Open Mike 08/02/2015

Written By: - Date published: 7:16 am, February 8th, 2015 - 80 comments
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80 comments on “Open Mike 08/02/2015 ”

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  1. phillip ure 1
    8 February 2015 at 7:24 am

    “..The Fiery Cage and the Lynching Tree – Brutality’s Never Far Away..

    ‘..there it was: the charred corpse of a young black man –

    – tied to a blistered tree in the heart of the Texas Bible Belt.

    Next to the burned body young white men can be seen smiling and grinning –

    – seemingly jubilant at their front-row seats in a carnival of death.

    One of them sent a picture postcard home:

    ‘This is the barbeque we had last night’.

    Here is the photograph.

    Take a good look at Jesse Washington’s stiffened body tied to the tree.

    He had been sentenced to death for the murder of a white woman.

    No witnesses saw the crime; he allegedly confessed but the truth of the allegations would never be tested.

    The grand jury took just four minutes to return a guilty verdict – but there was no appeal – no review – no prison time.

    Instead – a courtroom mob dragged him outside – pinned him to the ground – and cut off his testicles.

    A bonfire was quickly built and lit.

    For two hours Jesse Washington — alive — was raised and lowered over the flames.

    Again and again and again.

    City officials and police stood by – approvingly.

    According to some estimates – the crowd grew to as many as 15,000.

    There were taunts – cheers – and laughter.

    Reporters described hearing ‘shouts of delight’.

    When the flames died away – Washington’s body was torn apart – and the pieces were sold as souvenirs.

    The party was over..”

    (cont..)

    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article40914.htm

    • Molly 1.1
      8 February 2015 at 9:14 am

      .. strikes a coincidental chime for me, phil…

      Have just got the book 33 revolutions a minute from the library, and we are using it to do a quick research project on one song a week. Music, history and social conscience – what more could you ask for in a lesson plan?

      This week it was Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday.

      One of the points that was brought up during discussions, was that in those lynching photos you could very easily cut images out that indicated an entirely different occasion to what was going on.

      Many people smiling, laughing and socialising while human beings were tortured.

      We also discussed the importance of recognising this disconnect today, even if it presents in a less visceral way.

    • Murray Rawshark 1.2
      8 February 2015 at 5:22 pm

      Plenty of people got burned to death in Indochina, but it’s apparently OK if the napalm is launched from a gun or from the air. It’s barbaric to do it up close and personal. This is the same attitude that the seppos had 150 years ago, where they said Mexicans were cowards who used knives. While they stood 20 yards apart and tried to hit each other with Colt Peacemakers. Except that apparently most victims got shot in the back. The American national myth allows them to keep killing, while our own myth of peaceful colonisation allows us to keep denying Maori.

  2. phillip ure 2
    8 February 2015 at 8:04 am

    “..Burning Victims to Death: Still a Common Practice..”

    ..The most immediate consequence of drone strikes is of course – death and injury to those targeted or near a strike.

    The missiles fired from drones kill or injure in several ways – including through incineration[3] – shrapnel – and the release of powerful blast waves capable of crushing internal organs.

    Those who do survive drone strikes often suffer disfiguring burns and shrapnel wounds – limb amputations – as well as vision and hearing loss. . . .

    In addition – because the Hellfire missiles fired from drones often incinerate the victims’ bodies – and leave them in pieces and unidentifiable –

    – traditional burial processes are rendered impossible.

    ‘..These missiles are very powerful.

    They destroy human beings . . .

    There is nobody left – and small pieces left behind.

    Pieces.

    Whatever is left is just little pieces of bodies and cloth’.

    A doctor who has treated drone victims described how ‘[s]kin is burned so that you can’t tell cattle from human’..”

    (cont..)

    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article40895.htm

    (n.b..john key has admitted that we ‘help target’ these drones strikes..

    ..this is what is being done in our names…

    ..to some of the poorest/most desperate people on the planet..

    ..and now he wants boots on the ground..

    ..he wants to throw our soldiers into this hellhole..

    ..um..!..aren’t we already doing ‘more than enough’..?..)

  3. saveNZ 3
    8 February 2015 at 8:35 am

    A UK court vindicated Edward Snowden’s whistleblowing on Friday by ruling that the secrecy surrounding one of the programs he exposed was, in fact, illegal. The decision is more evidence that not only were the Snowden revelations necessary and justified, but are also slowly forcing changes in both US and UK, even as both governments fiercely resist.

    In a stunning ruling, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) – which oversees (and usually rubber stamps) Britain’s spy agencies – declared that the intelligence-sharing rules between the NSA and GCHQ (Britain’s NSA equivalent and partner-in-crime) governing their mass surveillance program violated UK human rights laws because they were kept secret for so long.

    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/07/gchq-court-surveillance-ruling-complicit-press-tell-the-truth

  5. Rosie 5
    8 February 2015 at 9:09 am

    Is karol still around?

    • veutoviper 5.1
      8 February 2015 at 9:53 am

      I have been wondering about Karol’s absence too, Rosie. I have only had time to skim TS most days recently, but her absence jumped out. It seems her last comment was on Jan 14.

      Hope everything is OK with her, but she is still tweeting https://twitter.com/KarolScribe

      • Rosie 5.1.1
        8 February 2015 at 1:42 pm

        Hi VV. Thanks for that. I hope she’s ok too. Good to see she is still tweeting though 🙂

    • lprent 5.2
      8 February 2015 at 7:26 pm

      She is having a timeout after some backend disagreements about some political points between some authors and probably exacerbated by author/commenting fatigue. The former is inevitable when we have strong-willed writing from different standpoints. The latter is just a fact of life, I’ve had several bouts of it over the last seven years myself.

      I’m hoping it isn’t permanent but it could be.

      It is a major effort for an author and even commenters to keep writing. Eventually you wind up saying all you have to say. You are also progressively naturally less able to tolerate the eternal repetitive disagreements that arise in comments or between authors (anyone who reads my comments is aware that I suffer from that a lot). That or work / family balances are the main reasons why authors drop out of writing.

      It is a natural progression, and why we have so many ex-authors.

      I try to keep the environment as friendly to authors as I can without making it too prescriptive and constraining the argument between different view points. Sometimes it doesn’t work, especially when I get busy at my paid employment.

      • Anne 5.2.1
        8 February 2015 at 7:59 pm

        I hope it isn’t permanent too. The clarity of her vision was always refreshing to read.

        • lprent 5.2.1.1
          8 February 2015 at 9:05 pm

          Indeed. But I have learnt over the years that when authors decide to stop or go, then they seldom do it lightly. I don’t try to talk them out of it. I just accept that is what they feel they have to do. Usually the first I know about is when they write a post and I read it in draft or when it posts.

          One of the things about putting in an authors discussion area is that they tend to do it there now.

      • greywarshark 5.2.2
        8 February 2015 at 10:07 pm

        Karol seems to be commenting to On the Left.

      • Rosie 5.2.3
        9 February 2015 at 9:01 am

        Thanks for taking the time to let us know where karol is at, Lynn.

        I always appreciated her on -the- ground – looking- upwards way of viewing things. She came across as community centred rather than pure politics, party and parliamentary.

        I also appreciate that authors are taking precious time out of their private lives, and that sometimes author time could cross over into work time. Considerable thought and analysis seems to go into author posts. I don’t know where folks get the energy from, I battle with so much fatigue some days and can’t even think to write anything coherent let alone get involved in a tiring conversation.

        It’s a real labour of love from TS authors and readers here and overseas benefit from such effort and service, so thank you all (graceful bow) for all you do. What would we do without you?

        And keep up “the strong willed writing from different standpoints” 🙂 It helps keep readers alert to different ways of viewing an issue.

  6. Once was Tim 6
    8 February 2015 at 9:34 am

    I hope Labour and Green politicians are listening to this morning’s “Media Watch” – in particular Ruth Harley’s view on NZoA/funding et al. It’s taken her 25 years to come to her senses but I’m glad she has, and she has the experience to state that view. Link not up atm/yet
    Our whole PSB needs a fucking big shakeup, and something more ambitious than the CBB advocates (though don’t get me wrong – I support them)

    • tc 6.1
      8 February 2015 at 9:49 am

      We need one based on the oz model where acts enshrine the funding and independance so any tinkering has to go through parliament.

      There is no public broadcasting in nz, RNZ is a joke, TVNZ an even bigger one.

      • Once was Tim 6.1.1
        8 February 2015 at 10:06 am

        I agree, and over the years I’ve become sick to death of the old excuse “we don’t have a big enough population….blah blah blah” ….. We do, and its just a question of how we choose to fund it. (CBB and its predecessor Save TVNZ7 provide SOME options – and VicUni’s Peter Thompson could give the pollies a quick primer).
        We also don’t need huge overpaid bureaucracies to do it as though it needs to be a ‘commercial enterprise’. As I say, I’m glad Ruth H has come to her senses – I know people who’ve been telling her what she now preaches for 20 years – but she’s the perfect person to continue to advocate.

        • tc 6.1.1.1
          8 February 2015 at 11:09 am

          Disregard the cost, it’s essential given the bias owned nature of all MSM today if we want to be informed without spin or corporate influence.

          Look at how Murdoch has Abbott attacking the ABC via budget cuts and appointing mates as ABC and SBS show up the rest for what they are, owned entities with agendas not aligned to the Aussie fair go battler ethos.

          It quite cheap if you carve up TVNZ with TV2 taking the high rating commercial material and funding TV1 which goes into PBS mode, plenty of talent around to staff it once you purge the ego cult exemplified by rawdon, mikey and all the highly paid auto cue readers.

          • Once was Tim 6.1.1.1.1
            8 February 2015 at 2:08 pm

            I don’t disagree @tc. But to the Natzis, there’s something fundamentally wrong with having a commercial arm ‘subsidising’ PSB – even tho’ they’re quite happy with PSB funded intellectual property subsidising private enterprise (the Sky monopoly….Heartland, etc., etc., etc.)
            And as for RNZ … the problem there is pretty much the same thing that’s afflicting the BBC, AND the current Abbotabad gubbamint’s ABC/SBS intentions: ideological tory managerialism.

            • Once was Tim 6.1.1.1.1.1
              8 February 2015 at 2:42 pm

              Oh btw …. don’t blame WallArse … despite the Fiji-colonial background, his romantic notions of a past, disabilities and hip pain, etc. [IS Frank REALLY that bad? …. etc. : yes he ekshully IS!] – as well as Esmeralda’s and Pete George beige-suited lookalikes in their twilight years semi-functioning on the Kepty Coast aside; OR the Christies (2 of – Damian and Rawdyrawdy) and Beckbenchas et al. They’ve done more good than bad. There’s a few others as well. It’s more to do with the environment they work in; the corporate culture they’re immersed in; the ‘in crowd’ they have to associate with – all that kaka. I’m happy to just let it all play out in some ways but for the fact I’m running out of life. In death tho’ I can see the inevitable and it ain’t pretty.

      • Chipmunk 6.1.2
        8 February 2015 at 10:35 am

        Part of the responsibility for the joke rests with us. It is alarmingly easy for us to get preoccupied with the latest events and sideshows while losing our critical faculties and our immediate memories where the media is concerned. An outstanding difference from the general fluff that passes for information was Wayne Brittenden’s Counterpoint . While it was on , many of us expressed our appreciation of his unflinching analyses that were a huge departure from the norm and often connected dots with a amazing clarity on an astonishing diversity of subjects. Two weeks ago I raised a concern that , unless he is unwell or on holiday, he has been quietly canned. I say ” quietly” because no one else appears to have noticed the Orwellian dissolve . There was no announcement last year that he would not be returning and nothing mentioned about his disappearance in his usual Sunday slot when the programme returned three Sundays ago.

        • Once was Tim 6.1.2.1
          8 February 2015 at 10:47 am

          +1
          I’ve been wondering why the absence too. I was going to ask RNZ (via a back door) – he may just be doing other things, but nothing would surprise me given the ‘trend’

          • Chipmunk 6.1.2.1.1
            8 February 2015 at 11:51 am

            I have since called an RNZ insider of my acquaintance who confirmed that Brittenden has indeed been canned . It would seem that certain embassies were unhappy with his content even though they have never been able to challenge its well researched accuracy . His work on the TPPA apparently upset some in high places ….. Interesting that the NY Times earlier this month published a feature by Professor Stiglitz that brought out the very same points about the TPPA that Brittenden gave us very much earlier. How sad that our public broadcaster is more squeamish than the NY Times! My informant told me that Brittenden’s programme was rated highly by listeners , but not , it seems, by certain well-placed people who would rather see him silenced. Ditto for a lightweight presenter who often found himself out of his intellectual depth.

            • Once was Tim 6.1.2.1.1.1
              8 February 2015 at 2:24 pm

              yep well – not surprising ….. se above: re ideological tory managerialism.
              Cowards really when it comes down to it. But ….. swing low sweat chariot – the pendulum swings and the harder to the right – the more momentum it has when it reaches its limit and begins its swing left again.
              Who to blame? Well those that wind up the mechanism. Lessons never seem to get ‘learned’ do they?! OR as they say (Bridges et al) …. “learnings” – which in itself is an attempt at manipulation.
              People continue to tolerate, but only because they have mortgages to pay and lifestyles to maintain. Trouble is those lifestyles and mortgages are getting harder for the 99% (soon to become 99.9% plebians). I already smell the fear …. but tuff shit – I’ll waste my sympathy on the more deserving.
              Hopefully you’ll get my meaning

            • tc 6.1.2.1.1.2
              8 February 2015 at 2:28 pm

              They aren’t squeamish they are controlled indirectly based on CT advice through Nat ministers then onto griffin etc.

              It’s how gluon gets the gig, Bradbury gets turfed and hooten, farrar etc all get to plug their agenda without critique.

  7. Shane Le Brun 7
    8 February 2015 at 10:32 am

    Another pro Medpot blog post, this time about a woman with CRPS, (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) widely regarded as the worst pain disorder in existence. The R in CRPS for regional could be subtracted in her case….

    http://yournz.org/2015/02/08/complex-regional-pain-syndrome-another-case-for-medicinal-cannabis/

    Alternate address
    https://mmj4chronicpain.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/complex-regional-pain-syndrome-another-case-for-medicinal-cannabis/

  8. idlegus 8
    8 February 2015 at 11:08 am

    “John Key restates case for flag change

    Prime Minister John Key has set out his case for changing the flag at his annual Waitangi Day breakfast address this morning – and admitted to a touch of envy over the ease with which Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has made the same decision.” jeez i missed that one! http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11397526

    & also rodney hyde is critical of john key from a right wing libertarian viewpoint & seemingly blaming everyone but some short clear points. comments are especially anti-nats. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11398277

  9. rawshark-yeshe 9
    8 February 2015 at 12:05 pm

    Three cheers for Andrea Vance and this bright and brave, unexpected opinion …. even challenging Key that it was not debated prior to the election …

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/65916914/andrea-vance-think-twice-before-joining-new-iraq-war

  10. Penny Bright 10
    8 February 2015 at 1:28 pm

    FYI folks – here is a link to the ‘Open Letter /OIA request that i sent to the Local Government Commissioners on 4 February 2015, which should help TORPEDO their ‘Draft Wellington Reorganisation Proposal’, and help STOP the Wellington ‘Supercity’?

    (This has already been sent to all Mayors and Councillors in the Greater Wellington Region, all MPs and most ‘mainstream’ media).
    ____________________________________________________________________________________

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/open-letteroia-to-local-government-commissioners-stop-the-wellington-supercity/

    4 February 2015

    URGENT ‘Open Letter’ /OIA request to Local Government Commissioners re: Draft Greater Wellington Reorganisation Proposal.

    Dear Local Government Commissioners,

    Basil Morrison Chairman
    Anne Carter Commissioner
    Janie Annear Commissioner

    Over the Christmas break, I have studied numerous documents pertaining to the Draft Wellington Reorganisation Proposal.

    The following is my considered opinion:

    1) There should be NO further amalgamations of Councils anywhere in New Zealand, until there is a full, thorough and independent audit of the Auckland ‘Supercity’, (based upon FACTS and EVIDENCE) which confirms how ‘cost-effective’ it has really been for the majority of Auckland Council citizens and ratepayers.

    I note that in the ‘Application for Local Government Reorganisation – PROPOSAL FOR A UNITARY AUTHORITY WITH LOCAL BOARDS FOR THE WELLINGTON REGION’ – it is stated on page 47:

    “The Auckland Council experience and overseas examples strongly suggest that there should be a reasonable expectation of efficiency savings from the creation of a combined Wellington Council.

    Opportunities would likely come from the following areas:

    * Common administrative and support functions (human resources, procurement, ICT, finance, property management, corporate and executive services)

    * Common data management systems and processes

    * Common regulatory functions, activities and processes (building consents, resource consents,liquor licensing, dog permits,
    and other permits and licensing)

    * Streamlined planning processes for resource management, transport planning as well as plans required under the Local
    Government Act

    * Single ownership of assets and a comprehensive asset management approach

    * Services that are delivered at both a regional and local level (economic development and tourism marketing)

    * Combined contract for services, for example rubbish collection and road management.
    ….”
    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    OIA REQUEST 1:

    PLEASE PROVIDE THE EVIDENCE UPON WHICH YOU LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONERS ARE RELYING / HAVE RELIED UPON IN ORDER TO BE ‘SATISFIED’ WITH THAT THIS ABOVE-MENTIONED STATEMENT IS FACTUALLY ACCURATE:
    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    2) In my considered opinion, this ‘Draft Wellington Reorganisation Proposal’ is fundamentally flawed, and this process should cease forthwith, because the public are not being given detailed FACTS or INFORMATION showing exactly where Councils in the Greater Wellington region are currently spending citizens and ratepayers public monies on Council services and regulatory functions.

    This information is needed in order to establish a factual datum, upon which to measure current or future ‘cost-effectiveness’ in the provision of Council services and regulatory functions. There is no information of this type in the Draft Wellington Reorganisation Proposal, so the public simply cannot make an ‘informed’ submission.

    Please be reminded of your statutory duties arising from the Local Government Act 2002, regarding your ‘Draft Wellington Reorganisation Proposal’:

    (Please note that the underlining of particular sections of this legislation is mine).

    http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2002/0084/latest/DLM171803.html

    Subpart 1—Purpose of local government

    10Purpose of local government

    (1)The purpose of local government is—

    (a)to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and

    (b)to meet the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.

    (2)In this Act, good-quality, in relation to local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions, means infrastructure, services, and performance that are—

    (a)efficient; and

    (b)effective; and

    (c)appropriate to present and anticipated future circumstances.

    ………………………..
    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    (That’s just the start ……… )

    There are some hours of (unpaid) work that have gone into this document, which contains research that, to my knowledge, no one else has done.

    Having carefully checked the websites for each of the nine Councils which make up the Greater Wellington Region, I have compiled a total of 146 possible Council services and Regulatory Functions, and have provided a ‘Transparency Template’ so that a ‘snapshot’ can be taken of which are currently provided ‘in-house’, by Councils Controlled Organisations (CCOs), or have been ‘contracted out’ to the private sector.

    Next, are a series of questions which are to confirm, on an individual Council service or Regulatory Function basis, how the current costs can be quantified, and compared across the Greater Wellington Region, comparing ‘apples with apples’ – as it were.

    eg: How is the current Council service of ‘Dog Control’ being applied over the Greater Wellington Region?

    How is ‘Dog Control’ carried out in the Kapiti District Council? Carterton District Council? Wellington City Council?

    Who exactly is providing this service? How is it being provided? How much is it costing? What are the charges?

    Given that the purported purpose of these Council ‘amalgamations’ is supposed to be to provide more ‘cost-effective’ solutions – how on earth can that be established if you don’t know exactly what the are the CURRENT costs for providing these Council services and Regulatory Functions?

    These ‘Transparency Templates’ which I have provided, and full credit to my friend and fellow ‘anti-corruption whistle-blower’ colleague Grace Haden who helped with the formatting, will help citizens and ratepayers find out EXACTLY where rates monies are being spent.

    The question is – why is it that that this information is not already available for public scrutiny – given the current legislative requirements for ‘open, transparent. and democratically accountable’ local government.

    Be interested in your feedback.

    Kind regards,

    Penny Bright

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz

  11. mac1 11
    8 February 2015 at 2:07 pm

    Some Sunday weeding for felix updated from the April 29 2011 undesirable plant catalogue.

    2015 Political Weeds

    Sabinus Sabine, or Northland Knockweed, came late to the government’s attention as a potential hazard to be eradicated. It is such a pest that even its home nursery disowns it, and the common garden slater eschews it. Signs of it are still to be seen in its northern habitat, and the blue-clad pest eradicators are yet to arrest its development though they are strongly rumoured to have advised the government of its errant proclivities which they are currently investigating.

    Natio Diversionalis is at times planted by the PM and was last seen on Waitangi Day when it was flown (sorry,grown!) on the Marae. It resembles a Flag Iris when in full bloom and usually accompanies militaristic displays of nationalism. it is likely to replace the white feather given to shirkers such as those who oppose the transmission of troops overseas.

    Smithus Smithus var Stuartus (to distinguish from the Nelson cultivar var. Nickus), known in the Kaikoura region as the Marlborough Doosy, is another new weed in the political landscape. It seeks to be a companion plant for grape vines but its pre-selection promises of removing costs to the wine industry have shown little value despite self-promoting displays and an outwardly pleasant appearance..

    Smithus Smithus var. Nickus is a plant of florid appearance which has had a singularly poor performance in cleaning up New Zealand’s waterways. A recent outbreak of paralysis causing organisms in Tory Channel has Smithus Nickus in a twist.

    Smithus var. Nickus has been responsible for the gradual degrading of a once popular and widespread plant, very useful in providing shelter. Domusdomesticus Socialis is now being progressively sold off by the government which hopes that 5000 kiwis currently sheltering under its canopy will move on to other habitat. These could include under bridges, bus shelters, and garages.

    The government has a dualistic view of this 70,000 strong planting. It used to be grown in clumps, then was spread like grains from a pepperpot, and now is being offered to religious groups to tend, with donations of additional fertiliser from the government.

    This government says on one hand that there is no problem with its growth and spread and on the other hand wishes to enact regulations to allow its selective spread only by known corporative propagators and friends.

    Much of the Kiwis’ former habitat is now prized by invasive species such as Unus Percentus and similar free-loading off-shore varieties. Coastal, mountain, lake and artificial waterways and other locations of prime value are to be denied to native kiwis species by the newly changed RMA, or Render unto Mammon Act.

    Instead, unus percents, banksia australis and refugees from the spread of overseas feared Climatus Morphusglobalis and its attendant Holocaustus species are to be allowed unfettered planting rights such as are available now in Hawaii and other Friendly Society Island groups.

    Holocaustus species which arise in the ashes of nuclear, environmental or other largely man-made catastrophes are definitely on the upwards growth, powered by rising global temperatures and peculiar conditions such as are found in the Ukraine (holocaustus var. putiniensis), China (var. pollutionis which can reach densities of 650 plants per square metre and are easily seen in the air producing choking and breathing problems), and the Middle East (var. Isis Obamatremens which grows best under a crescent moon).

    Unus Percentus, which itself caused a global catastrophe in 2008 and by cutbacks afterwards in other species, greatly fears a severe pruning, and even removal of excess nutrient-accumulation by leaf stripping as promised in Greece, Spain and other under-irrigated areas.

    Examination of overseas-held seed banks and occupation of land by rogue unus percentus sub-species such as Mafia Muscova, Donus Sicilianus, red or yellow flowering three petalled Gangtze Chinensis, and tea-leafed Capitalis Americanus in New Zealand is also a possibility in the red-dawned future. However, current NZ government-encouraged growing conditions, abetted by local nutrient-robbing weeds, precludes this for at least two more summers of discontent.

  12. Morrissey 12
    8 February 2015 at 3:39 pm

    Do the Jews in Germany have the Right to defend themselves?

    Imagine a U.S. spokesperson, in 1938, asked to comment on the events of Kristallnacht, saying to a Jewish journalist: “There is violence and back and forth.” Something like that happened at the grotesque and surreal Theatre of the Absurd known as the White House Daily Press Briefing on July 8, 2014….

    JEN PSAKI: Israel have the right to defend themselves.
    REPORTER: Do you think that the Palestinians in Gaza have the right to defend themselves?
    JEN PSAKI: Errrrr, I think—I— I’m not sure what you’re getting at, Said.
    REPORTER: I am asking you: Do they have the right to defend themselves against Israeli aggression?
    JEN PSAKI: What are you specifically referring to? Is there a specific event or a specific occurrence?
    REPORTER: Do they have the right to respond to Israeli rocketing and bombing their homes, their houses, their areas, their schools?”

    ……..

    • b waghorn 12.1
      8 February 2015 at 4:18 pm

      “The strong difference between rocket attacks and Israel s air raids ” is that the rockets are sent buy the poor and dispossessed and the rockets come from the, to the palestinians eyes invaders.
      Said needs an award for bravery.

      • Morrissey 12.1.1
        8 February 2015 at 4:25 pm

        Said needs an award for bravery.

        I think it’s more the case that the other reporters, who carefully maintained blank expressions and left him isolated, need to be presented with an award for cowardice. A white feather perhaps?

        Meanwhile, the lightweights of the American media continue to insult the intelligence of their viewers….

        • North 12.1.1.1
          8 February 2015 at 7:20 pm

          If you’d walked into scores and scores and scores of thousands of New Zealand homes in August 2014, the occasion of the last biennial shooting-fish-in-a-barrel exercise by NatziYahoo and the IDF against Gaza, you’d have seen this: hundreds of thousands of thick slobs and aresholes sitting on their tatty sofas, watching TVOne/TV3News reporting about the “militants” of Gaza. You watch……the picture will be no less gross in two years or less hence.

          You’d have seen also these same thick slobs and arseholes sagely remarking through mouthsful of semi-masticated ‘pork’ sausage and mash, “Well, if they’d stop firing those rockets…….”.

          That is what a vast number of New Zealanders have become…….unempathetic, reflexively cruel bastards. A Palestinian mother and father whose 4 children under 12 have just been wasted when their apartment exploded under fire from a US made fighter jet…….”well, if only they’d stop firing those rockets.”

          Score in the August 2014 firing of rockets from Gaza – 6 civilians if that.

          Score in the August 2014 biennial shooting-fish-in-a-barrel exercise by Zionist Israel – well over 1,500 civilians, 500 plus of them children.

          Ask yourselves you ‘pork’ sausage waisted, minded, moralled, bastards ! For whom we can read White House spokesperson Jen Psaki. Whose employer the US of A pays to NatziYahoo an annual $US3,000,000,000 – three thousand million US dollars – in military aid. Hope you and Mr Obama are satisfied you’re getting good bang for your buck there Psaki…….

          • Morrissey 12.1.1.1.1
            8 February 2015 at 7:40 pm

            That is what a vast number of New Zealanders have become……. unempathetic, reflexively cruel bastards. A Palestinian mother and father whose 4 children under 12 have just been wasted when their apartment exploded under fire from a US made fighter jet…….”well, if only they’d stop firing those rockets.”

            Actually, North, I don’t believe most people are that cruel. I have not met many people at all that endorse the mass slaughter that we all witnessed last July. Even politicians like Phil Goff, who feel compelled to say with a straight face that the aggressors and mass murderers “have the right to defend themselves” will not keep up that absurd line if they are challenged. That’s not the case, however, with the small gang of moral cowards, illiterates and nincompoops that dominate the media; on television, radio and in the Op-Ed pages of the major papers, morality is as non-existent as professionalism or fairness and balance.

            And yes, any number of “thick slobs” do indeed reflexively repeat what they’ve heard the likes of Larry “Lackwit” Williams and his cast of grotesques on NewstalkZB saying—but that’s not serious thinking, and it disappears whenever a reasonable person is (politely and respectfully) challenged.

            • North 12.1.1.1.1.1
              8 February 2015 at 8:37 pm

              I’m not entirely convinced Morrissey. Have a look at Facebook during the ‘sport’ seen in August 2014. It hasn’t gone quite as far as death threats but I’ve had promises of GBH from total strangers via FB message. This from mullet-coiffed, ‘good-decent-tell-it-like-it-is-joker’ pork munchers. Oh yes one fascist disporting himself as an associate-professor-of-business as well. You’d be a goner Morrissey !

              • Morrissey …
                8 February 2015 at 8:47 pm

                I know what you mean, my friend. Israel’s most rabid backers, from Dame Lesley Max to the unhinged Waikato professor Dov Bing, are ruthless in the extreme. But they are definitely a tiny rabid fringe. Most people are not like them, even if they are often too afraid to contradict them.

                And please be careful out there North—it’s not worth endangering yourself in the face of someone who will not listen or think.

    • McFlock 13.1
      8 February 2015 at 5:25 pm

      awwww.
      poor widdle tory needed an MC to defend him.

      • North 13.1.1
        8 February 2015 at 7:53 pm

        Overheard observation from a mature member of a group of people resident but not born in New Zealand – “Dat Mitta Gee……I tink heese a pit of a kirl……” – the reporting of which is completely silly of course and should raise hackles……but bloody funny to hear !

        On TV the other night saw the dork mincing his way down a catwalk clad in Rugby World Cup volunteers’ gear from a few years ago. Well !

        I cannot help but applaud the mature member of a group of people resident but not born in New Zealand for his powers of observation !

    • North 13.2
      8 February 2015 at 8:14 pm

      TheSodKey at BGO – “But we’ve turned that around. I voted for gay marriage”. Weird phrasing Johnny but that aside, isn’t he lying AGAIN…….or was it the so-called anti-smacking bill or civil union he semi-floated he’d not voted for, during the BBVG (BigBullshitVoteGrease) in South Auckland, accompanied by a rather embarrassed looking PesetaSamBoy ?

      Whatever, the bastard can’t help himself ! Poor Bronagh…….limo’ drops him off in Parnell after a long week of telling lies down in Wellington……”Hello John Key, I’ve missed you so much !” – “WTF are you on about woman……my name’s Barack Churchill…….don’t touch me !”

    • weka 13.3
      8 February 2015 at 10:15 pm

      And in the I didn’t think National could get any more creepy department, the striking difference between National and Labour at the BGO.

      https://twitter.com/CraigTRobertson/status/564267037363810305

  14. Skinny 14
    8 February 2015 at 6:29 pm

    Today my partner and I decided to go on a Sunday drive, walk the dog. My partner suggested taking a fishing rod as she was sick of the bait in the freezer. I checked the Maori fishing calander which said excellent day with bite time 3.30-5.30 pm. off we went to a place not too far only 10 minutes drive. There is a jetty close to the channel and the road is quiet to walk a excitable young King of toys dog. There were a 3 elderly folks fishing and a dozen kids jumping off the jetty swimming. Spoke to the people fishing who had caught one keeper early on before the kids had arrived. So we took the dog for a walk for an hour. About 3pm the kids buggered off so set up fishing. The fish were nibbling pretty much straight away, we all hooked up and landed a few just under the 30cm limit, sadly some released floated to the surface. Which seems such a waste. You would think you could keep them if they die, I would far rather have a size limit on big fish as their the breeding stock. My partner gave up bored and headed to the car, I said I’m nearly out of bait and wouldnt be long. With my last bit of squid I baited my 2 hooks and cast, bang got a good strike, reeling in I landed 2 pan size snapper measuring 42 and 50 cm. I bagged them walked to the car jumped in and said its never over till the baits gone. 🙂 baked snapper for dinner which is ready now.

    • Anne 14.1
      8 February 2015 at 6:46 pm

      Nice to read story Skinny but should have been on Weekend Social. 🙂

      • Skinny 14.1.1
        8 February 2015 at 7:40 pm

        Sorry it was a haste post as I was being eye balled about over cooking the fish, which since I’m the head cook was silly, it was baked to perfection.
        It has a political theme, my point is the raising of legal size of fish you can keep, especially for land/surfcasting 30 cm is silly, I mean I saw 4 fish just under 30 cm and over the old size of 27cm die today. Boat fishing I can understand but land based no, its hard work and the fish get knocked about so its harder for them to survive.

        • phillip ure 14.1.1.1
          8 February 2015 at 8:01 pm

          interesting fact is that fish have central nervous systems very similar to humans..

          ..so if you can imagine a hook going thru yr cheek..

          ..and then being dragged by that hook..thru the water..

          ..then to be dragged out of the water..to either suffocate..

          ..or to have yr skull bashed in..

          ..you’ll get/have some idea of the amount of pain the fish suffer..

          ..but i guess meat/fish-eaters know how much pain/suffering they cause..

          ..just to get that ‘tastes good’..eh..?

          ..so i guess it just doesn’t bother them in the slightest…

          ..and it is such a nice day out..isn’t it..?..

          ..(except for the fish..of course..eh..?..)

          • Skinny 14.1.1.1.1
            8 February 2015 at 8:23 pm

            It’s never pleasant having to do the hunter gatherer thing Phil. I feel guilty taking a knife to garden veggies, you can almost here them scream.

            • phillip ure 14.1.1.1.1.1
              8 February 2015 at 8:32 pm

              really..?

              ..the screaming-vegetables carnivore-cliche/excuse is all you’ve got..?

              ..it is pretty defenceless tho..eh..?

              ..if you think about it for more than a nano-second..

              ..and of course with pigs and the like..

              ..they really do scream..eh..?

              ..not just pretend-vegetable scream..eh..?

              ..and i guess if fish could scream..

              ..you wd definitely hear that as you pulled them out of their world..

              ..eh..?

              ..wot with that hook in/thru their mouth..and all..eh..?

              ..lucky they only gasp..eh..?

              ..screams wd mar that ‘nice day out’ so..eh..?

              • Skinny …
                8 February 2015 at 9:10 pm

                I’m serious I feel the same way for plants the way you feel for animals. I worry for my plants on a really hot day knowing their wilting in the hot sun.
                Plant have feelings too ya know.

            • phillip ure 14.1.1.1.1.2
              8 February 2015 at 8:41 pm

              “..having to do the hunter gatherer thing..’

              ..what a pile of fresh steaming hose-shit that is..eh..?

          • phillip ure 14.1.1.1.2
            8 February 2015 at 8:30 pm

            no wonder they flap about a bit..eh..?

            ..the fish…

            ..i guess you wd too..

            ..if that was done to you..

            ..eh..?

            • McFlock 14.1.1.1.2.1
              8 February 2015 at 8:59 pm

              Yeah, but I’m sure that, when eaten, both Skinny and the fish would produce less bile and indigestion than you.

              • phillip ure …
                8 February 2015 at 9:11 pm

                got anything else..?

                ..or is that it..?

                ..wd b nice if it made some sense..eh..?

                ..more just an inarticulate-snarl..eh..?

                • McFlock …
                  8 February 2015 at 9:26 pm

                  stop flapping.

                  • phillip ure …
                    8 February 2015 at 9:33 pm

                    so no real countering-arguments or anything..eh..?

                    ..well..there aren’t any really..are there..

                    ..so i guess ad-homs r all you’ve got..eh..?

                    ..what’s next..?

                    ..are we gonna escalate to nyah..!..nyah..!..?

                    • McFlock …
                      8 February 2015 at 9:55 pm

                      countering-argument surely implies an argument to respond to?

                    • phillip ure …
                      8 February 2015 at 10:05 pm

                      here’s the argument..

                      ..why do you hurt animals..?

                      ..when you don’t need to..

                      ..(i’ll leave you with that thought..)

                    • McFlock …
                      8 February 2015 at 10:12 pm

                      That’s actually a question which rests on several assumptions.

                      I suppose the most relevant answer in this instance, temporarily granting as fact all the assumptions in your question, is “because it’s more fun than tofu”.

          • Clemgeopin 14.1.1.1.3
            9 February 2015 at 1:55 am

            Look what you have done to me now! I just finished writing and posting a raw fish recipe! You have made me think a lot now! Oh, dear!

            • phillip ure 14.1.1.1.3.1
              9 February 2015 at 8:02 am

              “..You have made me think a lot now! Oh, dear!..”

              ..that’s good..that’s what i am trying to do…

              ..many reading that wd still believe the myth that ‘fish don’t feel pain’..

              ..and the thing is with knowledge/awareness..

              ..once you have it..you may ignore it..

              ..but it still sits there..nagging away..

              ..(a bit like me..really..)

    • North 14.2
      8 February 2015 at 6:50 pm

      How I envy you Skinny both in the catching and the eating, two in the one cast. You must have a larger than usual size pans. Those are good sized schnapper !

      Which makes what I’m about to ply you with pretty tasteless behaviour on my part but I’d already done the Right/Click/Copy exercise so might as well.

      Sarah Palin re the “liberal” Pope and Sarah Palin re Christie’s waste line – wonder what the worked gargoyle would’ve said about FDR.

      Poor Amerika !

      http://live.huffingtonpost.com/#r/archive/segment/52839899fe34444ea5000206?cps=gravity_3831_-1162663177255025467

    • Clemgeopin 14.3
      8 February 2015 at 7:01 pm

      Good life!

      An American friend of mine and his Kiribati wife introduced me to the deliciousness of Kiribati style raw tuna fish marinated in salt and vinegar, then washed, squeezed and prepared with a few other choice ingredients. Amazing taste. This dish and its preparation is quite different from the raw fish dish of other pacific islands. The dish tastes and feels like the fish is well cooked! Actually, it is in a way, being chemically cooked in salt+vinegar! This works very well with some other firm fish too, including snapper.

      If you are keen to know how exactly to do this, reply here and I will be happy to describe the recipe and method.

      • Skinny 14.3.1
        8 February 2015 at 7:48 pm

        Yes please Clem you have my taste buds going, quiet day on open mike anyways lol.
        My as well talk food.

        • Clemgeopin 14.3.1.1
          9 February 2015 at 12:56 am

          Ok, Here is the way my friends who are an American-Kiribati couple and I do raw fish. I describe it as chemically cooked fish (CC Fish; See See Fish) rather than raw for the squeamish!
          A MUST try delicacy!

          First, I will now name this highly recommended recipe….Ta da…

          RAWKIRI-CLEMPIN-FISHDISH :

          * Definitely Serves 5 to15 depending upon how much one serves on one’s plate!
          * or usable for several little meals/snacks for a day or two or three, if refrigerated.
          * Good for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or as a healthy mid-night or any time snack!
          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          YOU WILL NEED:

          Fish, Coconut cream, Salt, White vinegar, Cucumber, Tomatoes, Onion -mainly.
          Optional : Capsicum, Carrrot, Chives/Parsley/Lettuce, Lime/Lemon.

          INGREDIENTS LIST 1 :

          NOTE : The measurements are approximate and variable up or down as convenient.

          * FISH : 2 kg
          Preferably firm fish such as
          Tuna, Snapper, Tarakihi, Kahawai, Kingfish,
          Salmon, Groper, Gurnard, Halibut, Warehou, John Dory etc
          [P.S : I have tried the first five only]

          * SALT : About 1/4 Kg
          Don’t panic! We will remove all or most of the salt later during preparation.

          * WHITE VINEGAR : About 1/2 to 1 litre , enough to cover cut fish pieces in a bowl.
          Again, Don’t panic! We will remove most of the vinegar later during preparation!

          * COCONUT CREAM : 2 or 3 or may be even 4 cans or about 1 litre.
          You’ll need to judge later by eyeballing/taste test in step 7 of procedure.
          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          INGREDIENTS LIST 2 :

          NOTE :
          The following items should all together make up ABOUT half or slightly less than half the quantity of fish. Max 750g or1 kg in this case as fish used here is about 2 Kgs. Do not avoid the first three items marked with two stars **

          ** CUCUMBER : 1/4 or more of (telegraph) cucumber or 1 cup,
          cut in small 1/2 cm cubes. Judge quantity per taste later, but must have item!

          ** RIPE RED TOMATOES : 2 medium size or 1 cup
          cut in small 1/2 cm cubes. May need 3 if small. Judge later.

          ** ONION : 1 medium size or 1 cup. Definitely red onion if possible.
          Cut in small 1/2 cm cubes. Use 2 if small. Again, do taste test later.
          ~~~~~~~~~~~~

          * CAPSICUM : (OPTIONAL), 1/2 to 1 cup, cut in small 1/2 cm cubes. Green and/or yellow adds colour to dish.

          * CARROT : (OPTIONAL), 1/2 cup grated or cut tiny 1/4 or 1/2 cm.

          * CHIVES or PARSLEY or LETTUCE : (Any one, but OPTIONAL), 2 TABLE spoons, cut small 1/4 or 1/2 cm.

          * LIME ZEST (OPTIONAL), thin green outer layer of lime peel, 2 tea spoons, grated

          * LIME or LEMON : 1 (You may or may not need this as per taste later)
          ~~~~~~~~~~~

          PROCEDURE :

          STEP 1 :

          Wash your hands well in soap. Rinse the fish. Remove skin of fish and fish bones and cut into 1 cm sized cubes. While cutting, keep putting the pieces into a bowl. When a layer of fish forms in the bowl, scatter a handful of salt over it. Repeat this for several layers until the fish is finished. Mix the fish pieces and salt a little to ensure all pieces are well covered in salt. I use my hands for this. Leave it for 5 to 10 minutes. Have a cuppa or a beer or make love or whatever. (Optional)

          STEP 2 :

          Pour vinegar into the bowl to cover the fish pieces. Give it a mix with a spoon or your clean hands. Cover with a cloth and leave at room temperature for at least 2 hours. Good to leave it up to 5 hours to cook well chemically in salt and vinegar.

          STEP 3 :

          While the fish is marinading and getting mysteriously cooked, prepare the cleaning and cutting of the ingredients (those that you will be using) from list 2 above.

          STEP 4 : [Important step]

          (a) After the 2 to 5 hours, drain the liquid from the fish bowl. I do this either by using a colander or by simply covering the bowl with a plate and draining the liquid into the sink.

          (b) Now WASH the fish pieces with your hands using cold running water from the tap.

          (c) Drain the water again as before. Squeeze a handful of fish and place it in another bowl. Do this until you have squeezed handfuls and transferred all the
          fish into this new bowl.

          (d) REPEAT this washing, draining, squeezing (WDS, unlike the WMDs) routine at least THREE times. FIVE times will be better. The idea is to remove MOST of the salt and vinegar and also to make the fish nice and soft to eat. Do a taste test : Take a piece of fish and eat it. It should not be TOO salty or TOO sour. If it is, repeat the WDS routine 1 or 2 more times. If it is a little salty and sour, do not worry too much because when we add the other stuff, the taste and composition will come right.

          STEP 5 :
          Add a can or two of coconut cream into the bowl of fish to cover the pieces well.

          STEP 6 :
          Add all the cut ingredients of list 2 that you prepared in step 3, into the fish bowl.

          STEP 7:
          (a) Give it a good mix using a spoon.
          (b) Add more coconut cream if it is not covering the contents in the bowl well.
          (c) Make and add more of ingredients from list 3 (except lime) if you feel you must.
          (d) Do a taste test and see if you think you may need to add more salt or lime juice. Do NOT add salt or lime just yet.
          (e) Cover and keep the bowl in fridge for half an hour. 1 to 2 hours is better.
          (f) Do another taste test. This time, if you fancy more salt or lime, feel free to add but very tiny amounts each time. Keep tasting and adding tiny amounts until the dish tastes yummy and you are happy.

          STEP 8 :
          Serve cold. Normally, as an special extra course or as a side dish.

          STEP 9 :
          Cover any left over with glad wrap and refrigerate. Will keep good for at least three days in the fridge.

          STEP 10:
          Enjoy and share or Share and enjoy!
          ~~~~~~~~~~

          • Clemgeopin 14.3.1.1.1
            9 February 2015 at 1:30 am

            CORRECTION :

            7 (c) should read,

            ‘Make and add more of ingredients from list 2 (except lime) if you feel you must’ [Not list 3 ]
            ————
            And sorry, I could not post the recipe earlier in the evening as I was away and busy. Then it took me considerable time to write this recipe from scratch! It made me realise it isn’t as easy as it seems!

            Please let me know if I have made any more errors or if my description is not clear.

    • Murray Rawshark 14.4
      8 February 2015 at 9:14 pm

      I agree that it would be better to have an upper size limit, maybe something like 5kg. They start to be valuable breeders at about 2kg, as far as I know. They get more valuable as they get older. I’ve caught the best fish of the day a few times on the last bait.

      • Skinny 14.4.1
        8 February 2015 at 10:45 pm

        I agree a 25+ year old fish is far better too be left as breeding stock, they are not as good to eat 20 pound upwards they become flakey.

        Catching 2 on my last cast is a first for me, gave me a good buzz, as some wisecrack fellow watching said looks like its fish & chips for ya dinner on the way home as I said last go. Less then 60 seconds later I hauled in my catch. I winked at him walking off with my booty.

        Going to go back on dusk during the week, the recent storm has stirred up the food chain and the swell is up too, and cloud cover is good.

        • Clemgeopin 14.4.1.1
          9 February 2015 at 2:09 am

          Don’t the corporate and rich dude created callous river pollution contaminate the fish?

  15. Morrissey 15
    8 February 2015 at 8:43 pm

    Liars of Our Time
    No. 46: JULIA GILLARD

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    “I have got a lot of respect for people who whistle-blow, ummm….”

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    —JULIA GILLARD, straight-faced, vile on ABC Television, 14 March 2011
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1q9eqhT5UM

    Liar No. 45 Zara Potts: “Sir Bob Geldof has assembled the best of modern musicians for this year’s record, including Ed Sheeran and One Direction.”
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-11112014/#comment-924196

    More liars HERE….
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09102014/#comment-907232

  16. Morrissey 16
    3 March 2015 at 7:34 pm

    Liars of Our Time
    
No. 48: JIM MORA

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    The studio fills with the sound of Tony Doe singing his new single “How Do You Embrace the Earth?”

    JIM MORA: Well DONE.

    TONY DOE: [modestly] So yeah. Pleased to be able to get it out to a wider audience.

    JIM MORA: Fantastic! I’ll have a listen to the full version after The Panel.

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    —JIM MORA, The Panel, Radio NZ National, 3:35 p.m., Wednesday 18 February 2015

    Liar No.47 Simon Mercep: ““Coming up in a few minutes, The Panel. …. Whoever they are, quality broadcasting will ensue.”
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-18022015/#comment-970927

    Liar No. 46 Julia Gillard: “I have got a lot of respect for people who whistle-blow, ummm….”
http://thestandard.org.nz/ope-mike-08022015/#comment-965394

    Liar No. 45 Zara Potts: “Sir Bob Geldof has assembled the best of modern musicians for this year’s record, including Ed Sheeran and One Direction.”
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-11112014/#comment-924196

    More liars HERE….
    
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09102014/#comment-907232