Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Wogistan form book

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  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Russell Brown,

    If you can bear it, Whaleoil has a quote from Prosser’s book that rather makes a nonsense of his belated apology.

    Well, no I cant but I am pleased he is trying to figure himself out and is prepared to build bridges as this could actually be educational for all in NZFirst and those who support them in general.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Attachment

    Meh.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • JoJo,

    I flew from Christchurch to Wellington earlier this week, and picked up a wee present for my girl, from the gift shop just inside the terminal.

    Security pulled me up, with the line 'Do you have a toy in your bag'. It took me a while - the present was a potato-pellet gun... whoops! Nice security guy looked at it and asked me to put it in my larger carry-on bag, so that it was less likely to be seen by other passengers. His main concern was that other passengers would see it and freak out - not that I was going to use it to try and commandeer the plane. The security system seemed to be about reassurance/minimising over-reaction, rather than prevention.

    His next concern was why the shop in the airport was selling toy guns...

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I was pulled aside for a not-really-voluntary (i.e. you can decline, but you’ll be escorted from the airport by security if you do) “bomb residue test”.

    I wonder if I'm the only person on earth whose level of fear and alarm actually dropped after one of these swab tests, when they told me it was highly suspicious. Coming back from Amsterdam, they swabbed my bag and then told me it contained "strong traces of heroin and explosives". It was so ridiculous that I felt relieved, compared to other more credible traces they may have found. I was tempted to ask "So which one is it? I never carry both of those together". But I figured the best thing was to act confused. It seemed to me to be quite likely to be a tactic to provoke a body language response.

    But after a few minutes I remembered that I had once had a tub of "glycerine in cetamacrogol cream" (a moisturizer) depressurize in that suitcase. So ironically, there might really have been traces of explosives and heroin after all.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Kyle Matthews,

    The 911 hijackers used knives among other things in their attacks FFS.

    It's entirely possible that they used industrial plastic box-cutters, which don't show up on metal detectors anyway. They could probably get through anything less than a full pat-down, and even then you could probably conceal them in your bum.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand, in reply to BenWilson,

    As long as you don't forget about them and sit down suddenly?

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg, in reply to BenWilson,

    As security-guru Bruce Schneier said:

    "Counterterrorism in the airport is a show designed to make people feel better," he said. "Only two things have made flying safer: the reinforcement of cockpit doors, and the fact that passengers know now to resist hijackers."

    I pretty much agree with that.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Angus Robertson, in reply to Martin Lindberg,

    +1.

    The effectiveness of airport security is akin to saying a prayer before flying.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Thank you Craig, that's what I was feeling. But posting pre-caffeination isn't good for turning that reaction into rational, coherent expression.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    I am pleased he is trying to figure himself out

    What gives you that impression? Maybe I've missed something.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Sacha,

    Well, the article Sofie linked to does report him having made contact with a couple of Muslims and at least started talking about meeting them. Seems he is willing to listen and learn. I will be curious to see what comes of this.

    Hone Harawira is another MP with a history of saying stupid, obnoxious shit, but it seems to me that he's learned and grown up over his time in Parliament. It's possible that Prosser might follow his example.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    I see nothing written there that shows Prosser is 'trying to figure himself out' or is 'willing to learn'. But Sofie may have another source.

    It's possible that Prosser might follow his example.

    We can but hope.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Sacha,

    Well, there is this:

    And what of Prosser's beloved pocketknife, and its confiscation at Christchurch Airport that inspired his anti-Islam rant? He wants to sell the knife (still under lock and key at the airport) on Trade Me and give the proceeds to a worthy cause.

    "One that sprung to mind was the Pakistani girl who got shot by the Taleban," he says. "Her recovery is going to need a bit of help and that might be a good thing to do."

    Getting rid of the pocketknife is "symbolic of burying the hatchet", he says. "It's time to let things go. It's time to let go of the controversial shock-jock approach ... the beard's gone, it's a new me."

    So it's still early days, yet, but I think there's reason to hope.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    It's time to let things go. It's time to let go of the controversial shock-jock approach ... the beard's gone, it's a new me."

    Hang on...this sounds like Damascus. He's got the wrong country!

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Dave Armstrong nails it yet again.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Jonty,

    It may have been mentioned in an earlier post, but there's a constant accusation of racism being levelled at Prosser. He may well be a racist, I don't know, but this rant was about Islam. There are many Muslims in NZ who come from many different countries and hence (mainly) of different races. Let's get it right.

    Katikati • Since Mar 2007 • 102 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Dave Armstrong nails it yet again.

    Yes, well . . . good luck to Mr Armstrong in staying one jump ahead of Newtown's "hipsters", but a fondness for ethnic cuisine is no guarantee that someone doesn't share some of Prosser's more odious attitudes. When Christchurch white supremacist Kyle Chapman held forth in the Eastgate Mall food court a few years back his interviewer noted the appreciative noises he made about the smells from the nearby Indian curry outlet.

    From some of the comments on Armstrong's piece it would seem that there are pockets of "the dreary, Waimakariri, Pakeha Christian oneness" not too far from multicultural Newtown. No surprises there. Anyway, I wouldn't know about the irrigation sector that Prosser supposedly worked in before he struck it lucky, but from what I've seen lately the rural NZ economy has become quietly dependent on a huge immigrant workforce. You can buy sumac in some unexpected places now, though the Masterfoods stuff is not much better than lemony dust.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    When Christchurch white supremacist Kyle Chapman held forth in the Eastgate Mall food court a few years back his interviewer noted the appreciative noises he made about the smells from the nearby Indian curry outlet.

    Ruth de Souza wrote several years back that "people can like the foods without liking the cooks".

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    ately the rural NZ economy has become quietly dependent on a huge immigrant workforce

    The Oamaru Market has benefitted from their presence: freshly-made baklava, and halva; duckeggs with ducklings alive inside(locals werent takers); some very interesting sauces & chutneys &vegetables (I buy my fix of fresh fennel there) along with the more usual provender (breads, hangi portions, Oamaru potatoes & conventional but extremely fresh veges)and all the usual handicrafts, secondhand
    books & bricabrac...
    Occaisionally, you can also get Moeraki rawaru/bluecod...

    I esteem good foods, good cooks, good growers/catchers -

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Islander,

    duckeggs with ducklings alive inside (locals weren't takers)

    Balut. Perhaps if I'd grown up Filipino, but it's a little beyond the urgings of my gastronomic spirit of adventure.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Ah, thanks Joe!
    I wasnt a taker either, mainly because I have strong objections to cooking things alive.*

    *Doesnt extend to vegetables/fruit…or, since this may occur as a possibility, does to crustaceans & molluscs. I shuck my shellfish & deepfreeze for 30 mins. my crustaceans-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    What I'd like to know is why TVNZ's Seven Sharp chose to legitimise faux Investigrunt editor Ian Wishart through interviewing the somewhat dotty fundie about his own rancid sectarian anti-Muslim conspiracy theories. And while we're at it, why didn't anyone ask Wishart about why Investigrunt has no published circulation figures, who really funds it, and its actual ownership?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Craig Young,

    What I’d like to know is why TVNZ’s Seven Sharp chose to legitimise faux Investigrunt editor Ian Wishart through interviewing the somewhat dotty fundie about his own rancid sectarian anti-Muslim conspiracy theories.

    Could it have something to do with his pre-fundy history with TVNZ?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

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