Well, Matthew and I went for a spin on the newly renationalised New Zealand railway system - as in renationalised pretty much as a we sat in it - and were rewarded with a view of the first KiwiRail-liveried diesel, which hadn't even had time to get a trace of dirt on it and was standing looking dazed outside Thorndon sheds.  Clearly the paint shop ( Read more... )

Well, one tiny wee hand-in and an exam to go, and I'm free.  Until next trimester.

The "big week" was slightly tougher going than I had anticipated, I think I must be going soft in my old age.  Nice to have one's work described as "incredibly ugly" and a "dogs breakfast" though - else how would you know you're in a real crit?  This is why all these ( Read more... )

Fewer than two weeks (less than two weeks? no, fewer.  no, less.  less, fewer...) to go before the next big set of deadlines and tiredness is beginning to set in.

If I am foolish enough to post anything here or in punch-drunk response to some perfectly sensible journal entry of your own, please be charitable and bear in mind that my brain will be a ( Read more... )

Alright
( Read more... )

Well, here it comes, the layoff from architectural practices in Wellington has started ( Read more... )

I now know what obiter dicta really is.  You'd think that years of Rumpole and Boston Legal would have taught me this important (well, reasonably important) fact but no, I have carried on in ignorance of English common law (possibly precisely because of it being English).   Anyway, I know now.  Another small component in the gsquillion-piece jigsaw ( Read more... )

It seems that roses have thorns not because of poetic necessity, but because they don't like being pruned ( Read more... )

Wrrrgh ( Read more... )

In today's big free trade deal between New Zealand and the People's Republic of China, I note a curious clause that allows up to 150 Chinese Wushu Masters to live and work in NZ at any one time ( Read more... )

Alas for my favourite Freeware!  The new version of AVG anti-virus is not available free for home use any more.

These outrageous programmers are now asking for money to provide their valuable service.

Still, all is not lost.  My new favourite freeware is Projity OpenProj (yes that really is its name: openproj.org).  Hurrah for free GANTT charts!