Posts by Public Servant on a tea-break.

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  • Cracker: Caution Boaties,

    Well done, and you’re right, it isn’t socially easy to lay off the drink for a bit.

    The socialising with booze thing, in all honesty, is too expensive to rationalise; personally I simple don’t have enough money too regularly transfer it by biological process from my bank account into the pub urinal. However, I more than aware that there are people who feel you have insulted them if you say ‘Not for me thanks, I’m good’.

    I’m not saying you should become a wowser, but people’s priorities change, be true to yours. Your mates will understand eventually. And surely after a couple of months of finding $50-100 (or whatever, I don't judge) extra in your wallet at the end of weekend, as well as discovering how to face weekend mornings without sunnies, the short-term benefits to you will be undeniable.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2008 • 67 posts Report

  • Hard News: Citizens,

    There goes my plan to be a guest on Media7 by changing my name to 'John Bryce'

    Oh well, back to the day job...

    Wellington • Since Apr 2008 • 67 posts Report

  • Hard News: Citizens,

    John Hutchings
    Bryce Johns
    Bryce Johnson

    Mr Brown, is similarity of name an important factor on your show when you are picking guests?

    Just wondering…

    Wellington • Since Apr 2008 • 67 posts Report

  • Hard News: The TVNZ 7 Internet Debate,

    I know I’m jumping back a topic, but I have to come to the defence of the Sunday Morning programme on Radio NZ, which has come into criticism on ‘Hard New’s’ discussion thread before today. I honestly prefer it to Kim Hill on Saturday. The chief reasons for this being:

    - the interviews do not sound like the person being interviewed is wrestling to get a word in edgeways past Kim Hill, which can happen in her interviews;

    - I’ve actually had enough of frantic political commentary by Sunday, and it is nice to hear discussions being undertaken by informed people on important topics who are breathing through their noses, and;

    - For insightful commentary on recent events, Media Watch is very good at holding the media to account, so is a must hear for me.

    In fact, the only real complaint about the programme I have is about of the music show (that is aimed at revealing hidden gems and sound bites). The compiler/commentator continuously gabs across the intros of the songs like some commercial DJ who has had too much V. If I’m hearing a tune that is new to me, I like to hear the whole thing. I’m picky that way.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2008 • 67 posts Report

  • Hard News: Just Some Things,

    I'm going to sound hopelessly out dated but...

    ... Gene Krupa is my favourite drummer, particularly 'Sing, sing, sing' with Benny Goodman.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2008 • 67 posts Report

  • Hard News: Something odd and unresolved,

    In response to Rich of Observationz’s comment about journalists reporting relationships being flawed, I agree. The idea that a married ‘family man’ Prime Minister has to be superior to a childless Prime Minister is wrong, so shouldn’t be an issue. Michael Joseph Savage was unmarried, childless, and didn’t own his own home; yet a lot of families benefited from his government.

    Clark’s marriage is childless, many are. It has nothing to do with anything, except maybe rumours sell papers.

    Thank you for linking to the Comrie paper Russell, it was very interesting.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2008 • 67 posts Report

  • Hard News: Track to the Future,

    < (also, if you could see fit to work out why in the new millennium we can't get a passenger train that can go faster than either the old Vulcan railcar or a steam JA-hauled passenger train).>

    Good question. I have been assured that the limit to speed on New Zealand rail is not the engines employed, but the nature of the track.

    When the line was being put in around the turn of the 20th Century, the engineers employed by the Liberal government costed putting a camber on the line, to enable trains to travel faster around bends in the track. The cost of bedding this in proved too expensive, so the track was laid flat, limiting New Zealand rail speeds ever since. To fix it at this point, an immense project would be required to lift the rail line, and reshape the beds that they sit on right across the country.

    So in short: blame King Dick Seddon.

    At least, that is the story I was told.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2008 • 67 posts Report

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