Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: Celebrity Gibberish

231 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 10 Newer→ Last

  • Craig Ranapia,

    PS: The editorial also mentions the "high-profile entertainer" given a discharge and name suppression last week. I don't think this can be usefully discussed without at least the risk of breaching the suppression, and I ask that you don't do so here.

    Um, one might also think it's a whole other series of general issues more usefully discussed (without breeching any suppression orders) outside the context of a drive-by in a heaping bowl of worm-ridden word salad.

    Seriously, I'd be a lot more upset by that editorial if it made any sense whatsoever.

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

  • Just thinking,

    I'm fully infavour of such sentences.
    Rather than the prescribed, write a cheque and forget. He's going to be able to think about all of his transgressions (presumably these are parking tickets) over the hours of his time spent doing some sort of community service & will therefore repay society.
    A far better approach all around.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    Claire Chitham, the wife from whom Havoc separated this year.

    Boy that's sad for them both .
    Hope they are coping ok.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    "If you want to limit the scope of community service to the dirty, unpleasant and manual, fine: make that argument."

    The reason manual labour was seen as fitting for the intelligentsia, Jews, et al, by the... Nazis
    (Godwinned in 4 - I win)

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Samuel Scott,

    Well it is always a nightmare trying to get a park when visiting bFM, so one can sympathise.

    South Wellington • Since Feb 2008 • 315 posts Report Reply

  • Tony Siu,

    The level of public debate in this country should be raise to something about other than C-graded celebrity "news". The Herald can shove their bloated and fluffy news filed by incompetent junior reporters agenda up their ass. We should be talking about why is Rodney Hide tearing and ramming through half-baked legislation into the SuperCity without much thought (A couple of soundbites does not cut it). We should be talking about why the reform of the RMA have an environmental, social and economical dimensions that a simple reform alone does not simply "fixed" the current status quo. We should be talking about the legacy of the National government, now that the first year honeymoon is over, is their policy is a complete re-hash from a previous century and it does not work in the current economic client. We should be talking about the abuses suffered by our young children today instead of framing the incident as victim-blaming, placing pretty pictures of the child and soft-balling questions to the parents does not help anyone here. We should be talking about the coming storm of the corporation of our farming communities. We should be talking about how the Labour government failed to retain their core Middle-Class conservative voters at the last election and let other sideshows overrun their campaign.

    And while I'm it, can we please get rid of that horrible woman who writes the Saturday interview on the back-page of the Herald because there are people out can form sentence structures better than her.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 82 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Well it is always a nightmare trying to get a park when visiting bFM, so one can sympathise.

    Uh, not when you're getting paid to go there on a regular basis. The bfm studio is a half kilometre walk from the Civic carpark under Aotea Square which is seldom full at any time.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Brian Murphy,

    I am 100% with Tony there. It would be great to get people thinking. Just not happenning with the current mainstream media though.

    There is much more to be asked, should Mikeys punishment be costing the job of whoever else would be spinning the discs?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 48 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Seriously, I'd be a lot more upset by that editorial if it made any sense whatsoever.

    It was a shambles, wasn't it?

    Craig, I know there's only me, thee, and half a dozen other people who care about the quality of editorial argument, but that was just rubbish.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I think Mikey is exposing the conspiracy between the University and Auckland City Parking. For years he has riled against the iniquity of 90 minute parking where lectures run for 120 minutes and sometimes even. less.
    I consider Mikey to be a hero of our times. For one who learned to play the Gramophone so well, I think he should be held in high esteem.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Well it is always a nightmare trying to get a park when visiting bFM,

    Uh, not when you're getting paid to go there on a regular basis.

    Well it is a nightmare on the other basis. Y'know when you have places to go, people to meet.It is a sad indictment on this society when, if you get to Princess St by 7am, one should be able to park but cant and he reckons madam is right sir. :)
    How then should I see it? ( Mr Haywood's words)

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

  • Jose Barbosa,

    I think the show's being filmed on Tuesday night. I think. Well, I hope for the sake of my sanity it is. And my thoughts on that editorial run towards amazement it was published: it really was, putting it kindly, all over the place.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 64 posts Report Reply

  • Jose Barbosa,

    And watch this become a debate about Mikey's fines rather than one about the HOS editorial, community service or even standards of juctice. Which it WOULD have been about if the HOS kept its eye on the ball.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 64 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I think the show's being filmed on Tuesday night. I think. Well, I hope for the sake of my sanity it is.

    Uh. Yeah. I wrote "tomorrow" when I thought I was going post it tomorrow ...

    Fixed now. Really.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    Fair point on the editorial being a bit hamfisted with its point, Russell. Mikey Havoc might be being singled out as a case in point, because there's a whole list of names that the HoS can't point to for legal reasons. But it really grates my tits to see someone who knows how to flip the system getting off easy.

    While schmucks like me (and most) pay the fine or do the hard yard, whereas the bicameral legal system has an easy road for the well-to-do.

    It's not just Mikey Havoc that gets the old conversion of fines to community work. Boyracers with heaps of fines have been at that scam for a while, and it was one of the reasons behind Judith the Excellent's executing cars policy.

    I think it's the old tip of the iceberg thing that the HoS is trying to address. The whole swathe of slebs, suits and In the Loopers who never get to court. Or the ones who get name suppression, whatever that means these days. That may be where the true frustration lies.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    The whole swathe of slebs, suits and In the Loopers who never get to court.

    Well it's nice to see you pay yours Zippy but so to Havoc went to court .He negotiated (that's what lawyers do) his options and explained he couldn't raise the money and took an alternative option. If my lawyer didn't act in my best interest I would then complain about that, but his did.anyone in the court system has that chance so it is hardly celebrities only.Once anyone gets in front of a judge one has the right to be heard.Wasn't it excellent Judith that also said "it's fantastic, isn't it?"

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

  • Russell Brown,

    Fair point on the editorial being a bit hamfisted with its point, Russell. Mikey Havoc might be being singled out as a case in point, because there's a whole list of names that the HoS can't point to for legal reasons.

    No, there's a whole list of people the HoS hasn't pointed to because they're not celebrities. And that simple fact completely undoes the "celebrity justice" headline.

    But if you were going to make that argument in a newspaper you'd want to actually present some evidence of the problem. Not just your one celebrity anecdote.

    Mikey was obviously a fool to go into denial about his parking fines (which will have spiralled precisely because he ignored the notices) but that doesn't justify the bizarre way the HoS treated the issue.

    You can argue that community service should be more unpleasant or harder to negotiate -- but as far as I can see, you can't say that this person got a "perk" or "celebrity justice". Again: Havoc didn't exploit his celebrity, the HoS did.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I really do think that the law is applied differently depending on your income and social status. Not completely so, but outcomes seem to vary substantially. That's what I see when I'm around the courts (from time to time, for various reasons). I don't know how the courts deal with cases such as the one mentioned, so I won't comment on it in particular - I have no desire to in any case.

    The HOS might have a case for making an argument about equality under the law, but their treatment of it is dire, as always.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Mikey was obviously a fool to go into denial about his parking fines (which will have spiralled precisely because he ignored the notices) but that doesn't justify the bizarre way the HoS treated the issue.

    Actually Mikey probably did (you can ask him RB) what a good Lawyer would advise if he couldnt afford it. Let them get to Court and plead your case with the Judge. I think even Chris the Hoquard would be able to explain that. He did say (via Harold) that some weeks they were more than his wages and that would take less than 28 days to become an instant problem.

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

  • Russell Brown,

    Readers may also, of course, find some irony in the fact that former HoS reporter Jonathan Marshall this year had $47,000 in unpaid parking fines wiped in exchange for a four day a week curfew.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Clarke,

    And while I'm it, can we please get rid of that horrible woman who writes the Saturday interview on the back-page of the Herald because there are people out can form sentence structures better than her.

    You are a master of irony.

    -36.76, 174.61 or thereab… • Since Nov 2006 • 164 posts Report Reply

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    Sofie, I went to court without a lawyer. I couldn't afford a lawyer more than I couldn't afford a fine. More fool me. As I remember my day in court, I dressed appropriately in a suit but there was no sign of a judge, just lots of Freemasons handshakes between old fellows and a female police sergeant hassling me to plead guilty. It was all quite bizarre and quite nonsensical.

    And you're absolutely right about Mrs Collins. I should have said Judith the Fantastic. And please, call me Will. Russell, can you please change the profile format so screen names can be changed?

    I'm not completely agreeing with the HoS's scapegoat du jour being Mikey. And I have my own stories on the comparison to the Cardno murder which is just as non sequiturial as the HoS line. But as George Darroch sez, there is some serious bicameral justice at work all the same.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov,

    Readers may also, of course, find some irony in the fact that former HoS reporter Jonathan Marshall this year had $47,000 in unpaid parking fines wiped in exchange for a four day a week curfew.

    scoop!

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I have no desire to in any case.

    Ok,but just quickly, what if it just depends on the mood of the Judge and human nature plays a big part all the way through the process. So if you have a familiar face, it might push buttons somewhere but in a wee country like NZ, why wouldn't a judge know some TV/ DJ professionals?Or anyone else for that matter. 6 degs of separation innit? :)

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Sofie, I went to court without a lawyer. I couldn't afford a lawyer more than I couldn't afford a fine.

    I guess that is the way the cookie crumbles. Just would like to say Will, I've really not been on the end of being able to pay my lawyer but if I want their help, I will run up a tab and expect to pay my dues. In a sitution of requiring my best advice for me, I will go to the source that can help. It's all part of the matrix :)

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

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 10 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.