Daily review 16/05/2019

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, May 16th, 2019 - 169 comments
Categories: Daily review - Tags:

 

Daily review is also your post.

This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

169 comments on “Daily review 16/05/2019 ”

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  1. A 1
    16 May 2019 at 5:56 pm

    Just listened to RNZ's coverage of MSD's systemic breach of privacy.

    Particularly the disabled woman saying that she couldn't have a relationship unless her partner supported her. This increases risk of abuse in the relationship. She thought that that this might be a breach of her human rights…because every person deserves a loving relationship… good point. Surely a caring government would change this?

    • bwaghorn 1.1
      16 May 2019 at 6:16 pm

      Why the fuck dont the just give people the same benefit whether they are single or not .

      It would cost fuck all more and save huge amounts of time and lower stress levels .

  2. A 2
    16 May 2019 at 6:04 pm

    It's just so sad nobody with the clout to stop this is listening

    • JohnSelway 2.1
      16 May 2019 at 6:20 pm

      Wow….we had anti-vax all over Open Mike today and now HAARP (or at least HAARP related) and chemtrails….

      The Standard is on a roll!

      (No Lprent – I wasn’t suggesting “The Standard” is a thing that posts or whatever your warning about it is supposed to mean)

    • joe90 2.2
      16 May 2019 at 6:33 pm

      Obligatory.

  3. McFlock 3
    16 May 2019 at 6:37 pm

    So, I've been reading "The Health of the People" by David Skegg. Basically arguing that public health has been neglected by NZ governments for decades, being sidelined by the MoH focus on personal health services.

    An interesting case study is Skegg's recollections of the creation (and quick elimination) of the Public Health Commission in the 1990s. When it started looking at alcohol and tobacco and food, nat ministers started opposing the PHC. Bill Birch telling Skegg "The Dairy Board and the Wine Institute are friends of ours; we work very closely with them." Maurice Williamson yelled expletives at Skegg. Then the nats closed down the PHC before repealing the legislation requiring the PHC to exist.

    Tory corruption is next level.

    • ianmac 3.1
      16 May 2019 at 7:14 pm

      During the 90s when National was in control, the Health system was steadily underfunded. A partial charge was introduced for patients undergoing treatment. As the Hospitals began to seriously fail, talks were underway to get USA private medical providers to take over. The idea was that clearly the Public Health System was broken so we need Private Providers.

      It nearly worked then surprise surprise during the recent reign of National, they tried again with serious underfunding. In Britain that is exactly what is happening now. Lucrative areas are now privately run to profit USA providers.

    • Psycho Milt 3.2
      16 May 2019 at 7:45 pm

      To be fair, if I were a cabinet minister and some quango wanted to fuck with my alcohol and dairy intake, I'd yell expletives at them too.

      • McFlock 3.2.1
        16 May 2019 at 7:52 pm

        Seemed to be more the election donation intake that was the cause of the agitation.

        • Psycho Milt 3.2.1.1
          16 May 2019 at 9:17 pm

          Oh, right, of course. For a Tory, cash flow counts for more than… well, everything, really.

          • McFlock 3.2.1.1.1
            16 May 2019 at 10:45 pm

            There are some full-on descriptions in the book. The PHC CEO gave a speech in one of the regions. The PHC chair was summoned to a minister's office after the minister had been supplied a transcript of the speech by a liquor company in Auckland and the PM had received a phone call from the liquor industry.

  4. gsays 4
    16 May 2019 at 6:52 pm

    Ok, there may be a few inconsistenses in this but I have to get it out of my system.

    I am going to link bullying (in bullying free week of all times), mens behaviour and the willing lack of entertaining an idea from left field.

    I got part way Open Mike then a good old fashioned TS pile on broke out.

    " With pinkies and a full tub of lube, of course "

    " What a tit. " " vacuous twerp "

    "take a day off fuckwit"

    " same stupid fucktard decision "

    etc etc.

    then someone who should now better, you will remember them from the school ground, chipping in with wry observations, stoking the flames in case they were to die down.

    This is NOT (there you go, the beloved bold, underlined and italisized) a desire to revisit the vacination/abortion issues, it is a plea to reflect on what went on.

    No matter how you view it there was misogynist behaviour albeit perhaps unintended, there was bullying and there was a total lack of willingness to consider an idea, perhaps challenging but by no means illegitimate.

    • JohnSelway 4.1
      16 May 2019 at 7:23 pm

      " there was misogynist behaviour albeit perhaps unintended "

      Can you quote this supposed misogynist behaviour?

      And if by anti-vaccination you mean “perhaps challenging but by no means illegitimate” then no, it isn’t challenging and is illegitimate.

      • greywarshark 4.1.1
        16 May 2019 at 7:50 pm

        gsays

        Please list your concerns. No-one was getting bullyed. Any appearance of standover tactics were just countering stand-over tactics.

        Who do you think was the winner and why?

        … there was a total lack of willingness to consider an idea, perhaps challenging but by no means illegitimate.

        Do you mean illegitimate as in Alabama? The whole thread was out of skew, so I don't know how you could consider anything of value in it after having received the knockout blow by the loudmouth, of whatever gender.

        • gsays 4.1.1.1
          16 May 2019 at 8:08 pm

          " No-one was getting bullyed." Sorry mate, cant agree with you there.

          The abusive emotive language was from one side of the exchange.

          My concerns were outlined above.

          As to a 'winner', from my view, a lot of people looked like losers.

          The idea that was refused to be considered was of pro choice ONLY applying to womens reproductive rights.

        • One Two 4.1.1.2
          16 May 2019 at 8:18 pm

          No-one was getting bullyed.

          You actually initiated the pile on.

          Any appearance of standover tactics were just countering stand-over tactics.

          Excuses and an apologist.

          Are you ok?

      • gsays 4.1.2
        16 May 2019 at 7:58 pm

        Re read the thread for the mysogyny.

        Sabine telling mothers to fuck off, The Al1en's dumb twats, both are: " Further reports from Psychology Today cite that a true misogynist has disdain for women who defy their "rules." from Psychology Today.

        "And if by anti-vaccination you mean “perhaps challenging but by no means illegitimate” then no, it isn’t challenging and is illegitimate."

        No, it is not what I mean

        • JohnSelway 4.1.2.1
          16 May 2019 at 8:01 pm

          I don't think Sabine was specifically telling mothers to fuck off and only mothers.

          You're really reaching here.

          • gsays 4.1.2.1.1
            16 May 2019 at 8:09 pm

            quite clear then, reread the thread.

            " ( i had to kick out a women with her daughter covered in pustules – but she is no longer contagious – fuck you women i don't give a shit take your kid home and stay there until she is clear or you produce a doctors certificate that she is clear now) "

            • JohnSelway 4.1.2.1.1.1
              16 May 2019 at 8:15 pm

              I don't think you can call mysogyny on a single post that uses a woman as the example. Does Sabine have a history of this because using a single example wherein a woman is used does not a mysoginist make

              • gsays …
                16 May 2019 at 8:18 pm

                Awesome, some head pin dancing.

                • JohnSelway …
                  16 May 2019 at 8:23 pm

                  Sorry, I just don't think that is enough to claim the whole thread is an example of misogynist behaviour.

                  I would kick out a women with her daughter covered in pustules – but she is no longer contagious – fuck you women i don't give a shit take your kid home and stay there until she is clear or you produce a doctors certificate that she is clear now.

                  And I'd kick her dumb shit husband out too

                  • gsays …
                    16 May 2019 at 8:35 pm

                    " Sorry, I just don't think that is enough to claim the whole thread is an example of misogynist behaviour"

                    I made no such claim.

                    Apologise for not what understanding what I wrote if you feel remorseful.

                    You asked for the mysogynist behaviour, I gave you two examples.

                    Perhaps in this non bullying week it would be better to ask the husband (who, by the way, doesn’t exisit in the example) to please leave. No need to double down on the violence.

                    Edit: run out of reply buttons:
                    “I’m not sure what I should feel remorseful about…?”
                    You used the word sorry, did you not mean it?

              • Sabine …
                16 May 2019 at 9:21 pm

                no Sabine has her own mind, speaks it and some people take offence at that.

                Sabine also does have very little use for group think.

                And Sabine has told some of the posters here that she does not believe that their poo smells nice and will continue to do so.

                • Psycho Milt …
                  16 May 2019 at 10:34 pm

                  And is also a wildly unlikely target for accusations of misogyny or bullying. I always enjoy your comments (in full awareness that the feeling may not be mutual).

        • The Al1en 4.1.2.2
          16 May 2019 at 8:43 pm

          The Al1en's dumb twats, both are: " Further reports from Psychology Today cite that a true misogynist has disdain for women who defy their "rules." from Psychology Today.

          Parents who don't vaccinate their kids are, in my opinion, dumb twats, male and female, and both make the same fucktard decision. If it’s disdain, it’s for those pro disease parents.

          There's not an ounce of misogyny anywhere in that if it applies equally to both sexes.

          https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-16-05-2019/#comment-1617336

          • gsays 4.1.2.2.1
            16 May 2019 at 9:07 pm

            I have learnt on TS that to use female genitalia as a term of derision is a no-no.

            More pin head dancing to come perhaps?

            • The Al1en 4.1.2.2.1.1
              16 May 2019 at 9:14 pm

              Use dumb cocks, dicks, tools, love pumps, meat axes or penises, if you like. I won’t be offended.

              Careful you don’t fall off that pin head.

              • gsays …
                16 May 2019 at 9:37 pm

                Mate you are the only one on the dancefloor.

                • The Al1en …
                  16 May 2019 at 9:42 pm

                  I've done none of the things you've said I've done. It's all in your imagination.

                  I'm quite happy with my conduct and foresee no blow back coming my way.
                  Is this really the hill you want to die on?

            • Gabby 4.1.2.2.1.2
              17 May 2019 at 7:14 am

              Why are you lying gsprays?

        • Rosemary McDonald 4.1.2.3
          16 May 2019 at 8:51 pm

          Sabine telling mothers to fuck off

          That was truly unbelievable.

          The rest of it gsays…yes they pile on…like the bully gangs, and none of them actually bother to read or watch fully the information provided to support a point of view. Back in the day it was considered manners to at least read what the other person has provided if one was going to argue against it.

          And actually familiarize oneself with the entire discussion before parachuting in with the derision and abuse.

          Case in point was lprent with me the other day…https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-14-05-2019/#comment-1616570 when he said…

          That is just complete daft bullshit. Lying like that really doesn’t help your argument – to me it associated you with word “nutter”.

          I have no idea which disease you’re talking about. However you’re dead wrong about getting lifelong immunity from catching any disease.

          ..and even when I responded with supporting evidence about the disease which was the topic of the discussion….he offered no apology, or no hint of retraction.

          It was at that point that I realised that it was futile expecting to have anything approaching a reasoned and evidenced- based discussion about contentious issues when the Top Man sets such a standard.

          Good on you gsays for raising the issue….

          • gsays 4.1.2.3.1
            16 May 2019 at 9:10 pm

            Yep gotta say yr exchange with lprent disappointed me too.

            I thought it got totally debunked from a cursive look at the Immunisation Advisory Centre.

            Reeked of bullying too, the power imbalance thing.

            • Rosemary McDonald 4.1.2.3.1.1
              16 May 2019 at 9:15 pm

              He found my Achilles heel…I hate it when I am accused of lying.

        • Sabine 4.1.2.4
          16 May 2019 at 9:13 pm

          stop right here,

          i did not 'tell mothers to fuck right off'

          i made it clear that i respected the choice of people to not vaccinate their children.

          and then i made it clear that i would tell – in fact told a women (who may or may not be the actual mother of that child) to take the sick child – who was covered in pustules as if she was sick with mesels or chicken pox and take her out of my business and take her home – after said mother / women said "oh surely you won't mind she is not longer contagious'.

          this is not quite 'tells mothers fuck of'

          However i do reserve the right to tell pepole to leave my business if i believe that their actions might endanger myself, my staff or my customers.

          but then maybe you are not interested in polite conversation, maybe you are literally just interested in creating a shit storm for shits n giggles yourself.

          so please go find a tree, sit under it and enjoy the full moon.

          • Rosemary McDonald 4.1.2.4.1
            16 May 2019 at 9:22 pm

            Sabine. Go back and read what you wrote. Maybe, since English is not your first language, you did not intend to sound as… horrible… as you did.

            Yes, you can choose who you have in your shop…it happens all the time…https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/105363920/residents-weigh-in-on-auckland-cakers-refusal-to-create-cake-for-samesex-couple but you'd better be damn sure you have all the facts because, well, discrimination.

            • Sabine 4.1.2.4.1.1
              16 May 2019 at 9:33 pm

              English is not my first languae its my third. correct. Now that you got that bit out of you – do you feel better?

              Nope, a child covered in pustules might be contagious. I actually put that think up about Mumps to simply show that you or any other non vaccinated person can be contagious without knowing, and that you don't need a lot to get a many people ill in what can be a devastating illness to some.

              Your right to be against vaccines and to refuse them does not give you the right to endanger others.

              I made it clear that i do not have an issue with people not vaccinating their children, but that i do not approve of them parading their sick children about town.

              This women – if you must know, after all you seem curious and seem to read a lot that is neither said nor typed between the lines, came in to my shop – a food business that is heavily regulated – a costly thing too if you care at all, with a child covered in pustules. Poor thing might actually will have to live with facial scars for the rest of her life, but who cares , she has no rights – only her parents have right? The women says we are bored at home so i am taking her 'window shopping', and surely you don't mind she is no longer contagious. Like , wow , Lady stop right here…….

              At that point i told that women ' that i do mind indeed, take your child and leave, now. go home. – and she did.

              cause Fuck right there lady, you do not get to parade your sick child about town, endangering others who might don't want to get sick or have their babies – that are yet to young to get vaccinated get sick, or the people have chemo therapy (my shop is next to a clinic that offers these type of treatments and i have quite a few that come for a moment of escape and to just breathe).

              and that is something i feel strongly about. Maybe because i have had many illnesses throughout my life, maybe because i have had friends that died of aids, have hepatitis C because past lovers did not state that they were ill, maybe just simply because i believe taht your right to choose does not over ride my right to choose.

              and i am done with you Rosemary. Literally done. You are looking for a fight and i can't be bothered with you.

              As before, please kindly find a tree, sit under it, and enjoy what ever you might enjoy.

              • Paul Campbell …
                17 May 2019 at 8:42 pm

                Yes, people forget that before vaccinations sick kids were kept away from everyone – I was home with Rubella (German Measles) for 2-3 weeks as a kid some time in the 60s, why? because women in the community were having kids with birth defects if they were exposed, it wasn't an academic exercise, it was mums and kids at Plunket who were dealing with the fallout.

                So if you have unvaccinated kids yes you do take on the responsibility of your actions, that includes staying home with the kids for 2-3 weeks when they get ill, like my Mum had to

    • gsays 4.2
      16 May 2019 at 7:44 pm

      And since we need a bit of light relief, I will see Martys Cockneys and raise him these Teesiders.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLxLmFhROqY

    • francesca 4.3
      16 May 2019 at 7:53 pm

      I agree Gsays

      Far too much aggresssive language .It's a real turn off and totally detracts from whatever the writer is trying to express.

      • gsays 4.3.1
        16 May 2019 at 8:17 pm

        That's the bit that is really disappointing.

        For everyone that writes on this site there are _____ many folk reading.

        I saw a lot of willy waving on OM, from a couple of folk I thought higher of.

        'Anti Vaxxer' there you are, get in that box.

        My nephew is a paranoid freak railing on FB against vaccinations, still citing the debunked Wakefield autism/mmr theory.

        There are a myriad of reasons to not want to vaccinate without going near that discreddited crock.

        I was at the GPs yesty, near the end he offered me a 'flu vaccine, I told him I would rather chew tinfoil, he laughed at left it at that.

        • Rosemary McDonald 4.3.1.1
          16 May 2019 at 9:00 pm

          I was at the GPs yesty, near the end he offered me a 'flu vaccine, I told him I would rather chew tinfoil, he laughed at left it at that.

          My man is in the group that has always been eligible for the free flu jab…significant physical disability, older, has undergone treatment for leukaemia etc….yet not once has he ever been offered the flu shot. And it's not that he lives in a cage and doesn't get out much…and even after an emergency hospital visit and a trip to the GP with sinus in the last couple of weeks…he still hasn't been offered the flu jab.

          They had to threaten the medical staff at Waikato Hospital to make them have flu shots…so many refused the free ones. Nurses, and doctors….funny that.

    • Psycho Milt 4.4
      16 May 2019 at 9:28 pm

      gsays: some people speak English as she is fucking spoke by good cunts. Rather than being offended by plain English words, instead be offended by irrationalism – that's a far worse purpose for the English language to be directed to.

      • gsays 4.4.1
        16 May 2019 at 9:40 pm

        Can you do that again but pretend I'm a 6 yr old?

        I kinda missed yr point.

        • Psycho Milt 4.4.1.1
          16 May 2019 at 10:24 pm

          Sure – it's upwards of a decade since I've had to phrase things for a six-year-old, but why the hell not:

          Grandma doesn't like to hear you say fuck and cunt, so please don't use those words around her. Also your teachers. Otherwise it's all good. More important: some people claim things are true when they aren't, that's much worse than swearing and don't let them get away with it.

          • gsays 4.4.1.1.1
            16 May 2019 at 10:46 pm

            Ta, I had the gist of it.

            The true bit is a discussion for another day.

            As an aside: I took my then 6yr old with me to stay at a mates place in Northland in his bush block. A week later we are at my mums for dinner and the young fella excused himself with " I am going for a piss', a bit taken aback I replied 'A wee son, at Nanas we go for a wee'.

    • Tuppence Shrewsbury 4.5
      16 May 2019 at 9:47 pm

      “take a day off fuckwit” is an invitation for a fuckwit to take a day off.

      Thats not bullying. If it is I’ll ask all the fuckwits round here to to stop calling that fuckwit a fuckwit

  5. adam 5
    16 May 2019 at 7:09 pm

    Probably the best tweet this year. Funny, poignant, and did I say funny…

    https://twitter.com/susie_meister/status/1104141497476104192

  6. adam 6
    16 May 2019 at 7:21 pm

    ON a more serious note.

    Ever thought you were being played?

    Here the wonderful Matt Taibbi with "THE TEN RULES OF HATE"

    https://taibbi.substack.com/p/chapter-1-part-ii-the-ten-rules-of

    https://taibbi.substack.com/p/the-ten-rules-of-hate-rules-710-the

    • francesca 6.1
      17 May 2019 at 8:05 am

      How do I delete a duplicate statement?
      Hmmm, by editing with another statement, there must be another way
      Seriously good link Adam, maybe the best I’ve ever got off this site
      Taibbi is always worth reading

    • RedLogix 6.2
      17 May 2019 at 8:44 am

      Yes. Good link and worth thinking about. The first six rules not behind the subscribe wall are:

      1. There are only two ideas … binary thinking.

      2. The two ideas are in permanent conflict … confrontation as the default

      3. Hate the people, not the systems … reduce everything to personalities

      4. Everything is someone else's fault … abdication of personal responsibility

      5. Nothing is everyone's fault … abdication of collective responsibility

      6. Root, don't think … erase the nuances and complexities with primal emotions

      We see these game rules being played out here all the time. Personally I don't mind what part of the political spectrum you occupy, what ideas you promote … what really matters is how you argue for them. Because this is the best indicator of how you would implement them if you were ever given the opportunity and power to do so.

      Or to put it another way, if you cannot argue for your position respectfully, you cannot be trusted with the power to put it into action.

  7. greywarshark 7
    16 May 2019 at 7:56 pm

    lprent

    Could you give One Two a month's dropout time? This pernicious person is destroying our ability to discuss anything without it coming back to his/her obsession. The freedom of expression of one+ is killing off discussion amongst others. I note so many don't come here now. However If you think it is because of my gloomy approach, then you can let me go for a while. Just ban me. then I can stop trying.

    By the way did any thoughts arise as to the item I wrote?

    • gsays 7.1
      16 May 2019 at 8:26 pm

      Steady on grey, I have read the links that have been cited by 1 2. There is a truck load more science than has been offered up by the nay-sayers, particularly today on OM.

      If anything was being destroyed it was the position of not wanting to vacinate.

      Y'all may not agree with 1 2's position, but I am not chipper about euthanasia. I do however gain a bit of insight from reading a counter opinion.

      I felt 1 2 showed a lot of restraint today.

      Should we kick Rosemary to touch too?

      • Andre 7.1.1
        16 May 2019 at 8:39 pm

        Dunno what thread you were reading, but One Two didn't put up a single link or piece of evidence on OM today that I found on a scroll-through.

        However, One Two's first comment looks very finely calculated to start a flame war, which indeed ensued.

        • gsays 7.1.1.1
          16 May 2019 at 8:48 pm

          Yep, fair call Andre, about links on OM today, I was thinking of yesty's Daily Review.

          I am responding to a few different folk.

          As to starting a flame war, the language I quoted is far more inflammatory than what I read from 1 2 today.

          Joe and John in particular.

          • JohnSelway 7.1.1.1.1
            16 May 2019 at 8:51 pm

            All I asked for was evidence and support for the argument. That's it.

            • gsays 7.1.1.1.1.1
              16 May 2019 at 9:17 pm

              Here are your comments from a wee chunk of the discussion….

              "It could be applied to problematic users or trolls and allowed them to only make one edit every 30mins until the troll either got bored or stopped trolling.

              Would be handy to apply to someone like One Two"

              " Starting to get the feeling One Two is as high as he/she can count"

              " Wha wha wha. Same shit different day "

              "The bigotry and misogyny is all in your head. The insults come because you spout such nonsense before accusing other of bigotry and misogyny.

              No one has incited harm to others.

              It's all down to your mammoth persecution complex"

              • JohnSelway …
                16 May 2019 at 9:21 pm

                Why have you extracted my comments in isolation?

                The entire thread was a dumpster fire and this “”The bigotry and misogyny is all in your head. The insults come because you spout such nonsense before accusing other of bigotry and misogyny.” was in response to One Two specifically and repeatedly calling everyone misogynists and bigots without ever providing any reason for those claims.

                Yesterday Muttonbird, out of fucking nowhere, abused me in a thread that was over a day old for no reason and continued it while telling me to “be a big boy” and “not run to the mods”. So why me in isolation when it seems an endemic problem site wide?

                “No one has incited harm to others.” No one had yet One Two claimed people had – how is this abusive?

                “It’s all down to your mammoth persecution complex” he kept shouting at everyone else, calling them bigots when all any one wanted was him to back his fucking claims up. So it’s pretty much a persecution complex.

                Gsays – with all due respect, I have never had any reason to not give you any respect, I don’t think you are A) applying you judgement fairly and B) Idenitifying the actual issues in the thread.

                • gsays …
                  16 May 2019 at 9:35 pm

                  Because I caught you in a lie.

                  • JohnSelway …
                    16 May 2019 at 9:36 pm

                    Sorry, which lie was this? Really keen to hear this lie I made

                    • gsays …
                      16 May 2019 at 9:47 pm

                      Really?

                      OK once more for those up the back.

                      Responding to Andre about todays OM and Andre's position of 1 2 starting a flame war, I opined that Joe and you were more inflammatory.

                      Then you @ 7.1.1.1.1

                      I quote you, not one of the bunch is looking for evidence or support.

                    • JohnSelway …
                      16 May 2019 at 9:50 pm

                      Sorry I am failing to see the lie

          • Andre 7.1.1.1.2
            16 May 2019 at 8:58 pm

            What was there on yesterday's Daily Review? Didn't spot anything on a scroll through.

            Nor was there anything significant on yesterday's OM. Sure there were a bunch of unsubstantiated assertions around holistic dentistry, but that's only going to harm suckers and their wallets. It's not going to spread harm and disease throughout the community, so it's not going to get serious pushback, just a bit of snark.

          • McFlock 7.1.1.1.3
            16 May 2019 at 9:21 pm

            A few issues turn into arguments rather than debates, for a number of reasons.

            It's usually the topics that have already been debated ad nauseum, and nothing new has been added from the start.

            Then they also tend to either directly or indirectly concern really serious, traumatic, and life -or-death matters. When each side considers the other as killing children or invoting draconian dictatorship, passions run high. So that's why people get worked up.

            But as for "bullying", I think a lot of what people call bullying is a frank reaction to abuse and cowardly implications that were delivered without expletives.

            The sort of individual who constantly accuses other commenters of not thinking very well, not understanding basic issues, or even having a guilty conscience that makes them particularly vocal about sexual assault.

            Some people regard the patois of the street as being significantly less insulting than that sort of nice-language condescension and aspersion. Regardless of how intelligent or catastrophically stupid the condescending person happens to be.

            Some commenters I genuinely try to respond to and understand, even though we disagree. The type above, though, I will happily call a "piece of shit".

            • gsays 7.1.1.1.3.1
              16 May 2019 at 9:50 pm

              Passions running high is merely excusing weak unnecessarily abusive behaviour.

              It was a good old fashioned pile on with a fair swag of willy waving.

              Thanks though for not invoking the currently popular moniker anti vaxer or pro plague.

              • McFlock …
                16 May 2019 at 10:18 pm

                It's not just vax that we're really talking about, is it?

                Assange, 9/11, vax, abortion, all of that stuff. Same shit, different day (sometimes the same day).

                Now, on any of those topics you'll get someone like Rosemary or Weka or Milt who does actually present interesting points, and on occasion have helped me change some of my perspectives.

                But there's also always some… fucking tool who links to bullshit youtube videos, barely anything at all, or random sources they don't read or understand but has a sentence they like the sound of, reiterates the same bullshit myths every time the subject is raised, and show a basic incompetence in the area of the discussion and a failure to understand the terms they throw around with an air of authority (e.g. "free fall speed" when the debris falling into the street [i.e. outside the "footprint", which is another one] is falling more quickly than the building is collapsing).

                • gsays …
                  16 May 2019 at 10:35 pm

                  True it ain't the vax thing that ground my gears.

                  One persons tool is anothers passionate one.

                  Getting beyond 'MY' (loving the toolbar up top) view, to a commonly held consensus is what so often holds the left back.

          • greywarshark 7.1.1.1.4
            17 May 2019 at 10:22 am

            If i hear anymore on anti vaccines I will scream. I am so bloody sick of the endless backbiting about this. Totally ineffective at coming to a conclusion. If people come here and want to destroy the effectiveness of this blog for intelligent political discussion over a wide range of subjects that cast light on problems that will affect our future, then they should be banned.

            Soppy kindness isn't practical. Taking the line of 'Oh-well-ism' ie oh well he is making some good points, oh well it is unfair because it is…………..(put your favourite label about unfairness in here – suggested choices are 'racist, misogynist' sexist, ageist, mental wellnessist, disablist etc) doesn't enable discussion about important points.

            Kindness on the blog should be between people who actually care about others as well as themselves, and want to achieve real better outcomes about the things they care about. It should not be extended to those who just grandstand and fill up the posts with provocative questions and denials and confrontations – they are just filling in their time, the useless buggers. When we respond we fill up our time, which is limited, and don't get onto the things we ourselves know need to be attended to if things are to improve, or just coped with better.

            There is so much to think about, to advocate for, and such little movement from authorities, and so little time. It is such an important and short time before climate change and /or rogue countries, trying to abandon the humane rules of integrity we have painfully built up over centuries, succeed in wiping them away by devious means.

            That saying that John Lennon used but which apparently was initiated by an illustrator and writer Allen Saunders in 1957:

            "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans".

            • gsays 7.1.1.1.4.1
              17 May 2019 at 12:13 pm

              Can't argue with much of that Grey, only to add that kindness is most effective when extended to all, especially those who hold an opposing view to yours.

        • Rosemary McDonald 7.1.1.2
          16 May 2019 at 9:12 pm

          Dunno what thread you were reading, but One Two didn't put up a single link or piece of evidence on OM today that I found on a scroll-through.

          I've noticed that One Two isn't providing as many links Andre, but then again they have provided all the necessary links in the past ,if you recall…oh, that's right, you're one of the commenters that flies off the keyboard with derision and abuse without actually reading the entire article.

          I think you are scared. You are frightened that if you pay too much mind to the papers and articles One Two and I have provided links to it might just poke a few holes in that safe and comfy wee shell you live in.

          • JohnSelway 7.1.1.2.1
            16 May 2019 at 9:16 pm

            Rosemary, when One Two (or anyone for that matter) makes a claim, say "Drinking beer makes you blind" and you ask for a citation for that and they say "I already did last week/yesterday/in another thread" it is more than fair to ask "Can you give me that link again" and not be told "Fuck you, go find it yourself".

            That is a crude example but that is pretty much One Two's MO.

            One Two hasn’t provided anything in the way of citations for his claims so as long as he makes claims that I believe are untrue I’ll ask for evidence. That goes for anyone that makes a claim that makes me go “that sounds like bullshit, please back it up”. If you have the courage of your convictions then provide evidence for it. Just shouting about how you already have isn’t helpful to your cause

            • gsays 7.1.1.2.1.1
              16 May 2019 at 9:22 pm

              And when you ask for an example and get a couple you dance on a pin, or worse, plead innocence:

              " All I asked for was evidence and support for the argument. That's it. "

              "It could be applied to problematic users or trolls and allowed them to only make one edit every 30mins until the troll either got bored or stopped trolling.

              Would be handy to apply to someone like One Two"

              " Starting to get the feeling One Two is as high as he/she can count"

              " Wha wha wha. Same shit different day "

              "The bigotry and misogyny is all in your head. The insults come because you spout such nonsense before accusing other of bigotry and misogyny.

              No one has incited harm to others.

              It's all down to your mammoth persecution complex"

            • Rosemary McDonald 7.1.1.2.1.2
              16 May 2019 at 9:28 pm

              Hmmm…some folks are simply not that good at reading people are they? There used to be an excellent wee search facility here on TS…and if one was not quite sure where a person was coming from one could go back and try to find out.

              Before launching into print.

              It might be that One Two just enjoys a good old fashioned barney and knows what will set you bully boys off.

              Or it might be that they are truly committed to the issue and is intensely frustrated at being dismissed.

              • JohnSelway …
                16 May 2019 at 9:31 pm

                Rosemary – if someone makes a claim it isn't my job to go search out the answer. The claimant holds full responsibility to back their claims up.

                "Go find it yourself/I answered this elsewhere" is not an answer. If you made the claim and someone asks for evidence you pony up with the evidence.

                Those are the basic rules of debate, argument, logical discourse, whatever you want to call it.

              • One Two …
                16 May 2019 at 9:48 pm

                Rosemary..

                The conduct of that same group of guys speaks for itself…

                I'm in no way intimidated by such actions online or in real life…but they are clearly intimidated or threatened by the links which I have been been using in response to those who trigger the vaccine threads…

                I've openly stated that I would not start the threads off…but once there is comment made , most often with a derogatory and bigoted incitement to aggression of mothers and parents, I will call it out…

                In recent times, there are links and comments which I did post, such as that around the medical journals being extensions of the pharmaceutical industry etc…

                I am committed to not having additional harm and damage pushed on those who are already discriminated against, which ever side of any discussion they are on…I would equally speak up against such conduct as seen repeatedly on here, if it were aimed at the so called pro side if harm were being incited against that group…

                • JohnSelway …
                  16 May 2019 at 9:52 pm

                  " but they are clearly intimidated or threatened by the links which I have been been using "

                  Errr, this whole thing was about you NOT providing links. This whole fucking day I have been asking you for citations and you haven't provided one.

                  • One Two …
                    16 May 2019 at 10:29 pm

                    I don't answer to your demands…you need to get that through your head selway…

                    What is it that you believe you're achieving in keeping up the position that you should not have to search for links which I have already posted on multiple occasions…they are on this site…

                    What do you believe you are achieving in maintaining such a transparently insincere position…

                    Are you hoping that no-one else will notice how insincere and untenable your tactic is…doesn’t really matter…I saw it the day you arrived at this site and made a comment…

                    Let's see how many more times you can keep this going…

                    We can begin on the holistic dental discussion another time..as I can see how interested you are in that subject…

            • McFlock 7.1.1.2.1.3
              16 May 2019 at 9:29 pm

              Especially when the same commenter gets pissy when they demand "examples and citations" and you dare to only give an example.

              • One Two …
                16 May 2019 at 9:40 pm

                No you're using pissy as a way to make an excuse for your own, and the conduct of the other guys here.. and you continue to do it…

                I've provided countless links, including the FDA, CDC, WHO , NVIP, VAERS et al….

                None of you are interested in the data…and simply continue to demand more evidence…

                You even managed to concede when evidence showed that the varicella vaccine leads to shingles…

                As a single example…

                • JohnSelway …
                  16 May 2019 at 9:43 pm

                  You lost all credibility with that whole "100% of vaccines failed because my sample size of 1 failed" gibberish.

                  • One Two …
                    16 May 2019 at 9:52 pm

                    Nah…

                    You just can't understand the simple concept, that the link Joe posted to was an advertisement for vaccine failure…

                    One vaccinated patient cohort – One patient with the mumps who was properly vaccinated

                    Perfect failure rate from the evidence J90 provided.

                    That is what is called a clue…but you don't care…that is not what you're about …. you're not interested or genuine..you're looking for an online outlet to heap your issues onto others who you see as a threat…

                    The same way you don't want to read any of the ample evidence available…

                    Your actions and comments speak to how disingenuous you are.

                    • JohnSelway …
                      16 May 2019 at 9:54 pm

                      Same argument as “One plane crashed, therefor no planes can fly”

                      A useless vaccine which 100% vaccinated cohorts have still contacted mumps.

                      Citation needed.

                      “You’ve been explained to that the mumps vaccine is failing. “

                      Citation still needed

                    • Andre …
                      16 May 2019 at 10:08 pm

                      One patient who was vaccinated properly, but was taking medications that are also immunosuppressive. The immunosuppressive effects of her medication rendered her vaccination status moot.

                      And yes, the quoted effectiveness of the mumps vaccinations is 88%. But even for those 12% whom the vaccine isn't fully effective, it still reduces the severity of the symptoms. So it's still a massive benefit.

                    • One Two []
                      16 May 2019 at 10:15 pm

                      rendered her vaccinations moot…

                      Its why immuno compromised should not be vaccinated…poor decision making..

                      Why are you still quoting stats which are flawed and faulty..

                      …it still reduces the severity of the symptoms…

                      And you're still describing vaccine failure..

                      Even if that was true..which you will have a hard time providing actual evidence for…which I already have…and the counter research..

                    • JohnSelway …
                      16 May 2019 at 10:20 pm

                      once again One Two – your whole argument is the same as “one cars brakes failed therefore all cars are failures”

                      your argument is flawed and invalid
                      But I’d really like to see your research. Can you show me the research that says the mumps vaccine is a 100% failure?

                    • One Two []
                      16 May 2019 at 10:38 pm
                      • The patient was properly vaccinated – assumption is including with MMR or similar…for mumps
                      • The vacvinated patient contracted mumps
                      • The vaccine did not protect contraction of mumps in the one person cohort

                      Therefore.. the vaccine failure in the cohort evidence by J90..thanks Joe…

                      100% failure based on provided evidenced…

                      Indisputable.

                    • Andre …
                      16 May 2019 at 10:35 pm

                      She would have been vaccinated long before developing the condition that required her to take the medication that was immunosuppressive. She didn't get a yellow fever jab for travel because of her immunosuppressed condition. It's there in the thread. Not poor decision making on her and her doctor's part.

                      Continually saying you have already provided the research and evidence doesn't mean you actually have. It's just an unsubstantiated assertion.

                      Wild mumps requires lengthy expensive hospital treatment in a substantial number of cases, and even causes some deaths. If you're calling a vaccine that prevents this nasty disease in 88% and greatly reduces the symptoms in the remaining 12% a vaccine failure, then the word failure clearly means something different to you then it does to the general public.

                      https://www.cdc.gov/mumps/hcp.html

                    • One Two []
                      16 May 2019 at 10:47 pm

                      You're seriously sending more links to the CDC (who are the vaccine industry.. you don't seem to know that)…

                      Yet you denied and refused to make use of the DHHS CDC FDA VAERS reporting system data you were provided…
                      You refused to use it and provided linked excuses to the CDC no less…it’s the official CDC reporting system…

                      You begged for law suits..I gave you the DHHS NVICP data…and you dismissed it…

                      Saying that legal rulings don’t ‘prove stuff’..or some lame ass nonsense…

                      No, Andre…You're continually showing yourself as disingenuous…with every comment you post on this subject…

                      It's ok Andre…your extreme bias is necessary to support decisions that you've made…and you act accordingly…

                      It changes nothing..You're still at name caller level…and the vaccine damage and death is still out there…growing in numbers every day…

                      As are the number of those who are rejecting the industry orthodoxy…

                      [Andre made a few points and provided one link. Please stick to addressing the points made and leave out all the innuendo and baggage from previous encounters here on TS as it starts to sound like a broken record. If you don’t want to address the points made by others then please refrain from making references to previous exchanges as this not helpful in any way and only starts flame wars – Incognito]

                    • Incognito …
                      16 May 2019 at 11:06 pm

                      See my Moderator Edit in your comment @ 10:47 pm. Thanks.

                    • One Two []
                      16 May 2019 at 11:22 pm

                      After days and weeks of bigoted comments (not only Andre..not Andre today) and abuse…and that's the moderated comment…

                      Incognito I see the note…but I do not agree with your comment…I do respect it though..

                      Andre has done nothing but dismiss all provided links and given farcical excuses for why he can't make use of them. ..for weeks and months…excuses and name calling…
                      The previous and ample links I’ve provided to Andre…are absolutely relevant…

                      Background and context is also important…appreciate there is no way you can cover that amount of ground…

                      I could have hardly written that response to Andre any more nicely than I did..

                      [I’m not asking for your agreement, only that you respect it. However, you’re again playing the same old record here, which suggests that you either don’t understand my Moderation note or that you simply choose to ignore it thinking that you can get away with it. As I said, address the points and if you can’t or don’t want to, please stay quiet. Context is indeed very important. So, when you address the points, please include an appropriate reference (e.g. a link; that includes links to previous comments, as you have made many here), preferably with a simple explanation as to what is in the link and how that supports your point(s). Referring to ‘bad behaviour’ by another commenter(s) is not addressing the point! – Incognito]

                    • Incognito …
                      16 May 2019 at 11:37 pm

                      See my Moderator Edit in your comment @ 11:22 pm. Thanks.

                    • One Two []
                      16 May 2019 at 11:47 pm

                      I have been addressing the same points raised by Andre, for weeks now…

                      Which is why the top half of my response to him is factually relevant and context…

                      Is it ok for the same disproven and refuted comments to keep being asked…should they go unresponded to…there was nothing out of place in the top half…IMO.

                      If linking to Andres nonsense will help..ok I’ll do that to…just apply the same to others best you can.

                      You know what…I'll say the bottom half could have been left off…

                      If you're going to moderate this way…while the bigotry and outright abuse goes unchecked…that would be unfortunate…

                      As said…mods are scarce these days and lots of ground to cover…but its been feral..

                      And I'm not referring to any of my comments…

                      No games. I said I respected your first note.

                      [Now you are arguing with me and trying to negotiate what you think you can get away with whilst that awful record is still playing. You are disrespecting my Moderation notes and testing my patience. Address the points and only the points when responding to comments. Last word – Incognito]

                    • Incognito …
                      16 May 2019 at 11:56 pm

                      See my Moderator Edit in your comment @ 11:47 pm. Thanks.

                • McFlock …
                  16 May 2019 at 9:59 pm

                  That's part of the issue right there: you regard an opponent admitting being wrong on a few points as some sort of victory for you on all points. Which is probably why you refuse to acknowledge any imperfection, be it as trivial as ironised or plaguerised.

                  So any ancillary point that could be corrected in any normal conversation ends up being grasped as some sort of proof that you're operating at a "higher level", while you waste time and effort making shit up to defend your catastrophic ignorance.

                  • One Two …
                    16 May 2019 at 10:08 pm

                    No. You have once again misinterpreted my comment and intention. The number of times I provide corrections to yourself and others here…you then simply discard it to apply twists on what is happening or said…

                    I actually appreciate that you did concede…albeit the concession was swiftly followed with more contortions…which I quite likely pointed out …again…

                    You see, I do not view anyone as an opponent that is not how I see the world…and I certainly do not need what you refer to as victory to believe in my own assertions or perspective…

                    And you're still making excuses mate…the same way you won't even back off from calling me a rape enabling shit heel.

                    Keep excusing yourself McFlock…as I have previously said…you're too invested in the decisions that you make and are blinded by completed prejudice to those decisions..

                    That is fine…but then perhaps you should consider not involving yourself..or at least stop making excuses for your own..or the conduct of those guys…

                    • JohnSelway …
                      16 May 2019 at 10:10 pm

                      " The number of times I provide corrections to yourself and others here… "

                      No you say you do but you don't actually.

                      Still waiting….shouldn't this be easy for you?

                      A useless vaccine which 100% vaccinated cohorts have still contacted mumps.

                      Citation needed.

                      “You’ve been explained to that the mumps vaccine is failing. “

                      Citation still needed

                    • McFlock …
                      16 May 2019 at 10:35 pm

                      Yeah, I won't apologise for calling you a rape enabling shit heel because I still feel that in that argument you were being a rape enabling shit heel.

                      But on the shingles thing, look at what you did to actually make a fair point:

                      You made a simple, clear, explicit claim; and

                      You provided a link that actually supported that claim (and linked to the primary source for that claim). Let's contrast that with:

                      Keep excusing yourself McFlock…as I have previously said…you're too invested in the decisions that you make and are blinded by completed prejudice to those decisions..

                      That's pure invention reagrding my motivations, and is frankly quite condescending and insulting. So, in the interests of responding in kind but with brevity, go fuck yourself.

                    • One Two []
                      16 May 2019 at 10:59 pm

                      Yeah that you won't retract was all you needed to repeat…

                      How can you back down now…you can't you won't...

                      That illustrates your motives loud and clear through our engagements regardless the topic..

                      And even with your motivation exposed…you still have said 'para phrase'…

                      'So what.. flu vax doesn't work…50/50… whatever..ill.keep getting them'…no harm no foul…you said…

                      That is your bias mate…the motivation flows from bias..

                      And again as you say…from being a dick…your words…

                      I'd suggest that you're not particularly healthy of mind or body…and that feeds your motivation…

                      Either way it is clear to me.

                      You're unhealthy.

                    • McFlock …
                      16 May 2019 at 11:06 pm

                      And yet as you pointed out, when I'm demonstrably incorrect, I "concede" (your word).

                      Given that my impression of you being a rape enabling shit heel was the result of you guessing at the motives of other commenters, and me telling you to go fuck yourself was also the result of you pretending that you know anything about my motivations or prejudices, maybe you should stick to claims you can support rather than diagnosing folks.

                    • One Two []
                      16 May 2019 at 11:35 pm

                      other commentators…

                      You called me that because you didn't like having your motives being questioned…and you decided ‘I’d never been trusted’…which you can’t possibly know…

                      Nothing I said in that exchange warranted your insult…and yes I still have it…

                      Calling me what you did should not ever be something which happens…thats how bad an insult of that severity is…

                      Even if you had unequivocal evidence thats what I am or was doing..which you didn't…that is an abhorrent insult…if you actually knew anything about me…

                      Which you don't..and you shouldn't assume anything…that's something I say alot here…

                      No need to diagnose your or anyone of those guys…

                      The comments leave little room for debate about what sits behind them…

                      [For how long are you two intending to bring up this single event? Please let it go and stick to the points in comments, not attacking each other. No more warnings – Incognito]

                    • Incognito …
                      16 May 2019 at 11:48 pm

                      See my Moderator Edit in One Two’s comment @ 11:35 pm. Thanks.

                    • McFlock …
                      17 May 2019 at 12:02 am

                      [edit – argh shit, took me ages to find the thread and see where 1-2’s reading comprehension failed yet again, then post it to find a mod note lol. deleted.]

                  • Incognito …
                    16 May 2019 at 11:48 pm

                    See my Moderator Edit in One Two’s comment @ 11:35 pm. Thanks.

                • Tuppence Shrewsbury …
                  17 May 2019 at 9:29 am

                  and your flawed data sources have been refuted time and time again in previous threads. Your argument has been demolished so many times yet you stick your head in the sand on the facts. Open your mind

        • James 7.1.1.3
          16 May 2019 at 11:27 pm

          Ed used to do exactly the same thing.

    • Muttonbird 7.2
      16 May 2019 at 8:36 pm

      It's you all responding which is the problem. Particularly John Selway who thinks he's the big man on campus.

      It was the same with Ed.

      • JohnSelway 7.2.1
        16 May 2019 at 8:40 pm

        Hey! Muttonbird! Dropping nuggets of wisdom again I see.

        P.S. I AM a big man on campus.

        Hugs..

        • Muttonbird 7.2.1.1
          16 May 2019 at 8:56 pm

          Overweight and grumpy about it. Makes sense.

          • JohnSelway 7.2.1.1.1
            16 May 2019 at 9:03 pm

            6' 3" and skinny but your guess was good though.
            Never give up

            • Muttonbird 7.2.1.1.1.1
              16 May 2019 at 10:44 pm

              You never tire of presenting yourself as a massive success. I think there's a word for that.

              • JohnSelway …
                17 May 2019 at 6:31 am

                I’m not sure how my body shape is measure of success. I didn’t do anything to make it. It just is

    • Drowsy M. Kram 7.3
      16 May 2019 at 9:29 pm

      Can't stand those popular Survivor reality TV shows ("Season 38, Survivor: Edge of Extinction, premiered on February 20, 2019."), and an appeal (by grey @7) to lprent to boot One Two off for a month is too close to Survivor: Lowering the Standard, for my liking.

      I have very little time for One Two's views on vaccination, and their 'You're incapable of appreciating the evidence" is irritating (deliberately, IMHO). Were it not for the unnecessarily confrontational 'pile-on'/'pile-up' responses, however, they might comment here maybe two or three times a day. Guilty of letting things get too personal myself – still learning when it's best to back off.

      Also, were it not for One Two's crusade (that's a deliberate perjorative on my part – still can't resist having a go even as I pretend to be the voice of reason), Rosemary might not have posted the link to Prof. Benn's remarkable TEDx talk, and personally I'm prepared to sluice through a lot of gravel for the occasional nugget.

      Everyone will have different thresholds of tolerance for (various) alternative views, but I'm with gsays – One Two stays. Now where did I put that immunity idol?

      • gsays 7.3.1
        16 May 2019 at 9:53 pm

        Chur..

      • Rosemary McDonald 7.3.2
        16 May 2019 at 11:40 pm

        https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5868131/

        One of the many research papers arising from the work Benn speaks about in her TED talk.

        This paper describes the tragedy that Benn speaks about with barely controlled emotion.

        Although lower mortality was expected for DTP-vaccinated children compared with the frail unvaccinated children, DTP vaccination was associated with higher mortality, particularly in girls.

        They gave a vaccine thinking to do good and many babies, especially girls, died.

        The lead on this paper is not the engaging Prof. Benn, it is this guy ( One Two linked to this yesterday)…who carries so much more gravitas than his choice of shirt might suggest.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jifp1BdmKsw

        • One Two 7.3.2.1
          17 May 2019 at 10:36 am

          Almost an hour long.

          Data manipulation by regulators and federal agencies.

          Misadventures with the Chickenpox Vaccine

          Gary Goldman, Ph.D., presents his varicella vaccine findings and whistleblower experience as a lead research analyst in the Antelope Valley Varicella Active Surveillance Project.

          He describes how a national chickenpox vaccine program altered the epidemiology of shingles, and ways in which the CDC manipulated data to conceal the unwanted outcomes that occurred.

  8. JohnSelway 8
    16 May 2019 at 9:45 pm

    Well both Daily Review and OM turned into dumpster fires today.

    What will tomorrow bring? Flat Earth perhaps? Moon Landing? The Kennedy Assassination? Dogs and Cats living together in harmony?

    The mind boggles

    • gsays 8.1
      16 May 2019 at 9:54 pm

      stranger still..perhaps courtesy?

      • JohnSelway 8.1.1
        16 May 2019 at 9:56 pm

        I love you.

        Does that work?

      • greywarshark 8.1.2
        17 May 2019 at 10:37 am

        gsays I thought that you were an older person with commonsense. We don't come here to swap courtesies or curtsies, we come here for robust discussion, and not robust obsessions. One Two is more obsessed than is good for wide discussion, we have reacted, and there appears to be a majority of intelligent commenters who don't find One Two helpful for informed discussion. Are you sure gsays that you really want intelligent discussion or are just here for some time-filling as a new hobby?

        • gsays 8.1.2.1
          17 May 2019 at 12:23 pm

          I am old enough with enough common sense to know that what you put your attention to feds it. So these "intelligent commenters who don't find One Two helpful for informed discussion." decided conciously to throw derision and abuse (yourself included) at 1 2, thereby feeding the discussion. Rather than scrolling past.

          I reckon I have a long enough history here and you have enough nous to get a handle on my motivations.

          We can disagree and still be courteous.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 8.2
      16 May 2019 at 10:16 pm

      One Two might have started the dumpster fires, but they've commented 3 times on Daily Review (whoops, 8 times now – tai ho!), whereas you've made 19 comments.

      Granted, today's OM was a different story. One Two made ~34 comments, and garnered ~57 responses in the 'back and forth’ – 23 were yours; the remainder were shared among 10 others.

      'Pile ons', even when 'justified', ring alarm bells for me.

      • greywarshark 8.2.1
        17 May 2019 at 10:47 am

        Drowsy M Kram

        When you see a fire and don't do anything about it, are you complicit in the destruction it causes? One should at least sound an alarm. If the health and vitality of the blog is of interest to you, don't throw labels like 'pile ons' at someone trying to do something about misuse of freedom of speech. One Two is someone who might like to argue about that and that would be a perfect example of how complete freedom gives the option of complete tyranny and anarchy. This comment is good for another 200 comments I think.

        After which the consensus would be that I should shut up, finishing with the quote from Macbeth and Shakespeare (the bold arose from the quote in https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1896522-the-tragedie-of-macbeth

        It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

        • One Two 8.2.1.1
          17 May 2019 at 11:01 am

          When you see a fire and don't do anything about it, are you complicit in the destruction it causes?

          How are you not holding the matches?

          don't throw labels like 'pile ons' at someone trying to do something about misuse of freedom of speech

          It was indeed a pile on..again..a venomous insult and abuse filled and potentially harmful pile on …by a group of men ..numbering, however many…against myself…

          Including yourself in the group of many…

          Where was your restraint…where did you call out the others on their abuse…not once in recent weeks have you taken any such stance…

          Joe wanted to misuse FOS…I raised a valid question..you didn't like it..so what..no more excuses for yourself or the others…

          Should I not be able to respond to the aggression through my own controlled responses?
          …you have continued to seek to have my comments censored in many ways…

          Asking I be banned..then even martyring yourself (which has seen folk banned in the past)…

          And you're still doubling down making excuses for the part you played in the insults and abuse…

          That is hardly the conduct of someone with a moral position…which is exactly what you are seeking to attain through this comment I am responding to…

          Your comments have actively targeted my own..just as you are doing once again..today.

          • marty mars 8.2.1.1.1
            17 May 2019 at 11:16 am

            oh stfu you bullshit artist. You are one sick puppy fella. Don't try and make people feel guilty to appease your twisted fantasies. The words are all there for people to read and draw their own conclusions. There is no misunderstanding or weasel words in what people think. Move on dim – put some 5g shit up or some more dentistry – that is more your level.

            • Rosemary McDonald 8.2.1.1.1.1
              17 May 2019 at 11:25 am

              What do you care about marty mars? What really, really grabs you where you live so deeply that you are almost compelled to speak out about it at every opportunity?

              You offer the odd comment with an attached link to a recent mainstream media article, briefly agree or disagree, then nothing…I'm left hanging waiting for you to share your thoughts and reasoning.

              But you are so, so quick with the insults and derision.

              You too have the option to simply ignore those who you disagree with.

              • marty mars …
                17 May 2019 at 11:34 am

                Andre has your number and I agree with him. You let yourself down imo and even though I feel that I still wish you well. If you don't know what I write about it's because you are not reading or listening – I'm a broken record but not for you. I'm okay with that.

            • One Two 8.2.1.1.1.2
              17 May 2019 at 11:28 am

              You have unequivocally and aggressively endorsed the assertion of my comment…

              Indeed…you have illustrated the root cause.

              • marty mars …
                17 May 2019 at 11:37 am

                can't hide from the truth… it is inevitable one two, already written, and you play your allotted part like a marionette, never knowing how or why you play the role assigned. a jerk here and a jerk there – ha so funny to watch the wee limbs move – that's your lesson for today – can you dig it?

        • Rosemary McDonald 8.2.1.2
          17 May 2019 at 11:13 am

          "…misuse of freedom of speech."

          There will be much discussion over the next wee while about what exactly that statement of your means.

          Disagreeing with what a particular person or group purports is not necessarily grounds for silencing or excluding those voices.

          One might argue that if a person does not agree with another poster then that person has the ability to simply ignore them.

          " When you see a fire and don't do anything about it, are you complicit in the destruction it causes? "

          The answer, of course, is a loud and resounding Yes!

          Some commenters here are desperate to draw attention to issues they see are of utmost importance to the health of our planet and her inhabitants and will cry Fire!!! in order to get the message out there. Because they just might see an existential threat.

          We can all choose to hear, or ignore.

          But silence because we disagree?

          No.

          • greywarshark 8.2.1.2.1
            17 May 2019 at 11:35 am

            Yes Rosemary very thoughtful. But silenced can be good when someone wants to dominate the arena. There are a lot of problems facing us, almost overwhelming. It is brutal to have someone come onto a blog that attempts to promote intelligent thoughtful discussion and take it over with their particular obsession which creates such emotional response that it smothers all other voices and concerns raised and it is of less interest to those who have valuable points and information and experience.

            The value of the blog is negated. That should not be allowed to happen. We need perhaps a Friends of Blog to protect it from such bad treatment and protect it. And the concerns I have will increase with the ability to set up computer systems inserting contentious questions such as One Two does.

            And I am trying to keep up with the machine culture. How do you know you aren't talking to a Gnat robot, an ACT dancer keeping us on our mental toes, a dreaded Russian bot etc. I thought the link below was pretty amazing.

            https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-17/voice-kids-talent-show-russian-bots-result-rigged/11122496

            https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/spot-russian-bot-social-media/

            • One Two 8.2.1.2.1.1
              17 May 2019 at 12:30 pm

              It is brutal to have someone come onto a blog that attempts to promote intelligent thoughtful discussion

              Again you’re ignoring that the initial comments are most often posted by other commentators…go take a look at the track record..

              As recently as a few days ago ..an genuine attempt at flame war was started by HS…

              Where were you gw?

              And you're still seeking to censor and remove anothers ability to

              • Post comments
              • Respond to comments of others
              • Defend ones own position to an onslaught

              You are demanding censorship when you should be demanding those who use aggression, insults and bigoted tactics which are harmful…desist..instead you join in…

              As for the Russian bots…

              Democrats in America are what you're also looking for…

              Democrats fake Russian Bots

              I'm not a fox news reader..but it's a mainstream link for you.

        • Drowsy M. Kram 8.2.1.3
          17 May 2019 at 12:34 pm

          greywarshark

          'Bullying' is one word I would choose to describe the cumulative effect of the (later) responses to One Two's OM comments yesterday. It's entirely possible that my threshold for the detection of bullying is set too low, and it's also possible that I'm misidentifying bullying behaviour. Nevertheless, kindly consider rereading yesterday's prolific exchanges focussing on word choices only (redact names and ignore vaccine-specific content).

          I loathe bullying behaviour (particularly when I’m the perpetrator), and reflexively (and often against my better judgement) want to support an underdog. Yesterday's exchanges had too much of the 'pack closing in for the kill' flavour for my taste.

          Wow…One Two flamed the fuck out.

          That was….beautiful…

          You may well have been correct to appeal to lprent for the month-long banning of One Two (in order to put out the 'fire'), but that would be the easy way out and rewarding bullying behaviour, IMHO.

          • greywarshark 8.2.1.3.1
            17 May 2019 at 12:49 pm

            I suggest that wasn't bullying to One Two – that was defensive by TS commenters who value the blog provoked to pronounce against him. I think this was done because he has shown himself to be a two-faced, shallow BS artist pretending to discuss, but actually conducting a smart flamewar. And I am not going to say any more about this because if it has to be explained to people commenting here, I am obviously wrong about TS being a blog of continuing value.

            By Vangie Beal In online forums and other online discussion spaces, a flame war is a series of flame posts or messages in a thread that are considered derogatory in nature or are completely off-topic. Often these flames are posted for the sole purpose of offending or upsetting other users.

            https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/F/flame_war.html

            • Drowsy M. Kram 8.2.1.3.1.1
              17 May 2019 at 1:09 pm

              Thanks grey. Agree that one commenter dominating OM is far from ideal, and think that there are other (better?) ways to address that than inciting the individual to reply.

              For example, would you be upset and/or tempted to respond if someone posted this description?

              Greywarshark has shown himself to be a two-faced, shallow BS artist pretending to discuss, but actually conducting a smart flamewar.

              Can help agreeing with the writings of Vangie Beal. Always worth thinking about whether comments will offend/upset before posting.

              Often these flames are posted for the sole purpose of offending or upsetting other users.

              • greywarshark …
                17 May 2019 at 1:42 pm

                Yes I would be likely to respond if someone applied my description of the offender to myself. Because I would say that evidence shows it isn't true, though occasionally I might err. Whereupon if someone points that out to me, I will consider it and probably agree and amend my ways. That One Two will not do. One should not be stopped from ever criticising another because they would not like the argument to be reversed, and a reasonable criticism is worthy of a reasonable answer.

                Your comment about the description of flamewars. How can one draw attention to one if the result is to be accused of starting a flamewar?

                'Always worth thinking about whether comments will offend/upset before posting.'

                Your attempt at putting this matter into a framework of it being a spat to be mediated away, with good manners or courtesy, is specious. This matter is serious if there is going to be intelligent and informative discussion over a range of subjects, not just a few. So comments might offend/upset before posting. This isn't a gardening column, not even on Sunday. It is about our life and how it is under attack, that is very upsetting. We are concerned, we note and some of us want change, and talk of how, what is the best way. This discussion won't come if people just slide away from any situation, abandoning any ideas they have to express because someone overwhelmingly displaces them with trolling or flamewar behaviour. It is necessary to insist on limits to behaviour, yes, but the important thing is that they enable continued wide and informed discussion.

                • Drowsy M. Kram …
                  17 May 2019 at 2:13 pm

                  "Whereupon if someone points that out to me, I will consider it and probably agree and amend my ways. That One Two will not do."

                  OK, so you've established that you're better than Two One. Since you clearly believe that One Two will not amend their commenting style or beliefs (and, to be fair, the evidence supports you), would you care to analyse the motives of those commenters ‘piling in’ on One Two in yesterday's OM?

                  If their comments (particularly the more inflammatory ones) wouldn't/couldn't change the antagonist's behaviour/views, then why? Could it be that some of them at least were deriving a certain "pulling the wings off a fly" satisfaction, or can you discern a more noble purpose?

                  My take on what happened yesterday – standard 'Lord of the Flies'.

                  I am interested in what One Two says, even though I don’t enjoy it.

                  • greywarshark …
                    17 May 2019 at 2:31 pm

                    You over analyse everything. Drowsy. As I said before – 'that was defensive by TS commenters who value the blog provoked to pronounce against him.'. I think we care about what we are doing more than you do. You apparently have no strong connection to it and won't understand that it isn't some vicarious academic activity to us. So carry on enjoying with superior intellect.

                    Gordon McLauchlan wrote about us that we are 'The Passionless People' a brief summary of which said, 'in which he called New Zealanders the living-dead, smiling zombies. It was first published in 1976….Thirty-six years later, things are worse in the Revisited version.’

                    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10797098
                    Another kick in the pants for New Zealand's 'smiling zombies' 2012

                    • Drowsy M. Kram …
                      17 May 2019 at 5:24 pm

                      Thanks grey, that's helpful information – will try to shift the quantum of my analysis into your 'goldilocks zone' in future.

                      It's a given that you ("we") care more about The Standard than I do. Nevertheless, this site is important to me as a source of information (and, although I’m ashamed to admit it, entertainment), and my occasional commenting here is a mechanism to clarify my ideas on topics that I would otherwise give very little thought. This is the only blog of any kind that I follow (should get out more smiley).

                      I remain unconvinced the best Standard defense is a 'good' offense, but that seems to be human nature in this environment.

                      And apologies for giving the impression of having a superior intellect – that might have been less misleading 20 years ago, but is sadly wide of the mark these days.

                      Last observation – One Two displays much passion for their causes. If only they cared as deeply for The Standard.

  9. millsy 9
    16 May 2019 at 10:01 pm

    Bob Hawke just died, if anyone wants to know. Tributes on the usual sites.

  10. Pat 10
    16 May 2019 at 10:17 pm

    yet another warning alarm that will be ignored….at some not too distant point it will be unable to be ignored so we should enjoy the bliss while we can.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/16/thinning-of-antarctic-ice-sheets-spreading-inland-rapidly-study

    • Sabine 10.1
      16 May 2019 at 10:44 pm

      i don't think they can do anything else but deny, ignore, and pretend its not that bad.

      panic would otherwise follow and panic ain't good for profit.

      i think it was Ben Elton who wrote in the Stark that when the Media, the polititians and the 'influencers' admitted that global warming/weather weirding/weather catastrophe is real its because they could not hide the effects of it anymore and while they pretended that it was just the beginning it was already to late to change anything about it. Thus the protagonist went somewhere bush to join some mates and drink beer in good company. I feel that. I feel that very much.

      a lot of what this guy here writes about goes over my head but the gist is the next week some real weird weather is gonna come the US.
      https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/5/15/1857911/-Atmospheric-Convulsion-Will-Cause-Historic-Disasters-of-Arctic-Melt-U-S-Storms-Next-Week?utm_campaign=trending
      In the meant time Siberia is super hot, South of France / Italy / Greece are quite cold for the season, and i am still harvesting Tomatoes and Zuchinis and i live no where near AKL or Northland.

      Fancy some beer?

      • Pat 10.1.1
        16 May 2019 at 11:21 pm

        always

        • Sabine 10.1.1.1
          16 May 2019 at 11:26 pm

          Prost then. Nothing much i fear we can do anymore but ride it out and plant trees. Lots and lots of trees.

          • Pat 10.1.1.1.1
            16 May 2019 at 11:27 pm

            yes lots of trees…and hopefully some time to go with them

            • Sabine 10.1.1.1.1.1
              17 May 2019 at 9:15 pm

              gonna put in four this weekend, two for the birds two for humans.

              lets hope they get enough time to floursih and provide food for the critters and humans.

  11. Poission 11
    17 May 2019 at 12:38 am

    Enriched Uranium levels force school closure next to former weapons plant.

    https://twitter.com/jatara_/status/1128126030231810048

    • RedLogix 11.1
      17 May 2019 at 6:46 am

      I recall with wry amusement the automatic announcement on the short underground system in Ekaterinburg; at one point is says, in Russian, "This station children's playground, next station thermonuclear weapons plant".

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  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

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    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

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    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

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    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

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    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
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  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

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    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
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  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

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    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

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    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
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    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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