Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Event Season

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  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to steve black,

    Shouldn't that be the absolute monarchical dictatorship boat.

    According to that report, the UAE government, which owns the Emirates airline and I guess co-funds "our" boat, has 90 government critics in detention, has imposed 21 death sentences and actually executed one person (this in a pretty small place, remember), arbitrarily arrests regime critics and strip them of their nationality,

    But hey, I'm sure they would never be nasty to a Kiwi musician, so they're the Good Guys, right?

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

  • Farmer Green, in reply to Islander,

    Thanks for that. I mean it.

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Royals, mate

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Farmer Green, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    But hey, I’m sure they would never be nasty to a Kiwi musician, so they’re the Good Guys, right?

    It counts for nothing here, right? Being a Kiwi musician, that is. Toe the line or take the animosity.
    So it goes.
    But not everywhere.

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Hebe,

    Yo Hebe! Life here is now normal again – instead of using so many boxes of tissues*
    it was obscene….I suppose I could’ve spat (toilet or elsewhere) but I dont want to alter the course of evolution and whatever was brewing in my oversized lungs was going to do that…
    *I burned them

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Farmer Green,

    Goodoh- I like some of your ideas a lot-kia kaha-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Farmer Green, in reply to Islander,

    Ae. He kai kei aku ringa.
    Po marie.

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report Reply

  • anth, in reply to Farmer Green,

    I’m looking forward to the day when there is an open discussion here

    Well, if this is about the IPCC report due at the end of next week then we can hardly have an informed discussion about it yet.

    From what I can tell nothing major has changed. Apparently at least one part of the draft report has a wider range of projections than the report from 2007 but describes the likelihood of those differently they can't be directly compared anyway. The middle of the range is the same. This is being misreported by some "news" sources with a history of misreporting on these matters.

    Anyway, this is even more off topic than expensive boats going around in circles so I'm going to leave it at that.

    Since Nov 2006 • 77 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to anth,

    this is even more off topic than expensive boats going around in circles

    Much more interesting. A refereed, terms-of-reference-set-by-Russell-and-policed-by-his-iron-hand thread could be interesting. But that would require minds to be prised open on all sides: is it possible?

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Hebe,

    A thread full of climate-change-denying ninnies? No thanks.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Brent Jackson,

    I was originally not at all interested in the America's Cup - expensive toys for billionaires. But then I saw video of them sailing and whoa - I was hooked. I've watched every race in the final series, and can't wait for the next one. The way those boats manoeuvre, and the physics-defying speeds they attain - I just find it awesome to watch. Big dose of nationalism thrown in as well, but I do like to see NZ doing well on the global stage.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 620 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Sacha,

    .

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Sacha,

    A thread full of climate-change-denying ninnies? No thanks.

    Nah sorry. Distracted by the big black cat having his first serious “now I’ve had enough of your nonsense, whippersnapper” moment with the puppy. (Pup backed down.)

    I was more thinking of the “new way of farming/feeding the world” comment by Farmer Green as a start point. I studied organic growing at the BHU, and surprised myself by graduating with a more open view of judicious use of safe chemicals for growing commercial food crops (previously I had been totally against). So I’m interested in different systems and the future direction of food farming.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Hebe,

    I was originally not at all interested in the America’s Cup – expensive toys for billionaires. But then I saw video of them sailing and whoa – I was hooked. I’ve watched every race in the final series, and can’t wait for the next one. The way those boats manoeuvre, and the physics-defying speeds they attain – I just find it awesome to watch. Big dose of nationalism thrown in as well, but I do like to see NZ doing well on the global stage.

    I feel much the same way. I'd not realised they were racing cats... I still recall the ridiculousness of the big boats and the dreary sailing. My mother-in-law, an avowed landlubber, was excitedly telling me about yesterday's racing and so I watched some of the clips... bloody hell, it's fast and crazy and scary and close... all the stuff sport should be... incidentally, Silver Ferns by five last night... tops... no one in the office wants to talk about it but...

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Farmer Green,

    Ae, pomarie –ki a tatou-
    TO MAKE THINGS CLEAR:
    I disagree with climate views-but not with farming views-
    na: po marie tatou katoa- n/n Islander

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    Tell me again why we should be interested in the bloody Americas Cup

    Nobody should be interested in the Americas Cup or Political Idol, any more than they must join in geeking out on Booker Prize stats just because there's a Kiwi on the short list.

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

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Islander,

    the ‘kids’ I know

    Great to hear.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Hebe,

    require minds to be prised open

    In my experience people using that phrase are generally the least willing to have their minds changed by ... you know ... data.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • william blake,

    I remember when...the Americas Cup was synonymous with free market neo liberal corporate champagne swilling level playing field asset stripping meritocratic capitalism.

    Now that it is a tax payer funded socialist experiment why shouldn't it trump the leader of our centrist opposition.

    Since Mar 2010 • 380 posts Report Reply

  • Luke Williamson,

    It's great to see Labour/Greens making some progress but it's going to be a long, hard year in 2014 with National repeating endlessly ". . . the extreme left coalition . . ." and trying to scare the pants off everyone about return to nanny state, etc. Dave C and Russell N are going to have to hone the message very carefully and not get distracted by Jonkey's scare tactics. As for the sailing, those big cats are amazing but, I think the next cup should be raced in Optimists off Mission Bay with one sailor per boat, e.g. Dean Barker vs whoever. And each skipper gets a paintball gun so that, as they cross on tacks, they shoot at each other and score additional points for hits on the opposing skipper. So, you may cross the line first but if you have received 10 head shots, you might not win the race.

    Warkworth • Since Oct 2007 • 297 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to william blake,

    Now that it is a tax payer funded socialist experiment why shouldn’t it trump the leader of our centrist opposition.

    No reason in my view, depends on whether Cunliffe winning pleased you or not and whether one relies on the news only, to find such things out. Considering that Trevor Mallard was the man (in Labour also) who was Minister for the Auld mug and secured the $30 mil via Labours comittment to 2 America's Cups, it basically had Labour on the News with both news items anyway.The taxpayer funding was a small part of the money spent on this race.I consider it gave New Zealanders jobs. Also seeing as Nactional have given over $100 million to consultants (mostly overseas firms) so far to trade off out state assets that many don't want, I see any funds going toward employment of New Zealanders and enjoyment of New Zealanders as beneficial to the future of our economy. Mallard saw that then and sees it again. He's been rubbished for his visit to San Francisco last week (on taxpayer work time) but if we win we need to get the country ready for the Cup being down here. It can help many industries down here and our reputation with all types of boats are pretty good. Planes ? Not so much, Perhaps Emirates were needed because Air NZ is only temporarily ours, thanks Nactional .

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Luke Williamson,

    paintball gun so that, as they cross on tacks, they shoot at each other and score additional points for hits on the opposing skipper. So, you may cross the line first but if you have received 10 head shots, you might not win the race.

    See! People thinking of other businesses and jobs, fun on the water an' everythin' innit. :)

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

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Luke Williamson,

    foils at dawn...
    to further mix the metaphor...

    So, you may cross the line first but if you have received 10 head shots, you might not win the race.

    MMP - Mixed Maritime Pursuits?
    STV - Several Traded Volleys?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    In my experience people using that phrase are generally the least willing to have their minds changed by … you know … data.

    Depends on the peoples. And data, as we all know, can be framed to fit most any position if the position is determined before the data is gathered.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Luke Williamson, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    I fear that I have let the country down by not creating many jobs with my proposed regatta - no factories building giant catamarans or chase boats or extended shore crew. I'll have to have a rethink on how to create more opportunities for the workers.

    Warkworth • Since Oct 2007 • 297 posts Report Reply

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