Have a look at this:
How many countries? The UN recognizes 'only' 192. (Image: consumerist.com)
Verizon Claims To Cover More Countries Than Actually Exist via http://consumerist.com
Oops!
“It’s simple, details matter. A lot.”
ThePaepae.com ISN’T an Apple fanboy blog … there are plenty of those … although I have, for years, appreciated Apple’s elegance, lack of cheap compromise (except for those PowerBooks made by Acer! 5300(?) Yikity yik! during the sans-Steve-Jobs era) and their obvious investment in great industrial design. It’s far, far more than skin deep.
This comment from Michael Gartenberg on a new MacBook Pro line sums it up.
Andrew King back into the fray
I saw Andrew King speaking up again in the NZ Herald recently.
Good on him.
He’s also fighting the good fight for oppressed landlords (in some circles they’re being painted as villain of the month/year/generation) in comments threads on interest.co.nz — that bastion of reasoned argument (now, where is that sarcasm emoticon when I need it?)
While there are honest, plain-talking people like Andrew who THINK and say things like:
In reply to Bernard’s housing report, I do have a few comments. I have been involved with these statistics for 14 years since using them with a property investment magazine I used to publish. Just because the number of bonds increases, this cannot be extrapolated into increased demand for rental property. Firstly, an increase in bonds being listed is an indication of turnover rather than demand. Secondly, I have spoken to the Bond Center officials regarding Marches results and was told that a shortage of data input in February is the reason for a larger number of bonds entered in March.
In other words: “Hang on a minute Bernard. Tenancy services bond lodgements figures reflect TURNOVER of rental properties, not necessarily an increase in the ‘pool’ of rental properties available, and apparently the data was held up for a month … so if your argument rests on that misinterpretation, well, consider the following points.”
… we can count our blessings.
That’s a far better response, in my view, than those (are they merely lazy?) who just smear commentators they don’t agree with as ‘crazed sadistic bashers‘ or ‘jealous’ or driving a ‘vendetta’ … while implying by their lack of (decent) argument that any criticism and discussion is somehow ‘corrupt’ in origin, therefore not worth pursuing, or answering. Continue reading →
Rear vision mirror?
Quite a nice comment over the weekend from fellow Cassandra financial advisor/columnist Brent Shearer who points out this comment isn’t completely true 100% of the time…
“NZ has a dreadful record … for staying silent when speaking up is the responsible thing to do. How many people knew about … Bridgecorp, Nathans, Capital + Merchant and MFS … but said nothing?”
But, sadly it’s true often enough that it’s a problem.
Critical? Who, me? Naaaah!
Some people might think my canine love story or Shaun Stenning: Monkey or Organ Grinder or Dean Letfus claims DEFAMATION! comments have been a bit harsh… but look at this recent campaign ad from Arizona…
Imagine if I used language like that!
(Roll on Friday, eh boys?)
Window dressing — Time to pay the piper?
Harry Truman: 'The Buck Stops Here'. Yup.
I know and respect both of the former cabinet ministers Doug Graham and Bill Jeffries who, it was announced today, will face civil and criminal charges brought to bear by the Securities Commission in relation to the Lombard Finance collapse.
There’s no doubt their role as window dressing was an act of ‘exchange’ — they were paid to allow others to harness their reputations and to pose in the boardroom photos that the spruikers used to charm potential investors and attract funds.
The flip-side of that exploitation (is that too harsh? I think not) is that when it all turned to custard, those same trusting investors (retired or soon to retire) felt damn-well aggrieved. And quite right. Continue reading →
A likely story?
Accountants to blame, say Feltex Five
Monday Apr 12, 2010 | NZ Herald
The five former directors of Feltex Carpets are blaming their accountants for irregularities in financial statements.
Well, it’s possible, I guess …
The amazing restorative powers of Snake Oil, oops, US tax liens – and a canine love story?
The repeated sabre-rattling (‘legal threats’) by Shaun Stenning and Dean Letfus sparked by David Whitburn’s critical blog on the NZ Property Guru’s [sic] promotion of US tax liens recently reminded me of an earlier incident involving marketing US tax liens as ‘investments’ to guileless New Zealanders …
It led to an undignified outcome for another small person who made a big fuss about ‘taking legal action‘ to protect a ‘damaged’ reputation. It seems to me this excitable man actually made things worse for himself — often the case — and perhaps even revealed himself as a rudderless mercenary. Certainly the situation raises doubt in my mind.
Like many really bitter disputes, it involved two parties who’d worked closely together — in this case, business partners who apparently fell out as the output of their money machine dwindled.
In my view, another factor was the strange behaviour of one of them who, talented salesman as he was, seemed to regularly spin out of control under pressure — much of it his own making. And although these two looked different, in many ways (it seemed to me at least) they were like brothers under the skin. Neither trusted the other.
Following their disagreement and fall-out privately (apparently over the promotion of US tax liens, of all things!), a strident series of public announcements was published — by both of them about each other — on various discussion forums and blogs, and circulated in e-mail by themselves, their acolytes and tireless promoters.
Yes, it was unseemly. But I don’t mind admitting it was kinda entertaining too. (Do you know what I mean?)
After a while, though, I have to confess, the slanging match did make me wonder how on earth these two had worked together all those years. Maybe it was the unifying effect of making lots of money together, I guessed. (I’ve seen other people in business hold their nose, ‘lay back and think of England’.)
The rejected party, Maltese (an ill-tempered long-haired lapdog) initially seemed to be losing the PR war, and so he came out slugging. He publicly thundered that his dispute with his former partner Phug (a chubby little runt with pig dog ideas and a permanent drool) followed Maltese’s self-proclaimed ‘principled stand’ over an issue of professional ethics. Continue reading →
By way of an introduction
Publisher’s note: Exnzpat’s own “exnzpat buys a rental” story starts here. Read from oldest to newest.
———–
I would like to introduce myself.
My real name is of no importance; however, by way of introduction, I should tell you that I was an attorney for this State’s Public Defender’s Office until just last year.
A crime was committed here nine months ago and my boss assigned me to the task of representing the man you know as exnzpat.
Exnzpat refused council and pleaded guilty to all four charges of murder and all four charges desecrating human remains. The cops considered it a closed case and my boss, in the Public Defender’s Office, sent me over to represent exnzpat whether he liked it or not.
Murder is an ugly crime. And this was especially ugly.
Exnzpat was confined to solitary at the local mental hospital — there was nowhere else to put him. He was also on suicide watch.
The first thing that struck me about exnzpat was that he is one crazy cat — not only in deed — but also in person. I remember being ushered into a small holding cell at the back of the courthouse. This was during his arraignment. Refusing Counsel, he had freely given a confession to the arresting officers. They called my boss after the fact, no doubt to cover their asses. All I could do was sit next to him and nod my head when the judge looked at him. Exnzpat had left himself very few options. We pled “guilty with mitigating factors.” Continue reading →
James Taylor and Carole King – Auckland 10/4/10
James Taylor and Carole King on tour
(image: stuff.co.nz)
The phrase ‘music that is the soundtrack of our lives’ has acquired the quality of a cliché — but by golly, bathing in the glory of these two troubadours at their Auckland concert tonight, the phrase fits.
I was so happy to hear them, to see them and enjoy their camaraderie and their art. They hit all the big numbers and scratched our itch with a generous, full concert and encores.
At times, with James Taylor’s numbers, I was on the verge of tears … for no definable reason except that hearing the songs of my youth and young adulthood moved me — and touched in me memories of people and times past. Some I will not see again.
His guitar work was exquisite, no two ways about it, and the old crew in the band were outstanding. But it was his voice, his essence, and the quiet power of the songs that captivated me.
Recently, in my reply to a comment from Perry in our discussion on grief, I described James Taylor as a profound soul influence in my life, and a contributor to my personal and emotional growth.
Tonight showed me again: Yes. That’s true. I was right.
I’m so glad we went. – P
Exposing a dangerous fraud
Wow! Straight-talking, clear writing like this is a welcome thing. I applaud it.
Exposing manipulators, fakers and dishonest hucksters for what they are is a truly worthwhile activity. Reading this encourages me to keep after the weeds — native and imported — in our own back yard … in spite of the insults, threats and abuse that might follow.
Read on (below) and watch this space. Continue reading →
Top 10 NZ property investment books – Auckland City Libraries
Auckland City Libraries Readers Services team picks: The top 10 titles on New Zealand Property Investment in 2009.
I’m chuffed that four of the top ten are published by Empower Leaders Publishing. (Cool.)
Congratulations to all the authors on the list… Continue reading →
It can be messy, copyright…
Billy T James’ family in a dispute over rights to some material included in the best-selling DVD compilation The Comic Genius of Billy T James. (Via NZ Herald)
Sony believed it had obtained the rights to use film and sound tracks in an agreement with the Billy T. James Family Trust, which has administered the comedian’s affairs since his death.
But his wife, Lynn Matthews, is challenging Sony’s claim to the rights and is seeking royalties and damages.
