http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0902/S00235.htm

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0902/S00235.htm

I routinely get it when accessing Stuff and TV3 content that is restricted to a New Zealand audience. And that I'm trying to access from, you know, New Zealand.

Man, the internet knows you're not really a kiwi. Spooky.

I routinely get it when accessing Stuff and TV3 content that is restricted to a New Zealand audience. And that I'm trying to access from, you know, New Zealand.

But the ads are OK? Never quite got that...

Could you please get me a screenshot of that message when you have a moment, Jon? I might need it for a speech ...

I routinely get it when accessing Stuff and TV3 content that is restricted to a New Zealand audience. And that I'm trying to access from, you…

After enduring an ad, I then get the "This show is for New Zealand viewers only" message. Choice!

Could you please get me a screenshot of that message when you have a moment, Jon? I might need it for a speech ...

http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=8VdndDkzenM

If you're going to steal, steal from the best — and there were few better than Gwen Verdon working a Bob Fosse routine. Their marriage but have been a mess, but their creative partnership…

After enduring an ad, I then get the "This show is for New Zealand viewers only" message. Choice!

Steve, you seem to be having a kind of visceral day.

What? like a gut's full of a day?
;-)

And when the PAS tee-shirt division kicks off, I'd buy one.

An' me. Is there something more local we can use than Cafe Press?

Clubrooms, two chalets, the YMCA and houses had been destroyed by the fire.

Evacuations were taking place, said rural fire officer and response co-ordinator Don Scott.

So, they'd be shitting themselves then? in a co-ordindated kinda way.

'it's knowledge bro'

And when the PAS tee-shirt division kicks off, I'd buy one.

And I still fail to see how…

Getting back to the subject of political trophy hunting.... Brace yourselves......
Judith Collins wants to Rip the scrotums from young boys with her bare teeth and hang them around her neck as a necklace.

Oh, you tease... Still, I wonder why it's an option for "boy racers" but I'm still…

and I have this thing? Called a last nerve?

Now why does that breathy delivery call to mind "band camp" – or Kylee "she goes" as an older reference. :)

Funny how there seem to be no lack of vocal climate change denialists, while the impending economic downturn is only debated in terms of its severity.

Um, I'm frankly more surprised — and worried — that Gordon Brown could trot out (again) a noxious soundbite like "British Jobs For British…

The most intelligent commentary I've read so far on the 2009 Davos summit

They never had such a feast in their life, and the little ones chewed on the Bono .
Not any more eh. Great piece, thanks.

Funny how there seem to be no lack of vocal climate change…

I was just being all Generation X-referencey about the PMRC hearing in which Dee Snider featured prominently

Yep, those generational differences have become so slim yet so hugely important as a point of difference for those that like to think they are on the misunderstood (but Im right anyway) side…

er, sorry off-topic, but did anyone else note David Cameron's comments at Davos and think it a little odd.

No, it would have to make some kind of sense before qualifying as odd. Then again, when Gordon Brown is comprehensible I just wish he'd stop and revert to gibberish.

Is…

The shift from a pejorative to a societal identifier has been abrupt an in no small part due to local comedian Ewen Gilmour whose stand-up comedy act as Ewen "Westie" Gilmour gave the term national prominence between 1995 and 2000 in the premier television programme, "Pulp Comedy".…

i was greatly disappointed to see Mr Brown in what would appear be such a rampantly posturing mode, pumping out his 'Mr President' beats in downtown Awks

But did my ride look phat?

and asserting 'wow, it would have been so good to be there!'(owtte) My first thought was golly,…

Off the topic a touch, but I wonder if anyone else has read the piece by Andrew Sullivan "Why I Blog" in The Atlantic.

The always excellent Mr. Litterick has. (And the link to Sullivan's story can be found therein).

If you are interested, I have posted a review of the Auckland Leonard Cohen concert, on…

"In August 2003, the ministry [of health] ... [a]fter an extensive review, found nothing of concern in the information technology (IT) department.

...**using the ministry's review data, it could be seen the board's [IT] investment was…

was interested to read recently that scientists have debunked the idea that we lose most body heat through the head.

It seems there might still be life left in the old saw about wearing a hat and the percentage of heat lost through the head, particularly when treating hypothermia.

[[http://wildernessmedicinenewsletter.wordpress.com/2007/02/14/heat-loss-through-the-head-and-hypothermia/|…

This just in: andin is a HUGE Twisted Sister fan! Sorry man. Didn't mean to harsh on anyone's love for The Snider.

I met The Snider! Musta bin 1985. Lovely man. Seriously.

Still, I'm off to turn up the bass on 'It takes a nation of millions...'. Now there's a black group that all us guilty white liberals can get behind!

Then try and watch Flavor of Love without have a "WTF?" brain melt as you try to figure out how anyone…

Way to go, T.

Yes, I've got really mixed feelings about mr Ice-T. On the one hand, a large number of stonking tunes with general anti-'thug life' sentiments. And on the other, a bucketful of casual misogeny.

I've got more of a problem with Tipper Gore and the PRMC for…

In other Over-Explaining a Joke Kills It Dead news: I was just being all Generation X-referencey about the PMRC hearing in which Dee Snider featured prominently, despite the…

Please, no more Dee Snider speeches in front of House Committees! I couldn't bear it.

Shit, so that was, what 15- 20 yrs ago?
Shit someone has even made a docudrama about it.
Thank thuck the world doesnt live to by your sensitivities.
Is this a throwaway line, Im hoping…

Let me guess. You don't really know anything about Russell Simmons, right?

If you're looking for figureheads for Obama's new "age of responsibility", Simmons is your guy. If all millionaire businessmen displayed his acumen and conscience the world would be a better place.

Let me guess. You'd find much of…

Matthew, if you want to organise a little PA Dramfest group, I can probably get you a discount. Especially if someone writes about it ...

Hey, cheers, I'll get onto it over the next few days!

And which sets a 1998 sample ("We ain't ready for a black president")…

Incidentally, the track ("My President is Black") is worth comparing to Nas's more self-questioning, uncertain "Black President," which was released before Obama's eventual victory.

And which sets a 1998 sample ("We ain't ready for a black president") from the late Tupac Shakur against an Obama speech recording ("They said this…

Btw, do any ChCh PA members want to meet up at Dramfest? I think it'd be...educational.

Matthew, if you want to organise a little PA Dramfest group, I can probably get you a discount. Especially if someone writes about it ...

Let me guess. You don't really know anything about Russell Simmons, right?

If you're looking for figureheads for Obama's new "age of responsibility", Simmons is your guy. If all millionaire businessmen displayed his acumen and conscience the world would be a better place.

Quite. Simmons, who, for all his flaws,…

OK, I'm being all reductive again, but it's not totally fanciful either.

Yo word .dat, yol. ayite?
Different languages are not always easy to translate into English and this is no different. To try to literally translate recognizable words is kind of pointless as they do not necessarily have the…

No, Don, I'm really happy with "quit fucking trolling, Gio".

If I thought it was trolling I'd put on my grumpy voice, but it wasn't. In the context of previous discussions it was actually pretty sharp. C'mon ...

Anyone…

I wouldn't be arrogant — or suicidal — enough to pontificate about whether you're a good, bad or indifferent feminist. Didn't go there, and not planning to start in this or any other lifetime.

You like Ludicrus. I adore grand opera — another musical form whose back catalogue is…

Let me guess. You don't really know anything about Russell Simmons, right?

According to that link he's a 'warewolf'.

Did anyone catch the full piece on the changes to Wikipedia's editing process on This Way Up earlier? I was in & out & missed most of it. The upshot seemed to be…

I think the word Craig was looking for is "touché".

No, Don, I'm really happy with "quit fucking trolling, Gio".

(On the other hand, I could just be a plain old bad feminist for liking Ludacris.)

Pole dancing and pron. I think you're a long way down the bad feminist line behind me, darlin'. I was even perving at one of the women in the Media 7 audience ("she looks…

I think the word Craig was looking for is "touché".

Zing! Yeah, Giovanni, that was awse. :)

Can't you critique the uglier aspects of popular culture without being some dingbat neo-Puritan

Yeah, of course, but your initial post oversimplified everything about hip-hop and what it means and why it's popular.…

And wouldn't be nice if President Obama used that bully pulpit to condemn black men like Russell Simmons and Mr Beyonce who get rich off selling casual bigotry and romanticising drug abuse and crime, with a little of the same vehemence he used to attack Wall Street "fat cats"?

Let…

Why? According to you he isn't even black.

I think the word Craig was looking for is "touché".

But I thought the…

(On the other hand, I could just be a plain old bad feminist for liking Ludacris.)

Badass feminist?

hey, if you're A-OK with music where a woman's place is on her back with her legs open (though she's a gold-digging slut if she obliges) be my guest

That's a really reductionist view of hip-hop, and it kind of sounds like you don't listen to it much. Plus, since…

Also: Craig wants Obama to be Tipper Gore.

Testicles, Danielle. But, hey, if you're A-OK with music where a woman's place is on her back with her legs open (though she's a gold-digging slut if she obliges) be my guest. Just pointing out the little irony that Obama asserts the…

Also: Craig wants Obama to be Tipper Gore. Please, no more Dee Snider speeches in front of House Committees!

I always hoped that somebody would play Tipper Gore's rants backwards. I might have to take up the task myself.

Mr Beyonce who get rich off selling casual bigotry and romanticising drug abuse and crime

No, I am afraid that is incorrect. Jay-Z got rich because he is *fucking awesome*. :)

Also: Craig wants Obama to be Tipper Gore. Please, no more Dee Snider speeches in front of House Committees!…

I'm making some semblance of muttar paneer (paneer cheese is $14.99kg at Mahadeo).

I reach up to get the motar and pestle (because that's just how I'm rolling) and as I grasp the bowl, the granite pestle rolls around, falls — and hits me. In the forehead.

Should I Twitter…

And wouldn't be nice if President Obama used that bully pulpit to condemn black men like Russell Simmons and Mr Beyonce who get rich off selling casual bigotry and romanticising drug abuse and crime, with a little of the same vehemence he used to attack Wall Street "fat cats"?

Why?…

For 'the children of slaves' to have a black man in the White House. And an intelligent, well educated wife, too!

To be honest, I couldn't get invested in this faux controversy. But why do I have the oddest feeling Barack and Michelle Obama might have been quite happy to…

Anyway ... how good is it that Lucinda Williams is coming in April? Got our tickets this morning.

Bloody good — not the biggest fan of the whole "alt-country" deal, but she does do it well. Makes me regret that she's hardly prolific — eight or nine albums in thirty…

I reach up to get the motar and pestle (because that's just how I'm rolling) and as I grasp the bowl, the granite pestle rolls around, falls — and hits me. In the forehead.

Should I Twitter this?

Sacrifice a chicken first – just to be on the safe side.

I'm making some semblance of muttar paneer (paneer cheese is $14.99kg at Mahadeo).

A cousin – lovely and most upstanding young woman – brought some homemade paneer yesterday. It was fabulous.

Should I Twitter this?

Take it away, Harvest Bird.

I reach up to get the motar and pestle (because that's just how I'm rolling) and as I grasp the bowl, the granite pestle rolls around, falls — and hits me. In the forehead.

Should I Twitter…

I did wonder if going all politicky on a Friday was a mistake ...

I know a fair number of health professionals where it's always a bad idea to get them started on their managerial and political lords and masters — at least if you want to keep you digestive…

The thing about hypothermia is even mild doses can make people make silly decisions.

It's a pretty hard thing to be objective about, though.

As a 8 year old I was on a tramp with my Dad, brother and 2 other guys, walking off-trail across Mt Ruapehu. At one point…

With some of my teachers the problem was late-stage alcoholism I think

As one chemistry teacher put it, "'Sssnot a problem. 'Ssss... a sholution ".

early-stage hypothermia. It did seem like a clear and present danger.

With some of my teachers the problem was late-stage alcoholism I think.

I'm off for a haircut, 'evening all

The thing about hypothermia is even mild doses can make people make silly decisions. I've seen it utterly bugger someone's sense of direction.

I've now recalled that there was another school tramping trip (not one I was on) where one of the teachers got all irrational with early-stage hypothermia. It…

Must be time to head for the same pub as Steve..

I did wonder if going all politicky on a Friday was a mistake ...

I once confused an American woman visiting friends when I talked about tramping. Rather got the wrong idea...

I remember seeing that film – its done up at Nelson Lakes, from memory. I think we got shown it at Scouts.

The thing about hypothermia is even mild…

Anyway ... how good is it that Lucinda Williams is coming in April? Got our tickets this morning.

Bloody good — not the biggest fan of the whole "alt-country" deal, but she does do it well. Makes me regret that she's hardly prolific — eight or nine albums in thirty…

But the danger we were warned about most often wasn't river-crossings: it was hypothermia. We were repeatedly told about the symptoms of exposure, and how people might act under its influence.

In the early eighties an American researcher on hypothermia toured New Zealand talking to outdoor groups with his findings.…

But like everyone else I've had a gutsful of this.

How about that Waterview tunnel then ?

Anyway ... how good is it that Lucinda Williams is coming in April? Got our tickets this morning.

Bloody good — not the biggest fan of the whole "alt-country" deal, but she does do it well. Makes me regret that she's hardly prolific — eight or nine albums in thirty…

Oh, it's great.

Who is she?

Lucinda Williams (born January 26, 1953[1]) is an American rock, folk, and country music singer and songwriter. She recorded her first albums in 1978 and 1980 in a traditional country and blues style and received very little attention from radio, the media or the…

Anyway ... how good is it that Lucinda Williams is coming in April?

Oh, it's great.

Who is she?

Glenn — I was arguing that it occurring over 6 years makes it less obvious

Fair 'nuff

The cynic in me would suggest the evidence to the court by the external auditors would be an ass covering exercise.

You could argue the same about Thompson's letter to the staff.
He's…

Oh, I just saw this.
"The guilty verdict on the fraud charges isn’t the end of Swann’s legal woes — he faces a charge under the Secret Commissions Act of accepting a kickback of $757,685…

Kyle, I think you are missing Craig's point. If the DHB Chair had been found guilty of corruption he would have missed out on being elected, but only just. Like the Alaskan senator guy.

Yes I see now.

And apparently he was appointed by the Minister anyway so... I've lost…

Therefore, the size of the fraud on an annual basis, and as a proportion of total funds is relatively low.

It seems people were flabbergasted that Swann had been able to hide it — but IT expenditure was flat and trending downwards. They didn't have a blowout to investigate and…

It if wasn't and Swann was clever enough to fly "under the radar" so to speak, then you're right it would have required a very detailed audit to pick it up.

There's some answers to your questions in these. The IT spend was high (but not ridiculous), and the level…

There is an extensive article in today's Otago Daily Times in which every other board member and various doctors, etc,…

Thompson is the Chair, not the CEO. Of course, Ministers can't sack CEOs..

I realise that, who does the CEO report to do you think ?
Ultimate reposnbility is with the board and chairman.

James – thanks for the further info, $17mill spread over 6 years doesn't make it any…

There were both external and internal audits conducted through the course of the fraud, and they didn't pick it up. The external auditors said in court that they would only pick up about 5% of this kind of fraud. Swann had the massive advantage of being in charge of…

It's a bit like typifying artists as deriving there creativity from depravity.

I take much of my creativity from depravity, but deprivation also has a part to play.

This seems a good time to remind anyone in Wellington (or visitors) that it is Fringe Festival time again. A good chance…

Is there any evidence that Thompson had these things in place ?

Thompson is the Chair, not the CEO. Of course, Ministers can't sack CEOs..

*There's a lot of emphasis on 17mill figure, but [[http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/34964/events-swann-case-played-out-1996|less on that that being…

The thing is, it required the kind of expert audit that you'd expect your CIO to actually conduct....

Sort of, I'm not sure whether the overall IT spend at ODHB was completely out of whack or not.

If it was, the sort of review I'm talking about would have picked…

HTH.

However, the issue is governance, not whether Thomson knew how much it costs to upgrade your firewall or whatever.

The thing is, it required the kind of expert audit that you'd expect your CIO to actually conduct. The fact that software upgrades hadn't been conducted as billed was discovered when…

But demo-crazy's a bitch, whether in Juneau or Dunedin. And however much I shake my heads at the result, I'm pretty relaxed with the idea that you don't have to pass an IQ test to vote.

No Craig, no offense taken. Keep on truckin'.

No, but if Stevens had another…

IT is still one of those "mystery" areas that tend to get left to their own devices. Would Thompson have known how much he SHOULD have been spending on technical support?

Oh, and I forgot to mention that the way this is normally done by boards is to commission an…

Meanwhile, here at Tolley watch we see our stellar education minister demonstrating her grasp of her portfolio by dismissing not one but two school boards within her first 100 days.

I know no more than than what I read on stuff, but the latest school got a shocking ERO report,…

But here's the thing: why was the minister making this private call in search of a resignation anyway? If he truly believed there was a public case for Thomson's departure, why not publicly say so? Why not, with all due attention to process, actually sack the guy?

Because if he…

I think a DHB has a little more on it's plate than to look for fraud in it's IT sector.

"I'm sorry I was too busy to notice" doesn't cut it as an excuse with me and

"I'm sorry I was too busy to notice for 5 years" is worse…

I've got doubts around the judgement and competence of Thomson and the ODHB

And if you have any evidence about that to add to what we've read so far, please do share.

I admire your party loyalty Craig, but this episode has been bullshit. It's much more about Ryall marketing himself than it is about governance.

Well, Russell, I don't admire being called a party hack no matter now nicely. And since I've suggested Steve go get stuffed for doing the same…

I haven't heard any snarky gossip from anyone who went along on the trip about McCully's behavior – do you have inside gossip?

No, no, no. I was referring to his apparently reluctant role as a minister when asked to comment on the Gaza assault. It got slightly farcical.

I don't know much about Thompson, I…

I'm curious to know what this is in reference to. McCully has spent most of the last week in PNG and the Solomon Islands, attending the Pacific leaders forum and visiting the RAMSI mission respectively, both reasonable things…

As far as I can make out, John Britten was more of the same ilk as Sir peter blake, than Bert Munro. A remarkable leader of men, not the archetypal kiwi block, tinkering in the back shed. He inherited an engineering firm.

A substantial inheritance, but not an engineering firm…

Here's my "ideology": Accountability and transparency aren't just for the people who can't afford slick lawyers and PR flacks. When you're in charge of hundreds of millions of dollars of public money, it's just not acceptable to pass the buck when things go bad.

I still don't understand. How is…

The people of Otago re-elected him to the hospital board at the last elections, well aware of the fraud that had been perpetuated.

A corrupt douchebag called Ted Stevens only missed out on re-election to the US Senate by less than one point — despite being convicted…

Here's where I'm seriously pissed off by Ryall — allowed another public health manager of dubious judgement or competence to play the richly undeserved role of martyr.

Can't agree Craig. I think the case for Thomson's non-responsibility is strong – all I can think that Ryall wants to insert one…

I have no idea what National have against him

Who appointed him to the chair ,Paul?

Here's Bill O'Reilly having his turn on it:

It's hard to get po-faced about this either. In fact, his show seems pretty much like a middle-america-wanka rap. Talk some parody, rag on someone who's expressing their ideas in an equally poetic and easily misconstrued way, and then end with some…

Craig, do you know nothing of the story? They got those bastards with the help of Thomson. The call for Thomson's resignation is crap political point scoring. You should know better, oh I forgot, you still hold a candle for the right wing ideology, eh.

I was going to break…

I was interested to read recently that scientists have debunked the idea that we lose most body heat through the head.

It's always seem like a pretty strange idea to me. It kind of suggests that you could wear a good hat and nothing else, and be 40 – 45%…

But he certainly has one hell of an obligation to the people of the Otago district, and the taxpayers who keep the show on the road, to do a little better than play pass the ticking parcel.

The people of Otago re-elected him to the hospital board at the last…

I think they were up in arms about the "no more white lies" line

"no more white lies" is also something that doesn't have to be about race vs race. It's as much a statement about the racism built into language as any kind of statement about white people being…

But the danger we were warned about most often wasn't river-crossings: it was hypothermia. We were repeatedly told about the symptoms of exposure, and how people might act under its influence.

Yes, that killer hypothermia! I remember watching "Such a Stupid Way to Die" before 4th form camp (which I…

i mean really?
i am so shocked
those young people eh

also where can i get that shirt?

The fact that these schools are either low decile or alternative and therefore do not conform to her dismally narrow…

… wow. It would have been good to be there …

No shit! I should have just remortgaged my house and flown to DC, dammit.

Similarly with motherfucker, and it's so obvious from the context it just makes Fox look incredibly stupid to be bringing it up in such Po-faced earnest.

I think they were up in arms about the "no more white lies" line (which is actually Jay Z's bit) — but, of course,…

What is the point of having power unless you abuse it? After all, it is the "Right" thing to do eh?

Nice cheap shot, Steve. What seems to be getting lost in this is that the $17 million Michael Swann and Kerry Harford stole could have (to go out on…

Thomson, who still expects to get the chop, has every right to have it happen transparently, and no obligation to roll over to give his minister a trophy — especially given that he seems to have the very strong support of his own board.

Meh... am I the only person…

I remember that talking about "tramping" in Australia was met with giggles. I think they thought it meant "whoring". They use "Bushwalking" or "Hiking".

Same in America. Tramping apparently refers to street prostitution there.

Also very popular on NZ ON Screen at the moment: the full-length upload of Backyard Visionary, the 1993 John Britten documentary.

For anyone whose interest is piqued by this film Tim Hanna's excellent John Britten bio is essential reading. There's a whole aspect of the remarkable John Britten's genius that's…

I rather suspect the word "tramp" means something different in today's secondary schools to what it did when I was a lad.

Briefly so very, very confused.