Posts by Damian Christie
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did anyone mention that it's been around for a while?
Yeah on the Close Up stories it was mentioned that this was the third(?) year, and hence the issue - the 'rangas in question were tired of having randoms come up and hug them.
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Sorry, I'm just not your guy for gardening tips.
You mind if I bags that one Russ? The herb garden we built over summer is doing great (fresh oregano, marjoram and thyme in last night's pasta were a treat) and as soon as winter is almost done I'm going to build a vege garden for spring planting - I'll be sure to post on it and answer any readers' questions...
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Will make a beeline for the lap of whoever in the house is most unlikely to want him
Isn't this a truism when it comes to cats? :)
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How about making no noise unless there's a rumble on?
I thought Russell's story was about a rumble. A particularly feline rumble. One that apparently those of us with cats (or those of us who wish we did) were quite happy to read. Because not everything we read needs to be about unbundling of local loops and ETS agreements and the like.
How about making no noise unless you've got something constructive to say, Pete?
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Not really.
Finding enough overlap between fairly disparate election platforms, forming a government and setting out a working timetable within 3 days is pretty good going
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@jb - yeah I was more referring to the commentators running around like headless chooks etc, "it's been three days and we don't have a Government yet....arrrrrghhh!" rather than the pollies themselves. They all behaved, as one might expect, with quiet dignity.
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That's interesting Zach. We're lucky in the sense that our racist fringe only extends as far as New Zealand First and, some might say, the Maori Party (or elements therein).
If you look at the makeup in England however, it's hard to see anyone other than the Lib Dems holding the balance of power for the timebeing, which could give them disproportionate power. Here with our 'winning' major party traditionally getting pretty close to 50%, it only needs a much more fringe party to push them into power.
I'd make a couple of points about the BNP. If they represent the views of enough people, then we have to give them a voice in Parliament. That's fundamental. But if Labour and the Conservatives have even the slightest bit of moral fibre, they should both refuse in advance to even consider dealing with them.
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The Alliance was generally ahead of Labour in 1994 - 95, before plummeting to 10% in the 1996 election.
Really? Interesting. Although perhaps I was being ambiguous (or just using the wrong word entirely), by 'polling parity' I sort of meant in an election. But your point still holds.
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Thanks Jackie! Honestly, I was a little let down by the illustrations - I think they're great in and of themselves, but they absolutely reinforce the cliches I was trying to get away from in the article - evil pushers with rotten yellow teeth, thrusting drugs in your face...
On the booze thing, the commission initially supported a split age, but then after a bit more thought decided there wasn't enough evidence to suggest that getting drunk in a bar is any better than getting drunk at home. I for one have gotten into some absolute states in bars, where the next morning I can't believe I kept on being served. And there's always friends to buy a round when you can't...
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@Tessa.
I think there is a marked difference between attributing blame and responsibility, and issuing a safety warning.
If we can look at a less contentious example, because honestly I can't be arsed trying to couch everything I say with caveats like "even though they don't deserve it" because that should be self-evident (even though I appreciate that's not always the case... see, I'm doing it again) - let's consider the signs that tell you to lock up your valuables.
I don't look at a sign saying "thieves operate in this area, be sure to lock your valuables/car/whatever" and say "hey fuck you, i'm the victim here." I don't consider that I am to blame for the fact there are thieves out there eyeing up my shit. I don't think the signs are trying to say that. There is no subtext to those signs. But I take note of the signs, and lock up my shit. Do you view those signs the same way you do the ALAC ad?
For the record, I'm not being facetious here. I think this is a completely analogous example.
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It's hard to see that Damien's scoop is coincidental - I'm sure he'd tell us, but I can't believe that somebody on the paper didn't get a tip from a "police source" that now would be a great time for a newsworthy story on the Evil Weed.
Yeah it is coincidental. I've been quietly working on this story for about a year; the police undercover operation has been going for two, apparently. A Metro magazine piece is planned at least a couple of months in advance, there's no overnight response to breaking news. And read the story. It's not about 'the Evil Weed'. It's about drug dealers who are pretty much like you and me.
And though it might be a coincidence, it's also a f**king annoying one :) I thought people might read it and go "wow, so this guy got his equipment AND his seedlings from a hydroponics store?" Now the front page of the paper has told everyone the same thing.