Posts by Bart Janssen
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Just another comment - as a scientist it really was neat to see a leader who took the science portfolio. I get the feeling that had he ever become PM it might have made a subtle difference to his priorities.
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Speaker: David Shearer: The one that…, in reply to Konrad Kurta,
An unfortunate reality of modern media and politics.
Agreed. Doesn't stop me hating it though.
Also I have to say I think it has a lot to do with just how bad some political systems have become.
But I have no idea how to fix it.
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Speaker: David Shearer: The one that…, in reply to Konrad Kurta,
his inability to connect with the public via concise media soundbites
The media's inability to present anything other than trite meaningless soundbites ...
There I fixed that for you
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I thought it was worth the risk.
I agree. Because what we have been trying for the last decades has simply not been working.
We've tried the politicians. The ones who bully and blackmail and buy their colleagues in order to achieve power and then can only imagine getting more power.
We need statespeople. People who are doing the job of politician because it's the best way for them to contribute to society. People who make decisions based on the best evidence available for the greatest benefit to all of society. People who can make mistakes and admit it. People who take responsibility for their decisions and are willing to change their minds when they get it wrong.
I don't know if Shearer was all those things. But I do know that what has replaced him was the worst kind of old white male political animal and frankly it's really hard to vote for that.
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A Mortar and Pestle can be really cheap, troll the isles of one of the asian supermarkets and you'll see a few. You want something medium sized about 15-20 cm in diameter and with some weight so you can lean into it as you grind and the spices don't spill out.
BUT it can be hard work and it's much easier to use a cheapish coffee grinder one of the ones with blades that are useless for coffee but they work great for spices, they're usually about $50 but I'm sure you could find one cheaper. They're small enough to pick up and shake as you grind and it's lots easier than using a mortar and pestle :).
As for a tagine, they are pretty, but a slow cooker is just as good and much more of a multi-tasker than a tagine. If you have space in your kitchen (we don't) and lots of money to spend you can find some beautiful tagines that are as much art pieces as cooking implements.
Also you obviously already have a slow cooker but if you didn't I'd recommend the Breville duo which can double as a sous vide bath as well. Kind of ugly but works really well. Combined with a vacuum bagger of some kind you get a whole other range of cooking options.
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Awesome idea Amberleigh and I'm looking forward to your discoveries. Sometimes the hardest part about cooking is thinking of what to cook and you now have a plan for the next couple of years :).
Sorry to here about a eating problems. Finding a reason to cook actual food sounds like a really healthy approach - my guess is you'll find a lot of countries that rely on rice/corn/wheat as primary calories with whichever vegetable is in season. Hopefully your paleo/primal diet is not too strict and you can allow yourself some flexibility.
Some suggestions:
When you get to The Netherlands don't use whitloff (aka bitter endive) - it's disgusting and is my worst memory of pushing food around a plate as a child. Instead make some croquettes.The USA will have lots of options but I'd be tempted by Southern BBQ, slow cooked beef brisket can be amazing. Hawaiian Poke is a different option for the US and probably healthier :).
Mexican mole is amazing as a base sauce for lots of great dishes
Oddly, although it isn't exactly a healthy long term choice I've found trying doughnuts in different countries is really interesting. I never realised how many different types of doughnut there are.
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I want to say something intelligent but all that comes to mind is what a monstrous piece of scum that guy is.
Of course we should tax churches, in this society where the majority of people have no religion and the remainder is spread over a multitude of religions there is simply no justification for a tax free status - but it won't happen because we elect politicians not statesmen.
Meanwhile can someone organise some serious smiting of fuckwits who mouth of shit like Brian Tamaki.
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Speaker: No, there isn’t a popular…, in reply to Sacha,
2nd place
3rd
The race was for 2nd place which sadly she lost.
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Speaker: No, there isn’t a popular…, in reply to ,
Noam Chomsky – he’s an old dude.
I'm not saying old white guys can't be bright/empathetic/thoughtful/considered/balanced but FFS we have enough already.
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Speaker: No, there isn’t a popular…, in reply to BenWilson,
But which comes first?
Yeah. When faced will old white guys (and a couple of old white gals) youth choose not to vote – therefore youth are disengaged.
I wonder how many younger voters decided to vote in the Auckland elections after Chloe Swarbrick entered the race for 2nd place in the mayoralty (even if they ended up not voting for her).
Wouldn’t it be fun to have a political party where old white guys were not allowed to stand – you could let them make cakes and fetch tea* so they could feel valued.
*Or bring red bull and vodka