Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: The Wall and the Paper

297 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 3 4 5 6 7 12 Newer→ Last

  • Susan Snowdon,

    Because wild flowers need so much maintenance, how would they survive without us, eh?.

    Actually, wild 'flowers' do need a lot of maintenance. They flower over summer, go to seed, and die. Then other things, generally weeds and grasses, take over. If the wildflower seeds survive they can't compete with these now established plants. To look good the wildflower areas have to be cleared and re-seeded every year, and that's really expensive on a motorway scale. If we considered assorted weed 'wildflowers' to be ok, that's fine (I know, a weed is just a plant in the wrong place), but they're not the pretty flowers most people have in mind. Our real wildflowers are flax, cabbage tree, manuka etc. Motorways have lots of those.

    Since Mar 2008 • 110 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Regarding the various discussions here (SST, Askew etc), I highly recommend tonight's Media 7, where Our Russell gives the editor of the SST a right bollocking, and Len Brown a lighter bollocking.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • philipmatthews,

    Regarding the various discussions here (SST, Askew etc), I highly recommend tonight’s Media 7, where Our Russell gives the editor of the SST a right bollocking, and Len Brown a lighter bollocking.

    Looking forward to that. Also, speaking of things TVNZ 7: the current season of The Good Word is, er, good too. All three critics this week (Braunias, Ward-Lealand, Bill Hastings) gave Bret Easton Ellis' recent Imperial Bedrooms a bollocking also.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to Susan Snowdon,

    It's good to finally hear a decent reason for it. I did like the flowers, but wondered why it's so seldom that you just see wild fields of them. So the answer is "they need maintenance"?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    Regarding the various discussions here (SST, Askew etc), I highly recommend tonight’s Media 7, where Our Russell gives the editor of the SST a right bollocking, and Len Brown a lighter bollocking.

    The mayor was certainly a bit more bollocking-proof. He's been paying attention at media training, I suspect.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Meanwhile, the mother of an Aspie boy has posted this response to Laws on her blog.

    Laws has now replied, informing the mother that it is her fault her son is Asperger.

    Just, wow.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sam F, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Just, wow.

    Personally I've now passed the point where getting progressively angrier at Laws' progressively more offensive behaviour has given way to a calm, simple desire to see him off the airwaves and out of our papers permanently.

    Anyone got a go-to list of those I should not be spending money with until this happens?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report

  • Che Tibby, in reply to Sam F,

    Anyone got a go-to list of those I should not be spending money with until this happens?

    please.

    if anyone has the time to shake these out i'll take the time to write to them.

    this arsehat Lhaws really has to go. and the sooner the better.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    @Sam F I am all for some sort of organised campaign, as a SST subscriber and an occasional contributor to their Reader's panel. I wonder if a formal complaint to the Press Council is worthwhile but past experiences suggest it is rather a toothless animal.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Laws has now replied, informing the mother that it is her fault her son is Asperger

    And a nice piece it is too: "Michael Laws really is a special little man".

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to nzlemming,

    And a nice piece it is too: "Michael Laws really is a special little man".

    +1 - though it only reinforces my dislike of "special" in other contexts too

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    If you are referring to the wildflower strips all along the southern part of the motorway just before the Bombay Hills then I'm afraid you are incorrect. This land is NZTA land, and even there, Mayor Banks had no control. I understand that the wildflowers were replaced due to maintenance problems.

    As a sometime motorcyclist, I'm rather partial to shrubbery over wildflowers where those wire barrier cheesecutters have been installed.

    In the event of a crash, the shrubbery might have a better chance than the pretty flowers do of absorbing some of my impact energy before the wire gets to slice off one of my limbs or decapitate me.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Laws has now replied, informing the mother that it is her fault her son is Asperger.

    Just, wow.

    Lhaws has jumped off the slippery slope all right. I hope Rex's police report gets followed through, although I'm uneasy about potential reprisals from Lhaws' Lhoyalists if it is. How big exactly? Potentially something bigger than Henrygate.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    3 News website story by Dan Satherly.

    Laws is quoted, then posts a whiny comment. It's conceivable that his rude reply to Marilynn McLachlan meant something other than everyone thought it did, but it's also quite possible he knew what he was saying.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    Nice to hear that my complaint to the editor added to the avalanche. Shows it is worth doing.
    Also the photograph with the Satherley article is particularly scary.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    Mr Lhaws' philosophy: If a square peg won't fit in a round hole, get a bigger hammer. Rinse and repeat.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I want a T-shirt that says "PC-wet".

    I liked this

    Mr Brown calls Mr Laws' comments "extremely unpleasant".

    Were those really the first words that came to mind?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    3 News website story by Dan Satherly.

    Nice work. Now they just need to speed up the comment moderation..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • recordari,

    Now they just need to speed up the comment moderation..

    They need to speed up the LHaws moderation.

    Would someone please take his platform away? He is doing no one anything but harm. Including himself. If it wasn't so blindingly obvious, for anyone who can read, how stressful this must be for Arie, his family and now Marilynn McLachlan and hers, it would almost be funny.

    He is self-destructing. I predict YouTube clips any moment.

    As Sacha points out, there are standards, both in broadcasting and in human decency. Who is going to uphold them?

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • recordari, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    I want a T-shirt that says “PC-wet”.

    Ok, apologies for flippancy, but would that be a ‘PC-wet T-shirt’ competition?

    Alternatively know as a ‘dry T-shirt’ competition.

    <droll>

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    I want a T-shirt that says “PC-wet”.

    Water and computers don't mix.


    What?

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Was a lag for a while - common with batch moderating (just annoying when yours is one of em). Great blunt comment there by Paul Williams (17 Mar 2011 6:08pm):

    Michael, you might want to reflect on whether or not you, a person forced to resign from parliament because of your deceit, should call others out for truthfulness?

    What is tragic about this situation is that you have nothing other than a track record of stupidity and double-standards.

    I once wondered if you were redeemable, around the time of Cam Campion's death; I wonder no more.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • recordari,

    Makes more sense down here.

    ETA

    Now they just need to speed up the comment moderation..

    No, you’re right they really do. When people start name calling back, it will only serve to drive more traffic to his ego, with more unfortunate collateral damage.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • vangam,

    Haha. David Kemsey couldn't wait to get out of there. Good show, Russ.

    Rangiora • Since Jun 2007 • 103 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    So if Steve Braunias lost his contract because he wrote a rude email to a reader, and now Laws has written an even ruder and more offensive email to another reader, doesn't that automatically mean that the company (since it seems to be higher than the editor) will terminate him? Should I email the editor to check?

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

First ←Older Page 1 3 4 5 6 7 12 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

This topic is closed.