Posts by Lyndon Hood

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  • Speaker: Database Nation,

    machine gun toting polisi or guards

    Someone once pointed out to me the daftness of machine guns for policing. "It leaves you with no other option than maximum force," he said. If someone's not complying you have to either let it slide of turn them into paste.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Speaker: Database Nation,

    our new Government plans to introduce DNA testing of all suspects in all crimes involving imprisonable offences.

    I just found a http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0810/S00672.htm:

    As is the case with fingerprints and photographs, we will require DNA records to be destroyed where charges are dropped or where suspects are found not guilty.

    So not quite as evil as it sounds in the oft-repeated summary. Probably (pending yet more info) still encourages police to lay charges for the blood test tho, and frankly, can't they wait for the conviction?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Speaker: Database Nation,

    "Criminals will soon find it harder to get bail as the National Government moves immediately to get tough on law and order."

    Indeed; I wouldn't say it's just because it's National though. Editors tend to forget at what point hypothetical people become criminals quite easily.

    But combine that with they way the change may not actually change anything and the trueness of the sentence is not high.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • OnPoint: There is no depression in New…,

    Beer damnit!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Field Theory: On Averages,

    That would explain why my attempted italic broke. If you want the NIWA NZ historical temperature chart you'll need to replace the <em> with two _'s.

    http://www.niwa.co.nz/__data/assets/image/0006/73455/nztemp7_1853-2007_v3.jpg

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Field Theory: On Averages,

    Change over time on a bar chart.

    Admittedly your last one would be rather hard to read done differently but the don't make it right.

    Thing is, lines-in-between traditionally represent continuous change in levels. So 'should' be a line graph where 'should' does not refer to the normal rules of doing graphs.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Field Theory: On Averages,

    think it depends whether the graphs represent "number of tackles" or "tackliness".

    My suspicions is that 11 games might be enough to draw a sensible average from but perhaps not a (statistically) meaningful trend.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Island Life: And some with a fountain pen,

    which is pretty close to veal

    Osso Buco?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Island Life: Unaccustomed as I am,

    maybe you won't mention the thing you have for high school uniforms.

    500 points for any new MP who can carry that off. There must be a constituency.


    "And then, of course, there is the 'thing' I have about high school uniforms.

    "I recall as if it were yesterday, when I first saw a particular photograph, a piece of history, worn and sepia-toned - I have a copy here in my wallet, a photograph of - please bear with me - of that great statesman Winston Churchill.

    "The war was over, democracy was victorious and the blockade was ended; British people could once again import those little luxuries they had so missed. How was this symbolised? By a photograph of Winston Churchill handing a schoolgirl a banana.

    "And that's when I said to myself, 'One day, I want to be a politician.'"

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Island Life: And some with a fountain pen,

    Well we are New Zealanders. We should be able to swallow every sound in 'Global economic crisis' except perhaps for a syllable or two and the second-last 's' if we use the phrase often enough. Does that help?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

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