Posts by 81stcolumn

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  • Hard News: The Vision Thing,

    This just in via twitter -

    Growing Pies so last week how about Inflatable Troughs....

    Thanks to Hadyn Green

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Vision Thing,

    At present, I would not advise any child to become a scientist in New Zealand - that shocks and horrifies me.

    FWIW I no longer advise students to undertake PhD's in New Zealand.

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Vision Thing,

    <glib><literal>

    Surely growing pies is in the same category as unicorns. I don't think I have ever seen one for real and I know of no one who has been able to verify their existence though measured effects on reality. Therefore I am rightly suspicious of their existence and usefulness.

    <seriously>

    I'm growing to despise metaphors that trivialise realities like money, health and opportunity.

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

  • Hard News: Criminalising Journalism,

    "Tea Potty"

    Why let it stop there ?

    Key Potty

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

  • Hard News: Criminalising Journalism,

    There's gotta be a downfall in here somewhere....

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

  • Hard News: The perils of political confidence,

    HoS could have recorded a Pratner

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

  • Hard News: On Science,

    We're a pair of small islands, containing very few people, sitting miles from anywhere. Tech is easily and cheaply exported. Hardware is not.

    I see your point but New Zealand has an established track record in exporting the bi-products of interactions between sun, water and biomass.

    I suspect there is also a point at which our ability to create tech is limited by our ability to make stuff or indeed the exposure to making stuff.

    My experiences have lead me to believe that situations where the exporting of tech is the best answer are fewer than we imagine.

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

  • Hard News: On Science,

    Some thoughts in no particular order:

    I think the OECD spend is a bit misleading – from my (not so) ivory tower I see:

    Universities for example, having to spend increasing amounts of money to get research funds.

    Crown entities that used to fund primary research being starved of cash and therefore re-directing funds to projects that amount to evaluations of existing programmes they support.

    Labs being built that have to juggle services for sustainability and research for KPI’s.

    I guess my general point is that one might think that scarcity would bring about value, but (IMHO) there comes a point where the opposite becomes true.

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

  • Up Front: Casual, Shallow and Meaningless,

    As I drift in increasing bouts of mental illness perhaps I can apply some identity dyslexia to the problem..

    How are you ? > Who are you ?

    Today I am Attilla the Hun and I want all the space in the office.....

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

  • Up Front: Casual, Shallow and Meaningless,

    I'm with Hadyn (I think ?) on this one - Hairdressers ? I go to a Barber, conversation proceeds at a glacial pace. I think it took two years to get from grunt to How-ar'ya....

    In response to "how are you ?" I did try "do you really want to know ?"...won't be trying that for a while....sigh.

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

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