171 people to be recognised in the New Year 2012 New Zealand Royal Honours.
Aside from Ralph Hotere who's dedication, focus and single-mindedness to his art which, which like it or not (the art) deserves recognition, there is little of merit in the other 170 names on the list.
Ok, so I'll back down a little and some of the names, those give selflessly and without reward probably deserve some wider recognition, and it is likely that within their own circle, their own community they are fairly well-known, or at least renown for their work, even if most people never have contact with them, or are likely to.
Haters gonna hate right? Not really. I've never understood the glee with which we recognize people for doing their job.
"For services to Business" Spare me.
"For being a Rugby Coach" Give over! What if the All Blacks hadn't won the RWC?
"For services to the State" - so for being a career public servant. Beggars belief.
There are a lot of unfathomable examples of awards, to a myriad of unknown people in unknown jobs. Fair play to them (mostly), but I question the reward for "doing your job".
I'm sure that if these accolades came with a big cheque then there would be slightly more scrutiny and not a "Meh" when they are published.
via Prominent artist tops New Year honours (+ list) - National - NZ Herald News.
A life just as ordinary. Wherein I drink beer, and write badly
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Beer – #2 in a series
Today; Fullers London PrideWhat can I say except this is a solid beer. Right on my beer button, middling taste not as harsh as a pale ale, and for me like a beer should be.
9 arbitrary stars out of 10 arbitrary stars
Friday, December 30, 2011
In the court of public opinion - #1
In the case of a 16yo in Turangi A particularly tasteless sex crime against a girl 5.
Thankfully public opinion and sentiment isn't the deciding factor in what if any punishments are due. There isn't much doubt about guilt, the teen, by all accounts, turned himself in, and is in custody, bail declined, for the duration. The story will be one of why, and how. And we will all have an opinion on that.
But is you've been unfortunate enough to read some blogs then you'll find things like this, all anonymous all ignorant and all rabid;
And that's just from just one blog!
Twitter had is share of agony aunts and uncles, with one long and ill-informed back and forth about nature over nurture that I was (As was the whole of connected twitter) watching (or participating in).
Bottom line is not a one of us knows, and not a one of us will get to decide on this. The worst thing about this whole episode, in my opinion, is the level of faux outrage that people have. The crime was sick and distasteful, all crimes against children are, but with a little nudge from the media and we have a circus born. And to the circus come the freaks, freaks with opinions, bloated, self-important or ill-informed, all there at one outlet or another.
This is the price we pay for democracy on the internet of course, we're all allowed our say and we're all at liberty to share it with who ever we like, where we like, and how we like.
Casting aside even our own sense of moral right and climbing on the high horse of public outrage doesn't end well. We're increasingly like a school of sharks who encircle the next victim with a savage onslaught, only to move away quietly to the next victim, out faux outrage dissipated.
We've had this Faux Outrage at events such as, Pike river, Michael Laws, Garth George, The Tea Cup fiasco, the Rena accident, and just about any time there is a child abuse case spread across the media.
It's ok to be disgusted, and to be confused by events that you don't have any control over, really it is, however it's not ok to assume that you are the arbiter of outcomes. It just doesn't work that way.
just saying.
Thankfully public opinion and sentiment isn't the deciding factor in what if any punishments are due. There isn't much doubt about guilt, the teen, by all accounts, turned himself in, and is in custody, bail declined, for the duration. The story will be one of why, and how. And we will all have an opinion on that.
But is you've been unfortunate enough to read some blogs then you'll find things like this, all anonymous all ignorant and all rabid;
- "Hopefully this scumbag will be jailed. He will last about 5 seconds in prison."
- "He should be fucking shot"
- "he big pity is ... the cunt is only 16 and will create a feeding frenzy for lawyers, psychiatrist and the like all at our expence, besides that in jail nowadays most of the crims are in for similar shit, they will just fuck him."
- "16. Disgusting. And of course will likely not be convicted due to his age. Appalling."
- "I REALLY hope that the judge refuses name suppression in this case."
- "It's well past time minors got automatic name suppression. Hang em high"
- ime for a little social justice me thinks....Should get a lynch mob together outside Taupo youth court for a public castration and flogging. What a piece of trash cant wait till his lawyer (probably tax payer provided) blames his tragic upbringing."
And that's just from just one blog!
Twitter had is share of agony aunts and uncles, with one long and ill-informed back and forth about nature over nurture that I was (As was the whole of connected twitter) watching (or participating in).
Bottom line is not a one of us knows, and not a one of us will get to decide on this. The worst thing about this whole episode, in my opinion, is the level of faux outrage that people have. The crime was sick and distasteful, all crimes against children are, but with a little nudge from the media and we have a circus born. And to the circus come the freaks, freaks with opinions, bloated, self-important or ill-informed, all there at one outlet or another.
This is the price we pay for democracy on the internet of course, we're all allowed our say and we're all at liberty to share it with who ever we like, where we like, and how we like.
Casting aside even our own sense of moral right and climbing on the high horse of public outrage doesn't end well. We're increasingly like a school of sharks who encircle the next victim with a savage onslaught, only to move away quietly to the next victim, out faux outrage dissipated.
We've had this Faux Outrage at events such as, Pike river, Michael Laws, Garth George, The Tea Cup fiasco, the Rena accident, and just about any time there is a child abuse case spread across the media.
It's ok to be disgusted, and to be confused by events that you don't have any control over, really it is, however it's not ok to assume that you are the arbiter of outcomes. It just doesn't work that way.
just saying.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Beer - #1 - Fullers - Honey Dew
Today It's Fullers Honey Dew 'Organic' beer.
It's a bit 'flat' and tasteless but does have a strange under-taste, It could be the honey.
On the Pdub-o-meter it rates an arbitrary 7 out of 10. You couldn't make a night of it and there aren't many redeeming features, but there is comedy section on the label on the back that has a serve with suggestion.
It's a bit 'flat' and tasteless but does have a strange under-taste, It could be the honey.
On the Pdub-o-meter it rates an arbitrary 7 out of 10. You couldn't make a night of it and there aren't many redeeming features, but there is comedy section on the label on the back that has a serve with suggestion.
Trying Teen Times – the grown up one – Part the Fourth
It's really difficult being a parent, especially one to a newly unemployed child. Unemployed because he quit at university, and has suddenly discovered that jobs are not like food in the pantry, always there (at least at home), but that you have to go hunt one out.
Not having a clue of course, and reluctant or willfully ignoring, advice, it's suddenly dawned on him that he has to get his A into G and find something.
Like a bull at a gate he goes at it. Today we have the "What I.T. courses should I study?" to which I reply that I'd told him 2 years ago that he'd be advantaged by studying on and getting into something like VoIP. Today I have to tell him that it's not like there is one qualification that'll get him a job, it's kind of bit specialized.
So I've sent him off to look at jobs he'd think he'd like to do, see what the qualification level is and go backwards from there, after all if he can find a bunch of "dream jobs" then he should plan to work towards them knowing what the bar looks like?
Unless I'm wrong.
Today the driver is that 5 1/2 hours ago we mentioned to him that it would be a plan to keep searching for a job, and to be sending off his CV. I should be happier but when he sits next to me with a gamestaionboy device I know he's been more focussed on some qualification and experience in something that'll do him no good and have no relevance in anything he wants to do in life.
Not having a clue of course, and reluctant or willfully ignoring, advice, it's suddenly dawned on him that he has to get his A into G and find something.
Like a bull at a gate he goes at it. Today we have the "What I.T. courses should I study?" to which I reply that I'd told him 2 years ago that he'd be advantaged by studying on and getting into something like VoIP. Today I have to tell him that it's not like there is one qualification that'll get him a job, it's kind of bit specialized.
So I've sent him off to look at jobs he'd think he'd like to do, see what the qualification level is and go backwards from there, after all if he can find a bunch of "dream jobs" then he should plan to work towards them knowing what the bar looks like?
Unless I'm wrong.
Today the driver is that 5 1/2 hours ago we mentioned to him that it would be a plan to keep searching for a job, and to be sending off his CV. I should be happier but when he sits next to me with a gamestaionboy device I know he's been more focussed on some qualification and experience in something that'll do him no good and have no relevance in anything he wants to do in life.
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