Posts by Ross Mason

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  • Hard News: The GCSB Bill: eleventh-hour arguments,

    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/20/innocent-fear-david-miranda

    "I hesitate to draw parallels with history, but I wonder how those now running the surveillance state – and their appeasers – would have behaved under the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century. We hear today so many phrases we have heard before. The innocent have nothing to fear. Our critics merely comfort the enemy. You cannot be too safe. Loyalty is all. As one official said in wielding his legal stick over the Guardian: "You have had your debate. There's no need to write any more."

    Yes, there bloody well is."

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Up Front: The Missing Stair and the…,

    My old man definitely was a missing stair. I try not to (inherit-idly) be one as well by making sure my riser is in place and I tread as warily as can. Although I know I have wound a few people up here! My intentions have always been honourable with no malice intended!

    Basically, we start out just wishing it would be okay to show a bit more cleavage..

    Does not taking a glance mean we have missed a good stare?

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Hard News: The GCSB Bill: We at least…,

    DeepRed's link has this video

    http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/opinion/the-national-security-agencys-domestic-spying-program.html

    Is this what happens when agencies begin to spy on their citizens?

    No thanks.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Hard News: The GCSB Bill: We at least…,

    Hmmm.. Key says the 88 cases the GCSB did under the "old law" was on nine people. Only nine????? Hmmm...seems an awful lot of people following the few.

    The Kitteridge report says this on page 6:

    "All relevant instances of assistance (concerning 88 individuals in total), dating between 1 April 2003 and 26 September 2012, have been identified and a report has been provided to the Minister Responsible for the GCSB, in parallel with this report, so
    that he can determine the appropriate action to be taken."

    Interesting.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Southerly: My Life As a Palm Tree,

    These days have sadly fast disappeared……

    Unfortunately, H&S has reached all the way to Scott Base. I have been reliably informed that the mid winter skinny dip into the sea through a hole in the ice is now taboo.

    Me? I am a qualified member of the Lake Vanda Swim Club. Membership qualification required walking only in Mukluks to the waters edge, taking said boots off and immersing oneself completely under the water. All in the presence of a Vandal (person who resided at Lake Vanda for the summer).

    Fact: Ruth Richardson is a bona fide member!!

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Southerly: My Life As a Palm Tree, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Sticking four prongs of a garden fork through four toes,
    tidily two on each foot.

    Forkin 'ell.

    Two kids chopping. (Wifey's younger sisters). Small tomahawk. Wood chopping block. Tractor shed. Farm. Slightly older one is chopping. Other one wants a go. Slightly older one won't give up the axe. Littly puts hand on chop to stop her swinging the axe. "Move your fingers!". "No." "MOVE your fingers". "Make me".

    Chop.

    Two ends missing.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Southerly: My Life As a Palm Tree,

    My father had a couple of bullets he "brought back from the war". It was a large calibre short cartridge bullet. He was foolish. One day he "showed" me how to whack it with a hammer and a nail and make it go bang. I was less than 5 years old. He went to work. I found the other one. Got the hammer and nail but couldn't get it to go bang. However, I did make sure it ended up quite flat after whacking it for a long time. I still get shudders.

    Yes I made gunpowder. Being the lab assistant at school gave me access to the whole chemical store. :-) That other brew with iodine and potassium permangate....I think...that goes bang when it dries. :-) :-) :-)

    Yes I made two stage sky rockets with the second stage being a "Screaming Meemee". it would take a few seconds to light and in that time it had turned to face mother earth and sound like a banshee as it headed back down.

    Sparkler bombs. Acetylene bombs. oh dear....

    Yes I swung my kids by the heels and flipped them. ....must be something physics dads do.

    Yes I made high swings at playcentre with a bell in the trees that the kids LOVED to ring as parents held their breath. The bastards chopped the tree down after I left.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Muse: How (Not) To Be Incredibly Racist…,

    Karl is a dressed down circle jerk now.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Hard News: Our man in Afghanistan,

    WMD: Whey of Mammary Destruction

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Hard News: Our man in Afghanistan,

    Getting back to this MWD...er...WMDs business. Coleman now says that some people are "researching" WMDs rather than WMDs being here.

    What TF does that mean. Does it mean my googling how a dirty nukey bomb works? Does it mean finding out how a fertiliser bomb works? Does it mean getting our biggest company spreading Botulism around the world?

    Fonterror certainly spent enough time "researching" to find the issue.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

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