Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Taking the rise

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  • nic.wise,

    So, we "lost" that cup thing (thanks, bTW, for not reporting on it :) )

    Here's a question: Why is it called the americas cup, when there is NO coverage of it here. Zero. Zip. Nada. Nothing. Not even on the sport channels!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 87 posts Report Reply

  • rodgerd,

    Yes, "we" lost it, but we are immediately pumping $10 million of our money into it.

    When I think that I know research scientists who have been laid off their jobs last Christmas because of a million dollar shortfall in funding, it makes me laugh about Labour's commitment to the "knowledge economy" very bitterly indeed. Kind of like Kerry Prendergast & Co's "commitment" to the arts in Wellington.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Surely, we didn't "lose" it, we failed to win it.

    Interesting what you say there Nic, a friend of mine was in San Diego during an earlier America's cup regatta, she said apart from a few hundred kiwis on the waterfront, the city appeared completely oblivious to the colossal struggle taking place.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    Fox News declared that Gore "hasn’t stopped believing he can get special favors for being a political figure" (ie: Gore blagged a copy of the Sopranos finale because he was going to be on a long-haul flight when it aired);

    Whereas Bush dishing out "special favors" to Scooter Libby is acting with complete integrity, isn't it? Fox really are scum.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Here's a question: Why is it called the americas cup, when there is NO coverage of it here.

    It's named after the first boat to win it, which was called America.

    That's why it's called the America's Cup, and why people are confused by that apostrophe and desperately want to do other things with it (like pluralising nacho as nacho's)

    We could perhaps revert to its older name, the One Hundred Sovereign Cup. "The One Hundred Sovereign Cup is now the One Hundred New Zealand dollars cup!" - ??

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I can't believe they've done this. A leaflet from the government would have hit the mark; it would hardly have been a mystery who was in charge. But a leaflet slathered in red with Labour's own website address on it? Come on.

    Well, Russell, I can -- because let's face it, this is exactly what the validating legislation was meant to allow, and it's not as if Labour ever admitted the Audior-General's report had a grain of merit as opposed to being a politically-motivated hit job.

    And I expect another request to the Prime Minister's office that I don't want my letter box spammed by unsolicited and unwanted junk mail from her office to be ignored. Another case of 'do what I say, just don't say what I do'?

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

  • Dave Patrick,

    The one doctor who is reducing his fees (according to the pamphlet we received which said "doctor's fees reduced") is going to be a busy boy..... (yes, apostrophe pedantry ahoy!)

    Rangiora, Te Wai Pounamu • Since Nov 2006 • 261 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Nic, I assume you're in the States and not Wellington. I'm not really surprised. America isn't involved this time around, why would they broadcast it? My ESPN feedreader has the occasional piece but that's about it.

    But even when America is in the cup, the racing is during baseball season and during the NBA draft and something is bound to be happening in the NFL off-season etc etc.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Then again, I've got to be fair and point out Clark and the Labour Party aren't electioneering quite as blatantly as their Australian state and federal counterparts. The Better Half and I were in Sydney just as the NSW state election campaign was kicking into high gear, and I'm sure it was entirely coincidental that television, radio and newspapers were awash in *cough* 'public information campaigns' that were remarkably uninformative...

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

  • Neil Morrison,

    polls show again, that Al Gore would sweep the Democratic nomination if he chose to run

    people always prefer what they can't have. But what the polls also show is that Hillary has 37% and Gore would win against her but with only 32% of Dem voters. Not quite so convincing when framed like that.

    But the reality is that Hillary has a double digit lead over her closest rival which for some reason happens to really annoy most white male liberal middle class American punidts.

    Since Nov 2006 • 932 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

    Robyn.... 100 Guineas Cup actually :)

    Also, was I the only one completely miffed at One News for repeatedly misnaming one of the Cooper's involved in the fashion story?

    Despite showing repeated footage of the (correctly spelled) label (ie. Tamsin Cooper)..... they repeatedly said Tasmin out loud, and captions on screen appeared to be spelled both ways. And they did it again this morning...

    How hard is it to look at your own footage and copy the spelling?

    Fletch.

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • Jonty,

    Of course, if the Nats win the next election Labour will be hoist with it's own petard -- one can just imagine the liberties the Nats will take exploiting Labour's validating legislation, given the tricks they pulled with the Exclusive Brethren.

    Katikati • Since Mar 2007 • 102 posts Report Reply

  • Grant Robertson,

    just back from the States and every Democrat person I spoke to felt that there was a strong chance of Gore entering the race. The feeling is that Hilary is likely to shake off Obama, but that when it comes down to it most Dems just don't sthink she will actually win the election- enter Al, stage left.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 25 posts Report Reply

  • Eric Olthwaite,

    But I presume I wasn't the only one who looked at the leaflet, with Labour's branding all over it -- and a small House of Representatives crest to make it clear that we're paying for it -- and wondered, um, is this legal these days?

    No, I wondered as well.

    I also wonder, surely a sensible way around this is to ban any party identifiers on anything with the H.O.R. crest. If "The Government" wants to advertise a new thing that it is doing then it has to do so as "The Government", not "Labour" or "National" if we move into hypotheticals.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 20 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    But the reality is that Hillary has a double digit lead over her closest rival which for some reason happens to really annoy most white male liberal middle class American punidts.

    I think the failure of the American primary system is that it chooses the person most popular (most popular in the bizarre way that the American primary system runs), not necessarily the best person to run for the election - as in, the person most likely to win it for 'their side', or indeed person most likely to be a good president. A few polls a while ago (not sure if it's changed) said that if Clinton won the nomination, she would lose the election. Which shows a lack of strategic thinking on the part of the members of the party choosing her. Whether or not anyone else is better, or more likely to win...

    Also, I think that, like her husband, the view that she'll do anything to further her political career to the top doesn't endear her to some. I'm not sure if being white male liberal and middle class is these people's problem - preferring a male candidate to this particular female candidate doesn't automatically make you sexist. Lots of them are very gung-ho about Obama, so, they're clearly happy to think outside the white box at least. I think they've just come to a point of view on her and they'd like someone else to get the nomination.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Reeves,

    rogerd: yes, I have friends and colleagues in that position too---our group can run as it is (with two research fellows) for $250,000 p.a. very comfortably---but we have had funding stopped from October---put that against $10 million dollars "to keep the team together for four years" (Morning Report this morning)---what on earth do they do with the money?

    Also, a friend of mine is representing New Zealand in Birmingham in the masters hockey team---she has to pay all her own costs---yes, air fare, lodgings, food...etc., as do all the team!!! And that team really is a national side---WTF?!?

    Near Donny Park, Hamilton… • Since Apr 2007 • 94 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Reeves,

    rodgerd: sorry---not "rogerd"!!

    Near Donny Park, Hamilton… • Since Apr 2007 • 94 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Of course, if the Nats win the next election Labour will be hoist with it's own petard -- one can just imagine the liberties the Nats will take exploiting Labour's validating legislation, given the tricks they pulled with the Exclusive Brethren.

    The legislation only lasts till the end of this year, whereupon it's supposed to be replaced with a clearer set of rules, in time for the election. Which is why it seems such a bloody liberty taking advantage of it in this way.

    It seems pretty clear that neither Labour or National will be able to do what they did in 2005.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I also wonder, surely a sensible way around this is to ban any party identifiers on anything with the H.O.R. crest.

    Which is where it gets a bit weird, because the leaders' fund is there to help parties communicate policy to the public. But the auditor-general has drawn the lines so tightly that it's hard to tell what counts as electioneering. If you've got loadsa money to do your own promotion, outside the campaign period, it's not a problem.

    If "The Government" wants to advertise a new thing that it is doing then it has to do so as "The Government", not "Labour" or "National" if we move into hypotheticals.

    That's what I thought.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Evan Yates,

    Now, I happen to think these are all good things, and I would expect any government to present them to the pubic as such.

    Hurrr...hurrr... he said "pubic"...

    I think "present them to the pubic" could be interpreted as "given the arse" or told to "suck me" (in the prejorative American vernacular).

    Casts a whole new light on the post's attitude.

    Hamiltron, Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Nov 2006 • 197 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Robyn.... 100 Guineas Cup actually :)

    According to Wikipedia (which is slowly taking the place of my long-term memory):

    It was originally known by the Squadron as the “Royal Yacht Squadron Cup” or the “RYS Cup for One Hundred Sovereigns”. The Cup subsequently became known as the “One Hundred Guinea(s) Cup”, by the American syndicate that won it.

    So we're both right. Yay!

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    The legislation only lasts till the end of this year, whereupon it's supposed to be replaced with a clearer set of rules, in time for the election.

    I wonder if that would include something along the lines of anti-spam legislation, where all parties and politicians have to maintain (and follow) a 'no mail' list? Sorry for sounding cranky, but I don't really want to waste the few seconds it takes to throw political spam in the recycle bin, whether I'm paying for it or not.

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

  • Peter Martin,

    I have yet to receive the Labour pamphlet. I did get a nice glossy one from the Progressive Party the other day though.The 'winter' edition.

    At the bottom right on the front page is a wee crest of the House of Representatives...

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 187 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Craig, I've found that glossy brochures are excellent for cleaning paint brushes. Something about the extra toughness. But most junk mail goes straight into the compost, sequestering all that carbon and giving me free fertilizer. The strangest thing is that the Green party ones break down the slowest...can't explain that at all. But ingenuity led me to use them for weed suppression.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Which is where it gets a bit weird, because the leaders' fund is there to help parties communicate policy to the public. But the auditor-general has drawn the lines so tightly that it's hard to tell what counts as electioneering.

    Which is exactly the line from politicians that gets zero sympathy from me - perhaps if the rules hadn't been so vague, and loosely enforced, as to be virtually meaningless the Auditor-General wouldn't have had to draw a line in the first place.

    And isn't it also fair comment to point out that there's a substantial number of press secretaries and media advisors whose job (presumably) is to 'communicate policy' to the public? Government departments also have fairly substantial 'public communications' budgets -- though you mileage may vary on how 'informative' the Kiwisaver ads on tele at the moment actually are. (I'd say no more so than your average bank or insurance company advert, but feel free to disagree.)

    If you've got loadsa money to do your own promotion, outside the campaign period, it's not a problem.

    You mean parties actually producing and distributing their party propaganda with their own money? What an outrageous idea... :)

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

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