Daily review 05/05/2015

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1. mac1 1

   5 May 2015 at 5:34 pm

   “My daughter’s capping ceremony took precedence.” A happy time for parents and I know that as a proud father of two capped daughters. Savour your sense of accomplishment, and that of your daughter.
   • mickysavage 1.1

     5 May 2015 at 5:37 pm

     Cheers Mac1. It was a very happy occasion and we even had a couple of Belgian beers afterwards to celebrate!
     • mac1 1.1.1

       5 May 2015 at 5:51 pm

       Few better ways to celebrate. I drink a home brewed version even as we write.
     • tc 1.1.2

       5 May 2015 at 8:01 pm

       Nice one mickey, what was the degree in ?
       • mickysavage 1.1.2.1

         5 May 2015 at 8:15 pm

         BA in sociology and history. Quite useless for a job but really important for humanity’s future …
         • tc 1.1.2.1.1

           5 May 2015 at 10:23 pm

           Cool as long as it’s not another lawyer
           • mickysavage 1.1.2.1.1.1

             5 May 2015 at 10:26 pm

             No chance!

             She wants to make a real contribution …

             🙂
         • mac1 1.1.2.1.2

           7 May 2015 at 9:46 am

           Sir Robert Jones would agree with you. I remembered an opinion of his when reading your comment, that he employed Arts graduates, especially in History, because they had been taught to think. He would teach them the job, but he wanted to employ thinkers.

           Here’s what he said in a 2012 Herald article.

           “So if Jones won’t pay more for degrees, what will he pay for? “We look for someone who reads – if they weren’t reading the newspaper and books every day, if they didn’t subscribe to the Economist or something, we wouldn’t employ them.”

           Jones does tell his children to go to university – but advises them to study subjects like history, that teach them to think, then leave. The piece of paper at the end, he says, is worth little.”

           It’s a worry when Bob Jones and us as well seem to value History degrees.
2. mickysavage 2

   5 May 2015 at 5:42 pm

   Auckland’s stance concerning special housing areas in Huapai is perfectly rational. SHAs are not meant to be constructed unless there is adequate infrastructure. The Government is refusing to allow Auckland tolling or a regional fuel tax to fund the infrastructure. Besides the Crown pays for highways.

   The two possible contributions are expansion of the rail service to Huapai (eminently feasible, sustainable and justifiable) and a busway along the North Western Motorway (also feasible) but the Government has a deep aversion to these sorts of projects.

   It is funny that the Government will fully fund Transmission Gulley with its appalling BCR or the Holiday Highway which will only address holiday congestion but not think about transport infrastructure where it is actually needed.
   • freedom 2.1

     5 May 2015 at 7:20 pm

     Not looking at the bigger picture does appear to be a regular failing of this government.

     Nick Smith- “If the Government was to provide funding for that basic infrastructure, it would seem a bit rough for the taxpayer that we do the paying and [the council] gets the future income stream.”
     http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11443548

     Auckland is a city where new housing is something of a hot potato and much like the hot potato, getting a grasp on new build numbers is not easy. I didn’t go and check all the latest numbers because at the end of the day it is not actually relevant. The numbers have been bandied around for months and they are only getting worse. What is without debate is the fact Auckland needs more houses, a lot more houses. The government is not doing enough to make sure it happens. Fast tracking consents that number in the thousands and repeatedly quoting the numbers to Parliament is all good but for one thing, consents are not houses. They are bits of paper.

     The shortfall in new housing supply for the last year alone likely exceeds the total of new builds undertaken by the government since 2008. When crucial housing development is threatened by a decision to refuse funds for the construction of essential public transport infrastructure, it needs more explanation than “there is always going to be argy-bargy about big bills for infrastructure.” and “These are growth pains.” The lack of growth in public transport infrastructure is a big part of what’s causing the growth pains.

     A Minister of the Crown carries all the responsibility and assumption of ability bestowed on such a position. Does anyone really think Nick Smith believes this issue is about a council trying to grab an income stream from the NZ taxpayer?

     Whilst it is true and accurate for the Minister to point out how money spent on that infrastructure generates new income for the council, who is that council working for? That’s right, a city full of the very taxpayers whose money the government are more than willing to funnel into corporate profit protection but are consistently reluctant to use it when calls are made to invest in essential public transport infrastructure.

     It’s not like the tax dollars the government are so concerned with would be used to help reverse the losses of private finance companies. Or ease the book keeping of multi billion dollar mining magnates. Not really the same thing at all is it. At least in this circumstance the taxpayer still gets the benefit from that taxpayer spending.

     Ever expanding communities, forced into commuting ever greater distances, can not rely on private cars without encountering the obvious and well understood transport difficulties faced by any growing city. With those difficulties come very real economic liabilities not only for Auckland, but the whole of New Zealand.

     Short of bringing back car-less days as a means to manage traffic congestion, real results in Auckland’s traffic woes are only made possible with sufficient [read vastly expanded] development of public transport infrastructure across the city. Developing new housing projects without building the public transport systems required by the communities who will live there is a big part of how we got in this mess in the first place.
     • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1

       5 May 2015 at 7:59 pm

       Not looking at the bigger picture does appear to be a regular failing of this government.

       The only thing this government looks at is Does it make rich people richer? and having to buy more cars and spend more on transport certainly boosts the profits of the rich whereas having cheap, highly efficient public transport doesn’t. When you look at what Nick Smith said it’s glaringly obvious what National is after. If the government doesn’t pay for the necessary infrastructure then the oil companies and car importers get the future income stream.
     • mickysavage 2.1.2

       5 May 2015 at 8:20 pm

       Smith made the comment about how Auckland has a third of the country’s population but was getting more than a third of the country’s funding. While it is correct …

       1. Without the holiday highway the figures would be different.
       2. This area is where all the growth is happening so of course it should be getting more funding.
       3. Central Government/local government funding disputes do my head in because Aucklanders contribute significantly to central government funding as well.
       4. The country’s profitability is being affected by Auckland’s congestion. Residents of Southland will benefit if Auckland’s problems are addressed.
       • Draco T Bastard 2.1.2.1

         5 May 2015 at 8:37 pm

         4. The country’s profitability is being affected by Auckland’s congestion. Residents of Southland will benefit if Auckland’s problems are addressed.

         Well, the countries economic efficiency is taking a hit due to Auckland’s excessive congestion but a few people are making a killing out of it. National fully supports those making a killing.
         • Hanswurst 2.1.2.1.1

           5 May 2015 at 10:10 pm

           I wouldn’t see things so separately. National’s patronage and membership (at least the more influential of the latter) are the people making a killing. The state is organised chiefly for the purposes of profit-making and the exploitation of capital/labour, and the National Party is the most prominent policy and propaganda wing of that state machine, peopled and run by those benefitting from it.
           • Draco T Bastard 2.1.2.1.1.1

             5 May 2015 at 10:15 pm

             The state is organised chiefly for the purposes of profit-making and the exploitation of capital/labour,

             But it doesn’t need to be and, in fact, shouldn’t be.

             Public transport is a good example. It should be run as a pure government service that’s free to use simply because it happens to be the most efficient and cost effective way to provide most transport. In other words, it should always be far more expensive to own and run a car because it is less efficient and costs more.

             National, though, forces people into cars because a few people can make huge profits from them.
             • Hanswurst …

               6 May 2015 at 8:39 am

               But it doesn’t need to be and, in fact, shouldn’t be.

               No, it definitely shouldn’t be. I was simply pointing out that it was. Government over the last thirty years has been reduced in the extreme to an apologist and enabler for the rampant control of resources by a select few powerful interests, and the general populace screwed into toiling for the benefit of those interests under the risible auspices of “personal freedom”. It would be hilarious if it weren’t so tragic.
     • Murray Rawshark 2.1.3

       5 May 2015 at 11:06 pm

       Carless days do little for congestion and tend to cause more pollution. Those who can afford it buy a second, cheaper car for their carless day. These tend to pollute more. We need public transport that is cheap, convenient, and easy to use. John Minto’s proposal for free transport made a lot of sense.
       • freedom 2.1.3.1

         6 May 2015 at 12:09 am

         “We need public transport that is cheap, convenient, and easy to use.”
         Couldn’t agree more Murray.

         Yet, decade after decade, public transport development heads in the opposite direction.
   • Tracey 2.2

     5 May 2015 at 7:28 pm

     we were going to move to waiuku and commute to work. the sale fell through. we continued looking but decided traffic was an issue. public transport from waiuku is crazy and even without accidents the southern motorway is a joke. pushing houses out to the edge without transport is ridiculous
     • Molly 2.2.1

       6 May 2015 at 11:43 am

       Tracey. Agree with the commute issue, ended up living here after in-laws lost their licence, and we purchased a small home with already existing granny flat in place.

       For many years my partner was on shift work, so the traffic for the commute was not too bad. Now, he does days but leaves at 5.00am and the traffic is already building from that point.

       It seems that those in this particular community are often driving company cars, and/or are high income earners and very rarely use PT. There are always plenty of advocates for more roads.
3. phillip ure 3

   5 May 2015 at 5:53 pm

   commentary on questiontime..

   http://whoar.co.nz/2015/new-zealand-parliament-list-of-questions-for-oral-answer-3/

   and as i noted on o.m..

   ..the/a/the only highlight was little calling on the govt to become buyers on the international dairy markets/auctions..

   ..to prop up the prices for farmers..(!!!)

   ..(i am still trying to unpack that brain-fart..)
   • mickysavage 3.1

     5 May 2015 at 6:06 pm

     Don’t think he did phillip. He talked about the Government being a bystander as milk prices fall away rather than building a diverse economy. Having a diverse economy would mean you would not rely on milk prices for the economy to work.
     • phillip ure 3.1.1

       5 May 2015 at 6:41 pm

       that’s what i get for believing key..
       • phillip ure 3.1.1.1

         5 May 2015 at 6:46 pm

         tho’ i am sure i heard little (after what key said) saying/yelling ‘you’d be better off spending blah blah at the dairy auctions..

         it was while key was speaking – (almost a heckle) and transcribers don’t catch everything – especially in vocally-jumbled situations like that..
         • felix 3.1.1.1.1

           5 May 2015 at 7:05 pm

           In taking that heckle literally you’re being almost as silly a goose as Key taking the “bystander at the dairy auction” remark literally.

           (Not really though, yours was likely an honest mistake 😀 )
4. NZSage 4

   5 May 2015 at 6:10 pm

   So the flagging Key gets his referendum.

   Just saw his attempts at justifying this insane waste of taxpayers money on TV and I nearly burst a blood vessel.

   The man oozes bullshit from every pore.
   • Detrie 4.1

     5 May 2015 at 7:20 pm

     I just watched The Hollow Men rerun on nzonscreen. Just prove again not a lot has changed in right wing politics in ten years. Depressing that the public is this easily taken in. Pretty-boy face and no substance is all it takes to be a leader these days.
     • Murray Rawshark 4.1.1

       5 May 2015 at 11:24 pm

       I focus more on what has changed in left wing politics. I have to get past Labour to see much at all since 1984.
       • phillip ure 4.1.1.1

         6 May 2015 at 7:15 am

         + 1..
         • left for deadshark 4.1.1.1.1

           6 May 2015 at 9:56 am

           Hello Phillip,
           did Labour ask any questions about Gov’t dental policy regarding winz pulling funding ?
           • phillip ure 4.1.1.1.1.1

             6 May 2015 at 10:04 am

             hi d.s..

             ..i don’t see why they would..

             ..as dentistry for the poor was ignored as much under clark/labour..

             ..as it has been under national..

             (the clark labour govt yrs actually saw the rise of the gap-toothed smile – as a new mark of poverty…it also marked them as being from (in clark-language) ‘undeserving’-families..)

             ..like their policies on benefit-raises (at the rate of inflation only..labour election ’14 policy)..

             ..labour/national are totally tweedle-dee/tweedle-dum/in lockstep on this neoliberal-pillar..

             ..that the poor can go fuck themselves..(and they can take their sore/rotten-teeth with them..)
             • left for deadshark …

               6 May 2015 at 10:09 am

               Ta 👿
               • phillip ure …

                 6 May 2015 at 10:30 am

                 and labour/election ’14 policiies on dental-care for the poor..?

                 ..yeah..nah..eh..!..
   • tc 4.2

     5 May 2015 at 7:56 pm

     As designed, gotta have those distractions in play.
   • rawshark-yeshe 4.3

     5 May 2015 at 11:15 pm

     Just watched thousands of dollars worth of ads on TV tonight for the Flag Consideration Project.

     Costing more than feeding all the kids in school on a daily basis
     or
     Loaning beneficiaries money for lousy teeth
     or
     funding Rape Crisis Centres

     or any one of a thousand better options than Pervy PM’s vanity project. Pfffft.
5. felix 5

   5 May 2015 at 7:54 pm

   National party MPs displayed some outrageous dishonesty on Mojo Mathers’ animal welfare amendment today.

   They’ve done this same thing through the entire debate, they were doing it when I last heard this bill being debated over a month ago.

   Every time a Labour MP spoke about poor treatment of animals on farms they would go to great lengths to explain that they were referring to a small minority of farmers, particularly in the pork and poultry sectors, and that on the whole most farmers follow best practice and have good standards.

   This would invariably be followed by a National MP opening their speech by saying ‘Shame on the Labour Party for accusing every farmer in NZ of cruelty!’

   Bunch of fuckwits, all of them.
   • tc 5.1

     5 May 2015 at 8:06 pm

     +1 since when has listening been a required skill of any NACT mp, just scripted monkeys really.
     • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1

       5 May 2015 at 8:10 pm

       +1 since when has listening been a required skill of any NACT mp, just scripted lying, monkeys really.

       FTFY
       • tc 5.1.1.1

         5 May 2015 at 8:14 pm

         We’ll yes Draco it’s pretty much assumed isn’t it as part of team shonky.
         • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1.1.1

           5 May 2015 at 8:18 pm

           There are, apparently, still some people who don’t understand that bit yet so it does need to be made as clear as possible.

           😛
6. Draco T Bastard 6

   5 May 2015 at 8:09 pm

   Ah, science:

   The mystery behind radio signals that have baffled scientists at Australia’s most famous radio telescope for 17 years has finally been solved.

   No, I’m not going to spoil it for you 😛
   • weka 6.1

     5 May 2015 at 9:21 pm

     that’s a good read, cute story.
   • Murray Rawshark 6.2

     5 May 2015 at 11:30 pm

     Irregular signals are pretty hard to pin down, especially when you are analysing them remotely. This one still surprises me.
     • Draco T Bastard 6.2.1

       6 May 2015 at 12:22 am

       Yep. Definitely. Had my fair share of faults that are only there when the tech isn’t.
7. Prickles 7

   5 May 2015 at 9:10 pm

   Maybe everyone has seen this – but my daughter in England hadn’t so chances are folks here haven’t either. David Cameron at his best. Definitely worth a look but sorry – being a newbie I don’t know how to load a link. (just realised it does it anyway.)
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbLGG5UGEKw
   • Puddleglum 7.1

     5 May 2015 at 9:23 pm

     That was very well done – it must have taken a lot of time; and lots of time listening to David Cameron’s and Nigel Farage’s speeches.

     Suffering for their art 🙂
   • Bearded Git 7.2

     6 May 2015 at 9:22 am

     This excellent too. Cameron-“This is the party of the motherfuckers”.
   • Molly 7.3

     6 May 2015 at 11:50 am

     Cassetteboy should be lauded for sitting through that many videos in order to compile these. This particular piece is shown on the closing credits of Russell Brand/Michael Winterbottoms documentary “The Emperor’s New Clothes”.
8. felix 8

   5 May 2015 at 9:42 pm

   So apparently Murray McCully sent an email instructing Nat MPs not to attend Falun Gong events for fear of upsetting the Chinese govt.

   But oops he sent it to ALL MPs lol.

   So much for independent foreign policy eh?

   Hands up who believes John Key raised human rights with the Saudis?

   http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/labour-falun-gong-warning-outrageous-2015050519#axzz3ZFthZeo2
   • mickysavage 8.1

     5 May 2015 at 9:46 pm

     Opposing Falun Gong is like claiming that John Lennon was a potential terrorist …
     • veutoviper 8.1.1

       5 May 2015 at 10:03 pm

       MS – totally off topic, but you may like to look at the thread at 26 (and comment at 25) where Amirite and I posted a link to a Stuff article earlier today re Minister’s brother’s court appearance. The article was taken down shortly thereafter by Stuff and may have got the suppression conditions wrong… (Very different from the Herald reporting.) Am a little concerned that the detail we reported there may put TS in jeopardy, and a moderator should probably edit or remove our references to the Stuff article and the details published in that article.

       [Mr pg has picked up on this on HisNZ blog and is again accusing TS of double standards etc etc – http://yournz.org/2015/05/05/did-stuff-stuff-up/%5D
     • rawshark-yeshe 8.1.2

       5 May 2015 at 11:24 pm

       and the Chinese made Key and Ministers promise not to meet with the Dalai Lama on his two visits under Key’s oppression.

       Imagine — the arrogance of the Chinese Govt is exceeded only by the forelock-tugging grovelling acquiescence of our pervy leader and Mucky McCully. He shames us all again and again.

       But it’s good this interference and lack of independence in our foreign policy is now out in the open and proven.

       What does this mean for our place on the Security Council I wonder ? Are we going to be seen as biased and so eager to brown-nose to the Chinese ? What the hell has Key promised them ?
     • Bearded Git 8.1.3

       6 May 2015 at 9:27 am

       Ha ha.
       What the MSM seem to have missed in all this is how McCully (doubtless instructed by Key) controls the Nat Party caucus/sheep through intimidating memos.

       This (accidental) memo release is a window into how the Nat Party works and why nobody has dared to cross the floor in 7 years of Nat Party rule.
   • Draco T Bastard 8.2

     5 May 2015 at 10:11 pm

     Falun Gong is a Chinese spiritual practice that combines meditation and qigong exercises with a moral philosophy centered on the tenets of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance (Chinese: 真、善、忍). The practice emphasizes morality and the cultivation of virtue, and identifies as a qigong practice of the Buddhist school, though its teachings also incorporate elements drawn from Taoist traditions. Through moral rectitude and the practice of meditation, practitioners of Falun Gong aspire to better health and, ultimately, spiritual enlightenment.

     It’s probably not something that I would be likely to ascribe to but it doesn’t appear to be anything to oppose either. NZ politicians should not be taking direction from China on this.
     • rawshark-yeshe 8.2.1

       5 May 2015 at 11:26 pm

       Should not be taking direction from China on any bloody thing at all !
       • felix 8.2.1.1

         5 May 2015 at 11:42 pm

         ^^^^^^^^^^^
9. Draco T Bastard 9

   5 May 2015 at 11:07 pm

   ‘Fire at every person you see’: Israeli soldiers reveal they were ordered to shoot to kill in Gaza – even if the targets may have been civilians

   “Many of the soldiers testified that the rules of engagement they were provided with before the ground incursion into Gaza were unclear and lenient. The soldiers were briefed by their commanders to fire at every person they identified in a combat zone, since the working assumption was that every person in the field was an enemy,” Breaking the Silence claims.

   That is not self-defence – that is eradication.
   • Murray Rawshark 9.1

     5 May 2015 at 11:41 pm

     They weren’t even combat zones. They were smashed up streets being invaded by the most out of control regime on the face of the Earth. An out of control regime that we no doubt gather intelligence for, via Five Eyes.
10. Malconz 10

    6 May 2015 at 11:00 am

    In Rome or Florence you can travel on any combination of bus/tram/local train for 90 minutes for a miserly 1.5 euros – $2.23 at today’s exchange rate. Only a crazy person would take a car into the centre when public transport is so cheap and convenient. John Minto is right – this stuff isn’t rocket science.
    • Bearded Git 10.1

      6 May 2015 at 11:48 am

      +100 Malconz

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