Posts by Steve Reeves

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  • Hard News: I'm not a "f***ing cyclist".…,

    Perhaps people aren't really as "nice" as they seem face-to-face?

    Rather like with email---your behaviour protected and to some extent anonymous inside a car (like your behaviour physically removed during the writing and sending of an email) leads to behaviour that's clearly unacceptable when face-to-face.

    It may be worse than that, of course---perhaps the removal from consequences (to some extent) of being in a car brings out the "real" person that's hidden by cowardice and politeness etc. when physically present and accountable.

    Near Donny Park, Hamilton… • Since Apr 2007 • 94 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Moving targets,

    I've just been reflecting on my (late) realisation that politicians who argue against oversight and regulation in business (stifles creativity, freedom needed to be successful, clever ideas in new banking products, dealing on the basis of being "smart" enough to have the right people talking to you, etc.) are also, these days, likely to be in business themselves. So, all that talk of over-regulation being bad for business was really, all along, self-serving in the extreme, rather than merely over-sensitive to the titans trying to make money.

    And I guess it should not be surprising that when business people (who have been used to a certain regard concerning their wishes for light regulation) move into politics, they have difficulty adjusting to a new set of moral values and expectations.

    Near Donny Park, Hamilton… • Since Apr 2007 • 94 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: A few (more) words on The Hobbit,

    @Kyle: Yes.

    My understanding was that the Supreme Court had clarified this matter. And in any case, that was several years ago (2005?), so if it was not clear, various governments did not seem to think it worth worrying over. So, the government was not concerned, apparently, about clarity. Nor was WB.

    That really only leaves PJ, and given the time, money and emotion that must go into taking a matter through all the courts of the land, I can understand how he might want "clarification" that gives him the result he wanted but was denied by the courts of the land.

    Near Donny Park, Hamilton… • Since Apr 2007 • 94 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: A few (more) words on The Hobbit,

    I've seen reports, now, that the Govt. is saying it was not asked by WB for the law change to clarify the employment position:

    [From Parliament]

    Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: Warner Bros did not put any requirements on us to do anything. The New Zealand Government has recognised that there were employment issues that needed to be sorted out, and we are going to move to clarify those. We think that the last 7 weeks have been shameful as far as the support for the film industry is concerned, and we are going to urgently move to fix that situation.

    PJ did take the fight against Bryson all the way to the Supreme Court, and lost. So who would blame him for being somewhat upset about this, and for wanting another go, and for asking the Govt. to recognise his distress?

    Near Donny Park, Hamilton… • Since Apr 2007 • 94 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: The GST Punt,

    Don't let perfection be an enemy of the good!

    Anything that enables people to buy more fresh fruit and veg is good.

    The fact that the system won't be perfect is not a reason not to do it!

    Near Donny Park, Hamilton… • Since Apr 2007 • 94 posts Report Reply

  • Southerly: Confessions of a Social Retard,

    P.S. 24

    Near Donny Park, Hamilton… • Since Apr 2007 • 94 posts Report Reply

  • Southerly: Confessions of a Social Retard,

    On the role play thing (I'd have given Russell a run for his money out of the room, I think!) I often reflect on the destructiveness of taking the piss out of the whole thing rather as John Clarke did in a episode of The Games (can't find a clip to link to). It was brilliant stuff, centred around blurring the distinction between those in-role and those out (usually the controller, giving instructions).

    Then again, having the courage the do such wrecking (with all the attention it would surely get you, once you think about it) introduces yet another level of terror.

    Which leads me to the thought that over-analysing what might happen if I say this, then they say that, then....can sometimes be the root of the problem with social situations. Perhaps the alcohol works by taking away the need (or ability) to analyse?

    Near Donny Park, Hamilton… • Since Apr 2007 • 94 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Ideology for Evidence,

    The PSA "control" their members? Just another out-of-touch journalist, or a right-winger spreading disinformation?

    Near Donny Park, Hamilton… • Since Apr 2007 • 94 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Wanna Route?,

    And I hope all the Hamilton cyclists have been to the (fairly) new Velo Espresso in Garden Place....a café, a bike repair, hire and purchase shop. Loads of magazines to read.

    Browsing the mouthwatering goodies (and things to eat) while chatting and drinking is a great thing. Also watching Le Tour. Highly recommended!

    Near Donny Park, Hamilton… • Since Apr 2007 • 94 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Ideology for Evidence,

    I think my quote of Wilkinson, together with the statistics that most of us know from experience about availability of GPs and well-explored above, point to the fact that MPs seem to be used to GPs visiting them, not the other, usual, way around.

    Any MPs on here care to confirm or deny?

    Near Donny Park, Hamilton… • Since Apr 2007 • 94 posts Report Reply

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