Now I'm looking forward to a cold, damp Aro Valley winter.

So is that where the Library of Babel is located now? Cool. One hopes to bump into you, one does.

The diiference would be in the deposit you required and even the interest rate charged if going away from the State House Plan thus building your own home was out…

We've talking 1950s NZ.

In addition to the capitalisation of the family benefit for a deposit. If you wanted to build your own you needed to follow the prescribed plan or your mortgage would not be approved.

OK, well I own a 1950s house, and it doesn't follow a state…

http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/rata-vine-drive

http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/construction-and-sale-of-state-houses-1938-2002

In addition to the capitalisation of the family benefit for a deposit. If you wanted to build your own you needed to follow the…

That doesn't stop anyone else building anything different, any more than lockwood kitset homes stop you building something shaped like an igloo. You'll just pay more to do something different.

The Govt openly endorsed the State house model building and discouraged anything else for privately built houses .

And that's my point. The Govt was highly prescriptive in order to achieve the illusion of egalatariamism, effectively halting the building of better housing in NZ.

I don't think the government building state houses halted the building of better housing in NZ. Private individuals were free to do so, but…

We're at risk of a reference to Monty Python's Four Yorkshiremen sketch ... please bring it on.

Eeee. When I were a lad we had to sit int bath till all the heat were used up then we had to lick t" condensation off windows wit tounge for tea. mind…

I hear Alt TV with such luminaries as Bomber & Driver are lowering the bar on the Boob Tube, again.

Well, let's hope Alt 'creative director' Oliver Driver is going to be keeping his kit on if we ever see another series of Front Seat.

And if Media7's rating are soft,…

Alt TV to do Naked News

I figured it was more of a publicity stunt, altho' I'm sure there's more than a few kiwi gals dumb enough to audition for it, thinking it's their route to fame ...

Still, if it works Russell could add this to PAS:
[[http://www.sexypolitics.com/|SFW -…

The last show I saw with Bombers had him prostitute a child. OK he didn't let her get in the car – but highly suspect actions.

Does Steve Crow have the…

Two readers, including another journalist, described him as "frothing at the mouth". There was also a promise to dish it out to me in his next Herald on Sunday column. I sincerely hope he's calmed down by then.

Well, we can call him chicken, say…

Irrespective of price the Swannies are now made in China.

Kyle – " Practically no houses in New Zealand at the time they were all built had good insulation"

And that's my point. The Govt was highly…

Once we get that FTA we can all bulk up on cheap Swannies to keep warm ;-)

Perhaps cheap knock-offs. The 'genuine article' are now terribly expensive.

Compared, for example, to the villas that half the Dunedin student population lives in

We're at risk of a reference to Monty Python's Four Yorkshiremen sketch ... please bring it on.

I remember another Aro flat I had when I took the butter out of the fridge and thought that…

How good were they?
I remeber the ice on the inside of the windows, freezing in winter without insulation and the sacks of coal being burnt choking the air outside, while writing my name in the smoke filled air inside as well.

State houses were very good for their time.…

side stepped insulation.

Nah, just forgot.

Now I'm looking forward to a cold, damp Aro Valley winter and I'm thinking of the nice and toasty WCC tower block flat that I used to live in.

Still, views of greenery and tui to wake me up in the morning. Swings and…

It may seem like a myth now but it was an ideal that was hoped for by Micky Savage and his band of merry labourites

Good point, Steve.

And now with the removal of housing standards like double glazing (the only concrete issue reported on) it seeks to enshrine inadequate…

And we need to be a bit more prescriptive than this charmer on Trademe.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Property/Residential-Property/Houses-for-sale/auction-146137909.htm?key=231602

Notice how none of the photos were of the Bedroom.

They're bloody good houses.

Indeed. The state houses are held up in the design community as exemplars of efficient, practical design. Having at least done some house-sitting for some friends who bought one, I was amazed at how compact but well-proportioned theirs was (proportion in…

"As for double glasing harden up boy and buy a swannie or take up…

Egalatarianism was about an illusion of "you can…

Bill has a point.
Back in the day of the State House, the NZ Govt & Banks would be favourable towards private building on the State House Model.
Creating the egalatarian myth.

How is it a myth? They're bloody good houses. I live in one: it passed out of public ownership…

I haven't warmed to him yet. A bit of the Lockwood Smith about him.

Graffiti made the destruction of the school more miserable? I'm not sure I'ld be able to focus on little more than the chared remains.

Sure, and I don't want to make light of how utterly shit it is for a community when a local school get torched or even vandalised.…

“My colleague Housing Minister Maryan Street has already announced a revised Welcome Home loans scheme and a shared-equity plan to assist first home buyers which underlines this government’s commitment to the future.

That to me is the real BS. The proposed 'Affordable Homes' scheme is a lottery,…

Bill has a point.

Back in the day of the State House, the NZ Govt & Banks would be favourable towards private building on the State House Model.

Creating the egalatarian myth.

Graffiti made the destruction of the school more miserable? I'm not sure I'ld be able to focus…

"Government slashes building industry red tape" perhaps?

Yup, but you can't go past this truly bizarre effort from Jones:

“Agony is what I felt when I surveyed the charred remains of the Kura Kaupapa School and the sight was made more miserable by the extensive presence of graffiti scrawled across…

Bill English has just been quoted on the radio talking about "Helengrad-style housing". Clearly, the decision has been made to hit back hard, if not constructively.

We're only now allowed to build grey concrete apartment blocks? Or was he adding just a titch of imagery to his statement for effect…

"Government slashes building industry red tape" perhaps?

Yup, but you can't go past this truly bizarre effort from Jones:

“Agony is what I felt when I surveyed the charred remains of the Kura Kaupapa School and the sight was made more miserable by the extensive presence of graffiti scrawled across…

]]> Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:54:24 +1300 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-buy-now-spend-the-recession-inside/?p=45678#post45678 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-buy-now-spend-the-recession-inside/?p=45678#post45678

Well, let's be charitable Shep — I'm sure they were all working off the same press release a platoon of ministerial press secretaries slaved over a hot laptop all weekend to produce.

"Government slashes building industry red tape" perhaps?

Slashing Red Tape on housing! (?) TV 1 & 3 seemed to have the same reporter on this item.

Well, let's be charitable Shep — I'm sure they were all working off the same press release a platoon of ministerial press secretaries slaved over a hot laptop all weekend to produce.…

So far the only concrete task stated was by Keith Hay Homes on the 'Savings' builders would make on not using Double Glasing.

Those 'Savings' are passed onto the occupier through extra…

So that's Hide and Douglas over there, and Jim Anderton on here. Who's going to get Helen? And who will be the first politician to get told off by a moderator?

Look at America , so influential on our music, film, politics and banks. Why is the gini coefficient (mesaure of income equality)…

Rodney Hide joins in over on Kiwiblog

http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2008/03/armstrong_on_douglas.html#comment-425337

Does that mean Rodney is now officially "Kiwiblog Right"? ;)

Also DVB-T won't appear in phones. It uses too much power, which is…

Fear not Jeremy, Labour have proved themselves masters of winning the hip pocket vote. It won them the last election, and they'll no doubt pull another winner/bribe out of the bag this election.

Well, I'm not so sure voters are going to be quite so economically complacent this time around.…

to be fair ACT has been consistently critical of National in the past few months. Hide has said frequently that he regards National and Labour as being virtually identical philosophically.

National's not said much about ACT because it simply hasn't had to. There's not much to be gained in…

It may be a rival radio station, but I'd suggest you try and get hold of Roger Douglas' interview with Perigo on Radio Live this morning.

Thursday PM: Key dismisses Douglas.
Friday AM: Douglas dismisses Key.

Either they're both Oscar winners, or they're heading for a helluva fight.

Talking to a few staffers I had heard that when they'd been out and about trying to woo them back the common response was "we're pretty much sure Key will make the changes we need when he…

Normally when a political party is setting the agenda it's…

Before rushing out to buy a card it could be advantageous to check for a USB equivalent.
Although probably comparing apples with pears, I have used a satellite decoder card for my internet connection for about 8 years.( formerly ihug Ultra, now BorderNET iSat)…

Dont think he dodged the Roger thing, He was pressured into making a statement after Duncan (from Tv3) harrangued Bill English regarding Nationals position and I suspect he had to comment.

For the record – once Douglas said at the morning press conference that he would accept a cabinet post…

Fair question by Duncan but playing himself as the caped crusader is as annoying as his forward hunch stance he takes to avoid (I presume) showing his double chin.

Key did well with dodging the Roger Douglas bullet last night.

Act on the otherhand – can they poll over 5%?
And if not will an electorate back Rodney & his Party Pill Party?

Could be an up set.

Dont think he dodged the Roger thing, He was pressured into making a…

Act on the otherhand – can they poll over 5%?
And if not will an electorate back Rodney & his Party Pill Party?

Could be an up set.

That's sad because it should be won in the mind surely.Democracy should be more robust than that. The market shouldn't be the election, it should be up for discussion alongside many…

Dr Cullen did(later on) actually produce an article that backed his comment ( re Pol Pot).Keith Locke had supported the new regime. Admittedly it was written in 1975, but it was written by Keith Locke.

Sofie:

That article has been doing the rounds for a very long time, and PAS…

Bloody infuriating.

At least they're arguing from strong principles, rather than "China is too big a country and too important in economic trade for us to boycott them", which seems to be what a lot of other people are saying.

If only they would actually come out and say that....

Generally, they…

Isn't it more likely that our government can positively influence China's internal politics, over time, if we are involved in positive kinds of collaborations like trade agreements?

That is a perennial argument which I recall being used with equal justification about South Africa.

These nations won't just be told what…

Isn't it more likely that our government can positively influence China's internal politics, over time, if we are involved in positive kinds of collaborations like trade agreements?

The reality is we don't know very well what will move China to respecting human rights. In theory positive engagement will work, but…

Dr Cullen did(later on) actually produce an article that backed his comment ( re Pol Pot).Keith Locke had supported the new regime. Admittedly it was written in 1975, but it was written by Keith Locke.

Shoot, I hope that if I ever lose my mind and run for parliament that…

Sure, China's government are brutal, but so…

Dr Cullen did(later on) actually produce an article that backed his comment ( re Pol Pot).Keith Locke had supported the new regime. Admittedly it was written in 1975, but it was written by Keith Locke.

Lots of people, including other governments, initially saw the new Cambodian government as an improvement…

This is our central chamber of free speech.It's not inconceivable that Keith may have held that position once, a lot of people did.
once.

Dr Cullen did(later on) actually produce an article that backed his comment ( re Pol Pot).Keith Locke had supported the new regime. Admittedly it was written in…

He’s a very talented debater and a man whose intellect we should celebrate, not demonise.

Something that will no doubt reassure the people of Tibet, who'd like governments around the world to at least debate the issue of "what should we do, if anything, about Tibet?", rather than deflect it…

– the Cultural Revolutionaries were jailing, killing, torturing and enslaving people because they honestly believed it was the only way to create a "better" society.

– the present Chinese regime is jailing, killing, torturing and…

Love the Chinese, hate their government.

Could you untie me from the stake now?

Mmmmm... stake. :)

curmudgeon

Bah, as Dogbert would say. I put that in the same category as 'gadfly' – a nonsense word that at once trivialises and licences the bitter narcissism of ageing male baby boomers.

Burn!

To complete me sentences:

And why should he: IMO this election is going to be won or lost in the hip pockets not the heart and mind.

Thank you Craig for such a reasoned response. It was kind of bugging me that I may have upset you again.But what is the answer to Keiths question?

The honest answer, the perfect expression of realpolitik in action, is this: How many have you got? Just as I don't think…

"How many cases like that of Ye Guozhu, sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment for his opposition to forced evictions ..and subsequently tortured…

curmudgeon

Bah, as Dogbert would say. I put that in the same category as 'gadfly' – a nonsense word that at once trivialises and licences the bitter narcissism of ageing male baby boomers.

And the 'primary research' point is not totally true either. The commentators on blogs are numerous, and…

I don't think its unreasonable to expect serious debate on serious issues rather than the kind of snide bitchery Dr Cullen — and his fan club — mistake for intelligence or wit.

Oh, I've got to fisk myself here for the sake of fairness. Michael Cullen isn't a stupid man…

Also, while I'm here, wasting bytes, "not even a journalist's bottom" ?!! Did anyone else have flashbacks to Tom Baker on Blackadder when they heard/read that?

Bit of a broken record there. Varying people have been having a go at Keith Locke over the Pol Pot thing ever since he got into Parliament. These days he gets a withdrawal and apology every time someone throws it at him (if he requests it)…

The question of Cullens inference is something for those men to settle in the debating chamber, that's why we have a debating chamber.

How do we know Cullen isn't lying and if he isn't…

It’s a fucking debating chamber, they’re debating. it's not sport... and they know each other it seems.

Yes, Jeremy, Doctor Cullen should try debating the fucking question instead of launching a personal attack — and a rather dishonest one at that — on Keith Locke (who I don't have a…

Cullen is asking Keith Locke to get current human right violations in context to the recent history of China. He’s a very talented debater and a man whose intellect we should celebrate, not…

Keith Locke: How many cases like that of Ye Guozhu, sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment for his opposition to forced evictions in Beijing associated…

OTOH, there is an enormous amount of public research out there to be analysed, and that's something that the likes of DPF (whatever you think of his commenters) and Keith Ng do so well.

ITA – and even though I complain a lot about the toxicity of the political blogisphere,…

Everything after that feature on the playstation where you could play CDs and it would make pictures of multicoloured dolphins swimming around has been gilding the digital lily, if you ask me

indeed it has, they should have just given up then. we had our future right there.

Okay so…

multicoloured dolphins swimming around

Woh, that's right. Thanks for that mildly disconcerting flashback... ;-)

Ouch. I actually thought the HDMI standard had HDCP within it, so I certainly would have been caught out with that...

The HDCP "standard" changed. Its status was uncertain for a while, and subsequently HDMI was a bit uncertain too. I suspect that's why there were sets…

viewable audio for the ol eyes.

Everything after that feature on the playstation where you could play CDs and it would make pictures of multicoloured dolphins swimming around has been gilding the digital lily, if you ask me.

Ouch. I actually thought the HDMI standard had HDCP within it, so I certainly would have been caught out with that...

It does now. But for six months in (I think) 2006, it didn't on some sets. I'm not sure if that would mean a mandatory downconvert or __no bloody…

viewable audio for the ol eyes.

LOL.
Time for that long weekend methinks.

HDMI but not HDCP support

Ouch. I actually thought the HDMI standard had HDCP within it, so I certainly would have been caught out with that...

I'm an HDMI fanboy now, even if it will let The Man stop us copying TV any time he likes. End-to-end digital video and audio in one slim cable.

Yeah, it's the fact that it enables full end-to-end digital (not just the cable) that excites (well, interests) me – one…

sadly I put out bigger buck 3 years ago for a TV and explicitly asked about HDMI – no one had any idea what I was talking about so we had to go without – now we're stuck with a bunch of scart stuff

Think about the people who bought…

Don't see much point in buying a TV where you can't record stuff on your VHS/DVD-R/HDD/Whatever.

I wonder if the msm would be as quick and helpful...

Indeed. We bought a Bravia six months ago with just one HDMI slot.
Bugger.

The HDMI switchers are apparently okay, so that's an option.

Our new set has three inputs too, which is actually just enough.

Indeed. We bought a Bravia six months ago with just one HDMI slot.

Bugger.

Did that $6,500 Loewe have that?

Now you mention it, yes (although most other Loewe models don't).

They're advertising that feature, but Freeview NZ haven't approved, or even seen it. I'd like to know how well it works.

The beauty of them was that the signal stayed digital until the…

I wrote:
I don't recall how...
If I recall...

How about THAT for short term memory... ahhhh... recall?

Tom – your pertinent examples of blog-based primary research, combined with some other examples coming to my mind, make me wish to revise some of my earlier comments that bloggers often/usually only comment/analyze. It was a poor generalization on my part.

I think that the generalisation is Ralston's: he may…

Also (and as I've mentioned before) bear in mid that digital integrated TVs (ie: a TV with a Freeview HD decoder built-in) are coming some time in the next six months.

Did that $6,500 Loewe have that? Back in the day when I used to sell them (CRT's mind, none…

but i'd agree with…

I was involved in an on-line survey…

Also (and as I've mentioned before) bear in mid that digital integrated TVs (ie: a TV with a Freeview HD decoder built-in) are coming some time in the next six months.

Your point about correcting factual errors made by the…

Far too often in conventional news reporting, that means getting on the blower to the annointed talking heads of various interest groups. The GE "debate" was the prime example of that. Very, very few journalists really tried to get to grips with the issues.…

He does seem to rant a bit, and even plays up at being a curmudgeon

When did the media start to think that "curmudgeon" no longer meant "a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas" and turned into a positive term? Both the DomPost and Listener have self-described…

BW – exactly. Either Ralston doesn't know about how the contemporary media works (in the manner you describe), or he doesn't care.

He only has to look at today's issue of the Herald where two substantial articles on the Bear Sterns collapse come from the Independent. In fact content on…

The government, including the Prime Minister, are not. The have cleverly espoused the meme that it's OK to trade with partners who have less-than-perfect human rights records, because with…

Our stance against it varied greatly, but we have very significant trading relationships with South Africa.

Heh. Those 'variations' are no longer in the history books, don't you know?

There was a clip on the news last night about NZ's history of protest, including the 1980 Olympics boycott. The boycott…

Well someone has to review Prego, don't they?

They do. Although I think I'd personally trust someone who wasn't famous, because they might get the kind of service I'd be likely to get.

He was late for a flight I think on Ansett and missed it.

He came back with "Do you know who I am!"

Ballsie checkin used the PA to ask "Does anyone know who this man is he can't remember?"

Yeah I wasn't…

that way people can make boxes that do freeview PVR, manage your torrents, feed the kids ipod video fix, store your CDs, etc etc

That's pretty much my planning, and I'm hoping that I can make mythTV work out for me!

Keith Locke is taking it a little too far for an MP in my opinion...

I'm not sure what Keith Locke said, but there's an important role for the radical opinion in these debates. Keith Locke is often pushing the minority opinion, and he's raising important issues.

Him being out…

When exactly was the last time Mr Ralston did primary research anyway

Well someone has to review Prego, don't they?

Okay so I can see why people might think that the blogosphere was catty and snide and didn't focus on the big issues....

Oh the humanity, we would have no coffee.

I grow coffee at home. People seem to forget that you can grow stuff under glass (or transparent plastic in my case). Admittedly I'm yet to get one cuppa out of it, so I'm chemically incapable of accepting self sufficiency at the…

He was late for a flight I think on Ansett and missed it.

He came back with "Do you know who I am!"

Ballsie checkin used the PA to ask "Does anyone know who this man is he can't remember?"

Yeah I wasn't…

but aren't there (and this is my opinion) nutsos who think nz should be 100% self sustainable.
these are the ones who advocate calculating food miles and only buying produce that is XXkms away from your home

Your opinion roughly mirrors mine. Where do these people think we'll…

Whatever, from what people are saying it was a dirty, petty and personal attack on our gracious host for no obvious reason other than "he could".

As per…

There's little demand for investigative journalism and therefore limited employment in this genre.

Yup, each blogger is at most one investigative journalist. To compare a blog with a newspaper is wrong. But compare the newpaper with a collection of the top 100 blogs and you'll find there's a shitload of…

aha
but aren't there (and this is my opinion) nutsos who think nz should be 100% self sustainable.
these are the ones who advocate calculating food miles and…

Most blogs are simply opinion, commentary or, occasionally, analysis. There is little or no original reportage in this new form of media. Seldom do bloggers unearth any genuine facts. Most of the time they simply repeat what they have gleaned from the traditional news…

That he gets more coverage over China isn't his fault.

And the 'primary research' point is not totally true either. The commentators on blogs are numerous, and they will often talk directly about what is going on inside their own domains.

This is a well made and important point. There's little demand for investigative journalism and therefore limited employment in…

Tibet is incredibly disturbing, as is Xinjiang , as is Iraq, as is the Sudan. The world is not…

As far as I know, New Zealand foreign policy has always been of craven pragmatism whenever there are exports at stake. This latest to-do is no different.

Us and the rest of the world. Principles are a very sometimes thing in global politics. We're a lot more principled…

While it's just a singular "inside view", I think that perhaps some people like Mr Locke should explain why they think we should have instantly lambasted China for their troops "standing back and watching protestors" and "not moving to quell violence for 2-3 hrs" when Tibetans were throwing rocks…

my one thing i remind most people i know is that this is a country that denies the massacre that happened in tiananmen square in the summer of 1989.

Oh, it's better than that. About three years back, I saw an article about the massacre, and how the…

an unexpected side effect of shooting Desperate Housewives in HD. More make-up than she had to deal with she was playing a pre-op transsexual in Transamerica.

The New York Times had an article a couple of years ago about the ugly new world of HD. Previously attractive TV stars turn…

it's a hell of a lot
but then I pay $10 a month for a TelstraClear decoder
had it over 5 years, therefore i've spent $500 on it but i don't…

http://www.nzlistener.co.nz/issue/211/columnists/10194/shop_surf_surf_shop.html

I'm probably a good example of someone who is torn
I've studied Chinese history, and adore the artistic expression that comes out of china. I dream of visiting china one…

the uncomfortable sight of realpolitik in action

Indeed, and it does sit a little uncomfortably but it is reality – you can be blistering in your comments at Zimbabwe because you know there is no other level of communication with them. But when it comes to China, or the US,…

Memo to Mr. Ralston: Study Brian Edwards as a model of…

Russian governments have visited much greater Hell on errant provinces in the last decade, and we've merrily kept on trading with them.

Yes, and on the day Gergina Beyer was on the forecourt cussing out the Density Church folks as homophobic 'blackshirts' (who may be vile beyond endurance, but were…

Keith Locke is taking it a little too far for an MP in my opinion...

Aw, I'm going to defend Keith Locke here. (You in the back, close your mouth before it starts catching flies.) I don't think he's saying anything — about China or the FTA — that he…

Keith Locke is taking it a little too far for an MP in my opinion...

I thought Goff responded pretty well in the Close Up discussion last night, despite the set-up for it being unsympathetic.

Russian governments have visited much greater Hell on errant provinces in the last decade, and…

But hating on China itself sometimes seems to me to be the acceptable face of xenophobia. China isn't going away.

I take your point, and its a fair and important one. But I'm not "hating on China", any more than those who were in favour of economic and cultural/sporting sanctions…

But seriously, it…

Does $500 really seem too much to ask for the new-to-market decoder?

I dont have that sort of money spare, and wont be getting one until the price has settled.... but considering the price history of any new technology.... Commodore 64, PC, CD-Player, VHS, Playstation, Playstation2,…

You are, naturally, at liberty to criticise either of us.

Meh... I don't really want to get into a media bitch-fight, but I really wish Ralston would give the 'bloggers aren't real journalists' crap a rest. After all, you'd think someone who spent so much of his career in television…

There was no reason given or explanation of what topic…

Bill who...?

I should note now that a reciprocal torrent of abuse from y'all isn't what I was after. I just felt I had to say something.