Posts by Kyle Matthews

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  • Hard News: Occupy: Don't call it a protest,

    Yeah, the wholesale destruction of book holdings in academia at the moment is something that everyone in the field is vaguely aware of, but no-one really talks much about.

    Giovanni wrote an interesting post about it last year: Marked for Deselection - about Victoria University library.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Hard News: Occupy: Don't call it a protest,

    United Future candidate Pete George wants them off his lawn at Dunedin's Octagon.

    I don't know what it's been like in other cities, but the growing groundswell of anger at the occupiers "preventing ordinary folk using the octagon/grass" worries me. There's a lack of awareness that a little bit of inconvenience is worth it for the preservation of opportunities for public protest.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Hard News: Winning the RWC: it's complicated,

    and the volunteers, what is that about, bless them for volunteering, but a little pay would go a long way

    I know one volunteer who worked 7 days in Wellington, wasn't well positioned, felt it was a bit of waste of time, and got one pool ticket to not a very good game.

    I know another who worked three days in Dunedin, and got four tickets to the All Blacks QF. Better pay than she gets at work.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Up Front: Casual, Shallow and Meaningless,

    I still haven't worked out a way to say "I've got a TV show" without sounding like a wanker ...

    Lucky that the government is shutting that channel down to solve that problem for ya.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Hard News: Winning the RWC: it's complicated,

    Our government could have got together with the Aussies, Brits and South Africans and agreed not to be kicked around by Big Sport. Then the IRB would have had a choice of either pulling their (substantial) necks in

    Wait, in 2003 NZ lost co-hosting rights to Australia because we couldn't guarantee clean stadiums. The Aussies would probably happily take the event if we flaked on it. South Africa would be all over it, as would the UK unions.

    losing teams were not even invited to stay on for a few days.
    This is not our way, really it is not

    It's not our way, but neither is the cost. A team of 40 people - players and support crew, each costing $250/day for food and a place to stay, is $10K per day. The 12 teams that got knocked out cost $120K/day. Inviting them all to stick around for a week costs a million dollars. It would be irresponsible when planning the tournament to have done that.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Hard News: Winning the RWC: it's complicated,

    Now if only the actual content was just as good...

    SOHO Channel turning up end of this month on Sky is going to have a bunch of good shows on it - many of which have been talked up on PAS before.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Hard News: Dropping the Bomber,

    Key is trying to be like Goff and his caucus, experienced, professional and capable.

    Man, those are some good drugs you're on.

    FFS, Paul, and if he hasn’t been briefed yet should he just pull something out of his arse?

    Why would the PM go on Morning Report to talk about a disaster if he hasn't been briefed? If he doesn't know anything, shouldn't he say so and get the media to talk to someone who does?

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Hard News: Where are the foreigners?!,

    I took a visiting friend at SkyCity across to the Midnight Express cafe across the road. The food was absolutely wonderful, Turkish done very well, service at a high level. Slightly more than the low-end we’ve come to expect, but it’s worth it. And their Turkish coffee is of course exceptional.

    I remember going there when I still lived in Auckland - 1992. Fantastic that it's still open - I hope to be up there in January and will try and visit it again.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Hard News: Where are the foreigners?!,

    I’m allergic to onion

    That's very rare - my daughter has that. For a couple of years the doctors told us it was probably salicylates, and we weren't giving her most fruit and vegetables. Right pain.

    In Dunedin I think the experience has been that the fans come in on the day or day before of the game, flash mob the octagon bars, and then drive out the day after the game. Four games equals four really good nights, but not too much more. There must have been a bunch of them filling up places around Central Otago though. So there's good money to be made, but only if you're in the right spot (3 blocks down the road is quiet) and only for a short period of time.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Field Theory: The Cup Continues,

    And it's too late now, but it does surprise me that Toeava hasn't been developed as a back-up first-five. He played there through age grades (and occasionally even at NPC level, iirc) and has all the requisite skills

    I think he could fill in there at a pinch - lets say if both Slade and Weepu get injured, which is what happened to Carter and Evans in the 2007 quarterfinal that we don't talk about.

    But having gone into the cup with 3 first five options - including Weepu - and now picked up a 4th from the Manawatu, you'd have to hope we're covered.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

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