Posts by simon g
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Graeme: "People in prison are completely unaffected."
From the government's press release, yesterday:
The regime is expected to create a gradual increase in the number of prison beds required. An extra 142 prison beds will be needed in the first 10 years. This will be taken into account by the Department of Corrections in its planning for future prison capacity.
...
The impact on the New Zealand prison population is estimated at 56 additional beds after five years, 142 beds after 10 years, 288 after 20 years, 433 after 30 years and 725 after 50 years.
etc.
(quack, quack)
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This is a justice policy, not a corrections policy.
The sun doesn't rise in the east, and set in the west. It doesn't actually move at all. But, you know ...
The duck rule applies. It's about people in prison. It's a corrections policy.
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Radio NZ (and other media) report that Dr Sharples is "appalled".
Associate Corrections Minister Pita Sharples says increasing punitive measures does not solve the problem of crime and violence.
He says the proposals will create huge disparities in sentencing and punishment which are completely out of proportion to the crime.
Dr Sharples says it shows the Government is hide-bound by political rhetoric on crime and punishment that has no factual basis.
So the Associate Minister of Corrections strongly opposes the Corrections policy of the government. So he will speak for the government in his portfolio, against the government, in his portfolio.
This is in direct contravention of the confidence and supply agreement, so the Minister will have to resign. So he won't.
I hope that's clear.
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Was I among the quarter of the population of Greater Auckland (it must be true, because the papers said so) that converged on The Domain for Christmas in the Park?
Ah, the fine traditions of this time of year. Pohutukawa, frantic shopping, batting collapses and ... the invention of crowd numbers at (Insert Sponsor) Christmas in the Park.
250,000? Amazing what they can do with CGI these days.
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Leg Break, good work by you and the team on the Guardian coverage. I had it on together with the TV coverage (which provided ample time for checking the net, as Monsieur FIFA explained the draw once more, slowly).
You're right, Australia really can feel hard done by. They leave Oceania, set out to see the world, or at least Asia, and get rewarded with a much worse draw than the team who stayed home.
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My pool prediction didn't come to pass
So do I get the blog now?
Personal magnificence aside, I've been amused by the general reaction to our draw. In all the range from over-confidence to doom-mongering, I don't think I've heard anybody mention the name of a single player from Paraguay or Slovakia - which is kind of relevant information when we're rating our chances. In fairness, I'd struggle too. General Stroessner?
So basically, we don't have a clue what we're talking about, but we're having fun. Long may it last!
Oh, and Aussie will lose three out of three. The Prediction Prince has spoken.
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So NZ draw the World Cup holders, that is genuinely exciting. Somehow Stuff bury the lead with this soporific headline:
All Whites in Group FUnfortunately it's not a good draw for football in the wider NZ media, because Italy apart, there are no 'hooks' for easy coverage: Paraguay and Slovakia don't summon up too many sporting memories, stereotypes or happy hyphenated-Kiwis to interview in their restaurants. We'll probably be getting the live cross to a West Auckland vineyard: "Croatia, Slovakia, close enough ..."
Damn global game, forcing us to discover the world.
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Kyle, the TAB will sponsor me because they know I can't predict stuff. TVNZ will give me a show because they know I can make people believe I can predict stuff.
Draw prediction update: I'm sensing some blue in a flag. Or possibly red.
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Public Service Announcement
World Cup draw live on TV One, tomorrow morning. Hoop-la starts 6 a.m., business time around 6.45 a.m.
All Whites can't play Australia, or anyone else from "Asia". In fact, I've already done the draw and it's: NZ, Italy, Slovakia, Ivory Coast. A tough group.
If I'm right, I expect to get my own show, Sensing Sport, sponsored by the TAB.
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Some great coinages here, but from the nominations so far, my vote goes to "Sorry". Sorry if anyone disagrees, but that's your problem. Sorry.
Another one churned out constantly is "Ishoozaround". There are no longer problems or obstacles or factors or features or advantages or disadvantages or any of those previously useful nouns. They're all dead.
There are only Ishoozaround ... everything.