Author Archive

Hide shoots the messenger

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 8:00 am, November 6th, 2009 - 18 comments

Hide says his comment that Key “doesn’t do anything” was “taken out of context” by the reporter. It’s a direct attack on van Beyan’s professionalism. Reminiscent of Key’s smears after his “we would love to see wages drop” quoted was reported. Van Beyan should stand up for himself and his profession by releasing his full notes […]

Closed for tax evasion

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 11:17 am, November 4th, 2009 - 7 comments

I see the BNZ’s got itself a new PR campaign: On 4 November, most BNZ people will be working on projects around New Zealand to help our communities be better off – we’re calling it Closed for Good. Um, thanks all the same, but why don’t you just pay your f*cking tax bill instead? Update: […]

It’s wrong but I’ll do it anyway

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 12:00 pm, November 3rd, 2009 - 24 comments

Just saw this in the SST. Hide on the spousal travel allowance: This perk is wrong, I’ve never agreed with it So why claim it? If you don’t think it’s right, it’s not ethical to do it. ‘Meat is murder, but as you’ve killed the animals anyway…’ I had the opportunity for this trip and […]

David Farrar’s echo chamber fail

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 5:40 pm, November 2nd, 2009 - 45 comments

There’s some massive FAIL going on over at Kiwiblog. Farrar’s got this new green-bashing post up where he breathlessly mocks Al Gore for saying sea levels could rise by 67 metres because of climate change. “67 metres in ten years!” wails Farrar. “I think politicians like Al Gore actually damage the very cause they purport […]

Ominous

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 9:40 am, November 1st, 2009 - 8 comments

Estimated number of US troops now in Afghanistan: 68,000. Number of troops US General Stanley McChrystal is currently asking for in addition to that: 40,000. Number of troops during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan at its height that resulted in defeat: 108,000.

One of these things is too like the other

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 10:09 pm, October 29th, 2009 - 4 comments

Now TVNZ is pulling the Bill English ad, I notice the web ad is also gone. In it’s place is something so vapid that I pray it was knocked together by a new minted marketing grad in ten minutes (‘Do you feel guilty looking for another job when you’ve already got one?’ No, why would I? but maybe you ought […]

Question

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 2:23 pm, October 28th, 2009 - 20 comments

Why on earth is Labour supporting this police state bullshit? The article says Labour MPs were concerned about the extent of powers being given to the police, and Charles Chauvel tried to amend the bill so a judicial warrant would be needed. Amendment was voted down, but Labour went and voted for it anyway. Some […]

Wee gripes: spineless business

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 12:33 pm, October 25th, 2009 - 6 comments

New World has dropped the 5 cent levy on plastic bags in its South Island stores. Plastic bag use was down 65%. Many shoppers support the levy but the CEO says: “the objections were too noisy” Guess we’d better oil the squeakiest wheel then. Even if it means continuing to bugger up our environment. Kind of […]

Nanny wins

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 8:22 am, October 25th, 2009 - 21 comments

Remember when the world was going to end because Nanny State was going to make us get compact fluorescent bulbs? It all seems so long ago. Those ignorant, reactionary days of 2008. Now, we’re crazy for the wee blighters. According to the Building Research Association of New Zealand: “84 percent of homes had at least […]

Management: clueless

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 10:30 am, October 23rd, 2009 - 5 comments

Saw this article on Stuff yesterday: Employers and employees have dramatically different opinions of why workers remain in their jobs, says research released on Tuesday showing US companies may struggle to retain employees in an improved job market. Employees cite benefits, financial compensation, and their career growth and earnings potential as the top three reasons […]

Chris Carter you dick

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 11:20 pm, October 22nd, 2009 - 62 comments

I’m not sure if my fellow writers would put it like this. But I’m sure they agree with my sentiment when I say- Chris Carter you utter tool. Shut the hell up and go away. Here’s a list of your achievements in the last four months: extended the story of your travel expenses with the […]

Wee gripes: As Kiwi as shrimps on the barbie

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 4:00 pm, October 22nd, 2009 - 19 comments

I love the ASB ads saying “We’ve been a Kiwi bank since 1847” No. You were a Kiwi bank. Since 1989 you’ve been owned by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Also, what’s up with calling themselves ASB Bank? Auckland Savings Bank Bank?

Turia on ACC

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 3:50 pm, October 21st, 2009 - 8 comments

Here’s Tariana Turia on Q&A last Sunday, responding to a question from Guyon Espiner about National’s plans for ACC: I’m very concerned and one of the reasons why I’m really concerned is that there’s been a lot of talk about privatising the work account. Now the face of it is that’s the only account that […]

Another day, another sell-out

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 3:40 pm, October 20th, 2009 - 19 comments

The Maori Party has decided it will support National’s changes to ACC despite Tariana Turia just two days ago saying she was “very concerned” about those changes. Here’s their explanation for their latest flip-flop: “We know that Maori have consistently had less access to ACC entitlements than other groups, under existing legislation. While this Bill […]

Aroha is love, you can give it away…

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 4:40 am, October 20th, 2009 - 5 comments

“You can get away with anything, as long as you’re respectful about it” – former Maori Party strategist Matt McCarten on National’s dealing with the Maori Party. So, another day, another little humilitation for the Maori Party. All that matters to the leaders is that the coalition with National doesn’t fail. They turn a blind […]

What a balls-up

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 12:38 am, October 15th, 2009 - 22 comments

Competent government’s a bit like oil in your car’s engine. It’s easy to take it for granted – until it’s not there. Look at the mess this bunch have made of a simple broadcasting rights deal. We’re going to have the six major games live on four channels, three of them free-to-air. Isn’t that just […]

Fool me once…

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 9:05 am, October 14th, 2009 - 50 comments

They say pattern recognition is a vital part of healthy cognitive function. I wonder it Sharples sees this one: Every time an issue the Maori Party cares deeply about comes up, Key makes soothing noises. Promises they’ll get what they want. Then when crunch time comes, he screws them. Fire at Will Bill – Maori […]

Nats find no government waste

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 12:30 pm, October 12th, 2009 - 8 comments

I missed this one a few weeks ago but it’s worth pointing out. National spent $300,000 hiring half a dozen supposed business geniuses for $2,000 a day to find places to cut costs in the public sector. Called them ‘purchase advisers’. They ought to be able to find heaps to cut eh? I mean, National […]

Trans-Tasman picks Power

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 11:20 am, October 9th, 2009 - 17 comments

Some of you will get the Trans-Tasman emailed to your work each Thursday. For those of you who don’t know it, it’s a little rag written by anonymous Tory hacks. Purports to have the inside word on goings on in politics and business on both sides of the Tasman. It’s one of those publications which uses that odious, […]

Nanny State

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 2:41 pm, October 8th, 2009 - 58 comments

Under new laws proposed by John Key we’re going to need a prescription to get any cold medicine with pseudoephedrine in it. Anyone who has found themselves coming down with a flu or cold as they run up to an important deadline will tell you there’s nothing like pseudoephedrine to get you across the line. […]

Wee gripes: loose thinking/loose slots

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 11:42 pm, October 5th, 2009 - 14 comments

This the kind of garbage isn’t usually worth my time, but that’s what wee gripes is for: Why are Key, Henry and Watkins so excited that the Youtube vid of John Key’s clowning on Letterman has more hits than the vid of Obama on the same show? For a start, Obama’s vid has more hits. Anyone who […]

Capitalism: A Love Story

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 4:45 pm, October 5th, 2009 - 19 comments

Just found the trailer on youtube. No word yet when it’s coming to New Zealand.

Wee gripes: Crying wolf

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 10:24 am, October 2nd, 2009 - 10 comments

I want to make clear this post isn’t about the relief effort in Samoa and Tonga. I think that has been well handled. It was good to see Winnie Laban and Chris Carter, both MPs with links to Samoa, were sent out there immediately to work with our diplomats in assessing the situation and are […]

He’s good where he is, thanks

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 9:19 am, October 1st, 2009 - 42 comments

Around the media, they’re talking about the growing odds English will be sacked. The other day, my mate Marty asked ‘who would replace Bill?’ and I said Key should show him the door. I’ve changed my mind. The corrupt prick’s clearly set up his finances to scam the max out of the public. He tried to get away with […]

Crocodile tears from Crafars

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 3:20 pm, September 29th, 2009 - 36 comments

I saw one of the Crafar brothers on the TV last night. Crying fake tears over calves that a whistle-blower had revealed were being left to starve on one of their farms. The Crafars are prime examples of what’s wrong with the capitalist class and, because capitalism is essentially a system that rewards sociopathy and […]

No remorse from English

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 8:43 am, September 29th, 2009 - 14 comments

Last night I posted on Bill English’s attempt to shift blame by claiming the system had failed him, and argued that he wasn’t at all sorry for rorting us, only that he got caught. Dude keeps digging in today’s Herald. Talking about the Colmar Brunton poll showing 2 to 1 public disapproval, English made it […]

English: ‘the system failed me’

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 5:23 pm, September 28th, 2009 - 20 comments

Just noticed this comment from Bill English on the topic of his housing allowance scam: “At all times my decisions have been driven by my desire to keep my family together and provide them with as much stability as possible. It’s now clear that the system has struggled to deal with my circumstances.” The arrogance […]

The economy of hero worship

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 11:20 pm, September 24th, 2009 - 30 comments

I wish that I got praise heaped on me at my job for exchanging a bit of small-talk with the popular dude. Don’t want to take away from Key’s achievement. I mean wow, he shook the Obama’s hand and didn’t muck it up. I’m looking forward to the gushing accolades when he manages to crack a […]

Banning smoking

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 9:44 am, September 24th, 2009 - 69 comments

I have a lot of respect for Hone Harawira. The voting for a Tory government thing has lessened it but his hatred for the tobacco companies balances things out. Harawira wants smoking banned. Says he would love to whip or worse the smoking company bosses (you know they cut the price of cigarettes during the recession so […]

Wee gripes: Bad looks

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 2:00 pm, September 23rd, 2009 - 13 comments

Espiner the Younger wrote: Hutch’s biggest mistake wasn’t reading and driving, in my opinion. It was reading and driving in a sign-written car with his name on it. Now, that is silly. No. The problem is doing something dangerous and probably illegal (got to constitute reckless driving, surely). It’s not a ‘bad look’. It’s dumb […]

The entertainer

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 3:55 pm, September 21st, 2009 - 20 comments

It’s kind of funny how in a year we’ve gone from expecting a Prime Minister to be hugely competent and across the details to being used to having a dude who everyone knows is just an actor, playing the part. The other week, Henry told Key that his coming appearance on The Letterman Show is […]