That was the blowout I needed -last- weekend

Thanks and congatulations to zakzahn for his front loaded playlist, which set me up for the rest of the night.

I'm going to be so paralyzed tomorrow. And I'm going to have to take a nap this afternoon, as I need 2-3 hours more sleep which I'm not going to achieve now.

Yesterday was pretty good all round - mowed the lawns, emptied some of a compost bin, had gaming (where d. did quite well, at least early on), BBQ and a game of San Juan, and then party. A very full day.

I don't usually do politics

Summary of Nicky Hagar's book
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10412474

I'm personally not particularly affiliated with any political party except the No Confidence party, and I tend to vote based on the principles that a party needs to be in office at least three terms before you can get unmuddied data to assess the long-term effects of any policies it implemented in it's first term, and 'stability good, stagnation bad'.

In the two-party system NZ is still stuck with, this means that my (party) vote changes about every three-four terms, barring serious issues with how things are being done.

Now even had I been thinking of voting National last election, they would have lost my vote when they brought in a non-politician to lead the party and potentially become PM using that glaring loophole in the list system.

My impression from the commentary I have heard on this book so far is that it is a sad chronicle of a good man's corruption and abuse as he formally entered the world of politics. A cynical part of me wonders if Brash's injunction wasn't a ploy to produce the media exposure and potentially expose further those who manipulated him through the last couple of years. I admit I would like to see those people and the others like them who lurk behind much of our political process (on all sides) take a hit.

What bothers me as a voter is that I agree with the commentators who note theat in this term Labour is 'succeeding' and will probably get a fourth term only because their cock-ups aren't (quite) as spectacular as National's.

I would prefer if NZ had a lot of independant/small party politicians, backed by an effective but neutral infrastructure, who all understood a) there are multiple acceptable ways to achieve any given goal and b) that compromise and co-operation are two different things, and the latter is the more important in running a country. Failing that the other extreme - a significant party with a leader who has a strong grip on the reins meaning that MPs get on with thier jobs raher than wasting their time infighting is another acceptable option -as long as said leader has the country's interests at heart.

My 'boss' called

I am now grumpy. So much for my happy mood.