Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: 2011: The Year Of What?

222 Responses

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  • JLM, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Or the environmental fights, such as our own sea battle off the east coast, and growing mass protests around the world to new exploitation such as fracking and today’s high profile protest arrests in Washington.

    And no-one's mentioned yet the other environemtal monstrosity that is worrying us sick down here, and should be doing the same to every New Zealander who wants to limit carbon emissions - the rush on lignite - our own tarsands...

    http://coalactionnetworkaotearoa.wordpress.com/lignite/

    Judy Martin's southern sl… • Since Apr 2007 • 241 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Cecelia,

    I've always felt sorry for the Kahui parents

    My sympathy was greatly reduced by the whanau's stonewalling of the investigation.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    I think I'd go with, 2011: the Year of Now What?

    Certainly sums up our experience down here.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Patrick Reynolds,

    Well this is rash; predictions are of course difficult, especially about the future. [Boom, boom!] But here goes: ABs not to win the cup, and no clear result at the election. How do you like them apples?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2010 • 40 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Patrick Reynolds,

    But here goes: ABs not to win the cup, and no clear result at the election. How do you like them apples?

    You rogue.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Patrick Reynolds, in reply to BenWilson,

    Ben I'm pretty sure you're right; most don't see how much of a big discontinuity we are going through now; this is the end of growth. It will never return on a global scale again; we need a new idea. And sadly we won't accept that until we have exhausted every single delusion..... yee-ha it is the end of the world and the begining of the world...

    Auckland • Since Jan 2010 • 40 posts Report Reply

  • Patrick Reynolds, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Well the second one is both good and interesting, n'est pa?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2010 • 40 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Cecelia,

    I thought Celia Lashlie’s take on Wishart’s book was more measured.

    I think it's superb. She finds out Wishart and still offers what we might learn from the book. I hope it's no insult to say it has the feel of very good Listener subbing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Patrick Reynolds,

    no clear result at the election

    Judging by the seeming inability of some Labour MPs to keep their feet out of their mouths I'd say you're dreeaming
    (said in my best 'The Castle' voice).

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Patrick Reynolds,

    How do you like them apples?

    The crisp sweet crunch of a real election, but a nasty all black maggot in the middle?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Patrick Reynolds, in reply to BenWilson,

    true dat

    Auckland • Since Jan 2010 • 40 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Grevers,

    There was another bit of earthquake news a couple of weeks ago: a story combined the news that there had been a silent earthquake in the Manawatu region with news of the theory that the ends of mega-quake rupture zones have been defined by silent quakes. Which could mean there's a possibility of a M 8-9 off the coast from Gisborne to Manawatu, or it could just be that silent quakes are more common than we think and don't connect to anything else. The phenomenon was only discovered 15 years ago with the advent of high-resolution GPS monitoring, so there is very little data yet.

    New Plymouth • Since Jul 2011 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • petard,

    it has the feel of very good Listener subbing.

    and then there is this headline

    Charges dropped against autistic looter

    on stuff.co.nz this evening. From The Press apparently.

    which has all the hall marks of very bad subbing,because by the use of the word "looter" it manages to completely miss the point legally, morally and factually.

    An astounding effort really when you read the article which
    does manage to touch on most of the issues and facts seemingly accurately.

    Face had to be saved and it was, by a second "psych" report -marvellous
    things aren't they

    see http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/5484663/Charges-dropped-against-autistic-looter

    Since May 2011 • 6 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to BenWilson,

    Resilience, that's what the year is probably about.

    And with my sanctimonious hat on my personal challenge this year is to try - not to like as that is asking a bit much - to see the humanity in those whose ideas or actions I otherwise despise (spiritual people suggest stronger emotions of forgiveness or compassion, but that is harder to do). After all we are all made of the same recycled atoms and are part of a common species. That way you can accept them and move on, and they no longer bother you or have any power over you. You can waste a lot of energy on anger, frustration, jealousy and revenge, and better to save it for a bit of resilience practice.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to petard,

    which has all the hall marks of very bad subbing,because by the use of the word “looter” it manages to completely miss the point legally, morally and factually.

    Fairfax has embraced the subbing sausage factory model along with APN now. Style, accuracy and institutional knowledge are a bit old-fashioned.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to petard,

    and then there is this headline
    Charges dropped against autistic looter

    Addressed on the Arie thread.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to petard,

    Try the Arie thread for some spirited discussion, including some local activism against the terminology.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX,

    Looking at the cover of that book Breaking Silence; Macina King looks whimsically content. Recreating the Mona Lisa portrait pose would have looked appropriate.

    If one were going to trouble oneself to read a book this would not be what one would select. I have no sympathy for Macina King or Chris Kahui they are both with out worth and seem to have adjusted well to being infamous.

    I am pleased for Arie; The courts guidance to the police was ignored - it took an age for the switch to flip and the light to come on..

    The matter had to be substantially played out in the court of public opinion – firstly with Arie as the public face of looting (because he looks “different” – likely a beating and a lack of sleep will do that to you) and secondly as a person with autism being processed by the criminal justice system on account of his being autistic. The matter resolved once the heat was taken out.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Sacha,

    Judging by the seeming inability of some Labour MPs to keep their feet out of their mouths I’d say you’re dreeaming

    Jeebus Crust, and I always thought Curran was relatively sane. I guess we're seeing the first hints of a Green class traitors/"stab in the back" meme if the election turns into Labour's '02. Really, Greenies, how fucking dare you be all green and shit?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Sad thing is that Curran's angry outburst against her party's main potential MMP ally comes on the same day as Key gets publicity about National's support partners.

    You'd expect a coordinated and disciplined political communications strategy would firmly park individual egos at the door. The left and its constituents deserve so much better. And they're saying so.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to BenWilson,

    Must be nice as an economist to be able to break the neoliberal consensus and actually think about problems for oneself. Good on him.

    It takes one - Bernard Hickey - to know one.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Cecelia,

    Fecklessness? Using P in a couple of hours off from caring for your premature baby twins is not ignorance, carelessness, or stupidity. It is addiction ; which is the "untold" but often mentioned story of both the parents.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • "chris",

    For me, cumulatively 2011 feels to have been a year where the internet and communication technology has come of age as a key player (for better or worse) in facilitating unprecedented levels of mass social and political activism and change:

    Zhou Qin

    Arie Smith-Voorkamp

    the exhumed train

    the global slut walk

    The Arab Spring

    the English Riots

    location, location, locat… • Since Dec 2010 • 250 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to BenWilson,

    I had a very interesting discussion with my Grandmother recently, who lived through the Great Depression. She told me something interesting - it was the most exciting time of her life, that everyone partied like there was no tomorrow. The parties were cheap as could be, but that didn't make them less fun. Faced with adversity, people can work together, and that can be extremely enjoyable and empowering in the way that a secure future often isn't.
    Can this year be the year of parties? We've still got 4 months to make it so.

    I've read a few accounts recently that were written by battle of britain pilots. All those guys seemed to do when they weren't flying was get on the piss in a way that makes your average rugbyhead seem like an effete 2-shandy screamer.

    My grandparents always seemed rather serenely unflappable, like a pair of octogenarian zen monks. It occurred to me recently that once you've lived through a depression and a world war, the winter of discontent and thatcherism are going to seem a bit trivial.

    Party at your place, then? Bring a bottle?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Sacha,

    My sympathy was greatly reduced by the whanau’s stonewalling of the investigation.

    +1

    When they blocked police access they declared they cared not at all for the truth, no matter how ugly that truth might be.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

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