Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Bulletpoints On Tuesday 15 June 2010

Anyone want a multi-million dollar paperweight?A third of submissions to the recent Defence Review want NZ to get fighter jets again. The Skyhawks of the air combat wing (disbanded in 2001) were unable to be sold, because of a US veto over who could access restricted bits aboard. The Skyhawks’re too expensive to restore now, so buying F-18s from Australia may be an option. No indication yet that the government’ll actually listen to the voters...
[PS: 15 Nov.2011 - OMG! FINALLY someone actually wants to buy the remaining mothballed Skyhawks! Mind you, at the price, we're basically PAYING them to take 'em away!]
A controversial claim that the town of Feilding is the actual birthplace of the All Blacks jersey! Feilding Rugby Club says the NZRU adopted its club's black jersey with silver fern in 1893, for the national team. The NZ Rugby Museum maintains this local folklore is a myth until proven otherwise, so while the club searches for proof, it may also ask Tui Brewery to erect one of its famous billboards in town!
Though it's always denied it, here's proof that Japan regularly bribes small member countries of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) with cash and prostitutes. Bribed officials from six countries have been uncovered as willing to sell their votes at this month's vital IWC meeting...
One of the week's most ridiculous stories is a pilot scheme at Auckland's Howick College to let students use cellphones in class! The rationale is to allow 21st.century technology that the kids know. Yes, but pen-and-paper don't send time-wasting puerile texts in school time to students...
And speaking of technology, things must be confusing in Korea, with the unveiling of Apple’s new iPhone 4: its LCD display, CPU, battery and other major components are all made by Samsung. Meanwhile Samsung's Galaxy-S smartphones are competing with the iPhone 4 around the world. So Samsung's main rival is also its top client! Ahhhhhhh, don’t ya LUV capitalism!

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