In light of Marama Davidson’s bollocking over a chocolate brand, who recalls one John Phillip “sirkey” and his relationship with Steinlager?
There was a time when Mr Key haunted the All Black changing rooms, rarely without a Steinie in hand or far from Ritchie–and the Rugby News cover photo directly before the 2014 General Election had him wearing an All Black jersey!…and standing in front of team members as if he were Captain.
The Natzos got away with it on a technicality to do with the periodical nature of Rugby News, though the beer product placement always grated.
The difference is Key was specifically bigging up the product. Given the fact he was in the All Black's dressing room and Steinlager was the sponsors of the team the fact he photographed with a bottle of Steinlager was incidental to his purpose of being there. He was also photographed wearing an All Black's jersey on occassion that doesn't mean he promoted Adidas or AIG.
Sorry, that should have been "Key wasn't specifically bigging up the product".
While Davidson actually stated she disliked the taste she still focused on the product (indeed she held up a selection of it) and highlighted that she thought it was a good buy.
Its about who/what has the better public image. Marama lends her high public image to chocolate (tut-tut), while Key looks good when hes socialising with beer (hoo-raa).
"University students are circulating a petition asking the Government to censure the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) for appearing in an advertisement for gin."
Andrew Bayly, admittedly not the sharpest tack in the tool box, has gone full Trump in his complete disregard for historical fact and truth with this tweet:
There was a website for the last local body elections that analysed candidates for political orientation – the blatant National Party candidates all say that they will keep rate rises low, but that does not catch all of them. Labour has endorsed candidates on their website. The website https://policy.nz/2022 lists candidates, but quite a few (including some Labour candidates) have not given details of policies. For the last local body elections there were some other websites that gave more considered analysis – are there any this time?
Olivia has ACT tendencies and is backed by Rod Drury. There are rumours, which I could not possibly support of course, that she has already overspent the $30k limit permitted.
Glyn Lewers has probably been anointed by Boult which says it all.
mmm I may be wrong…Neeta Shetty may be polling quite well…in fact the two women, her and Olivia Wensley are frontrunners according to a local poll though such polls are dubious.
Going to be an interesting race, three main contenders, Olivia Wensely, Jon Mitchell and Glyn Lewers.
Lewers is a sitting councillor who got on a coin toss last election. An engineer, very community focused, doesn't make a fuss and gets things done. Not much profile outside Frankton (which is the commercial and community heart of the Whakatipu now) which might hamper him in Wanaka. Some say he's Boult's appointment, but think it's more he has the confidence of the current council, most of which will be returned.
Jon Mitchell was Labour candidate in Clutha Southland last year and did quite well, especially in Whakatipu. Born in Queenstown at what's now Bungi Backpackers. Family had a photographic business in town and motels in Glenorchy. Has a background in emergency management and is a very capable guy with a future in politics, either local or national. Could be accused of being a carpetbagger as he lives in Garston and has been working mainly in Wellington lately, but a Mayor who's a little bit removed from this cliquey incestuous place wouldn't be a bad thing.
Olivia Wensly is the daughter of a failed property developer who went tits up in 2008 leaving a huge leaky mess for the Council, and ratepayers to pick up tab. Looks the part and very well presented with lots of expensive signs and patsy video interviews about how great she is. Electoral expense return could be interesting. Doesn't like Three Waters and development contributions, but really likes Council funded development agencies and lots of cheap housing. Also like to use the phrase 'having the debate', often after she's been shot down in flames. She will go down very well with people who have been here 3 – 5 years and really aren't doing that well, which is a sizeable constituency. Could get elected if her campaign doesn't blow up in her face, which is very likely given her family history in town. If elected can see it turning to custard fairly quickly.
Neeta Shetty will mobilise the South Asian vote but not much else, ex Council employee / contractor.
Al Angus is a regular, not a serious contender but asks the right questions and has some very pointed one liners. Usually accounts for at least one candidate's campaign each election.
At least the racist on my street only yells insults, not paints them. Same psychological damage though. Same breaking of other tenants Right To Quiet Enjoyment.
How many thousands of lives are Kainga Ora continuing to subject to chronic abuse in order to virtue signal they're 'protecting the most vulnerable' or 'catering for complex needs'.
Who is the government that let all the mental health people back into the community? Were our institutions so utterly evil they were irredeemable. In that case you clean out the people, not the patients.
Forest & Bird says all political parties who are serious about climate change and the environment need to support an important new bill to protect public conservation land from new mines.
Last Thursday, the Crown Minerals (Prohibition of Mining) Amendment Bill was drawn from the ballot box. Introduced to the House by Green Party MP Eugenie Sage, it would prevent new mining permits being granted on conservation land.
…
“Five years ago, the Prime Minister promised through the Speech from the Throne that the government would end new mining on conservation land. In that time, numerous new mining activities have been approved across conservation land right across New Zealand,” says Forest & Bird Chief Executive Nicola Toki.
“This bill is the Prime Minister’s chance to fulfil that 2017 promise, and truly protect New Zealand’s publicly owned conservation lands for biodiversity and the climate. Ending mining on conservation land would be a powerful legacy and investment in the future. The government has just published its Emissions Reduction Plan – supporting this bill is an important test of its commitment to that Plan.”
It's the same stupid thought process as Labour and Kiwisaver GST. Why do politicians so often fail to ask themselves (and answer) the obvious question: where will this story go? How will it play out?
There are always 2 options:
1) Get out in front of the story and defend your choice. Take the flak, don't be surprised by the entirely predictable. If you believe it matters, then be committed, but don't be committed for a week or month and then be un-committed. (At least it was only a day for Parker). That's a double defeat.
or
2) Don't create the problem in the first place.
You don't need to be any kind of political genius to anticipate the questions when Luxon opens the door to Tamaki, and Labour open the door to an opposition attack on tax. In both cases the leader/party backed down. As they were always going to do.
Yes, I know these are two totally different issues but the problem is the same. Incompetence.
Does nobody have a Comms Dept anymore with at least 1 person in it who can look at a policy or an announcement and think "what is the worst way that some lying scumbag with a complete disregard for the truth can twist this for their political advantage – and how do we prevent that?"
Why do politicians so often fail to ask themselves (and answer) the obvious question: where will this story go? How will it play out?
Labour are bad at this. I think its a combination of some arrogance and an assumption they don't have to' dot the eyes and cross the tees' because the general public will work it out for themselves. The general public can't or don't want to work it out for themselves. You have to do it for them otherwise your opponents will do it and smash your 'story' in the process.
"What I've tried to say consistently is that I've got nothing in common with Tamaki. I think they're crazy, I don't think they're serious,
Luxon will get kudos for this statement despite his dilly dallying around. He is using the language of ordinary everyday people. He comes out and says what most people think – they're crazy. (my bold)
I know people who get irritated with Jacinda Ardern's 'politically correct' language. They dislike her because of it. John Key was a master at the game. He called a spade a spade (even when it wasn't a spade) and the working man and woman loved it. Hence his longevity as PM.
Jacinda needs to the same. As an example, call the VFF/Destiny church crack-pots out for what they are and people should start to approve of her again.
During the Wednesday miscellaneous business debate, Robertson gave Luxon a real serve about his inability to call out Tamaki et al. especially when Tamaki blamed natural phenomena upon the gay community.
"Now, it's probably in the Labour Party's interest for Christopher Luxon to go on deciding that he does not want to rule out Brian Tamaki. I am pleading with Mr Luxon to do the right thing. Do not say to young, gay New Zealanders that they don't matter. Do not say to the women of New Zealand that they don't have a place in leadership. Because, Mr Luxon, you will be judged by the company you keep. You have a chance and you have an opportunity to stand up for New Zealanders' values. Do the right thing, Mr Luxon, rule out working with Brian Tamaki, or else New Zealanders will continue to believe you stand for extremism, you stand for bigotry. Rule out Brian Tamaki."
It seems to be true of all politicians – when their personal moral convictions collide with the 'politically acceptable' attitudes which make you electable.
Right, or Left. Ethics don't hold a candle when it comes to electibility.
Here's an overview of Luxon, Mahuta and Efeso Collins – all doing the same thing – publicly walking back what is clearly a deeply held ethical opinion, when it becomes politically advisable to do so
If you can't be bothered reading, that's your problem.
If you don't like the message, then that's also your problem.
The point – labouring the issue for the terminally dense – is that politicians from *all* parties walk back their personal ethics when it conflicts with their electability.
If you want to accuse Luxon of doing this – then you should be prepared to also accuse Mahuta & Efeso Collins of doing the same.
If you actually have a perspective to share – I'd be interested to read it.
But, spray and walk away accusations really don't impress.
Do you need help ? clearly your becoming unhinged,have no interest in debating with the likes of you,just pointing out a poor link.If you had an article in mind,link to it!
"Robertson gave Luxon a real serve about his inability to call out Tamaki et al…"
Good for Grant.
Trouble is Mac1, the vast majority of people do not listen to parliament. And those that do are better informed than most. That is why it is so important to speak frankly outside of parliament and to call the NActs out in language that your every day Joe Bloggs and his missus readily understand.
Fair enough, Anne. I expect that the plain speaking will increase as first, the need to react to the mind-boggling stupidity increases as the examination of their behaviour and beliefs increases, (such as Fire and Fury, and the media's focus on loopy local election candidates), and second, the election in 2023 gets closer and the opportunity and style of debate changes.
Yes. Watched whatsername, Nicola Willis(?) trying to give Grant a serve today. Belligerence is her middle name. Labour needs to start the plain speaking imo, and that includes the dipsticks and crackpots currently running riot over NZ's green and pleasant land.
The only honest politician, on the opposition side, seems to have been David Seymour, who at least acknowledged that the move was reasonable if one wished to have GST consistency. The National Party seem to be dishonestly attempting to make political capital out of the affair.
This move by Labour may have been unwise for political reasons, but having made it I think they should have pressed ahead with it. Backing down just makes them look as though they've been caught out doing something naughty.
Australia sees excess deaths at 12% for first 5 months of 2022,with around half due to covid,and forecasts for rest of year suggest 9% for Covid alone.As Australia relaxes rules on masks on planes,and isolation rules.
Will the government Greenlight a higher excess death rate for the future? The minister for covid is struggling,Is it a good time to start shorting the aged care providers?
It is Blue September – prostate cancer awareness month. Look out for all the advertisements aimed at "prostate havers", "penis owners", " ejaculators" etc. Just kidding – so far it is 'blokes", "men" and "he/him" all the way. Advertising naming the people they actually know will be effected by this disease, and the people who love and support them actually works! Remember this next time you see "person with a cervix".
Prostate cancer isn’t any more common in gay, transgender or bisexual men however the nature of relationships and emotional support mechanisms in their community is often different to that in the heterosexual community.
Yes, just like that. Still taking about men – (but with the obligatory kiss up to gender ideology). On a specialised page and doing its best to identify exactly who is likely to be affected.
can you honestly not see the sexism? Women's health messaging is remove the word woman, men's isn't removing the word man. There are a myriad of examples of this now, including on major health websites where women are referred to as body parts and men are called men.
There is a discrepancy there for sure but in my experience the messaging that is coming from official sources (not companies) is 'women and …' rather than the removal of the word entirely.
Sexism imbues all aspects of our society as we are still a patriarchal society, one that privileges straight men above all others and that includes in health messaging in particular. Masculinity, as our society defines it, is fragile; insecure about and fearful of perceived frailness or weakness, read: femininity (as our patriarchal system defines it), and so don't look after their health, avoid seeking diagnosis or advice and ignore messaging that they perceive to not apply to them. This is certainly a consideration of those who write this type of messaging.
All this said, my concern is that we must work to dismantle the patriarchy together and people who are queer, gender-diverse, trans etc are helping to do just that. I just feel the focus is wrong.
Sexism is based on expectations of behaviour, presentation, competence and achievement based on the material reality of biological sex.
It has nothing to do with the performative stereotypes adopted by those who want to appropriate a fascimile of oppression by declaration.
As pointed out many times, medical treatment and protocols based on male bodies, have bee detrimental to women's outcomes, and this disparity has only recently been acknowledged.
Biological sex is not the same as gender identity. Gender ideology requires this distinction to exist, YET, it also demands the removal of that distinction in all language use. Even in cases where the topic is only about biological sex – such as in medicine and health.
Women/woman is sufficient and accurate.
The reassurances about no impact on women from the 'Be Kind' and inclusive crowd, are constantly shown to be lies, but instead of being changed – continue to be repeated.
Sexism is based on expectations of behaviour, presentation, competence and achievement based on the material reality of biological sex.
This is precisely what I meant by a patriarchal definition of gender roles; fixed in stone by 'material realities', unchanging, inflexible and deliberately ignorant and dismissive of the innumerable exceptions to these supposed 'realities' that have always existed.
"All this said, my concern is that we must work to dismantle the patriarchy together and people who are queer, gender-diverse, trans etc are helping to do just that. I just feel the focus is wrong."
Which has nothing to do with sexism based on material reality.
By treating gender stereotypes as fixed and immutable, and denying the reality of material sex differences, the excuse of "dismantling the patriachy", is further diminishing of women's sex based realities and a distortion of both cause and effect of sexism.
To say that transgender concerns can be expressed separately, and are distinct is accurate, but seemingly not permitted.
The concerns of women in respect to sexism and patriachy are not the same of those of men. They should not be conflated, and therefore adjusted to accommodate an inclusion of males.
It is the view of the patriarchy that gender stereotypes are fixed and immutable.
Is physical strength exclusive to men? Is compassion exclusive to women? Aren’t women already logical, analytical, or rebellious or uncompromising or doctors or engineers or farmers or whatever else is seen by our patriarchal society as the realm of men?
Are men incapable of gentleness, of caring or supporting or nursing or teaching or child-rearing and household labour or whatever else is seen by our patriarchal society as women’s role?
Are you saying the reality of material sex differences means these stereotypes should be maintained and enforced?
I will reiterate that I believe that people who are queer, gender-diverse, trans etc. just by existing, are helping to undermine those patriarchal stereotypes, and that is a positive step towards achieving social, political and economic equality of the sexes. They are, at the very least, allies of feminism surely.
Don't understand the point you are making in your first two paragraphs, or your definition of 'patriachy'. However, can reply to the remainder.
"Are you saying the reality of material sex differences means these stereotypes should be maintained and enforced?"
No, the majority gender critical view is diametrically opposed to this premise. It is gender ideology that connects gender stereotypes to definitive expressions of sex.
"I will reiterate that I believe that people who are queer, gender-diverse, trans etc. just by existing, are helping to undermine those patriarchal stereotypes, and that is a positive step towards achieving social, political and economic equality of the sexes. They are, at the very least, allies of feminism surely."
You can reiterate this opinion all you like.
To persuade or convince, it is helpful for you to explain how.
1. What is your definition of 'patriarchy'?
2. How does it impact on the groups you identify?
3. Do those impacts overlap, or are they discrete or a combination of the two?
4. What is this magical component or effect associated with "just by existing"?
5. As an final question about language, what are your definitions of the terms you have used:
a)queer, b]gender-diverse, c)trans
"They are, at the very least, allies of feminism surely."
Not necessarily, examples that contradict that assumption are easily found.
If you take time to research, you will find multiple instances of gender activists telling women how they are doing feminism wrong, how their insistence on biological sex realities supports the patriarchy, sexism, is self-inflicted etc.
I'm interested to see how you come to your position.
I feel I have defined the terms suitably enough throughout this thread but I am also keenly aware that definitions do not always provide us with strict rules or boundaries, in fact they very rarely do, the story of Plato and Diogenes is a good example: Plato was asked to define a man and said; “A featherless biped.” Later Diogenes burst in, brandishing a plucked chicken, exclaiming; “Behold, a man!”
As a thought experiment, are you able come up with a succint definition of a chair, that includes all chairs while also excluding all things that are not chairs?
So, the chair analogy….Let's park that word game with the prevalence of left-handedness ho-hum and move on.
As is often the case, when provided with the opportunity to be succinct and provide clarity, words and language is treated as a movable feast in explanations rather than an effective tool for clear communication.
"I feel I have defined the terms suitably enough throughout this thread "
Yes. I am assured you feel that way. However, the reality is you haven't defined them at all.
You are not only failing to convince me of the common ground between women and other demographics. I remain critical of your coherence in what you believe to be the effects of patriachy, or indeed of those groups you have named but not defined in any meaningful way.
(No comment on the example of Jeffrey Marsh as women's rights ally? Oh, well. )
What you call a ho-hum word game is very much essential to effective and clear communication, in that we cannot rely on definitions alone to be accurate about the meaning of words; we more often understand things by what Wittgenstein called family resemblances; similarities, affinities and correspondences. One particular affinity, relevant to this discussion is that our patriarchy disempowers all those who are not straight cis white men, so all those demographics that do not have those qualities are largely prevented from exerting social, political or economic power and thus are allies in the struggle for equality.
One constant, I've noticed, is that men who are particularly vehement about the acceptance on the slogan 'Trabswomen are Women', are usually also quick to draw on particularly sexist dismissive terms to negate or refute women's concerns.
Very few women would wear pearls nowadays, Sacha. It is possibly, more likely they will be found on the necks of those men who enjoy cross-dressing like fifties housewives, rather than the grown women of today.
However that is by the by.
The other suspicion I have about men who so emphatic about other men being accepted as women, is this:
For all their talk about acceptance, inclusion and kindness, and let's admit it – complete ignorance about being female, a girl or a woman – their insistence that transvestitites, autogynophiles, men who just declare themselves as women MUST BE accepted in all ways as women, is because they are both unable and unwilling to accommodate such men alongside themselves as 'men'.
That is why, they choose to abuse women who say they accept that diversity of trans people, but not the lie of biological sex change. They are unable to accept transwomen as men, because their idea of men is limited, so any variation must belong in the non-men category. Is this descriptive of you?
(In other words, contribute something better than snide sexist dismissals. Pearl clutching…?)
there are no limitations of language Arkie. Women -= adult human female. End of. Men are free to identify as women all they like. But they can never be women. You can't change biological reality.
You have a bloody nerve talking about breaking down the patriarchy. In all my years I have never felt so patronized and gas lit as I have by the trans rights activists. Listen to you. The prioritizing of the rights of male bodied people over women to enter their change rooms, sports competitions prisons etc etc, is a f…g outrage and the most sexist thing I have ever experienced in my lifetime.
Well, Anker. I find your language to be clear and to the point, without equivocation, so find myself agreeing.
It always interests me when people are unable to provide definitions for words they themselves introduce to conversations, particularly on this topic. When provided with opportunities to clarify themselves, they divert off into discussions about how language is fluid and needs to be observed out of context. (Taking the piss, is the more abbreviated term I associate with this approach.) Because THEY are unable to be clear, they assume the problem lies within language, not their misuse of language, or lack of coherent thought.
(I've never before come across the idea of magical influence on women's oppression by "just existing" before. I imagine it is similar to a unicorn manifestation which grateful women should welcome with open arms. I wonder why so many women wasted time on consciousness raising, protesting and activism in the past. All we needed was a coterie of magical gender identities…)
Yep, we had a nice billbord about cancer and blokes. It was actually quite well done, and it was quite clear at whom it was aimed.
And no one gives a fuck about the well being of the domesticated mental support providing therapy animal that used to have a name but can't be named anymore lest some people who like to appear non male or people who like to appear male but are non male pack a sad.
Fear not. Those hits are outdated. The dreaded word has now almost been edited out entirely. but still remains in the "Our Story' precis. Give it time.
I think this is the group that advertised for donations to beat that mythical cancer that some people who can not be named have. So i emailed them to inquire about the mythical human being that would get gynecological cancers . I have yet to receive an answer.
Rumour has it the shiny new NZ Health are debating what is a woman……if they don’t know what a woman is get the f..k out of health. Go and work in fantasy instead
Good God. Someone better tell them what a woman is as soon as possible.
Apparently, there is some confusion that may result in a long waiting list for healthcare for chairs…. Stool samples may take on a completely different meaning.
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Welcome back to our weekly roundup. We hope you had a good break (if you had one). Here’s a few of the stories that caught our attention over the last few weeks. This holiday period on Greater Auckland Since our last roundup we’ve: Taken a look back at ...
Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partnerSometimes I feel like my only friendIs the city I live in, The City of AngelsLonely as I am together we crySong: Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, Flea, John Frusciante.A home is engulfed in flames during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area. ...
Open access notablesLarge emissions of CO2 and CH4 due to active-layer warming in Arctic tundra, Torn et al., Nature Communications:Climate warming may accelerate decomposition of Arctic soil carbon, but few controlled experiments have manipulated the entire active layer. To determine surface-atmosphere fluxes of carbon dioxide and ...
It's election year for Wellington City Council and for the Regional Council. What have the progressive councillors achieved over the last couple of years. What were the blocks and failures? What's with the targeting of the mayor and city council by the Post and by central government? Why does the ...
Over the holidays, there was a rising tide of calls for people to submit on National's repulsive, white supremacist Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill, along with a wave of advice and examples of what to say. And it looks like people rose to the occasion, with over 300,000 ...
The lie is my expenseThe scope of my desireThe Party blessed me with its futureAnd I protect it with fireI am the Nina The Pinta The Santa MariaThe noose and the rapistAnd the fields overseerThe agents of orangeThe priests of HiroshimaThe cost of my desire…Sleep now in the fireSongwriters: Brad ...
This is a re-post from the Climate BrinkGlobal surface temperatures have risen around 1.3C since the preindustrial (1850-1900) period as a result of human activity.1 However, this aggregate number masks a lot of underlying factors that contribute to global surface temperature changes over time.These include CO2, which is the primary ...
There are times when movement around us seems to slow down. And the faster things get, the slower it all appears.And so it is with the whirlwind of early year political activity.They are harbingers for what is to come:Video: Wayne Wright Jnr, funder of Sean Plunket, talk growing power and ...
Hi,Right now the power is out, so I’m just relying on the laptop battery and tethering to my phone’s 5G which is dropping in and out. We’ll see how we go.First up — I’m fine. I can’t see any flames out the window. I live in the greater Hollywood area ...
2024 was a tough year for working Kiwis. But together we’ve been able to fight back for a just and fair New Zealand and in 2025 we need to keep standing up for what’s right and having our voices heard. That starts with our Mood of the Workforce Survey. It’s your ...
Time is never time at allYou can never ever leaveWithout leaving a piece of youthAnd our lives are forever changedWe will never be the sameThe more you change, the less you feelSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan.Babinden - Baba’s DayToday, January 8th, 2025, is Babinden, “The Day of the baba” or “The ...
..I/We wish to make the following comments:I oppose the Treaty Principles Bill."5. Act binds the CrownThis Act binds the Crown."How does this Act "bind the Crown" when Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which the Act refers to, has been violated by the Crown on numerous occassions, resulting in massive loss of ...
Everything is good and brownI'm here againWith a sunshine smile upon my faceMy friends are close at handAnd all my inhibitions have disappeared without a traceI'm glad, oh, that I found oohSomebody who I can rely onSongwriter: Jay KayGood morning, all you lovely people. Today, I’ve got nothing except a ...
Welcome to 2025. After wrapping up 2024, here’s a look at some of the things we can expect to see this year along with a few predictions. Council and Elections Elections One of the biggest things this year will be local body elections in October. Will Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Canadians can take a while to get angry – but when they finally do, watch out. Canada has been falling out of love with Justin Trudeau for years, and his exit has to be the least surprising news event of the New Year. On recent polling, Trudeau’s Liberal party has ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Much like 2023, many climate and energy records were broken in 2024. It was Earth’s hottest year on record by a wide margin, breaking the previous record that was set just last year by an even larger margin. Human-caused climate-warming pollution and ...
Submissions on National's racist, white supremacist Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill are due tomorrow! So today, after a good long holiday from all that bullshit, I finally got my shit together to submit on it. As I noted here, people should write their own submissions in their own ...
Ooh, baby (ooh, baby)It's making me crazy (it's making me crazy)Every time I look around (look around)Every time I look around (every time I look around)Every time I look aroundIt's in my faceSongwriters: Alan Leo Jansson / Paul Lawrence L. Fuemana.Today, I’ll be talking about rich, middle-aged men who’ve made ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 29, 2024 thru Sat, January 4, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
Hi,The thing that stood out at me while shopping for Christmas presents in New Zealand was how hard it was to avoid Zuru products. Toy manufacturer Zuru is a bit like Netflix, in that it has so much data on what people want they can flood the market with so ...
And when a child is born into this worldIt has no conceptOf the tone of skin it's living inAnd there's a million voicesAnd there's a million voicesTo tell you what you should be thinkingSong by Neneh Cherry and Youssou N'Dour.The moment you see that face, you can hear her voice; ...
While we may not always have quality political leadership, a couple of recently published autobiographies indicate sometimes we strike it lucky. When ranking our prime ministers, retired professor of history Erik Olssen commented that ‘neither Holland nor Nash was especially effective as prime minister – even his private secretary thought ...
Baby, be the class clownI'll be the beauty queen in tearsIt's a new art form, showin' people how little we care (yeah)We're so happy, even when we're smilin' out of fearLet's go down to the tennis court and talk it up like, yeah (yeah)Songwriters: Joel Little / Ella Yelich O ...
Open access notables Why Misinformation Must Not Be Ignored, Ecker et al., American Psychologist:Recent academic debate has seen the emergence of the claim that misinformation is not a significant societal problem. We argue that the arguments used to support this minimizing position are flawed, particularly if interpreted (e.g., by policymakers or the public) as suggesting ...
What I’ve Been Doing: I buried a close family member.What I’ve Been Watching: Andor, Jack Reacher, Xmas movies.What I’ve Been Reflecting On: The Usefulness of Writing and the Worthiness of Doing So — especially as things become more transparent on their own.I also hate competing on any day, and if ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by John Wihbey. A version of this article first appeared on Yale Climate Connections on Nov. 11, 2008. (Image credits: The White House, Jonathan Cutrer / CC BY 2.0; President Jimmy Carter, Trikosko/Library of Congress; Solar dedication, Bill Fitz-Patrick / Jimmy Carter Library; Solar ...
Morena folks,We’re having a good break, recharging the batteries. Hope you’re enjoying the holiday period. I’m not feeling terribly inspired by much at the moment, I’m afraid—not from a writing point of view, anyway.So, today, we’re travelling back in time. You’ll have to imagine the wavy lines and sci-fi sound ...
Completed reads for 2024: Oration on the Dignity of Man, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola A Platonic Discourse Upon Love, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola Of Being and Unity, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola The Life of Pico della Mirandola, by Giovanni Francesco Pico Three Letters Written by Pico ...
Welcome to 2025, Aotearoa. Well… what can one really say? 2024 was a story of a bad beginning, an infernal middle and an indescribably farcical end. But to chart a course for a real future, it does pay to know where we’ve been… so we know where we need ...
Welcome to the official half-way point of the 2020s. Anyway, as per my New Years tradition, here’s where A Phuulish Fellow’s blog traffic came from in 2024: United States United Kingdom New Zealand Canada Sweden Australia Germany Spain Brazil Finland The top four are the same as 2023, ...
Completed reads for December: Be A Wolf!, by Brian Strickland The Magic Flute [libretto], by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Emanuel Schikaneder The Invisible Eye, by Erckmann-Chatrian The Owl’s Ear, by Erckmann-Chatrian The Waters of Death, by Erckmann-Chatrian The Spider, by Hanns Heinz Ewers Who Knows?, by Guy de Maupassant ...
Well, it’s the last day of the year, so it’s time for a quick wrap-up of the most important things that happened in 2024 for urbanism and transport in our city. A huge thank you to everyone who has visited the blog and supported us in our mission to make ...
Leave your office, run past your funeralLeave your home, car, leave your pulpitJoin us in the streets where weJoin us in the streets where weDon't belong, don't belongHere under the starsThrowing light…Song: Jeffery BuckleyToday, I’ll discuss the standout politicians of the last 12 months. Each party will receive three awards, ...
Hi,A lot’s happened this year in the world of Webworm, and as 2024 comes to an end I thought I’d look back at a few of the things that popped. Maybe you missed them, or you might want to revisit some of these essay and podcast episodes over your break ...
Hi,I wanted to share this piece by film editor Dan Kircher about what cinema has been up to in 2024.Dan edited my documentary Mister Organ, as well as this year’s excellent crowd-pleasing Bookworm.Dan adores movies. He gets the language of cinema, he knows what he loves, and writes accordingly. And ...
Without delving into personal details but in order to give readers a sense of the year that was, I thought I would offer the study in contrasts that are Xmas 2023 and Xmas 2024: Xmas 2023 in Starship Children’s Hospital (after third of four surgeries). Even opening presents was an ...
Heavy disclaimer: Alpha/beta/omega dynamics is a popular trope that’s used in a wide range of stories and my thoughts on it do not apply to all cases. I’m most familiar with it through the lens of male-focused fanfic, typically m/m but sometimes also featuring m/f and that’s the situation I’m ...
Hi,Webworm has been pretty heavy this year — mainly because the world is pretty heavy. But as we sprint (or limp, you choose) through the final days of 2024, I wanted to keep Webworm a little lighter.So today I wanted to look at one of the biggest and weirdest elements ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 22, 2024 thru Sat, December 28, 2024. This week's roundup is the second one published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, ...
The Green Party has welcomed the provisional ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, and reiterated its call for New Zealand to push for an end to the unlawful occupation of Palestine. ...
The Green Party welcomes the extension of the deadline for Treaty Principles Bill submissions but continues to call on the Government to abandon the Bill. ...
Complaints about disruptive behaviour now handled in around 13 days (down from around 60 days a year ago) 553 Section 55A notices issued by Kāinga Ora since July 2024, up from 41 issued during the same period in the previous year. Of that 553, first notices made up around 83 ...
The time it takes to process building determinations has improved significantly over the last year which means fewer delays in homes being built, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “New Zealand has a persistent shortage of houses. Making it easier and quicker for new homes to be built will ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is pleased to announce the annual list of New Zealand’s most popular baby names for 2024. “For the second consecutive year, Noah has claimed the top spot for boys with 250 babies sharing the name, while Isla has returned to the most popular ...
Work is set to get underway on a new bus station at Westgate this week. A contract has been awarded to HEB Construction to start a package of enabling works to get the site ready in advance of main construction beginning in mid-2025, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“A new Westgate ...
Minister for Children and for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour is encouraging people to use the resources available to them to get help, and to report instances of family and sexual violence amongst their friends, families, and loved ones who are in need. “The death of a ...
Uia te pō, rangahaua te pō, whakamāramatia mai he aha tō tango, he aha tō kāwhaki? Whitirere ki te ao, tirotiro kau au, kei hea taku rātā whakamarumaru i te au o te pakanga mo te mana motuhake? Au te pō, ngū te pō, ue hā! E te kahurangi māreikura, ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says people with diabetes and other painful conditions will benefit from a significant new qualification to boost training in foot care. “It sounds simple, but quality and regular foot and nail care is vital in preventing potentially serious complications from diabetes, like blisters or sores, which can take a long time to heal ...
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour is pleased to see Pharmac continue to increase availability of medicines for Kiwis with the government’s largest ever investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the government,” says Mr Seymour. “When this government assumed ...
Mā mua ka kite a muri, mā muri ka ora e mua - Those who lead give sight to those who follow, those who follow give life to those who lead. Māori recipients in the New Year 2025 Honours list show comprehensive dedication to improving communities across the motu that ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is wishing all New Zealanders a great holiday season as Kiwis prepare for gatherings with friends and families to see in the New Year. It is a great time of year to remind everyone to stay fire safe over the summer. “I know ...
As the world farewells visionary director David Lynch, we return to this 2017 piece by Angela Cuming about escaping into the haunting world of Twin Peaks. I was only 10 years old when Twin Peaks – and the real world – found me.Once a week, in the dark, I ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marc C-Scott, Associate Professor of Screen Media | Deputy Associate Dean of Learning & Teaching, Victoria University Screenshot/YouTube The 2025 Australian Open (AO) broadcast may seem similar to previous years if you’re watching on the television. However, if you’re watching online ...
By Anish Chand in Suva A Fiji community human rights coalition has called on Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to halt his “reckless expansion” of government and refocus on addressing Fiji’s pressing challenges. The NGO Coalition on Human Rights (NGOCHR) said it was outraged by the abrupt and arbitrary reshuffling of ...
A selection of the best shows, movies, podcasts and playlists that kept us entertained over the holidays. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here.Leo (Netflix) My partner and I watched exactly one thing on the TV in our Japan accommodation while ...
Toby Manhire tells you everything you need to know ahead of season two of Severance.After an agonising wait – nearly three years between waffles, thanks to US actor and writer strikes and, some say, creative squabbles – Severance returns today, Friday January 17. For my money the first season ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 32-year-old mother of a one-year-old shares her approach to spending and saving. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Female. Age: 32. Ethnicity: East Asian – NZ ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Talia Fell, PhD Candidate, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland The Los Angeles wildfires are causing the devastating loss of people’s homes. From A-list celebrities such as Paris Hilton to an Australian family living in LA, thousands ...
The outgoing and incoming presidents have both claimed credit for the historic deal, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund for The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Finally, some good fucking news. The Friday Poem is back! Last year, The Spinoff leveled with its audience about the financial reality it faced and called for support from its audience. Some tough decisions were made at the time including cuts to our commissioning budget and the discontinuation of The ...
The soon-to-be deputy PM has already had a crucial win behind the scenes. First published in Henry Cooke’s politics newsletter, Museum Street. Margaret Thatcher used to love prime minister’s questions. If you’re not familiar, the UK parliamentary system has a weekly procedure where the prime minister is subject to at least ...
Summer reissue: The current coalition not lasting beyond this parliamentary term is an idea that’s been seized on by its opponents. History suggests it’s unlikely – but not impossible. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Port Vila More than 180,000 registered voters are expected to cast their votes today with polls now open in Vanuatu. It is remarkable the snap election is even able to happen with Friday marking one month since the 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck the ...
New Zealand needs to boost its productivity growth and become more attractive and accessible as a workplace in order to fix its labour market woes, a recruitment agency says.Commenting on new salary survey results from Robert Walters, Shay Peters, the company’s Australia and New Zealand chief executive, says the Government ...
Comment: When Newsroom’s editor Jonathan Milne invited me to write one of two special pieces for the summer break, I faced quite the conundrum. My options were to either review a work of non-fiction or write a column about hope and optimism for 2025.I initially misread Jonathan’s request to review ...
By Daniel Perese of Te Ao Māori News Māori politicians across the political spectrum in Aotearoa New Zealand have called for immediate aid to enter Gaza following a temporary ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. The ceasefire, agreed yesterday, comes into effect on Sunday, January 19. Foreign Minister Winston Peters ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexandra Sherlock, Lecturer, School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University Australian-owned brand UGG Since 1974 has announced it will change its name to “Since 74” for sales outside Australia and New Zealand. There has been a long-running battle over the rights ...
The committee has agreed to split into two sub-committees to increase the number of people it can hear from in the time available. Each sub-committee will meet for 30 hours total, together making up 60 of the 80 planned hours of hearings. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Parmeter, Research scholar, Middle East studies, Australian National University The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, to come into effect on Sunday, has understandably been welcomed by the overwhelming majority of Israelis and Palestinians. Israelis are relieved that a process for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christine Carson, Senior Research Fellow, School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia Over the past several days, the world has watched on in shock as wildfires have devastated large parts of Los Angeles. Beyond the obvious destruction – to landscapes, homes, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rose Cairns, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow, University of Sydney AtlasStudio/Shutterstock TikTok and Instagram influencers have been peddling the “Barbie drug” to help you tan. But melanotan-II, as it’s called officially, is a solution that’s too good to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paula Jarzabkowski, Professor in Strategic Management, The University of Queensland A series of wildfires in Los Angeles County have caused widespread devastation in California, including at least 24 deaths and the destruction of more than 12,000 homes and structures. Thousands of residents ...
COMMENTARY:By Monika Singh The lack of women representation in parliaments across the world remains a vexed and contentious issue. In Fiji, this problem has again surfaced for debate in response to Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica’s call for a quota system to increase women’s representation in Parliament. Kamikamica was ...
What compels someone of significant status in society to break the law, repeatedly, might be the same reason I did as a poor teenager. Former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman, who left parliament a year ago today following revelations of shoplifting, is now at the centre of another shoplifting complaint. As ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kath Albury, Professor of Media and Communication and Associate Investigator, ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making + Society, Swinburne University of Technology natamrli/Shutterstock Last week, social media giant Meta announced major changes to its content moderation practices. This includes an ...
"Gisborne has suffered from housing underdevelopment and a lack of supply, coupled with damage from severe weather events," Minister Tama Potaka says. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marta Andhov, Associate Professor, Law School, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Iconic Bestiary/Shutterstock They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But in the world of legal contracts, pictures can be worth even more by making complicated concepts more ...
Asia Pacific Report The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Egyptian, Palestinian and Israeli authorities to allow foreign journalists into Gaza in the wake of the three-phase ceasefire agreement set to to begin on Sunday. The New York-based global media watchdog urged the international community “to independently investigate ...
The agreement will ease Palestinians’ suffering, but international agencies will struggle to meet the massive need for humanitarian relief. This is an excerpt from The World Bulletin, our weekly global current affairs newsletter exclusively for Spinoff Members. Sign up here. We start the World Bulletin’s year with a rare piece of ...
In light of Marama Davidson’s bollocking over a chocolate brand, who recalls one John Phillip “sirkey” and his relationship with Steinlager?
There was a time when Mr Key haunted the All Black changing rooms, rarely without a Steinie in hand or far from Ritchie–and the Rugby News cover photo directly before the 2014 General Election had him wearing an All Black jersey!…and standing in front of team members as if he were Captain.
The Natzos got away with it on a technicality to do with the periodical nature of Rugby News, though the beer product placement always grated.
The difference is Key was specifically bigging up the product. Given the fact he was in the All Black's dressing room and Steinlager was the sponsors of the team the fact he photographed with a bottle of Steinlager was incidental to his purpose of being there. He was also photographed wearing an All Black's jersey on occassion that doesn't mean he promoted Adidas or AIG.
Key was specifically bigging up the product?
Your saying Marama prefers the Maori language to the chocolate?
Sorry, that should have been "Key wasn't specifically bigging up the product".
While Davidson actually stated she disliked the taste she still focused on the product (indeed she held up a selection of it) and highlighted that she thought it was a good buy.
Oh, I see what your saying.
Its about who/what has the better public image. Marama lends her high public image to chocolate (tut-tut), while Key looks good when hes socialising with beer (hoo-raa).
"University students are circulating a petition asking the Government to censure the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) for appearing in an advertisement for gin."
[The Press, 22 May 1971]
Andrew Bayly, admittedly not the sharpest tack in the tool box, has gone full Trump in his complete disregard for historical fact and truth with this tweet:
https://twitter.com/bayly_andrew/status/1564852462271401984
Lying for votes – The National Party since….. forever
To be fair promising 100000 Kiwibuild affordable homes was pretty close to a lie… albeit an aspirational one
Who should a Labour supporter vote for in the QueenstownLakes election?
Can't figure them out.
There was a website for the last local body elections that analysed candidates for political orientation – the blatant National Party candidates all say that they will keep rate rises low, but that does not catch all of them. Labour has endorsed candidates on their website. The website https://policy.nz/2022 lists candidates, but quite a few (including some Labour candidates) have not given details of policies. For the last local body elections there were some other websites that gave more considered analysis – are there any this time?
There's policy.nz
Here's my profile, for your amusement, but you could explore their site from this link:
https://policy.nz/2022/southland-regional-council-invercargill-rakiura-constituency/candidates/robert-guyton
Lovely but I don't need a website.
I need actual recommendations.
Anyone?
Jon Mitchell-not hard really at all.
Olivia has ACT tendencies and is backed by Rod Drury. There are rumours, which I could not possibly support of course, that she has already overspent the $30k limit permitted.
Glyn Lewers has probably been anointed by Boult which says it all.
The other mayoral candidates are no-hopers.
Appreciated BG
mmm I may be wrong…Neeta Shetty may be polling quite well…in fact the two women, her and Olivia Wensley are frontrunners according to a local poll though such polls are dubious.
Going to be an interesting race, three main contenders, Olivia Wensely, Jon Mitchell and Glyn Lewers.
Lewers is a sitting councillor who got on a coin toss last election. An engineer, very community focused, doesn't make a fuss and gets things done. Not much profile outside Frankton (which is the commercial and community heart of the Whakatipu now) which might hamper him in Wanaka. Some say he's Boult's appointment, but think it's more he has the confidence of the current council, most of which will be returned.
Jon Mitchell was Labour candidate in Clutha Southland last year and did quite well, especially in Whakatipu. Born in Queenstown at what's now Bungi Backpackers. Family had a photographic business in town and motels in Glenorchy. Has a background in emergency management and is a very capable guy with a future in politics, either local or national. Could be accused of being a carpetbagger as he lives in Garston and has been working mainly in Wellington lately, but a Mayor who's a little bit removed from this cliquey incestuous place wouldn't be a bad thing.
Olivia Wensly is the daughter of a failed property developer who went tits up in 2008 leaving a huge leaky mess for the Council, and ratepayers to pick up tab. Looks the part and very well presented with lots of expensive signs and patsy video interviews about how great she is. Electoral expense return could be interesting. Doesn't like Three Waters and development contributions, but really likes Council funded development agencies and lots of cheap housing. Also like to use the phrase 'having the debate', often after she's been shot down in flames. She will go down very well with people who have been here 3 – 5 years and really aren't doing that well, which is a sizeable constituency. Could get elected if her campaign doesn't blow up in her face, which is very likely given her family history in town. If elected can see it turning to custard fairly quickly.
Neeta Shetty will mobilise the South Asian vote but not much else, ex Council employee / contractor.
Al Angus is a regular, not a serious contender but asks the right questions and has some very pointed one liners. Usually accounts for at least one candidate's campaign each election.
Trashy Kainga Ora Tenants Strike Again
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/latest/129731219/racist-graffiti-scrawled-over-familys-remuera-home
At least the racist on my street only yells insults, not paints them. Same psychological damage though. Same breaking of other tenants Right To Quiet Enjoyment.
How many thousands of lives are Kainga Ora continuing to subject to chronic abuse in order to virtue signal they're 'protecting the most vulnerable' or 'catering for complex needs'.
Who is the government that let all the mental health people back into the community? Were our institutions so utterly evil they were irredeemable. In that case you clean out the people, not the patients.
FFS.
Green Party doing green politics things
https://twitter.com/nzgreens/status/1564783335364145153
Forest & Bird outlines the reality (my bold):
https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/resources/bill-end-new-mines-conservation-land-chance-fulfil-governments-promise
Jacinda promised to clean up the rivers too, but that comment was made before a general election so naturally it shouldn't be taken seriously.
Luxon has now done what everyone with any sense knew he would/should do: rule out Brian Tamaki.
Link provided, but it's Hosking so … you click, your choice.
It's the same stupid thought process as Labour and Kiwisaver GST. Why do politicians so often fail to ask themselves (and answer) the obvious question: where will this story go? How will it play out?
There are always 2 options:
1) Get out in front of the story and defend your choice. Take the flak, don't be surprised by the entirely predictable. If you believe it matters, then be committed, but don't be committed for a week or month and then be un-committed. (At least it was only a day for Parker). That's a double defeat.
or
2) Don't create the problem in the first place.
You don't need to be any kind of political genius to anticipate the questions when Luxon opens the door to Tamaki, and Labour open the door to an opposition attack on tax. In both cases the leader/party backed down. As they were always going to do.
Yes, I know these are two totally different issues but the problem is the same. Incompetence.
Does nobody have a Comms Dept anymore with at least 1 person in it who can look at a policy or an announcement and think "what is the worst way that some lying scumbag with a complete disregard for the truth can twist this for their political advantage – and how do we prevent that?"
Probably there are too many comms staff wouldnt be suprised if they tie themselves in knots.
Labour are bad at this. I think its a combination of some arrogance and an assumption they don't have to' dot the eyes and cross the tees' because the general public will work it out for themselves. The general public can't or don't want to work it out for themselves. You have to do it for them otherwise your opponents will do it and smash your 'story' in the process.
As for Luxon:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nationals-christopher-luxon-rules-out-joining-with-brian-tamaki-led-freedoms-nz-coalition/6W6HTIJFSMT5BSMURZYC6A7XLI/
Luxon will get kudos for this statement despite his dilly dallying around. He is using the language of ordinary everyday people. He comes out and says what most people think – they're crazy. (my bold)
I know people who get irritated with Jacinda Ardern's 'politically correct' language. They dislike her because of it. John Key was a master at the game. He called a spade a spade (even when it wasn't a spade) and the working man and woman loved it. Hence his longevity as PM.
Jacinda needs to the same. As an example, call the VFF/Destiny church crack-pots out for what they are and people should start to approve of her again.
During the Wednesday miscellaneous business debate, Robertson gave Luxon a real serve about his inability to call out Tamaki et al. especially when Tamaki blamed natural phenomena upon the gay community.
"Now, it's probably in the Labour Party's interest for Christopher Luxon to go on deciding that he does not want to rule out Brian Tamaki. I am pleading with Mr Luxon to do the right thing. Do not say to young, gay New Zealanders that they don't matter. Do not say to the women of New Zealand that they don't have a place in leadership. Because, Mr Luxon, you will be judged by the company you keep. You have a chance and you have an opportunity to stand up for New Zealanders' values. Do the right thing, Mr Luxon, rule out working with Brian Tamaki, or else New Zealanders will continue to believe you stand for extremism, you stand for bigotry. Rule out Brian Tamaki."
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansD_20220831_20220831
Very probably why he decided to take a side!
Not from any moral conviction – he is a fundy after all!
It seems to be true of all politicians – when their personal moral convictions collide with the 'politically acceptable' attitudes which make you electable.
Right, or Left. Ethics don't hold a candle when it comes to electibility.
Here's an overview of Luxon, Mahuta and Efeso Collins – all doing the same thing – publicly walking back what is clearly a deeply held ethical opinion, when it becomes politically advisable to do so
https://www.todayfm.co.nz/home/opinion/2022/06/where-do-we-draw-the-line-at-politicians-being-disingenuous-hypocritical-even.html
[link fixed]
That rubbish link of yours trawling through it for what ?
If you can't be bothered reading, that's your problem.
If you don't like the message, then that's also your problem.
The point – labouring the issue for the terminally dense – is that politicians from *all* parties walk back their personal ethics when it conflicts with their electability.
If you want to accuse Luxon of doing this – then you should be prepared to also accuse Mahuta & Efeso Collins of doing the same.
If you actually have a perspective to share – I'd be interested to read it.
But, spray and walk away accusations really don't impress.
Do you need help ? clearly your becoming unhinged,have no interest in debating with the likes of you,just pointing out a poor link.If you had an article in mind,link to it!
Gosh, I had no idea that you were commenting on a link not working. Not being a mind reader (yuck – what a nasty thought).
Perhaps you could practice using sentences to communicate.
Because you frequently verge on incoherence – and clearly crossed the line this time.
Try this link
https://www.todayfm.co.nz/home/opinion/2022/06/where-do-we-draw-the-line-at-politicians-being-disingenuous-hypocritical-even.html
It seems as though the final 'l' was missing off the original – however, a simple google search of the keywords would have found it.
Or, a simple comment that the link wasn't working would have prompted me to check and correct.
How many other people do you treat like this,stay on your med's.
Chill, please!
"Robertson gave Luxon a real serve about his inability to call out Tamaki et al…"
Good for Grant.
Trouble is Mac1, the vast majority of people do not listen to parliament. And those that do are better informed than most. That is why it is so important to speak frankly outside of parliament and to call the NActs out in language that your every day Joe Bloggs and his missus readily understand.
Fair enough, Anne. I expect that the plain speaking will increase as first, the need to react to the mind-boggling stupidity increases as the examination of their behaviour and beliefs increases, (such as Fire and Fury, and the media's focus on loopy local election candidates), and second, the election in 2023 gets closer and the opportunity and style of debate changes.
Yes. Watched whatsername, Nicola Willis(?) trying to give Grant a serve today. Belligerence is her middle name. Labour needs to start the plain speaking imo, and that includes the dipsticks and crackpots currently running riot over NZ's green and pleasant land.
The only honest politician, on the opposition side, seems to have been David Seymour, who at least acknowledged that the move was reasonable if one wished to have GST consistency. The National Party seem to be dishonestly attempting to make political capital out of the affair.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129742208/how-the-wrongheaded-kiwisaver-fees-tax-backfired-for-labour
This move by Labour may have been unwise for political reasons, but having made it I think they should have pressed ahead with it. Backing down just makes them look as though they've been caught out doing something naughty.
Yes – it lends undeserved credibility to National.
US life expectancy drop largest 2 year fall in a century.Fall is due to both covid and opioids.
https://twitter.com/markets/status/1564850735791177729
Australia sees excess deaths at 12% for first 5 months of 2022,with around half due to covid,and forecasts for rest of year suggest 9% for Covid alone.As Australia relaxes rules on masks on planes,and isolation rules.
https://twitter.com/KarenCutter4/status/1564754050620350464
NZ has a similar slope with excess deaths,(an absolute figure that is undeniable )
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/excess-mortality-p-scores-average-baseline?country=NZL~AUS
Will the government Greenlight a higher excess death rate for the future? The minister for covid is struggling,Is it a good time to start shorting the aged care providers?
It is Blue September – prostate cancer awareness month. Look out for all the advertisements aimed at "prostate havers", "penis owners", " ejaculators" etc. Just kidding – so far it is 'blokes", "men" and "he/him" all the way. Advertising naming the people they actually know will be effected by this disease, and the people who love and support them actually works! Remember this next time you see "person with a cervix".
Like this?
https://prostate.org.nz/rainbow-blue/
Yes, just like that. Still taking about men – (but with the obligatory kiss up to gender ideology). On a specialised page and doing its best to identify exactly who is likely to be affected.
Oh my, how terrible.
can you honestly not see the sexism? Women's health messaging is remove the word woman, men's isn't removing the word man. There are a myriad of examples of this now, including on major health websites where women are referred to as body parts and men are called men.
There is a discrepancy there for sure but in my experience the messaging that is coming from official sources (not companies) is 'women and …' rather than the removal of the word entirely.
Sexism imbues all aspects of our society as we are still a patriarchal society, one that privileges straight men above all others and that includes in health messaging in particular. Masculinity, as our society defines it, is fragile; insecure about and fearful of perceived frailness or weakness, read: femininity (as our patriarchal system defines it), and so don't look after their health, avoid seeking diagnosis or advice and ignore messaging that they perceive to not apply to them. This is certainly a consideration of those who write this type of messaging.
All this said, my concern is that we must work to dismantle the patriarchy together and people who are queer, gender-diverse, trans etc are helping to do just that. I just feel the focus is wrong.
Sexism is based on expectations of behaviour, presentation, competence and achievement based on the material reality of biological sex.
It has nothing to do with the performative stereotypes adopted by those who want to appropriate a fascimile of oppression by declaration.
As pointed out many times, medical treatment and protocols based on male bodies, have bee detrimental to women's outcomes, and this disparity has only recently been acknowledged.
Biological sex is not the same as gender identity. Gender ideology requires this distinction to exist, YET, it also demands the removal of that distinction in all language use. Even in cases where the topic is only about biological sex – such as in medicine and health.
Women/woman is sufficient and accurate.
The reassurances about no impact on women from the 'Be Kind' and inclusive crowd, are constantly shown to be lies, but instead of being changed – continue to be repeated.
This is precisely what I meant by a patriarchal definition of gender roles; fixed in stone by 'material realities', unchanging, inflexible and deliberately ignorant and dismissive of the innumerable exceptions to these supposed 'realities' that have always existed.
You also said this:
"All this said, my concern is that we must work to dismantle the patriarchy together and people who are queer, gender-diverse, trans etc are helping to do just that. I just feel the focus is wrong."
Which has nothing to do with sexism based on material reality.
By treating gender stereotypes as fixed and immutable, and denying the reality of material sex differences, the excuse of "dismantling the patriachy", is further diminishing of women's sex based realities and a distortion of both cause and effect of sexism.
To say that transgender concerns can be expressed separately, and are distinct is accurate, but seemingly not permitted.
The concerns of women in respect to sexism and patriachy are not the same of those of men. They should not be conflated, and therefore adjusted to accommodate an inclusion of males.
It is the view of the patriarchy that gender stereotypes are fixed and immutable.
Is physical strength exclusive to men? Is compassion exclusive to women? Aren’t women already logical, analytical, or rebellious or uncompromising or doctors or engineers or farmers or whatever else is seen by our patriarchal society as the realm of men?
Are men incapable of gentleness, of caring or supporting or nursing or teaching or child-rearing and household labour or whatever else is seen by our patriarchal society as women’s role?
Are you saying the reality of material sex differences means these stereotypes should be maintained and enforced?
I will reiterate that I believe that people who are queer, gender-diverse, trans etc. just by existing, are helping to undermine those patriarchal stereotypes, and that is a positive step towards achieving social, political and economic equality of the sexes. They are, at the very least, allies of feminism surely.
@arkie
Don't understand the point you are making in your first two paragraphs, or your definition of 'patriachy'. However, can reply to the remainder.
"Are you saying the reality of material sex differences means these stereotypes should be maintained and enforced?"
No, the majority gender critical view is diametrically opposed to this premise. It is gender ideology that connects gender stereotypes to definitive expressions of sex.
"I will reiterate that I believe that people who are queer, gender-diverse, trans etc. just by existing, are helping to undermine those patriarchal stereotypes, and that is a positive step towards achieving social, political and economic equality of the sexes. They are, at the very least, allies of feminism surely."
You can reiterate this opinion all you like.
To persuade or convince, it is helpful for you to explain how.
1. What is your definition of 'patriarchy'?
2. How does it impact on the groups you identify?
3. Do those impacts overlap, or are they discrete or a combination of the two?
4. What is this magical component or effect associated with "just by existing"?
5. As an final question about language, what are your definitions of the terms you have used:
a)queer, b]gender-diverse, c)trans
"They are, at the very least, allies of feminism surely."
Not necessarily, examples that contradict that assumption are easily found.
Eg. Here's an example of a prominent, feted gender ideology activist's take on misogyny. (Jeffrey Marsh – website and links).
https://twitter.com/Marianneradfem/status/1564734227618439169
If you take time to research, you will find multiple instances of gender activists telling women how they are doing feminism wrong, how their insistence on biological sex realities supports the patriarchy, sexism, is self-inflicted etc.
I'm interested to see how you come to your position.
I feel I have defined the terms suitably enough throughout this thread but I am also keenly aware that definitions do not always provide us with strict rules or boundaries, in fact they very rarely do, the story of Plato and Diogenes is a good example: Plato was asked to define a man and said; “A featherless biped.” Later Diogenes burst in, brandishing a plucked chicken, exclaiming; “Behold, a man!”
As a thought experiment, are you able come up with a succint definition of a chair, that includes all chairs while also excluding all things that are not chairs?
@arkie.
So, the chair analogy….Let's park that word game with the prevalence of left-handedness ho-hum and move on.
As is often the case, when provided with the opportunity to be succinct and provide clarity, words and language is treated as a movable feast in explanations rather than an effective tool for clear communication.
"I feel I have defined the terms suitably enough throughout this thread "
Yes. I am assured you feel that way. However, the reality is you haven't defined them at all.
You are not only failing to convince me of the common ground between women and other demographics. I remain critical of your coherence in what you believe to be the effects of patriachy, or indeed of those groups you have named but not defined in any meaningful way.
(No comment on the example of Jeffrey Marsh as women's rights ally? Oh, well. )
What you call a ho-hum word game is very much essential to effective and clear communication, in that we cannot rely on definitions alone to be accurate about the meaning of words; we more often understand things by what Wittgenstein called family resemblances; similarities, affinities and correspondences. One particular affinity, relevant to this discussion is that our patriarchy disempowers all those who are not straight cis white men, so all those demographics that do not have those qualities are largely prevented from exerting social, political or economic power and thus are allies in the struggle for equality.
@arkie.
I appreciate you taking time to reply.
Unfortunately, I find within your answers nothing to engage with on this issue. I'm not interested in tossing word salads.
That is a shame, despite the barbed vulgarity.
I, likewise, am uninterested in dueling definitions with those unwilling to engage in a simple demonstration of the limitations of language.
Ho-hum.
@arkie "Barbed vulgarity?" (where?) and "dueling definitions" (interesting concept when you have provided none to query…).
Bah humbug indeed.
Clutch that pearl necklace.
One constant, I've noticed, is that men who are particularly vehement about the acceptance on the slogan 'Trabswomen are Women', are usually also quick to draw on particularly sexist dismissive terms to negate or refute women's concerns.
Very few women would wear pearls nowadays, Sacha. It is possibly, more likely they will be found on the necks of those men who enjoy cross-dressing like fifties housewives, rather than the grown women of today.
However that is by the by.
The other suspicion I have about men who so emphatic about other men being accepted as women, is this:
For all their talk about acceptance, inclusion and kindness, and let's admit it – complete ignorance about being female, a girl or a woman – their insistence that transvestitites, autogynophiles, men who just declare themselves as women MUST BE accepted in all ways as women, is because they are both unable and unwilling to accommodate such men alongside themselves as 'men'.
That is why, they choose to abuse women who say they accept that diversity of trans people, but not the lie of biological sex change. They are unable to accept transwomen as men, because their idea of men is limited, so any variation must belong in the non-men category. Is this descriptive of you?
(In other words, contribute something better than snide sexist dismissals. Pearl clutching…?)
there are no limitations of language Arkie. Women -= adult human female. End of. Men are free to identify as women all they like. But they can never be women. You can't change biological reality.
You have a bloody nerve talking about breaking down the patriarchy. In all my years I have never felt so patronized and gas lit as I have by the trans rights activists. Listen to you. The prioritizing of the rights of male bodied people over women to enter their change rooms, sports competitions prisons etc etc, is a f…g outrage and the most sexist thing I have ever experienced in my lifetime.
Well, Anker. I find your language to be clear and to the point, without equivocation, so find myself agreeing.
It always interests me when people are unable to provide definitions for words they themselves introduce to conversations, particularly on this topic. When provided with opportunities to clarify themselves, they divert off into discussions about how language is fluid and needs to be observed out of context. (Taking the piss, is the more abbreviated term I associate with this approach.) Because THEY are unable to be clear, they assume the problem lies within language, not their misuse of language, or lack of coherent thought.
(I've never before come across the idea of magical influence on women's oppression by "just existing" before. I imagine it is similar to a unicorn manifestation which grateful women should welcome with open arms. I wonder why so many women wasted time on consciousness raising, protesting and activism in the past. All we needed was a coterie of magical gender identities…)
Yep, we had a nice billbord about cancer and blokes. It was actually quite well done, and it was quite clear at whom it was aimed.
And no one gives a fuck about the well being of the domesticated mental support providing therapy animal that used to have a name but can't be named anymore lest some people who like to appear non male or people who like to appear male but are non male pack a sad.
Talk Peach, a charity focused on women's gynaecological cancers actually does have two hit's for the word "women" when doing a site search:
site: https://www.talkpeach.org.nz/ women
Fear not. Those hits are outdated. The dreaded word has now almost been edited out entirely. but still remains in the "Our Story' precis. Give it time.
I think this is the group that advertised for donations to beat that mythical cancer that some people who can not be named have. So i emailed them to inquire about the mythical human being that would get gynecological cancers . I have yet to receive an answer.
I did receive an answer.
Along the lines of "Meanie. Why are you being mean when I'm just trying to be kind? Also, I have cancer, and you're mean."
Not wishing to engage in any form of one-upmanship in terms of kindness, meanness or sickness, I repeated my concern and wished her well.
It seems the word 'women' was a step too far when discussing gynaecological cancers.
Brilliant Molly and Sabine as always
Good God. Someone better tell them what a woman is as soon as possible.
Apparently, there is some confusion that may result in a long waiting list for healthcare for chairs…. Stool samples may take on a completely different meaning.
Probably just working out how to protect all people.
Hard to know because you gave fuck all context and zero links.
The context Muttonbird is of a public service captured by gender ideology.
I said it was a rumour/. Would it bother you if it were true?