Posts by David Hamilton
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Russell, I got that you don't like pokies. I don't either. What I don't get is why you think it's so different from other vices which you clearly do not have a problem with.
I am with you Ben about no vice being especially better or worse than another, and that people can rationally and safely enjoy almost anything that is considered fun. And talking about banning is a little self righteous if we don't want to ban similar things that we enjoy.
I think the problem I have is that they are machines specifically designed by humans using psychological principles to engender addiction. I have no complaint with people who enjoy them, or the fact that they do, its just the people that create and promote and profit from them. The way they go about it just seems greedy and insidious. I know this describes many vices. And I don't really have any answers. What about notices like on the cigarette packets, "WARNING: this machine may trigger addictive tendencies".
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Can't say I agree with any of the harm minimization arguments. Everyone's got their drug. For some poor saps it's gambling. Can't understand it, but can't understand BZP either.
In a world of pure individual responsibility I might agree with you Ben, but surely society's interest also lies with the dependents that lose out because of addiction. Banning fun isn't the point - in this case the house always wins.
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I would be stoked if you guys posted more recipes, I love cooking - Stephen I'm definitely making those bagels sometime.
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Philippines, 1998, I was hiking among the hill tribes on Mindanao and Palawan with a medical team. We were hot, sweaty, thirsty and tired one day when we came to a village on the top of a hill with a gorgeous view of surrounding valleys and forests. Out came a tray of mugs with possibly the most delicious liquid I have ever tasted. It was very strong, very sweet coffee, grown, roasted and ground in the area, mixed with a bit of ground corn. It was just the perfect thing.
Europe, 2007, traveling with a bunch of mates after a work conference/party we were sent over for. We walked up to the top of the hill in Lyon had a look around and then got lost walking back to the centre of town. We found ourselves in a maze of small, crooked back streets and stumbled across a small bakery with a line of locals almost coming out the door. The chocolate eclair I bought in there was the most delicious thing I have ever eaten in my life. It sounds crazy, but it made me feel warm and happy and alive. Such a simple thing, but the chocolate and pastry and chocolate mousse/cream substance that it was stuffed with were all so well executed that it became something truly spectacular.
Finally a pizza from a side street shop in Rome, fresh tomatoes, basil, and very fresh buffalo mozzarella, which it turns out is creamy and fluffy and not very cheese like. All on the classic italian pizza base that is also freshly made and so well executed wherever you go over there. Simply divine.
I actually do love complex, involved food as well, but these three really stand out for me.
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The Midday story on the AB's return to NZ was positively heartwarming. Three thousand fans turned up to cheer them back into the country and hold up signs saying things like "we still think you're the best team in the world". They had obviously been expecting a chilly or non existent reception, and the look on their faces was great.
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"The warm, sweet taste of victory...whether we win or not."
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Actually, I can inform readers that the Destiny releases actually came in IN ALL CAPS. The Scoop operative in question felt the best readability-to-time-fixing ratio was to title case the whole thing.
I feel a bit guilty about it, but this bothers me only slightly less than their self important morality mongering. Jesus would not use all caps. Unless perhaps he was yelling at the established religious leaders for becoming all about the benjamins. But not for press releases.
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This seems like an opportune time to link to the nerdcore awesome that is MC Stormtroopa. Check out Lord Vader, it seems like the most relevant (and my favourite song).
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I remain unconvinced that watching violent TV programmes or rugby, or smacking for that matter, lead in any casual sense to the sort of adult violence against children that is under discusion.
Agreed. The impact of media violence isn't a fruitless discussion, but I feel is a bit of a red herring compared to other factors. US Surgeon General David Satcher in 1999 said "we clearly associate media violence to aggressive behavior. But the impact was very small compared to other things. Some may not be happy with that, but that’s where the science is" (Wikipedia video game controversy article). The article goes on to say "This was also the conclusion of a meta-analysis by psychologist Johnathan Freedman, who reviewed over 200 published studies and found that the majority did not find a causal link."
Again, I don't think that media violence should be ignored, or its impact downplayed, but the studies don't really back up the rhetoric in most cases.