Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Blackout Bingo!

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  • giovanni tiso,

    regarding = regardless

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Actually Ben, my theory is that people tend to think well of the period of their lives when they were young, fit, and relatively good looking, whenever it happened.

    Definitely occurred to me, so I usually follow up with "what was better about it than the time just before?", to which the response is usually of the type "the parties".

    I'm not saying that we should definitely crank up the recession a notch, just so that in feeling the pain we will appreciate life more. It's more of a "it's not quite as disastrous as it might seem from the hype". It would be better if it didn't happen. But maybe it has to happen.

    Either way, I'm mostly interested in the extent to which public opinion on the performance of the President on 'solving the recession' is being tracked. It sort of sets up a dynamic in which the performance of the President hangs on being able to sort out something that may actually not be soluble. It also seems to in some strange way absolve the public themselves of their part in the bubble.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    You could make a fun drinking game out of spotting errors non-stupid subs could have fixed

    Except you'd be pissed before you got below the front page fold.

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

  • Damian Christie,

    If it's journalism, you have a sub-editor!

    I agree about the Herald - was reading the paper version of the HOS and found a tonne of glitches - and not that it's journalism, but whatshername Glaucoma's column's particularly full of typos.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    In today's Questions for Oral Answer:

    12. CLARE CURRAN to the Minister of Commerce: Does he intend to respond to public concerns expressed about the implementation of section 92A of the Copyright Act, which comes into force next week; if so, what will be his response?

    Does Simon Power have to say much more than "better than my predecessor, who said [insert quote here}"? Of course, he does but I do hope Labour doesn't try to occupy non-existent moral high ground here. As DPF quite properly observed, that's a posture only the Greens can credibly adopt.

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    but whatshername Glaucoma's column's particularly full of typos.

    How did you pick out the typos when the damn woman is functionally illiterate?

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

  • BenWilson,

    Use a paintbrush instead of a pen?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Paul Litterick,

    If she got it right, it is probably a typo.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report

  • Stephen,

    Overall, nearly two thirds of Americans still reject the theory of evolution.

    Probably more accurate to say they reject whatever the hell they think the theory of evolution is.

    Auckland • Since Apr 2008 • 47 posts Report

  • Luke Williamson,

    The most amazing things about the Paul Keating interview is that it is long enough to be interesting and isn't constantly interrupted by a host who wants to talk over the top of him and thinks he knows better than the guest. Proper TV. Jon Stewart is fun but the interview is meaningless as it is all about Jon.

    Warkworth • Since Oct 2007 • 297 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Or perhaps that they reject that it is "true", rather than just "a very good theory". One of those silly niggly points that a great many Christians can cover their arses with. They don't seem to get the corollary that the creationism of the Bible is also not "true", it's "a very bad theory".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    For those in Wellington who want to go along, Back Benchers starts again tonight (Wed 18). It's filmed live at 9 pm at the Backbencher pub in Molesworth Street (and shown on TV7). New Green MP Catherine Delahunty is on tonight.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Public Servant on a tea-break.,

    <Definitely occurred to me, so I usually follow up with "what was better about it than the time just before?", to which the response is usually of the type "the parties".>

    Thanks Ben, I’ve just had some happy memories from those magical three months when I was young, and good-looking and invited to fun parties, where I must have been far more charming than I am now. Ahh, memories, in the misty corners of my eyes…

    <It also seems to in some strange way absolve the public themselves of their part in the bubble.>

    The public, not being economic experts, probably don’t see it that way

    The fear of recession has struck a public who don’t individually think they have done anything wrong. They didn’t commit fraud, they acted on an understanding of the World. Most took on debt that could be serviced from the income they received, or enjoyed a life style as good as they could afford, and it all seemed sensible. Now, there is a fear amongst the public about being laid off or facing a drop of income owing to a retracting economy they are feeling a bit panicy because they don’t know what they can do. These people don’t feel as if they did anything different or wrong, so why would they think it is it their fault?

    The interest in what the American president does is more a reflection of how the American public is looking for leadership out of their current worry. And what is true of Americans can be said to be doublely true of New Zealanders, as we are trying to assess the performance of our ministers as well as how the American government's going. Because we know that what happens overseas is of great importance to us.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2008 • 67 posts Report

  • Joshua Drummond,

    More on sub-editing=journalism: Stuff's story on the Blackout has the US President as someone called "Barrack Obama."

    They also fuck up section 92A to Section 92a (as you might expect, given I doubt they've had any training in legal notation.) And that's on a quick skim. There may be more.

    Outsourcing: Morre efficeint.

    (NB: I don't know how many Fairfax subs are outsourced or not. But clearly people don't know what they're doing, either way.)

    With regard to Stephen Fry's involvement - I think it's brilliant, but isn't it a bit sad that the MSM needed a celebrity hook to really address this in the way it deserved right from the beginning?
    Also, who the hell is Glaucoma or whatever? That's flown right by me. Is it online?

    Since Nov 2006 • 119 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    Overall, nearly two thirds of Americans still reject the theory of evolution

    In the wonderful American Natural History Museum they have a very comprehensive, extraordinarily concise and understandable walkthrough of evolution which includes input from a selection of scientists who believe in a divine creator but argue evolution. Having spent an hour or so there last week, surrounded by Lucy and so much more, I was bemused by the meatheads in the New Jersey jackets at the end of it who were, without telling us exactly why, espousing it loudly as 'all bullshit'.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • Joshua Drummond,

    Except you'd be pissed before you got below the front page fold.

    Too true. Replace the word "fun" with "deadly."

    Since Nov 2006 • 119 posts Report

  • Mark Harris,

    Just a mention on s92A (thanks, Graeme), I just blogged about the officials wanting it deleted after the Select Committee stage

    I've put in another bunch of OIA requests, more in hope than expectation.

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report

  • Stuart Coats,

    Does Simon Power have to say much more than "better than my predecessor, who said [insert quote here}"? Of course, he does

    In my dealings with Mr Power (some time ago admittedly) I would have to think that he doesn't have much more to say.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report

  • Damian Christie,

    For those in Wellington who want to go along, Back Benchers starts again tonight (Wed 18).

    Yes, thanks Hilary, I probably should have mentioned that myself. Just sitting here cutting the newswrap now before rushing for my flight. Come say hi if you make it along.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report

  • Jake Pollock,

    Overall, nearly two thirds of Americans still reject the theory of evolution.

    Say what you will about Americans and their attitudes towards evolution, at least you don't have to worry about listening to nonsense theories about 'evolutionary psychology' when teaching them history.

    Also, on Rush, isn't it funny how Right-wing Americans always want to escape to New Zealand, as if it's some kind of libertarian paradise. I once spent a fascinating afternoon reading a popular survivalist website, and one of the preferred sites for their private fortresses was in New Zealand. None of them have twigged to the dim view the New Zealand Police take of people stockpiling automatic weapons.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report

  • Stephen,

    isn't it funny how Right-wing Americans always want to escape to New Zealand, as if it's some kind of libertarian paradise

    I think it's more 'some weird place down where penguins and hobbits live but-the-scenery-is-quite-nice' than anything else.

    Auckland • Since Apr 2008 • 47 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    In my dealings with Mr Power (some time ago admittedly) I would have to think that he doesn't have much more to say.

    Compared to Judith Tizard's rather dismal performance on this issue last year, which just proved the wisdom in the saying that it's better to keep quiet and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt? There's also a lot to be said for quality over quantity as well.

    Also, on Rush, isn't it funny how Right-wing Americans always want to escape to New Zealand, as if it's some kind of libertarian paradise.

    Well, whatever happened to the jumbo jets full of refugees fleeting to Hobbiton from the Reich of Chimpy McBushitler four years back? Seriously, I just treat threats to emigrate if the wrong side wins an election as the rhetorical equivalent of irritable bowel syndrome.

    I sure don't believe for a nano-second that Limbaugh is going to break his radio contract, rumoured to be worth (literally) a million bucks a week to rusticate in Remmers.

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

  • Stephen,

    Well, whatever happened to the jumbo jets full of refugees fleeting to Hobbiton from the Reich of Chimpy McBushitler four years back?

    Not Hobbiton. Canada.

    http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/02/24/75-threatening-to-move-to-canada/

    Auckland • Since Apr 2008 • 47 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Public Servant on a tea-break.

    These people don’t feel as if they did anything different or wrong, so why would they think it is it their fault?

    For much the same reason that any massive collective delusion is the fault of everyone who was deluded. It's really not that hard to say "we were wrong".

    Put it another way. The amount of influence that average X voter in the US has over their leadership is considerably less than they have over their own pockets. And it was pocket-control, not leadership-control, that led to the bulk of this slow down.

    Put it another way again. If the public doesn't know shit about how the credit crisis came about, then why care what they think about how to get out of it?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Aaand Simon Power has confidence the present negotiations will result in a code of practise and will support its implementation.

    </sigh>

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

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