At first I felt Barbosa's damning assembly of clips was a bit mean but by the end of the interview my sympathy had completely evaporated.

Perhaps I am imagining, but it seemed to me that…

The Ansett Piolts who crashed out of Palmy weren't prosecuted (eventually), because there was conflicting evidence about this. Specifically that the 'hero' with his cell phone directing the emergency crews…

And you really think they haven't trested that by now?

I think some people at Air New Zealand are working on it as we speak.
;-)

We’re flying in a Lockheed eagle series L-1011. It came off the line 20 months ago and carries a Sim-5 Transponder tracking system. Are you telling me I can still flummox this thing with something I bought at Radio Shack?

If there is…

No refs, but I believe the argument is that cellphones can't actually "interfere" with the aircraft electronic systems – but a passenger could become unmanageable as a result of a mid-flight phone call.

No, there's concern that electronic transmitters could cause interference with flight systems. Think of the noise when…

I find him more credible than many publications. Not sure if that counts as sad or strange.

I did wonder how far up into the air cell phone coverage extends. I presume the towers send receive to all points, including straight up.

I think Toby Ziegler shot this down within about 2 minutes of the first episode of the West Wing.

I find him more credible than many publications. Not sure if that counts as sad or strange.

So you're saying it's up there with "may interfere with our navigation systems"?

I think Toby Ziegler shot this down within about 2 minutes of the first episode of the West Wing.

So you're saying it's up there with "may interfere with our navigation systems"?

Given that I haven't seen discussion of systematic testing to prove that cellphones can't interfere with aircraft nav systems, I'd say it's even less reliable.

So good to see the taser was used (?).
Pepperspray, batons, dogs would have all been safer options, but it didn't blow up, so it was a success, right?

This report says he was clear of petrol before they tasered him.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10637669

Have you noticed how cell phones are banned at petrol stations?

Electrical charge + petrol = Bang.

The "ban" on using cellphones at petrol stations is unsupportable by any amount of evidence and testing. This extends right up to dousing the inside of a caravan in petrol, tossing in a…

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3570271/Man-throws-petrol-at-cops-after-rampage

Police had to taser a man yesterday after he brought mayhem to his street and then tried to soak police in petrol.

Have you noticed how cell phones are banned at petrol stations?

Electrical charge + petrol = Bang.

So good to see the…

But then a good half of my (second year film) students used to write "woman" for the plural.

Mine have problems with there and their, and are completely bewildered by they're

When did people forget how to say the plural of "woman"?

It's a particularly NZ accent problem, I think. Hence the preference for sheilas or ladies — obvious plurals.

I wondered about that. But then a good half of my (second year film) students used to write "woman" for the…

Burns: Me? Out of touch? Heaven forfend!

Present company, etc etc...

Nobody has yet laughed at me for using 'forfend' (tho' some look quite puzzled.)

being called "Shakespeare"

I used to (justifiably) be laughed at for saying things like "thrice". It's not that I was actively trying to be pompous, it's just what happens when you learn a language on books.

It's a particularly NZ accent problem, I think.

I wondered about that. But then a good half of my (second year film) students used to write "woman" for the plural.

being called "Shakespeare" by ignorant youths, just for speaking normal proper English.

Who you talking about, Grandad?

Running OS X10.6, Firefox, with adblocker and noscript- but all the scripts on tvnz website are allowed. Youtube runs fine. The adobe player initialises – then just sits there loading. Forever.

Tim – I found I have to disable adblocker completely on TVNZ and TV3 to get anything to play,…

Wasn't he just? I thought the incoming editor of the HoS said interesting things too. Well, revealing at least, if nothing else.

I have a lot of time for Bryce and I'll watch with interest once he starts at the HoS — which, depending on lawyering, could be as late…

When did people forget how to say the plural of "woman"?

At about the the same time should have became should of

When did people forget how to say the plural of "woman"?

It's a particularly NZ accent problem, I think. Hence the preference for sheilas or ladies — obvious plurals.

Jesus, don't get me started. Like, when the fuck did everyone start forgetting how to say "controversy"?

Roger whatshisname was good value though.

Wasn't he just? I thought the incoming editor of the HoS said interesting things too. Well, revealing at least, if nothing else.

(I screeched inwardly when he made the point that if they didn't sell enough papers than there would be *less* journalists. The…

Besides all that, you're right; expansive thinking requires the time to tease it out, and if M7 was an hour long you'd really be getting somewhere.

Agreed. If I was boss of TVNZ7, I'd make Media 7 run the full 50 minutes and let the Ad Show people do perhaps…

the argument presented for why we need the police and prisons

David, how about actually laying out for us how their absence would work – like I've asked a couple of times – rather than bagging contrary evidence you don't like.

Get there half an hour earlier?

I know, I know, it can't be as simple as that.

Besides all that, you're right; expansive thinking requires the time to tease it out, and if M7 was an hour long you'd really be getting somewhere.

Russ got some good hits in, but…

without major rejigging due to studio time contraints

Get there half an hour earlier?

I know, I know, it can't be as simple as that.

Running OS X10.6, Firefox, with adblocker and noscript- but all the scripts on tvnz website are allowed. Youtube runs fine. The adobe player initialises -…

We successfully (um, where's the victim, stoopid!) created an additional 3500 criminals over last year (20.9% increase in cannabis offences) and yet NOWHERE has this policy ever been tested for its efficacy....

IF ALL 400,000 regular users…

But tonight was well done.

I said "oh fuck Garth McVicar"
My man said "Yes but RB is doing the interview."
I said " This could be good or bad"
He said " You underestimate RB"
I said "No "
He said " Good"
I think "Yes".

What surprises me is how many people who shouldn't be are scared of the SST.

I was able to conduct a perfectly reasonable interview while asking Garth McVicar questions I don't think anyone else has.

Then again, why shouldn't McVicar (my my other pet hate Greg O'Connor) be "perfectly reasonable"…

Somebody give that man a longer timeslot! Just when the conversation starts getting interesting – "that's all we have time for..."

Yep, I feel like I've watched a trailer for the show.

Normally I've not seen the need to praise RB's work on there because I suspect he doesn't want to turn this forum into a Facebook Fanpage.

But tonight was well done.

To use a sporting analogy, gulp, I'll take boxing.

GMV came…

In other words, it didn't work. I mean, really, if you want to explain how the anarchists will avoid getting robbed by nasty men with guns, Barcelona is not a good example.

*Within* the anarchist community, it worked well. Until you have a stable such community, there are always going…

I didn't ask the questions PA readers (probably) wanted to me to ask

I accept that "why are you hurting New Zealand?" may be something of an interview stopper. Look forward to the show.

Enter populism, stir up moral ioutrage,
contact the unreflective tabloid media, light the tory blue touchpaper
and stand well clear...

What surprises me is how many people who shouldn't be are scared of the SST.

I was able to conduct a perfectly reasonable interview while asking Garth McVicar questions I…

I find it hard to hard to square this statement with the Homage to Barcelona above.

I think if you take off the last two words "through violence" it completely changes the quote, as Sacha noted.

"remove the concept of leadership"

I find it hard to hard to square this statement with the Homage to Barcelona above.

If I recall correctly, the CNT still had officers. Elected, but still leaders.

Orwell also explicitly points out the contrast between the soldiers at the front (always chronically short…

So how was his Garthness tonight?

Quite genial he was, a very down-to-earth bloke.

But the mask slipped a bit when he was defending his support of Bruce Emery and demonisation of Pihema Cameron as a strategic decision by the trust "to focus attention on entry-level crime".

Also, closing out…

Abolition of laws and their enforcers would force people to spend their time defending their property, rather than engaging in productive pursuits that enrich society as a whole.

Somalia is the most obvious example. On the opposite extreme, there have been cases of private property rights enforced at machine-gunpoint, such…

Another is anarchism, where an attempt is made to actually remove the concept of leadership through violence.

It's hopefully not really what you meant, but the phrase "remove the concept of leadership" is quite depressing to me.

laws can and often do serve the interests of the powerful, but they also serve the interests of those who have no power and no allies.

This is worth repeating. One of the reasons that societies with laws and state-sponsored enforcers can prosper is that it's not necessary for people…

and the non existence now, of at 3 other human species...

I kind of don't want to know how they went extinct, because I have a strange suspicion it would just be fucking depressing. And involve a lot of flint axeheads.

Small groups may come to a satisfactory existence that doesnt include these elements – but larger outside groups will be motivated to wipe them out (sets a bad example for 'ordinary humans' = 'those under our control.')

It's your basic ingroup-outgroup problem; humans aren't happy without an ingroup-outgroup system. And…

This has actually been tried and worked in Barcelona during the Spanish Revolution. It was crushed by the forces of state and traditional capitalism (in particular the Soviet Union and the fascist states of Europe).

In other words, it didn't work. I mean, really, if you want to explain how…

how would we stop the sort of blood-feud based chaos that tends to emerge whereever an effective legal system is absent?

Anarchism is not the same thing as anarchy.

Yes, most pre-industrial societies turned into autocracies large or small, where the man or group who could marshal the most violence…

Humanity has demonstrated a near-total inability to operate societies larger than tiny villages without resorting to law-of-the-jungle, you-own-what-you-can-defend systems of "justice".

I seem to remember reading that most prehistorical archaeological digs – from a period when humanity did largely operate on a law-free basis – reveal a 1/3 death-by-violence rate…

Now, that's the house of representatives, so what does that say about the rest of the country?

Depends what you think of the members of the HOR really ;)

I reckon most people live their lives without reference to laws, in communities, as human beings. Laws are an imposition that serve the interests of the ruling classes.

Speed limits and other road laws serve the ruling classes? Most people in modern societies deal with that class of law every…

he argues that it's visible at the scale of millennia, centuries, decades, and years and gives recent stats/examples.

Without having watched the lecture, I think it's a good point. In the long-term, our legal system has evolved in a way that puts more focus on the protection and rights of…

I reckon most people live their lives without reference to laws, in communities, as human beings. Laws are an imposition that serve the interests of the ruling classes.

So if we got rid of them, how would we stop the sort of blood-feud based chaos that tends to emerge whereever…

It's a head in the sand approach.…

I reckon most people live their lives without reference to laws, in communities, as human beings. Laws are an imposition that serve the interests of the ruling classes.

So if we got rid of them, how would we stop the sort of blood-feud based chaos that tends to emerge whereever…

Nuff said.

If only it were.

I'd like to be able to put it better.

Nuff said. Intentions an' all. :)

Changing a few laws, changes the numbers in prison, that I imagine could have a dynamic effect.

Yes, I know it's radical, but it's the very concept of laws that is wrong.

I reckon most people live their lives without reference to laws, in communities, as human beings. Laws are…

get a bigger hammer!

BOOM! :)

The Press Council deserve a rocket too if they think that Bryderesque lying and sloppiness is now fine and dandy in the publications they have been granted rights of review over.

The press have been given certain protections based on corresponding standards of expected behaviour. If they want to welsh…

Stuff. Ha! Why does it always come to that so quickly?

True.

the [prison] muster

I loathe this way of referring to the prison headcount. It makes me think of mustering sheep, with all the attendant implications that prisoners are not human beings, but animals.

The question we should be asking is not, "How big is the prison muster?" but "How many…

And I'm happy to wait till tomorrow to hear why you need the bosses' blue power gang to protect your stuff.

Stuff. Ha! Why does it always come to that so quickly?

I could get Kropotkin on your arse and say 'Property is theft!'

But…

I guess it's more anarchistic? Brain clearly getting too tired for labels; maybe tomorrow.

OK, so practically speaking what happens when someone tries to beat me up or take my stuff?

Do you live in isolation? Do you not live in a community?

If you and your community can't deal with rogue elements trying to beat you up and take your stuff, what kind…

And I'm missing the relevance. Please to explain.

its better to deal with problems within society rather than sequestering them within an artificial environment focused on punishment.

OK, so practically speaking what happens when someone tries to beat me up or take my stuff?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B9MqNzQuuk

Quite frankly, prisons are not intended to rehabilitate criminals. They've, along with police and laws, been around for 5000…

Seriously.

Why is no-one arguing this position? It amazes me.

Those stats probably wont prove the reasons for the bad behaviour

If indefinite imprisonment is justified on the basis of protecting others rather than punishment then I doubt the reason matters much, just the pattern of behaviour. But then I'm no criminologist or expert on justice.

I guess someone could research the number of prisoners who have had access to rehabilitation opportunities yet have been convicted of ongoing multiple offenses that seriously harmed another person, or some measure like that.

Those stats probably wont prove the reasons for the bad behaviour. Other factors not sorted out…

I suspect it's more than 100, but less than the full muster. Doubt there's a neatly…

fewer than a hundred

more than 100 people

Soo, any number then? Other than 100. ;)

If you put damaged, dysfuntional, violent people in jail with no hope of release, or incentive for behaving well (time off their sentence), then what possible reason would they have for changing their…

The Press Council deserve a rocket too if they think that Bryderesque lying and sloppiness is now fine and dandy in the publications they have been…

fewer than a hundred

Where does that number come from? This weekend I caught up with a mate of mine who's a corrections officer, and while I suppose he has professional reasons to emphasise the need for his services, I'm pretty sure that there are more than 100 people in…

I can find the post, but Editing The Herald once featured some correspondence between a Herald journalist and a reader asking why McVicar gets so much airtime. Her response was basically that anyone is free to start an organisation.

That was me. The journalist was Simon Collins and it was…

The hang-em-high brigade must eventually have some kind of Too-Big-to-Fail fall from grace.

For Britain's union movement, it was the rubbish mountains and unburied corpses in the 1970s.
For Telecom, it was Gattung's remarks about "confusion…

The fewer than a hundred really dangerous people are well locked up.

Except unrepentent repeat drunk drivers, it seems. And others whose release on bail defies belief. Otherwise, quite agree more prison not helping anyone and wasting money better spent on education, health, employment.

It is interesting to glimpse that unguarded TV moment when such apparent numbskulls sometimes reveal why they bother.

Hopefully he’ll get sucked into an “I think my argument is so powerful that it's not necessary to talk about it” type moment.

I'm hoping for more of an 'Emperor Palpatine' moment.…

Is it really so shameful to let the public know from whence the money came?

Shameful, maybe not.

Potentially embarrassing? I'd put money on it.

McVicar's idol, Sheriff Arpaio

Would that be this guy?

A US lawman has started a programme he calls "Pedal Vision," in which inmates pedal stationary bikes to generate electricity for television sets.

The bikes are customised to turn on connected TV sets once inmates at Phoenix's Tent City Jail pedal…

Garth is a bit antsy about revealing SST funding too.

That's certainly something I hope Russell will ask about: how does SST justify its obsessive secrecy about funding sources while also pretending to be a charitable trust? Is it really so shameful to let the public know from whence the…

Another pesky bloke is Mike Sabin of Methcon who is increasingly “gone to” by media and various Nats. Sabin, a retired youngish detective with a racist reputation in…

What does he think about forgiveness? Does he give any credence to forgiveness as a precursor to healing?

What does McVicar think of restorative justice?

I have no interest whatsoever in what McVicar thinks on any of these issues. To me the question is why anyone cares what he thinks?…

I have a sneaking suspicion that crime reporting might decrease slightly in the next 5 years ... With the police slowly but steadily rolling out encrypted digital communications that the media cannot listen to

I wouldn't count on that, actually.
If it does play out as you predict, it'll be…

What does McVicar think of restorative justice?

He's been known to diss it as 'wet liberal' thinking. After all, the Sheriff of Maricopa is his idol.

The bosses at 3 really seem to value good pictures. They have a better network of scanner listeners

At least one of whom is also top value on Twitter.

What does he think about forgiveness? Does he give any credence to forgiveness as a precursor to healing?

Thank you Hilary. This sums up for me the biggest problem with popularised criminology as represented by McVicar and the SST. It is hard for most people to grasp the concepts of…

I'd love to see another half hour of Marilyn Waring, talking about anything at all.

She's a brilliant panelist — if occasionally a challenging one for the host ;-)

What does he think about forgiveness? Does he give any credence to forgiveness as a precursor…

My guess is that the Listener's covers are targeted at a particular demographic: the supermarket newsstand browsers.

But isn't that "professional women 18-54"? ie the same demographic they're offending? THAT's what puzzles me. I'm not confused by Coke Zero and Lynx making ads offensive to women, for instance, because their…

Since in a way the McVicar phenomen is the product of editorial decisions, it would be nice if consciences were pricked by having those editorial choices brought into the foreground too.

And we'll have Bryce Johns of the Waikato Times — one of the best editors in the country, in…

I'm sure they do realise [that SST is not an organisation; it's just him!]

I can find the post, but Editing The Herald once featured some correspondence between a Herald journalist and a reader asking why McVicar gets so much airtime. Her response was basically that anyone is free to…

I only still get it because I pay by direct debit…

We discussed the issue at some length, and decided it made more sense to have McVicar there to answer questions, rather than some proxy. I guess you'll just have to trust me to do it right.

Just be prepared for any Walker-Muldoon moments.

Oh yes, and McVicar's idol, Sheriff Arpaio,…

Hopefully he’ll get sucked into an “I think my argument is so powerful that it's not necessary to talk about it” type moment.

Stringing 'em up high on three fun-loving levels

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHUFVExGmZ4

I must admit, I share Whoops slight moment of incredulity about inviting McVicar on a media commentary show. Not sure how you get around talking about McVicar without talking to McVicar, though...

For our purposes, McVicar's remarkable ubiquity in the media is the story. Not wholly, but a large part…

Sure... fair and balanced and all that... but is a one on one interview, followed by a whole show on the topic (him) proportionate to his importance?

The issue is important, but aren't you just giving _him_ more…

I must admit, I share Whoops slight moment of incredulity about inviting McVicar on a media commentary show.…

It won't work forever, though, because the people…

Have Simon Collins on and ask him why he needs people like McVicar to provide "balance" to his Social Issues stories.

This or something similar might make a good follow-up segment for a later show?

Your show, your blog, so I'll be polite. WTF?

We discussed the issue at some length, and decided it made more sense to have McVicar there to answer questions, rather than some proxy. I guess you'll just have to trust me to do it right.

McVicar isn't the problem – the media who turn to him for comment all the time are. If…

I guess an additional argument could be had about focusing on imagery, even when it's as daft as those covers.

I get stuck about here. Your cover image is your chief marketing. Why are you marketing stories that are well-written and well-balanced by using imagery which is offensive to your…

"... our guest on Media7 this week..."

"... I'll be interviewing McVicar one-on-one..."

Your show, your blog, so I'll be polite. WTF?

I trust you'll be asking the hanger and the flogger where he gets his funding from.

x2

Well, the story itself wasn't all THAT bad, certainly not as bad as the cover would lead you to believe.

I regret that I hadn't seen the story at the time we did the show, and if I had, I would have defended it. It's a substantial and well-researched story…

...interested in how McVicar has achieved his go-to status with the news media

This is probably the most disturbing aspect for me. As much as I dislike his opinions, he's doing a great job of getting those very opinions out there. The fact that he's quoted as someone who knows…

Karl was asking for some kind of QI-style XL extra content version on-line. I mean, I'm sure there are Reasons, but Sad Face anyway.

Two things. The first is that we have to vacate the studio pronto so The Ad Show can set up, so we don't have time to…

I decided, for reasons of my mental health, that it was possibly best for me not to read it.

Well, the story itself wasn't all THAT bad, certainly not as bad as the cover would lead you to believe. Just like the "Why are so many Christchurch women BRUTALLY MURDERED…

My partner succumbed to the temptation of buying the Modern Motherhood issue and could be heard screaming from down at the zoo.

I decided, for reasons of my mental health, that it was possibly best for me not to read it.

Plus, I am not a mother, so it couldn't…

But Emma, we don't bitch. We constructively discuss and offer worthwhile advice and guidance. Right?

Sad Face.

Karl was asking for some…