Posts by Richard Llewellyn

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  • Hard News: Travelling Gravely,

    Yeah I've always wondered about that - it's like, in another country it's so far from town - it'd be more than $70, wouldn't it?

    I caught a taxi from Mt Albert to Airport yesterday and it was $40.00. But granted, that was unusual, as was the traffic chaos earlier in the week (same day that RB travelled?) which was caused by an 11 car nose to tail on the motorway. Took me 90 minutes to get there that particular day.

    Some good news is that bus services have this week been beefed up quite a bit - Airbus now every 15 minutes, plus a new bus service between Airport and Sth Auckland. And the renovation of Sth Western motorway is going to be scalable for rail (so I understand). I suspect rail will be a few years away though, even though there is a lot of political will to make it happen - funding will be the major sticking point.

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report

  • Cracker: Fillerup,

    Heck, I can't talk, I've got a scooter and an SUV

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report

  • Cracker: Fillerup,

    For those Aucklanders considering a scooter, I heartily recommend Retro Scooters

    While I won't disagree with the sentiment Paul as I certainly received excellent service from Michael and Miles, I do regret buying the 50cc Motofino (US model).

    Not that I don't enjoy the travel, but I've had more than a few mechanical problems with the scooter which is a pain to get fixed under warrantly, and I wish I'd been arsed enough to get my motorbike licence so that I could get something with a bit more oomph.

    50cc is absolutely fine for rush hour traffic around the CBD, particularly with all the bus-lanes, but as more than a few people here have attested, once you get out of the CBD an onto the more open road, the traffic is a little more feral and less forgiving of scooters (and shaking your fists at an inconsiderate driver while atop a nifty-fifty just doesn't have any intimidation factor whatsover) :).

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report

  • Island Life: The longest last time,

    My god thats so sad. I cannot imagine.

    A friend tragically lost her one-year old in recent times (on his birthday). The funeral was the saddest event. When they asked everyone at the end to come up and personally say farewell, to Jeff Buckleys Last Goodbye, it was devastating.

    I hope your friends eventually find some solace David.

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report

  • Ways to Go,

    Heh - I'll be asking Justin to attend to mine as well - he is the man.

    And I'll be using my life insurance claim to pay for the Straitjacket Fits to reform and play 'Down in Splendour'

    Or maybe the Pixies to play 'Debaser' .... might need to bump up my coverage.

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report

  • Indiana Jonesing,

    Now that the end-game in this fascinating contest seems to be clear (he says cautiously), I've got to say that I'm missing it already.

    Hope the main event is as good.

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report

  • Indiana Jonesing,

    I rarely read him on politics, because his style is a bit like being trapped in a phone booth with a hyper-active, hyper-articulate, hyper-obsessive drunk

    Rob, thats the most wonderful characterisation of Hitchens

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report

  • Island Life: A simple 'your lordship'…,

    Our neighbour also happens to be a teacher at our kids school. He cheerfully explains to the girls, who call him 'Chris' around the 'hood, that at school, they have to call him 'Mr Smith'.

    Its a distinction that our 6 and 8 year olds have no problem making. But school seems to be the last preserve of this strange tradition.

    I can recall my first job (not long before the crash in '87) and being told that we had to address the CEO as we would a teacher (this was an insurance company after all). Can you imagine that happening now?.

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Universal Intercept,

    Sure, but I was more impressed by the substance under the rhetoric.

    Absolutely - sorry I didn't mean to imply it was a triumph of style over substance at all. But it is a beautifully written and balanced attempt to take a much loftier view of the issue, while framing it in words that all sides of the divide can (should?) understand.

    I hope it will have an impact, because its superb (the doozy is when he weaves in religion in a meaningful sense "In the end, then, what is called for is nothing more, and nothing less, than what all the world’s great religions demand – that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us.")

    Yet sadly, there are already plenty of entrenched views from the Clinton or Republican support bases who have completely dismissed the speech as nothing but empty, evasive words. No matter what happens between now and November, no matter what scandals are dredged up, many people have simply made up their minds.

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Universal Intercept,

    Think of the candidate what you will (and I am a fan), but as a sometime speech-writer, I am damn impressed with Obama's latest effort

    Dunno if it will make any difference with regards to the bruising fight to the death that he is engaged in with Hillary, but that is one mighty fine piece of rhetoric.

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report

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