Posts by Paul Williams

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  • Hard News: Aspie On,

    I've not followed this thread closely, so apologies if I'm covering old ground.

    Melvyn Bragg's done an "in our time" interview on the infant brain development (I have an infant who's brain seems not to have yet developed a "sleep" function). It's interesting podcast for parents of young-uns but I thought it worth noting that, towards the end, there's a discussion about early diagnosis of and understanding Asperger's. Those who're more directly engaged may not hear anything they don't already know, but I was interested to hear that an indicator is that children with Asperger's appear less able to read "intent" from others' actions. The link's here

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Field Theory: The second test and the…,

    What a fantastic story, I'll now go listen to the interview. Thanks Hayden, I knew nothing about this test and now, to quote the Muttonbirds, oh I wish I was in Wellington.

    Incidentally, when watching the movie Ali, in which I think Will Smith's pretty bloody good, it occurred to me that someone really should/must make a movie of Hillary's ascent of Everest... surely Peter Jackson's got it on his list?

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Hard News: Still crazy after all these years,

    Ahh Binga's bollywood hit. He and his brother, Shane, had a respectable garage band... actually respectable might be pushing it a little.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Hard News: Still crazy after all these years,

    Sacha, the code is wrong but the sentiment is about right...

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Hard News: Still crazy after all these years,

    Ozzie: I don't know what the fuck you're on about, mate
    Kiwi: Language, please, there's children here
    Ozzie: They should have gone to bed hours ago
    Kiwi: At least it's not a stolen bed

    I thoroughly enjoy the banter with Aussies at sporting events here in Sydney. Can't say I've ever encountered it getting out of hand either. The story here about the Styris/Johnson encounter was even handed and rolfnuid that Styris was too busy sledging the Aussies to see if the winning shot was a four of six.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Hard News: Still crazy after all these years,

    Keeping Geelong going is important to Ozzies, and if they have to drive Holdens and Fords, they think it's worth the price.

    There's a diversity of views that in part can be resolved by checking which state you're from but generally, I think you're right. There's nothing like the obsession with policy-purity that has dominated NZ policy making.

    sold its factories to Mitsi, which itself has recently jumped ship

    They had a go at staying, the 380 was their big innovation, but perhaps three manufacturers was too much for the taxpayers to subsidise?

    I'm impressed we are all responding quite calmly and not taking the bait. Feels a bit sad this time.

    ~late as ever to the thread...

    I'm more than happy to see a close questioning of the media, their tactics, their ethics and professionalism and I'd wondered what the motive of this story really was... (train-wreck journalism is an obscene indulgence) but I agree that Robbie's most recent comments strayed well wide of what's reasonable when he starts asking what the reporters were wearing...

    Perhaps the only way out of this is to wait for the courts to deal with it and then separately consider the journalistic issues since there's no suggestion the journos committed any crime.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Hard News: Still crazy after all these years,

    I still swear by the economics of buying second hand cars. At least in NZ.

    At least in NZ indeed.

    Someone might already have made this point, but there's no import market in Australia due to the tariffs that apply. This means the market for second hand cars is much less competitive and prices higher. A car that's done 50 - 80k but is within the manufacturer's warranty (typically three years) will hold much of its original sale value. That's the price of maintaining (possibly uncompetitive) domestic production frankly...

    I suspect, but don't know, that there's a lot more new cars sold per annum in Australia than NZ per head of population

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Field Theory: An Australian show but a…,

    Edward, thanks - didn't know such a thing existed. That said, looks like some Wellington mates/supporters are heading over and will be meeting up pre- and post-match. Should be grand. I'm sure the supporters club will advise too of any plans.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Field Theory: An Australian show but a…,

    Dear PAS whanau, should any of you venture this side of the Tasman to view the Sydney FC game, please contact me directly (paul.spencer.williams@det.nsw.edu.au) as I desparately want to go and am yet to find a mate who is free (I invite speculation about their poxy priorities). Moreover, if you can both attend and get tickets pre-Wednesday (when they go public in Sydney) that'd be grand.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Field Theory: And like that, it's gone,

    I'd've preferred Greg Chappel. Another injustice to sit alongside the under-arm?

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

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