“..Amy Adams – A rebuttal on Medicinal Cannabis..” (ed:..if you were wondering just how reactionary/ignorant this govt is on cannabis – wonder no more..justice minister amy adams goes all retro – claiming pot leads to ‘p’..)
“..the minister of Justice – Amy Adams – responded:..
‘..I have seen no evidence that supports the benefits for decriminalizing or legalizing cannabis – for medicinal purposes or otherwise – outweighing the harm it causes to society.
The potential harms from smoking cannabis are well documented –
– and I have no plans to soften the Government’s stance on what is commonly considered a gateway drug to more harmful substances such as P..”
(cont..)
(ed:..so there you have it..ignorance on a fucken stick..)
I think it won’t be long before the wilful ignorance of the likes of Adams will no longer wash. Once the first short and medium term studies of how decriminalisation has changed drug use in the USA come through we’ll have compelling evidence of whether or not it’s harmed the local communities. As I recall the situation in Portugal, the answer is that it hasn’t significantly changed the wider population’s use of recreational drugs. Those that want to smoke, do. Those that don’t, don’t.
Certainly, any change that cuts gangs out of the supply change is likely to be good for our community.
Pot would be less likely to lead to harder stuff if you could get it from a nice clean outlet and not have to deal with some of the dodgy scum bags that like to make there money the illegal way.
tho’ there are/have been some ‘nice’ pot-dealers/smugglers..
“..Howard Marks benefit gig leaves audience on a high..
..Event was chance for fans of former drug smuggler known as Mr Nice –
– to pay homage –
– and raise funds for his cancer treatment.
The whippet-thin punk poet John Cooper Clarke – observing that this was ‘not an entirely happy occasion’- told a disbelieving and appreciative audience:
‘I’ve been piling on the pounds since I stopped taking drugs’.
This had led in Manchester – ‘where taking drugs is compulsory”’– to cries of ‘get back on drugs – you fat fuck!’ – and a poem with that title..”
(cont..)
(ed:..i read his ‘mr nice’ book just recently…and while the stories he has to tell are interesting..
..he was screaming out for a strict editor..as it was a bit of a chore to read..)
That relates to a post by Shane Le Brun over a month ago. If you want to read it without having to trying and decipher Phil’s hieroglyphics here’s Shane’s post:
Great way to work on something of common and important interest Phil.
Shane’s actually doing a lot of hard work on it, and networking well, and getting his message out there a bit more successfully than you I suspect. He’s willing to work with anyone on a common cause.
i can’t actually define any single reason for this wall-to-wall ignorance..
..but if singling out outside/self-interested forces..that we already know have an inordinate amount of influence over politicians..
..look no further than the booze-pushers..
..they are in full-on patch-protection mode…
..’cos they know..(and as colorado proves..) that the ending of cannabis prohibition wd mean the loss of a lot of the customers for their poisonous/addictive swill..
and don’t forget…alcohol is responsible for more violence against women – than the taliban..
..legalise..! – regulate..! – tax..!..
..and i think adams..against strong competition from her colleagues..
..walks away with the-most-pig-ignorant-politician-award..
Phillip Ure – I think you have missed the elephant in the room with cannabis. That is with the current policy, the police can be as racist as they like – and have the best cover ever. “Think of the children”
I think Adams and her ilk are nothing but white supremacists. They use P.C language – but lets face facts – they hate the poor and deeper than that, they hate brown people because they are poor.
What did Malcolm X say about racism, being normalised to the point we…
Prohibition also helps the prison industrial complex.
Prisons are now part of the money making body politic of private corporations, and the one thing they need is prisoners – so we, the tax payer can make them rich.
Even the so called state run prisons – have so many private contractors – it’s a joke. A cruel vicious joke of power of the state being transferred to private corporation – who they use and abuse this power to their own ends.
Cannabis, is the simplest and most effective manor to fill up prisons, it also helps our racist system to hand out corporate welfare to the private sector.
I for one, am happy they are not doing this on the sly any more. It is much easier to see the prison industrial complex for what it is. And the racists who keep it in place.
The Left has abandoned most of its bases of institutional and financial power. In NZ it seems to be entirely fixated on taking government back, which only ever lasts for a few years.
Why do I mention Portugal – well folks just in case you don’t know – you can take psychedelics there as well. Oh and look – it’s not falling apart, the country is not collapsing, people are friendly, happy and healthy. Bugger me, no one is on a crazed drug trip killing people – who would have though.
On the violence side you might be interested in this little anecdote , my cousins brought a pub in Scotland in the 80s they reckon it was a mad house with the amount of scrapping the Scots got up to not only in the pub but they’d get boozed and go to the next village for a battle, then hash arrived and and they mall owed right out I spent a couple of years there and the only time I saw a punch thrown was during a hash drought.
I doubt that, bw. Drug companies would be more likely to take advantage of the situation to sell tincture of cannabis or something like that which could be patented.
My theory is that law enforcement are behind it. They want an excuse to be able to pull over young brown blokes whenever they feel like it. The war on drugs gives them this. Before the war on terror came along, legal powers to search and seize were almost always based on drug offences. Now that cops and spies can get what they want by whispering “terrorists” in Andrew Little’s ear, maybe they will back off more on the drugs. Many ex-police already have.
If she’s against medicinal cannabis on the grounds that it leads to harder drugs, she should also be against medicinal morphine on the grounds that it is a harder drug. I think all NAct supporters should sign declarations that they will not accept any strong analgesics. I can hear them screaming in the surgical wards already. It is a surprisingly pleasant sound.
If she’s against medicinal cannabis on the grounds that it leads to harder drugs, she should also be against medicinal morphine on the grounds that it is a harder drug.
Yeah, and also against codeine as a “gateway drug.”
the amendment was prompted by concerns about the “appropriateness” of coroners investigating the deaths of soldiers in Afghanistan. Eight New Zealand soldiers were killed on duty in that conflict. Now coroners will only be allowed to investigate a soldier’s death if the Attorney-General allows for it by determining the public interest and impact on New Zealand’s security.
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said the changes wouldn’t include self-inflicted deaths or training accidents but refused to comment further as the bill was before a select committee.
Brownlee concocting non-existent protocols to avoid having to answer questions. Yeah, we totes honour the dead around here.
Accurate reporting of the circumstances of a soldier’s death might breach security – the appropriate person to determine that is the coroner, after hearing evidence.
When the National Party realises that its bloodlust cannot be hidden this way, will grief itself be outlawed?
+ 1 yes grief will be outlawed because it might breach security – direct censorship is just around the corner because ‘the walls have ears’, ‘the enemy is everywhere they can even look like you and me’, ‘trust no one and tell the authorities immediately’ …
I think that a certain large government has tried to limit public displays of grief by flying home defence corpses at night. I seem to remember that from the Vietnam time. Someone else may remember exactly.
I thought that this section of the article gives the clearest vision of what will happen if this bill passes:
Former army medic Sarah Erb, whose partner, Corporal Luke Tamatea, was killed in Afghanistan in 2012 when his Humvee was destroyed by a roadside bomb, said the coroner’s report into his death had helped her and his mother get answers and gain closure.
“Without that report we’d feel quite ripped off, I think. That’s our loved one and we should know what has happened.”
There was an inquiry by the military into Tamatea’s death but she didn’t receive any information back from it.
At present a coroner can open an inquiry into a military death and can issue a suppression order if there are details that may risk national security.
That bit about national security concerns being already provided for by coroner’s suppression orders is particularly telling.
This is about National’s security, not national security.
The NZDF supported the amendment and said it strikes a balance “between independent investigation and ensuring judicial scrutiny did not encroach into “matters of the state”.
I thought this bit was worrying. Does the NZDF advocate for the state to be above judicial scrutiny? If so, this is a continuation down the path the current government is leading this country.
Here’s a question: how do we know if a death is self-inflicted unless there’s a coroner’s report? Do we just allow NZDF to go “oh no, that was totally security-related, nothing to see here”?
The timing of this is pretty transparent. As for “The NZDF supported the amendment and said it strikes a balance “between independent investigation and ensuring judicial scrutiny did not encroach into “matters of the state”.” Wow. The state should be free from judicial scrutiny? The march to complete authoritarianism is really astonishing me with its pace. First the NZDF, next will anyone killed by ngati poaka be denied a coronial investigation?
Pegida rally in Newcastle, UK flops. Despite the assurances of the organisers that the racist, neo-fascist organisation is not racist or neo-fascist, the pictures tell the story.
They are not unopposed, although the opposition does tend to come from the far left. I know people who have been to Christchurch a few times to give the racist asswipes a hard time.
You always seem to duck for cover when challenged to back up your rhetoric. And you’re off topic on this thread.
“Why weren’t you at the Pegida rally?”
Because it was on the other side of the world. I thought even you would have worked out something obvious like that. Why weren’t you at the counter protest?
But I’ve backed Newcastle Unites from here. Have you/
Thanks for the reminder about your deliberate dishonesty.
And thanks for the opportunities to keep demonstrating your dishonesty. So far you’ve managed to keep that out of your authoring (that’s been promising) but you’ll find it’s difficult to keep the two separate – lying at one level will end up impacting on another.
[lprent: Indeed. What a pain in the arse thing to see on moderation sweep at the end of hot day.
I really don’t like people attacking my authors for any reason. But I really find it objectionable to see it when the idiot critic (ie you) neither links to an example of whatever they are moaning about nor explains what it is so that I can look at the issue. That is lying by omission in my book – something that in my mind characterises your usual writing style.
Don’t ever target my authors again with unsubstantiated and unlinked smearing as a tactic. To me that appears to be what you are doing here. It takes us too much work to get them up and running to let some foolish dickhead use them for target practice.
Yes he wound you up. Complain to me or in general. Don’t target authors personally because I really really need them more than I need you.
The next time that I see you do this kind of deliberate targeting, I will boot you off for a year.
But banned one month only because TRP was winding you up. ]
none so dim eh pete – and now your abuse of an author here – funny how you’ll still get the content for your vanity blog from this site tho eh – dishonest and racist – you really are an enjoyable idiot 🙂
Just think though of the story of The Triffids. They were plants that everyone knew had dangerous abilities but as they were interesting people were allowed to cultivate them although with instructions on how to stop their full negative development.
When people became vulnerable the plants were ready to strike with their poisoned tendrils, and they would suck people’s blood or something. Watch who you play with kids.
I made it clear you’re a liar as a commenter, not as an author and re-emphasise that. A persistent liar that pre-dates your authoring. You can’t hide behind a higher status for your low commenting.
[That is a distinction that I do not recognise. Tone it down – MS]
Please can we have some clarity on this: is it just Racist George who can now abuse authors, so long as he “tones it down”? Or can we all join in?
I note that Racist George has not resiled from his abuse of TRP, let alone apologised.
[The policy says “Abusing the sysop or post writers on their own site (should say post) – including telling us how to run our site or what we should write. This is viewed as self-evident stupidity, and should be added as a category to the Darwin Awards.”
Another part of the policy says “Generally wasting a moderators time is just not a good idea. We’re there to deal with isolated problems. People persistently sucking up our voluntary time won’t like the results.”
So I am not sure if 1 applies to Pete but 2 is becoming more and more relevant.
Besides I am softer than some of the other authors. If lprent was to deal with this I suspect the result would be more summary – MS]
Are you saying the someone who happens to be an author can say whatever they like as a commenter completely unrelated to any of their posts and not be challenged?
TRP hasn’t denied being dishonest over the years, he just seems to be trying to protect his abusiveness from some sort of privileged position.
[See my comment above Pete. Although this is Open Mike you are wasting moderators time – MS]
That’s the second time today you’ve called me a liar here, Pete. MS asked you to tone it down, which is a reasonable request, and you have chosen to repeat the abuse.
“TRP hasn’t denied being dishonest over the years”
That is why you are so loathed in real life as well as the interwebz. You feel able to abuse people and get away with it. TRP is NOT dishonest and my reading of his comments over the years (many many of which I disagree with and even oppose) is that they are brutally honest. TRP says what he thinks and does not lie imo. Not like you tho pete – you are a fucken disgrace – a sad loser/stalker who can’t fill his vanity bog with anything other than other peoples work, a mr nobody trying to validate himself and failing time after time after time.
I might think te reo putake is a Chardonnay Socialist. But I’d never thought in any argument I’ve had with him, he was a liar.
Is it that you Pete George are a racist who dislikes being handed your racism back to you, on a plate?
Pete George – do you even realise you are a racist?
Because te reo putake may part of the labour faithful, and a fluffy socialist – but he is not a liar nor is he a bigot like you Mr George.
Reflection is a wonderful thing Pete – maybe if many people are pointing out you are a racist – you might want to take some time to reflect that you are.
Take your time – it’s a process, and it is something grown ups have to confront and deal with. There will be tears and recriminations. I however, am hopeful you will see the process through.
I quoted your own words entirely accurately. I’m sure you’re pissed off at being hoist by your own petard, but accusing me of dishonesty and conflating that with my author status is not acceptable behaviour here.
pete you could have answered the question a million ways – you chose your answer which unwittingly revealed your truth – YOU said it, no one else – own it ffs, TRP was not dishonest but you are disingenuous in trying to squirm out of your own bloody words.
A griefer is a player in a multiplayer video game who deliberately irritates and harasses other players within the game, using aspects of the game in unintended ways. A griefer derives pleasure primarily or exclusively from the act of annoying other users, and as such is a particular nuisance in online gaming communities, since griefers often cannot be deterred by penalties related to in-game goals.
Because it was on the other side of the world. I thought even you would have worked out something obvious like that.”
That is what you said – you even said to OAB that it was obvious!!! YOU said it lol and now you don’t like it lol – write a post about that dirty racist liar pete george then pete, he’s giving you a bad name.
” I’m sure you’re pissed off at being hoist by your own petard” are your own words.
Did you apply them to the wrong person?
Did you jump to a conclusion on a part of my comment? And even that part didn’t say what you accused (without quoting).
“Because it was on the other side of the world” (my words) is nowhere near the same as “Only distance prevents racist Pete from marching with the fascists.” (your words)
That you originally made an incorrect claim may have been carelessness, but that you continue to try and claim it looks like deliberate dishonesty. So my original assessment looks like a reasonable one to have made.
Learn to live with it, Pete, I imagine you’re going to be reminded about your words pretty regularly.
That works both ways. I think it's fairly typical of how you have often operated as a commenter but it's a good example to have on record.
Te Reo Putake (I won’t use your name here) 1 March 2015.
[Stephanie: Damn straight you won’t. You’ve been around here more than long enough to know that trying to “out” people who use pseudonyms is a bad idea, and making smarmy threats like that, while protesting that you’re just being ~reasonable~, only proves what a sad little bully you are.]
That’s up to you, but from you it wouldn’t bother me at all,, it’s what you do. If you use it you will be repeating dishonesty, which can only look very deliberate now. You know, something like a persistent liar.
Just checked and the words haven’t magically disappeared, Pete. So you’re stuck with what you wrote. Obviously, you’ve already shown yourself to be a racist, so the admission, accidental as it may have been, fits entirely with what we already know about you.
That you are still try to weasel out also confirms another aspect of your character; moral and intellectual cowardice.
Yes my works are still there. All of them, not just the ones you have made things up about.
This is what I said:
Because it was on the other side of the world. I thought even you would have worked out something obvious like that. Why weren’t you at the counter protest?
But I’ve backed Newcastle Unites from here. Have you?
That clearly shows I support Newcastles Unites, not Pegida.
You’ve been busted and still persist with deliberate use of incorrect claims.
And you keep demonstrating you’re not honest enough to admit it.
I’ve been attached dishonestly here many times so once more doesn’t make any difference to me. It’s more likely to bite you on the bum.
I note that at the time of writing, Racist George has still not “supported” Newcastle Unite. He quickly put up a hurried cut-n-paste this morning, which merely suggests that they try and get along with the fascists.
Edit: his racist attacks on tangata whenua are far more revealing of his true sympathies.
But I really find it objectionable to see it when the idiot critic (ie you) neither links to an example of whatever they are moaning about nor explains what it is so that I can look at the issue. That is lying by omission in my book – something that in my mind characterises your usual writing style.
I’ve explained here a number of times – and have specifically pointed that it was TRP lying by omission. Which he has continued to do.
He claimed to have quoted me but hadn’t, and then when called on that repeatedly part quoted me, lying by omitting the whole quote.
If you support that sort of tactic from one of your authors then so be it, it’s your blog.
Don’t ever target my authors again with unsubstantiated and unlinked smearing as a tactic. To me that appears to be what you are doing here.
It’s pretty obvious that this began and continued with TRP “with unsubstantiated and unlinked smearing as a tactic” and continuing doing that.
If you don’t allow any response to that sort of tactic you’re being as bad as Bradbury and Slater in the way you censor out things that show up your crap.
That’s a bit sad isn’t it, especially after you claiming the high ground on comment control in your spat with Bradbury.
Yes he wound you up. Complain to me or in general. Don’t target authors personally because I really really need them more than I need you.
FFS. He and others try to wind me up all the time. As if you hadn’t noticed. And then get wound up when I call you on it. You sound wound up now. Tch tch.
The next time that I see you do this kind of deliberate targeting, I will boot you off for a year.
You’re accusing me of deliberate targeting. Very funny. But somehow I suspect you don’t see the joke.
But banned one month only because TRP was winding you up. ]
I’m not questioning that, I’m happy to have a month off. TRP et al with have to find someone else to try and wind up.
Cheers.
[lprent: I am fetching this out of a very neglected spam queue full of our latest spambot and philu.
As I (think) I probably said. I don’t have time to trace every previous discussion and I lack the ability to read minds remotely. So I look at the comment based what is in it and have a brief look at the conversation around it. Which is why TRP got a public warning and a private discussion about future behaviour. Which is a bit unusual because I generally rap knuckles on authors using the back channels.
But treat authors differently. Link to supporting info when having a go at them because the balance of the moderation shifts for them. I don’t treat them as commentators anymore simply because we need to retain them to write conversation starters for this site. With authors I balance my need to retain authors against ‘fairness’. But the supporting information had better be in the comments I am looking at because I won’t go looking for it. I simply don’t have time with the numbers of comments that flow through here. ]
Always. Unless I’m debating with Gosman. Or English Breakfast. Or PR, or Gormless, or CV, or The Murphey, or BK, or in point of publicly documented fact, everyone but you.
That’s because I regard you as beneath contempt, Racist George.
Oh, look something St PG supports and doesn’t oppose ?
Given the Beige Ones track record..
I just wonder when he states he supports Newcastle Unites, I just ponder if he’s buggered up again in his usually close shave to 4th place power manner?
He probably means he supports, Newcastle United, a very mediocre English Football team, who’s owner is only interested in generating revenue , publicity for himself & business interests and leaves the ambitions & aspirations of the team on the sidelines to embrace mediocrity.
There does seem to be more than a passing similarity between the Beige Bladder One of Dunedin and Mike Ashley of Newcastle United.
Have you signed the “Not In Our Name” petition PG shrinks?& shown some backbone support rather than your usual array of turd polishing misnomers?
+1 Israel benefits with media attention being focused else where on the Iraqi, Iran, Syria etc.
ps. Glad you got some off that pony, dour staying run from the back, the jock had to knock a few over to get into the clear. Tri with the 2 class/form horses paid over an ernie rutherford. 🙂
There was a good story to the winner Mongolian Khan. A friend of mine from Cambridge (broke-in a filly that I bred) battles away pre training horses. He sees something in this colt that nobody wanted, buys him cheap and syndicated & manages it for a Asian group to race.
So yesterday the local captain’s of industry, who spend hundreds of thousands on a yearling tb, have to watch a horse with an unfashionable pedigree that sold for nicks win NZ’s premier 700 k, 3 year old race. Got to love it.
Ahhh very nice background indeed. Listened to the race on trackside and at the start I thought to myself – good god that Skinny has recommended a lame! But I kept the faith lol. BTW I have no background in racing, but you sounded like you knew what you were talking about and so i would seem. Chur bro 🙂
edit – oh yeah OK nice move on the tri – that would have been worth a few bucks in a side bet
yes sorry i didnt bet on your tip…but was busy….looked like a goodie
incidentally there is a very engrossing realist tv first series called ‘Luck’ about horse racing in LA together with the whole jockey /owner/trainer culture and associated crime….but it was pulled before the second series because of concerns for horse welfare…some argued it could have been an advocate for horse welfare and should continue…others argued it was part of the problem….
however that aside , if you can put it aside….. watching a great horse run and clean up the field is wonderful…can recommend that series
Horses are part of mans heritage, if it all turns pear shaped the majestic horse will be there along with the loyal dog.
A friend our mine who I helped in a small advisory role to plot a path to win an Auckland, and then the following years Melbourne Cup with a mare called Jezabeel. He spent time in the States, learning a few technics from legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Sounds a lot cleaner here drug and corruption wise.
The racing industry employs over 20,000 people, and unlike SkyCity casino the money gets spread around here, rather than transferred straight to Australia.
Key got a soft run by Corin Dan coached into answering patsy questions. Meanwhile Peters gets a much harder time but holds his own, managing to shake his hangover.
And Goff is making a meal of it with silly clichés. I would far rather have heard Little fronting, oh well better than a Goff & Shearer combo.
Key got a soft run by Corin Dan coached into answering patsy questions.
You might be right there, I wouldn’t know. His emasculation of the English language grates on me so much I have to turn the TV off.
But I don’t agree about Phil Goff. I think he did a good job rubbishing the Key govt’s stance on ISIS, and then listing the alternative options that would make a real difference in the Middle East. He also showed Key up for the liar he is when it came to Labour’s record on the former Iraq/Afghanistan incursions.
But why do they use these useless so-called political scientists? Dr Jennifer (whatever her surname is) came across as an ignoramus – especially about Peter’s Northland background. She needs to swot up on her NZ political history. The only one who is any good is Dr. Jon Johannsen who seems to have transferred to The Nation.
115 Russian media outlets banned by Ukranian Kiev authorities; Al Jazeera team removed from country, dozens of journalists stopped from entry into Ukraine
It’s almost like these US allies don’t believe in press freedom.
Possibly. But you can also get CNN, BBC and Fox News in Russia. Russians can see John McCain visiting Kiev, or Cameron promising to send soldiers to the Ukraine like anyone else can.
And the more the west villifies Putin and Russia in general, the more the west brings its military forces to the Russian door step, the more the west tries to hurt the Russian economy, the more nationalistic Russians are going to get, and the more they will support Putin. Whose popularity ratings are as high as they have ever been.
What sort of rose tinted glasses was James Massola wearing I wonder during his parachute visit. Please James, start a campaign to import the great oikonic Jonkey to your shores!
Cerie Bullivant of CAGE walks off after yet
another television hack acts like a Soviet-style prosecutor
It would be difficult to point to any spectacle more disgusting than the British establishment in one of its periodical fits of morality. Unfortunately, anyone who “consumes” the mass media is subjected to an unceasing flow of this “morality” day in and day out, week after week, month after month.
In the last few years, British politicians and their assiduous media parrots have enthusiastically expressed support for killers like Chris Kyle (R.I.P.), Prince Harry, AKA “The Big H” and Mohammed Emwazi, AKA “Jihadi John”.
Recently, however, things have changed. The support for The Big H and the American Sniper has continued, but the verbal support for Jihadi John has not; the sudden shift occurred after he and his comrades-in-arms progressed from killing Syrian untermenschen to killing Britons, Japanese and Americans. Some of the most choleric responses have come from those moral paragons at British Sky Broadcasting….
KAY BURLEY: Let me ask you straight off the bat: What level of harassment by the security services here in the United Kingdom justifies beheadings?
CERIE BULLIVANT: It’s not about justifying anything. Nobody here is apologizing or trying to make an excuse for what happened. We’re talking about the causes of it. For years now in the British discourse on this issue, we’ve failed to look at the causes of radicalization in an honest manner. The conveyor belt theory that’s been pushed time and time again has been proven, academically speaking, incorrect. It has no empirical evidence, yet every single time one of these horrific attacks happens, the people who perpetrate it quote foreign policy as the key pusher. They quote harassment in domestic policy as factors. And we keep ignoring that, and it’s not about justifying it, it’s about looking at the causes of it so that we can make everybody safer here and abroad.
KAY BURLEY: How do you feel about the beheading?
CERIE BULLIVANT: I, I’m—to be frank, I’m appalled that you would ask me that question. Muslims are human beings as well—
KAY BURLEY: Don’t be, don’t be appalled. Just answer the question if you would please, sir.
CERIE BULLIVANT: I, I am. Muslims are human beings as well. We are shocked when we see beheadings, we are shocked when we see barrel bombs. We shouldn’t have to justify our humanity by saying that I am shocked by something as brutal as this. I campaigned both publicly and behind the scenes for the release of Alan Henning, so your question is inherently Islamophopic and racist.
KAY BURLEY: Nonsense! Get over yourself! Who’s responsible for these beheadings?
CERIE BULLIVANT: The man who cut off their heads, and, if you take that back a step, the people who potentially helped in his radicalization—in this case, the security services.
KAY BURLEY: So you feel that the security services here in the United Kingdom are in some way or in some part responsible for the beheadings now being carried out by Jihadi John and others?
CERIE BULLIVANT: Everybody has agency for their own actions, and everybody, regardless of where they are and who they are, should be held accountable by the law, by due process, for any sort of torture that they do and any sort of killings without due process that they take. That is a blanket statement for all people in all times.
KAY BURLEY: So are you saying that the security services are in some way responsible for these beheadings, was my question.
CERIE BULLIVANT: What I said is that we have to look at all of the history of all these things as well. If you try and take these issues in a vacuum, then you’re not going to be able to analyze how they happened and try to get to some sort of understanding of how to stop them happening again.
KAY BURLEY: Okay, so do you feel that in some way the security services are in some way from the United Kingdom are responsible for the beheadings carried out by Jihadi John?
CERIE BULLIVANT: I feel—I’ll give you the answer that you’ve asked me three times, I feel that the security services have, time and again, harassed people and pushed them and that has played a part in the radicalization of this man. Now he is responsible for his own actions; they are partly responsible for putting him in that position.
KAY BURLEY: Do you condemn his actions?
CERIE BULLIVANT: I’ve already said— I’m sorry, I’m not answering that question. It’s a ridiculous question. I’ve already gone through this, and dealt with it.
Removes earpiece, and exits stage left. Cut to Kay Burley in studio, silent, smirking…..
KAY BURLEY:[chirpily] Joining us now from Central London is Shiraz M—
Galloway, a rare voice of sanity and alternative thinking in the UK, where the largest 4 parties all lie in thrall to crony capitalism and are owned by multinationals and the banks.
The Labour Party in the UK can’t even put up a candidate to oppose him in Bradford.
Cheers, Moz, a great transcript! Having done a few, I know what a grind they are to get accurate* George Galloway attended the anti-fascist rally in Newcastle overnight, though I haven’t spotted a report of what he said yet.
*A small point, it’s usual to reduce the names to initials after the first use (ie KB and CB). Saves a lot of typing time.
Cheers, Moz, a great transcript! Having done a few, I know what a grind they are to get accurate.
Thanks very much, Te Reo.
A small point, it’s usual to reduce the names to initials after the first use (ie KB and CB).
Oh yes—the ol’ Playboy Interview convention. The only part of the magazine I used to read.
Saves a lot of typing time.
I just cut and paste the names, together with the HTML mark-up conventions, so time and effort is not a problem in this case. However, I have wondered about the look of it, and whether initials might be better. In this case, one name is considerably longer than the other, so it’s clearer and easier to differentiate on the page. That’s why I left it like that this time.
Just a wee reminder that you have until 4pm tomorrow, Monday 2 March 2015, to make a submission to the Local Government Commission (LGC), on the Draft Wellington Reorganisation Proposal.
(Wellington ‘Supercity’).
You don’t have to reside in the Greater Wellington Region in order to make a submission on this ‘Draft’ proposal
So this is a golden opportunity for people in the Auckland region, who are the only ones to have actually experienced a (forced) ‘Supercity’ amalgamation – to ‘have a say’ on how it’s been working for YOU?
…… and as I listen to RNZ Sunday – the Panel discussion “Troops to Iraq” …. Do I think NZDF ‘top brass’ or Natzi aligned pollies will ‘listen’ (and gain some ‘learnings’).
Shit.Uphill.Push me thinks.
I imagine the podcast will be ready soon. They can of course then reflect, but their guts will already have been spread far and wide (or rather the GUTS of others)
ekshully, I’ll have to suspend their discussion – Dateline London is on so I’ll come back to them. Seems to me tho’ it’d have been nice if the discussion had occurred (and listened to) before JK’s decision to commit
Can anyone give an answer (speculative, of course) as to why TV3 repeated on this morning’s television its Re-Think programme from last year which had Mike Sabin as part of the panel discussing sexual assault ? Why did TV3 repeat this ? Why didn’t they pull it out of the series – given what is generally known/speculated about him ? Were they doing this deliberately to remind people about him – given there is a by-election happening now, in the north ? ? ? I just can’t figure it out !
Excellent article from. Paul Little in the Herald today.
An excerpt
“The announcement that we will send whatever it is we are sending came with some of the worst histrionics we have seen from a Prime Minister, as John Key found his inner Wolf of Wall St and sent froth across the floor of the house in Andrew Little’s general direction.
“….. We are all well advised to get some guts. Guts are good things to have. It would take guts, for instance, to stand up to pressure from the United States and do what is right instead of what is expedient.
But then we would risk losing membership of that wonderful club, which Key earlier and accurately described as the reason we had to do this.”
Key didnt have the guts to put it to a democratic vote in New Zealand parliament…and the USA didn’t have to guts to put it before a democratic vote at the United Nations
so what we have is an illegal intervention – Chomsky:
“And to solve the mess, the US again decided to act against the international law, building an anti-ISIS coalition that is “meaningless, apart from being illegal.”
“A law-abiding state would go to the Security Council, ask for a declaration by the Security Council of a threat to peace, and request the Security Council to organize direct response to it. And that could be done. The US could then participate in it, but so could Iran,” which is a major military force and would probably wipe out ISIS in no time, if it was allowed to join the fight on the ground, Chomsky believes”….
Ralston and Sainsbury are sick speculating on such an unsubstantiated rumour (Ralston has been ‘hearing’ for weeks). It looks like straight out propaganda for NACT to try and get people to support the war.
PG is also sick for linkwhoring this. Not really a surprise that he takes part in the rumourmongering (given his DP apologism) instead of having a political analysis of what Ralston is doing.
While we’re speculating, this too from the sewer –
.
Paul G. Buchanan (315 comments) says:
February 28th, 2015 at 8:09 pm
SPC. As a sidebar: You may have noticed Mr. Key backtracking today on The Nation on the issue of the SAS. Last week he told Duncan Gardner on air that not a single SAS soldier was overseas and certainly not in Iraq. That, of course, is nonsense since at any given time there are SAS personnel detached as liaisons to allied special forces units and they regularly train abroad. At the end of the Nation interview with Patrick Gower today he said that his advice was there might be a few in the theatre but not as a group, and the press needed to check with NZDF Chief on the specifics. So much for the “zero deployed” claim.
There are credible reports that SAS personnel are in theatre conducting operations even if not based in Iraq, and that they have been doing so for a few months. That should be unsurprising given that is what they train for and need to keep their live fire skills honed at all times, to say nothing of the fact that they work closely with the UK, Australian and Canadian SAS forces who are now deployed in search and destroy and air strike targeting missions against IS assets. That makes all the more remarkable Mr. Key’s dishonest claims about them. Perhaps he thinks that if he does not admit their involvement IS will believe that it is not at war with NZ because the latter is only in a training and support role. Yeah right.
I agree Weka. Shame on Ralston for introducing the rumour into the public domain and shame on PG for repeating and linking to it. The rumour has circulated amongst media circles for a while and apparently does not involve a journalist. The government asked the media to keep silent less they further risk the life of the purported hostage, whose nationality may or may not be known to the captors.
If the rumours are true, then that is the only, yet very valid reason why the government has been so misleading and obtuse about deploying NZDF personnel in Iraq and the nature of their role there, especially if it is/was exploring back channels to secure the person’s release. But so far we do not know the true story.
On this one I support total media and government silence until the facts are confirmed, and my comment here is simply a reminder of what is at stake for those otherwise inclined to engage in unconfirmed speculation without regard for consequences.
Thank-you Paul, I agree that’s very important. Hard to know what can happen now given what Ralston has done.
If the rumours are true, then that is the only, yet very valid reason why the government has been so misleading and obtuse about deploying NZDF personnel in Iraq and the nature of their role there, especially if it is/was exploring back channels to secure the person’s release. But so far we do not know the true story.
Meaning, they want to send troops anyway but are being cagey about details because of a mission that should be secret? I take it you don’t mean that if it weren’t for the mission they wouldn’t send anyone.
I think that the mission was determined quite a while ago, at least since the meeting of coalition defence chiefs outside of Washington in mid October. The government was going to obfuscate anyway, but if indeed a kiwi hostage has been taken then it gives the government legitimate reason not to talk abut the inevitable deployment until negotiations had proven successful or not (assuming that negotiations were in fact undertaken directly or using third parties). As things stand now it appears the government’s hand has been forced for whatever reason, which does not auger well for the person involved if in fact s/he is being held captive.
I shall now refrain from further comment on the issue.
yep I heard that they just about had one ready to go and he was in – but then he did something which put them off – something he had posted that upset someone important.
The rumours about Mike Sabin are commentable upon because (a) there are documented issues with Sabin that partially match the rumours, and (b) multiple sources have reported the rumours from where Sabin lives i.e. it’s people who know him who are talking about this (NZ a small place and all that).
Then there’s the huge political differences.
It surprises me not in the least that you can’t tell the difference between that and what Ralston is doing. You really are clueless when it comes to understanding evidence and meaning.
My first criterion is to require there to be the possibility that it is true. And no I don’t normally spread rumours unless I have reason to believe they are true.
Only last week you were admonishing people here for posting stuff without evidence, now you seem to be saying if all you have is rumour but you think it is in the public interest, spread it?
Are you getting exited about the idea that a Journalist from NZ might be beheaded or burned or other wise killed?
I have the feeling that secretly all the stenographers in NZ including the wannabe stenographers could not wish for something more arousing.
My the hours of TV gushing….they could milk it for hours. Of course they would feel all very very sorry.
Pathetic bunch these beige grey shades of human beings.
I think the guy probably deserves 48 hours in stocks in a town square with rotten fruit and household refuse thrown at him. Hell, he could do it as a fundraiser for needy Kiwi kids. Beheading, not so much.
That happened to John Banks last year. Poor bugger. Take a look!
The issue was that Bracanov believed he was not guilty of the assault because he thought Banks deserved to have manure thrown over him.
He said he would do it again and said the judge was “not human” for finding him guilty.
During the trial the judge watched a recording of a police interview with Bracanov where he explained how he hid behind a car, waiting to throw the manure over Banks outside the High Court in Auckland on May 19 last year.
The 79-year-old said he got the manure from a paddock at Mangere Bridge in South Auckland, and watered it down.
Bracanov said he believed Banks owed him $8,000 because he was fined $10,000 in 1992 for throwing manure on a visiting royal Rolls Royce but should have only been fined $2,000. Banks was police minister at the time.
Five years later Bracanov had another run in with Mr Banks, this time on radio. He says, as a talkback radio host, the politician hung up on Bracanov while he was expressing his anti-royalist views.
“I was criticising the royals and he cut me off. That’s no good.”
Braconov now promises his days of manure-throwing are over.
“I’m done. That’s it, no more.”
“I’ve been waiting 22 years for revenge. And I’ve done it,” he said.
Bracanov came to court in his slippers and before the trial began, clearly restated his not guilty plea on the charge of common assault.
The judge reminded Bracanov he could appeal the decision.
See video of horse poo, two reports and some pictures here:
The National candidate for Northland.
A public servant.
I thought the public service was supposed to be apolitical.
Public servants have to seek approval from their executive in Wellington
if they are anyway involved in local politics. Usually asked to vacate their
positions. Not so apparently with this one. But then that’s the Nats, isn’t it.
Apparently been aligned to the Party for years.
Looks like the Nat’s went for small town business over farmers, probably assuming their vote is a given. Expect Peters to exsploit the crap out of the forgotten farmers in hock to Aussie banks, broken dusty roads clogged with logging trucks.
Another interesting thing is the executives who knew about Sabin and put him up again last year, obviously still hold the power base by choosing a party man elector and close neighbor of Sabin’s.
“Public servants have to seek approval from their executive in Wellington
if they are anyway involved in local politics. Usually asked to vacate their
positions. Not so apparently with this one.”
Mark Osborne works for the Far North council, not the civil service. He has stepped down with immediate effect from that job according to the Northern Advocate. Though presumably he’ll return if (when?) he loses.
On a related matter, I’m looking forward to reading the posts and comments on KB and WO saying Osborne has no mandate because he only won the nomination by a couple of votes. Because that’s what they said about Andrew Little and we know they’re nothing if not consistent down in the sewer.
On a related matter, I’m looking forward to reading the posts and comments on KB and WO saying Osborne has no mandate because he only won the nomination by a couple of votes.
How does that compare to how Willow-Jean Prime was selected? Winston?
The final selection (and mandate) for electorate candidates is made by the voters.
How do Willow and peters relate to the attacks made on how little was selected which was raised by TRP and which you quoted back, without addressing and twisted to your own end?
Well its hardly likely he will be losing and returning to the council with the ‘old first past the post’ Labour Party campaign going on. And Labour can not be critical of him abandoning the people who voted for him to council. Well not when you consider Prime uses the stone jumping tactic ‘except in her first term on council’.
He’s not on the council, Skinny, he works for the council. Asset manager, as I recall.
And, technically, it’s NZF that are treating it as FPP by coming in late when a credible candidate had already been announced. And don’t get me started on electorates and FPP anyway! They are FPP elections. Even in the general elections, where MMP simply added 50 list seats to 60 FPP seats.
Any racing tips for this arvo? Popping down the local for pool practice shortly. Might be tempted to have a flutter 😉
It doesn’t really matter Peters will now attack both of them and take votes of the pair of them. He may stand a better chance of winning, nah the last thing he would want is having to do some work in an electorate, far too cushy being a list MP, tho too be fair he is leader.
I was told Duquesa has been set for the Auckland Cup (mid week) for some time and will appreciate the firm track, opposed to others that will be feeling the summer tracks. Its mother won a Melbourne Cup so has a blue blood pedigree. I would be concerned about the monkeys on top who are guilty of adopting stop start tactics, something you wouldn’t get away with in Hong Kong
or England. Anyway it was given ‘just a run’ yesterday which should negate getting on the bit if those tatics are employed. It is a handicap and comes in low in the weights. The female jockey’s father Pete Johnson had a great record in the race and in racing history often repeats. An early bet @ fixed odds of $20 to win & $5 place it is worth a bob each way, you won’t get these lucrative odds race day. Pay to scope the weather forecast, would not want a rain effected track.
Public servants are allowed to stand for political office. I was a Labour list candidate in 1999 and at the time I was working for what was the Employment Tribunal. I was required to take lave for thecampaign period. You don’t lose your political rights when you work for the Government.
The pace that has become second nature to us places little value on the slow time of transferring ancestral knowledge and wisdom that are actually key to our transition into a just and sustainable society. In this haste, many of the lessons from those who’ve come before us and those who continue to live by the planet’s natural cycles are intentionally disappeared.
5000 years of recorded history tells us that capital (money, land, means of production) accumulation by the few results in the collapse of society and yet we keep doing it. Would we keep doing so if that knowledge hadn’t been lost?
Cocaine is the drug of choice among Sydney executives and banksters. Quite a lot is consumed at business lunches and dinners. When Kiwis who partake return home, P might be the best they can get. Both drugs can cause drastic weight loss, so that those involved can easily end up looking like Mike Hoskings.
But “amusing you” is not the same as “originality”, is it?
Using the words that have the dictionary definitions of the meaning you intend to communicate is an essential element of a comment’s clarity. Assuming you didn’t just shift the goalposts to back away from an unfounded accusation of plagiarism, of course.
1. You are forced to assume undignified positions.
2. You get covered in mud.
3. You’re left with the suspicion that the pig enjoyed it.
4. Nobody cares.
According to the DSM 5, Narcissistic Personality Disorder is characterised by:
A. Significant impairments in personality functioning manifested by:
1. Impairments in self functioning (a or b):
a. Identity: Excessive reference to others for self-definition and self-esteem regulation; exaggerated self-appraisal may be inflated or deflated, or vacillate between extremes; emotional regulation mirrors fluctuations in self-esteem.
b. Self-direction: Goal-setting is based on gaining approval from others; personal standards are unreasonably high in order to see oneself as exceptional, or too low based on a sense of entitlement; often unaware of own motivations.
AND
2. Impairments in interpersonal functioning (a or b):
a. Empathy: Impaired ability to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others; excessively attuned to reactions of others, but only if perceived as relevant to self; over- or underestimate of own effect on others.
b. Intimacy: Relationships largely superficial and exist to serve self-esteem regulation; mutuality constrained by little genuine interest in others’ experiences and predominance of a need for personal gain
B. Pathological personality traits in the following domain:
Antagonism, characterized by:
A. Grandiosity: Feelings of entitlement, either overt or covert; self-centeredness; firmly holding to the belief that one is better than others; condescending toward others.
B. Attention seeking: Excessive attempts to attract and be the focus of the attention of others; admiration seeking.
C. The impairments in personality functioning and the individual’s personality trait expression are relatively stable across time and consistent across situations.
D. The impairments in personality functioning and the individual’s personality trait expression are not better understood as normative for the individual’s developmental stage or socio-cultural environment.
E. The impairments in personality functioning and the individual’s personality trait expression are not solely due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., severe head trauma).
Would people please ignore PG? His behaviour is pathological, he never argues sincerely or in good faith but compulsively. It’s purely about point scoring for him and every response is a point for him, so it’s just shadow boxing – or wrestling with a pig.
Also it is tedious and to read and trivialises genuinely important topics (except when interesting facts about marine biology pop up).
You’re only feeding his illness, he is irrelevant and therefore there is no purpose or anything to gain. For your own mental well-being, surely you have something better to do?
I think he’s an arch trole and we are stuck with him until he fucks up or does one of the moderators’ head in. Lynn has been pretty clear that PG is getting leeway because of the need to not moderate out of dislike, and because of the way people gang up on Pete (I think I got that last bit right). Ironic eh?
It’s one of the few aspects of Lynn’s moderation style that I fundamentally disagree with. (If you put a trole in a room full of people, very limited moderation, and dnftt doesn’t work, what else is going to happen but people do whatever they can to manage the situation? That doesn’t make them a mob).
Yes. Sometimes many people can be right at once. Seen same problem on the rare occasions badly-motivated commenters infest Public Address, but at least some learning is going on. PG didn’t last long.
didn’t we have to scroll pages and pages with you and mcflock?
petes lies are building so high and unstable that they fall over themselves, not just in laughter but because of their internal inconsistencies and that is good
there are plenty of people I scroll past – it is a very very easy thing to do, like really easy
Pete blah Pete blah …. I think the comments below here are a Pete-free zone. Funny I have heard no report of a Pete bug entering the country and eating up suceptible juicy blogs. This one must have got in under the radar.
I scrolled past the psychicatric diagnosing in Rhinocrates’ comment. Not only is there absolutely no way to know if PG or anyone here has a particular mental health diagnosis (short of self-disclosure), but talking about the problems PG causes in mental health terms just stigmatises people dealing with mental health issues.
I do suspect Aspergers as I’ve said to Pete – but it’s the *behaviour* that needs to be focused on. Doesn’t really matter why. The impact on community health is enough reason to take corrective action.
Yeah, I’ve been ignoring that (he’s got a pingpack at the bottom of the page).
If you have to link, can you please use http://www.donotlink.com/ ? Otherwise it feeds the trole and gives him more clicks so he can pretend he has relevancy beyond his troling.
btw, online guessing diagnoses about people’s neuro-atypicalness or not is not ok IMO. It’s really not relevant to the point you were making, and it affects other people who get prejudices directed at them. You can make pointed comment about PG’s behaviour, plenty of material there 🙂
“You’re only feeding his illness, he is irrelevant and therefore there is no purpose or anything to gain. For your own mental well-being, surely you have something better to do?”
Who is feeding whose illness Rhinocrates?
It looks to be an absolute textbook case of mutual dependence to me. Everybody involved is fulfilling some personal need.
Mental health? Whew. Like LPrent hath proclaimed, everyone is a bit nuts here.
The more time you spend here the more nuts you are IMO!
I bet that is based on US research where cattle are kept in feedlots and raised on grain. Hardly a model of sustainability. Neither is switching to Monsanto-fied mono culture soy and wheat based diet.
Of course how animals are raised affects the carbon footprint. It also affects the health of the people eating the meat, as does other things they eat and do. This is why some cultures that eat large amounts of meat in traditional forms have healthy outcomes.
There, I think I covered the two points in your comment: carbon footprinting and health effects of eating meat.
See if you can actually address the points instead of resorting immediately to ad hominems.
Now you’re lying about me as well as using ad hominems and not addressing the points 🙄 🙄
“..and you did notice they said ‘all meat’.”
wow, you really are dimwitted. You think they did separate research on people eating grassfed or organic or wild meat? How about you provide some links then.
btw, it’s pretty easy to prove that meat (and animal fat) per se are not the problem (which is why you will always struggle with the facts when you argue with me).
“How can people who gorge on fat and rarely see a vegetable be healthier than we are?”
That article covers all the points I’ve raised in this conversation, and references the science (it’s not really a paradox though, it’s just better science and intelligence applied to food).
You should stop being such a hypocrite in uncritically trusting an organisation like the USDA when you like to pretend you are otherwise such a non-conformist.
another ad hominem, now there’s a surprise. It’s fine that you are a vegan fundamentalist. But it’s naff that you are on a political forum and can’t even mount a half decent argument.
So addressing the issues and posting opinion, facts and links is passive agressive? Riiight.
What you can’t cope with is me or anyone who disagrees with your fundamentalism and can argue the argument without resorting to the pathetic, low level debate skills that you employ (ad hominems, lies, avoidance, dimiwttedness). That last sentence is not passive, it’s active.
The Mother Jones article you link to is a mixed bag, it gets some bits right and others wrong. The main problem is that it doesn’t take a critical view of what it’s reporting and instead finds the links it wants to support its base position (the impending USDA report). That’s why I went and found some science based reporting that easily counters the bits about meat and fat. It’s not a hard leap from there to see that what the USDA does is flawed.
Anyone else reading this can check out Gary Taubes’ work, both on the fat/cholesterol myth, and on why science when translated into public health can be seriously flawed. Start with his article in the NYT “what if it’s all been a big fat lie”.
And just to be clear, this isn’t even a meat vs veg argument. It’s pointing out that your argument is flawed. Being vegan is fine. Using crap science reporting to support your view that all people should be vegan is stupid, and so expect to be called on it.
The really really stupid thing about what you do is undermining people who would in fact eat less meat but shy away from being veg or vegan. If they follow your advice they will go low fat and end up with the range of health problems associated with that. Many of those people will simply revert back to what they were eating before because it’s not worth the side effects. That includes people who do go veg/vegan but get shit advice on how to do that well (hence the relatively small number of long term vegans).
In my opinion, the Labour Party should campaign hard on the issues, but Labour Party supporters should VOTE strategically in order to ensure that National does NOT retain Northland.
That way National will be left with 59 MPs out of 121, which on some issues will make them a ‘lame duck’ Government.
The ‘Right’ understand strategic voting.
In my view, it’s time for the ‘Left’ to follow suit.
Grey Power speaking up would be good. We are the ones who have security to do so, helping those without the nous or who have little security or freedom to protest. Grey-haired people caring for the young and struggling. Good. Only some of the elderly or retired, are incapable of walking in a protest or thinking seriously about something other than their own diet, pension, rates rebates, transport discount, book club, mild exercises, next bus trip with friends and other diversions.
CR+100…. thanks for that…Abby Martin is very, very good …and that show is a no holds barred, or subjects barred, series of interviews ( it must have been exhausting for her over three years!)
…. I need to to catch up on back issues…hope rt keeps a list ( just been watching an interview with Eva Golinger on Venezuela….oil reserves and shades of the Middle East de-stabilisation)
Har,har. Just saw key in interview with c damn saying of course he will be visiting the troops in Iraq, with a journalist! He said he would not send troops into an area that he would not go into himself. Earnestly! Wow, does he have guts!!! Still rolling around the floor laughing. He’s losing the plot. They haven’t even gone and he’s got his cameos out. Pillock.
jUST A NOTE ON THE NORTHLAND ELECTION the more parties that stand the better after all its a Democracy and to reduce Nationals bloated majority would be synonymous with relieving bloat in cows the old fashioned way “a knife in the guts ” cos Jez wayne something needs to wake the place up to this totalitarian regime or police state which is so self congratulatory with its photoshop photo ops of just how much they have kept the north like a piece of history so that people can see what it was like in 1840 when the treaty was signed
Boot National so hard up the backside that they wont be able to seat them selves forever
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Many people have been unsatisfied for years that things have not improved for them, some as individuals, many more however because their families are clearly putting in more work, for less money – and certainly far less purchase on society. This general discontent has grown exponentially since the GFC. ...
A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, February 9, 2025 thru Sat, February 15, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report shows worsening food poverty and housing shortages mean more than 400,000 people now need welfare support, the highest level since the 1990s. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and ...
You're just too too obscure for meOh you don't really get through to meAnd there's no need for you to talk that wayIs there any less pessimistic things to say?Songwriters: Graeme DownesToday, I thought we’d take a look at some of the most cringe-inducing moments from last week, but don’t ...
Please note: I’ve delayed my “What can we do?” article for this video.The video above shows Destiny Church members assaulting staff and librarians as they pushed through to a room of terrified parents and young children.It was posted to social media last night.But if you read Sinead Boucher’s Stuff, you ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is sea level rise exaggerated? Sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, not stagnating or decreasing. Warming global temperatures cause land ice ...
Here is a scenario, but first a historical parallel. Hitler and the Nazis could well have accomplished everything that they wanted to do within German borders, including exterminating Jews, so long as they confined their ambitious to Germany itself. After all, the world pretty much sat and watched as the ...
I’ve spent the last couple of days in Hamilton covering Waikato University’s annual NZ Economics Forum, where (arguably) three of the most influential people in our political economy right now laid out their thinking in major speeches about the size and role of Government, their views on for spending, tax ...
Simeon Brown’s Ideology BentSimeon Brown once told Kiwis he tries to represent his deep sense of faith by interacting “with integrity”.“It’s important that there’s Christians in Parliament…and from my perspective, it’s great to be a Christian in Parliament and to bring that perspective to [laws, conversations and policies].”And with ...
Severe geological and financial earthquakes are inevitable. We just don’t know how soon and how they will play out. Are we putting the right effort into preparing for them?Every decade or so the international economy has a major financial crisis. We cannot predict exactly when or exactly how it will ...
Questions1. How did Old Mate Grabaseat describe his soon-to-be-Deputy-PM’s letter to police advocating for Philip Polkinghorne?a.Ill-advisedb.A perfect letterc.A letter that will live in infamyd.He had me at hello2. What did Seymour say in response?a.What’s ill-advised is commenting when you don’t know all the facts and ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff has called on OJI Fibre Solutions to work with the government, unions, and the community before closing the Kinleith Paper Mill. “OJI has today announced 230 job losses in what will be a devastating blow for the community. OJI needs to work with ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is sounding the alarm about the latest attack on workers from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden, who is ignoring her own officials to pursue reckless changes that would completely undermine the personal grievance system. “Brooke van Velden’s changes will ...
Hi,When I started writing Webworm in 2020, I wrote a lot about the conspiracy theories that were suddenly invading our Twitter timelines and Facebook feeds. Four years ago a reader, John, left this feedback under one of my essays:It’s a never ending labyrinth of lunacy which, as you have pointed ...
And if you said this life ain't good enoughI would give my world to lift you upI could change my life to better suit your moodBecause you're so smoothAnd it's just like the ocean under the moonOh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from youYou got the ...
Aotearoa remains the minority’s birthright, New Zealand the majority’s possession. WAITANGI DAY commentary see-saws manically between the warmly positive and the coldly negative. Many New Zealanders consider this a good thing. They point to the unexamined patriotism of July Fourth and Bastille Day celebrations, and applaud the fact that the ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump’s administration over Gaza and Ukraine; on the ...
Up until now, the prevailing coalition view of public servants was that there were simply too many of them. But yesterday the new Public Service Commissioner, handpicked by the Luxon Government, said it was not so much numbers but what they did and the value they produced that mattered. Sir ...
In a moment we explore the question: What is Andrew Bayly wanting to tell ACC, and will it involve enjoying a small wine tasting and then telling someone to fuck off? But first, for context, a broader one: What do we look for in a government?Imagine for a moment, you ...
As expected, Donald Trump just threw Ukraine under the bus, demanding that it accept Russia's illegal theft of land, while ruling out any future membership of NATO. Its a colossal betrayal, which effectively legitimises Russia's invasion, while laying the groundwork for the next one. But Trump is apparently fine with ...
A ballot for a single member's bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Employment Relations (Collective Agreements in Triangular Relationships) Amendment Bill (Adrian Rurawhe) The bill would extend union rights to employees in triangular relationships, where they are (nominally) employed by one party, but ...
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin AshtonBook review: ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin Ashton (2015) – and what it means for Auckland. The title of this article might unnerve any Greater Auckland ...
This story was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Within just a week, the sheer devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires has pushed to the fore fundamental questions about the impact of the climate crisis that have been ...
In this world, it's just usYou know it's not the same as it wasSongwriters: Harry Edward Styles / Thomas Edward Percy Hull / Tyler Sam JohnsonYesterday, I received a lovely message from Caty, a reader of Nick’s Kōrero, that got me thinking. So I thought I’d share it with you, ...
In past times a person was considered “unserious” or “not a serious” person if they failed to grasp, behave and speak according to the solemnity of the context in which they were located. For example a serious person does not audibly pass gas at Church, or yell “gun” at a ...
Long stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, February 13 are:The coalition Government’s early 2024 ‘fiscal emergency’ freeze on funding, planning and building houses, schools, local roads and hospitals helped extend and deepen the economic and jobs recession through calendar ...
For obvious reasons, people feel uneasy when the right to be a citizen is sold off to wealthy foreigners. Even selling the right to residency seems a bit dubious, when so many migrants who are not millionaires get turned away or are made to jump through innumerable hoops – simply ...
A new season of White Lotus is nearly upon us: more murder mystery, more sumptuous surroundings, more rich people behaving badly.Once more we get to identify with the experience of the pampered tourist or perhaps the poorly paid help; there's something in White Lotus for all New Zealanders.And unlike the ...
In 2016, Aotearoa shockingly plunged to fourth place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Nine years later, and we're back there again: New Zealand has seen a further slip in its global ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). [...] In the latest CPI New Zealand's score ...
1. You’ve started ranking your politicians on how much they respect the rule of law2. You’ve stopped paying attention to those news publications3. You’ve developed a sudden interest in a particular period of history4. More and more people are sounding like your racist, conspiracist uncle.5. Someone just pulled a Nazi ...
Transforming New Zealand: Brian EastonBrian Easton will discuss the above topic at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington at 5:30pm on Tuesday 26 February at 2/57 Willis Street, WellingtonThe sub-title to the above is "Why is the Left failing?" Brian Easton's analysis is based on his view that while the ...
Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment rates since the 1990s and half of all Pacific children going without food. There are reports of hundreds if not thousands of people are applying for the same jobs in the wake of last year’s ...
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...
Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confidentNicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
This session will feature Simon McCallum, Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Computer Science (VUW) and recent Labour Party candidate in the Southland Electorate talking about some of the issues around AI and how this should inform Labour Party policy. Simon is an excellent speaker with a comprehensive command of AI ...
The proposed Waimate garbage incinerator is dead: The company behind a highly-controversial proposal to build a waste-to-energy plant in the Waimate District no longer has the land. [...] However, SIRRL director Paul Taylor said the sales and purchase agreement to purchase land from Murphy Farms, near Glenavy, lapsed at ...
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been a vital tool in combatting international corruption. It forbids US companies and citizens from bribing foreign public officials anywhere in the world. And its actually enforced: some of the world's biggest companies - Siemens, Hewlett Packard, and Bristol Myers Squibb - have ...
December 2024 photo - with UK Tory Boris Johnson (Source: Facebook)Those PollsFor hours, political poll results have resounded across political hallways and commentary.According to the 1News Verizon poll, 50% of the country believe we are heading in the “wrong direction”, while 39% believe we are “on the right track”.The left ...
A Tai Rāwhiti mill that ran for 30 years before it was shut down in late 2023 is set to re-open in the coming months, which will eventually see nearly 300 new jobs in the region. A new report from Massey University shows that pensioners are struggling with rising costs. ...
As support continues to fall, Luxon also now faces his biggest internal ructions within the coalition since the election, with David Seymour reacting badly to being criticised by the PM. File photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Not since 1988 when Richard Prebble openly criticised David Lange have we seen such a challenge to a Prime Minister as that of David Seymour to Christopher Luxon last night. Prebble suggested Lange had mental health issues during a TV interview and was almost immediately fired. Seymour hasn’t gone quite ...
Three weeks in, and the 24/7 news cycle is not helping anyone feel calm and informed about the second Trump presidency. One day, the US is threatening 25% trade tariffs on its friends and neighbours. The reasons offered by the White House are absurd, such as stopping fentanyl coming in ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Wherever you look, you'll hear headlines claiming we've passed 1.5 degrees of global warming. And while 2024 saw ...
“The ACT Party can’t be bothered putting an MP on one of the Justice subcommittees hearing submissions on their own Treaty Principles Bill,” Labour Justice Spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
The Government’s newly announced funding for biodiversity and tourism of $30-million over three years is a small fraction of what is required for conservation in this country. ...
The Government's sudden cancellation of the tertiary education funding increase is a reckless move that risks widespread job losses and service reductions across New Zealand's universities. ...
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University Last week in Europe, the United States sent some very strong messages it is prepared to upend the established global order. US Vice President JD Vance warned a stunned Munich ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Reserve Bank has delivered the expected modest rate cut of a quarter of a percentage point, and we’re set for the predictable frenzy of speculation about an April election. The cut is unlikely to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra The Reserve Bank cut official interest rates on Tuesday, the first decrease in four years, saying inflationary pressures are easing “a little more quickly than expected”. However, the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Reserve Bank has delivered the expected modest rate cut of a quarter of a percentage point, and we’re set for the predictable frenzy of speculation about an April election. The cut is unlikely to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Allan Fels, Professor Allan Fels, Professor of Law, Economics and Business at the University of Melbourne and Monash University., The University of Melbourne Australia is creeping towards adding a divestiture power to its Competition and Consumer Act. Under such a law, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arjen Vaartjes, PhD Student, Quantum Physics, UNSW Sydney Dmitriy Rybin / Shutterstock What makes something quantum? This question has kept a small but dedicated fraction of the world’s population – most of them quantum physicists – up at night for decades. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mary Anne Kenny, Associate Professor, School of Law, Murdoch University Australia’s minister for home affairs announced on Sunday that the federal government has struck a deal with Nauru to “resettle” three non-citizens from what’s come to be known as the “NZYQ cohort”. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Fitzpatrick, Professor in International History, Flinders University (From left to right): Neville Chamberlain, Édouard Daladier, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano before signing the Munich Agreement, which gave the Sudetenland to Germany.German Federal Archives/Wikimedia Commons Ukraine ...
The purpose was to establish the facts and provide an independent assessment of government agency activity in relation to allegations that personal data may have been misused during the 2023 General Election. ...
Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster said he is carefully reviewing the referrals raised in the two reports. That work will be done in the context the Privacy Act and the need to ensure individuals’ rights to privacy is protected and respected. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bhavna Middha, ARC DECRA Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University The average Australian household size has decreased from 4.5 people per household in 1911 to 2.5 people in 2024. At the same time, the average house size has increased, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Page Jeffery, Lecturer in Media and Communications, University of Sydney suriyachan/Shutterstock When the Australian government passed legislation in November last year banning young people under 16 from social media, it included exemptions for platforms “that are primarily for the purposes ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leslie Roberson, Postdoctoral research fellow, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland If you’ve ever been stopped by quarantine officers at the airport, you might think Australia’s international border is locked down like a fortress. But when it comes ...
Duncan Sarkies’ latest novel, Star Gazers, is about the collapse of democracy in a society of alpaca breeders. Here are some things his intensive research revealed. 1 How greed works, psychologicallyYes, I guess I already understood greed, but I could never understand why people who already have everything they ...
The proposed cuts would see only two full time Telehealth data and digital roles, and one Planning, Funding and Outcomes (PFO) role remain, reduced from 17 Telehealth support roles (including vacant roles). Roles proposed to be cut include Telehealth ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling for Ministers to end funding for Te Kurahuna programmes and workshop grifters that have received millions in taxpayer funding, despite the Government’s supposed focus on cutting costs. ...
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist, in Avarua, Rarotonga More than 400 people have taken to the streets to protest against Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown’s recent decisions, which have led to a diplomatic spat with New Zealand. The protest, led by Opposition MP and Cook Islands United Party ...
In the second episode, Brynley Stent and Kura Forrester unearth some truths about dating on a dance floor in South Canterbury. Bryn & Ku’s Singles Club is a brand new documentary series for The Spinoff following award-winning comedians and friends Brynley Stent and Kura Forrester as they embark ...
The first half of a billion-dollar pipe that will drastically reduce wastewater overflows in the Auckland isthmus is now in operation. As I biked south, I thought about all the poo sloshing beneath my wheels. Tubes of it disgorging from U-bends, into wastewater pipes laid under our streets that become ...
🚐 The vulnerability continues as the pair head to the Hunt Ball in South Canterbury in search of a rich farmer, before getting some sage relationship advice from Brynley’s Dad and Oma. ❣️ Bryn & Ku’s Singles Club follows comedians Brynley Stent and Kura Forrester as they head out on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joel Garrett, Lecturer in Exercise Science and Physiology, Griffith University Australia’s love affair with the major football codes – the Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) – is well documented. However, one aspect that stands out to many observers, ...
The White Lotus is back for season three. Here’s what we made of episode one. The third White Lotus season rinses and repeats – and thank God for that. Turns out there is enough comedic and dramatic juice in resort-set ensemble satires on privilege in the modern world, ...
Founder, journalist and author Tim Burrowes joins Duncan Greive to discuss a torrid decade in Australian media and whether there are reasons to be optimistic amid the carnage. Tim Burrowes is the author of a book and a Substack called Unmade, which are truly essential guides to media in ...
The self-appointed apostle says he could be to Christopher Luxon what Elon Musk is to Donald Trump, and his track record speaks for itself.Who is New Zealand’s answer to Elon Musk? The Herald’s tech insider, Chris Keall, put the question to his LinkedIn acolytes the other day. “If Luxon ...
The last good thing at the supermarket is gone. Mad Chapman mourns the Cadbury mini egg cartons. When life is overwhelming and it feels like every story around you is a bad news story, there are a few things that can be relied upon to instil a sense of calm, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Parker, Honorary Professorial Fellow, Melbourne CSHE, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Judges in Australian courtrooms have a lot of power. They can decide on someone’s guilt and the punishment for it, including lengthy prison time. But what if they get ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Louise Birrell, Researcher, Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock Australians are waiting an average of 12 years to seek treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, our new research shows. While ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justine Bell-James, Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland Almost 200 nations have signed an ambitious agreement to halt and reverse biodiversity loss but none is on track to meet the crucial goal, our new research reveals. The agreement, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philippa Collin, Professor, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University Australian school students’ civics knowledge is the lowest it has been since testing began 20 years ago, according to new national data. Results have fallen since the last assessment in 2019 ...
“..Amy Adams – A rebuttal on Medicinal Cannabis..” (ed:..if you were wondering just how reactionary/ignorant this govt is on cannabis – wonder no more..justice minister amy adams goes all retro – claiming pot leads to ‘p’..)
“..the minister of Justice – Amy Adams – responded:..
‘..I have seen no evidence that supports the benefits for decriminalizing or legalizing cannabis – for medicinal purposes or otherwise – outweighing the harm it causes to society.
The potential harms from smoking cannabis are well documented –
– and I have no plans to soften the Government’s stance on what is commonly considered a gateway drug to more harmful substances such as P..”
(cont..)
(ed:..so there you have it..ignorance on a fucken stick..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2015/amy-adams-a-rebuttal-on-medicinal-cannabis-ed-were-you-wondering-just-how-reactionaryignorant-tgis-govt-is-on-cannabis-wonder-no-more-justice-minister-amy-adams-goes-all-retro-clai/
I think it won’t be long before the wilful ignorance of the likes of Adams will no longer wash. Once the first short and medium term studies of how decriminalisation has changed drug use in the USA come through we’ll have compelling evidence of whether or not it’s harmed the local communities. As I recall the situation in Portugal, the answer is that it hasn’t significantly changed the wider population’s use of recreational drugs. Those that want to smoke, do. Those that don’t, don’t.
Certainly, any change that cuts gangs out of the supply change is likely to be good for our community.
perhaps adams cd provide us with footage of the (now) ‘p’-addicts littering the streets of colorado..?
..i am frankly astonished she/this govt. is still peddling the gateway-myth..
..and is willfully ignoring all the evidence to hand..
..(and aren’t fucken rightwingers meant to be all about ‘personal-freedoms!’..
..and ‘getting the govt out of peoples’ lives!’..?..)
..and i wish the mainstream-media wd start doing their fucken job..
..and calling/questioning this complete and utter bullshit..
..when the facts/results in colorado are drops in crime/domestic-violence/alcohol-consumption..
..and no jump in the number of ‘p’-addicts..
..a huge wedge of facts..
..that fly in the face of adams’ lies/misinformation..
..so c’mon media..!
..w.t.f. r u afraid of..?
..mainstream-polling shows 87% of new zealanders want the madness of cannabis prohibition to end..
..w.t.f r both the politicians and the media afraid of..?
..why is this a third-rail for them both..?
..when it is clear that both are lagging far behind the will of most of the people..
Pot would be less likely to lead to harder stuff if you could get it from a nice clean outlet and not have to deal with some of the dodgy scum bags that like to make there money the illegal way.
aye..!
tho’ there are/have been some ‘nice’ pot-dealers/smugglers..
“..Howard Marks benefit gig leaves audience on a high..
..Event was chance for fans of former drug smuggler known as Mr Nice –
– to pay homage –
– and raise funds for his cancer treatment.
The whippet-thin punk poet John Cooper Clarke – observing that this was ‘not an entirely happy occasion’- told a disbelieving and appreciative audience:
‘I’ve been piling on the pounds since I stopped taking drugs’.
This had led in Manchester – ‘where taking drugs is compulsory”’– to cries of ‘get back on drugs – you fat fuck!’ – and a poem with that title..”
(cont..)
(ed:..i read his ‘mr nice’ book just recently…and while the stories he has to tell are interesting..
..he was screaming out for a strict editor..as it was a bit of a chore to read..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2015/howard-marks-benefit-gig-leaves-audience-on-a-high/
That relates to a post by Shane Le Brun over a month ago. If you want to read it without having to trying and decipher Phil’s hieroglyphics here’s Shane’s post:
https://mmj4chronicpain.wordpress.com/2015/01/24/amy-adams-rebuttal/
yes..and perhaps shd tell shane..that this is the sort of material he should be shouting from the roof-tops..
..’cos up until now..who knew..?
..you fucken wanker…
Great way to work on something of common and important interest Phil.
Shane’s actually doing a lot of hard work on it, and networking well, and getting his message out there a bit more successfully than you I suspect. He’s willing to work with anyone on a common cause.
is he you..?
Don’t be a dope. We both openly identify ourselves.
is this him..?
https://www.facebook.com/m1013828?ref=eyJzaWQiOiIwLjAyMTg2MjUyMDI0MzgyODYyIiwicXMiOiJKVFZDSlRJeVUyaGhibVVsTWpCTVpTVXlNRUp5ZFc0bE1qSWxOVVEiLCJndiI6Ijk0YWQwYTU1MTZkN2E4ZDdhOGFlZmIyZjgzYWFmMmU4ZTQyNGIyNTYifQ
I believe so. Well done.
Could it be possible that drug companies are against med pot and be leaning on the government to stop med pot being ok’d .?
i can’t actually define any single reason for this wall-to-wall ignorance..
..but if singling out outside/self-interested forces..that we already know have an inordinate amount of influence over politicians..
..look no further than the booze-pushers..
..they are in full-on patch-protection mode…
..’cos they know..(and as colorado proves..) that the ending of cannabis prohibition wd mean the loss of a lot of the customers for their poisonous/addictive swill..
and don’t forget…alcohol is responsible for more violence against women – than the taliban..
..legalise..! – regulate..! – tax..!..
..and i think adams..against strong competition from her colleagues..
..walks away with the-most-pig-ignorant-politician-award..
Phillip Ure – I think you have missed the elephant in the room with cannabis. That is with the current policy, the police can be as racist as they like – and have the best cover ever. “Think of the children”
I think Adams and her ilk are nothing but white supremacists. They use P.C language – but lets face facts – they hate the poor and deeper than that, they hate brown people because they are poor.
What did Malcolm X say about racism, being normalised to the point we…
that racist-tinge to this prohibition-policy..and the out-of-kilter effect on maori from prohibition..
.imprisonment etc..
..not to mention the roadblocks/helicopter-raids each/every year on northland (esp…)
..all of these irrefutable-facts are why i am so puzzled that the likes of harawira/minto are so reactionary on cannabis..
..and why the fuck can’t such politically-aware animals see/understand what is right before their eyes..?
..and to the extent they have become forces for prohibition/repression..
..that is also..as u note.. very much racist in nature..
..and why they are hand-in-glove with the likes of fucken amy adams..(!)
..w.t.f. r they thinking..?
Prohibition also helps the prison industrial complex.
Prisons are now part of the money making body politic of private corporations, and the one thing they need is prisoners – so we, the tax payer can make them rich.
Even the so called state run prisons – have so many private contractors – it’s a joke. A cruel vicious joke of power of the state being transferred to private corporation – who they use and abuse this power to their own ends.
Cannabis, is the simplest and most effective manor to fill up prisons, it also helps our racist system to hand out corporate welfare to the private sector.
I for one, am happy they are not doing this on the sly any more. It is much easier to see the prison industrial complex for what it is. And the racists who keep it in place.
Privatisation of the prison sector is creating an industry of neo-slavery for profit.
What’s this neo Colonial Rawshark? Seriously, when the elites stopped fearing working people – they just jumped back to their old tricks.
Slavery is the old chestnut they love, free labour – to make them even richer.
Also it makes them feel even more superior and good about themselves – the slimy bastards.
Do one thing a day, to remind the elites – why they should fear working people.
Should be one, of many calls to power – for the left.
I stand corrected.
The Left has abandoned most of its bases of institutional and financial power. In NZ it seems to be entirely fixated on taking government back, which only ever lasts for a few years.
Yeah, almost a fetish from some.
That politics is no more than a game of elections.
Rather than a fight for the economics which will make peoples lives better.
don’t forget that the deal the govt signed with these fucken parasites..
..guarantees them a certain number of prisoners – to fill their jails..
..to the extent the govt has to pay them a financial penalty should they fail to supply them with these bodies..
..so..moving (all) drugs from justice to health..
..legalising/regulating/taxing pot..
(..and of course..emptying the prisons of those already incarcerated for victimless-crimes…
..would cost the govt heaps..)
..that is another question i wd like the mainstream-media to start asking..
..’are yr guarantees to the private-prison industry – stilling yr hand on moving towards cannabis-law-reform..?
..and how much would that be likely to cost the government?..
..should you end cannabis prohibition and free those incarcerated..?’..
and of course – it is not just about pot..
“..How Psychedelics Might Transform the Human Mind and Lead Humanity Towards Intellectual and Artistic Heights..
..Psychedelics are undergoing a revival of interest –
– but where do we go from here?
A leading thinker offers a four-stage preview..”
(cont..)
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/psychedelic-renaissance-here-eternity
My friends who live in Portugal, love it.
They call it the safest they have felt in years.
Why do I mention Portugal – well folks just in case you don’t know – you can take psychedelics there as well. Oh and look – it’s not falling apart, the country is not collapsing, people are friendly, happy and healthy. Bugger me, no one is on a crazed drug trip killing people – who would have though.
Oh and safe – did I mention people feeling safe…
i don’t take them now..
..but i have no regrets about the industrial-strength pschedelics i have taken..
..(one favourite moment..in national park on hawkesbury river in n.s.w.aust..
..standing on one side of the river..
..and the opposing hills/bush turning into golden rivulets..
..that ran down into the river…
..and a led zeppelin concert..where i wasn’t actually aware i was at a concert..
..there was just this killer soundtrack to what was going on..
..and every now and then i noticed this stage in the distance..with marrionette-like figures on it..
..that i didn’t actually connect with that killer-soundtrack to the visuals of my psychedelic-journey..
..whoar..!
..(i have a huge grin-on here..just remembering it..)
On the violence side you might be interested in this little anecdote , my cousins brought a pub in Scotland in the 80s they reckon it was a mad house with the amount of scrapping the Scots got up to not only in the pub but they’d get boozed and go to the next village for a battle, then hash arrived and and they mall owed right out I spent a couple of years there and the only time I saw a punch thrown was during a hash drought.
I doubt that, bw. Drug companies would be more likely to take advantage of the situation to sell tincture of cannabis or something like that which could be patented.
My theory is that law enforcement are behind it. They want an excuse to be able to pull over young brown blokes whenever they feel like it. The war on drugs gives them this. Before the war on terror came along, legal powers to search and seize were almost always based on drug offences. Now that cops and spies can get what they want by whispering “terrorists” in Andrew Little’s ear, maybe they will back off more on the drugs. Many ex-police already have.
If she’s against medicinal cannabis on the grounds that it leads to harder drugs, she should also be against medicinal morphine on the grounds that it is a harder drug. I think all NAct supporters should sign declarations that they will not accept any strong analgesics. I can hear them screaming in the surgical wards already. It is a surprisingly pleasant sound.
Yeah, and also against codeine as a “gateway drug.”
You have to be fucking kidding me.
Brownlee concocting non-existent protocols to avoid having to answer questions. Yeah, we totes honour the dead around here.
Begs the question: who is the enemy?
Timed so the law is ready for the reinvasion of Iraq.
Accurate reporting of the circumstances of a soldier’s death might breach security – the appropriate person to determine that is the coroner, after hearing evidence.
When the National Party realises that its bloodlust cannot be hidden this way, will grief itself be outlawed?
I’m guessing coroners are civil servants too difficult to control. Too many of them, and a profession with a high degree of integrity.
+ 1 yes grief will be outlawed because it might breach security – direct censorship is just around the corner because ‘the walls have ears’, ‘the enemy is everywhere they can even look like you and me’, ‘trust no one and tell the authorities immediately’ …
I think that a certain large government has tried to limit public displays of grief by flying home defence corpses at night. I seem to remember that from the Vietnam time. Someone else may remember exactly.
I thought that this section of the article gives the clearest vision of what will happen if this bill passes:
That bit about national security concerns being already provided for by coroner’s suppression orders is particularly telling.
This is about National’s security, not national security.
I thought this bit was worrying. Does the NZDF advocate for the state to be above judicial scrutiny? If so, this is a continuation down the path the current government is leading this country.
The state has four branches. The judiciary is one of them. The NZDF is not the sharpest tool in the shed.
And yes, it’s a damning indictment of their brainless authoritarian ideology.
It worked for Fiji.
Democratic instincts do not get rewarded in the NZDF. The higher officers are often those least capable of any intelligent thought.
Here’s a question: how do we know if a death is self-inflicted unless there’s a coroner’s report? Do we just allow NZDF to go “oh no, that was totally security-related, nothing to see here”?
^ this
The timing of this is pretty transparent. As for “The NZDF supported the amendment and said it strikes a balance “between independent investigation and ensuring judicial scrutiny did not encroach into “matters of the state”.” Wow. The state should be free from judicial scrutiny? The march to complete authoritarianism is really astonishing me with its pace. First the NZDF, next will anyone killed by ngati poaka be denied a coronial investigation?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmxHRsD48L0#t=86
Enjoy this from Tourettes at Splore …”John Keys Sons a DJ”
Been thinking that it is strangely time to paraphrase Muldoon:
“Tony Abbott’s visit to John Key raised the IQ of both Prime Ministers offices”.
+100
Pegida rally in Newcastle, UK flops. Despite the assurances of the organisers that the racist, neo-fascist organisation is not racist or neo-fascist, the pictures tell the story.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/28/newcastle-pegida-marchers-vastly-outnumbered-by-counter-protests
They all dress like Racist George.
heh..!..
..beige – the colour of evil…
..but the good news from that story..
..is that the anti-march protestors outnumbered the beige-brigade..
And yet here in NZ Kyle Chapman and his merry bone-head crew march unopposed in Christchurch every year
“Casey invites all pro-Whites and pro-White groups to join him at the European Heritage march this year.
The message this year is UNITY.
Assemble at 11 am near Chch Central, March 21”
(from http://www.nationalfront.org.nz/?p=2007 )
They are not unopposed, although the opposition does tend to come from the far left. I know people who have been to Christchurch a few times to give the racist asswipes a hard time.
http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/emotions-high-as-group-confronts-white-pride-march-2013032316
That good to hear !
More bad choices by National Party followers. They will refuse to accept any personal responsibility.
Do you meant they won’t take personal responsibility for people who won’t or can’t take personal responsibility for themselves?
Another view on it: Rodney Hide: Mann up and take responsibility
What personal responsibility do you have for those who have to be “very watchful on what we spend” OAB?
No, I mean none of your false interpretations, Racist George, and I haven’t the slightest inclination to explain it to you.
Why weren’t you at the Pegida rally?
You always seem to duck for cover when challenged to back up your rhetoric. And you’re off topic on this thread.
“Why weren’t you at the Pegida rally?”
Because it was on the other side of the world. I thought even you would have worked out something obvious like that. Why weren’t you at the counter protest?
But I’ve backed Newcastle Unites from here. Have you/
Wow! Only distance prevents racist Pete from marching with the fascists. Thanks for the unintended honesty, schmuck.
[lprent: It is a valid point. But FFS phrase the responses better. I don’t like cleaning up reaction messes. ]
😀
Thanks for the reminder about your deliberate dishonesty.
And thanks for the opportunities to keep demonstrating your dishonesty. So far you’ve managed to keep that out of your authoring (that’s been promising) but you’ll find it’s difficult to keep the two separate – lying at one level will end up impacting on another.
[lprent: Indeed. What a pain in the arse thing to see on moderation sweep at the end of hot day.
I really don’t like people attacking my authors for any reason. But I really find it objectionable to see it when the idiot critic (ie you) neither links to an example of whatever they are moaning about nor explains what it is so that I can look at the issue. That is lying by omission in my book – something that in my mind characterises your usual writing style.
Don’t ever target my authors again with unsubstantiated and unlinked smearing as a tactic. To me that appears to be what you are doing here. It takes us too much work to get them up and running to let some foolish dickhead use them for target practice.
Yes he wound you up. Complain to me or in general. Don’t target authors personally because I really really need them more than I need you.
The next time that I see you do this kind of deliberate targeting, I will boot you off for a year.
But banned one month only because TRP was winding you up. ]
“And thanks for the opportunities to keep demonstrating your dishonesty. So far you’ve managed to keep that out of your authoring”
not like you eh pete – your dishonesty is well known – as well as your nasty side.
Ironies abound today marty. Eh.
this wasn’t ironic, it was hilarious
none so dim eh pete – and now your abuse of an author here – funny how you’ll still get the content for your vanity blog from this site tho eh – dishonest and racist – you really are an enjoyable idiot 🙂
Just think though of the story of The Triffids. They were plants that everyone knew had dangerous abilities but as they were interesting people were allowed to cultivate them although with instructions on how to stop their full negative development.
When people became vulnerable the plants were ready to strike with their poisoned tendrils, and they would suck people’s blood or something. Watch who you play with kids.
Pete, I pointed out your own words. If there is dishonesty involved, it can only have come from you. Shall we call it a fraudian slip?
You acknowledge I’m an author, yet you call me a liar. The TS policy is pretty clear about abuse of authors. Would you please withdraw and apologise.
I made it clear you’re a liar as a commenter, not as an author and re-emphasise that. A persistent liar that pre-dates your authoring. You can’t hide behind a higher status for your low commenting.
[That is a distinction that I do not recognise. Tone it down – MS]
“Tone it down”.
Please can we have some clarity on this: is it just Racist George who can now abuse authors, so long as he “tones it down”? Or can we all join in?
I note that Racist George has not resiled from his abuse of TRP, let alone apologised.
[The policy says “Abusing the sysop or post writers on their own site (should say post) – including telling us how to run our site or what we should write. This is viewed as self-evident stupidity, and should be added as a category to the Darwin Awards.”
Another part of the policy says “Generally wasting a moderators time is just not a good idea. We’re there to deal with isolated problems. People persistently sucking up our voluntary time won’t like the results.”
So I am not sure if 1 applies to Pete but 2 is becoming more and more relevant.
Besides I am softer than some of the other authors. If lprent was to deal with this I suspect the result would be more summary – MS]
” I suspect the result would be more summary “. Some heads just ask to be chopped off.
Some clarity would be good MS.
Are you saying the someone who happens to be an author can say whatever they like as a commenter completely unrelated to any of their posts and not be challenged?
TRP hasn’t denied being dishonest over the years, he just seems to be trying to protect his abusiveness from some sort of privileged position.
[See my comment above Pete. Although this is Open Mike you are wasting moderators time – MS]
That’s the second time today you’ve called me a liar here, Pete. MS asked you to tone it down, which is a reasonable request, and you have chosen to repeat the abuse.
“TRP hasn’t denied being dishonest over the years”
That is why you are so loathed in real life as well as the interwebz. You feel able to abuse people and get away with it. TRP is NOT dishonest and my reading of his comments over the years (many many of which I disagree with and even oppose) is that they are brutally honest. TRP says what he thinks and does not lie imo. Not like you tho pete – you are a fucken disgrace – a sad loser/stalker who can’t fill his vanity bog with anything other than other peoples work, a mr nobody trying to validate himself and failing time after time after time.
That looks like blatant dishonesty, unless TRP doesn’t understand what “But I’ve backed Newcastle Unites from here” means.
Wow Pete George – Just wow.
I might think te reo putake is a Chardonnay Socialist. But I’d never thought in any argument I’ve had with him, he was a liar.
Is it that you Pete George are a racist who dislikes being handed your racism back to you, on a plate?
Pete George – do you even realise you are a racist?
Because te reo putake may part of the labour faithful, and a fluffy socialist – but he is not a liar nor is he a bigot like you Mr George.
Reflection is a wonderful thing Pete – maybe if many people are pointing out you are a racist – you might want to take some time to reflect that you are.
Take your time – it’s a process, and it is something grown ups have to confront and deal with. There will be tears and recriminations. I however, am hopeful you will see the process through.
That’s the third time, Pete.
I quoted your own words entirely accurately. I’m sure you’re pissed off at being hoist by your own petard, but accusing me of dishonesty and conflating that with my author status is not acceptable behaviour here.
TRP: “I quoted your own words entirely accurately. ”
As far as I can see that’s incorrect. I can’t see where you’ve quoted my words at all.
pete you could have answered the question a million ways – you chose your answer which unwittingly revealed your truth – YOU said it, no one else – own it ffs, TRP was not dishonest but you are disingenuous in trying to squirm out of your own bloody words.
edit – TRP quoted your words ffs what are you on?
Marty, Pete’s trying to play the pedantry card.
Pete: “Why weren’t you at the Pegida rally?”
Because it was on the other side of the world.
Me: Wow! Only distance prevents racist Pete from marching with the fascists.
He’d love to think nitpicking and resorting to accusations of dishonesty will hide his accidental admission, but it won’t. The damage is done.
You’re wrong too marty. Can you point out where TRP quoted me?
He said “Only distance prevents racist Pete from marching with the fascists.”. I said nothing about marching in support of Pegida.
This looks like a typical case of ignorant, sloppy or dishonest assumptions. At best.
TRP – the reports suggests that many people were there that opposed Pegida, they didn’t support them by 4 to 1.
You haven’t shown where you quoted me.
Fourth time you’ve accused me of dishonesty, Pete.
“Why weren’t you at the Pegida rally?”
Because it was on the other side of the world.
Your own words, Pete.
If you’d wanted to oppose them, you would have wanted to be at the Newcastle Unites counter rally. Can you see the subtle difference?
I also said quite clearly “But I’ve backed Newcastle Unites from here.”
Do you admit you may have jumped to a conclusion too quickly?
You still haven’t shown here you quoted me as you claimed.
A griefer is a player in a multiplayer video game who deliberately irritates and harasses other players within the game, using aspects of the game in unintended ways. A griefer derives pleasure primarily or exclusively from the act of annoying other users, and as such is a particular nuisance in online gaming communities, since griefers often cannot be deterred by penalties related to in-game goals.
““Why weren’t you at the Pegida rally?”
Because it was on the other side of the world. I thought even you would have worked out something obvious like that.”
That is what you said – you even said to OAB that it was obvious!!! YOU said it lol and now you don’t like it lol – write a post about that dirty racist liar pete george then pete, he’s giving you a bad name.
“Why weren’t you at the Pegida rally?”
Because it was on the other side of the world.
Your words, Pete.
” I’m sure you’re pissed off at being hoist by your own petard” are your own words.
Did you apply them to the wrong person?
Did you jump to a conclusion on a part of my comment? And even that part didn’t say what you accused (without quoting).
“Because it was on the other side of the world” (my words) is nowhere near the same as “Only distance prevents racist Pete from marching with the fascists.” (your words)
you said it was obvious you weren’t at the rally because of distance – that is what you said
“Why weren’t you at the Pegida rally?”
Because it was on the other side of the world.
Your words, Pete. Weasel all you like, they’re still your words.
And your words were “Only distance prevents racist Pete from marching with the fascists.” That’s very different.
No difference at all, unless you’re trying to say it wasn’t a march.
“Why weren’t you at the Pegida rally?”
Because it was on the other side of the world.
Pete George, 1 April 2015.
Learn to live with it, Pete, I imagine you’re going to be reminded about your words pretty regularly 😉
ps I think I may have come up with a new pejorative for you. Howdya fancy being Petegida from here on in?
That you originally made an incorrect claim may have been carelessness, but that you continue to try and claim it looks like deliberate dishonesty. So my original assessment looks like a reasonable one to have made.
That works both ways. I think it's fairly typical of how you have often operated as a commenter but it's a good example to have on record.
Te Reo Putake (I won’t use your name here) 1 March 2015.
[Stephanie: Damn straight you won’t. You’ve been around here more than long enough to know that trying to “out” people who use pseudonyms is a bad idea, and making smarmy threats like that, while protesting that you’re just being ~reasonable~, only proves what a sad little bully you are.]
That’s up to you, but from you it wouldn’t bother me at all,, it’s what you do. If you use it you will be repeating dishonesty, which can only look very deliberate now. You know, something like a persistent liar.
“Why weren’t you at the Pegida rally?”
Because it was on the other side of the world.
Pete George.
Just checked and the words haven’t magically disappeared, Pete. So you’re stuck with what you wrote. Obviously, you’ve already shown yourself to be a racist, so the admission, accidental as it may have been, fits entirely with what we already know about you.
That you are still try to weasel out also confirms another aspect of your character; moral and intellectual cowardice.
Yes my works are still there. All of them, not just the ones you have made things up about.
This is what I said:
That clearly shows I support Newcastles Unites, not Pegida.
You’ve been busted and still persist with deliberate use of incorrect claims.
And you keep demonstrating you’re not honest enough to admit it.
I’ve been attached dishonestly here many times so once more doesn’t make any difference to me. It’s more likely to bite you on the bum.
I note that at the time of writing, Racist George has still not “supported” Newcastle Unite. He quickly put up a hurried cut-n-paste this morning, which merely suggests that they try and get along with the fascists.
Edit: his racist attacks on tangata whenua are far more revealing of his true sympathies.
Can I exercise a right of reply?
I’ve explained here a number of times – and have specifically pointed that it was TRP lying by omission. Which he has continued to do.
He claimed to have quoted me but hadn’t, and then when called on that repeatedly part quoted me, lying by omitting the whole quote.
If you support that sort of tactic from one of your authors then so be it, it’s your blog.
It’s pretty obvious that this began and continued with TRP “with unsubstantiated and unlinked smearing as a tactic” and continuing doing that.
If you don’t allow any response to that sort of tactic you’re being as bad as Bradbury and Slater in the way you censor out things that show up your crap.
That’s a bit sad isn’t it, especially after you claiming the high ground on comment control in your spat with Bradbury.
FFS. He and others try to wind me up all the time. As if you hadn’t noticed. And then get wound up when I call you on it. You sound wound up now. Tch tch.
You’re accusing me of deliberate targeting. Very funny. But somehow I suspect you don’t see the joke.
I’m not questioning that, I’m happy to have a month off. TRP et al with have to find someone else to try and wind up.
Cheers.
[lprent: I am fetching this out of a very neglected spam queue full of our latest spambot and philu.
As I (think) I probably said. I don’t have time to trace every previous discussion and I lack the ability to read minds remotely. So I look at the comment based what is in it and have a brief look at the conversation around it. Which is why TRP got a public warning and a private discussion about future behaviour. Which is a bit unusual because I generally rap knuckles on authors using the back channels.
But treat authors differently. Link to supporting info when having a go at them because the balance of the moderation shifts for them. I don’t treat them as commentators anymore simply because we need to retain them to write conversation starters for this site. With authors I balance my need to retain authors against ‘fairness’. But the supporting information had better be in the comments I am looking at because I won’t go looking for it. I simply don’t have time with the numbers of comments that flow through here. ]
“lying at one level will end up impacting on another.” Like the PM, Collins, Brownlee, Tolley, Joyce and Bennett.
lol
The truth is so truthful
Pete a self confessed Chelsea supporter.
No wonder he is always trying to push us of the tracks
Always. Unless I’m debating with Gosman. Or English Breakfast. Or PR, or Gormless, or CV, or The Murphey, or BK, or in point of publicly documented fact, everyone but you.
That’s because I regard you as beneath contempt, Racist George.
Joke? You rarely debate anyone.
Voles are tiny beige furry things with small brains that tunnel through dirt and occasionally appear in daylight.
They are celebrated musically in the popular song:
O Vole Mio.
A louse’s color varies from pale beige to dark gray; however, if feeding on blood, it may become considerably darker.
What colour is this louse?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Fahrenholzia_pinnata.JPG
LOL!
Its colour is an amalgamation of the colours of Nat’s blue+ACT’s yellow+UF’s purple which strangely often turns beige!
How am I doing?
Black and blue, right?
What a bunch of dicks you lot are.
Twisting words to suit your own means. Don’t pack a sissy next time Paddy G does it then.
Grow up dick heads
😆
This started with Racist George’s attempt to twist my words: my comment at 6, his response at 6.1.
He fell right into the obvious trap I set for him in return, and the community had a little fun at his expense.
I think you protesteth too much, lady.
I think you’re asking too much.
Oh, look something St PG supports and doesn’t oppose ?
Given the Beige Ones track record..
I just wonder when he states he supports Newcastle Unites, I just ponder if he’s buggered up again in his usually close shave to 4th place power manner?
He probably means he supports, Newcastle United, a very mediocre English Football team, who’s owner is only interested in generating revenue , publicity for himself & business interests and leaves the ambitions & aspirations of the team on the sidelines to embrace mediocrity.
There does seem to be more than a passing similarity between the Beige Bladder One of Dunedin and Mike Ashley of Newcastle United.
Have you signed the “Not In Our Name” petition PG shrinks?& shown some backbone support rather than your usual array of turd polishing misnomers?
The personal responsibility of voting in National who then put in place policies that increase poverty while giving the rich even more.
Not just voting them in: actively supporting a vile hate-based approach to misfortune, in the face of all evidence and expert advice.
Yeah, Rodney Hide. His poverty of thought has given him a fat head.
who decides what is in the ‘publics interest’?
Gerry Brownlee, apparently.
Now there is a contradiction in terms, if I ever heard one.
US and Israel now drilling for oil and gas in the Golan Heights
Typical Israeli/US corporate policy to thieve resources from others.
+1 Israel benefits with media attention being focused else where on the Iraqi, Iran, Syria etc.
ps. Glad you got some off that pony, dour staying run from the back, the jock had to knock a few over to get into the clear. Tri with the 2 class/form horses paid over an ernie rutherford. 🙂
There was a good story to the winner Mongolian Khan. A friend of mine from Cambridge (broke-in a filly that I bred) battles away pre training horses. He sees something in this colt that nobody wanted, buys him cheap and syndicated & manages it for a Asian group to race.
So yesterday the local captain’s of industry, who spend hundreds of thousands on a yearling tb, have to watch a horse with an unfashionable pedigree that sold for nicks win NZ’s premier 700 k, 3 year old race. Got to love it.
Ahhh very nice background indeed. Listened to the race on trackside and at the start I thought to myself – good god that Skinny has recommended a lame! But I kept the faith lol. BTW I have no background in racing, but you sounded like you knew what you were talking about and so i would seem. Chur bro 🙂
edit – oh yeah OK nice move on the tri – that would have been worth a few bucks in a side bet
yes sorry i didnt bet on your tip…but was busy….looked like a goodie
incidentally there is a very engrossing realist tv first series called ‘Luck’ about horse racing in LA together with the whole jockey /owner/trainer culture and associated crime….but it was pulled before the second series because of concerns for horse welfare…some argued it could have been an advocate for horse welfare and should continue…others argued it was part of the problem….
however that aside , if you can put it aside….. watching a great horse run and clean up the field is wonderful…can recommend that series
Horses are part of mans heritage, if it all turns pear shaped the majestic horse will be there along with the loyal dog.
A friend our mine who I helped in a small advisory role to plot a path to win an Auckland, and then the following years Melbourne Cup with a mare called Jezabeel. He spent time in the States, learning a few technics from legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Sounds a lot cleaner here drug and corruption wise.
The racing industry employs over 20,000 people, and unlike SkyCity casino the money gets spread around here, rather than transferred straight to Australia.
yes agree…horse racing generally good clean fun ….but casinos spread the crime and gambling problems
+100…thanks for that link…
key is giving a skin-crawling performance on q & a..
..trying to justify his spear-carrying for the americans..
and w.t.f. is the news/tele-prompter reader doing hosting q & a..?
..as expected..without that tele-prompter – he is fucken hapless/hopeless/way out of his depth….
..was he really the best they could find..?
and now the tailors’ dummy is trying to do an interview…
.he really should stick to his strengths..
..and go back to doing traffic-reports..
PU .. not as skin-crawling as Mike Sabin on TV3’s excellent Re-Think. I guess it must be a replay, but TV3 really can do better.
( Saw it as I flicked on to see if Nation was on yet … Sabin sickens me.)
peters is doing well..
..has just increased his chances for winning by a marked degree..
the political science person on the panel is beyond hopeless..
Key got a soft run by Corin Dan coached into answering patsy questions. Meanwhile Peters gets a much harder time but holds his own, managing to shake his hangover.
And Goff is making a meal of it with silly clichés. I would far rather have heard Little fronting, oh well better than a Goff & Shearer combo.
aye..!
..little should have been there..
..goffs’ hands are too blood-stained..
..apart from anything else..
also interesting to hear the almost unanimous view..
..that labour should pull out..
..and give peters his free run..
Key got a soft run by Corin Dan coached into answering patsy questions.
You might be right there, I wouldn’t know. His emasculation of the English language grates on me so much I have to turn the TV off.
But I don’t agree about Phil Goff. I think he did a good job rubbishing the Key govt’s stance on ISIS, and then listing the alternative options that would make a real difference in the Middle East. He also showed Key up for the liar he is when it came to Labour’s record on the former Iraq/Afghanistan incursions.
But why do they use these useless so-called political scientists? Dr Jennifer (whatever her surname is) came across as an ignoramus – especially about Peter’s Northland background. She needs to swot up on her NZ political history. The only one who is any good is Dr. Jon Johannsen who seems to have transferred to The Nation.
115 Russian media outlets banned by Ukranian Kiev authorities; Al Jazeera team removed from country, dozens of journalists stopped from entry into Ukraine
It’s almost like these US allies don’t believe in press freedom.
Colonial Rawshark, that generally is the sign something very bad is about to be going down.
+100…disgraceful treatment of journalists!
You know that Russia also has a terrible record in press freedom, right?
Yes, but they’ve come along way in the last 30 years 😛
Whereas the USA has been sliding backwards all that time 😈
“Yes, but they’ve come along way in the last 30 years”
Ok, but you do know Russia still has a terrible, and worsening record in press freedom, right?
Yeah, its still pretty bad…
and getting worse
Possibly. But you can also get CNN, BBC and Fox News in Russia. Russians can see John McCain visiting Kiev, or Cameron promising to send soldiers to the Ukraine like anyone else can.
And the more the west villifies Putin and Russia in general, the more the west brings its military forces to the Russian door step, the more the west tries to hurt the Russian economy, the more nationalistic Russians are going to get, and the more they will support Putin. Whose popularity ratings are as high as they have ever been.
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-could-learn-some-lessons-from-john-key-20150228-13rilf.html
What sort of rose tinted glasses was James Massola wearing I wonder during his parachute visit. Please James, start a campaign to import the great oikonic Jonkey to your shores!
As Massola says it was frightfully good of John Key to usher through the same sex marriage Bill. Wow!
how about we say if they like him so much – they can have him..?..
..would that work..?
Cerie Bullivant of CAGE walks off after yet
another television hack acts like a Soviet-style prosecutor
It would be difficult to point to any spectacle more disgusting than the British establishment in one of its periodical fits of morality. Unfortunately, anyone who “consumes” the mass media is subjected to an unceasing flow of this “morality” day in and day out, week after week, month after month.
In the last few years, British politicians and their assiduous media parrots have enthusiastically expressed support for killers like Chris Kyle (R.I.P.), Prince Harry, AKA “The Big H” and Mohammed Emwazi, AKA “Jihadi John”.
Recently, however, things have changed. The support for The Big H and the American Sniper has continued, but the verbal support for Jihadi John has not; the sudden shift occurred after he and his comrades-in-arms progressed from killing Syrian untermenschen to killing Britons, Japanese and Americans. Some of the most choleric responses have come from those moral paragons at British Sky Broadcasting….
KAY BURLEY: Let me ask you straight off the bat: What level of harassment by the security services here in the United Kingdom justifies beheadings?
CERIE BULLIVANT: It’s not about justifying anything. Nobody here is apologizing or trying to make an excuse for what happened. We’re talking about the causes of it. For years now in the British discourse on this issue, we’ve failed to look at the causes of radicalization in an honest manner. The conveyor belt theory that’s been pushed time and time again has been proven, academically speaking, incorrect. It has no empirical evidence, yet every single time one of these horrific attacks happens, the people who perpetrate it quote foreign policy as the key pusher. They quote harassment in domestic policy as factors. And we keep ignoring that, and it’s not about justifying it, it’s about looking at the causes of it so that we can make everybody safer here and abroad.
KAY BURLEY: How do you feel about the beheading?
CERIE BULLIVANT: I, I’m—to be frank, I’m appalled that you would ask me that question. Muslims are human beings as well—
KAY BURLEY: Don’t be, don’t be appalled. Just answer the question if you would please, sir.
CERIE BULLIVANT: I, I am. Muslims are human beings as well. We are shocked when we see beheadings, we are shocked when we see barrel bombs. We shouldn’t have to justify our humanity by saying that I am shocked by something as brutal as this. I campaigned both publicly and behind the scenes for the release of Alan Henning, so your question is inherently Islamophopic and racist.
KAY BURLEY: Nonsense! Get over yourself! Who’s responsible for these beheadings?
CERIE BULLIVANT: The man who cut off their heads, and, if you take that back a step, the people who potentially helped in his radicalization—in this case, the security services.
KAY BURLEY: So you feel that the security services here in the United Kingdom are in some way or in some part responsible for the beheadings now being carried out by Jihadi John and others?
CERIE BULLIVANT: Everybody has agency for their own actions, and everybody, regardless of where they are and who they are, should be held accountable by the law, by due process, for any sort of torture that they do and any sort of killings without due process that they take. That is a blanket statement for all people in all times.
KAY BURLEY: So are you saying that the security services are in some way responsible for these beheadings, was my question.
CERIE BULLIVANT: What I said is that we have to look at all of the history of all these things as well. If you try and take these issues in a vacuum, then you’re not going to be able to analyze how they happened and try to get to some sort of understanding of how to stop them happening again.
KAY BURLEY: Okay, so do you feel that in some way the security services are in some way from the United Kingdom are responsible for the beheadings carried out by Jihadi John?
CERIE BULLIVANT: I feel—I’ll give you the answer that you’ve asked me three times, I feel that the security services have, time and again, harassed people and pushed them and that has played a part in the radicalization of this man. Now he is responsible for his own actions; they are partly responsible for putting him in that position.
KAY BURLEY: Do you condemn his actions?
CERIE BULLIVANT: I’ve already said— I’m sorry, I’m not answering that question. It’s a ridiculous question. I’ve already gone through this, and dealt with it.
Removes earpiece, and exits stage left. Cut to Kay Burley in studio, silent, smirking…..
KAY BURLEY: [chirpily] Joining us now from Central London is Shiraz M—
END OF TRANSCRIPT
Disgraceful interview.
It was SKY news, Murdoch’s propaganda mouthpiece.
The BBC is equally bad. Remember the ambush and persecution of George Galloway last month…
Galloway, a rare voice of sanity and alternative thinking in the UK, where the largest 4 parties all lie in thrall to crony capitalism and are owned by multinationals and the banks.
The Labour Party in the UK can’t even put up a candidate to oppose him in Bradford.
Cheers, Moz, a great transcript! Having done a few, I know what a grind they are to get accurate* George Galloway attended the anti-fascist rally in Newcastle overnight, though I haven’t spotted a report of what he said yet.
*A small point, it’s usual to reduce the names to initials after the first use (ie KB and CB). Saves a lot of typing time.
Cheers, Moz, a great transcript! Having done a few, I know what a grind they are to get accurate.
Thanks very much, Te Reo.
A small point, it’s usual to reduce the names to initials after the first use (ie KB and CB).
Oh yes—the ol’ Playboy Interview convention. The only part of the magazine I used to read.
Saves a lot of typing time.
I just cut and paste the names, together with the HTML mark-up conventions, so time and effort is not a problem in this case. However, I have wondered about the look of it, and whether initials might be better. In this case, one name is considerably longer than the other, so it’s clearer and easier to differentiate on the page. That’s why I left it like that this time.
Hi folks!
Just a wee reminder that you have until 4pm tomorrow, Monday 2 March 2015, to make a submission to the Local Government Commission (LGC), on the Draft Wellington Reorganisation Proposal.
(Wellington ‘Supercity’).
You don’t have to reside in the Greater Wellington Region in order to make a submission on this ‘Draft’ proposal
So this is a golden opportunity for people in the Auckland region, who are the only ones to have actually experienced a (forced) ‘Supercity’ amalgamation – to ‘have a say’ on how it’s been working for YOU?
You can email submissions to:
submissions@lgc.govt.nz
I strongly recommend you SEIZE THE MOMENT while you still have the chance!
Be good to share this information if you can to anyone else you know who might be interested?
Kind regards
Penny Bright
Thank you for a short, relevant post.
…… and as I listen to RNZ Sunday – the Panel discussion “Troops to Iraq” …. Do I think NZDF ‘top brass’ or Natzi aligned pollies will ‘listen’ (and gain some ‘learnings’).
Shit.Uphill.Push me thinks.
I imagine the podcast will be ready soon. They can of course then reflect, but their guts will already have been spread far and wide (or rather the GUTS of others)
ekshully, I’ll have to suspend their discussion – Dateline London is on so I’ll come back to them. Seems to me tho’ it’d have been nice if the discussion had occurred (and listened to) before JK’s decision to commit
Can anyone give an answer (speculative, of course) as to why TV3 repeated on this morning’s television its Re-Think programme from last year which had Mike Sabin as part of the panel discussing sexual assault ? Why did TV3 repeat this ? Why didn’t they pull it out of the series – given what is generally known/speculated about him ? Were they doing this deliberately to remind people about him – given there is a by-election happening now, in the north ? ? ? I just can’t figure it out !
…and why did National send him to take part in the first place? A simple misunderstanding? A sort of authoritarian sadist in-joke?
Yeah – hadn’t thought about that aspect OAB. Maybe he had the invite to go on, and didn’t tell anyone in the Nat Govt.
Excellent article from. Paul Little in the Herald today.
An excerpt
“The announcement that we will send whatever it is we are sending came with some of the worst histrionics we have seen from a Prime Minister, as John Key found his inner Wolf of Wall St and sent froth across the floor of the house in Andrew Little’s general direction.
“….. We are all well advised to get some guts. Guts are good things to have. It would take guts, for instance, to stand up to pressure from the United States and do what is right instead of what is expedient.
But then we would risk losing membership of that wonderful club, which Key earlier and accurately described as the reason we had to do this.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11409780
Said it last few years, we are being run by a golf club, not a government
Key didnt have the guts to put it to a democratic vote in New Zealand parliament…and the USA didn’t have to guts to put it before a democratic vote at the United Nations
so what we have is an illegal intervention – Chomsky:
“And to solve the mess, the US again decided to act against the international law, building an anti-ISIS coalition that is “meaningless, apart from being illegal.”
“A law-abiding state would go to the Security Council, ask for a declaration by the Security Council of a threat to peace, and request the Security Council to organize direct response to it. And that could be done. The US could then participate in it, but so could Iran,” which is a major military force and would probably wipe out ISIS in no time, if it was allowed to join the fight on the ground, Chomsky believes”….
http://rt.com/news/203055-us-russia-war-chomsky/
Another chilling, depraved moment from American television, 2012
Hard to work out who is most disgusting here: the psychopath being interviewed, the crawling, simpering host, or the braying audience….
“American Sniper” Chris Kyle Interview – CONAN on TBS
It is depressing to see what we have become.
No wonder so many parts of the world do not like us.
On RadioLive this morning Bill Ralston talked about a rumour that ISIS have “a Kiwi journalist in their hands”.
If true that will ramp up both sides of the deployment argument.
Transcript: Do ISIS have a Kiwi journalist hostage?
How about you come up with some proof before posting this sort of allegation. Ralston is the last person that I would believe with this sort of claim.
the donotlink http://www.donotlink.com/framed?648614
Ralston and Sainsbury are sick speculating on such an unsubstantiated rumour (Ralston has been ‘hearing’ for weeks). It looks like straight out propaganda for NACT to try and get people to support the war.
PG is also sick for linkwhoring this. Not really a surprise that he takes part in the rumourmongering (given his DP apologism) instead of having a political analysis of what Ralston is doing.
While we’re speculating, this too from the sewer –
.
Paul G. Buchanan (315 comments) says:
February 28th, 2015 at 8:09 pm
SPC. As a sidebar: You may have noticed Mr. Key backtracking today on The Nation on the issue of the SAS. Last week he told Duncan Gardner on air that not a single SAS soldier was overseas and certainly not in Iraq. That, of course, is nonsense since at any given time there are SAS personnel detached as liaisons to allied special forces units and they regularly train abroad. At the end of the Nation interview with Patrick Gower today he said that his advice was there might be a few in the theatre but not as a group, and the press needed to check with NZDF Chief on the specifics. So much for the “zero deployed” claim.
There are credible reports that SAS personnel are in theatre conducting operations even if not based in Iraq, and that they have been doing so for a few months. That should be unsurprising given that is what they train for and need to keep their live fire skills honed at all times, to say nothing of the fact that they work closely with the UK, Australian and Canadian SAS forces who are now deployed in search and destroy and air strike targeting missions against IS assets. That makes all the more remarkable Mr. Key’s dishonest claims about them. Perhaps he thinks that if he does not admit their involvement IS will believe that it is not at war with NZ because the latter is only in a training and support role. Yeah right.
http://www.donotlink.com/framed?648626
(scroll down, donotlink doesn’t display single comments)
I agree Weka. Shame on Ralston for introducing the rumour into the public domain and shame on PG for repeating and linking to it. The rumour has circulated amongst media circles for a while and apparently does not involve a journalist. The government asked the media to keep silent less they further risk the life of the purported hostage, whose nationality may or may not be known to the captors.
If the rumours are true, then that is the only, yet very valid reason why the government has been so misleading and obtuse about deploying NZDF personnel in Iraq and the nature of their role there, especially if it is/was exploring back channels to secure the person’s release. But so far we do not know the true story.
On this one I support total media and government silence until the facts are confirmed, and my comment here is simply a reminder of what is at stake for those otherwise inclined to engage in unconfirmed speculation without regard for consequences.
Thank-you Paul, I agree that’s very important. Hard to know what can happen now given what Ralston has done.
If the rumours are true, then that is the only, yet very valid reason why the government has been so misleading and obtuse about deploying NZDF personnel in Iraq and the nature of their role there, especially if it is/was exploring back channels to secure the person’s release. But so far we do not know the true story.
Meaning, they want to send troops anyway but are being cagey about details because of a mission that should be secret? I take it you don’t mean that if it weren’t for the mission they wouldn’t send anyone.
Weka:
I think that the mission was determined quite a while ago, at least since the meeting of coalition defence chiefs outside of Washington in mid October. The government was going to obfuscate anyway, but if indeed a kiwi hostage has been taken then it gives the government legitimate reason not to talk abut the inevitable deployment until negotiations had proven successful or not (assuming that negotiations were in fact undertaken directly or using third parties). As things stand now it appears the government’s hand has been forced for whatever reason, which does not auger well for the person involved if in fact s/he is being held captive.
I shall now refrain from further comment on the issue.
thanks, that’s very clear and much appreciated.
Thanks for your comments paul. Much appreciated.
There’s all sorts of rumours talked about, for example Mike Sabin. Would you never mention a rumour that you thought was of public interest?
I heard that you just spread rumors for your gnat mates because you want an appointment.
I’ve been hearing that for weeks, we should take this very seriously.
yep I heard that they just about had one ready to go and he was in – but then he did something which put them off – something he had posted that upset someone important.
The rumours about Mike Sabin are commentable upon because (a) there are documented issues with Sabin that partially match the rumours, and (b) multiple sources have reported the rumours from where Sabin lives i.e. it’s people who know him who are talking about this (NZ a small place and all that).
Then there’s the huge political differences.
It surprises me not in the least that you can’t tell the difference between that and what Ralston is doing. You really are clueless when it comes to understanding evidence and meaning.
My first criterion is to require there to be the possibility that it is true. And no I don’t normally spread rumours unless I have reason to believe they are true.
Only last week you were admonishing people here for posting stuff without evidence, now you seem to be saying if all you have is rumour but you think it is in the public interest, spread it?
It’s cruel to goad the banned 😀
Our Media are hostages of the right wing military machine.
And Pete you are a hostage of Narcism.
Are you getting exited about the idea that a Journalist from NZ might be beheaded or burned or other wise killed?
I have the feeling that secretly all the stenographers in NZ including the wannabe stenographers could not wish for something more arousing.
My the hours of TV gushing….they could milk it for hours. Of course they would feel all very very sorry.
Pathetic bunch these beige grey shades of human beings.
ISIS have “a Kiwi journalist in their hands”.
I’d laugh if it was Paul Henry.
I think the guy probably deserves 48 hours in stocks in a town square with rotten fruit and household refuse thrown at him. Hell, he could do it as a fundraiser for needy Kiwi kids. Beheading, not so much.
“household refuse thrown at him”
That happened to John Banks last year. Poor bugger. Take a look!
The issue was that Bracanov believed he was not guilty of the assault because he thought Banks deserved to have manure thrown over him.
He said he would do it again and said the judge was “not human” for finding him guilty.
During the trial the judge watched a recording of a police interview with Bracanov where he explained how he hid behind a car, waiting to throw the manure over Banks outside the High Court in Auckland on May 19 last year.
The 79-year-old said he got the manure from a paddock at Mangere Bridge in South Auckland, and watered it down.
Bracanov said he believed Banks owed him $8,000 because he was fined $10,000 in 1992 for throwing manure on a visiting royal Rolls Royce but should have only been fined $2,000. Banks was police minister at the time.
Five years later Bracanov had another run in with Mr Banks, this time on radio. He says, as a talkback radio host, the politician hung up on Bracanov while he was expressing his anti-royalist views.
“I was criticising the royals and he cut me off. That’s no good.”
Braconov now promises his days of manure-throwing are over.
“I’m done. That’s it, no more.”
“I’ve been waiting 22 years for revenge. And I’ve done it,” he said.
Bracanov came to court in his slippers and before the trial began, clearly restated his not guilty plea on the charge of common assault.
The judge reminded Bracanov he could appeal the decision.
See video of horse poo, two reports and some pictures here:
VIDEO OF MANURE THROWING HERE : (Short, 34 Sec )
Reports and pictures here:
[1] http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/66825187/castislav-sam-bracanov-fined-400-for-throwing-horse-poo-on-john-banks
[2] http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/manure-thrower-guilty-of-assault-2015030214#axzz3TCHQqm22
!!!!!
Cheers for that, lol!
Looking at that video, I felt I was kind of getting a faint whiff of that horse poo. Not kidding! Try it and smell it yourself!
Did you have a similar experience?
I wonder if he still uses that expensive suit of his or has given it away to some poor homeless soul or even perhaps to the old Sam Bracanov himself!
I would, like the Bishop’s candle sticks in Les Misérables.
Just an observation.
The National candidate for Northland.
A public servant.
I thought the public service was supposed to be apolitical.
Public servants have to seek approval from their executive in Wellington
if they are anyway involved in local politics. Usually asked to vacate their
positions. Not so apparently with this one. But then that’s the Nats, isn’t it.
Apparently been aligned to the Party for years.
Looks like the Nat’s went for small town business over farmers, probably assuming their vote is a given. Expect Peters to exsploit the crap out of the forgotten farmers in hock to Aussie banks, broken dusty roads clogged with logging trucks.
Another interesting thing is the executives who knew about Sabin and put him up again last year, obviously still hold the power base by choosing a party man elector and close neighbor of Sabin’s.
m.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11409684
Was your famrer tip not backed by Lush and Slater?
I won’t know I do not read anything they spin. However it did go to a fourth vote. I
posted stuff about on open mike today.
Has Mr Osborne used North District Council resources to further his political career?.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10035790/TVNZ-resources-used-in-campaigning
same with media? Paul Henry?
“Public servants have to seek approval from their executive in Wellington
if they are anyway involved in local politics. Usually asked to vacate their
positions. Not so apparently with this one.”
Mark Osborne works for the Far North council, not the civil service. He has stepped down with immediate effect from that job according to the Northern Advocate. Though presumably he’ll return if (when?) he loses.
On a related matter, I’m looking forward to reading the posts and comments on KB and WO saying Osborne has no mandate because he only won the nomination by a couple of votes. Because that’s what they said about Andrew Little and we know they’re nothing if not consistent down in the sewer.
How does that compare to how Willow-Jean Prime was selected? Winston?
The final selection (and mandate) for electorate candidates is made by the voters.
*whoosh*
Dirty Racist doesn’t want to say anything to upset his mentors.
How do Willow and peters relate to the attacks made on how little was selected which was raised by TRP and which you quoted back, without addressing and twisted to your own end?
Pete got his ‘n’th ban yesterday 😀
ahhhh
Well its hardly likely he will be losing and returning to the council with the ‘old first past the post’ Labour Party campaign going on. And Labour can not be critical of him abandoning the people who voted for him to council. Well not when you consider Prime uses the stone jumping tactic ‘except in her first term on council’.
He’s not on the council, Skinny, he works for the council. Asset manager, as I recall.
And, technically, it’s NZF that are treating it as FPP by coming in late when a credible candidate had already been announced. And don’t get me started on electorates and FPP anyway! They are FPP elections. Even in the general elections, where MMP simply added 50 list seats to 60 FPP seats.
Any racing tips for this arvo? Popping down the local for pool practice shortly. Might be tempted to have a flutter 😉
It doesn’t really matter Peters will now attack both of them and take votes of the pair of them. He may stand a better chance of winning, nah the last thing he would want is having to do some work in an electorate, far too cushy being a list MP, tho too be fair he is leader.
I was told Duquesa has been set for the Auckland Cup (mid week) for some time and will appreciate the firm track, opposed to others that will be feeling the summer tracks. Its mother won a Melbourne Cup so has a blue blood pedigree. I would be concerned about the monkeys on top who are guilty of adopting stop start tactics, something you wouldn’t get away with in Hong Kong
or England. Anyway it was given ‘just a run’ yesterday which should negate getting on the bit if those tatics are employed. It is a handicap and comes in low in the weights. The female jockey’s father Pete Johnson had a great record in the race and in racing history often repeats. An early bet @ fixed odds of $20 to win & $5 place it is worth a bob each way, you won’t get these lucrative odds race day. Pay to scope the weather forecast, would not want a rain effected track.
Cheers, Skinny, I’ll have a punt on Duquesa. Got a decent return on the English footy overnight, so I’ll invest the winnings and see what happens.
Public servants are allowed to stand for political office. I was a Labour list candidate in 1999 and at the time I was working for what was the Employment Tribunal. I was required to take lave for thecampaign period. You don’t lose your political rights when you work for the Government.
Somewhat confirms my point. I guess that the Nats can no longer cry that the public service is full of Lefties though…
Hell, you only ever needed to look to treasury for that 🙂
They’ve never let facts get in the way of a good myth, though.
No to NZ intervention in Iraq (our rulers are part of the problem not part of the solution):
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/no-to-all-western-military-intervention-in-the-middle-east/
Phil
Haven’t the western powers already caused enough destruction there?
No to NZ intervention in Iraq (our rulers are part of the problem not part of the solution):
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/no-to-all-western-military-intervention-in-the-middle-east/
Phil
https://www.facebook.com/events/398918773622627
Tonight 7pm @ keys dwelling….
I think Key would like a bit of Sunday jazz/brass take a bugle, and play a loud rendition of The Last Post. 🙂
The Crises Are Urgent, So Let’s Slow Down
5000 years of recorded history tells us that capital (money, land, means of production) accumulation by the few results in the collapse of society and yet we keep doing it. Would we keep doing so if that knowledge hadn’t been lost?
More than “lost”, it seems to me that alternative ways of life and living have been systematically destroyed by the capitalist/oligarchic juggernaut.
And, for amusement value, this:
And now you know that the UK’s financial policies are truly out there.
“One of Chancellor George Osborne’s senior advisers on economic policy has been captured on video smoking crack cocaine in a drugs den.”
Ha nice one.
My wifes favourite saying when one of these economic prats start to prattle their pet economic theorems, is, “crap he must be on something”
There is a saying somewhere about , “many a true word or something.
Cocaine is the drug of choice among Sydney executives and banksters. Quite a lot is consumed at business lunches and dinners. When Kiwis who partake return home, P might be the best they can get. Both drugs can cause drastic weight loss, so that those involved can easily end up looking like Mike Hoskings.
lol
between pete and ure (I should have known it wasn’t just dope), it’s been a pretty funny day on open mike
and how many brains cells have you killed with booze..?
..the ‘healthy-drug’..eh..?
..heh..!
Few enough that I can still write a coherent sentence.
that’s clearly debatable..
..especially if quality of composition is factored in..
..i have noticed u r quite au fait with simplistic-slogans/cliches..tho’..
..so well done! with that..!
You’re critiquing someone else on their clarity of prose?
..wow.. eh..
care to link us to something original u have ever done/said on here..?
..and u r so fucken whiney…
You’re accusing me of plagiarism? Easy enough to prove: take a comment of mine and compare it with the source you think I stole it from.
hah..!..i am just noting you have never ever said anything of the slightest import/interest/amusement..
..you just snipe and whine…
But “amusing you” is not the same as “originality”, is it?
Using the words that have the dictionary definitions of the meaning you intend to communicate is an essential element of a comment’s clarity. Assuming you didn’t just shift the goalposts to back away from an unfounded accusation of plagiarism, of course.
Reasons not to wrestle with a pig:
1. You are forced to assume undignified positions.
2. You get covered in mud.
3. You’re left with the suspicion that the pig enjoyed it.
4. Nobody cares.
According to the DSM 5, Narcissistic Personality Disorder is characterised by:
A. Significant impairments in personality functioning manifested by:
1. Impairments in self functioning (a or b):
a. Identity: Excessive reference to others for self-definition and self-esteem regulation; exaggerated self-appraisal may be inflated or deflated, or vacillate between extremes; emotional regulation mirrors fluctuations in self-esteem.
b. Self-direction: Goal-setting is based on gaining approval from others; personal standards are unreasonably high in order to see oneself as exceptional, or too low based on a sense of entitlement; often unaware of own motivations.
AND
2. Impairments in interpersonal functioning (a or b):
a. Empathy: Impaired ability to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others; excessively attuned to reactions of others, but only if perceived as relevant to self; over- or underestimate of own effect on others.
b. Intimacy: Relationships largely superficial and exist to serve self-esteem regulation; mutuality constrained by little genuine interest in others’ experiences and predominance of a need for personal gain
B. Pathological personality traits in the following domain:
Antagonism, characterized by:
A. Grandiosity: Feelings of entitlement, either overt or covert; self-centeredness; firmly holding to the belief that one is better than others; condescending toward others.
B. Attention seeking: Excessive attempts to attract and be the focus of the attention of others; admiration seeking.
C. The impairments in personality functioning and the individual’s personality trait expression are relatively stable across time and consistent across situations.
D. The impairments in personality functioning and the individual’s personality trait expression are not better understood as normative for the individual’s developmental stage or socio-cultural environment.
E. The impairments in personality functioning and the individual’s personality trait expression are not solely due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., severe head trauma).
Would people please ignore PG? His behaviour is pathological, he never argues sincerely or in good faith but compulsively. It’s purely about point scoring for him and every response is a point for him, so it’s just shadow boxing – or wrestling with a pig.
Also it is tedious and to read and trivialises genuinely important topics (except when interesting facts about marine biology pop up).
You’re only feeding his illness, he is irrelevant and therefore there is no purpose or anything to gain. For your own mental well-being, surely you have something better to do?
Ignoring only works if most or all people do it. At the same time.
I like the pig metaphor though.
True :/
So how do you feel about Vampyroteuthis infernalis then?
I think he’s an arch trole and we are stuck with him until he fucks up or does one of the moderators’ head in. Lynn has been pretty clear that PG is getting leeway because of the need to not moderate out of dislike, and because of the way people gang up on Pete (I think I got that last bit right). Ironic eh?
You did get that last bit right. Strange logic but there you go.
It’s one of the few aspects of Lynn’s moderation style that I fundamentally disagree with. (If you put a trole in a room full of people, very limited moderation, and dnftt doesn’t work, what else is going to happen but people do whatever they can to manage the situation? That doesn’t make them a mob).
Yes. Sometimes many people can be right at once. Seen same problem on the rare occasions badly-motivated commenters infest Public Address, but at least some learning is going on. PG didn’t last long.
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-01032015/#comment-977600 😉
Just caught up. What a relief.
+100
I don’t think you can say he has an illness
didn’t we have to scroll pages and pages with you and mcflock?
petes lies are building so high and unstable that they fall over themselves, not just in laughter but because of their internal inconsistencies and that is good
there are plenty of people I scroll past – it is a very very easy thing to do, like really easy
Pete blah Pete blah …. I think the comments below here are a Pete-free zone. Funny I have heard no report of a Pete bug entering the country and eating up suceptible juicy blogs. This one must have got in under the radar.
“I don’t think you can say he has an illness”
I scrolled past the psychicatric diagnosing in Rhinocrates’ comment. Not only is there absolutely no way to know if PG or anyone here has a particular mental health diagnosis (short of self-disclosure), but talking about the problems PG causes in mental health terms just stigmatises people dealing with mental health issues.
I agree
Yes, most mentally ill people aren’t as annoying. Takes some effort.
Most people with mental health of any kind aren’t as annoying 😉
I do suspect Aspergers as I’ve said to Pete – but it’s the *behaviour* that needs to be focused on. Doesn’t really matter why. The impact on community health is enough reason to take corrective action.
Ah I see upthread that he has finally crossed the line enough. Thank you @lprent.
Aw, how sweet. Pete is annoyed with me:
http://yournz.org/2015/03/01/ive-been-diagnosed-with-aspergers/
Sample earlier coversation:
http://thestandard.org.nz/if-the-voice-fits/#comment-945087
Yeah, I’ve been ignoring that (he’s got a pingpack at the bottom of the page).
If you have to link, can you please use http://www.donotlink.com/ ? Otherwise it feeds the trole and gives him more clicks so he can pretend he has relevancy beyond his troling.
btw, online guessing diagnoses about people’s neuro-atypicalness or not is not ok IMO. It’s really not relevant to the point you were making, and it affects other people who get prejudices directed at them. You can make pointed comment about PG’s behaviour, plenty of material there 🙂
REALLY like the pig metaphor and the rest made interesting reading too. Fits someone I know to a ‘t’.
‘pig-wrestling’ is useful shorthand.
“You’re only feeding his illness, he is irrelevant and therefore there is no purpose or anything to gain. For your own mental well-being, surely you have something better to do?”
Who is feeding whose illness Rhinocrates?
It looks to be an absolute textbook case of mutual dependence to me. Everybody involved is fulfilling some personal need.
Mental health? Whew. Like LPrent hath proclaimed, everyone is a bit nuts here.
The more time you spend here the more nuts you are IMO!
“..Is the Government About to Warn America Against Meat?..
..But this year – for the first time –
– the committee might caution against over-consumption of all kinds of meat —
– and not just for health reasons –
– but also because of meat’s environmental footprint..”
(cont..)
http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2015/02/salt-sugar-chicken-what-look-upcoming-dietary-guidelines-report
I bet that is based on US research where cattle are kept in feedlots and raised on grain. Hardly a model of sustainability. Neither is switching to Monsanto-fied mono culture soy and wheat based diet.
yr obsessive focus on that one aspect of this issue..
..and yr subsequent dismissal of this whole issue..
..based on that one aspect..
..displays nothing more than a mono-mind..
Still can’t argue the facts eh phil?
Of course how animals are raised affects the carbon footprint. It also affects the health of the people eating the meat, as does other things they eat and do. This is why some cultures that eat large amounts of meat in traditional forms have healthy outcomes.
There, I think I covered the two points in your comment: carbon footprinting and health effects of eating meat.
See if you can actually address the points instead of resorting immediately to ad hominems.
i wd actually prefer to just studiously ignore you..
..so i will continue to do that..
..and why don’t you email the usda..and tell them they have got it all wrong..?
..and you did notice they said ‘all meat’.
..how does that fit with yr mono-focus on grass-fed beef..?
..grass-fed pigs are ok..?
..grass-fed chooks..
..and of course..animal-welfare means diddly-squat to you..eh..?
..as i said..a mono-obsessed mind..q.e.d..
..u r now back on ‘ignore’..
is that how you ignore me? 🙄
Now you’re lying about me as well as using ad hominems and not addressing the points 🙄 🙄
“..and you did notice they said ‘all meat’.”
wow, you really are dimwitted. You think they did separate research on people eating grassfed or organic or wild meat? How about you provide some links then.
🙄
btw, it’s pretty easy to prove that meat (and animal fat) per se are not the problem (which is why you will always struggle with the facts when you argue with me).
“How can people who gorge on fat and rarely see a vegetable be healthier than we are?”
http://discovermagazine.com/2004/oct/inuit-paradox
That article covers all the points I’ve raised in this conversation, and references the science (it’s not really a paradox though, it’s just better science and intelligence applied to food).
u should forward it to the usda..
..i am sure they will do an immediate u-turn,,
You should stop being such a hypocrite in uncritically trusting an organisation like the USDA when you like to pretend you are otherwise such a non-conformist.
You still can’t address the facts phil 🙄
in so so many ways..
..u r so similar to the beige-one..
(..and a warning 4 u…u cd b approaching peak-emoticon..eh..?..)
another ad hominem, now there’s a surprise. It’s fine that you are a vegan fundamentalist. But it’s naff that you are on a political forum and can’t even mount a half decent argument.
still channeling the beige-one..eh..?
..and do you really/seriously think yr ongoing/serial passive-aggressive tactics aren’t a form of ad hom..?
“still channeling the beige-one..eh..?”
What is wrong with beige? Just one of the fifty shades of grǽg, yes?
p.g has done irrepairable damage to what was a fine/proud colour..
So addressing the issues and posting opinion, facts and links is passive agressive? Riiight.
What you can’t cope with is me or anyone who disagrees with your fundamentalism and can argue the argument without resorting to the pathetic, low level debate skills that you employ (ad hominems, lies, avoidance, dimiwttedness). That last sentence is not passive, it’s active.
The Mother Jones article you link to is a mixed bag, it gets some bits right and others wrong. The main problem is that it doesn’t take a critical view of what it’s reporting and instead finds the links it wants to support its base position (the impending USDA report). That’s why I went and found some science based reporting that easily counters the bits about meat and fat. It’s not a hard leap from there to see that what the USDA does is flawed.
Anyone else reading this can check out Gary Taubes’ work, both on the fat/cholesterol myth, and on why science when translated into public health can be seriously flawed. Start with his article in the NYT “what if it’s all been a big fat lie”.
And just to be clear, this isn’t even a meat vs veg argument. It’s pointing out that your argument is flawed. Being vegan is fine. Using crap science reporting to support your view that all people should be vegan is stupid, and so expect to be called on it.
The really really stupid thing about what you do is undermining people who would in fact eat less meat but shy away from being veg or vegan. If they follow your advice they will go low fat and end up with the range of health problems associated with that. Many of those people will simply revert back to what they were eating before because it’s not worth the side effects. That includes people who do go veg/vegan but get shit advice on how to do that well (hence the relatively small number of long term vegans).
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/07/magazine/what-if-it-s-all-been-a-big-fat-lie.html
http://garytaubes.com/works/articles/
In my opinion, the Labour Party should campaign hard on the issues, but Labour Party supporters should VOTE strategically in order to ensure that National does NOT retain Northland.
That way National will be left with 59 MPs out of 121, which on some issues will make them a ‘lame duck’ Government.
The ‘Right’ understand strategic voting.
In my view, it’s time for the ‘Left’ to follow suit.
“It’s commonsense” (as it were 🙂
Kind regards
Penny Bright
A piece about Grey Power in Hastings making a call against TPPA and holding a rally as part of the Day of Protest on 7 March. (Note all over NZ for all ages.)
http://www.itsourfuture.org.nz/rally-against-tppa-in-hastings/
Is your place in this list? Seems fairly comprehensive coverage of NZ
http://www.itsourfuture.org.nz/7-march/
Grey Power speaking up would be good. We are the ones who have security to do so, helping those without the nous or who have little security or freedom to protest. Grey-haired people caring for the young and struggling. Good. Only some of the elderly or retired, are incapable of walking in a protest or thinking seriously about something other than their own diet, pension, rates rebates, transport discount, book club, mild exercises, next bus trip with friends and other diversions.
Abby Martin’s final “Breaking the Set” episode. She’s off to engage in various investigative journalism projects, by the sounds of it.
I will miss that show
CR+100…. thanks for that…Abby Martin is very, very good …and that show is a no holds barred, or subjects barred, series of interviews ( it must have been exhausting for her over three years!)
…. I need to to catch up on back issues…hope rt keeps a list ( just been watching an interview with Eva Golinger on Venezuela….oil reserves and shades of the Middle East de-stabilisation)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9AcrvknLEU
….hope Abby Martin goes on to something equally good after a rest!…
Har,har. Just saw key in interview with c damn saying of course he will be visiting the troops in Iraq, with a journalist! He said he would not send troops into an area that he would not go into himself. Earnestly! Wow, does he have guts!!! Still rolling around the floor laughing. He’s losing the plot. They haven’t even gone and he’s got his cameos out. Pillock.
Really NZ needs an aircraft carrier so Key can declare victory safely from the deck like George W.
At last – a month free of PG. How much column space and time has that
once United Future hopeful but now Nat convert occupied/wasted on this site?
A Nat convert? Is that how we describe coming clean about one’s self interested careerism nowadays?
jUST A NOTE ON THE NORTHLAND ELECTION the more parties that stand the better after all its a Democracy and to reduce Nationals bloated majority would be synonymous with relieving bloat in cows the old fashioned way “a knife in the guts ” cos Jez wayne something needs to wake the place up to this totalitarian regime or police state which is so self congratulatory with its photoshop photo ops of just how much they have kept the north like a piece of history so that people can see what it was like in 1840 when the treaty was signed
Boot National so hard up the backside that they wont be able to seat them selves forever
I’ve worked out why Key’s golf handicap is so low. he follows professional players and submits their cards…
A half day at the cricket on Saturday, following Ko on Sunday… how busy he is…
Maersk CEO warns real economic growth is going to disappoint
China, Russia, Brazil all expected to do worse than expected. Forget about gamed equity markets and ‘financial engineering’, this man sees what is being physically moved around the world.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-03-01/worlds-largest-container-shipper-warns-global-trade-slowing-down
“They’ve correctly predicted 200 of the last 2 recessions”.
😆
LOL