NEW HAMPSHIRE – A US man says he swiped his debit card at a service station to buy a packet of cigarettes and was charged over 29 quadrillion dollars.

I'll take the latter personally.

That is rather an inflated sense of self?
;-)

I'll take the latter personally.

Come on, don't take it personally.
;)

Inflation drops to 1.9pc – 0.6pc for the June quarter

Inflation figures just released show the Consumers Price Index rose 0.6 percent in the June quarter, taking New Zealand's annual inflation rate to 1.9 percent.
Teh Herald

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We deliberately didn't make a fuss about it in the programme billings — I didn't want to to be seen as a "get".

Are you sure you're really cut out for TV?

I asked her after seeing the 60 Minutes story. We deliberately didn't make a fuss about it in the programme billings — I didn't want to to be seen as a "get". But…

You mean them, not me, right?

Oh, yes — TVNZ's intermittently delicate sensibilities are one of those things that deserve a rousing chorus of 'Fuck You'. But I'll give you store credit for one retort-free annoyance as an apology for the confusion. :)

Oh, fuck off.

You mean them, not me, right?

And don't get me started on the reporter who thought he was referring to Mrs Bennett.

One T, dear. :) Perhaps he does have some self-insight after all.:

Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three and twenty…

Obviously there are whole levels to 'Pride and Prejudice' I just don't get.

And don't get me started on the reporter who thought he was referring to Mrs Bennett.

I won't, but it's worth noting that they also recorded his reference to Marilyn Munro. It's been corrected now, but that's how it read around an hour ago.

He clearly sees himself as the superior intellect in that room.

Doesn't stop him from thinking Jane Austen wrote melodrama. And don't get me started on the reporter who thought he was referring to Mrs Bennett. Pride and Prejudice is a comedy, for heaven's sake – I think what he's…

TVNZ is finally apologising for their coverage of the case.

Oh, fuck off. :( Is it a contractual obligation at TVNZ to to have the part of your brain that registers shame and/or irony yanked out your nose with a crochet hook? I didn't register the F word, but there…

I just don't think we should label every domestic abuser as cunning and conscious about their plan to abuse someone.

Agree. Just saying that ruthless & cynical controllers do exist.

And would you find me credulous and gullible if I were to tell you that I was a fan of Sensing…

What does this man think he gains from some of the shit he's spewing?

He clearly sees himself as the superior intellect in that room, if not his whole life. Haven't seen or read it all, but I've heard no mention of remorse, nor much responsiblility.

I don't imagine that's…

In my very humble experience there's a species of abuser with a fine-honed predator's instinct for exploiting insecurity. Combine this with the cynical use of a little psychology, and intellectual sophistication will offer little defence.

I think there's both. I just don't think we should label every domestic abuser as…

TVNZ is finally apologising for their coverage of the case.

:(

As long as there's no swearing, displaying someone dragging the life and death of a human being over the coals as 'news' is OK. :P

I should say, he can have whatever defense he wants. He's facing a murder…

What does this man think he gains from some of the shit he's spewing?

He seems to think he can talk his way out of something.
A murder conviction perhaps.
I just have to marvel at his lack of self consciousness.
But then I change the channel.

And would you…

And what FletcherB said above about the abusers. Aye, I think there's some over-assigning of conscious planned thought to these people. Often it's just not knowing a better way.

FletcherB's observation strikes me as both insightful and generous. In my very humble experience there's a species of abuser with a…

It's highlighted how horrendous the media coverage of these cases is to watch and has made me avoid this particular case. I'm starting to wonder what public interest is served by 5 minutes a night of this "murder porn".

TVNZ is finally apologising for their coverage of the case.

:(

I didn't know either of them, but I know some people who knew Sophie. It's highlighted how horrendous the media coverage of these cases is to watch and has made me avoid this particular case

That certainly fits with my friend. I saw her the day the trial started, and…

I gather they posted it about five minutes after I snarked at them ...

Jane Clifton's DomPost tv review questions whether Dunne-Powell should…

On a related note is it just me or is the Clayton Weatherston/Sophie Elliot case just getting more and more bizarre.

I didn't know either of them, but I know some people who knew Sophie. It's highlighted how horrendous the media coverage of these cases is to watch and has…

I don't get why it is so difficult to understand that it's more complicated than "He hits me so I'm leaving"

Exactly back at ya!

In a nutshell if we are not saying that the abused are staying simply for the beatings/abuse then we have to accept that the reason…

All these statements about abusers...

They want this, they set out to do that, their goal is....

These statements are all worded in a way that suggests the abuser is conscious of what they are doing. They behave that way on purpose, they have a plan...…

The abuser has threatened the very self esteem of the victim through the continual emotional/verbal/physical abuse. They simply immobilise their victim intellectually and emotionally and with that paralysis of self, the victim finds themselves unable to make decisions and certainly not the one to leave.

Precisely. Also, what CD said.…

To me, their self-esteem and dignity should drive them out of the relationship, but sadly, even some don't know any better than to stay./quote>

The abuser has threatened the very self esteem of the victim through the continual emotional/verbal/physical abuse. They simply immobilise their victim intellectually and emotionally and with…

But what do blind people have?

Spots?

Bloke in pub, to his mate.
"I keep seeing spots in front of my eyes"
His mate says,
"Have ya seen a doctor"
Bloke says,
"Nah mate, only spots"

I think the saddest thing about Kristin and all the other women who are similarly 'trapped', is that they simply cannot walk away.

The thing is, the insidious trap that abusers lay, is that they really do not have a set end in mind, but rather that the means itself…

But what do blind people have?

Well, a blind spot is ultimately the area of the retina where the optic nerve joins it and there are no receptors so one can't perceive photons that happen to land there (incidentally, a marvellous disproof of "intelligent design" if any more was needed).…

But I just wonder what are we doing to our kids when they cannot say to themselves 'I'm in a bad space here, I'm leaving', whatever that situation may be.

John, I was a kid who grew up in an abuse household. It has, without a doubt, left permanent mental…

But I just wonder what are we doing to our kids when they cannot say to themselves 'I'm in a bad space here, I'm leaving', whatever that situation may be.

On a related note is it just me or is the Clayton Weatherston/Sophie Elliot case just getting more and more bizarre.

erm, yes, i think so too. and more and more sickening. the defence is so cynical, it's quite staggering.

And on another slightly related note is the increased profile(Listener…

I think the saddest thing about Kristin and all the other women who are similarly 'trapped', is that they simply cannot walk away.

To me, their self-esteem and dignity should drive them out of the relationship, but sadly, even some don't know any better than to stay

John, the whole…

their self-esteem and dignity should drive them out of the relationship

That can be hard if your partner systematically works on undermining your self-esteem and dignity.

To me, their self-esteem and dignity should drive them out of the relationship, but sadly, even some don't know any better than to stay.

Which is precisely what she says in the section I quoted. She's an educated, professional woman — she should have been able to walk away. But…

To me, their self-esteem and dignity should drive them out of the relationship, but sadly, even some don't know any better than to stay.

There are two things you're not taking into account – it's not about an absence of…

I view these as enablers in that he hasn't been held to account – and for him and his kind…

To me, their self-esteem and dignity should drive them out of the relationship, but sadly, even some don't know any better than to stay.

it all just made me want to hug her tight and stroke her hair, and say to her that she was doing a very good thing.

You're lovely, Jackie.

I am not sure how we go about stopping it, but I do know that the courage of woman, like Dunne-Powell in speaking, can only help. If that interview starts one abused person on the path to thinking this has to stop, then that can only be good.

It was…

They're different in real life both nicer and/or more evil – Russell seems OK though

People on the telly are often really nice in person — either because they are nice, or in the odd case, because they just want you to like them.

(Just an observation)

re dunne-powell having had help finding her words, i genuinely don't know what you mean. help from a therapist? help from preventing violence organisations or similar? help from a media coach? family?

I meant from counselling, to help her recognise what was going on — not that someone else had…

"if he wasn't a TV personality he would not be treated like this.."

Sure he wouldn't — he would, I respectfully submit, not have had a disgraceful Paul Holmes hand job in the Herald on Sunday (sans disclosure that he was giving media advice to his close friend) or various…

Last time I hit anyone I was 16, but it doesn't mean I can't sense somehow what kind of screwed up life he was leading.

Last time I hit someone was December, it was great fun afterwards, but not much fun at the time. Was in a bar, he was…

how can I like this terrible person? Only terrible people like other terrble people, and I'm not a terrible person.

The person also has that issue. Might decide they are a terrible person, or decide that when they did it they were "not me". Neither of which are much use…

When someone you like* does something terrible, that creates a contradiction: how can I like this terrible person?

You're right Stephen. But I think there is another part to this as well. At least for me there is. If someone I know and like does something terrible – how can…

I'm still a little angry about the degree of enabling that went on around him

An awful lot of folks seemed to want to excuse his behaviour. Like you I was angry and disgusted by much of what was said.

Because they weren't even helping their friend when they did…

I am amazed by the number of women I have discussed this sorry affair with who feel sorry for Mr Veitch.

When someone you like* does something terrible, that creates a contradiction: how can I like this terrible person? Only terrible people like other terrble people, and I'm not a…

But empathy and understanding can help prevent others doing what he did. Understand his failure and you have a better chance of preventing anyone else hitting their loved ones.

I'm still a little angry about the degree of enabling that went on around him though; the people who not only…

That's not what empathy is about

Sorry but I think that is exactly what empathy is about. "Empathise • verb understand and share the feelings of another"

I cannot understand or share the feeling that leads someone to domestic violence regardless of

what kind of screwed up life he was…

She has, of course, had help in finding these words.

I suppose you are right, but as cynical as I am I think I prefer to believe that she has had to try and explain it to herself so many times that when she answered the interviewer the words were…

Having never hit my wife or children I am not able to empathise in any way.

And there will be some women who, never having been in this position, can't empathise with Dunne-Powell. Just being female doesn't give you any particular insight into another woman's situation.

strangely perhaps, now he's…

If this wasn't Veitch it wouldn't be news, as sad as that might be.

I think it's also fair to say that it wouldn't have been news in the same way had Veitch not acted as he did after the story broke, and had others not enabled him in doing…

If this wasn't Veitch it wouldn't be news, as sad as that might be.

Well understood, that is clear. Just doesn't mean I can feel sympathy for the guy. And I guess I have to feel some admiration for those of the fairer sex who can! Having never hit my…