Open mike 30/04/2015

99 comments on “Open mike 30/04/2015 ”

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1. Ennui 1

   30 April 2015 at 6:40 am

   Gloriavale. A place run by a convicted sex offender and his patriarchal mates. Heres what they take from you and me. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/68145084/education-researcher-calls-for-gloriavale-school-to-be-closed

   In effect this place pays no tax because the workers work for free (so no PAYE) and despite being worth $38 million and turning $1.8 million profit last year paid no tax. This is because they are registered as a charity. And then they take $199K from you and me to “educate” their children. That (given that they say the outside world is evil) is really taking the piss.

   I dont feel charitable. What are our MPs and the IRD doing to ensure they fulfill their obligations as we must as citizens? What is being done to protect the vulnerable young people from these patriarchal predators?
   • Robert Glennie 1.1

     30 April 2015 at 2:18 pm

     Nothing.

     I look forward to hearing sometime in the near future that there has been a police visit with CYFS and any other necessary social services in accompaniment.

     Just as long as this is not left to drag. The more media coverage there is the more edgy the elders will get, and there might be open hostility when the authorities eventually do visit.
2. jenny kirk 2

   30 April 2015 at 7:22 am

   You gotta hand it to the PM – he’s a supreme actor. Look how gleeful he was on TV3 News last night telling the MSM that shouting to the world the whereabouts of our troops was not “news”. He’d just made it THE news ! and I bet he’s pushed the ponytail saga off the front page by doing so. Distraction politics at its best !
   • sckiwireddevil 2.1

     30 April 2015 at 7:52 am

     Your right Jenny, Wag the Dog at its best, thats what they do, just like the supposed letters of milk powder contamination….we didnt get to see those or hear anything else about them…..remember the letters were brought to our attention just prior to the Northland bi-election, but that backfired on them, ha.
   • Barbara 2.2

     30 April 2015 at 8:42 am

     I call it big noting – a little man on the world stage getting his jollies off – he is not a very insightful person – a hollow man.
   • Tracey 2.3

     30 April 2015 at 9:02 am

     My partner thought he looked and sounded embarrassed but was trying to cover it with nonchalance. She didn’t think it worked. Red face… cracking voice…
     • Tigger 2.3.1

       30 April 2015 at 3:43 pm

       He always does this. He is desperate to impress those in power so he runs his mouth off.
       • tracey 2.3.1.1

         30 April 2015 at 4:50 pm

         spot on
     • seeker 2.3.2

       30 April 2015 at 5:06 pm

       I thought he had been drinking just a little too much.
       Whatever, it was disgraceful, careless behaviour from the ‘leader’ who has sent 143 brave soldiers into unknown dangers and just handed their so called ‘secure’ whereabouts to the enemy on a platter……. and in enemies part of the world!

       This apology of a man is fast becoming a real liability for our country and it’s citizens.

       I am so mad at him and his blind followers.
3. Tautoko Mangō Mata 3

   30 April 2015 at 7:26 am

   Here are some interesting articles all of which indicate the fallout from bad US policies.

   1. Corporate money (political donations to members of the Senate Finance Committee) is being used to influence the Fast Track vote on TTPA bypass democracy in US.

   http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/04/29/corporate-cash-vs-rest-us-fast-track

   2. An example of how US foreign policy created the incentive for a journalist to become a terrorist.

   https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/04/29/life-death-al-qaeda-spokesman/

   3. Yet another report on the rorts of Charter Schools in the US
   http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/04/29/fraud-waste-and-lies-charter-schools-cheating-communities-out-millions-dollars
4. rawshark-yeshe 4

   30 April 2015 at 8:28 am

   shame on them all trying to cover this up and I hope brownlie is called out on this today. criminals the lot of them.

   “The Earthquake Commission (EQC) is trying to shut down adverse findings about its top engineer Graeme Robinson to avoid reopening his 2500 Canterbury assessments.

   EQC is worried the findings, if allowed to stand, will have “serious and far reaching implications” for itself and other insurers.

   Robinson was found negligent and incompetent by a disciplinary committee of the Institution of Professional Engineers last year. It also found he did not act honestly and with objectivity and integrity, and cancelled his registration.

   The findings have not been released officially, although it is understood most of the complaints from 11 Canterbury homeonwers have been fully or partly upheld. Robinson did more than 2500 assessments in Canterbury for EQC after September 4, 2010, and the commission now faces demands for all his assessments to be reopened.

   Robinson appealed the disciplinary committee decisions at a Chartered Professional Engineers Council (CPEC) hearing in Wellington last week. Although the hearing was closed to the media, EQC asked to observe and make submissions but its request was declined.

   If the appeal fails, Robinson can still appeal to the District Court.

   In a December 2014 letter to the CPEC chairman Graham Shaw, obtained by The Press, EQC chief executive Ian Simpson asked the council to keep decisions about Robinson confidential until any appeal of the decisions was completed.

   The letter also said EQC believed the disciplinary committee findings were not supported by the evidence and failed to “properly understand and consider the role of EQC and Mr Robinson”.

   Public demands to reopen all Robinson’s assessments illustrated “the difficulties which the decisions will inevitably cause for EQC if they are allowed to stand”.

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/68135509/eqc-fights-adverse-findings-against-its-top-engineer
5. Mickomarvel 5

   30 April 2015 at 8:34 am

   Dear John,

   I read about your “horsing about” and it made me realise you may be able to help me with some answers I need in a hurry.
   You see, a couple of weeks ago I was in this café, meeting up with a mate. It was a beautiful Saturday morning and the place was pumping, with friends hooking up at the end of a hectic week. I couldn’t help noticing a very attractive young woman sitting at a table on the other side of the room. Her hair, her beautiful, lustrous, enticing hair; caught up in a pertly perfect pony tail which flicked and twitched as she nodded and smiled with her companion. Oh! How my fingers itched, just to touch that hair!

   “Earth to Micko”, said my friend, “you’re drooling, mate”, and the spell was broken.

   Later, I needed the loo, so I got up to go. Without even realising it, I found myself passing directly behind the young woman and couldn’t help myself saying, as I passed behind her, “Your hair looks so enticing” and, just to emphasise the point, I gave her pony tail a little tug. She swung round in her seat, looking to do battle, so I did my “cheeky schoolboy” grin and said, ” Just horsing about.” She continued to stare, but I could tell she was feeling flattered behind the ice-maiden gaze.
   On the way back out I had to pass behind her, again. She saw me coming and turned her face towards me, which meant that the pony tail was out of my reach.
   “Playing hard to get, are we?” I thought, as I passed, so I waited until I had gone right past her then, when she wasn’t expecting it, reached back in and gave her another little tug. “Ha, Gotcha” I said, flashing her the old million watt smile.

   I got back to my table and my friend leaned in close and hissed in my ear, “Hey, Bro! Settle! Can’t you see she doesn’t like it?”
   “Nah, she’s lovin’ it”, I said. Well, I could tell she was ‘cos of the way she was still switching that enticing little ponytail, all over the place.

   A bit later we got to the stage of arguing over whose turn it was to pay. He held out for a while, insisting it was his turn but eventually, as I knew he would, he gave in and I got up to go and flash the plastic. Can’t have Bill thinking I owe him anything.

   On the way back I was taking a look at the young woman’s face when she glanced up and we made eye contact for just a second. She looked away so quickly that I just knew she was being coquettish. Well, inspiration struck, and I went into “Cookie-Bear” monster mode, advancing on her and humming the theme from Jaws. It had just the effect I wanted. She played along beautifully, turning in her chair, so her back was to the wall, and feigning mock horror.
   “I’ll still get you”, I thought, as I reached to get my hand between her head and the wall.

   Next thing, I’m face down on the floor. My wrist is somewhere between my shoulder blades, there’s a knee in my back, and the end of a ponytail is flicking in my eyes, while the young woman is barking in my ear, “I am a police officer and I’m arresting you for assault”.

   So, now my questions for you, John.

   Do you think that if I offer this police woman a couple of bottles of nice red wine and explain how I didn’t realise, do you think that might help my case? Or do I risk being done for attempted bribery?

   And what about my broken nose? My lawyer says it will go worse for me if I continue to maintain that the bit about me stumbling into the cell door isn’t actually true. He reckons I should just do a brain fade on the issue. Says it works for you. So should I put in a complaint to the IPCC or should I just stay schtum?

   He also says that if I was to openly acknowledge my trichophilia, and seek help for it, then the court might be favourably inclined towards leniency. What do you think?

   Hoping you can provide me with some answers,

   Yours, with much feeling,

   Mickomarvel.

   I originally posted this on TDB, but don’t want it to disappear so I’m reposting here, slightly edited.
   • Reality 5.1

     30 April 2015 at 9:20 am

     Mickomarvel – very funny. Perhaps you can meet up at a cafe to discuss your mutual fascination with ponytails! ?
   • vto 5.2

     30 April 2015 at 9:25 am

     Mickomarvel, you’re on planet earth remember, not planet key
   • Brigid 5.3

     30 April 2015 at 10:44 am

     That needs to go here
     https://www.facebook.com/groups/657685857619031/?pnref=lhc
   • Murray Rawshark 5.4

     30 April 2015 at 1:49 pm

     Nice one.
   • rawshark-yeshe 5.5

     30 April 2015 at 2:56 pm

     Best ‘Dear John” letter ever written lol .. please ensure you will advise us any reply received from said ‘john’.
   • Clemgeopin 5.6

     30 April 2015 at 8:24 pm

     How about you sending it to John Key, all the National MPs, leaders of all parties, Tv1, TV3 and some radio stations too? And may be to NZ Herald or some other publications who might even pay you for the article!
   • Michele Gardner 5.7

     1 May 2015 at 11:17 am

     You could try a little honey applied to the bruises to ease the pain, Mick, it’s a lot cheaper than counselling. And if you’ve run out you could get in touch via Farcebook instead of TM, I have a few spare jars. Definitely don’t stay schtum though, you know what happens if you bottle it up. Messy, very messy…
6. Wonderpup 6

   30 April 2015 at 8:42 am

   I’m so proud of the Dunedin City Council progressively voting for divesting from investments in oil and guns. It nice to see something positive for a change. The Councillors who voted against the move range from the short sighted and crusty, through the plain bonkers, on to the right wing libertarian.
   • weka 6.1

     30 April 2015 at 8:57 am

     Which way did the vote go?
   • Pasupial 6.2

     30 April 2015 at 9:10 am

     the council would also no longer invest in tobacco, arms, gambling and pornography, but it was the issue of whether to include fossil fuels which prompted the most vigorous debate.

     http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/340505/dcc-quitting-its-fossil-fuel-shares

     That debate continues with; Woodhouse against, Turei supportive, while Clark & Curran (the actual electorate MPs, not just MPs resident in the electorate) were either not asked for, or didn’t provide, comment.

     Mr Woodhouse said the council’s decision to dump fossil fuels from the city’s $82.5 million Waipori Fund was ”narrow minded idealism” that would cause ”significant harm to the city it purports to serve”.

     ”This decision sends a strong message that [oil and gas companies] are not welcome in Dunedin…

     Mr Woodhouse admitted he had not spoken to anyone in the oil and gas industry about whether divestment would affect a choice on where to base operations…

     Mr Woodhouse’s comments also appeared to show he was unaware of his own Government’s policy.

     ”The Government is a signatory to the United Nation’s Framework Convention on climate change and recently that convention endorsed fossil fuel divestment.”

     The council was acting on the wishes of Dunedin people, which had been evidenced clearly through a consultation process last year.

     Dunedin based Green Party co leader Metiria Turei said the council had shown ”great leadership” in choosing to divest.

     ”I’m sure that other councils will be looking at this decision very closely.”

     http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/340602/dcc-fossil-fuel-divestment-decision-raises-row

     Weka

     The vote was split 7/7 for/against amongst the councilors, with the mayor casting the deciding vote for divestment.
     • weka 6.2.1

       30 April 2015 at 9:31 am

       thanks Pasupial, that is so good, but close eh? Congrats to the DCC. It’s a pity that Woodhouse had to make a dork of himself, these people are so on the wrong side of history and will be judged very harshly in years to come.

       I just found the a few links too,

       http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2015/04/council-joins-global-movement/

       http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1405/S00253/dunedin-becomes-first-nz-city-to-divest-from-fossil-fuels.htm
7. Brother Lee Love 7

   30 April 2015 at 8:44 am

   Hallelujah brothers and you sinful sisters…we God fearing righteous Christians here at Gloriavale must keep the sins of the world at bay! Creatures of Satan, worshippers of Mammon.
   Verily did you not hear an evil satanic follower of the false prophet Feminism said unto us that our Christian school should be shut down, that the nearly $200,000 of tainted money we receive from the evil devil infested government should be denied us, for our blessed childrens learning!
   Have we not rendered unto Ceasar what is Ceasars? Perhaps not in full, Caesar after all has said that we don’t as a charity owe him a thing, that our Gods mercy in the form of $1.8 million this year we can keep. No taxes to the evil rabble out in the world, no, generous devil Caesar, he blesses us with the additional money to educate our children in the ways of the Lord. Hallelujah.
   Now brothers and sisters, the Lords work awaits you, go forth and toil, give your labour to the Lord, no taxes, forth slothful servants. To the greater glory of God and Hopeful Christian…..let’s take from the Devils world what evil tainted Mamman that we can and save it for the Lord (plus Hopefuls legal bills for the next evil accusations of sexual deviancy…)
   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/68145084/education-researcher-calls-for-gloriavale-school-to-be-closed
   • sckiwireddevil 7.1

     30 April 2015 at 9:40 am

     WTF!!!
8. Sans Cle 8

   30 April 2015 at 8:53 am

   Russell Brand and Ed Miliband on the Trews. Guardian link
   • te reo putake 8.1

     30 April 2015 at 9:00 am

     The full Trews here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDZm9_uKtyo

     Just watching it now, good value so far. Miliband is going to be a great PM, I reckon!
9. Tracey 9

   30 April 2015 at 9:09 am

   “Further detail on the deployment of troops would not be provided “in accordance with our policy on non-identification of personnel and for reasons of operational security,” Brownlee said.

   Prime Minister John Key said the first detachment of New Zealand troops – a “fraction” of the total deployment – would go “soonish” but he would not confirm the date.

   He said he would not name the exact date for security reasons, on the advice of the Defence Force.

   “They don’t go in one group of 106 people, they go in sub-groups of that.”

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/67756596/first-new-zealand-troops-set-to-deploy-to-iraq

   Oh… and human rights issues in the Middle East and a claim that Key spotted over 70 NZ products during a visit to a local supermarket…. if his lips are moving… there’s a deal to be made.

   http://english.alarabiya.net/en/business/economy/2015/04/27/New-Zealand-ISIS-fighters-prompt-security-talks.html
10. Bill Drees 10

    30 April 2015 at 9:15 am

    SNP will take every seat in Scotland.
    Labour will get roughly the same percentage as the Tories: 16-18%
    Sturgeon does not need to mention Independence: if every seat in Scotland is an SNP one then seperation has commenced.

    This is a bloodless revolution. Where is the party on the 8th May? The results will start around 11am on that Friday morning.
    • Lanthanide 10.1

      30 April 2015 at 11:15 am

      538’s projection shows Lib Dems and Labour are highly likely to each win 1 seat in Scotland. There are two other very-close seats for Labour as well, and the southern-most seat only has SNP a hair ahead of both Conservatives and Labour, and Conservatives winning 2 other seats in the south, although one is only just ahead of the Lib Dems:

      http://fivethirtyeight.com/interactives/uk-general-election-predictions/

      Based solely on these predictions, the chances of SNP winning all seats in Scotland is essentially nil.
      • Bill 10.1.1

        30 April 2015 at 12:04 pm

        Either William Hill or Ladbrooks (can’t remember which one) are only offering odds of 3 – 1 for the SNP winning all 59 seats. As way of comparison, they were offering 1000 – 1 at the time of the last election.

        Regardless, I guess their up for far more than their present 6 😉
      • Northsider 10.1.2

        30 April 2015 at 12:35 pm

        Are you a betting person Lanthanide?

        The Scotsman -Edinburgh: SNP on course to win every Scottish Seat.
        http://www.scotsman.com/news/snp-on-course-to-win-every-scottish-seat-1-3757713

        The Herald – Glasgow: Poll: SNP could win all 59 Scottish seats in general election.
        http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/scottish-politics/poll-snp-could-win-all-59-scottish-seats-in-general-election.1430300172

        The Independent – London: “….as new poll predicts SNP will win all seats north of the border”
        http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/general-election-2015-labours-scottish-leader-predicts-cameron-will-remain-as-pm-as-new-poll-predicts-snp-will-win-all-seats-north-of-the-border-10214211.html

        What say I buy you an pint for every non SNP seat and you buy me a pint for every SNP seat over 50?
        • Lanthanide 10.1.2.1

          30 April 2015 at 12:47 pm

          1. I don’t drink beer.

          2. Bill Drees said they will win all seats, to which I pointed out some evidence that they won’t. The wager you are offering has you profit, even if SNP doesn’t win all of the seats. So you’re offering a wager on different terms than the claim that I disputed.

          3. 538’s model takes into account a lot of available polling data, as well as demographic information. This makes it more reliable than any single poll, especially polls that are written up by media outlets in order to attract readers.
          • Northsider 10.1.2.1.1

            30 April 2015 at 1:48 pm

            1. Wine?
            2. A counter offer wager?
            3. I’ve been watching many polls covering Scotland since the beginning of last year. The pollsters have very solid tested data on which to model due to the IndyRef last year. 95% were enrolled and 85% of them voted.
            Many, and particularly Ashcroft, have done extensive polling in individual seats around Scotland. Different polling methods, i.e. Phone, Online, Inteview, are coming up with the same trends and similar results. The “Poll of Polls” that Ashcroft presents uses ComRes, ICM, Ipsos-Mori, Opinium, Populus, Survation, TNS-BMRB and YouGov as well as Ashcroft funded polling.
            Though I’ve never heard of “538” they are another one to add to the mix. Thank you for drawing them to our attention.
            • Lanthanide 10.1.2.1.1.1

              30 April 2015 at 5:00 pm

              1. Wine comes in Pints?

              2. The only wager I would consider is my assertion that SNP will not win 100% of the seats in Scotland.

              3. 538 correctly predicted the outcome of all 50 states in the 2012 US presidential election, and 49/50 in 2008, far more accurate than any other prediction. Their UK prediction actually comes from this site: http://electionforecast.co.uk/ which rather than a simple ‘poll of polls’, is a mathematical model of UK voting intention, taking the latest polls into account.
11. greywarshark 11

    30 April 2015 at 9:51 am

    Further interesting on Radionz interview with Brit on coming elections there. It sounds hopeful for Labour et al. And apparently there are enough et al to make it work. And there’s more – Ed is talking, now, about limiting ownership of media, capping it or the like. The Brit said that Murdoch’s papers are having a war of words!
    
    UK election race neck and neck – columnist ( 8′ 16″ )
    08:41 With eight days to go until the UK General Election, opposition leader Ed Miliband has made a pitch for the youth vote by visiting actor Russell Brand for what’s being called “a kitchen chat” in the comedian’s multi million pound London flat.
    
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201752458
12. Gosman 12

    30 April 2015 at 9:58 am

    I was reminded by my discussion with Tracey yesterday when I read this article. Seems some people want to wrap themselves in cotton wool and not confront anything that they dislike.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/22/opinion/sunday/judith-shulevitz-hiding-from-scary-ideas.html?_r=0
    • felix 12.1

      30 April 2015 at 11:22 am

      Yes mean the way you refuse to discuss anything you can’t quantify as an economic equation?
    • tracey 12.2

      30 April 2015 at 11:30 am

      All you have done with that link is show me that you completely missed my point, not only in that thread but for posting as I do on this topic (sexual abuse). Which is fine, I need to try to be clearer in my communication of what I mean so that you don’t go off on a wrong tangent in your understanding of my point of view. I did try hard, but must do better to make my writing more understandable for some people..
      • Gosman 12.2.1

        30 April 2015 at 11:49 am

        It wasn’t neccessarily what you personally stated but a number of other commenters expressed opinions around that subject that reflect the views discussed in that article. One person argued that Rugby promotes violence and therefore should not be promoted. You might like to keep a narrow focus but it is an easy step to demanding massive cultural change to accomodate people’s need to feel “Safe” as per the ridiculous attempts outlined in that article.
        • tracey 12.2.1.1

          30 April 2015 at 11:56 am

          Then why name me specifically if it was what “other commenters expresed opinions around”?

          Sigh, cos asking to be respected requires a “massive” cultural change just so lsome people can feel “safe” … do you ever re-read what you write?
          • Gosman 12.2.1.1.1

            30 April 2015 at 12:16 pm

            Because the discussion was around a topic you kicked off.
            • McFlock 12.2.1.1.1.1

              30 April 2015 at 4:43 pm

              Lol
              On Planet Key a “conversation with Tracey” includes any conversation that Tracey was even slightly involved with before subsequent statements were made, but a “text conversation with the Prime Minister” does not exist if the person who has the job of being Prime Minister declares he was actively texting but only in a private capacity…
13. felix 13

    30 April 2015 at 10:07 am

    Starting right now on Nine to Noon, Muslim women’s rights with Mona Eltahawy, Egyptian author of Headscarves and Hymens.
14. phillip ure 14

    30 April 2015 at 10:30 am

    need a laff..?

    hooton and little are clawing at each other..

    ..little has called hooton a ‘total nutbar’…

    http://whoar.co.nz/2015/andrew-little-and-matthew-hooton-have-a-twit-spat-little-calls-hooton-a-total-nutbar/
    • Lanthanide 14.1

      30 April 2015 at 11:19 am

      Thems fighting words!

      Can’t imagine Cunliffe would’ve said something like that.
      • felix 14.1.1

        30 April 2015 at 11:51 am

        I think Cunliffe, Shearer before him, and Goff before him all genuinely believed that if they were matey enough with people like Hooton and Farrar they’d eventually come onside (or at least go easy on them).

        It’s a sad delusion and I’m pleased that Andrew doesn’t appear to suffer from it.
        • tracey 14.1.1.1

          30 April 2015 at 11:58 am

          and two of them weren’t sure they could oppose some issues with a straight face
        • Bill Drees 14.1.1.2

          30 April 2015 at 9:05 pm

          Shearer? YES.
          Cunliffe? NO.
15. joe90 15

    30 April 2015 at 10:45 am

    Māori Television takes the lead, again.

    Taika Waititi is returning to the small screen in Brown Eye, a satirical look at the news with a Maori perspective which is starting on Maori Television next month.

    […]

    Waititi is a producer on the show with Bailey Mackey. He will appear on the show as Uncle Isaac, giving his insight into subjects such as the Treaty of Waitangi.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11440530
    • tracey 15.1

      30 April 2015 at 12:01 pm

      Thanks joe
16. joe90 16

    30 April 2015 at 10:54 am

    Something to look forward to on Māori Television.

    Taika Waititi is returning to the small screen in Brown Eye, a satirical look at the news with a Maori perspective which is starting on Maori Television next month.

    […]

    Waititi is a producer on the show with Bailey Mackey. He will appear on the show as Uncle Isaac, giving his insight into subjects such as the Treaty of Waitangi.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11440530
17. Draco T Bastard 17

    30 April 2015 at 11:11 am

    Baltimore activist ‘kidnapped’ on live TV is in jail despite having hands up ‘the whole time’

    “You’ll see on the video he walked very slow so there was nothing aggressive about him. He didn’t see the humvee coming, he didn’t hear the humvee coming,” Beatty said. “All he knew was that suddenly he was cut off from the cameras. Then he was grabbed by multiple people in riot gear.”

    It’s a video and shows that the police went to a great deal of effort to hide their actions from the camera. I suppose this is what to expect in a police state.
    • felix 17.1

      30 April 2015 at 12:35 pm

      He was calmly urging others to refrain from violence and to go home peacefully.

      Can’t be having that. The only peace that counts is a peace imposed by force and fear.
    • millsy 17.2

      30 April 2015 at 5:10 pm

      The KKK is alive and well in the USA. And it wears blue. The Grand Dragons are now ‘Police Commissioners’.
      • b waghorn 17.2.1

        30 April 2015 at 5:51 pm

        Caught a story at lunch today saying there is a 1,000,000 black men in jail in america and as most of there prisons are working ones it made me think it’s slavery by stealth.
        • joe90 17.2.1.1

          30 April 2015 at 5:56 pm

          The new Jim Crow.

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Jim_Crow

          http://newjimcrow.com/about
18. Philip Ferguson 18

    30 April 2015 at 11:20 am

    Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Vietnamese victory over imperialism and the day the last American military and ‘diplomatic’ forces left Vietnam, scurrying away on their choppers. A day of abject humiliation for Washington, as they had too many choppers and not enough aircraft carriers, so a whole bunch of Hueys had to be pushed off the aircraft carriers and into the sea.

    I’ve written about the Vietnam War, or as the Vietnamese called it, The Great Patriotic War, here: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/29/vietnam-40th-anniversary-of-the-triumph-over-imperialism/

    Phil
    • Gosman 18.1

      30 April 2015 at 12:11 pm

      Not quite. They wanted to make room for the many hundreds of Vietnamese who understandably didn’t want to live under a communist dictatorship. Aircraft Carriers aren’t usually designed to take the land based choppers that were being flown.
      • Puckish Rogue 18.1.1

        30 April 2015 at 2:08 pm

        http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/312/563/05d.jpg
      • Murray Rawshark 18.1.2

        30 April 2015 at 2:09 pm

        They didn’t want to leave too many collaborators behind because (1) many of them had paid huge bribes, and (2) it would look bad next time they invaded a country if they were seen to abandon the torturers and black marketeers who had helped them. A bit like what they’ve done with their little helpers in Afghanistan, in fact.

        There is absolutely no reason a land based helicopter can’t be accommodated on an aircraft carrier. Many makes have air force and navy versions, usually differing in the alloys used in some parts. There were just too many trying to land.
        • cyclonemike 18.1.2.1

          30 April 2015 at 3:47 pm

          They left very many “collaborators” behind, to their eternal shame.
          And as to the local losers in that tragic war, the suffering goes on.
          In the 1990s if you rode a cycle-rickshaw in Ho Chi Minh City there was every chance it was being pedaled by a former South Vietnam military officer. It was the only sort of work permitted them.
          Similarly, the various hill tribes lived under cruel and restrictive laws for many years after the war. Probably still do.
          And as to the helicopters – you can’t operate an aircraft carrier with the decks covered in other people’s aircraft. The US Navy had no use for Vietnamese helicopters, land-based or not.
      • McFlock 18.1.3

        30 April 2015 at 4:47 pm

        Indeed. And it wasn’t a “war” and it was a draw not a loss /sarc
        :pokey tongue out face:
19. aerobubble 19

    30 April 2015 at 12:04 pm

    Library access to scoop.co.nz denied
20. tracey 20

    30 April 2015 at 12:14 pm

    Independent of what/who

    “Dame Jenny Shipley says her appointment as the first independent chair of Oravida is an important move for the company as it seeks to expand its presence in China.”
    • rawshark-yeshe 20.1

      30 April 2015 at 12:30 pm

      must go specially alongside her chair of the Chinese bank in Auckland and how well she did as chair of Mainzeal.

      maybe someone can investigate the more secret chinese holdings she held previously with drapac … how did they get the lab space at the old DSIR in Mt Albert ? Hard to imagine without largesse and her matronage.
    • Kiwiri 20.2

      30 April 2015 at 12:38 pm

      Shipley would be the ideal candidate to be independent of integrity, accountability, honesty, public service, and ethics.
21. rawshark-yeshe 21

    30 April 2015 at 12:27 pm

    Engish as NZ traitor: headline says it all.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/68152582/government-offloads-2800-state-houses-to-auckland-development-company

    nb: use of the verb “offload’ in the headline.

    nb2: English’s action includes givng the developer a $200 million instant line of credit to get them start !
    • Murray Rawshark 21.1

      30 April 2015 at 2:15 pm

      Brian Donnelly has been involved in “developing” state housing for a while now.

      http://www.nzsef.org.nz/the-2007-fellowship/brian-donnelly
      • tracey 21.1.1

        30 April 2015 at 2:25 pm

        Thanks for the link Murray. It is well worth a read folks.

        It is kind of what the Housing Corporation used to do? Now they rely on direct funding from the public.
    • tracey 21.2

      30 April 2015 at 2:20 pm

      But quick. Look over there, people are taking up the grants to buy their own houses… Govt is good for low income folks looking for a home..
22. Bearded Git 22

    30 April 2015 at 12:44 pm

    I love the way Fonterra is calling milk prices “volatile”. Prices have plummeted.

    And the way they blame the fall on overproduction and lack of demand. NZ milk production has gone from 9.8 billion litres to 20.7 billion litres between 1996-2015
23. lprent 23

    30 April 2015 at 1:33 pm

    Power problem. Fallback failed yet again.
    Sneaker fallback worked. May as well take lunch back with me.
24. Bob 24

    30 April 2015 at 1:59 pm

    When are Labour going to learn!

    Press release this morning from Grant Robertson:

    Govt inaction on housing keeping rates high
    The Government’s failure to rein in the housing crisis means the Reserve Bank Governor cannot lower interest rates despite inflation being at 15-year lows, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson.
    “Inflation is below the target band and the economy has actually deflated in the past two quarters, yet we have among the highest interest rates in the developed world.
    “As the Reserve Bank has repeatedly pointed out the biggest reason for that is the Government’s refusal to tackle the housing crisis.
    “If it wasn’t for skyrocketing housing prices in Auckland and the increased spending that comes off the back of that, there’s no doubt the Governor would be looking to lower rates.
    “That would lower our overvalued dollar, make our exporters more competitive, create jobs and boost incomes, as well as lower mortgage costs for stretched families. Not to mention reduce the serious financial stability risk the Reserve Bank Governor is so worried about.
    “In his commentary today, it is clear the Governor is very concerned about the impact of a high dollar on our exporters.
    “National is failing to build enough houses and refuses to take action on property speculators. That failure is keeping rates high which is hurting businesses, homeowners, and all Kiwis looking to get ahead.

    This is all a brilliant angle from Grant Robertson, he is actually showing he is a better Finance Spokesperson than I thought he was going to be, but then he ruins it all with his last paragraph:
    “The decision on interest rates is usually seen as a headache for the Reserve Bank Governor. It’s quickly turning into a headache for everyone, thanks to John Key,” says Grant Robertson.

    Come on Grant! You have just put forward a reasoned argument for why National should be doing more to tackle the housing issue, then instead of finishing with what Labour plan to do about it, or just leave it as a well reasoned attack on National’s credibility, he has to bring the political battle back to John Key vs Andrew Little rather than National vs Labour!
    National use this tactic because john Key has an almost 4:1 preferred Prime Minister advantage over Andrew Little (according to the latest Colmar Brunton poll), so bringing the arguments back to man against man works for them, but the tenuous links back to John Key at the end of this Media Release is one of the reasons Labour is making no traction in the polls, lot’s of complaints about National using personality politics, then try to counter it with personality politics when you don’t have an overly popular person leading the party (only 1/3rd of his own voters want him as PM)!
25. Robert Glennie 25

    30 April 2015 at 2:23 pm

    When the Prime Minister says the movement of New Zealand forces through a foreign country is not newsworthy, that is the surest signal he no longer trusts the media.

    If the Prime Minister, the most accountable public servant, no longer trusts the media, his/her days with that title should be numbered.
    • rawshark-yeshe 25.1

      30 April 2015 at 5:09 pm

      the photographic and video images of him they have selected today makes it very clear how they all feel about his ‘middle finger’ to them.

      oh, surprise surprise, they have all been changed !! But the Herald one of him with stretching jaws wide open stuffing a burger in his mouth was a perfect derogation of the hollow man.

      also, stuff had a most unflattering image of him, but no links .. all gone !! funny that.

      the ice is thinning under key’s feet.
      • rawshark-yeshe 25.1.1

        30 April 2015 at 5:12 pm

        but this odd choice of image survives on TV3 .. proves my point !

        http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/key-troop-deployment-not-newsworthy-2015042911#axzz3Yb448UjV
26. rawshark-yeshe 26

    30 April 2015 at 3:23 pm

    ‘Gather you cynics throughout all the land,
    and don ‘t criticise what you can’t understand …. ‘
    ( with apologies to Mr Bob Zimmerman), but this:

    “The Swiss government has a long and widely-respected history of neutrality, and therefore, reports from this government on controversial subjects need to be taken more seriously than other reports from countries that are more strongly influenced by present economic and political constituencies. When one considers that two of the top five largest drug companies in the world have their headquarters in Switzerland, one might assume that this country would have a heavy interest in and bias toward conventional medicine, but such assumptions would be wrong.

    In late 2011, the Swiss government’s report on homeopathic medicine represents the most comprehensive evaluation of homeopathic medicine ever written by a government and was just published in book form in English (Bornhoft and Matthiessen, 2011).

    This breakthrough report affirmed that homeopathic treatment is both effective and cost-effective and that homeopathic treatment should be reimbursed by Switzerland’s national health insurance program.

    The Swiss government’s inquiry into homeopathy and complementary and alternative (CAM) treatments resulted from the high demand and widespread use of alternatives to conventional medicine in Switzerland, not only from consumers but from physicians as well. Approximately half of the Swiss population have used CAM treatments and value them. Further, about half of Swiss physicians consider CAM treatments to be effective. Perhaps most significantly, 85 percent of the Swiss population wants CAM therapies to be a part of their country’s health insurance program.”

    Full article here:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/homeopathic-medicine-_b_1258607.html

    “For the times, they are a changin’ ” …
27. adam 27

    30 April 2015 at 3:35 pm

    Well worth watching – Good work by the activist. Great media work.

    Also good analysis from the folks from Young Turks.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWIDvMpieVQ
    • joe90 27.1

      30 April 2015 at 4:31 pm

      https://twitter.com/deray

      https://twitter.com/ShaunKing

      #baltimoreuprising
      • adam 27.1.1

        30 April 2015 at 4:52 pm

        There has been many, many, more peaceful protests than violent ones – and still the MSM media won’t discuss the fact some 300 people have been murder by police in the last year. And the overwhelming majority of these people being killed are Black Americans.

        Lest we forget – Freddie Gray.
        • joe90 27.1.1.1

          30 April 2015 at 5:15 pm

          In four months 386 people have been killed by police.

          http://www.killedbypolice.net/

          https://www.facebook.com/KilledByPolice?fref=nf
          • adam 27.1.1.1.1

            30 April 2015 at 6:31 pm

            Maybe it was 300 people since the start of the year, was the quote I heard.

            That said, any figure over 0 is a tragedy. 300+ is morally bankrupt, corrupt system that is failing.
28. greywarshark 28

    30 April 2015 at 4:15 pm

    I mention that I did a piece honouring Ettie Rout late yesterday which probably will drop out of sight. She was a WW1 war heroine who receved little ackowledgement and lost her position in society and friends resuting in her taking her life.
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-29042015/#comment-1007830
    • rawshark-yeshe 28.1

      30 April 2015 at 4:34 pm

      absolutely she deserves a retrospective award … wonderful heroine who saved so many lives from syphilis and other venereal death sentences. thanks for posting, grey.

      did you see the fine sam neill doco on maori tv on anzac day .. he gave her an elegant and deserved eulogy.

      link for you, and it reminds well of what very good television looks like …

      https://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/anzac-2015/S01E001/anzac-2015-anzac-tides-blood
      • greywarshark 28.1.1

        30 April 2015 at 8:52 pm

        Thanks for thinking of that r-yeshe. I haven’t got tv at moment but should get set up for Maori TV.
        • rawshark-yeshe 28.1.1.1

          30 April 2015 at 10:03 pm

          you can watch online if you have a computer … just use the same link …
29. Draco T Bastard 29

    30 April 2015 at 4:24 pm

    Updated: Sexist peer review elicits furious Twitter response, PLOS apology

    Earlier today, Ingleby, a postdoc at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, posted two excerpts of the anonymous review. “It would probably … be beneficial to find one or two male biologists to work with (or at least obtain internal peer review from, but better yet as active co-authors)” to prevent the manuscript from “drifting too far away from empirical evidence into ideologically biased assumptions,” the reviewer wrote in one portion.

    Bold mine and all I can say to that is: WTF???
    • McFlock 29.1

      30 April 2015 at 5:17 pm

      wow
      • weka 29.1.1

        30 April 2015 at 5:56 pm

        comments are an interesting read (plus that video, lolz).

        Can’t say I’m too surprised. Women talking about gender, how could they not be biased 😉
30. tinfoilhat 30

    30 April 2015 at 4:40 pm

    Is Len Brown a corporate stooge or is it just that he’s overly thick and mendacious ?

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11441189
    • Draco T Bastard 30.1

      30 April 2015 at 5:09 pm

      A bit of both?

      It doesn’t matter how many extensions there are as it’s the length of the wharves that’s the problem. One will still be narrowing the width of the harbour.
      • tinfoilhat 30.1.1

        30 April 2015 at 6:14 pm

        @Draco..yes pretty much.

        They say we get the leaders we deserve… not sure what we did to deserve our current local and government leaders.
31. Clemgeopin 31

    30 April 2015 at 4:50 pm

    Boycott McDonald’s Tomorrow : May 1 :

    “The workers and their union are asking New Zealanders not to eat at McDonald’s on May Day, and if you drive past a picket line, please toot your horn and wave in support.”

    See more at:
    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/04/30/guest-blog-anonymous-mcdonalds-worker-old-mcdonalds-had-a-strike/#sthash.cBVnfPll.dpuf
    • tinfoilhat 31.1

      30 April 2015 at 4:57 pm

      I’m glad to say that will be very easy for me…never eaten there and never intend to do so.
32. ianmac 32

    30 April 2015 at 7:15 pm

    “Louise Upston spouts meaningless waffle when she talks about women’s issues.”
    Dita de BonI writes:
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11440715
    Felix Geiringer: “Will ‘bit of fun’ end up like pate polishing? “A very funny look at the Hair Pulling Brigade. Sounds just like Fisi or Bob Jones.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11440603
    (Funny thing is that to click on the agree hand the vote evaporates when reloading page.)
    • rawshark-yeshe 32.1

      30 April 2015 at 7:19 pm

      Felix Geiringer is so tongue in cheek it’s easy to miss what he really means … he is neither fisi or bob jones … suffice to know he was tweeting the other day that he was very happy to help Amanda Bailey if she needed legal advice or representation ? -)
      • ianmac 32.1.1

        30 April 2015 at 7:47 pm

        Oh rawshark-yeshe. I immediately and fully understood that Felix was demonstrating just how absurd the Key supporters position is. (Just in case anyone thought I took him seriously. But Fisi and Jones do sound just like Felix writes.) And being very funny as well. The Geiringer family has a long and noble history of doing the right thing
        • rawshark-yeshe 32.1.1.1

          30 April 2015 at 8:05 pm

          it was the fisi reference that had me fooled ! no insult to you intended ianmac!

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