Posts by Matthew Littlewood
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Interesting strategic choice to skip over Obama's 12 years as professor of constitutional law in that biographical video portrait, and to steer clear of mentioning torture, the Supreme Court, etc etc. I guess the electorate doesn't want to think about anything too complicated or yucky.
I think the Daily Show's biographical video was better myself.
Anyway, I've just watched the speech in full. As a piece of pure theatre, it was pretty astonishing. All they needed was cheerleaders and it'd have all the elements. It was pretty superbly timed though, wasn't it? Everything that needed to be said, was said. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who liked the fact it laid out the "vision" without the attendant ad-hominem fear-mongering that you just know the McCain team is going to use over the next couple of months.
I also enjoyed Bill Clinton's the other night too. Speechfying is second nature to the guy, it's as if he loses ten years every time he gets up on a pulpit and starts wagging that finger. A bit of a flashback moment, there.
Have you seen some of the McCain team's recent advertisements? I mean, attacking the opposition candidate because he's popular?
This one brings a whole new form of despicable to the table, mind
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Yeah Villi's gold is utterly unprecedented for NZ in that field, and the fact she's done it entirely her own way speaks a lot for her sheer talent as well as her drive. She's already a senior in the field and she's only in her early 20s.
What struck in the replays is how pumped she was. I mean, it's not often you see NZ sportspersons, even at the highest level, so sure of themselves, especially when the stakes are so high.
Which of course takes nothing away from any of the other NZ medal winners, of course, but Villi's whole approach sets her apart.
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I was a bit disappointed with the interview on TV1 this evening. Whatever you make of his relgious beliefs, etc, he's clearly an articulate guy so it would've been nice if they talked more about his running, training, etc rather than going for the "human interest" angle all the time (though I understand they needed to cover it)
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I've drooled over the pamphlet collection at the Turnbull Library (part of the original Turnbull bequest, and shipped to Britain to be bound in hard covers and shipped back out) if that counts.
There are thousands of them, and many seemed to me to be on economics. Clearly, anyone could have a crack at pronouncing on the world's problems.
Matthew, if you ever wanted to use that academic research (crazy, I know) in a guest post here tracing the links to the blogosphere, consider this an invitation. I find the topic very interesting.
Ha! Perhaps I was overselling myself slightly- it was a 4th year honours 4,000 word research essay. But I collected a lot of stuff from it, actually, although most of it by its very nature deals with the "then" rather than the "now." But the Turnbull Library's collection of those journals is awesome- I'm amazed at some of the stuff they were able to get away with. It's also interesting to note that what became known as "new" journalism in the 1960s and 1970s wasn't very new at all- it was just the context which changed.
It's a fascinating field, partly because it's such a secret history, much like blogging to a degree. I mean, a lot of the stuff was ephemeral by its very nature, and yet it gives as much an insight into the time as any contemporary literature (and the "parliamentary reports" in the Spectator were fascinating because they weren't allowed to name people, so you'd have to have a strong knowledge of 18th and 19th Century British politics. Which I don't, regrettably).
Interesting that Islander pointed out that 4 of the 5 "independants" are based in the South Island. As for the ODT, there are many less than nice things I could say about it, but it knows exactly what its audience is, and keeps a very close eye on its community. It's a ragbag at times, but it's the readers' ragbag, and I mean that in the nicest possible way. And personally I thought Murray Kirkness putting the editorial on the "stadium issue" on the Front Page a few months ago was a brave move, too. And necessary.I can't say the same thing about some of the other Fairfax/APN owned newspapers, but that's mainly because, through no fault of the editorial staff, their resources get squeezed. It's sad, actually. To me, that's a far greater concern than supposed "partisanship," really.
I'm certainly gonna check out your Media 7 show, too- what a great topic.But right now, I'm gonna swot for the exams I've got tomorrow.
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On another note, the way Willis kicked in the final 200m was superb, he timed it exactly. Who here's been following him enough to know how this matches up to his progress? Has he peaked, or is this merely the start? Sorry to sound naiive, but I don't know much about him other than his achievements at the 2006 Commenwealth Games/this year's Olympics.
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That article on Willis was a shocker wasn't it? I like the way it imagines the "non-white" runners as this monolithic entity. It's a real shame, because it was a fantastic race (the 1500m in Olympics usually is), especially from the eventual winner. Sometimes the partinsanship doesn't achieve its dubious aim of inspiring patriotic fervour.
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Rob Hosking's comparison of blogs with the 18th and 19th century grub street/pamphleteering culture is absolutely spot on (I've done academic research into the field, don't you know..). Indeed, both the Spectator and the Tatler both came out of the same culture, which tells you all you need to know about the divide between the smut and literate. (Actually, it wasn't so much a divide as a blur, but anyway...).
And speaking of poo-flinging, the rise of Grub Street inspired Alexander Pope's homeric parody the Dunciad, which is essentially a 100-page poem dedicated to accusing the grub street "hacks" of all sorts of deviant scatology (one part of the poem actually has them literally wade through shit to achieve their prize).
The more things change...
But on a serious point, it is an interesting time, and I've enjoyed this discussion a lot, being the media junkie that I am. I do wonder the main problem is the sheer hegemony of ownership, rather than any "partisanship" of the papers themselves. Laugh at the regional dailies all you want (and believe me, I'll join you), but the more "centralised" the media becomes, the less opinion and chance for new voices it allows. Fairfax's proposed centralised subbing could well be diabolical.
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I don't remember the coffee at Governors much, except that it was much better than the coffee in the Union*. What I remember about Governors was the Hot Apple and Walnut Cake. I had mine with yoghurt, absolute magic.
The best thing about Governors were the pancakes...so crammed with berries...so soft and fluffy...so delicious. I think that was the other reason why the whole staff at Governor's remembered me, I always ordered the same thing every time- pancakes and a hot chocolate. Wonderful.
I miss Governors.
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Isn't it fascinating that one of the most good-natured and reasoned discussionon PA is about food? Turns out it might be the great leveller- after all, we all like to eat.
Regarding the Great Starbucks Debate, my two cents is that it's just awful coffe served in horribly antiseptic settings. All very Dawn of the Dead, and that's even before you get to the way they treat customers.
And it doesn't so far be cutting into the cafe market, because it's not really going for the same audience. Christ. Even McCafe is better if you want on the go, let's not think about what I'm drinking stuff.
Ah, Governors. I still miss the place, even if it was mainly for the company if not the coffee (there was a period where the whole staff knew me by name, as it went there every day), and the Percolator seemed to be on the upswing when I left Dunedin- the new management had cleaned it up and the service and range of stuff had improved. There was a year or so back when it seemed a bit lost.
I haven't had time to look around ChCh since I've got here, so what are the good cafes in town? I admit my usual lunch haunt is actually the Copenhagen Backery because the food is so good there. They know how to make good pastry-related delights.
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Oh christ! It's good someone mentioned Dick Weir's "Ears," now there was a classic show. I might be showing up youth here, but I had a few of my stories read on it, which of course made me and my parents ridiculously proud, although to this day, I wonder what their rejection policy was if they let my, ahem, literary talents slip through...
But seriously, that was a top children's themed radio show- lots of interesting stories from all sorts of authors read aloud (and the fact they were in installments added to the appeal), wide range of different topics, (well, for kids), and two presenters who just knew how to "talk" to their audience without patronising them.
In fact, I was so disappointed when it was cancelled, I actually wrote a letter to the Broadcasting Minister begging him to bring it back.
His (clearly) secretary-typed reply ("unfortunately, I am in a position to bring back Ears...") still rankles.
I can't say this was the beginning of my political disillusionment, but it is true that since then I have harboured an irrational dislike of Maurice Williamson.
Speaking of Dick Weir, I found this pretty neat clip of him on Youtube. Talented man.
Almost certainly, but around here it's the voyage is often more interesting than the destination. :)
:)
Ha, as Grant McDougall knows, I'm well versed in the art of thediscussionboard diversion ;). It's a good place here, I don't post often but I frequently enjoy the banter from regulars such as yourself.