Posts by Kyle Matthews
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However, an analysis of a DNA sample might ring the cherries with a whole string of other unsolved cases, and the suspect ain't going anywhere.
I'm pretty dubious about "while we've got you in here arrested for X, let's check your DNA and see what other crimes you might have committed".
For one thing, the NZ police don't have a long list of cases for which they have DNA evidence, but haven't found the person to test. NZ Police have a very high conviction rate in the more serious crimes. Only in very rare cases will it lead to additional convictions for unsolved crimes.
In historical unsolved cases, police have often disposed of evidence, or the case was before it was even known that collecting DNA could be useful. Police might keep evidence for unsolved murder cases for 15 years, but after that they actually have to make choices about which cases to keep the evidence for. If there's been nothing new for 15 years, and they think it's a lost cause, they will get rid of it. Among other things, serious crimes involve a lot of evidence and take up a lot of room.
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i just popped upstairs to see about getting something done and comms have barricaded themselves into the 5th floor... they're bombarding finance with copies of the hansard and yelling, "my freedom or my death!"
Che Tibby, you should have your own TV show. A couple of funnies in one day.
Or, be taken away for treatment. Whichever suits you ;)
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There's an opinion piece in today's Dom Post (I can't find it online, alas) that asserts that health records fail to show any substantive health benefits from insulating houses.
Ironically this is on the same day that NZ's leading researcher into the health benefits of insulating is in the media for receiving research awards for the opposite:
The Liley Medal, jointly awarded by the Health Research Council, is for research which has made a clear difference to people's lives. One of the policy consequences of Professor Howden-Chapman's work has been quantifying the benefits for the recent one billion dollar Government initiative to retro-fit low income houses with insulation and more sustainable heating.
Professor Howden-Chapman is internationally recognised for her research showing for the first time links between New Zealand's cold and thermally inadequate housing, health outcomes and energy use. She has authored 150 publications on this and other public health issues.
Wonder what the Dom will make of the apparent contradiction.
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But it would seem prudent, now that a real-world experiment has been conducted, to identify actual harms -- and sort teething troubles from fundamental flaws -- rather than continue to tub-thump on the basis of philosophy.
Are you new here or something? Tub thumping is wot we do, dammit!
3) And whatever happens, please dump requiring agents to put their residential addresses on material and hoardings. Can't see what public service or genuine disclosure is served there.
That's a good suggestion. I'm not involved with any political parties, but having my home address on everything would deter me from taking up that job. Too many crazies, and I have kids (and two big dogs).
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Krugman's blog has more on this including his calculation of the fiscal stimulus required US$600 billion.
Oh good god. Is the man in a competition for "most boring blog"?
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Dude, you've been away too long. We all have two votes under MMP. One for each arm.
From memory my electorate vote was on the right, so that was sweet.
My party vote was on the left however, and my left-handed ticking is pretty shocking. Might have voted Alliance, but could have accidentally been Act. So I should probably apologise for any part I have in Roger.
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Way to ruin the magic, Kyle ...
I have goals in life OK! Just because they're really sad goals...
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You may laugh HG, but cricket fans will understand the importance of this.
What's interesting in cricket is the penalty doesn't affect the game in play.
Basketball, 24 seconds is up, shot clock is done, you turnover the ball.
Rugby you delay the game you get penalised or marched 10 metres.
Ice hockey you get warned for late lineup for faceoffs, and if you do it a second time you get penalised and a player sent to the box.
Cricket you might get penalised some money and banned for a later game. If a bowler is getting through their overs too slow, why don't they ban the bowler from bowling again for... 10, 15 overs or something? Revisit the run target? The teams will learn real quick.
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Excuse my ignorance, but what is the Muffin Break chain?
They're originally Australian, but there's a bunch of stores here in NZ. You find them in every third mall you go into (I believe that's the rule).
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If the sample is destroyed if there is no charge laid, I would be a lot more comfortable with it than if it was stored 'just in case'. If that's a route the powers that be want to take to a logical conclusion, why not take a sample from every new-born child, just in case?
To me it wouldn't make sense to take samples and then destroy if charges weren't laid or the person wasn't convicted. Why not just take the sample after conviction? Save a whole heap of time and money taking samples and then destroying them.
We already do. It's called the heel prick test. We've been storing blood from every newborn dried on a card since the 1970s. As far as I know there has never been any intention to analyse their DNA for criminal identification though.
Yeah this does happen sometimes:
The Police access Guthrie cards only as a last resort. The Ministry of Health and Police have a Memorandum of Understanding clarifying circumstances in which Guthrie cards may be accessed. Police occasionally request access to a Guthrie card to identify a deceased person, or to match biological material found at a crime scene. If the police need a Guthrie card to identify anyone except a victim, they apply to a District Court Judge for a warrant. In accepting a Guthrie Card the police certify it will be used solely for the investigation.