (not the BIG city) tick a lot of boxes in the "successful, but close to the 'real' people" metrics for many. Regardless of actual reality. While rank populism is irritating to contemplate (whether someone can do the job seems more important), it can't be ignored.
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Hard News: So long, and thanks for all…, in reply to Tom Semmens,
And in how many ways do you need people like me and many of us here to tell you that "blue collar" workers (such as they are; I'm going to assume you also mean service workers) also includes the ebil gays, women, people of ALL ethnicities, transgender people, etc etc etc.
Shall I draw a Venn diagram with little intersecting circles?
If you're too stupid politically to put down the dog whistle and direct debate along the lines of "a fair go for everyone" while pointing the finger at those who are really fucking up "blue collar" workers' quality of life, you don't deserve any gains in power.
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Hard News: So long, and thanks for all…, in reply to Rich of Observationz,
Thank you for saying this more politely than I would.
Too reminiscent of Trotter's "gayz != workers" in terms of pigeonholing.
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... yes, it's the "continually banging their drum" elegant (in the face of patent non-interest or outright disagreement) that qualifies it.
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I tend to think of both of them as Missing Stairs, because if they’re not the “educable” kind of ignorant, the effect on you and the tedious adjustments you have to make around their idiocies/bigotries are the same.
Admittedly, I get angrier with the “doing it for effect” kind quicker. But whether it takes me 6 or 60 minutes to want to rip my hair out, I’m never keen to repeat the experience.
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I facepalmed at that Kerre McIvor column too, but I believe that it represents a huge chunk of the population who believe we should all be nicer to each other, and not be down on people undergoing "genuine hardship", but some people need a firm hand to make sure they stay in line. And that nice Mr Key just has our best interests at heart.
I shouldn't sound so patronising, but the tone of that whole piece invites it. This is the dangerous complacency of many. Those who lived through an era where politicians clearly signalled their agendas, perhaps. You knew full well what Muldoon and Bolger/Richardson were like, whether or not the full detail was clear. If you voted for them, you wanted the "hard line". Key just comes across like a massive concern troll.
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Just... wow.
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I stole my mother's Mighty Swift Whip about 20 years ago, without a blink of guilt. Never thought to check op-shops.
Mum's is still going strong, despite a wobbly handle, and blows away any modern device. I don't know why the modern ones are so much less efficient...
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Maybe some professional groups might be amenable to pressure, but I'd say the majority (e.g. Microsoft TechEd, which is a fairly large event) won't give a single shit.
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For relatively low-tech but great coffee-grinding, a hand grinder is the bee's knees. I have this one: http://shop.coffeesupreme.com.au/collections/accessories/products/hario-ceramic-coffee-mill-skerton
And for getting off jar lids, use the manky old stainless can opener in the kitchen drawer - one leg has the bottle-opener notch and is perfect for cracking the seal by slightly levering one section of the rim. Most notch-type bottle-openers (as opposed to the ring-style ones) will work for jars.