Gut Feeling and Common Sense

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 pm, October 6th, 2021 - 42 comments
Categories: covid-19, vaccines - Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Government messaging around Covid-19 is becoming increasingly confusing, as this hilarious Twitter thread shows [HT to Newsroom]. Although I have a really strong aversion to authoritarian tendencies, I’m not a rule-breaker by nature. However, when understanding and following the rules around Covid-19 becomes as difficult and dense as fine print I switch off and rely on gut feeling and common sense to do the right and to avoid doing the wrong thing. Many people try to adhere to the fine print without even reading it and companies do know this and sometimes take advantage of it, or sometimes they take the piss.

The thing is that we usually get away with this level of wilful complacency and even justify it; we get on with life as we see fit. Consumer interest groups and advocates have argued for years to make things simpler in contracts, policies, and Terms of Service, for example. Indeed, make it as simple as possible, but no simpler [thanks Albert Einstein] AKA the KISS principle. Getting away with it means that the risk is perceived low and it is safe. It might be the other side of opportunism – “pretty legal” comes to mind and there’s no problem until or unless caught.

In the days when we faced imminent threats and death as soon as we stepped out of our cave, we relied on razor-sharp senses and lightning-fast reflexes for survival. These days, we rely on GPS and smart devices run by smart software algorithms and the greatest risks we face when we step out of our heat-pump-controlled houses are forgetting our device or a major outage of major social media platforms and go into instant withdrawal of fluffy kitten photos. These are some of the many ‘existential’ threats of our time.

I’ve just driven the car to the dairy to pick up a courier parcel with headsets as the wear & tear of my current equipment made them almost unusable – it is always those bloody wire connections, same with chargers. After more than 7 weeks, the car needed a run too to charge up the battery. It was no problem at all but it occurred to me that many younger Kiwis have never learned how to drive a manual car and wouldn’t be able to drive one. I lament the day that self-driving cars take over and we all lose the skill to drive ourselves.

Instead of living in caves we’re now living as hermits in bubbles. Even the most introverted among us needs to go out every so often to explore, discover, and experience the world, i.e. to live. And to take some risks. The more authorities are making decisions for us, tell us what to do, and treat us hapless citizens, the more hapless we’ll become; we’ll lose the skill to think on our feet, determine and even recognise risk, and make choices and decisions accordingly and appropriately – you’ll lose it if you don’t use it.

I’d hate NZ becoming a Nanny State populated by sheeple, but also respect the State has a duty to protect others from others or from themselves. In my ideal world, the State treats the people with respect and allows them enough freedom to make their own choices even if/when these are not necessarily optimal ones. But relying on the gut feeling and common sense of the prehistoric caveman inside us won’t suffice and serve us well in the complex modern world we live in and when facing a complex threat by an invisible enemy such as the Covid-19 pandemic. But neither does it mean that we should resort to social conditioning and engineering because we already have enough inequity in our society.

I believe that our Government is walking a very fine line between telling us what to do and making (all!) the decisions for us. In fact, I think they’re having it just right, for now. Patience (which is hard when there’s time pressure), respect, mutual trust, and clear & consistent information & education are the way to go. This Government will not let people die, but when people do die, from Covid-19, it is not the Government’s fault or failure. People make decisions that have consequences, for themselves and for others. However, we cannot influence and control everything in life, but we can better prepare ourselves and become more resilient.

They say that familiarity breeds contempt. They also say that convenience breeds laziness. It is convenient if Government tells us what to do but please let it be clear and make sense! Confusing toilet rules from the top don’t help to instil trust in Government. As always, people will rely on common sense to do what they think is right for them, even if this means using the indoor toilet when mixing outdoors with no more than 10 people and one other bubble, FFS! Sometimes, the gut feeling overrules common sense – when you have to go, you have to go.

Did we elect MPs to form a Government to tell us what to do or does Government do what we want it to do on our behalf, i.e. social contract versus social licence? There’s no easy answer to this and political ideology only leads to polarised unproductive tribal cultural wars and I am starting to have serious doubts that social media are conducive to constructive engagement and debate. I strongly lean towards making my own decisions to keep myself safe from Covid-19 because I believe that they will also keep others safe. Once that choice or decision is taken away from me, i.e. made for me by coercion or otherwise, I’ll rebel, disobey, and break rules, which gives me the much needed feeling of control and empowerment. That’s my gut feeling and common sense even though it might not serve me and/or others well.

42 comments on “Gut Feeling and Common Sense ”

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  1. GreenBus 1
    7 October 2021 at 6:52 am

    Subtle differences. The opposite of "nanny state" could well be neo liberalism or "small state". Let the market decide, Gov't keep out of your lives. Hmmm, I think I'd like to try some more "nanny state". The last 4 decades of neo liberalism has been a disaster IMO.

  2. Tiger Mountain 2
    7 October 2021 at 7:44 am

    One of the unpleasant ironies is that the underclass and alienated and precarious–created by almost 40 years of monetarism–may be the group that assist COVID to rip through the country. The ones that would have benefited from a state house mega build and a capital gains tax with teeth. More nanny state please.

    Middle class with full pantrys, spare bedrooms, home office and maybe a Bach or a renter, can and largely do, obey the rules more easily than those overcrowded in shabby units. But those that have benefited from neo liberalism seem also to be the ones selfishly still expecting to travel the world at their convenience and take skiing hols!

    No easy answers for the Govt. all those top MPs and officials are under intense pressure, but all the PM needs to do is stick to her usual modus operandi–which I am not usually a fan of. Namely, be guided by focus groups and polls; and there is still a good two thirds majority, for now, that would support her if she called for the undermining campaign by NZ National, ACT, Business and media channels to stop forthwith and people to unite once again.

  3. Gezza 3
    7 October 2021 at 8:00 am

    Sometimes, the gut feeling overrules common sense – when you have to go, you have to go.

    Maybe only visit the homes of people who have lots of bushes? And bring your own composting toilet? 😳

    Seriously, the rules are getting very difficult to figure out & follow. Up on the wall of the hallway to my dining room I have the very first A3 poster we were all sent, entitled:

    Our Plan – the four Alert Levels

    I may as well take that down because – while it was an excellent resource & a bloody good idea at the start of elimination in the community – it's now too incomplete/inaccurate to be trustworthy.

  4. KJT 4
    7 October 2021 at 8:09 am

    In my profession safety doesn't depend on "gut feeling and common sense".

    It depends on getting it right, based on facts and science.

    The sea, like covid, doesn't care about your "feelings"!

    • Ad 4.1
      7 October 2021 at 10:10 am

      +100 and same

    • RedLogix 4.2
      7 October 2021 at 10:23 am

      Same here. On a daily basis I am working with SIL3 rated plant – I'm literally going to start some up within the next hour or so.

      Facts, science, procedures and methods all matter and take first precedence.

      But so does instinct – I've lost count of the times in my life when my subconcious has acted to prevent a serious incident of one sort or another.

      • Patricia Bremner 4.2.1
        7 October 2021 at 10:38 am

        Yes Red Logic. Perhaps we are processing at some other primitive level, and we are pulling all our sophisticated information together but still putting it through a survival mechanism developed through the ages?

      • KJT 4.2.2
        7 October 2021 at 10:56 am

        Yes.

        I've found that ignoring niggling instinct, is not a good idea.

        However it is nearly always something that I knew about, should have done, and overlooked or forgotten.

  5. Adrian 5
    7 October 2021 at 8:24 am

    To Tiger Mountain, the fact that the middle class have all those things may well be because they DO follow the rules. I only now have some of those things because my wife , who is considerably more sensible than I, insisted that I do follow some rules, otherwise as I joke I would still be euphemisticly speaking, living under a bridge.

  6. KJT 6
    7 October 2021 at 8:35 am

    Well, the media have obviously had their instructions.

    It is all to be "the gangs or those non compliant brown peoples fault"

    Not those who demanded the premature bubble with Oz, or white anted our response demanding "opening up, and let her rip".

    Or priviledged white people who use "essential worker” status to junket around Queenstown without masks, when their job is in Wellington, or headed off to their baches from Auckland. When they are not moaning about the interruption to their entitled lives.

    • Gezza 6.1
      7 October 2021 at 8:49 am

      “Well, the media have obviously had their instructions.

      It is all to be ‘the gangs or those non compliant brown peoples fault'”
      ……………………………

      What’s your evidence for that rather outrageous claim? 🤔

      • KJT 6.1.1
        7 October 2021 at 8:57 am

        Looks like you haven't been reading the media on this outbreak.

        Or Simeon Browns childish reckons.

        Not that I blame you if you haven't.

        • Gezza 6.1.1.1
          7 October 2021 at 9:22 am

          "Not those who demanded the premature bubble with Oz, or white anted our response demanding 'opening up, and let her rip'"

          ………………………….

          From what I've seen & heard there's been plenty of commentary on opening up to Oz being the source of our lockdown miseries. Ardern has to wear this. The govt caved in to pressure. – Gez

          "Or priviledged white people who use "essential worker” status to junket around Queenstown without masks, when their job is in Wellington, or headed off to their baches from Auckland. When they are not moaning about the interruption to their entitled lives."

          ………………………….

          Again, from what I've seen & heard there's also been plenty of commentary & complaints about "entitled" privileged white people breaching lockdown rules, misusing exemption letters etc.

          In fact every significant breach whether by white, brown, black or rainbow people has got critical coverage in media because of the risk they'll spread Covid.

          Simeon Brown is a minor MP in a fading Opposition party currently led by a loon. Personally, I don't think you've made your case.

          • KJT 6.1.1.1.1
            7 October 2021 at 9:50 am

            We can do a count of articles over the time period if you like.

            To confirm one way or the other.

            But three articles from one outlet just this morning.

            • Tiger Mountain 6.1.1.1.1.1
              7 October 2021 at 10:42 am

              “Freedom of the press belongs to them that owns one” as a very old saying went.

              The run of play during this entire COVID scenario since early 2020 in the privately owned media channels online, on air and what remains of print has been blatantly obvious. The narrative is “open up”, “jingle tills”, “free in and outflow of capital”.

              The overwhelming coverage has been of corporates, SMEs, small business, and self employed–and aggrieved, stranded International travellers and MIQ critics.

              Working class experience has been substantially ignored apart from the odd spot of demonisation and blame shifting.

              • KJT …
                7 October 2021 at 11:06 am

                Even small business has been the moaning fringe.
                Who refuse to acknowledge that Covid getting loose would have killed their business faster than lockdowns.

                Many I know are thankful that we had a long period of trading between lockdowns, their customers haven't been too scared to spend, unlike many other countries, that there has been some Government help, and are doing OK.

                Working peoples views, as you say, are rarely considered.

    • Cricklewood 6.2
      7 October 2021 at 8:55 am

      End of the day Labour are a majority govt all the descions around alert levels, travel bubbles etc sit with them.

      No one else can actually do a damn thing outside of produce hot air. Its not like mass protests forced their hand.

      • KJT 6.2.1
        7 October 2021 at 9:54 am

        I've posted before about Labours propensity to start with solutions, and then let them lapse and fail to carry them through and push them, as they cave in to a vocal minority, and I think, Parliamentary MP’s, Wellington bubble, and press gallery, groupthink.

        I'm still hoping that isn't going to happen with Covid.

        Hence the question mark in my post yesterday.

  7. Robert Guyton 7
    7 October 2021 at 9:04 am

    "In the days when we faced imminent threats and death as soon as we stepped out of our cave, we relied on razor-sharp senses and lightning-fast reflexes for survival. "

    This old chestnut needs to be roasted good and proper: it wasn't caves, it wasn't especially dangerous; we had effective measures in place to keep ourselves safe. Rather than "razor-sharp senses and lightening-fast reflexes", we had hands that could throw rocks and eyes that could focus on the skulls of whatever creature dared to mess with us.

    Nowadays, there are far more threats to our wellbeing: very few early hominids had to resist attacks by scammers. Our modern brains are a soupy swirl of unknowingness, compared to those of our outdoorsy ancestors 🙂

    • Gezza 7.1
      7 October 2021 at 10:44 am

      I’d agree with that. To some extent. Early man utilised his brain to find food & water, build shelter, get provisions in, socially interact, protect the whanau & hapu from predators – of both the animal & human ape – kind. The same kind of day to day stuff that still occupies the other apes today.

      Nowadays, we are bedevilled with abstractions & distractions. And it sometimes plays hell on our mental health.

      • Descendant Of Smith 7.1.1
        7 October 2021 at 3:01 pm

        They generally weren't that successful. Average life expectancy was much lower and the skeletal record shows the further back you go the more likely you were to die a violent death.

        They were just much more used to dying than we are.

        • Gezza 7.1.1.1
          7 October 2021 at 4:21 pm

          Eh? The ‘skeletal record’ would be pretty patchy, & pretty minimal, I would think.

          Human apes managed to survive in sufficient numbers to spread pretty well all around the globe while still mostly living in what we would today term primitive conditions.

          And I have the impression that several folk in different places lived relatively long lives, reaching some quite good ages. Wear & tear on bones & teeth, & infections, accidental poisonings, probably took their toll, but not all societies ran the same way.

          Some seem likely to have been better at taking care of the sick & elderly than others. Depending on the dominant ethos.

          Warrior societies eg might have had more of a “only the strongest survive” attitude.

          • Descendant Of Smith 7.1.1.1.1
            7 October 2021 at 4:59 pm

            The levels of violence in prehistoric times (archeological evidence) and in non-state societies (ethnographic evidence) was much higher than in modern state societies and in the world today.

            https://ourworldindata.org/ethnographic-and-archaeological-evidence-on-violent-deaths

            • Gezza 7.1.1.1.1.1
              7 October 2021 at 5:12 pm

              Thank you. 👍🏼

              Wondered if you had the data.

              While that looks an impressive array of sources from many different places around the planet, my other comments still stand and are not disputed by this research.

              • Descendant Of Smith …
                7 October 2021 at 6:17 pm

                Been loosely following the research around this for a long time now.

                Pinker picked up on it in his book which is a good read.

                There is a terrible tendency to see the past as better when for a large many it wasn't. Legal rape within marriage until the 70's is a really good example as was forced/pressured adoption.

                Even things like the Knights Code of Chivalry wasn't a beautiful thing – it was a last ditch effort to stop those violent thugs roaming the countryside looting, killing and raping with impunity. They were the Mongrel Mob of their era.

                https://www.amazon.com/Enlightenment-Now-Science-Humanism-Progress/dp/0525427570

                • Gezza …
                  7 October 2021 at 6:37 pm

                  Nature of the beast, unfortunately, DOS.

                  Looked at dispassionately, the human ape is a large, rapacious animal that monopolises resources, is always unpredictable, is frequently dangerous to its own kind, and to all other creatures, & which, when groups get large enuf, destroys the ecology it moves into in order to create the environmental conditions that suit IT alone.

                  Every other life form on this planet would probably be better off without it.

  8. Bearded Git 8
    7 October 2021 at 9:07 am

    You can only meet one other bubble ALWAYS OUTSIDE and no more than 10 people at a time.

    Is that really so complicated?

  9. garibaldi 9
    7 October 2021 at 9:15 am

    Well done incognito. Great post and great responses (so far – it’s only 9.15 am).

  10. Ad 10
    7 October 2021 at 10:21 am

    OK Inco we need to talk about my Far North relatives.

    They believe in colloidal silver. They believe in tinctures of acids curing most things. They believe in self-treatment for most things. They believe in Jesus. They believe in the next deal but not in taxes, so their money comes in lumps. They spend lots of time in yachts or doing them up, doing contracts around the Pacific. They do a lot of fishing and some hunting. They know how to score if they need it.

    And there ain't no fuckin' way they are submitting to this bullshit.

    They hang with a network of marginals across multiple Pacific ports that have run afoul of various kinds of US agencies.

    For these kinds of people, Customs and MAF and NZNavy are going to have to keep a close eye on Opua, Taipa, Houhora, Herekino, Ahipara, some of the more obscure Bay of Islands inlets, and Rawene. Somewhere to slip in and moore in the evening, or slip out.

    • garibaldi 10.1
      7 October 2021 at 10:42 am

      If it's any consolation Ad ,I have a relative "way up North" of similar disposition but he is no Jesus freak, more of a self imposed hermit. Must be many of them spread around NZ wherever there are suitable climes.

      • gsays 10.1.1
        7 October 2021 at 11:00 am

        If they are living a hermit lifestyle, they are of neglible threat.

      • Ad 10.1.2
        7 October 2021 at 11:30 am

        Still a few ex-Commune types with huge collections of Jefferson Airplane and Mama Cass records who are pretty off-grid, running as part of road contracting or pest control gangs. The shift to an 87% urbanised country is still leaving pockets of people who tend not to travel more than 20k's most months and just load up at the 4 Square for basics every 6 weeks or so.

        They may not like the attention but it's coming to them.

    • Patricia Bremner 10.2
      7 October 2021 at 10:54 am

      This may apply to the off the grid house bus and motorhomers as well. A great deal of self medicating plus alternative cures goes with the living free belief. An aunty and uncle were like that.

      We discovered this in our 5 years of motorhome travels. We were considered semi committed because we still owned the safety blanket of a small 2 bed unit in Rotorua so were seen to belong to two communities.

    • Tiger Mountain 10.3
      7 October 2021 at 12:41 pm

      I understand Ad, am based at Tokerau Beach, been in Far North for years. Working remotely in pre press and publishing since ’97. My partner managed a Census area one year, and tracking people on boats, remote properties and totally off grid was interesting.

      The funny thing is you can be who you want to be up North, but you are often more accountable in small communities than in the city not knowing your neighbours. You are not totally anonymous even if reclusive. So people will be tracked down regarding vaccination.

  11. gsays 11
    7 October 2021 at 10:58 am

    FWIW. I have just had a conversation with the man that drives the recycling truck at my work.

    There is absolutely no way he is going to get the jab. He has a VERY strong faith, total faith in the Lord. He is horrified his pastor has been vaccinated and, worse, facilitated innoculations in the church.

    This is in the Manawatu.

    • Gezza 11.1
      7 October 2021 at 4:27 pm

      WTF goes on in the heads of these people?

      God made the bloody people who make the vaccines, FFS. Obviously all part of his plan.

      Or does this loon think God specifically made the virus to kill off everybody but the true believers, like him?

      Is he always looking up to the bloody skies, waiting for Jesus to appear, to the incredibly loud sound of angelic trumpets, in all his glory?

      • gsays 11.1.1
        8 October 2021 at 8:14 am

        I think, at the core of his belief, he is not afraid to die.

        Not in any nihilistic sense, more a fatalistic, part of a divine plan kind of vibe.

        I foolishly opined that Ardern is a compassionate leader. He snorted and observed a lack of compassion in signing abortion into law.

        It s it too much of a stretch to consider the virus is an inevitable consequence of our behaviour?

  12. Ad 12
    7 October 2021 at 11:31 am

    Has anyone heard of Ardern starting to be called the Tooth Fairy?

    Picked it up from my Rotary mates.

  13. Tricledrown 13
    7 October 2021 at 11:35 am

    Read huffpost comment antivaxxer protesting with a megaphone bullhorn they are called in the US.the antvaxxer walking down the road pointed out the vaccines are not needed as covid is not real look at all these homeless people they would be dead if covid existed.

    One of the homeless people yelled out were not dead because were vaccinated you dumb fuck.

  14. AB 14
    7 October 2021 at 12:36 pm

    Once rules become more complex the easier it is to dream up scenarios that confound them. There are people who like doing this – mostly because they don't like the underlying purpose of the rule and want to make the rule-maker look silly.

    It's a pretty effective sabotage technique – we can all laugh at the 'clowns' who made a rule that didn't effectively anticipate the person coming round for a picnic in the garden under L3 (stage 1), but who is on medication that gives them unpredictable bowel habits. But if the rule was modified to take this scenario into account, most likely it would spawn far more confounding scenarios than it removed.

    This is incidentally also why we never beat tax evasion by making rules more and more specific, rather than less specific and focused on broad intent. The government might have avoided being an easy target , if it had made it clear that the stages of wind-down for L3 are guidelines, not 'rules'. And that therefore inevitably, judgments must be made by everyone in terms of what decision is the best fit with the broad intent of L3 under any given circumstances.

    But I don't really care that the Government has made this staged wind-down of L3 a seem bit clunky. I'm far more exercised by my loathing of people who see a well-intentioned rule, but whose first thought is to consider how to get away with breaking it, or to mock the rule-maker for not having the omniscience to close off every conceivable loophole.

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    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    19 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 day ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
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