Posts by Mark Easterbrook

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  • Hard News: Tidbits ahoy,

    Sorry - my point: the media is perfectly entitled to use 'boot camp' as shorthand; definition no.2 is bang-on what Key is proposing, surely?

    Sure, a dictionary definition doesn't capture the negative emotional connotations. But I'm sure the same could be said for the highly loaded "anti-smacking"...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report

  • Hard News: Tidbits ahoy,

    From the American Heritage Dictionary, via dictionary.com:

    boot camp
    n.

    1. A training camp for military recruits.
    2. A correctional facility that uses the training techniques applied to military recruits to teach usually youthful offenders socially acceptable patterns of behavior.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report

  • Hard News: Tidbits ahoy,

    Boot Camps for disadvantaged youth? I can see an opening for Tama Iti...

    Perhaps the Urewera camps were National-sponsored trials for their planned bootcamps? Of course - the Terrorist! Terrorist! reaction all makes sense now...Police were pressured by Labour to demonise Iti and undermine National's plans for him...


    Hmmm. Don't you hate it when your attempts at irony sound like actual opinions from talkback?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report

  • Hard News: Panic,

    Sorry to come late to the discussion...

    I was clearing out my basement in the weekend and found a 1988 copy of the Sunday News. It had a wonderful piece of tabloid scaremongering discussing the "bizarre Gothic suicide cult" on Auckland's North Shore. I vaguely remember the media circus around that from my pre-teen years.

    20 years on, still spinning the same old bollocks.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report

  • Hard News: Monster Weekend,

    I wouldn't call this BDO a vintage experience, but I had a good day, made all the better by having a good friend who's been absent for 12 years as my partner in crime for the day.

    I was a little bemused to realise afterwards that most of my day's favourites - SJD, The Phoenix Foundation, Liam Finn - could all have been seen elsewhere and in a better setting at other points this summer. Ah well...

    Must say I found the crowd very agreeable and noticeably less drunk this year, though I'm a little confused about how so many 18-24 year olds had jumped on to the RATM bandwagon.

    Noticeable improvement for 08: beer queues. I don't think I actually had to queue for a drink for more than 2 minutes at any point.

    Low point: forgoing the always quick and reliable bus service home, and choosing to head for the train. It took about 2 hours to get from Mt Smart Stadium to the Mt Albert station...aaaarggghhhhh.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report

  • Speaker: Insert Token Here,

    I'm just keeping Speaker warm until they find a lesbian midget.

    Would being a lesbian midget in Second Life count? Just asking. For a friend.

    Anyway, welcome aboard Emma - which seems weird to say, because with your longstanding prolific and interesting input, you're as fully-aboard is anyone here on the System.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report

  • Hard News: Farce About,

    Spooky.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report

  • Word of the Year 2007,

    Key too

    Official National Party Policy.

    e.g. Labour will continue to follow an independent foreign policy. Key too.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report

  • Radiation: Making a list,

    There must be a word for the recorded-yet-destined-never-be-watched TV sitting around in boxes all over the world

    PVRiously unseen footage?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report

  • Hard News: Too busy with First Life sorry,

    My desk neighbour decided to experiment with Second Life about 6 months ago.

    His avatar was a naked dude with a fox's head and tail.

    That was about the point I lost interest...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report

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