Posts by Russell Brown

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  • If the Straitjacket Fits ...,

    Partly it's because some people seem a lot less responsible than we were (and we were pretty irresponsible - so that may be just my perception) and the fireworks seem to be crap compared to what they were (might also be my perception).

    I fear your memory might be faulty on both counts. When I were a lad, we spent the two-week sale period hurling serious bangers at each other and doing various other very dangerous things (we made a gun that fired batteries nearly 300m). You can't get the bangers any more, but I think the display fireworks are a lot better then they used to be. I recall crappy little things called 'Mt Vesuvius' and 'Mt Egmont' whose flames barely rose a foot ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • The NZ Web's greatest hits (and misses),

    Y'know, this whole System is reminding me of the good old days of soc.culture.nz, with Brian Harmer and his WYSIWIG news.

    Aarrrggh! Just had a must-not-turn-into-Usenet moment ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • If the Straitjacket Fits ...,

    Strike one for not reading the invite properly. Cheers Russel!

    De nada. Saved me thinking up a topic ...

    When we have the other glitches ironed out I'll get the guys to create a "suggest a topic" button.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • If the Straitjacket Fits ...,

    The push to (re)raise the drinking age, restrict party pills, ban fireworks and otherwise legislate safety into our lives raises the question: are we becoming too safe for our own good?

    Are we trading our innovative edge - that spirit of risk and adventure that sends us on our OE's and brought us bungy jumping, that dared suggest we could make inappropriately good vodka or climb a remarkably big mountain somewhere in Aisa - for a culture of over-protective nannying?

    NB: This was originally posted by Hamish in 'Monitor', which we actually intend to be a TV discussion slot, but it's an excellent topic, so I'm kicking it off here, verbatim.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • The NZ Web's greatest hits (and misses),

    Although nothing happens if one forgets the final '/' after system in the URL. Small config change required :-)

    Thanks Don - I'd noticed the same thing. I thought I'd let the lads go for lunch, but I'll get them to fix that soon. (Gravatars aren't working because the Gravatar dude is trying to rebuild his site ...)

    I must say, I still recall the Newsroom-Scoop split quite vividly. I think Peter and Alastair just had different visions - and they're very different people. Newsroom going subscriber took it into a different space, while Scoop became the national noticeboard of public life.

    Allow me also to chuck in IDGNet - http://www.idg.co.nz/ - which gave me a job as (I think) the first dedicated online reporter/news editor in the country in 1996. That was a good time to be on the internet beat, what with the ISP wars and all. On slow days I'd just call up one of the Wood brothers, wait for them to say something outrageous and write the story ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • The NZ Web's greatest hits (and misses),

    As we hurtle into the interweb future, perhaps it's time to take stock. What are the most important and influential sites in the brief history of the web in New Zealand? Trade Me? http://www.govt.nz ? Scoop? And how about the stinkers? Flying Pig? Xtra version 1? And which newer sites will be regarded fondly in five years' time? Elaborate, unload and argue for your choices ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Brian Tamaki meets George Michael,

    The Bish goes Wham!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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