Mother’s investment choice crushes a sick boy’s dream

The trouble with Hanover Finance has set off another round of investor sob stories.   While Hanover’s advertising claims of their ability to “weather any conditions” will make an interesting fair trading case, the Dominion Post has again glossed over one of the greatest contributors to the current finance companies’ meltdown – stupid decisions by investors.  

Nowhere in this article is the foolish decision to put money that could not afford to be lost into junk bonds questioned or even noted.  Surely this isn’t an irrelevant point?

Wasn’t expecting this from Condi.

NZ is back to being an ‘ally’ of the United States after twenty four two years! 

This is an interesting move from the US, but with our continuing support for the war in Afghanistan it had become a literal if not spoken truth.

100 Word Blog threatened with defamation and defamed

Unfortunately my post on the Psychwatch site has descended into legal threats. 

While my attendant bush lawyers have only been amused by the entire episode, it has got me wondering about whole blogging thing again.   I’ve never been terribly troubled by the blog-o-sewer issues that had Poneke bow out briefly, but my Psychwatch post does seem to have highlighted the issues of expressing opinions on the internet. 

While blogs offer information and comment on subjects that might not otherwise be published, there is a cost to the bloggers.

Then again, that’s why I’m staying anonymous.

Wandering round Wanaka

Following a somewhat embarassing non-skiing related injury, I had a day to waste in Wanaka.   There’s not too much to do except sight-see during the day.  Here’re some of the photos.

…and just to show I did get up into the mountains, here are two from Treble Cone. 

EDIT:  here are two photos of Wanaka in the summer that a reader emailed me.  Having only been there in winter makes me cold just thinking about swimming in the lake!

How to threaten legal action

A good threat of legal action requires three things. 

First, have a clear objective and be clear about what you want.  e.g. “I want you to finish the renovations I contracted you to undertake. Finish them or compensate me to get someone else to finish them”.

Second, do your homework.  Know both your position and the other party’s.

Lastly, make it sound like you know what you’re doing.  Use a lawyer - an initial letter doesn’t cost the earth. 

But before you even think about threats just ask nicely, it often works. Also don’t commit the same action you’re complaining against.

ANZ’s backroom burbles

Has anyone else noted the irony of the backroom economists at the ANZ (worst service of the big banks) commenting on government having too little focus on frontline services?

Source: Consumer Magazine

 

Watching Psychwatch

I’m not expecting much sense from Psychwatch; primarily due to the site’s author Steve Taylor.   While an individual practitioner who self-appoints as a lone watchdog of their peers sets off the lone nut warning light, he may have a point on the issues – I don’t know.   But Steve Taylor’s last public outing was a truly credibility destroying exercise. 

Last local body elections Taylor contested the Auckland mayoralty for the Direct Democracy Party.   Aside from being part of a party led by a conspiracy theorist and revolutionary wannabe, Taylor also provided considerable unintentional comedy across the blogosphere.

Supporting truckers, killers and stupidity in general

Why does the media give Garth McVicar the time of day?  Surely they can’t be that desperate for rent-a-quotes. 

While he certainly reached a moral rock bottom when suggesting frustration was an excuse for killing people, yesterday’s trivialising of his own cause is plain stupidity.   Are you showing respect for your own constituency by saying, “Wouldn’t it be great if all victims of crime were prepared to show a little of the passion these truck drivers intend showing tomorrow.”

There must be someone sensible amongst the hang ‘em higher brigade the media can run to for a quote.

Today’s rainbow

Today I saw the best rainbow I’ve ever seen.  From where I was, it stretched in a perfect and complete arc from Te Aro to Eastbourne.  

Here it is from someone else’s perspective.

Photo swiped from Nicole.

European design’s up in the air

While the Europeans are usually the leaders in terms of design, their aerospace conglomerate EADS’s last two efforts indicate the guy who’s been out of work since the Trabant factory closed its design department has found a new job. 

For both military and commercial clients EADS has an ugly plane for everyone.

I’d hoped the double decker A380 was an aberration but the newly unveiled A400M indicates a trend.