It would help us all to keep these wonderful words in our minds from now to the end of the year….and onwards to the end of time.
Lyrics in English for “Ode to Joy”
(“Ode An Die Freude”)
Beethoven’s 9th Symphony
O friends, no more these sounds!
Let us sing more cheerful songs,
more full of joy!
Joy, bright spark of divinity,
Daughter of Elysium,
Fire-inspired we tread
Thy sanctuary.
Thy magic power re-unites
All that custom has divided,
All men become brothers
Under the sway of thy gentle wings.
Whoever has created
An abiding friendship,
Or has won
A true and loving wife, [partner]
All who can call at least one soul theirs,
Join in our song of praise;
But any who cannot must creep tearfully
Away from our circle.
All creatures drink of joy
At nature’s breast.
Just and unjust
Alike taste of her gift;
She gave us kisses and the fruit of the vine,
A tried friend to the end.
Even the worm can feel contentment,
And the cherub stands before God!
Gladly, like the heavenly bodies
Which He set on their courses
Through the splendor of the firmament;
Thus, brothers, you should run your race,
As a hero going to conquest.
You millions, I embrace you.
This kiss is for all the world!
Brothers, above the starry canopy
There must dwell a loving Father.
Do you fall in worship, you millions?
World, do you know your creator?
Seek him in the heavens;
Above the stars must He dwell.
The Music – people bringing their musical skills together to create something beautiful. 23 minutes of singers and players, old and young, striving to do credit to Beethoven’s creation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdWyYn0E4Ys
My favourite – I have put it up before. A flash mob from Spain with a short version that is enjoyed by all, adults and children. This sort of flash mob could be a monthly happening in each NZ town. The community would go to the town square or central place, and see what was on this month and applaud, and start planning to do something as good next month.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87qT5BOl2XU
“yeah/Nah” Unfortunately @ grey, as much as I admire the sentiment and the message, it probably comes about 10 years too late – the problem(s) go much deeper and are now far more entrenched
Neoliberalism never was just an ideology or another “ism” or political agenda. It was always an ideology as well as a culture, and a religion, and a language, and an ‘ego’ – which is probably why many on the “Left” succumbed to it and still do.
It’ll most likely take a disaster for it to be demolished.
Call me a pessimist if you like @ grey.
OwT
I looked through the Ode and have come up with a piece that says something to your very true summation. And perhaps also to the aftermath.
I have friendly feelings for many people on this blog, and regard very few as fiends! It is a blessing to me to know something of, and talk with good strivers out there for a decent world that has a kindly thought about everything, without being lost in a haze of syrupy tat or PC taken to the authoritarian levels or rigid rules, or indeed also, a miasma of clever machinery.
Whoever has created
An abiding friendship,
Or has won
A true and loving wife, [partner, child, friend]
All who can call at least one soul theirs,
Join in our song of praise;
But any who cannot must creep tearfully
Away from our circle.
I have found the boundaries of my infirmity enlarged by the companions here.
It is true some have fallen away over the year to be replaced by other voices, but this blog has wide ranging and thought provoking contributions and conversations held daily.
Many authors have given us opportunities to “Air our general ignorance”, which we have readily done. Mickey, Iprent, Advantage. Many thanks.
So I would like more of the same. A special thank you to Advantage. Your articles on the science behind climate change were excellent and the references to research mind opening, and Mickey for expressing thoughts from a Labour point of view a highlight for me.
Frank, your organised science based answers and statements always leads to further reading and thinking, likewise Swordfish for the polls and graphs.
Some here have given freely from their experiences, and given a window to another situation Greywarshark Anne Marty Cinny ExKiwiforces Rosemary Barfly and those who responded about my hip many thanks.
Those who pulled me back into line when I became too dogmatic and full of it veutoviper,
lol lol Thank you one and all,
I read you all, even the trolls on here, because they are our trolls with their prods pokes and puckish poetry . To those i’ve missed sorry . Happy New Year.
Are we just a bigger bug? Insects can do all the things we do. And more. Feel free to prove me wrong. We are good with complicated machines and systems.
Which look as if they will kill us, or lead to the death of billions before long.
So are we really clever, or just dexterous?
Here’s a good story about leafcutter ants. Tiny things creating large intricate dwelling places. Apparently they had a behaviour that led to their own destruction. They laid their eggs in the crevices of worker ants heads. Can we clever beings work out how we are bringing our own destruction, our bodies, minds and way of life; or are we so complex that we can’t go to the heart of the matter because we have lost our hearts.
Were we to work industrially like ants, we could change the planet.
Oh, wait…
There are amoebas that farm bacteria. They take them with them and spread them around to populate then they selectively eat them. 😀
Were those amoebas to develop a means of trade in bacteria, things could go haywire. Some amoebas might be relegated to guarding bacteria for other amoebas, while other amoebas could go hungry – but they’d soon get desperate, and war would be waged over the bacteria.
Amoebas would go tribal centered around bacterial resources. Amoebas would go to die in endless war. Commemorative plaques would be made, songs and stories written.
Weapons programs, chemical endeavors and taxes; these would all become necessity to security and supply. The bacteria fuel the industry, the industry protects the supply.
Then industry utilises armies and scientists to begin to explore for new supplies and new production lines. Everything is up for grabs.
They’re only amoebas, it’s a big planet, what could possibly go wrong.
Exclusive: More than 2 dozen women and men who worked on Bernie's 2016 campaign are seeking a meeting with Sanders + advisers to “discuss the issue of sexual violence and harassment on the 2016 campaign" according to a copy of letter obtained by POLITICO. https://t.co/ytKjyGlaJhpic.twitter.com/XSv8fyZxi8— Alex Thompson (@AlxThomp) December 31, 2018
Some of you may have read the discussion that has been going on this morning with Pete George under yesterday’s posting of “The Standard’s ten most commented on posts in 2018”.
Originally I was going to add it to the now unnumbered/no reply facility ones in the thread. Then I decided to start a new thread under the same post, but then thought it really did not relate to the topic of the post. So fell back to Open Mike as the best option.
Back to PG’s response to Psycho Milt, Three things jumped out at me. Let’s deal with the shortest two first:
“Winston Peters has been given an easy ride by journalists for a long time.”
My immediate response? Hahahahahahahahaha A love-in between Winston Peters and the media??? You must be blind as well as tone deaf.
“And percent or two off the Pasifika vote (presumably from Labour) could give National a chance in a two party race.
There is that FPP two horse race mentality coming through again …
But the one that I (stupidly) decided to focus on was this one.
“Ardern knows how to manipulate and use media to promote her PR – as did key.”
Why did this get my goat?
Because there was no mention of Bridges and his use of media to promote himself etc. Yet, just an hour or so before making that comment here, PG posted this comment on his own blog:
The comment consists of a picture of Simon and Natalie Bridges together and smiling at an outdoor venue in Tauranga from Simon’s Twitter account with a comment – “Happy New Year! Natalie & I are at a family event in Tauranga with the kids. Hope you all have a good night!” 8:45 PM – Dec 31, 2018
PG has then added a comment that “I would put one up from Jacinda Ardern but she doesn’t seem to have been on Twitter or Facebook – her Twitter account hasn’t been used since 30 October.”
Do I detect a bit of snideness there? Over the last year, Ardern has not been a big poster on Twitter. But she has been a prolific Facebook poster with her last post with video of herself and two Ministers at the Auckland City Mission on Dec 21 attracting 614 comments. (No mention by PG of this or the hugh responses to her other regular FB videos and posts.)
But lets look at Bridges and his use of media etc.
He does post on Twitter regularly and his previous tweet immediately under the one PG posted above is one yesterday* with a full frontal/facial photo of himself holding their daughter with the comment “My little princess turns 1!” with a link to a NZ Women’s Weekly article on Jemima’s first birthday.
This NZ Women’s Weekly article is a sickly sweet article about Jemima’s birthday in early December with pictures of her and the whole family celebrating with cake etc. but also with some PR messaging going on.
For example (my bolds):
“The thing with Simon is that he’s very attentive,” adds Natalie (36), who has her own PR business. “He’s away a lot, but when he’s home he’s really there. He plays with the kids, he reads them stories, he gives them his full attention. He’s an amazing dad to all of them.”Simon is definitely smitten with his wee girl.” …
“Having Jemima was a beautiful finish to our family; we don’t have any plans to have any more children. It has changed all of us, having her. We all adore her and she is a real delight.” …
“A future politician, perhaps? Simon is thrilled at the thought.
“She’s got the skills,” he muses. “She knows how to play people – she knows the best way to get attention is smiles. She’s usually so happy and bubbly, but she’s not afraid.”
Natalie reckons at least one, if not all three, of the Bridges children could end up following in their dad’s footsteps, and if Jemima continues to enjoy interacting with people from all walks of life, she might be the one to go after a seat in Parliament! And her mum doesn’t have an issue with that.
“Despite what people may think, I think going into politics is a very noble thing,” says Natalie. “Most people go into it with a huge heart and very noble reasons. I would like it if one of our children decided to take that route. And they do have a great role model.”
But is this a one off for Bridges and the NZ Women’s Weekly? Not at all, and that article includes links back to three previous NZWW on the Bridges this year – which I stupidly decided to read … Anything to avoid housework, dishes etc.
What I found was that in 2018, NZWW has run at least five (5) articles on Bridges and his family, all blatantly using photos and discussions about the children. As well as yesterday’s one, there were articles dated:
This one included detail of Natalie Bridges’ media/PR career as editor of fashion magazine ‘Simply You’, before setting up her own public-relations company Blink PR.
Header = ‘I don’t want to get out of politics one day and feel like I won the battle but lost the war.’ This was the same week as the unauthorised leak of his expenses and the ensuing furore around parliamentary enquiries –and Bridges said in the article that while his new gig has definitely thrown him some curve balls, the biggest challenge of his new normal is still juggling his family and his career.
A more detailed follow-up to the one a week earlier which is worth a read for a little insight into how Bridges saw his first six months as Leader and his future in politics (at that time at least), for example:
“I’m not in this as a time server,” he admits. “I’ll be surprised if I’m still in politics in my mid fifties – I’m 41 now.
“Some people go into it for life and they’re there 30 years on − that won’t be me. It’s about making a contribution, significant service and hopefully before it’s too late, spending a lot of time with my family and maybe having another career again.”
And as for Simon, he reckons he’s transformed too – and he doesn’t think the job is as hard as some previous opposition leaders have made it out to be.
“It’s gone better than I thought it would, in a funny sort of way,” he muses.
“I just thought it would be… looking at past opposition leaders, they made it look hard. I’ve basically only been in government. Actually, it’s been more uplifting than I thought it would be.”
He continues, “I think I’ve grown as a person over the past six months. I’ve had to become a better listener and more inclusive, and in doing that better, I suppose a decision maker.”
And, of course, it’s been about developing his own style of leadership after following in the footsteps of the likes of Bill English and Sir John Key. For Simon, it’s a combination of taking advice and listening to his gut.
—————–
Now, I have not done the same exercise for Jacinda Ardern and the number of articles on her in the New Zealand Women’s Weekly this year – nor will I be doing one today. [This is NOT how I intended to start 2019 .. ]
I also note that there are two other recent articles on their website re two NZ women politicians – which I hasten to add I have not read:
I really don’t know, nor am I sure that I care, but just a little bit of ammunition for the future to use when people claim that Ardern is the big PR manipulator of the media.
Bridges does it too – and IMHO is much more blatant at exposing his family and their life in this way.
I’m having trouble imagining anything more beigely boring than a discussion where Pete George plays a prominent role. But hey, takes all sorts, so if others are interested …
I did send an email suggesting that it be scrubbed if it had not already been.
[lprent: Just saw that. Actually you did a very good job of making sure that it didn’t violate any policy or general distaste by moderators. The section focused not on the members of the family but on the use of family as political PR (including the highlighted quotes about Natalie Bridges) – which is legitimate. It got auto-moderated because of the number of links. Got let through by someone else, then picked up by me as a starter post.
I don’t think that any of the authors could written it better in terms of presenting a topic of current politics with more delicacy and focus on the political topic ]
VV
What a thirst for facts VV. And so illuminating. The media bias, the build-up of a line on a personality that pleases. So many people out of the immediate political eye are influential and firmly entrenched in the aspirational Affluenza way of thinking which looks to the National Party to keep up their ‘glossy’ lifestyles, ie Maggie Barry and many/most of the woman editors of magazines.
Someone really does need to part the velvet curtains and see the little figures operating the smoke machines as in the Wizard of Oz. Though his smoke was green. I think in our world it is definitely strikingly blue. We should be as determined to see through the hokeypokey like young Dorothy!
A short look at the wizard of oz on google turned up this detail which might sound similar to the turmoil in the National Party to some. 8. The Wizard of Oz – 1939 (99% on Rotten Tomatoes)
The Wizard of Oz is one of the most beloved films of all time, but it’s relatively unknown how much turmoil occurred behind the scenes. The entire process involved a total of five directors and seventeen writers, because so many kept either quitting or being fired.
The role of the Tin Man originally belonged to Buddy Ebsen, but the aluminum powder they used to coat his body made him incredibly sick. After being rushed to the hospital, he was quietly replaced by Jack Haley, who was made-up in aluminum paste instead. The makeup used for the Wicked Witch was not so practical either… during one “hot” take where she was to disappear in a puff of smoke, she was temporarily lit on fire. http://www.collegehumor.com/post/7054565/10-amazing-movies-with-the-most-nightmarish-behind-the-scenes
Well I’ll be damned. You’re right, it is interesting, vv has done an outstanding deconstruction of what was going on in that thread. I gotta confess, I saw PG mentioned a few too many times in the first few paragraphs and just switched off.
I was not quite sure what you meant by this comment when I first read it, then saw it up as a post … went out and came back to your comment below and was blown away.
Thank you, lprent. I really value your comments. And yes, tomorrow is another day. LOL.
I am having a bit of a giggle as it is really easy to see from the comments to date, who has read it in full – and who has not. LOL
Veutoviper, apologies for my earlier snark. Now that I’ve read the whole thing, rather than giving up after the first few PG mentions, that’s an excellent dissection of what’s going on.
LOL – i still haven’t looked at it, or the Chloe one!
By the time I had finished with “the Bridges”. I was way over NZ WW.
Am still reeling (in a nice way) from Iprent’s bolded remarks above – and Andre’s #2 and #3 – and having it put up as a post, when I had emailed to can it.
Always interesting to see reactions, because it is very easy to see who has read it – and who has not….. LOL
Can someone explain why I, like a lot of people who come on here, have not got a knighthood for doing our jobs or pursuing an interest supported by government handouts?
Recently I’ve been invited to speak in places like Panama, New York, San Francisco, Abu Dhabi, Vancouver, British Virgin Islands…
But sadly our remaining carbon budget won’t allow any such travels.
Adult generations in countries like mine have used up our resources.
1.A world that works cooperatively to mitigate against the worst impacts of climate catastrophe. Actions taken by students, activists and children to force governments to change.
2. The end of capitalism. Or at least the death of its most virulent form, the neoliberal cult. More gilet jeune and other protests to bring the system down.
3. More people in New Zealand abandoning eating food sourced from the industrial animal killing conplex.
The post grey is talking about is for local body elections, so his telling off was unwarranted. Unfortunately he sometimes thinks he’s the comment policeman, telling others what they should and shouldn’t say. However he is a good bloke beneath the headmaster persona. 😀
New Zealand’s Debt has ballooned out to $ 529 billion.
“The grand total of $528.7 billion is up 7.3 per cent from a year ago.
The latest Reserve Bank figures (for the year to April 30) show household debt has topped $250b, driven by rising property prices and an increase in consumer borrowing.
That’s an increase of more than 60 per cent in 10 years.
For New Zealand households, the ratio of debt to income has now reached a record – 168 per cent, well above the pre-financial crisis peak of 159 per cent.”
Yeah, and don’t forget that crook Douglas aided by the likes of Prebble, followed on by that vile female Richardson continued by the fucking Spiv conned NZ by telling us that they had to sell NZ infrastructure to their spiv mates at bargain basement prices to pay off the major debt we had.
I wonder what they are going to do now that we are an asset poor country with no or very little public asset’s left to sell.
As someone put on FaceBook can’t remember who “ The trouble with Thatcherism is, you run out of other peoples assets.”
Has changing the road rules along with the record immigration rates, been much of a factor or a factor at all, in the roads increasingly becoming death traps or is it just a bit of a bad luck patch?
I thought so yes, it s just a bit odd that 2013 was our lowest year, & with improvements in car technology handling and the like, but abit of bad luck it is!
I see many organization doing this influencing peoples thoughts brain washing them with all forms of media they say when you get enough people to beleve in a LIE it becomes the truth. We have alot of people on the Papatunuku stage rubbing this human flaw in the intelegint people FACES. I see govement agenceys using this the neo captlist will use anything to keep there power they have stolen from the people with there decite . I have seen it used to suppress native minority cultures they only publish all the negitive story about these cultures and even invent these story or get ACTOR to stage these negtive stories they have fulse studys published to help in there suppression I can see these easy as. This is the Phenomenon that has been used to suppressed the facts on Human Caused Global Warming .Hence it taken 40 years for the fact’s to get out there to the world that when we burn carbon we are burning our mokopunas futures. Some people can see past all the BULLSHIT to the truth most don’t thanks to this 21 century communication device those of us that can see the truth can get the facts out to the people .
Advertising and academia are controlling our thoughts. Didn’t you know? By abetting the ad industry, universities are leading us into temptation, when they should be enlightening us .
To what extent do we decide? We tell ourselves we choose our own life course, but is this ever true? If you or I had lived 500 years ago, our worldview, and the decisions we made as a result, would have been utterly different. Our minds are shaped by our social environment, in particular the belief systems projected by those in power: monarchs, aristocrats and theologians then; corporations, billionaires and the media today.
Humans, the supremely social mammals, are ethical and intellectual sponges. We unconsciously absorb, for good or ill, the influences that surround us. Indeed, the very notion that we might form our own minds is a received idea that would have been quite alien to most people five centuries ago. This is not to suggest we have no capacity for independent thought. But to exercise it, we must – consciously and with great effort – swim against the social current that sweeps us along, mostly without our knowledge.Surely, though, even if we are broadly shaped by the social environment, we control the small decisions we make? Sometimes. Perhaps. But here, too, we are subject to constant influence, some of which we see, much of which we don’t. And there is one major industry that seeks to decide on our behalf. Its techniques get more sophisticated every year, drawing on the latest findings in neuroscience and psychology. It is called advertising.
Every month, new books on the subject are published with titles like The Persuasion Code: How Neuromarketing Can Help You Persuade Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime. While many are doubtless overhyped, they describe a discipline that is rapidly closing in on our minds, making independent thought ever harder. More sophisticated advertising meshes with digital technologies designed to eliminate agency.
Earlier this year, the child psychologist Richard Freed explained how new psychological research has been used to develop social media, computer games and phones with genuinely addictive qualities. He quoted a technologist who boasts, with apparent justification: “We have the ability to twiddle some knobs in a machine learning dashboard we build, and around the world hundreds of thousands of people are going to quietly change their behaviour in ways that, unbeknownst to them, feel second-nature but are really by design.The purpose of this brain hacking is to create more effective platforms for advertising. But the effort is wasted if we retain our ability to resist it. Facebook, according to a leaked report, carried out research – shared with an advertiser – to determine when teenagers using its network feel insecure, worthless or stressed. These appear to be the optimum moments for hitting them with a micro-targeted promotion. Facebook denied that it offered “tools to target people based on their emotional state Ka kite ano Links below
Everyone has to make changes to our lifestyles to combat climate change or the PLANET is going to change our grandchildren lives for the worst. Food will be more expensive that will be a good thing we will all have gardens in the back yards citys will grow there own vegies farmers will get a better slice of the pie these are just a few ways we have to change
The Next Climate Frontier: Predicting a Complex Domino Effect
Motivated by events like Hurricane Harvey, researchers are trying to determine how climate change interacts with agriculture, energy, transportation and other human systems When Hurricane Harvey’s record-busting rains drenched Texas in August 2017, they triggered a cascade of chaos. Widespread flooding turned roads into rivers, impeding evacuations and access to emergency services. Stormwater swept up pathogens from wastewater treatment plants and toxins from Superfund sites, posing health threats. Phone and internet services failed in some areas, and 300,000 people in Texas lost power. Harvey also temporarily shut down a quarter of U.S. oil production in the Gulf of Mexico, raising gas prices.Such scenarios—climatic events causing impacts that can themselves trigger still more chains of effects, like intersecting rows of toppling dominoes—are a key focus of the fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA), released by the U.S. federal government at the end of November. For the first time, the 300 government, academic and nonprofit experts who contribute to the report devoted an entire chapter to the under-studied but critical interaction between climate change and what are called complex systems The report emphasizes that scientists need to look not only at how global warming is changing natural systems but also how those changes will set off their own ripple effects through other areas—for example, how the increasing threat of drought harms agriculture, which in turn affects the economy and food availability. “Reality is complex. In a changing climate, nothing is being affected all by itself,” says Katharine Mach, a senior research scientist at Stanford University and one of the NCA authors. The complexity of these cascading effects means they can often be hard—or even impossible—to understand or predict in a meaningful way. But that is exactly what scientists are now trying to figure out how to do. ka kite ano links
I tau toko Meka Whaitiri regaining Jacinda trust and getting her Minsteral jobs back I know what its is like being discrimanated against’s the media and the trolls jumped all over that story just like the trolls are jumping up and down on this story trolls go hide under your parents bed
Former minister Meka Whaitiri says she is hoping for a comeback in 2019 and is looking to earn back Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s confidence.The aspirations when you come into this place and into government is to be a minister. It is an absolute privilege to be a Minister of the Crown and I make no bones that I do hope that there is an opportunity for me to return and I am doing my best to regain the confidence of the prime minister, one step at a time,” she told Māori TV’s Te Kāea.
“It’s been hard lessons, she has expectations of me and I am meeting those expectations by doing things that are showing that the concerns that she had in removing my ministerial warrant is being addressed.”
Whaitri has been undergoing training to manage staff ka kite ano links below
Kia ora Newshub The dreams feasible in Tauranga has a lot of Reggae bands ka pai.
I have my opinion on that apartment block explosion in Russia. ?????????
I would not like to be traveling on the roads at the minute Alexandra we plan our travel,s so we travel when the traffic is low.
Escooter,s need some laws to prevent any accidents happening the big Tec companies pushing them are arrogant and just want money and are loving the media exposure good or bad.
Tom I have been watching the Nasa New Horizons space craft that has taken 13 years to get to Ultima Thule to get data to study and find out more about earth history.
Kenwood camera that can scan people while they are walking is awesome that will minimize threats . Good on the young fella Ben Hawke for getting into forecasting the weather in Dunedin. What happened to the theory of using data of people’s cell phones to help predict the weather. Ka pai to Mojo coffee cafe’s breaking in the market in America Chicago city .ka kite ano
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Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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 ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 - ...
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 ...
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 ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SOI_Yl_0e8
Top vid, Jenny, and somewhat ironic, given that we lost the Queen of Soul in 2018.
It would help us all to keep these wonderful words in our minds from now to the end of the year….and onwards to the end of time.
Lyrics in English for “Ode to Joy”
(“Ode An Die Freude”)
Beethoven’s 9th Symphony
O friends, no more these sounds!
Let us sing more cheerful songs,
more full of joy!
Joy, bright spark of divinity,
Daughter of Elysium,
Fire-inspired we tread
Thy sanctuary.
Thy magic power re-unites
All that custom has divided,
All men become brothers
Under the sway of thy gentle wings.
Whoever has created
An abiding friendship,
Or has won
A true and loving wife, [partner]
All who can call at least one soul theirs,
Join in our song of praise;
But any who cannot must creep tearfully
Away from our circle.
All creatures drink of joy
At nature’s breast.
Just and unjust
Alike taste of her gift;
She gave us kisses and the fruit of the vine,
A tried friend to the end.
Even the worm can feel contentment,
And the cherub stands before God!
Gladly, like the heavenly bodies
Which He set on their courses
Through the splendor of the firmament;
Thus, brothers, you should run your race,
As a hero going to conquest.
You millions, I embrace you.
This kiss is for all the world!
Brothers, above the starry canopy
There must dwell a loving Father.
Do you fall in worship, you millions?
World, do you know your creator?
Seek him in the heavens;
Above the stars must He dwell.
The Music – people bringing their musical skills together to create something beautiful. 23 minutes of singers and players, old and young, striving to do credit to Beethoven’s creation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdWyYn0E4Ys
My favourite – I have put it up before. A flash mob from Spain with a short version that is enjoyed by all, adults and children. This sort of flash mob could be a monthly happening in each NZ town. The community would go to the town square or central place, and see what was on this month and applaud, and start planning to do something as good next month.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87qT5BOl2XU
About Ode to Joy and lyrics in German and English.
https://www.thoughtco.com/beethovens-ode-to-joy-lyrics-history-724410
“yeah/Nah” Unfortunately @ grey, as much as I admire the sentiment and the message, it probably comes about 10 years too late – the problem(s) go much deeper and are now far more entrenched
Neoliberalism never was just an ideology or another “ism” or political agenda. It was always an ideology as well as a culture, and a religion, and a language, and an ‘ego’ – which is probably why many on the “Left” succumbed to it and still do.
It’ll most likely take a disaster for it to be demolished.
Call me a pessimist if you like @ grey.
OwT
I looked through the Ode and have come up with a piece that says something to your very true summation. And perhaps also to the aftermath.
I have friendly feelings for many people on this blog, and regard very few as fiends! It is a blessing to me to know something of, and talk with good strivers out there for a decent world that has a kindly thought about everything, without being lost in a haze of syrupy tat or PC taken to the authoritarian levels or rigid rules, or indeed also, a miasma of clever machinery.
heh
I have found the boundaries of my infirmity enlarged by the companions here.
It is true some have fallen away over the year to be replaced by other voices, but this blog has wide ranging and thought provoking contributions and conversations held daily.
Many authors have given us opportunities to “Air our general ignorance”, which we have readily done. Mickey, Iprent, Advantage. Many thanks.
So I would like more of the same. A special thank you to Advantage. Your articles on the science behind climate change were excellent and the references to research mind opening, and Mickey for expressing thoughts from a Labour point of view a highlight for me.
Frank, your organised science based answers and statements always leads to further reading and thinking, likewise Swordfish for the polls and graphs.
Some here have given freely from their experiences, and given a window to another situation Greywarshark Anne Marty Cinny ExKiwiforces Rosemary Barfly and those who responded about my hip many thanks.
Those who pulled me back into line when I became too dogmatic and full of it veutoviper,
lol lol Thank you one and all,
I read you all, even the trolls on here, because they are our trolls with their prods pokes and puckish poetry . To those i’ve missed sorry . Happy New Year.
Oh and Robert Guyton, blessings again for the happy places.
Are we just a bigger bug? Insects can do all the things we do. And more. Feel free to prove me wrong. We are good with complicated machines and systems.
Which look as if they will kill us, or lead to the death of billions before long.
So are we really clever, or just dexterous?
Here’s a good story about leafcutter ants. Tiny things creating large intricate dwelling places. Apparently they had a behaviour that led to their own destruction. They laid their eggs in the crevices of worker ants heads. Can we clever beings work out how we are bringing our own destruction, our bodies, minds and way of life; or are we so complex that we can’t go to the heart of the matter because we have lost our hearts.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2095335/Underground-ant-city-Brazil-rivals-Great-Wall-China-labyrinth-highways.html
The bug society: Scientists excavate underground ant city that ‘rivals the Great Wall of China’ with a labyrinth of highways
Were we to work industrially like ants, we could change the planet.
Oh, wait…
There are amoebas that farm bacteria. They take them with them and spread them around to populate then they selectively eat them. 😀
Were those amoebas to develop a means of trade in bacteria, things could go haywire. Some amoebas might be relegated to guarding bacteria for other amoebas, while other amoebas could go hungry – but they’d soon get desperate, and war would be waged over the bacteria.
Amoebas would go tribal centered around bacterial resources. Amoebas would go to die in endless war. Commemorative plaques would be made, songs and stories written.
Weapons programs, chemical endeavors and taxes; these would all become necessity to security and supply. The bacteria fuel the industry, the industry protects the supply.
Then industry utilises armies and scientists to begin to explore for new supplies and new production lines. Everything is up for grabs.
They’re only amoebas, it’s a big planet, what could possibly go wrong.
Thanks for your sparkling thoughts WtB. Meaningful and funny.
https://youtu.be/0OukvnghP7A or a goldfish
Makes you wonder don’t it. Thanks for that.
The Spinoff’s political predictions for the year, a very concise list by a range of contributors: https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/01-01-2019/2019-in-politics-what-will-the-big-issues-be/
Bernie Bros, huh. Who woulda thunk it.
https://twitter.com/AlxThomp/status/1079541518455750658
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/30/bernie-sanders-campaign-harassment-1077014
Some of you may have read the discussion that has been going on this morning with Pete George under yesterday’s posting of “The Standard’s ten most commented on posts in 2018”.
This comment by me started out as a response to PG’s reply to Psycho Milt here.
https://thestandard.org.nz/the-standards-ten-most-commented-on-posts-in-2018/#comment-1566954
Originally I was going to add it to the now unnumbered/no reply facility ones in the thread. Then I decided to start a new thread under the same post, but then thought it really did not relate to the topic of the post. So fell back to Open Mike as the best option.
Back to PG’s response to Psycho Milt, Three things jumped out at me. Let’s deal with the shortest two first:
“Winston Peters has been given an easy ride by journalists for a long time.”
My immediate response? Hahahahahahahahaha A love-in between Winston Peters and the media??? You must be blind as well as tone deaf.
“And percent or two off the Pasifika vote (presumably from Labour) could give National a chance in a two party race.
There is that FPP two horse race mentality coming through again …
But the one that I (stupidly) decided to focus on was this one.
“Ardern knows how to manipulate and use media to promote her PR – as did key.”
Why did this get my goat?
Because there was no mention of Bridges and his use of media to promote himself etc. Yet, just an hour or so before making that comment here, PG posted this comment on his own blog:
https://yournz.org/2019/01/01/happy-new-year-kia-hari-te-tau-hou/#comment-336049
The comment consists of a picture of Simon and Natalie Bridges together and smiling at an outdoor venue in Tauranga from Simon’s Twitter account with a comment – “Happy New Year! Natalie & I are at a family event in Tauranga with the kids. Hope you all have a good night!” 8:45 PM – Dec 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/simonjbridges/status/1079644695582527489
PG has then added a comment that “I would put one up from Jacinda Ardern but she doesn’t seem to have been on Twitter or Facebook – her Twitter account hasn’t been used since 30 October.”
Do I detect a bit of snideness there? Over the last year, Ardern has not been a big poster on Twitter. But she has been a prolific Facebook poster with her last post with video of herself and two Ministers at the Auckland City Mission on Dec 21 attracting 614 comments. (No mention by PG of this or the hugh responses to her other regular FB videos and posts.)
But lets look at Bridges and his use of media etc.
He does post on Twitter regularly and his previous tweet immediately under the one PG posted above is one yesterday* with a full frontal/facial photo of himself holding their daughter with the comment “My little princess turns 1!” with a link to a NZ Women’s Weekly article on Jemima’s first birthday.
https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/parenting/family/simon-bridges-daughter-jemima-turns-one-40100
* https://twitter.com/simonjbridges/status/1079613204068675586
This NZ Women’s Weekly article is a sickly sweet article about Jemima’s birthday in early December with pictures of her and the whole family celebrating with cake etc. but also with some PR messaging going on.
For example (my bolds):
But is this a one off for Bridges and the NZ Women’s Weekly? Not at all, and that article includes links back to three previous NZWW on the Bridges this year – which I stupidly decided to read … Anything to avoid housework, dishes etc.
What I found was that in 2018, NZWW has run at least five (5) articles on Bridges and his family, all blatantly using photos and discussions about the children. As well as yesterday’s one, there were articles dated:
4 March 2018 – https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/parenting/parenting-news/national-party-leader-simon-bridges-introduces-his-newborn-daughter-36756
14 March 2018 – https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/parenting/family/at-home-with-new-national-party-leader-simon-bridges-and-his-family-36832
This one included detail of Natalie Bridges’ media/PR career as editor of fashion magazine ‘Simply You’, before setting up her own public-relations company Blink PR.
2 Sept 2018 – https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/parenting/family/simon-bridges-admits-its-a-challenge-juggling-family-and-career-38909
Header = ‘I don’t want to get out of politics one day and feel like I won the battle but lost the war.’ This was the same week as the unauthorised leak of his expenses and the ensuing furore around parliamentary enquiries –and Bridges said in the article that while his new gig has definitely thrown him some curve balls, the biggest challenge of his new normal is still juggling his family and his career.
11 Sept 2018 – https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/parenting/family/simon-bridges-on-how-politics-is-affecting-his-family-life-38939
A more detailed follow-up to the one a week earlier which is worth a read for a little insight into how Bridges saw his first six months as Leader and his future in politics (at that time at least), for example:
—————–
Now, I have not done the same exercise for Jacinda Ardern and the number of articles on her in the New Zealand Women’s Weekly this year – nor will I be doing one today. [This is NOT how I intended to start 2019 .. ]
I also note that there are two other recent articles on their website re two NZ women politicians – which I hasten to add I have not read:
How Chlöe Swarbrick is planning to have an eco-friendly Christmas – https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/lifestyle/homes/chloee-swarbrick-eco-friendly-christmas-40048
Julie Anne Genter’s sustainable approach to raising baby Joaquin –
https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/parenting/parenting-news/julie-anne-genters-baby-joaquin-40126
So where to from here?
I really don’t know, nor am I sure that I care, but just a little bit of ammunition for the future to use when people claim that Ardern is the big PR manipulator of the media.
Bridges does it too – and IMHO is much more blatant at exposing his family and their life in this way.
I’m having trouble imagining anything more beigely boring than a discussion where Pete George plays a prominent role. But hey, takes all sorts, so if others are interested …
I found it particularly interesting. In particular because of the inherent interest in the inherent misogyny of the attitudes displayed.
I put the comment up as a starter post
I did send an email suggesting that it be scrubbed if it had not already been.
[lprent: Just saw that. Actually you did a very good job of making sure that it didn’t violate any policy or general distaste by moderators. The section focused not on the members of the family but on the use of family as political PR (including the highlighted quotes about Natalie Bridges) – which is legitimate. It got auto-moderated because of the number of links. Got let through by someone else, then picked up by me as a starter post.
I don’t think that any of the authors could written it better in terms of presenting a topic of current politics with more delicacy and focus on the political topic ]
VV
What a thirst for facts VV. And so illuminating. The media bias, the build-up of a line on a personality that pleases. So many people out of the immediate political eye are influential and firmly entrenched in the aspirational Affluenza way of thinking which looks to the National Party to keep up their ‘glossy’ lifestyles, ie Maggie Barry and many/most of the woman editors of magazines.
Someone really does need to part the velvet curtains and see the little figures operating the smoke machines as in the Wizard of Oz. Though his smoke was green. I think in our world it is definitely strikingly blue. We should be as determined to see through the hokeypokey like young Dorothy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZR64EF3OpA
A short look at the wizard of oz on google turned up this detail which might sound similar to the turmoil in the National Party to some.
8. The Wizard of Oz – 1939 (99% on Rotten Tomatoes)
The Wizard of Oz is one of the most beloved films of all time, but it’s relatively unknown how much turmoil occurred behind the scenes. The entire process involved a total of five directors and seventeen writers, because so many kept either quitting or being fired.
The role of the Tin Man originally belonged to Buddy Ebsen, but the aluminum powder they used to coat his body made him incredibly sick. After being rushed to the hospital, he was quietly replaced by Jack Haley, who was made-up in aluminum paste instead. The makeup used for the Wicked Witch was not so practical either… during one “hot” take where she was to disappear in a puff of smoke, she was temporarily lit on fire.
http://www.collegehumor.com/post/7054565/10-amazing-movies-with-the-most-nightmarish-behind-the-scenes
Well I’ll be damned. You’re right, it is interesting, vv has done an outstanding deconstruction of what was going on in that thread. I gotta confess, I saw PG mentioned a few too many times in the first few paragraphs and just switched off.
I was not quite sure what you meant by this comment when I first read it, then saw it up as a post … went out and came back to your comment below and was blown away.
Thank you, lprent. I really value your comments. And yes, tomorrow is another day. LOL.
I am having a bit of a giggle as it is really easy to see from the comments to date, who has read it in full – and who has not. LOL
Veutoviper, apologies for my earlier snark. Now that I’ve read the whole thing, rather than giving up after the first few PG mentions, that’s an excellent dissection of what’s going on.
Thanks for the link thru to Julie Anne Genter and her beautiful little baby, Joaquin. Looks like he might be the spitting image of his Mum. 🙂
LOL – i still haven’t looked at it, or the Chloe one!
By the time I had finished with “the Bridges”. I was way over NZ WW.
Am still reeling (in a nice way) from Iprent’s bolded remarks above – and Andre’s #2 and #3 – and having it put up as a post, when I had emailed to can it.
Always interesting to see reactions, because it is very easy to see who has read it – and who has not….. LOL
“Arise Sir Tim Shadbolt”……….. proving that in the very depths of the “establishment” there lurks a sense of humour.
It’s got the ring (clang) of a medieval knight.
He should have refused it
Agreed.
No he shouldn’t refuse his knighthood, but turn up in a suit of armour for shits and giggles or as one of HM Archers.
Can someone explain why I, like a lot of people who come on here, have not got a knighthood for doing our jobs or pursuing an interest supported by government handouts?
Happy New Year everyone.
Happy New Year to you and all, Ed.
That is not genuine.
Stop being so paranoid. Of course it was genuine.
Wonderful to have you back Ed!
Greta Thunberg
Recently I’ve been invited to speak in places like Panama, New York, San Francisco, Abu Dhabi, Vancouver, British Virgin Islands…
But sadly our remaining carbon budget won’t allow any such travels.
Adult generations in countries like mine have used up our resources.
https://twitter.com/GretaThunberg/status/1079336285595148288
Greta is inspiring.
UltimaThule flyby webcast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21X5lGlDOfg&feature=youtu.be
Woot!
edit: forgot the link about how Tombaugh discovered Pluto
https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/finding-pluto-blink-comparator
My wish list for 2019
1.A world that works cooperatively to mitigate against the worst impacts of climate catastrophe. Actions taken by students, activists and children to force governments to change.
2. The end of capitalism. Or at least the death of its most virulent form, the neoliberal cult. More gilet jeune and other protests to bring the system down.
3. More people in New Zealand abandoning eating food sourced from the industrial animal killing conplex.
That’s not a good start for 2019 Ed. There is a post for this. Why didn’t you use it. Going off in your own line again.
Thought this was Open Mike?
Thought the what do we want in 2019 Post was about elections?
The post grey is talking about is for local body elections, so his telling off was unwarranted. Unfortunately he sometimes thinks he’s the comment policeman, telling others what they should and shouldn’t say. However he is a good bloke beneath the headmaster persona. 😀
New Zealand’s Debt has ballooned out to $ 529 billion.
“The grand total of $528.7 billion is up 7.3 per cent from a year ago.
The latest Reserve Bank figures (for the year to April 30) show household debt has topped $250b, driven by rising property prices and an increase in consumer borrowing.
That’s an increase of more than 60 per cent in 10 years.
For New Zealand households, the ratio of debt to income has now reached a record – 168 per cent, well above the pre-financial crisis peak of 159 per cent.”
We.
Should.
Be.
Worried.
When the crash comes, it’s going to be very ugly.
http://robinwestenra.blogspot.com/2018/12/new-zealands-ballooning-debt-reaches.html?m=1
Yeah, and don’t forget that crook Douglas aided by the likes of Prebble, followed on by that vile female Richardson continued by the fucking Spiv conned NZ by telling us that they had to sell NZ infrastructure to their spiv mates at bargain basement prices to pay off the major debt we had.
I wonder what they are going to do now that we are an asset poor country with no or very little public asset’s left to sell.
As someone put on FaceBook can’t remember who “ The trouble with Thatcherism is, you run out of other peoples assets.”
Has changing the road rules along with the record immigration rates, been much of a factor or a factor at all, in the roads increasingly becoming death traps or is it just a bit of a bad luck patch?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/109688732/road-toll-increases-to-the-worst-it-has-been-in-10-years
Looking at /vehicles /population trends, bad luck, I reckon
https://www.transport.govt.nz/mot-resources/road-safety-resources/road-deaths/annual-number-of-road-deaths-historical-information/
I thought so yes, it s just a bit odd that 2013 was our lowest year, & with improvements in car technology handling and the like, but abit of bad luck it is!
There are more distractions in cars today.
Look at how many people are on their mobile phones texting and talking.
I see many organization doing this influencing peoples thoughts brain washing them with all forms of media they say when you get enough people to beleve in a LIE it becomes the truth. We have alot of people on the Papatunuku stage rubbing this human flaw in the intelegint people FACES. I see govement agenceys using this the neo captlist will use anything to keep there power they have stolen from the people with there decite . I have seen it used to suppress native minority cultures they only publish all the negitive story about these cultures and even invent these story or get ACTOR to stage these negtive stories they have fulse studys published to help in there suppression I can see these easy as. This is the Phenomenon that has been used to suppressed the facts on Human Caused Global Warming .Hence it taken 40 years for the fact’s to get out there to the world that when we burn carbon we are burning our mokopunas futures. Some people can see past all the BULLSHIT to the truth most don’t thanks to this 21 century communication device those of us that can see the truth can get the facts out to the people .
Advertising and academia are controlling our thoughts. Didn’t you know? By abetting the ad industry, universities are leading us into temptation, when they should be enlightening us .
To what extent do we decide? We tell ourselves we choose our own life course, but is this ever true? If you or I had lived 500 years ago, our worldview, and the decisions we made as a result, would have been utterly different. Our minds are shaped by our social environment, in particular the belief systems projected by those in power: monarchs, aristocrats and theologians then; corporations, billionaires and the media today.
Humans, the supremely social mammals, are ethical and intellectual sponges. We unconsciously absorb, for good or ill, the influences that surround us. Indeed, the very notion that we might form our own minds is a received idea that would have been quite alien to most people five centuries ago. This is not to suggest we have no capacity for independent thought. But to exercise it, we must – consciously and with great effort – swim against the social current that sweeps us along, mostly without our knowledge.Surely, though, even if we are broadly shaped by the social environment, we control the small decisions we make? Sometimes. Perhaps. But here, too, we are subject to constant influence, some of which we see, much of which we don’t. And there is one major industry that seeks to decide on our behalf. Its techniques get more sophisticated every year, drawing on the latest findings in neuroscience and psychology. It is called advertising.
Every month, new books on the subject are published with titles like The Persuasion Code: How Neuromarketing Can Help You Persuade Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime. While many are doubtless overhyped, they describe a discipline that is rapidly closing in on our minds, making independent thought ever harder. More sophisticated advertising meshes with digital technologies designed to eliminate agency.
Earlier this year, the child psychologist Richard Freed explained how new psychological research has been used to develop social media, computer games and phones with genuinely addictive qualities. He quoted a technologist who boasts, with apparent justification: “We have the ability to twiddle some knobs in a machine learning dashboard we build, and around the world hundreds of thousands of people are going to quietly change their behaviour in ways that, unbeknownst to them, feel second-nature but are really by design.The purpose of this brain hacking is to create more effective platforms for advertising. But the effort is wasted if we retain our ability to resist it. Facebook, according to a leaked report, carried out research – shared with an advertiser – to determine when teenagers using its network feel insecure, worthless or stressed. These appear to be the optimum moments for hitting them with a micro-targeted promotion. Facebook denied that it offered “tools to target people based on their emotional state Ka kite ano Links below
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/31/advertising-academia-controlling-thoughts-universities
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glFjSRCai5s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8A0Ji5Cl9I
When I became a father I was blind when I became a Grandfather I began to SEE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94dBVPpymac
Everyone has to make changes to our lifestyles to combat climate change or the PLANET is going to change our grandchildren lives for the worst. Food will be more expensive that will be a good thing we will all have gardens in the back yards citys will grow there own vegies farmers will get a better slice of the pie these are just a few ways we have to change
The Next Climate Frontier: Predicting a Complex Domino Effect
Motivated by events like Hurricane Harvey, researchers are trying to determine how climate change interacts with agriculture, energy, transportation and other human systems When Hurricane Harvey’s record-busting rains drenched Texas in August 2017, they triggered a cascade of chaos. Widespread flooding turned roads into rivers, impeding evacuations and access to emergency services. Stormwater swept up pathogens from wastewater treatment plants and toxins from Superfund sites, posing health threats. Phone and internet services failed in some areas, and 300,000 people in Texas lost power. Harvey also temporarily shut down a quarter of U.S. oil production in the Gulf of Mexico, raising gas prices.Such scenarios—climatic events causing impacts that can themselves trigger still more chains of effects, like intersecting rows of toppling dominoes—are a key focus of the fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA), released by the U.S. federal government at the end of November. For the first time, the 300 government, academic and nonprofit experts who contribute to the report devoted an entire chapter to the under-studied but critical interaction between climate change and what are called complex systems The report emphasizes that scientists need to look not only at how global warming is changing natural systems but also how those changes will set off their own ripple effects through other areas—for example, how the increasing threat of drought harms agriculture, which in turn affects the economy and food availability. “Reality is complex. In a changing climate, nothing is being affected all by itself,” says Katharine Mach, a senior research scientist at Stanford University and one of the NCA authors. The complexity of these cascading effects means they can often be hard—or even impossible—to understand or predict in a meaningful way. But that is exactly what scientists are now trying to figure out how to do. ka kite ano links
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-next-climate-frontier-predicting-a-complex-domino-effect/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuOnOvSW4_k
I tau toko Meka Whaitiri regaining Jacinda trust and getting her Minsteral jobs back I know what its is like being discrimanated against’s the media and the trolls jumped all over that story just like the trolls are jumping up and down on this story trolls go hide under your parents bed
Former minister Meka Whaitiri says she is hoping for a comeback in 2019 and is looking to earn back Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s confidence.The aspirations when you come into this place and into government is to be a minister. It is an absolute privilege to be a Minister of the Crown and I make no bones that I do hope that there is an opportunity for me to return and I am doing my best to regain the confidence of the prime minister, one step at a time,” she told Māori TV’s Te Kāea.
“It’s been hard lessons, she has expectations of me and I am meeting those expectations by doing things that are showing that the concerns that she had in removing my ministerial warrant is being addressed.”
Whaitri has been undergoing training to manage staff ka kite ano links below
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/109700825/meka-whaitiri-plots-comeback-in-2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uFh4GTZH-U
Kia ora Newshub The dreams feasible in Tauranga has a lot of Reggae bands ka pai.
I have my opinion on that apartment block explosion in Russia. ?????????
I would not like to be traveling on the roads at the minute Alexandra we plan our travel,s so we travel when the traffic is low.
Escooter,s need some laws to prevent any accidents happening the big Tec companies pushing them are arrogant and just want money and are loving the media exposure good or bad.
Tom I have been watching the Nasa New Horizons space craft that has taken 13 years to get to Ultima Thule to get data to study and find out more about earth history.
Kenwood camera that can scan people while they are walking is awesome that will minimize threats . Good on the young fella Ben Hawke for getting into forecasting the weather in Dunedin. What happened to the theory of using data of people’s cell phones to help predict the weather. Ka pai to Mojo coffee cafe’s breaking in the market in America Chicago city .ka kite ano
Some Eco Maori Music for the minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rAOyh7YmEc
Some Eco Maori Music for the minute
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9XaS93WMRQQ