He Said, She Said

Today it won't be a rant against battered wives, child abuse, scams in government, overcrowded cities, a haze over our cities thanks to fumes from the jungle of transportation, industry trying not to follow environmental standards laid down by our government, overcrowded cities, potholes in our roads, slums in our cities, crime.

No, nothing that intense. It's things people say that make me slightly uncomfortable. For example, have you ever felt creepy listening to some politicians trying to appear glib, suave and bluff as they try and deftly deflect a question? That their ploy looks obvious to the rest of us while their sycophants bend over backwards to applaud their cleverness is another matter.

I love Barrack and I hope he wins. But when he or any American is shown on TV going, "America is the best" it sadly doesn't ring true anymore. Take the following, for example. It definitely gave me the heebee jeebees. It made the headlines in NZ. It is what the US State department said John Key, our NZ PM, said. I don't know if they expected NZ not to pick up on it but it made the headlines here - "Key gets a US rewrite of what he really said" It took my breath away and made me think it would pay to do a double check as a matter of course. Kudos to the NZ Herald for being vigilant and for showing the transcript so no one was left in any doubt as to their report's veracity. I believe the Americans are blaming it on wind.

Finally, the recent trend among one or two Indian reporters to sound terribly high pitched and abrasive is really puzzling. Wonder what it is. A bid to sound confident and smooth? I don't know. All I know is I can't hear the words for the sound. Hope this settles soon.