Posts by Alan P

  • Speaker: What I learned in Class: Should…,

    Yes, and a decent Capri also fairly respectable. Correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that when it comes to cars, Euro means from one of them countries on the continent. The old Alpha Romeo GTV comes to mind.

    Auckland • Since Jun 2009 • 35 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: What I learned in Class: Should…,

    I grew up in Glen Eden in the 70s and 80s. We were, and still are, westies. Never Bogan. I don't even know where that word came from. Australia maybe. I think westies probably only use it jokingly even now. As far as the car thing, all true westies from my era knew the hierarchy: American V8s over all, with Mopar at the top, then Ford, then Chevrolet (GM). Next comes Aussie cars, in the same order Mopar (Valiant), then Ford, then GM(Holden). Then British. Euro cars somewhat acceptable, but essentially rich men's wives cars. Sorry to rant about cars, but I feel it's an important part of this culture, if you feel it needs to be defined.

    Auckland • Since Jun 2009 • 35 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Friday Music: Some Year,

    Not normally a fan of Christmas songs, but
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q "White Wine in the Sun" by Tim Minchin really affected me.
    I see he is donating all proceeds from downloads of this song over Xmas to the (I assume Australian) National Autistic Society.

    Auckland • Since Jun 2009 • 35 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: How's that three strikes thing…, in reply to Paul Brislen,

    Totally - wish people would stop with the "why do you need more than xGB data unless you are a pirate" line. Seems to me Telecom have always liked to push the impression that you should be grateful for 3GB per month at whatever exorbitant price they feel like charging. We are a household of 2 adults and one teenager (plus one 4 yr old, but he's not using the net just yet), and we comfortably use 50-80GB per month without any movie/software/game piracy. Common data suckers in our household are email, work, general browsing, YouTube, and probably the real biggies for us - Facebook, and Facebook games.

    Auckland • Since Jun 2009 • 35 posts Report Reply

  • OnPoint: Budget 2011: Radioactive Space Donut, in reply to James Butler,

    I've always used ctrl-click to open in new tab.

    Auckland • Since Jun 2009 • 35 posts Report Reply

  • Up Front: Fairy-Tale Autopsies, in reply to Greg Dawson,

    Slash weapons? That would be a Les Paul and a Marshall wouldn't it?
    ... sorry, couldn't resist.

    Auckland • Since Jun 2009 • 35 posts Report Reply

  • Up Front: Staying Civil,

    @Craig,

    Thanks for that link to Ted Olson on Fox. I hadn't seen that before.

    Theres something powerful about being in the presence of such clarity of mind. I felt similarly when reading some of the passages in Carl Sagan's "Demon Haunted World".
    I don't imagine there is anyone in the world who could have produced a convincing argument against Mr Olson in that context.

    Auckland • Since Jun 2009 • 35 posts Report Reply

  • Up Front: Staying Civil,

    Personally, I like to use the word "lover". It makes people so gloriously uncomfortable. Say "and this is my lover," and people have to visualise you having sex.

    Thank you Emma. That (in particular) made me laugh out loud.

    Nobody is harmed if Craig and his partner get married. Really just because Craig gets something he wants does not take it away from anyone else. And I'm sorry but people who feel it does take something away from them are simply wrong, in the same sense that people who believe the earth is flat are wrong.

    - Totally agree Bart. I had this argument with someone at work a couple of years ago, and I couldn't believe how precious they were being, claiming that gay marriage would somehow affect their hetero marriage.
    In my opinion, somebody elses marriage cannot materially affect your own (unless you want it to). Fact is, there are plenty of gay marriages in the world which these bigots are not even aware of... how can that be affecting them?
    They just claim some vague thing about it affecting them by degrading the institution of marriage or some crap. My response: Harden up, princess.

    Auckland • Since Jun 2009 • 35 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Reporting Afghanistan,

    He added that those on the top rate, ... consumed more and therefore paid more GST.

    Sorry, but that sounds like a statement which refers to absolute amounts, not percentages to me...

    There ya go Craig, that was *almost* in defence of honest John :-).

    - Mind you, the reason it sound like that to me is that it echoes a complaint you often hear from those who feel they pay more than their fair share of tax - ie: I earn X amount, so therefore I'm paying X amount more than those bludgers further down the ladder.

    Auckland • Since Jun 2009 • 35 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Reporting Afghanistan,

    Craig, I don't recall if I've commented directly on Key on here before.
    Have I been unfair?

    Certainly I don't claim to have your razor sharp political sensibilities(or way with words), but I'm definitely not impressed by the man, no.

    I don't think much of his cabinet either for that matter, although I am inclined to think Bill English is not too much of an incompetent - even though he is obviously bound to support Key in whatever current f**kup he is presiding over.

    Auckland • Since Jun 2009 • 35 posts Report Reply

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