Hard News: Relieving Ambiguity
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And given the depth of hatred there still is for her in the UK, she would probably be wise to take precautions to prevent people from taking their revenge after she's dead.
Wisdom's hardly an option for Maggie any more. While she's occasionally wheeled out so that young fogies may touch the hem of her garment, she's achieved a state much like those mummified communist despots, only she's not technically dead.
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She's a criminal, who deserves to be reviled, not honoured with a state funeral when she dies. And given the depth of hatred there still is for her in the UK, she would probably be wise to take precautions to prevent people from taking their revenge after she's dead. These things happen to despots - and while the right love her, in reality Thatcher is as hated as any despot ever was.
Idiot/Savant: "In reality", I'd like to think people who want to be taken seriously don't chunter on with wing-nutty glee about throwing shit at coffins and desecrating graves. I can easily imagine that there are certain sewers where the death of Helen Clark won't be greeted with crocodile tears, but I'd rather they STFU rather than cheer on the kind of crap you expect from gutless neo-Nazis and folks who think Fred 'God Hates Fags' Phelps and his fellow troglodyte homuncili don't go far enough.
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"Um, Luke, I don't know if you're been paying attention but there was actually culture in New Zealand before 1999 -- jus' saying. And I find it rather ironic that people keep citing a multi-national corporate funded adaptation of a fantasy written by an Oxbridge professor half a century ago is cited as some great expression of national identity."
Craig, I was careful to say that it was building on an existing base. And I agree, it's not all about LOTR. However, LOTR has given a huge boost of confidence to everyone connected to the film industry in NZ, that they can have a career in film and it can be of an international standard. Same goes for folks like Fat Freddy's and NZ music in general - yes it existed before 1990 but I don't think there was the same atmosphere of freedom and real belief that you can follow your artistic dream and make a living both in NZ and overseas. It's epitomised by hearing NZ music on the radio and seeing ourselves on TV, e.g. Nick D in "Making Tracks" which I loved. I'm trying to say that I want a Minister in Government who is going to recognise these advances and build on them, not just go into holding pattern so that we can have a tax cut.
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I am an established writer. I've brought a lot of business into Aotearoa-NZ. I earn less than the average wage and I resent bureaucrats & academics using what I do, and have done, to live fatly whilst me & mine - dont.
Can you elaborate Islander - I know nothing about this arrangement and am curious about how it works, badly or otherwise.
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TVNZ would not be able to create its own mission statement. It is required to deliver the Charter under the TVNZ Act 2003. Any change would require legislation. It is no longer an SOE. Its mission would have to be agreed with its shareholding Ministers ie the Government. National could not avoid responsibility for the decision as to what TVNZ's mission should be.
My view is that doing away with the Charter and TVNZ's dual mandate simply allows an unregulated commercial free-for-all, in which viewers and the public interest, will be the losers. -
Kia ora Paul- is 'this arrangement' the Authors' Fund?
Or my personal situation?
I dont want to bring my experiences to a public forum because I dont think they'd be all that helpful to either a discussion or other artists: however, I am very happy to discuss the Authors' Fund (which I note has not had proposed new legislation even referred to a select committee yet.) -
Kia ora Paul- is 'this arrangement' the Authors' Fund?
The Authors Fund. Don't want you to feel in any way uncomfortable. Just curious.
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Kia ora Paul - the thing was set up in the early 1970s to recompense authors for loss of earnings for books held in public libraries: part of the original proposal was that this could be enough to provide support for authors during their fallow periods (i.e when they are writing other books.) It was originally administered by a subcommittee of the Literary Advisory committee (mainly writers/publishers/literary academics) but was reluctantly taken over by the QE2 -cum-Creative NZ organisation (run mainly by bureacrats with substantial input from academics and, less so. working artists.)
Authors received a set amount for the number of each title of books held in public libraries in ANZ (you had to have over 50 copies to qualify.) Initially -I understand (I didnt start getting monies until 1983) -the set amount was very helpful, but with hugely increased number of authors (hooray!) and illustrators (hmmm) now deriving monies, and a reduced amount of funding from government (despite the spin that it has increased) it is now a useful amount (in my case, about $4000 - less than what it was in 2006, but still over a quarter of my earnings) rather than a 'keep-you-writing- eh?' sum.
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