Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Future of the Future

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  • Danielle,

    I liked Colbert's suggestion of 'Top Chef': plug the hole with Tom Colicchio's bald head.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    the only way to stay awake in an airport hotel is to watch porn.

    there's always the Gideon, Bart :)

    Now available with wipe-clean cover and extra-absorbent pages?
    .
    .
    .
    .
    Which way to the cloakroom?

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

  • recordari,

    Well, they've announced they're not going to nuke it, so I don't know what's next...

    I'm glad they considered it though. You don't want to rule out anything, even if the potential fall-out and possible seismic event could wipe out America. You've gotta keep things in perspective.

    New Reality TV show.

    America's Next Top Kill Model.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Hah! Well played sir.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Sorry for changing the tone, and I sincerely apologise in advance, but this was quite a shock. It's not data, and it may not be knowledge, but it sure is heartbreaking.

    Caught in the oil.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    I don't know what's next...

    Relief wells, aka The Ultimate Solution.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    New Reality TV show.

    America's Next Top Kill Model.

    Or, as I suggested before, America's Next Top Role Model?

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

  • recordari,

    I know, they should use lego!

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Given an earlier theme, it would be remiss not to link to the Informations Is Beautiful Gulf Oil Spill Infographic.

    Sweet, sweet data in lickable form? Or information pornography?

    You decide!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I like that: information, meet context.

    This brings it home nicely (h/t Zef Fugaz.)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Informations Is Beautiful Gulf Oil Spill Infographic.

    That's amazing. I loved the colours in culture one too. New Order Album cover made easy.

    And Gio, how did it know where I live? Well, I know, but that was a little scary.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Well, you know Who really is to blame don't you? Well Sara Palin does.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    .

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I guess Russell deserved the hat-tip for this, but The Herald has really topped itself with a new low in fatuous editorial mouth-farting

    TVNZ's 50th anniversary was marked last week by recollections of early television but it could equally have commemorated a time without television.

    It was a reminder that nobody under 50 years of age has known life without television and probably cannot imagine it.

    Nobody under 60 has more than a dim childhood memory and only those in their 70s or older reached adulthood before coming under its spell. Notice something about that older generation?

    They talk much more than younger ones do. When they meet they "make" conversation, as distinct from the minimal, matter-of-fact exchanges that come naturally.

    Older people carry a mental supply of conversation-starters - polite personal inquiries, news of common acquaintances, events of interest or, if all else fails, the weather.

    They often say television has killed the art of conversation but only they are old enough to know what that was. They grew up with dinners on a table at which people sat and talked.

    After the evening meal, called tea then, family members talked at the table for as long as they liked.

    Then they would talk while the dishes were washed, laundry folded, ironing done. Someone might be reading, someone else listening to the radio. No appliance dominated a living room in those days.

    And it goes on and on and on... I don't know about anyone else, but my dinner table isn't exactly electric with witty conversation because I was taught it was rude to talk with a full mouth. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Older people carry a mental supply of conversation-starters - polite personal inquiries, news of common acquaintances, events of interest or, if all else fails, the weather.

    I've also noticed that racist and homophobic rejoinders tend to be quite popular with these older folk. Ah, the good old times.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    When I first read this editorial I thought it might be a spoof, or Garth George having another spasm. It really it the biggest load of horse-poop.

    I dimly remember life-before-television in New Zealand and it really was a dull, insular place. Growing up in South Taranaki, the biggest event of the year was the A&P Show. Other weekends, we went searching for a severed head reputedly thrown in a local river. As for conversation, there really wasn't any..

    Didn't Oscar Wilde say something about the English talking about the weather...?

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

  • Russell Brown,

    When I first read this editorial I thought it might be a spoof, or Garth George having another spasm.

    The latter. I'm pretty sure it bears the mark of Garth Vader.

    As for conversation, there really wasn't any..

    Well, quite. The 50s NZ male was not known for his conversational vivacity. That sort of thing was frowned upon.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Growing up in South Taranaki . . . we went searching for a severed head reputedly thrown in a local river.

    Ronald Hugh Morrieson really did capture something of the spirit of the place, then?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Well, quite. The 50s NZ male was not known for his conversational vivacity. That sort of thing was frowned upon.

    Then again, my late grandfather was someone who never used two words where none would do but when he did open his mouth he had a Martini-dry sense of humour and a stiletto-sharp bullshit cutter. Quality over quantity, I think.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Well, quite. The 50s NZ male was not known for his conversational vivacity. That sort of thing was frowned upon.

    But grandmothers, in my experience had plenty to say. A cup of tea, a game of chess or backgammon, and stories of old China, with a bit of Confucius thrown in for good measure.

    She told a wicked joke also.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Ronald Hugh Morrieson really did capture something of the spirit of the place, then?

    Quite possibly. I remember that Hawera had a wine bar, which was the source of some fascination. I guess RHM was their best customer. Must have been real rot-gut in the 1950s.

    But I can never get nostalgic about small-town New Zealand. They weren't always the healthiest places to grow up in.

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

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Jeez--I hate to think I stopped this conversation stone dead!

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

  • recordari,

    I was going to disagree, having had what I consider a reasonable time during my small town NZ upbringing, but then sort of moved on.

    Glad it's not only me that worries they have special thread killing abilities.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Given an earlier theme, it would be remiss not to link to the Informations Is Beautiful Gulf Oil Spill Infographic.

    And it's not as if they didn't know it could happen...
    FEDS Knew of Gulf Oil Spill Risks in 2000, Document Shows

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    How about:
    BP denies existence of underwater oil plumes (despite footage of underwater oil plumes playing onscreen at the same time).

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

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