Author Archive
Puffery. Lies by another name?
I saw the emergence recently of a new ‘grassroots’ lobbying group and, unlike some spluttering online commenters, chuckled to see the personnel involved. It would be unfair and potentially misleading to call David Farrar, Jordan Williams and John Bishop members of a government/public relations rogues’ gallery, so I won’t. And anyway, seriously, how could anyone […]
Stress kills. Some more thoughts about litigation
From the Otago Daily Times The death of the leading criminal defence lawyer Greg King was a wake-up call over the pressures facing some defence lawyers, Prof Mark Henaghan said yesterday. Prof Henaghan, who is dean of the University of Otago Law Faculty, was commenting yesterday at an outdoor memorial service on campus, attended by […]
Another brick crumbles
Remember Facebook announced they were going to remove the ability to not be ‘found’ on their network by ‘non friends’? (Facebook. le sigh.) Well, it’s rolling out … I just got this email … Note the use of language: ‘old setting’ you’ve ‘used in the past’. (Actually, no, I use it NOW Facebook. You’re taking […]
Xero. Things that make you go ‘Hmmm…’
It can’t be just me that reads a line like this … It’s been less than three weeks since Xero’s valuation passed through the $3 billion mark. [Now it’s $4 billion] … and thinks, Hmm. Bubble-ish? I’ve got no insider or any other knowledge of the Xero company nor do I own any shares in […]
Close your eyes and listen to what John Palino said
Maybe it’s my background in radio journalism, or the fact that I have what educators call an ‘auditory learning style’ (or maybe these are the same thing?) but sometimes I find the pictures on TV distracting, or obscuring of the heart of a matter. Yes I know, of course, there are times when the body […]
Spotted on a wall. Fill in the last part.
I saw this incomplete* slogan on a wall near where I parked for the Armageddon expo at the weekend. Looks like the ‘artist’ was interrupted, because a school caretaker would probably have made more impact if they’d been washing it off. What do you think the last word(s) would have been? – P * Or […]
Dumb headline apart, this exchange between Keller & Greenwald on journalism is a great read
A seriously good read. Go ahead: Is Glenn Greenwald the Future of News? — NYTimes.com We come at journalism from different traditions. I’ve spent a life working at newspapers that put a premium on aggressive but impartial reporting, that expect reporters and editors to keep their opinions to themselves unless they relocate (as I have […]
Social engineering!
It’s GST return time in my empire. Look what fell out of the envelope … This is, of course, just a day or two after NZ Post announced the laying off of hundreds of posties because falling mail volumes means they’ll be dropping urban ‘standard post’ delivery back to three days a week. (See: Hundreds […]
Orchestrating smear campaigns against your rivals is seen as dodgy in business, so what about politics?
South Korean cellphone manufacturer Samsung has been censured and fined for organising a campaign to denigrate one of its competitors by paying for derogatory comments to be posted on the internet. According to a finding by Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission Samsung paid contractors to pose as cellphone users and post comments which attacked rival HTC’s […]
Some people use this as a checklist, some as a menu
I spotted this poster in the student health centre at my son’s new school (for next year). It made me consider the actions of some who seem to cycle their way though these behaviours without any apparent balance or accountability. Worth considering. Then there’s this, from a blog post-combined-with-a-bit-of-self-promotion (no foul) by reputation management company […]
The cat sat on the Mac
Nice pic from TUAW reader Richard … Very mice. (not a typo) – P Update: And then there’s this …
Dealing with something new in your environment
This very cool photo, taken through the periscope of a US Navy submarine which had surfaced through ice in Arctic Ocean, shows a polar bear — investigating something remarkable, novel and outside its previous experience. (Well, I assume it hadn’t encountered a nuclear submarine’s tail fin before, but I can’t be certain.) Thinks: What is […]
“Sleazy gutter politics is not my style” by @imperatorfish
Oh, you must* read this wonderful spoof by Scott Yorke: A statement from John Palino Nice. A highlight (for me): “Your decision to talk to Cameron Slater disappoints me, and no good will come of it. If I were you I would just forget about the whole thing. Move on with your life, and try […]
Emmerson – Palino’s diner
This, from Rod Emmerson in the NZ Herald, is one of those cartoons with plenty of subtlety* … it rewards scrutiny. – P *Like, for instance, the ‘speciality’, the puddle under Banks, and, is Slater junior wearing pants?
I think it’s OUTRAGEOUS that poor Simon Lusk’s name gets dragged into these dirty, shabby, venal, nasty political schemes time and time again. How must he be feeling?
Like this uncalled-for example, for instance, from this morning’s NZ Herald Who is Luigi Wewege?: John Palino man’s links to the National Party’s youth wing The political organiser who asked Len Brown’s mistress to reveal their affair belongs to the National Party youth wing. The Herald revealed yesterday that Luigi Wewege, a key member of […]
