Author Archive
Free hits on John Key over illegal spying
Wow, talk about a clobbering machine … Dotcom: Illegal spying revealed (NZ Herald) Labour leader David Shearer said the alleged illegal spying amounted to a “shocking breach” of New Zealand law. He said Mr Key needed to explain a claim he had not heard of Mr Dotcom until the day before a police raid was […]
Ruby Sparks. A nice story, beautifully told.
I loved this movie. It’s deft. Trust me, see it. – P
‘The problem with any ideology’ — Bill Clinton
I heard this in Bill Clinton’s interview with Jon Stewart 20 Sept 2012 talking about finding solutions for economic challenges. ‘The problem with any ideology is it gives you the answer before you look at the evidence. So you have to mould the evidence to get the answer that you’ve already decided you got to […]
#PlanetKey OPEN MOCKERY continues, corroding the Teflon
Trust Steve Braunias … The secret diary of … Planet Key (click) In which Braunias delivers a poke of (well-deserved?) ridicule and indignity to the Prime Minister’s ‘Planet Key’ clanger. I wonder if Mr Key or his advisors sense yet how complete the appearance of tone-deafness was in his juxtaposing a ‘Nirvana’ of abundant golf […]
All in a good cause, we assume?
Gawd, I loved The West Wing … this ‘star-studded’ campaign ad for Bridget Mary McCormack uses the members of the ensemble and some of Sorkin’s visual ‘vocabulary’ (including cliché e.g. ‘walk and talk’) combined with what I’ve for so long thought of as ‘Mad About You’ whip-snappy dialogue and, mannered lecture-ettes. That I have such […]
Using predator drones for futile vengeance
This is a thoughtful and thought-provoking article by an ex-soldier about the increasing use of unmanned military drones to kill people … Highly recommended. Drone warfare’s deadly civilian toll: a very personal view by James Jeffrey writing in The Guardian. Political theorist Hannah Arendt described the history of warfare in the 20th century as the […]
Nick Clegg autotuned apology
Fabulous! More importantly is this take from Linda Jack… As a Lib Dem party member who has called for Nick Clegg to apologise for us breaking our pledge on tuition fees, my first reaction last night was to welcome his public mea culpa. But listening carefully to what he had actually said, it became clear […]
Lost in translation? … Assange not just ‘wanted for questioning’, but charged
From Julian Assange is charged, there is no doubt about it — Göran Rudling. On numerous occasions we have heard Julian Assange say that he is not charged with any crime. For English speaking people that means Julian Assange will be detained by three Swedish courts without a charge. I can understand why so many English […]
Colin Craig’s Conservatives targeting Pakuranga’s Maurice Williamson
I’ve got no criticism of this, just noting that as a voter registered in the Pakuranga electorate I received this political advertising from Colin Craig’s Conservative Party a day or two ago. It targets local National MP Maurice Williamson personally, by name and photo, with a quote of Maurice comparing gay marriage to marrying your […]
The #PlanetKey ‘gag’ is going to bite John Key. (That’s my prediction)
“We wouldn’t have toilets on Planet Key” — Prime Minister John Key at Question Time. Arrogance like this looks bad. It erodes respect. Mr Key is going to have to jettison this, or be defined by it. Do you see it differently? Let me know. – P
Mitt Romney’s 47% attitude. What it reveals and augurs … Different voices
Some good thinking and writing (same thing) about developments in the US Election. Jonathan Chait The Real Romney Captured on Tape Turns Out to Be a Sneering Plutocrat Josh Barro Today, Mitt Romney Lost the Election New York Times editorial Mitt Romney, Class Warrior (via @tmurphyNZH) Peggy Noonan Time for an Intervention Jon Stewart Tears […]
John Banks and Word of the Day
See TV3: Banks accused of lying about donations in which Mr Banks delivers an impromptu statement to the news media. By coincidence, this was today’s Word of the Day from Anu Garg … appearing in my in-box at 4:12 this afternoon. MENDACITY. – P See also: TV3 — Parliament fired up over Banks donations
