Posts by Paul Williams

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  • Hard News: Truth to Power, etc,

    That's like a media version of the uncertainty principle...

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Hard News: Truth to Power, etc,

    It's petty I realise, but I thoroughly appreciate Odgers taking the time to fulfil my prejudices about her.

    I hate to point out the obvious, but you started it :-)

    Sometimes, however, it's important to call people on their bullshit.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Field Theory: All White on the night,

    This be the place to record euphoria?

    How good's the 'keeper?

    How good's Fallon? How brilliant's that hey, hey?

    Crowds of kiwis flock to my house, for I have Setanta, to watch this momentus event...

    want some fun? Google "NZ qualify"...

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Hard News: Dear John,

    And yet, these have yet to make a real impact on public opinion.

    Even a basic rights issue like workplace breaks being rolled back doesn't seem to have found any purchase -- listening to Helen Kelly of the CTU try and explain the issue to Jim Mora and Graham Bell on The Panel last week was painful. Neither of them seemed to grasp what she was talking about.

    Yet. That's my view anyway.

    You can't have that many fuck-ups so early in your term of government. These aren't peripheral issues, they're core. For the moment, people aren't troubled, but when ACC unravels further (I remember the last time incidentally, I set up company during the transition, it was ridiculously confusing) and the new education standards delivery one eighth of fuck all... then Key's genuine charm won't be enough.

    Not necessarily a good thing. The grassroots level of the GOP is "quite lively" -- as well as bugshit crazy and shrinking faster than cotton candy in a monsoon. I wouldn't confuse Brownian motion with productive activity.

    Yeah, that's a fair point Craig and for certain some activity is mournful and reflexsive but not a lot. Objectively, Labour are in good shape having significantly renewed their caucus. My sense, limited again by distance, is that the activity is focused and not at all oriented in the past.

    Slightly OT but what the hey! I have a problem with this and yep Aussies suck. :)

    Sofie, Aussies ain't so bad... nor different from us either. I don't like the National approach to vulnerable people and having heard what disability pensioners face in the short-term in Australia, I'm worried about here too.

    What's amusing is that, Robbie Deans after, let's say 45 years living as a kiwi, seems entirely enculturated to Australian values after one year given his bleating about the referee... (tho Sivi shoulda been red-carded).

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Hard News: Dear John,

    My perspective on Key's performance is limited by being on the other side of the Tasman. Still, I can see his appeal though I don't think it'll endure.

    He's anything but insensible, but pulling out pragmatic solutions to solve Ministerial bungles is not the same as anticipating problems. Nor is it comparable to having a comprehensive approach to policy development. Both these were essential to Clark's Prime Ministership.

    He's wedged on the ETS, he's left Smith to make a mess of ACC, Tolley's exposed in education... his is a government of just keeping things from going ... wrong... that's what third-term governments do, not first-term.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Field Theory: A few changes,

    Perhaps it's cause I'm not as immersed in it all as I'd be if I was still resident in NZ, but I don't see that the coaches are doing so badly. I've watched all the tests several times and but for errors by players, the tactics haven't seemed miles off. The losses to RSA are significant, the poor performances early in the season weren't. The losses to RSA reflected the difference between a settled team playing to their strengths and with confidence and a team still coming together, with some uncertain combinations (largely due to injuries) and unable to assert itself in the tight... is that coaching failure? Didn't seem that way to me, seemed like execution mostly.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Hard News: Getting Across,

    sniggernui

    ooh I like that

    Ditto. A more refined variation on a PAS standard.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Hard News: Do these people even talk?,

    Is it too late for the IRB to give it to Ozzy?

    I need to know 'cause I was going to go there during the RWC here, but I not so sure anymore.

    Don't joke. Better still, post guards at all NZ airports to ensure John O'Neill can't get past Customs.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Field Theory: Blue Sky Thinking,

    Oh FFS. ARC is a brilliant service. They've made a martyr of Jed and will be surprised by the response.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Something Completely Different,

    The 1978 Shatner 'Rocket Man' is possibly the peak of western civilisation.

    If not the peak of PAS cultural pastiche? Shatner's such a douche but this works.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

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