Open mike 02/04/2025

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 2nd, 2025 - 34 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

34 comments on “Open mike 02/04/2025 ”

  1. lprent 1
    2 April 2025 at 12:04 pm

    Well that was fun /sarc

    The database failed to automatically restart this morning after 0600 after a fallover and restart. After I realised it wasn't running (ie I finally read my e-mail) it took a while to figure out what was wrong.

    Turns out that the default thread_stack size was now too small for the grant tables loading. Can’t see how… but whatever. That prevented the daatabase server from starting.

    Not sure how that happened? The existing config for that was set back in about 2010 at 128K which was 2x the default then. Now reset to 512K. The default on mariadb is current ~300K

    Which indicates that the size of the data was was now sufficient to tip over the thread stack. Probably why it crashed in the first place.

    I'll let a optimizer have a look at the settings later and see what it comes up with. Went down several blind alleys like warning about upgrades to table formats first.

    Reply
    • SPC 1.1
      2 April 2025 at 11:47 pm

      This is telling as to the direction of the USA, infrastructure maintenance and all that.

      WASHINGTON, March 1 (Reuters) – The Trump administration has pulled the plug on a team of tech-savvy civil servants that helped to build the Internal Revenue Service’s free tax-filing service and revamp websites across government, a spokesperson for the General Service Administration said on Saturday.

      GSA’s Director of Technology Transformation Services Thomas Shedd notified employees of a digital service team known as 18F that their jobs had been terminated as they had been identified as “non-critical."

      Roughly 90 18F employees were immediately locked out of their devices.

      The GSA said the action had been taken in support of a number of executive orders, including the "Implementing the President’s Department of Government Efficiency Workforce Optimization Initiative," dated February 11.

      Billionaire Elon Musk, who leads the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency team, earlier this month responded to a post on X that called 18F a "far-left government-wide computer office" by saying the group has been "deleted."

      First launched in 2014 under former President Barack Obama, the 18F team was housed within GSA and helped federal agencies improve their digital services.

      https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musks-doge-fires-federal-tech-team-that-built-free-tax-filing-site-2025-03-01/

      Musk says DOGE is seeking $1T in savings (he will not) and yet this.

      https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2025/03/25/irs-cuts-may-cost-500-billion-in-lost-tax-revenue-as-taxpayers-exploit-system/157841/

      75% of US scientists who answered Nature poll consider leaving.

      https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00938-y

      There are a few grandchildren of academics who left Europe going back.

      Reply
      • lprent 1.1.1
        3 April 2025 at 1:00 pm

        Yeah, sounds to me like they are making a already difficult systems more shaker and less accessible.

        Compare it to here. As someone who is a self-employed pensioner doing part-time remote contract, and who has some investments. NZ has been doing the exact opposite and it is great.

        Most of the taxable infor is already at the hands of the IRD – MSD for super, PIR at investment companies, and bank. I just set tax rates on each.

        For the self-employment I use Hnry. Pay most of the expenses directly through their visa card, just attach receipts as images or PDFs, and if they are shared expenses (home office, vehicles) state the percentages that is taxable. Hnry does the GST, does the depreciation of the >$1000 equipment, and acts as the tax agent for the profits – paying tax as I go.

        I tell Hnry about the other income so we estimate probable tax rates correctly. I stay on top of expenses and claim everything related to my business. It is a low impact job, apart from working backwards and putting the earier expenses in for the FY in October.

        I pay Hnry as my accounting and tax app 1% of income invoiced through them. They do all of the Accounts Payable and taxes.

        At the end of the financial year, the IRD puts everything together, tells Hnry, and we figure out the variance. It won't be much because I was careful about the expected tax (of about 18-19% – lot of time without income over the last FY).

        This is ALL done with computers and is very low friction. Which is good because if is was too much of a hassle, then I'd probably look at if I want to work as self-employed at all.

        I have been using the IRD as my tax agent prior to this because I was doing PAYE, PIR, and bank. I didn't bother filing a return because there wasn't enough money in the return to use my time on it. I was always slightly overtaxed. But less than a few days of my time, and I've usually been less short of time than money for my entire working life. How did I know?

        GSA’s Director of Technology Transformation Services Thomas Shedd notified employees of a digital service team known as 18F that their jobs had been terminated as they had been identified as “non-critical."

        The MyIR – the IRD website has for many years had the information available for me to check it.

        I suspect that Thomas Shedd has financial interests in accountants.

        Reply
  2. tWig 2
    2 April 2025 at 12:26 pm

    A heroic stand in US senate: Corey Booker, New Jersey's first Black Senator, has been dismantling Trump's America in the Senate for more than 24 hours, including questions from the floor.

    Here is his live stream youtube channel. (12.30 still going).

    The part I’m listening to him, the attack on Federal funding of science, equating it with The attack on intellectuals in Mao’s Cultural Revolution.

    Reply
  3. gsays 3
    2 April 2025 at 12:29 pm

    At the pub quiz last night I was asked if I'd heard about the Argentinian President releasing WW2 files.

    They then read from a report from the Israel Times. Included was that Adolf Hitler lived into the (or his) 60's and had 2 children.

    I had a wee search but could only come up with this:

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.timesofisrael.com/argentina-to-declassify-documents-about-nazi-ratline-escape-routes-after-wwii/amp/

    Is it an April Fools thing or is there something else to this?

    Reply
  4. Incognito 4
    2 April 2025 at 12:46 pm

    When Brexit bites you in the bum and it’s the same with the Treaty Principles Bill: when you start something important and claim to follow due process, you ought to see it through as promised and accept the consequences. By breaking your promise and reneging on your commitment, you show the people of NZ that this was a cynical political stunt all along and anti-democratic.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/556877/prime-minister-doubles-down-on-allowing-exclusion-of-treaty-principles-bill-submissions

    Reply
  5. Dennis Frank 5
    2 April 2025 at 1:09 pm

    Pablo's view of the Greens is worth considering:

    the Greens do have a big problem… As my former colleague here at KP Lew and other have written on social media in the past few days, the Greens problem is one of candidate vetting, not candidate lifestyles.

    As I see it, the Greens spend too much time living in an alternative identity bubble, trying to tick as many rainbow and alternative lifestyle boxes as is possible (Doyle claims to be a “pansexual,” … I have heard that they wanted to add polyamory to their electoral platforms

    Spreading the love around is what hippies were into, so you won't get me into any problem with polyamory!

    The Greens were episodically effective when they were watermelons–red on the inside and green on the outside. They were fairly effective as “teals”–blue on the inside and green on the outside. But other than people like Chloe Swarbrick, who is in fact a smart and effective politician, and perhaps Steve Abel as an environmental purist, the Green Party has become a hodgepodge of identitarian grievance and defence. It is increasingly not relatable to anything other than those in their identity bubbles and while individuals like Swarbrick may be able to carry the party on her election coattails, they appear to be enmeshed in a self-inflicted political death spiral due to the character of their caucus. https://www.kiwipolitico.com/2025/04/the-greens-identity-bubble-problem/

    Too subjective, methinks, but many leftists are – so no real problem. Also, the party seems to have stabilised around 10% of electoral support, so their serial tendency to produce controversies is unlikely to seriously concern them!

    Reply
  6. Incognito 6
    2 April 2025 at 1:11 pm

    Laura Walters pierces though Winston Peters’ anti-woke spin & bulldust.

    But the positivity with which Peters and the Prime Minister unveiled the ferry plan fails to acknowledge the looming costs of future port infrastructure work, and the near $1 billion in sunk costs and break fees already borne because of the ferry debacle.

    https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/04/01/coalition-consensus-on-peters-ferry-plan/

    Reply
  7. Incognito 7
    2 April 2025 at 1:49 pm

    There has been so much ridiculous Green bashing in the media, it is refreshing to read this.

    https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/03/31/a-short-guide-for-govt-politicians-living-in-a-fantasy-world-of-competition/#comment-337296

    Rob Campbell writes an essay that could be entitled ‘Profits for Coalition Dummies’.

    I’m quite sure that he’s referring to this question during Question Time: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/HansS_20250325_061620000/6-question-no-6-prime-minister

    Luxon’s pathetic replies (they’re not answers) clearly show that PPPs in his thinking are sources of funding, which is what banks and the likes are for (he should have a word with Banker John).

    Indeed, Rob Campbell explained recently:

    The issue we have is not the availability of investment money. We could do much more than we do to effectively use such funding available domestically, let alone the ability to borrow. The sort of deals being proposed now will include substantial overseas borrowing as the funds leverage what equity they may commit. And many such deals provide for equity realisation, making this no different to debt from a balance of payments point of view. Neither the equity nor the debt component will be cheaper than the Government funding directly.

    https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/03/17/no-free-lunch-in-overseas-investment-not-even-a-late-or-inedible-one/

    This National-'led' Coalition are terrible managers of the economy but excel at populism and spin.

    Reply
    • gsays 7.1
      2 April 2025 at 6:25 pm

      In regards the Hansard excerpt, it is frustrating that there don't seem to be anyone who is good in the house in The Greens.

      Swarbrick has a good point about how much profit the PM is willing to tolerate us funding.

      "How much private profit is he comfortable asking New Zealanders to fork out for his public-private partnerships…."

      Unfortunately the question then goes on to make points about the tax system, unproductive speculation and the IMF being de-growth.

      "…because he refuses to unlock domestic capital by fixing our tax system, which currently incentivises unproductive speculative investment in housing, recommended by known degrowth institutions like the IMF?"

      If the question had stopped at the first 18 words, there was little wriggle room for Luxon and an opportunity to pin him down. Instead Luxon (we can all agree is poor in the house) could waffle and end up attacking Green policy.

      I would love for to know how much profit Luxon is willing for me to pay for.

      Reply
      • Incognito 7.1.1
        2 April 2025 at 7:03 pm

        How do you stop a worm wriggling?

        I must admit that I see little benefit from QT. It seems an anachronism with occasional entertainment value.

        Reply
        • Phillip ure 7.1.1.1
          2 April 2025 at 8:39 pm

          I used to do commentaries on it…

          ..hadn't watched it for years…

          ..did a commentary on one a little while back…my heart wasn't really in it…and I found the actual question time interactions somewhat mundane and dreary..

          ..so I ceased and desisted…

          Reply
        • gsays 7.1.1.2
          3 April 2025 at 8:24 am

          "How do you stop a worm wriggling?"

          Obviously, you pin it down with a question with a single point.

          I kinda agree about QT, soap opera for political tragics. That's why I have a lot of sympathy for TPM MPs in refusing to front to the Privileges Committee.

          Reply
    • Phillip ure 8.1
      2 April 2025 at 4:07 pm

      That is good news…

      ..the footage of republican town hall meetings (in staunchly republican areas) has been interesting…

      …but of course trump needs that rage to build/explode…to justify him imposing martial law..and suspending elections…

      Whose gonna stop him…?

      Reply
      • Tiger Mountain 8.1.1
        2 April 2025 at 4:37 pm

        They are out of practice, as per the populations of many countries-the American people need to get up on their hind legs and fix this rapid move to authoritarianism.

        Reply
        • ianmac 8.1.1.1
          2 April 2025 at 5:25 pm

          Read somewhere that the law will not slow/stop the Trump disaster.

          We the people will. Maybe the protests seen so far will explode?

          Reply
        • Phillip ure 8.1.1.2
          2 April 2025 at 8:44 pm

          But that will be his excuse to trigger martial law…

          It is somewhat depressing to realize it…but I don't see how he can be stopped…

          There is no way he is planning to only be there for a couple of more years…

          ..he is there for the long haul..

          Reply
      • Binders full of women 8.1.2
        2 April 2025 at 5:32 pm

        I'm gonna start following the little elections. There's 2 coming up for the vacant gaetz and Walz? Seats in Florida. Carville says the fascinating one will be Gov of Virginia..not till Nov though.

        Reply
      • weka 8.1.3
        2 April 2025 at 7:37 pm

        this presumes the military will follow his orders.

        Reply
        • Phillip ure 8.1.3.1
          2 April 2025 at 8:49 pm

          He has been furiously replacing the military leadership with those professing loyalty to him…

          They have to obey him…he is the commander in chief..

          …if they don't…I think he can have them courtmartialed/shot…

          ..this coup is all planned out..

          ..the/his ducks are all in a row..

          ..we are about to enter a new age/era…

          ..the rule of king trump…

          Reply
          • weka 8.1.3.1.1
            2 April 2025 at 10:15 pm

            people in the military do disobey orders at times, and yes there are consequences. Which military people understand.

            I think it's just as likely there will be civil war, in part because of military people refusing to serve a dictator.

            That's assuming the legal challenges and elections over the next few years fail. Wisconsin gives us some hope.

            Reply
            • Phillip ure 8.1.3.1.1.1
              2 April 2025 at 10:55 pm

              Trump cares little about legal challenges…he owns the supreme court…

              ..and he cares even less about elections/election results..

              ..he will declare martial law..

              ..and none of that will matter a jot…

              ..I hope I am wrong… but I don't think I am..

              Reply
              • weka …
                3 April 2025 at 12:50 am

                he doesn't care, but others do, including business people and Republicans. He still doesn't have absolute power or enough support. If he moves too soon he will lose, otherwise he would have done it already.

                And again, martial law will only work if the military obey him.

                There's a short convo here about the courts. Lynn has more faith in that process holding than I do, but you have less. I don't think anyone knows at this point, and I am a fan of keeping our minds open to things working out.

                https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-21-03-2025/#comment-2029101

                It's been heartening to see people standing up to him, at home and internationally. I also think the moves against Musk matter, he's lost a lot of money in Tesla and with the Wisconsin vote, and the blow to his fragile ego isn't nothing, but also his reputation especially as he's been whining about it in the media.

                I don't think it's a done deal, but it does feel precarious and dangerous.

                Reply
                • Phillip ure …
                  3 April 2025 at 9:23 am

                  As far as timing is concerned..trump would like to have it happen before the mid-terms..

                  This if he can't shred the constitution in some way…

                  But I can't see him doing that on its own…he needs the military muscle behind whatever route he chooses..

                  This is the greatest challenge to the constitution…ever…

                  We can but hope it stands up to the attack on it by trump ..

                  ..and yes…your scenario of a civil war between the states..cannot be discounted..

                  We do indeed live in troubled times…even more so than the Cuban missile crisis ..

                  ..the difference this time is that the danger is coming from within…and is arguably more parlous…

                  Reply
                  • weka …
                    3 April 2025 at 9:56 am

                    I wan't thinking of civil war between the States, but that's probably a risk as well. I was thinking more of what happens if there are enough people in the military that refuse to take part in a military coup. There will be plenty of military people fucked off about what Trump is doing. If enough do refuse, I think the local, private militias will get involved, they're spoiling for a fight anyway. I would guess Trump's team has a plan for them already. There are shit ton of people in the US with firearms as well.

                    Reply
  9. Drowsy M. Kram 9
    2 April 2025 at 5:38 pm

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_energy_budget#Earth's_energy_imbalance_(EEI)

    Poking fun at a real problem.

    New “5 Degree Fund” to seek investment opportunities in climate collapse
    [1 April 2025]

    Climate Bonds Initiative CEO Sean Kidney and SOAS Centre for Sustainable Finance Professor Ulrich Volz today announced they were exploring the setting up of a “5 Degree Investment Fund” that will focus on investments likely to boom as climate change gets severe.
    …
    Volz said “the idea is that the Fund would be used as an opportunity for investors to hedge against the growing failure to take action on climate change. The climate catastrophe will create enormous opportunities for the discerning investor. We plan to be among those.”

    However, he also noted that on current trajectories of climate change it may require greater ambition. “We are also considering launching a ‘Runaway Climate Change Fund’ which would invest primarily in ventures to escape into space and colonise other planets.”

    Reply

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