Posts by Geoff Lealand

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  • Hard News: Right This Time?,

    I am hellishly confused about this issue, possibly because we were living in Wales (where they used to burn holiday cottages owned by English visitors) when it first broke. Tom suggests we make entry to NZ beaches a birthright but that leaves out the question of tourists and those here on temporary visas. Would we need to carry a birth certificate, or some form of 'local' identity (as Rotorua residents do, to get discounted entry to the Blue Baths)?

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Hard News: Dear John,

    As Albert Eienstein put it, Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Hard News: New Lounge Toy Update,

    Research came out in Italy a couple of weeks ago claiming that yelling at your kids is worse than smacking them.

    I guess they do a great deal of yelling in Italy, if life there is anything like Italian films.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Hard News: Standing up and calling bullshit,

    Anyhoo - next time there's ever a show about kids TV in NZ - get some of the people at the coalface in.

    I take your point but feel reassured that I have worked at 'the coal face' in a research sense, in that I have done considerable research (with Ruth Zanker from the NZ Broadcasting School) over the past 15 years or so. This has been child-centred research ie which the aim of providing children and teens to talk about their media experiences, rather than parents or teachers reporting on the relationships.
    I agree with your comments about the voice of the viewing audience--whenever programme makers get into arguments about ratings with schedulers and funders, I always recommend them calling on their fan base as a better measure eg the sacks of mail that What Now? gets, the response to competitions etc. The problem with ratings measurement (there are quite a few problems) is that population base for young age groups is often tiny--and often statistically invalid.

    About Peter Calder. He is a nice guy and a great film reviewer, so I am disappointed about his rant to this thread. I could get more offended as I am Jewish (well, my mother was) but I do hope he has gone away for a sit down and quiet reflection.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Field Theory: When First is Worst,

    That is the beauty of the provincial championship--you can support other, geographically distant teams. Waikato have been a bit fragile (and often disappointing) this year but might sneak into the semis, especially if Alan De M leads the way.

    When I was just a sprout, my dad took me to all the RS matches when Taranaki held it for stretch. I don't think the Shield has the same significance in 2009, but it is good to think that Southland might have it for a while.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Hard News: Dunce Dunce Revolution,

    Well put. We should never let ill-educated politicians anywhere near education.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Hard News: Dunce Dunce Revolution,

    This has weighed on my mind somewhat because on Saturday I have to sit the general GRE

    My sympathies! As I recall the GRE, it was an absolute cow of an exam. I sat it in advance of my post-grad studies in the USA and as I recall, ended up in the top 5% percentile for comprehension and bottom 5% for logic/analysis! It was full of those sort of questions like.."If a train is travelling at .. and another train is travelling at..."; the kind of questions which turn my brain to mud.

    Great about Southland winning last night, eh!

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Hard News: Dunce Dunce Revolution,

    We are delivering three 16 year old girls, for cos-play, to Armageddon on Saturday morning. I hope there are not high winds as my daughter may well be whisked away, in her great pink outfit.

    Another great Media 7 last night. Bryce is a smart guy, and probably one of the best newspaper editors in NZ. I agree with your comments re Dennis Dutton. I have clashed with him in the past and he turns everything into a personal attack. He is probably the reason why I have never joined the Skeptics.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Hard News: Getting Across,

    I hate the place. Word, Ross. Anyone who likes it is either subnormally intelligent, wilfully blind or hasn't travelled much.

    Yikes! I really like the place and I don't live there. Excuse me whilst I wipe the drool from the corner of my mouth, pick up my white cane and adjust my incontinence nappies!

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Hard News: Of swine and cows,

    I have passed news of this week's Media 7 on to Dean Ballinger, who is close to finishing a PhD on conspiracy theories, at Waikato.* I reckon it will be a very good thesis, too

    * Which has its own share of such theories.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

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