A year of random thoughts: 2014 in review

For the last few years, I’ve looked back at the events of the year in a tongue-in-cheek fashion. (In fact, in 2009, I looked back at the decade.) Tumblr’s the place I look at these days for these summaries, since it tends to have my random thoughts, ones complemented by very little critical thinking. They […]

Read More… from A year of random thoughts: 2014 in review



National and Labour in the General Election, summarized for non-Kiwis

Would this be the easiest way to explain how the two major parties were during the General Election this year to those overseas? First, National; second, Labour. You may also like Steve Guttenberg shows us how a Kiwi accent is done Live from Level 3 Secret “Asian” man (with apologies to Tak Toyoshima) History of […]

Read More… from National and Labour in the General Election, summarized for non-Kiwis



Little Big Man was antiestablishment, as is big man Little: straight talk is what Labour needs

The Hon Andrew Little MP has had a good first week as Leader of the Opposition. Some are saying what a breath of fresh air this straight-shooter is.    He’s been an MP for three years. And in the context of Labour, which has factions within, that’s a good thing. A guy who isn’t tainted […]

Read More… from Little Big Man was antiestablishment, as is big man Little: straight talk is what Labour needs



Brand Kim Dotcom: what has changed?

Equal access: an audio recording of this blog post can be found here. It’s disturbing to see so many Kim Dotcom jokes post-General Election, with plenty of Kiwis happy to ridicule the bloke because of Internet Mana’s terrible showing in the polls, and the loss of Hone Harawira’s seat.    Yet not too long ago, […]

Read More… from Brand Kim Dotcom: what has changed?



When the parties uploaded their opening statements to their YouTube accounts

This is when each political party uploaded their opening broadcasts to their official YouTube accounts. Ideally, they should have gone up on Saturday night, when they were broadcast on television, as that was when those of us online were hunting for them. (TVNZ did not have these up on demand on the night, either, but […]

Read More… from When the parties uploaded their opening statements to their YouTube accounts



I thought political division got you nowhere in New Zealand

A week and a half ago, I appeared on Back Benches to talk about Winston Peters MP’s “two Wongs” joke, and confined my comments to that.    My response, ‘There are still people who enjoy watching Rolf Harris, just as there are still people out there who enjoy listening to Winston Peters.’ And, ‘We have […]

Read More… from I thought political division got you nowhere in New Zealand



Does Google advertising continue to track you after opting out?

Consistently, for the last several weeks, the ads I would see on YouTube have been for Hyundai. I didn’t think much of it, other than Hyundai going through an advertising blitz.    After uncovering Google’s outright deceptions regarding its former Ads Preferences Manager, where the company promised not to track people when they opted out—but […]

Read More… from Does Google advertising continue to track you after opting out?



The TV and film ideas that Ireland pioneered

My friend Lou, who I enjoy winding up, just arrived in Belfast on holiday with her fiancé. I wrote on her Facebook the following slice of forgotten Irish television and film history. If I was in Belfast, I would be rapping. I pulled up to the house about seven or eight, And I yelled to […]

Read More… from The TV and film ideas that Ireland pioneered



Cuba’s automotive time warp

My friend Stephen Smith filmed the following in Cuba, looking at the pre-1959 US cars that are still running (mostly on non-original engines) there. It’s also interesting for the odd non-US car that you see: various Ladas (the original Zhiguli shape), a Volkswagen Gol in one scene, and an Emgrand EC8. Steve and his wife […]

Read More… from Cuba’s automotive time warp



Sherlock Holmes, US-style

There’s a good reason (other than time) I do not watch Elementary, though I did try about 10 minutes’ worth before giving up.    The last time I watched the US make Sherlock Holmes, it was the above: The Return of Sherlock Holmes (though I believe it was 4:3). CBS updated Holmes to the modern […]

Read More… from Sherlock Holmes, US-style