Thursday, June 30, 2005

I was reading the paper

And guess who I saw..








Jiggies!!

Ray caught red handed


Ahem!

blog

Ernie's First Test entry

Recovering from the flu

Here's my blog for today then :-)
As you may or may not know, I'm currently recovering from the flu over the weekend (not quite 100% yet, but should be back in form by Monday hopefully), so I've been drugging myself up with the usual culprits ie. Lemsip, vicks cough drops and orange juice - drank nearly 2 litres of that simply squeezed o.j. yesterday, couldn't taste a thing, but at least the texture was, how do you say, pulpy? :-)
Now back to the drugs (beautiful drugs) - I spotted this new offering from Lemsip, which is the "Lemsip Max: Cold & Flu Direct Lemon"...
Directions as per box:
How to take: For oral use. Pour the contents of one single-dose container of oral powder directly onto the tongue
Wonder if you could snort it? Or does it need something like salivary amylase to activate it?
I wouldn't think that the saliva enzymes would have to do anything with it since the primary ingredients are
Paracetamol
Phenylephrine hydrochloride
So as I was saying, I've been taking that due to me recovering from the flu. For the past couple of days, I couldn't really taste it, aside from the lingering aftertaste of lemon flavouring (surprise surprise) - however today, the distinct taste of paracetamol assaulted me... And no, I don’t eat paracetamol for the hell of it, but there are those times when you're sick and you forget to pour a glass of water before you pop a couple of panadol in your mouth, and in your zombie-like stupor you tragically, yet comically, rush to pour one before that yuck taste gets too foul...
Where was I again? Oh yeah, so basically, the Lemsip Max: Direct offering doesn't taste too pleasant, pity supermarkets can't sell Dimetap anymore...

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Tony Ryall Speech: Getting tough on crime

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00623.htm

I do agree with the points made. With the current 111 system, why call
the police if you know they'll send a taxi...sometimes.

The problem is the Police spend too much time on gathering revenue. No
wonder they say they don't have enough police handling cases.

In my previous posting, I spoke about the second theft case. What I
forgot to mention is that when I called the police about this and ask
for them to send a car over to investigate in fear that the offender
might still be in the area, I was told by the operator that there are
no police available.

After I hung up, I phoned a colleague and told him about the incident.
He told me that he was just on the N/W Mway where there were 3 speed
traps gathering revenue.

Question: Why didn't they pull out one of these traps to investigate?
They can always resume their revenue gathering later.

I've spoken to a few people about this. There was one person in
particular that surprise me with her answer. She told me.."Have you
contacted victim support? They have people to help you get over these
things and move on. These things happen. You cannot blame the police."

Cannot blame the police??? Get over it??? I'm not even on it until
this dairy fella got killed
(http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?ObjectID=10331639). What I can
say to this woman is I hope all crimes happen to you and your home
since you seem to dismiss them happily.

Tha fact here is, if the police listen to the cases in the area and
know that crime is rising, then increase the police presence in the
area, this would not have happened.

Got interviewed by TVNZ the other day about this but it never appeared
on One News. Hmm..not enough material or filtered by the government??

Don't matter. I'm not obsessed by it being shown. Didn't even bother getting a blank tape.

Saturday, June 25, 2005

Dairy worker killer caught

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?ObjectID=10332645

Glad they managed to catch this "iho de bastardo".

Praise for the cops.

Although there is still the question that if they had patrolled the area more seeing it is an area with increasing crime, would this have happened?

I can see people's faces now..let it go mate. they caught the bastard.

Hey I'm only asking a question, why are you avoiding the topic?

Well yes James is a p addict. So what? Police presence is still intimidating to p addicts, I say.

Friday, June 24, 2005

Anger towards police

Am I angry with the police?

There are mixed feelings about the police. Some people are angry that the police are not doing enough. Some say they are doing the best they can with what limited resources they have.

I do agree with both view points. Unlike some people, I try not to judge someone solely from one side of the equation. I try to see both sides, look at the pros and cons then decide how I would judge a person or group of people. In this case, I do respect the police. Otherwise I'll be spitting at their faces like some crims do.

I do believe that they are under resourced and under staffed. It makes you wonder how this can be if every year the government announces that there will be extra $$$ for staffing the police. I think the government have been miscalculating the $$$ figure and staff counts. Lets us just say water evaporation is not accounted for. Go figure. (no! I'm not mad - I know what your are thinking.)

Anyway getting back to the topic, I am not angry at the police (especially not individually). I simply do not believe the police system is working.

I believe there should be more police presence to prevent crime such as rape, robbery, theft, breakins...and there should be less police on the traffic front line.

After all. The police are there to keep us secure. Not bleed us to bankruptcy.

Thursday, June 23, 2005

OFF-TOPIC: Observations; Questions

Just something off the usual topic about the constabulary.

What is it about gossip? Assumptions, guessing...

What is it about one-tracked minds? People say anything even though it is not everyone's view. Not thinking whether it affects anyone in the room.

Is respecting everyone's beliefs and opinion not practised anymore today?

Is being two-faced the way of the future?

What is it about setting people up?

A hypocritical environment can't be good for you. I hope it doesn't get adsorbed on me.

get off me. get off me.

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Misuse of Siren

I was chatting to someone about today. And the motorway topic came up followed by the police. Then she mentioned that she saw a police car with full bells and whistles on and flashing lights coming from behind. It was rush hour so she thought.."I hope there is no accident". Everybody gave way to let the police pass.

Several minutes later whent he traffic progressed along, she saw the exact same police car on the side of the road just parked monitoring the traffic (probably with a laser?).

He must be late for work? Who knows.

Monday, June 20, 2005

10-200: Police needed at crime scene

Inaugural Entry.

After 6 months of no action from the police, I've decided to spill my concerns online.

This story starts January 2005 when I've become a victim of theft.
Like most people, I find this annoying and a waste time and money. I
proceeded to report this case to the police. The lady at the counter
was very helpful (she was a civilian, btw :)). She heard my story,
took my statement, asked me to fill out a form and off I went to work.

That night I decided to go around to investigate myself as I have not
heard anything from the station.

I sent a notice to all neighbours regarding the incident and manage to
get a witness statement along with a description of the 2 offenders
plus a car rego number. I also found out there was another fellow in
the block whose motorcycle was stolen at the same time. Around his
area I took photographs of footprints. It is still there because it
was composed of engine oil leaking from my neighbour's bike.

I wrote a report with all details and photos in it and submitted it to
the police station. I was told it will be filed in together with my
initial report. The cop on the counter also told me the owner of the
car whose rego we wrote down was arrested on a separate incident that
morning. Great I thought, something will be done.

Weeks passed and I have not heard anything. I phone them to remind
them of my case and I had trouble reaching the detective in charge of
my case. I did leave a message on the voice box but got no return
calls. After several calls over several days I finally got hold of
this detective only to find out that she was not the detective in
charge. From here on I was passed on to 3-4 different detectives (non
of which were available to pick up the call).

I've decided ..hmm..I'll give them time to sort out my case. I'm sure
they can find the culprit.

But then in early april, the thief came back and stole more parts from
me. So I had to file another report, this time I went straight into
the Central Police Station at Cook st. I waited for 30 minutes. When
I finally got there I decided to ask them about the first case. The
cop on the counter said I have to call the detective in charge. So I
did.

As usual, it took me a while to find who is in charge; nobody seems to
want to take ownership of my case. Finally I managed to reach someone.
Now this detective does not even know about my case. I thought...fair
enough..you must have hundreds so I don't expect you to remember. I
gave him the case number and he read the case...I waited. He said
asked me a few questions and it sounded like it was the first time he
read the case. HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT!!! He then went on to
say, "we do not have any leads". So I replied.."leads? What happened
to the extra report I gave you. It had the offenders' description
including clothes and a car registration number and description."

At this point it is obvious they weren't interested. Perhaps he thinks
my case is too small to pursue. Or he will not have commission on
solving my case...I carried on complaining about it and to finally he
replied "We'll reopen the case" just to get rid of me. I was willing
to hang up anyway as I was using my mobile and it was costing me more
money.

I haven't heard anything since. He probably threw away my case report
as soon as I hung up. Worst thing is, I found out later that the
offender who stole my neighbours bike (who I believe stole parts from
me) was later released and was only fined $500. WTF???