Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Beijing: Ignoring it is not an option

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  • Rob Hosking,

    Reminds me of when I was student flatting - I answered a phone call from a clairvoyant who was ringing to berate my flatmate for missing an appointment.

    I had a flatmate into astrology. Told me I was a typical Cancer male: sensitive, moody, and doesn't forget a slight.

    Bloody cow. Didn't speak to her for a week after that.

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    But maybe one day they could lead the cops in the wrong direction.

    Knowing an ex-police officer who has been on the show about one of his cases, I can confirm that the police are very cynical about anything useful coming out of it.

    The one I've seen didn't have a current police officer. Do they ever have current police officers on it? I wonder if the police has told their officers not to cooperate.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Bloody cow. Didn't speak to her for a week after that.

    And I see you haven't forgotten!

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    I had a flatmate into astrology.

    That reminds me. back in the early '80's I once aske a Woman what her sign was, she replied, "No Entry"

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Josh Addison,

    Only vaguely related - when we got the phone connected at an old flat, Telecom assigned us a phone number that had previously been used by a Baha'i faith phone line. I discovered this when I answered one day to be asked "are you aware of the Baha'i faith?" I replied "um, yeah, I've heard of them..."

    Onehunga, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 298 posts Report

  • samuel walker,

    Since Nov 2006 • 203 posts Report

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    It was interested to learn that while Sensing Murder was originally a Dutch format and based on an Australian version, both those versions have long since been cancelled, while the NZ one goes from strength to strength.

    Sensing Murder is like Crimewatch, but with the psychics' visions providing dialogue to make the re-enactments more dramatic. But the programme is just called "Sensing Murder" - not "Solving Murder". All the psychics need to do is sense something about the murder!

    And why is it that the psychics can pick up very clear sentences from the victim ("She's saying, 'Get off me! Leave me alone!'") but they can't pick up the victim saying, "The murderer was John Smith of 1234 Criminal Street.")?

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Knowing an ex-police officer who has been on the show about one of his cases, I can confirm that the police are very cynical about anything useful coming out of it.

    And so they should be. I saw the repeat of Media7 last night, and while I have enormous respect for Carroll du Chateau and share her frustrations around the Agnes Ali'iva'a investigation, this is what passes for investigative television journalism? With the greatest and most sincere respect, Carroll -- pull the other one, 'cause I'm spoken for.

    And was I the only one who found Baldock's rationale for those reconstructions and the repated crime scene photos of Ali'iva'a's body (and yes, RB they were gratuitous) rather strained? Every one does these reconstructions? Perhaps, but they're also carefully constructed (the wobbly camera, sinister fog filters and horror show music) to manipulate an emotional reaction out of the audience. Baldock et. al. should stop pretending otherwise.

    And I do wish you'd asked B. this question: "Well, how would you feel if you'd seen 19 shots of your daughter's corpse -- including close ups of her brused and scratched limbs, back and neck. Really?"

    On a more cheerful note -- seen parts of the Olympic opening ceremony. And you can't say Zhang Yimou's tastes for spectacular spectacle and sentimentality weren't given full reign (and I suspect an eye-wateringly large budget). :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • samuel walker,

    And I do wish you'd asked B. this question: "Well, how would you feel if you'd seen 19 shots of your daughter's corpse -- including close ups of her brused and scratched limbs, back and neck. Really?"

    he would have countered with his solve-all block-all well rehearsed statement that as a father he would have been glad to see the case get the publicity in the hope that it may lead to a conviction. There were moments during m7 that I almost thought he believed it.

    Jeremy Newsboy was only giving B those few generic compliments to butter him up and make Jeremy seem more fair, wasnt he?

    Since Nov 2006 • 203 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Jeremy Newsboy was only giving B those few generic compliments to butter him up and make Jeremy seem more fair, wasnt he?

    Nah, I think you've got to acknowledge that Sensing Bullshit is very well produced, and Ninox does have form when it comes to producing real documentaries not necrophile infotainment. But why I also cordially loathe the 'true crime' genre, this is a whole new level of ghastly. And I really hope Baldock isn't swallowing his own spin about this show being some kind of public service. It's gore-crow perv-o-vision.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    but I don't think I'm going to be able to take my eyes off Beijing this month.

    The first four hours was definitely worth a look, Absolutely stunning!

    ----

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Jeremy Newsboy was only giving B those few generic compliments to butter him up and make Jeremy seem more fair, wasnt he?

    Wells was on the panel yesterday and was asked about Sensing Murder, presumably arising from the Media 7 show. He said that he thought the production, reenactments etc were all very good. It was once the psychics were brought in that he thought it went out the window.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Jeremy also queried in passing why they didn't extend the concept and do shows on Sensing Aggravated Assualt and Sensing Agravated Burglary. Heh.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Jeremy also queried in passing why they didn't extend the concept and do shows on Sensing Aggravated Assualt and Sensing Agravated Burglary. Heh.

    I can just see it...

    "Spirit is telling me, 'I am high on P. I need some money, ow. I'm gonna do a burg.'"

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Police interview Sensing Murder psychics

    And not with a view to charge them with something, mind. To help them solve a murder.

    Can I have the money from my taxes that goes to the police redirected towards something useful?

    (I found it pretty hard to "sense" in which thread we talked about this, by the way - Russell, the search function sucks. In the event, Google saved the day.)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Heh. I liked the bits in the middle of the story:

    Sensing Murder producers say psychic Deb Webber had named a person involved in the Kaye Stewart inquiry. Her revelation "could go down in New Zealand policing history".

    But Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Levy said police who interviewed Webber and fellow psychic Kelvin Cruickshank had already discounted that person, and other publicly unknown information revealed by the pair had failed to produce any fresh leads.

    ...

    The psychics had described the Conservation Department compound that Mrs Stewart had visited at the entrance to the park, and pointed to a general area where an "encounter" took place.

    "She may have met someone there or something may have happened there. There's a lot of speculation and we've got to deal with facts," Mr Levy said.

    The TV show's rules normally ensure the psychics have no prior information about a case - but the Stewart family had dealings with both psychics previously. Ninox Television, which produces the show, said the psychics realised they were familiar with the case only when they were halfway through filming.

    Particularly the last paragraph. I wonder if that wee fact is revealed in the show?

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

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