Posts by jon_knox
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You're famous au. Prolly too buzy on the tv today to respond to your responses....that and practicing for Dancing with Stars. Gawd let's hope it hasn't gone to your head being both on TV and NZ's (or is it Fiji's) "Blogger's spokesman".
You were a lot more youthful looking on the telly and didn't have a David Bellamy-beard as I'd imagined.
Let's hope the bro' town fullas go easy on you ;o)
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That's some freaky shit jon.
Yep...there I was thinking that soldiers/airmen would be making some effort to identify their targets in a meaningful way.....and it seems to be "yeah it's alive, so lets kill it". Staggering! I feel very naive though I realize there is very little context provided in that clip, but still staggering.
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I was having a look at Metafilter which had a link to a utube video of the American Civil War in 4 minutes. I figured I've got 4 mins to be less ignorant about American history and then found a "Related" clip which was both amazing and disturbing. I can only assume these clips are coming out of the US forces.
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Thanks David! For a minute the dark angel looming was forgotten as I visited a slice of childhood paradise. There's not much in life that's better than sitting on a (Glaswegian) grandparent's knee singing as little 'un...Even sitting in an office recalling this is pretty damn good!
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Unfortunately, Nonu will be at the world cup, he can play 12, 13 & wing
Suspect Nonu just hasn't done enough to make the initial picks, though he may get there through injury later in the season. NZ's got enough classy mid-field and outside backs not to have to rely on someone who's not really repaid the selectors faith in him, even under the "utility" banner ( Mils, Leon & Luke seem to have the utility card up their sleeves ). Toeava on the other hand has (finally) started to shine.
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Looks like you were in the "flash" trains Keith! I recall on a couple of overnight train journeys in India when I splashed out for a couchette, I had to (politely) shoo the half dozen fullas off it that were keeping it warm prior to my arrival. My manky backpack was used as a pillow and there were no sheets or blankets over the "lovely" blue vinyl. I woke up a couple of times and found that the fullas that I'd shoo-ed away as I arrived had reclaimed their positions. They would jump off as soon as I'd stir but would sneak back as soon as I dozed off again. Wish I'd taken a few photos of it.
I was surprised to note some changes in India between your experiences and mine some 7 years ago. Prior to my trip I was introduced to a journalist (Martin) who'd been some 30 years ago, by a friend (Cam) who'd been there a few years prior to my trip. Though Martin and Cam they had visited Varanasi 25 years apart, described a very similar scene (strikingly similar as I found out when I subsequently visited).
I could happily ramble on about India for ages, but I'll save it for another time!
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Just to play the devil's advocate for a moment, I'm a bit more worried about the media bitch pack baying for blood after the death of the Kahui Twins.
Yeah I noticed last week that the Kahui case is approaching the date set down for depositions hearing (which I didn't previously know is a hearing to decide if there is enough evidence for a case to "put a person to trial" according to the MOJ site) and expect another media frenzy.
Richard Dawkins wrote what I consider quite an interesting essay about the jury system that was republished in his book "A Devil's Chaplain". Whether you generally agree or disagree with Dawkin's, I'd suggest that they are worth a read.
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I imagine getting Tim Selwyn to sit down with David Bain would make a fascinating discussion, regardless of presumed innocence or guilt....but then again there are probably a great number of ex-prisoners who could articulately describe what it's like doing a long lag and adjusting to life on the outside. So perhaps if David is found "not guilty", then the right questions will be those inquiring about how we can prevent this happening again.
Having read the Privy Council judgment I note that the decision is
...the appeal should be allowed, the convictions quashed and a retrial ordered. The appellant must remain in custody meanwhile.
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I wonder if the hubcaps are spinners and how much of a debt the design team owes to the creators of Thunderbirds.
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(Standing back for a moment to consider the horizon).
Seems to be a recurring theme here.
Pondering how to encourage NZ music.
Pondering how to encourage artists.
Pondering how DRM should work.
Pondering how to encourage broadband.
Pondering how to encourage public transport.On a slightly different note, I got an email from Pandora (the music website...as opposed to Adrian Mole's gf) a couple of days ago indicating that as I'm not in the US, they are going to prevent me using their website because of licensing. That blows. I use Pandora to find new stuff to listen to and shock, horror, gasp I've then actually purchased music online because of Pandora's picks for me. Oh well, guess if I can't sample the music online easily, then I'm going to have to to do something else....well done, big tick, A+ heavy-handed music industry DRM advocates.