Public Address

Southerly: Fearless?

David Haywood over the mid-Pacific — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:50:00 +1200

In their updated in-flight safety video, Air New Zealand presents its new motto: "Our fears have nothing to hide" (the exact quote as pronounced).

A prominent linguist has described this as: "A brave slogan for an airline. Intriguingly opaque: simultaneously profound and worry-inducing."...

Speaker: About That Telescope

GUEST Joseph Young — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:51:00 +1200

Today's Drinnan covers one of the claims circulated in a release from former Herald on Sunday assistant editor Steve Cook, in advance of the hearing of his Employment Relations Authority complaint against APN yesterday...

Hard News: .... and the Rock 'n' Roll

Russell Brown's Hard News — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:12:00 +1200

To the enormous amusement of everyone who knows him (and probably a few people who don't), Karl from CactusLab inadvertently got himself caught up the mystifying business of Vodafone's disappearing HTC Magic "Google phone". That's Karl, there, with the candy floss and the topless body-painted models...

Field Theory: Shut Up and Skate

Hadyn Green yells. A lot. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:17:00 +1200

It's freezing at the indoor karting track. In the waiting area, with the pool table covered in papers, it's merely cold. Past the barrier and out on the concrete track you can see the breath of the skaters as they blast around the newly-created oval track...

Up Front: I Love it When a Plan Comes Together

Emma Hart lifts the covers. — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:54:00 +1200

It's with much pride and excitement that Up Front can reveal it has secured its first scoop. Due probably to a mix-up with names, an email intended for Ian Wishart has come to me instead. Claiming to have originated from Lockwood Smith's parliamentary in-box, the email contains a copy of the legendary Gay Agenda...

Island Life: Bye, bye, you peculiar guy.

David Slack is voting Yes — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:32:00 +1200

Where would we be without Lee Harvey Oswald? Without him, no assassination. Without an assassination, no mantra.

"I will always remember where I was when I heard he/she/the music died," people say, with wide eyes. You could hear it said often last Friday. ...

OnPoint: "Smokescreen," I scream

Keith Ng prefers Asch. — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:22:00 +1200

Can somebody take this up for me?

Can the Minister for Corrections explain why the previous prisoner forecast, included in the Briefing to the Incoming Minister in November 2008, required 275 new prison beds per year, while the new forecast projects a requirement for 555 new prison beds per year?*...

Radiation: It was all a dream

Fiona Rae from the couch — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:47:00 +1200

I really hope that Lost doesn’t turn out to be the collective fantasy of a bunch of hippies on spiked Kool-Aid, because after the Life on Mars hibernation-sleep ending, and House’s Vicodin hallucinations, I don’t think I could take it. Admittedly, House’s fifth-season ending was the logical end to his drug-fuelled self-loathing, but Life on Mars? After the initial surprise wore off, I was kinda annoyed. It’s like Dallas – if it all turns out to be a dream, it risks rendering everything that came before meaningless. Plus, Gretchen Mol’s hair was really annoying. When does the commander of a mission to Mars get time to fiddle about with her hair like that? Bah...

Busytown: Rocky Mountain hi!

Jolisa Gracewood gets around — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 05:14:00 +1200

Why am I breathless? I’ve just rejoined the mile high club. The boys and I have spent the last week in Aspen, Colorado. It’s another whistle stop on the academic gravy train, where we get to frolic and explore while their dad tinkers with the origins of the universe in the company of other physicists. And we’re all doing it at a mile and a half above sea level, a rather dizzying prospect. ...

Random Play: For what it's worth

Graham Reid's many things — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:09:00 +1200

Okay, this is a piece of naked self-publicity but I thought Public Address readers may be interested to read the very big review of the new Neil Young Archives 1 (1963-1972) box set posted at Elsewhere. ...

Cracker: 19 Questions*

Damian Christie - Cracker With Attitude — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:13:00 +1200

What possible purpose could a Coroner's inquest do in the Bain case?

Was there some money left over from the trial or something?

Does the Bain trial prove re-runs can actually be very popular?

Will the rekindling of tensions in Korea mean a new series of M*A*S*H, or just more re-runs?...

Legal Beagle: Asserting ancient rights

Graeme Edgeler learns the lesson of history — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:10:00 +1300

The news that section 92A is likely gone, or neutered, is great – although I'm not convinced that it is as bad as was being made out. I've noted my concern over the strained interpretation in comments here and on other 'blogs before, but Steven Price puts it much better than I have :...

Yellow Peril: Bai bai

Reversing the invasion with Tze Ming Mok — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 13:26:00 +1300

After nearly three years of being the exotic dancing girl of Public Address, it's time for me to retreat behind the curtains of the champagne room. These Canto-peasant feet weren't made for stilettos.

Here are the reasons for my early retirement. ...

Club Politique: Jesus that cow can sing

End of the line with Dr. Che — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 08:15:00 +1200

Well, I guess this is goodbye. They say all good things must come to an end, and I guess they must be right. Except in Australia that is, where they say, "Go you good thing!". Which suggests they don't know when to give up. But that's another matter...

Poll Dancer: Pocabprescon Debrief

Keith Ng off the election trail — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 16:35:00 +1200

Helen went to some lengths to stonewall all the Cullen speculation at the Post-Cabinet Press Conference today, responding to every question with "ask him". She says that he's served her well and that she wants to keep him on for as long as possible - adding that she has every intention of fighting the next election - but Cullen stepping down would depend on Cullen, and she hasn't asked him about it...

Great New Zealand Argument: My Imaginary Journey

An historical weblog by various artists — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 09:27:00 +1300

If Rex Fairburn had been writing now he would surely have been a blogger. Not one whose work fell easily on the "left" or the "right", but assuredly one who would not shrink from a good argument...

Heat: That's all folks

Rob O'Neill live in Sydney — Sun, 12 Sep 2004 23:50:00 +1200

In this life you get out what you put in, son.

That’s what I tell today’s insolent youth when I bail them up on the bus with their butt-crack showing above belt-less balloon pants.

Son, pull yourself together, I say. Straighten up and put something in. ...