Posts by rodgerd

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  • Hard News: Something odd and unresolved,

    Franks was asked about a question of policy and couldn't answer because there is none.

    Instead of simply noting the obvious, he pretends this is some new virtue - don't ask me what I'll do, ask me about what I am.

    "A vicious, nasty little homophobe" is what I remember from his ACT days. Sad to see National losing social progressives like Blumsky and gaining the worst dross of ACT instead.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report

  • Hard News: Misconnection,

    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

  • Hard News: This whole, glorious trainwreck,

    You know, this is the only time I've read Hard News and felt my IQ dropping as a result.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report

  • Hard News: A Taxonomy of Poo,

    If it's gone away, why did Ian Wishart's most recent compilation of paranoid ravings stay in the front window of the Lambton Quay Whitcoulls for months?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report

  • Hard News: Radio Times,

    Oh christ! It's good someone mentioned Dick Weir's "Ears," now there was a classic show.

    Dick Weir was an integral part of my childhood - waking up and listening to his weekend show in the mornings. Spike Milligan, Benny Hill, and all sorts of other stuff that would probably give some interest group somewhere the vapours in an election year.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report

  • Hard News: So far from trivial,

    And now I am reminded of all the other ladies today because the AB's didn't win

    Care to back that one up? Because t seems to be an endless circle-jerk of people making a claim with no actual evidence.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report

  • Hard News: Consumer,

    On the MMS thing, it is very strange.

    It's strange if you think the person paying for the jesusPhone is the customer, rather than the phone company. No MMS? Well, users can just use their $250/mo bandwidth to upload the photo to iMac and then all their friends can use _their_ $250/mo bandwidth to view it there.

    PXTs are much cheaper. iPhones force you to a higher-cost model to share user-generated content. Doesn't that sound like something a carrier would love?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report

  • Hard News: Consumer,

    but Safari on the iPhone is way ahead of any other mobile web browser I've seen.

    Nokia N8x0.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report

  • Hard News: Consumer,

    The core is, kinda. Darwin is based on FreeBSD, but it's not actually FreeBSD. It's Darwin. The base of developers is quite a bit smaller.

    Apple haven't exactly been updating Darwin, either, and have done some nasty stuff with various technologies they have bought in from the open source world.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report

  • Hard News: So far from trivial,

    (And we have had some very good sports reporters over the years; it's just the current trend seems to be for insight-free blow-hards.)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report

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