Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The joke that went too far

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  • Craig Ranapia,

    I've long said its a matter of when , not if, some over-excitable blogger finds themselves on the wrong end of the mother of all defamation judgements.

    If that person happens to be Cameron Slater or Clinton Smith, I'd like to pledge a hundred bucks towards the plaintiff's legal costs.

    And with all due respect, Russell, "the hoaxer" doesn't deserve confidentiality. I've said some horrendously dumb shit on-line (I occasionally do a vanity Google to remind myself of that), but shipping around false allegations like that are totally beyond the pale. While I'm no fan of Slater, what "the hoaxer" did was beyond dumb.

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    If that person happens to be Cameron Slater or Clinton Smith, I'd like to pledge a hundred bucks towards the plaintiff's legal costs.

    Having said that, I'd like to place one condition on the pledge: If the person concerned is an MP, let's just make sure it is declared regardless of whether you're obliged under standing orders to do so or not! :)

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

  • Russell Brown,

    And with all due respect, Russell, "the hoaxer" doesn't deserve confidentiality ... While I'm no fan of Slater, what "the hoaxer" did was beyond dumb.

    I think "she" (I can't confirm actual gender) knows that well enough now.

    I'm not extending confidentiality as such -- all I have is a probably fake Gmail address, and I really can't be bothered taking it further. Slater says he's taking it to the police, etc, etc, but I can't see them being too interested.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    I find it interesting to see the connection though - Hooten has a spot on National radio, which one would think confers some sort of credibility to the man; the fact that the creepy Cameron Slater leaked to him first up shows how these wannebe wide boys of the right stay in close touch with other.

    In particular, to me its at least prima facie evidence of how those who like to spread whispering hate campaigns against (in particular) Helen Clark use people like Slater to launder their filthy rumours out via the likes of David Farrar, Matthew Hooten and Bridget Saunders and thence into the "respectable" media - whilst maintaining a respectable arms length from the disgusting stories they so gleefully put out.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Russell:

    Fair enough, but if the person concerned really wanted to "set things right", I'd sure welcome a (signed) guest post that offered some insight into what - if anything - s/he was thinking.

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

  • Grant McDougall,

    Oooh, a whole big bunch of sleazy, dodgy, mendacious, scurrilous lies about the Labour Party spread by Whaleoil. Gee, there's a surprise.

    What's the bet that should someone reveal something skoddy about a National MP Whaleoil, Hooten, et al, will hypocritically cry foul.

    It also beggars belief that the gossip columns in the Sunday papers take such tips from these people seriously.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    What's the bet that should someone reveal something skoddy about a National MP Whaleoil, Hooten, et al, will hypocritically cry foul.

    Oh, you mean like the rumours being gleefully pushed around the Press Gallery that Don Brash was fucking Dianne Foreman for a long time before Mallard's little blurt in the House? I've been reliably informed that it wasn't anyone in the Nats shovelling that particular shit, so let's cut the outraged virgin routine.


    l

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

  • Russell Brown,

    Just a word, folks.

    I gave to go out in a moment to buy a new coffee grinder.

    This is quite exciting (no, really), but it would all be spoiled if someone were to, say, utter defamations or distasteful statements in my absence.

    So, er, careful out there ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Hmm .... coffee ... potential legal crap .... coffee .... legal crap .... that's a tough call

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Re: DPF, Crime Stats my pet peeve is referring to the murder stats. The number of murders is really too small (and the typical murder, from a law-enforcement point of view, too random) to support any conclusions.

    It really is like saying global warming is real/not real because this years was warmer/cooler than last year.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Hey, can you tell where one can buy a decent coffee grinder at an economical price Mr. Brown?


    I saw one I liked for like $149, and I was "To hell with that!"


    But maybe that is what you have to pay.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Lets cut the outraged virgin routine? Gleefully re-telling the latest rumour over some beers is human nature. It is NOT the same as constructing a careful laundering process for spreading rumours full of depraved filth.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Hosking,

    In particular, to me its at least prima facie evidence of how those who like to spread whispering hate campaigns against (in particular) Helen Clark use people like Slater to launder their filthy rumours out via the likes of David Farrar, Matthew Hooten and Bridget Saunders

    Can't speak about the other two, but DPF didn't touch this rumour with a bargepole.

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Julian Melville,

    Tom - $149 doesn't even get you in the game, sorry (assuming we're talking about espresso). Something like a second hand Mazzer from Trademe with new burrs might see you on your way for about $4-500 though. The upside is that what you spend on the grinder you can pretty much skimp on the machine; as long as it can keep good temp and pressure it should make good coffee given the perfect grind.

    I'd be interested to know what Russell ended up with.

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 200 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Apropos grinders: the "Mini Macho" that L'Affare sells is a rebadged La Pavoni and probably the cheapest acceptable burr grinder for espresso out there at around $300. But you can spend two or three times that for a noticeable improvement.

    If you're making plunger or filter coffee the sub $100 low-end burr grinders are perfectly ok. But it makes no sense if you have a quality espresso machine to put uneven grounds in the basket. Espresso machines are very, very fussy.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Fact checking - you're doing it wrong. But it certainly seems like there was fault all along that chain of rubbish...


    Re grinders: if it's for espresso Tom everyone seems to say burr or nothing. And they seem to start at $400ish... I got a "cheaper" machine to get the grinder and am happy enough.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Lets cut the outraged virgin routine? Gleefully re-telling the latest rumour over some beers is human nature. It is NOT the same as constructing a careful laundering process for spreading rumours full of depraved filth.

    Tom: If you really want to go there, sleazing around the Press Gallery (on a "non-attributable basis" naturally) is not having a gossip over after-work drinks on a Friday. My point, as I think it's a perfectly valid one, is that Grant is being a little disingenuous if he thinks the left don't play the same game. And it all makes me sick, to be honest.

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

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    Ah, there's nothing funnier than a good old fashioned rape hoax.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    A second hand Mazzer? That sounds quite vulgar. I wonder if should email Wahaleoil about it.


    FIVE HUNDRED NOTES????? Can't I just, you know, sidle up to the cheap Breville one at Briscoes and get them to put it in a brown paper bag?

    Otherwise I'm going to have to buy myself a nice ceramic tea pot instead; I can't afford this high falutin' coffee game.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Craig: I agree with you on the making you sick thing.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Well I don't think I paid more than $200 for my grinder. I admit I haven't managed to get a proper ristretto without cheating (opening the steam wand as the coffee's drawing) yet, but I don't have a tamper that's the right size or possibly the right kind of basket.

    So you probably shouldn't take my advice, but I went to moore wilsons.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • David Ritchie,

    Surely true caffeinistas make homemade coffee grinders from old vacuum cleaners and industrial parts purchased from T&E?

    Since Nov 2006 • 166 posts Report Reply

  • Julian Melville,

    Yeah unfortunately once you start down the slippery coffee slope, it can be a wild ride. And I'm speaking as one who's recently plumbed a second hand commercial espresso machine into the kitchen. The results, however, are worth it!

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 200 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Bell,

    A comment on the crime stats thing: in their piece on the crime stats TV3 said "somewhat surprisingly" methamphetamine crime is down. Well no, that's not surprising, when you consider methamphetamine use has been tracking down over recent years (not that you would read about that on the front page). So it figures meth-related crime (manufacture, supply, etc) would track down accordingly. I guess it's sad for the media when truth gets in the way of a good story.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 175 posts Report Reply

  • Rogan Polkinghorne,

    Reason why I love PAS # 76 - only here would you get a digression from political intrigue/defamation etc to...coffee grinders!

    A-town • Since Nov 2006 • 105 posts Report Reply

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