Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Will the grown-ups ever arrive home?

146 Responses

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  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    As depicted in Jake Arnott's book the House of Rumour. What we really need is an uncantation that makes trolls disappear - I fear that somebody on here is inadvertently using a summoning spell at the moment.

    Maybe sampling Stairway to Heaven backwards and then reversing it again.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to BenWilson,

    Considering the title it’s ironic where this thread has gone

    mea culpa.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to BenWilson,

    nay, illustrative

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Maybe sampling Stairway to Heaven backwards and then reversing it again.

    Spooky, I was trying to ‘work’ in a Boleskine House reference, but it just wouldn’t take form…

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    mea culpa.

    And top o' the ad hominem to you too sir.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    a man of consonant sorrow

    cry me a rivr

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    t b sr

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    What we really need is an uncantation that makes trolls disappear

    ritual disemvoweling may hlp

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • fredster jones,

    s t grn t nd thn ff t bd y pnks?

    auckland • Since May 2015 • 19 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    his four stock ‘terms’ are becoming progressively more incoherent

    They weren’t much better than that before the previous election, either. This morning’s interview was a train wreck for the Prime Minister, who at times sounded as if he was barely concentrating, but those who’ve made up their mind were either not going to vote in his direction already, or they’ve already had plenty of similar reasons to change but didn’t. The majority of the latter probably won’t even bother to actually listen to it, but even those who do will perceive Espiner's questions as part of the extremist left-wing media beat-up that's supposedly hounding the PM.

    I think as long as people-who-vote are convinced they don’t want to vote for the opposition, we’re just going to continue seeing a steady stream of apologism for the status quo, no matter how dreadful it might be. It’s a shame it’s come to this.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    Don’t waste your wit on twits,
    etc.

    Surely even the irritatingly disabled warrant our compassion. That said, a particularly obnoxious visually impaired individual who once demanded that I help him across Sydney's William Street, right outside the old Institute for the Blind, has only my good nature to thank that I didn't leave him stranded on the median strip.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Saints alive...

    ...stranded on the median strip

    Everyone's on a spectrum of some sort....

    visually impaired individual who once demanded that I help him across Sydney’s William Street, right outside the old Institute for the Blind

    Go the canes....

    :- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Go the canes…

    roflnui

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Sorry folks. I was a bit distracted today. This is pure trolling. Gone.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    What have you done? Dump him off PA and he's gone back to the Herald.

    "I'm funny, me!"

    Er, no. Only the comedy trombone and laugh track was missing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Sorry folks. I was a bit distracted today. This is pure trolling. Gone.

    Any idea who he was? Is he a sock-puppet of some kind who's been here before under a different name?

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

  • Alfie, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Is he a sock-puppet of some kind who's been here before under a different name?

    A not-so-distant relation to Stamper Stamp perhaps?

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Anyhoo, I thought I'd raise the Flag here...
    I just put a post up here (What I stand for) voicing my displeasure at the ponytail pulling plonker rushing to spend our money on changing the flag so he can claim some sort of legacy to his mismanagement.
    My post was removed.
    I checked the terms and conditions to see how I had "Sinned".
    I had done nothing against said terms, apart from...

    For protection of users we will remove your content from the Site if it breaches the following protocol or is otherwise considered by DPMC to be inappropriate:

    DPMC? Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
    Pfffft!
    I won't stand for it, I can tell you that for nothing. So you can put that wallet away right now.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I'm a bit conflicted here, since, as a general rule, everything the government does or proposes is wrong by definition.

    However our flag isn't really fit for purpose, given that the whole idea of flags is that they are easily recognisable, and depending on angle and light, ours could be Australia, Britain, or the Royal Brunei and Northern Celebes Yacht Club*

    Also, the "how can we spend money on trivia before world hunger has been solved" argument is a bit dubious - we should really be closing all places of public resort and entertainment on that basis, and limiting our diet to rolled oats and cabbage.

    Perhaps we could, instead of using public funds, have a Flag Board funded personally by the many wealthy individuals who have lobbied for a changed or unchanged flag. If they can get 60% of NZers to agree on a suitable banner (in an election conducted by the Electoral Commission but paid for by the Flag Board out of their own pockets) we could then adopt it officially.

    * The NZ flag is technically a defaced ensign, and these were traditionally granted to yacht clubs, harbour boards and minor colonies that the Colonial Office (flags and insignia division) (southern hemisphere) didn't consider of long term importance.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Attachment

    Yes Rich, we need a flag to fight for, we need a flag that is recognisably different to Australia in case we get mistaken for Aussies.
    Joking aside.
    Canada had this flag until 1965.
    Now, of course, it is the Maple leaf, celebrating Maple Syrup for the pancakes of the land.
    Reminds me of a Zappa track about child abuse.
    Perhaps we could have a ponytail on a pink background.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Also, the “how can we spend money on trivia before world hunger has been solved” argument is a bit dubious

    For me it's not the consideration of a new flag which annoys me as the way in which it's been deployed by politicians at strategic times in ways which distract attention from other issues which are politically inconvenient.

    Apart from that I like the idea of considering a replacement flag, but there's never going to be a time where it'd not be possible to point at something and say "that's more important!" We should be able to focus on two things.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • linger, in reply to izogi,

    We should be able to focus on two things.

    yes, but there are always going to be many things in reality … just about everything, actually! … more important than wasting time on a mere symbol, and it would be nice if we could focus on at least a few of those.

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Austin, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Actually, that is a good question. What is the point of a flag, these days, as opposed to the historic or recreational yachting reasons? I'm not convinced that it necessarily has a single, useful reason for existence, which, if it is recognition, why it is so important uninformed strangers can easily draw a contrast.

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Ben Austin,

    What is the point of a flag, these days,

    Which was kind of my point. As our esteemed PM says "At the end of the day we live in a global world". However mangled and tautological that statement maybe it does make his stand on the flag rather hypocritical and makes his motives more obvious...
    "Sir John Key, the man that gave us our flag"
    Sad, shallow and meaningless.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    “Sir John Key, the man that gave us our flag”

    Give him one of these.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

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