Early yet, but I think the new thread asking if too many people are wasting their time at uni should be a goodie.

In before "We're producing too many eggheads wrapped in fluffy cotton wool pushing their social engineering agenda from ivory towers", etc.

Oh, and I've been dumpster diving at YV again so y'all don't have to:

The climate change discussion there is lighter reading. Ian Wishart thinks he should be able to debate James Hansen. Because, clearly, they are equally expert ...

Word O' the week

+1

I'm flattered folks, but a quick Google reveals how many people have had the same idea.

Oddly one of the Urban Dictionary definitions for fauxstalgia defines it as "thinking the past was better than it was, simply because your future hasn't turned out the way…

Word O' the week

+1

Not impressed.

I agree Trillian seems a dodgy choice – although I know some folk are also unimpressed with the Warehouse's contribution to…

Interestingly, it seemed at its strongest when…

There is something wrong with the Telethon in New Zealand. In most countries I have lived in, the Telethon is used for mucoviscidosis and orphan illnesses. There is a rotation from a year to another and the money goes…

I'm not sure if everyone snarking at the tackiness has the same attitude, though.

What I described as "tacky," was specifically the corporates' massive and endless self-promotion during their charity efforts. To differentiate, Telethon as a whole is, IMO, cheesy , which is fine.

I think you can construct a reasoned argument that charities and NGOs stepping into the void left by the state makes it easier for the state not to be in that void.

It's an old problem, and it isn't going away – we do what we do because we see…

But since charities have been around in one form or another since the earliest days of the Church, I'm not holding my breath for that to occur.

Are you advocating that we stop supporting this charity? Because that's where your argument is going logically, i.e poverty is a government problem, so we mustn't support any non-government organisations or charities who try to address it. I'm sure you're not.

I think you can construct a reasoned argument that…

No, Gio, I object to the kind of drive by guilt trip where if you don't donate to someone's favoured charity its assumed you're hateful and callous.

Perhaps you could find a better way of conveying your objection. Nothing Hilary said warranted the tone of your response. Please apologise…

I think the tackiness is important in terms of legitimising it as part of NZ pop culture though, as well as saying `this is for charity' etc.

That is a legitimate point which I hadn't thought of. (I'm not sure if everyone snarking at the tackiness has the same attitude,…

I do feel distinctly uneasy that fundraising like this can objectify poor children as objects of pity. And giving those like Michael Laws yet another chance to have ago at their parents…

If the end result is that poor kids get food and clothes, then who cares how it's done?

I would have responded by Keir did it much better.

No, Gio, I object to the kind of drive by guilt trip where if you don't donate to someone's favoured charity its…

Am I right that you've just compared a bunch of celebrities acting like fools for charity to the evils of the Victorian workhouse system? Or have I misunderstood something?

Well, there's something Victorian about this particular Telethon so it was generally in the mind & the Poor Law was better than…

Way to completely miss the point and make a gigantic douche of yourself in the bargain, Craig.

No, Gio, I object to the kind of drive by guilt trip where if you don't donate to someone's favoured charity its assumed you're hateful and callous. The hospice movement is enormously important…

(`Who cares how it's done' also applies to the Poor Law, and I'll be damned if I'll like that, even if it was better than nothing.)

Am I right that you've just compared a bunch of celebrities acting like fools for charity to the evils of the Victorian workhouse system?…

If the end result is that poor kids get food and clothes, then who cares how it's done?

But long term, suggesting that Telethons (& charitable giving in general) are an appropriate way to deal with child poverty is just wrong. They aren't at all.

There are some things that charity…

(I would like to note, however, that the tackiness or otherwise of the whole telethon operation shouldn't really come into the approval/disapproval equation. *Of course* it's tacky. 95% of everything in the world…

Of course, Scotty, it would have been infinitely preferable if he'd had a pressing engagement elsewhere so you could complain about what a heartless Tory cunt he is. Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

Craig, I just don't hate Key enough to describe him in that manner. In…

It's a fun event, which is why it works to raise money. If it were a depressing event almost nobody would watch, and few would donate.

So we need to be entertained in order to give a damn? That I think some up why some of us may have a…

But as for Key, I wanted to scream at my TV when that grinning buffoon of a PM showed up. It's funny how he managed to make sure he was near an All Black almost every time the cameras turned to him.

Of course, Scotty, it would have been infinitely…

But why not support the people trying to do some good?

Because the idea that child poverty should be a matter for charity is disgusting.

Are you advocating that we stop supporting this charity? Because that's where your argument is going logically, i.e poverty is a government problem, so we…

What are our taxes being paid for, again?

We shouldn't have that choice to help or not, any more than we should have the choice to provide due process or not.

That is exceedingly well put.

If someone got organised around that, bigger changes might result. Gosh, political parties could even mobilise to tackle the problem.

In the meantime, at least…

Numbers.

Yeah, I got that, but it's pretty non-specific. Anyway, don't want to make a federal case out of it; it was just an observation.

KidsCan general manager Julie Helson said the event cost more than $1 million to produce, but at least 87 per cent was covered by sponsors and in-kind support.

None of the donated cash would go towards TV3's production costs for the 23-hour broadcast, she said.

"It's the first time…

A whole pile of corporates got involved (I get the feeling some people think that is a bad thing. Why?).

The corporates did a great deal of raising awareness of themselves. Nothing wrong with that, per se – other than the inherent tackiness – but they should be paying sufficiently…

But why not support the people trying to do some good?

Because the idea that child poverty should be a matter for charity is disgusting. The Telethon normalises itself; it makes it seem like there's nothing odd about John Key doing a sausage sizzle for child poverty. It's not the…

Of course the Government should do more to alleviate child poverty. But because no government has ever done enough to help the poor and needy, charities exist.

The Telethon was nothing more than a fundraising exercise for…

It sure did. I'd be interested to find out just how much cash AirNew Zealand, FlyBuys, The Warehouse, 2°, ASB, Mazda, etc. put in – and I don't just mean that colected from their customers – because they sure got a truckload of coverage.

FlyBuys' "change your card and we'll…

Just paste in the URL.

Might be an improvement if YouTubes were able to be previewed.

great effort, even if it feels corporate.

It sure did. I'd be interested to find out just how much cash AirNew Zealand, FlyBuys, The Warehouse, 2°, ASB, Mazda, etc. put in – and I…

(Haven't figured the embedding thing yet. A FAQ would be nice :-P)

On the to-do list. But the trick to embedding clips is that there's no trick. Just paste in the URL.

It's not all up to the gummint to make sure we're okay.

Yes, in this case it is. The government is responsible. The fact that children in poverty is seen as an issue for charity is an utter disgrace.

The idea that we have what boils down to children begging…

guilt-tripping as a fund raising mechanism is really really counterproductive

An opportune moment, perhaps, for me to introduce those who haven't seen it already to the skit that resulted in "The Chaser's War on Everything" stood down for two weeks from the ABC and then finally canned for good.

While…

Be all political, or really, do something useful?

I didn't realise this was an either/or proposition.

I know there will be lots of good people who will take a day off from their normal charity activities to do something a bit different, but those people also work day in day…

I don't think there is any real difference between…

Why are people so down on Telethon? Bit plebby is it? Not a good enough cause?

Better Half's birthday yesterday, so you know something — I had (and have) better things to do. And while I'm sure you didn't mean to go there, Jackie, guilt-tripping as a fund raising mechanism…

In response to feedback from fans of Dexter, all new episodes of Dexter will commence Monday Oct 12, @ 8.30pm on C4
7:15 PM Aug 6th from web

What episode is it at? I can help if you want any update.It's good, right through to the end.Yeah yeah, I know.....:) Has…

The early promos said they were not doing the pledge requests this time – people didn't always pay up.

Hey, I'd be happy to front up in advance.

Personally I think TV3 can go stick their "Big Night In", now that they've pulled series two of "Dexter" (one of the few things I can be bothered watching on their channel) after two episodes.

I know you already know this Octopusgrrl, but for any Dexter fan that hasn't heard,…

re Telethon. They've already raised $450, 000 – pretty good, I reckon.

After the opening few minutes, I've decided the obvious culmination of the whole thing would be for John Campbell to pash Richie McCaw. I'd donate for that.

They fight hard (read yer Kipling) & they destroy often.

Roll to your rifle, etcetera. It's the ultimate land war in Asia.

RIP Willy DeVille.

Indeed. I have 12" of Spanish Stroll that I bough back in 77 / 78, which fits the three minute tune over the whole 30cm, with incredible bottom end, the likes of which I've yet to hear any CD reproduce.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWHc8ZoVdOk

It's just too nice a day to spend arguing against the proposition that nothing is better than something.

Agreed. And at least we can be completely confident that the nice weather will receive the near saturation coverage it so obviously merits.

from Alexander the Psychopath

It always bemuses me how self aggrandising murderous psychopaths usually were tagged with 'the Great'

That would, of course, have meant no reportage at all

Such as we have on most areas of public policy. The status quo doesn't seem to have people out shouting in the streets.

It's just too nice a day to spend arguing against the proposition that nothing is better than…

I can't tell whether you're being ironic, snarking or what.

I thought the discussion was good. But also a bit ironic and snarking. A melange.

Are you saying he and the paper should have refused to go at the State Department's invitation?

Yes

That would, of course, have meant no…

As for Mt Eden Dubstep, thanks for the pointer! What I've heard so far is pretty classic dnb, but if the gent concerned wants…

This week I made a long black and the blotch on the crema was in the shape of New Zealand. I should have taken a photo.

Damn straight ya shoulda snapped dem excited bubbles n photons...
...that coulda saved the nation…

I once saw a picture of Jesus that looked like a slice of toast.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/evolutionists_flock_to_darwin

Possibly the only sane response to that sort of "news content" I've seen for months.

Not the first time Hilary has drawn the short straw.

Hilary Barry on air snort

(sorry, don't know how to do the embed thing – someone feel free to do so)

I saw it at…

A few years ago I discovered that in the USA they had Battle of the Network Stars, in which TV personalities did similarly exciting athletic feats. Here is (poor quality, sorry) Billy Crystal vs. Larry…

I once saw a potato that, viewed from a certain angle, didn't look like Jim Bolger

I once saw a picture of Jesus that looked like a slice of toast.

I suspect this telethon will have a bit of appeal for people who are the Mr Vintage retro t-shirt wearing sorts: watching telethon, longing for Georgie Pie and Billy T James' giggling.

Here I was, wearing my "Know your enemy" t-shirt (with the picture of the pig…

My vote goes for genuinely complimentary.

Oh. Which would leave me looking a little rude ...

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

followed by perhaps the world's greatest treefrog solo at 3:58.

Telethon ?

Does this presume that TV occupies the same cultural and community role that it did in the past ? One might speculate that a whole generation might fail to notice this at all. Though of course I do wish them luck.

I think there might be something to…

To be fair, I keep the 'identities' mostly separate online. The gravatar might be the only giveaway.

and decided to run a board-gameathon

And the penny finally drops and I know who Robert Urquhart is. I feel like such a nong.

It is a well-known fact in the appropriate circles that KAOS and associates cannot identify each other by their real names.

Various organisational discrepancies (including moving the bloody date ) have cooled my enthusiasm, but there will still be board games & suchlike happening…

I can actually recall the very first New Zealand Telethon,

Was that the one that Split Enz played on? I've looked (not especially hard) for that clip (playing Maybe I think), but never found it. I don't suppose anybody else has? I'd love to see it...

(But I will grant you that the misplaced plurals need attention.)

I dunno, I think you can make a good argument against treating "media" as a plural in many contexts these days. Ditto "data".

Although I'd interested to know what supermarket pies you think are superior.

Foodtown pies used to be just as good, because they were the same pie David, at least for a few years there. Something about the sweetness of the pastry and the gooeyness of the cheese used to get…

really? who is this precious judgementalist then?

come on Paistey, out with it...I promise not to tell.

I once saw a potato that, viewed from a certain angle, didn't look like Jim Bolger

ROFFLENUI.

Apologies if this has been posted already: but for more on Afghanistan- and Dr Haywood on tour!- worth checking out the latest Werewolf.

Arrgh. I knew there was something I forgot to put in this morning's post. Had the page open and everything.

I loved Telethons. And I will be watching some of it, for no other reason than nostalgia.

Likewise. Although I am considering boycotting, not because they pulled Dexter though that does piss me off especially to replace it with a lame doco on prison escapes – not exactly riveting, but…

easy Grant, them's fighting words.

I reckon. No way were they mediocre, I think it had something to do with pastry – yummy. Although I'd interested to know what supermarket pies you think are superior. I've never bought a pie from the supermarket apart from one of those big Irvine…

This week I made a long black and the blotch on the crema was in the shape of New Zealand. I should have taken a photo.

Incidences of rock-and-roll induced pareidolia seem to be hotting up. In the past few months I have seen John Lennon on the washing line…

In reality, while they were cheap they were also mediocre pies, even compared to supermarket pies.

The best thing about Georgie Pie was the pricing, which was all based about $1, $2, $3 etc. So a little pie was $1, a big pie $2.

The sundaes for $1 were great…

longing for Georgie Pie

Good call. I'm baffled that it seems to be the cause de jour of slebs and that so many people have a hankering for it.

In reality, while they were cheap they were also mediocre pies, even compared to supermarket pies.

Possibly the only sane response to that sort of "news content" I've seen for months.

Dannews has it.

But first, Bob McCroskie, should she have just given them a smack as part of good parental correction?

Either that or get his mate David Garrett to "take them outside".

Possibly the only sane response to that sort of "news content" I've seen for months.

Ever – made me love them more. Can you really imagine barbie and ken on the other news doing an unscripted routine like that?

I suspect this telethon will have a bit of appeal for people who are the Mr Vintage retro t-shirt wearing sorts

They seem to think so.

We talk to a mother whose children no longer want to eat their school lunches after finding a gingernut with Rodney Hide's face on it.

Heh. Nice. But can't they just keep the biscuits away from his face?

I suspect this telethon will have a bit of appeal for people who are the Mr Vintage retro…

Last year's re-hashed Top Town left me cold.…

This week I made a long black and the blotch on the crema was in the shape of New Zealand. I should have taken a photo.

Reminds me of this from the see what you want to see files.

We talk to a mother whose children no longer want to eat their school lunches after finding a gingernut with Rodney Hide's face…

The Wellington and Christchurch centres will go dark from midnight to 9am Sunday, and Dunedin doesn't feature, radically curtailing the chances for amusing regional performances in the dead of night.

My partner has been eagerly awaiting her call up to perform this year, after playing bass for The Same at…

This week I made a long black and the blotch on the crema was in the shape of New Zealand. I should have taken a photo.

Indeed, for you were apparently blessed by an appearance of, er...the spirit of our nation?

Sometime last week Hillary Barry actually choked at having to read an article about an apple with a blemish the shape of NZ

This week I made a long black and the blotch on the crema was in the shape of New Zealand. I should have taken a photo.

It won't be so unusual to see the stable of presenters hamming it up — they do that now anyway.

Sometime last week Hillary Barry actually choked at having to read an article about an apple with a blemish the shape of NZ – in preparation for its auctioning during…

Ditto Bat for Lashes covering Kings of Leon's 'Use Somebody'.

Thanks for that link. As a huge Bat for Lashes fan and moderate fan of Kings of Leon, I will unleash the awesome powers of my music review skills on that cover:

Pretty good!

Does this presume that TV occupies the same cultural and community role that it did in the past ? One might speculate that a whole generation might fail to notice this at all. Though of course I do wish them luck.

in 2002, Beck asked the Flaming Lips to be his backing band for a US tour

We had just moved back to NZ in 2002. I think this tour, in particular, really stretched my husband's general calm acceptance of permanent emigration. Regrets, we've had a few...

The programme also includes the "whither music journalism?" panel discussion

Only flaw — more cowbell! Like the one this oddly familiar looking chap pulls out at the 1.46 mark:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3NqGGDO-3E