It’s all about knowing which side of the bread is buttered…
75% of the evangelical right support the Chump.
The median age of Faux News viewers is around 80.
But the Chump is born again – He even knows there’s a “Book” and his second favourite viewing after Fox is!!!….
Trinity Broadcasting Network
Featuring Mike Huckerbee – Sarah’s dad
And..
Trump has appeared 11 times on CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) since his campaign began; in 2017 alone, he gave more interviews to CBN than to CNN, ABC or CBS.
“This is an evangelical Cabinet,” says Jerry Johnson, president of the National Religious Broadcasters. “You’re looking at name-brand conservative evangelicals that are very comfortable talking to Christian media types.” Jeff Sessions, Scott Pruitt, Rick Perry, Ben Carson and Pence, all evangelical Christians who talk frequently about faith, are among those who have appeared on CBN since Trump took office. And CBN has closely covered what it calls a “spiritual awakening” at the White House, including Oval Office prayers and a weekly Bible study involving many Cabinet members, at one point including Betsy DeVos and the now-departed Tom Price.
Tourists are waking up to the fact that NZ is neither clean nor green.
“New Zealand is not some ideal country that’s found the balance between people and nature, like 100% Pure New Zealand advertises,” he wrote.
“Plastic and trash are abundant, and though there is recycling, it’s not engrained in the culture.
“As a byproduct, the culture creates a lot of trash and they haven’t found a sustainable solution for disposing it, or curbing its consumerist culture.”
He said New Zealand’s “excessive” meat and dairy consumption is creating environmental disasters because farmers don’t do enough to prevent cow manure from leaching into the waterways.
“While NZ boasts many of the world’s remaining clean rivers, they’re getting increasingly polluted. It seemed like the media seldom covered this, but the Kiwis I met were fully aware of it.”
This is not even controversial any more – fact is that we have some nice places left because it’s a relatively large landmass with relatively few people in some parts of it.
That’s all – it doesn’t mean we aren’t a dirty, greedy bunch just like everywhere else. I’ve been explaining this to tourists for 40 years and they all recognise the truth instantly.
Let’s hope Ardern doesn’t limit the “culture change” to trying to reduce the number of administrative blunders:
“For instance someone who didn’t realise they had a benefit, who subsequently had their benefit cut off, who went in to seek another appointment immediately to try and rectify the situation only to be told the books were full and they would have to come back in several weeks.”
I think we’re well beyond accepting that “a step in the right direction” is an appropriate response. Serious legislative change is what’s required. Anything less will quite justifiably be dismissed as more of the same.
National’s Social Development spokeswoman Louise Upston said any overhaul must not lessen incentives to find work.
The incentives to find work is, according to National and the economists, being paid. If that’s not working then perhaps employers need to pay more.
Then, of course, there’s the lack of jobs. If there aren’t enough jobs to go round then there’s going to be unemployment and there’s nothing that the unemployed can do about that.
So, why are National so determined to punish people for something that is beyond their control and is, as a matter of fact, in the governments control?
Is it, perhaps, to distract from the fact that the National government was purposefully keeping the number of jobs down so as to decrease wages?
“New Zealanders are a fair minded people who want to help those who fall on hard times. But they also believe that people should help themselves and when they can work they should,” Upston said.
People work when they can. Don’t need any punishments to get that happening.
“Anyone who needs access to welfare can get it. It’s only right that they in return they meet obligations including looking for work, turning up to appointments, staying drug free and being honest about their living arrangements.
“It’s the clear expectation of tax payers that if beneficiaries are not doing that, then there should be sanctions.”
People’s living arrangement should have nothing to do with getting an unemployment benefit or not. If they’re unemployed then they should simply get it. The incentives for going to work should be enough. If they’re not then punish the people who are making it that way – the employers.
That is representative of the bold, brave moves of so many parents across New Zealand who’ve made the decision to get off a benefit and into work.”
She, of course, means forced off under National’s oppressive regime with no knowledge of what actually happened to them.
“She, of course, means forced off under National’s oppressive regime with no knowledge of what actually happened to them.”
This government’s at no time talked about whether it’s committed to fixing this. The problem’s been around since the Shipley years – since the 1991 benefit cuts to be precise – but until something’s done about it current statistics about benefit numbers are meaningless.
Can’t sit at Starbucks. Can’t ask for utensils at Waffle House. Can’t use our gym memberships. And now, apparently, can’t use golf memberships either. Think about the psychic cost of being one of us in 2018. And, if your name is John Aravosis, consider shutting the fuck up. https://t.co/zIsbHexxBc— Not THAT Jamie, k? (@thewayoftheid) April 23, 2018
YORK, Pa. (AP) — A golf club in Pennsylvania has apologized for calling police on a group of black women after the co-owner and his father said they were playing too slowly and refused requests to leave the course.
“I felt we were discriminated against,” one of the women, Myneca Ojo, told the York Daily Record. “It was a horrific experience.
Russia could supply Syria with advanced S-300 missile systems in the near future, Russian military sources have told the Kommersant newspaper, warning Israel would “suffer catastrophic consequences” if it attacked the system.
The daily newspaper said experts believed Israel would react negatively to any decision to supply the missiles to Syria, and might bomb the area where they would be deployed.
“If Israel decides to carry out rocket strikes on the deployment locations of the S-300, the consequences will be catastrophic for all sides,” an unnamed military source said.
A Russian diplomat who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity said Israel has asked Moscow not to supply the Syrian military with the S-300s. An Israeli government spokesman declined comment.
A Russian diplomat who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity said Israel has asked Moscow not to supply the Syrian military with the S-300s. An Israeli government spokesman declined comment.
Well, according to Israel, the UK, the US and international law all countries have the right to defend themselves.
Seems to me that Israel is demanding that some countries not be able to.
Translated Russian language article with more details.
In addition to internal circumstances, there were external ones: the Syrian S-300 supply was constantly criticized by Israel, who believed that, having received such a powerful weapon, the Syrian military could control its airspace. Eventually, at the request of Tel Aviv, the contract was canceled. “The Israelis expressed concern about the delivery of the same S-300 systems to another country in the region, since the S-300 can get Israeli territory from its territory,” President Vladimir Putin said during a direct line on April 16, 2015 , clarifying that Russia’s concern has divided and returned to the customer about $ 400 million in advance. Subsequently, these S-300PMU-2 were adapted to the requirements of another customer – Iran, who bought them for $ 1 billion ( see “Kommersant” on November 10, 2015 ).
But the real treat? A series of images from inside the legendary vault at Paisley Park, which had been rumoured to exist for many years but which no one, outside of a select few, had ever seen, as well as amazing images of Prince’s collection of equipment, his studio, and his Paisley Park ‘club’.
In 2015, Prince’s former sound engineer Susan Rodgers told The Guardian: “When I left in 87, it was nearly full. Row after row of everything we’d done. I can’t imagine what they’ve done since then.”
Well, you can see for yourself below.
Only Prince himself knew the key code for the door, so it had to be drilled open, with the estate’s archivist apparently discovering enough unreleased music to release a new album “every year for the next century”.
Have to say I’m not surprised it read it was fentanyl that killed him. Scary stuff fentanyl, if half of what I’m hearing from disabled friends who have tried it say is true, we should not let it into NZ.
The coroner has ruled that a Whanganui electrician found dead with syringes beside him and a glass pipe in his hand died from an accidental overdose.
Paul Haydon Alexander Cook was found dead in a bedroom at his parents’ house in Whanganui about 5pm on April 2, 2016.
The direct cause of his death was multiple drug toxicity – the two drugs in his system were the opioid Fentanyl which is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and Notriptyline.
Around eight years before his death, the 24-year-old suffered a shoulder injury in a quad bike accident.
Two and a half years later he aggravated his injury and underwent surgery, but remained in constant pain. His doctors were never able to diagnose the cause or treat it with anything other than pain medication.
Paul’s mother, Tina, said he suffered multiple overdoses in the last two and a half years of his life.
[…]
After the post-mortem, Dr Kate White concluded the cause of Cook’s death was multiple drug toxicity, as a result of intravenous injection of Fentanyl while Paul was also using transdermal patches containing Fentanyl.
Coroner Tim Scott ruled that it was unlikely Paul overdosed to commit suicide, instead he believed the most probable reason for him using the drugs was as self-administered pain relief.
Shoulder injuries of any kind are a bastard. Incredibly painful, debilitating, and they, if they ever do, take many, many, years to fully heal and I find your characterisation of that level of suffering as chronic pain syndrome a fucking insult.
Oh do go jump in a pile of your own sh*t joe90, I’m sick of you creating fake things to be offended by.
I’ve had chronic pain syndrome for over 35 years, it’s a broad medical description. Generally used to cover any condition the medical profession have difficult diagnosing when it comes to pain.
Ever few years it’s the term changes, for example “Complex regional pain syndrome” was popular there for a bit. Now back to chronic pain syndrome, because it’s a bit more clear especially when you break it into single words – chronic, pain, and syndrome.
Because basically at 24 the medical profession has a lot of options, not just hard core pain killers. It’s just we live in a world where they don’t look at those options because of expense, because it’s simpler and cheaper to just medicate.
Those option included, but are not excluded to: the pain service, mindfulness (which takes training) , relaxation (again proper training and analysis to find what form of relationation works for the individual) , counselling, physical therapy, and acupuncture just to name a few.
So if you think handing out fentanyl to a 24 year old without going through all the other options first joe90, and getting in a tiz over a medical description – then sorry for you.
I’m sorry, but the language, and terms used irritate the fuck out of me.
My own life time of bangs and knocks are mostly relieved by my activity levels but the god awful state of a couple of long suffering friends who’ve been victims of serious accidents incenses me.
Rather than financing commitments to intensive, hands on physical therapies, lifestyle changes, and supervised, monitored long term activity programmes, Pilates, yoga, cycle. swim and gym training, etc, assessors and their advisors gaslight folk struggling to find suitable pain relief by going down the syndrome track.
And then it’s here, have some psych help to develop mindfulness and other coping mechanisms because if you do, you can just think it all away.
I like the term because it is so FUBAR. If you get that label, it means the medical profession is bereft of ideas.
That said, pain management is a whole lot of coping mechanisms, there is no panacea. From day to day almost you have to adjust and do thing differently. It sucks. What worked for me years ago just aggravates things now.
My worry and concern is hard core painkillers are seen as a panacea, or at the very least sold as a panacea by the drug companies.
Personally I’d love to use cannabis leaf based products, like teas and poultices, to help with pain management. But I really can’t see that happening with this government.
“Twelve days later however, and Clark is still telling media that the process around Rabindran and Darrow’s future is still underway despite them already having their termination letters.”
“Earlier this month Stuff revealed the DHB acting chief executive Gloria Johnson was at odds with Clark over what he was told about the state of Middlemore Hospital’s problems when he visited on March 13.”
Sure, but who is literally saying that Clark had been telling porkies? Nobody in that article as far as I can tell but I seem to have misplaced my reading glasses 😉
Direct contradictions with Clark. No-one is required to literally say anything. The guys been caught out. But then there’s a number of regular contributors here who must be regretting their claims about Middlemore, seeing as they’ve been show to be a total exaggeration.
Umm as a language teacher, may I ask you what you mean by the expression ‘total exaggeration’? Can exaggeration be absolute? To my mind, no. Total is absolute. Exaggeration is making greater.
Making greatest is Maximisation, not Exaggeration.
You are a bit careless in your use of language, aren’t you?
If you are a language teacher, you will know that the term ‘total exaggeration’ is used for emphasis. Let me explain. A number of contributors here claimed all sorts of horrendous things were happening at Middlemore (as an example, this thread https://thestandard.org.nz/the-hidden-infrastructure-fiscal-crisis-gets-real/). Not it seems these claims were greatly exaggerated, some might even say fabricated. So, for emphasis, (and to politely avoid calling people liars or ignorant), I suggested their language was total exaggeration.
So, for emphasis, (and to politely avoid calling people liars or ignorant), I suggested their language was total exaggeration.
Oddly, you didn’t hold back accusing David Clark for “telling porkies” and pretended, bordering on alleged, that this was actually in and taken from the Stuff article. FYI, the stuff piece gives only one side of the story predominately based on person’s account. This person being a party in the ‘dispute’ and thus hardly objective or neutral. Yet, you have no qualms whatsoever to accept this account as true and correct. Odd, as I said; no critical assessment of facts (or lack thereof) and sound judgement plus use of odd English language “for emphasis”. Why is emphasis even relevant or necessary here? Very odd indeed.
“Oddly, you didn’t hold back accusing David Clark for “telling porkies” and pretended, bordering on alleged, that this was actually in and taken from the Stuff article. “
The lies are quoted in the article, as I have posted for you. Clearly you have a convenient case of comprehension deficit!!
“In the article, who said that David Clark had “lied”?
DHB acting chief executive Gloria Johnson.
Board Member Mark Darrow.
“Earlier this month Stuff revealed the DHB acting chief executive Gloria Johnson was at odds with Clark over what he was told about the state of Middlemore Hospital’s problems when he visited on March 13. She says Clark was specifically told there were “similar problems in multiple buildings”, which Clark denies. He says there was “no mention of any other urgent works” other than the Scott Building. Clark and his adviser were both given dossiers of information that day that included the full remediation plan and costings but Clark says only the Scott Building was drawn to his attention. Darrow wasn’t there the day of the visit but says he’s received emails and has spoken to other people who were there who say Johnson’s account of what happened was “accurate and consistent”. He says Clark’s office contacted DHB asking for another copy of the information that was provided at that visit on the same day Stuff asked questions about it. “I can’t confirm what was said but I can confirm what he was given and the fact he had to ask for another copy suggests he and his advisor both didn’t read it and lost the originals,” Darrow said.”
Two people have given accounts that contradict David Clark and MoH’s statements so far. But where, in the article, do these two people specifically say or state that David Clark has been lying. The obvious answer is: nowhere. It is obvious, because you would have quoted the line before I could blink. You haven’t because you can’t and you can’t because that line does not exist in the article.
So, it is you who interpreted and paraphrased the article in Stuff and concluded that Clark had been telling porkies. And then added a few other bits to it to create a smokescreen, as usual.
You see, a Professional Director would never be so stupid to make direct accusations against their Boss in MSM of the specific nature that you were alleging. In other words, you made up a whole heap of BS.
Obviously, the story is unfolding but you’ve jumped the gun and put your own words & spin into and onto it.
“Twelve days later however, and Clark is still telling media that the process around Rabindran and Darrow’s future is still underway despite them already having their termination letters.”
“Earlier this month Stuff revealed the DHB acting chief executive Gloria Johnson was at odds with Clark over what he was told about the state of Middlemore Hospital’s problems when he visited on March 13.”
So, you are implying that David Clark said, in said article, that he “had been telling porkies”!? Of course not!
Please state clearly, specifically, and, above all, slowly who stated in that article that “that Clark had been telling porkies” or said something with a very similar meaning. Saying that one story is at odds with another is not nearly as strong as saying “that Clark had been telling porkies” and I hope you do realise that even though you like to use emphasis for added drama and what have you but that doesn’t make it so. In other words, you’re overreaching and making up BS.
So far, the only person who has been making this claim is you.
BTW, the Stuff article only contains one side of the story, doesn’t? I guess there is no need to hear the other side, get more facts and information, and then make an informed judgement, is there? Odd.
Right, you cannot show, in the article, who specifically said that David Clark “had lied” or “had been telling porkies”. I can tell you why you cannot show this: because nobody actually did so.
It is all in your head; you made it up. Only you go on about “lies” and “porkies”. Do you hear voices telling you “that Clark had been telling porkies”? Do you see flying pigs?
BTW, words between quotation marks have a specific meaning; the word “specifically” has a specific meaning. I doubt that even In Vino could teach you, regardless of whether they are registered or not as Teacher®.
2024 was a tough year for working Kiwis. But together we’ve been able to fight back for a just and fair New Zealand and in 2025 we need to keep standing up for what’s right and having our voices heard. That starts with our Mood of the Workforce Survey. It’s your ...
Time is never time at allYou can never ever leaveWithout leaving a piece of youthAnd our lives are forever changedWe will never be the sameThe more you change, the less you feelSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan.Babinden - Baba’s DayToday, January 8th, 2025, is Babinden, “The Day of the baba” or “The ...
..I/We wish to make the following comments:I oppose the Treaty Principles Bill."5. Act binds the CrownThis Act binds the Crown."How does this Act "bind the Crown" when Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which the Act refers to, has been violated by the Crown on numerous occassions, resulting in massive loss of ...
Everything is good and brownI'm here againWith a sunshine smile upon my faceMy friends are close at handAnd all my inhibitions have disappeared without a traceI'm glad, oh, that I found oohSomebody who I can rely onSongwriter: Jay KayGood morning, all you lovely people. Today, I’ve got nothing except a ...
Welcome to 2025. After wrapping up 2024, here’s a look at some of the things we can expect to see this year along with a few predictions. Council and Elections Elections One of the biggest things this year will be local body elections in October. Will Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Canadians can take a while to get angry – but when they finally do, watch out. Canada has been falling out of love with Justin Trudeau for years, and his exit has to be the least surprising news event of the New Year. On recent polling, Trudeau’s Liberal party has ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Much like 2023, many climate and energy records were broken in 2024. It was Earth’s hottest year on record by a wide margin, breaking the previous record that was set just last year by an even larger margin. Human-caused climate-warming pollution and ...
Submissions on National's racist, white supremacist Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill are due tomorrow! So today, after a good long holiday from all that bullshit, I finally got my shit together to submit on it. As I noted here, people should write their own submissions in their own ...
Ooh, baby (ooh, baby)It's making me crazy (it's making me crazy)Every time I look around (look around)Every time I look around (every time I look around)Every time I look aroundIt's in my faceSongwriters: Alan Leo Jansson / Paul Lawrence L. Fuemana.Today, I’ll be talking about rich, middle-aged men who’ve made ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 29, 2024 thru Sat, January 4, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
Hi,The thing that stood out at me while shopping for Christmas presents in New Zealand was how hard it was to avoid Zuru products. Toy manufacturer Zuru is a bit like Netflix, in that it has so much data on what people want they can flood the market with so ...
And when a child is born into this worldIt has no conceptOf the tone of skin it's living inAnd there's a million voicesAnd there's a million voicesTo tell you what you should be thinkingSong by Neneh Cherry and Youssou N'Dour.The moment you see that face, you can hear her voice; ...
While we may not always have quality political leadership, a couple of recently published autobiographies indicate sometimes we strike it lucky. When ranking our prime ministers, retired professor of history Erik Olssen commented that ‘neither Holland nor Nash was especially effective as prime minister – even his private secretary thought ...
Baby, be the class clownI'll be the beauty queen in tearsIt's a new art form, showin' people how little we care (yeah)We're so happy, even when we're smilin' out of fearLet's go down to the tennis court and talk it up like, yeah (yeah)Songwriters: Joel Little / Ella Yelich O ...
Open access notables Why Misinformation Must Not Be Ignored, Ecker et al., American Psychologist:Recent academic debate has seen the emergence of the claim that misinformation is not a significant societal problem. We argue that the arguments used to support this minimizing position are flawed, particularly if interpreted (e.g., by policymakers or the public) as suggesting ...
What I’ve Been Doing: I buried a close family member.What I’ve Been Watching: Andor, Jack Reacher, Xmas movies.What I’ve Been Reflecting On: The Usefulness of Writing and the Worthiness of Doing So — especially as things become more transparent on their own.I also hate competing on any day, and if ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by John Wihbey. A version of this article first appeared on Yale Climate Connections on Nov. 11, 2008. (Image credits: The White House, Jonathan Cutrer / CC BY 2.0; President Jimmy Carter, Trikosko/Library of Congress; Solar dedication, Bill Fitz-Patrick / Jimmy Carter Library; Solar ...
Morena folks,We’re having a good break, recharging the batteries. Hope you’re enjoying the holiday period. I’m not feeling terribly inspired by much at the moment, I’m afraid—not from a writing point of view, anyway.So, today, we’re travelling back in time. You’ll have to imagine the wavy lines and sci-fi sound ...
Completed reads for 2024: Oration on the Dignity of Man, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola A Platonic Discourse Upon Love, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola Of Being and Unity, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola The Life of Pico della Mirandola, by Giovanni Francesco Pico Three Letters Written by Pico ...
Welcome to 2025, Aotearoa. Well… what can one really say? 2024 was a story of a bad beginning, an infernal middle and an indescribably farcical end. But to chart a course for a real future, it does pay to know where we’ve been… so we know where we need ...
Welcome to the official half-way point of the 2020s. Anyway, as per my New Years tradition, here’s where A Phuulish Fellow’s blog traffic came from in 2024: United States United Kingdom New Zealand Canada Sweden Australia Germany Spain Brazil Finland The top four are the same as 2023, ...
Completed reads for December: Be A Wolf!, by Brian Strickland The Magic Flute [libretto], by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Emanuel Schikaneder The Invisible Eye, by Erckmann-Chatrian The Owl’s Ear, by Erckmann-Chatrian The Waters of Death, by Erckmann-Chatrian The Spider, by Hanns Heinz Ewers Who Knows?, by Guy de Maupassant ...
Well, it’s the last day of the year, so it’s time for a quick wrap-up of the most important things that happened in 2024 for urbanism and transport in our city. A huge thank you to everyone who has visited the blog and supported us in our mission to make ...
Leave your office, run past your funeralLeave your home, car, leave your pulpitJoin us in the streets where weJoin us in the streets where weDon't belong, don't belongHere under the starsThrowing light…Song: Jeffery BuckleyToday, I’ll discuss the standout politicians of the last 12 months. Each party will receive three awards, ...
Hi,A lot’s happened this year in the world of Webworm, and as 2024 comes to an end I thought I’d look back at a few of the things that popped. Maybe you missed them, or you might want to revisit some of these essay and podcast episodes over your break ...
Hi,I wanted to share this piece by film editor Dan Kircher about what cinema has been up to in 2024.Dan edited my documentary Mister Organ, as well as this year’s excellent crowd-pleasing Bookworm.Dan adores movies. He gets the language of cinema, he knows what he loves, and writes accordingly. And ...
Without delving into personal details but in order to give readers a sense of the year that was, I thought I would offer the study in contrasts that are Xmas 2023 and Xmas 2024: Xmas 2023 in Starship Children’s Hospital (after third of four surgeries). Even opening presents was an ...
Heavy disclaimer: Alpha/beta/omega dynamics is a popular trope that’s used in a wide range of stories and my thoughts on it do not apply to all cases. I’m most familiar with it through the lens of male-focused fanfic, typically m/m but sometimes also featuring m/f and that’s the situation I’m ...
Hi,Webworm has been pretty heavy this year — mainly because the world is pretty heavy. But as we sprint (or limp, you choose) through the final days of 2024, I wanted to keep Webworm a little lighter.So today I wanted to look at one of the biggest and weirdest elements ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 22, 2024 thru Sat, December 28, 2024. This week's roundup is the second one published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, ...
We’ll have a climate change ChristmasFrom now until foreverWarming our hearts and mindsAnd planet all togetherSpirits high and oceans higherChestnuts roast on wildfiresIf coal is on your wishlistMerry Climate Change ChristmasSong by Ian McConnellReindeer emissions are not something I’d thought about in terms of climate change. I guess some significant ...
KP continues to putt-putt along as a tiny niche blog that offers a NZ perspective on international affairs with a few observations about NZ domestic politics thrown in. In 2024 there was also some personal posts given that my son was in the last four months of a nine month ...
I can see very wellThere's a boat on the reef with a broken backAnd I can see it very wellThere's a joke and I know it very wellIt's one of those that I told you long agoTake my word I'm a madman, don't you knowSongwriters: Bernie Taupin / Elton JohnIt ...
.Acknowledgement: Tim PrebbleThanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work..With each passing day of bad headlines, squandering tax revenue to enrich the rich, deep cuts to our social services and a government struggling to keep the lipstick on its neo-liberal pig ...
This is from the 36th Parallel social media account (as brief food for thought). We know that Trump is ahistorical at best but he seems to think that he is Teddy Roosevelt and can use the threat of invoking the Monroe Doctrine and “Big Stick” gunboat diplomacy against Panama and ...
Don't you cry tonightI still love you, babyAnd don't you cry tonightDon't you cry tonightThere's a heaven above you, babyAnd don't you cry tonightSong: Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin“Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so”, said possibly the greatest philosopher ever to walk this earth, Douglas Adams.We have entered the ...
Because you're magicYou're magic people to meSong: Dave Para/Molly Para.Morena all, I hope you had a good day yesterday, however you spent it. Today, a few words about our celebration and a look at the various messages from our politicians.A Rockel XmasChristmas morning was spent with the five of us ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). 2024 has been a series of bad news for climate change. From scorching global temperatures leading to devastating ...
Ríu Ríu ChíuRíu Ríu Chíu is a Spanish Christmas song from the 16th Century. The traditional carol would likely have passed unnoticed by the English-speaking world had the made-for-television American band The Monkees not performed the song as part of their special Christmas show back in 1967. The show's ...
Dunedin’s summer thus far has been warm and humid… and it looks like we’re in for a grey Christmas. But it is now officially Christmas Day in this time zone, so never mind. This year, I’ve stumbled across an Old English version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: It has a population of just under 3.5 million inhabitants, produces nearly 550,000 tons of beef per year, and boasts a glorious soccer reputation with two World ...
Morena all,In my paywalled newsletter yesterday, I signed off for Christmas and wished readers well, but I thought I’d send everyone a quick note this morning.This hasn’t been a good year for our small country. The divisions caused by the Treaty Principles Bill, the cuts to our public sector, increased ...
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30 am include:Kāinga Ora is quietly planning to sell over $1 billion worth of state-owned land under 300 state homes in Auckland’s wealthiest suburbs, including around Bastion Point, to give the Government more fiscal room to pay for tax cuts and reduce borrowing.A ...
Hi,It’s my birthday on Christmas Day, and I have a favour to ask.A birthday wish.I would love you to share one Webworm story you’ve liked this year.The simple fact is: apart from paying for a Webworm membership (thank you!), sharing and telling others about this place is the most important ...
The last few days have been a bit too much of a whirl for me to manage a fresh edition each day. It's been that kind of year. Hope you don't mind.I’ve been coming around to thinking that it doesn't really matter if you don't have something to say every ...
The worms will live in every hostIt's hard to pick which one they eat the mostThe horrible people, the horrible peopleIt's as anatomic as the size of your steepleCapitalism has made it this wayOld-fashioned fascism will take it awaySongwriter: Twiggy Ramirez Read more ...
Hi,It’s almost Christmas Day which means it is almost my birthday, where you will find me whimpering in the corner clutching a warm bottle of Baileys.If you’re out of ideas for presents (and truly desperate) then it is possible to gift a full Webworm subscription to a friend (or enemy) ...
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30am include:Rachel Helyer Donaldson’s scoop via RNZ last night of cuts to maternity jobs in the health system;Maddy Croad’s scoop via The Press-$ this morning on funding cuts for Christchurch’s biggest food rescue charity;Benedict Collins’ scoop last night via 1News on a last-minute ...
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Are we heading ...
So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...
The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashEvery morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...
Over on Kikorangi Newsroom's Marc Daalder has published his annual OIA stats. So I thought I'd do mine: 82 OIA requests sent in 2024 7 posts based on those requests 20 average working days to receive a response Ministry of Justice was my most-requested entity, ...
Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the Budget Policy Statement from the Minister of Finance tell us about the fiscal position and what to ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collective rights of Tangata Whenua. “This Bill seeks to legislate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles that are ...
I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...
Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...
Twas the Friday before Christmas and all through the week we’ve been collecting stories for our final roundup of the year. As we start to wind down for the year we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and new year. If you’re travelling please be safe on ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...
Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment:Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
The time it takes to process building determinations has improved significantly over the last year which means fewer delays in homes being built, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “New Zealand has a persistent shortage of houses. Making it easier and quicker for new homes to be built will ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is pleased to announce the annual list of New Zealand’s most popular baby names for 2024. “For the second consecutive year, Noah has claimed the top spot for boys with 250 babies sharing the name, while Isla has returned to the most popular ...
Work is set to get underway on a new bus station at Westgate this week. A contract has been awarded to HEB Construction to start a package of enabling works to get the site ready in advance of main construction beginning in mid-2025, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“A new Westgate ...
Minister for Children and for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour is encouraging people to use the resources available to them to get help, and to report instances of family and sexual violence amongst their friends, families, and loved ones who are in need. “The death of a ...
Uia te pō, rangahaua te pō, whakamāramatia mai he aha tō tango, he aha tō kāwhaki? Whitirere ki te ao, tirotiro kau au, kei hea taku rātā whakamarumaru i te au o te pakanga mo te mana motuhake? Au te pō, ngū te pō, ue hā! E te kahurangi māreikura, ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says people with diabetes and other painful conditions will benefit from a significant new qualification to boost training in foot care. “It sounds simple, but quality and regular foot and nail care is vital in preventing potentially serious complications from diabetes, like blisters or sores, which can take a long time to heal ...
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour is pleased to see Pharmac continue to increase availability of medicines for Kiwis with the government’s largest ever investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the government,” says Mr Seymour. “When this government assumed ...
Mā mua ka kite a muri, mā muri ka ora e mua - Those who lead give sight to those who follow, those who follow give life to those who lead. Māori recipients in the New Year 2025 Honours list show comprehensive dedication to improving communities across the motu that ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is wishing all New Zealanders a great holiday season as Kiwis prepare for gatherings with friends and families to see in the New Year. It is a great time of year to remind everyone to stay fire safe over the summer. “I know ...
From 1 January 2025, first-time tertiary learners will have access to a new Fees Free entitlement of up to $12,000 for their final year of provider-based study or final two years of work-based learning, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Targeting funding to the final year of study ...
“As we head into one of the busiest times of the year for Police, and family violence and sexual violence response services, it’s a good time to remind everyone what to do if they experience violence or are worried about others,” Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence ...
Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the ...
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rossana Ruggeri, Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow, The University of Queensland An illustration of the death of a massive star.NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Dana Berry By looking at light from distant exploding stars called supernovas, in 1998 astronomers discovered the universe isn’t ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Clark, Professor in Public History, University of Technology Sydney Shutterstock/Nils Versemann From the Torres Strait to Tasmania, and from the east coast to the west, beach shacks are an iconic part of Australian coastal history. Beach shacks have a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicholas Davis, Industry Professor of Emerging Technology and Co-Director, Human Technology Institute, University of Technology Sydney Oselote/Shutterstock In November 2023, the estates of two now-deceased policyholders sued the US health insurer, United Healthcare, for deploying what they allege is a flawed ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caroline Spry, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Department of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University Earth ring on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country, near Sunbury, Victoria.David Mullins On the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia, there is a series of large rings which rise mysteriously out ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kylie Message, Professor of Public Humanities and Director of the ANU Humanities Research Centre, Australian National University National Museum of Australia Pompeii: Inside a Lost City at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra depicts life in the flourishing Roman city ...
Complaints have poured in from people who say they couldn't get their submission in because of problems with the website, and parties are weighing in. ...
The chorus of praise for Turia underscores the fact that TPM does not represent any real alternative to the political establishment. It is a right-wing party that for the past two decades has represented the interests of indigenous capitalists, who ...
“This is a massive project,” says Stephen Horn, of a plan to eradicate introduced pests from Auckland Island/Maukahuka. The manager of the Department of Conservation’s national eradication team says that’s something a feasibility project, published in 2021, unearthed – “that the scale is enormous, and it’s complex”.The scale and complexity ...
Opinion: Let’s face it. Sitting on a beach or by the lake with a dry text on economic theory is hardly what you would describe as compelling summer reading, perhaps except if you happen to be the Reserve Bank governor!For the rest of us, economics is probably off our holiday ...
Analysis: According to three vital global metrics for ocean temperatures, 2024 was the warmest year on record. The coincidence of all three global metrics being highest on record is unusual. The last time was 2016. The three metrics are the global mean surface temperature (GMST), the global sea surface temperatures (SST), ...
Summer reissue: Simon Palenski journeys home to fossick through Ōtautahi’s secondhand bookshops offerings. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today.After finishing undergraduate studies and ...
Summer reissue: Checkered Flag director Natalie Wilson on her lifelong love of motorsport, and the allure of Pukekohe Park Raceway. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a ...
Summer reissue: Alex Casey returns to a New Zealand classic on its 30th birthday. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today.First published October 14, ...
Summer reissue: As her family home goes on the market, Lucy Black reflects on a childhood full of books, libraries and reading.The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to ...
Summer reissue: The CEOs of two major New Zealand banks say Facebook is rife with fraud – and that Meta is too busy making money from scam ads to try and stop them. Duncan Greive reports. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 8 January appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Allen Cheng, Professor of Infectious Diseases, Monash University Five years on from the first news of COVID, recent reports of an obscure respiratory virus in China may understandably raise concerns. Chinese authorities first issued warnings about human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in 2023, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Jean Baker, Senior Lecturer in Journalism, Monash University Nominations galore, but no wins for Aussiewood at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday. Formerly, the Golden Globes were voted on by the nonprofit Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which consisted of about ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dirk Matten, Professor of Sustainability, Hewlett-Packard Chair in Corporate Social Responsibility, Schulich School of Business, York University, Canada The second season of Squid Game, Netflix’s most-watched show of all time, has been eagerly awaited by many. The first season featured players participating ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Bongiorno, Professor of History, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University The Oxford English Dictionary defines a gaffe as a “blunder, an instance of clumsy stupidity, a ‘faux pas’.” It evokes a sense of triviality rather than high ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, The University of Melbourne It’s the height of summer and many Australians have already experienced heatwaves, heavy rains and even significant bushfires over the Christmas and New ...
Israelis were frustrated that captives remained in Gaza and surprised that, in recent weeks, Israeli military activity there had intensified, Liel said. ‘Surprised’ over military intensity“Generally speaking, Israelis are quite surprised that the intensity of the military activity is growing. I think the general feeling here was a month or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Bongiorno, Professor of History, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University The Oxford English Dictionary defines a gaffe as a “blunder, an instance of clumsy stupidity, a ‘faux pas’.” It evokes a sense of triviality rather than high ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent, French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s territorial government has been toppled on Christmas Eve, due to a mass resignation within its ranks. Environment and Sustainable Development Minister Jérémie Katidjo-Monnier said he was resigning from the cabinet, with immediate effect. Katidjo-Monnier was the sole representative from ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clive Phillips, Former Foundation Professor of Animal Welfare, University of Queensland, Curtin University sw_photo/Shutterstock You might think dairy farmers would be enjoying boom times. The dairy industry has been expanding worldwide in response to increasing demand, mainly in the emerging markets ...
RNZ Pacific Honolulu police have announced the death of a fourth person due to the New Year’s Eve fireworks explosion in Aliamanu, Hawai’i — a 3-year-old boy who has died in hospital. Six people with severe burn injuries from the explosion were flown to Arizona on the US mainland for ...
Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: “ACC is funded by levies. Taxpayers shouldn’t be picking up the bill for hardened criminals who get themselves hurt whilst out committing crimes." ...
Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: “Taxpayers don’t pay bureaucrats to sit watching adult videos, so why does it keep happening?” ...
The newly confirmed US Secretary of State.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2017/01/mike_pompeo_trump_s_pick_for_the_cia_wants_a_holy_war.html
It’s all about knowing which side of the bread is buttered…
75% of the evangelical right support the Chump.
The median age of Faux News viewers is around 80.
But the Chump is born again – He even knows there’s a “Book” and his second favourite viewing after Fox is!!!….
Trinity Broadcasting Network
Featuring Mike Huckerbee – Sarah’s dad
And..
Trump has appeared 11 times on CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) since his campaign began; in 2017 alone, he gave more interviews to CBN than to CNN, ABC or CBS.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/04/22/trump-christian-evangelical-conservatives-television-tbn-cbn-218008
Well they do need prayers
The 50 year project to turn the US into a theocracy is almost complete.
FIFY
heh
https://twitter.com/bungdan/status/988562157338951680
Tourists are waking up to the fact that NZ is neither clean nor green.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/04/i-feel-cheated-us-backpacker-says-nz-s-clean-green-image-is-a-myth.html
This is not even controversial any more – fact is that we have some nice places left because it’s a relatively large landmass with relatively few people in some parts of it.
That’s all – it doesn’t mean we aren’t a dirty, greedy bunch just like everywhere else. I’ve been explaining this to tourists for 40 years and they all recognise the truth instantly.
+1
“New Zealand’s ‘excessive’ meat and dairy consumption ”
*Production* for export.
If we’re still using that 100% Pure then it’s a lie and should probably be taken to court as false advertising.
You didn’t corner the poor bugger in a pub for an hour did you eddy?
Hasler would be good for the Kiwis.
Toovey could take on the Silver Ferns 🙂 with a stepladder.
Sadly we don’t have a shitshow tomorrow.
Let’s hope Ardern doesn’t limit the “culture change” to trying to reduce the number of administrative blunders:
“For instance someone who didn’t realise they had a benefit, who subsequently had their benefit cut off, who went in to seek another appointment immediately to try and rectify the situation only to be told the books were full and they would have to come back in several weeks.”
Way more than that needs an “overhaul”.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/103365045/prime-minister-says-welfare-overhaul-is-imminent
Well its a start.
I think we’re well beyond accepting that “a step in the right direction” is an appropriate response. Serious legislative change is what’s required. Anything less will quite justifiably be dismissed as more of the same.
I agree.
And of course it was common for years and not just a recent Labour event. Take a while to disinfect.
Good stuff, let’s hope they ask the people that use the service for feedback, as well as those who work there.
There was a thread on here awhile back with some awesome suggestions for improvements.
The incentives to find work is, according to National and the economists, being paid. If that’s not working then perhaps employers need to pay more.
Then, of course, there’s the lack of jobs. If there aren’t enough jobs to go round then there’s going to be unemployment and there’s nothing that the unemployed can do about that.
So, why are National so determined to punish people for something that is beyond their control and is, as a matter of fact, in the governments control?
Is it, perhaps, to distract from the fact that the National government was purposefully keeping the number of jobs down so as to decrease wages?
People work when they can. Don’t need any punishments to get that happening.
People’s living arrangement should have nothing to do with getting an unemployment benefit or not. If they’re unemployed then they should simply get it. The incentives for going to work should be enough. If they’re not then punish the people who are making it that way – the employers.
She, of course, means forced off under National’s oppressive regime with no knowledge of what actually happened to them.
“She, of course, means forced off under National’s oppressive regime with no knowledge of what actually happened to them.”
This government’s at no time talked about whether it’s committed to fixing this. The problem’s been around since the Shipley years – since the 1991 benefit cuts to be precise – but until something’s done about it current statistics about benefit numbers are meaningless.
To some degree but the last iteration of National government made it far worse.
There are plenty of jobs, but employers are pretty picky these days.
Then explain unemployment. Explain why when a job is advertised that there’s more people applying for it than the job requires.
The evidence refutes that there’s enough jobs available.
Surely another pro-Western and anti-Russian CIA Zionist backed coup.
//
https://www.thedailybeast.com/a-bloodless-uprising-in-armenia-just-forced-the-president-to-resign-will-new-peaceful-revolutions-follow?
Not if it was bloodless…
‘Murica
.
YORK, Pa. (AP) — A golf club in Pennsylvania has apologized for calling police on a group of black women after the co-owner and his father said they were playing too slowly and refused requests to leave the course.
“I felt we were discriminated against,” one of the women, Myneca Ojo, told the York Daily Record. “It was a horrific experience.
https://apnews.com/amp/95e02521b2884a2abd1470fd9b6fecbb?__twitter_impression=true
#LivingWhileBlack
Were Starbucks in collusion with the golf club owners joey?
Holy shit…Salvation Army says its getting 300 new families each week seeking assistance.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018642099
The inevitable result of National’s policies.
This is going to end well, right?
Russia could supply Syria with advanced S-300 missile systems in the near future, Russian military sources have told the Kommersant newspaper, warning Israel would “suffer catastrophic consequences” if it attacked the system.
The daily newspaper said experts believed Israel would react negatively to any decision to supply the missiles to Syria, and might bomb the area where they would be deployed.
“If Israel decides to carry out rocket strikes on the deployment locations of the S-300, the consequences will be catastrophic for all sides,” an unnamed military source said.
A Russian diplomat who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity said Israel has asked Moscow not to supply the Syrian military with the S-300s. An Israeli government spokesman declined comment.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/russia-syria-israel-missile-systems-army-air-strikes-assad-regime-a8318256.html?
Well, according to Israel, the UK, the US and international law all countries have the right to defend themselves.
Seems to me that Israel is demanding that some countries not be able to.
Hypocrisy aside, I guess maybe they didn’t shoot down all those jizzm-ers a few days back.
Translated Russian language article with more details.
In addition to internal circumstances, there were external ones: the Syrian S-300 supply was constantly criticized by Israel, who believed that, having received such a powerful weapon, the Syrian military could control its airspace. Eventually, at the request of Tel Aviv, the contract was canceled. “The Israelis expressed concern about the delivery of the same S-300 systems to another country in the region, since the S-300 can get Israeli territory from its territory,” President Vladimir Putin said during a direct line on April 16, 2015 , clarifying that Russia’s concern has divided and returned to the customer about $ 400 million in advance. Subsequently, these S-300PMU-2 were adapted to the requirements of another customer – Iran, who bought them for $ 1 billion ( see “Kommersant” on November 10, 2015 ).
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ru&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kommersant.ru%2Fdoc%2F3612197&edit-text=&act=url
I knew the man was prolific, but an album every year for the next century, wow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpGA0azFdCs
But the real treat? A series of images from inside the legendary vault at Paisley Park, which had been rumoured to exist for many years but which no one, outside of a select few, had ever seen, as well as amazing images of Prince’s collection of equipment, his studio, and his Paisley Park ‘club’.
In 2015, Prince’s former sound engineer Susan Rodgers told The Guardian: “When I left in 87, it was nearly full. Row after row of everything we’d done. I can’t imagine what they’ve done since then.”
Well, you can see for yourself below.
Only Prince himself knew the key code for the door, so it had to be drilled open, with the estate’s archivist apparently discovering enough unreleased music to release a new album “every year for the next century”.
https://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/music/prince-underground-music-vault-photos-images-paisley-park/354202
Thanks for links joe90.
Have to say I’m not surprised it read it was fentanyl that killed him. Scary stuff fentanyl, if half of what I’m hearing from disabled friends who have tried it say is true, we should not let it into NZ.
It’s already here as an analgesic of last resort.
.
The coroner has ruled that a Whanganui electrician found dead with syringes beside him and a glass pipe in his hand died from an accidental overdose.
Paul Haydon Alexander Cook was found dead in a bedroom at his parents’ house in Whanganui about 5pm on April 2, 2016.
The direct cause of his death was multiple drug toxicity – the two drugs in his system were the opioid Fentanyl which is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and Notriptyline.
Around eight years before his death, the 24-year-old suffered a shoulder injury in a quad bike accident.
Two and a half years later he aggravated his injury and underwent surgery, but remained in constant pain. His doctors were never able to diagnose the cause or treat it with anything other than pain medication.
Paul’s mother, Tina, said he suffered multiple overdoses in the last two and a half years of his life.
[…]
After the post-mortem, Dr Kate White concluded the cause of Cook’s death was multiple drug toxicity, as a result of intravenous injection of Fentanyl while Paul was also using transdermal patches containing Fentanyl.
Coroner Tim Scott ruled that it was unlikely Paul overdosed to commit suicide, instead he believed the most probable reason for him using the drugs was as self-administered pain relief.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11964125
I thought it was only last resort to people at death’s door, not to a 24 year old, suffering with chronic pain syndrome.
Shoulder injuries of any kind are a bastard. Incredibly painful, debilitating, and they, if they ever do, take many, many, years to fully heal and I find your characterisation of that level of suffering as chronic pain syndrome a fucking insult.
Oh do go jump in a pile of your own sh*t joe90, I’m sick of you creating fake things to be offended by.
I’ve had chronic pain syndrome for over 35 years, it’s a broad medical description. Generally used to cover any condition the medical profession have difficult diagnosing when it comes to pain.
Ever few years it’s the term changes, for example “Complex regional pain syndrome” was popular there for a bit. Now back to chronic pain syndrome, because it’s a bit more clear especially when you break it into single words – chronic, pain, and syndrome.
.
Because basically at 24 the medical profession has a lot of options, not just hard core pain killers. It’s just we live in a world where they don’t look at those options because of expense, because it’s simpler and cheaper to just medicate.
Those option included, but are not excluded to: the pain service, mindfulness (which takes training) , relaxation (again proper training and analysis to find what form of relationation works for the individual) , counselling, physical therapy, and acupuncture just to name a few.
So if you think handing out fentanyl to a 24 year old without going through all the other options first joe90, and getting in a tiz over a medical description – then sorry for you.
I’m sorry, but the language, and terms used irritate the fuck out of me.
My own life time of bangs and knocks are mostly relieved by my activity levels but the god awful state of a couple of long suffering friends who’ve been victims of serious accidents incenses me.
Rather than financing commitments to intensive, hands on physical therapies, lifestyle changes, and supervised, monitored long term activity programmes, Pilates, yoga, cycle. swim and gym training, etc, assessors and their advisors gaslight folk struggling to find suitable pain relief by going down the syndrome track.
And then it’s here, have some psych help to develop mindfulness and other coping mechanisms because if you do, you can just think it all away.
I like the term because it is so FUBAR. If you get that label, it means the medical profession is bereft of ideas.
That said, pain management is a whole lot of coping mechanisms, there is no panacea. From day to day almost you have to adjust and do thing differently. It sucks. What worked for me years ago just aggravates things now.
My worry and concern is hard core painkillers are seen as a panacea, or at the very least sold as a panacea by the drug companies.
Personally I’d love to use cannabis leaf based products, like teas and poultices, to help with pain management. But I really can’t see that happening with this government.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/103342738/green-party-will-stand-candidate-in-northcote-byelection
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/health/103249836/middlemore-hospital-what-really-went-down-between-health-minister-and-counties-manukau-dhb
So Clark has been telling porkies, eh. Surprise, surprise.
Says who?
Read the article. And there have been others. He’s been caught out big time.
I did read the article but nowhere did it say that Clark had been telling porkies.
Must be my bad reading comprehension again 😉
Must be.
“Twelve days later however, and Clark is still telling media that the process around Rabindran and Darrow’s future is still underway despite them already having their termination letters.”
“Earlier this month Stuff revealed the DHB acting chief executive Gloria Johnson was at odds with Clark over what he was told about the state of Middlemore Hospital’s problems when he visited on March 13.”
Sure, but who is literally saying that Clark had been telling porkies? Nobody in that article as far as I can tell but I seem to have misplaced my reading glasses 😉
Direct contradictions with Clark. No-one is required to literally say anything. The guys been caught out. But then there’s a number of regular contributors here who must be regretting their claims about Middlemore, seeing as they’ve been show to be a total exaggeration.
Umm as a language teacher, may I ask you what you mean by the expression ‘total exaggeration’? Can exaggeration be absolute? To my mind, no. Total is absolute. Exaggeration is making greater.
Making greatest is Maximisation, not Exaggeration.
You are a bit careless in your use of language, aren’t you?
If you are a language teacher, you will know that the term ‘total exaggeration’ is used for emphasis. Let me explain. A number of contributors here claimed all sorts of horrendous things were happening at Middlemore (as an example, this thread https://thestandard.org.nz/the-hidden-infrastructure-fiscal-crisis-gets-real/). Not it seems these claims were greatly exaggerated, some might even say fabricated. So, for emphasis, (and to politely avoid calling people liars or ignorant), I suggested their language was total exaggeration.
Oddly, you didn’t hold back accusing David Clark for “telling porkies” and pretended, bordering on alleged, that this was actually in and taken from the Stuff article. FYI, the stuff piece gives only one side of the story predominately based on person’s account. This person being a party in the ‘dispute’ and thus hardly objective or neutral. Yet, you have no qualms whatsoever to accept this account as true and correct. Odd, as I said; no critical assessment of facts (or lack thereof) and sound judgement plus use of odd English language “for emphasis”. Why is emphasis even relevant or necessary here? Very odd indeed.
“Oddly, you didn’t hold back accusing David Clark for “telling porkies” and pretended, bordering on alleged, that this was actually in and taken from the Stuff article. “
The lies are quoted in the article, as I have posted for you. Clearly you have a convenient case of comprehension deficit!!
Crikey! You are a stubbornly slow learner, aren’t you?
In the article, who said that David Clark had “lied”? This is rhetorical now because you’ve already proven that you cannot answer the question.
“In the article, who said that David Clark had “lied”?
DHB acting chief executive Gloria Johnson.
Board Member Mark Darrow.
“Earlier this month Stuff revealed the DHB acting chief executive Gloria Johnson was at odds with Clark over what he was told about the state of Middlemore Hospital’s problems when he visited on March 13. She says Clark was specifically told there were “similar problems in multiple buildings”, which Clark denies. He says there was “no mention of any other urgent works” other than the Scott Building. Clark and his adviser were both given dossiers of information that day that included the full remediation plan and costings but Clark says only the Scott Building was drawn to his attention. Darrow wasn’t there the day of the visit but says he’s received emails and has spoken to other people who were there who say Johnson’s account of what happened was “accurate and consistent”. He says Clark’s office contacted DHB asking for another copy of the information that was provided at that visit on the same day Stuff asked questions about it. “I can’t confirm what was said but I can confirm what he was given and the fact he had to ask for another copy suggests he and his advisor both didn’t read it and lost the originals,” Darrow said.”
Oh boy, we are lethargically slow!
Two people have given accounts that contradict David Clark and MoH’s statements so far. But where, in the article, do these two people specifically say or state that David Clark has been lying. The obvious answer is: nowhere. It is obvious, because you would have quoted the line before I could blink. You haven’t because you can’t and you can’t because that line does not exist in the article.
Basta così!
“But where, in the article, do these two people…“
Who claimed they did? I never claimed they said he lied. But he did lie, and their comments just provide evidence.
Sigh
So, it is you who interpreted and paraphrased the article in Stuff and concluded that Clark had been telling porkies. And then added a few other bits to it to create a smokescreen, as usual.
You see, a Professional Director would never be so stupid to make direct accusations against their Boss in MSM of the specific nature that you were alleging. In other words, you made up a whole heap of BS.
Obviously, the story is unfolding but you’ve jumped the gun and put your own words & spin into and onto it.
Yes Incognito – it looks a bit like total exaggeration to me. Or a load of Babblegab.
“Twelve days later however, and Clark is still telling media that the process around Rabindran and Darrow’s future is still underway despite them already having their termination letters.”
“Earlier this month Stuff revealed the DHB acting chief executive Gloria Johnson was at odds with Clark over what he was told about the state of Middlemore Hospital’s problems when he visited on March 13.”
I didn’t interpret or paraphrase. I quoted the article directly. You seem to have been caught by this https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-24-04-2018/#comment-1478544.
The article specifically calls Clark out. And for good reason.
Nice spin with ‘unfolding’ though. I’d say it was Clark’s credibility that was unfolding.
So, you are implying that David Clark said, in said article, that he “had been telling porkies”!? Of course not!
Please state clearly, specifically, and, above all, slowly who stated in that article that “that Clark had been telling porkies” or said something with a very similar meaning. Saying that one story is at odds with another is not nearly as strong as saying “that Clark had been telling porkies” and I hope you do realise that even though you like to use emphasis for added drama and what have you but that doesn’t make it so. In other words, you’re overreaching and making up BS.
So far, the only person who has been making this claim is you.
BTW, the Stuff article only contains one side of the story, doesn’t? I guess there is no need to hear the other side, get more facts and information, and then make an informed judgement, is there? Odd.
“Please state clearly, specifically, and, above all, slowly who stated in that article that “that Clark had been telling porkies” “
Why would someone need to? Because you’re in denial. The two lies are documented here:
https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-24-04-2018/#comment-1478602
Right, you cannot show, in the article, who specifically said that David Clark “had lied” or “had been telling porkies”. I can tell you why you cannot show this: because nobody actually did so.
It is all in your head; you made it up. Only you go on about “lies” and “porkies”. Do you hear voices telling you “that Clark had been telling porkies”? Do you see flying pigs?
BTW, words between quotation marks have a specific meaning; the word “specifically” has a specific meaning. I doubt that even In Vino could teach you, regardless of whether they are registered or not as Teacher®.
Right, you cannot show, in the article, who specifically said that David Clark “had lied” or “had been telling porkies”.”
1. I didn’t claim anyone specifically said that. Why would they need to when it is so obvious? But by using that criteria, you’re clearly nervous about the lies Clark has told.
2. https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-24-04-2018/#comment-1479102
Clark is telling porkies.
Finally!
You made it up, repeatedly. They are your words and your words only.
Thank you for stating the obvious.
What took you so long? That’s rhetorical.
Does it hurt to tell the truth? That’s rhetorical too.
This is the end of the line for me.
Ciao!