Open mike 02/03/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 2nd, 2011 - 59 comments
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59 comments on “Open mike 02/03/2011 ”

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  1. Rosy 1
    2 March 2011 at 9:38 am

    What was Judith Collins saying? Something about all looters should be put in cells with really horrible people? Well here’s her first A man with Aspergers syndrome

    “Smith is alleged to have stolen two lightbulbs and an antique light fitting from a quake-stricken home. But Shannen Davis said her foster brother has Aspergers syndrome, a form of autism, and other mental disabilities that “make him” collect light fittings.”

    • Colonial Viper 1.1
      2 March 2011 at 10:12 am

      “Police Minister Judith Collins said the actions of looters was akin to “people who rob the dead”.

      She expected to see the judiciary throw the book at looters.

      “I hope they go to jail for a long time – with a cellmate.”

      I think the inference is one of daily prison rape.

    • weka 1.2
      2 March 2011 at 10:28 am

      That’s really sad, Rosy.

      I wonder if The Standard commenters the other day who thought looters should be shot and gutted would like to see that happen to this man.

      I”m sure there are opportunists out there stealing in Chch. But it doesn’t take much to also see that some of the most vulnerable people in Chch will have a big incentive to steal as well (for all sorts of reasons).

    • Rosy 1.3
      2 March 2011 at 9:47 pm

      And speaking of the real looters – letting agent phoned my son the day after the quake, he rents in the inner-city, to remind him of his obligations to pay his rent and the penalties of breaking his newly re-signed 12 month lease (obviously he is a tenant who has met his previous obligations – otherwise the lease wouldn’t have been renewed)…. despite him being told to leave by the emergency response teams (the address is in the cordoned-off area) and house is damaged, but not stickered yet. He is lucky – his job in an inner city hotel is obviously not there any more, but he’s moved for the last week to work at another site for the company that has been full of Christchurch refugees, but as of tomorrow is homeless, paying rent, and like many, many others is effectively trapped in a broken city with no idea of future plans with the greedies looking for windfall $$$ if breaks he the lease.

      captcha: sad 🙁

      • Deadly_NZ 1.3.1
        2 March 2011 at 10:17 pm

        Got 2 words for the Greedys especially these letting agents, and as agents they only lose their cut of the rent so tell em to…

        SEX and TRAVEL
        A politeish way to say EFF OFF

  2. joe90 2
    2 March 2011 at 10:17 am

    A new study says thawing permafrost will accelerate global warming in decades to come.

    One- to two-thirds of Earth’s permafrost will disappear by 2200, unleashing vast quantities of carbon into the atmosphere, says a study by researchers at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).
    “The amount of carbon released is equivalent to half the amount of carbon that has been released into the atmosphere since the dawn of the industrial age,” said NSIDC scientist Kevin Schaefer. “That is a lot of carbon.”

  3. lprent 3
    2 March 2011 at 10:20 am

    I broke the search last night. It will be sometime later in the day or evening before I get it operational again. Didn’t bring my laptop to work….

  5. ianmac 5
    2 March 2011 at 10:29 am

    Thinking about the focus of seismic energy and the way it travels in waves as discussed on Nat Radio this morning. It apparently helps explains the fall of some buildings when those nearby were untouched. The energy from a seismic event can be turned and focussed by landform similar to the way that water is turned and waves made more or less powerful. It will be a factor when they consider the reasons for the worst collapses.

  6. ianmac 6
    2 March 2011 at 10:34 am

    This may have already gone the rounds. If so sorry.
    It shows a set of 4 aerial photos before after by a clever sideways slide.
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/infographics/christchurch-quake/beforeafter.htm

  7. ianmac 7
    2 March 2011 at 10:35 am

    Simon Powers has announced his retirement at the next election. Nat Radio 10:30. Wonder why? Pity.

    • Carol 7.1
      2 March 2011 at 10:37 am

      see link a couple of comments above to Power’s press statement on Scoop.

      • Colonial Viper 7.1.1
        2 March 2011 at 10:45 am

        Awful. The man has a conscience, which means that National is planning some evil shit against the bottom 95% of NZ’ers in the coming time.

        • Lanthanide 7.1.1.1
          2 March 2011 at 10:53 am

          Then he should have come out and said he “doesn’t like the future direction of the party”. That might be considered bridge-burning, though.

      • ianmac 7.1.2
        2 March 2011 at 11:02 am

        Thanks Carol. The message overlapped. Katherine Ryan is hoping to speak to Simon Powers in the next hour- Nat Radio.

        • Carol 7.1.2.1
          2 March 2011 at 11:16 am

          That’s OK ianmac. We have all been taken by surprise by this announcement… it’s breaking news. Listening to Power & Ryan right now.

    • Richard 7.2
      2 March 2011 at 11:43 am

      Unless there is glaring evidence to the contrary I think I would take the initial statements at face-value.

      He feels like he has better/more profitable work to pursue in the private sector. Especially now that he can write Minister of XXX on his CV.

      Which I guess a cynic would say was symptomatic of why he became an MP in the first place.

  8. felix 8
    2 March 2011 at 11:22 am

    Make no mistake: Power is out because he can’t stomach the ugliness to come.

    Simple. As. That.

  9. weka 9
    2 March 2011 at 11:28 am

    Similar sized quakes in Welly and Chch last night.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4720071/Tremors-shake-Christchurch-Wellington

    Are these related?

    I see that many people rushed outsite. What is the current recommendation on what to do in a quake? Doorway? or get outside if you can? or?

    • Zorr 9.1
      2 March 2011 at 11:33 am

      In a big quake, doorways aren’t so useful.

      One of the suggested safe places to bunker down is against a couch because it will prevent large objects from striking you.

      • Colonial Viper 9.1.1
        2 March 2011 at 11:36 am

        In a big quake, doorways aren’t so useful.

        And definitely not useful if the door way is in a non load bearing office partition wall.

        • weka 9.1.1.1
          2 March 2011 at 11:47 am

          So essentially it’s just luck then. Unless I learn to assess the doorframes of every building I go into.

          Does anyone know if there is an official recommendation?

          Where I live now I’d probably go for outside if I could – lots of big empty spaces there, some trees too though. Do they tend to fall in quakes? Anyone know what’s happened to trees in Chch?.

          The doorway one was well indoctrinated as I was growing up, maybe I’d just do that on instinct.

          • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.1.1
            2 March 2011 at 12:05 pm

            Strong, preferably steel framed tables are good for hiding under. Lie flat, not crouched.

            • DS 9.1.1.1.1.1
              2 March 2011 at 12:31 pm

              Be careful when getting under the table though. I was sconned in the head by my big steel framed table when it jumped up to attack me.

              And yeah – we had trees fall down in Hagley Park, apparently.

          • Lanthanide 9.1.1.1.2
            2 March 2011 at 12:49 pm

            Very very few trees have fallen over here, and very few powerlines too.

            The civil defence advice is to take shelter under a desk or table, but that often isn’t available. I’d shelter under a doorway, and I don’t think they are that ‘unsafe’ in a big quake. What you have to realise is that the violent shaking can easily throw you off your feet, out from the doorway. So you need to brace yourself firmly in the doorway with your arms and legs – put both feet at the corners of the doorway and push out, and brace your arms parallel to the frame and push outwards, and hold onto the top of the frame with your hands. Such a stance means only 1 person can really shelter in a doorway, but if there are two of you just brace yourself as best you can.

            As roofs and ceilings are more likely to fall into the center of the room (especially if something drops onto the roof like a chimney), I think even if you’re standing in a doorway that is in a wall that isn’t structural you’ll still be better off than being in the middle of the room. Ideally you’d be under a strong and sturdy desk or table, of course. Glass tables are an obvious no-no to hide under, which is a problem as glass topped dining tables are fashionable these days.

            As to whether you should run outside – in really depends on your circumstances. If you’re right by the door, then I would consider it, but it depends what sort of buildings are around you; brick ones are an obvious hazard. I wouldn’t run through a room to get outside, and I also wouldn’t run upstairs to find children (as many people did in the 7.1 quake) as you’re likely to be hit by falling objects or injured if you’re thrown off your feet – better to wait for the shaking to substantially subside before going after them (be aware that quakes can come in quick succession however). You should of course arrange everyone’s bedroom so that if large furniture falls over, it’s not going to land entirely on top of the bed. I remember a decade ago civil defence had an ad on TV where they talked about securing all of your heavy furniture to the walls with straps and ties, and putting nylon across book cases so the books didn’t fall out etc.

            • ianmac 9.1.1.1.2.1
              2 March 2011 at 1:46 pm

              In a bedroom one should lie down beside a bed rather than under it. The idea is that the bed takes the falling stuff leaving you in a space. Not under the bed as it could fall under the load and squash. So I have been told.

  10. joe90 10
    2 March 2011 at 11:44 am

    Trotters postscript sums up these pricks.

    The Government’s assistance package, announced on Monday, 28 February, further highlights the curious distinction our political leaders continue to draw between Acts of God and Acts of Man. If you’ve lost your job because of the earthquake you’re immediately entitled to receive $500.00 per week (close to the minimum wage). But, if you’ve lost your job because your employer has just been bought out by a multinational company, you’re entitled (after a stand-down period of 12 weeks) to an unemployment benefit of just $294.00 per week (56 percent of the minimum wage). Nothing could better illustrate the punitive assumptions built into our welfare system.

    • Draco T Bastard 10.1
      2 March 2011 at 1:59 pm

      And he even got the UE benefit wrong (although probably just a typo) as it’s $216.89 gross or about 42% of the minimum wage.

      Other than that, I agree with him.

      • ak 10.1.1
        2 March 2011 at 2:23 pm

        yep, $198 in the hand….and under 25yrs old it’s $165, and under 20, $132. Raking it in. Who’d want to work when you’re creaming it like that?

    • Linaka 10.2
      2 March 2011 at 11:13 pm

      Actually its ONE ninety four for UB at the moment, and as regards to the earthquakes safe place, my advice is grab a tinny from the fridge, and head to the bee-hive there is plenty of air-heads there.

  11. todd 11
    2 March 2011 at 11:46 am

    What are you all HAARPing on about?

    http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-are-you-all-haarping-on-about.html

    Haven’t heard of HAARP before? That’s OK! Neither had I. It stands for High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program and has been around since the 70’s. Some say it is based on Nikola Tesla’s technology, but what we do know for sure is that HAARP has had billions of dollars in development spend and is surrounded in army secrecy.

    • The Voice of Reason 11.1
      2 March 2011 at 12:26 pm

      Todd, much as I like being updated on what’s on your rather promising site, don’t you think you should at least make a donation to the Standard if you are going to continually advertise in this manner?

      • lprent 11.1.1
        2 March 2011 at 12:55 pm

        He is ‘advertising’. But so far he has remained within my personal “toleration of new sites advertising” limits. He hasn’t put in bloody great swaths of quoting, has tried to be either relevant to the post or dropped it in OpenMike, has engaged in commenting, and generally been pretty good about it IMHO. It is a rather nice change from some of the other proud owners of new sites.

        But I am known to be more tolerant about this than others. It is always a bit of a risky strategy to promote a site on other sites because you have to watch out for the grumpy moderators having a bad day. They have a cast iron reason to vent their irritation. As an extreme example you could look at whoar in days gone by.

        Donations for the reason you’re describing would tend to be frowned upon. We’re really only interested in the donations that people give freely with zero expectations about what they get for them. You could just imagine Whale’s approach to donating to this site (assuming he had some spare cash that is). That is all laid out in the donations page.

        • todd 11.1.1.1
          2 March 2011 at 4:08 pm

          Hi, I do tend to get a few people checking out The Jackal from here. I’m not trying to poach though, just that I’m writing about things that might be of interest. I would spam the hell out of KB and Oil Lards sites if they hadn’t banned me. I can donate my time and thoughts 🙂

  12. higherstandard 12
    2 March 2011 at 1:44 pm

    PB has posted audio of Gary McCormick’s poem before – the video plus audio is worth another look and listen.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_cid=1&gallery_id=117054

  13. William Joyce 13
    2 March 2011 at 1:46 pm

    It wasn’t rampant self-interest, greed, incompetence or even the down side of free enterprise….
    It was terrorism.
    Yes, the $11 trillion US financial “down turn” could well have been the result of terrorism. It could even be part of China’s three phase plan to become the supreme economic power.
    A least, so says a Pentagon contracted report.
    Food for thought?

    • Lanthanide 13.1
      2 March 2011 at 3:23 pm

      There might be some truth in it, but it seems convenient. “We did nothing wrong, it was the terrorists! They’re out to get us! We can keep abusing the environment and our profligate use of energy because they aren’t the problem, it was the terrorists!”

  14. Vicky32 14
    2 March 2011 at 6:35 pm

    Listening to TV3 talking about the Welly one, and people buying water to stock up – just a thought – how hard to TV3 reporters look until they find an American to interview? Vox pops always start with an American, and in this case, the American was the only one shown!
    Do they ask heaps of people then throw the non-pretty, non-middleclass and in 3’s case, non-Americans on the cutting room floor? (Yes, I know it’s probably digital these days, but the old-fashioned terminology sounds better..)
    The exception is if it’s a story about welfare, then vox pops show only Maori with large families, cos only Maori or Island families with 8 kids are on benefits or low wages…
    Deb

  15. KJT 15
    3 March 2011 at 8:52 am

    Data for CEPR from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) shows that unemployment is due to poor demand and that stimulus by cutting taxes at the high end has failed.

    http://kjt-kt.blogspot.com/2011/03/kia-ora-shows-that-unemployment-is-due.html

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    3 days ago
  • Media Link: “AVFA” on the politics of desperation.

    In this podcast Selwyn Manning and I talk about what appears to be a particular type of end-game in the long transition to systemic realignment in international affairs, in which the move to a new multipolar order with different characteristics … Continue reading → ...
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  • The cost of flying blind

    Just over two years ago, when worries about immediate mass-death from covid had waned, and people started to talk about covid becoming "endemic", I asked various government agencies what work they'd done on the costs of that - and particularly, on the cost of Long Covid. The answer was that ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Seymour vs The Clergy

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    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Unstoppable Minister McKee

    All smiles, I know what it takes to fool this townI'll do it 'til the sun goes downAnd all through the nighttimeOh, yeahOh, yeah, I'll tell you what you wanna hearLeave my sunglasses on while I shed a tearIt's never the right timeYeah, yeahSong by SiaLast night there was a ...
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  • Could outdoor dining revitalise Queen Street?

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  • Hipkins challenges long-held Labour view Government must stay below 30% of GDP

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Your invite to Webworm Chat (a bit like Reddit)

    Hi,One of the things I love the most about Webworm is, well, you. The community that’s gathered around this lil’ newsletter isn’t something I ever expected when I started writing it four years ago — now the comments section is one of my favourite places on the internet. The comments ...
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    5 days ago
  • Seymour’s Treaty bill making Nats nervous

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    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #36

    A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 1, 2024 thru Sat, September 7, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is about how peopele are not born stupid but can be fooled ...
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    5 days ago
  • Time for a Change

    You act as thoughYou are a blind manWho's crying, crying 'boutAll the virgins that are dyingIn your habitual dreams, you knowSeems you need more sleepBut like a parrot in a flaming treeI know it's pretty hard to seeI'm beginning to wonderIf it's time for a changeSong: Phil JuddThe next line ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Six.

    The “double shocks” in post Cold War international affairs. The end of the Cold War fundamentally altered the global geostrategic context. In particular, the end of the nuclear “balance of terror” between the USA and USSR, coupled with the relaxation … Continue reading → ...
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    5 days ago
  • Buried deep

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    6 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies, Excerpt Five.

    Military politics as a distinct “partial regime.” Notwithstanding their peripheral status, national defense offers the raison d’être of the combat function, which their relative vulnerability makes apparent, so military forces in small peripheral democracies must be very conscious of events … Continue reading → ...
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    6 days ago
  • Leadership for Dummies

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    6 days ago
  • Home again

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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Dead even tie for hottest August ever

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
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  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 7

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    7 days ago
  • Have We an Infrastructure Deficit?

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    7 days ago
  • Councils reject racism

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    1 week ago
  • Homage to Simeon Brown

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    1 week ago
  • Government of deceit

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  • The professionals actually think and act like our Government has no fiscal crisis at all

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  • Weekly Roundup 6-September-2024

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    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies; Excerpt Four.

    Internal versus external security. Regardless of who rules, large countries can afford to separate external and internal security functions (even if internal control functions predominate under authoritarian regimes). In fact, given the logic of power concentration and institutional centralization of … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • A Hole In The River

    There's a hole in the river where her memory liesFrom the land of the living to the air and skyShe was coming to see him, but something changed her mindDrove her down to the riverThere is no returnSongwriters: Neil Finn/Eddie RaynerThe king is dead; long live the queen!Yesterday was a ...
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    1 week ago
  • Bright Blue His Jacket Ain’t But I Love This Fellow: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power E...

    My conclusion last week was that The Rings of Power season two represented a major improvement in the series. The writing’s just so much better, and honestly, its major problems are less the result of the current episodes and more creatures arising from season one plot-holes. I found episode three ...
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  • Who should we thank for the defeat of the Nazis

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  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #36 2024

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  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live at 5pm

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  • Media Link: Discussing the NZSIS Security Threat Report.

    I was interviewed by Mike Hosking at NewstalkZB and a few other media outlets about the NZSIS Security Threat Report released recently. I have long advocated for more transparency, accountability and oversight of the NZ Intelligence Community, and although the … Continue reading → ...
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  • How do I make this better for people who drive Ford Rangers?

    Home, home again to a long warm embrace. Plenty of reasons to be glad to be back.But also, reasons for dejection.You, yes you, Simeon Brown, you odious little oik, you bible thumping petrol-pandering ratfucker weasel. You would be Reason Number One. Well, maybe first among equals with Seymour and Of-Seymour ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • A missed opportunity

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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Nicola Willis Seeks New Sidekick To Help Fix NZ’s Economy

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    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
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  • Inflation alive and kicking in our land of the long white monopolies

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The thermodynamics of electric vs. internal combustion cars

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    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Three.

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  • Need and value at forefront of public service delivery

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  • Minister to attend Police Ministers Council Meeting

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    9 hours ago
  • New Bill to crack down on youth vaping

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  • Interest in agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review welcomed

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    1 day ago
  • Bill to allow online charity lotteries passes first reading

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  • Tax exempt threshold changes to benefit startups

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  • Getting the healthcare you need, when you need it

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  • Targeted supports to accelerate reading

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  • Survivors invited to Abuse in Care national apology

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  • Rangatahi inspire at Ngā Manu Kōrero final

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  • Driving structured literacy in schools

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  • Labour’s misleading information is disappointing

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  • Govt takes action on mpox response, widens access to vaccine

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  • Next steps agreed for Treaty Principles Bill

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  • Government unlocking potential of AI

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  • Government releases Wairoa flood review findings

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  • Promoting faster payment times for government

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  • Acknowledgement to Kīngi Tuheitia speech

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  • Interim fix to GST adjustment rules to support businesses

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    3 days ago
  • Strong uptake for cervical screening self-test

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  • Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document sets ambitious direction

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    3 days ago
  • Māori Education Advisory Group established

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    3 days ago
  • First of five new Hercules aircraft takes flight

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  • Have your say on suicide prevention

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  • Action to grow the rural health workforce

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  • Pharmac delivering more for Kiwis following major funding boost

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  • Sport Minister congratulates NZ’s Paralympians

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  • Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations

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  • Passport wait times back on-track

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  • New appointments to the FMA board

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  • District Court judges appointed

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  • Improving access to finance for Kiwis

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  • Prime Minister pays tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia

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  • Resource Management reform to make forestry rules clearer

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  • More choice and competition in building products

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  • Joint Statement between the Republic of Korea and New Zealand 4 September 2024, Seoul

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