Posts by Rich of Observationz

  • Hard News: London's Burning,

    in America, anyone can “pack the nine”

    Um, legally, you have to be at least 18 to have a gun in the US, whereas if you can get a license, it's 16 here.

    But illegally, you can have anything, and it's probably easier to get an illegal firearm there than here.

    To drink drive while packing heat is 21 in the US and 20 here.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hard News: London's Burning,

    transportation for stealing a loaf of bread or hanging for pinching a monogrammed hankerchief.

    The introduction of the former was partly the result of a guilty conscience about the latter. The establishment were worried they would go to hell for hanging all those people, but it didn't say anywhere in the bible you couldn't transport miscreants to Australia.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hard News: London's Burning,

    opbanner.pdf

    Also, if I may table a file, this is the British Army’s study of the NI conflict. I’ve got a few books that cover it from the PIRA side, as well.

    EDIT: that looks like a total non-sequitur. I just wrote 100+ words on the effects of aggressive escalation / comparisons with Northern Ireland 1968 and it fell into the internet hole.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hard News: London's Burning, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    The police choosing to ignore the law is one of the main causes of the trouble. Are you saying we need more of that?

    Anyway, I think a British or European judge would decide that an insurance company, or anyone else, was entitled to the benefit of the law as it's written, not as interpreted in the light of the parties perceived popularity.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hard News: London's Burning,

    Interesting article on hoodies, as in the garment.

    I don’t think they’ve ever had this rep in NZ. Teachers and coders wear them to work, and so on.

    Maybe it’s because we don’t have much CCTV, and thus not the need to hide from the cameras, so keeping your head warm isn’t seen as an aggressive act.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hard News: London's Burning,

    Hope it isn't crass to ask this, but do record companies and the like insure media for manufacturing or resale cost?

    (I've always been a bit concerned about my books, which are probably not insurable at full replacement cost, or indeed replaceable).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hard News: London's Burning,

    From a Guardian reporter:

    Here’s a list of shops that appeared to have been broken into or were heavily damaged with smashed glass:

    • Betfred
    • Pawnbroker
    • Independent sports shop
    • Argos
    • Independent phone shop
    • O2
    • Carphone Warehouse
    • Phones4U
    • Cash Converters
    • Foot Locker
    • Boots
    • Bookies
    • Barclays

    Maybe, of those, the independent sports and phone retailers were honest small businesspeople who paid their taxes and treated their staff well.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hard News: London's Burning,

    proportionally far more than NZ

    Possibly. But also, in the UK (and most other countries) the underclass is urban. In NZ, a lot of the poorest people live out in the country. A lot of the central NI settlements are probably more disadvantaged than Hackney, but we don’t see them, right? Even the affluent (mainly white) people in the area don’t see them, apart from having to be sure to lock the Land Rover when going into Tokoroa for shopping.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hard News: Media7: A new censor -- and a…,

    I'd suggest that nowadays, people are offended by egregious sexism, homophobia and racism in the way that they used to be by "naughty words". Should the censor look at that sort of thing?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hard News: London's Burning,

    The US (and Canada) completely missed the boat on the first few iterations of mobile phones. Archaic CDMA technology, no SMS, no SIMs, billed as roaming if you moved outside your area code, and charges for incoming calls.

    That's what happens when you don't pay attention to what goes on in other countries...

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

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