Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Interesting Party

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  • Hilary Stace,

    I really like Deborah's idea for a PA community hatches, matches and despatches.

    I went to an interesting funeral today and considering the few degrees of separation in NZ it is probable that others here also knew Baine Huggett (1949-2008) during his colourful, eventful life. He was a screenwriter and documentary maker among an array of other occupations. Back in the 70s my friends and I went to visit him in Paremoremo, which was a bit of a shock for a sheltered middle class girl like me. People at funerals should wear identifying labels, and like school reunions could also indicate decades when they were associated with the deceased. Many people looked vaguely familiar, but it was sometimes hard to reconcile the aging man in a suit with the gorgeous bad boy of the 1970s.

    But funerals are a great time for stories, forgiveness and collegiality. There was a lot of all three for Baine.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    So you're saying it's safe to ditch the "beta" from the masthead?

    *cough*edit function*ahem*

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • HenryB,

    ... and a thanks from me too, Russell. I discovered blogs for the first time this year and it has been a pleasure to come to this site on a regular basis. And thanks, too, to those posting comments: they, too, have been very good reading.

    ... and a merry Christmas and happy New Year to all.

    Palmerston North • Since Sep 2008 • 106 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    Also I would like to second everything [Russell] says about Grant. He listens.

    Okay, I think he's been seconded, thirded, and now fourthed.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    So you're saying it's safe to ditch the "beta" from the masthead?

    I swear I thought about it the other day when they mentioned that Chrome was coming out of beta.

    Excuse my ignorance, but what are you two nerds talking about?

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Giovanni is far too modest to link to his intriguing and lovely year-end blog post, but I can.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Harris,

    Excuse my ignorance, but what are you two nerds talking about?

    nerdy things

    Chrome is Google's browser (and very nice, but I wish they'd hurry up for the real Mac version). Google stuff typically stays in beta (i.e. it's not quite finished, don't blame us if it breaks) forever, so it was a little surprising to see Chrome move to full release status so soon.

    If you'll just glance at the top of this page, you'll see a little bue "beta" label next to "Public Address System" (this area is typically called the masthead in newspaper/website parlance) which is Russell's way of saying "don't blame me if this wipes your hard drive/soaks up any supposedly free time (and much that isn't) you thought you had up your sleeve"

    Here endeth the lesson. Merry bah humbug.

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    Ahh, it all makes sense now. Thanks Mark.

    I sometimes wonder if I'm the only person in the industrialised world who doesn't know things like "Chrome is Googles browser... typically stays in beta".. yada yada.

    this area is typically called the masthead in newspaper/website parlance

    Just FTR, I know what a masthead is, but for some reason just assumed Russell meant the opening page masthead - I hadn't noticed the 'beta' at the top of this page.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    My internet resolution would be to get a bit more involved in the film/music/art/literature discussion here, if the others would let me.

    You need our permission now? Or are "the Others" a sinister cabal that secretly runs PAS?

    In all seriousness, you should comment more on film/literary/arts matters. You make some interesting points.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    er... that comment above was directed at Matthew Littlewood. (Kyle's right: edit function!)

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Tony Kennedy,

    More “Great Blends”, most excellent, hopefully combined with an “after match” at one of Wellingtons better hostelries.

    Anyway, to Russell and all the PA community; “Nollaig shona agus athbhliain faoi mhaise duit, which for those of you not familiar with the Gaelic vernacular roughly translates as “Happy Christmas and a prosperous new year”.

    Sláinte

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 225 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    You need our permission now? Or are "the Others" a sinister cabal that secretly runs PAS?

    In all seriousness, you should comment more on film/literary/arts matters. You make some interesting points.

    Cheers, my comment was just a little bit of self-mocking silliness, nothing serious about it all.

    But haven't you heard? PA is run exclusively a group of commie lesbian dole bludging socialist members of the Labour Party- well that's what redbaiter seems to think anyway....

    In all seriousness, merry Xmas one and all!

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    Oh and my comment about organising a get-together with the ChCh-based members/posters/etc of PA still stands. I'll try and sort something out after the New Year.

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

  • Kevin Moar,

    And thanks to you and Felt for the awesome gift pack.

    Merry Christmas.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 12 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    the awesome gift pack.

    Oh, you're just not paying attention.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Karen White,

    Meri Kirihemete to one & all.

    I love PA & it's the one site I check daily. Finally seeing me emerging from lurker status earlier this year & engaging in the informative & interesting conversations, so thanks everyone.

    More Great Blends? Hooray!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 79 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Giovanni is far too modest

    and handsome!

    (and thank you)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    So you're saying it's safe to ditch the "beta" from the masthead?

    There's apparently a chinese saying that I'm fond to quoting, that I think translates to

    "House finished, Man dies"

    I love the saying because it's a great excuse to avoid finishing jobs around the house, but also because I think it captures the loss of purpose that accompanies the the idea that a home is finished.

    I think it would be a pity to think that this place here would ever be finished. There would always be something that could be done to make the place more fun or just prettier.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    Merry Christmas everyone. For all those folks planning to spend the holiday catching up on some serious music listening, don't forget to join up with the PAS Rollers on Last.fm at http://www.last.fm/group/PAS+Rollers.

    Our Top 10 this week included PJ Harvey, The Flaming Lips and Kanye West which represents a fairly decent virtual music lounge I reckon.

    Cheers! PD.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    it captures the loss of purpose that accompanies the the idea that a home is finished

    A few weeks ago, Ben gave me the perfect justification for being a procrastinator; now you've given me the perfect justification for living in a home of squalor. PAS rules: no matter how pathetic I am, I feel validated!

    Also, all of you are very clever and funny. Yay.

    Have a very happy Chrimble and a gear New Year (as the Beatles said on that Christmas fan club record).

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

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    So you're saying it's safe to ditch the "beta" from the masthead?

    If gMail is still in a beta phase, I don't see why system should move on :-)

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Our Top 10 this week included PJ Harvey, The Flaming Lips and Kanye West which represents a fairly decent virtual music lounge I reckon.

    Interesting to see Lilly Allen there. I confess, I'm quite taken by 'Everyone's At It'.

    Who's owning up to Tori Amos?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • www.freebusinesscards.co.nz,

    Kiaora Hilary Stace,

    Just wondering if this is the same Baine Huggett that I know? Who use go with Akenihi, do work for the Mana Maori poiltical party out of the Maori Congress office in Wellington, where we both met lived in the 90's.

    Skinny pakeha fulla with glasses.

    Looking forward to your reply.

    Kind regards,

    TK

    Since Dec 2008 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Yes TK that's the one and only Baine Huggett. Like many he made some risky and unwise decisions in his youth but made some much more sensible ones as he got older.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • linger,

    So you're saying it's safe to ditch the "beta" from the masthead?

    All together now:
    Beta, beta, beta, beta, beta by far
    PA are ... beta by far...

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

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