Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: An open thread while I'm down with #OGB

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  • George Darroch,

    An open thread you say?

    Let me talk about a recent study that shows screening for breast cancer has shown little appreciable contribution to reductions in mortality rates. A family member was just this weekend telling me about how the health trust they're a board member of had bought a very expensive new screening machine. I haven’t had the heart to send them the link yet.

    Perhaps not. Let’s frame that as a question: what role should evidence have in policy-making – none, or very little?

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Here’s something from left-field: Al Jazeera English reports on prospects for Auckland as an intercontinental air travel hub -- the "Dubai of the Pacific".

    Jump to about 20 mins in the video. Is this something that’s actually been discussed here? Where did it spring from?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sue,

    animated gifs of cute animals anyone?
    http://animalsbeingdicks.com/page/3

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sue,

    animated gifs of cute animals anyone?

    Lolz.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    If we're going to have a Dubai, it should be in Queenstown. Playfields for the rich, better scenery. Zurich of the South.

    Although doing that with the current runway and approach limitations would be hard. You couldn't run ninety six a380s from ZQN, even if you tried. I don't know if you could run one.

    Auckland does make a little sense as a transit hub, and acts to a minor extent as a transfer point between South America (~400 million people) and Asia (~4billion people). I'm not sure who else would use New Zealand, other than deliberate visitors to this part of the world. And they already come here, including a rapidly increasing number of Chinese.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Russell Brown,

    “Dubai of the Pacific”

    Corruption, torture, slave labour? What's not to like?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    You forgot "encircled by an unforgiving desert".

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Corruption, torture, slave labour? What’s not to like?

    Nitpicker.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    Corruption, torture, slave labour? What’s not to like?

    Simon Grigg sent this link a few months ago, and called its description of Dubai cruel, but accurate. Wonderful reading, spectacular pictures.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • James Butler, in reply to Sue,

    monkey_dog.gif

    animalsbeingdicks.com

    I’m assuming that site has this one, but I can’t be bothered looking for it.

    ETA: Oops, of course the upload didn’t work. Sigh. Here.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report

  • James Littlewood*,

    Dubai of the Pacific

    Not sure what they're getting at, other than a financial hub? Which the PM - being, y'know, that way inclined - has mentioned off and on.

    Isn't it some sort of facilitating ultramassive biz transactions, via a micro tax rate on temporary deposits that only stick around for a few days while mega transactions get worked through, and which wouldn't otherwise be handled by NZ?

    Either that, or someone's got crazy landscaping planned for the harbour.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    encircled by an unforgiving desert

    It's the desert of the real I'm more concerned about.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to George Darroch,

    Except that it isn't on the way, really. (Rio-Bejing = 25% further, Santiago-Singapore = 10% further).

    Do we really want to encourage wasteful air travel in this fashion? (I think it's terrible that it often works out cheaper to backtrack via Sydney when off to the US, even).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to James Littlewood*,

    That's actually a good idea, if you ignore the fact that we're screwing the rest of the world out of legitimate tax revenues. That, and leakage into the domestic tax system (by enabling locals to pay no tax). And inflation. And filling the country with rich scum.

    But it'd be good for contract rates in IT.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    Rich, the distances between Asia and South America are beyond the range of even the longest distance airliner (the 777-300ER), so they need somewhere to stop. However, if you were flying Beijing - Santiago it would make sense to stop somewhere less out of the way like Honolulu.

    Still, the routes are long and thin, and AirNZ doesn't seem to think the hub model works here. Emirates uses NZ as a minor hub, as does LAN. I think that's the extent of it.

    So, better as a tax-haven then.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    encircled by an unforgiving desert

    North Shore, Howick, Flatbush, Manurewa. Got nothing on a bit of sand..

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Mike Graham,

    Radio New Zealand : Taumaranui set to become cycle tourism hub

    I guess if Taumaranui can be a cycle hub, Auckland can become an airline hub. How many bicycles can you fit on a B777?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Actually, LA and Anchorage are right under the great circle for Bejing-Santiago (which is probably also the real-world cheapest route). For Bejing-Rio, you'd be looking at Rome, maybe.

    (Great circles often surprise).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    No one said 'yeah you know me' yet? Tsk.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    you know my preference would be to bust out a witty, forthright and yet measured post about some important thing...

    .....so I'm trying to get the flow rate and temperature settings correctly calibrated on my La Marzocco Linea. At the moment I'm cycling at 1.75 bar, but I'm finding that the cycling time is significantly longer than if I had it set to a 1.3 to 1.5BAR setting.

    The flow-on effect is that my home-made falafel doesn't taste as good. Does anyone have any advice?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    This article on the economic crisis and democracy in Europe was tweeted by Noami Klein. Asks that same question about why people vote for governments and policies that have already failed them?

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Martin Lindberg, in reply to Rich Lock,

    Does anyone have any advice?

    Rinse your dishes after washing up to remove any remaining suds. Place forks with their tines down in a dishwasher. Pants first, then shoes.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • recordari, in reply to Danielle,

    No one said 'yeah you know me' yet? Tsk.

    I totally did, I just didn't post it. So it totally doesn't count.

    Carry on.

    ETA:

    ETA: Oops, of course the upload didn’t work.

    What I can see is disturbing enough. I kind of looping monkey moon.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    Actually, LA and Anchorage are right under the great circle for Bejing-Santiago (which is probably also the real-world cheapest route). For Bejing-Rio, you’d be looking at Rome, maybe.

    Ah, yes. Unsurprisingly, an increasing number of Brazilian routes to Asia are going through Qatar and Dubai. And agreed on the economics.

    Has anyone seen (or ridden) the new (old) trams in Auckland yet? Unless you've got kids, who ride for free with an adult, the $10 fare seems particularly steep.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • Hebe,

    What about the subversion of New Zealand's parliamentary system by the both the National and Labour parties refusing to participate in election leaders' debates with the other parties? http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5374955/Key-I-ll-only-debate-Goff

    Didn't we choose MMP? Aren't politicians legally and morally obliged to work within that framework? Oh, I forgot, both the larger parties hate MMP because it forces compromise, and Key is gambling on shutting out the Greens this times now they are nearing 10 % in the polls. Wish Rod Donald was still here...wish there was someone with his reach to remind the public that we could well be stuck back in first-past-the-post if the campaign to keep a form of proportional representation doesn't start soon.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

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