Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Do these people even talk?

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  • LegBreak,

    Relax people, the kid with the Palinesque name has been found in the attic.

    Balloon not so well off though; they attacked it with shovels.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Balloon not so well off though; they attacked it with shovels.

    If by some miracle of physics the boy was in the helium capsule, and alive, I wanted the news anchor commenting on it to squeal out that the main danger was that he might be killed by a shovel to the head.

    Found hiding in a box in his attic apparently. This must be the new 'boy down the well' trick.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • simon g,

    Tourism NZ should have come up with this one. Global news coverage, hours of footage, panoramic views, happy ending, balloon on E-bay. Better than a hundred giant rugby balls or Lettermans.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    I would like to think the whole thing comes down to a prank by the siblings...

    Do I get a job on the next series of "Sensing Murd... oh wait er... Sensing Sibling Pranks and Boys down wells and stuff?.
    Or maybe a silver star? ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Tourism NZ should have come up with this one. Global news coverage, hours of footage, panoramic views, happy ending, balloon on E-bay. Better than a hundred giant rugby balls or Lettermans.

    You've missed the obvious coup de grace of having the balloon shaped like a giant rugby ball.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    ...and the kid would need to be caled Kiwi.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Or maybe a silver star? ;-)

    Oh al'right, seeing as you're not greedy.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole,

    On the topic of "motorcyclists v. bicyclists", no lesser authority than the LTSA says that the number of fatalities for these modes of transport, YTD, is 37 and 7 respectively. I'll see those hysterical motorcyclists their "unfair" treatment of cyclists and raise them a "fuck you, you're in far more danger than we are".

    Not to mention, of course, that fully a third of motorcycle fatalities don't involve another vehicle. Given that it's estimated than fewer than 10% of MVCs are the result of mechanical failure (I think it's estimated as around 7%), that means that, statistically, motorcyclists riding in a manner that's less than perfectly safe has killed more of them this year than the total number of cyclists killed.

    Their case is not aided by the kind of bullshit seen in this article, where we have comments like:

    He also said the argument that ACC did not look at blame, just the cost did not stack up as they did not target cyclists.

    Mr Garrett said in 2008, citing Transport Ministry figures, there were 1022 accidents involving cyclists and 38 deaths. For motorcyclists the figures were 1400 and 50 respectively.

    I'd love to know where he got those numbers, because they're absolute crap. What "the Transport Ministry" actually says about cyclist crashes is that in no year since 1984 have more than 31 cyclists been killed, and in 2008 there were 895 cyclist injuries and 10 fatalities. Is this a case of someone plucking numbers out of their rectum in the safe knowledge that "quoting" an authority such as the MoT will ensure no journalist actually back-checks the figures?

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Back OT: Audrey Young has a definitive (with appropriate caveats) timeline of the RWC debacle:

    Bill English knew in June that TPK would be supporting an MTS bid as part of its RWC programme -- but not necessarily that it planned to subsidise the MTS bid to the tune of $3 million. At the least, there was no written confirmation until Georgina te Heuheu wrote to him in September. Even then, he somehow neglected to inform the broadcasting minister Jonathan Coleman of any of it.

    The organised MTS/MP/TPK message that there were no bids when it entered as a single bidder looks disingenuous. Rick Ellis said TVNZ wouldn't be placing a bid after he had it confirmed that MTS was putting up a $6 million bid. I think "disingenuous" characterises some of their other behaviour too -- while the National ministers' interactions might be summed up with the word "dysfunctional".

    A united front would have resulted in a lower price for the rights, and the IRB will know it can play hard now.

    I'm actually looking forward to MTS's coverage, but some of what has happened leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    And on TV3 news, John Key admitting a move toward privatisation of ACC . Without Act they cant pass their ACC bill and Act have said they wont compromise on wanting privatisation, so once again the wag of the tail has given Key the opportunity to do that which he always wanted.Privatisation. I really don't like this bullshit government.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    What parts of ACC, one would ask.

    His answer was "towards some"

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    And on TV3 news, John Key admitting a move toward privatisation of ACC .

    Yes, Sofie, and on Fox News, they've just run footage of Saddam Hussein Obama admitting his intention to celebrate the creation of the United Socialist States of America by smothering Trig Palin with his own fascist hands. Damn his secret agenda to socialise American healthcare by stealth!

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Back OT: Audrey Young has a definitive (with appropriate caveats) timeline of the RWC debacle:

    Would this be one of the "appropriate caveats":

    At least it is TPK's and Pita Sharples' version of who knew what and when.

    It shows that the first time the $3 million was discussed was way back on June 23.

    It also says that Sharples "met with the Minister of Finance that evening and advised him of the bid. Also met with PM but did not discuss the bid".

    What it doesn't say is that Sharples told English about the $3 million. There has been some rumour that English was verbally told, but no evidence of that.

    OK, I really hate saying this, but am I the only person who thinks Sharples has basically gotten a pass from the media he doesn't deserve; and that in Key's position, he's another Minister I wouldn't have a lot of confidence in at the moment. The question now seems to be not "Do these people even talk?" but "Was the same story being told to these people twice in a row?"

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

  • 3410,

    And on TV3 news, John Key admitting a move toward privatisation of ACC.

    Yes, Sofie, and on Fox News, they've just run footage of Saddam Hussein Obama admitting his intention to celebrate the creation of the United Socialist States of America by smothering Trig Palin with his own fascist hands. Damn his secret agenda to socialise American healthcare by stealth!

    So, did he? or did he not?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    I just can't imagine who would want to own ACC.

    The ambulance chaser industry, of course!

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    So, did he? or did he not?

    I watched Three News tonight, and if he said any such thing I missed it. Oh, and I don't think Obama wants to kill brain damaged babies either. Just to be clear. :)

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Yes, Sofie, and on Fox News, they've just run footage ...

    Well perhaps we could get Key on the Fox news yes? Better suited for that channel? Now that he's finished with Letterman et al.Yes that sounds like a good idea Craig. Go to.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I watched Three News tonight, and if he said any such thing I missed it

    I heard it. He specifically said there was the option to look at privitising parts of ACC. Of course it was after entering negotiations with ACT. What would the dog be otherwise? Goff then offered his bit of "See told ya so". (that was my words though :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    First item of Politics NZ Herald this morning.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    It was a biased tv3 story, but pretty clear:

    And Key admits introducing competition to some ACC accounts is fast becoming a reality.

    “We are quite comfortable moving in that direction and looking at that competition, how that might be introduced, we don't have a solution at this time. That’s certainly an area the ACT party is interested in having some discussion about,” says Key.

    Labour says talk of competition is a step towards privatisation.

    “I think it's National's long term ambition to privatise this, as it is to privatise other things,” says Labour Leader Phil Goff.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    It was a biased tv3 story, but pretty clear:

    The wonders of confirmation bias... Sorry, guys, but this really stinks of hearing what you want to and nothing Key says or does is going to make a blind bit of difference. But I guess that's the wonderful thing about pushing a 'secret agenda' -- it's irrefutable, isn't it?

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

  • Sacha,

    Craig, I do not know what either Key or myself could say that was any clearer. It's hardly a unique characterisation.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    What does 'introducing competition' mean to you, Craig?

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    What does 'introducing competition' mean to you, Craig?

    No more proof of some vast secret agenda than the fact that under the term of the last government my partner has a bypass operation in a private hospital is proof that the Liarbore dykeocracy had a secret agenda to privatise cardiac care.

    Craig, I do not know what either Key or myself could say that was any clearer. It's hardly a unique characterisation.

    Sigh... so if everyone says it, it's true? Unfurl those red flags over the White House, Barry...

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Sigh... so if everyone says it, it's true?

    No, if John Key says it then changes his mind and says"Well it's an option afterall we did campaign on this" (bullshit)then because he says it, we are happy to kiss his arse. I don't think so.Hey I ain't surprised. Just don't like it. I didn't expect National mark 4 to be any different to mark3, 2, or 1 and I've stated that on more than one ocassion even before the Election. I just had a quick look at an example of globalisation to the extremes dreamed of by the likes of this government. The divide between rich and poor, migrant workers building a city for the rich to play in and it stunk. Yes, isn't Burj Al Arab pretty. Trouble is it's sad.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

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