Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Granny for Sale

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  • Andrew E,

    Thanks Graham - I was thrown by not seeing a preview. Let's see if this works...

    174.77 x 41.28 • Since Sep 2008 • 200 posts Report

  • Andrew E,

    Success! - Thank you Graham.

    174.77 x 41.28 • Since Sep 2008 • 200 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    BTW, am I the only person who thinks it's not a particularly good look seeing Labour election ads -- or anyone else's come to that -- on TVNZ's Election 08 web pages?

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

  • Andrew E,

    BTW, am I the only person who thinks it's not a particularly good look seeing Labour election ads -- or anyone else's come to that -- on TVNZ's Election 08 web pages?

    I agree, but if you go for a advertising-based funding model for your broadcaster, maybe it's inevitable? Or are you suggesting that someone in the management of TVNZ should have some sense, and regard for their perceived independence? And is that the sound of porcine wings I hear?

    174.77 x 41.28 • Since Sep 2008 • 200 posts Report

  • Jeremy Eade,

    I might buy the herald , has anyone got that o'reilly guys number?

    That is huge if he can't get buyers.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report

  • Peter Martin,

    Hmmm...only stuff through the letter box this election so far is a 'thanks for all the memories' letter from Benson-Pope.

    He regrets he is not able to continue as a member of Parliament. "That is, as you know, not my choice".

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 187 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I agree, but if you go for a advertising-based funding model for your broadcaster, maybe it's inevitable?

    Don't think so, Andrew. Imperfect as it may be, the Advertising Standards Authority (which TVNZ is part of through its membership of the New Zealand Television Broadcasters Council) is a reasonably effective self-regulatory body, which holds to various standards. As well as statutory restrictions.

    I agree, but if you go for a advertising-based funding model for your broadcaster, maybe it's inevitable?

    I'm not saying there's necessarily anything sinister about it, after all I've been on more than a few blogs and sites where "contextual advertising solutions" like Google Ads have lead to what can most politely be called rather unfortunate juxtapositions.
    Advertising on-line (like everything else) is still a work in progress, I guess.

    But, while I'll leave Russell to speak for himself, I'm pretty sure he welcomes advertising revenue but still exercises the same kind of judgement as any MSM outlet -- is any potential advertiser, and their material, a good fit with the Public Address brand and its audience? And would there be some folks, and types of material, Russell just wouldn't want to see PA associated with no matter how good the money?

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

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

  • Sacha,

    TV3 debate: struggled to stay watching, glad the yelling didn't last, Clark seemed tired and the red jacket didn't help, thought the panel was a tad unfair about Key's late comments which I thought showed at least some hints of inspiration despite the ruthless focus-grouping - but then maybe it was less impressive in the flesh. Did anyone else reckon Key was about to shake Clark's hand at the very end after Campbell did his "may the best leader win" closing?

    I didn't learn anything new, agreeing with iPredict (a delayed worm with cash at stake, also vaguely detached). Jenni McManus seemed plain depressed, Johansson's sartorial detachment reflected his assessment but boy was Linda Clark sharp and if she's on TV3's election night coverage then I'm in. Not sure I can be bothered sitting through tonight's no doubt similarly graceless debate on TV1.

    On more mundane matters - Craig, does that last post mean you have successfully degraded your install of Flashplayer, or that you're just confident embedding is working for others? I'm struck by how much I'm missing th vids, and hoping someone can just swiftly fix the embedding code so it works with the latest incarnation.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Oh, and I thought Campbell's framing of his questions was more biased towards the Nats lines (nanny state, time for change, etc) even though on the surface he also had themes like trust in there too. He also seemed more.. niggly towards Clark, as if there's still baggage.

    Clark was constantly defensive partly because she was inside the wrong frame (and partly because Key knew she would try to correct his lying just like their first "debate"), but to be fair she did a poor job of reframing on the fly and didn't adjust to suit Campbell's more interruptive style.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Did anyone else reckon Key was about to shake Clark's hand at the very end after Campbell did his "may the best leader win" closing?

    I thought so at the time, but I'd have to go back and review the tape and I just can't do that. But I have to agree with John Campbell on one thing, Clark and Key were so bloodless even the hostility felt like it had been through the focus group grinder.

    But if you want to talk about graceless, I thought Clark's catty little sideswipe at the panel was gratuitous, graceless and a wee bit defensive:

    Clark got in a final parting shot at TV3's downbeat post-match panel, saying "I thought the panel needed Prozac, but perhaps it's too late at night for them".

    Hate to say it -- and I am on anti-depressants, bitch -- but who needs Prozac when you've got this pair of walking downers wasting an hour of your life you're never going to get back? Key and Clark both got "acceptable, but must try harder" grades from the panel, and if anything they were too generous.

    And I'm going to break with the conventional wisdom, and say John Campbell doesn't deserve the brickbats he's been receiving. As I said, Clark and Key would have filled the whole debate with their vacuous talking points; and even though he ultimately failed, wasn't it his job to at least try to knock them out of that groove?

    On more mundane matters - Craig, does that last post mean you have successfully degraded your install of Flashplayer, or that you're just confident embedding is working for others?

    The latter, because what it life without hanging out for the triumph of hope over experience? I'm a total tech-tard, and am worried that if I keep fooling around with Flash I'll break something beyond my ability to fix.

    Like you, I hope the embedding code gets fixed soon -- though it's a pretty crap week to hassle Russell, being even more loaded with paying gigs than usual. :)

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    (and partly because Key knew she would try to correct his lying just like their first "debate")

    Sasha: To be fair, perhaps Clark need to be pulled up on her own lies -- or shall we say, echoing the hero of North by Northwest, her "expedient exaggerations". I suspect her strategy was to repeat 'Roger Douglas' as often as possible, but perhaps she could stop pulling National Party policy out of her arse, and dishing out ministerial warrants on Key's behalf, and be a little less foggy about her own agenda? Too much to expect?

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

  • Sacha,

    I reckon that Key ignoring Clark's attempts to try it on worked better for him. Mind you I didn't hear her make any claims like his that interest rates had doubled or productivity had halved - things he had previously been pinged for, and which are reasonably easy to establish.

    I expect both of them to be trying to paint the other's potential MMP partners as bogies, and found Linda Clark's parting comment about the Nats not needing the Maori Party interesting.

    Like you, I'm keener to see the Cactus Lab chaps fix the embedding probem at source than to try messing with my computer.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • JohnAmiria,

    I'm not having any problem watching the vids, other than wondering WTF was that one was for Craig : )

    Debate:

    Having criticised Sainsbury for failing to moderate the first debate it's only fair to criticise Campbell for over-moderating. Just because he's heard the answers a 100 times already doesn't mean we have, so he should let the candidates answer without cutting them off and moving to his next set piece. And if you need to go into an elaborate set-up before asking the question then you're asking the wrong question.

    I'm picking Wednesday debate on ONE will be a doozey. Clarke last nite looked like a championship prizefighter who knew she was going to lose regardless because the fix was in.

    hither and yon • Since Aug 2008 • 215 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    "Wednesday debate on ONE" - oops. Thanks for correcting my sense of what day it was, John.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    What makes you think tomorrow night’s debate will be any less stale and choreographed than the rest of them?

    That’s the problem with the 2 main parties falling over themselves to capture the middle ground.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • JohnAmiria,

    What makes you think tomorrow night’s debate will be any less stale and choreographed than the rest of them?

    Because I think that although Clarke has seen the polls she's not going to let Don King determine the outcome of this title fight. The fix may be in, but she doesn't have to accept it. She's going to come out slugging (in a good way) in the hopes of winning by a surprise 'final round' knock-out.

    If she wants to bring out the base on Saturday she needs to look like a winner. A 'draw' will not do.

    hither and yon • Since Aug 2008 • 215 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    I hear you John, but I’d have thought she’d have tried that last night.

    Instead she channelled John Key channelling Peter Dunne.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Don King

    Who?

    The fix may be in

    What fix?

    Having criticised Sainsbury for failing to moderate the first debate it's only fair to criticise Campbell for over-moderating.

    Don't think so, John. Look, if Helen Clark wants to say "it's all about trust" while John Key spits back "choose a brighter future", they should be pointed towards the ad department and pay for it along with the bloody billboards, and the newspaper ads, and the radio spots, and the website advertising and on and on and on we're all seen. As I said, nobody should be surprised that both are going to repeat their talking points ad nauseum, in mortal terror they're going to end up leading the news in the worse way possible. But why Campbell should give them an hour to do so for free in primetime, I don't get.

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

  • Sacha,

    Campbell did cut them off rather a lot.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Juha Saarinen,

    Don King
    Who?

    Donuts.

    300m Euro will buy you 39.1 per cent of APN.

    Since Nov 2006 • 529 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Campbell did cut them off rather a lot.

    Unfortunately, it didn't result in enough cutting for an iron-rich meal best served with some fava beans and a nice chianti.

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

  • JohnAmiria,

    Don King

    Who?

    Don King is/was a boxing promoter. His Wiki entry is worth a squizz.

    King was convicted of second degree murder for the second killing after he was found guilty of beating to death an employee who owed him $600. In an ex parte meeting with King's attorney, the judge reduced King's conviction to nonnegligent manslaughter for which King served just under four years in prison.

    ie the attorney gave the judge a suitcase full of cash.

    The fix may be in

    What fix?

    Yes, the Boxing analogy in both my earlier posts went over the heads of most. Think of those old black and white boxing movies when the outcome is predetermined because local hoodlums have fixed the match. But the hero just wants to box...
    In Helen's case the Polls may have counted her out already (the fix is in) but she's still got one more round ...

    Campbell did cut them off rather a lot.

    Yes, he did.

    hither and yon • Since Aug 2008 • 215 posts Report

  • JohnAmiria,

    ie the attorney gave the judge a suitcase full of cash.

    Oops, forgot to preview. Shoulda been:

    ie not because the attorney gave the judge a briefcase full of cash. Which he didn't, because that would be bribery/perverting the course of justice.
    </legal>

    hither and yon • Since Aug 2008 • 215 posts Report

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