Public Address

Hard News: At home with the art-hackers

Russell Brown's Hard News russb@dubwise.co.nz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:01:00 +1200

Leo and I went out to Purple Spheres this week. It's an event sponsored by Orcon, in which a group of eight art-hacker types spend a week in a house at Huia playing with and creating (as it mostly turned out) user interface hacks...

Field Theory: The Master Plan: No one can stop us now!

Hadyn Green plays the game hadyn@dropkicks.co.nz — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:10:00 +1200

Today, children, we are going to do an experiment. But first:
…take a look at this crowd. That should keep those [people] who say rugby is "dead in the provinces" quiet…
That was Grant Nisbett talking about the massive crowd that packed in to Yarrows Stadium in New Plymouth to watch the All Black take on Samoa. Why should you, as did, instantly call "Bullshit" on his claim?...

Island Life: Still not over it

David Slack is riding to Auckland on his hobby horse speeches@gmail.com — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:16:00 +1200

Auckland is not a city that cares much for cyclists.

If you drive a black, shining SUV that looks - to the jaundiced eye - like some SS staff car, you may lumber about this sprawling city without let or hinderance. ...

Up Front: I Don't Think it Means What You Think it Means

Emma Hart said so, that's why. ghetsuhm@bardicweb.com — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:24:00 +1200

One of the joys of raising our kids has been teaching them to speak our language. I don’t mean English, I mean the particular little dialect that's unique to our family. Like any group language, it's an agglomeration of cultural references and code-words: references to events for which I guess you had to be there. Like any group language, it's designed for speedy communication between the members, and bonding through exclusion of outsiders...

Legal Beagle: You always wanted a compact

Graeme Edgeler learns the lesson of history graeme.edgeler@gmail.com — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:25:00 +1200

As the US election moves up a gear – with the selection of running mates (Obama – Good Choice!) and the Democratic and Republican nominating conventions at which the presumptive nominees will become the actual nominees are about to kick off – I thought it time to look at how the actual vote will go, and the prospects of it changing any time soon. ...

Southerly: The Joys of Unclehood

David Haywood has no fixed abode david.haywood@avon-river.net — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:33:00 +1200

My grandfather, an anarchist from Glasgow, had mellowed considerably by the time I started school. He seldom accused policemen of being class traitors any more, and had even -- after 45 years behind the wheel -- taken the plunge and applied for a driver's licence...

Speaker: The Olympic Learning Curve

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:44:00 +1200

The Olympics are racing by faster, higher and stronger than ever before (as per) and it’s been one muscle-bound learning curve for me, right from the interminable athletes’ parade at the opening ceremony. Yes, another bloody Games blog. Just a quick one though and besides, the more Olympicked–out you become the more you’ll appreciate the approaching return to normality...

Busytown: Lucky Jim

Jolisa Gracewood in New Haven jolisa@quarteracre.net — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:02:00 +1200

Just over a week ago, an ancient honey locust tree was badly damaged in a storm. No ordinary tree, this: it was one of a dozen “witness trees” remaining at Gettysburg, under whose branches Union soldiers rested during the battle, and under whose shade the crowd came to hear Lincoln make his famous address some months later. ...

Cracker: No Kitty Blues

Damian Christie - Cracker With Attitude damian.christie@gmail.com — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:13:00 +1200

Every so often, someone comes along who becomes an integral, constant part of your life. And even though you know they won't be around forever, when they're taken from you before even their shortened time, it still comes as a terrible shock. I'll hope you'll indulge me while I pay tribute to that someone, and if not, there's plenty else to read – why not check out Hadyn and Emma, our newest additions?...

Random Play: Back from the big backyard

Graham Reid's many things graham.reid@elsewhere.co.nz — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:39:00 +1200

I have returned from the Outback with stories to write up, literally hundreds of photos, much fun had and lessons learned. I pass on a few random play observations here about that wonderful, dramatic place...

OnPoint: Don't cry for me, Argentina

Keith Ng is dressed up to the nines, whatever that means. keith@point.org.nz — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:06:00 +1200

It is with weepy puppy-eyes that I must bid farewell to you, dear readers. This puppy has been purchased and bound with a little pink contractual bow, and will have to leave this blog-house for a while...

Radiation: Sci-fi high

Fiona Rae from the couch fiona@dubwise.co.nz — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:56:00 +1200

Good news, everyone. Science fiction is coming. That’s if you haven’t already downloaded it from teh internets, put it on a flash drive and played it on your 32-inch widescreen LCD TV via your PS3. Ahem. What I mean to say is that season three of Battlestar Galactica starts tomorrow night on C4; TV2 is finally screening Torchwood; and the latest season of Doctor Who starts on Prime on Sunday; you may have seen the Christmas special starring Kylie, Voyage of the Damned...

Yellow Peril: Bai bai

Reversing the invasion with Tze Ming Mok tzemingdynasty@gmail.com — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 13:26:00 +1300

After nearly three years of being the exotic dancing girl of Public Address, it's time for me to retreat behind the curtains of the champagne room. These Canto-peasant feet weren't made for stilettos.

Here are the reasons for my early retirement. ...

Club Politique: Jesus that cow can sing

End of the line with Dr. Che testcase2004@hotmail.com — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 08:15:00 +1200

Well, I guess this is goodbye. They say all good things must come to an end, and I guess they must be right. Except in Australia that is, where they say, "Go you good thing!". Which suggests they don't know when to give up. But that's another matter...

Poll Dancer: Pocabprescon Debrief

Keith Ng off the election trail keith.ng@paradise.net.nz — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 16:35:00 +1200

Helen went to some lengths to stonewall all the Cullen speculation at the Post-Cabinet Press Conference today, responding to every question with "ask him". She says that he's served her well and that she wants to keep him on for as long as possible - adding that she has every intention of fighting the next election - but Cullen stepping down would depend on Cullen, and she hasn't asked him about it...

Great New Zealand Argument: My Imaginary Journey

An historical weblog by various artists russb@dubwise.co.nz — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 09:27:00 +1300

If Rex Fairburn had been writing now he would surely have been a blogger. Not one whose work fell easily on the "left" or the "right", but assuredly one who would not shrink from a good argument...

Heat: That's all folks

Rob O'Neill live in Sydney o_neillrob@hotmail.com — Sun, 12 Sep 2004 23:50:00 +1200

In this life you get out what you put in, son.

That’s what I tell today’s insolent youth when I bail them up on the bus with their butt-crack showing above belt-less balloon pants.

Son, pull yourself together, I say. Straighten up and put something in. ...