Looking for: whatever he can get

Written By: - Date published: 4:10 am, November 16th, 2007 - 43 comments
Categories: humour - Tags:

whateverhecanget2.jpg

In perhaps his strongest signal yet to potential coalition partners, John Key has set his Facebook ‘Looking for’ status to “Whatever I can get”.

Puzzled by the phrase “Whatver I can get” I looked it up in the urban dictionary:

“A phrase popularly used on the networking college site facebook.com. It refers to an individual’s desire for any type of relationship, specifically, “dating,” “friendship,” and/or “random play.” Some view this phrase as having a dergatory connotation, making the individual look desperate or without standards. Others simply view it as an honest explanation of relationship expectations and have no qualms posting this phrase.”

Random play!? Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

(Hat-tip: Matthew Pilott)

43 comments on “Looking for: whatever he can get ”

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  1. Lee C 1
    16 November 2007 at 7:25 am

    Tane open question – I know you told me that the DWU is not very well off and represented by the media – How is it so, that an industry like fonterra which holds up to 40% of the international dairy export market has such a weak union?

    Especially in light of the recent decision to ‘float’ parts of fonterra on the market. How does the Government feel about that? Is it a case of ‘money talks and cow-shit walks’?

    Is the government afraid to upset theis major (excuse the pun) ‘cash-cow’?

  2. Robinsod 2
    16 November 2007 at 7:26 am

    I wonder if he’s tried the “filthbook” application…

  3. dave 3
    16 November 2007 at 7:35 am

    http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=684772659&hiq=clark,helen
    Check out Helen Clarks one
    She is married but has had “no recent activity”. Heh. She should have a chat to Trevor Mallard.

  4. Tane 4
    16 November 2007 at 7:55 am

    Hi Lee, that’s kind of off-topic, but I never said they’re a weak union. I just said they’re relatively small and don’t (so far as I know) have a media department.

  5. Lee C 5
    16 November 2007 at 7:59 am

    it’s a bit of a contrast to the amount of financial muscle they should be able to exert though, isn’t it?
    (captcha=handicap contracts incidentally)

  6. Camryn 6
    16 November 2007 at 8:12 am

    There’s actually a politician profile-type on Facebook that neither Helen nor John are using. It allows you to become a fan, but not a friend. Probably designed to reduce mischief from non-supporters.

  7. Lee C 7
    16 November 2007 at 8:20 am

    Tane – Also listening to the radio about the biscuit manufacturing industry going to the wall, on the back of Cadburys in Avondale.
    To me it looks like working for a food maufacturer in New Zealand is not a good career choice?

  8. Lee C 8
    16 November 2007 at 8:52 am

    “The New Zealand labour movement used to have its own newspaper. A group of us thought that now might be a good time for it to be digitally reborn: The Standard v2.0”

    This is the last post I will have time to make today (hurrah! I hear you cry)

    But I just wonder if there is, in some alternative universe a blog dedicated to the ‘New Zealand Labour movement’ where, the announcement of a factory closure and accompanying redundancies would run as the top headline story?

    I wonder if it would be having a go at the present Government, and calling the finance minister to account? Or would it be interviewing the MP of that constituency and asking what the f**k he or she intended to do for his or her constituents?

    I suppose if the government were National lead it would, but not today, eh, let’s stick to the important stuff.

    Or is it sooo much easier to post rather a rather flaccid attempt to snipe at the leader of the opposition? Real ‘finger on the pulse stuff’ isn’t it?

    This is another of the reasons I will continue to refer to this blog as ‘the very double standard’

    message ends

  9. Benodic 9
    16 November 2007 at 9:08 am

    Tane – Also listening to the radio about the biscuit manufacturing industry going to the wall, on the back of Cadburys in Avondale.
    To me it looks like working for a food maufacturer in New Zealand is not a good career choice?

    Are you gloating about people losing their jobs Lee? You’re a disgrace.

  10. all_your_base 10
    16 November 2007 at 9:09 am

    Hey Lee C, the great thing about the internet, as we discovered, is that if you think there’s a gap in the debate, you can start your own blog. I like your idea, go for it! Good luck, and thanks for contributing.

    Camryn, good spotting, I think that feature has been added recently – maybe even last week or so. It’s exactly what’s required. Rumor has it the feature may also have an advertising-related purpose in that users will now be able to be fans of products and services. Sneaky.

  11. Matthew Pilott 11
    16 November 2007 at 9:09 am

    Camryn, that’s interesting, I didn’t know that (and I thought I knew all there was about FB… 😉 ). Wonder if Tau Henare would prefer to be Helen’s fan rather than her friend??

    I stumbled across these last night, there’s a group John Key is a noob, and I was wondering if he had a profile. turns out he is a noob when it comes to social network sites – what would his wife think about him being after whatever he can get??

    I’d be strung up by the other half if I put that on my page!! I am still not sure if they’ve put those profiles up themselves.

    Lee, you don’t get to demand stories sorry! You could try a different tack, suggesting you’d like The Standard authors’ opinions on a specific matter, but this old ‘double standard’ stuff – it’s just likely to make people ignore you – or worse (you were complaining about the nasty tone of comments, perhaps you should not try so hard to elicit them in future).

  12. Robinsod 12
    16 November 2007 at 9:10 am

    AYB – Seconded. The only thing is given how little effort Lee put into her EFB submission I suspect it’d end up as unfinished and out of date as IP’s

  13. Daveo 13
    16 November 2007 at 9:12 am

    Lee there are so many closure these days that one single factory relocation is not much news. It sucks, but there’s not much to say about it other than that. I’d prefer to see discussion about manufacturing policy in general rather than focusing on just one site.

  14. Tane 14
    16 November 2007 at 9:31 am

    Lee – we’re not a news service, we’re a bunch of dudes who run a blog. That means we cover stuff where we can. You’ll see last night John A wrote about National’s miserable attack on a Labour Dept-funded initiative to improve Chinese mine safety – http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?p=714, and I’m trying to find time to do a post about Business NZ’s attack on the Holidays Act, but doubt I’ll have time today. It’d be nice to cover everything Lee, but it’s just not possible.

  15. r0b 15
    16 November 2007 at 9:32 am

    Lee, there was actually some very good discussion of related issues here:

    http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?p=652

    Any living economy has a certain amount of “churn”. Some things close, some things open. This closure is terrible for those involved. Let us all hope that they find new employment quickly. But in an economy which is probably as close to full employment as possible (given baseline “churn”) their chances should be good.

    That’s the real news here. Record low unemployment.

  16. Tane 16
    16 November 2007 at 9:34 am

    R0b, that is still a little simplistic – there is a major issue in factory closures when workers go from having relatively well paid jobs in a factory to, say, earning $11.25 an hour in the service industry.

    Just because a new job exists doesn’t mean it’s a quality job.

  17. the sprout 17
    16 November 2007 at 9:42 am

    i guess Lee C is advocating more government intervention in business. maybe those4 that can’t keep up should be nationalised by fiat.

  18. r0b 18
    16 November 2007 at 9:47 am

    Tane – “Just because a new job exists doesn’t mean it’s a quality job.”

    Absolutely – good point. Which leads on to a need for opportunities for education and “upskilling”. The world is changing, the economy is changing, technology is moving quickly. Workers need every opportunity to retrain and improve their skills. Despite investment in education and modern apprenticeships, I feel that this is an area where the government could be doing more.

  19. Camryn 19
    16 November 2007 at 9:49 am

    AYB and Matt – Yes, I think it is new. The politicians I’ve seen using it have all created their profiles very recently. I also agree that it’s real purpose is probably for advertising.

  20. Lady Leftie 20
    16 November 2007 at 9:54 am

    Haha, I rather like that he has “don’t know” listed as his religious view. Good ole John Key trying to cover all his bases with “don’t know” as his answer again. It’ll come back to bite him in the future when he has to reveal actual policy rather than using the “don’t know” line. The truth is that New Zealanders want to know about Kiwisaver, Paid Parental Leave and Working for Families, and whether National will keep these policies or not. “Don’t know” just doesn’t cut it.

  21. insider 21
    16 November 2007 at 10:06 am

    Nice one TAne – now go an tell Laila and Jill that their members do not have “quality jobs”. Love that class snobbery.

  22. Robinsod 22
    16 November 2007 at 10:13 am

    Insider – they’d agree. That’s why they’re running campaigns to fix the problem but with the low density and high turnover that’s not an easy task. Until it’s completed these jobs are not quality jobs because they don’t provide the terms and conditions that provide the dignity these workers deserve.

  23. Tane 23
    16 November 2007 at 10:26 am

    What ‘sod said. Quality jobs is about the pay and conditions – it’s not a judgment of the people who do them.

  24. insider 24
    16 November 2007 at 10:50 am

    So if I don’t like my terms and conditions does that mean i don;t have a “quality job”?

  25. Robinsod 25
    16 November 2007 at 11:03 am

    If you don’t get treated with the respect you deserve you don’t have a quality job.

  26. insider 26
    16 November 2007 at 12:38 pm

    So if I get treated well, get all my statutory rights, get flexibility, but only get $10.50 an hour, do I have a “quality job”?

  27. Nih 27
    16 November 2007 at 12:41 pm

    Threadjack time again.

    http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/11/condolences.html

    People are using someone’s death notice to advance their own cliques. The score of people perverting the situation so far is:

    Right: 8
    Left: 2

    Very disappointing behaviour, but still numerically significant: right wingers who comment online are often callous hypocrites.

  28. Santa Claws 28
    16 November 2007 at 2:02 pm

    As opposed to using someones death to excuse violence?

    Miss Clark said Mr Mallard had been through a difficult few months.

    “He has been under a lot of stress as I think anyone is such a situation would have been. His very long term marriage of more than three decades had dissolved. His father had just died.

    You’re on shaky ground there Nil.

  29. Santa Claws 29
    16 November 2007 at 2:09 pm

    Or using someones death (following the actions of an SOE) to advance her anti-business biases?

    ‘Miss Clark and Labour MPs Winnie Laban and Mark Gosche also spent about half an hour with the Muliaga family.

    “We expressed our great sorrow at what happened. I believe the family accepted our visit in the spirit in which it was intended,” she said.

    Earlier in the day Miss Clark launched a scathing attack on Mercury Energy.’

  30. Robinsod 30
    16 November 2007 at 2:17 pm

    DPF Claws – get a life mate.

  31. Santa Claws 31
    16 November 2007 at 3:14 pm

    Well, Robespierre, a typically pathetic comment once again. How many does that make today then? Are you disappointed that you can’t spread your filf on the comments over at KB?

  32. Matthew Pilott 32
    16 November 2007 at 3:28 pm

    Santy you’re absolutely right, Clark should have been lavishing praises upon Mercury energy.

    I’ve got some files do drop of with the GCSB, on the way past Helen’s office I’ll have a word with her. Perhaps when there’s another death, say a mining accident, I’ll get her to give a golden handshake to the organisation’s CEO.

    How much would you consider fair, claws, $720k her head (‘scuse the pun ;)) perhaps?

    Oh, just a thought, perhaps Rob’s busier than I today, which would explain why he gave you a more simple brush off, while I took the time to respond. However I wouldn’t hassle the ‘pathetic comment’ – your contibution wasn’t exactly scintillating. Even for you…

  33. Tane 33
    16 November 2007 at 3:33 pm

    Speaking of mine safety, our comrades at blogblog have a ripper of a post up:

    http://kiwiblogblog.wordpress.com/2007/11/16/wilkinson-deserves-coal-for-christmas/

    That Wilkinson, how long d’ya reckon before they get rid of her for gross incompetence and revealing the Tory gameplan?

  34. Robinsod 34
    16 November 2007 at 3:41 pm

    My “filf” DPF Claws? Oh, you mean “filth” as in “they click on kiwblog but were stunned by the vile filth being spouted there.”? Jeez claws would you like to show me a comment I’ve made that’s more outta line than your average KB comment? Go on, chop chop.

  35. insider 35
    16 November 2007 at 3:42 pm

    is it being funded by NZ Aid? IF not, why not? Surely that is the proper vehicle for overseas project funding. Or is this cover for a soft loan to a friendly union (no matter how worthy the cause)?

  36. Nih 36
    16 November 2007 at 3:44 pm

    If you have such a hardon for Robinsod, why don’t you follow him around on the internet teasing him so he’ll like you?

    Wait…

  37. Lampie 37
    16 November 2007 at 4:14 pm

    Despite investment in education and modern apprenticeships, I feel that this is an area where the government could be doing more.

    Rob, takes two to tango, not just govt. but us as well. I don’t think that we are really taking advantage of the interest free loans that are available. This increases opportunities especially for full time workers to upskill without it been a struggle (well too much) on the financial front. Ok, some cases this would be untrue, depending on financial commitments. For the part time student who usually pays up front, interest free loans are a God send.

  38. the bean 38
    16 November 2007 at 4:44 pm

    nih that was my trick for making robinsod like me!!!! that, and i was gonna tell him how i am really hot…like sophia loren. but someone got to that nifty number first *sullen pout*

  39. Nih 39
    16 November 2007 at 4:47 pm

    I very much doubt Billy looks like Sophia Loren. I reckon you’re in.

  40. r0b 40
    16 November 2007 at 5:01 pm

    “Rob, takes two to tango, not just govt. but us as well. […] For the part time student who usually pays up front, interest free loans are a God send.”

    Lampie – sure, agreed. But I’m from a generation that got a free education. I’m of the belief that education should still be free – no loans needed. (E.g. no student fees and a benefit at the same level as unemployment).

    I know, I’m a mad old utopian. Mumble.

  41. Leftie 41
    16 November 2007 at 11:26 pm

    “I’m of the belief that education should still be free – no loans needed.”

    We can’t go wrong with a more skilled and educated workforce. Anything that encourages this has got to be good for our country. Who started the student loan scheme by the way? Was it the National Party?

  42. Nih 42
    16 November 2007 at 11:36 pm

    I’m not sure that the situation is all bad. We’re not lacking in tertiary education at all. It was going to cost $4k to sit my masters degree over the course of a year. That’s not bad compared to say the US.

    Where we lack is primary and secondary education, big time. Those areas understandably need more funding than tertiary and more effort put in. And yeah, those two stages should stay as cheap as possible, even free. In the same vein we should encourage our youth to head overseas to complete their education by working in industries we don’t have yet, so they can bring back that experience and knowledge as those industries reach NZ.

    As for tertiary education about the only thing I’d change is bring some of the newer areas of education that are emerging in the US over here such as programming, design and game development degrees. What we have here now in those areas is singularly useless.

  43. r0b 43
    16 November 2007 at 11:46 pm

    “Who started the student loan scheme by the way? Was it the National Party?”

    National started it. But I’m afraid that Labour don’t come out of the story well either. Instead of repealing it, they increased the costs to students.