AAARRRR is for Robot

What could possibly be cooler than a pirate-hunting robot?  Why this has never been a movie plot or a comic book is beyond me.

Tough times in Mount Vic

Housing market realities seem to be beating out vendor expectations, at least in this case. 

This property (rental I think) had been on the market a wee while with the asking price shown below.

The agent’s web ads now shows that, perhaps, they were a little ambitious.  They’re still wanting more than the RV though.

While one property certainly doesn’t make a housing market collapse, this sort of retreat from an original asking price wasn’t being seen even a few months ago.

Intelligent Design: Summarising Dawkins

Dawkins does go on a bit.  To summarise; the concept of intelligent design cannot be true because it is self contradictory.

If the universe is too complex to have occurred without being deliberately designed, then there must be a complex designer. For this designer to exist without another designer it must be simple or has just always existed. The first reason can’t be true given the universe’s complexity and if the second is possible then a designer is simply not required because this complex universe could too have just always existed (or it’s the FSM… OK Dawkins didn’t say that).

Hype first, family second

The full page advertisements by the pro-smacking Family First are rather disingenuous.  While their ’cases’ are touted as results of the anti-smacking bill, there’s nothing to suggest these events wouldn’t have occurred prior to its passing.  Without coming up with any solid link or comparison with prior events these advertisements are just hype.

The best proof Family First has is that a  lawyer, of someone who was not convicted, is of the opinion that the law criminalises good parents.  An opinion isn’t proof; to claim as such only proves the claimant is foolish or dishonest (bearing false witness?).  

More than just disgruntled fathers?

It’s been claimed the Republic of NZ Party is more than just disgruntled fathers.   Identifying what more there is isn’t easy.   

Aside from proposing a republic and binding referenda, they’ve few policy positions considering 2008 will be their second election.  Their press releases are usually just attack pieces and many contain a disgruntled father angle.

Notably, there’s scant detail on the proposed republic or much on republicanism generally (while there’s much to say). The only position that differentiates them from other political parties is men’s rights and there isn’t 5% of the vote in that. 

 

Which finance company will collapse next?

After 17 collapses there are still plenty finance companies left to keep the business journalists busy.  If the theory that proves correct the property market will be the new pressure on these companies, then recent statistics suggest we’ll see a few more collapses.

In terms of who’s next Kapiti Coast financial adviser Chris Lee seems to have done a pretty good job at picking them so far.  His ratings 2005 from show a reasonable track record in rating the finance firms. The failures are circled including notable mistake Provincial.

Looks like there are quite a few E grades to go.    

People against everything

I’ve always found perennial protesters irritating.  I’ve always assumed that people against everything are more interested in their own moral superiority than whatever cause or injustice they’re protesting about.

Wellingtonian Valerie Morse reinforces this stereotype for me. Most of her protesting had just been a tiresome protest diva act, which hit rock bottom by disrupting a dawn service. Neither understanding nor caring how inappropriate and counterproductive this was demonstrates arrogance and/or stupidity.

While the firearms charges against her will further highlight these traits, yesterday’s antics confirm her as childish and uncouth.

Spitting in your mid 30s – that’s just lame.

Fact Free Radicals

While the Libertarianz can be accused of a number of things, usually they check their facts.  Today they may have put out their worst ever press release.

The errors are:

1. Wayne Mapp was never a Minister,

2. Mapp complained about personnel numbers, not the number of ships, and

3. Mapp has criticised RNZN purchases or lack thereof.

That’s a fair few errors for a release that’s nearly short enough to be a post here! 

Sugging telemarketers

I was a victim of sugging the other day.

Net Lifestyle Limited had a foreign call centre give me every impression it was conducting market research about attitudes to tax.  Next step was a local call back offering to provide ‘tax advice’.  After some questioning it became apparent that I would be offered the services of the Circle Group, which funnily enough is half-owned by the owner of Net Lifestyle.  Circle is yet another property investment spruiker clipping the ticket of the type of unsophisticated investors sought by the Blue Chips and Richmasterys of the world.    Net Lifestyles

Muldoon nostalgia part 2

While TVNZ describes this interview as a classic (for someone actually questioning Muldoon I suspect), to me it’s most notable for its length and the level of detail it delves into.  I can’t think of any interview I’ve seen with a senior politician, let alone the Prime Minister, that has continued for nearly quarter of an hour on a single issue. 

And weren’t we scared of those Russians?