Author Archive
Susan Sontag on writing
Someday (today’s not the day) I will try to express how much I have been inspired by the writing, or better put: the thoughtful reflections of Susan Sontag. She is one of my heroes. I felt lucky to have found her, with her book On Photography. It touched me. Changed my consciousness. Maria Popova, another […]
The Press Gallery thinks it’s sooo #badass …
Here’s to the knuckleheads.* Affectionately, – P * Yeah, I bought the T-shirt. 🙂 Top pic: Scott Griessel bottom: Universal Studios
When you can’t trust the Night Watchman. @MediawatchNZ on Duncan Garner’s spasm
Here’s Radio NZ’s Mediawatch review of the (let’s be kind): pre-reporting of a Labour Party leadership coup, and Duncan Garner’s part in further lowering the public’s trust in the media — if that was possible. [Discussed earlier in my post, Leave Duncan Garner alone! (And stop blaming the weed.)] It’s worth a listen. — extract […]
Another option: Turn the other cheek
Wow, I hadn’t seen this message from Eleanor Roosevelt to John F. Kennedy responding to his complaints about her public criticism of him. Sharp! Gee, I must consider adopting that approach. 🙂 Via @BeschlossDC
Neutral Tones
I heard an extract of this poem on Radio 4 recently, and was struck. Wow. It’s not that it resonated with any application or relevance to my own life (well, not presently) … I just admired the power of Hardy’s use of language to convey his melancholy. Here’s Sarah Cookson reading it from a 1992 […]
Time to say goodbye … (Alas iPhone 3G, I knew thee well.)
I bought this trusty white 16GB iPhone 3G the day they were launched in New Zealand in July 2008. It survived a few close calls while in my care, but I passed it, virtually unscathed, to my darling wife … who used it for a couple of years until she inherited my iPhone 4 last […]
Leave Duncan Garner alone! (And stop blaming the weed.)
Let me say, first of all: I don’t know how long it takes to get synthetic cannabis out of your system, but I think it is grossly unfair of people who take issue with the accuracy of Duncan Garner’s use of statements of ‘fact’ (and his political sources) to keep referring to this: The latest […]
Amanda Palmer is a genius! (‘Dear Daily Mail’ song)
I like/love Amanda Palmer. You already know that if you read my post: The gutsy Amanda Palmer: The Art of Asking (TED). Here’s her answer to the Daily Mail‘s consistent misogyny. Unmissable, but perhaps NSFW: Genius. And courageous. What a great human being, and media critic, she is. Hooray. – P Lyrics: (via pastebin) Dear […]
Astonishing use of Photoshop to bend reality (John Key edition – episode 2)
Remember this?: …well I thought that was amazing use of Photoshop. But look at THIS: Astonishing! The image appeared in my Twitter stream. I don’t know who the artist is. (If you do, drop me a line in comments below or at this address, and I’ll update it.) In an effort to locate its provenance, […]
Must-read essay on John Key’s proposed spying laws
New Zealander of the Year Dame Anne Salmond has used Prime Minister John Key’s own warnings while Leader of the Opposition about ‘threats to democracy’ to condemn his planned law changes empowering the country’s spy agencies. In an essay published by the NZ Herald today, the highly respected author accuses the National Party-led government of […]
Perhaps Judith Collins’ mysterious Wikipedia chimney sweep is a shy hobbyist #WhoisClarke43?
The question: ‘WHO is trying to clean up Judith Collins’ Wikipedia “reputation”?’ continues to intrigue. (See my earlier post: Suppressing free speech and editing Wikipedia. Is that why we pay taxes, Mrs Collins?) Tonight, investigative reporter Phil Taylor had this to say in the NZ Herald … Is that a drawbridge I hear being pulled up? […]
Juxtapositions — David Shearer’s ‘price of power’
If you read The Paepae much you’ll know I’m often struck by humorous or ironic juxtapositions. This, from the latest Auckland Today giveaway, popped out at me. Just the headlines: ‘The personality profiles of top salespeople’ and David Shearer’s column ‘Addressing the price of power’. I don’t know Mr Shearer. I talked with him briefly […]
Do you find John Key’s case for expanding the powers of the GCSB convincing?
Courtesy of the NZ Herald, Key: Cyber attacks, espionage targeting NZ Do you find that clearly-scripted (by whom?) statement convincing? Because it seems the New Zealand Law Society (hardly a bunch of far-left conspiracy theorists) doesn’t appear to: Here’s the New Zealand Law Society’s view: Summary 3 The Bill changes the Government Communications Security Bureau […]
A short course in comparative religion
I’ve seen this before, but it’s still funny. (Thanks to my friend Turi Hollis.)
