Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Because They Could

189 Responses

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  • Kyle Matthews,

    ARGH! I fucking hate questions like that.

    The 1999 referendum question on law and order was similarly annoying. Apparently rewriting it in the ballot box and then ticking it, doesn't work.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    The 1999 referendum question on law and order was similarly annoying

    Ah yes,

    When someone compiles a list of biggest ever wastes of taxpayer money, that’d be at the front of the queue.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    The 1999 referendum question on law and order was similarly annoying.

    Yes, I'm embarrassed to admit that I voted yes on that one. I'll put it down to being 20 and voting for the first time, and not quite so careful in analysing that kind of question. These days it'd get an automatic no, though a "WTF kind of question is this?!" would be closer to the truth.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

    The 1999 referendum question on law and order

    Anybody remember, or have to hand, the specific wording of the question?

    I remember it was a poorly thought out question, but not why.

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    without the bloody soundtrack

    Oh Giovanni, what do you have against Snuffy Walden?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • BeShakey,

    1999 Law & Order Question:

    “Should there be a reform of the justice system placing greater emphasis on the needs of victims, providing restitution and
    compensation for them and imposing minimum sentences and hard labour for all serious violent offences?"

    Since Oct 2008 • 6 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Snuffy Walden

    Ah, one of my favourite whimsical names in American TV credits. (I'm also pretty fond of 'Harley Tat', who worked on Blind Date.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Over here you will find the Ultimate West Wing Challenge, featuring David Tennant blowing his cover as a total fanboi. At one point, he's asked who composed the theme music, and he yells "W.G. Snuffy Walden" with a glee that has to be seen to be believed.

    I love him.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Oh Giovanni, what do you have against Snuffy Walden?

    Everything, other than the name. Since it's not even his real name, so he chose to be called Snuffy, and if you're in the business of composing music and conducting orchestras and still don't mind being referred to with a name that conjures small dogs and soft toys, you must be okay as a person.

    But such a crap composer.

    Ah, one of my favourite whimsical names in American TV credits. (I'm also pretty fond of 'Harley Tat', who worked on Blind Date.)

    Fabiomassimo Dell'Orco from Rome. Thuliso Dingwall from The Wire.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    the Political Compass

    Not that I ever looked at his policy, but it's interesting that Ron Paul didn't make it into the libertarian side.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • JackElder,

    Like watching the West Wing, but without the bloody soundtrack.

    I'm surprised that no-one else has mentioned that the character of Matthew Santos in the West Wing - the junior senator from an ethnic minority who makes a bid for president - is based, explicitly, on a then-little known US politician who'd just made a great speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention. Yes, Santos is based on Barack Obama.

    So very much like The West Wing, then. Any chance they'll revive it, you reckon?

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Yes, apparently Attie spoke to Axelrod at the time, although it seems a bit fishy to me. There have been a mountain of coincidences, though, peep on any West Wing forum for the details.

    So very much like The West Wing, then. Any chance they'll revive it, you reckon?

    No need to. They can simply film the first year of Obama's presidency and package it as "season 8".

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Santos was not a senator.

    Should there be a reform of the justice system placing greater emphasis on the needs of victims, providing restitution and compensation for them and imposing minimum sentences and hard labour for all serious violent offences?"

    I didn't support hard labour so I voted "no". Was it that difficult?
    =)

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    With the quiz, considering the small # of questions & options it can't be all that accurate but it would be food for though if you discovered you were on the wrong side.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    I didn't support hard labour so I voted "no". Was it that difficult?
    =)

    And yet National's policy might've been written by the same scribes - even including reviving Neeson's three degrees of murder!

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I didn't support hard labour so I voted "no". Was it that difficult?

    I wanted it broken into three different questions:

    1. Should there be a reform of the justice system?
    2. Should any reform place greater emphasis on the needs of victims, providing restitution and compensation for them?
    3. Should any reform impose minimum sentences and hard labour for all serious violent offences?

    Yes/Umm, OK/No.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I wanted it broken into three different questions:

    Yes, the issue was how they smuggled hard labour in with something that one could get along with. It's a bit like asking "Are you in favour of peace on earth, and killing everyone named Alfred?"

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    It was pretty amazing to see Stevie Wonder have a 40,000 strong NZ crowd loudly roaring the name of a US presidential candidate last night, not to mention the fact that he completely reworded the lyrics to... some song, was it Higher Ground??... to talk about it.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" isn't any better.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Luke Williamson,

    Can't wait for the "anti-smacking" referendum. If I'm honest, I'll have to answer No. However, I disagree intensely with smacking children, the people behind the campaign and the way they have spent money on this stupid, waste of time referendum. GOOOO OBAMA!!!

    Warkworth • Since Oct 2007 • 297 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Well, you're all Joe the plumber, so all of you stand up and say... I thank you

    Boy, when it's all over the McCain/Palin '08 blooper reel is going to be feature-length.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    I also think there should be a good deal of lowering expectations as to what an Obama presidency would actually do as opposed to what the rest of the world and maybe even the American public would like him to do.

    Obama's been doing that himself. His 27.32 minutes ended on the "imperfect man, imperfect president" theme, which if it hadn't been followed by the live Florida fiesta would have almost been un-American...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Neil Graham,

    So very much like The West Wing, then. Any chance they'll revive it, you reckon?

    In animated form surely

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 118 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Fish,

    Has anyone else noticed the political compass for the US election (linked to by Matthew Poole on page 1) - the 2nd graph shows a good representation of a map of New Zealand.
    Scary part is that the bulk of NZ is in the "Authoritarian - Right" sector, with Ron Paul out in the Chathams. The Libertarian bunch all seem to be in Antartica.

    North Island is red (in NZ read Labour) while the South Island is Blue (that would be right!).

    Note John McCain is in Wellington!! And Barack Obama is in Queenstown.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 19 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    "Are you in favour of peace on earth, and killing everyone named Alfred?"

    Finally, a referendum question I can vote for wholeheartedly. The totalitarian tyranny of the Alfreds must end!

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

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