Posts by Geoff Lealand
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Gossip is how humans communicate, a lot of the time, and no-one is forcing anyone to participate at knife-point.
As in all professions, when academics get together (usually at conferences) much of the talk is what I would call 'gossip'--who has shifted jobs, who is feuding with whom, in which department, who has fallen off the rails, who is angling for promotion, who has written the most outlandish article recently, etc etc.
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But am I the only person who finds the whole ratings argument rather disingenuous?
No, you are not. Ratings--especially Peoplemeter measurement which is the standard across the globe--are a load of horse-doo. I don't wish to divert this conversation but, on some other occasion, I am happy to argue as to why they are a steaming heap of horse-doo.
The problem is that whilst there is so much money invested in ratings (eg it costs an estimated $NZ5million a year for AC Nielsen to run the NZ system); so many egos dependent on them, and so little public questioning of such constructions of the TV audience by producers, programme makers and funders (including NZOA), they continue to dominate. I have worked in audience research, and have written a bit about ratings over the years.
I was pleased to hear Brenda L, from NZ on Screen, having a go at ratings at the SPADA conference last year. -
If we buy into the Ayn Rand dim version of the world, then we have to ask whether Mr R. Hide is one of her majestic individuals (he may well think so).
Tried to read Rand once and gave up early on because it was so crappy (but, then again, thus was my experience with Mein Kampf). But, then, I am deeply resistant to any world view which bases its belief system on one book or singular philosophy, from the bible to The Fountainhead to Steiner's take on early childhood education (no primary colours, no primary colours!)
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Geoff, seriously. Oh. Em. Gee. I am so excited about Al Green
Just as long as he sings "Belle". I saw him on Later With Jools Holland a couple of weeks back and I thought his voice was straining a bit at the high notes. But any notes will be good.
Happy to buy you a drink or two, if I run into you at the Civic.
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Is that Jeff Mangum aka Neutral Milk Hotel?
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I have to say that I am much more excited by the Laneways lineup than the BDO
..and, dare I say, I am looking forward to Al Green at the Civic on Jan 21 more than any of that...
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Storylines don't need to be original, they need to be compelling
I agree and I will quote (again) Phillip Larkin's dictum Every story has a beginning, a muddle, and an end.
I am not convinced, however, that Cameron's visual imagination is matched by an ability to construct a compelling and convincing plot. Indeed, his dialogue is more cringe-inducing than creative..
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@Phil. Wonderful! I wonder how Martin Luther King or Winston Churchill might go..
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Hmm. Gas, showers and Germans. Probably best not to pursue that one.
Great story, Steve.
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Haven't you got an Apple? ;-)
One on the desk, one on my lap and a bunch ripening on the tree.