Subprime Primer

I didn't quite understand the US Subprime issue until I saw this.

Ahem

As the year draws to an end, here are a couple of recent highlights:

It was a few months ago now, but the acceptance speech by New Zealand satirist and writer, John Clarke, upon acceptance of an honorary Doctor of Literature degree from Victoria University of Wellington, is timeless.

And who'd have thought Stephen Fry was a geek? His blog is here, replete with beautifully written 'blessays', with technology posts featured on the Guardian online, delightfully entitled 'Dork Talk'.

And if you have an interest in the nexus between art, culture and digital life, and you haven't already visited Paul Reynold's blog, you should.

Driving laughs

Hard News posted on this last week, but the Nine to Noon interview with Russell Brown and Dave Gibson with Kathryn Ryan discussing the future of television is still worth a listen. During the interview, Gibson cited Facelift as a example of the way the Gibson Group is exploring new ways to distribute content, and new media channels to support the traditional broadcasting model. It works. Today I received an email pointing to a 'sneak preview' clip from tonight's episode of Facelift, posted on YouTube. It's a parody of the 'when Xtra meets Yahoo' ads. Beautiful. An archive of past week's 'sneak previews' is here.

Around the place ....

The Guardian's Weekly Technology section is now online.

Blogging explodes on Stuff. There's 20 (count em') and growing by the week. New Zealand blogging's tipping point?

Robert Scoble's now writing for Fast Company. Here he is on why Twitter is the new email. Really?

And a useful Seth Godin re-post on Really Bad PowerPoint; a nice follow-up to MG's post on Rowan's Tech Ed effort.

A list

A great Welly weekend. In the spirity of MG's 'Sunday People', here's five things to be happy about:

• A window table at the Maranui Surf Club Cafe on a breathless sunny Sunday morning
• Browsing at our big flash new Borders store
• A pint of Renaissance 'Perfection' at the new improved Malthouse
• Late night spaghetti-filled toasted sandwiches at the Hawthorn Lounge
• The rise of the Phoenix

And five shockers ...

• Welly bus drivers who continually run red lights in the CBD
• No free pick up option at Wellington airport. A rort.
• Reduced leg room on Air New Zealand flights.

Actually, I can only think of three. Happy wins.

PR Spam and a Listener Revival?

Does the new The Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007 apply to media releases?

Catch this? It's the Van Halen reunion press conference. It's Bono's job to save the world. We just want to save 100 cities."

And in the week that the latest Nielsen newspaper readership figures were released (see DPF's neat summary) showing the Listener dropping 12.1%, it produces a cracking issue, including Rebecca Macfie's 'Unlimited' feature on ways to 'taps rich veins of opportunity', which is nicely juxtaposed with Nicky Hager's review of Chris Trotter's history, No Left Turn (you'll find a couple of tasty excerpts at Island Life). And there's an elegant and sensitive review of David Cohen's Perfect World by Philip Matthews to boot. Ironic.

Will post again tomorrow, promise.

Bear Fest

Once described by this chap as 'dangerous youths, the type often found in magistrate's courts and inferior literature', the Teddybears (a University social rugby team, possibly New Zealand's oldest and most irreverent) celebrated 40 years of existence at a dinner at Logan Brown on the weekend. Guests traveled from as far afield as Japan and Northcote Point to revel in each others company, re-tell old stories and, well, indulge in a few beers and a bit of a yarn. The Bears really are a Wellington sporting institution stroke legend (although I am sure ex-Groats, Ounces and Niners would say the same). Great venue, great food and great people made for a truly memorably night. Well done JB and PB for stiching it all together, and along with FW congratulations on your entery into the Teddybears Hall of Fame (of course there's one). We should do it again sometime.