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    2. shark
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    shark

    @shark

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    Best posts made by shark

    • February 22nd 2011 12.51pm

      If you were in Christchurch, what was your experience?

      I was parked up just down the street from my hairdresser on Settlers Crescent in Ferrymead. I was probably looking at work emails or facebook on my phone. More likely the latter. All of a sudden there was this violent shaking, kind of a side to side and bouncing motion. Street lamps swayed violently, cracks appeared in asphalt straight away. This was one hell of a shock. I'd missed the quake the previous September so this was by far the largest 'quake I'd ever experienced.

      I pulled up into the car park at my hairdressers and then moved again when I realised I was parked in front of a large pre-cast concrete wall. Clients were outside with the staff, foils in hair, colour running etc. For a while, the hairdressers went into clean-up mode (foils out etc) so the ladies could leave. One left regardless, mid-colour. I decided to drive across town and drop my hairdresser off at her place (Merivale way I think) and then head to my niece and nephews' school on Clyde Rd.

      Liquefaction was rising rapidly. It would have been ankle deep by the time we made a move. I crossed a traffic island on Ferry Road unwittingly, as it was submerged, to get to the Mega Ferrymead car park. Traffic was gridlocked heading towards the CBD, so we decided to take Linwood Ave and skirt around the Four Avenues. Linwood Ave was slow going also. We were listening to the radio and regularly trying to call and text family and friends. I puffed a couple of darts. A report came through that the near-new control tower at the airport had collapsed (innacurate as it turned out). There was talk of loss of life. Smoke and dust billowed up from the CBD and as we drove farther down Linwood Ave and turned onto Gloucester St, we started seeing the occasional person walking, covered in ash/dust/debris and one or two also had blood on them.

      We got to Fitzgerald Ave, then Bealey Ave and then eventually to my hairdressers' place in Merivale. Still no contact with family at this stage and unbeknownst to me, my sister had only just made it out of the Globe Cafe on High Street and was walking all the way home to St Albans/Mairehau. Had I known, she would have been the priority. I proceeded on to my niece and nephews' school only yo find out they'd been collected by my sisters' partner at the time. I think by now I'd finally heard from Mum and maybe Dad. Both were ok. Mum was in Halswell (largely unaffected as opposed to the September quake) and pretty much just chilling. Dad's apartment was in the CBD - just - so I asked him to come to my rental in Avonhead, but he ended up at my sisters'.

      I then went to my flatmates' kids' school in Avonhead but they too had been collected, so I headed home. About then I heard my sister was ok. Phew. I had to scramble over a fence as I'd gone out through the garage door that morning and had left the snib lock on inside the front door. Oops. Then I got in through an unsecured window. We didn't have any power, and I was at a loose end. My Mum and step-Dad owned a Night n Day store on Riccarton Rd and they were heading there, so I went to help (I didn't know what form that was going to take). When I got there, they'd opened it up and a queue of people were outside asking to buy things. We spent the next couple of hours taking an order at the door (short of the dodgy looking canopy), getting the items, taking a rough cash payment and moving onto the next person. We didn't know it at the time but hours earlier a chap had died in a car not 10m away in front of a building with another dodgy canopy.

      It was close to dark when we finished. Naturally there were no 'staples' left ie bread, milk etc, or 'fresh' food, or alcohol, or cigarettes and plenty of other things. I went home. My flatmate was there, with his kids, and we cracked a beer. I lit the bbq to boil some water and cook some lamb chops. A few minutes later we regained power. The rest of the evening we were glued to the tv.

      I recall the company I worked for were pretty quick to tell us we had the rest of the week off and that our building, plant was being checked etc. They offered some advice re phone charging and told us we could fill up on the company if we chose to go somewhere.

      The next day I went to the shop to help clean up and the day after my flatmate and I headed to his girlfriends' neighbourhood with spades and a wheelbarrow and just dug liquefaction for hours on end. We cleared a couple of houses. We'd had various people come and stay with us the previous couple of nights. We were lucky we had power, but no-one had water. Bathing consisted of buckets of water and soap. On Friday, my Dad - unable to return to his place inside the CBD - and I drove to Dunedin to stay with friends of his. All the service stations were nuts. I spent a large part of the trip making calls to arrange Tyvek brand over-alls for USAR staff, which was pretty cool and felt like a contribution to the recovery as I drove in the other direction. At McDonalds in Oamaru I washed my hands really thoroughly for the first time since Tuesday, and upon arrival in Dunedin we had showers. Possibly the greatest shower ever. That night we went out for a few beers and at bars throughout the Octagon, locals were wearing red and black face paint.

      We went back to work on Monday but all we did was jump in a ute and head to a work mates' badly affected house and got digging again. I think over the next couple of days some normality returned in terms of routine, but whilst my memories of the 22nd itself are vivid, that time is a bit of a blur. I can't believe it's been ten whole years!

      posted in Off Topic
      shark
      shark
    • RE: Joe Wheeler

      He's just not funny. Wheeler is made out by many to be this hilarious larrikin but he's simply another bad example of the shallow talent pool in our small nation.

      Racist though? Nah. Just a poor attempt at an accent mock, which is as common a joke as anything and pretty harmless in isolation.

      posted in Sports Talk
      shark
      shark
    • RE: Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11

      @MN5 I'd never let the kids near my coke.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      shark
      shark
    • Super Rugby Legacy Jerseys

      The Chiefs will be rolling out in an updated adidas version of their 1996 jersey against the Canes this weekend. Only 300 of which will be for sale plus some signed ones to be auctioned on trademe. I like this. Hopefully all the fanchises do it and if the Crusaders do I’ll do all I can to get my hands on one of our wooden spoon classics,

      38d8b4c7-b20d-4dde-a93a-6c2bcf0dfc35-image.jpeg https://www.chiefs.co.nz/edit/image_cache/181221chiefs0780edit_810x810c0pcenter.jpg

      posted in Sports Talk
      shark
      shark
    • RE: 'Super Rugby' 2021

      So this proposed Pasifika franchise being supported by Beegee Williams, despite being promoted to the contrary, can only take away from the already thinning depth of the five NZ SR squads.

      They're saying they'll focus on bringing back European-based Pasifika players for 2022. Now given they're Auckland-based, commercially this makes zero sense as who is going to spring up out of nowhere to give them the money to achieve something NZ Rugby with much greater revenue streams hasn't been able to achieve over years and years? The only guys I would imagine they could afford to pay when competing with the Pound or Franc, would be guys at the end of their careers.

      The other source of players - and the only one mentioned for 2021 - is fringe SR players of Pacifika heritage in the NPC. This only serves to undermine the five wafer-thin and increasingly youthful NZ squads.

      They speak of developing Pasifika players in NZ. Sorry, but if they're worth developing they've already been identified and are in the system. Again, there's no undiscovered player well yet to be plumbed.

      Lastly, this especially undermines the Blues, dividing their support base, further pressuring their development system and possibly costing them commercial partners.

      Yuck.

      posted in Sports Talk
      shark
      shark
    • RE: CWC Final - Black Caps v England

      Still struggling big time with the injustice of it all. This has been infinity times harder to process than getting reamed by Australia in 2015. We could have - possibly should have - won this final and title.

      In 2015 I was consoled by being able to look forward and confidently expect we’d still have a pretty good side in 2019. We were always likely to still have Guppy, Kane, Rosco, Anderson, Henry, Southee, Boult and Milne from that side, and knew we were heading to a tournament played in conditions nearer to our own than anywhere else it could be held. I was confident we’d give it another tilt and distinctly remember predicting that on TSF in the aftermath of the 2015 final.

      But fast forward and we’ve come as close as a team can possibly, possibly get without quite pulling it off, and I have little confidence in our team being as strong in the next tournament, to be played in far less suitable conditions. This year our team had three of our top five all time ODI batsmen in it, either at or near the peak of their powers, possibly our best ever ODI pace bowler, and a quality supporting cast with some fast improvers and only a couple of duds. You could say much the same of the 2015 side but throw in our greatest ODI spinner as well, plus a much better performed Southee.

      In 2023 we’ll still have Kane and I have no reason to believe he’ll be any less of a player than he is now. So we’ll always be a chance. But I’m not sure how many of the current guys will still be around. Guptill, out of form this tournament but still only 32 currently, will probably be past it at 36. It’s possible we’re seeing him waning now, but I tend to think he’ll come right again and we’ll get another year or three out of him. Rosco will be around 38 and a very unlikely starter based on the longevity of NZ batsmen historically but stranger things have happened and he seems very fit. On balance though, probably not. Boult will be 33 and fairly long in the tooth for a pace bowler. Still a possible starter but highly unlikely to be operating at the same level.

      Nicholls, Latham, Neesham, Santner, Sodhi, Ferguson and Henry will all be 32 or younger which helps the core. Add to that Corey Anderson, Tom Blundell, Will Young, Tim Seifert and Adam Milne. Ok I’m cheering up a little, but still need to see at least a couple of these guys develop into truly world class players in order to have any confidence. The Colins will be gone. One should never play ODI cricket again and the other will drift out of the side due to age prior to the next WC. Southee will also be a goner.

      So the team for 2023? Well I’m assuming Guppy and Rosco will be gone, sadly. Boult may well be reduced to a Kyle Mills 2015 role as the experienced fourth seamer unlikely to play but in the squad. Kane will be there at first drop and I reckon Nicholls should have well and truly cemented a spot at 4 by then (same as in the test side) but may be needed at the top. Young shapes as a likely contender at 5 unless we stack the middle order with power allrounders in which case I can see Neesham batting there. There’s a chance Nicholls stays at the top of the order and Young slots in at 4, I guess. Latham will also contend for 4. At this stage the opening spots look problematic and particularly by then if Guppy is in fact history. Maybe Blundell takes one of these spots, or Seifert who appeals as a guy who can get us away to a flyer, McCullum-esque . I truly hope Anderson comes back as a true all rounder and reclaims a position. Santner will probably be there as a defensive spinner but hopefully not batting as high as 8 as he appears most unworthy of this spot in the ODI team at the moment. Team structure however may dictate that he stays there. Sodhi should play a lot more for NZ and should be in this squad. Latham looks likely to enjoy an extended run in the middle order. There will be new guys come in but it’s not hard to imagine a lot of our current quality performers still holding their spots. A possible 1st XI in India:

      Seifert
      Nicholls
      Williamson
      Young/Latham
      Latham/Young
      Neesham
      Anderson
      Santner
      Sodhi
      Henry
      Ferguson

      I’d love to see another hitter at 8. If Santners test batting develops and he starts not ducking under bouncers when we need runs then he may be more suited to 7, sandwiched between a couple of thugs.

      posted in Sports Talk
      shark
      shark
    • RE: All Blacks XV - New second tier team

      @Bones said in All Blacks XV - New second tier team:

      @shark is there quite a difference between Nth Korean ICBM's and others?

      I'm relying on it not working.

      posted in Sports Talk
      shark
      shark
    • RE: AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?

      @Kruse said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

      @shark said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

      @Machpants said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

      @shark you realise, of course, that the govt follow the advice of the health service, not the other way around. Unlike some countries,

      It's the governments decision, ultimately. Doesn't matter a shit how much advice they take or from where. Actually, it does. When the only advice you seriously consider represents only one facet in a decision making process, it matters many shits.

      Yeah, and that one “facet” being the relevant Subject-Matter-Expert. And, probably, consultation with indirectly-involved SMEs. Shit.
      How dare they not consider consulting InfoWars and random reddit threads?

      Sigh. Thanks for that, Jacinda.

      Don't worry about enabling a solid economic boost at very minimal risk to health. Let's just create asinine rules around bubble limits which prohibit the event from happening. If you're going to limit team trainings to 25 or whatever then you need to limit workplaces in general to 25 as well. It's absolute OTT garbage from the Govt.

      posted in Sports Talk
      shark
      shark
    • RE: Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final

      Is this the least surprising debut century in NZ test history? Has to be .

      posted in Sports Talk
      shark
      shark
    • RE: Bledisloe II

      @bovidae said in Bledisloe II:

      @taniwharugby Injury was not a factor according to the Stuff article.

      "We wanted a specialist second five," explained Hansen. "Alby (Lienert-Brown) has been playing a lot of his rugby at 13. Whilst we're very happy with his performance [in Sydney], we love what he does for us off the bench.

      "He brings a security, a sense of understanding of what's needed in that area and Ngani is more of a starting-type player. It just made sense."

      Yep nice one Shag. You may as well put the NH contact under ALB's fucken nose yourself. You could have equally said: "We didn't pick Ngani in the initial squad and wanted him instead to go away and work on his communication, which he's done for an entire game. Alby was outstanding for us at 12 in Bledisloe 1 in what was virtually a starting role but despite that we've brought Ngani straight back in ahead of him".

      posted in Rugby Matches
      shark
      shark

    Latest posts made by shark

    • RE: AFL 2022

      Dees 120 - 53 over GWS. Ouch.

      posted in Sports Talk
      shark
      shark
    • RE: Crusaders v Blues

      @bones said in Crusaders v Blues:

      @shark but what was the COTD more importantly.

      Fucking parrot fish. And yellow fin tuna. I'm a bit sick of tuna.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      shark
      shark
    • RE: Crusaders v Blues

      @duluth said in Crusaders v Blues:

      @mn5 said in Crusaders v Blues:

      No one does grumpy posts like a disgruntled saders fan.

      Most of them are fine. There's one who forgets to take his meds every now and then

      What I think you'll find, is actually taking a lorazepam on top of about 12 beers, a glass of rose and three cocktails of the day, possibly isn't the greatest combination for inducement of thoughtful commentary. But I stand by my assessment.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      shark
      shark
    • RE: Crusaders v Blues

      @mn5 said in Crusaders v Blues:

      @duluth said in Crusaders v Blues:

      @mn5 said in Crusaders v Blues:

      No one does grumpy posts like a disgruntled saders fan.

      Most of them are fine. There's one who forgets to take his meds every now and then

      The moment they start calling any and everyone a fuckwit proves they’ve lost any semblance of an argument.

      Just one fuckwit.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      shark
      shark
    • RE: Crusaders v Blues

      @kirwan said in Crusaders v Blues:

      Man, I missed all the fun.

      All is right in the world when toys are being the out of pram like that. Pretty upset for a game he couldn’t be bothered to watch.

      Not possible in the Cook Islands.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      shark
      shark
    • RE: Crusaders v Blues

      @tim said in Crusaders v Blues:

      @shark Ah, so butt-hurt that you can't even manage the haughty and drawn-out strops you threw when the Chiefs won the championship and you became immensly upset that everyone viewed Rennie as a better coach than Blackadder.

      One loss and the Blues squad is so inadequate at this level they can't possibly have won.

      More made-up bullshit. Absolute fucking garbage.

      I never liked Blackadder and most would realise that, so you've made that blatant lie up outta nowhere.

      And I've fully credited the Blues for their win, despite having a lesser squad / 23 than the Crusaders.

      If there was a bullshit-o-tron on TSF, and it booted you off once you reached a certain level, you'd be long gone.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      shark
      shark
    • RE: Crusaders v Blues

      @tim said in Crusaders v Blues:

      @shark

      Great answer. About as well reasoned as your original post, or your classic "Akira Ioane couldn't make the Canterbury team" posts.

      Share some of your great knowledge some time though. Please do. They'll probably be such great posts that they make the Crusaders win that game, or their players look adequate at test level.

      I love this revisionist fuckwit garbage you post, expecting other fuckwits will swallow it.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      shark
      shark
    • RE: Crusaders v Blues

      @tim said in Crusaders v Blues:

      @shark

      Great answer. About as well reasoned as your original post, or your classic "Akira Ioane couldn't make the Canterbury team" posts.

      Share some of your great knowledge some time though. Please do. They'll probably be such great posts that they make the Crusaders win that game, or their players look adequate at test level.

      You're a fuckwit. And you know fuck all

      posted in Rugby Matches
      shark
      shark
    • RE: Crusaders v Blues

      @chris-b said in Crusaders v Blues:

      @stargazer That seems pretty accurate.

      I think Cullen Grace is worth a mention - prominent with ball in hand and made metres off the back of the scrum when needed. He looks more like an AB this season than the year he was picked. Even with several loosies ruled out there's going to be one or two unlucky guys when it comes to AB selection.

      Newell caught my eye with a couple of powerful surges near the line when he came on.
      Grace doesn't have enough 'X Factor'. Write him off

      posted in Rugby Matches
      shark
      shark
    • RE: Crusaders v Blues

      @tim said in Crusaders v Blues:

      @shark said in Crusaders v Blues:

      Compare that to the Blues sporting the likes of Eklund, old man Romano, Goodhue, Lam, Lay, Choat and Heem, none of whom would have been required in Super Rugby's hey day

      You mean in the glory days of Corey Flynn, Ross Filipo, Con Barrell, Sam Broomhall, and Adam Whitelock? All those players you named are high quality at Super Rugby level. Lay was very solid for Bristol in the UK Premiership.

      You have zero knowledge

      posted in Rugby Matches
      shark
      shark