Posts by davesparks

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  • Hard News: Mac Ouch,

    Re: Stuff

    Was a little unnerved initially by the floaty whiteness, but dig down into the content and the reading area is serenity+.

    Customisation is a meh for me, but my measure is how quickly I can burn through a bunch of interesting articles and still like the site I'm reading them on.

    This new Stuff works for me, it seems someone, or a collective miracle of willpower took a stand and kept it clean, clear and uncluttered? Ups for that - many have tried but few succeed in pulling off that trick.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Self-satisfactorily Yours,

    Plus, everyone knows the best bond/film was not George Lazenby in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but Timothy Dalton in The Living Daylights!

    That's actually true.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Field Theory: Cricket isn't Rock,

    In his debut century I thought Guptill played in the V with a very straight bat, drove well and placed it nicely in pacing his innings early on. After his innings in Aus there seems to be more talk about his pull, but I had him pegged for finesse?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Field Theory: Cricket isn't Rock,

    Re: McCullum

    I'm no cricket wonk, but to me he has changed his batting approach this season specifically to target the opening role:
    - Change in shot selection, far wider range of shots including some of the classics
    - Pacing himself for a longer innings, being able to slow down as well as speed up
    - Deliberately managing the role/relationship with the guy at the other end to help them bat better to

    He's batted through, owned innings, and taken charge of opening in a way I haven't seen for a long time for us. We are sweet for guys who can come in late and light it up. Never been a problem for NZ.

    Sure he has failed sometimes, and sure the responsibility didn't sit as well with him initially as the 5/7 role did when he was at his peak there, having worked on that approach for a long time.

    It's also exciting to have the next bunch coming in that can play shots, play straight even, and construct an innings out of something other than hand-eye co-ordination and hoping for the best.

    That kind of back-up for openers almost makes me feel like we've got a top order proper, and a plan for each game. ZOMG.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Trading Trade Me?,

    My understanding is Yellow does have Finda now, and that its not a secret? Handover coming up soon, but no one knows for sure what that'll mean.

    Surely in starting Finda an acquisition by the incumbent dominant player was always near the top of the exit-strategy options?

    Likewise with Trade Me if it wasn't for the people involved at the time a buy by eBay would've been on the cards earlier.

    Makes me think, would '09 be the 10th anniversary of built-to-flip?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Field Theory: The Return,

    People who talk about Barnes keep forgetting that France was awful, and I find the tacit assumption that if we had squeaked past them we would have beaten SA is irritating in the extreme. We didn't lose the final, we crashed out of the quarterfinals.

    That's just made-up talk, ie bullshit. France were very good in a couple of key areas.

    Through playing us and extensive video analysis they figured out a tackle approach that took away our offload ball - well done to them. And they executed that like men possessed. IMHO we did try options to adapt around that.

    Our pick and go on the line scored us one try with very low risk, and there was every reason to think it would get us points again. It absolutely would have if the men who were supposed to be reffing the game weren't merely watching it - who could blame them, it was utterly mesmerising.

    But the French managed a very effective spoil - it not just that they went so long without giving away a penalty, its that they did so much wrong (on their try line!) without giving up a penalty.

    I'm not going to go there on flakey field-goals vs. those forwards in close getting over the line. I'd have hung on to the ball too. Maybe even for longer.

    For anyone who likes to sit at the keyboard and bang on about lack of character I'd really appreciate a link to the clip and mins:secs where we see any All Black giving it less than 100%, giving up, or doing anything other than giving it death with a very grim look on their face.

    Anyway, good on you GH, I'm not your biggest fan but gee here in NZ there are some clueless dicks who like to talk shit about rugby. Makes you wonder exactly what they do enjoy about it.

    </rant>

    Dunno where that came from except its late and I'm still working.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Speaking Freely,

    Sky is doing the ring-around at the moment, pushing:
    - Free install
    - 6 months free
    - 12 month contract
    - My Sky included

    For someone currently rocking a 32" CRT and broken bunny ears, this is tempting. I ask the experts, should we?

    Should we take it, with a view to adding Freeview which we couldn't get atm without doing an aerial install (c $150-250 by itself!). Or is there some hidden downside which is why they're giving such a seemingly good offer. We'd pick up a decent TV (if HD was an option
    ) in the post-christmas sales - I expect dealz galore.

    One strike against Sky, is certain people in the household have said they're rather die than have one of those ugly dishes stuck on the house. And why do they always seem to go in the ugliest places possible? They *are* rather ugly.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: Pregnant Calamity,

    What is it with ginger cats?

    What is it with hassling gingers?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Field Theory: The Undertaker is Hamlet,

    I'd have thought something along the lines of:

    Art (capital A): An abstraction of actual experience that seeks to present some truth about that experience.

    Sport: An actual experience.

    art (little a): A sly little word that bends to fit context. Strip off its black turtleneck and it just means 'something people do'.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Up Front: The Innocent Sleep,

    Ooh, me too. Night is nice!

    But rather than a syndrome or disorder, I always figured it was a genetic adaption suggesting my ancestors were geared for night hunts. Goes with the squinty eyes that only work properly when the sun goes down.

    Thanks for the post - its nice to see so many people with the same experience. I'd always thought we were just a small elite ;)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

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