Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Wall and the Paper

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  • Tamara,

    I will admit to subscribing to the SST (for the timebeing). I generally like the Focus and the Culture insert but was quite disappointed last weekend to read two references that I found sexist and youth-hating. Some comment about a third year university student being bored to her low-riders and another one with a 14 year old scrawling pictures of boys she likes. Neither was necessary, or clever or funny. Wot, don't they think women or parents or teenagers read their newspaper?

    New Zealand • Since Oct 2010 • 115 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    she has good contacts and knows how to use them.

    I've only seen her in those yellow tinted glasses.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to nzlemming,

    Even crap can create its own momentum.

    Even after it has his its own fans.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    isn’t “heritage” all about political acceptability applied to private property?

    Isn't it about the public interest in both private and public property and spaces that are part of our shared history in this place? Its balance with private interests is a political decision, yes.

    Who gets to decide what colour you paint your house?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    I must say that after a mis-spent childhood reading comics that advertised these things, it was a major disappointment to actually eat one the first time I was in the USA.

    A bit like chewing on a sweetish sports sock. Did once see a great art piece (in Washington DC) of ‘Twinkies At War’–a reconstruction of a naval battle, made entirely of Twinkies.

    In respect of Gawif Morgan, he is being a complete arse over the Maungatautari ecological mountain/island south of Cambridge–threatening to withdraw sponsorship money in order to deny local iwi a rightful place on the governance board.

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

  • Carol Stewart, in reply to Sacha,

    Who gets to decide what colour you paint your house?

    Well, actually, in Norway, the authorities do. Apparently, in some locations at least, there is an approved range of paint colours for house exteriors. And you know what? The landscape is really very beautiful and harmonious as a result. Check this out - Norway is quite well represented in this list.

    NB: my sole claim to authority here is in having a Norwegian auntie, and in having visited the countryside around Sognefjord.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Fran O'Sullivan writes a solid article about shareholder activism against the recent Hotchin spinfest. It's the balancing of power and challenging of fellow media I'd like to see more of from our journos and editors.

    Frankly, it is important that the counter-view to Hotchin's claims gets aired. Herald columnist Brian Gaynor did a great job puncturing some of the myths in his March 4 column - "Mark Hotchin - own up or shut up".

    ...

    As [shareholder activist] Hepburn disclosed in his letter to the TVNZ board - which covered some of the material in a previous letter to Close Up producer Mike Valintine and frontman Mark Sainsbury - the issues that the Securities Commission and Serious Fraud Office are probing are much more complex than a media tussle between Hotchin and Allied Farmers' Rob Alloway as to which of them sold the former Hanover depositors the greatest pup.

    ...

    Surely TVNZ has it within itself to get these facts in front of its audience. Particularly, as the Hotchin PR campaign has now created a groundswell where some - who should know better - are turning the finger back at greedy investors for investing in risky finance companies.

    It's surely obvious that the authorities are basing their investigations on more solid ground than that.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to David Herkt,

    I don’t miss Braunias – wittering Kiwiana has only so much to give and he’s been on repeat for a very long time.

    The Sunday column waxed and waned, but Braunias still has powers of description well beyond those of most columnists. He's one of relatively few NZ print columnists who make me think "I wish I'd written that".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • David Hood,

    I’m sorry, when someone mentions Norway, and house decoration (in a thread titled wall and paper), I cannot help but think of
    this visual symphony
    be sure to check out the full glory of the interior decoration.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Andrew, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    the international sign for “dude, I’ve seen sceptic tanks less full of crap than you.”

    +1 Sceptic tank - is that like a think tank that's pretty sure you're full of shit?

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Carol Stewart,

    Well, actually, in Norway, the authorities do. Apparently, in some locations at least, there is an approved range of paint colours for house exteriors. And you know what? The landscape is really very beautiful and harmonious as a result.

    Which is fair enough. But this was a wall in an urban environment, 100m from funky K Road. If you were developing location-appropriate standards for that area, Askew's work would pretty much be it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to BenWilson,

    He's like a Twinkie. Will still be edible in the post-zombie-apocalypse world, but not really very nice even when brand new.

    And we haven't gotten to the infamous Twinkie Defence yet. It wouldn't be too far-fetched either with Mr Lhaws' remarks bordering on incitement.

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

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Nick Kearney,

    The only real reason to continue to buy the SST is Rod Oram’s business column.

    Nah.

    That would be my reason for cancelling my subscription.

    Perhaps someone should give Hilary Calvert a column then? Is she really the best you guys could come up with?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Carol Stewart, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I think this sounds entirely good and right for K road. The Norway comparison is probably more appropriate to, say, central Otago landscapes which have such a distinct character.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    Well, actually, in Norway, the authorities do. Apparently, in some locations at least, there is an approved range of paint colours for house exteriors.

    And in parts of Banks Peninsula and the Bay of Islands, I believe.
    Though the BP district plan has been through so many variations and drawn-out negotiations (over a ten-year period, during which the BPDC ceased to exist :)) it's been difficult to keep up.
    Even for planning staff.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Fran O’Sullivan we’ve all bagged at one time or another, but she’s not unreasonable per se, just starting from a very different set of political axioms.

    And her actual reporting is pretty damn solid – she has good contacts and knows how to use them.

    If she could bear to get past her fixtation on grey zip up shoes and salmon pink walls. Her obsession with the revolution and its vainglourious ideologies is quite off-putting. She needs a makeover, a socialist - oh, I mean, capitalist, because capital is the new socialist movement in a round about way.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Nick Shand,

    French street artist JR creates inclusive art that engages communities that are the most in need of something more than ordinary.

    http://www.ted.com/talks/jr_s_ted_prize_wish_use_art_to_turn_the_world_inside_out.html

    However if his affiliated large scale pasted wall posters started appearing all around our supercity, as is his TED wish, what would our city officials make of it.

    Askew’s predicament has set my mind spinning as it touches upon many ideals dear to my own identity.

    Prostituting creative talent within the imposed restraints of an artistically talentless entity tops my list. If an unelected dictator of creative direction and manipulator of local governmental approval required me to paint ‘’people mowing lawns’’ as he did to Askew, I would instantly take my creative energies elsewhere.

    Please let us not have no-name people blankly painting over inspired efforts to communicate. Like them or not, these sub-cultured communiques provide something more than ordinary for a community to talk about.

    auck • Since Aug 2008 • 79 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Thomas Johnson,

    I must say that after a mis-spent childhood reading comics that advertised these things

    I'd go so far as to say everything advertised in them is disappointing. Ever seen a Sea Monkey (tm). With the naked eye? How about "Unbeatable fighting power in 3 days?". I've seen what people in martial arts clubs are like after 3 days training. How about "Charles Atlas Muscles"?. Try flexing yourself heaps and see if you get muscle mass any time soon.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    It was the x-ray specs that did it for me. Not actually being able to see through girl's clothing was extremely disappointing.
    .
    .
    .
    What?

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

  • Sue,

    is the sideroom now some cool kids only space?
    i keep getting 403

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Try flexing yourself heaps and see if you get muscle mass any time soon.

    I can still do it in 3 days, last time I checked.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    As noted, I believe you could have a nice drink with Karl du Fresne and reach amicable conclusions on some subset of the worlds' problems without fear of violence. Fran O'Sullivan we've all bagged at one time or another, but she's not unreasonable per se, just starting from a very different set of political axioms.

    You're right Stephen, there are decent writers from other perspectives and, I imagine, these people are influential. Still, and isn't this where we started, the celebrity journalists promoted to front page are generally hysterics.

    It's the first time that's the hardest.

    Yeah, the electorate does appear to have a odd tolerance for fools. You apear to have to be a complete nut to get unelected.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Josh Addison,

    Speaking of columnists, who is Eric Thompson and what nightmarish parallel dimension does he inhabit? Every column of his chronicles a new set of annoyances and misfortunes, which he seems to believe are universal tragedies experienced by everyone all the time. Poor guy.

    Onehunga, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 298 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to BenWilson,

    I’d go so far as to say everything advertised in them is disappointing. Ever seen a Sea Monkey (tm). With the naked eye? How about “Unbeatable fighting power in 3 days?”. I’ve seen what people in martial arts clubs are like after 3 days training. How about “Charles Atlas Muscles”?. Try flexing yourself heaps and see if you get muscle mass any time soon.

    But what about that mini-submarine? That must have been real.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    The Sunday column waxed and waned, but Braunias still has powers of description well beyond those of most columnists. He's one of relatively few NZ print columnists who make me think "I wish I'd written that".

    His long-form pieces in North & South on various "small towns" in New Zealand were often so funny, sympathetic and strangely revealing that I was reminded how much I missed his work in the Listener. Jane Ussher's too, her photography for those pieces was equally evocative. He really should anthologise those articles, they're among his best writing, which is saying something.

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

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