Random Play by Graham Reid

And Charlotte Investigates on the small screen? Asking politicians if they were a piece of stationery what would they be?

That was Winston's shining moment of this election though, he answered (though I may have remembered the exact words incorrectly): I don't have time to answer stupid questions

Off-topic, but can I talk up a band touring at present: Reb Fountain and her Bandits? Graham gives her two good reviews for her albums on Elsewhere.

Went to her gig at Arc here on Wednesday last week, and unfortunately the advertising had been screwed up (as in, no physical or internet advertising happened), so there were only about six members of the audience, but they put on a great set. Ranges between alt-folk and breeders-like rock. Touring the south island at present, and then back to Auckland (details on her page above), and deserves packed bars.

There was a (very bad) TV miniseries called World War III which deals with the runup to world war and attempts to resolve the crisis. You assume throughout that they will resolve it and the world will be saved. It isn't.

Yes, i remember Helen making a lot of fuss about integrity & golden handshakes - John Tamihere springs to mind - by not cutting Winston loose, she looked a hypocrite. To then run their campaign on trustworthiness was bizarre.

I know everyone's said it before, but the pre-election TV coverage was a disgrace. The media "stars" seem to believe they are the most important item. Presidential? But the Leaders weren't given the chance to orate - to give crafted, deep & detailed speeches that actually might have revealed themselves and their policies in a meaningful way.

i almost didn't bother voting myself - I found the whole thing such a farce.

Rich - I remember another TV miniseries with a similar plot "Whoops Apocalypse!" - staring John Cleese - it was something that never ever ever played in the US - the ending was the same.

"Get you're souvenir mushrooms here ...."

That was Winston's shining moment of this election though, he answered (though I may have remembered the exact words incorrectly): I don't have time to answer stupid questions

That was an excellent answer, but sadly deflated by coming from WP - who of course uses that stock phrase whenever asked a question that doesn't shine a glowingly positive light on him. Any other politician giving that reply would have sounded mighty sharp.

I remember Ted - he was my neighbor when I was very little. A wonderful old guy, fun and funny.

That was Winston's shining moment of this election

I watched Winston and thought of Pym's observation of Charles II:

"Nothing in his [political] life, it may with perfect truth be said, became him like the leaving it"