Posts by James Green
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For me the issue with STV is that unless they were really really large electorates (like probably the whole south island), the smaller parties with wide appeal (like the greens) seem like they might miss out, whereas the winstons and andertons of the world might still get in.
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I also fervently campaigned for MMP, despite not being able to vote until '96, so I never actually got to use the old system. I'd like to think I managed to convince a good number of over 65s that MMP was a good idea.
However, what I like most about Emma's post is this sentence
the inability to actually effect anything
where either effect or affect works. -
Everything is a distortion. Only believers in the doctrine of the Perfect Market think otherwise.
I've never quite got round to having this argument with someone who cares, but it has always struck me that the free market naturally tends toward monopoly and price fixing, rather than introducing competition, reducing prices etc.
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Where is does the payoff sit in terms of cost in toll collection versus revenue? Is $2 a pop actually worth it?
Certainly there is a rumour that tickets for some bus systems barely cover the cost of ticketing (especially in lost time with people faffing round for change).
And as for the Greens' notion that there should be a free alternative, I remember being amused/confused in Bangkok. The free road was total gridlock, and the tolled equivalent was one of the emptiest 6 lane roads I've ever seen. I guess they got the price very wrong, and it was only used by wealthy and/or tourists.
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It's all a bit as if Jane Clifton has only now read a book on PoMo*, and is coming to the party 20 years too late.
(*NB: I only came across PoMo as abbreviation for post-modernism last week, but at least I knew the concept)
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She's just done a dreadful interview with Moss Burmester. I think she used "feel" 3 times in one sentence.
If only I was exaggerating. What's even more amusing, is I'm fairly sure our parents shared a workplace...
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Yeah, do you think Sony coulda let us know that was coming to market sooner? Like maybe 3 months ago when I bit the bullet and bought a big screen plasma (Sharp) to enjoy the Olympics?
I think they probably deliberately kept quiet. A note that you're a recent arrival on Public Address System, so perhaps also a new reader? I'm pretty sure Russell mentioned it here on several occasions, and it was also a footnote to some of the information about Freeview at launch. But you are right, it's not something that has been heavily trumpeted. There are several other brands apparently in testing that have yet to appear.
Incidentally, the Sony on-screen menu makes it clear the tuner is a Zinwell (for any interested geeks).but what the fsck are they wearing (or not wearing)? I mean those 'kini bottoms are so small ... since when did builder's bum become an Olympic sport?
My learned Sony owning friend informs me that there are regulations. Including no more than a 5cm inseam for women, and 10cm for men.
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I was also annoyed about the choice to move off the road race. The previous night we'd been round at friends (*waves at said friends, long-time PAS lurkers*), enjoying their new Full HD Freeview tuner built-in 32" Sony W-Series, TVNZ extra, and the whole gory entirety of the men's road race. (OK, we flipped channels a few times, partly to see how Star Wars looked in 1080 goodness, and to see the occasional rowing race).
TVNZ Sports Extra does have some other merits in addition to no adds. Also blissfully little Toni Street, Brendan Telfer, Peter Montgomery, Lavinia Good etc. At one point I suggested we could have a drinking game every time Toni asked a question involving the use of the verb 'feel'. I initially said this in jest, but we rapidly realised that this would get a person drunk very quickly.
Oh, and on our high-def experience, it is very clear that Peter Montgomery has spent a lot of time outside on the water.... -
As for its shittiness, is it really that bad? Am I led to believe that SB's global dominance has been based on selling crud?
It all depends on your point of reference. Starbucks or Seattle's Best (now owned by Starbucks) don't seem quite so bad when you compare it to the general quality of 'coffee' in the US.
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Not here it wasn't: Starbucks has never been cool in New Zealand... Its competition isn't Mojo, it's McDonald's.
And in the market Maccas are whomping them. Better product for cheaper.
http://shareinvestornz.blogspot.com/2008/07/starbucks-new-zealand-cup-doesnt.html