Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Thread, It Is Open

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  • Sam F, in reply to James Butler,

    Steampunk coffee machines

    Compulsory:

    What interested Lord Vetinari right now was the device all by itself on a table in the middle of the room. It looked like a collection of copper balls balanced on one another. Steam was hissing gently from a few rivets, and occasionally the device went blup-

    'Your lordship!'

    Vetinari looked around. A hand was waving desperately at him from behind an upturned bench.

    And something made him look up, as well. The ceiling above him was crusted with some brownish substance, which hung from it like stalactites.

    Blup

    With quite surprising speed the Patrician was behind the bench. Leonard of Quirm smiled at him from underneath his home-made protective helmet.
    'I do apologise,' he said. 'I'm afraid I wasn't expecting anyone to come in. I'm sure it will work this time, however.'

    Blup

    'What is it?' said Vetinari.

    Blup

    'I'm not quite sure, but I hope it's a-'
    And then it was too noisy to talk.

    [...]

    'And that's today's invention, is it?' said Vetinari.
    'Well, yes. It would have been a scale model of a device for reaching the moon and other celestial bodies, but I was thirsty.'

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to BenWilson,

    I can suggest one place to get midnight coffee from a friendly barista, but it's in the Chev. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Re: Coffee. WTF is up with not being able to get a coffee anywhere on Ponsonby Rd after 12pm on a Saturday night? All credibility as 'cafe central' in NZ totally blown.

    Yeah, I was thinking that.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Biobbs,

    Re: Coffee. WTF is up with not being able to get a coffee anywhere on Ponsonby Rd after 12pm on a Saturday night? All credibility as 'cafe central' in NZ totally blown.

    Yeah, I was thinking that.

    Carl to the rescue. Now that's a coffee machine.

    The River Mouth, Denmark • Since Jan 2011 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH, in reply to nzlemming,

    I love that comic. So over the top.

    Speaking of over the top, the Herald has this to say about the Fukushima reactor incident:

    Workers have been desperately dousing a nuclear reactor with seawater to prevent it overheating, and causing an explosion that could wipe Japan off the map.

    Someone needs to sit down and take a few deep breaths.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Some of Mark Hotchin's sneaky wheeling and dealing described.

    HANOVER FINANCE owners Mark Hotchin and Eric Watson are believed to have made a quick $20 million profit on the troubled Kawarau Falls resort development in Queenstown, before the first sod on the project was turned.

    What will be even more galling to Hanover Finance's former mum and dad investors, is that it was their money which funded the quick-flick deal.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to nzlemming,

    heh!-and poignant urgency

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

  • Rich Lock, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    That wave of mud and houses and cars and debris is moving so far inland and so fast and so destructively it's just... unbelievable.

    Gobsmacking. Like watching black death unleashed.

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

  • 3410,

    Not sure if this very funny piece has been linked yet (apologies if so):


    Lyndon Hood's

    “John Key PM” Wins 2011 Walters Prize For Modern Art?
    Is he a natural clown or the nation’s greatest conceptual artist?

    In a move that has already provoked controversy, John Key has been awarded the 2011 Walters Prize for his work “Prime Minister of New Zealand”.

    Political performance art is usually frowned on by the establishment and some have claimed the award was based solely on public popularity.

    [Walters jury member Helen Highwater and Judge Allen Huge-Glasses discuss the issues...]

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Ray Gilbert,

    From this weekend's Act party conference - a charming example of political incorrectness

    As one of several guest speakers to address the conference, former National Party leader Don Brash said he did not know why so many public events must began with a prayer (karakia) or lengthy speech in Maori, even if none of those present could understand it.

    "Most New Zealanders these days don't say any prayers. Why should they have Maori prayers they can't understand thrust upon them?"

    But he rejected suggestions he wanted to scrap the Treaty of Waitangi. He said the document had been ahead of its time. In 1840, the policy in Australia had been to "shoot the natives".

    That prompted one delegate to interject "Let's bring it in", drawing gasps of disapproval from those around him

    Since Nov 2006 • 104 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    From this weekend's Act party conference...

    Check out the audio. A lot more laughing than described by Armstrong.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to 3410,

    Yup, there's general laughter, followed by a counter-roar which might even be approving, hard to say. But hardly stunned silence. Tallies with my memory of ACT get-togethers way back when I first decided that their theory and their reality were separated by a vast gulf. All this theory about liberty etc, then drunken discussions with some racist fuckwit whose only real concern is paying less tax.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to BenWilson,

    Tallies with my memory of ACT get-togethers way back when I first decided that their theory and their reality were separated by a vast gulf.

    Wouldn't be surprised if they were angry young Marxists once. It's the utopian zealotry that stays the same.

    All this theory about liberty etc, then drunken discussions with some racist fuckwit whose only real concern is paying less tax.

    If it is indeed racism, then it's most likely of the "honorary whites" variety.

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

  • 3410,

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    As Teh Open Thread, it is still open, may I point one and all at a very excellent piece by Mr Rick Shera, of this Realm, on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (or, as those of us in the game like to call it, "Son of ACTA").

    And so it begins again...

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to nzlemming,

    I believe that counts as inciting conversation about copyright, yer honour

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Sacha,

    Hey, open thread, anything’s game ;-)

    And it is a very good piece by Rick.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks, in reply to Islander,

    Heh.

    Well, the debate "with the unfortunate name" is now available on the net:

    Is homosexuality un-African?

    On the up side, Paula Akugizibwe was excellent overall, and Eusebius McKaiser gave a particularly good closing comment.

    But I still found it kinda depressing that we live in a world where people like David Bahati have to be taken seriously, rather than simply being mocked.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    So, anybody watch the cricket?

    How good was that bowling/fielding/hassling effort from us!!!!

    Sure, an inevitable spanking by Sri Lanka will follow but still, we watch sport for good days like that one.

    Fingers crossed that England some how conjure up a miracle tonight because it's 28 years since they last beat us in a cricket world cup. Mind you, we've only played them 3 times in world cups since then. 28 year streak sounds impressive though.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    "So, anybody watch the cricket?"

    Yep, I was up posting here for that very reason, as I am now (tho' probably won't stay up for the whole game).

    I understand Oram's 'man of the match' award, but jeez, how many runs did Guptill save? Fielding pretty much was the difference in the game.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Interesting read...
    Aftershock: The Blast That Shook Psycho Platoon

    MINOT, ND -- At 8:20 p.m. on Sept. 21, 2010, Iraq veteran Brock Savelkoul decided it was time to die. He lurched from his black Tacoma pickup truck, gripping a 9-mm pistol. In front of him, a half dozen law enforcement officers crouched behind patrol cars with their weapons drawn.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis, in reply to Yamis,

    Bugger it, we get Sri Lanka.

    Batting first we'll need 280+.

    Batting second and we'll be chasing 280+.

    I know it's cricket cliches 101 but we will have to get the same kind of tight bowling effort, applying pressure throughout, some brilliant fielding to save 20-30 runs and a better batting effort than we saw the other night. This Sri Lankan batting lineup on a pitch they grew up on are not going to have a mental breakdown and be bowled out like the squareheads were.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    Yeah, it'll be semifinal exit number 6 for NZ, I reckon.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    I'd give us a 30/70 chance if we bat first.
    20/80 if we bat second.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    My impression is that Sri Lanka isnt' a good team for us to play either. Our batsmen haven't figured out Malinga or Muralitharan. And their batsmen seem to have hit pretty good form: 231/0. I give us about 25% either way the toss goes. Though both McCullum and Guptill feel due, if we get off to a good start...

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

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