Posts by Kumara Republic
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I've been called up for jury duty 3 times, of which I actually served once. That particular time, we, the jury, threw out an assault case because we all concluded that the plaintiff pressed charges out of spite.
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At best, La Palin's actions reek of unfortunate implications.
Speaking of Arizona - which seems to have been becoming the new Mississippi - it's also worth noting that the Sensibles' idol, Sheriff Arpaio, is up to his neck in civil and criminal lawsuits - among those suing him are the freaking Feds.
And somehow the Jared Loughners of this world seem to have been overlooked by Arpaio, in his cynical attempt to go Winston First on the Latin American hordes.
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The latest from Clive Mathew-Wilson...
Safety expert explains how to lower the road toll
"Although wire rope barriers are already installed in some places, Matthew-Wilson says that in most cases the barriers are not installed because they would slow down traffic, especially trucks.
“Everyone agrees that separating opposing lanes of traffic prevents head-on collisions. I was gobsmacked to hear a government engineer tell me that the reason that more roads didn’t have a wire rope barrier was because it would slow the trucks down. I don’t think the trucking industry should be dictating government road safety policy.”
The Road Transport Forum, which represents the trucking industry, was a major donor to political parties at the last election, contributing nearly $100,000 to Labour, National and also to individual MPs."
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Hard News: Holiday Open Thread 1: Beach…, in reply to Craig Ranapia,
I won't be seen in public in a lycra cock-sock because it's hideously embarrasing and uncomfortable to look like an over-filled mini-muffin cup. Roughan might be beyond caring about looking ridiculous, but I'm not.
In other words, laughed out of fashion. All the more so if, well, a guy's body betrays him.
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Hard News: Holiday Open Thread 1: Beach…, in reply to recordari,
Sincerely hope he doesn't buy a Harley.
Which is why Phil Goff rides a Triumph instead.
Speaking of beaches, the Herald's John Roughan strikes a pose in defense of the budgie smuggler. Here's why he reckons they went out of fashion:
Then why do today's women wear G-strings? For fsck's sake Mr Roughan, Speedos went out of fashion not because of PC-ness. They got laughed out of fashion.
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Hard News: A few (more) words on The Hobbit, in reply to Simon Grigg,
Don't Dream It's Over, pre-NZoA, was completely ignored in NZ until it was a US hit.
Come to think of it, cargo cultism is another factor holding us back, and not just in culture.
Another factor to consider is that commercial radio in NZ is glutted compared with overseas markets, thanks to the FM frequencies being sold off too cheaply in the late 1980s. The result is that all of NZ has more radio stations than Sydney alone.
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Hard News: Holiday Open Thread 1: Beach…, in reply to Russell Brown,
Um, wow.
Has hell frozen over?
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I think Drinnan's isn't dissing the creative industry per se, but rather the wider socialism for the rich mentality - and getting away with it.
Has he actually changed his tune about RadioNZ, given he was somewhat critical of it in the recent past?
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More wisdom from that raging Marxist John Drinnan...
ACTING UP
Talk about Fantasyland. Sir Peter Jackson depicted the Hobbit dispute as a passionate quest to defy the evil unions and keep the movie in New Zealand.
It was, of course, about money, power and keeping unions out. For producers and actors it was business - part of the old battle for power between capital and labour. But the media have a role in reporting that battle - and their one-sided, naive and simplistic coverage of the dispute was shameful.
With a few honourable exceptions - notably this paper - many in the media unquestioningly backed producers' versions of events and whipped up hysteria in a manner reminiscent of the 1951 waterfront dispute. Not the media's finest hour."
BEGGARS' BANQUET
The Hobbit dispute - and Warner Bros winning an extra $34 million - also illustrated the sense of entitlement in the film industry and in the wider creative community.
It's part of a disturbing culture of entitlement and taxpayer dependency for film, television and music people who believe they are owed a living. So what if Nana has to wait an extra year for her hip operation?
FLY ME TO THE MOON
Taxpayers gave Annabel Fay's record company a $50,000 subsidy while her dad, Sir Michael, put up thousands of dollars to helicopter in commercial radio DJs and a public servant funding executive to their Great Mercury Island hideaway for a promotional gig.
Something is surely wrong when the Government attacks financially strapped public radio as wasteful, but gives subsidies for pop pap to people who can afford to pay their own way.
JACKSONVILLE BLUES
The Hobbit fiasco made it clear. Wellington - or should we call it Jacksonville - is a company town.
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