Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Wogistan form book

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  • Kyle Matthews,

    I'm disappointed that no-one (that I know of) has challenged Prosser's assertion that "most terrorists are Muslim". It's a very myopic, quasi-US-centric, view and ignores goings on in all sorts of places, including Spain, Northern Ireland, the drug-war related terrorism in Mexico etc...etc...etc...

    I read somewhere yesterday - and I forget where now - a news article which referenced an international research group indicating that currently this is true - they had a database of thousands of incidents. The data indicating that Muslims instigate most of the terrorist incidents doesn't necessarily lead to Prosser's conclusions however. For one thing, there's some pretty oppressed Muslim people in some parts of the world, so the response isn't out of left field.

    I actually sympathised with him for having his knife confiscated.

    Except it wasn't confiscated, he just had to check it into luggage destined for the hold.

    Several years ago my son bought or was given a green plastic alien handgun style water pistol which I had to do the same thing with - not allowed to take it on as carry on, it'll go into the hold.

    Given that it neither looked anything like a gun, nor actually had any properties of violence about it (it didn't even have water in it!), I'm sure I have a lot more to complain about than Richard Prosser who was carrying something that could certainly be used as a deadly weapon. The 911 hijackers used knives among other things in their attacks FFS.

    Because they’re a shambles. I’m presuming they did little or no due diligence on Brendan Horan also. And because NZ First voters traditionally have no clue who the hell they’re voting in when they vote for Winston.

    There's some interesting analysis there - which parties have managed to choose their more anonymous people down the list well enough so as not to look foolish in the coming term. Not even necessarily produce great MPs, just produce ones that don't look like dicks in some scandal.

    NZ First seems to be last - Tukurangi Morgan got them off to a great start, and they've continued that form really well through to this term. Act have also been very competitive with them. National have had a couple - Clarkson was a buffoon, Nick Smith has had some issues, a couple of others have had financial conflicts of interest problems. Shane Jones scored at least half an own goal for Labour. Whatshisname and the naked young man more recently.

    Greens? Last scandal I can think about an MP was Phillada Bunkle's residential allowance and that was Alliance.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • BlairMacca, in reply to Martin Lindberg,

    Yes but said professional moron used to be an MP

    Wellington • Since Apr 2007 • 208 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Johnny Canuck,

    Customs/Border Security proceeded to go berserk at absolutely everyone. I had a fair idea what was coming as I overheard the poor guy in front of me in the queue getting a going-over.

    I know a *cough* "confirmed bachelor" who, returning home after a particularly strenuous Sydney Mardi Gras, had great difficulty containing his smirk while his bags got tossed. (Strangely enough, Customs seemed more than usually interested in the flaming queens.) No drugs or hard core porn (you know what those people are like), but a matching butt-plug and cock ring ensemble for every occasion...

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

  • Ray Gilbert, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I had my allen keys confiscted from me at Auckland international, not because they were dangerous but because I had too many of them therfore they were tools of the trade. I had accumulated about 8 in the pocket of my rucksack over time for fixing my bike and scooter. It took them 3 gos but they finally reduced the number to an acceptable 2.

    I didn't bother telling them that a quick check of my bag at the terminal before entering departures has located a large and vicious looking pair of scissors that I had forgotten I'd put in earlier.

    Since Nov 2006 • 104 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I liked that Press editorial:

    That it did not has caused his comments to make news around the world, letting New Zealand become the toast of fascists and the despair of decent people. The nation's reputation is thus damaged and its reputation for tolerance lessened, but it is the harm the remarks do within New Zealand that really worries.

    Although I'm confused about the references to Ashley at the end - is that a place I perhaps shouldn't take my not very white wife and daughter? Or is that where Prosser lives? Or are those 2 questions asking one and the same thing?

    That Waikato Times editorial, on the other hand, seems a little confused.

    The inspiring rhetoric of Abraham Lincoln (in the Gettysburg Address) and Sir Winston Church (during World War II)

    There seems to be a hill missing there.

    And:

    Mana Party leader Hone Harawira made a sensible observation. A fellow with his own track record for causing offence, he disagreed that people are best not to openly express provocative views. When people hold views as extreme as Mr Prosser's, Mr Harawira said, "it's best that we hear them". He's right. Otherwise, they conceal what they really think.

    Well, yes, I agree, but..... kinda missing the point?

    Oh well, the way things are going, Winston First will do what it does best and self destruct by the next election.

    ETA: I find this cartoon interesting.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • TracyMac, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Canberra Airport ALWAYS pulls me aside for bomb screening. I go there every 6 or so weeks, and I'm just assuming they're so bored, they need to be doing something. They love their bomb screening there.

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report

  • TracyMac, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I've been carrying all manner of kinky gear thru lately (checked luggage), and I am soooo thankful I haven't been tossed yet. I'm sure the handcuffs (real ones) would be entertaining enough, not to mention the various floggers, whips, knives, rope, sex toys, etc etc etc...

    I have stopped carrying hypodermic needles across borders - it seriously didn't cross my mind until recently that if they were discovered, I could be viewed as an injecting drug user, which of course most Customs agencies would have a few looooong questions about. :-(

    Just a question on the US situation: are they still fingerprinting everyone (non-US passport holders) like criminals?

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    reduce every election to a holiday camp Miss Lovely Legs of 1956 pageant

    knew I'd seen Shearer somewhere before

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • izogi, in reply to Johnny Canuck,

    I get that one probably every 3rd-4th flight in North America (swab of the hands, carry on bag and laptop followed by not-so- suspenseful wait as swab is entered into a little machine).

    As far as I can tell, this is a standard thing at Australian airports (domestic and otherwise) and has been for at least two years that I've been travelling around here. It's supposedly random but I get swabbed nearly every time, I think because I tend to make friendly eye contact with the security people as I walk past.

    From my subjective experience it seems they'll generally grab the next person going through once they're free from the previous person. I expect anyone who wanted to avoid being swabbed could quickly figure out a way to reduce their chances by messing around re-packing their things from the scanner conveyor belt until they could see the officer was busy testing someone else.

    It's totally made for helping people feel safe, rather than actually safe.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report

  • Paul Brislen, in reply to Lyndon Hood,

    I must say I was quite staggered when he declared he'd had his knife taken off him. I travel weekly and carry a Swiss Army knife and have long since learned to chuck it in the grey tub alongside my phone and iPad when I go in. The blade gets measured and is let through without any problem.

    So what on earth was he carrying? Presumably some kind of locking/hunting knife?

    I know it's a minor point in a turgid story but he does seem a tad unhinged.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 200 posts Report

  • Johnny Canuck, in reply to TracyMac,

    Just a question on the US situation: are they still fingerprinting everyone (non-US passport holders) like criminals?

    Yes, everyone except US and Canadian passport holders. With as much good humour as ever.

    Vancouver BC • Since Feb 2013 • 25 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to Paul Brislen,

    must say I was quite staggered when he declared he’d had his knife taken off him. I travel weekly and carry a Swiss Army knife and have long since learned to chuck it in the grey tub alongside my phone and iPad when I go in. The blade gets measured and is let through without any problem.

    Please check out my experiences. I used to regularly travel with Swiss Army knives*, main blades 6cm or under - until I started having them confiscated. Including a really good multi-tool that a helpful person put in a box addressed to
    me (Ipaid for box & postage) which never arrived from Narita airport...

    *Manicure knife & small multitool-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Also, whenever I fly to New Munster (as I recently discovered the South Island was originally named), it's on a puddle jumper.

    They don't have any security, so you could climb on tooled up like something out of a Quentin Taratino movie and nobody would bat an eyelid (provided the RPG or whatever was small and light enough for the overhead locker).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Will de Cleene, in reply to TracyMac,

    Just a question on the US situation: are they still fingerprinting everyone (non-US passport holders) like criminals?

    That's not all. If you're within 100 miles of the US border, non-Yanks can expect to have their electronic devices automatically seized.

    Raumati • Since Jul 2011 • 107 posts Report

  • Kim_Wright,

    All this over-the top security in Australian airports can, in my opinion, be attributed to one sinister cause: "Border Patrol". I've often seen the little noticeboard near the baggage carousels In Brisbane airport that informs lucky travellers they may be being filmed for this purpose.

    The customs and immigration officials all want to be seen at their hard-ass best on the delight that is reality TV.

    Wellington • Since May 2009 • 57 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Will de Cleene,

    That’s not all. If you’re within 100 miles of the US border, non-Yanks can expect to have their electronic devices automatically seized.

    Kkicked out a rogue letter of the alphabet that sabotaged the link.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Interestingly, at the time of the 4th amendment, pretty much everywhere in the settled parts of the US was within 100 miles of the "border" (which includes the coastline). Obviously the framers didn't intend it to apply at all, or relied on the hidden 0th amendment (everything herein only applies to white anglo-saxon protestant males).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to izogi,

    It's totally made for helping people feel safe, rather than actually safe.

    That sums up most visible 'security'.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    Living directly above Terra Australis , I have quite regular experiences with uniformed airport officers.

    While there's a lot of theatre, to be sure, I don't really mind it. I had eight flights around the continent in January (including Brisbane twice). Five of them involved being waved for bomb screening. Like Tracey, it happens every time I'm in Canberra. I'm quite happy that lighters are frequently confiscated - fire on a plane is a very serious issue, and I'd rather not share my travel with something that facilitates it (accidentally or deliberately).

    The only thing I really mind is not being able to carry safety razors with me on the plane. I don't bring them to the airport - there isn't any point - but the lack of availability of razors for purchase in airport shops at the end is a perennial issue. By the time you've got where you wanted to go, wandering around finding a supermarket or dairy isn't usually top of your to-do list.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    Michael Laws is a professional moron – not an MP.

    Michael Laws is a professional moron - and former NZ First MP. A non-moronic NZ First MP is known as an oxymoron.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • FletcherB, in reply to Lucy Stewart,

    You want "airport security farce" ? I've got a doozy...

    An acquaintance of mine in the NZ military... in transit between Darwin and Port Moresby.... had her nail clippers confiscated.... while being allowed to carry a loaded semi-automatic rifle over her shoulder....

    If you're hell-bent on taking over a plane and threatening passengers or air-crew... are you going to use nail clippers when you've also got a gun at your disposal?

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    If you can bear it, Whaleoil has a quote from Prosser's book that rather makes a nonsense of his belated apology.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Rather off the topic but as we are referencing journalism (of sorts) here: I am involved with Grant Hannis and James Hollings (Massey, Wellington) in the NZ leg of the international Worlds of Journalism research project. There has been a survey circulating around NZ newsrooms/organisations over summer, but if you have missed this,, you can go to the SurveyMonkey site, and spend 15 or 20 minutes sharing your thoughts and experiences.
    We will probably close this off in a couple of weeks but it would be great to have some of the journalists lurking around these parts to be part of the research (I am thinking of you, Megan!) You will all have my eternal gratitude.
    The SurveyMonkey link is https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NZWORLDSOFJOURNALISMSURVEY

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

  • Lucy Stewart, in reply to FletcherB,

    If you’re hell-bent on taking over a plane and threatening passengers or air-crew… are you going to use nail clippers when you’ve also got a gun at your disposal?

    It has long been my view that anyone who can take over a plane with a pair of nail clippers probably deserves to.

    Interestingly, at the time of the 4th amendment, pretty much everywhere in the settled parts of the US was within 100 miles of the “border” (which includes the coastline). Obviously the framers didn’t intend it to apply at all, or relied on the hidden 0th amendment (everything herein only applies to white anglo-saxon protestant males).

    Another problem with that definition is that they also contend that any non-citizen hanging around within 100 miles of a land border (they generally don't bother with the coastline) can be corralled by border officials and asked to show their papers at any time. (Places within this distance include, frex, most of the Seattle metropolitan area.) I'm not sure they fully understand the concept of "border".

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    Mana Party leader Hone Harawira made a sensible observation. A fellow with his own track record for causing offence, he disagreed that people are best not to openly express provocative views. When people hold views as extreme as Mr Prosser’s, Mr Harawira said, “it’s best that we hear them”. He’s right. Otherwise, they conceal what they really think.

    Well, yes, I agree, but….. kinda missing the point?

    By a privileged mile, Chris. Most of us don't say every fool thing that flits across our brain pan -- that's called functional adult socialization. It's really easy to disagree that "people are best not to openly express provocative views" when you're not being told every damn day you bear collective blood guilt-by-association with every shitty thing your co-religionists do. (Or that you're just "asking" to be raped if you go out at night in a short skirt. Or you're casually equated to child molesters and animal-fuckers just because you're GLBT and support marriage equality.)

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

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