Posts by FletcherB

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  • Hard News: Beautiful Images,

    7 days made me laugh out loud in places... I hope it gets even better with practise?

    Dai Henwood -- he's actually really smart,

    All the really funny people I know (not famous comedians) are also rather clever... but not all the clever people I know are funny.

    In general, every time I've seen a (good) comedian interviewed, they all seem to be not lacking in the brains department.

    I'm drawn to the conclusion that perhaps intelligence is actually a pre-requisite to ...comedy-ness(?) ...comedian-ship(?).. comedic talent.

    If you can think of anyone famous who's funny but not especially bright you could disprove this.

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Up Front: Does My Mortgage Look Like a…,

    Of course walking and determining if the assets are fixed or floating is pretty much an offense the first time.

    determining if assets are fixed or floating via a visual estimation method may or may-not be acceptable, depending on various factors,

    confirmation by the braille method is nearly always off limits unless you already know the owner of the assets on a fairly intimate basis.

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Hard News: Food and drink,

    I've eaten some interesting combinations of meats and vegetables baked on a round flat bread-base in a pizza oven.

    They were all (well, ok, mostly) delicious, but many of them did not really meet my definition of "pizza".

    avocado and teriyaki chicken? pumpkin and sesame seed?
    others I forget.... yummy, pizza shaped.
    Not actually pizza.

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Guilty 2: Taito Philip Field,

    |There was no transparency in the decision to dump Field either.

    At least when Field was shifted quietly out the back door we had a basic understanding of the reason why, even if it was not absolutely transparent. With Worth we've heard lots of rumours, but still have no clear idea why he was booted out.

    I would suggest that if you're prepared to read between the lines, you can infer a reasonably clear "basic understanding" about the Worth case too...

    My guess is the PM "lost confidence" when he found himself personally misled...

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Speaker: Remembering the Chartists,

    We have a voting system for Parliament that is both secret and allows dual votes to be found and removed.

    Are you sure its really secret by design, or just secret by convention?

    I'm completely happy to accept that nobody does actually match up the voting form numbers and the name/number lists..... so my ballot in practice remains secret... but as far as I understand, its only convention and the presence of witnesses that removes the actual ability to check who someone voted for... if no-one was watching you can easily figure out who people voted for.

    Its a flaw I accept to reduce the likely-hood of multiple voting, but its not 100% water-tight.

    No?

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Hard News: Food and drink,

    Personally, I think food tastes much better if I cook it over natural gas I've prepared myself.

    I think I'll have to take your word for that.

    I've been accused by family and acquaintances of being a producer of great volume (in both senses), but I cant imagine making enough flatulence to cook with?

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Hard News: Deja Vu,

    doh! "bigger party for the 5 year old"

    and I'll add at the end

    "So I no longer need to feel any embarrassment for receiving the assistance".

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Hard News: Deja Vu,

    You know, a few years back, when we qualified for (and applied for and received) Working For Families.... We were grateful for the approx $150 a week it added to the family income.... we could have scraped by without it, but it certainly let us indulge in the odd bottle of wine, a birthday bigger party for our 5 year old and other small indulgences that made for a nicer standard of living.

    But still, I did not feel good about receiving government assistance... I was earning an average (or slightly above) wage, and we had chosen our situation so were happy to lie in it.
    National's calls of WFF making everyone a middle-class beneficiary, and that this was a poor state of affairs had a resonance to them for me... (you will recall National's outrage that someone on as much as $100k could get a little assistance if they had enough kids to qualify)

    So now it seems these same ministers dont seem to object to receiving hand-outs themselves... especially when their salaries are not even slightly "middle-class"... in fact they are on considerably more than double the limit they previously found it outrageous to require assistance.

    Hypocrites.

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Short and Long of It,

    Nope. Wish I'd thought of it.

    That's exactly the right thing to say when you're the sock-puppet operator... :)

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Island Life: Good on ya, Paula,

    I tried to look at the close-up video on-line, and cant get more than an introductory 12 seconds, so I'll just assume 3410's transcription is correct.

    " I suppose it's a bit of a lesson for what happens when you go out there "

    Well, it looks like I mis-remembered Paula's words, so I unhesitatingly withdraw my accusation of suggesting "teach them a lesson" passed her lips.

    But really.... She released the info, she wasnt being vindictive, she didnt intend for them to be vilified by the public, and "I suppose it's a bit of a lesson for what happens"....

    What exactly is the lesson?
    That when you speak up, your private details will be released?
    That when your private details are released, they will be commented on, possibly unflatteringly?

    It seems Ms Bennet is the one who should be taking lessons.

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

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