Posts by Nobody Important

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  • Hard News: I'm marking Youth Week by…,

    ditto!
    and I must point out that I never watch these shows normally - but was trapped at a family event I could not escape!!
    (and watching the shows was still preferable to interacting with said family)

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: I'm marking Youth Week by…,

    You're probably right Simon, but I guess the Dawn Raid guys probably wanted 'their name' back as a matter of principle. I'm guessing too that most of their artists will re-sign since no-one else is likely to sign them.

    But it does have implications for the NZ On Air funding model.

    A bit like the war on drugs. You can't prove you're winning without busting a few pot heads. NZOA can't say they're succeeding without getting airplay.

    Off Topic: Wasn't "Pop's Ultimate Star" godawful? Especially when it ran just ahead of the final of "American Idol". The difference in singing ability was striking.

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report Reply

  • The Androidss: 'Auckland Tonight',

    I know it's not Arthur, but ....
    "Arthur Baysting is a musician, songwriter, screenwriter, and comedian from New Zealand. He was also a member of The Crocodiles. His comedy alter-ego Neville Purvis had his own television show in 1979. Baysting (as Neville Purvis) has a dubiously notable first in New Zealand. In 1979, at the end of an episode of Neville Purvis, he uttered the word "fuck" in the closing credits, being the first person on New Zealand Television to do so. It caused an uproar amongst the media watchdogs, and resulted in the show immediately being cancelled. Currently, he is a Project Director with the New Zealand Music Industry Commission."
    That's the whole Wikipedia entry so I didn't bother linking to it. Oddly enough Baysting's imdb.com entry fails to mention this - a story/script that SPTV's John Barnett shopped overseas and ended up as a B Grade starring for vehicle for Mrs Gene Simmons. Baysting is uncredited on imdb but if you watch the closing credits you'll see based on an original script by Arthur Baysting [or similar, I'm going from memory]. Baysting doesn't mention it either (the film is that bad) other than to say he was happy to reduce his mortgage.

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: I'm marking Youth Week by…,

    __<clarification> __actually it may be the IRD that misses out. Andy and Danny have bought the name and assets from the reciever and will resume activities. Mr Grigg can probably inform us better if that is how one sidesteps the IRD claims (not possible, surely?)

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: I'm marking Youth Week by…,

    BREAKING NEWS

    Dawn Raid have come to an arrangement with creditors (ie the IRD) and are back in business ...!

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: A Taito Spot,

    Felix is right about the 'word in the ear' but I'm also sure the 'Top Brass' (does anyone use that word anymore? It's right up there with "Guv'nor") wouldn't have made this move (to prosecute) without a wink and a nod from The PM's Office.
    Ralston's theory is all well and good but surely Labour are also going to get dragged thru the muck if this goes to trial during an election build up? As has already been done here on PA, National will dredge up some old soundbites from Labour about Fields.

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: I'm marking Youth Week by…,

    the tastes they reflect were formed primarily by available radio options in the first place, is what I'm saying.

    I am constantly bemused at hearing 'classic' tracks on commercial radio stations that were never actually played* on commercial stations when originally released. The tracks are either off classic albums or were played only on student radio.

    *baring perhaps a once-monthly play after 10pm to satisfy the record company.

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: No end of mileage,

    I think you can fairly criticise the MSM for not exactly showing the highest standards of scientific or statistical literacy, but please let's not encourage media Luddites any more than we do already.

    I wouldn't dream of it, but let's not also allow the debate be coloured by the usual bogus notions of us needing to compete on the global stage. (arrgh - all those memories of those bogus reasons for a waterfront stadium come flooding back!) This country can't even get it's head around wind farms. We want them, but not anywhere near us, or anywhere that might detract visually from the environment.
    Can't they be painted olive green?

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: A Taito Spot,

    Also I note Section 103 states it's an offence to both accept and offer a bribe. Isn't it interesting that the police only want to lay charges against Field and no-one else?

    Well, maybe the people 'offerring' the bribe weren't so much 'offerring' them as having a cap waved in front of them by Mr Fields, together with a short speech about Lafu (sp?), and a wink and a nod about how busy the minister is and he'd love to help but he really is quite busy. It's quite possible Mr Fields was more of a shakedown artist than an innocent politician seduced by 'donations'. A court case might clear that up.

    because I'm personally in no doubt that he acted unacceptably.

    I suppose you can't say much more since the trial hasn't started yet; but I hope this isn't some sort of spin to dismiss what he allegedly did as some sort of 'impropriety'. The NZ Police have a reasonable track record of choosing not to prosecute when it comes to Politicians (and I'm not suggesting they weren't being pragmatic - I don't think signing someone elses work for a charity fundraiser is any great/real crime) so when they do (Donna Awatere for example) it's quite big deal. If the Police have evidence that Mr Fields was soliciting bribes then they should take it to a court of Law. And let the chips fall where they may ...

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report Reply

  • OnPoint: KiwiSaver's dirty secrets - revealed!,

    Whilst Gareth more than most knows the importance of investing for the future, he was scathing about the number of sharks in superannuation game and the lack of foresight in not attempting to sort things out before channeling massive volumes of cash towards this industry.

    He wrote a 3 piece article for the NBR a few months back that was immensely scathing, detailing how Insurance/Superannuation companies take your premiums/contributions and funnel the money out of 'your' account and into 'theirs'. It's all in the fees and performance bonuses they award themselves.
    What spooks me about Kiwisaver (a concept I agree with in principle) is how it really does hand your money over to private institutions and lock it in (to their coffers) for a verrrry long time. I pity the fool who puts their money in the wrong fund because it will be many years before you find out. As I've noted previously, these guys are very slick at making it seem they're performing brilliantly when in fact they're not.

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report Reply

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