Posts by tim kong

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  • Random Play: Fiji #2: The Times, they…,

    About 10k Fijian New Zealanders at last Census

    Hmm... speaking as one of those 10K, and knowing a few of them - I don't think that connection is really relevant to the sanctions.

    The sanctions weren't imposed after discussions with the Fijian community were they? Or with the Fijian-Indian community either.

    They were imposed because successive NZ govts. have to be seen to be doing something. And it's in the name of "democracy" - so that's worth something.

    Ignoring the fact that the "democracy" as practised before Frank and Rabuku - was all underpinned by a rather traditional/patriarchal/dare I say it corrupt tribal system. And still is.

    The tribal councils aligned with the churches (as brought by the tasty missionaries) make for quite conservative bedfellows. And that is where much of the intangible power within Fijian society remains.

    I don't say this as an apologist for Banimarama - anything he might have aspired to in terms of bringing change to Fiji is worthless because of the manner in which he took and holds power. But like the situation in Bangkok a few months back - the on the ground situation is not as simple as it might appear on the outside.

    And the Rihanna video gets picked up by our media as a sign of all that's bad in Fiji? Please.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Random Play: Fiji #2: The Times, they…,

    but I'm sure he'll be pushing his Chinese connections to pressure the Fiji powers-that-be who seem to be getting a lot of help from China lately...

    That's a fair point - there's a lot of Chinese investment going into Fiji.

    At what point does Australia and NZ's political stance become irrelevant because actually Fiji can just rely on a far bigger player for support.

    Apart from Fiji being a play place for the average Australian/Kiwi - who seriously have very little concern for the plight of the locals - what is the connection?

    Physical proximity? Historical and economic largesse? Guilt-laden Protestant/Methodist heritage?

    We can stand over here - and say "Bad Frank!" - but seriously - what vested interest do we have there? That we need to protect/look after/support? Apart from theoretical and ideological suppositions about what makes a country right and proper and 'democratic'.

    And as our illustrious leader glad hands his way around the great and good of the Middle Kingdom - what odds that we're just to become a slightly bigger Fiji - on the economic front at any rate....

    Small island in south pacific, nice place to visit etc...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Random Play: Fiji or not Fiji, that is…,

    Having family in Fiji as I do makes the issue of travelling there problematic. It's never been a tourist destination for me - although I've visited the white sand beaches and been on the odd Captain Cook cruise.

    A relative had to fly to India for cardiac treatment, as he was banned from entering NZ and Oz - as he'd previously been in the military. You worry.

    Do I return to my father's home island to pay respects when some of the elders pass away?

    Or do I adhere to a political ideal that the principle is the thing?

    The actions of Banimarama frustrate and piss me off no end, as a person and someone who identifies in some small part as Fijian - but I don't see the current embargoes by NZ/Oz making much of a difference. They pay lip service to "doing something" - and allow us to hold to some moral high ground - but it's not helping make the place more democratic is it?

    I understand the trade boycotts/sanctions in a theoretical and I can read the editorials kind of way. But at a personal and individual level - I'm pretty meh about them.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: KICK IT! Quartered,

    The foul/cheating act, blatant as it was, was handled by the ref in the manner which the rule book says, the same rule book that everyone plays by.

    So change the rules.

    Sure - that's fine - FIFA can change the rules. But what would you have them change it too?

    Does every act of foul play become an act of deliberate cheating, and automatic red card offense?

    But the onfield act was dealt with in the only way possible.
    Wrong.

    Oh?

    I thought a red card and the resulting penalty were the way that a foul such as Suarez committed was the only existing way to deal with it.

    Kewell committed the same act - judged to have stopped the ball with his hand/arm on the line. Result - penalty to Ghana, red card for Kewell, Kewell suspended for one match

    No-one here was calling for Fifa to change the rules then were they? (I haven't checked the threads.)

    Happy to stand corrected though if there is some other consequence that the ref could have imposed.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: KICK IT! Quartered,

    I think the recap from simon g says it best, in regards to the Suarez red card.

    Yes, it was a foul - which you can call cheating.

    But refs don't send off every player who commits a foul, there's varying levels of discretion applied.

    The foul/cheating act, blatant as it was, was handled by the ref in the manner which the rule book says, the same rule book that everyone plays by.

    If the Ghanians had hit the penalty, and won - "justice" would have been served. And no-one really would have been having this conversation.

    I think Suarez and his coach are arrogant prats with a piss-poor attitude to sportsmanship and their conduct and interviews after the game are pathetic and ill-considered. But then I thought the same of Henry, after his double tap with the arm.

    But the onfield act was dealt with in the only way possible.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: KICK IT! Quartered,

    @gio - Sorry for no link love - I got sent it in email - with no attributions

    Definitely didn't mean to take any credits for it.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: KICK IT! Quartered,

    With apologies for the length of the post....

    Hello! Welcome to WRITE THE FUTURE - the World Cup 2010 text adventure! Who would you like to play as?

    >FRANCK RIBERY

    [Now playing as FRANCK RIBERY]

    You are in a room. There is a young woman.

    Please confirm you are over 18 years of age.

    >YES

    Please confirm the young woman is over 18 years of age.

    >CHANGE PLAYER

    Who would you like to play as?

    >RONALDINHO

    [Now playing as RONALDINHO]

    You are in a room. There is a television.

    >LOOK AT TELEVISION

    The World Cup is on. Brazil is playing.

    >GO TO GAME

    You cannot do that.

    >LEAVE ROOM

    You are in a street in Milan.

    >GO TO SOUTH AFRICA

    You cannot do that.

    >CHANGE PLAYER

    Who would you like to play as?

    >DIDIER DROGBA

    [Now playing as DIDIER DROGBA]

    The Ivory Coast is playing Portugal. You are on the bench.

    >LOOK

    The game is in progress. You are on the bench.

    >PLAY GAME

    You cannot do that.

    >GET ON FIELD

    I don't understand.

    >GO TO FIELD

    You cannot do that.

    >STAND UP

    You feel a pain in your arm.

    >LOOK AT ARM

    Your elbow is broken. You cannot play in this game.

    >CHANGE PLAYER

    Who would you like to play as?

    >FABIO CANNAVARO

    [Now playing as FABIO CANNAVARO]

    You are in Johannesburg. You are playing a team no one has ever heard of. You are captain of one of the most celebrated defenses in the world.

    You hear a dull buzzing hum.

    >LOOK

    The dull buzzing hum is coming from the crowd.

    You see several anonymous men in white shirts. They have scored a goal. Your team is now losing.

    >RUN

    You are too old to do that.

    >PLAY DEFENSE

    You are too old to do that.

    The dull buzzing hum has been replaced by boos and laughter.

    >CHANGE PLAYER

    Who would you like to play as?

    >WAYNE ROONEY

    [Now playing as WAYNE ROONEY]

    You are in Bloemfontein.

    >LOOK

    You are playing Germany. You are wearing a red shirt.

    Germany has scored a goal. The score is now 1-0.

    >GET BALL

    You cannot get the ball.

    Germany has scored a goal. The score is now 2-0.

    >GET OPEN

    You cannot get open.

    England has scored a goal. The score is now 2-1.

    >YES! PLAY FOOTBALL

    England has scored a goal. The score is now 2-1.

    >WHAT?

    I don't understand.

    >WHAT IS THE SCORE?

    The score is now 2-1.

    >YOU SAID ENGLAND SCORED ANOTHER GOAL!

    The score is now 2-1.

    >BUT THERE WAS A SECOND GOAL!

    The score is now 2-1.

    It is now halftime.

    >REVIEW FIRST HALF

    Germany scored two goals. England scored two goals. The score is now 2-1.

    >THE SCORE SHOULD BE 2-2!

    The score is now 2-1.

    >BUT ENGLAND SCORED TWO GOALS! WE SHOULD BE TIED!

    The score is now 2-1.

    Germany has scored a goal. The score is now 3-1.

    >WAIT! WE STARTED THE SECOND HALF?

    Germany has scored a goal. The score is now 4-1.

    >THIS GAME SUCKS!

    The score is now 4-1.

    >CHANGE PLAYER

    Who would you like to play as?

    >CRISTIANO RONALDO

    [Now playing as CRISTIANO RONALDO.]

    You are in Cape Town.

    >GO NORTH

    There is a Spanish person in your way.

    >GO EAST

    There is a Spanish person in your way.

    >GO WEST

    There is a Spanish person in your way.

    >GO SOUTH

    There is a Spanish person in your way.

    >SCORE GOAL

    You cannot do that.

    >DIVE

    The referee tells you to get up.

    >DIVE

    The referee tells you to get up.

    >DIVE

    The referee tells you to get up.

    >DIVE

    The referee tells you to get up.

    >WRITE THE FUTURE

    You visualize a majestic glittering statue. You visualize a glamorous movie premiere of your life story. You visualize international world celebrity.

    Spain has scored a goal.

    >QUIT

    You have decided to quit.

    Thank you for playing WORLD CUP 2010 - WRITE THE FUTURE!

    >ERASE DISK

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: The Disingenuous Press,

    @Glenn

    You're correct - the setting for DHC's article is a student led conference, otherwise known as a parent-teacher conference. The schools I've taught at have had them pre-National Standards - but as part of the National Standards all schools are required to report to parents twice a year in plain English.

    I've no idea whether the school DHC's daughter attends has now started these conferences in response to the requirements of the National Standards or not.

    I've not done the Atol PD programme, and have only been teaching 6 years, so am not sure of the origins of the 'student-led conference' as a formal process. But all of my mid-year conferences that I've been part of have included the students voice in some form or other. My philosophy has been, that we're celebrating/reflecting on their learning - so it makes sense to have them stating what they can do/enjoy/struggle with - before rolling on to my opinions and their parents thoughts.

    To be fair to DHC - I've no knowledge of the school her child attends - nor I am defending what could quite conceivably be rather obscure reporting methods by that school - nor I am defending what could be a grumpy and unhelpful teacher.

    But her shotgun of an article, and her position as an opinion writer in a national paper, allow her to blast rather erratically at the entire teaching profession - with simply a rant of obscure proportions and some sense of middle-NZ-suburban angst and right-wing lite righteousness.

    In that sense, her article is neither about National Standards or about student led conferences, nor about addressing the merits, and pros or cons of those features of education - but rather just a disingenuous attempt to sell some papers by slamming on teachers.

    That's what I was responding to - but I swung into a blast of my own on National Standards... so I apologise for that.

    I'll expect DHC to be slamming on Asian drivers or the follys of Facebook or whatever hot-topic stereotype next crosses her path. And fair play - that's what the Herald pays her to pontificate on.

    EDIT: With apologies - it seems DHC has already written about Facebook.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: The Disingenuous Press,

    re. DebHillCone and Nat Stds article.

    Not just the article, but the comments after all made my brain hurt.

    So much of teaching makes my head and heart hurt, I wonder how long I can continue to do it.

    But on Tuesday I sit down to do the same mid-year conferences. I am actually looking forward to the process and students sharing with parents what they've been doing and what they're proud of. I just hope the conversations aren't derailed by parents wanting to know what this means (specifically) in relation to national standards.

    It's about your child! Are they happy - do they look forward to coming to school? Are they proud of what they're doing? Are they honest enough to recognize what they need to work on? Do you see that concentration when they show their writing and explain to you how a volcano works? Do you see them try not to giggle when they explain that ancient Romans used urine when washing their toga?

    Celebrate that, for gods sake. Give them a big hug and let them know you are amazed by what they do, let them see your admiration and your respect. Remind them of the things they need to work on - take some time each day to help them with that work. Kick a ball with them - play some Wii with them - peel some spuds and make dinner with them.

    They're little people, with big hearts and big minds, and sometimes messy habits and absent-minded methods. Sometimes they don't fit a box - somedays they fall out of the box, but can tell you how they can get back into the box. They're a work in progress, just like all of us.

    Please. Please celebrate the progress.

    Don't focus on national standards - focus on your child and see all of what they're learning and becoming. It's OK to get frustrated sometimes at what they're doing or not doing. I do that, get frustrated - but please, please don't lose sight of the big picture. Of where or what your child could be or become. Support them, be there for them as best you can be.

    Focusing on national standards will do your head in. Take it from someone who's trying to make sense of and use them appropriately - they're just a part of the picture, not the whole palava.

    Then again - I'm just another lefty hippy militant literanazi, who's never had a real job in the "real" world - so do feel free to believe the woman who writes for the Herald.

    :)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Media freedom in the Pacific,

    @Simon.

    Thanks for the link to the smh report. I've been following the Post and Nation's reporting also.

    I grew up in Thailand and the Philippines - and it's sad to see this happening again. As a child, you don't really consider these issues much - and I'm loathe to cast much comment or critique from afar, considering I've not lived there for almost 15 years.

    One of the comments struck me though: "There is a visible proportion of educated middle class, even some new rich and some faction of the old elite who are a part of the red-shirts movement. And I think they have a common aspiration and that's the wish to see a greater respect for the voices of the majority."

    I wonder how much this is about greater respect for 'democracy' - as it is for the Thai concept of 'losing face'. The greatest shame is to lose face in front of others. The fact that Taksin Shinawatra is hailed as the hero of the red-shirts, is indicative of how fluid the concept of 'truth' and 'democracy' actually are in Thailand. Support in the Thai political system is a far more flexible notion than some realise.

    I don't mean that in the sense that the red-shirts are all just "Tea-partyesque" hicks. I mean that Thai cultural norms and understandings of respect, monarchy, the power of the military, expectation and politics are far more discreet and nuanced than the black/white or left/right spectrum that most Western viewers would expect.

    I was in Manila during People Power revolution of 1986, and it was meant to change the future of that country. Almost 25 years later and it's... well, more of the same really.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

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