Posts by Matt Jeffs

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  • New Herald site,

    I wouldn't describe the NZ Herald as 'Granny in hot pants' but more like an embarrasing un pc uncle. The site may look more la-de-da but it still reads like a tabloid posing as a broadsheet.
    The subtle institutionalised xenaphobic journalism is still present (for proof have a read of Simon Rattue's highly misguided piece on the Welsh). Whether it was toungue in cheek or not isn't the point it was massivly offensive.
    Alot of dirge printed in the Herlad make the some of British redtop tabloids look like quality papers. That takes some effort.
    The new site is slow, unresponsive and dull.
    Oh well I suppose you can't polish a turd.

    UK - ex Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 36 posts Report

  • Hard News: Down in the Park?,

    whoops many apologies I hit the Post Reply button twice by mistake.

    UK - ex Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 36 posts Report

  • Hard News: Down in the Park?,

    I agree with Craig's earlier post. It would've been better to have seen the Govt make some sort of attempt to enforce sporting snactions on the Fijian RFU than to have caved in to the souless beaurocrats at the IRB.

    I understand the IRB are the 'administrators' of the international game and have to maintain an apolitical stance on all matters but surely couldn't we have had some political guts on this one and at least given the current illegal Fijian regime the hint that what is happening in their country at present isn't tolerated by NZ.

    I'm sure the IRB would've eventually seen the sense in this and bowed to the majority of their members who I'm sure would've wanted a ban on the Fijian 7's team purely on moral grounds also.

    Mind you maybe I'm being naieve. I remeber the completely out of touch attitude of the International Cricket Board towards imposing sanctions (or lack of) on Zimbabwe several years ago.

    UK - ex Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 36 posts Report

  • Hard News: Down in the Park?,

    I agree with Craig's earlier post. It would've been better to have seen the Govt make some sort of attempt to enforce sporting snactions on the Fijian RFU than to have caved in to the souless beaurocrats at the IRB.

    I understand the IRB are the 'administrators' of the international game and have to maintain an apolitical stance on all matters but surely couldn't we have had some political guts on this one and at least given the current illegal Fijian regime the hint that what is happening in their country at present isn't tolerated by NZ.

    I'm sure the IRB would've eventually seen the sense in this and bowed to the majority of their members who I'm sure would've wanted a ban on the Fijian 7's team purely on moral grounds also.

    Mind you maybe I'm being naieve. I remeber the completely out of touch attitude of the International Cricket Board towards imposing sanctions (or lack of) on Zimbabwe several years ago.

    UK - ex Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 36 posts Report

  • Yellow Peril: the identity game,

    What interested me the most were the very old fasioned terminology for what we consider people who are not born in New Zealand. The terms 'Asian' , 'Non New Zealand European' & 'Pacific Peoples' are so wide ranging surely they render alot of the data almost useless.

    The problem with calling ourselves 'New Zealanders' is that it is a term that has in previous years been used and abused by the insecure nationalistic right wing who have the ridiculous image of a 'New Zealander' being white anglo saxon descendants.

    How many Kiwi's who are probably 5th - 6th generation NZer still insist they are 'Europeans'? Its nonsense. It is such a leftover of insecure Victorian NZ.

    I thought we were moving on from that and hopefully giving rise to the terms New Zealand Maori or New Zealand Samoan or New Zealand Vietnamese or New Zealand Irish or New Zealand Somali..... you get my point. The key here is that while we should be able to demonstrate an affiliation with our own or ancestral culture we do actually all have one thing on common. New Zealand.

    Whew I need to go lie down after that little diatribe..........

    UK - ex Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 36 posts Report

  • Hard News: Something up with Apple?,

    Paul & Matthew B. Cheers for heads up guys.
    I already .. and I tentativley admit this.... subscribe to SmokeCDs.com. Just had a squizz at newzealandcds.com and Amplifier. Good suggestions...... now melting my UK credit card in a Kiwi music purchasing frenzy.........

    UK - ex Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 36 posts Report

  • Hard News: Something up with Apple?,

    I see a few other overseas based kiwi's are having the same problem as myself. Great I thought. A way of legally purchasing great NZ music. But alas some boffin has decided that only users with New Zealand Credit Cards can purchase from the site. Is there anyway around this that people know of that isn't obvious to me yet???
    I thought the biggest plus of the legal mp3 / download revolution was to give bands and music from other parts of the world, such as New Zealand, an oppourtunity to make themselves a bit more global....

    Time for my stupid question of the day:
    Does anyone know why this overseas based purchasing block is in place?

    Whoever decided on this 'NZ credit card only' policy has scored an own goal on behalf of NZ music industry.

    UK - ex Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 36 posts Report

  • Island Life: All stadium, all the time,

    Deborah from Wellington.... thats the best post on here by far and a mile.

    Blimey we're a bunch of moanin' old parochial whingers down there in NZ. I live in Pomgolia and I thought the English were bad........ But my fellow NZer's really do take the gold medal for whinging about something that will ultimatley be a great addition to Auckland and NZ.

    One of the many problems was that too many people were consulted on the quandry on building a national rugby stadium. In the end it became a farcical process. Not enough direction was taken by Mallard or the NZRFU so we've been left with the 'oh sh**t is that the time?.. Quick lets build a stadium' solution.
    While Eden Park ain't perfect by any stretch its the decision thats been made and I'm glad they're gonna do it properly. Its been long overdue.
    At the end of the day if NZ wants to host these things ,or maybe it doesn't, it has to pay for them somehow. It's like everything else in the grown up world if you want better public transport or a better health system you have to pay for it. (granted a 60,000 rugby stadia is probably less of a neccessity to operating a succesful functioning society..... but only just.
    My advice to those folk who are still aghast at NZ having the guts to actually host an international sports event is don't watch the RWC in 2011.... as it will probably be far far too horrific for you to endure.

    Also I will go ape sh**t if I hear one more small time politician cringfully suggesting we put in temporary seating..... Barry Curtis what are you thinking???..........
    LINK

    UK - ex Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 36 posts Report

  • Radiation: All this, and Lucy too,

    Whoops! in all my excitment I posted an HTML link... School Boy error...... Try this.....instead. if that doesn't work I give up...

    http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/P/peep_show/

    This show is worth a gander.

    UK - ex Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 36 posts Report

  • Radiation: All this, and Lucy too,

    Okay heres a pointless fact for the day.... TORCHWOOD is an anogram of DOCTOR WHO.
    Maybe I should get a life...........
    Also another show you may want to catch down there in NZ is another Brit comedy called Peep Show (not what it sounds like) very clever very well written. Stars two english comedians David Mitchell & Robert Webb. Gives 'The Office' a run for its money on the cringe-o-meter any day. Keep an eye out for it. Or sus it out at the following link.

    UK - ex Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 36 posts Report

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