Archive for July, 2012

Sale of the century

Written By: - Date published: 12:02 pm, July 2nd, 2012 - 71 comments

So – what kind of person does well out of asset sales?…

Property rights should not trump human welfare

Written By: - Date published: 10:18 am, July 2nd, 2012 - 9 comments

I/S at No Right Turn on Pita Sharples’ suggestion that Christchurch’s homeless squat in abandoned red-zone properties rather than sleeping in their cars.

The cost of sprawl

Written By: - Date published: 9:28 am, July 2nd, 2012 - 27 comments

House prices and rents are rising quickly in Auckland. The reason is pretty simple: from 2008 to 2011, it added 70,000 people and only 10,000 houses. The shortfall will have been worsened by the exodus from Christchurch since then. While the population’s growing, more houses are needed. But is the Right’s answer – more sprawl – the way to provide them?

What did Key really know about Dotcom?

Written By: - Date published: 7:48 am, July 2nd, 2012 - 57 comments

We know that the Police overstepped their authority following their Hollywood wannabe raid on Dotcom’s home. They used invalid warrants to take property of Dotcom’s that they weren’t entitled to, and gave that data to the FBI. Now, we learn that Key’s office was involved in advising the Department of Labour on shutting down a leaked email.

Open mike 02/07/2012

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, July 2nd, 2012 - 67 comments

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…

Making it here

Written By: - Date published: 10:42 pm, July 1st, 2012 - 14 comments

SST Business Editor Rob O’Neill said today: “There is a great deal of lip-service paid to “innovation” in business. What is not often acknowledged is how embedded innovation can be in manufacturing. Making stuff, or being able to talk freely with the people who do, can be a source of inspiration and great ideas for companies.” I got a lot of inspiration from Swedish Academic Goran Roos on this topic in Auckland on Friday. South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has asked him to head up their manufacturing strategy next year. We could do with someone like him too.

Rate-swapping

Written By: - Date published: 9:55 pm, July 1st, 2012 - 13 comments

Another British bank scandal – interest rate-swapping on small business loans. Banks offered small businesses supposedly low hedging insurance on interest rate movements, knew they could get cheaper rates themselves because they had better market information, and pocketed the difference as guaranteed profit. It would be interesting to know if the same thing happens here.

Sunday Reading

Written By: - Date published: 10:31 am, July 1st, 2012 - 1 comment

I’m going to try and put up a piece each Sunday of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere (no linkwhoring).  This week: Feminism, capitalism & resource depletion.

The price of National’s politicking

Written By: - Date published: 7:07 am, July 1st, 2012 - 81 comments

In a desperate effort to hang on to a few red-neck votes, National keeps on ramping up rhetoric against solo mums. There was talk of compulsory contraception or sterilisation. National played up those ideas, even though it hasn’t followed through. Is it any surprise, then, that poor mums, who don’t follow the news closely, just hear the rumours, are being scared into abortions?

Open mike 01/07/2012

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, July 1st, 2012 - 164 comments

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…