Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: We can do better than this

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  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    What is the expertise of the Canon Awards Judge? Is there more than one?

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

  • llew40, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Why? Because people miss out on some free booze and a backslapping opportunity?

    Assume you just mean this set of awards, or do you mean the concept of awards in general?

    Since Nov 2012 • 140 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Robyn Gallagher,

    In that time the only PR offer I've had was to write about a well known brand of baked beans in exchange for one (1) can of the baked beans.

    There's ligging out there if you're prepared to hassle for it though, and kudos for not doing so. SWIM who works in online marketing knows of a bunch of little gigs that'll get you money or freebies. Nothing particularly evil either, restaurant reviews, tweets, that sort of thing. No big secret, really.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to llew40,

    I guess awards might have their uses, but I don't think they're a great loss if they don't happen. In general, great work speaks for itself and doesn't need approbation to back it up.

    (I may be a bit jaundiced, because in my profession the award generally gets collected by some marketing droid who mostly contributed to the project's delays and frustrations, whilst the coders who actually did the work don't get as much as a credit).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • stephen clover, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    What is the expertise of the Canon Awards Judge? Is there more than one?

    There was one judge in the blog category, Deborah Hill Cone. Unsure as to expertise. She apparently wrote that she had to hold her nose in order to give it to him.

    wgtn • Since Sep 2007 • 355 posts Report

  • Kracklite, in reply to stephen clover,

    "Geeky and awkwardly beautiful, girls with brains always spin my fan. There is something vulnerable and helpless about her,"

    Oh God Stephen, warnings please! For everyone else, it links directly to Whaleoil.

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report

  • llew40, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Fair comment - please allow me to downgrade my 'terrible' to 'unfortunate'.

    Since Nov 2012 • 140 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to stephen clover,

    I'd look for expertise if someone judges though. Awards carry kudos for many reasons. I would think some sort of authority in the field would be a pre requisite. I mean let's say I can tell anyone I like Oyster Bay Merlot with its rich but low tannins but I'd have no idea if another one is better quality and it would be only a bullshit opinion. I could really only award it for being "Sofie's favourite wine"

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

  • Tom Barker,

    In the Herald today, the charming and gracious Mr Slater talks of all the nice things he does for his friends. I wonder whether his particularly close friend Ms Collins is feeling grateful for the effect he's had on her political fortunes.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2007 • 4 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Kracklite,

    Oh God Stephen, warnings please! For everyone else, it links directly to Whaleoil.

    Yep, I hit it for 5 secs then ran as fast as I could. I have never been there before and now I feel unwashed .

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

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to llew40,

    The way the situation is evolving though puts them in a more difficult situation. Ahead of any possible criminal charges or proven misrepresentation of an award entry (which must surely be very close to being the case), do they form a view that sponsors should take a moral position on award participants?, if so, who and why?.

    Canon claim to abide by a form of do no harm philosophy. The sooner they take action to distance themselves from those who've gleefully shat in their corporate nest, the more decisive they'll show themselves to be in abiding by their claimed principles.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to Kracklite,

    Oh God Stephen, warnings please! For everyone else, it links directly to Whaleoil.

    +1

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    I guess awards might have their uses, but I don’t think they’re a great loss if they don’t happen. In general, great work speaks for itself and doesn’t need approbation to back it up.

    You're quite right -- good work is good work. But while The Booker Effect is one hell of a slippery beast to pin down, I really doubt Eleanor Catton's British publisher did a 100,000 hardback reprint of The Luminaries immediately after she won out of sentimentality, and I can't recall how it's shifted for VUP here, but I keep thinking well over a hundred thousand which is no small beer.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Andre Alessi, in reply to Robyn Gallagher,

    the only PR offer I’ve had was to write about a well known brand of baked beans in exchange for one (1) can of the baked beans.

    I've always suspected you were in the pocket of Big Bean, Robyn.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report

  • andin,

    the cynical side of politics is not new,

    No its not. But is this all we (I mean us with no influence, outside of casting a vote) can expect? Global warning is a fact. Yet we are lumbered with short-sighted self-serving people who just like being in charge and, it seems, will do anything to stay there.
    A system that revolves around money and doesnt go any further. Those human qualities or caring and co-operation, thinking long term for the welfare of all are slowly being sidelined. Its hard not to despair sometimes...

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to andin,

    No its not. But is this all we (I mean us with no influence, outside of casting a vote) can expect?

    No -- but it actually requires work because cynicism is a much less painful and prolonged default than expecting better, holding people to account, and even dealing with the inevitable disappointments, failures and a full measure of straight out fuckery.

    It's that moral maze, I guess: Expect nothing and you'll never be disappointed, because nothing is exactly what you'll get. But it's such a small life, isn't it?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    cynicism is a much less painful and prolonged default than expecting better, holding people to account, and even dealing with the inevitable disappointments, failures and a full measure of straight out fuckery.

    Sometimes, though, enough fuckery is more than enough.

    Had my fill many years ago.

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

  • stephen clover, in reply to Kracklite,

    warnings please!

    Yeah look sorry about that. I had intended to leave a warning, but kinda forgot when I ran out of time and had to run for the bus.

    Sofie Bribiesca:

    Yep, I hit it for 5 secs then

    You hit.. your desk with your head? :)

    wgtn • Since Sep 2007 • 355 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    127.0.0.1 www.kiwiblog.co.nz
    127.0.0.1 www.whaleoil.co.nz

    Put these lines in your /etc/hosts file and you'll never look back.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to stephen clover,

    Sofie Bribiesca:Yep, I hit it for 5 secs thenYou hit.. your desk with your head? :)

    No because it was my laptop in front of the fire an' then I had to mop up some sick...
    Ne'er mind I have a bucket now for such faux pas in the future, ;)

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

  • andin, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    But it’s such a small life, isn’t it?

    Short is a better adjective I think. Those who are indulging in this fuckery, that the Slater fiasco has revealed have small and evil lives. And that is the problem. They seem unable or unwilling to look past/outside of themselves.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • Malcolm,

    How can the satirists compete any more? Check out this press release from Judith Collins:

    https://www.national.org.nz/news/news/media-releases/detail/2013/04/03/time's-up-for-cyber-bullies

    Since Apr 2007 • 69 posts Report

  • Malcolm,

    And the money quote:

    "“Our new anti-cyber bullying proposals protect victims and hold perpetrators to account. No one should ever be subject to this kind of cowardly attack - now with the right support and modern laws in place, victims will no longer have to suffer,” Ms Collins says."

    Since Apr 2007 • 69 posts Report

  • Ianmac, in reply to Malcolm,

    That was some sort of satire - wasn't it Malolm? Imperator Fish wrote it didn't he? I cannot imagine Judith having the cheek to put her tongue in it.

    Bleneim • Since Aug 2008 • 135 posts Report

  • Malcolm, in reply to Ianmac,

    Sorry, but it is a direct quote. :-(

    Since Apr 2007 • 69 posts Report

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