Posts by Michael Hogan

  • Hard News: Fox News: I know, right?,

    Love it. Comedy Central site has all his shows in entirety the day after they air. He is debating Fox's biggest mouthpiece, Bill O'Reilly in something called Rumble in the Air Conditioned Auditorium, which should be worth watching if only to gain a bit more insight to the right wing fear- mongering mindset. They are usually pretty civil as guests, but a formal debate should set Stewart loose. He is definitely no slouch intellectually. As for O'Reilly, well, the mind boggles..

    Waiheke Island • Since Nov 2006 • 31 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Tired and emotional, for reals,

    Vanity Fair article on Obama is superb, thanks Russell. I still argue to friends and colleagues that the journalism (political and otherwise) in VF is routinely superb, despite the typical American obsession with celebs. At least they know their market. I miss Hitchens though.
    Lewis puts much more of Obama's intellect and personality in perspective as the election draws nearer.
    It would be nice to think that mattered to American voters.

    Waiheke Island • Since Nov 2006 • 31 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Getting to the bottom of…,

    Isaacson's biography of Jobs is a riveting read. Although I suspect some will resent the many references to his difficult personality, I thought it was balanced and gave me great insights to the man, the company and the industries he shook up in such a big way (Disney/Pixar dramas were fasinating). I particularly enjoyed hearing about his influences of LSD, Zen and calligraphy. He was also so brutally honest with competitors, he often told them when their products "sucked" (which most of them did), and was such a perfectionist, he couldn't furnish any of his homes, because they just didn't design any furniture that worked for him. I will never look at or read about and Apple product the same way again.
    As for China, this is a global marketplace.Outsourcing is not even used as term any more. 37 million iPhones sold in 3 months thru December. Who's gonna do that for ya?

    Waiheke Island • Since Nov 2006 • 31 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: People Take Drugs,

    As they say...follow the money. Who benefits by having prohibition on some substances, and not others? Clearly some widely available (alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, sugar to name a few), have proven toxicity and can elicit behaviour (along with associated health costs) much more harmful to society?

    What we put in our bodies is our own business, not any governments. Our behaviour, and our health care costs passed on to others as a result of what we have put in it, is what the real problem for society is...prohibition never stopped anybody from using anything. Idiots will be idiots regardless of what is legally available. Prohibit them, not the substances they may use.

    Waiheke Island • Since Nov 2006 • 31 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Public Address: Technical Profile,

    Cheers. Sounds like a browser "developed for developers" Will give it a whirl when I do the full monty over to Mac. Right now Firefox/XP has kept me pretty happy. Burnt once, smart twice on early adapting...!

    Waiheke Island • Since Nov 2006 • 31 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Public Address: Technical Profile,

    As a long time Firefox fan, I am not surprised at these stats,(except the dial up and Netscape wonders - even IE is still a bit surprising...) I would however, love to know what all the fuss is with Chrome, and if it is so great, why is uptake so slow amongst your tech saavy (sadly not me) audience? Has Google lost a bit of mana re: privacy?

    Waiheke Island • Since Nov 2006 • 31 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: The Internet in New Zealand,

    Are we actually agreeing that 10Mbits/s is considered a good broadband speed? What we are being asked to pay for this "broadband" is the real issue.. This would be considered a lazy dial up speed in many countries..
    As for ObamaCare, well I think if anyone reads the Bill that finally passed, it may become clear that the compromises to get something through instead of facing claims of a failed presidency have diluted the real effect. It is no accident AIG and the "financial crises" are inextricably linked... Lobbying dollars get the votes. The best democrcacy money can buy!

    Waiheke Island • Since Nov 2006 • 31 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Spectacular but useless,

    Yes, pointless waffle really in terms of any real social benefit. The police are definitely in need of positive PR, and this will provide stats to that effect that can be used to buy some more votes.

    Any drug harm index that does not include alcohol and tobacco is useless, but does not serve the purpose here, and would not be allowed by respective lobby groups. $12K worth of harm per kg of cannabis? Gimme a break..

    The more money they spend, the more they save us...
    From ourselves!

    If that isn't politically driven socialist crap nothing is.

    Waiheke Island • Since Nov 2006 • 31 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Another Big Day,

    As a Deadhead from way back, this actually would influence my vote, believe it or not. Brilliant.

    Waiheke Island • Since Nov 2006 • 31 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Another Big Day,

    Cooler than Drugs! Insightful and hilarious, Bill Maher and a pollster named Frank Luntz: http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2008/02/cooler_than_dru.html
    it reallygives a feeling for how important this election is to the country.

    Waiheke Island • Since Nov 2006 • 31 posts Report Reply

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