Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The joke that went too far

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  • Kyle Matthews,

    And I'm speaking as one who's recently plumbed a second hand commercial espresso machine into the kitchen. The results, however, are worth it!

    Seriously. Get out more. That's scary.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Ian MacKay,

    Grant said:"What's the bet that should someone reveal something skoddy about a National MP Whaleoil, Hooten, et al, will hypocritically cry foul."

    No No. Not "foul". They say:"Labour is using our money to dig the dirt on us good folk"

    Bleheim • Since Nov 2006 • 498 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    it's sad for the media when truth gets in the way of a good story

    Yeah, I thought the editorial spin in the DomPost was a bit off too.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Seriously. Get out more. That's scary.

    But Kyle, once you've got the best coffee ever happening at home, why would you want to?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Jarrod Baker,

    Surely true caffeinistas make homemade coffee grinders from old vacuum cleaners and industrial parts purchased from T&E?

    Nah, I use a manual grinder. Not only am I thinking of my carbon footprint, but I'll still be drinking coffee after the impending global economic collapse sends the world a bit Mad Max.

    I haven't yet figured out how to maintain a consistent supply of coffee beans after the apocalypse, but I'm working on it.

    Wellington • Since Dec 2006 • 32 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    a manual grinder

    Ah! I could get behind that! How much did it set you back?

    I have a 1970s Braun coffee grinder but it's now a bit long in the tooth and tends to make things a bit coarse. It's a great shade of orange, though!

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

  • Tom Semmens,

    I think all this crime can be squarely laid at the door of crims shaking people down so they can get the cash needed for the sort modern coffee grinder you need to grind up that crystal meth.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    The cost of one or two espressos per day at cafe prices easily pays for a nice machine + grinder over a couple of years...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I'd be in with another $100. And a grand if anyone manages to Aitken one of them.

    Entrapment of dodgy commentators in this way is just the same thing as the liquor licensing people do when they tart up 17-year olds and send them into bottle shops, isn't it? Or the BBC did when they infiltrated a police college in England and taped the trainees racist outbursts.

    If Slater doesn't want to be caught out this way, then not passing on random emailed info would seem to be a good option.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Been in Adelaide , for an Aust Teachers of Media (ATOM) conference, so I have missed the thread of conversations. Being Friday, anything goes (from hoaxes to grinders), so I was wondering if anyone knows about the EIN news service, which has begun to pop up (unannounced) daily on my email. It actually provides excellent links to major news stories but I have no idea from whence it came.. Any ideas?

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I'd be interested to know what Russell ended up with.

    A Mazzer Mini from the nice people at Espresso Engineers. They gave me a very good trade-in on our old Anfim, given that it's very hard to get parts for them now.

    I'll probably spend the rest of the day fretting over the right grind now.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    The cost of one or two espressos per day at cafe prices easily pays for a nice machine + grinder over a couple of years...

    That sort of thinking leads, almost inevitably, to the home Cocktail Bar.

    And remember that we folks who go out for our coffee never have to deal with the grinds, clean the machinery or talk about burrs, whatever they may be.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    But Kyle, once you've got the best coffee ever happening at home, why would you want to

    I sometimes feel shame over it -- it's just a drink -- but we're going to upgrade the five year-old Domobar machine too. It's part of the budget for the long-overdue house extension. Banks will still lend on espresso machines, won't they?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    Lets cut the outraged virgin routine? Gleefully re-telling the latest rumour over some beers is human nature. It is NOT the same as constructing a careful laundering process for spreading rumours full of depraved filth.

    Tom: If you really want to go there, sleazing around the Press Gallery (on a "non-attributable basis" naturally) is not having a gossip over after-work drinks on a Friday. My point, as I think it's a perfectly valid one, is that Grant is being a little disingenuous if he thinks the left don't play the same game. And it all makes me sick, to be honest.

    Craig, I am well aware that Labour, etc, are no saints. But I was refering specifically to the likes of Whaleoil and co, not National or the right in general.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Nah, I use a manual grinder. Not only am I thinking of my carbon footprint, but I'll still be drinking coffee after the impending global economic collapse sends the world a bit Mad Max.

    There are manual espresso machines that'll let you pull a pretty good shot, but I'm not aware of a manual grinder that will do a good espresso grind. Anyone seen one?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    I have a 1970s Braun coffee grinder but it's now a bit long in the tooth and tends to make things a bit coarse. It's a great shade of orange, though

    My parents have a gorgeous old ceramic blue and white wall-mounted manual grinder that deposits the coffee in a little glass dish. I don't even drink coffee that much and I want it.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Ron Wilson,

    Mmm I think I am more interested in the connection between Slater and Kitchin. It makes me distrustful of other Kitchin writings.
    Also interesting is the relationship between Slater senior/junior and the National Party. I was under impression that there was little love lost between Slater(s) and Party. Maybe time wounds all heels or something like that

    On the subject of coffee there is nothing wrong with a blade grinder if you do it in short pulses. Of course I am talking about properly made coffee and not using one of those stupid steam locomotive devices.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 16 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Banks will still lend on espresso machines, won't they?

    Sure will - they'll bundle the grinder loans with more stable Kitchenaid mixer loans and risky derivatives of automated handheld garlic crushers and sell them to Italian dog walkers.

    I think I've tried a similar CDO joke here before actually. I need to get out more

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    You peaked my interest on the coffee grinder front I'm looking at one of these to replace my Krups 223 which does a good job but a bugger to clean (You have to shake it when the beans get stuck in all that gooey coffee goodness) ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    russell... i dunno if you want to know this... but i have in my possession an email that states that your new coffee grinder may, or may not, have been used to "grind the beans" of a prominent member of the auckland city council before being put back in the box.

    this member may or may not be the current mayor.

    i only mention this because you might want to know...

    unless, of course, i'm being played for a sucker.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • David Ritchie,

    Nah, I use a manual grinder.

    No doubt fashioned from a refurbished bicycle but with rimu trim (it adds to the flavour, you see).

    Since Nov 2006 • 166 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Clinton Smith is a bright young man. Under his blogging name, Steve Pierson, he's often sharp and energetic, and he does good graphs. He could be a serious commentator -- if he can develop some impulse control.

    Clinton was part of the team that produced kiwiblogblog - an experiement that dragged on a little past its point of interest. I was astounded by his output and impressed by the sharpness of his focus. He could be caustic and abrasive, but this was often in response to equally aggressive commentary from Farrar and others. It seems as if the blogosphere has polarised and that most writers succumb to strict partisanship (PAS is a clear exception to this however). I don't, however, think that Cameron is even slightly disingenuous - the same can not be said the likes of Hooton - his beliefs are genuine and not simply tactical convenience.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Steve, when I researched grinders at that price point, this was where I ended up going...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Yikes! Nearly forgot to plug this week's Media7. It's about Fashion Week and the media, and it really came out pretty well. The panellists are Deborah Pead, Noelle McCarthy and Trish Carter, and there's also a Fashion Week report from Simon Pound and a Newsmash with Sacha Baron Cohen getting thrown out of Milan Fashion Week as his alter-ego Bruno.

    It's on TVNZ ondemand, as Windows Media clips, the podcast, and the first half is on YouTube.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Rich:

    Entrapment of dodgy commentators in this way is just the same thing as the liquor licensing people do when they tart up 17-year olds and send them into bottle shops, isn't it? Or the BBC did when they infiltrated a police college in England and taped the trainees racist outbursts.

    I'd say the examples given above are more like sting operations or exposés than entrapment.

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

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