Open mike 06/11/2010

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 6th, 2010 - 27 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

It’s open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

Comment on whatever takes your fancy.

The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

27 comments on “Open mike 06/11/2010 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Jenny 1
    6 November 2010 at 7:22 am

    Begin forwarded message:

    From: EPMU Communications
    Date: 5 November 2010 6:37:42 PM NZDT
    To: EPMU Communications
    Subject: Seizure of business and threat to 50 jobs by govt agencies an
    outrageous overkill – EPMU

    Seizure of business and threat to 50 jobs by govt agencies an outrageous
    overkill – EPMU

    The threat today by agents for the New Zealand Transport Agency and Inland
    Revenue to seize Mt Roskill business Faulkner Collins is an outrageous response
    to a long simmering conflict and will only threaten 50 good jobs, the EPMU,
    which represents most of the staff, says.

    Representatives of the state agencies entered the business premises this
    afternoon to enforce the state’s demands in relation to compulsory acquisition
    of the site for the Waterview tunnel project, even though valid disagreements
    over a replacement building and liability for professional costs remain.

    The state agencies attempted to change locks on the premises which would
    prevent the workforce from carrying out their scheduled Saturday shift
    tomorrow. This time of year is one of the busiest for the business.

    Faulkner Collins is not due to vacate the Mt Roskill premises until January
    2011.

    The agencies retreated after several EPMU officials arrived to assist the
    management to deal with today’s heavy-handed treatment.

    “These are state agencies roughing up a good business in a disagreement that
    should be resolved properly and professionally,” EPMU national secretary Andrew
    Little said.

    “The government has shown it can assist people affected by the collapse of
    South Canterbury Finance and Warner Brothers over “The Hobbit” movie, so it
    isn’t out of their reach to help this business deal with the compulsory
    relocation required for the Waterview Tunnel project.

    “The government agencies should be assisting businesses like this, especially
    at this difficult time for the New Zealand economy.

    “The government needs to show it cares about these jobs as much as any other
    and work with the business, not use its might to push it around to get what the
    government wants.”

    The government agencies have said the firm has until midday Monday (8
    November) to make a payment or face the same threat’.

    The EPMU has undertaken
    to support the firm again if necessary.

    Ends

    For further information contact EPMU national secretary Andrew Little on.

  2. Jenny 2
    6 November 2010 at 7:52 am

    The above press release from the EPMU exposes the government’s spin that saving jobs was National’s real concern in enacting the legislation enabling the makers of ‘The Hobbit’ movie to avoid normal labour protections.

    Serving corporate interest is this government’s only real concern.

  3. freedom 3
    6 November 2010 at 10:28 am

    2011 is just around the corner. It is the year that Obama has stated is the beginning of rolling back operations in Afghanistan. You remember Afghanistan, it sits at a prime strategic access point for Asia from the Middle East. It is that country full of minerals, oil and opium that has needlessly claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians and thousands of soldiers, and puts over a hundred NZ soldiers’ lives at risk every day. Well things are not what they seem in Kansas.

    If troop numbers are supposed to be going down from next year then why is the scale of US construction not diminishing. The US Military and Private Companies are building more Forward Operating Bases, vast transport hubs, a new consulate and expanding the world’s largest embassy. You do not do these things if you are planning a withdrawl.

    Nick Turse has a few questions on this and here is a handy, and well archived advertiser-funded site for observing the magnitude of military operations in the Middle East and around the world.

    the links above do not seem to be working so here are the addresses,
    http://mostlywater.org/how_permanent_are_american_bases_afghanistan%E2%80%99
    http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/afghanistan.htm
    http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=home

    • Draco T Bastard 3.1
      6 November 2010 at 10:57 am

      I thought the worlds largest embassy was in Iraq. Did the US build another one?

    • Sean Brooks 3.2
      6 November 2010 at 11:44 am

      I tend to belive Obama, over a poster on a blog.

      • Colonial Viper 3.2.1
        6 November 2010 at 11:52 am

        There are a whole host of geopolitical reasons that superpowers have always sought a presence in Afghanistan.

        Finding Osama Bin Laden and destroying Al Q’aeda probably isn’t amongst them since they aren’t even in the country.

        We also now know that Afghanistan has tens of billions of dollars worth of mineral deposits.

        • Lanthanide 3.2.1.1
          6 November 2010 at 6:13 pm

          CV, the “tens of billions of dollars worth of mineral deposits” have been known about as far back as the 80’s. When that news was recently (re-)released, those who dig under the surface and joint the dots found it was nothing but a PR piece by the US government to distract from the (apparently) rapidly deteriorating situation there at the time.

          • Colonial Viper 3.2.1.1.1
            6 November 2010 at 6:34 pm

            I wouldn’t be surprised. By the way who did the mineral survey in the 1980’s? The Soviets?

            • Lanthanide 3.2.1.1.1.1
              6 November 2010 at 9:06 pm

              Yes. The soviets didn’t know the full extent of the minerals, which was discovered later in the 90s, 95ish I believe. But they did know there were sizable deposits.

      • freedom 3.2.2
        6 November 2010 at 12:28 pm

        Mr Brooks, trolls like yourself are the molluscs of the information age. No matter how strong the wave of reality, you will cling on to your crevice of ignorance.

        Sean are you genuinely unaware of the huge volume of publically released US military spending and budget documents? Are official US Government declarations and Pentagon statements not considered proof in your world ? Do you think they are going to build the permanent bases and walk away, leaving the billions of dollars of infrastructure and equipment for the Afghanistan people to make use of?

        this is also the last time i am going to bother responding to one of your posts as statements like the one you made above, show you are here purely for agitation and provocation.

        • Sean Brooks 3.2.2.1
          6 November 2010 at 4:28 pm

          Im not here for Provocation.

          Anyway I’m seeking counselling that you now wont response to my messages, I can’t began to tell you how upsetting that is.

  4. freedom 4
    6 November 2010 at 10:37 am

    The Nick Turse piece here
    http://mostlywater.org/how_permanent_are_american_bases_afghanistan

    i blame lack of caffeine, which i will now rectify

  5. Treetop 5
    6 November 2010 at 1:32 pm

    Child protection law around certain dogs is inadequate and requires immediate legislation

    I intend to contact the minister responsible for dog laws on Monday. Does anyone know who the minister is?

    With the warmer weather and the long school holidays ahead, unfortunately the usually preventable dog attacks on small defensive children will occur. I have thought long and hard this week due to a predicatable situation involving my 13 kg 2 year old (last September) grandson and his parent’s German Shepard which is 5 years old and still has his testicles. The dog is good natured, does not hassel the cats of the household, but as soon as another cat comes on the section, with a deep bark he speedily blots off the deck and chases the cat.

    I am perplexed that a 2 year old is permitted to take a stubbie sized plastic toy out of a big dogs mouth three times in 30 seconds, each time the dog not releasing it and moving his head swiftly to the side, (enough to unbalance a 2 year old). Once was too often. I was ready ro stand in front of the dog had the dog dropped the toy and were the father not there it would have only happen the once if that. As a grandma I am powerless to prevent my grandson from a possible head/brain injury, losing a limb or being crushed as I am not the primary caregiver.

    Child protection law for children around certain breeds of dog (due to their size or temperament) urgently requires legislation. The type of legislation I would like to see is that a two meter high fence is between the child and the dog. That a parent is not allowed to permitt a child to take a toy or food out of a dogs mouth. A vigilant parent would not allow the child to touch the dogs toy or food bowl. Parents/caregivers need to supervise children around dogs as carefully as when they are cooking on the stove/barbecue.

    A parent is not permitted to even lightly tap a child, yet the government allow a potentially dangerous situation around dogs to continue.

    I have firmly spoken to the parents, I even rang up the local dog ranger to discuss the safety of my grandson, (child vs dog). I am an advocate for all children.

  6. M 6
    6 November 2010 at 2:10 pm

    Treetop this is an excellent post and I agree with it heartily.

    How many Carolina Andersons are we going to have to have before people realise that dogs are not the benign creatures many suppose them to be?

    Breeds such as boxers, sheppards, labs, bull mastiffs, rottweilers etc are masssively powerful and can easily overpower a sturdy man, a child had no chance. As for the killers on four legs – pit bulls – anyone who owns one of those needs their head examined. A couple of years ago I read a report in the paper of a man who was attacked and killed by his own pit bull in his home – some might say it was poetic justice for owning a dog with a well-known vicious reputation.

    People no doubt will jump on me so saying such things but I don’t care. I’ve heard all the apologists for dogs – they are noble, loyal creatures and that there aren’t any bad dogs only bad owners, but when you strip it right down to the bare bones dogs are animals that are territorial creatures that do not like being challenged, have very sharp teeth that can do a lot of damage in a few seconds and can leave their victims physically and psychologically scarred for life – the fact that they may have a good owner is immaterial to someone who has suffered a vicious attack.

    I know people who will not go walking in their neighbourhood because they are scared of having a dog run out at them and attack them because some owners take a very laissez-faire attitude to keeping their dogs under control and an innocent person gets to pick up the tab for their lack of responsibility in the form of a dog bite or dog attack. If people cannot get out and exercise let alone go about their business peacefully then there’s not going to be a drop in obesity statistics anytime soon.

    I believe that if someone is attacked by a dog due to an owner’s negligence either through not being kept on a leash or muzzled if menacing, or is not properly fenced in then any assets they have should be seized, sold and paid to any victim to pay the costs of reconstructive surgery or in the case of a victim’s death paid to that person’s estate.

    The only way to get through to some people is to hit them very hard in the back pocket.

    • Treetop 6.1
      6 November 2010 at 2:49 pm

      M, I also do not give a hoot about the apologists. What I give a hoot about is that the BULLSHIT needs to stop, that a dog is under proper control, when it mauls a child/adult. 10 years ago my 60 year old neighbour was mauled by a German Sheppard which was on a lead, which was held by the owner. Was the dog deemed to be under proper control? One would say so. 60 year old patted the dog, it bit once, then it got stuck in and ripped flesh down to the bone on his forearm, plastic surgery was required and heavy scarring and nerve damage are a reminder of the mauling.

      I omitted loss of vision may also be a consequence of a child vs dog. I house sat for nearly a week and I had to tie the dog up because when I was weeding he kept pushing the toy in my face.

  7. the pink postman 7
    6 November 2010 at 2:46 pm

    Im seriously wondering if Key has a drink problem ! The regular slurring of his speech, and the continuous smile are classic syptoms of a permanent state of inebriation.Then we have the regular slips of the tongue as when he call Hillary Clinton President , Who could forget him calling himself the Leader of the Labour Party. He is often seen in public with a large glass of beer . Helen Clark set an example regarding alchohol.In public she was always seen with a soft drink. However heavy drinking is common with Tories . remember Muldoon ?/

    • Treetop 7.1
      6 November 2010 at 2:53 pm

      I remember the July 1984 snap election announcement when Muldoon was pissed. By the sounds of your post, one could follow by Key!

  8. Logie97 8
    6 November 2010 at 6:55 pm

    Paul Reddell, the parent who has spoken out against the Island Bay board’s decision to oppose Nat.Standards as they are being forced through… states that he wants to know where his children rate in their class and nationally.

    Bad luck Paul. The standards and the reports are not going to rank your children or any others’ for that matter. You are being conned by the propaganda.

    The reports will tell you whether your child is better than, at, just below or at risk, as assessed against the existing curriculum levels.

    There are no raw score tests for you I am afraid.

    The catch word in all this is standards. Tolley and the rabid baying public are really talking about teacher standards.

  9. Francisco Hernandez 9
    6 November 2010 at 10:54 pm

    Can anyone help me figure out what the song in the film Campaign by Tony Sutouris is?
    The one that kinda goes “I’ll make you love me” and is quite a jazzy song?

Links to post

The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.