Posts by Craig Ranapia
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Hard News: The digital switch-off, in reply to Danielle,
(I wouldn’t dream of missing an episode of Jersey Shore, though, so you might want to discount my opinion altogether.)
I’m still waiting for an excuse to drop "dreck-i-tude" on people who aren't on the America's Next Top Model crack, so we’re even.
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the news that Steven Spielberg has secured film rights to The Guardian’s book Wikileaks: Inside Julian Assange’s war on Secrecy
I assume you linked before The Guardian changed the story to reflect the actual state of play. Spielberg hasn't optioned the book. The studio he co-founded (and sold his interest in over five years ago) has taken out an option, and there's nobody attached to the project. Like most studios, Dreamworks options a hell of a lot more material than ever gets produced, so Alan Rusbridger might want to hold off on the casting suggestions for a while. :)
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Hard News: The digital switch-off, in reply to Kumara Republic,
In the words of David Harris, “NZ is in real danger of becoming a McD’s nation – nothing more than a bland plastic replica of suburban America.”
Which I find deliciously amusing, when those evil corporate pay cable fucks are producing some of the most ambitious and satisfying television ever. I would be impressed beyond measure if we saw TVNZ commission and screen anything like Spike Lee's When The Levees Broke or The Wire. Won't ever hold my breath waiting though.
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Stephen Judd,
I just had a small stroke as the part of my brain that processes irony received too much blood and died.
So would reading any reliable history of the untold misery actual Commissars caused during the Russian Civil War and Mr. Stalin's regime. Perhaps someone could come up with an equivalent to argumentum ad Hitlerium for lazy and vulgar invocations of Stalinism and Soviet repression for rhetorical effect?
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Sacha,
Commissar gagging to flatten heritage buildings.
FFS, Sacha, I've literally just watched Brownlee make a statement that is, to be extremely generous, unhelpful. (He could also do with a wee reminder that a good proportion of heritage buildings are in private hands and we Nats are supposed to be big on fucking property rights.) But do keep the rhetorical needle off the red line, shall we?
Even if it's either unsound or prohibitively expensive to restore damaged heritage buildings, it's more than possible that sections can be sensitively and safely integrated into new building. So, everyone (not least the responsible minister) could do with some slow, deep calming breaths.
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Matthew Poole,
you can’t blame Brown for not thinking it’s a call that’s going to get a fair hearing.
Matthew: With all due and sincere respect, you don't get to have it both ways and neither does Brown. A palpable lack of enthusiasm for the CBD rail loop from central government didn't stop Brown from making it a centrepiece of his mayoral campaign. And listening to various commentators, you'd think it's the only thing that will save Auckland from economic zombiedom.
I can understand why regional petrol taxes are about as popular as kosher bacon, and a smart political operator like Connor Roberts knows Brown won't score a second term on the Banks Effect. But bitching central government isn't going to cut it either -- but it's certainly not going to lose anyone any votes, will it?
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Sam F,
IMO this is taking their whole “if it’s suppressed it leads” thing just a. bit too far.
I hate saying this, but for once The Herald can be acquitted of the charge of journalistic GBH (grievous beat-up hackery). I’m sorry, but I read this and “WTFingF?” was my first reaction.
Auckland Council chief executive Doug McKay – with backing from Mayor Len Brown – yesterday refused to release the “earthquake-prone building register” of 412 unreinforced masonry buildings because it was out of date and could affect owners’ property values. [Emphasis added – CR]
Don’t really think “property values” should be the prime consideration here, do you? Also, this register has been in existence since 2004 (according to the linked story) – why the hell isn’t it being kept up to date, since I presume any earthquake-proofing would need to go through the consents process at the very least? (I know Brown and McKay can plausibly blame the last lot, but really guys. You’re wearing the big hats, boys, and that’s a well you can’t keep going back to forever.)
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Sacha,
Wasn’t that the stumbling block for some in central government (across the spectrum)? Perhaps it has changed.
I recall it being the Greens biggest problem with the original legislation, though someone like Mikaere would be better qualified to speak to that.
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Sacha,
Genuine question – not like I’ve read everything the man has written.
That was a porn-star dick presumption of bad faith on my part. Sacha, please accept my apology.
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Kumara Republic,
And wouldn’t it be ironic if the strongest supporters of John Frum economics, sorry, privatisation, kick up a stink about being told to pay for their own 14-lane highways?
It would be a near certainty, but here’s a crazy idea. How about The Browns (and every other Mayor) call Joyce and English’s bluff?
Call on government to restore the ability to levy regional petrol taxes (with the income ring-fenced for regional public transport projects determined by local government themselves). Go out and make the argument that it's easy for the editorial board and columnists of the Herald to turn into born again Keynesians and talk about “shared sacrifice”. Now’s the time to nut up or shut up - if central government is going to argue (correctly, IMO YMMV) that the national infrastructure spend needs to be focused on Christchurch for a long time, then give regions the ability to do it themselves.
If Len’s “deep breath” was used to make a politically courageous argument like that (instead of glib PR stunts like the “100 projects in 100 days” nonsense), he’d have something more valuable than my support. He’d get my vote, and so would any other candidate walking the talk.
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