Hard News: Party on, dudes
217 Responses
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Sacha, in reply to
word-of the decade
great idea
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Bart Janssen, in reply to
blogging for so much longer than blogs have existed
If politicians insist blogging has only existed for 4 years, to advance an unproven theory to the contrary is to blaspheme against the word of the politician.
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JacksonP, in reply to
(is directly responsible for me getting my photo mojo back after being shaken off course).
This makes me tremendously happy, Hebe. Thanks. You have made a great contribution to our threads, so glad it worked out that way.
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PAS is the only forum where I feel like I need to think my opinion through before I post (although I'm sure that'll come as a surprise to anyone who's ever read what I post...)
So cheers, Russell! It's been a hell of a ride, and I'm glad to have that "Nov 2006" beside my name.
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Bart Janssen, in reply to
PAS is the only forum where I feel like I need to think my opinion through before I post
But PAS is also a place where you are allowed to have your opinion changed and admit it. It's OK to be wrong here. That really is an important thing.
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You have created a great site and attracted many good people.
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Congrats. I have so much respect for what you've created here Russell and co. I imagine it's pretty close to your initial idealistic vision (and may have even exceeded it) and I believe it certainly stands alone in NZ media for the quality and humanity of its content and comments - and the awesomnity(TM) of the grammar!!
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Mr Russell Brown and phone.
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Hebe, in reply to
But PAS is also a place where you are allowed to have your opinion changed and admit it. It’s OK to be wrong here.
I too really like that about PAS, which is good because my opinions are many and varied, often all at the same time.
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Russell Brown, in reply to
But PAS is also a place where you are allowed to have your opinion changed and admit it. It’s OK to be wrong here. That really is an important thing.
I very strongly endorse this comment.
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Paul Williams, in reply to
I too really like that about PAS, which is good because my opinions are many and varied, often all at the same time.
Which is why, like many others I'm certain, I closely read not only the initial piece, but every comment. I'm less sure about commenting if I've not.
"Cyber-marae", thanks Islander, that's a notion I love and here I never feel like manuhiri (but then, I'm not sure anyone does/should).
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Happy birthday.
I'm not much of a poster but appreciate well a written blog, Mr Brown. The Discussion that follows is great and much more articulate and erudite than I could be. But I do chime in when I can and it's not too late.
Love the Friday music too. I remember seeing you, Russell, round the Chch traps back in the day (I was the tall drunk fellow) enjoying a vibrant music scene.
Enjoying Capture too, photographic inspiration. -
Russell Brown, in reply to
Love the Friday music too. I remember seeing you, Russell, round the Chch traps back in the day (I was the tall drunk fellow)
Ha! That possibly doesn’t narrow it down that much.
enjoying a vibrant music scene.
Oath. Oddly enough I’ve just been listening to Bruce Russell’s great Time to Go compilation.
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Craig Ranapia, in reply to
PAS is the only forum where I feel like I need to think my opinion through before I post
But PAS is also a place where you are allowed to have your opinion changed and admit it. It’s OK to be wrong here. That really is an important thing.
Couldn't agree more - but there's something else about PAS that's also incredibly valuable. It's never wrong to remember that one size, one perspective, doesn't fit all. There are times I'd like to wring the neck of each and everyone of you (and I'm sure the feeling is entirely mutual), but if your ideas can't survive being tested, challenged and having the piss taken without mercy, what the hell use are they?
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Hebe, in reply to
Couldn’t agree more – but there’s something else about PAS that’s also incredibly valuable. It’s never wrong to remember that one size, one perspective, doesn’t fit all. There are times I’d like to wring the neck of each and everyone of you (and I’m sure the feeling is entirely mutual), but if your ideas can’t survive being tested, challenged and having the piss taken without mercy, what the hell use are they?
I agree mostly Craig but not about the neck-wringing. I only have one in that category (it's not you) and I try not to engage. As a novice net groupie, I'm stunned at how it's possible to get to "know" people via keyboard. Though I still don't fully trust that "knowing without seeing" thing, my ice floe is thawing.
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Tim Michie, in reply to
I'm sure the feeling is entirely mutual
I don't want to wring your neck Craig.
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Just another long-time lurker, occasional poster saying thanks for providing PAS for us. I've learned so much.
For us ex-pats, this sane window and the perspective it provides into our homeland is especially cherished.
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Many thanks Russell, all past and present mastheaders and those who comment, for the writing and interaction which sustains silent readers like myself. Thanks a bunch for the political, profound and sometimes playful commentary.
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Bart Janssen, in reply to
having the piss taken without mercy
In the nicest possible way of course :).
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Echoing Hebe above, and Emma a few pages back -- I find it impossible to quantify how wonderful it has been to "meet" so many fascinating minds here, and then to meet so many in person as well, with so many still to be met. It's also hard to express how much of a lifeline-to-home this place was for me while I was overseas. But I'll try. (I won't use names for fear of leaving any out, and because I'll trust you know who you are.)
I was sending epic emails, mostly into the void, when Russell asked my sister Gemma if she knew of anyone with "things to say" who would like to "write a blog." That first message from Russell seemed so unfathomable that I let it sit in my inbox for a week or so. Where it sat, winking at me, saying "Go on, you know you want to."
I did. I didn't know who I was writing to, at first, but I knew I had something to say, and I had to say something. Well, lots of little somethings (and usually about three times as many somethings as I actually ended up posting over the years... write long, edit hard*).
In the very early days, with nothing but the wee CONTACT button at the bottom of each post, so many people wrote back to share their thoughts and experiences -- I gained marvellous penpals all over the world, who amplified and expanded my thoughts and possibilities. Each blog post would bring a small flurry of mail, and while I'm not sure if I always replied to each and every message (I tried!), each one was gratefully received. There were messages from familiar names, old friends, a few legendary names, and many many new names. Electronic gifts, every one. So much contact!
Once, at a slightly stressful time, a very real care package of NZ bickies arrived all the way from the other side of the world; in the same delivery was a bespoke piece of art from another PA penpal. They felt so physically emblematic of the comfort and generosity to be found in a community like this -- precious, tangible manifestations of the sweet, artsy goodness of Russell's welcoming kitchen-(slash-studiopartyspace) -of-the-mind.
And then when PA System came along, the discussions became broader and noisier and funnier and more controversial and social and different and exciting and always educational. So much discussion! And the real-life meet-ups began; more examples of the unstinting generosity and curiosity of this fascinating crew. Putting faces to names, and hugs to personalities, has been a delight. You are so kind. You know who you are.
And now, even as I've come back to the homeland and been steadily perfecting the rare art of slow-blogging (erm, all right, perhaps even stationary-blogging), and spending more time writing elsewhere, Public Address is still the village square I stroll through regularly to listen to the chatter, see what's happening in the world, admire the architecture, share the outrage, plot the revolution, spot new faces in town, and find connections to other views and places.
It's a wonderful, wonderful place. Thank you to everyone who has made it what it is!
*wrote long, didn't edit this time
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Craig Ranapia, in reply to
and spending more time writing elsewhere
And that can't be looked past either. Without Public Address, I wouldn't have been asked to be the House Tory on Public Address Radio (joke!), which lead to this and this and, less directly, this. And while I really need to pull finger from arse and start turning drafts into posts, I'm incredibly proud to have been asked if a quote from my post-review of Elizabeth Smither's Commonplace Book can be used as a blurb on her next book of poems, due out from AUP next April.
It's kind of nice to know you're not talking to yourself. :)
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Katita, in reply to
+1
I'm a lurker - used to be bFM listener to Hard News back in the day and from overseas (what feels like a million years ago) are you sure it's only 10?
I love the breadth of debate on this site, the knowledge of the arcane and useless, the geekiness and the left-leanings of (most).
I also love the fact I know I'm not alone when I resort to shouting at the tele news or some twatcock commentator.It's home.
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Craig Ranapia, in reply to
I don’t want to wring your neck Craig.
Give me time. :)
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Ian Dalziel, in reply to
are friends eclectic...?
Electronic gifts...
; - ) -
Che Tibby, in reply to
holy schmoleons, now this was a long time ago.
have had time, tide, friendships, singleness, and childlessness all past me by in that time.
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