Posts by Richard C
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Even Johnson wrote that one couldn't fix the language and that it was futile to try.
Just so. Which, perhaps rather too neatly, prodded me to recall Boswell's account of the following...
After we came out of the church, we stood talking for some time together of Bishop Berkeley's ingenious sophistry to prove the nonexistence of matter, and that every thing in the universe is merely ideal. I observed, that though we are satisfied his doctrine is not true, it is impossible to refute it. I never shall forget the alacrity with which Johnson answered, striking his foot with mighty force against a large stone, till he rebounded from it -- "I refute it thus."
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Out of interest, what's the objection of Waiheke Islanders to joining T/C?
What Uroskin said...
Plus, I think the, um, oblivious manner in which Mr. Ceramalus has ploughed on really irritates people.
We expect that from our Overlords at City Hall, but not from one of our own - the shame of it!
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It's a legitimate story all right, but handled poorly. That part about N.I. Minisprint was just moronic, frankly.
Did wonder (after the customary bellowing) if it was a ploy to get more people visiting their website.
Combine two stories that seem tailor-made for an ill-tempered, Your Views like rant and their new, 6.30 'what people are reading about on tv3.co.nz' feature and: maaahvellous, the forums are busier than a bee in a bottle.
Then again, I've just checked and there's no sign of spleen in the '3 interact' section so a) it didn't work, or b) I was completely wrong...
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Um I'm pretty sure that I've never seen a councilor in any of the planning departments that I've been into (which isn't that many to be fair) and I didn't think councilors bothered themselves with resource consents either.
Apologies Bart - I didn't put that very well. And you're right (I think): they don't get involved in the day-to-day building consents, but I'm pretty sure they do - or have - been involved in large scale planning consents.
At any rate, my (badly expressed) point is that, from what I can see, more and more decisions will be made without directly involving the people (or the people's 'representative') they affect.
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...which one assumes is code for having them contract out all their operations other than rubber-stamping paperwork for building plans
Indeed. From what I've read, the community boards won't have any say over planning and resource consents.
And, presumably, 20-odd councillors will never have the time to look at them either. Not when they have to deal with consents for the entire region.
Which leaves....who exactly?
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I think Akl could do with a little homespun Wellington Wisdom.
It could also do some good IT advice, what with the proposed move to '1 IT data system' for the entire region and all.
I wonder how soon the report reckons that will happen...
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The effing Bath Rubgy Team (circa late eighties early nineties).
Loathed the bloody lot of 'em.
Partly because of the dour, meanspirited way they played the game, partly because of Gareth 'Coochie' Chilcott, but mainly because they were the one team that always, always managed to beat my beloved Gloucester. Who, let's face it, were equally dour but did have much better songs.
This included the 1990 Pilkington Cup Final at Twickers (which I couldn't attend having come down with Glandular Fever) where, watching propped up on my sick-bed, they larruped us 48-6.
B***ards...
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I assume this is the Jetraider you mean. Why is it so bad? Please post the horrible details for my edification.
Oooh, Sam, let me count the ways!
1) Orrible design - she’s all narrow gangways, low ceilings and cramped, weirdly located decks. I’m told it was originally built in Freemantle as an America’s Cup charter, but this is clearly a lie. She’s actually the bastard offspring of a powerboat and a Boeing 747. On bad days, escaping it after a 40 minute crossing comes with all the relief of escaping a 13 hour flight.
2) No luggage space - or at any rate, nowhere near enough. End result: a teetering mass of Samsonite cases, plants, golf carts, pets, mega-baby-buggies, fishing rods, newly bought appliances et al that blocks the one and only exit.
3) Foul smells – actually not so much a problem of late, but come high-summer it can get mingingly unpleasant.
4) Mysterious law of the bastard which, inevitably, brings her into service at the worst possible time (see: long weekends, Christmas party season and any other really busy occasion).
Hem. I exaggerate (a bit) but in all seriousness, I think the frustration comes from the fact that the other boats are so much better. And it's so annoyingly reliable!
Hey ho – from what the veterans say, Steven’s quite right: the Glenn Rosa was much worse, so I probably shouldn’t complain, eh? Oh…
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Quite. but like someone said above, I'm not convinced having another operator or two will make any difference.
Agreed. It was before my time, but another operator - called Pacific - did try and take them on. Didn't work out very well from what I gather (rows over berthage, scuffles on the wharves etc) and Fullers ended up buying them out...
The recently passed Public Transport Management Act should give the ARC a sharper set of gnashers. But we were told it'll take at least a year before it can be used with any real force.
And Infratil are already lobbying (guess who?!) to have the Act repealed.
Wouldn't want to live anywhere else, mind :o)
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Slarty, I commute to Waiheke everyday and agree with the protesters that the ferry fares are becoming an issue. The problem is not the cost, which is what it is, but that Fullers refuses to access the ARC subsidy that will help bring down the cost of ferry fairs for regular commuters. We'd get the subsidy if we were on the bus.
Paul: I'm not so sure it's Fullers refusal to take the subsidy so much as the ARC's reluctance to allocate it. Mike Lee admitted as much at a recent meeting on the whole kerfuffle. If they did subsidise the run, it would mean raising ARC rates on Waiheke by a sizeable amount.
For example, the Half Moon Bay run (which is subsidised) costs people in that area about $120 a year in transport related ARC rates. By way of a comparison, Waihekeans currently pay about $30 I think. Which covers the buses.
Lee's pretty adamant Infratil are gouging simply because they can, so I'd guess the ARC are also reluctant to put in any more public money.
It's a good service right enough (even if we're saddled with the Tomb Raider again tonight!) but it's also a monopoly and at the moment, we simply have to take their word that the increased costs are 'unavoidable'. Plenty of people don't believe 'em...