Posts by Stephen Judd

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  • Hard News: Debate like it's 2008!,

    A workmate tells me that after a year in Amsterdam and his third bicycle theft, he broke down and bought a dodgy second-hand one from a drug addict, just like everyone else.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Buy now: spend the recession inside!,

    Isn't it more likely that our government can positively influence China's internal politics, over time, if we are involved in positive kinds of collaborations like trade agreements?

    That is a perennial argument which I recall being used with equal justification about South Africa.

    These nations won't just be told what to do by tut-tutting white people.

    Those stubborn Boers won't just be told what to do by tut-tutting English speakers.

    Actually, that argument does bear some thought, and you might even be right, but it's one that we have collectively rejected in the past - when the economic consequences were not as severe.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Debate like it's 2008!,

    In that case, I vote that the trophy be one of those waving lucky cats.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Debate like it's 2008!,

    Also: let me see. The *cough* "MSM" reports on a press release from a politician, while the blog goes to the source and looks at it critically.

    Remind me which one is meant to be journalism?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Debate like it's 2008!,

    we have the lowest rate of bicycle theft in the survey

    Quelle surprise. We probably have the lowest rate of bicycle ownership as well.

    In fact, this statistic is meaningless unless related to a breakdown of bicycles per person, or perhaps per household. Get Keith on the case immediately :-)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: A business most feral,

    If correct, that takes some of the supernatural gloss off the nativity story.

    That would indeed be hilarious, but the mistranslation is the Hebrew "almah", young woman/girl, rendered as Greek "parthenoi", a virgin.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Buy now: spend the recession inside!,

    Can anyone name an example of a country against whom we took a strong stance and AND with whom we have had a significant trading relationship? I can't think of one. As far as I know, New Zealand foreign policy has always been of craven pragmatism whenever there are exports at stake. This latest to-do is no different.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Leaving the bunker,

    I am not arguing it won't have an effect.

    I am arguing that leading with the impact on Wellington's cultural life is venal, elitist, and calculated to reinforce the very resentment that supposedly motivates cutting the public sector. I do not understand why it even rates a mention when there are stronger arguments in pointing to the work that public servants do.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Unhappy Birthday,

    Well, much as I love NRT's policy wonking, Idiot/Savant's virulent hatred of anything to do with money or finance reduces anything he writes on those topics to poo-flinging.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Leaving the bunker,

    These are the people who go to gigs and plays and support the galleries. Drive them out of central Wellington, and you'd be left with a very different -- and much less interesting -- place.

    That is a concern, but honestly, if that's the only reason, then the "intellectual resentment" is totally justified.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

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