Posts by Grace Dalley

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  • Hard News: Clover It,

    What Sacha said:

    This country's intensive dairying is already causing us real problems. In the ECan debacle, we have seen that the stakes are high enough for the national political representatives of commercial farming to abrogate local body democracy to defend unsustainable practices.

    While I think many Greens retain a horror of GM that dates from a time when it wasn't well understood, my anti-GM feelings are because many applications of GM technology worsen poor land-management issues, and end up causing ecological harm.

    I'm not against the anti-flatulence clover in itself, but I am against turning ever more land over to unsustainable dairying. I really don't think it's the way of the future. Or, it's the way of a future in which we run out of drinkable freshwater, the ground is full of pesticides and nitrates, our native plants and animals only exist in reserves or museums, and there's not enough food to go round. Can't we work on growing and improving food that thrives in the environments we already have, without huge amounts of added water?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2008 • 138 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Costly indeed,

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2008 • 138 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Costly indeed,

    Craig: righto, now we understand each other :-)
    Stephen J: haha that is very funny. But actually we hear quite a lot about the weather in the news! Here in Chch we have been having a pluvially good time. :-)

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2008 • 138 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Costly indeed,

    Craig: whoa, I never said cheating on expenses was OK. But you're drawing a long bow to suggest that's on a par with police and judicial corruption.

    Of course we want public servants to be models of probity, I'd just like this scandal to be kept in proportion.

    Where the government decides to spend or not spend public money as a matter of policy, and the changes they make to our laws, and to publically-held assets: that's where I think the media should be focussing its attention. I think this expenses scandal is a distraction.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2008 • 138 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Costly indeed,

    While obviously I want MPs to be responsible and accountable in their actions, is this fuss really proportionate? I'm much more concerned about public money/borrowing being used to fund tax cuts for the rich. Or about local democracy being trimmed back, both in Auckland and here in Canterbury. And all the other stuff that actually affects our lives.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2008 • 138 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: That's my cab,

    Oh no, sorry to hear that. I will miss your wonderful stories. Thanks for being so interesting and amusing.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2008 • 138 posts Report Reply

  • Field Theory: Settle a bet,

    I think looking for quotable quotes in formula action movies is making things a bit hard. I can think of a few from Hellboy 2, though.

    Industrable, my ass!

    Sometimes lines are only funny when you and all your friends know them backwards and they become a shorthand for describing things in the real world.

    Just about every Woody Allen movie is one quotable line after another.

    Last night I was home alone in my apartment and I conjured up a threesome with me, Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren, and it was very very erotic. As a matter of fact if I'm not mistaken, it was the first time those two great actresses ever appeared in anything together. (Anything Else, 2003)

    I don't think comparing Casablanca with Avatar is really apples with apples. Casablanca wasn't actually a blockbuster when it came out. It was a moody tearjerker that happened to be particularly well written and acted.

    recordari, thanks for reminding me about Bad Taste!
    And David, I agree In Bruges had many great one liners, sick and twisted though they were.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2008 • 138 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Alone at Party Central,

    Oh thanks Sacha - late night typing not so hot. Hard not to be impressed by someone riding a burning alligator. :-)

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2008 • 138 posts Report Reply

  • Up Front: A Word in Your Ear,

    I've found it's a good idea to take things higher if the application of rules seems too crazy. Higher-ups have not only a view of the bigger picture but are allowed more discretion in applying the rules. "Can I speak to your supervisor?" can be a magic password.

    I found that a utility company we've been having difficulties with suggests a slightly different wording. If you call them, and the person answering the call doesn't sort things out, you say, "I'd like to escalate this call" and they pass you further up the tree.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2008 • 138 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Alone at Party Central,

    Regarding media craziness and stupidity about the Gulf oil spill, I think xkcd has the last word.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2008 • 138 posts Report Reply

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