Palin For President

Journos can’t cross the road

Today’s DominionPost trotted out the old anti-inner city bypass line that communities have been divided.

Is there really anyone who’s found themselves cut off from another part of town by the bypass?  Can people really be that bad at crossing the road?  I’ve found Cuba St, in particular, more pedestrian friendly since the bypass opened.

Indeed, does the Dom have any basis for the claim that there have been any communities divided by the bypass or was this a journalist just too lazy to do more than regurgitate a slogan?

An open letter to Sensing Murder fans

Yes. I agree you are entitled to your opinion. I also agree that my past statements are just my opinion.

I contend, however, that your opinion that Sensing Murder is something other than bullshit is a demonstration of your credulity. Please note there’s no hard evidence to support your opinion anywhere. Also note that whenever psychics are tested they end up looking like snake oil salesmen or the deluded.

As for my opinion that Sensing Murder is bullshit, it is based on nothing more than the fact that this nonsense consistently fails to prove itself under the most basic scrutiny.

Good times for evolution deniers

The evolution deniers have had a good few weeks.  Idiot/Savant notes Turkish creationists have found an excuse to block Dawkins’ webiste.  There’s Sarah Palin’s dinosaurs-walked-humans view, but that’s no worse than the current Oval Office situation. 

Most troubling for me is Professor Michael Reiss’ resignation from the Royal Society.  While what he said was open to misrepresentation his basic points are little more than a proposal for effectively teaching science.  Unfortunately Reiss’ resignation will no doubt be an opportunity for religious fundamentalists to pretend it is they who want an honest debate on the science.

Failing at photo journalism but succeeding at lunch

100 Word Blog set out on its first deliberate attempt at photo journalism today.  I thought I’d have a look at the Republic of New Zealand Party’s flag burning on my way to get lunch at Chilli Jam.

Unfortunately there were no flags burnt or otherwise outside Government House.  Perhaps, they meant the other Government House in Auckland.   Surely you wouldn’t go to all the trouble of putting out a press release and then not following through.

The other part of my outing was much more successful.  The rice burger with pork with a side of pan-fried dumplings were great! 

Wellington should keep STV

Wellingtonians should have received their voting papers for the STV vs FPP referendum. 

I’ll be voting for STV. 

Ultimately STV favours candidate/s that are more popular with the electorate overall.  FPP can let through the least popular candidate if votes amongst the more popular candidates are split.  STV also means voting for your preferred candidate still matters, even if they have no chance, as your vote will still likely influence the outcome. 

The best argument against STV is that it’s too complicated.  It is true that at the last WCC elections anyone who couldn’t count to 10 was stuffed.

Guess the candidate

I received one of my first pieces of junk mail for the upcoming election.  What struck me was, as you can see, how motherhood and apple pie the slogans on it were.

 

These could be slogans for the majority of the candidates standing.  The worst thing about this stuff is that the candidate using it is smart enough to have come up with something much better. 

Which candidate? Click here (although you if you’re able to be fooled by the wonders of Microsoft Paint you may be a little confused )