Posts by Craig Ranapia

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  • Hard News: The standing-still sweep,

    So far as I can tell, no has used the phrase "terrorist threat" in a report today, so no need for a moratorium on that.

    Indeed, Russell. I was doing a bit of channel surfing on the radio, and it's not really fair to hold NewstalkZB responsible for a rather over excited caller - especially when the host did try and calm things down a bit.

    But I don't think I was having an auditory halucination when I heard the phrase 'terror raid' pass the lips of Simon Dallow and Mark Sainsbury this evening. And I really, really want to be told I've got that wrong too.

    I withdraw and apologise if I've been unfair, as they say in Parliament - and I actually mean it. :) And I'm ready to be pleasantly surprised by the Herald's sober, fact-based, speculation and hyperbole light coverage tomorrow morning.

    It's shaping up as amazing story that someone's going to come out of poorly.

    Indeed - and my concern is that the media isn't going to be that someone. On one level, what really concerns me is that the fairy tale of The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf has quite a bit of truth in it, and I don't know about anyone else but I don't tend to make sound decisions when in a state of panic.

    And, Michael, I just don't give the Liarbore Dykeocracy that much credit. However, I fully expect opportunistic political arse-hattery to be spread fairly well across the political spectrum. Just the nature of the beast.

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

  • Hard News: The standing-still sweep,

    And a request for MSM folks: Perhaps you could delcare a moratorium on throwing around terms like 'terror raids' and 'terrorist threats' at least until charges alleging any such thing are laid. I've given up hoping that the distinction between a charge and conviction means anything any more.

    It seems to me that there are way too many media outlets setting themselves up for please explain sessions with either the BSA or Press Council, if not a slew of defamation suits. Don't know about any other PA reader, but terrorist strikes me as one of the more seriously nasty labels you can slap on a person.

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

  • Hard News: The standing-still sweep,

    that particular type of conflict will never happen in nzl.

    Hum... I'll remember that that when the election campaign get going - because it's almost inevitable that someone is going to predict race war if the evil John Key ever gets the keycard to the 9th Floor.

    What I find rather nauseating about folks (both on the loony left and rabid right) who are quite happy to talk up race riots and civil war is that there's a few people in this country who have close - and heart-breaking - knowledge of the real thing.

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

  • Hard News: The standing-still sweep,

    And I wonder who gave TVNZ their reported 'understanding' that the Prime Minister had been subject to a non-specified threat to her safety from persons connected with today's 'terror raids'.

    My understanding was that the Prime Minister's Office and the Diplomatic Protection Squad have a strict no comment and certainly no disclosure policy around such threats.

    And would be a tad cynical to suggest that it would do Clark no harm on the polling front, especially after last night's One/CB poll had her level pegging with John Key in the preferred Prime Minister stakes. (I think the whole question is total bullshit until the day we elect your legislative and executive branches separately, but some folks take it seriously.)

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

  • Hard News: The standing-still sweep,

    Anyway, some food for thought courtesy of Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (1830-1903, British PM 1885-6, 86-92, 1895-1902):

    **No lesson seems to be so deeply inculcated by the experience of life as that you should never trust experts. If you believe doctors, nothing is wholesome: if you believe the theologians, nothing is innocent: if you believe the soldiers, nothing is safe. They all require their strong wine diluted by a very large admixture of insipid common sense.**

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

  • Hard News: The standing-still sweep,

    Ok. So you get into a lift and find a cobra, a lion and John Banks. You only have two bullets in your gun what do you do?

    Assume the fetal position, soil myself, be very, very still and very, very quiet. :)

    OTOH, I can also imagine "molotov cocktails" meaning rags, bottles and petrol being found in the same general area.

    And what kind of bang would your good single malt make with a couple of paper towels jammed in the neck? But thanks for reminding me there's a few thing around the kitchen and laundry (perfectly legal cleaning products) I should secure a little better. And must put the recycling out this week too - the neighbours had quite a party last weekend and asked if the overflow (about three dozen wine and beer bottles) could go in our wheelie bin.

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

  • Hard News: The standing-still sweep,

    Oh, and some dude in the Indymedia comments reckons it's all a set-up by Dow Agrichemicals ...

    Isn't it always? I've got a pet theory regarding Dow complicity in the Second Punic War if anyone's interested,

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

  • Hard News: The standing-still sweep,

    Just got off the phone from Mark Jennings at TV3: it was the Sunrise cameraman arriving at work, seeing the police on their way to the raid, grabbing his camera and following them. That's why there was no reporting with the clip -- no reporter!

    And quite a happy outcome for the Police - who must be gagging for any publicity that doesn't involve a tasered corpse or high profile court cases arising from what Michael Laws repulsively calls 'sensual excesses'.

    Anyway, let's hope the Police have some steak under the sizzle because cases involving alleged 'terrorist' have a nasty habit of falling apart faster than candy floss in a monsoon.

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

  • Hard News: The standing-still sweep,

    Police looking for some good shots of their big day busting activists, needed to bring a TV camera on the only raid near a TV station?

    Well, yes...

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

  • Hard News: The standing-still sweep,

    Hmmm, come to think of it the posting has been quiet on kiwiblog today...

    Yes, interesting how quickly the team moderation and introducing a daily general discussion thread seems to be calming down the loony left and the rabid right wingnuts. A wee way to go yet, but a decent enough start.

    Legally speaking, remaining silent does not make you a party to a crime, and there's no obligation to report anything.

    True enough - and the stupid crap that seems to come from Mr. Iti every time he opens his trap proves nothing more than... well, he's full of crap. If that's a criminal offence, I'd respectfully suggest we're all terrorists now.

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

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