Cracker by Damian Christie

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Cracker: P is for Politics.

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  • Joanna,

    Having said that, it now seems like it's not going to be an issue. Based on what I've read above, there seem to be any number of good reasons not to vote for him.

    I'm not sure which I found more disconcerting - the P use or that Rachel Glucina felt the need to write a column about it linking his consumption to his belief in JFK conspiracies...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    in countries where they're not treated like shit by paranoid lunatics.

    Indeed, we have been going via the Middle East. It feels so much safer and you get real knives and forks on the Airlines.The booze, well take your own and receive one corkscrew and crystal glasses.Most dignified. Other airlines ,although Muslim serve as much alcohol as you wish for, but drugs, you're dead soon.:)
    Training bra Damian? Must be her first time.A learned importer knows that's not where you stick them.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    And yet none have been hurt during raids on illegal alcohol breweries ...

    (heavy irony)

    Probably because this guy would have had a hard time presenting a threat.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    I'd wager the only thing holding you back from a lucrative career in the police is the frank admission that you moisturize.

    Yes, I'm far too smooth and soft for that kind of thing.

    I wouldn't claim my nose is infallible. Mostly it's just probability. Smell a herby smell on someone you know doesn't cook, and there you go.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    but remember he's the one campaigning, trying to convince us he deserves our vote, so really the onus to prove his character should be reversed, no?

    He needs to demonstrate relevant things about his character, definitely. And to answer any specific accusations of wrongdoing or incompetence.

    That's if he has any chance of becoming mayor, which he doesn't. He can just fail to dignify any personal accusations with any answer at all, and give his real opinion on actual issues. That's kind of welcome in a candidate. A pity his opinion is silly. TBH it's his opinions themselves that make me wonder if the P didn't get the better of him. Then again, he could just be a dick.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • vangam,

    I wouldn't claim my nose is infallible. Mostly it's just probability. Smell a herby smell on someone you know doesn't cook, and there you go.

    I'm constantly accused of smoking pot due to the strong aroma of the homegrown tobacco I smoke. It seems people smell something unrecognisable and assume it to be marijuana.

    Rangiora • Since Jun 2007 • 103 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    the P use or that Rachel Glucina felt the need to write a column about it linking his consumption to his belief in JFK conspiracies...

    Far be it from me to defend that waste of space Glaucoma, but I have to say that of the six people I know who are heavily into their conpsiracy theories, five have a history of heavy P use. The other just smokes heaps of pot.

    Of course it could also be that those people all just hang around together (and some of them hang around with Prast), and what else is there to talk about when you've been up for 3 days? The others might have some really strong opinions about the direction of the Auckland Theatre Company and where AK03 went wrong thanks to prolonged exposure to Mr Prast.

    Or their brains could be fried.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    how pointlessly wound up the security guards were

    On the P, undoubtedly.

    Question is, do they get dosed by their employer, as is common practice in the US military, or is their tweaking entirely recreational?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    of the six people I know who are heavily into their conpsiracy theories, five have a history of heavy P use. The other just smokes heaps of pot.

    Hmm. Would that include a well known Auckland alternative radio presenter?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you aren't out to get them.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Is it really possible for a warrant to be issued under the Misuse of Drugs Act if a passing off-duty cop (on an evening jog say) smells or detects the aroma of pot? I mean, if he goes to the powers-that-be the next day and tells his tale, is that one single factor sufficient for a search warrant to be issued?

    My understanding is that the Misuse of Drugs Act doesn't require warrants. The law allows police officers to execute a search of a person, vehicle or property where they have good reason to believe that illegal drugs are being used. They just have to cite the law when they demand entry.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you aren't out to get them.

    Plus, why is it considered wrong to question that which does not make complete sense. Jeez, feels like we should all just roll over and accept what "normal" people think and no questions allowed because if you do, you're a bloody conspiracy theorist. Boring (and I have never tried P)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Sofie, these conspiracy theory theorists are a conspiracy. Just my theory.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Can you imagine what jailing Simon Prast for P use would have achieved for society for example? Would he have come out a "better" citizen?

    The way things happen in this country, he'd take over Greg Newbold's regular spot as academic talking head on matters criminal.

    As Newbold's ready media comments in recent years had pretty much ossified into stating the bleeding obvious, one could be forgiven for wondering if it wasn't time that he went back inside for a sabbatical. Instead they've made him a professor.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    He's a nice man. Pity he was framed. He told me.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    He told me.

    You better not disagree, otherwise we might accuse you of taking a p ;)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Joanna,

    Far be it from me to defend that waste of space Glaucoma, but I have to say that of the six people I know who are heavily into their conpsiracy theories, five have a history of heavy P use. The other just smokes heaps of pot.

    Oh yeah, I just don't think that "people on drugs talk a lot of shit" is any kind of news - let alone a headline - even in the gossip pages.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    Steve Jobs talks a lot of good shit and he apparently called his LSD experience "one of the two or three most important things I have done in my life."

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    It's a lot harder building programmes to rehabilitate people than it is to chuck them in prison so we're taking a lazy way out. Prison should be kept for serious and recalcitrant offenders so that we're not just further ruining young lives. Collin's $1.2 billion profit claim makes me feel ill.

    Unfortunately I suspect things will probably have to get worse - a whole lot worse - before they get better, in order for people to be jolted back their senses.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    @Sofie. There's a difference between questioning the accepted version of events, and automatically chosing to accept the conspiracy version. These conspiracy theorists I know, that's what they do. They read one article -not even a whole book- which states the moon landing never happened or JFK was a shapeshifter or whatever, and that's it, that's the truth for them. It's a lot quicker and easier to believe the conspiracy than actually doing your own research, or perhaps understand geopolitical history, or whatever the relevant underlying causes of the event are.

    The biggest and loudest conspiracy theorists at the moment of course are the climate deniers. Huge, massive weight of scientific evidence against them, but listen to Leighton for 5 minutes, or read some nutty uttering by Owen McShane or Lindsay Perigo, and bang, that's it.

    Other conspiracy theorists include the likes of holocaust denier David Irving. They're just not as acceptable when they're coming from the Right, no?

    You listen to the conspiracy theorists you're talking about. Are they asking questions? No. They're stating the alternative as fact, just with far less evidence.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    @Kyle. You're right, no warrant required. They only have to cite s18 of the Misuse of Drugs Act based on reasonable grounds (most common is saying they can smell it) to be allowed to search you, or your house or vehicle. The reasonableness of said grounds can be challenged at the time (without resisting the search) and later in court, and if it's not reasonable, any evidence found can be ruled inadmissable.

    A guy I know was pulled over and had his car searched, years ago now, and they found quite a few Es. Like imprisonable quantities. But they had no reasonable grounds to search - the car was dirty seemed to be about as good as they could do (and he was a Maori, but they'd never claim that to be reasonable...) so the whole case was chucked out.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Joanna,

    or read some nutty uttering by Owen McShane

    Now if it was Ian McShane, in full Deadwood mode, I would be much more inclined to believe him. After all, swearing makes you much more believeable. Just ask Bomber, that's how he got down with the kids.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Steve Jobs talks a lot of good shit and he apparently called his LSD experience "one of the two or three most important things I have done in my life."

    Ellen Feiss:

    Where is she now?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    BTW, just sat down and had a good look at the latest Metro. Noice, as Russell might say. While it's hardly back to the heights of Warwick Roger glory days, Simon is off to a bloody good start. Though Emma seemed rather subdued -- grabs Hazmat suit, runs for the nearest bomb shelter. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    The way things happen in this country, he'd take over Greg Newbold's regular spot as academic talking head on matters criminal.

    As Newbold's ready media comments in recent years had pretty much ossified into stating the bleeding obvious, one could be forgiven for wondering if it wasn't time that he went back inside for a sabbatical. Instead they've made him a professor.

    To be fair, Newbold does actually do a fair amount of academic research. He didn't get his position just for being a source of quotes for the media.

    And some of the things he has been quoted as saying aren't obvious to the "tough on crime" crowd. He's gotten better at deflecting attention from it when quoted, but some of his ideas would be considered quite radical not too long ago.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

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