Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Done and Blended

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  • Stephen Judd,

    That song has been there for some time.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Nat Torkington,

    Thanks for having me there, Russell. It was great fun. Mr Brown was fantastic--that great mixture of subversive and popular. Who's the NZ Mr Brown?

    Reading through your links, I see Robyn was there. Damn! I wanted to meet more PA System readers. Next time. There *will* be a next time, right Russell?

    Ti Point • Since Nov 2006 • 100 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    And why is someone betting billions of dollars on world stock markets tanking just before September 21?

    that'll be the france - ireland game.

    probably latent concern about a diplomatic split in the EC.

    don't think it couldn't happen...

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    And why is someone betting billions of dollars on world stock markets tanking just before September 21? Is that when the US bombs Iran? Is there another terrorist attack looming? Or is this just a random manifestation of market chaos?

    That seems a little early to me - the Administration needs to wait until after Labor Day to roll out its marketing campaign, then give Iran some ultimatum that they have to comply with to prevent being attacked, then pretend to be 'exhausting all other possibilities' before they send in the stealth bombers. I don't think they'll attack Iran until mid-October.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    And why is someone betting billions of dollars on world stock markets tanking just before September 21?

    Quite probably this is a hedge covering positions going the other way. That's what hedge funds do.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    could i also please state that thestreet.com is the most annoying website in creation...

    i have never been so pissed off trying to find the details of a 1000 word story amidst all the advertising and other bumpf.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Another excellent Great Blend. Thanks, Russell, for all the work you put into organising these.

    Bill Direen was playing a gig with a pick-up band in a lounge-sized room at the bar. It was magnificent.

    That was an unexpected treat for me. I'd heard of Bill Direen, but I'd never actually heard his music, but seeing him live was... magic. What made it that extra bit special was all the fan boys in the audience yelling out requests and having them played. Absolutely splendid.

    Reading through your links, I see Robyn was there. Damn! I wanted to meet more PA System readers.

    Oh! If I'd known, I would have said hello. But I'd be happy to meet up with you some other time!

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    That was an unexpected treat for me. I'd heard of Bill Direen, but I'd never actually heard his music, but seeing him live was... magic. What made it that extra bit special was all the fan boys in the audience yelling out requests and having them played. Absolutely splendid.

    Consider yourself inducted into the small but tasty crew of people who regard Bill as a New Zealand creative genius (the other fanboy-in-chief there was Graeme Hill, btw). I was sitting next to Paul Litterick's friend (whose name has been erased from my brain) and at one point he gasped to himself "What an extraordinary evening." Yup. It was.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • InternationalObserver,

    "China, reeling over losing $10 billion in bad loans to the sub-prime mortgage collapse presently taking place, is going to dump U.S. currency and tank all of Capitalism with a Communist financial revolution."

    Er ... not until after the Beijing Olympics in 2008, methinks. (If they're going to).

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report Reply

  • Jason Kemp,

    Thanks for organising the TBG again.

    Mr Brown was a highlight in that he showed a different and more hopeful vision of a current and future Singapore. I kept thinking of Jonathan Swift when Mr Brown was presenting.

    The significance of NZOAir being able to fund more broadly was highlighted well by the contribution's from Clare - even if she was a little defensive. It was good that she showed some passion for her subject.

    By contrast. Eric from TVNZ needs to watch a video of himself sometime. No doubt the corporate environment is tough and suspicious - however I did think he could have loosened up a bit.

    It does sound as if TVNZ have some good initiatives on the way and I expected a bit more confidence and something more than the old digital soup rhetoric that I remember from 1993.

    That is; the idea of similar content on multiple platforms with common branding is hardly news. Still - it is a move in the right direction.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 368 posts Report Reply

  • Conor Roberts,

    Mr Brown also dropped in references to Battlestar Galatica in his (and his wife's) "I am a Singaporean" meme - which makes him extra cool.

    So say we all.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 57 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    By contrast. Eric from TVNZ needs to watch a video of himself sometime. No doubt the corporate environment is tough and suspicious - however I did think he could have loosened up a bit.

    To be fair to Eric, he was subbed onto the panel at late notice and he had me on his ass to try and get him to keep his presentation as tight as possible so we could keep to time. He's actually a pretty chirpy guy in person.

    Tom Cotter had much more time to put TVNZ's case in Wellington and basically charmed everyone.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    So say we all.

    I've heard those two "I am a Singaporean" testaments three times now, and every time they've choked me up. Special.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jason Kemp,

    Tom Cotter had much more time to put TVNZ's case in Wellington and basically charmed everyone.

    Glad to hear it - will upgrade TVNZ rating to watch this space.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 368 posts Report Reply

  • Joanna,

    I'm not sure if I perhaps didn't hear introductions correctly since I was sitting at the back or if perhaps I just misheard (and I'm sure that the wine had nothing to do with that, but incidently, why is there always Chardonnay and never any Reisling? Are you trying to push the Chardonnay Socialism thing really hard?) but it did seem that most people's questions for Tom Cotter were about aspects fo the TVNZ site that didn't seem to be part of his expertise/job description.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I'm not sure if I perhaps didn't hear introductions correctly since I was sitting at the back or if perhaps I just misheard (and I'm sure that the wine had nothing to do with that, but incidently, why is there always Chardonnay and never any Reisling? Are you trying to push the Chardonnay Socialism thing really hard?)

    Heh. Actually Hatton Estate does mostly red wines for the restaurant trade, and that nice, crisp little chardonnay is the only white they make. They came on board after I was bemoaning the quality of the wine at a previous Wellington Blend to Mark Cubey, who introduced me the person standing next to him, who was Rachel, Hatton Estate's sales manager. She came around with her tasting bag the next time she was in Auckland, we talked about their company and ours, and the deal was done.

    And anyway. Drinking Riesling is just being contrary for the sake of it.

    but it did seem that most people's questions for Tom Cotter were about aspects fo the TVNZ site that didn't seem to be part of his expertise/job description.

    When you're speaking in public on behalf of a big organisation, you have to be quite precise about exactly what is and isn't your turf.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Joanna,

    Mark Cubey knows people in the booze industry? Whodda thunk it?

    I didn't actually try the chardonnay (after the last Great Blend when I was forced by the heat to drink it), so I was complaining on behalf of my sister - who doesn't get the internet, or own a TV and who still managed to be very entertained on Thursday night, so I think that's a good demonstration of how fun the Great Blends can be.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I didn't actually try the chardonnay (after the last Great Blend when I was forced by the heat to drink it)

    So that's why we ran out of the white ...

    so I was complaining on behalf of my sister - who doesn't get the internet, or own a TV and who still managed to be very entertained on Thursday night, so I think that's a good demonstration of how fun the Great Blends can be.

    Nice. I tend to forget that the format is unusual and people who've never been to one have a new experience, so it's lovely to hear that. Might have to work up a whole new theme for the next one, though. I toy with the idea of going back to the bowling clubs. Are bowling clubs cool in Wellington?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Dan Slevin,

    I'll take this opportunity to repost a couple of Bill Direen anecdotes from here:

    Nice to hear Bill sounding so well. I interviewed him once for Radio Active many, many moons ago, and he told me a couple of cool stories.

    One was that ih the 70s he was a late night DJ for Radio Windy under the name Bill Diamond and that he was fired for suggesting that Michael Fowler and Patricia Bartlett were going to copulate in public to raise money for The Michael Fowler Centre.

    The other story I remember was about The Bilders releasing a 7" single with a sealed plastic sleeve in the shape of a fish so to get the record out you had to gut it with a knife.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • Joanna,

    Are bowling clubs cool in Wellington?

    The Wellingtonista Bowling League was - but that was ten-pin bowling - we're planning a Lawn Bowls League for the summer though.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report Reply

  • Sue,

    yes and you are all invited as long as you buy us all drinks, and double for jo becuase she organises them

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Are bowling clubs cool in Wellington?

    Only if you can find one with a waterfront location.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    A truly Great Blend; and what an after-party. My friend was Sam, by the way.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Is that when the US bombs Iran? Is there another terrorist attack looming? Or is this just a random manifestation of market chaos?

    Or it could be someone who actually had billions of dollars to gamble with - and probably spends a lot more time than any PA reader reading the entrails of the global economy - taking a punt on the notion that shit is like rain - it never rains, but it pours.

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

  • Ben Austin,

    Well speaking of the massive stock market gambles, the word* on IRC has been of late that Bush is planning his next "pearl harbour", and that it will involve nuking a small mid western American city.

    If that doesn't happen then he will circumvent the Constitution through NAFTA +++, aka the North American Union and have himself declared President of that AND the army won't rebel because they will be in Iraq AND the new privatized military companies will put down any democratic rebellion. I believe the illegal immigrants might also form some sort of fifth column.

    *IRC is full of tidbits like this, and happily they are usually totally wrong, but it is comforting to know that people are speculating about it all 24/7. Either way, I speak as an observer, not a holder of such opinions.

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

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