Posts by Kyle Matthews
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
So what does the government promise to do - tax a world leading carbon efficient, hydro powered smelter at Tiwai and minimise the fuel costs for Aucklanders whilst building more roads. Nimbyistic, stupid, populist policies, that deny the cause of global warming.
I'm not sure where Tiwai will end up after the carbon trading scheme impacts upon electricity. Given that they already have their own special deal for electricity, I'd imagine they'll negotiate appropriately and end up staying here. Instead of the amount they pay all being 'cost', some will be tax, the rest cost. It'll balance in the end.
Tiwai Point uses around 15% of our electricity. This is more than the amount we generate from coal (12.2% in 2006). So by removing Tiwai Point and building some new grid assets, we could stop burning coal entirely.
I can't imagine the grid assets would be that massive. There's some major grid assets up the road with the other lakes, it's not like it'd be 500 miles of lines or anything. It would probably mean upgrades of the cook strait link, but that's happening already.
And after those short messages, time that would have been wasted watching the interviewee evade the question is replaced by cute footage of otters.
And my life is complete! DO IT!
-
Personally, otters are my favourite animals, ever. I'd happily watch Jin the otter stories all news hour. Otters really can come under anything - heath (vets), education (training), sports (otters doing tricks and whatnot). Otters otters otters!
Umm, sorry. Back on track.
As for what's actually shown on the news. I don't so much get annoyed as what they're covering, as how they're covering it. The live cross to the reporter annoys the hell out of me, and wastes time where they could actually be telling us something more useful.
And when they interview politicians and they fob us all off with useless spin, ignoring the question. I don't need to be shown that, I believe you that politicians do that. Just say "we put this question to the Minister, and s/he declined to answer". Do that ten times and they might start being more forthcoming when the public thinks they never answer anything :)
And I'd be much more interested in Campbell Live, or Close Up if they devoted the majority of their show to an issue each night. An in depth lead in story - 7 - 8 minutes, followed by ad break, followed by in depth interview with a person or panel, and then ad break, and then maybe minor story or whatnot to finish. Russell's show has a nice feel to it with that - actually starting to get its teeth into an issue rather than just feeling like a news story that wasn't edited down as much.
-
Barring some huge surprises in the upcoming primaries, she won't go further, and might in fact very well concede after Oregon.
OK, but why? Why not concede after losing NC, and Indiana being so close? Financially this must be really starting to hurt.
-
But that assumes that her giving up is in the interest of the party.
Yes, I think that's somewhat implicit in the statement.
I don't know whether Hillary or her camp have made any comments on that line - it's possible that they have. If their argument is "it is good for democracy and the party for such a close race to continue to be run", that would make some sense. Could be right, could be wrong, difficult to tell.
The statements that I've seen have basically been "I'm going to win". Which might just be statements to rark up the supporters and keep them going, but as far as I can tell basic maths and logic disproves this. I hope there's a better reason not being publicly stated.
I don't particularly mind her going all the way, it'd be the most interesting Democratic National Convention since 1968. I just fail to see whats in it for her. If she doesn't have the VPship, or whatever else she wants by now, she's not going to earn it in West Virginia or Oregon.
I do think it's entered the stage where it's destructive for the party, though not 'general election losing destructive', but more 'two sides of the party will find it increasingly difficult to come back together strongly' destructive. I think it'll have an impact upon close downstream races - congress, senate etc - and could affect future elections. The general isn't looking like being close enough at this stage for it to swing.
It does feel very much like life imitating the West Wing however.
-
One would think that the pure meth is imported into NZ, so $1000 a gram is not out of the question. On the streets of Osaka, it used to be readily available for as little as 10,000 yen ($120) per gram.
Based on all the labs that the police keep finding, I think it's the missing raw ingredient that is snuck into the country, a fair bit of manufacture takes place here.
-
If anyone has a recording of said "high times" doco, I'd like acopy... please email me if you know where to source it (or better still, someone throw it up on teh web)
Try your local university library. University of Otago has a copy recorded off TV3 in 2005 for example.
-
Um, yes... Perhaps an undercover reporter should gain covert access to Ms. Owens' house and see what they can see. I'd be very surprised if you couldn't cook up some chemical mayhem after a quick trawl through her kitchen, bathroom and garage.
Yes. One of the ingredients of GHB, which is used for date rape sometimes, is a commonly sold solvent used as a paint stripper.
To say nothing of the glue, paint, petrol, LPG etc etc that people seem to get whacked on depending on what is trendy/stupid.
-
But, if its the interview I think it was (I was in that show twice AFAIR, once about punk / Zwines) I think I was trying to make the point that contrary to the reputation it had, drugs didn't play a massive part in early NZ club land.
I got the opposite impression from the show. I think they immediately followed you with a story about a guy who OD'd in a club and everyone just walked over the body assumed he was just passed out, and it wasn't until they closed that they discovered he was dead.
I couldn't claim expertise in NZ's drug history, but the show seemed fairly accurate at first impression and was interesting, so on the face of it your flatmate did a good job.
-
It even features Simon Grigg!
I think he was also on 'High Times', part two (1970 - 1986) of which was on TV late last night - part three on next week, same time. A pretty good documentary about the history of NZ drugs - wish I'd caught part 1 now.
Simon appeared outside a brick wall as a 'club owner' from the period.
-
Hehe! That's a story. Well told sir.
As early as 1926 he had developed the habit of shouting "get a proper job" at policemen who happened to cross his field of vision. His latest crusade was the abolition of central government. He had already written an impassioned letter on this subject to his local member of parliament, and was awaiting a response.
Naturally enough, he viewed the purchase of a rug as a dangerous distraction to his revolutionary activities.
I think we need to hear more about your grandfather, he sounds great. Can you tell us one about him, Uncle Haywood? Puh-leeeeaaaassseeeeeeee!!!