Posts by Paul Williams

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  • Hard News: In the nicest possible way,

    so I'm thinking of converting to the Italian Mean Time and applying myself to the task properly now.

    And I'm stuck two hours behind the conversation... I show up and I swear all the funny and pertinent things I was going to say have been said... honest!

    But back to the issue, I agree with Russell, Key's set himself up by not simply saying why he's sacked Worth. In the Dover Samuel's sacking, which I think was the first of Clark's many, didn't the PM make some pretty frank statements about him (though she subsequently rehabilitated him)?

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Hard News: In the nicest possible way,

    What are you gonna do?

    Is there a <mob-voice> tag or is that a gratuitous slur on your ethnic heritage?

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Hard News: In the nicest possible way,

    Whatever you can say about Slater, the SST profile was pretty damn fascinating and funny. My favourite line:

    I am literally not afraid of anyone. You’d have to put a gun in my face, and then it would also have to be a real one for me to start worrying, and even then I’d be working out angles so they wouldn’t do it.

    Which is why I would be nervous about him, frankly. He so completely lacks judgment he probably is dangerous. Remarkably, his well connected mates either don't see this or don't care; they see merit in having a Begbie type character on their team.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Hard News: In the nicest possible way,

    Most depressed people do not make a career out of viciously and gleefully attacking others. While I have sympathy for Slater's mental health, that does not excuse his behaviour. And yes, bullies piss me off. Which probably does not excuse my behaviour either. Guess which cheek I'm turning.

    Is it not possible to separate Slater's mental health from his approach to politics or are we saying he is pathological?

    Sacha's comments closely resemble my own. I think Slater's a thug. His choice of targets, younger people such as Going and James Sleep, is despicable. I'm very clear that anyone associated with him who's not actively encouraging him to moderate his approach, is an enabler. That means Farrar, Hooton Bhatnagar and, possibly anyone in the PMs/leadership team of the National Party. No wonder the Press Sec's keen to get some distance. Better still, starve him of access and information.

    Why on earth would the media give this bloke a profile, this reimagined Chloe of Wainui, angry online Chloe?

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Hard News: In the nicest possible way,

    You know Michael H (great first name btw;-)), as one of the participants in the clip, I thought it was entirely aimed at nutters and bigots, and dismissive of them rather than attacking them. It is both light-hearted (hence all the smiles) and making a serious point.

    We don't want to be around small-minded ignorant bigots.

    I think that's a reasonable position for anyone with intelligence and a humanist perspective to take.

    I am just amazed I don't look as hungover as I felt while doing it.

    Michael Stevens, thanks for this account. It came across that way to me. I do understand Michael Holt's point, and I thought he was constructive in the way he raised it, but I have to say I love the video. The celebration, tounge-in-cheek, and the hilarity of it all but the clear message; fuck off if you're going to be judgmental. It's some of the most positive anger I've encountered.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Hard News: Swine flu and swearing,

    No one's posted the Pulp Fiction edited fuck-fest? It's here. Slight variation on theme, this animation is cool too. None of this is SFW

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Speaker: About That Telescope,

    Fair enough. From my perspective it was publishing something from a journalist I respect, to rebut some wild claims from a journalist whose work has actually hurt innocent people.

    I understand that now but I didn't get that from reading the post itself, only from your comments afterwards. Which is why I prefaced my original criticism by saying it's hard to tell which of the protagonists is the fool and which is the fool's company.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Speaker: About That Telescope,

    Remember when she was maitre d’ at whatever Hummingbird was called in the mid-90s?

    She was magnificent then; specialising in hilariously cutting put-downs aimed at young bankers out on the Credit Card.

    Though not a banker with a flash credit card, I was on the wrong end of one her put downs once; I confess I both deserved and enjoyed it.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Speaker: About That Telescope,

    That's the problem, takes too much work and staff have all been slashed... the commercial newspaper model, revenue's too low for the shareholders.

    I expect that's a significant part of it. Advertising surely generates the majority of revenue and circulation is best served by sensationalism.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Speaker: About That Telescope,

    So you have the likes of education correspondent Gael Woods, who really know what they're talking about.

    Agreed, I dealt with Gael a number of times over many years and she's nothing short of expert.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

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