Author Archive
Self-awareness is a precious thing
In the spirit of writer Philip K Dick, here’s an examination of sentience … more self-aware than most bloggers? “I’m a sort of merchandise, is that right?” via Kara Swisher Allthingsd with thanks. Made me think.
iPad penetration
Whatever Apple announces for today’s (US Time) iteration of the iPad device* (and crucially, when compared to Android, the platform) the penetration of Apple’s tablet is astonishing. Presidential briefing Jan 2012: Via John Gruber * Check it out at TUAW.com: Apple announces third generation iPad starting at [US]$499 (updated)
Connected.
A nice article by Om Malik ’bout technology bringing connection. Apple is about to introduce a new iPad. Good — for I need to buy a new one. I left my old one with my mother. When visiting my folks in India, I decided to leave my Macbook Air at home — I didn’t want […]
Applying Banksy to election advertising
This, [allegedly] from brilliant UK street artist Banksy, made me think. The sentiment (“any advert in a public space that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours. It’s yours to take, rearrange and reuse.” … “They have rearranged the world to put themselves in front of you. They never asked […]
Siri dealing with a Rock God (ahem)
I was sure I’d posted this earlier … and even linked to it, but it seems to have disappeared, so … here you go: Douchebag Siri: the Fixed Apple iPhone Rock God Commercial and here’s the original: — I posted a tougher one here: ‘Poor Siri caught up in an argument‘
Ghastly Santorum’s JFK “throw up” line very un-presidential
The Washington Post’s E.J Dionne shares his opinion… Santorum: Weird extremism, or shrewd politics? By E.J. Dionne Jr. Just when you thought that Rick Santorum had gone as far toward social-issue right as he possibly could, he takes several steps farther off the edge. His statement that John F. Kennedy’s historic 1960 speech on religious […]
Excerpt: ‘The FOX Effect’ book
We discuss partisan misinformation campaigns — foreign and domestic — here on ThePaepae.com from time to time. Recently we discussed the Islamophobia campaign led by political ‘influencers’ and networkers (see Misinformation experts.) But the giant of twisted ‘news’ coverage has to be Fox News. Here’s an excerpt of The Media Matters for America book about […]
Privatisation goes into panic mode
For those interested, here’s Michael Coote’s very worthwhile article touching on the political management of the National government’s intended privatisation of State Owned Enterprises … Read it at National Business Review: Privatisation goes into panic mode – P
Window dressing
I was sorry to see this … Article here at stuff.co.nz As I said when the Lombard Finance charges were laid, I had quite a bit to do with Doug Graham and Bill Jeffries as cabinet minsters when I was a journo in the Press Gallery. I liked them both. This result will give pause […]
Not QUITE ‘annoyance free’
With all the hullaballoo about internet privacy prompted by Google’s recent actions, I followed a link to Life Hacker’s privacy guide. (Check it out.) … which led me to their first recommendation: Adblock Plus. Oh, good, I thought. Since I already use the very excellent AdBlock extension in Safari … well, ‘Plus’ has to be good, […]
Politicians will say ANYTHING
Spotted this tonight … The sight of Mitt Romney trying to out-Conservative the religious right’s darling Rick Santorum is breathtaking. Poll-driven fruitcakes. It’s like that here in NZ (and everywhere I guess) when people throw up clichés and then pillory and demonize their ‘opponents’ — rather than argue or debate issues with them. Here’s a clip […]
Every source leaks for a reason, Patrick
From Jack Shafer’s preview of Max Holland’s book Leak: Why Mark Felt Became Deep Throat Every source leaks for a reason, and it’s usually not about preserving the constitution and the American way. As Stephen Hess writes, sources have many reasons to leak. They leak to boost their own egos. They leak to make a […]
Fattening the lawyers
Fran O’Sullivan, writing in the NZ Herald today about the controversial Crafar farms sales process has this exactly right, in my opinion: The door is open to Shanghai Pengxin to change aspects of its original application. The OIO said yesterday this often happens during the application process as “applicants refine their applications and agree to […]
@NZHerald puts its anti-Peters bias in plain sight
Can there be any doubt that the NZ Herald is taking an anti-Winston Peters editorial line? Here’s today’s story (by the intrepid Claire Trevett) about a recent dinner — gasp! — involving the NZ First leader and Labour Party leader David Shearer. Look at the photo of Peters. Distinctly unflattering, isn’t it? It’s also not […]
