Open mike 04/03/2011

91 comments on “Open mike 04/03/2011 ”

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1. Bored 1

   4 March 2011 at 7:39 am

   A weather eye on the helm, where will our navigator lead us now? The waves of Brent Crude wash our decks at US$116, the storm clouds gather. What safe haven will we be promised to strike out for? We are rowing to the beat of a drummer who has no compass, across a sea of unreason.

   When will we mutiny?
   • ZeeBop 1.1

     4 March 2011 at 12:24 pm

     Cheap oil means that government expanded industry and the economy, this however came at the expense of free time and what middle and working class people do in their free time – chatter. So as western government moved to squash ‘socialism’ for neo-liberalism economic activity (why aren’t you working politics – work will set you free) the old paradigms were put away. Now we enter peak times why would our economy need to keep young people who cannot find jobs busy? Seen the middle east? The answer is clear, pay them to chatter to each other, if they middle eastern leadership let go of its iron grip for a moment and just paid for young Arabs to put on plays, to read works of world and Arabic literature, keep their young people active then they would not have riots. Would we in NZ have gangs? No, idle hands. Simply put more tax on oil and use the money to stimulate chatter, leisure, players, the arts, and the carbon crisis abates. Why? because if young people aren’t driving around in cars, are in fact prancing around on a stage, or sitting attentively reading or listening to others, then they are not wasting fuel. Duh. So why are our elites taking so long to realize what they need to do and risk losing control, and their countries becoming uncontrollable? Simple they think they are Gods, that the boom times wasn’t cheap oil and cheap credit, but was them and their creepy fiscal-nazi-like-ideology (that made nazi leaders also feel like Gods). The only crisis we have is a crisis of leadership, a crisis of a mismatched neo-right idealism that needs to die like a flock of dodos. Humans have being living on this planet for hundreds of thousands of years and all without gushing amounts of cheap energy to keep them amused, raise the taxes on oil already, pump the money into the arts and stand back and watch carbon usage drop.
     • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1

       4 March 2011 at 2:19 pm

       Seen the middle east? The answer is clear, pay them to chatter to each other, if they middle eastern leadership let go of its iron grip for a moment and just paid for young Arabs to put on plays, to read works of world and Arabic literature, keep their young people active then they would not have riots.

       Actually, they probably would as a major driver of the riots is the price/availability of food.
       • Bored 1.1.1.1

         4 March 2011 at 3:39 pm

         Red and Zeb, I think we are watching our leaders back bravely into the future blindfolded, but with a firm conceptual grasp of the past. If they do the same again it will all be well…..what storm?

         I heard a comment somewhere recently that I have not been able to refute, basically that no courtier class (i.e our leadership and elite) anywhere ever in history has been able to transform itself from blood sucking parasites to something socially useful.

         They must and will go, if we are to survive the future we must copy the Arabs.
         • ZeeBop 1.1.1.1.1

           4 March 2011 at 7:31 pm

           All courtier classes have a use by date, they however can prolonger their control by not growing to plague proportions. Oops, oh wait, wall to wall neo-liberals everywhere. We can basically speculate (hehe) that the generation if boomer courtier are unusually stupid, self-assured arrogant know it alls. Free markets need no regulation hahahaha. There is no such thing as society, hahahaha.
         • Colonial Viper 1.1.1.1.2

           4 March 2011 at 8:28 pm

           They must and will go, if we are to survive the future we must copy the Arabs.

           Right. How many wives each was that again?
           • Jum 1.1.1.1.2.1

             4 March 2011 at 8:55 pm

             And if you think you get the 72 virgins when you get rid of the leaders, forget it!
       • ZeeBop 1.1.1.2

         4 March 2011 at 7:26 pm

         Nothing ventured nothing changes and nothing probably gained.
2. mickysavage 2

   4 March 2011 at 8:37 am

   And in America there is developing an intense debate about the “banning” of the poor old incandescent lightbulb! What do socialists have against the poor wee things?

   Could it be that the energy companies, fearful of a drop in profits are rallying the troops?

   Where else in the world has this debate occurred?
   • Lanthanide 2.1

     4 March 2011 at 10:13 am

     The problem with moving to low energy use lightbulbs is that they often do not work in many older sockets (common in American houses) and generally don’t work with dimmers either (again common in American houses) unless you buy very expensive ones, and even then I’ve hard people say that they didn’t work or died after a couple of months as well.

     It’d say it’s more about a republican “individuals rights” thing than it is to do with power companies.
     • Colonial Viper 2.1.1

       4 March 2011 at 12:18 pm

       There are modernised incandescents around which are 40-50% more energy efficient than the traditional ones.
     • Vicky32 2.1.2

       4 March 2011 at 6:12 pm

       “and even then I’ve hard people say that they didn’t work or died after a couple of months as well.”
       It’s true. My son insisted we get them, and they died within weeks. Considering the swingeing cost, I felt truly had.
       • Drakula 2.1.2.1

         4 March 2011 at 9:27 pm

         There are some people who can only work under the old incandescent bulbs I have met one woman who suffered terrible headaches under the flourescant bulbs.

         The energy saving bulbs that I have a lot are really small compact flourescent bulbs, I don’t think that they are all that healthy as they flicker a lot and that can cause epileptic seizures as well.

         The boffs need to go back to the drawing board maybe LED’s?
         • Colonial Viper 2.1.2.1.1

           4 March 2011 at 9:31 pm

           Yeah there are LED incandescents coming on to the market.

           And I wouldn’t rule out a return to coal gas lamps in the future…hehehehe
   • weka 2.2

     4 March 2011 at 12:12 pm

     Plus they’ve got mercury in them, and we don’t have systems of retrieving that mercury before it reaches the landfills.

     Energy saving light bulbs are rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. They may save some power generation, but they cause problems as well. In another decade we’ll be biffing all the CFCs and changing to LEDs, creating another stream of wasted resources.

     Weren’t incandescents meant to be banned here?
     • Draco T Bastard 2.2.1

       4 March 2011 at 12:34 pm

       No, they weren’t banned here – there was an introduction for energy efficiency same as what the US is doing. NACT repealed that bill.

       BTW, the mercury isn’t actually that much of a problem.
       • Herodotus 2.2.1.1

         4 March 2011 at 3:46 pm

         I heard (no links) that we lose more power in transmission than any form of saving at the user level. If that is the case then why do we not investigate a more efficient means of transmission- or better produce energy closer to the location where it is sourced. Still think that Jafalands best form of generation will come from tidal and the Kaipara harbour and all those channels in the Manukau (if it is the case good reason for DSIR to be gifted some $ ). Just watch the flow under the motorway by Karaka (on the passanger side of course). I also heard that in some European countries there is power generation from cannel locks.
         • Draco T Bastard 2.2.1.1.1

           4 March 2011 at 5:47 pm

           Last time I looked, we are but there are complications to over come especially with tidal. Seawater is massively corrosive (accelerates oxidisation), causes electrolysis between submerged metals and also happens to filled with salt which increases wear. All of this needs to be overcome economically to make it work.

           Yes, Auckland needs to generate more power itself to save on power loss over long reaches of cable but it’s not exactly the easiest thing to do.
       • weka 2.2.1.2

         4 March 2011 at 11:14 pm

         Why isn’t the mercury a problem?
3. Tigger 3

   4 March 2011 at 9:35 am

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10710011

   There is often talk of the split in Labour between centre-left and left but the real split coming is the right and religious right in National. There are signs of the relgious right mobilising again in New Zealand and certainly a dire economic situation will assist in their creep and I wonder how much longer Key will be able to keep them in the tent. There is much disgust for them within National and as soon as there is a better alternative, the religious voters will go elsewhere.

   On that note – billboard has been up in Petone for months advertising this site – http://www.familyradio.com/index2.html Interesting to see yet another fundie US group making a major push into NZ… Key, of course, comes off as secular (well, he cites being Christian and Jewish when it suits) but his morals are fundie religious – I would put money on the fact he’s working with US religious groups behind the scenes…
   • ianmac 3.1

     4 March 2011 at 9:43 am

     “But then it was discovered that there are exactly 722,500 days from April 1, 33 A.D. until May 21, 2011. This fact gives us another infallible, absolute proof that May 21, 2011 is the date of the Rapture.” (Website from Tigger.)
     Well there you are. That settles it. You can forget about the Election or the WRC. Phew! But I will miss my next birthday! What will they do if the World still staggers on as usual after 21 May?
     • Rosy 3.1.1

       4 March 2011 at 9:56 am

       “But I will miss my next birthday”

       It’s the day after mine so that is going to be my theme to make it a really good one! Thanks for that 🙂
     • Mac1 3.1.2

       4 March 2011 at 10:06 am

       History is littered with the failed predictions of the Rapture.

       I have the theory that predicting a Rapture in one’s own life-time is really the expression of some deep psychological need to have meaning in one’s life. Sad, really.
       • RedLogix 3.1.2.1

         4 March 2011 at 11:58 am

         Funny part is that the “end of the world” theme does have useful and valid meaning if you don’t take it literally.

         If there is one thing that most of the regulars around here would agree upon in one way or another… it is that the political, economic and social institutions of the world as we currently know them, cannot continue as they are.

         At some point there the multiple crisis’ that loom over the world will catch up with us…bringing to an end the status quo.
       • prism 3.1.2.2

         4 March 2011 at 2:28 pm

         Just reminding of the end of the world skit of The Mighty Wind – where all the believers gather on the mountaintop and pressure the leader to make a definite date and description. Think it was Pythons. I do remember Rowan Atkinson.
         • Mac1 3.1.2.2.1

           4 March 2011 at 5:36 pm

           Yes, prism, I had visions of Monty Pythonesque dialogues.

           “Bloody Brian, him and his bloody second-hand abacus.”
           “I told them that they didn’t have to include the extra days for the leap years.”
           “But that would have meant Rapture would have already come.”
           “Shut up!”
           “You realise, don’t you, that continued failure to predict the correct date for the Rapture is causing massive strains on our belief in your leadership?’
           “Shut up! Shut up!”
           “I shall have to consider moving my allegiance to the West Judean Front. They at least got the Roman Invasion right!”
           “Right then. Go on! If Mr Smarty Pants, computer-literate, can count to ten, goody two shoes wants to do the math then let him. Do you realise what I have to go through to keep you lot in order, let alone calculate……….”
           • ianmac 3.1.2.2.1.1

             4 March 2011 at 7:53 pm

             Brilliant Mac. John Clease is on tonight on the Norton Show and he would enjoy your take.
     • Lanthanide 3.1.3

       4 March 2011 at 10:16 am

       Why is 722,500 important? Why not 722,555, that looks prettier. We use an Arabic number system and Gregorian calendar anyway, so why is this particular date relevant because of those two systems we use; what would it look like in a Chinese calendar for example?

       Another point, when they moved from the Julian to the Gregorian calender sometime in the 1600’s, they effectively moved the date forward by 6 or 7 days. So one day it was the 2nd of October and the next was 8th, for example. So the calendar has ‘counted’ days that didn’t exist. Did he consider that?
       • Rosy 3.1.3.1

         4 March 2011 at 10:38 am

         Maybe they’re trying to get their rapture in before the end of the Mayan calendar in 2012…. and 777,555 is way prettier, but then I can’t plan my birthday theme around it . 😉
         • ianmac 3.1.3.1.1

           4 March 2011 at 10:48 am

           Wonder what sort of church service will they hold the day after the Rapture? Remember those who trekked to the top of Mt Herbert, Banks Peninsula to watch the dawn on the Last Day of the World and the Coming of Jesus. We wondered what they were talking about as they de-trekked.
           • Colonial Viper 3.1.3.1.1.1

             4 March 2011 at 11:24 am

             We wondered what they were talking about as they de-trekked.

             Probably a hot shower and a cup of tea… 🙂
             • mcflock …

               4 March 2011 at 1:11 pm

               A year or two back a prophet in South Korea was prosecuted for fraud. He was one of these “money is evil, let make take the evil for you before the end of the world” folk. Apparently he’d predicted the end of the world in 8 months, but had invested the loot in 3-year bonds.
               • Drakula …

                 4 March 2011 at 10:04 pm

                 I think that you are all wrong; it is in fact 777,666 you have to have the mark of the beast in there some where.

                 My birthday is on the 20th of may so I should squeeze in before Ianmac’s prediction.

                 mc flock is right they are nothing but a bunch of con artists even the fore fathers of the mainstream religions. I wish I could dig up the quote of the Roman governer of Knossas about St. John I think it was something of the effect of “nice sort of fellow but a bit troubled in the head”

                 And for those who think that Joshua (Jesus) ascended into heaven, well sorry it is very likely they found th body see ‘The Jesus Family Tomb’ Pellegrino and ?

                 There is plenty of circumstantial eveidence that it was standard practice for Roman soldiers to ‘seduce’ princesses of high rank to secure loyalty(by blackmail); hence the marked increase in ‘virgin’ births.

                 Google Celsus’s account of Tiberious Panthera.(interesting reading)

                 In conclusion I say bring on Monty Python hell I thought the world was going to end in 1999 wasn’t it? (note the upsidedown beast) It would make a bloody good film.
                 • ianmac …

                   5 March 2011 at 11:38 am

                   Drakula. A bit of research that my son was doing last year showed that “virgin” at that time was in general use as meaning no children so far.
                   He also found that the translation eventually into English showed how likely it was that “on” was actually “by” as in “walking on water.”
                   And hey. Not my prediction! My birthday is on 22 May so have a heart!
                   • Mac1 …

                     5 March 2011 at 11:46 am

                     According to Bishop John Spong, ‘virgin’ actually means a ‘young woman’ in the original language.
   • the pink postman 3.2

     4 March 2011 at 4:08 pm

     Good poiunt Tigger . Key is Jewish ie.mother Jewish one is born a Jew like it or not . However he seems to have forgotten his Jewish background.
     In the East End of London they have a special name for such a person.
     I have no doubt that Key and the Nats have connections with the Religious Right . This would be through their membership of the International Democratic Union . Also their partnership with Crosby /Textor . Both organizations where the US Republican Party is the senior member.
     Past chairperson of the IDU and also connected with C/T is Lord Ashcroft Keys very good friend ,remember the covert meeting they had just before the last election?
     Muldoon also recieved help from the Republican Party with the shocking “Cossack ” adverts , A bit of delving Tigger and you will be amazed at what the Tories are up to. What amazes me is that even my Lefty friends have no idea who or what IDU and C/T are ,its a bit of a worry.
4. todd 4

   4 March 2011 at 9:57 am

   A Toxic Legacy

   http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/03/toxic-legacy.html

   Carter Holt Harvey believes that because the substances are released into the environment away from the populace, that the word “toxic” should not apply. Now I’m not one to nit pick but the word Toxic, is exactly the correct descriptive terminology.
5. RedLogix 5

   4 March 2011 at 10:05 am

   Apparently the blood money-sucking squid thinks asset sales are a good idea.

   This tells any sane person all they need to know.
6. Fisiani 6

   4 March 2011 at 10:06 am

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/4730668/Big-benefits-seen-in-State-asset-sales
   Complete demolition of the crap espoused here.
   • RedLogix 6.1

     4 March 2011 at 10:11 am

     Yeah….from the most loathsome hated pack of parasitic jackals in the world.

     If these are people you admire sycofisi ….

     Even if we take the analysis at face value.. the govt’s books are improved a bare 267m pa. Completely overlooking to mention that the other 49% of the asset would likely see at least an extra $200m pa profit flow overseas, worsening the structural currency exchange deficit… a problem far more damaging to the NZ economy than the level of govt debt, (which S&P and others have said is not really a serious problem).

     Besides.. restoring the 39% tax cut would improve the govt books by far more.
     • Fisiani 6.1.1

       4 March 2011 at 10:45 am

       A bare 267 million………bare? 267,000,000

       Raising tax to a punitive 60% would improve the govt books even more then. Only problem is that people are not slaves. They can move.
       Boosting the NZ economy allows Kiwis to invest overseas and reap profits flowing in.
       Red Yes Loxix No
       • Colonial Viper 6.1.1.1

         4 March 2011 at 11:27 am

         Only problem is that people are not slaves. They can move.

         Yeah where are they gonna move to brainiac? And why should NZ not just copy Australia’s 45% top income tax rate.

         (Accepting that it is land, estates and capital gains we actually have to introduce taxes for)

         It seems that you have forgotten that all those workers on the minimum wage are essentially wage slaves facing deteriorating spending power, negotiating power and reduced employment mobility.

         The people who can move are the ones with means.

         Boosting the NZ economy allows Kiwis to invest overseas and reap profits flowing in.

         When you say Kiwis you mean the top 5% of earners of course. Ignoring everyone else, as usual.
   • Fisiani 6.2

     4 March 2011 at 11:15 am

     Forgoing $240 million earnings to save $540 million in interest.
     • Colonial Viper 6.2.1

       4 March 2011 at 11:28 am

       Ha your non-math is amusing.

       I guess your backing English selling off our power stations even though we earn more from them than from reducing interest payments from the debt.
     • Bunji 6.2.2

       4 March 2011 at 11:37 am

       $9 billion seems a massive over-valuing of what you’d get for Meridian + Mighty River Power – it’s more likely the value of all 4 Energy SOEs. I doubt anyone would hoe in that vast amount of cash for Meridian and MRP for a <3% return (your $240 million) which is what Goldman Sachs seems to be suggesting. You'd be better off keep your cash in the bank.

       We can borrow money at a cheaper rate than what the power companies can make. It's good business sense, it's what most companies do.

       If the Energy SOEs are sold off their rate of return may improve as foreign corporations insist on an even better rate of return by gouging NZ consumers, but that'll just be worsening the current account deficit.
     • Deadly_NZ 6.2.3

       4 March 2011 at 2:24 pm

       Hey Doofus. And after your rich mates Shonkey and co have squandered the money they get from the sale of the 49%, and Billions of what would have been profits for NZ start going overseas. What are they going to do when they need more money??? Sell the other 51% ??? I suppose we should be lucky you can type and spell because you sure as hell cant count.
       • Jum 6.2.3.1

         4 March 2011 at 2:42 pm

         New Zealanders, surely must know that if these Energy SOEs are privatised, in any way, the money will go in tax cuts to those that don’t need it, don’t spend it in NZ and pay little or no tax to start with!
         • Treetop 6.2.3.1.1

           4 March 2011 at 3:03 pm

           What you say about privatisation will happen.
   • Fisiani 6.3

     4 March 2011 at 11:29 am

     Forgoing $240 million to reap $540 million in interest savings.
     Honest John Key knows more about the economy than anone on this blog obviously.
   • Tigger 6.4

     4 March 2011 at 11:36 am

     Ha ha Fisi – first line “The government’s finances would be 39 percent better off if it sold minority stakes in state-owned enterprises, Goldman Sachs has calculated.”

     You really think Goldman Sachs is going to give unbiased and trustworthy advice? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldman_Sachs#Controversies

     If you think that’s believable then I suggest you check out the Family Radio link above – the info there is probably just as reliable.
     • RedLogix 6.4.1

       4 March 2011 at 11:50 am

       Exactly.. how the hell does anyone suggest that a $267m pa improvement in cash flow (and even that is exceedingly debatable) in a total govt cash flow in the order of $60b ….represent anything like a 39% improvement?

       Yes fisi $267m is a pitifully small sum in the larger scheme of things….the govt is currently borrowing that each week.

       Especially when the entire history of selling off state assets has been one of the public being ripped off … often to the benefit of the likes of parasites like Goldman Sachs.
   • Draco T Bastard 6.5

     4 March 2011 at 12:46 pm

     Fisi, Goldman Sachs is probably the most corrupt institution in the entire world. They sold investment vehicles (CDOs etc) to their clients knowing that their clients would lose on the deal. In fact, they were so certain that their clients would lose that they bet on the clients loss in such a way that when the client did lose Goldman Sachs would win.

     Considering their previous illegal and immoral behaviour if they’re supporting asset sales it probably means that they’re planning to take NZ to the cleaners if we do sell.
     • todd 6.5.1

       4 March 2011 at 1:03 pm

       Can I add Monsanto and Merrill Lynch to the competition?
       • Colonial Viper 6.5.1.1

         4 March 2011 at 1:11 pm

         Exxon Mobil. Merck and Pfizer.

         and finally

         BMW 😀
         • todd 6.5.1.1.1

           4 March 2011 at 1:14 pm

           OK Exxon Mobil winz.
           • Colonial Viper 6.5.1.1.1.1

             4 March 2011 at 1:17 pm

             With US$19B in profits last year (or was it the year before) no income tax paid and in fact a refund from the IRS, yeah, I’d say they are a shoe-in.
       • Drakula 6.5.1.2

         4 March 2011 at 10:33 pm

         todd you know who worked for Merrill Lynch after 1995?
7. lprent 7

   4 March 2011 at 10:37 am

   I finally got around to fixing the search functionality.
8. Sanctuary 8

   4 March 2011 at 12:22 pm

   Has anyone asked John Key how he feels about having Cehill Pienaar as a National Party branch president in a safe National seat?

   And of he is comfortable with that, how does that make Pita and Tariana feel?
   • ianmac 8.1

     4 March 2011 at 12:31 pm

     He is that South African very right Wing chap isn’t he?
     • Bored 8.1.1

       4 March 2011 at 3:43 pm

       Yiss, und ee az a very thick kraanium…..loike iz mate Terrablanche.
   • Jum 8.2

     4 March 2011 at 7:26 pm

     Pita and Tariana can always live in a gated community to keep the Pienaars out.
   • ianmac 8.3

     4 March 2011 at 8:10 pm

     Herald:” Meanwhile, Mr Pienaar, who has come under fire because of his former role as leader of South Africa’s Conservative Party in the early 1990s, has chosen to stand aside from the selection committee that will appoint the new candidate.”
     Must have been something in the concerns then?
     http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10710011
9. Penny Bright 9

   4 March 2011 at 4:51 pm

   BOTANY BY-ELECTION 5 MARCH 2011

   [deleted]

   You can read the entire previous contents of this comment here

   Penny is making a pitch for Labour party supporters to vote for her as a candidate for the Botany by election tomorrow. It looks better on the linked page and is really only relevant for voters in that electorate
   

   [lprent: Penny – copy’n’paste isn’t what this site is for. If you want to publish stuff here, then put in a teaser and a link. I’ve cut it down to something more acceptable. ]
   • Herodotus 9.1

     4 March 2011 at 5:13 pm

     For some of us you may be a very good option – especially as senior members of Lab are doing their best efforts in treating us as crap – especially as Trevor has my contact details and no one has rung. Is this the start of undertakings by Lab that are not going to be carried out $5k tax free threashold anyone?). And here I was almost given up on Nat. Then find Lab has created a self inflicted wound.
     “If you are really resident there send me a phone number by email and I will arrange for someone to canvas your doorstep – otherwise I will just assume you are a lying troll.”
     http://blog.labour.org.nz/index.php/2011/02/19/petone-fair-nat-free-zone
     All the best Penny and you were well worth a tuesday night to listen to 😉
     • Bill 9.1.1

       4 March 2011 at 5:57 pm

       That was a bizarre and kind of brilliant response from those MP’s….in a really bad way. “Send proof of identity or you’re banned” In bold. As an over write to your deleted comment. Shi-i-ite!
   • chris73 9.2

     4 March 2011 at 5:16 pm

     This is why I keep coming back to this site 🙂
     • lprent 9.2.1

       4 March 2011 at 5:36 pm

       Yeah, I hate that type of copy’n’paste. Just gets in the way of discussion.
       • Herodotus 9.2.1.1

         4 March 2011 at 6:02 pm

         Penny needs some help- without many opportunities to let her voice ring out. But LP has found a very workable solution. Perhaps all us users requier is some ed of the tools available. I still dont know how to itallics or underline only caps (which is not displaying manners and respect towards blogging and a few 🙂 !! haha)
         We don’t want to suffocate anyones passion
         • Draco T Bastard 9.2.1.1.1

           4 March 2011 at 8:21 pm

           Perhaps all us users requier is some ed of the tools available.

           In the FAQ
         • lprent 9.2.1.1.2

           4 March 2011 at 8:29 pm

           We don’t object to people putting their material in. Just don’t want the bulk in the discussion area.
           I will have another look at the comment editors and see if they have improved.
10. Vicky32 10

    4 March 2011 at 6:06 pm

    TV3 and Fatty Garner talks about workers who’ve lost their jobs “Gone forever” as Hil’ry says. So does Garner interview a worker? An employer? No, but he interviews a businessman. (I have some limited sympathy for the businessman even though Garner poimts out that we wasn’t doing all that well before the earthquake, but I’d be a lot more interested in hearing from an actual employee, rather than a man in the CBD…
    (The guy had made ‘only’ $110.00 in the 4 hours before the quake. My heart bleeds. That’s around 75% of what I get a week in my UB).
    • Jum 10.1

      4 March 2011 at 7:24 pm

      Someone I know said the only news she saw on TV when she watched was the earthquake harm in the CBD. There was no coverage of the suburbs, so she assumed it wasn’t bad. We know people there. And the east area; that’s beginning to remind me of Florida i.e. if there’s no vote in it why bother to rush in to help, thinks Key.
11. todd 11

    4 March 2011 at 6:18 pm

    Is the Kiwi Extinct?

    http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/03/is-kiwi-extinct.html

    So we’ve all heard of the brain drain right! Let’s look at a few related issues; in particular the skilled Kiwi residing in New Zealand who is by necessity drawn overseas to pay their student loans because they cannot find work here. Perhaps they just want a better standard of living that New Zealand can no longer offer them. Whatever the reasons, you cannot be blind to the exodus from our shores.
12. todd 12

    4 March 2011 at 6:46 pm

    So instead of a story about the nine Afghanistan children aged 9 to 15 who while gathering firewood to heat their homes, were killed by NATO helicopter gunners who mistook them for insurgents… we have a story about Liam Tasker, a soldier and his dog being killed. I must say that there is a new low to media coverage in this country, when a story about a soldier dying in the line of fire trumps a story about nine children being murdered.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/world/asia/03afghan.html
    • Vicky32 12.1

      4 March 2011 at 7:19 pm

      You’re right Todd, it’s disgusting, predictable but disgusting.
      Deb
    • Draco T Bastard 12.2

      4 March 2011 at 8:27 pm

      A few years ago someone made the same comparison re Israel. Huge amounts of reporting about the ~200 Israelis killed by terrorist acts over the year and almost no mention of the ~4000 Palestinian killed by Israel in the same year.

      According to our MSM some people just aren’t as important as others.
    • Colonial Viper 12.3

      4 March 2011 at 8:32 pm

      Don’t worry Todd, it will sorta even out in the end. As a result of the incident with the children being killed, we are sure to get far more stories of Allied soldiers dying in Afghanistan.
      • Drakula 12.3.1

        4 March 2011 at 10:45 pm

        And Murdock is putting in a bid that will monopolise 75% of the British media!!!!
13. Colonial Viper 13

    4 March 2011 at 9:19 pm

    Deborah Hill Cone takes a swipe at John Key’s “bromance” with the CEO class

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10710077

    There has been a bit of a group-hug going on in the business world after the Christchurch earthquake. Which is sort of luffly.

    It seems horribly churlish to complain about this outbreak of humanity or the nation’s bromance with John Key at a time of tragedy. But, someone’s got to be a seedy mean bitch and it may as well be me.

    John Key seems to be becoming Muldoon-lite. Oh, he is still keeping up his “smile and wave” act, not grimacing or being “Piggy”. But when it comes to business, it is starting to look a bit too darn cosy the way he mothers the big end of town.
    • RedLogix 13.1

      4 March 2011 at 9:32 pm

      The rest of the article drew more of my attention:

      Correct me if I’m wrong, but I am not sure that being palsy-walsy and sympathetic is the way you create internationally competitive and innovative companies.

      The way to make our businesses productive is more like the red-in-tooth-and-claw bloodiness you see on Sir David Attenborough’s current wildlife documentary, Life.

      Contrary to Ms DHC’s juvenile notions about evolution, humans evolved to be a co-operative species. We actually do better when we help one another, not compete.

      Anyone watching the enormous outpouring in instinctive selflessness in ChCh might have learned this if they had been paying attention.
      • Armchair Critic 13.1.1

        4 March 2011 at 9:44 pm

        There’s good news at the end of the article, though.
        “This is my last column for a bit. I am taking some time off to be a bit earth mothery…”
14. Jum 14

    4 March 2011 at 9:47 pm

    That woman really is a bxtch. An Act love-in with Rodney and Roger would suit her much better. She’s just miffed because Key isn’t doing what he promised her heroes – the sell-off NOW.

    She should just be patient. He’ll do all that if he gets back in, or just leave it to the vultures after the TPPA is signed.

    Why do people think this guy is the bro’ next door? He’s an arch-conservative, with some very neo-conservative connections in America and Britain.

    I also watched the tape recently where she brazenly lied on Agenda pre 2008 election about Helen Clark saying mothers would be forced out to work and their babies thrown into childcare, when in reality the possibility was available if the mothers wanted to. NAct attacked Labour on that – yet here they are doing much worse with the help of Paula Rebstock.

    The woman’s a liar.

    [lprent: a context about who you are talking about would be useful. ]
    • Jum 14.1

      4 March 2011 at 11:35 pm

      Sorry Lprent.

      Deborah Hill Cone – Act acolyte.
      John Key – Act acolyte
      Rodney Hide – Act
      Roger Douglas – Act

      The gang of 4.
      • lprent 14.1.1

        4 March 2011 at 11:37 pm

        Yeah, I found the comment it was meant to be attached to further down the comment queue. But that comment was unattached
15. Drakula 15

    4 March 2011 at 10:58 pm

    Jum I just googled Keys past employment history and when he was working for Merrrill Lynch he earned the reputation as the ‘smiling assassin’ by his work mates for sacking hundreds of employees and smiling!!!

    I thought that was Hone Harawera’s quote; well of course I don’t blame him for researching his ‘coleagues’ I can well understand his concern.
    • Jum 15.1

      4 March 2011 at 11:42 pm

      Drakula,

      And it was so easy to find it too. What does that tell you about the average voter in New Zealand? What does that tell you about the complete black out by media of any sort of objective reporting in New Zealand?

      Apart from the blackout of media in 1951, this is pretty damned close.

      Some journalists are more objective than others, yet an easy quote like this about the character of the leader of New Zealand isn’t even out there.

      Maybe the voters think that if Key is that ruthless he will make great deals for New Zealanders; we already know he’s useless at defending New Zealand, because that was his plan all along.

      Is this country of men and women so greedy and so selfish that we can ignore the psychopathic nature of this man?
16. gobsmacked 16

    4 March 2011 at 11:00 pm

    The latest opinion poll:

    http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2011/4639/

    Labour MPs have been invisible in the media (understandably), Parliament has been in recess (again, as you’d expect), and so Labour have gone up 2%. Could be the makings of a good strategy there!
    • Jum 16.1

      4 March 2011 at 11:32 pm

      LOL

      Captcha: welcomed

Links to post

1. The Standard: posted on 3 March 2011 at 5:06 pm
2. Public Watchdog Penny Bright asks Labour Party voters to consider a strategic vote for her in the Botany by-election! « The Watchdog: posted on 4 March 2011 at 5:01 pm

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