Open mike 05/04/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 5th, 2022 - 176 comments
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176 comments on “Open mike 05/04/2022 ”

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    • Ad 1.1
      5 April 2022 at 8:03 am

      Well you only have until June 30th to figure if that is true.

      How much of your own money will you put on that trade? You'd make George Soros' trade against the Pound look like a Harry Potter production.

  2. Jenny how to get there 2
    5 April 2022 at 7:14 am

    '

    "…it's the challenge that defines my generation.

    This is my generation's nuclear-free moment and I am determined that we will tackle it head on." New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/jacinda-arderns-rallying-cry-climate-change-the-nuclear-free-moment-of-her-generation/6LEDCNATMAFX2PWA3GHNLK7NUU/

    Our 'Nuclear Free Moment' is upon us. We have three years to start lowering our emissions before the bomb goes off.

    Instead of trying to defuse the bomb, we have been setting the timer.

    Global emissions must peak in just three years to stay below 1.5°C

    A major report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that the window for avoiding more than 1.5°C of global warming has almost closed, with immediate and drastic cuts the only way to stay below the target

    Adam Vaughn – New Scientist, 4 April 2022

    Scientists say rapid, deep cuts to greenhouse gas emissions can still keep the world’s target of holding global warming to 1.5°C within reach, but humanity’s emissions must peak within just three years to avoid breaching the important limit.,,,

    ….how societies can meet that tight “carbon budget” require emissions to peak by 2025, before falling 43 per cent by 2030 on 2019 levels. That would require a gargantuan political effort,

    Read more: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2314731-global-emissions-must-peak-in-just-three-years-to-stay-below-1-5c/#ixzz7PVG3ouWL

    Despite the Prime Minister's words, New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions are not falling, they are not even staying steady, they are increasing.

    Let me repeat that. New Zealand's greenhouse emissions are increasing.

    We are not defusing the bomb, we are setting the timer.

    Where is that gargantuan political effort?

    • Ad 2.1
      5 April 2022 at 8:04 am

      Are you aware of what is being launched in New Zealand in May this year?

      • roy cartland 2.1.1
        5 April 2022 at 9:51 am

        Wouldn't hurt to say once again what you're referring to (not just because some of don't know, but to keep it in the current consciousness).

      • Robert Guyton 2.1.2
        5 April 2022 at 11:22 am

        “Our climate targets are not optional, they are critical – the Emissions Reduction Plan will set out how we are going to achieve them, and what we must all do to make it happen.

        “There are those who will try and tell you, when it comes to climate change, New Zealand is too small to be counted – this report should well and truly dispel us of that notion. We are part of the problem and we must be part of the solution,” the Minister said."

        https://insidegovernment.co.nz/climate-change-report-calls-for-urgent-action/

      • Jenny how to get there 2.1.3
        6 April 2022 at 5:36 am

        Ad

        5 April 2022 at 8:04 am

        Are you aware of what is being launched in New Zealand in May this ?

        I am aware it will not be a gargantuan effort.

        I am aware that it will not stop our emissions increasing.

        I am aware that 'it', climate change, will NOT be something we will "tackle head on".

        I am aware that coal will still be mined and exported from this country.

        I am aware that Huntly Coal Fired Power Station will still remain operating.

        I am aware that green house emitting companies like Air New Zealand and Comalco will still continue to receive government subsidies.

        I am aware that the price of fossil fuels will not have to take into account the price of their emissions. This cost to be loaded on to future generations.

        I am aware that things will be the same the day after the May climate change launch as they were the day before the climate change launch.

        I am aware no leadership will be taken.

        I am aware that despite our government's overwhelming majority in the house of representatives, not one single concrete enforceable piece of legislation will be passed to actually reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. And that our Greenhouse gas emissions will keep on increasing. Because, Y'know 'consensus'.

        I am aware that Blah, Blah, Blah, will be the rule and not the exception.

    • mikesh 2.2
      5 April 2022 at 8:40 am

      It's time, I think, to start rationing gasoline and diesel.

      • Ad 2.2.1
        5 April 2022 at 9:07 am

        Price is a pretty big rationing all by itself.

        • Anne 2.2.1.1
          5 April 2022 at 9:46 am

          Does anyone here have a hybrid car? I had my snazzy little Toyota Vitz stolen on Friday. Do they make a hybrid version? Are they more expensive and whereabouts in Auckland would they be available? Used of course. Can't afford a new car.

          Thanks in advance if anyone can assist me.

          • Francesca 2.2.1.1.1
            5 April 2022 at 10:50 am

            Bugger Anne! thats terrible for you.

            I have a Toyota Aqua that's really cheap to run .Would be great in a town situation .If I don't have to make the 2 hour trip into the city, I usually spend currently about $15 a week on petrol.

            • Anne 2.2.1.1.1.1
              5 April 2022 at 11:55 am

              It happened in the early hours Friday morning – the day I had been cleared to start driving again after knee op. Car had been sitting in garage unused for six weeks and the garage is invisible from the road.

              Prowlers have been prowling?

              Yes you’re right. Mine was very economical to run.

              • Francesca …
                5 April 2022 at 12:30 pm

                I hope you get another car soon and can put that nasty shock behind you

                All the best

          • Macro 2.2.1.1.2
            5 April 2022 at 1:03 pm

            Yes I have a hybrid. Cut down my emissions by half. And extremely reliable. Only tyres and regular service in the 5 years of ownership. Best car ever and that includes a number of expensive European cars. Toyota make a hybrid corolla and the aqua. My next car. Full electric does not have the range I need here. Apart from the expensive tesla.

            • Anne 2.2.1.1.2.1
              5 April 2022 at 1:56 pm

              Thanks for that Macro. Will certainly look into it. Price is a big consideration but I should like to do my bit to reduce emissions.

              Yesterday around 3 pm I went for a walk to my local shopping precinct. Passed 3 schools on the way. A grammar school, intermediate and primary. I was staggered! SUV after SUV plus a few 4WD’s were parked along the roads – all of them with their motors running. It was a hot day too. I estimate there was around 30 to 40 of them and that might be an underestimate. I wanted to pull those entitled mums out of their cars and give them right bollocking. angry

      • Poission 2.2.2
        5 April 2022 at 11:32 am

        The government should be implementing both a fuel and energy conservation campaign.With the former we will struggle to maintain our existing current account deficit,and there are significant shortages in distillates especially jet fuel and diesel.A good example of bad timing for shutting the refinery down.Diesel is in global shortage.

        https://twitter.com/JavierBlas/status/1511079032330326019?cxt=HHwWhsC42faXt_gpAAAA

        Electricity is at the security warning stage,with low hydro and wind,and only coal sustaining continuity of supply and whose price is also upsiding (australian coal exports will be north of 150 billion this year and their current account surplus at record levels)

        https://www.transpower.co.nz/sites/default/files/interfaces/can/CAN%20Southland%20security%20issues%20and%20request%20for%20information%204289359753.pdf

      • foreign waka 2.2.3
        5 April 2022 at 12:46 pm

        If you do the economy would shrink substantially and the ones that suffer most will be all those who are on the bottom of the heap so to speak.

        I think a lot of the consequences are being silenced, opening the door for more state control.

        At the same time no one is making any suggestion what to do with those 3 – 4 million cars running on conventional fuel. Just discard them onto a deserted field? Or the ocean? Down a bank? You can drive to the landscape and find plenty of unwanted wrecks.

        Have any of those who have the great ideas ever considered to look at means converting existing cars to hydrogen or other fuels? Maybe all those billionaires who have profited from the oil boom can finance that (year right Tui). It would be a small contribution to make good on the damage on which they earned their fortune.

        And just to make clear, NZ has no public transport to speak off to maintain a daily routine for its workers whose income will never be enough to afford these cars. Either several billion dollars are being invested in the network or alternative fuels are being made available.

        As for electric cars, they are not affordable for most average wage earners.

        And of cause there is the issue of the batteries. NZ has neither the skills nor the means of recycling that needs different processes for different types.

        So another very very dirty disposal of DG material in the landscape?

        How do you reconcile all of this and what are the plans to implement other then to hand more money to the rich?

        https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56574779

        "EV batteries are larger and heavier than those in regular cars and are made up of several hundred individual lithium-ion cells, all of which need dismantling. They contain hazardous materials, and have an inconvenient tendency to explode if disassembled incorrectly.

        https://www.science.org/content/article/millions-electric-cars-are-coming-what-happens-all-dead-batteries

        EV BATTERIES are constructed a bit like nested dolls. Typically, a main pack holds several modules, each of which is constructed from numerous smaller cells (see graphic, below). Inside each cell, lithium atoms move through an electrolyte between a graphite anode and a cathode sheet composed of a metal oxide. Batteries are usually defined by the metals in the cathode. There are three main types: nickel-cobalt-aluminum, iron-phosphate, and nickel-manganese-cobalt.

  4. SPC 4
    5 April 2022 at 8:13 am

    A look at the three options left to Putin.

    • Withdraw to Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea and negotiate a cease fire.
    • Stall, slow the war down and concentrate forces in Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea.
    • Escalate, declare war and mobilise the entire Russian war machine.

    https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/04/05/guest-blog-ben-morgan-dont-get-excited-yet-there-is-a-long-way-to-go-and-we-need-more-information-about-russian-capabilities/

    • tsmithfield 4.1
      5 April 2022 at 9:24 am

      It looks like the withdrawal by the Russians has been rushed and chaotic. From the images that have been seen on the news, the Russians have been heavily attacked as they withdrew, and it looks like there are pockets left behind that may well end up as POWs.

      https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/breaking-down-the-withdrawal-of-russian-troops-from-northern-ukraine-136924741962

      https://news.yahoo.com/national-security-military-analyst-putin-182758848.html

      The battle looks likely to move to the east. However, I have seen other reports that the Russians soon may run into difficulty there as temperatures are increasing, rain is forecast, and the whole area could become very muddy and difficult to manoeuvre their heavy weapons into.

      Also, it looks like NATO is moving to supply heavier, more offensive weapons to Ukraine.

      https://www.businessinsider.com/us-germany-australia-to-send-ukraine-more-offensive-heavy-weapons-2022-4

      Along with all the anti-tank and anti-aircraft munitions that have been helping the Ukranians defend expertly, the addition of heavier weapons may well swing the balance of the conflict in their favour.

      • SPC 4.1.1
        5 April 2022 at 9:34 am

        Such weaponry being moved east will be a target for the Russian air force, so moving it should occur after advanced forces are in place with stingers on aircraft flight paths first (to take down aircraft before they can attack).

        • tsmithfield 4.1.1.1
          5 April 2022 at 9:45 am

          Yes. I think they are getting more long range anti-aircraft systems as well. I hope they NATO bends and supplies them with more planes. Anti-artillary systems, and a lot more than 100 switchblade drones would make a major difference as well. Anti-ship missiles could be a game changer as a lot of cruise missiles are fired from Russian ships.

          A big concern I have for them is that, as they fight further east, the logistic problems that have plagued the Russians could start becoming an issue for the Ukranians. So, will be interesting to see how they handle that.

          I understand the Ukranian army now has more tanks than they had at the start of the war due to captured equipment from the Russians. An advantage for them is that they use the same sort of equipment as the Russians, so anything they capture they can put back into immediate service and attack the Russians with their own equipment.

          I think one of their main advantages is that they are not so dependent on heavy armour, and are able to attack in small groups that are very impactful with Javelin missiles and the like. This makes them much harder to deal with is they are harder to see. Also, the weather is soon moving into the Ukranians favour.

          If Russian tanks etc are forced onto roads they are going to be major targets for the Ukranian Bayraktar drones which are highly effective and help equalise the air power imbalance.

          • SPC 4.1.1.1.1
            5 April 2022 at 10:01 am

            Yeah a lot of off road vehicles with drones and missiles

            • tsmithfield 4.1.1.1.1.1
              5 April 2022 at 10:08 am

              One of the things in favour of the Ukrainians in the north is that there is a lot of forest cover that has enabled the Ukranians to be very effective in setting up ambushes.

              I saw a video about the 40km Russian convoy that was stalled. Apparently that was stopped in its tracks by a team of about 30 Ukranians on quad bikes who ambushed the front vehicles of the convoy by riding through forest. They the helped co-ordinate continuing drone strikes on the convoy that was basically paralyzed for a few weeks.

              A problem for the Ukranians in the east is that the terrain is much more favourable towards tanks in that it has a lot more open, flat areas of ground. So could be more difficult for them to deal with the Russians there.

              That is where the weather may help. If the ground becomes very slushy as predicted, then the open areas may not benefit the Russians so much.

              • SPC …
                5 April 2022 at 10:26 am

                They would have to move at night .. and hide in barns while securing "pits/tunnel outlets to operate from.

                The Russians will wait for summer – so this is a long game.

        • Tricledrown 4.1.1.2
          5 April 2022 at 12:04 pm

          Russian aircraft have low accuracy older technology.

          Pilots have had free reign up until the Ukraine.Raining bombs down on chechnia and Syria with no opposition.

          Now they are getting shot out of the sky,Morale will be waning just like the ground troops.

          Hunger and desperation at home will be another morale sapping indignation.

          Afghanistan lead to the break up of the Soviet Union.This could be an end for Putin.All that is needed is a General to turn the Russian military on Putin like what happened to Yeltsin a Drunk.Putin Drunk on power will be going into deep hiding maybe making the task easier for some up an coming Secret agent.

  5. aj 5
    5 April 2022 at 8:34 am

    A short summary of an interview with Alain Juillet, former head of France's intelligence services DGSE, on the origins of the war.

    He says everyone saw the Ukraine war coming, that "only those who know nothing about this matter can say it was a surprise"…

    He says "the French, the Germans, the Russians and the Ukrainians signed the Minsk agreements in 2014 but the Ukrainians didn't respect the agreement during the entire period since. And the Russians were telling us all the time to get them to respect the agreement but we didn't."

    He says it's unacceptable to invade a country but he also says that "we are co-responsible for it."

    https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1510495717520928772.html

    • joe90 5.1
      5 April 2022 at 9:13 am

      Alain Juillet is an old time "Gaulliste",

      He was also a pro Kremlin pro Poots talking head on RT, a former para-military and one-time leader of the DGSE, the French spook outfit with a shit-list as long as your arm.

      The DGSE were responsible for the murder of Fernando Pereira, too.

    • SPC 5.2
      5 April 2022 at 9:25 am

      Directors of the DGSE

      Pierre Marion (17 June 1981 – 10 November 1982)

      Adm. Pierre Lacoste (10 November 1982 – 19 September 1985)

      Gen. René Imbot (20 September 1985 – 1 December 1987)

      Gen. François Mermet (2 December 1987 – 23 March 1989)

      Claude Silberzahn (23 March 1989 – 7 June 1993)

      Jacques Dewatre (7 June 1993 – 19 December 1999)

      Jean-Claude Cousseran (19 December 1999 – 24 July 2002)

      Pierre Brochand (24 July 2002 – 10 October 2008)

      Erard Corbin de Mangoux (10 October 2008 – 10 April 2013)

      Bernard Bajolet (10 April 2013 – 27 April 2017)

      Jean-Pierre Palasset (interim) (27 April 2017 – 26 June 2017)

      Bernard Émié (26 June 2017 – present)

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directorate-General_for_External_Security

    • Adrian Thornton 5.3
      5 April 2022 at 9:29 am

      @aj…, now why isn't that sort of important context carried as a MSM news story?…why wouldn't our state owned news outlet, RNZ, strive to keep the NZ public fully informed with stories, information and news from every angle possible…so the NZ public could eventually form a coherent picture with that information…but no, RNZ will only deliver one view and one view only,.

      RNZ are a disgrace to their trade, but worse, misinform the NZ public…..non-reporting of facts is exactly the same as reporting misinformation…and that is a fact.

      • SPC 5.3.1
        5 April 2022 at 9:48 am

        For his part, Lavrov described the talks as open and useful but he accused NATO of working against Russia. He reiterated Moscow's position that it had "never threatened the Ukrainian people" and had no plans to attack Ukraine.

        He also accused the Ukrainian government of using "state terrorism" against the rebels in the east and "sabotaging" the Minsk peace agreements on the conflict there.

        https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/459976/ukraine-tension-us-and-russia-hold-frank-talks

      • Stuart Munro 5.3.2
        5 April 2022 at 11:21 am

        Well, if you are concerned with the facts, and not merely the Kremlin feed, you might want to make some use of Meduza. Reporting on Russia, by Russian reporters.

        • Adrian Thornton 5.3.2.1
          5 April 2022 at 12:13 pm

          Come on man…that is not what any sane, thinking, serious person would regard as balanced reporting…do you even know what balanced reporting is or looks like?..because from were I am sitting it doesn't appear that you do.

          • Corey Humm 5.3.2.1.1
            5 April 2022 at 5:04 pm

            Do you? Reporting that goes against your confirmation bias is not journalistic malpractice.

          • Stuart Munro 5.3.2.1.2
            5 April 2022 at 5:43 pm

            It must be said that your idea of "Balanced Reporting" appears to be confined to the propaganda organs of the Russian state, and a handful of dubious sites like Craig Murray or Consortium News. So clearly you don't meet any of the criteria you set: sane, thinking, or serious.

            It seems to be all a joke to you, the constant lying of the Russian state. Meduza is a group of Russian journalists who risk their lives to bring you the truth – but you prefer Putin's lies. People with long familiarity with this culture of dishonesty (and yes, that includes me) do not hurry to swallow Russian disinformation.

            Here a retired Estonian president, intimately familiar with this dishonesty, explains it, for folk like you, who clearly are not.

      • aj 5.3.3
        5 April 2022 at 7:55 pm

        Adrian, as you should be well aware NZ dances almost entirely to the 5eyes tune, 99% of reporting. Select any one days of headlines from the last month and find any story questioning the narratives.

  6. Adrian Thornton 6
    5 April 2022 at 9:07 am

    Here is an interesting piece from Consortium News on the alleged ‘Russian’ massacre in Bucha, it is well worth a read.

    Questions Abound About Bucha Massacre
    https://consortiumnews.com/2022/04/04/questions-abound-about-bucha-massacre/

    Western media is proving itself again quite incapable of giving citizens anything near a clear, balanced view of yet another important world event…although this I have to say they are really out doing themselves..now they (RNZ being one of the worst local offenders) are just pumping our straight propaganda without even trying to hide their extreme hawkish basis or pretending to offer even the slightest hint of balance in any of their coverage….though we should remember that this unhinged, dangerous and extremely vocal anti Russia propaganda has been being spewed out by all our press, and by all leading US politicians/pentagon without letup for five or six years now….and then we wonder why the Russians are paranoid of their boarders?

    • SPC 6.1
      5 April 2022 at 9:28 am

      Ukrainians are not boarders, they are citizens of a nation state and have the right to life and liberty and private property ownership.

      PS Property looted in Ukraine is being sold in Byelorussia by Russian troops when they arrive.

      • aom 6.1.1
        5 April 2022 at 9:58 am

        Pedantic prick – you knew exactly what Adrian meant!

        Now where is the evidence of your accusation, "Property looted in Ukraine is being sold in Byelorussia by Russian troops when they arrive."

        [Why don’t you count to 10 and calm down before you hit the Reply button – Incognito]

      • joe90 6.1.2
        5 April 2022 at 10:02 am

        First as tragedy, then as farce

        The destruction can still be seen several weeks later. "They even plundered the second-hand clothing store," scoffs a resident who returned after the town was liberated. "Was that the plan? Invade the place to make off with used clothing? We would have been happy to just send it to them."

        https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/liberated-from-the-russians-a-visit-to-trostyanets-after-the-end-of-the-occupation-a-c088be53-5f6c-4059-8d46-68803276e473

      • Francesca 6.1.3
        5 April 2022 at 10:31 am

        The Ukrainians aren't so interested in the sanctity of private property ownership when it comes to their own "boarders " however

        President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law on the forced seizure of the property of the Russian Federation and its residents in Ukraine

        https://24.kg/english/227019__Volodymyr_Zelensky_signs_law_on_forced_seizure_of_Russias_property/

        • SPC 6.1.3.1
          5 April 2022 at 10:34 am

          On March 3, the Parliament supported a bill on the forced seizure in Ukraine of objects of property rights of the Russian Federation and its citizens

          • Francesca 6.1.3.1.1
            5 April 2022 at 10:55 am

            within Ukraine.

            That would be like seizing the private property of UK citizens in New Zealand who are resident in NZ

          • Francesca 6.1.3.1.2
            5 April 2022 at 11:04 am

            The Verkhovna Rada has approved a law providing for the nationalization of the property of Russian citizens, as well as Ukrainian citizens who publicly deny the war.

            The document clarifies that residents of Russia (except for legal entities) are also citizens of Russia, as well as persons who are not citizens but have the closest connection with Russia: those who reside or are engaged in major activities there.

            https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3445822-ukrainian-parliament-approves-nationalization-of-property-of-russian-citizens.html

            5th April , things have moved on

            • Sanctuary 6.1.3.1.2.1
              5 April 2022 at 12:13 pm

              Country at war seizes the property of it's enemy. Shock, horror, hold the presses.

              Heard of the Pamir?

              Your grovelling apologia for Russia does you no favours.

              • Francesca …
                5 April 2022 at 12:51 pm

                You missed the bit where Ukrainian citizens also can have their property confiscated.Ah, the sanctity of private property.Ukraine seems to be full of traitors, from the Ukrainian negotiator who was assassinated to the Ukrainian Generals removed from their posts

                • Sanctuary …
                  5 April 2022 at 1:24 pm

                  Post WW2 most European countries de facto seized the assets of their respective Quislings, collaborators and traitors with a combination of some or all of imprisonment, fines, stripping of civil rights, outright seizure and summary or judicial execution.

                  Woe is the fate of traitors in war.

                • roblogic …
                  5 April 2022 at 2:38 pm

                  This has to be one of the stupidest threads I have seen on TS. Are you seriously complaining that Ukraine is not respecting property rights when their cities are being flattened and citizens murdered in the street, by an invader intent on stealing as much territory as possible???!!!

                  • ozaki …
                    5 April 2022 at 2:51 pm

                    Yes, she/he certainly seems to be.

                    • Francesca …
                      5 April 2022 at 3:20 pm

                      Ukraine historically has a Russian population of 17%.Its like declaring war on almost a fifth of your population 'Oh wait , they already did, been bombing and killing them since early 2014 , for 8 years straight

                    • McFlock …
                      5 April 2022 at 3:32 pm

                      You know what's actually "like" declaring war? Invading a country with a couple hundred thousand troops after annexing some of its territory for 8 years..

    • The Al1en 6.2
      5 April 2022 at 9:49 am

      Even though the author of your link does state

      It is possible that on Saturday the full extent of the horror had yet to emerge

      It's correct, until absolute verification either way, the possibility of fakes should be explored. After all, the Ukrainians could have shot those civilians or driven over them in tanks themselves or taken dead soldiers, put them in civvies, and made them up to look like old men and women.

      • Sabine 6.2.1
        5 April 2022 at 10:01 am

        Or they could have shot traitors and collaborators and left them.

        Fact is we actually don't know what happened and should wait.

        • The Al1en 6.2.1.1
          5 April 2022 at 10:04 am

          Or given men surgery to make them look like old ladies lying next to their supposed dead husbands.

          Absolutely right to keep an open mind.

          • Sabine 6.2.1.1.1
            5 April 2022 at 10:24 am

            Yes, this could have been staged. It could have been indeed, so that is why it is best to wait to see what comes out from it. It would not be the first time that terrible people get accused of something they did not do, and years later it was found out.

            The Katyn Massacre comes to mind. https://www.britannica.com/event/Katyn-Massacre

            There are no winners in war, only losers and dead people.

        • Francesca 6.2.1.2
          5 April 2022 at 10:38 am

          Snap Sabine .

          Such is the hatred of Russians or suspected Russian sympathisers , and the hunt for Russian "saboteurs"that we can't know until a proper independent investigation is done.If this is not done, one would have to ask why?

          https://www.npr.org/2022/03/15/1086733790/on-the-hunt-for-russian-saboteurs

          It's very easy to ascertain time of death for instance, or whether bodies have been shifted.

          From another angle, the arming of civilians , as Zelensky enabled, was in my opinion a totally dumb move, putting untrained civilians in harms way .Does a civilian shooting at a soldier become a combatant?

          • Sanctuary 6.2.1.2.1
            5 April 2022 at 12:55 pm

            God, the idiocy, it hurts.

            1 – The Russians invaded the Ukraine in an unprovoked war of aggression. This is in itself is the highest of war crimes. Wars of aggression have been recognised as crimes since the Treaty of Versailles, and international agreements outlawing them have existed since at least the 1920s. THE VERY FIRST ARTICLE of the UN Charter declares the UN exists to "…for the suppression of acts of aggression…" All and any war crimes related to a war of aggression are therefore by definition also crimes of the perpetrating nation.

            2 – The definition of a combatant in international law is hardly a secret, the Geneva conventions define a combatant as "…members of national armed forces or organized groups placed under the effective control of those forces…" Therefore Ukrainian territorial defense forces – even if in civilian clothing – are combatants. And combatants are, at least notionally, protected by the protocals of the Geneva convention – which, I guess I need to spell out, includes not being shot in the back of the head whilst tied up.

            3- satellite imagery shows mass graves and bodies in Bucha as far back as three weeks ago, why do you think Biden called Putin a war criminal last week? The United States has better satellites than Maxar, they would have known – as an aside on Morning Report today Nanaia Mahuta mentioned NZ had been "helping" in the collecting of evidence – an oblique reference IMHO to our role in the five eyes network.

            4 – If your army have just liberated a town and are chasing the enemy, don't you think they'd have more imprtant things to do (like, say, killing Russian soldiers) than conduct an elaborate exercise in fabricating a massacre?

            Seriously, you insult my intelligence.

          • joe90 6.2.1.2.2
            5 April 2022 at 1:14 pm

            a totally dumb move, putting untrained civilians in harms way

            And dispatching untrained civilians to a mechanised war?

            A battalion of volunteers is being formed in North Ossetia to take part in a special military operation in Ukraine. Recruitment takes place on the basis of DOSAAF.

            As the director of DOSAAF, MP Boris Kantemirov, told OsNova, for volunteers, this is an opportunity to go to Ukraine within the framework of the law and rules.

            “There is an opportunity for people who want to go there, so that they are not on their own, but have an official status. We have a mechanism that will allow us to bring all this under control, so that everything is correct, without spontaneity and in an organizational form. At the same time, the presence of military service behind the shoulders of volunteers is not a prerequisite. We understand that today not everyone has military tickets,” Kantemirov said.

            There are a lot of applicants, he says. Many have already gone.

            “Everyone understands that this is not just a war in Ukraine, but a war of the whole world against Russia. A lot of people have already left.”

            The head of the republican branch of DOSAAF noted that the organization will play a filtering role when recruiting volunteers. Lists of those wishing to take part in a special operation in Ukraine will be transferred to the military registration and enlistment office.

            https://osnova-news.translate.goog/n/14573/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

            • Francesca 6.2.1.2.2.1
              5 April 2022 at 1:53 pm

              They're not civilians

              They're forming a volunteer militia , just like Zelensky called for, (but later cancelled as the quality of recruits was so low)

              They'll be filtered and assessed and placed under the supervision of regular military

              That a far cry from the babushka being trained with wooden rifles by Azov in Kiev, and just opening up the armory for anyone to grab a gun, along with released criminals.

            • SPC 6.2.1.2.2.2
              5 April 2022 at 1:53 pm

              The mobilisation of such groups indicates Putin's concern about the demographics of ethnic Russia, whose expendable …

            • McFlock 6.2.1.2.2.3
              5 April 2022 at 1:59 pm

              Things are fucked up for the Russians if the invading army is bothering to take hastily-recruited civilians.

          • Francesca 6.2.1.2.3
            5 April 2022 at 8:25 pm

            In the liberated city of Bucha, Kyiv region, special units of the National Police of Ukraine began clearing the area of ​​saboteurs and accomplices of Russian troops.

            This was reported on Facebook by the National Police of Ukraine.

            https://www.unian.ua/war/bucha-u-zvilnenomu-misti-rozpochali-zachistku-teritoriji-vid-diversantiv-ta-rosiyskih-posobnikiv-novini-kiyeva-11770498.html

      • Adrian Thornton 6.2.2
        5 April 2022 at 10:05 am

        @The Al1en…"It's correct, until absolute verification either way, the possibility of fakes should be explored"….exactly right, you would think any responsible media outlet would take that statement of your as a given…but as they all seem to believe that they themselves (the western media) are now at war with Russia, by extension, everything they say is now highly suspect.

        • The Al1en 6.2.2.1
          5 April 2022 at 10:16 am

          And as independent verification comes through, debunking the 'fake' narrative, I'd expect any media reporting it will be cancelled outright.

          • Adrian Thornton 6.2.2.1.1
            5 April 2022 at 1:57 pm

            I don't understand what your reply is inferring…please explain?

        • roblogic 6.2.2.2
          5 April 2022 at 12:20 pm

          Disinformation 101. KGB are past masters. Nothing Russia says is reliable in the slightest.

          https://twitter.com/KT_So_It_Goes/status/1510958783455023110?s=20&t=y2EOoZXxzN8e8eAU1VLvnQ

          • Adrian Thornton 6.2.2.2.1
            5 April 2022 at 1:42 pm

            @ roblogic…thanks, Micheal Tracy really hits the nail on the head at the bottom of that twitter link…..

            "Call it "whataboutism," I don't care: it's impossible to take seriously this sudden newfound concern for "war crimes" coming from some of the same exact people who never gave a crap about similar or worse "crimes" committed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, etc."

            • Stuart Munro 6.2.2.2.1.1
              5 April 2022 at 2:29 pm

              That would be because your concern relates to superpower regimes, not the populations suffering the atrocities. Thus you could exculpate Assad for instance, for his activities against Aleppo, by claiming a parallel with US behaviour in Iraq, which the Left also strongly condemned.

              Laws, as Solon noted, are like spider webs: "If some poor weak creature comes up against them, it is caught; but a big one can break through and get away.”

              It is difficult to bring a Bush fils or a Putin to justice. Assad is easier prey.

              Prosecuting the Assads makes it easier to bring the Bushes and Putins to justice – we don’t let them off the hook just because some other villains are momentarily out of reach.

              • Adrian Thornton …
                5 April 2022 at 10:31 pm

                "It is difficult to bring a Bush fils or a Putin to justice. Assad is easier prey.Prosecuting the Assads makes it easier to bring the Bushes and Putins to justice"….wow you really are living in a fantasy world over there pal…Bushes, Putins never get brought to justice, end of story.

                • Stuart Munro …
                  6 April 2022 at 6:13 am

                  Oh – okay so they should just carry on murdering then?

                  If you cannot envisage or work toward a better future, why bother pretending Left values?

            • roblogic 6.2.2.2.1.2
              5 April 2022 at 2:29 pm

              That pathetic argument is just as hopeless as all your other twists of reality. There have been many condemnations of various American misadventures on this site and other left wing outlets. The MSM happened to ignore them for its own reasons.

              Criticism of Russia doesn’t make all media American shills.

              • Adrian Thornton …
                5 April 2022 at 3:26 pm

                "The MSM happened to ignore them for its own reasons"…but do run Ukrainian news 24/7…and that doesn't ring even just a small alarm bell somewhere down deep in that highly repressed critical thinking part of your brain?

            • higherstandard 6.2.2.2.1.3
              5 April 2022 at 5:51 pm

              I am drawn to this australian gentleman's considered opinion on the matter



              [Stupid embedded YT clip converted to link to stupid YT clip and I almost deleted the whole stupid thing – Incognito]

            • aj 6.2.2.2.1.4
              5 April 2022 at 7:59 pm

              "Call it "whataboutism"

              Whataboutism" – a term created to extract western warmongers from the difficult position of having done All The Bad Things they accuse others of doing. When someone uses it on you, it means you just killed their argument and exposed their moral bankruptcy.

      • aom 6.2.3
        5 April 2022 at 10:07 am

        OK – it is from RT which the critics will decry and the commentary is from Scott Ritter whose background has been attacked ever since he was removed from Iraq so that the team he was with didn't compromise yet another US war of choice but this may interest you The Al1en

        https://www.rt.com/russia/553293-bucha-war-crimes-truth/

        • roblogic 6.2.3.1
          5 April 2022 at 12:25 pm

          Seen the video of ordinary Russians and the hatred they have for Ukrainians? It is disturbing. The slur "Khokhol" is common. Similar to the dehumanising language employed by N*zis during the Holocaust.

    • Francesca 6.4
      5 April 2022 at 12:33 pm

      The woman who appeared on our screens being helped from the bombed maternity hospital speaks out

      https://thegrayzone.com/2022/04/03/testimony-mariupol-hospital-ukrainian-deceptions-media-malpractice/

    • Stuart Munro 6.5
      5 April 2022 at 5:50 pm

      From your link:

      All Russian units completely withdrew from Bucha on March 30, and ‘not a single local resident was injured’ during the time when Bucha was under the control of Russian troops,” the Russian MOD said in a post on Telegram.

      Aerial and satellite photos of the bodies give the lie to that whopper. Satellite images show bodies in Bucha for weeks, rebutting Moscow claim (france24.com)

      How many such disproofs will it take for you to treat propaganda sites like Consortium News with a healthy scepticism? We do not call you Putin dupes idly, or to provoke you, but because that is what you have allowed yourselves to become.

  7. joe90 7
    5 April 2022 at 9:43 am

    State owned media are on the job.

    The Bandera elite must be liquidated, its re-education is impossible. The social "bog", which actively and passively supported it by action and inaction, must survive the hardships of the war and assimilate the experience as a historical lesson and atonement for its guilt.

    https://ria.ru/20220403/ukraina-1781469605.html

    google translate

    • tsmithfield 7.1
      5 April 2022 at 10:28 am

      Anyone who wants to believe the Kremlin line that the atrocities in Bucha and similar needs to watch this video:

      Key points are:

      1. Well recognised independent journalists who have documented previous war crimes (including those by the US) have been investigating and reporting these incidents. These journalists were travelling with Ukranian forces when they arrived on the scene.

      2. Family members of those killed (including elderly people) have been giving their stories about what happened. They would hardly be so forthright and compelling if the Ukranians had actually done the killing. For example, there was a report on TV1 news last night about a woman who had to bury her own son who was shot by the Russians.

      3. This sort of behaviour is very typical of Putin's MO as has been seen in other similar theatres of war such as Grozny.

  8. Puckish Rogue 8
    5 April 2022 at 9:57 am

    This is good news indeed, time to get a bit of balance back into social media platforms.

    Just a shame it took one man a whole bunch of money to do it but its a start.

    • Sabine 8.1
      5 April 2022 at 10:02 am

      Well a little bit of petty cash made him major stake holder.

      Not sure it will improve twitter.

      • Puckish Rogue 8.1.1
        5 April 2022 at 10:04 am

        Probably not but maybe it'll wake up Twatter a bit and not be so quick to hand out bans

        We need people like Elon Musk, people that can push humanity forward.

        • Sabine 8.1.1.1
          5 April 2022 at 10:08 am

          I don't think that will happen. Elon Musk is not pushing 'humanity' forward, he is pushing technology forward.

          • Puckish Rogue 8.1.1.1.1
            5 April 2022 at 10:14 am

            Same thing in his mind.

            Lots of people say about taking people into space, Elon made it happen.

            Its people like Elon that'll take us to the stars…well to the Moon but from there it'll be to the stars

            The guys a visionary that can make it happen

  9. Puckish Rogue 9
    5 April 2022 at 10:35 am

    Cricket, cricket, cricket!

    So the Boss departs the game and leaves a massive hole to fill, NZ cricket still can't find a another opener that can average above 30 and still seem to aghast at selecting a proper spinner

    Heres my selection for the NZ test team moving forward

    1. T Latham

    2. D. Conway (yeah its tough on Devon but Youngs going backwards)

    3. K Williamson (would have a word with him about bowler rotation and spinners)

    4. H. Nicholls

    5. W. Young (get his confidence back)

    6. C. De Grandhomme (RMF, batting all rounder and better test and FC average then Blundell has)

    7. T. Blundell (6 was a position to high)

    8. S. Kuggeleijn (RFM, bowling all rounder, FC batting average of 28, bowls with a bit of pace)

    9. N. Wagner (LMF, Iron Man, Lionheart, bowls with with broken bones, 'nuff said)

    10. T. Boult (LFM, destined to be NZs third best bowler)

    11. A. Patel (Spinner, ten wickets in an innings against India at home, 'nuff said)

    Tough on K Jamieson and T Southee but selectors have to make the big calls and we need someone that can do a bit of batting in the number 8 position and Jamieson isn't there yet

    • tsmithfield 9.1
      5 April 2022 at 10:56 am

      Jamieson can't be dropped, even if his from of late hasn't been quite as stellar as at the start.

      He has attributes that are rare to find in a bowler including his height, bounce, and ability to swing the ball both ways. He also has shown quite a bit of ability with the bat, and looks like it is an area that can be developed.

      I would have him instead of Kuggeleijn any day. Kuggeleijn is quite good, but not really much of a threat to international batsmen.

      Southee would be hard to drop given that he is still one of our best and most experienced performers. It would be hard to leave him out. I am not so sure about Boult these days. He doesn't seem to be the threat he once was.

      Our conditions here don't tend to favour spinners, which is a pity as it means our batsmen don't get to face quality spin that often. Pitches tend not to deteriorate enough for them to become a big factor in most games. And Wagner has tended to perform that role by providing a point of difference with his style, and his ability to bowl for long periods.

      One thing that annoys me is that Sodhi gets so little of a look in at test level. IMO that is a mistake. He can actually spin the ball, and seems to be improving with his consistency from what I have seen in the shorter formats. He also seems to have developed a nice flipper as a variation.

      A good leg spinner is a major asset to a side and tends to be much more threatening from a wicket-taking point of view. He also has a test 50, so can handle a bat OK.

      So far as Blundell goes, he has a test 100 against Australia as an opener. So, his batting can’t be too bad.

      • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1
        5 April 2022 at 11:19 am

        If it was just on bowling then sure it'd be Jamieson over Kuggeleijn but in the number 8 position you need to be able to provide consistent runs and Jamieson just can't do that yet

        He may be able to work on his batting but at the moment Kuggeleijn is the better batter so he gets the nod.

        Like I say its hard on Jamieson and Southee and conditions would certainly dictate who plays but at the moment it feels like the NZs plan of playing 4 seamers isn't working and teams are working out how to negate them

        As for conditions suiting spinners in NZ in the test series against SA, SA spinners took 6 wickets and Bangladesh spinners took 7 wickets

        I agree with your comments on Sohdi, it feels like NZ want another Vettori (who can blame them) a world class spinner that averages 40 at number 8 would certainly go a long way but at the moment it feels like they're trying force players into roles that aren't suitable

        Santner is a very good limited overs bowler and batter but he reminds me of the bits and pieces bowlers NZ used to select back in the 80s and 90s, can bowl a bit and bat a bit but thats about it

        Ravindra may turn into a very good number 5 or even opener but playing him as an all rounder makes no sense

        Heres Blundells FC and test average vs De Grandhommes FC and test average:

        https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/tom-blundell-440516
        https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/colin-de-grandhomme-55395

        • tsmithfield 9.1.1.1
          5 April 2022 at 11:55 am

          Here is Jamieson's test record:

          https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/kyle-jamieson-625960

          Note he does have a test 50 and an average of 23.40. So, that is a pretty good record for a number nine. His bowling average of 18.72 is better than Hadlee's.

          A couple of points about Kuggeleijn is that, firstly, he is quite old for a cricketer, nearly 31 now. So, not really a long term prospect, especially for a bowler. The other point is that he hasn't actually played a test. So, we don't know how his batting would perform against top level bowlers.

          I think a mistake we make too often is to try and have lots of all-rounders meaning we can't make enough impact in either the batting or bowling. So far as bowling goes, I think it is good to have one or two all-rounders but help the bowlers to improve their batting. Wagner has been a good example of that in recent times.

          No real argument about Blundell. Other than he seems to be a good back-foot player, and not so good against spin. That may explain why he got some good runs as an opener. Though opposition seemed to work out some of his technical weaknesses which he obviously needs to improve on.

          • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1.1.1
            5 April 2022 at 12:40 pm

            They're not batting him at 9 though he's batting in the 8 position and I'll wait to see if he equals Hadlees overall average

            Hadlee, Warner, Anderson etc might balk at the idea of 31 being too old, nutrition, training and rehabilitation means players can go on longer than before

            Sure he hasn't played a test but by that logic we wouldn't select anyone but we know he's scored 100s and 50s and averages high 20s

            • tsmithfield 9.1.1.1.1.1
              5 April 2022 at 2:18 pm

              True, but Hadlee et al had been in the respect national teams a long time before reaching a similar age.

              It takes time to build up the skills and guile. Southee is relying on those sort of skills now rather than pace. Long before Kuggeleijn reached that point he would likely have retired.

              I think when it gets to the 8-11 area of batting, then bowling should be the first skill, and batting can be worked on. Jamieson did start out as an opening batsman then developed into a bowler. So, his batting can't be too bad. And having someone with opening batting skills is quite handy at that point for coping with the second new ball.

              Sure, I know that Jamieson is only starting his career, and so comparisons with Hadlee are premature. But he didn't get to the point he is at now by being useless, and he has enough tests under his belt to show he is has the talent required.

              • tsmithfield …
                5 April 2022 at 2:40 pm

                The other thing I have heard commentators saying about Jamieson is that if you were to create the perfect fast bowler in a laboratory, then you would probably come out with something like Jamieson. The only addition would probably be 10k more in pace. Though he has been working on getting quicker and now is regularly in the mid 130k range, which, along with his bounce makes him a bit of a handful.

                • alwyn …
                  5 April 2022 at 4:19 pm

                  They already did that, several times, in the West Indies.

                  They started with Joel Garner and then improved the model with the pair of Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose. None of them were particularly fast though. Ambrose was probably the fastest with a maximum of about 140kph. Garner was lucky to get up to 125kph.

                  The problem with all of them was they were, like Jamieson, very tall. Walsh was the runt at 1.98m. With their height they could bowl a bouncer off a full length.

                  Now take any one of those three and tell me how you could improve the model?

                  • Puckish Rogue …
                    5 April 2022 at 5:12 pm

                    Improving Jamieson is easy, compare his accuracy to Joel Garners accuracy

                    Sandshoe crusher for the win!

              • Puckish Rogue …
                5 April 2022 at 3:10 pm

                You're aware that Kuggeleijn is in the team already?

                That hes played one day and T20 cricket for NZ

                What it comes down to me is this, Jamieson is not a test number 8 and since the departure of Watling we don't have the luxury of playing an extra bowler which is what Jamieson is at the moment

                Kuggeleijn is the superior batter, hes paid his dues and he'll shore up the batting a little

                If you want to make the argument of Jamieson over Wagner and play Jamieson at 9 then thats not a bad one to make but at the moment Jamieson is too high at 8

    • SPC 9.2
      5 April 2022 at 11:42 am

      Mitchell or Neesham at 6/7.

      Jamieson at 8.

      Wagner or quick or Henry.

      Sodhi (variation) or Patel (when a lot of overs likely) or Boult.

      Southee before Boult.

      • Puckish Rogue 9.2.1
        5 April 2022 at 11:51 am

        You'd drop De Grandhomme for Neesham or Mitchell?

        Jamieson isn't a good enough batter for number 8 and wheres the wicket keeper?

        I like Mitchell and I think he'd make a good number 6 but Williamson doesn't seem keen to use him as a bowler

        I'm not saying never use Southee or Henry or Jamieson again just that there'll need to be rotating and we need someone that can bat at number 8 (Doug Bracewell is another option)

        NZ can't keep playing 4 seamers in the same playing XI and expect the same results, a weakened SA and weakened Bangladesh just played out drawn test series with us at home

        • SPC 9.2.1.1
          5 April 2022 at 11:57 am

          Drop – well it's a matter of time – De G (36) and Wagner (35) are the older ones – time expiry.

          If Jamieson was at 9 in place of Wagner, there would be a spot for SK or DB at 8 while KJ's batting developed.

          But if KJ's batting improves a quick or Henry in place of Wagner.

          • Puckish Rogue 9.2.1.1.1
            5 April 2022 at 3:11 pm

            I mean sure De Grandhomme and Wagner are getting on but I'm not talking about the future, I'm talking about the next test

          • tsmithfield 9.2.1.1.2
            5 April 2022 at 3:22 pm

            I don't think a case can be made that Jamieson isn't good enough for a test number 8.

            Here are some comparative averages for other test number 8s after recent performances.

            Maharaj South Africa 14.72

            Stark Australia 22.84

            Ali Pakistan 25.37

            Woakes England 27.91

            De Silva WI 32.00 (although his last innings was a not out 100 and not many games before which boosted his average a lot; mow 640 runs total)

            The previous game the West Indies number 8 was Joseph at 14.29

            So, Jamieson at 23.40 is certainly in the range that would be expected.

            I did notice that Jamieson was getting into a bit of a tangle with the short ball in the games against South Africa. So, that is something he will need to work on and will likely be tested out on in future games.

            • Puckish Rogue 9.2.1.1.2.1
              5 April 2022 at 3:38 pm

              The problem is we've had Watling (average 40 at number 6 v Blundell average 14 at 6) retire, Taylor retired, Williamson injured and we can't find another opener to partner Latham

              Which means the top and middle order isn't settled and isn't producing as many runs as we'd like them to so we need to bat deeper

              That means the number 8 position becomes that much more an important batting position for NZ

              • tsmithfield …
                5 April 2022 at 3:47 pm

                So the problem is the top order not number 8. We won't win tests unless we take twenty wickets. So stacking a team with all rounders won’t win many tests.

                Will Young has a respectful average for an opener of 31.35, and seems to look very organised. He has only had nine tests, so a bit early to be drawing too many conclusions. His batting record here looks pretty reasonable:

                https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/547749.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting;view=innings

                The nature of opening the batting is that early failures happen reasonably frequently, especially in NZ where we have a lot of green tops. Look at Latham's record. He has had quite a few ups and downs as well, and in fact did worse than Young in the series against SA, but there is no thought of dropping him.

                https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/388802.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting;view=innings

                Opening has always been a problem for NZ which has made Williamson even more impressive as he often is in within the first ten overs.

                I tend to view opening partnerships as successful if they can last 20 overs. The runs and averages are not such an issue. It is all about setting a good foundation for batters to follow.

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  5 April 2022 at 3:55 pm

                  Cricinfo is good for the overall stats but Howstat is better for drilling into it:

                  http://howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Players/PlayerPositions.asp?PlayerID=5927

                  Young averages 27.82 when opening and that was after a decent start so hes going backwards and hes such a talent I don't want what happened to K Rutherford happening to Young

                  But yes I've posted on the difficulties of being a NZ opener before and as an idea heres Lathams performance by opponent:

                  http://howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Players/PlayerOpponents.asp?PlayerID=3932

                  Anything about 30 is good so hes not too bad at all

                  • tsmithfield …
                    5 April 2022 at 4:05 pm

                    As mentioned, Young has only had nine tests, so he is still learning his trade. I think focus and technique are the two important characteristics for an opening batsman. And, from what I have seen with Young, I think he has that. If he continues to apply himself with good technique then he should come right.

                    It will be interesting to see what they do for England. There is no way Jamieson will miss out going there (other than for being injured). As was shown in his last series there, he was lethal with the Dukes ball.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      5 April 2022 at 4:15 pm

                      No doubt he could but hes only recently started opening for CD (by choice or a word from the higher ups?) so hes not an opening batter by trade and I'd rather see him flourish in the troublesome number 5 position

                    • tsmithfield …
                      5 April 2022 at 4:26 pm

                      Neither was Mark Richardson. He started out as a spin bowler until he got the Yips, then he applied himself and became one of our best opening batsmen.

                      As I said, opening is all about temperament and technique. Time at the crease is of a lot more value than runs scored for openers IMO.

                      In fact, the number of overs an opener lasts for should be part of the important stats recorded alongside average.

                      And that is why I think averages are misleading in comparing batsmen. Compare say Williamson with Steve Smith. Smith has a much higher average, but how often does he come in within the first 10 overs given he bats and number 4 compared to Williamson at 3. And that the Australian openers give a much better platform. And how often is he playing in conditions like we have in New Zealand?

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      5 April 2022 at 5:09 pm

                      'Neither was Mark Richardson. He started out as a spin bowler until he got the Yips, then he applied himself and became one of our best opening batsmen.'

                      Thats not really applicable, heres a repost about how difficult it is to be an opener:

                      https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-06-03-2022/#comment-1871915

                      Now consider most of those were openers or top order batters, Mark Richardson is a NZ great but his example isn't really useful because he must have had almost superhuman powers of concentration to go from what he was to what he became

                      Don't get me wrong it'd be great to be proven wrong but I'd rather see opening batters encouraged rather than trying to manufacture an opening batter which, historically, will most likely fail as well as possibly ruin a very good middle order batter

  10. weka 10
    5 April 2022 at 11:18 am

    Thank fucking god. Kudos to the grassroots feminists in the UK for pushing until this happened. If you don’t know the issue, this is about the right of women to have single sex spaces eg rape crisis counselling, female only changing rooms, female only spaces, female only club and meetings.

    The obvious solution here for trans people is for society to provide parallel services that suit trans eg refuges for trans women. But not at the expense of women and rights and services we worked and fought so hard for.

    Afaik, NZ law should be interpreted in the same way but government and NGOs aren’t currently supporting this. Will need some test cases and good lawyers.

    https://twitter.com/wlaotearoa/status/1511108318672031747?s=21

    • Sabine 10.1
      5 April 2022 at 11:59 am

      What Lawyer would undertake this here in NZ? Do we have a MP equivalent to Joanna Cherry?

      Is one of the reason Govt are trying to merge trans and female into one so as to not having to provide funds for a different service? i.e. sport, public facilities, lit just a cheaper option and thus help establish a Unisex world? (Starship Troopers movie, shower scene comes to mind).

      Would Midrul Wadhwa actually want to run/establish a rape crisis centre for transwomen/transmen/non binary/others rather then the Rape Crisis Centre that they are currently manning? Or do they just want the job and pay that was usually a job for female only and set precedent?

      • Molly 10.1.1
        5 April 2022 at 12:14 pm

        I understand that women are organising in NZ, so we may see directed challenges to government, and public mainstream discussions.

        We'll see.

      • weka 10.1.2
        5 April 2022 at 12:31 pm

        Honestly, I see most of the problem in NZ is ideological and that trumps funding issues.

        TW like Wadhwa are colonisers, having parallel services doesn’t serve that. Hopefully other TW with different world view will come to the table.

        • Francesca 10.1.2.1
          5 April 2022 at 12:39 pm

          There are transwomen who are perfectly happy accepting they are not in fact biological women , and who do not expect to colonise women's spaces

          But there are also transwomen who are desperate to be seen as biological women, who insist that everyone around them see them as biological women, and who insist on access to women only spaces.Gender dysphoria is very real, but it's not up to women as a class to accomodate those suffering from it.

          • Visubversa 10.1.2.1.1
            5 April 2022 at 6:03 pm

            That is not so much "gender dysphoria" as autogynephilia. Those chaps get their jollies from requiring other people – mainly women, to accept them as women in every facet of womenhood. Their is nothing they will not fetishise and colonise from menstruation, lactation and pregnancy to crafting groups. They are the ones achieving their "gender euphoria" in the women's bathroom and sharing the video with their mates.

            • weka 10.1.2.1.1.1
              5 April 2022 at 6:57 pm

              are gender dysphoria and autogynephilia generally not found together?

              (am also curious how for men societal negative attitudes and trauma plays into gender dysphoria, thinking about that UK MP that just came out as trans because he has GD).

              • Visubversa …
                5 April 2022 at 8:06 pm

                AGP men will often claim dysphoria but as many of them do not undertake surgery or hormone treatment, there is a bit of a credibility gap. And in relation to the Conservative MP for Bridgend – there is obviously a new last refuge for scoundrels.

    • Molly 10.2
      5 April 2022 at 12:41 pm

      And over the pond, they're doubling down. Children and young people paying the cost.

      https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-early-trans-surgeries-hormones-are-crucial-for-kids-teens-who-identify-as-trans

      “Early” transgender surgeries, hormone treatment, and affirmations are “crucial” for the health of kids and teens who identify as transgender and nonbinary, President Joe Biden’s administration said in messaging released Thursday.

      • SPC 10.2.1
        5 April 2022 at 12:51 pm

        Er, not early surgeries surely – the best argument for hormone treatment/affirmation is time to consider such things. A classic case of taking sides and losing perspective.

        • Francesca 10.2.1.1
          5 April 2022 at 1:38 pm

          I think you mean puberty blockers don't you?And the jury's still out on possible harmful side effects from that treatment.

          Hormone treatment can be irreversible.Detransitioning transmen are stuck with the deep male voice for the rest of their lives

          • SPC 10.2.1.1.1
            5 April 2022 at 1:49 pm

            Yes. The thing being time to consider and think it all through. And operations on kids and maybe also teens is too early.

        • Molly 10.2.1.2
          5 April 2022 at 2:54 pm

          I don't know what your criteria of 'early' is.

          13 yr olds have received double mastectomies in the US. Actively marketed on various social media to teens. (In NZ, we provide access in teen years as part of our “affirming health care”)

          If your understanding that puberty blockers and cross sex hormones had clinical data to support their promotion as safe was erroneous, would you be concerned?

          Tiktok link for Dr Sidhbh Gallagher:

          https://www.tiktok.com/@gendersurgeon?lang=en

          Reddit thread by some her patients regarding after care and surgery problems. Won't post link, as a bit graphic. You can Google if you want more.

          PS. No evidential clinical data base has been created for drug protocol.

  11. Puckish Rogue 11
    5 April 2022 at 3:01 pm

    Hey Molly this might be of interest to you.

    The article on this woman was interesting so its basically the same thing except shes talking about it, for those who want to listen instead of reading

  12. tsmithfield 12
    5 April 2022 at 3:01 pm

    Satellite images appear to confirm bodies on the street of Bucha while the Russians were there.

    The article below allows comparison between images taken on February 28 and those taken on 19th of March.

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10685595/Russia-claims-evidence-war-crimes-Ukraine-staged-provocation-Kyiv-regime.html

  13. Tony Veitch (not etc.) 13
    5 April 2022 at 4:23 pm

    Fair Pay Agreements Act first reading introduced to parliament today.

    Holly molly, some of the speeches in support are actually 'inspiring!' Especially from Michael Wood and Jan Logie!

    National, as usual, arguing in favour of low wages!

    Incidentally, Jacinda wiped the floor with Luxon and Seymour during QT. They're no match for her, and Willis made no dent in Grant's grasp of his portfolio.

    Bring on the 2023 election!

    • Incognito 13.1
      5 April 2022 at 4:34 pm

      … and Willis made no dent in Grant’s grasp of his portfolio.

      I’d imagine that Grant would know his stuff reasonably well, but that doesn’t necessarily make it good stuff, does it? Was Willis playing the man or the ball?

      • Tony Veitch (not etc.) 13.1.1
        5 April 2022 at 4:47 pm

        She appeared to be 'playing' people who replied to the PM's facebook page – to the derision of members of the government. You know the preamble – 'what would he say to Sarah/Bill/Robert/Uncle Tom Cobbly and all . . . who said . . .

        Heh, Mallard 'fined' them 2 supplementary questions.

        • Incognito 13.1.1.1
          5 April 2022 at 5:10 pm

          Here’s the clip: https://ondemand.parliament.nz/parliament-tv-on-demand/?itemId=224245

          Not very strong questions and not very strong answers either; Grant seemed to say that they’d already pumped billions into the economy and that they’re going for a long-term approach. Willis was trying to picture middle New Zealand hurting financially and thus trying to make a case for tax cuts again.

          • Poission 13.1.1.1.1
            5 April 2022 at 5:31 pm

            And todays financial statement says that tax was up 17.8% to february (a record) the operating balance before gains and losses was an 8.2 billion deficit and the full year operating account was 11.7 b a record number since the GFC (excluding the lockdown period)

            https://www.treasury.govt.nz/system/files/2022-04/fsgnz-8mths-feb22.pdf

            So neither fulfilled their analysis homework problem,and next Wednesday the headmaster will award a d- and give them 25 to.50 bp on the OCR.

            • Incognito 13.1.1.1.1.1
              5 April 2022 at 5:47 pm

              Yeah, Grant did mention something about the increased government revenue because “companies are making profits, more people are in work and they’re earning more” and strong SME growth.

              Yup, the OCR is likely to go up and up.

              • Poission …
                5 April 2022 at 5:59 pm

                OCR has to move to meet inflationary expectations,adding cost and not value is a transfer to the financial sector from the productive economy and households.

                • Incognito …
                  5 April 2022 at 6:00 pm

                  What choice does RBNZ have?

                  • Poission …
                    5 April 2022 at 6:12 pm

                    The RBNZ does not have a choice (inflation need to be constrained) in an economy that is over extended say in the construction sector (with large backlogs,supply constraints,huuuuge price increases to come into the market from steel alone).There is a need for deference from central and local government for projects that are not shovel ready,or have little productive value.

  14. Ad 14
    5 April 2022 at 5:06 pm

    Here's the evaluation by the Finnish Department of Foreign affairs about joining NATO.

    c206b3c2-acaa-5809-c545-7aa67c9bcb2a (um.fi)

    Finland’s government is now preparing a white paper on the country’s security, including potential Nato membership, to be released this month. A parliamentary debate will follow, with some MPs pushing for a decision to be taken before a Nato summit in Madrid at the end of June.

    As Ukraine turns into a worse multi-year meat grinder than it was before, Finland prepares its entire defensive and strategic position.