Posts by Rob Stowell
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It does seem a tad curious that while most of Bevan Chuang's account seems to be accepted by commenters here, her belief that the mayor was offered and accepted free hotel rooms is not.
Of course she could be wrong on this.
And accepting such an offer probably isn't a crime, though there may be a requirement to declare such 'gifts'.
But if that was the case, it is kind've dodgy. And since it's been denied, if it turns out to have happened, could tip the balance against Len. -
Hard News: Moving right along?, in reply to Andrew Geddis,
Not a crime, but in most workplaces this would be a sackable offense.
Probably true.
If one were caught at it <shudder> sure.
But if someone you were having a relationship with claimed this had happened (without proof) after the event? Probably not.
I’m not exactly sure how this works, but I’d have thought an office can be a reasonable place to assume privacy. Especially if the door was locked, for example.pull strings to swing special favors for his shag
I haven’t heard anyone, anywhere, express the view that this is ok- if it in fact happened. Stating it as fact on the basis of a reference coming out of the mayor’s office indicates you’ve got no doubt that’s what happened or are reckless with the truth.
If you’re right, Brown is toast. If not, you’re publicly defaming him, which is also something we don’t generally think is ok.{ETA: Haven’t read the sordid details of Cook’s guide to Chuang’s account of Len’s affair. Don’t want to. They should not have been made public (according, belatedly, to Chuang herself.) Obsessing about them, and repeating them, doesn’t change anything. Erm. Life is great, but it doesn’t have a rewind button.}
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Capture: Two Tales of a City, in reply to Hebe,
Fingers crossed :)
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Lovely :)
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Hard News: Everybody's Machiavelli, in reply to Craig Ranapia,
Aucklanders are also entitled to expect a LOT better from their only daily newspaper
Perhaps.
But after filling the first 5 pages of NZ's largest paper with salacious garbage-trawling, maybe they felt a tiny acknowledgement there's another side to the story was appropriate?
Some PhD student will probably do a detailed comparison of the coverage of election issues vs the coverage of Len's Folly. But on the face of it, gossip over substance is an understatement: gossip totally swamps substance. -
Hard News: Sick with Anger, in reply to Chris Waugh,
If you are impatient, The Luminaries is available as an ebook. Took about 5 minutes to google, pay download – and start reading :)
(And yeah, the style is a little self-consciously 19th C. But I like a lot of 19th C writing, and in the setting – and the style, the mode of address is a vital part of the setting- it works.) -
+1
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Losing a sibling unexpectedly is very hard, shocking, tragic. Sympathy and sadness.
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Perhaps an apology would be in order.
More than.
Dealing with a runaway kid (autistic or not, but for me, mostly the former) is traumatic enough. NZ Police clearly lack basic training – in empathy.
(Or maybe these officers need some ‘life experience.’ They could try looking after [name redacted] for a few hours each day, with no recourse to cells and handcuffs … )
RE: Snodgrass case - it's hard to find words that convey the insane politicking and mass casualties from the USA's moronic 'war on drugs'. But great to hear these parents are fighting back. -
Capture: Two Tales of a City, in reply to Ian Dalziel,
Keown …has also been re-elected to the District Health Board, as well.
Grrrr. Like a few others, I determinedly ranked all candidates, just to put Aaron 26th (after a couple of, ahem, unusual types).
If, as you suggest, the bloc votes as one, it would be very unfortunate.
I’m not so sure, as long as it’s sensible, constructive, engaged and well-communicated. There are some things that need to be blocked. And it could give the council a sense of direction it badly needs (rather than looking like it’s wandering aimless in a wilderness.)