Posts by Sarah Wedde

  • Hard News: Higgs Live!,

    I have a relative who very kindly and patiently took me through some of the basics of cosmology a few years ago, and although I have since forgotten as much as I ever knew, the announcement was still a thrill.

    The Higgs had sort of legendary status in my tiny addled brain, like a bad-arse Grandpa who I had only ever heard stories about at Chistmas, but who I knew must theoretically have impregnated Grandma for any of us to be here at all. And now here he is, sending us letters in Comic Sans, charmingly illustrated with Microsoft clipart. Rock on your bad-arse self Grandpa.

    Lower Hutt • Since Nov 2006 • 66 posts Report

  • Hard News: If wishing made it so ...,

    The new review process for the sickness benefit requires an appointment where:

    "We will review your medical information"
    "We will ask you questions relating to your medical condition and its effect on your capacity for work."

    This happens in an open plan office. All the glossy mental health awareness campaigns mean nothing when you're doing this to people.

    Lower Hutt • Since Nov 2006 • 66 posts Report

  • Hard News: If wishing made it so ...,

    The obligations for sickness beneficiaries have already changed. If your doctor says you're not capable of ANY work then you have "planning" obligations (develop an employment plan, take part in work related activities or programmes etc.). If your doctor says you are capable of part-time work then you have work obligations. Not meeting your obligations carries the threat of benefit reductions, and in the case of work obligations, benefit stoppage. They've pretty much done the groundwork for abolishing the sickness benefit and switching over to the jobseeker support. I guess employers are just pushing aside healthy people to get to the sick ones.

    Lower Hutt • Since Nov 2006 • 66 posts Report

  • Hard News: Women and their representations,

    The only universal tip I think of right now
    is “warm your hands up first”.

    At least check that, yes, they really would prefer your icy cold hands of doom.

    Lower Hutt • Since Nov 2006 • 66 posts Report

  • Hard News: Women and their representations,

    When the Cosmo sex tips things was posted on Metafilter, someone contributed this comment on the perfect storm of women's mag headlines which seems fairly appropriate to this discussion.

    Lower Hutt • Since Nov 2006 • 66 posts Report

  • Hard News: The perils of political confidence,

    Drug test policy seems to unfairly discriminate against the demographic likely to be applying for the kind of jobs that require drug testing. Presumably my middle-aged white lady self gets a free pass on this one.

    Lower Hutt • Since Nov 2006 • 66 posts Report

  • Hard News: Dropping the Bomber,

    The Prime Minister is hugely
    popular

    Not in these parts. But word on the street in Naenae probably doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of becoming part of the mainstream discourse.

    Lower Hutt • Since Nov 2006 • 66 posts Report

  • Hard News: The file-sharing bill,

    I genuinely can't tell whether that NZFACT press release is satire or not.

    Lower Hutt • Since Nov 2006 • 66 posts Report

  • Hard News: The file-sharing bill,

    I can see 9 wireless networks from my bedroom in Naenae. None of my neighbours going to take my money to hook me up with some internet when I get banned?

    Lower Hutt • Since Nov 2006 • 66 posts Report

  • Muse: Hey Greg O'Connor, Krup You!,

    If you arrest a man for singing "Fuck tha Police", everyone starts singing "Fuck tha Police". Is Tauranga the short bus of police districts?

    Lower Hutt • Since Nov 2006 • 66 posts Report

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