Thanks Russell for the Darcy Clay...

I was at Albert Park that day, what a ripper! And I'll never forget the impromptu acoustic performance we were treated to when he and his mates gatecrashed our barbecue (whilst visiting our next door neighbours), they said we sounded like we were having a better time than those across the fence so decided to join us instead...

Oh the memories...

OMG, I not only cringed but flinched when I saw Mr Driver interviewing Henry Rollins the other night. Especially after listening to a particularly good interview with him (Rollins) on National Radio within the same week. Bad sound, bad lighting, bad posture and just bad! Shame on you Oliver, you could at least conduct your interviews somewhere where the sound doesn't come across like you're sitting in a massive shipping container. Either that or fire your sound engineers, they're doing a crap job!

one of the problems with the PBRF is that it penalises young researchers for their lack of output. And if young researchers can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, why should they continue with their work? All that will end up happening is that they will abandon research for office work (as several of my friends have done) and then where will we be when the existing 'senior researchers' retire?

The UK are doing away with their version of the PBRF after finally coming to grips with the fact that it doesn't work. We keep pressing on though...

SIT however, was never set up to be a research institution. Generally Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics are about practical learning environments while universities are research intensive...

Hmmm, under the Education Act, the name 'University' is protected. SIT is not and never has been a University. It is an Institute of Technology and a member of ITPNZ - Institutes and Polytechnics NZ...

Ah, rather than the retrospective (non)application of by-laws, they're clearly being more efficient by not applying them at the very beginning of the process. Thereby saving themselves a spot of bother with the neighbours at a later date...

How sad to hear of the demise of Number 43! We lived in Hackett Street when I was in my early teens, followed up by a couple of years in Ring Road. I can't recall the exact number but think it may even have been just next door at number 45. St Mary's Bay has a very special character, distinct from Grey Lynn and Herne Bay. What a shame that property owners who bought into the area precisely because of this special character are able to destroy it at the drop of a hat presumably all in the name of progress...

What is the Auckland City Council doing with all those staff if they can't even interpret and apply their own by-laws. Don't worry, they'll just approve a retrospective building permit so they won't have to sort out their own failing processes...

Who cares about Californication anyway, it interferes with the Dresden Files, ban the Pineapple Lump! I'd like to see Bob's upcoming complaint regarding the depiction of * cue shock/horror* - Magic and Wizardry and all the dangers that will bring...

Umm, I'm on a pretty good wage and my annual performance/salary negotiation meeting is coming up next month. Our CEO has already advised those of us in the senior management team that he'll be contributing 4% for us and that this will most definitely be taken into account in any salary discussions we will have with him next month. I'm unsure how this will not affect my wages when I can kiss that 4% goodbye for the next 35+ years