Right wing bigot pines for days of right wing bigotry

Written By: - Date published: 10:42 am, September 22nd, 2012 - 180 comments
Categories: Media - Tags: , ,

John Roughan has a whinge about Campbell Live’s coverage of the Christchurch school closures in today’s Herald.

Poor John pines for the days when Paul Holmes was broadcasting rightwing bullsh*t nationwide every evening.

How I miss Paul Holmes. He had the rare ability to empathise with everyone, the powerful and powerless. He saw them all as the well-intentioned people they are as they grapple with problems

This is the Paul Holmes that has railed against workers trying to defend their jobs and has come out with some of the most cringe-worthy tory-charity shlock I have ever watched. Roughan sneers at journalists who “side with people against power” and calls feeding hungry kids for $4 million a year a “costly triumph” for interventionist journalism.

Normally I wouldn’t comment on this kind of curmudgeonly trash but there’s a pattern forming of old right-wing journos who made their names in the eighties and nineties lashing out against other younger journalists and commentators.

We’ve seen it in John Armstrong’s attacks on Bryce Edwards and Gordon Campbell and we’ve seen it in the dozens of desperate attacks on the blogs by these old dinosaurs. Most notably in Fran O’Sullivan’s fascist call that Standard authors should lose their jobs.

Well I’ve got news for these soon-to-be-hasbeens. The voodoo economics you made your names cheer-leading for are discredited and your heyday is well and truly over (no matter how hard this tired government tries to bring it back). In a few more years you’ll be as relevant as Garth George. And Gordon Campbell and Bryce Edwards and John Campbell will still be here. And so will we.

But keep up the public squirming. It’s very entertaining…

180 comments on “Right wing bigot pines for days of right wing bigotry ”

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  1. mike e 1
    22 September 2012 at 12:06 pm

    Campbell is calling to account bad policy decisions and the publics reaction!
    Holmes would be crawling up to Parata and writing off the public outcry!

  2. r0b 2
    22 September 2012 at 12:17 pm

    So John’s hero is Paul “cheeky darkie” Holmes. Paul Homes the great uniter. Explains a lot.

    • Morrissey 2.1
      23 September 2012 at 5:59 pm

      Roughan must really HATE the new and stratospherically improved Q+A on TV One.

      This morning I watched Shane Taurima make the Rt. Hon. Paula Bennett perspire with anxiety as he refused to let her evade his questions, and then later in the programme he reduced “Sir” Roger Douglas to a frothing display of incoherence.

      Even better was the sight of Nicky Hager (!!!!!!??!?!?) and Prof. Raymond Miller challenging and disputing every cliché uttered by the floundering former National minister Paul East, who was reduced to a petulant, baffled sulk.

      Holmes—GONE. Therese Arseneau—GONE. Michelle Boag—GONE. Q+A finally has some moral fibre and a bit of intellectual heft. Things are looking up.

      The situation at the BBC, however, is altogether more depressing. Did anyone hear the egregious right wing rant posing as a Reith Lecture this afternoon?

      • Populuxe1 2.1.1
        23 September 2012 at 6:15 pm

        Niall Ferguson might be a prat, but the BBC is dedicated to balanced coverage of viewpoints, as amply evidenced by previous left-wing Reith lecturers. That’s freedom of speech for you.

        • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.1
          23 September 2012 at 6:34 pm

          The cheering on of the Iraq war and the Afghanistan war put me off the BBC somewhat. As was their coverage of the riots in the UK where they tended to take the view of the 1% in charge.

          • Populuxe1 2.1.1.1.1
            23 September 2012 at 7:16 pm

            I demand that you cite reliable evidence that they took an unjustifiable stance on anything. I am open to verifiable evidence, not your subjective POV.

            • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.1.1.1
              23 September 2012 at 7:19 pm

              Oh frak off. “Demand” lol. Who do you believe you are, Mr Self Proclaimed “OPen Minded” Editor-Judge Supreme.

              • Populuxe1 …
                23 September 2012 at 7:29 pm

                Yeah, that’s pretty much your attitude in a nutshell CV – “This is my opinion. You must believe it as fact or you are an idiot. No I don’t have to substantiate it because I say so” !

                • Colonial Viper …
                  23 September 2012 at 7:54 pm

                  Actually, my opinion is that I do not work for you or report to you, and that you are in no position to “demand” jack shit.

                  By the way, please read what I actually wrote, because I think your reading comprehension is way off:

                  The cheering on of the Iraq war and the Afghanistan war put me off the BBC somewhat.

                  That’s a description of my opinion and reaction, in case you didn’t notice.

                  • Populuxe1 …
                    23 September 2012 at 8:13 pm

                    Funny that, I don’t remember much cheering. Perchance you mean reporting on military successes 😀 and failures :'( – I seem to recall a lot of that. I believe they call it journalism.
                    No need to have a hissyfit, CV, but your opinions are subjective and mean “jack shit” (what a quaintly gung-ho Americanism) in the broader scheme of things. Why the allergy to evidence?

              • Jokerman …
                23 September 2012 at 8:38 pm

                even my Lord acknowledged in the gospels that gods had been raised up amongst men
                (judges) a round here anyway, lprent, CV, DTB and many others are amongst them
                Been wanting to articulate that since i began following your thought processes nearly a year ago. Thanks 😉

                • Colonial Viper …
                  23 September 2012 at 8:53 pm

                  Too much credit mate, just figured there must be some way out of here, and it’s nice to have good people here at The Standard helping suggest the way ahead.

        • Morrissey 2.1.1.2
          23 September 2012 at 7:00 pm

          Niall Ferguson might be a prat,

          “Might be” a prat? “Might be”?

          but the BBC is dedicated to balanced coverage of viewpoints,

          That’s not true. You need to watch and listen to the BBC a bit more often, and a lot more carefully.

          as amply evidenced by previous left-wing Reith lecturers.

          When did you hear a Reith Lecture series as partisan as this one? In his first lecture, Ferguson went out of his way to praise the boldness and vision of…. (wait for it)…David Cameron and George Osborne.

          That’s freedom of speech for you.

          That’s the state-controlled BBC for you.

          • Populuxe1 2.1.1.2.1
            23 September 2012 at 7:35 pm

            I think you mean you want me to listen to the BBC through a certain set of ideological prejudices rather than impartially – which is what “listen more carefully” usually means. And as for partisan Reith lecturers with various tubs to thump, take your pick:
            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Reith_Lectures

            • Morrissey 2.1.1.2.1.1
              23 September 2012 at 8:05 pm

              I think you mean you want me to listen to the BBC through a certain set of ideological prejudices rather than impartially – which is what “listen more carefully” usually means.

              Well, you think wrong—yet again.

              More to the point, you have not answered the question I gave you, viz., which of the commentators on that list was as partisan as Ferguson?

              And here’s another one for you: which one of the other Reith lecturers was as intellectually threadbare as Niall Ferguson?

          • Herodotus 2.1.1.2.2
            23 September 2012 at 8:48 pm

            I found his 2 doco’s that I have viewed on the history channel both entertaining and informative: Accent of Money and War of the World
            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niall_Ferguson

      • joe90 2.1.2
        23 September 2012 at 6:32 pm

        Did anyone hear the egregious right wing rant posing as a Reith Lecture this afternoon?

        No. Same old fantasy?.

        http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/08/a-full-fact-check-of-niall-fergusons-very-bad-argument-against-obama/261306/

        • Morrissey 2.1.2.1
          23 September 2012 at 8:12 pm

          Same old fantasy?

          Same old right wing cant, I’m afraid. Ferguson set the moral and intellectual standard of the series in Lecture No. 1, when he saw fit to praise David Cameron and George Osborne.

          At the fourth and last lecture, in Glasgow, he suffered the indignity of open derision and laughter from the audience. That embarrassment no doubt contributed to his truculent tone.

          • Populuxe1 2.1.2.1.1
            23 September 2012 at 8:31 pm

            I never said he wasn’t a twit, a prat, and/or a buffoon, but it was kind of the BBC to let him be so in public because I needed the laugh. I did think, however, he made one or two valid points in his London lecture about Common Law and Civil Law, even if he largely ruined it with the rest of his nonsense and was rightly Pwned by the questioners at the end.

  3. Chris 3
    22 September 2012 at 12:26 pm

    John Roughan is a weak end Herald columnist.What makes him think that the nats have a plan or an economic reason for what they are doing in Christchurch. Nothing they do seems to make much sense. We just get hammered on a daily basis with the latest recommendations of Moombeam,resident cat on Planet key.It’s tiring.Also, do you think that wizzkey makes a point of never reading anything BECAUSE HE CAN’T READ? Just wondered.

    • OneTrack 3.1
      22 September 2012 at 4:59 pm

      Chris, the point is Campbell didn’t even ask to find out. Potentially he could have explained what the plan is, maybe let Brownlee have a go, and then ripped it to shreds. But, no, the “news” component just got skipped over and straight to the emotion. Frankly, the rwnj in me wonders if maybe he did find out what the plan was, decided it was a good plan that he couldnt pull to bits, so he just suppressed the information.

      Actually, no, thats not it – he’s just incompetent as a journalist. Journolist – yep.

    • Jackal 3.2
      22 September 2012 at 6:20 pm

      Chris

      Also, do you think that wizzkey makes a point of never reading anything BECAUSE HE CAN’T READ? Just wondered.

      Unlikely! In my opinion it’s a willful decision on Shonkey’s part not to read in order to be able to give an excuse, no matter how tenuous that excuse might be, it’s better than no excuse at all.

      It’s also not a decision much of our current media has made to just side against the powers that be.

      It’s wrong to think that the decision to side against the wrong type of power that’s currently leading New Zealand into all the wrong places is a mistake… People are justifiably siding against National’s neoliberal agenda whether they’re media or general public because they know it’s wrong!

      Have you noticed that the commentary on politically unassociated blogs is actually working to change things? That’s because the belief the rightwing propagandists have in their Führer is weak and floundering… They themselves invaribly don’t believe the bullshit spouted by the rightwing propagandists.

      It’s interesting Zetetic that Roughan expects people to pine for the good old days of unanswered propaganda, playing upon our sympathy for Holmes having a heart attack in order to justify his bullshit, while the people are suffering one of the worst governments New Zealand has ever faced… A government that has gained power largely due to Holmes’ lies.

      In my opinion, the tory propagandists have had their day and good riddance to them.

    • Vicky32 3.3
      23 September 2012 at 6:13 pm

      John Roughan is a weak end Herald columnist

      Your spelling error is perfectly apt! He is indeed weak, and it’s time for his column to come to an end… 🙂

  4. weka 4
    22 September 2012 at 12:35 pm

    That Fran link is broken…

    [fixed – r0b]

  5. ianmac 5
    22 September 2012 at 1:04 pm

    I did comment on this item from Roughan. But no comments have been published so far.
    In short I asked him if the questions about the reasons/justifications for school closures should be asked. If none of the people concerned, (the school BOT, staff nor the Ministry, ) know why, shouldn’t Roughan find out? Campbell and Katherine and Geoff have asked but the answers are not forthcoming.
    And considering that a lot of ordinary folk will be seriously affected,John Campbell should keep looking. Please do not involve that Holmes fellow. He should retire to an old folks home.

    • Dr Terry 5.1
      22 September 2012 at 4:02 pm

      Please do not wish Holmes off to an old folks home. We should not be punishing our older people like that.

  6. PJ 6
    22 September 2012 at 1:18 pm

    Comment that I tried to post at 9am, not up by now, I guess they didn’t like it.

    “About as one-sided as you, John Armstrong and Fran O’Sullivan. Oh look, I can do it too”

    • ianmac 6.1
      22 September 2012 at 4:24 pm

      Just checked and my post is not up either. Wonder if they really only choose the ones critical of Campbell Live? A bit mean say I!

  7. tc 7
    22 September 2012 at 2:04 pm

    Tv3 seems to grow a pair now and again, it’s a smart play as their target demographic is the generation that distrusts the holmes, roughans etc with good reason.

    Granny is screwed she just doesn’t know it yet like fairfax is as the vultures circle it to rescue their hometown daily papers. I find their new look with the likes of Darby and wells pretty desparate, lightweight and mostly more lipstick on the biased right wing pig of a daily it is.

  8. Paul 8
    22 September 2012 at 2:09 pm

    I just don’t see how the Herald can lecture about biased media.

  9. Jokerman 9
    22 September 2012 at 2:11 pm

    checked the link to F.O; man, these professionals sure get their knickers in a knot.
    They appear to enjoy being paid to dish out personal, political, social, environmental and economic criticism, but very fragile when receiving feedback.

    personally, i watched F.O on tele opinion shows a couple of times and it turned me Right off.

    and, growing up with Paul dominating the prime-time just left me feeling embarrased about our national narrative
    yet,
    he appears more humble now

    Now Campbell? there is a man whose star is in ascendency. Good on you John!

    • RedLogix 9.1
      22 September 2012 at 4:58 pm

      They appear to enjoy being paid to dish out personal, political, social, environmental and economic criticism, but very fragile when receiving feedback.

      It’s a feature of right wingers. Ever keen to dish it out, not so much being on the receiving end. Not very good at all.

      But you’ve hit the nail on the head. The Fran O’Sullivan’s of this world are PAID by big powerful entities like the Herald to have opinions. They have a ready-made bully platform, legal teams and protection if it goes wrong and deepish pockets to defend themselves with.

      The authors here by contrast are for the most very ordinary working people with zilch .. nothing… with which to defend themselves. Yet Fran openly calls for us to ‘lose our jobs’. This tells you all you really need to know about her.

      Hoich sput.

  10. Jokerman 10
    22 September 2012 at 2:14 pm

    btw, what is so ‘professional”about all the invective on WO and KB?

    Do these people not realise that people of all cultures around the world can read this nonsense?

    What sort of immigration is encouraged to a sewer?

  11. OneTrack 11
    22 September 2012 at 4:50 pm

    Alright, I’ll say it – Campbell is a left-wing nut job who wouldn’t know a journalist if he fell over one (not that there are many to find in NZ).

    All his stories are strangely negative to any centre to centre-right parties, but the Greens, Mana and some elements of Labour get a free ride, if not glowing endorsement. I guess he is counting on being rewarded after the revolution.

    Nb This post and comments supporting Campbell virtually proves the point – you all like what he tells you and woe betide John Roughan suggesting he is really useless at his job (that obviously depends on what his job actually is – informing the public, asking real questions, nah, thats not it)

    • quartz 11.1
      22 September 2012 at 4:53 pm

      I give this comment 15 out of a possible 327.

      • OneTrack 11.1.1
        22 September 2012 at 5:00 pm

        Damn. I’m going for zero. Almost there though. The next one should do it.

        • quartz 11.1.1.1
          22 September 2012 at 5:13 pm

          I give this comment 8 out of a possible eleven. Although OneTrack has difficulty following simple arguments he has recently started to show a degree of self-awareness that may lead to him developing greater critical faculties with time.

          However he needs to recognise that his continual attempts to disrupt other commenters with nonsensical ejaculations hinder his own learning more than that of others.

          • Colonial Viper 11.1.1.1.1
            22 September 2012 at 6:24 pm

            attempts to disrupt other commenters with nonsensical ejaculations

            I’m sure you mean “nonsensical interjections”. Right? 😎

            • OneTrack 11.1.1.1.1.1
              22 September 2012 at 6:27 pm

              Even I was too polite to point that one out 🙂

            • Anne 11.1.1.1.1.2
              22 September 2012 at 7:04 pm

              Didn’t a certain Richard Worth make the same mistake in answer to a parliamentary question umm… shortly before he resigned.

              Edit: oh no, it was the other one wot also starts with ‘e’. 😀

            • quartz 11.1.1.1.1.3
              22 September 2012 at 10:08 pm

              e·jac·u·late (-jky-lt)
              v. e·jac·u·lat·ed, e·jac·u·lat·ing, e·jac·u·lates
              v.tr.
              1. To eject or discharge abruptly, especially to discharge (semen) in orgasm.
              2. To utter suddenly and passionately; exclaim.

  12. captain hook 12
    22 September 2012 at 5:12 pm

    sounds like its your turn next roughan.

  13. lefty 13
    22 September 2012 at 5:18 pm

    The media elite of the likes of Paul Holmes, Bill Ralston, Fran O’Sullivan, Jim Mora , John Armstrong, John Roughan and Sean Plunkett all played an important part in promoting the sick neo liberal revolution this country has been through in the last thirty years.

    For many years these self serving hacks have brought us right wing spin under the guise of journalism.

    They are masters at making obscene greed,stupidity and prejudice seem economically reasonable and ethically acceptable.

    They, and others like them, played a major part in facilitating and legitimising the theft of many of our state owned assetts, the diminishing of our democracy and the dumbing down of public discourse.

    They have collaborated with a small ruling class to replace a culture that was proud of its egalitarian aspirations (even if they were not achieved) with one that puts a few worthless greedy and rich scumbags on a pedestal.

    They have become very wealthy in the process.

    As new internet based media has given fresh and opposing views a voice the increasingly senile ramblings of the old elite have become just too far removed from reality to be taken seriously by anyone with half a brain.

    They are reaching the end of their use by date and history will judge them harshly.

    Future generations will gag at the mention of their names.

    No wonder they are upset.

    • OneTrack 13.1
      22 September 2012 at 5:28 pm

      Are they enemies of the people? Will they be first up against the wall when the revolution comes?

      • RedLogix 13.1.1
        22 September 2012 at 5:33 pm

        What revolution One Track?

        I’m thinking that they’ll be fairly safe from a Labour-led govt. (Despite the fact that these same hacks will strive their utmost to betray it.)

        • OneTrack 13.1.1.1
          22 September 2012 at 5:40 pm

          Ok. What about a Green-Mana-Labour government? Labour drives me to despair at the moment but at least they would be better than either of the other two. The problem is that at the moment, the only option going seems to be a three-headed hydra and I cant yet even imagine what that will mean in practice.

          • McFlock 13.1.1.1.1
            22 September 2012 at 5:44 pm

            The current government isn’t a three-headed hydra. It’s got one head and a couple of pricks.

            • Draco T Bastard 13.1.1.1.1.1
              22 September 2012 at 7:11 pm

              And some klingons – don’t forget the klingons.

            • felix 13.1.1.1.1.2
              23 September 2012 at 12:05 pm

              “the only option going seems to be a three-headed hydra and I cant yet even imagine what that will mean in practice.”

              You must have a terrible time imagining how the current 4-or-5-headed hydra functions in practice then OneCell.

          • Populuxe1 13.1.1.1.2
            22 September 2012 at 11:21 pm

            I can’t imagine Labour getting into coalition with Mana, not if the world was flooded with piss and Hone had the only waka.

      • blue leopard 13.1.2
        22 September 2012 at 5:37 pm

        “”Are they enemies of the people? Will they be first up against the wall when the revolution comes?

        Nah, just when enough people come to their senses they will simply be seen for the dull, uninsightful regurgitaters of spin that they are and ignored …as they should have been all along.

    • kousei 13.2
      22 September 2012 at 5:53 pm

      Michael Laws, Carl de fresne and bob Jones spring to mind in that vein. While one would defend their right to freedom of speech and opinion, still leaves me wondering why they are given such cosy little soapboxes to wax lyrical from when the quality of their comment in terms of adding something useful to a debate is so obviously poor.

      • BernyD 13.2.1
        22 September 2012 at 11:34 pm

        Don’t mind Bob Jones, he strikes me as civilised , a man that’d listen.
        Dunno bout the others.

        • Populuxe1 13.2.1.1
          22 September 2012 at 11:40 pm

          Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaa The casual bigotries and assumptions of the rich do not automatically equate with “civilised”!

        • Morrissey 13.2.1.2
          23 September 2012 at 7:31 pm

          You “dunno” about Bob Jones either, quite obviously.

          • BernyD 13.2.1.2.1
            23 September 2012 at 7:33 pm

            Can only go by what I’ve read, admittedly not much to go on.

            • Morrissey 13.2.1.2.1.1
              23 September 2012 at 8:16 pm

              Can only go by what I’ve read, admittedly not much to go on.

              Good Lord! What he’s written is as bad as his verbal statements. But dear old Graham Humphries on Radio Live thinks “Sir” Robert is a genius, so he has at least one fan.

              • felix …
                23 September 2012 at 8:27 pm

                Dear old Graham Humphries hasn’t had a coherent thought for about 15 years, at least not in the presence of a camera or a microphone.

                Very sad. He showed a lot of promise in the early days.

    • BernyD 13.3
      22 September 2012 at 5:57 pm

      Usually a sign of an emotional reaction to previously spoken/written “Answers”.
      i.e a denial response, it may be well thought through, but their heart/direction is transparent otherwise the denial is unsatisfied and their heartbreaks(stops beating).
      One thing I should add is, I think because of editorial policies they have two articles prepared, a left and a right view, depending on eidtorial edict they cut and paste the final copy together.
      I say this because they were tending to start “Left” and then finish with 3+ paras of right wing justification, they’ve probably stopped this practise recently.

    • BernyD 13.4
      22 September 2012 at 6:13 pm

      I’d suggest they need more civilised ground to stand on, which means all the people of Aotearoa.
      Try and stand in the shoes of someone without an education maybe …
      a civilised understanding and acceptance of their existence on earth and “Do no harm”.

  14. Bruno 32 14
    22 September 2012 at 6:16 pm

    When the revolution comes ,all you whinging,lefty priks will need to get a real job. Your basically a bunch of losers with short dicks and no money.

  15. the sprout 15
    22 September 2012 at 10:51 pm

    well said zet.

    unless they’re completely deluded, which is not out of the question, these journalists should be starting to get that berlin bunker feeling by now.

    • xtasy 15.1
      22 September 2012 at 11:01 pm

      They don’t, because they, or their masters, actually “own” that bunker. So they get away with anything, and that is the sad state of affairs with the NZ media. It is “owned” by the “wrong” people!

      So maybe get the bunker busting mechanisms into place!?

  16. Georgecom 16
    22 September 2012 at 11:40 pm

    One thing I wil say about Roughan is that he seems to have his knickers in a knot a wee bit regarding teachers taking on bad Government policy. The Campbell story attack may have stemmed from his dislike of the Government being challenged by the education sector, not a direct dislike of Campbell himself.

  17. xtasy 17
    22 September 2012 at 11:58 pm

    OK –

    I put my voice to Roughan, have done so before, but give paul Holmes a break, in all respect, he had serious heart surgery, thanks:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK3on2qnMeg&feature=autoplay&list=PLA6B6966F0528174B&playnext=2

    So move on and take the real nasty ones on, thank you! Sometimes you just need to be human.

    viva el pueblo!

    • lprent 17.1
      23 September 2012 at 7:51 am

      Many of us have. We are a society with a large number of nascent cyborgs with our stents, joint replacements and embedded Teflon.

      Doesn’t mean that we are right all the time or untouchable.

      Paul Holmes has mostly impressed me as being a bit of a lightweight in the thinking department and a clear indication in NZ media of the rise of the lowest common denominator. He is a great exponent of wrapping dumb bigotry and resentment in a bright cheery package. In other words – lousy talkback.

      • Jenny 17.1.1
        23 September 2012 at 8:49 am

        Here here, Lynn.

        Having just had a severe bout of hospitalisation myself. I can vouch for the wonderful human creation that is Socialised Medicine. As well as the clever stents and teflon inserts, the anesthetics, the antibiotics, the surgical techniques, the nursing science, the hygiene, the orderlies, the meals, the cleaning the ambos, the genuine human care of the people who run it all.

        It is such a complex system and it relies on many other complex systems. But at it’s heart it is human beings massively organised to help other human beings.

        Long may it continue.

    • Populuxe1 18.1
      23 September 2012 at 12:27 am

      Armed revolution is never the answer. Castro’s Cuba was only a paradise for the mentally addled living elsewhere.

      • Colonial Viper 18.1.1
        23 September 2012 at 12:30 am

        Much better child mortality rates, life expectancy and literacy outcomes than the USA. All this even with the USA’s punitive multi-generational economic sanctions.

        • Populuxe1 18.1.1.1
          23 September 2012 at 12:37 am

          Cling to your fiction if you must, but do cite your sources. Literacy is not much good if there are heavy restrictions on what you can read, and you might spare a thought for the gays, the Catholics and anyone who disagreed with the regime. That is not how a humane country behaves.

          • McFlock 18.1.1.1.1
            23 September 2012 at 12:46 am

            lol
                 
            Cuba decriminalised homosexuality before NZ did. 
            Cuba’s not perfect by any means, but your sudden concern for “the gays” seems a bit late.

            • Populuxe1 18.1.1.1.1.1
              23 September 2012 at 1:04 am

              I was talking about the entire period of the regime
              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Cuba
              Perhaps you can explain why the Mariel boat lift (1980) took place the year after homosexuality was supposedly decriminalised? (1979)
               

              • McFlock …
                23 September 2012 at 1:26 am

                Probably similar reasons for why when I was sharing an office with queer support workers ten years ago or so the police were still doing George Michael-style cottaging operations in local parks. Under “offensive behaviour” laws, of course, nothing to do with homosexuality…

                • Populuxe1 …
                  23 September 2012 at 6:40 pm

                  2002? In any case (1) I doubt anything very serious was going to happen to anyone nabbed, and (2) cruising public parks for sex (and I say this as a gay man myself) is fairly offensive and illegal, as any sex in a public place is.

                  • McFlock …
                    23 September 2012 at 7:04 pm

                    Slightly more recent.
                    Fairly offensive to ask someone for sex and retire to a private area (toilets should be fairly private, no?).
                       
                    And it’s not like they were running similar ops against het couples doing the same thing of a Friday night. 

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 7:25 pm

                      For the most part heterosexuals and most homosexuals know they have homes and motels to go and do that sort of thing in – I doubt there’s much police need. Toilets have only one legitimate purpose.
                       

                    • felix …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:39 pm

                      “For the most part heterosexuals and most homosexuals know they have homes and motels to go and do that sort of thing in “

                      Even-stevens then. So if homosexuals are targeted, there’s something seriously awry.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      24 September 2012 at 12:06 am

                      Context, Felix, context.
                      A fine for public nuisance or indecency is not quite the same as being rounded up by the hundred and being “lost” in a work camp or exiled by sea.

                    • felix …
                      24 September 2012 at 9:23 am

                      Goodo, harassing “the gays” doesn’t count either then.

                      Do you realise that it’s you who is ruling out your own arguments here?

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      24 September 2012 at 11:57 am

                      Goodo, harassing “the gays” doesn’t count either then.
                      Do you realise that it’s you who is ruling out your own arguments here?

                       
                      Only if you’re the sort of person who thinks a puddle and the Pacific Ocean are the same thing because they are both wet.

          • Colonial Viper 18.1.1.1.2
            23 September 2012 at 12:51 am

            That is not how a humane country behaves.

            WTF planet are you on mate? Do you even know that the USA has over 3,000 of its citizens on death row right now?

            • Populuxe1 18.1.1.1.2.1
              23 September 2012 at 1:05 am

              I am presumably on a planet that does not assume one thinks the US is all that great either, but frankly I’d rather be at the mercy of the US legal system than the Cuban one.

              • Colonial Viper …
                23 September 2012 at 1:53 am

                The US legal system kills people almost every week. It makes your claim to prefer to be at their “mercy” ironic, considering that Cuba no longer uses capital punishment.

                • Populuxe1 …
                  23 September 2012 at 5:00 pm

                  Don’t be a dick, CV – capital punishment is still on the books in Cuba – just because they’ve been commuting it since 2003 doesn’t mean the firing squads have gone away forever. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Cuba

                  • McFlock …
                    23 September 2012 at 6:42 pm

                    As opposed to the US execution needles, which are running hot…

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 7:21 pm

                      While I don’t condone capital punishment, I would point out that the vast majority of those executed were found guilty of homicide-related crimes, and the bulk of executions are confined to one or two wackjob southern states.

                    • McFlock …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:36 pm

                      and the racial thing is purely coincidental

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:49 pm

                      I guess P1’s idea of what makes a humane and civilised country is pretty damn flexible. A government can execute citizens if they, like, really really deserve it, for instance.

              • Vicky32 …
                23 September 2012 at 6:21 pm

                but frankly I’d rather be at the mercy of the US legal system than the Cuban one.

                Oh dear, you do seem to be rather naive!

                • Populuxe1 …
                  23 September 2012 at 6:43 pm

                  …says she who believes in Bronze Age myths about invisible beardy weirdy sky fairies.

                  • Vicky32 …
                    23 September 2012 at 6:45 pm

                    Bronze Age myths about invisible …

                    Irrelevant ad hominem… is that the best you’ve got? Sad.

                • Morrissey …
                  23 September 2012 at 7:27 pm

                  Oh dear, you do seem to be rather naive!

                  Vicky, do you think this poor fellow (Populuxe) thinks that illegal torture camp at Guantanamo is run by the Cuban government?

                  • Vicky32 …
                    23 September 2012 at 7:30 pm

                    do you think this poor fellow (Populuxe)

                    That’s scarily possible, Morrissey! 😀

                  • Populuxe1 …
                    23 September 2012 at 7:41 pm

                    Actually I don’t, and I think it should be shut down immediately, but we were talking domestic, not foreign policy.

              • Morrissey …
                23 September 2012 at 7:24 pm

                frankly I’d rather be at the mercy of the US legal system than the Cuban one.

                And what exactly do YOU know about the Cuban legal system?

                • Populuxe1 …
                  23 September 2012 at 7:45 pm

                  Well Morrissey, there’s this thing called research. I have access to a large university library and then there’s this crazy new invention called the “Internet” that all the kids are raving about. Also I know a few Cubans (admittedly expats, but there are reasons for that) and speak Spanish. But what would I know, eh? It would be so much easier to pontificate out of my arse like a lot of commentators on here.

                  • Morrissey …
                    23 September 2012 at 8:01 pm

                    But what would I know, eh?

                    On what I’ve seen of you, you would know very little about anything.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:08 pm

                      Oh noes! Someone snaked at me tit-for-tat on the Internet because I hold a different opinion to them and they haven’t got anything else relevant to say. Mercy me! Waaaaaaah! 😀

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:26 pm

                      Morrisey, I’m glib (which is hardly unusual on here) because some of the opinions on here are so extreme as to be impossible to take seriously (defending Castro for any reason is just such an instance), and I at least take the trouble to cite references for the more challenging opinions I hold as a courtesy, whereas all too often the common reaction on here is that anything contrary to capitalism, the United States, or the National Party, must somehow be a good thing. It ain’t necessarily so, but the casuistry attempted to justify it is often amusing.
                       

                  • felix …
                    23 September 2012 at 8:08 pm

                    Well you probably know a fair bit then.

                    As long as you stay away from the topics of incarceration, capital punishment, education, health, and government torture camps.

                    According to the thread so far, anyway.

                    • Morrissey …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:19 pm

                      Oh noes! Someone snaked at me tit-for-tat on the Internet because I hold a different opinion to them

                      Errr, not quite. People “snake” at you not because you hold a different opinion, but because you are glib and ignorant.

                      and they haven’t got anything else relevant to say.

                      Again, you’re way off.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:20 pm

                      Well you can’t be Debra Evanson, because she’s dead, so unless you are Pedro Freyre of Columbia University’s law department, or David Abraham or the school of law at Miami University, or similar authority on Cuban law, I doubt you are in any position to judge.

                    • Jokerman …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:44 pm

                      heehee

                    • felix …
                      23 September 2012 at 10:51 pm

                      I’m judging solely on your own admissions in this very thread, Pop.

                      For instance according to what you yourself has said, torture camps don’t count against a country’s human rights record if they’re illegally sited on militarily occupied ground in another country, capital punishment doesn’t count against a country’s human rights record if it only occurs in half of the jurisdictions in the country.

                      I’m quite confident of my qualification to judge you on the basis of those cretinous, evasive, weasely statements, thanks.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:11 pm

                      For instance according to what you yourself has said, torture camps don’t count against a country’s human rights record if they’re illegally sited on militarily occupied ground in another country, capital punishment doesn’t count against a country’s human rights record if it only occurs in half of the jurisdictions in the country.
                      I’m quite confident of my qualification to judge you on the basis of those cretinous, evasive, weasely statements, thanks.

                       
                      Felix, if you can get that from me saying that I think it should be closed down immediately, I can only assume you are insane or smoking P.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:13 pm

                      While I don’t condone capital punishment, I would point out that the vast majority of those executed were found guilty of homicide-related crimes, and the bulk of executions are confined to one or two wackjob southern states.

                      Felix read you right. Sounds like you’re condoning capital punishment to me too mate.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:17 pm

                      @ CV

                      Sounds like you’re condoning capital punishment to me mate.

                      No – I was making the point they weren’t political prisoners.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:22 pm

                      So you were simply condoning the death penalty for murderers and for the Southern States, but not political prisoners. Right-O.

                      At least Cuba is humane and civilised enough not to have a justice system which routinely murders its own citizens.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:36 pm

                      @CV

                      So you were simply condoning the death penalty for murderers and for the Southern States, but not political prisoners. Right-O.

                       
                      To quote you, CV: “whatever.”
                       

                      At least Cuba is humane and civilised enough not to have a justice system which routinely murders its own citizens.

                       
                      No, they just let the horrific conditions of their prisons and medical neglect do it for them..

          • xtasy 18.1.1.1.3
            23 September 2012 at 1:05 am

            Just another, more modern version for your own personal pleasure, dear matey and comrade:

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=N2o83FQ1xTs&feature=endscreen

            It is getting better all the time! Viva!

            • Morrissey 18.1.1.1.3.1
              23 September 2012 at 9:07 pm

              Morrisey, I’m glib (which is hardly unusual on here) because some of the opinions on here are so extreme as to be impossible to take seriously (defending Castro for any reason is just such an instance), and I at least take the trouble to cite references for the more challenging opinions I hold as a courtesy

              Sorry, my friend, I was overheated and recklessly quick with the rejoinders. I can see you’re not as foolish or as thoughtless as I said you were. I’ll try to be calmer in future when I see your contributions.

          • Draco T Bastard 18.1.1.1.4
            23 September 2012 at 1:07 am

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Cuba
            Child Mortality (XLS) seems to be comparable to NZ
            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy

            37 Cuba 78.3 76.2 80.4
            38 United States 78.2 75.6 80.8

            Certainly not the most perfect place in the world but not quite as bad as the USians would have us believe.

            • Populuxe1 18.1.1.1.4.1
              23 September 2012 at 1:13 am

              Nor much better – which is my point.

              • Colonial Viper …
                23 September 2012 at 9:18 am

                A tiny blockaded nation doing better than the world’s one remaining hyperpower. Oh you are hard to please.

                • Populuxe1 …
                  23 September 2012 at 5:02 pm

                  You can gloat when Cuba has it’s first free election.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    23 September 2012 at 6:28 pm

                    FFS. You can gloat when the US manages a Presidential or congressional one which isn’t a sham.

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    23 September 2012 at 8:26 pm

                    Cuba: Electoral System

                    Elections in Cuba have two phases:

                    election of delegates to the Municipal Assembly, and
                    election of deputies to the Provincial and National Assemblies.

                    Candidates for municipal assemblies are nominated on an individual basis at local levels by the local population at nomination assemblies.[6] Candidates for provincial assemblies and the National Assembly are nominated by the municipal assemblies from lists compiled by national, provincial and municipal candidacy commissions.[6] Anyone older than 16 other than those mentally incapacitated, imprisoned, or deprived of their political rights can vote and be nominated to these posts.

                    Sounds reasonably free to me.

                    Article 88(h) of the Cuban constitution, adopted in 1976, provides for citizen proposals of law, prerequisite that the proposal be made by at least 10 000 citizens who are eligible to vote.

                    Might even be more democratic than the representative democracies that we’re used to.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:38 pm

                      Riiiiight. And that chap in charge… The one who makes all the decisions… El Presidente for life…. What’s his name…. Oh, that’s right, FIDEL FRACKING CASTRO! Except he’s frail, so the VP, HIS FRACKING BROTHER is running things. That’s perfectly democratic then. We should immediately adopt the same system.

                    • weka …
                      23 September 2012 at 10:25 pm

                      Yes, because the US for instance would never have family stepping in to do something like ‘influence’ an election.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      23 September 2012 at 10:31 pm

                      P1’s got a real bee in his bonnet about that tiny small country. I wonder why.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:04 pm

                      P1′s got a real bee in his bonnet about that tiny small country. I wonder why.

                       
                      Probably because I am utterly flummoxed as to how an apparently thinking person can be so ideologically blinkered as to get all warm and fuzzy about a dictatorship with a diabolical human rights record.
                      Are you going to accuse me of being a CIA plant again? That was fun.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:07 pm

                      well you definitely have the anti-Castro bee in your bonnet. Let it go mate, Bay of Pigs was a long time ago.

                      For all your concern about humane, civilised countries and humane, civilised justice systems you sure pick funny role models.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:28 pm

                      well you definitely have the anti-Castro bee in your bonnet. Let it go mate, Bay of Pigs was a long time ago.
                      For all your concern about humane, civilised countries and humane, civilised justice systems you sure pick funny role models.

                      FFS! You would have to be mad to advocate the US as a role model! I know you’re not very good with logic, or the real world (seeing as you like to delude yourself that I am some CIA spy, a nostalgic pro-Batista hack, or something equally romantic) – however the US is a democracy, a flawed democracy overrun with capitalist greed, but still a democracy. I oppose any and all dictatorships, and you are a sad dick. Why don’t you do something useful and read:
                      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Cuba
                      https://www.hrw.org/americas/cuba
                      http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/countries/americas/cuba
                      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thor-halvorssen/testimony-at-the-united-n_b_1635544.html
                      http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/wha/154501.htm

      • xtasy 18.1.2
        23 September 2012 at 12:38 am

        Food is there, health care and education, denied many in USA, dictated by wealth factors, even worse in much of latin america, I know what I am talking about, mate! Cuba surely is lacking and no paradise, but it was the sabotage by the western, supposedly “free enterprise” economies that were happy to see “the wall” come down in Europe and elsewhere, but what have they replaced to societies there with?

        They were malfunctioning, but now rich and poor divide is the worst it has ever been in those countries, what a bloody achievement. Add corruption, bankruptcy and more, so what has your fucked, favoured system achieve “pupuluxurious” mood and mindset?

        • Populuxe1 18.1.2.1
          23 September 2012 at 12:47 am

          Suck my balls. US (not the rest of the west actually) embargoes have little to do with Cuba’s shit human rights record
          http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/cuba

          • xtasy 18.1.2.1.1
            23 September 2012 at 1:44 am

            How many on death row in the US by any chance?

            • Colonial Viper 18.1.2.1.1.1
              23 September 2012 at 1:59 am

              Ask P1 how many people the USA has executed in its justice system in the last 10 years, compared to Cuba. And how many foreigners the USA has summarily executed with drone attacks over the last 10 years. Judge jury and executioner with no right of defence nor appeal.

              How’s that for a human rights record?

              • Populuxe1 …
                23 September 2012 at 5:06 pm

                Would you like me to compare it on a per capita with how many Cubans got sent for “re-education” in work camps for such crimes as disagreeing with the regime or trying to leave?

                • Colonial Viper …
                  23 September 2012 at 6:30 pm

                  Sure. But that’s incarceration and forced labour you are talking about (which the US does too btw). Not sanctioned killing of dozens of your own citizens a year like the US does. Like you prefer.

                  • Populuxe1 …
                    23 September 2012 at 7:02 pm

                    First of all you are generalising about the whole US – it’s a federation of states and quite a few of those states don’t have death penalties: Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine,
                    Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Mexico, and the District of Columbia don’t have death penalties. The overwhelming majority of those executed were charged homicide-related crime. I think comparisons are a bit of a stretch. I don’t condone capital punishment, I think there are outrageous abuses in Arizona and Texas and I don’t think they should be executing the mentally retarded, but it is all done within the rule of law.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:32 pm

                      but it is all done within the rule of law.

                      LOL. At least Cuba has a civilised enough legal systen not to kill its own citizens.

          • xtasy 18.1.2.1.2
            23 September 2012 at 2:06 am

            Don’t like “balls”, so I won’t oblige!

      • xtasy 18.1.3
        23 September 2012 at 12:42 am

        You live the Batista kind of rule do ya? Casinos, prostitution, slavery and beggars in the streets, right, that is where NZ will perhaps end with another casino operator friend like Key! We are already seeing the first signs of it. F that kind of shit society. We should deport all wealth travellers that do not commit to invest for longer term and the future here, get rid of bludgers of the wrong kind, Id say.

        • Populuxe1 18.1.3.1
          23 September 2012 at 12:49 am

          Are you really that stupid?
          Batista is a horrible corrupt shit =/= Castro is a misjudged saint.
          Yes, lets attack the tourists – how important is that to our economy again?
          Fuck you are a moron.

  19. xtasy 19
    23 September 2012 at 12:33 am

    Natalie Cardone sings about “par platar de bandeira”, I wonder is this legal or not here in NZ? It is where I come from. So maybe ask how “free” NZ really is. I have some worries and concerns. I see this video solely in a “historic” and “cultural” context, that must at least be as acceptable as the “anti Mohammed” video going around:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=SSRVtlTwFs8&list=PLA6B6966F0528174B

    • Populuxe1 19.1
      23 September 2012 at 12:42 am

      Don’t be an arse – you can say whatever you like provided you are not inciting hatred or trying to provoke violence.  Why don’t you ask someone who lived in a police state how free New Zealand is?

      • xtasy 19.1.1
        23 September 2012 at 12:46 am

        NZ is “free”? Hah, what a joke that is! Free for freeloaders, money speculators, ruthless investors syphoning off profits with no regard, not committing themselves for living here and actually doing the work that is needed to get a country going. F Off, I come from a country where revolution is part of history, where also people dedicate t o work and share, and where progressive ideas are the norm. That is not your country’s goal, as too many idiots vote in bastards that just suck the blood of the country and have no bloody plan, like John f ing Key no hoper, what a hopeless country this has become under that rule!

      • xtasy 19.1.2
        23 September 2012 at 12:53 am

        Before your rant will get out of hand: I will NOT disclose my native heritage, as that will only be an invitation for your continued racist and class rant, which I resolutely deny you as a conscientious human being seeking equal and fair rights to all, whatever colour, race, religion and more. So I am sorry, I am going to frustrate from the very outset your already detectable attempts of an attack on me and others. Populuxe, sometimes you contribute, although rarely, but you have to learn the fair play of the game, thank you and have a very good night. I believe in a fair, social and progressive society, that may not be Cuban style, but at least is social democratic. So we split on that term. Good night.

        • Populuxe1 19.1.2.1
          23 September 2012 at 1:11 am

          Before your rant will get out of hand: I will NOT disclose my native heritage, as that will only be an invitation for your continued racist and class rant, which I resolutely deny you as a conscientious human being seeking equal and fair rights to all, whatever colour, race, religion and more.

          Then you are in no position to criticise my country’s freedoms because obviously you are so insecure about those of wherever you’re from that you refuce to disclose your country of origin. My psychic senses suggest Venezuela for some reason. Ethnicity has very little to do with governance (hello Nazi Germany!), so you can shove the racism accusation.

          So I am sorry, I am going to frustrate from the very outset your already detectable attempts of an attack on me and others. Populuxe, sometimes you contribute, although rarely, but you have to learn the fair play of the game, thank you and have a very good night. I believe in a fair, social and progressive society, that may not be Cuban style, but at least is social democratic. So we split on that term. Good night.

          Fair play does not, ipso facto, mean that I have to be patient when people spout nonsense or misinformation. The right to loudly tell people they are talking crap is part of our national heritage as a democracy with the freedom of speech.

          • xtasy 19.1.2.1.1
            23 September 2012 at 1:23 am

            Popaluxurius: I enjoy your rants every time, they are really entertaining, never letting me down, so get on with it, have a great time and indulge in whatever you wish to entertain yourself with.

            I love NZ for some reasons, but I also reserve my right as a logn term resident to be critical, thank you so much.

          • xtasy 19.1.2.1.2
            23 September 2012 at 1:24 am

            Hahaha, I leave you guessing then, so Venezolano, for that sake?

  20. xtasy 20
    23 September 2012 at 1:18 am

    Populoxe and others, Latin America is a musical treasure land, and when you rubbish Cuba, that is just one cheap crap shot at a region with immense cultural and other significance. There is more bloody cultural activity there than ever happened in Aoteaoroa NZ for the las 200 years, I am afraid.

    I suggest just a brief impression on some common popular music clips covering music of the last two decades or so:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppdpae0EWDU&feature=related
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmK9GylXRh0
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB6Cpy-X7A8&feature=related
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkzwNOTkGOs&feature=related
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Dhn5zUjR-0&feature=related

    This is a scratch on the bloody surface, as you seem to think anglo saxon cuture rules the bloody world. You are misled. You are now the bloody MINORITY in culural affairs on the planet. Wake up to reality, thanks. We welcome you!

    • Populuxe1 20.1
      23 September 2012 at 1:28 am

      (1) I have nothing against Latin America, it’s a vibrant place rich in culture and full of lovely wonderful people. In terms of governance, however, it leaves much to be desired.
      (2) Trying to insult my country’s heritage really does you no credit. I would point out that Maori arrived in New Zealand in around 1300 CE and that the European settlers brought their own fully developed cultures with them, which formed the basis of Pakeha culture – and quite frankly it’s pretty rich and interesting and has produced individuals of world significance.
      (3) For much of its history from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century, New Zealand was the widely admired model of liberal social reform for the world. We know what we’ve lost, however we had it in the first place and can hopefully construct it again. New Zealand has also lacked for dictators and military juntas. I don’t think on either point Latin America can compare.

      • xtasy 20.1.1
        23 September 2012 at 1:51 am

        It is an insult to Maori and Polynesian people to be told that they did not arrive before 13 hundred AC or so in this country, as the earlier traces go back to at leat 400 AC.

        Also is it now proved that NZ was largely populated through eastern polynesia, which was having contact to high civilisations in South and Central America well before Christ was ever born or accounted for. So stick your Anglo Saxon and Euro Centric cultural obsession up where the sun never shines, because you have no idea how diverse and long other cultures have ever existed. Easter Island, Marquesan Islands, Society Islands, Cook Islands and so forth, resembling great similarities to ancient cultures in South America by the way. Only brainwashed, selective culturalists ignore realities proved decades ago by Thor Heyerdahl and also other scientists, even genetic evidence exists. Where do Kumara, Umu and the like come from? The same words and products have 2 to 3 thousand year history in South America, dear Pupucapetl wannabe never gettabe. Learn history please.

        • Populuxe1 20.1.1.1
          23 September 2012 at 5:19 pm

          You really are a sad little person. Polynesians arrived in New Zealand in waves, but permanent habitation by the group that came to be Maori dates to around 1300, give or take a century.
          http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/12/22/1015876108.full.pdf+html
          Where did you get the impression I didn’t agree with elements of Heyerdahl’s hypothesis, you silly little person, contact between Polynesia and South America been proved by genetic testing, however his theory that Polynesians came from South America is crap as the linguistic evidence shows that Pacific migration came from east to west.
          Do you have a point, or are you just an annoying idiot?

      • xtasy 20.1.2
        23 September 2012 at 2:10 am

        Populuxe1: I really like you, just for the sake of adding spice to this forum! That is great at all times, we need it, want it and are never shy of it, right!

        Get a life and be a bit more kind to others, because hate and envy is the worst of enemies.

        I am sure we can all learn from each other, provided “we” want to!

  21. Carol 21
    23 September 2012 at 7:05 am

    And this morning Bomber has a go at Roughan too:

    http://www.tumeke.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/first-nz-herald-came-for-bloggers-then.html

    First the NZ Herald came for the bloggers, then they came for John Campbell.

    With their relaunch as a tabloid butterfly, the neo-liberal opinion shapers at the NZ Herald which Gordon Campbell refers to in his brilliant and must read take down of John Armstrong’s criticism of bloggers, have sharpened their attacks on those Society see as providing an alternative narrative to the Planet Key fantasy the NZ Herald subscribes to.
    …
    What planet does John Roughan live on? Oh, that’s right. Planet Key.
    …
    What is occurring in Christchurch is nothing short of a political coup. The drum beat to sell city assets, the taking of democracy from Environment Canterbury, Charter Schools and the enforced rebuild with minimum community input combine with this latest slap in the face over school closures.

    Note it wasn’t the Government’s inept manner of ‘consultation’ that’s the problem. It’s not the Government’s inept Hekia Parata screwing up another education announcement. It’s not a communication strategy that has ended up spreading public panic.

    Oh no, it’s none of those things. It’s that bloody John Campbell and his one sided television.

    When the newspaper of choice for conservative kneejerks and beige bigots starts publicly hunting the bloggers and the few journalists prepared to critique the Planet Key narrative, you know there is a PR struggle going on for the hearts and minds of NZers.

    I like the way Bomber most often presents a sound analysis using colourful turns of phrase…. although I don’t always agree with him…. just mostly.

    But, it’s rationale, Bomber, not rational

    • Jokerman 21.1
      23 September 2012 at 8:58 am

      great post Carol ta.
      Christchurch-the NZ lab rat for disaster and/or anarcho capitalism
      liquifaction-the gift that keeps on giving

  22. Suzanne 22
    23 September 2012 at 11:59 am

    Apropos Fran O’Sullivan: I just checked out that link and frankly, I don’t see a “fascist call that The Standard authors should lose their jobs”. What I DO see is a discussion of anonymity, especially when it’s used by people making personal attacks.

    OK, the woman doesn’t like a lot of what is said on this site and she sure doesn’t like some of the personal stuff, but that doesn’t make her a fascist any more than contributing to this site makes any of us similar to the KK (a comparison she was called on by on of her respondents).

    • RedLogix 22.1
      23 September 2012 at 4:32 pm

      Read it again. She makes it quite clear she’d like various authors here ‘outed’ and if that was to have bad consequences for them …”tough”. Slightly different phrasing but the same essential meaning.

      Besides ask yourself this. What possible reason would she have to know who we are? And would any of those reasons be good ones?

      • Colonial Viper 22.1.1
        23 September 2012 at 4:46 pm

        She’s offering all of us a chance to win a holiday cruise. Just email your name and address to her.

        • BernyD 22.1.1.1
          23 September 2012 at 4:52 pm

          You’ll be cruising on your own M8!
          Give me cash refund option and ya can have mine M8
          I’m a sick, semi retired cat that could use cash M8
          It’s just a blog M8!
          Sweet M8! 🙂

          • BernyD 22.1.1.1.1
            23 September 2012 at 5:05 pm

            I take it back, that’s gonna be an expensive cruize M8!
            How many aliases per week can this site handle?.
            Free cruize up for grabs people, sign onto the Standard and make some dumb arse comment M8!

  23. captain hook 23
    23 September 2012 at 7:49 pm

    heyerdahl is an idiot and anyone who beleives what heyerdahl says is an idiot too.
    as for fran sullivan she is another idiot.
    she has never made any real contribution to new zealand.
    she has just sat there and carped and ciriticised and specilaised in backbiting.
    the question is who does she think she is?

  24. Rich 24
    24 September 2012 at 3:27 pm

    Surprised Cam Slater hasn’t lost his job. Oh, wait…

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    Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 hours ago

  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 hours ago

  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
    Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 hours ago

  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 hours ago

  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 hours ago

  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 hours ago

  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 hours ago

  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    9 hours ago

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    11 hours ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    12 hours ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    13 hours ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    15 hours ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    16 hours ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    16 hours ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    19 hours ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    21 hours ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    21 hours ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    21 hours ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    22 hours ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    23 hours ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
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  • Judicial appointments announced
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  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
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  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
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  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
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  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
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  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
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  • Taupō takes pole position
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  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
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  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
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  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
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  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
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  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
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  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
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  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
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  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
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  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
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  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
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  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
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  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
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  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
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  • Joint US and NZ declaration
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