Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: It is your right and duty to vote

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  • Robyn Gallagher,

    I also read that, by differing metrics, Eminem and N*Sync were the artists of the decade... it's hard not to wince a little

    Both of these come from Billboard's "Best of the 2000s" list.

    'N Sync's "No Strings Attached" album was the biggest selling album of the 2000s. It is a brilliant work of pop and anyone who thinks otherwise can bite it. Yeah.

    Eminem is Billboard's "Artist of the Decade" due to all five of his albums released this decade getting to no. 1.

    Billboard is all about sales. They aren't making any quality judgements, which would explain the presence of Creed, Nickleback and Limp Bizkit all up in their lists.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I doubt it Russell, just because you haven't had the privilege of seeing a dead native bird in his trap.

    I suppose so, but you'd think we'd at least see the results, and we haven't, ever.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • James Butler,

    Oh, I don't know: could paleogism be the new word of the year?

    For the record, it's paleologism.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    As someone who is petrified of birds, I would like to give Colin some kind of award.

    Well, that bird looks very petrified.

    But I advise you never to visit Port Bodega in Northern California (the setting for Hitchcock's The Birds). As we drove into town, the telephone lines were thick with waiting birds.

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

  • giovanni tiso,

    The idea that Colin might be living up to his obligations under the Treaty fills me with a certain amount of joy.

    Speaking of joy, I linked to the wrong video before. Here it is.

    The excitable Italian journalist is just reporting what happened. He was hit, then they whisked him to his car but he decided to come out to show his face to the cameras.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    Fly my Pretties.

    That was a good show. Fortunately, there were more than enough good happy people to move about in their seats to get even the most stoic of audience members to tap their fingers.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report

  • David Hood,

    I would like to be the first of many, to be the first one to suggest plagiarism as the word of the year.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen,

    His most memorable trophy was a big rat

    Our other cat woke us one night because she was playing on the bed, unusual for her because she is a pretty dedicated sleeper.

    I sleepy reached down the bed to shoo her off and put my hand on something furry .... cold and furry ....

    My sleepy synapses made the connection ... cold + furry /= cat

    Our cat spent the rest of that night OUT

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen,

    As someone who is petrified of birds

    Even these Megan?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • Andre Alessi,

    I too, would like to throw a small statuette at Berlusconi.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    More intercepted Textes from Andy Williams...

    Called up some girl I used to know
    After I heard her say, "Hello"
    Couldn't think of anything to say
    Since you're gone it happens every day
    Can't get used to losin' you, no matter what I try to do
    Gonna live my whole life through, loving you

    See John, he just misses you.
    ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Megan Wegan,

    Even these Megan?

    I was almost too scared to click on that link. But I trust you, so:

    Yes. Even those.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report

  • JackElder,

    Friends don't let friends text drunk.

    But when they do, it ends up at http://textsfromlastnight.com. NSFW.

    Everyone come along to the Wellingtonista awards on Thursday night! It should be a good evening; I'm reliably informed there are many door and spot prizes, I'm sure the mystery musical guest will be interesting, and there's a good sized set from Wellington's premiere klezmer band, the Klezmer Rebs. It'll be good solid dancing music; I've already got the babysitting booked and will be coming in from my suburban lair especially.

    Plus, in the Wellingtonista awards, you can vote for a well-known local weblog in the Wellingtonian Contribution to the Internet category.

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report

  • James Butler,

    "Prominent", as in "Prominent Entertainer", or from a few years back "Prominent New Zealander".

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    His most memorable trophy was a big rat, which he spent some time catching and releasing in the back yard. I wasn't going near that.

    One time, our cat decided that 'under the bed' was an appropriate place to play 'catch and release' with a rather large half dead rat.

    I was napping on top of the bed at the time. Oddly enough, catching 40 winks is quite difficult when you're on the receiving end of a death shriek at a distance of around one foot from your ear.

    The worst part was that it wasn't quite dead. Which made disposing of it...interesting. Turns out you can feel and hear small bones crunching quite clearly even through several layers of old newspaper.

    Edit: I see from Bart's post that I'm not the only one...

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

  • Jolisa,

    Speaking of democracy, I see Anne Tolley is deploying the famous "bring 'em on" manoeuvre that worked so well for George W.

    Having seen what the testing regimes have done to public schooling (and my kid) in the US -- and what teacher boycotts achieved in the UK in response to similar tests -- I expect NZ teachers and schools to go all out on this one.

    If not, we've learned nothing.

    On topic: our cat is a mouser, and either lays out his trophies whole for our approval, or devours them leaving behind only a curious green organ, licked clean. I forget what it's called but a friend who, uh, "works" with mice in medical research was able to identify it for me.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    All you people suggesting words of the year ... where have you been for the last two weeks' discussion?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    Education Minister Anne Tolley says she will sack the boards of primary schools which allow teachers to boycott national standards, saying they would be refusing to obey the law.

    Now she is beginning to sound like judge Dread, or is that Judge Mental?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Megan Wegan,

    The worst part was that it wasn't quite dead.

    Yep, been there.

    Picture: Petrified girl, holding a massive bird on a shovel, as it sits, clearly hurt, and looks around at her, and she tries desperately to think what to do, because she knows there's no way in hell she can kill it herself.

    I still have dreams about that thing looking at me. And a little bit of love for my cat died that day.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report

  • David Hood,

    Actually, I would like to suggest plagiarism for next years word, on the basis it's suggested for this year's word.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Plus, in the Wellingtonista awards, you can vote for a well-known local weblog in the Wellingtonian Contribution to the Internet category.

    Yep, did that.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Ranapia, a self-flagellating penitent? I never thought it might happen.

    It's what is known in the trade as a perverse outcome. Last local body elections, I binned my ballot papers for the first time in my life because The Herald had decided serious and credible local body election reportage wasn't as important as saturation coverage of Britney Spears' snatch. (A cause of concern in the only daily newspaper covering New Zealand's largest DHBs and cities.) I just didn't feel in a position to cast anything even remotely resembling informed votes.

    Unfortunately, I effectively voted for an embarrasing nutbag who couldn't competently manage a gang bang at a sex addict's convention. George Woods had his flaws, but he was capable of opening his mouth without inserting Imelda Marcos' whole shoe collection.

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

  • giovanni tiso,

    Speaking of democracy, I see Anne Trolley is deploying the famous "bring 'em on" manoeuvre that worked so well for George W.

    Fixed that for you.

    Yep, did that.

    Argh! Vote for Nathalie, you fools!

    (Jack, please ensure you bare those forearms on Thursday so I can recognise you, 'kay?)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Malcolm Ibell,

    ...those friggin' awful Australian mynahs...

    The horrible little bastards are actually from India.

    Part of the colonial imperative to seed each new conquest with annoying and destructive fauna (and flora, for that matter)!

    Deepest Sandringham • Since Nov 2008 • 49 posts Report

  • SteveH,

    I just wish Colin would nail one of those friggin' awful Australian mynahs that have begun to wake us up with their squabbling again. Their next trick will be to shit figs all over the deck.

    Those mynahs aren't Australian, they're from India (and the surrounding countries). They're an even bigger pest in Australia than they are here. They tend to be a bit too smart for most cats to catch unfortunately.

    Still, he's never got near a native bird -- although I did once have to remove a live kingfisher from his possession.

    He's never caught a silvereye? They're about the easiest bird there is for cats to catch.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report

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