Daily review 14/05/2019
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5:31 pm, May 14th, 2019 - 94 comments
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- 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #51
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...8 hours ago - Dance Magic
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...19 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...20 hours ago - Fact brief – Are we heading into an ‘ice age’?
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Are we heading ...1 day ago
- As Our Power Lessens: Published
So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...2 days ago - By Any Other Name.
The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...2 days ago - Bernard’s last Saturday Soliloquy for 2024
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashEvery morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...2 days ago - 2024 OIA stats
Over on Kikorangi Newsroom's Marc Daalder has published his annual OIA stats. So I thought I'd do mine: 82 OIA requests sent in 2024 7 posts based on those requests 20 average working days to receive a response Ministry of Justice was my most-requested entity, ...3 days ago - Climate Change: A perverse incentive
The government published its first Biennial Transparency Report under the Paris Agreement yesterday, and the media has correctly noted that it is missing any plan to actually meet our target. While it hypes domestic emissions reductions so far - which have been good, but will likely get worse thanks to ...3 days ago
- Economic Bulletin December 2024
Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the Budget Policy Statement from the Minister of Finance tell us about the fiscal position and what to ...3 days ago - NZCTU make submission in opposition to Treaty Principles Bill
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collective rights of Tangata Whenua. “This Bill seeks to legislate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles that are ...3 days ago
- ZB’s Power Couple
I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...3 days ago - Austerity thumps GDP most since 1991
Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...3 days ago
- Weekly Roundup 20-December-2024
Twas the Friday before Christmas and all through the week we’ve been collecting stories for our final roundup of the year. As we start to wind down for the year we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and new year. If you’re travelling please be safe on ...3 days ago - The Hoon around the year to December 20, 2024
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...3 days ago
- The baby-boomers’ last gasp
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...3 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #51 2024
Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment: Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...3 days ago
- Join us at 5pm for 2024’s last Hoon
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and , ...4 days ago - Christmas Gifts: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”“ONE OF THOSE had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...4 days ago
- GDP Figures No Christmas Present for New Zealand
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...4 days ago
- Cheeseburgers and Stunt Monkeys
One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...4 days ago - MSD rejecting 220 pleas for food grants each day
Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...4 days ago
- The Wing Parties’ Economic Policies.
It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.This end-of-year review about the state of economic management – the state of the economy was last week – is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...4 days ago - Back on Track
This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...4 days ago - Book Review: How Big Things Get Done
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called How Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner Want to know how to do something big? Ask someone who has done it before! Professor Bent Flyvbjerg has spent his career studying megaprojects. In 2023, ...4 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On Why We Can’t Survive Two More Years Of This
Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...4 days ago - Dragging our way towards the finish line, the end of this year can’t come soon enough for many…
Similar to the cuts and the austerity drive imposed by Ruth Richardson in the 1990’s, an era which to all intents and purposes we’ve largely fiddled around the edges with fixing in the time since – over, to be fair, several administrations – whilst trying our best it seems to ...4 days ago - Handling Democracy.
String-Pulling in the Dark: For the democratic process to be meaningful it must also be public. WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in New Zealand’s politicians and journalists steadily declining, restoring those virtues poses a daunting challenge. Just how daunting is made clear by comparing the way politicians and journalists treated New Zealanders ...5 days ago
- Open letter to the Minister of Dwindling Finances
Dear Nicola Willis, thank you for letting us know in so many words that the swingeing austerity hasn't worked.By in so many words I mean the bit where you said, Here is a sea of red ink in which we are drowning after twelve months of savage cost cutting and ...5 days ago - Open Government: The joke ends
The Open Government Partnership is a multilateral organisation committed to advancing open government. Countries which join are supposed to co-create regular action plans with civil society, committing to making verifiable improvements in transparency, accountability, participation, or technology and innovation for the above. And they're held to account through an Independent ...5 days ago
- An unusual sort of press conference
Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the announcement by Erica Stanford — on her own, unusually ...5 days ago - This substack has talked about this government’s seeming corruption & pro-corporate issues...
This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEOOur news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...5 days ago - NZCTU: Minister needs to listen to the evidence on engineered stone ban
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone and is calling on her to listen to the evidence and implement a total ban of the product. “We need ...5 days ago
- Wednesday 18 December
The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...5 days ago
- Can the government change its mind on the ferries?
The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...5 days ago
- Notes from Afar: Will Luxon Attend Waitangi Day? And Opposition Calls Out Nicola Willis for “C...
Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...5 days ago - Member’s morning
Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...5 days ago
- Going Backwards
We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...5 days ago - Blaming Treasury & Labour, Willis looks for even more Austerity
Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...5 days ago
- December-24 AT Board Meeting
Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...5 days ago
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Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...5 days ago - It could have been worse
Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...5 days ago
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The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...5 days ago - Willis’ austerity strategy just isn’t working
Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...5 days ago
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On November 1, 2024 we announced the publication of 33 rebuttals based on the report "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles" written by Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine and published by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia ...6 days ago
- Join us for a pop-up Hoon at 5pm on HYEFU
6 days ago - ‘Ideas Worth Saving’: A Call for Papers
Some years ago, I found myself pondering the power of literature to endure. Or at least the power of some of it to endure, while the rest vanishes in mere decades: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2019/08/07/look-on-my-works-ye-mighty-and-despair-the-literary-future/. I have similarly had fun with the subject in some of my short stories, such as Another Alexandria ...6 days ago - Corrections is torturing prisoners again
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...6 days ago
- HYEFU and BPS data shows New Zealand is way off track
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...6 days ago
- “Better economic management”
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...6 days ago
- Shameless, clueless
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...6 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...6 days ago
- Crazy ’bout a Sharp-dressed Man
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...6 days ago - How much should you worry about a collapse of the Atlantic conveyor belt?
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson In this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...6 days ago
- 8% ACT Party Creates One Ring To Rule Them All
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...6 days ago - When austerity worsens public debt & cuts GDP
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...6 days ago
- Govt to double number of toll roads
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s pre-emptive strike
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...6 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On The Coalition’s Empty Gestures, And Abortion Refusal As The New Slavery
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...6 days ago
- More public service contempt of parliament
Back in 2023 the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties raised concerns about the inherent conflict of interest involved in public service agencies supporting parliamentary select committees. Our parliament is run on a shoestring, so depends on the public service for advice. But public service agencies work for Ministers, not ...7 days ago
- If There Is A God
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...7 days ago - A Lipstick Government
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...7 days ago - NZCTU open letter to Treasury on undue restrictions on restricted briefings
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...7 days ago
- Why you won’t hear me advocate for electric cars
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate. I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...7 days ago
- Coalition forced to back down on tolling Pahiatua track
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...7 days ago
- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...1 week ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...1 week ago
- Making Gravy
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...1 week ago - Nothing here but the shadows
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...1 week ago - The United Right: the FSU’s Continued Efforts to Undermine Academia
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...1 week ago
- Showing the Americans how to do it
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...1 week ago
- 2 Men, 1 Haircut
Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...1 week ago - Chris Penk’s Hate Parade
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...1 week ago - Tell me a story
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
- National’s Greatest Misses 2023-4
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...3 days ago - Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step
Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...4 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...4 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...5 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...6 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...6 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...6 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...6 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...7 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...7 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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Today, on TS.
https://twitter.com/HaggardHawks/status/1128034680937123840
Hi Joe, alright, I will bite, please elucidate.
Were you discombobulated by something on TS?
Was it a day that comments or input were particularly challenging?
Or is it a merely a word to increase our vocabulary?
The pro-plague dog and pony show on OM.
Still name calling eh J90. You've said in comments that you're unhealthy. No need to wish to drag others down to your level.
Vaccines, shed virus, maim and kill. That science is settled.
If you read some of the links you could, if so inclined find a way to move on from the name calling, and just accept that you are unhealthy, and others are not responsible for yours, or any other human beings health.
You should watch this Joe. Not throw insults and sulk.
14m mark quote:
That vaccine is actually killing children…it’s not just sort of a differential effect…it’s killing children …it’s not because it saves boys…the vaccine is killing children…
Vaccines, shed virus, maim and kill. That science is settled.
Do you have any links to this 'settled science'?
*yawn*
What bored you?
Was it the hundreds of thousands of children killed per year by vaccines in the African countries used for experiments
Africans, many more female than males…killed by vaccines…millions of them…
Does that bore you?
Why?
[Citations needed]
Cite?
I've linked 1.1.1.1 you the video…hundred of thousands of children…annually.
Ahhh.
One persons pro plague is anothers scare mongering up profits to big pharma.
I think it was on RNZ this morning, we were urged to get the flu jab.
On the upside my vocab has increased with conglumrified.
I've never had a flu jab and never really had cause to get one.
I think I have only really had the flu twice in my 38 years. I know it can only be twice because when you have you KNOW you have it
Heh, from the talk this morning you would think it was as common as a common thing.
This is where resistance for the mass medication arguements arises for me.
Talk of denying children early education unless they are immunised is the thin edge of a dispicable wedge.
I got looking and talking about measles in Aotearoa. In the area I live in (Mid Central Health), there hasn't been a hospitilization from measles this year.
yup, that's the problem we face. Tigers aren't scary if nobody's really seen one.
If our expensive scare-tiger is really good at keeping tigers away, people forget how bad tigers are and stop maintaining the scare-tiger. But then the tigers come back.
HPH is not a source I would be ever cite…a so called medical professional who links to Gorski, and writes in a style completely out of the Gorski name calling training manual.
Highly inappropriate for a so called medical professional…
HPH has also be accused of misconduct in an open letter to the WHO.
lol coming from you, that's a compliment.
In the many years since a childhood pertussis infection one of my brothers has endured respiratory problems, chest infections, pleurisy, pneumonia, courtesy of his chronic bronchiectasis. Influenza might well be the biggest threat to his life and every year I worry that this might be the winter.
I'm grateful he has the opportunity to be vaccinated.
That does sound a grim history for your brother.
It is good he can get a flu jab.
How many sad stories have you got to share about your family joe?
Stories that apparently empower you to use bigoted insults towards others who have been damaged or killed by vaccines…or who just wish to exercise their right to bodily autonomy and to say no…or their parental right to say no for their children…
I'm grateful he has the opportunity to be vaccinated.
And that is well and good. Just leave it there when other people make a choice not to vaccinate themselves or their children…especially after a vaccine injury or death to their loved one...
You should extend concern for your bothers well being …outwards in a more positive way…eh Joe.
For many families polio and pertussis were life changing events.
But don't let that get in the way of your supercilious dog wanking
Sure. and of so it is for all the mothers and parents of vaccine damaged and dead kids…
Why should your experiences enable you to be so callous towards others..
Because pro-plague scum are a threat to the public health measures that put an end to most communicable diseases.
But it has been proven , that they are not..
Why are you still pushing that total nonsense around?
Do you have developmental issues you might like to also share – that is an honest question?
Because we know polio and pertussis deaths actually do happen by the hundreds of thousands if left unchecked. Not your imaginary numbers.
490,000 Indians damaged by the polio vaccine though…in only one single part of one country…
How many…where are the numbers you're referring to?
You are so under informed…what is that prevents being able admit it, and just quietly step out of the discussion?
You did say millions of African children per year.
How many children die in Africa each year?
Have fun looking that up. I'm amazed big pharma has gotten away with it for so long.
Bit late for you is it…
Have a look at what I wrote and the link I posted to joe..
Death of any variety is not fun..
Whats with your commentary and calling events like death and vaccine damage fun..?
You are an apologist…worse than that you're an uninformed apologist…
Which means you don't care at all about the discussion you're involved with and you're engaging in bad faith.
God – you sound like Ed.
How many hundred thousand? Because depending on the age definition of "children", you're still claiming about 1% (at a lower bound) of Africa's child mortality is due to experimentation of vaccines.
Which is a not-very-credible claim.
I’m off to bed.
You've just thrown hundreds of thousands, and then millions of African kids under the hypocrisy bus, and try to smear joe90 with your own budget brand 'special' sauce.
Hypocrite 🙄
At rough math, one-two seems to be claiming that a double-digit percentage of all child deaths in Africa are caused by vaccine experimentation.
Which is a pretty bold claim.
@ joe. That is where your credibility just falls over.
You have your stories of your family and then put your repeated dog wanking epiphet after it, then its hard to have any empathy for you, let alone your arguement for vacination.
Surely, at least a canine is satisfied.
It's appropriate when responding to a self-absorbed cretin.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dog%20wanker
Yep, just undermining your position.
you put the urban dictionary reference in last time, I didn’t look then either.
Anyhoo, off to bed.
One shouldn’t under estimate the benefits of sleep.
Nighty nite.
hey one two you're coming across like a cartoon badguy – slimey insincerity and caustic vibe off your every comment – is that what you want? not cool dude.
Fucken do that count to 10 (TEN) like I taught you – it WILL work. Come on you can do it just fucken try.
Nah bro…you're just looking for things which aren't there…why are you still trying to do that…
Have you not abused my comments enough in recent times…now your trying to paint yourself as something you most definitely are not…
You should really stop pretending to be able to read comments…and start asking your angry mates to stop hurling abusive insults….instead of popping up on mine…again…
Jail jokes, are definitely not cool…bro.
Edit. I see you edited that comment…back to the bad language…and projected anger …again….
two bros eh one two, two? and somehow you're racism is okay? hard habit to break but your anger is destructive – it is NOT okay to be racist at any time one two anytime at all – ffs count to ten one two don't do it cos I say do it no do it for yourself one two do it for yourself lad
Edit. I see you edited that comment…back to the bad language…and projected anger …again….
Why are you so desperate to project you anger issues into others?
Deliberately two bros…I call many people bro…they come from all around the world…and are all ethnic backgrounds…including tanagata whenua, pacifika, african american and many others…
It is very ugly for you to repeatedly cry racism at any opportunity…to other commentators here…
Speaks to who you are as a human being…
Why are you so desperate to project you anger issues into others?
You used the term 'bro' as a weapon against me, knowing I'm Māori . You're too weak to own up to your own weakness – bit of a dilemma eh noddy lol – don't worry I've dealt to dogshit racists for years and I don't forget that stuff mores the pity lol
You're like the boy who cried wolf…
I know you're angry amd abusive through your comments…that's what I know…
And you're absolutely trying to bring non racism into your life…again..I suspect you're probably a racist..you push so hard and are so desperate…
As I said..you don't have a copyright on being a bro…so climb down from the soapbox and stop being such a mind slave..
I do not care one iota what ethnicity you identify as…that is your business…
And Ill use the word bro as and when I choose…
I also believe it to be a form of targeted racism. I can't say I recall 12 calling anyone else on here bro, though of course, they are free to link and prove me incorrect.
Bro you believe whatever you like…
Trying to get in on martys intrepid search for racism..
Takes a disturbed mind to have a default mode which endlessly desires racism to feel self righteous…
Lower than that is the mind of someone who seeks to bandwagon as an uninvolved 3rd party…
Even lower again…the uninvolved band-wagoning 3rd party who is grandstanding …for some reason…that's you…bro.
I can see why you're fighting so hard against the accusation, but it looks like you have no defence, here.
In your attempt to bait and attack MM, you let your racist cat out of the bag. I, like many others, think that bag should have long been tossed into a canal.
Shame on you, 12.
Nope. Just pointing out your 3rd party band wagon rasism grandstanding…
All very low rent..you try to be clever…overly so…it reeks through your confused commentary…
Which condition did you say it was..spectrum?
First it's racism, now you're weaponising autism.
Good job in completely destroying any remaining credibility, and all within half an hour.
Yep, you’re really as sharp as you believe 😆
I like to be sure those I engage with are doing so in good faith…
Also I observe the type of engagement to see if the subject matter could be harmful to the receiver…if I get an indication then I'll stop replying…
You're an interesting case.. having not changed styles since before you disappeared…
Your style is all over the place in an inarticulat, almost manic manner…hence the question..
Marty is an angry abusive with a long history of crying racism at any moment…
You seen similar, in that you're bouncing around trying to find shelter of a sort..comfort in something…Which is why your grandstanding marty bandwagon show is so obvious…
Takes a disturbed mind to provide an echo on a someone else's fake racism callouts..
A disturbed mind…
That doesn't cut the mustard.
You've been caught red handed being racist and belittling autism.
For one who argues against vaccinations partly because they, according to you cause spectrum disorders, shows exactly where your head is in the game.
You're as genuine as a $10 rolex.
Best you take your vegan dog out to shit on your unmowed lawns before heading off to bed to sleep it off.
You never could best me in a debate. No need to think you can now, especially when you're bang to rights.
You're only saving grace is this is very late and tomorrow everyone will move on to the next days bullshit-a-go-round, but we'll always know, won't we, eh? 😉
😆
Just did.
but wees poo, you didn’t beat anyone.
i followed you original link. The one you posted way up above. It’s a boring narrative from an anthropologist. Not someone who should be the sole authority on whether vaccines cause harm. Despite his claims of meeting a guy who supports his observations.
There weren’t “hundreds and thousands” of deaths claimed either? So wees poos, how did that verifiably bullshit claim climb to millions? Extrapolating conclusions from an incomplete and / or unverifiable data set is the cardinal sin of statistics and refutes all arguments made off of it.
So what do you make of joes last missive marty?
good stuff – one two is a poorly constructed yet well executed parody of an utter wanker.
rightio then.
FWIW I have found the links from 1 2 a little more enlightening than what the nay-sayers have offered.
bedtime for me.
te po pai.
"I think it was on RNZ this morning, we were urged to get the flu jab."
Oh, is that what prompted the circus.
You can do better than that Sacha…it was higherstandard that pulled the pin…https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-14-05-2019/#comment-1616524
Busy day. I generally react poorly to stuff that is conveyed with conspiracy language and tactics, even though as you know I am not blind to the weaknesses of current knowledge and systems.
Sort yourself out then and stop making excuses. I said that to you just the other day…
You could always stop sounding like burning jet fuel and behaving like a sealion.
Not me sacha, I had just checked out the furore after (now regrettably) engaging with joe.
One thing I notice through these diatribes is no-one has negated Rosemary's observation of the placenta/breast feeding observation regarding pertussis.
Lots of nasty name calling though.
Bit harsh to give women pertussis to immunise any prospective issue, though.
No idea about how true it is (especially the "naturally" bit). It just seems to me that the implementation of that treatment might be problematic.
Rosemary’s posting (on today’s OM @22.3) of Prof. Christine Stabell Benn’s TEDx talk on the unrecognised effects of attenuated live vaccines was a real eye opener for me.
Interesting to investigate the epidemiology of online vax 'debates' and how they mutate/degenerate into slagging matches. Might be a thesis in it
https://soundideas.pugetsound.edu/summer_research/309/
https://carolinaseveriche.me/misinformation-the-anti-vax-movement-and-health-outcomes/
The Anti-vaccination Movement: A Regression in Modern Medicine
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6122668/
Perhaps instead of using pejorative smears and linking to a study which could be viewed as <em>inflammatory…</em>
Perhaps invest some online time into researching the tactics which the vaccine industry and regulators/authorities/academia (also the industry) perform to distort the entirity of a discussion…
In fact the spin put on it since Jenner is nothing short of transparent…
The emperor has no cloths.
Do better than using insulting tropes Drowsy…you're better than that…I reckon…
Did you view Prof./Dr Benn's TEDx talk that Rosemary posted?
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-14-05-2019/#comment-1616760
Prof. Benn says that the medical establishment are largely ignoring (inconvenient) findings on the unrecognised/unexpected (non-specific) effects (both beneficial and harmful) of vaccines. She thinks that "the main reason for this is the polarised vaccine debate."
She also says this (a direct quote from her TEDx talk, @13:30):
"This makes vaccines the largest untapped resource for improving health globally."
That’s a clear message. Please, don't shoot the messenger.
I posted on Badim months ago, Drowsy…
But I'm talking about your final link and use of the smear AV…
Politely suggest you leave use of that label to the less capable of mind around here..
You don't need to lower yourself to that level…
I admire the passion and energy with which you present your cause, but think your views are wrong.
I respectfully ask that you address this direct quote (@13:30):
"This makes vaccines the largest untapped resource for improving health globally."
If you choose to dismiss Prof. Benn's research because of that quote, then (IMHO) that is your loss, much as it is the loss of the medical establishment.
Antivax is great until the chickens come home to roost…
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10860122
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/09/well/oregon-child-tetanus-vaccine.html
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2019/jan/10/the-forgotten-story-of-di-jones-footballers-died-tetanus
Nat leaders https://www.noted.co.nz/currently/politics/is-judith-collins-the-answer-for-national-party-simon-bridges/
As much as I'd prefer Collins as Leader over Bridges, the die is set, Bridges is leading National into 2020.
If Bridges is rolled this side of the election it will be like Labour 2008 -2017, his supporters will undermine Collins or whoever becomes the leader and guarantee an electoral loss and the policial death of whoever replaced him.
National will lose with Bridges in charge that's pretty much a certainty unless Bridges stands aside voluntarily, which is hardly likely, it makes little sense for Collins to overthrow Bridges and assume the leadership.
Unless Ardern does something incredibly stupid like threatening to ban facebook then 2020 is in the bag.
Sounds like lose lose for the Nats, so all good.
Edit. I didn’t read your last line when i typed above.
Damn near any polly that stood on an agenda of banning FB would get my vote.
After all isnt society better off without a company that facilitates a live stream of a mass murder?
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/05/jacinda-ardern-won-t-rule-out-blocking-facebook-if-used-to-spread-extremist-content.html
There you go
Chur.
Bit of a vote winner you reckon?
As I say below, I am in minority in not being part of FB.
FWIW, FB is just one of those clear signposts, when viewed in retrospect, of the decline of our society.
I am yet to speak to anyone (and I have asked quite a few), that have changed their FB usage/habits, post Chch.
Yet again, it ain't FB that is wrong, it's us- the enablers.
BM do you have any issues with FB live streaming mass murder?
If the question is 'what's even worse?'
TFW you think the kid's are okay and then realise some of those kids are the target audience for shit like this, and they're lapping it up.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/josephbernstein/youtubes-newest-far-right-foul-mouthed-red-pilling-star-is
Foul mouthx, foul minez.
Richard Harman discusses Winston's attempt to win farmer support: http://politik.co.nz/en/content/Environment/1561/Peters-trying-to-avoid-being-stranded-on-climate-change-Winston-Peters-NZ-First-Zero-Carbon-Bill-methane-targets.htm
"Peters may find he doesn’t get much a reception from dairy farmers on that unless he can deliver on the growing demand for a debate on the use of genetically edited ryegrass which has been developed by AgResearch but which cannot be planted outside the laboratory in New Zealand because of anti-genetic modification legislation."
"The Prime Minister’s former Chief Science Advisor, Sir Peter Gluckman, has called for a debate on this and has said he doubts agriculture will be economically viable if it is to meet the methane targets with access to genetically edited grass. But when the Prime Minister was asked last week whether there was a case to admit the use of the ryegrass she didn’t directly address the question."
I guess that's due to her science advisor not yet having briefed her on the issue. I suspect she may since have requested that briefing!!
The Green caucus will be thrilled at the prospect of having to munch on a genetically-modified dead rat. Or maybe they will draw the line over it. If so, how can they do so without triggering an early election? Genuine question. I hope they reject the fundamentalist GE stance. Farmers need incentives to play ball.
Another sparklingly clever technology from the field of science will save us all, Dennis?
I am curious, is FB the only forum, cyber wise, for a community to organise around?
I have not and will not have a bar of Zuckerburgs dalliance, but it is clear I am in a small minority.
TS is great in that a conversation can be had, there is no advertising and tolerance of dickheads isn't too great.
I am also aware that this just doesn't 'happen'. There is a lot of work in moderation, authors and the computer jiggery pokery.
What other mediums are there?
I have not and will not have a bar of Zuckerburgs dalliance, but it is clear I am in a small minority.
I'm part of that minority. Might be more of us than you realise. The problem is, they're making life difficult for us FB abstainers because just about every cyber outlet is going FB these days and leaving us behind.
"You don't miss what you never had." – I for one am quite happy to be left behind (and ‘alone’), thank-you very much!
Who needs Facebook when you’ve got ‘The Standard‘. [No thunderbolt as yet.]
Hmm, not sure if this is the place to enthuse about low and slow smoking/bbq… unless it was limited to free range mushrooms.
Not making the connection, but it's late & I'm dim(mer). Ah, I see (thanks Google!)
My ‘thunderbolt’ reference was to a hypothetical Zuckerbolt – should have said.
Avoiding upsetting vegans/vegetarians, (he said quietly, as he was supposed to be going to sleep).
Yes facebook is being adopted as the default for quick contact. It feels like early days when Microsoft ruled the waves, and government bought into it wholesale.
@ Anne (5.1) … Particularly agree with your final paragraph.
I'm a non FB user as well and I know plenty more non users of the medium. I value my privacy too much to feel the need to share my personal details with all and sundry.
I enjoy keeping up to date with alternative news sites, such as TS TDB and the like. Much more informative. Personally I'd rather be informed than influenced.
@ mary_a
I'm not au fait with the workings of FB, but it seems to me that it would be reasonably easy to break into a site and harass a person for political or personal reasons. Having had the misfortune to be targeted in such a way more than once, I'm not going to put myself in a position where somebody can do it to me again.
Sensible move Anne.
Survey on disabled housing – Auckland… Have you seen this Rosemary. It might be good to get your oar in. And anyone with disabled access, issues.
Auckland Disability Law
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/05/14/research-opportunity-share-your-housing-experiences-auckland-disability-law/
We'll have a look tomorrow, maybe even participate in a survey. Jaded folk that we are…pretty sure these questions have been asked in years past, and still it is not mandatory to future proof all state/social housing. We have finally cleared away twenty years of grot and got our accessible family home ready to be sold. Scouted around a number of agents and settled on the one who wasn't shy about putting 'wheelchair access' in the marketing blurbs. You'd be surprised how many agents think having an accessible house is a turn off to buyers. Luckily we have the Bus to live in if the house sells, as there's bugger all in the way of accessible housing out there!
Rosemary and partner – you are bold adventurers. Hope the sale brings in good money. I hope you will be able to park the bus in places where you find compatible people that will be good friends.
We're not selling the house to make good money…we're selling it because it is too big now the kids have grown and flown and we simply can't afford to keep it.
We will park the Bus in places where we can meet people who won't call me a lying nutter.
Ooh cool, take it sweet Rosemary. Get away from those people they are hurting you. Let us know how you get on and what good things have happened lately, we mustn't let the negative settle on us.
Bloody nora, trump and co go from crazy to utterly nuts.