Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Misconnection

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  • 3410,

    'Unauthorised'. That just cracks me up.

    Yeah. How exactly does one do an unauthorised interview?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • slarty,

    It's all yours, madam.

    Sorry, I'm but a poor Public Servant, I was too frightened to risk "Madam" (which would be the appropriate C19th replacement).

    But of course in those days wimmin wouldn't dare to speak thus, so it wouldn't have been an issue...

    For the record, being married I have no problem with Missus or Madam. But I struggle with Miss. Makes me sound like a mistake...

    Since Nov 2006 • 290 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I suspect this loses something in the retelling, but maybe I just wanted to compare Craig to Linkin Park or perhaps Harry Potter in book 5 when he's all teen-angsty

    Awww... couldn't you go for The Gang of Four (Marxism you can kinda dance to!) and Hermoine Grainger at her most endearingly obstinate. Or we could go for Germaine Greer who always said she couldn't understand why "angry" was supposed to be an insult, when there was so much in the world that should make anyone with two brain cells to rub together very mad indeed. The first eight pages of section B of the Weekend Herald this past Saturday doesn't even begin to quality.

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

  • giovanni tiso,

    How exactly does one do an unauthorised interview?

    I believe this is how.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Yeah. How exactly does one do an unauthorised interview?

    Well, I guess you don't ring your mother up and tell her that she's going to get a tyre iron across the kneecaps if she talks to that nasty Eugene Bingham.

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

  • Paul Rowe,

    Yeah. How exactly does one do an unauthorised interview?

    It's easier than you think

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    Having flicked through that biography, I think Key needs to do a John Stewart-esque Jewish mothers line of jokes in his next few interviews...
    I'd enjoy it at least.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • dc_red,

    It's perfectly clear that Ton hates John Key

    How exactly does one do an unauthorised interview?

    How does one hate John Key? It's like 'hating' something entirely ethereal. A mere phantom on the breeze.

    Unlike Bill (bring back the Birch) English, who can be a nasty little ball-breaker when he feels like it (as can most MPs), Key is so entirely bereft of substance I find it hard to muster any emotion about/towards him, other than a vague bemusement.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report

  • simon g,

    'Unauthorised'. That just cracks me up.

    Funnily enough, there was a much more entertaining piece on John Key in "The Unauthorised History Of New Zealand", on TV One last night, screened long after everyone had gone to bed and probably seen by nobody outside Jeremy Wells' immediate family, and your correspondent.

    This featured archive footage of a younger (but unchanged) John Key personally bringing about the 1987 market crash (well, that seemed to be the gist of it, at that late hour my brain was missing a few tackles). Now, experienced Wells-watchers will know that historical sources and spoof will blend together, so there may have been creative licence here, but anyway - you can see for yourselves, when they get it up "On Demand".

    It's worth a look.

    (end of plug)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

  • RBentley,

    Go to Geekzone forums for Vodafone/ihug http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=40 and make your complaint. A Vodafone staffer lurks there and will be as helpful as their error-ridden system will allow. Contacting Vodafone direct is a waste of time short of writing a letter to the GM. Vodafone has become the new Telecom, and under its misdirection Ihug is becoming the new Xtra.

    Hamilton • Since Jul 2008 • 12 posts Report

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Um, Lucy, to quote Peters himself what part of NO didn't he understand? :)

    The part where he was completely unaware who made the donations to the legal fund? I think it's highly embarrassing and he's behaved like a dick post-revelation, but it's quite easy to see how the whole situation arose without any wrongdoing on Peters' part. It doesn't make him any less stupid, though.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I think it's highly embarrassing and he's behaved like a dick post-revelation, but it's quite easy to see how the whole situation arose without any wrongdoing on Peters' part. It doesn't make him any less stupid, though.

    Meh... I think Audrey Young deserved a little better before being accused of making shit up -- and he's still doing it. There's "stupid", and there's blithering (if not actually malicious) incompetence. I also think it's entirely fair comment to ask whether Winnie's got a standing date with Rumsfeld's muse :

    As we know,
    There are known knowns.
    There are things we know we know.
    We also know
    There are known unknowns.
    That is to say
    We know there are some things
    We do not know.
    But there are also unknown unknowns,
    The ones we don't know
    We don't know.

    Look, in the end I think Idiot/Savant has nailed the real issue (and, sadly, why both National and Labour are going to let him off the hook). Even if you believe Winston is telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, I don't self-serving incompetence any more attractive in any MP, let alone a senior Minister of the Crown, than corruption.

    I certainly believe the Register of Pecuniary Interests and standing orders/Cabinet Manual rules around matters like this are far from perfect. But they're better than nothing, and if we're just going to shrug our shoulders and say it doesn't matter if they're being rorted... Well, we shouldn't be shocked at the consequences.

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

  • davidamstalden,

    Well, I saw the Unauthorised History of NewZild last night and it was actually pretty brilliant. Definitely a recommended download from me. But 10.30 Sunday night? WTF? Are TVNZ programmers in league with Satan or what?

    How can that programme not get better ratings than, oh, I dunno, pretty much any of the shite they put on at prime time.

    (Yours in despairing...)

    New Plymouth • Since Mar 2008 • 45 posts Report

  • Suze Vermeer,

    Danyl
    True, political reporters do take any angle they choose and are left alone by editors. Sorry, I was meaning more feature writers doing pieces on social issues, politician profiles, etc.

    Craig
    I only get to see The Herald on line but it does seem to have gone into campaign mode, particularly over EFA, which was an easy target. I reckon quite a few political journalists, like many people, are just bored with Labour and want a change. It's not so much to do with policies.
    John Key is a perfectly nice bloke, if a bit bland, and I don't believe there will be any unsavoury past to be dug up. But, like Brash, he seems to need an awful lot of coaching in the art of politics.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 29 posts Report

  • Peter Ashby,

    For the record, being married I have no problem with Missus or Madam. But I struggle with Miss. Makes me sound like a mistake...

    But using Miss is required. If corrected you get to reply:

    I'm sorry, I have a cold.

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I only get to see The Herald on line but it does seem to have gone into campaign mode, particularly over EFA, which was an easy target. I reckon quite a few political journalists, like many people, are just bored with Labour and want a change. It's not so much to do with policies.

    With all due and sincere respect, Suze, who the hell was to blame for the EFA being an "easy target"? I know it's easy to get into siege mode where everything is someone else's fault -- the media, the evil Opposition, the fickle, ADHD-afflicted peasants and on and on and on. But sometimes you've just got to swallow the red pill, and accept that you might just be the architect of your own misfortune. I'm still scratching my head as to how what should have been a populist issue like campaign finance reform turned into a burning bag of dog poo. I think it's just a tad self-serving to blame the media for that.

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

  • davidamstalden,

    Craig....I think you can serve up a portion of the blame for the EFA backlash on the Herald's plate, thank you very much.

    New Plymouth • Since Mar 2008 • 45 posts Report

  • rodgerd,

    It seems to be simply another case of news-as-narrative; much like the rise of Peter Dunne, which was a case of telling the story about that nice, reasonable, commonsense Mr Dunne (and not asking why he'd just merged with Future New Zealand, who aren't particularly commonsense) in one election, there's a narrative structure around John Key's rise and Helen Clarke's fall. One does not see much that would derail that narrative (except from Tom Scott and Mike Moreau, who are happy to take pokes at anyone).

    The difference between "theft" and leakage seems very much in the eye of the beholder.

    Sir Humphrey: Well, in a sense, Bernard was right. The question, in a nutshell, is what is the difference between a breach of the Official Secrets Act and an unattributable, off-the-record briefing by a senior official? The former - a breach - is a criminal offence. A briefing is essential to keep the wheels turning.

    Bernard: Is there a difference or is it a matter of convenience and interpretation? Is it a breach of the act if there is an unofficial, non-attributable briefing by an official who's been unofficially authorised by the Prime Minister?

    Sir Humphrey: Not if it's been authorised by the PM, no.

    PM: That's what I say. I should decide if it's in the national interest for something to be disclosed, not officials.

    PM: Last week's leak must've come from an official.

    Bernard: But what if the official was officially authorised or even unofficially authorised? What if the PM officially disapproves of a breach of the act, but unofficially approves?

    Sir Humphrey: Then a leak would be unofficially official, but officially unofficial.

    As always, Yes, Prime Minister has an episode that makes it all clear.

    But you're right. I've been horrified at the extent to which certain editors tell writers what their conclusion will be before the writers actually get to determine the facts.

    And the one I was familiar with went on to be a National party hack.

    the only thing that get me angry any more is sheer stupidity.

    You missed the shit-flinging tantrums you throw when anyone addresses you in the way you address others.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report

  • Steve Withers,

    I've had enough troubles with 3rd parties trying to manage Telecom lines that I have stayed with Telecom. The only real alternative was the several years I spent with a phone on Saturn Cable (later Telstra Clear) in Kapiti.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report

  • Shep Cheyenne,

    I didn't realise Peters buried his mum today. I can understand why the rest are hanging back on their attack.
    It isn't really the day for it.
    Hyde looks like a prick & my earlier comment wasn't timed to perfection either.

    Since Oct 2007 • 927 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    ADHD-afflicted peasants

    So who's been reading Bridget Saunders, then...

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Suze Vermeer,

    Craig
    The EFA was an easy target because it was a poorly and hastily drafted and I agree Labour had only itself to blame. I wasn't actually defending the EFA, and agree with you that it was a populist issue (campaign finance reform) on which Labour dropped the ball.

    I don't think you were addressing me personally when you talk about 'it being easy to get into siege mode where everything is someone else's fault -- the media, the evil Opposition, the fickle peasants, etc'. I merely note that the news media does not always serve us well.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 29 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    Contacting Vodafone direct is a waste of time short of writing a letter to the GM. Vodafone has become the new Telecom, and under its misdirection Ihug is becoming the new Xtra.

    Yep, I cancelled a domain hosting, a leftover from the days when worthy people I knew worked at Ihug. I did it online and the reason I'd done it was simply because nobody had bothered to respond to my 5 email requests for help on something else, via their online help.

    So I cancelled the site hosting, which was overpriced anyway, and bingo..next month it's still there but the price has changed.

    Eventually after a bunch more emails someone responded and said that I needed to fill a form out..although their website says nothing of the sort. So after filling it out and being told I would get an refund I get a new bill and not only is it still there but I've been charged for a new setup.

    My three more emails were finally answered today and a refund posted. It took 3 months..

    I feel like a PC World letter writer...

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    nobody had bothered to respond to my 5 email requests

    I had a hilarious experience with Xtra - I emailed their helpdesk email address from the help webpage, then got an automated reply saying the email address was not in use and I should, like, fix it myself using the help pages on the website.

    It looks like it's been changed now - now there isn't even an email address to use.

    I guess finding literate helpdesk workers was too difficult.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I didn't realise Peters buried his mum today. I can understand why the rest are hanging back on their attack.
    It isn't really the day for it.
    Hyde looks like a prick & my earlier comment wasn't timed to perfection either.

    Excuse me? Of course, all condolences to Peters and his siblings for the loss of their mother. But I'd point out that Winnie wasn't exactly so overwhelmed with grief that he was unable to issue press releases and talk to the media on Friday, attend his party's conference (and deliver another predictably grotesque immigrant-bashing screed) over the weekend, and call Audrey Young a liar (repeatedly) again yesterday. to put it bluntly, it's political business as usual for Winston, and I don't really see why he escapes scrutiny and accountability for that.

    And if you want to call anyone a "prick", perhaps you should lay off Hide and blame the Speaker of the House, if your going to blame anyone. As far as I'm aware (and Leagle Beagle will put me right right), any privileges complain had to be made before the House sits today. I can't find any bereavement leave exemption from ethical standards and accountability.

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

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