Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: Something for Your Hangover

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  • Idiot Savant,

    the First Against the Wall When the Big Gay Revolution Comes Award for Services to Bigotry goes to Simon Power, for appointing Brian Neeson to the Human Rights Commission.

    Human Rights Review Tribunal. The HRC promotes and mediates, the HRRT judges.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Human Rights Review Tribunal.

    Cheers. I had a funny feeling I was going to cock something up today.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I just read I/S's post about Brian Neeson and am sad and sort of flummoxed. Why go out of your way to appoint someone who will be a bigoted douche... unless you actually believe that bigoted douchery is The Way Forward? Which: ewww.

    (I don't have a hangover, more's the pity.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Which: ewww.

    Forget about coming up with new domain names, I think that should be the prefix of so much www content.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Why go out of your way to appoint someone who will be a bigoted douche... unless you actually believe that bigoted douchery is The Way Forward?

    Yeah, I mean, okay, Jacquie Grant will be using him as a footstool inside of a week, but I can't see any scenario that justifies this appointment that isn't an attempt to nobble the Tribunal from the inside. Okay, so they kind of owe the guy for deselecting him in his own electorate in favour of John Key but that doesn't seen sufficient to me to put him there. Which just really leaves the question, can you complain to the HRRT about the make-up of the HRRT?

    For about a week, this appointment simply reduced me to an unprecedented level of inarticulacy.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • pollywog,

    ...my brain hurts:(

    somewhere else • Since Dec 2009 • 152 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    ...my brain hurts:(

    Still? Damn. Does this help?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • pollywog,

    ^^^hah yeah...cheers:)

    somewhere else • Since Dec 2009 • 152 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Jacquie Grant will be using him as a footstool inside of a week

    Praying for a documentary crew..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    A very funny Media 7 last evening, which I watched before I fetched my hat and coat and went out.

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

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Yikes. I need to quickly move on from 666!

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

  • Sacha,

    And mind that crack in the pavement

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    A very funny Media 7 last evening, which I watched before I fetched my hat and coat and went out.

    My partner was briefly unable to understand why, when Russell said he was going to show us his favourite newsreader, I clapped and squeed. He gets it now.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    And mind that crack in the pavement

    None of that around here, cobber. Waikato Draught is our drug of choice.

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

  • recordari,

    Media7 link.

    Worked Ok for me. I was surprised by the quality actually. Funny show. My only comment would be; bring back Newsboy! Not quite enough sardonic, deadpan wit on the male side for my liking. And yes, there was plenty, but still not enough. ;-)

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Maybe its about time I start tinkering in my computer with a screwdriver.

    I cannot condone reckless tinkering with a screwdriver. Just to absolve myself of responsibility when your motherboard gets fried.

    Just trying to get a quick reply to you, and noticed the YouTube page is not yet updated. But it is the holidays, and while the team here seems pretty bloody committed, maybe they deserve a couple of days rest. Although I suspect it won't be long before it's sorted...

    I'm actually still on Woosh, from 4 years ago. So the speed is not lightening quick, but after making a coffee, reading a couple of chapters of Steig Larsson, mowing the lawns, driving to Piha for a swim, painting the house, it works fine.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    but after making a coffee, reading a couple of chapters of Steig Larsson, mowing the lawns, driving to Piha for a swim, painting the house, it works fine.

    Gee, I wish my computer could do all those things ;)

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

  • recordari,

    Gee, I wish my computer could do all those things ;)

    Haven't you got an Apple? ;-)

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Haven't you got an Apple? ;-)

    One on the desk, one on my lap and a bunch ripening on the tree.

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

  • George Darroch,

    Yeah, I mean, okay, Jacquie Grant will be using him as a footstool inside of a week, but I can't see any scenario that justifies this appointment that isn't an attempt to nobble the Tribunal from the inside.

    I honestly have to say that I know too little about the HRRT to comment on its workings. But I do know enough to state that this is designed to undermine it, and to undermine human rights.

    Why? I'll speculate on a couple of motives. The first is plain stupidity, but I have been given no reason to believe this.

    The second is that this is a chance to 'attack' the "PC brigade". There have been enough references, both quite open and clear and veiled and indecipherable, about shifting things back (presumably to some golden age in the past - 1972?). That makes more sense to me. Except that they're human rights. They can't just be waved away. To throw them away is to actively choose to violate the human rights of real New Zealanders. That obviously isn't a concern of the current Government.

    There is another element, and that is that human rights impose restrictions on businesses and how they can be run.

    National MPs I've had the experience of dealing with (mainly in select committees) seem to think that for the most part business in NZ is overregulated and that laws that protect workers and customers are an impediment. "Common sense" will rule the day, they tell me. Watering down the committee weakens its ability to impose on businesses.

    A conspiracy theory? Craig will probably correct me. But unless someone else can offer me a coherent reason why National and ACT are foisting someone who hates human rights on the population, it's the one I'm going to go with.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    A conspiracy theory? Craig will probably correct me. But unless someone else can offer me a coherent reason why National and ACT are foisting someone who hates human rights on the population, it's the one I'm going to go with.

    I've got something for you, and it's not exactly new: You've got debts to pay, and there's so many vacancies to fill... and some proportion of them are always going to be serious WTF? moments.

    Honestly, I wouldn't let Brian Neeson feed my cat while on vacation, but I can't see his appointment as some kind of massive assault on human rights either. Now, if Power puts him name on the Human Right Act Repeal Bill, then I start sharpening the pitchfork and dipping the burning brands in fresh pitch.

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    And just to be a little good-natured, I'd like to nominate Simon Power (and every other MP who voted to consign the 'provocation' defence to the toxic waste dump of history) for a seriously fabulous gold tinsel star.

    Should have happened a long time ago, and part of me wishes that it hadn't taken the savage murder and posthumous character assassination of a pretty white middle-class straight woman to put a light under their arses. But what the fuck, it's gone -- and I'm willing to give all credit where credit is due. Call me naive, but I think the rights and dignity of everyone are enhanced when you can no longer say GLBT people and abused women somehow "provoked" their own murder.

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

  • pollywog,

    National MPs I've had the experience of dealing with (mainly in select committees) seem to think that for the most part business in NZ is overregulated and that laws that protect workers and customers are an impediment. "Common sense" will rule the day, they tell me. Watering down the committee weakens its ability to impose on businesses.

    the reality is...

    We all know very well that many organisations could strip out layers of overpaid managers with no effect on the delivery of services at all. The ruling wisdom has it that to increase 'efficiency' you cut the number of workers; in fact, most organisations would be far more efficient if you cut the number of managers. The populist furore about bankers and MPs' expenses suggests a change in mood, even in the mass media, which could be harnessed. A propaganda battle has to be aggressively fought. The party ought to be over for the managerialist parasites, but no-one gives up wealth and power voluntarily, they will have to be forced to relinquish it. At one level, it's a simple matter of behaviourial psychology: middle managers and politicans impose the restoration agenda because they only have one lobby (the organised super-rich) leaning on them. It's the path of least resistance. But if there is upward pressure from the bottom that will change the political 'reality'.

    http://www.metamute.org/en/questioning_capitalist_realism

    maybe tie all the parasitic select commitee members to the stake and give em a good dousing as well...

    somewhere else • Since Dec 2009 • 152 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    @Craig

    Honestly, I wouldn't let Brian Neeson feed my cat while on vacation

    Brian Connell is another former National MP you should probably excuse from that duty.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Lara,

    Cheers Emma.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2009 • 82 posts Report Reply

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