Not Guilty on all counts:
http://xtramsn.co.nz/news/0,,11964-5597999,00.html
Trouble is, shit still sticks, so that's effectivly their careers over. I always thought this reeked of a stitch-up. All of these historical trials with zero physical evidence are just 'you say-I say'.
When you have a witness that supports the defense, that pushes it clearly out of the 'beyond resonable doubt' zone.
Of course, in court black can be white and up can be down, so it's all a toss of the coin much of the time.
This time the coin landed right way up. But damage is done, regardless- again- shit always sticks.
Somebody has set this whole thing up- I doubt Nicholas came forward of here own accord. Somebody else has shafted her for their own purposes, which may have been equally well served by just the trial- a conviction was not needed.
That's my theory, anyway.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Thought for Today
"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first."
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Thursday, March 30, 2006
UK Liarbour sleaze & corruption site
I found this one today
http://www.laboursleaze.com/
I reckon we have enough material for a NZ version of this site!
http://www.laboursleaze.com/
I reckon we have enough material for a NZ version of this site!
Trail by Jury
I heard this summed up by an ex-policeman of many years service.
"when you are innocent, a jury trial is like playing Russian roulette with three chambers charged in the cylinder.
If guilty, always go for a jury trial, as the jurors can be swayed by the most inconsequental item."
What is a Jury?
Twelve people not clever enough to get out of doing Jury duty for $37/per diem (or some suchlike pittance)
and/or,
Twelve people who would not be missed from their place of employment.
I could always get my workers off, with a quick letter- they got the option but they all wanted me to get them out of it.
For those who have never spent time in court, it is ABSOLUTLY NOTHING like portrayed on television. There is no drama, there are no brilliant pleas, no clever evidence presented by the lawyers- it's as dull as dishwater, the tedium only broken by something like the judge giving one of the defense wankers a blast for wasting time- they are inclined to do that, when they have their trotters in the public trough.
The defendant usually sits there like the unanimated cabbage that he is when not fueled by chemicals and at least one or two of the jury will be nodding off at any one time. They generally only nut off in the holding cells out of sight.
I urge anyone with a day to burn to sit in the public gallery, just to see what it's like. Once would be enough. Or you could do it the hard way and do your jury duty.
"when you are innocent, a jury trial is like playing Russian roulette with three chambers charged in the cylinder.
If guilty, always go for a jury trial, as the jurors can be swayed by the most inconsequental item."
What is a Jury?
Twelve people not clever enough to get out of doing Jury duty for $37/per diem (or some suchlike pittance)
and/or,
Twelve people who would not be missed from their place of employment.
I could always get my workers off, with a quick letter- they got the option but they all wanted me to get them out of it.
For those who have never spent time in court, it is ABSOLUTLY NOTHING like portrayed on television. There is no drama, there are no brilliant pleas, no clever evidence presented by the lawyers- it's as dull as dishwater, the tedium only broken by something like the judge giving one of the defense wankers a blast for wasting time- they are inclined to do that, when they have their trotters in the public trough.
The defendant usually sits there like the unanimated cabbage that he is when not fueled by chemicals and at least one or two of the jury will be nodding off at any one time. They generally only nut off in the holding cells out of sight.
I urge anyone with a day to burn to sit in the public gallery, just to see what it's like. Once would be enough. Or you could do it the hard way and do your jury duty.
Things you don't tell the wife #657 and the minimum wage
That I can vacuum the house, mop the kitchen and bathroom floor, clean the bath, handbasin, toilet and shower, plus do a bit of wiping in the kitchen in about 35-40 minutes!
I always do the cleaning when she was out, least she find out how quick I can actually get it done- it takes her three hours, but I learned in a far harder school!
She has the wage worker mentality- she does a fair job, but at a relaxed pace. I prefer to work to a deadline- and beat it.
In the army, cleaning, like everything, had to be done fast and faultlessly. Later, I worked as a cleaning contractor- time is money, but you need to be good enough to keep contracts. I got into this work after a sucession of shiftless, useless cleaners, employed by various cleaning companies. I decided to do the work myself- office cleaning is easy money and good money as my charge out rate was $25/hour. I would cost a job working like a wage-slave, knowing I could do it in under 1/2 the time.
When I had to stop, due to moving, the outfit I cleaned for couldn't believe how cheap I was- the new quotes were more than twice what I were charging and I was charging like a wounded bull!
I could run way leaner, as I had no staff overheads or staff problems. These useless immigrant fucks The cleaning companies sent me should have been working for two loaves of bread and a tin of sardines per week, for all they were worth!
If the minimum wage keeps going up, I can see more of the smaller companies cutting back to owner/operator.
Be careful what you wish for.
I always do the cleaning when she was out, least she find out how quick I can actually get it done- it takes her three hours, but I learned in a far harder school!
She has the wage worker mentality- she does a fair job, but at a relaxed pace. I prefer to work to a deadline- and beat it.
In the army, cleaning, like everything, had to be done fast and faultlessly. Later, I worked as a cleaning contractor- time is money, but you need to be good enough to keep contracts. I got into this work after a sucession of shiftless, useless cleaners, employed by various cleaning companies. I decided to do the work myself- office cleaning is easy money and good money as my charge out rate was $25/hour. I would cost a job working like a wage-slave, knowing I could do it in under 1/2 the time.
When I had to stop, due to moving, the outfit I cleaned for couldn't believe how cheap I was- the new quotes were more than twice what I were charging and I was charging like a wounded bull!
I could run way leaner, as I had no staff overheads or staff problems. These useless immigrant fucks The cleaning companies sent me should have been working for two loaves of bread and a tin of sardines per week, for all they were worth!
If the minimum wage keeps going up, I can see more of the smaller companies cutting back to owner/operator.
Be careful what you wish for.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Correcting Corrections
Why spend hundreds of millions on prisons? Here is the answer. Modular, cheap and spartan.
They don't need toilets in their cells- a 10 litre pail does just fine- it could even have a lid!
Showers and toilet modules are also available, although I see no problem in outdoor facilities.
Ring the whole damned facility in four layers of barbed wire and you have a facility built in days rather than years.
Never mind the landscaping- the crims have plenty of time on their hands for barrowing gravel for paths and laying lawns- on what land isn't used for growing cabbages and potatoes.
A 'Alternative Lifestyle' Story
There once was a young person named Little Red Riding Hood who lived on the edge of a large forest full of endangered owls and rare plants that would probably provide a cure for cancer if only someone took the time to study them.
Red Riding Hood lived with a nurture giver whom she sometimes referred to as "mother", although she didn't mean to imply by this term that she would have thought less of the person if a close biological link did not in fact exist. Nor did she intend to denigrate the equal value of nontraditional households, although she was sorry if this was the impression conveyed.
One day her mother asked her to take a basket of organically grown fruit and mineral water to her grandmother's house.
"But mother, won't this be stealing work from the unionized people who have struggled for years to earn the right to carry all packages between various people in the woods?"
Red Riding Hood's mother assured her that she had called the union boss and gotten a special compassionate mission exemption form. "But mother, aren't you oppressing me by ordering me to do this?" Red Riding Hood's mother pointed out that it was impossible for women to oppress each other, since all women were equally oppressed until all women were free.
"But mother, then shouldn't you have my brother carry the basket, since he's an oppressor, and should learn what it's like to be oppressed?" And Red Riding Hood's mother explained that her brother was attending a special rally for animal rights, and besides, this wasn't stereotypical women's work, but an empowering deed that would help engender a feeling of community.
"But won't I be oppressing Grandma, by implying that she's sick and hence unable to independently further her own selfhood?" But Red Riding Hood's mother explained that her grandmother wasn't actually sick or incapacitated or mentally handicapped in any way, although that was not to imply that any of these conditions were inferior to what some people called "health". Thus Red Riding Hood felt that she could get behind the idea of delivering the basket to her grandmother, and so she set off.
Many people believed that the forest was a foreboding and dangerous place, but Red Riding Hood knew that this was an irrational fear based on cultural paradigms instilled by a patriarchal society that regarded the natural world as an exploitable resource, and hence believed that natural predators were in fact intolerable competitors. Other people avoided the woods for fear of thieves and deviants, but Red Riding Hood felt that in a truly classless society all marginalized peoples would be able to "come out" of the woods and be accepted as valid lifestyle role models.
On her way to Grandma's house, Red Riding Hood passed a woodchopper, and wandered off the path, in order to examine some flowers.
She was startled to find herself standing before a Wolf, who asked her what was in her basket. Red Riding Hood's teacher had warned her never to talk to strangers, but she was confident in taking control of her own budding sexuality, and chose to dialogue with the Wolf.
She replied, "I am taking my Grandmother some healthful snacks in a gesture of solidarity." The Wolf said, "You know, my dear, it isn't safe for a little girl to walk through these woods alone." Red Riding Hood said, "I find your sexist remark offensive in the extreme, but I will ignore it because of your traditional status as an outcast from society, the stress of which has caused you to develop an alternative and yet entirely valid worldview. Now, if you'll excuse me, I would prefer to be on my way."
Red Riding Hood returned to the main path, and proceeded towards her Grandmother's house. But because his status outside society had freed him from slavish adherence to linear, Western-style thought, the Wolf knew of a quicker route to Grandma's house. He burst into the house and ate Grandma, a course of action affirmative of his nature as a predator. Then, unhampered by rigid, traditionalist gender role notions, he put on Grandma's nightclothes, crawled under the bedclothes, and awaited developments.
Red Riding Hood entered the cottage and said, "Grandma, I have brought you some cruelty free snacks to salute you in your role of wise and nurturing matriarch." The Wolf said softly "Come closer, child, so that I might see you." Red Riding Hood said, "Goddess! Grandma, what big eyes you have!" "You forget that I am optically challenged," the Wolf replied. "And Grandma, what an enormous, what a fine nose you have." The Wolf said, "Naturally, I could have had it fixed to help my acting career, but I didn't give in to such societal pressures, my child." "And Grandma, what very big, sharp teeth you have!"
The Wolf could not take any more of these species slurs, and, in a reaction appropriate for his accustomed milieu, he leaped out of bed, grabbed Little Red Riding Hood, and opened his jaws so wide that she could see her poor Grandmother cowering in his belly.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Red Riding Hood bravely shouted. "You must request my permission before proceeding to a new level of intimacy!"
The Wolf was so startled by this statement that he loosened his grasp on her. At the same time, the woodchopper burst into the cottage, brandishing an ax.
"Hands off!" cried the woodchopper. "And what do you think you're doing?" cried Little Red Riding Hood. "If I let you help me now, I would be expressing a lack of confidence in my own abilities, which would lead to poor self esteem and lower achievement scores on college entrance exams."
"Last chance, sister! Get your hands off that endangered species! This is an FBI sting!" screamed the woodchopper, and when Little Red Riding Hood nonetheless made a sudden motion, he sliced off her head.
"Thank goodness you got here in time," said the Wolf. "The brat and her grandmother lured me in here. I thought I was a goner." "No, I think I'm the real victim, here," said the woodchopper. "I've been dealing with my anger ever since I saw her picking those protected flowers earlier. And now I'm going to have such a trauma. Do you have any aspirin?"
"Sure," said the Wolf.
"Thanks."
"I feel your pain," said the Wolf, and he patted the woodchopper on his firm, well padded back, gave a little belch, and said "Do you have any Maalox?"
Red Riding Hood lived with a nurture giver whom she sometimes referred to as "mother", although she didn't mean to imply by this term that she would have thought less of the person if a close biological link did not in fact exist. Nor did she intend to denigrate the equal value of nontraditional households, although she was sorry if this was the impression conveyed.
One day her mother asked her to take a basket of organically grown fruit and mineral water to her grandmother's house.
"But mother, won't this be stealing work from the unionized people who have struggled for years to earn the right to carry all packages between various people in the woods?"
Red Riding Hood's mother assured her that she had called the union boss and gotten a special compassionate mission exemption form. "But mother, aren't you oppressing me by ordering me to do this?" Red Riding Hood's mother pointed out that it was impossible for women to oppress each other, since all women were equally oppressed until all women were free.
"But mother, then shouldn't you have my brother carry the basket, since he's an oppressor, and should learn what it's like to be oppressed?" And Red Riding Hood's mother explained that her brother was attending a special rally for animal rights, and besides, this wasn't stereotypical women's work, but an empowering deed that would help engender a feeling of community.
"But won't I be oppressing Grandma, by implying that she's sick and hence unable to independently further her own selfhood?" But Red Riding Hood's mother explained that her grandmother wasn't actually sick or incapacitated or mentally handicapped in any way, although that was not to imply that any of these conditions were inferior to what some people called "health". Thus Red Riding Hood felt that she could get behind the idea of delivering the basket to her grandmother, and so she set off.
Many people believed that the forest was a foreboding and dangerous place, but Red Riding Hood knew that this was an irrational fear based on cultural paradigms instilled by a patriarchal society that regarded the natural world as an exploitable resource, and hence believed that natural predators were in fact intolerable competitors. Other people avoided the woods for fear of thieves and deviants, but Red Riding Hood felt that in a truly classless society all marginalized peoples would be able to "come out" of the woods and be accepted as valid lifestyle role models.
On her way to Grandma's house, Red Riding Hood passed a woodchopper, and wandered off the path, in order to examine some flowers.
She was startled to find herself standing before a Wolf, who asked her what was in her basket. Red Riding Hood's teacher had warned her never to talk to strangers, but she was confident in taking control of her own budding sexuality, and chose to dialogue with the Wolf.
She replied, "I am taking my Grandmother some healthful snacks in a gesture of solidarity." The Wolf said, "You know, my dear, it isn't safe for a little girl to walk through these woods alone." Red Riding Hood said, "I find your sexist remark offensive in the extreme, but I will ignore it because of your traditional status as an outcast from society, the stress of which has caused you to develop an alternative and yet entirely valid worldview. Now, if you'll excuse me, I would prefer to be on my way."
Red Riding Hood returned to the main path, and proceeded towards her Grandmother's house. But because his status outside society had freed him from slavish adherence to linear, Western-style thought, the Wolf knew of a quicker route to Grandma's house. He burst into the house and ate Grandma, a course of action affirmative of his nature as a predator. Then, unhampered by rigid, traditionalist gender role notions, he put on Grandma's nightclothes, crawled under the bedclothes, and awaited developments.
Red Riding Hood entered the cottage and said, "Grandma, I have brought you some cruelty free snacks to salute you in your role of wise and nurturing matriarch." The Wolf said softly "Come closer, child, so that I might see you." Red Riding Hood said, "Goddess! Grandma, what big eyes you have!" "You forget that I am optically challenged," the Wolf replied. "And Grandma, what an enormous, what a fine nose you have." The Wolf said, "Naturally, I could have had it fixed to help my acting career, but I didn't give in to such societal pressures, my child." "And Grandma, what very big, sharp teeth you have!"
The Wolf could not take any more of these species slurs, and, in a reaction appropriate for his accustomed milieu, he leaped out of bed, grabbed Little Red Riding Hood, and opened his jaws so wide that she could see her poor Grandmother cowering in his belly.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Red Riding Hood bravely shouted. "You must request my permission before proceeding to a new level of intimacy!"
The Wolf was so startled by this statement that he loosened his grasp on her. At the same time, the woodchopper burst into the cottage, brandishing an ax.
"Hands off!" cried the woodchopper. "And what do you think you're doing?" cried Little Red Riding Hood. "If I let you help me now, I would be expressing a lack of confidence in my own abilities, which would lead to poor self esteem and lower achievement scores on college entrance exams."
"Last chance, sister! Get your hands off that endangered species! This is an FBI sting!" screamed the woodchopper, and when Little Red Riding Hood nonetheless made a sudden motion, he sliced off her head.
"Thank goodness you got here in time," said the Wolf. "The brat and her grandmother lured me in here. I thought I was a goner." "No, I think I'm the real victim, here," said the woodchopper. "I've been dealing with my anger ever since I saw her picking those protected flowers earlier. And now I'm going to have such a trauma. Do you have any aspirin?"
"Sure," said the Wolf.
"Thanks."
"I feel your pain," said the Wolf, and he patted the woodchopper on his firm, well padded back, gave a little belch, and said "Do you have any Maalox?"
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
I don't like her, either
I like this as much as her music!I could just see this statue being used for photo poses by drunken rugby teams, just like a similar one in Christchurch (On St Asaph Street, near those hippy shops, if I remember right)
Otherwise, I suppose pigeons need something to shit on...
Monday, March 27, 2006
Thought for Today
"When an opponent declares, "I will not come over to your side," I calmly say, "Your child belongs to us already... What are you? You will pass on. Your descendants, however, now stand in the new camp. In a short time they will know nothing else but this new community."
Adolf Hitler
I think somebody might have a copy of 'Mein Kampf' tucked inside the cover of 'Das Kapital' and has been studying it...
Adolf Hitler
I think somebody might have a copy of 'Mein Kampf' tucked inside the cover of 'Das Kapital' and has been studying it...
Sunday, March 26, 2006
What be your Pirate name?
Bloody Jack Flint
Every pirate lives for something different. For some, it's the open sea. For others (the masochists), it's the food. For you, it's definitely the fighting. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!
Quiz here
Every pirate lives for something different. For some, it's the open sea. For others (the masochists), it's the food. For you, it's definitely the fighting. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!
Quiz here
Today's Joke (or perhaps- wishful thinking)
A Driver is stuck in a traffic jam on the motorway. Nothing is moving.
Suddenly a man knocks on the window.
The driver rolls down his window and asks, "What happened?"
"Terrorists kidnapped Helen Clark and are asking for a $10 Million ransom, otherwise they are going to douse her with petrol and set her on fire. We are going from car to car to take up a collection"
The driver asks, "How much is everyone giving on average?"
"About a litre."
Suddenly a man knocks on the window.
The driver rolls down his window and asks, "What happened?"
"Terrorists kidnapped Helen Clark and are asking for a $10 Million ransom, otherwise they are going to douse her with petrol and set her on fire. We are going from car to car to take up a collection"
The driver asks, "How much is everyone giving on average?"
"About a litre."
Todays toy!
Remington Model 1863 “Zouave”A replica of the US Civil War rifle. Firing a .58" slug, it hits with quite a wallop!
Certainly makes the steel target plates ring and can hit them at 200 metres.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Thought for Today
"It has often been said that power corrupts. But it is perhaps equally important to realize that weakness, too, corrupts. Power corrupts the few, while weakness corrupts the many. Hatred, malice, rudeness, intolerance, and suspicion are the faults of weakness. The resentment of the weak does not spring from any injustice done to them but from their sense of inadequacy and impotence. We cannot win the weak by sharing our wealth with them. They feel our generosity as oppression. "
- Eric Hoffer
- Eric Hoffer
Fun & games in the world of Blogging
The excrement is striking the fan over at NotPC
Peter has slammed Ian Wishart, who is now using the 'S' word
I thougth Jorno's had thicker hides than that and that the only thing worse than being talked about was not being talked about!
I don't have a lot of time for ANY journo's- Ive been misquoted/inaccuratly repoted too many times, and I have not had a lot of exposure to the antique media.
Let men make that crystal clear- IN stories I have been personally involved in-EVERY SINGLE time they have got the story wrong, in some way.
Taboids and the religious are two groups that also belong to the rather long list of things I don't care for, but, hey- you have probably read my profile!
You can add those who threaten suing to the list. What ever happened to 'Meet me on the field of honour, at dawn!' ?
Peter has slammed Ian Wishart, who is now using the 'S' word
I thougth Jorno's had thicker hides than that and that the only thing worse than being talked about was not being talked about!
I don't have a lot of time for ANY journo's- Ive been misquoted/inaccuratly repoted too many times, and I have not had a lot of exposure to the antique media.
Let men make that crystal clear- IN stories I have been personally involved in-EVERY SINGLE time they have got the story wrong, in some way.
Taboids and the religious are two groups that also belong to the rather long list of things I don't care for, but, hey- you have probably read my profile!
You can add those who threaten suing to the list. What ever happened to 'Meet me on the field of honour, at dawn!' ?
Friday, March 24, 2006
What's it like?
Screw politics and numb-nuts hostages.
How about the REAL issue of the day-
What's the new XBOX360 like?
Anyone out there got one yet?
I'm going to do what I always do- wait another couple of years before buying one...
How about the REAL issue of the day-
What's the new XBOX360 like?
Anyone out there got one yet?
I'm going to do what I always do- wait another couple of years before buying one...
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