Posts by Neil Smart

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  • Hard News: A Highlight,

    One thing we didn't get to discussing was the Chinese government's new crackdown on "low taste" reality TV programmes, and in particular Idol-style talent shows.

    What a great idea suggest it to John Key he doesn't have any policies!!
    Banning reality TV is a good place to start.

    Since Nov 2006 • 71 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Get a Clue,

    and the unfortunate tendency for experienced journalists to bugger off to PR

    Experience is not always an advantage, as the writer can reflect an ingrained view of a situation. I absolutely agree the standard of our NZ journalism is lower than it should be. However, I would council against confusing the age of the writer against quality of their writing. Both young and old can be capable of providing quality journalism.
    For a relevant comment could I suggest listing to Foreign Correspondent: David Enders from last Saturday’s Kim Hill show.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday

    He describes the way that the venerable Robert Fisk treated new young writers when they arrived in Iraq. They presented a different view from Fisk of the situation. Fisk it is reasonable to say had lost some of his objectivity particularly in the last few years. In much the same way as John Pilger did over capitalistic exploitation of the third world. Sad as that might be of two such dedicated and able people.

    The young group of journos in Iraq provided a different view. On listening to the comment of David Enders who seemed to me rational. Quality is not about age but about effort and ability. Yes I am an old fart!!

    Since Nov 2006 • 71 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Go Webstock,

    "Martin Klimas gets porcelain figures in total darkness and then drops them on the ground

    Enough of this talk of Politics drugs and water who is looking after the porcelain statues?

    Join PAPSAD ann stop this wanton distruction of art

    Signed
    People Against Porcelain Statue Art Destruction

    Since Nov 2006 • 71 posts Report Reply

  • Radiation: Medium blog whisperer,

    This was the time she (princees Di) brushed up her image with the landmines campaign. But when Alan Coren said on the show, "I don't know anything about landmines or Princess Di, but I do know you'd be mad to poke either of them", there was a moment's stunned silence, followed by a huge howl of delighted laughter

    Thank you Simon Hoggart the joke was worth the price of the paper. His comments on Royal males are also timely. Either a republic be, or put up with the idiosyncrasies of royalty: isn't being royal supposed to be about having divine rights or something!! Licence to be odd.

    Philip was right about the Woodsman on Maori TV. A consistently high standard from the Sunday films on Maori Telly. Finally Dr Who, all that is best of British TV. Made on a shoestring, looks like it, and nothing should change.

    Since Nov 2006 • 71 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Must-have Mayoralty,

    Herald readers seem highly polarised on the issue, with Tamihere's support coming, as you might expect, from angry conservatives.

    Has John changed sides or have I missed something? I know he is standing against Bob Harvey but does that make him a non person like John Key?

    Since Nov 2006 • 71 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Friendly Fire?,

    Russell
    Great balance. The forgotten art of journalism so rarely these days do we get to presented two differing views for debate. The Newsweek article shows how difficult it is to remove bias on the reporting of events.

    I must confess that I found the Freeman Dyson essay an intelligent and interesting read. The ideas it contains will start some interesting discussions at my morning coffee.

    One of my companions is an eminent NZ scientist who has longed complained of the lack of good science in the climate change debate. He, like Freeman Dyson, is in the latter half of his life.

    I hope that it is not just old man’s pessimism but also a smidgin of wisdom and experience that colours their judgement!!

    Since Nov 2006 • 71 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Friendly Fire?,

    Since Nov 2006 • 71 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Death Spiral!,

    Yet I am still so thoroughly confused by global markets, 'pegging' to the US dollar, and what our interest rates actually mean that my head is swimming

    Isn't this the problem so where are the economists?? Most of them are alongside the same boat as the correspondent . Which means they have have swimming heads!!

    Where are you John Maynard Keynes and yes god bless him Milton Friedman. We need a new theory.

    I just hope the crash, when the merry go round stops is not as bad as the 20's, but do not hold your breath. The theory is social security will soften the blow when the crash comes, but look at the other theories? How about this thought process?

    Capitalism overvalues property.

    Asian economies make things

    The westen world buys them and pays for them in $US dollars or Euros

    Money borrwed against property whose store of wealth is supported by an overinflated world housing market.

    The USA prints money exports its wealth

    The Europeans subsides everything else including food and so drive the world prices down

    The Chinese accept payment until they realise the US$ is worthless and probably soon the Euro

    It is not that difficult really is it?

    Since Nov 2006 • 71 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Death Spiral!,

    The problem with economic theory is there are so many variables. The monetary supply theory which says that raising the price (interest rate) stifles supply only works if supply is limited. It works fine for the US $ and for the Euro in Europe but NZ is the size of a small town in either of the large conglomerate countries.There was a paper I did that said that if a large country subsidies a commodity (money in this case) the world price drops. The same effect applies if someone floods the world with money. The US is flooding the world with its riches.

    By raising our price (interest rate) to higher than the rest of the world we encourage the oversupply of global money supply to come into NZ. This oversupply is caused by the US leaking its weatlth (overspending). The only answer must surely be reduce interest rates to a level that discourages investors from putting their money in NZ. It probably does not need to be much below. I am not going to try guess how much. Then the oversupply will disappear and the price (interest rate) will come down. But it takes politaical courage and we have not seen much of that .

    Since Nov 2006 • 71 posts Report Reply

  • Southerly: A Slow Journey and a Quick Arrival,

    Congratulations it is good to see a new generation

    I am glad to see not much has changed in 24 years. when our third child was born I told the midwife that, Sue my wife, had quick deliveries mostly within the first two having taken 4.5 and 3 hours.

    She gave me the sort of look that women reserve for men who have on an opinion outside their realm of knowledge.

    When the midwife came into the side room 1.5 hours later She went pale and fetched a wheelchair to whisk her into the delivery suite. Jessica was born 2 hours after we had arrived.

    This was following my urgent entraties that"something was happening" ............Just in time!!

    Since Nov 2006 • 71 posts Report Reply

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