Newstocks - Latest Comments in General

Re: Dinghy races

Somers — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:01:57 -0000

Nice job - felt like I was really there! Looked to be great conditions too. :)

Re: Refurbished?!

Tryangle — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:59:09 -0000

Maybe they'll get around to some decent seating and replace the flooring too, that would be great.
Just another case of us the public meekly accepting sub-par service on the island, I suppose.

Re: Club Med implosion

philwells — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:26:15 -0000

Give me a break! I've put up four new videos in the last couple of days! Do you have any idea how long these things take to edit?!

The dinghy racing one is next on my to-do list.

Re: Club Med implosion

Leatrice — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:45:05 -0000

Awesome Club Med clip but have to admit "under the Sea" totally stole my heart having said that where's the sailing video lets get him on the Victory bailing that will give us some donations

Re: Club Med implosion

VegasDad — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:51:28 -0000

Cool. We blow hotels here in Vegas all the time. Out with the old and in with the new.

Re: Responsible vs. irresponsible parenting

philwells — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:36:30 -0000

If the parents chose to disregard those warnings then so be it. But at least the folks at the cinema could then say they did all they could to keep those kids away from that content. And who knows, maybe it would prick the conscience of the parents later.

Re: Responsible vs. irresponsible parenting

Tryangle — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:23:56 -0000

I think I want to commend you Phil on having the courage to confront that particular situation. I suppose there comes a point where you have to take action on something that you see as wrong, even if there's no direct effect on you. Maybe it would be great if the cinemas did the additional service of advising patrons of the movies they wish to see if the material is questionable for young children. Of course some adults would probably be all 'yeah yeah yeah whatever just let me get my popcorn' about it, though. It's like that for movies, renting DVDs, video games and music.

Re: Responsible vs. irresponsible parenting

philwells — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:40:46 -0000

Most parents won't respond with violence. Verbal abuse, maybe, but not violence.

Burying your head in the sand is all very well until your child is the one killed by a bunch of teenage thugs because no-one ever took their parents to task for their shitty parenting. Kellon Hill wasn't a gang member, killed in some gang war - he was a smart kid with a bright future who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. If people are serious about wanting to do something to prevent a repeat of something like this in the future, they need to act. And it all starts with the parents.

Re: Responsible vs. irresponsible parenting

Mum — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:49:55 -0000

You take your life in your hands then. Parents do not take kindly, to put it mildly, to being told that they are doing something wrong especially by a stanger. It was fortunate you did not catch up with them. Best to stick with your home entertainment system, that way the irresponsible and annoying elements of the great Bermudian public won't annoy you!!!

Mum

Re: Revolitionsing

Tryangle — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:14:20 -0000

I had to Google that term twice before figuring out that perhaps they meant "revolutionizing".

Still a very awkward word to use. But let us know when the actual changes are determined and enforced instead of discussed and studied and consultants are brought in every two months, etc...

Re: More Olympics bitching

philwells — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:02:39 -0000

Why unable? They just won't grant Cablevision the rights, or they want more money than Cablevision is willing or able to pay?

Until they secure those networks I can't see many people signing up for their HD service at all.

Re: More Olympics bitching

32n64w — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:58:47 -0000

Cablevision are unable to secure the rights to HD feeds for ABC, NBC or CBS ... so they say.

Not sure what HD network feeds are available via satellite (Dish Network or Bell ExpressVu).

Re: More Olympics bitching

Tryangle — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:45:20 -0000

I would tend to believe that during prime time ZBM switches to the NBC feed, although last night they inexplicably switched back to CMC halfway through the men's gymnastics finals... sad part is that the CMC was going over previously completed swimming finals.

That is laughable, that Cablevision would call you to ask if you wanted HD service and didn't follow up to find out why you wouldn't. Maybe they need to work on commission.

Re: Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

Tryangle — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:39:39 -0000

I am a Ratchet&Clank fanatic :-) that and the new Soul Calibur game are Reasons 1 and 2 to upgrade to a PS3 (eventually...)

I suppose the story isn't expected to have much depth since it's aimed at the "Everybody" range and they'd love to have the 8-80 year olds go around smashing things up. It's really all about well-designed environments and gathering as much destructive weapons (and upgrades) as you can :-)

Re: Teaching discipline

Tryangle — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:20:56 -0000

I think you nailed it, Phil. Bermuda Regiment shouldn't be a correctional institute.

If one is to defend the policy of conscription here they should give more logical reasons, including why a random draw and why only men.

Re: Elevated debate

Fresh — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:13:07 -0000

Who let the dogs out! Must be the remains of a cupmatch hangover...

Re: The worst part of parenthood

philwells — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:16:31 -0000

Thanks for the comments. Good to know others are in the same boat, although not so good to hear (Somers) that it will get worse before it gets better (I've been trying not to think about what will happen when he moves to a bed)!

Re: The worst part of parenthood

Somers — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:55:27 -0000

Yep - we thought we had it cracked a long time ago - Seba would almost walk himself down the hall and go to sleep... but recently it has been getting worse. Now that he is able to reason, and think things out, he is finding all sorts of "cry wolf" reasons for us to go back and tuck him in again... also he is now climbing out of his bed and opening his door now too... Will need to rearrange the locks on him I think. ;)

Re: The worst part of parenthood

Sally P — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:44:01 -0000

I have a 2 year old and we sometimes go through that. On Saturday we decided to put her to bed early since she had been going to bed really late over Cup Match. She stood in her bed and cried for 45 minutes and when she realized that we weren't coming took off her pjs and then her diaper. Of course, she won that battle. She is very strong willed and won that battle because she fell asleep in our bed within 5 minutes of getting her.

I think that every child is different and you have to do what works for you. We decided that we would let her cry it out but you can see how well that works!

As for the pacifier, I also think that you have to do what works. My boss in the US said that her mother once told her that her son wouldn't go to college not knowing how to tie his shoes and in your case, Aidan will not go to college with his paci.

Parenting is hard so you have to find what works for you and Mandy.

PS- Caitlin is in Mandy's swim class and she can probably tell you how strong willed Caitlin is!

Re: The worst part of parenthood

32n64w — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:10:46 -0000

From my humble experience as the father of a 3 year old (with one in the oven/runway)

First step .. get rid of the pacifier right from the start (it's only going to casue more dependency in the future and countless sleepless nights ... also, if you plan on having a second, this 'bad habit" will only be repeated).

Second step ... let him cry (tears don't hurt ... unless his name is Prince/that funky symbol)

Third step ... repeat the above.

Fourth step ... black seal in the milk bottle .. 4 to 1 ration :-)

Re: The worst part of parenthood

Sean Soares — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:17:45 -0000

Phil, we are going through the exact same thing as you are. Sam started to climb out of her bed, so we took the front off as it was time. Now putting her to bed is about an hour long process where we have to sit with her. We tried the whole letting her cry, but her rage got worse and I was worried she would break the window pain in the door, not sure what to say but it is slowly getting easier to put her to bed its just taking a long time.......Your not alone.

Re: Teaching discipline

Sean Soares — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:09:14 -0000

I read with interest Mr. Well’s letter concerning conscription practices for the Bermuda Regiment. He is absolutely correct, discipline is not a reason for conscription in the regiment; rather it is a benefit earned from it.

Having gone through the process myself back in the early 1990’s, I was of the same opinion of many of the people of B.A.D. and Mr. Well’s when I saw my name in the paper. Why should I be conscripted to join the regiment against my will? What possible service does the regiment perform to Bermuda in this era of peace and stability?

Peace and Stability are not guaranteed in any society, and it’s quite obvious that ours is loosing ground to the criminal elements that threaten our Island. The Regiments primary role is that of internal defense and when needed to assist and augment the police force during times of civil unrest (May we never need them for this). Unfortunately conscription is the only way to keep the regimental service alive due to people unwilling to engage in almost any form of public service. The majority of us; myself included, who went through the regiment, if given the choice, would have not entered the service by choice, nor would we have done anything to support or contribute to our society without being duly compensated. It’s a selfish attitude, to be sure, but it is also a reality.

I feel that the regiment is under utilized; even back when I did my mandatory 3 years, however I did leave its ranks with a feeling of accomplishment on a personal and community level. Having gone through the process, I did and still do stand a bit taller and have a much different attitude about public service; having gone through the process made me completely reverse my decision on the need for the regiment and conscription. I note that the loudest objectors are the people who have never gone through the process; may be a different perspective is needed from them. I firmly believe that I’m not the only one with this appreciation, but rather it’s shared by a majority of those who did indeed do their civic duty when called upon. I support the regiment and conscription for its service to the community and individuals.

7663 LCpl (Sean) Soares

Re: Teaching discipline

philwells — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:59:34 -0000

The RG published this today (http://bit.ly/7QBwN) but butchered my paragraphing and snipped out my URLs again. Sigh.

The RG's reach is useful, but sometimes nothing beats having your own blog.

Re: Citizen journalism

Alex — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:37:55 -0000

I think the Karma system would be key - with the top users having their info posted first.

Categorize the posts - traffic, weather, sports, schools, etc.

It could make substantial amounts of money if you did it right - a single ad with a few thousand regular readers (didn't the limey manage 5000 a day at its peak) is easily worth a few hundred dollars if it's done right and gets people talking about it.

You want to avoid cliques and have something that is then a source for topics to talk about - a sort of digg system for gossip, which in Bermuda means the status of the causeway.

Airline flight announcements will be big as well.

Strikes.

Police speed traps.

Ferry service.

Re: Citizen journalism

philwells — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:32:06 -0000

I think any system must avoid the need for moderation (too time-consuming and holds a libel risk) and must allow anyone to contribute (to encourage maximum participation). Ideally it would also fit into its contributors' existing habits, and would not require all information to be posted on a particular site (for example, if the Bermuda Sun updates its website with breaking news, the system should be able to automatically grab this
information without requiring them to repost it).

One way of doing this would be to have a federated system in which everyone post updates to their own space, be it their Twitter feed, Friendfeed updates, website, Flickr account, etc. and tags them in a particular way. The system would be set up to look for these tags on those services and aggregate the information. RSS would obviously play a big part here. Such a
system wouldn't be immune from trolls, but by making people more directly responsible for their own content I think you'd increase the overall quality and may be able to divest yourself of any libel risk. You're also allowing people to publish the information in the way in which best suits them, rather than forcing them to come to your site to contribute.

You'd probably want some kind of karma or rating system for each source to indicate its trustworthiness, allowing users to vote sources up and down. It wouldn't prevent rumours, but it would help users see which reports were more likely to be reliable.

Interesting idea about charging businesses for making announcements. It would certainly be a good way to help the site make some money, although I don't really see it as a commercial venture.

Keep the ideas coming!