Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: Too True To Be Good

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  • Paul Campbell,

    so what did you do with the other $100k?

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Glad that's sorted.

    I figured out yesterday how Trev's getting Nat policy.

    12 Nat staffers are Cylons. Some of them are programmed to think they're Nats. They have a plan.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Idiot Savant,

    Well, that would explain why they're snuggling up tot he fundies...

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    12 Nat staffers are Cylons. Some of them are programmed to think they're Nats. They have a plan.

    Balls -- the Cylons don't have a plan. They have lots of plans. Or no plan at all. Or something... God, I love that show.

    Anyway, full credit to Trevor for stirring the pot. But to apply a combo of Occam's Razor and 'cock-up trumps conspiracy', I have a funny feeling someone really did leave a folder lying around Copperfields, and isn't going to own up because they'd really, really like to keep their internal organs on the inside. Just as I found the idea that the local loop unbundling announcement went walkabout as part of a cunning internal plot to cluster fuck David Cunliffe amusing but incredible. He's not universally beloved, but I couldn't see the logic in anyone trying to screw him like that.

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

  • andrew llewellyn,

    I have a funny feeling someone really did leave a folder lying around Copperfields, and isn't going to own up because they'd really, really like to keep their internal organs on the inside.

    Agreed. Cockup nearly always trumps conspiracy in games of credibility.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • David Slack,

    I'm interested in debating whether there is a sliding ethical scale here. Let's say you find a mislaid folder, with no identifying features. You just say "score!" and gleefully release it yourself. I'm assuming a lot of us would say that was fair game.(But perhaps I'm assuming too much?)

    Now let's say the scenario is different. Let's say you come upon a whole briefcase, containing the same folder, plus many identifying features that tell you it belongs to, let's say, Kevin Taylor, (Key's Press Secretary). Do you still say "score!" and gleefully release it yourself, or do you return it to its perturbed owner?

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    I think you'd probably want to make some political capital out of the opposition's blunder.

    And to be fair, while I think the theatre with the stop leak bottle makes Hodgson look petty, and everything Mallard ever does, makes him look petty, if I were Key, I'd be slightly sheepish about security & discipline & giving the whips an instructional bollocking, I'd be pretty unconcerned about the release of the policy.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    In the second instance, if there was some way traceless way to amend the documents - say, as Jolisa coined a word for it somewhere int he archives here, insert the word "fuck" into the middle of it (or some embarrassing clause) and hand it back... well I'd consider that.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I'm interested in debating whether there is a sliding ethical scale here. Let's say you find a mislaid folder, with no identifying features. You just say "score!" and gleefully release it yourself. I'm assuming a lot of us would say that was fair game.(But perhaps I'm assuming too much?)

    I think you are, but then again we're still (after five years and considerable correspondence) still getting mail for the previous occupants of our house -- including intriguing looking envelopes from various financial institutions. Most people, I think, don't open letters that aren't addressed to them.

    Still, honesty forces me to admit that I'd think twice if (say) I was at a function and a slightly pissed Trevor Mallard wobbled off without a ring binder containing Labour's entire election strategy -- including, for the sake of argument, the timing of an "October Surprise" akin to the student loans interest policy last time. I'd love to think I'd be running after Trev The Muss, and suggesting he should invest in a lockable briefcase. But honestly -- not so sure.

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

  • richard,

    In the second instance, if there was some way traceless way to amend the documents - say, as Jolisa coined a word for it somewhere int he archives here, insert the word "fuck" into the middle of it (or some embarrassing clause) and hand it back... well I'd consider that.

    cryptoscatalogophobia

    Not looking for New Engla… • Since Nov 2006 • 268 posts Report

  • simon g,

    Do you still say "score!" and gleefully release it yourself, or do you return it to its perturbed owner?

    You return it, in person, with kind words that say "See how honourable I am" and a dark smile that says "I know all, and now you know that I know, and you do not know what I will do with what I know, sweat on that." Double score.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

  • Juha Saarinen,

    So what number did Glenn call you from?

    Since Nov 2006 • 529 posts Report

  • Raymond A Francis,

    So who is being billed for all the photocopying Trev is doing

    I believe this is an extremly cunning plan by National to drive Labour's election costs over the limit as they (Labour) release National's policy
    Well Labour have been asking for policy
    On the other hand it could be VCP by Labour if they are billing National

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report

  • David Slack,

    So what number did Glenn call you from?

    Mike Williams'

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    You return it, in person, with kind words that say "See how honourable I am" and a dark smile that says "I know all, and now you know that I know, and you do not know what I will do with what I know, sweat on that." Double score.

    The problem is that Trev is a bit of a Zoolander -- his "looks" are indistinguishable to the untrained eye. Incandescent with righteous indignation? Resembles someone who has just passed a broken beer bottle. Quizzical concern? He's not getting the deposit on that one either. Knowingly enigmatic? Here comes the six pack...

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

  • Sacha,

    You know, Winnie's story this arvo will have to be at least that contorted. Should be fun.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    There's an amusing irony that so far Labour have released about as much National Party policy as National have, after months of 'show us your policy'.

    Politics this year is, in so many ways, fucked up backwards land. There's something wrong when we look to the USA elections for relative sanity.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Jo S,

    Kyle - tell me you're kidding.
    What we're seeing in the US sure ain't sanity ...

    We may be bad, but we're not that bad yet.

    is it autumn yet? • Since May 2007 • 80 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    There's an amusing irony that so far Labour have released about as much National Party policy as National have, after months of 'show us your policy'.

    Numerical inexactitude there, Kyle.

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

  • Rachel Prosser,

    Now let's say the scenario is different. Let's say you come upon a whole briefcase, containing the same folder, plus many identifying features that tell you it belongs to, let's say, Kevin Taylor, (Key's Press Secretary). Do you still say "score!" and gleefully release it yourself, or do you return it to its perturbed owner?

    You write a West Wing episode about it.

    Vinick gave Santos the briefcase I think (not sure TV ever showed that...and after the 3rd or 4th episode in a row on a DVD box set my memory fades).

    Alan Alda rocks, even as a fake republican. I think my whole conception of what war is is based on MASH.

    Alda apparently had a clause in his contract which insisted there would be time inside the OR in every episode.

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report

  • Kerry Weston,

    but the point of a gun was the only law Liberty understood
    when it came to shooting straight and fast
    a-he was mighty goood....

    gee, thanks for getting __that__tune playing remorselessly in ma head.

    Manawatu • Since Jan 2008 • 494 posts Report

  • Idiot Savant,

    Vinick gave Santos the briefcase I think (not sure TV ever showed that...and after the 3rd or 4th episode in a row on a DVD box set my memory fades).

    He did indeed - but he also looked.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • David Slack,

    gee, thanks for getting thattune playing remorselessly in ma head

    When I got to the part about John Rowles, I considered making some sort of G-G-G-G-Gerard reference. There. Now you have an earworm that's even worse. Sorry about that Chief.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report

  • David Slack,

    He did indeed - but he also looked.

    If you looked, would what you did depend on what you found?

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report

  • Paul Williams,

    Vinick gave Santos the briefcase I think (not sure TV ever showed that...and after the 3rd or 4th episode in a row on a DVD box set my memory fades).

    I remember that episode, it was a goody.

    I was once, marginally, in much the same situation described in the hypothetical situation. I was a researcher for Mallard when he was provided with Tuku's diary at the height of the the defamation suit over Tuku's undies and generalised corruption... my role involved taking it to the SFO on Trevor's instructions. Which was precisely the right thing to do.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

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