it's busted, move on

"The severely quake-damaged and "very dangerous" Christ Church Cathedral will not be rebuilt it has been confirmed.

Bishop Victoria Matthews, speaking in the Botanical Gardens this afternoon, said the cathedral would be "deconstructed with the utmost care and respect while at the same time protecting the treasures within its walls..."

Link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/6509696/Christ-Church-Cathedral-condemned

Any fool know this building has had it. So salvage what you can and use the salvage in building a new one- with the insurance money and any donations.

Nothing is forever, so get over it.

As for this imbecile:

"...However, a city councillor has already threatened to chain himself to the cathedral to prevent any demolition.

Cr Aaron Keown said the cathedral would be demolished ''over my dead body''.

''I would be in there chaining myself to the building to stop that and I know lots of other volunteers would come in to do that..."

Chain away. We can never have too much Darwinian selection.

Do the council and the bureaucrats not have enough blood on their clipboards already? All those who were killed by unstable building that could not be demolished due to red tape (Bloody resource consents for 'heritage'  buildings- AKA crumbling shit-holes)

i know how much damage would be done to a D-8 should it happen to run over this twit.

Absolutely none...

Other folks money

"A $182.6 million Transport Ministry book-keeping error took 10 months to be uncovered.

A Parliamentary select committee heard today that the manager responsible for the blunder in 2010 resigned after it was uncovered in 2010.

The New Zealand Transport Agency was told data in the ministry's cashflow forecasting model -  also used by the agency - was wrong, leading to the error.

Cash outflow from NZTA's National Land Transport Fund had not been recorded by the ministry, meaning there was far less money in the notional account than the ministry had advised..."

Link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6507789/182m-Ministy-of-Transport-blunder

Is THIS the reason for the 'show no mercy' campaign against the sin of breaking an arbitrary speed restriction?

The punishment should fit the crime

So bring back the Colosseum and the Lions for this piece of shit!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6497524/Turangi-child-sex-attacker-jailed-10-years

Just wondering

"A Palmerston North man who crawled into a burning house to rescue a baby was terrified at the time, but said he could not ignore the screams and pleas of family members.

The fire, which gutted the Wellesbourne St house in central Palmerston North, started about 7am today.

Inside at the time was a 16-month-old baby girl, a four-year-old boy and three adults, including the children's mother.

The adults and eldest child escaped out the back of the house, but the baby was trapped in a front room, separated from her family by a thick wall of smoke.

Neighbour Tony Selby, who lives in the sleepout behind the house, heard the adults screaming for the baby and rushed inside..."

Link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6488278/Man-could-hear-family-screaming

OK, who abandons a burning house WITHOUT the baby? Or stands around outside wailing.

Should be trying or dying- that's what PARENTS do...

Diddums

"Legislation will be introduced requiring sole parents on the Dependent Purposes Benefit with children aged 5 and older to look for part-time work.

Those whose children are 14 or older will be required to look for full-time work..."

Link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6483654/New-work-rules-for-sole-parents

And now wait for the howls of outrage about such draconian measures as food cards and direct payment of rent and power (only for a few spongers, mind- should be for anyone on a benefit more than a couple of months)

As with kids who live at home and bitch about the living conditions and rules- suck it up OR get a friggin' job and support YOURSELF (and your bastard offspring!)

Couldn't you make more soup instead?

"Wellington's hungry will soon be able to surf the internet while they eat with the launch of a computer hub at the Soup Kitchen on Tory St.

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown will launch the lab, which is a collaboration between the Suzanne Aubert Compassion Centre, internet freedom group Retake the Net and Wellington ICT, on Friday.

Dubbed the Soup Hub, computers will be available to those at the Soup Kitchen as well as refugees and immigrants attending English lessons at the compassion centre..."

Link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/6481799/Wellington-soup-kitchen-to-offer-internet

It's bad enough that you are encouraging the pigeons by feeding them! Is there a need for the net amongst bums?

If it were only to apply for jobs- but somehow I doubt that...

Just another bunch of criminals

"Former cabinet minister Sir Douglas Graham should be stripped of his knighthood after being found guilty of making false statements, a Lombard Finance investor says.

Paul Wah was in the High Court at Wellington today to see Graham and Bill Jeffries (also a former cabinet minister), and two other former Lombard Finance directors, be found guilty of four charges of making false statements..."

Link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/6474192/Former-Cabinet-ministers-guilty-of-making-false-statements

LIke all thieving crims, they now need a lengthy term of turning big rocks into little rocks- all the better to understand what some folks have to do to earn money!

Working under pressure

Nobody is shooting themselves in the foot here! Have a listen to the police comms audio.

Link;
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/6459681/Police-release-earthquake-audio#

Depravity

"A run-down toilet block on the North Shore has become a gay meeting place with neighbours complaining of ''unsavoury activity'' there.

Steve Lindsey says the toilets on Bartley St, Northcote Pt, are listed online as a gay meeting place and the behaviour of people visiting there is getting worse..."

link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6450486/North-Shore-toilet-becomes-sex-hotspot

A dirty public crapper as a meeting place. What kind of mind choses that as a meeting place? it's not like they are forced to stay in the closet these days and there are bars, clubs and other more sanitary establishments chasing the pink dollar openly.

Or is there a NEED to keep it seedy and dirty for some degenerates...

How to shoot yourself in the foot

Carry your weapon like a wanker- that is, violate the 'never point the fucker at anything you DO NOT wish to destroy' rule.

More bureaucratic bullshit

"An explosives handler frustrated with the bureaucracy for moving dangerous goods tried to sneak a potentially catastrophic amount of explosives on to an inter-island ferry.

Allan Herbert Tod, 67, of Raetihi, did not do the paperwork to take the 663kg of blasting explosive on to the 2.25am sailing on August 15, 2010...

...Tod pleaded guilty to charges of criminal nuisance, failing to correctly identify his load, failing to give the master of the ship the required dangerous goods declaration, failing to placard his vehicle to warn of the dangerous load and failing to carry dangerous goods documentation.

He was sentenced in the High Court at Wellington today to 300 hours community work and a $5000 fine.

Tod was taking the explosive - a mix of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil - to help control avalanches at Mt Hutt ski-field. He worked part time for a business specialising in avalanche control...."

Link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6437025/Man-tried-to-sneak-explosives-on-ferry

This mix is less of a hazard than the fuel in the tanks of the vehicles aboard. FAR less, in the case of petrol or LPG. I'm not about to tell the internet how to make that mix go bang, but you could drop it from a low earth orbit and it would just make a sticky mess on the ground.

A typical beat-up by the grey-shoe wearers (aided and abetted by the police prosecutors), which is more about failure to 'follow the procedures' than any real danger to others. In ignoring their overkill requirements, he has offended his political masters and for this he MUST BE PUNISHED SEVERELY!

Off line for a few days

This is news?

"Major routes in and out of New Zealand's capital city could be blocked by rubble from more than 400 buildings with unstable masonry in the event of a big earthquake..."


Link:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6434263/Wellington-earthquake-fear-No-way-in-or-out

Do people really get paid money for writing this crap?

Is there ANYONE with a functioning brain that couldn't figure this out?

Or was it written for the public service drones?- the ones that would be better left trapped in the ruins.

[mental picture of the grey shoe brigade furiously sending memos and e-mails reporting their status and making inquiries about overtime...]

REAL guts

"Careful," Cliff Robinson tells his son and daughter as the three wait to cross the road outside the Court of Appeal in Wellington.

As the green man blinks, Robinson grasps Johnny and Marita's hands tightly before they step out.

Safely seated at a cafe up the road, he supervises as they eat pizza, wiping sauce from their faces and patiently responding when they break into the conversation.

It's not an uncommon scene – an attentive father taking his two children out for lunch – except that Robinson is 75, and Marita and Johnny are 45 and 42.

Both are intellectually disabled. Johnny also has schizophrenia, diabetes and is on medication to suppress his sexual urges.

Since 1975, Robinson has been their caregiver – and he wants the Government to provide a bit of financial help in recognition of that role.

At 75, most "Kiwi jokers" would be enjoying their retirement, he says. Instead, he follows nearly the same routine he has for 36 years..."

Link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/6411853/Caring-for-these-kids-a-job-for-life

One of the reasons I get so pissed off with BLUDGERS that rort the welfare system, is because these sort of folks are dragged down by the indolent hordes!

This man has worked day and night for 36 years and in all probability will do so until he dies- having fought death to try and care for his kids for just a bit longer.

To institutionalize his children would cost the taxpayer thousands of dollars a week. He isn't asking for that. Him and many like him just want a bit of help with the extra expenses and a bit of home help. If we are to help a welfare system THESE are the ones in need. Not a serial breeder or drug-addled work-avoider - dammit, they can bloody starve- not that they will.

We hear much about 'Heros'- usually well-paid sports personalities and it's fashionable to label them role models.

Try looking to men like Cliff Robinson instead. 36 years of hard grind with never an end in sight.

That means a bit more than a good game of rugby- in my world.

What if it were the school bus drivers?

"Hundreds of teachers have criminal convictions and many are not fit to teach, newly released figures show.

Teachers have been investigated for sexual misconduct, violence, drug and alcohol abuse, incompetence, dishonesty and viewing pornography in the past two years..."
Link:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/6406164/Hundreds-of-unfit-teachers-in-class

Now if it were any other group- hell, you get the odd bent Corrections Officer and there is a big media feeding frenzy! Do they not have the police checks that the rest of us who go near the public must have? (I had to have a check to join the volunteer ambulance)

Or are members of one of the largest trade unions exempt. Of course this oversight could be simple incompetence, which would not be a great surprise...

It brings on many changes

"Every week 11 people commit suicide in New Zealand, but those trying to stem the flow say the government is not coming up with fresh ideas.

Maria Bradshaw has a nickname for Peter Dunne.

Bradshaw, the founder of Casper - Community Action on Suicide Prevention Education and Research - calls the associate minister of health, "Peter Dunne Nothing", because she says that in the four years he has been responsible for suicide prevention in government "he has done absolutely nothing"..."

Link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6404154/Calls-for-stronger-leadership-on-suicide

Here are two ideas that will help:

1. Don't look to the government for ANY original ideas
2. Stop filling kids heads with the bullshit that they can achieve, do or be anything they desire. Sad fact of life is that not all of us will be rocket scientists and we will always need shit-shovellers.

How low can you go?

"Wairarapa police are hunting a man alleged to have snatched a handbag in broad daylight from a 91-year-old woman in central Masterton yesterday.

Detective Sergeant Rob Rackliff of Wairarapa CIB said the woman is recovering from the morning attack that happened after she withdrew cash from the bank and travelled to the council buildings on her mobility scooter to pay her rates.

"As she was leaving the council buildings, a young male ripped her handbag from out of her hand before fleeing in a nearby vehicle..."

Link:

http://www.times-age.co.nz/news/manhunt-after-91-year-old-masterton-woman-robbed/1267553/

(Any bets on the profile of the offender?)

Police have narrowed the suspect's ID down to a list of about four thousand.

moo!

Just a few years ago, the food nazis were demonizing milk as 'full of fat'.

Now we all need cheap milk, in order to avoid malnutrition, it would appear.

The food stasi really wouldn't have a friggin' clue...

The cops have got it wrong

I have noticed in the last week, that the standard of driving around here has gone from rock bottom and has started sinking a shaft.

But it's not speeding- it's driving below 80kph on the open road in near perfect conditions. Not only are they slow, but all over the road.

Is there not the income in ticketing slow/inconsiderate drivers?

Thought not...

Last Post- and the end of an era

"Florence Green never saw the front line. Her war was spent serving food, not dodging bullets.

But Green, who has died at age 110, was the last known surviving veteran of World War I. She was serving with the Women's Royal Air Force as a waitress at an air base in eastern England when the guns fell silent on Nov. 11, 1918..."

Link:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10784185

Drunken antics in London- who would have thought it possible

"...Kiwi Dylan Clements has filed a complaint with New Zealand High Commissioner Derek Leask, saying the drunken antics of those who participated in the annual event were an embarrassment to New Zealand.

About 4000 Kiwis took to the streets on Saturday to celebrate Waitangi Day, moving from one pub to another.

Clements said he was compelled to complain to the high commission after witnessing kiwis urinating on public monuments, vomiting and throwing snow at tourists..."

Link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/6373301/Drunken-London-Waitangi-Day-claim-defended

Shock- horror!

Public intoxication!

Drunken chanting and singing! (yes, i use the word loosely)

Pissing in the fountains and puking on the footpaths!

Who would have EVER though such things would be seen near the palaces of the mighty?

Apart from after a football match, anyway...

First against the wall

"...But while some Maori activists were protesting at Waitangi yesterday, Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres criticised those Pakeha who still resisted moves to give "special treatment" to disadvantaged Maori, thousands of whom suffered inequality.

"I still have a sense that there is a lack of generosity in some Pakeha attitudes to Maori and there is a lack of will to see measures taken that will help to remove that disadvantage and there is a lack of understanding of this notion that it is actually fair to deal specifically with people who are suffering unfairness..."

Link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6370107/Waitangi-flagpole-protest-ends-quietly

And it won't be 'ready, aim- fire!' More like 'Fix bayonets!'...

A new look

Time to give this place a bit of a tidy-up. My home should be so lucky...

Sauce for the Goose

"...The Dominion Post was granted permission by the court to photograph all witnesses in the case, including the spy car driver. But when the case was heard yesterday, the council successfully argued at a secret in-chambers hearing before JPs Eugene Crosby and Ian Symonds that the spy car driver giving evidence should not be photographed or identified in any way by this newspaper..."


Link:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6365011/Spy-car-drivers-shun-the-spotlight


Yet another example of council "officials" being exempt the standards applied to us lesser mortals. Something that needs to be corrected by hemp rope, as the ballot box does zero.

Just as well he isn't Chinese

"After falling in love with New Zealand nearly two decades ago, Hollywood movie mogul James Cameron vowed to make the country his home.

Cameron paid $20 million for more than 1000 hectares of farmland in South Wairarapa after twice visiting the two properties on the western shores of Lake Onoke last year.

In a statement issued today through his Hollywood lawyer, Cameron said it was love at first sight.

"I fell in love with New Zealand on a visit in 1994, and vowed to live here someday.

"Now that dream is becoming a reality..."

Link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/6358484/James-Cameron-I-fell-in-love-with-NZ

I had my eye on one of those properties, but the Powerball Gods were not kind to me...

Bloody comments are disappearing

They show on the sidebar, but are nowhere else to be seen.

If blogger had a way of managing fuckwit commenters, I wouldn't have to use intensedebate...

BACK TO SCHOOL

Work in progress II

It has been suggested that there are not enough tools visible in the original photo. They were out of shot (that end was a real mess!)

The Golden BB

The guided bullet!

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2012/01/31/the-first-self-guided-bullet/

Don't expect to see this on the gun shop shelves anytime soon, as it costs more than a reasonable rifle.

Cheaper and easier than moving

The solution? Turn the garage into another lounge. (my shipping container plan was vetoed)

All the old crap in the lounge relocates to the garage, making the inside of the house look bigger and tidier. Men don't care if the furniture has hole in it- the one in the arm of the chair makes a convenient can-holder.

Now that the garage has been partially cleared (about 3 ute loads) the reorganization has started and the plans are drawn up for cladding the walls and putting a ceiling down the lounge end. A floor to ceiling bookshelf will partition off the workshop and loading bench, so all my crates of books in the ceiling can come down, assuming they have not been eaten by mice.

Of course I will have to buy an assortment of power tools to do all this work...

A work in progress

I have heard of people keeping cars in garages. Don't believe it, though!

Some cultural activities are more equal than others

"Defence spokesman John Gordon said the plan would retain the regular force army band, based at Burnham, the air force band based in Wellington and the navy band based at Devonport, Auckland. They were all manned by full-time bandsmen and women.

The aim was to cut $900,000 from the $5.9 million spend annually on military bands..."

Link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6326211/Cost-cutting-could-silence-Defence-Force-bands

One trusts, as the bean-counters cut away yet another piece of military tradition, they will be also cutting the inevitable primate threat displays, spear-waving and chanting that curse every kind of official gathering.

What?- no bets on this one?

A poverty of imagination

I'm so sick of hearing whining kids (and adults) bitching about ' how there is nothing for young people in this town'.

Oh, really?

How about the new skatepark?- the numerous very large sports fields, playgrounds, walkways and reserves. The lake 3 km away and the rivers slightly more- a short bike ride on flat roads. The Tararuas and Rimutakas on the edge of town. The public library. The host of sports clubs and the pool that costs all of a dollar. The games club, Friday club, St John cadets and a heap of others i can't recall right now. The endless wind for flying kites.

The fact that there is a video shop that has dirt-cheap hire on slightly older movies. The second-hand shops that have piles of cheap books. That many families have internet, Sky, DVD players and big-screen TV's (the 'poor' all seem to have these!)

But no- there is 'nothing to do'

I'm betting that if some philanthropists payed for a hall full of all the modern wonders free, a certain group would bitch if they were put under the imposition of having to follow a few rules in order to use this facility- such as not selling/using drugs or being able to play the thug.

Actually, this is pretty much what has happened here...

Do not adjust your chemical levels

As we are experiencing a solar storm, a display of Aurora Australis is due tonight. This is not due to a really good growing season for weed.

Tonight, the funny colours in the sky are on the house.

My camera is charged and waiting...

Too broken-arsed to post

So I will put up a picture of why:

Out hut-bagging again. I still have a shit-load of exploring to do, up this valley.

The end of a favorite hut

Oaks Hut, Orongorongos.

You will be missed.

It's a pity DOC doesn't value this sort of history...

Late Christmas present

I have to give credit where it is due. After a number of posts attacking the process leading to this award- which resembled watching glass flow from the top to the bottom of the window frame, the REAL people who did the actual work, were a model of efficiency.
Eight weeks from submitting my application to receiving it and that was over the Christmas period.

Having stamped more than a few medals and knowing the numbers coming through- well done!

Have rope, will travel

"A 16-year-old Turangi boy has pleaded guilty in Taupo Youth Court this morning to the violent sexually motivated attack on a five-year-old girl at a holiday park before Christmas.

The youth, whose name is supressed, pleaded guilty before the judge to three separate charges; sexual violation by rape, burglary, and causing grievous bodily harm at Club Habitat, Turangi on December 21..."

Link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6275360/Teen-admits-campground-sex-attack-on-five-year-old

He should now be counting the days to Jack Ketch- fat chance here!

But even more disturbing are the pronouncements of the criminal-huggers that dare to question the good in locking the fucker up and whine about what might happen to him inside! That's you Peter Williams! You are as big an oxygen-thief as the crims you love.

And now HIS (the criminal's) life is ruined? That's a big SO WHAT? It should be about to come to an abrupt end, as the rope and gravity do their work.

Shit happening- caused by shit

"A group of gang members did a runner from an accident they caused in the Awakino Gorge yesterday, leaving injured members of a family in their crashed car.

The gang members appear to have been racing their two cars – one of them stolen – north through the gorge when they forced the southbound family off the road and into a ditch..."

Link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6261751/Family-left-in-ditch-as-gang-hoons-flee

I think that we need to lose the hangup about being 'judgmental' and get a damned sight more judgmental. Gangs need to be condemned and hounded every inch of the way. Every time they set foot outside there should be a copper waiting to search them, check their car, run a check for warrants. Every shop they go into should issue a trespass order and refuse to do business with them. Every time their dog barks or they fart, the local council should issue an abatement notice. And they should be shunned by the rest of us. No law-abiding citizen should give them the time of day or do any kind of business transaction with them.

Then we should start making their lives hard...

From the 'If only they knew' file

Obviously not a Happy Meal

"An Auckland man who smashed up a Wendy's store in Lynfield has been charged after his burger order saw him fly into a rage.

David Junior Ilolahia will appear in Auckland District Court, charged with threatening behaviour, assaulting police, disorderly behaviour and resisting police after he allegedly smashed tills, flipped tables and attacked a police officer.

The Blockhouse Bay resident verbally abused the Wendy's staff after his order placed at the drive-through came out wrong..."

Link:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6257468/Man-flies-into-burger-rage-at-Wendys

We do have some charmers here!
I'm betting another 'Vitamin P' case...

When women were REAL women- not stick insects!

A different perspective

For those who don't know the history, this is General (note: GENERAL) Patton pissing in the Rhine- symbolically pissing on Nazi Germany.

It's a soldier thing. You pissed me off and now I'm pissing on YOU. I'm showing contempt for a sorry sack of dead shit.

Some cunt in a comfortable radio station studio holding court on the talkback is never going to understand what it's like to be shot at, have someone's brains splattered over you, been on the end of a mortaring, gone without more than 2 consecutive hours sleep  for a few months- you get the picture?

Feral scum spawning rabid animals- on our dollar

"Featherston police have confirmed children, some under 10 years old, have been roaming the town committing crimes and abusing people.

Sergeant Kevin Basher said the problem had surfaced about six months ago, when a core of three or four troublemakers, with as many as 15 others, embarked on a campaign of crime - lighting fires, stealing, damaging cars, shops and houses and abusing people in the street.

Featherston Fire Chief Colin McKenna also said children as young as 6 had been seen wandering the streets until 2am...:


More here:
http://www.times-age.co.nz/news/town-tormented-by-child-thugs/1235643/

I have an idea!

For repeat /recidivist offenders, remove them and put them in an orphanage, where they can learn structure and discipline. At the same time cutting off an income stream to the feckless breeders that spawn them...

Unfortunately- History DOES repeat

Hat Tip:

http://ogdaa.blogspot.com/

Dumbass kid and parents

"An online video of a brave little girl facing down a massive lion at Wellington Zoo has some people flinching at the lion's reaction.

Malik the lion was tucking into his breakfast of meat when Sofia Walker, 3, hopped onto a viewing platform and pressed her hands and face against the glass enclosure.

In an attempt to scare curious Sofia off her perch, Malik glared, growled and twitched his mane before pouncing on the glass and pawing at it..."

Link:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6231539/Wellington-toddler-faces-down-massive-lion: 

Not 'Brave'- too stupid to recognize a clear and present danger. As for the parents- do you really want to have that much faith in a piece of glass?- installed to council specifications.

Been there myself- I decided it was time to leave. Potential for becoming a chew-toy aside- is it fun and clever to wind up a caged animal?

Not for me...

Surprise, surprise, surprise

Or; 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help you.'




"A Kaiapoi housing project is in jeopardy after being stifled by Government intervention intended to free up land for development..."


Rest of story here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/6224391/Loophole-stalls-Kaiapoi-project

Did anyone else NOT think this sort of thing was going to happen?

Balloon Crash

"Eleven people are dead after a hot air balloon burst into flames and smashed to the ground near Carterton this morning..."


Link:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6224922/Hot-air-balloon-crash-near-Carterton-kills-11

I was watching this balloon on the way to work this morning, just before it went down! I was thinking that they had the perfect day for a flight- warm and not a breath of wind...

Time to get out of Dodge yet?

"A magnitude-4.7 earthquake hit Christchurch at 8.04pm tonight, hours after a magnitude-5 quake interrupted a special briefing on aftershocks..."

I really don't think this is done yet.

Meddling with Time

Or: 'Ain't 'alf been some clever bastards!'

"It's one thing to make an object invisible, like Harry Potter's mythical cloak. But scientists have made an entire event impossible to see. They have invented a time masker.

Think of it as an art heist that takes place before your eyes and surveillance cameras. You don't see the thief strolling into the museum, taking the painting down or walking away, but he did. It's not just that the thief is invisible - his whole activity is.

What scientists at Cornell University did was on a much smaller scale, both in terms of events and time. It happened so quickly that it's not even a blink of an eye. Their time cloak lasts an incredibly tiny fraction of a fraction of a second. They hid an event for 40 trillionths of a second, according to a study appearing in Thursday's edition of the journal Nature..."

Read More:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/6217696/Scientists-create-time-cloak

Just wondering

... about how the police have an obsession about road safety, when it is cars & trucks- yet unregistered or warranted and oversized agricultural vehicles around here seem to get a free pass. It's the same with stock movements without any warning or signage and I'm not talking gate to gate here- we are taking driving beasts for kilometers.

To be clear, I'm not talking about back-country roads that see more hooves than wheels- I'm talking about SH2, and the main back roads.

When the rest of us are being hounded for very minor breaches- what is going on here?

Camping- Pleasure or Pain

It can be either.

Picture a small tent n a crowded camping ground. Kids tracking mud inside, the incessant rain, a screaming baby two tents over and a diet of burnt sausages. An hour to blow an air mattress up, to have it go flat in the middle of the night. The route march through sand and mud to a fetid toilet block. The sound of jungle drums and shrieking from a group of pissed teenagers, that continues until dawn...

No wonder some folks hate camping!

Then there is camping as I have known it. A remote coastal location or a river valley in the bush, well away from all others. Access by 4wd or a short walk to the campsite. A group of good company, well-experienced in life outdoors, with all the gear needed to make life comfortable- good tents, lighting, chairs, tables and plenty of ice. Days spent hunting, fishing, swimming- or just reading in the shade. Warm, clear nights around the campfire, watching the stars, enjoying good wine and cold beer after feasting on game...

It's even easier now, with some of the whizzo new camping gear, such as portable battery/gas showers, affordable generator sets, solar panel chargers, Ipods, self-inflating mattresses and LED lighting.

No wonder some of us love it!

It's hard to manage 'just plain stupid'

"Police Minister Anne Tolley is blaming stupidity for a cruel string of deaths at the tail end of a year which saw the fewest road-crash fatalities since 1952.

"Perhaps the weather had something to do with it, and general stupidity, from the sound of it," she said yesterday, after the holiday road toll since Christmas Eve soared to 17..."

Links:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10776263

http://lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com/2012/01/stupidity.html

A bit of plain-speaking for a change!

I have been following the news on crashes and more than a few involve that COMBINATION of excessive speed for the conditions, intoxication and stupidity. It could be argued that the two former are the result of the latter and I would be inclined to agree. A point often missed it that it is usually a combination of several factors that lead to a smash- not just one.

Stupidity will not be a popular causation with those who presume to know what is best for us. Making dumb decisions smacks of the individual being responsible for their actions and that will not do.

We can't have folks getting the idea that they should take personal responsibility for their lives. That could be doing the ruling classes out of a job!

Try asking why

"Dismayed judges have ordered Corrections bosses to read an expert's book on rehabilitation after being shocked a P-addicted prisoner would be forced to wait years for drug treatment.

In a Court of Appeal decision last month, three judges cited Roger Brooking's book Flying Blind, which slams the government's hard-line approach to law and order.

Long-term inmates must now wait until they are eligible for parole before being offered drug and alcohol rehabilitation in prison, but judges quashed Glen Fleming's minimum non-parole term of four years so he could seek treatment sooner..."

Link; http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6205532/Judges-throw-book-at-prisoner-drug-rehab

Firstly, imprisonment SHOULD be drug treatment, in that it should be easier to stay off drugs in a controlled environment. OK, here we insert the Tui Ad bit, as the opposite is true. It is easy to get drugs in, as the powers-that-be will not commit resources to effective enforcement, such a boundary patrols, scanner technology and adequate specialized search units. 

Secondly, the legal fraternity is the first to start the shrill wailing about 'inmate rights' and harassment when a drugs crackdown occurs. Judges- that's your union buddies.

Taking the pragmatic approach, Corrections give the treatment at the end of sentence, in the fainthope that at least the inmate is released clean. 

Want to get real on managing drugs in prison? Try the following:

• Mandatory regular screening for all inmates, using the lower cost kits, not the gold-plated standard tests, required by legal appeals.
• NO contact visits- all visits from behind the plexiglas.
• Effective 'Boarder patrolling' of prison property.
• More detector dog units.
• Use the new body scanning technology- if it's good enough for citizens using an airport, it's good enough for crims.
• NO personal property in prisons.
• Severe penalties for attempting to smuggle contraband.

You WILL get results.