Open Mike 08/01/2018

84 comments on “Open Mike 08/01/2018 ”

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1. eco maori 1

   8 January 2018 at 8:13 am

   When I was a young follow at the time of Mamas Tangi one day all the children went down to the Waiapu river for a swim it was the day she was buried the aunties were not happy we were all covered in mud as we were all playing in it my younger brother was worse his blond hair was all covered in mud and the Tangi was to be held in 10 mins LOL there was no power so it was crank the old pot belle stove up to heat the water for a shower It was a big Tangi . That nite 2 of my close cousin decided they wanted to get there asses kicked they put some sheets on and acted like a kehua they sceared the shit out of a old kuia they were moaning about there sore ass for a while it was so funny.
   There was a creek that ran along the riverside we would go catching eels in this creek a lot its gone now washed away by the Waiapu river when she is in flood .
   When I stayed at Waiomatatini we were living in Mamas old house it had a wood stove no power it was light the lantern .This house had a beautiful view of the Waiapu river mouth Its not there now one day I would like to build me a house there.
   I had a uncle he was the fisherman of Waiomatatini he would let everyone know when the kahawai was running at the Waiapu river mouth we would all go to the river mouth and catch fish .We would salt fish and dry it smoke fish and my favourite was bottled Kahawai .
   We would ride our horses to Port Awanui along the way we would get mussels at the port we would gather Paua and walk around the rocks and pick Parengo off the rocks and pick huge Pupus off the rocks this was a wounder full experience gathering seafood from OUR whenua ka pai.
   It is because of not having power that I researched solar power 20 years ago I started
   this and in the process I learned about mother earths man made climatic change so all the information I put out there on climate change is from a neutral perspective and facts . All the people of Tairawhiti would benefit hugely by having solar power installed there power bills are huge and the last I heard the lines company was going to phase out there service Solar wind and micro hydro would benefit the iwi immensely I would pick solar power in most instances as unless you are good at fixing things and can maintain hydro and wind power were as solar you top up the batteries with water and clean the panels and change batteries you could pay some one to change batteries as its not often one has to do this . I could build my own solar setup for $8000 to server a large family and no power bill this is a dream of my to take this technology to benefit my Tairawhiti iwi . Ka kite ano
   • Carolyn_Nth 1.1

     8 January 2018 at 8:24 am

     Beautiful post, about living with nature, and the best use of renewable energy. Thanks, eco maori.
     • greywarshark 1.1.1

       8 January 2018 at 9:20 am

       Good interesting comment eco maori. You are getting as good as Robert Guyton at keeping us in touch with the natural world and ideas on practicality for the simple living style.

       Good thinking about solar. Soon we should have a fund that will be available to be applied to when people have a good and practical idea for those who are unlikely to afford it. For Maori, the politicians might please the broad population, if they teamed up with iwi who have had reparation payments so that both are supporting the local people, the iwi rohe.
   • eco maori 1.2

     8 January 2018 at 8:36 am

     I forgot my link here it is thanks Carolyn

     https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/99859535/our-supercharged-future-electric-vehicles-to-make-up-40-per-cent-of-fleet-by-2040
     • eco maori 1.2.1

       8 January 2018 at 7:08 pm

       From my research crown lead acid batteries are the most reliable cost effective battery to use you have to shop around as the price can vary by 30%.
       I think that our government could offer tax rebates for solar and electric cars as there is no up front cost to our government we can’t just let things carry on as they are we will benefit immensely from more elictric cars and renewable energy. Ka kite ano
       • eco maori 1.2.1.1

         9 January 2018 at 6:56 am

         The sandflys were following me to and from work yesterday and using good people they have infected with there virus to try and break me but kao PS they wont follow me under a toll bridge I know why but it has me asking a lot of questions as should you . I will post these stories on the day before open mike so as not to hamper the wonderful new post on open mikes new day ka pai .
         One thing I bet crime is dropping in Rotorua and Tauranga as everyone knows about my storie of being harresed by the police this is well known in Rotorua.
         I know My calls for OUR people to keep out trouble is being heard ka pai
         Some of the people infected by the sandflys virus think they have ECO Thunder worked out but no your adviser is wrong one has to stop helping the sandflys and treat Me and my whano fairly and humanely then thing will change for the better
         take heed people this is not just about me now this is about me getting equality for all people all beings and mother earth and leaving behind a prosperous positive future for all OUR mokos .Ka kite ano
   • james 1.3

     8 January 2018 at 8:48 am

     The new tesla powerwalls are available in NZ and are supposed to be fantastic batteries.

     https://www.tesla.com/en_NZ/powerwall
     • Molly 1.3.1

       8 January 2018 at 9:52 am

       You (and others) may be interested in watching this Youtube channel, DIY powerwall.

       They use recycled 18650 batteries in arrays, which is what they do in the powerwall and the Tesla.
       • Draco T Bastard 1.3.1.1

         8 January 2018 at 1:55 pm

         The important piece missing from the DIY battery is the charging circuit. The bit that charges the cells correctly and stops them blowing up and burning down your house.
         • Molly 1.3.1.1.1

           8 January 2018 at 2:24 pm

           Hi Draco, with my limited understanding of electrical systems I have only briefly watched a few of these, but I would be surprised if he misses out on a critical safety component. Lithium-ion seems to be less likely to overcharge and catch fire, but it would still be a major omission if that aspect was ignored.
           • Draco T Bastard 1.3.1.1.1.1

             8 January 2018 at 5:07 pm

             https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/126673/charging-li-ion-batteries-in-parallel
             • Molly …

               9 January 2018 at 8:46 am

               Thanks DTB. Looks like there is a good reason to purchase in bulk from the same supplier. I think this Youtuber and others have done so, and/or used wrecked Teslas to get the 18650s for their power walls.

               Even the use of a power wall (or similar) to charge up during the low rate night charge, and use during the peak times might be of use to some, but not at current purchase or power prices.

               (The ZCell battery that mpledger posts below, look pretty good in terms of safety and reliability)
     • Pat 1.3.2

       8 January 2018 at 11:27 am

       for a lazy 10K….battery only
       • james 1.3.2.1

         8 January 2018 at 11:55 am

         Yep – but they are good. quality cost.
     • mpledger 1.3.3

       8 January 2018 at 3:55 pm

       This is the battery my husband likes the look of.
       https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/redflows-zinc-bromide-zcell-battery-may-have-the-edge-over-lithium-ion/
       Lots of really nice properties.
   • JanM 1.4

     8 January 2018 at 10:28 am

     I love your memory stories – thank you eco maori
   • mary_a 1.5

     8 January 2018 at 12:18 pm

     eco maori (1) … many thanks for a wonderful story of another aspect of your life, living alongside nature. It must have been an amazing respectful lifestyle, sharing and caring amongst your community. The way life should be.

     Keep the stories coming eco maori.
2. Ed 2

   8 January 2018 at 8:36 am

   The damage neoliberalism did to this country by one of the few politicians who never succumbed to its poisonous ideology.

   Jim Anderton.

   We should heed his words.

   “The cost was enormous, and it wasn’t just in economic terms, it was in social terms – mental health, a massive rise in suicides in New Zealand, and a kind of disillusionment with the Government as being on your side,”

   And yet the oligarchs who made away with the loot and the treasonous politicians who abetted them are still called ‘Sir’ and ‘Dame’

   Their proper position should be in front of a people’s court.
   Then trust in politics would return.

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11970987
   • eco maori 2.1

     8 January 2018 at 8:38 am

     + 100 Ed off to mow some lawns ka pai
     • Ed 2.1.1

       8 January 2018 at 8:52 am

       Thank you for your wonderful post this morning.
       • cleangreen 2.1.1.1

         8 January 2018 at 9:33 am

         Ed;

         Thank you for your wonderful summary of Jim Anderton Ed.

         We all saw the real face and true heart of humanity in Jim Anderton, even those who never followed his path to a plan for a Government who would be worked for the interests of the 99% and not just “the economic principals who had forgotten the human principals of their “public service” jobs.

         Labour now must hold up Jim Anterton as the example the labour movement must ‘aspire to’ in all they plan as a “kinder gentler, warm, caring, Government” as we voted them to give to us and to ensure that they will be re-elected in 2020.
         • Wensleydale 2.1.1.1.1

           8 January 2018 at 11:06 am

           It’s a bit of a cliche, but Anderton was just “a good bloke”. It never seemed to go to his head, and he never appeared smug or arrogant. Passionate, definitely, but never dismissive or imperious.
         • eco maori 2.1.1.1.2

           8 January 2018 at 6:56 pm

           +100cleangreen
3. Carolyn_Nth 3

   8 January 2018 at 8:54 am

   Dena Coster: Living on the Edge: A Māori perspective on the climate crisis

   The article focuses on EmilyBailey works with the Para Kore or Zero Waste movement and sits on the Taranaki Regional Council’s policy and planning committee as an iwi representative.

   It’s about how climate change is a direct threat to Māori, their resources, culture and land.
4. adam 4

   8 January 2018 at 9:36 am

   Chris Hedges in On Contact has an interview with Charles Derber which I’ve now watched twice. 24 minutes. Charles Derber, Author and Sociologist, discusses the failings of the American left through intersectionality.
   • Carolyn_Nth 4.1

     8 January 2018 at 9:51 am

     So, what did you take from it? And how does it relate to the left in NZ?
     • adam 4.1.1

       8 January 2018 at 10:30 am

       What left in NZ, is what I took from it. We have a so called left government, and still they won’t mention capitalism as the intersectional commonality of so many of
       our problems. Let alone if you bring up militarized capitalism, dead on arrival that topic.

       Political economy is a topic you can not mention. Look at the way I was repeatedly attacked on this site for pointing out the failings of the labour party at the political economy level.

       Economically wise with a change of government, it’s business as usual. How many deaths/suicides of homeless happened over the Christmas/New Year period? How many people are still living in cars? Why have we stopped talking about this?

       Socialism in whatever form you embrace, is a criticism of capitalism. Start being critical of it.
       • Ed 4.1.1.1

         8 January 2018 at 10:35 am

         We have a ‘left’ government that is too scared of taking on the banks.
       • Carolyn_Nth 4.1.1.2

         8 January 2018 at 11:01 am

         I agree that the mainstream political parties in NZ that are labelled “left” have a pretty weak left wing analysis and policies on many crucial issues of both economic and social justice.

         I currently have little faith in any real shift towards economic and social justice via political parties in NZ. A strong flax roots movement is needed.

         But, to be strong, it needs an alliance of those focused on both economic and social justice. Splitting them as you seem to be doing, will weaken any broad flax roots movement. That just plays into the hands of the neo-libs and neo-cons.

         Before the neocon-neolib (social conservatism linked with an economic liberal rhetoric) alliance gained traction internationally, there seemed to be shifts in NZ and elsewhere to have a more inclusive left. I watched bits of a doco on NZOnscreen yesterday, that focused on shifts in NZ Labour in 1980. It featured Jim Anderton quite a bit, plus the new candidate for Mt Albert, a very young Helen Clark.

         Clark wanted to include more focus on inequalities that impacted on Maori. Anderton, of course, was focused on stronger left wing principles. There was talk in the doco about a move away from trade unions by a new young generation – which was debatable.

         However, at that time, there seemed to be a promise of a more inclusive left that focused on both social and economic justice. And then came Douglas and the neo-liberal traitors within NZ Labour.

         So, but the time the 2 rafts of economic and social justice came into power with Clark as PM, and Anderton as deputy, the left was already weakened, and under attack from the media, nationally and internationally.
         • adam 4.1.1.2.1

           8 January 2018 at 11:13 am

           I’m not asking or prescribing to any splitting. What I’d suggest if we want a broad left movement, we need to include a heavy dose of political economy. This bowing down to liberalism as a economic system which many here do, is the biggest block we have to a flax roots movement.

           Intersectionality is a tool we need to use more, not less. What was trumps biggest victory – he won the identity politics game (ugly as it was). We are never going to win by playing the right wing games, even as some have suggested, we play them better.
   • Ed 4.2

     8 January 2018 at 10:04 am

     Hedges wrote an amazing book Death of the Liberal Class

     ‘The liberal class is facing an untimely demise of its own making. In this provocative new work Chris Hedges explains how liberals sold us out, bankrupted the country and now face a crisis of their own.’

     In New Zealand this is the rentier class who sold their principles to get ahead.
     • Carolyn_Nth 4.2.1

       8 January 2018 at 10:22 am

       Thanks, I prefer to read such arguments than spend more time watching videos.

       The reviews and analyses of Hedges’ book are mixed.

       He doesn’t seem to blame intersectionality as much as failed institutions in the US:

       NPR review:

       Hedges slams five specific groups and institutions — the Democratic Party, churches, unions, the media and academia — for failing Americans and allowing for the creation of a “permanent underclass.”

       And lumping in of trade unions with the church and media creates a big problem. Also, the church in NZ is not as influential in politics as NZ.

       The New Yorker is dismissive of the lack of supporting evidence.

       The Socialist Worker has a more in depth and nuanced analysis:

       This is a well-written and hard-hitting book.
       …
       We are certainly living in a reactionary period in most of the advanced capitalist countries; liberalism (and social democracy) has definitively declined. The working class and other movements of the oppressed have been defeated, although they have not been smashed and terrorized as happened under fascism. But the roots of this defeat cannot be attributed to the misdeeds of the media or the betrayals of the “liberal class.” They may have been bought off; they may lack spine. But they themselves did not give rise to our current problems.

       Instead, the crisis goes back to the late sixties and early seventies when the post-war boom came to an end and employers went on an international offensive that through the next thirty years ended up reorganizing capitalism. In the case of the US, capitalist neo-liberalism formed an alliance with a newly-politicized religious fundamentalism (rooted in a reaction to the cultural revolution of the sixties) to build a powerful right wing force.
       • Ed 4.2.1.1

         8 January 2018 at 10:26 am

         I think that the middle class was bought off in the 1980s.
         Initially the cost of neoliberalism was paid by the working class, but since the GFC austerity has started to eat away at the Middle class’s position.
         Too late.
       • adam 4.2.1.2

         8 January 2018 at 10:52 am

         List of Charles Derbers books Carolyn_Nth

         https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/29320.Charles_Derber

         Read some excerpts recentantly from Sociopathic society – will hunt down the link to those for you later today.
         • Carolyn_Nth 4.2.1.2.1

           8 January 2018 at 11:02 am

           Adam, what do you take from these? i actually have other things I need to be doing today, than reading all your links.
           • adam 4.2.1.2.1.1

             8 January 2018 at 11:16 am

             The other speaker in the video was Charles Derbers. Just a list of his works – no big reading exercise.
             • Carolyn_Nth …

               8 January 2018 at 5:13 pm

               So then, what is it you take from Charles Derber? other than he focuses on the dangers of individualism? And how does this relate to the intersectional politics?

               For me. intersectionality is about the systematic oppression (sometimes in the form of economic/financial exploitation) of groups as identified collectively: by race, class, gender, sexuality, able-bodiness, etc. Not much to do with individualism.
5. red-blooded 5

   8 January 2018 at 10:08 am

   He’s not blaming the failure of the left on intersectionality – he’s saying that one aspect of intersectional thinking has fallen away – the focus on capitalism and alternatives to it.
   He repeatedly says that there needs to be truly intersectional thinking and that power structures are definitely intersectional. He feels the left has become too splintered, and needs to be more intersectional, not less.

   Yes, he criticises “identity politics”, but that’s not the same as criticising intersectionality.

   Still an interesting discussion, but he’s pretty dismissive of what he calls identity politics. I do agree with plenty of what he says, but it would have been more interesting to have heard some voices that weren’t from ageing white men, having people speaking about their own beliefs and arguing their own positions rather than just hearing these two guys (who agree with each other) dismissing any views and priorities that don’t match theirs.
6. Murray Simmonds 6

   8 January 2018 at 10:10 am

   Wolff’s book “Fire and Fury” is currently available as a free PDF download over on “Zero Hedge” (by courtesy of Wikileaks.)

   Might not last long though . . .
   • bwaghorn 6.1

     8 January 2018 at 10:40 am

     Aagh I love the smell if a bit of theft in the morning
   • joe90 6.2

     8 January 2018 at 3:10 pm

     (by courtesy of Wikileaks.)

     How the fuck does the deliberate infringement of an authors copyright fit with Wikileaks stated purpose of being a multi-jurisdictional public service designed to protect whistleblowers, journalists and activists who have sensitive materials to communicate to the public?

     Oh, that’s right, it’s Assange and his vanity project acting on Trump’s behalf, again.

     /
     • greywarshark 6.2.1

       8 January 2018 at 8:41 pm

       I noted a Google request for people to behave fairly in relation to books they had in print and available for purchase as read only on your download.

       https://improvebooks.com/
       Note to myself: Look further into this – appears to use automation – a mega seach engine – to read and copy other sites then offer them free when the other sites advertise a charge for reading ie google

       Download celebrity biographies the amazing life of….
       https://improvebooks.c/book/celebrity-biographies-the-amazing-life-of-…
       Book Celebrity Biographies – The Amazing Life Of… – Famous Actors PDF Free Download, by Matt Green ISBN : , , Ever wondered how …rose to stardom?

       and Google’s response
       Celebrity Biographies – The Amazing Life of …and …
       https://books.google.co.nz/books?id=VjoPDgAAQBAJ
       Matt Green – Biography & Autobiography
       If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Google Play or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy.
       Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. Book One …..
   • red-blooded 6.3

     8 January 2018 at 3:11 pm

     An interesting review here, on The Spinoff.
     • Andre 6.3.1

       8 January 2018 at 6:21 pm

       It’s occurred to me that the bar has been raised awfully high for Omarosa’s tell-all…

       http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/365253-5-stories-omarosa-might-tell-after-leaving-the-white-house
7. JohnSelway 7

   8 January 2018 at 10:59 am

   It really boggles my mind how the right operate in relation to Trump.
   I read blogs and news from both sides of the fence – right and left – and the cognizant dissonance in relation to Trump is staggering.
   • Wensleydale 7.1

     8 January 2018 at 11:11 am

     He’s one of their tribe, and as such they will defend him no matter what. The pathological lying and incendiary rhetoric, not to mention his dumpster fire diplomacy, well that’s all just “fake news”. It’s those dirty liberals telling lies again.
     • JohnSelway 7.1.1

       8 January 2018 at 4:13 pm

       Reading Kiwiblog comments (I know – bad idea) makes me wonder if they are aware of the hypocrisy.
       “Obama played golf 30 times last year! That lazy Kenyan!”
       “Trump played golf 112 times last year! BEST PREZ EVER!!!”
       • dv 7.1.1.1

         8 January 2018 at 4:23 pm

         hypocrisy!!!

         Seems more like stupidity!!
         • JohnSelway 7.1.1.1.1

           8 January 2018 at 4:41 pm

           One generally implies the other in my book
       • joe90 7.1.1.2

         8 January 2018 at 9:02 pm

         Laziest prez ever!

         https://www.axios.com/scoop-trumps-secret-shrinking-schedule-1515364904-ab76374a-6252-4570-a804-942b3f851840.html?
   • One Anonymous Bloke 7.2

     8 January 2018 at 5:02 pm

     That’s what happens when your focus is on winning rather than arguing for your values and beliefs. Think of The Hollow Men, and Bill English swallowing dead rats.

     The left is subject to these tribal impulses too. I feel them myself whenever anyone (other than me, naturally) offers criticism (valid or otherwise) of Left-wing figures. I have my doubts about Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Party, and then my hackles raise whenever someone else articulates exactly the same doubts.
8. patricia bremner 8

   8 January 2018 at 11:09 am

   Eco Maori, when I was young we used to go camping at Bowentown. This was half a dozen families and friends putting up their tents for a three week break at the beach.

   There was a reserve on which we could camp, which had a natural fresh water spring on the bay side with a view across to Matakana Island.

   Over the sand dune was the 5 miles of Waihi Beach, with white sand and six inches thick yards wide swathes of shells and seaweed pods, this side with a view of Mayor Island.

   It was a kai moana paradise, living up to the Bay of Plenty name. My school friend Ron and I would lie on the two yard long boat jetty, and watch the seahorses in the clear water below. Ron telling me the male protected the babies by taking them into his mouth in any danger.

   We fished off the rocks, foraged for shell food at low tide, or fished from my father’s home built dingy, rowed out ’till we lined up “the best fishing hole” ready by tide turn.

   This paradise could be reached by driving along the firm sand at low tide, then all pushing to get the vehicle over the dune at the Bowentown/ Atheree end. The Bowentown heads gave great views, and the camping area had huge pahutukawa.

   In the evening Dad and Mum would “pull the net’ on the ocean beach, a happening which drew crowds near and wide, and from an empty beach there would twenty or more suddenly arrive. Dad was always generous with the plentiful catch of mullet.

   Sometimes we would go for a trip to Orakau, the rocky headland at the far end of Waihi Beach. This was along five miles of beach then a long climb up and down to fish off the rocks.

   Although now there is easy access and the views are still lovely, I was sad to see no shells, and a huge number of boats fouling the water. No seahorses now, and the spring provides water for toilets.

   Worse, many years ago when we had a twelve mile fishing limit for foreign vessels, a Russian fishing fleet cleaned out the stock beach side of Mayor Island. The life cycles have never completely recovered to what they were.

   But young people never have seen the shells shoals of fish and living rock pools.
   They enjoy the sand and surf, never experiencing the living beach.
9. Sparky 9

   8 January 2018 at 11:51 am

   This is what happens when you ignore public opinion under MMP. Take note pro TPP Labour:

   https://www.rt.com/news/415235-germany-grand-coalition-talks-poll/
   • Hanswurst 9.1

     8 January 2018 at 1:30 pm

     When did Angela Merkel ignore public opinion?
10. Robert Guyton 10

    8 January 2018 at 12:09 pm

    Your final two sentences are very poignant, Patricia. Much of the world and the humans living there suffer that effect. The only ‘heroic’ action left to humans is to restore the life that’s so thin on the ground now, I reckon. If we can rally our thoughts and actions to do that, everything will change.
11. Peroxide Blonde 11

    8 January 2018 at 1:05 pm

    Labour in England has a new landscape to contend with according to psephologist Prof Curtice on Strathclyde.

    “Labour still thinks of itself as the party of the working class, but in practice it is now almost as accurate to regard it as the party of university educated social liberals. This gives rise to debate in the party about whether it should be trying to recapture the ‘left behind’ working class voters that it appears to have lost – whose views on Brexit are very different from those of the party’s university educated voters.”

    https://whatukthinks.org/eu/has-brexit-reshaped-british-politics/

    Brexit is what highlights this change. Maybe Brexit is responsible for some of the change.
    However as an NZ Labour person is has always being a question: to what degree are we a party of the Social Liberals rather than a working class party.

    https://whatukthinks.org/eu/has-brexit-reshaped-british-politics/
    • Ad 11.1

      8 January 2018 at 1:20 pm

      Doesn’t Labour always have that issue?

      I view it less as a quandary and more as a perpetual source of renewal within the party.

      Someone’s got to keep those ruffians’ cardies straight and clean 😉
12. red-blooded 12

    8 January 2018 at 1:36 pm

    There’s a new cartoon show starting up – Our Cartoon President – should be (gentle) fun. It’s from the makers of The Late Show, so it won’t exactly be radical, but should probably still raise a chuckle. Apparently they won’t be going over past events (no Rex Tillerson, Mooch or Steve Bannon, unless they get actively involved again).

    It starts in the US 2 days before Trump’s first State of the Union address. That should provide good fodder! 😋
13. joe90 13

    8 January 2018 at 1:39 pm

    What, Bernie blackened by a financial matter?

    Unpossible….

    The federal probe into a 2010 land deal orchestrated by former Burlington College president Jane Sanders, wife of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has deepened. VTDigger has confirmed that a grand jury has been empaneled and has taken sworn testimony in the case.

    […]

    The lingering nature of the federal investigation has frustrated the Sanders family.
    According to Politico, the federal probe is “clouding” Sen. Sanders’ outlook and has complicated his decision whether to run for president again in 2020. More immediately, Sanders faces re-election to his Senate seat this year and his step-daughter, Carina Driscoll, has announced a bid for mayor of Burlington.

    Burlington College borrowed heavily to finance the purchase of 33 acres of lakefront property from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington. The deal relied on pledged donations and projections of increased enrollment. In 2015, VTDigger reported that Jane Sanders overstated pledged donations in the loan document. Two donors listed in the document told VTDigger at that time that their listed pledges were greater than what their personal financial records showed they gave.

    VTDigger also interviewed the largest confirmed donor listed in the loan application. Corinne Bove Maietta, a member of the renowned Burlington Bove’s Restaurant family, disputed the manner in which her pledge was represented by Sanders in the loan agreement.

    Maietta said she agreed to give the college an unspecified amount upon her death as a bequest. Documents show, however, Sanders stated in a loan application that Maietta would contribute a series of cash payments totaling $1 million. The payments were to be completed over a period of time, according to records obtained by VTDigger.

    https://vtdigger.org/2018/01/07/grand-jury-empaneled-burlington-college-case/
    • adam 13.1

      8 January 2018 at 3:07 pm

      Doing the alt-rights work again I see joe90.

      Could have turned it into a piece about the fact that school needed to borrow money to survive in this economy. Even then, they went under.

      Or that

      “In August 2011, The Daily Beast and Newsweek ranked Burlington College as the number-one school in the United States for free-spirited students.In October 2013, Newsweek named Burlington College as among the 10 colleges in the United States to have the highest rate of participation in student internships in their study field” From the wiki on the school

      Just an observation
      • joe90 13.1.1

        8 January 2018 at 3:26 pm

        Did you miss the bit about alleged loan fraud and deliberate misrepresentation.

        Of course you did.
        • adam 13.1.1.1

          8 January 2018 at 8:22 pm

          As I said, hearsay, and blowing allegations into news are the tactics of the alt-right.

          You should try breitbart, they always looking for tools.
          • joe90 13.1.1.1.1

            8 January 2018 at 9:06 pm

            Always with the names.

            Sad.

            btw, other than grammar, editing without acknowledgement is fucking poor form
            • adam 13.1.1.1.1.1

              9 January 2018 at 4:36 am

              “btw, other than grammar, editing without acknowledgement is fucking poor form

              Now you are just making things up.
          • Ed 13.1.1.1.2

            8 January 2018 at 10:45 pm

            Is joe90 right wing?
14. SPC 14

    8 January 2018 at 2:10 pm

    The American debt scam.

    Using information to create fake debt to on-sell to multiple collecting agents.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11971228

    A form of a more well known scam – when banks placed bad debts into bundles of assets for on-sale.
    • patricia bremner 14.1

      8 January 2018 at 2:36 pm

      Yes SPC an interesting read, and I had a demand from Farmers once years ago. They had provided the wrong banking code for the final payment, and demanded I pay twice and collect a refund later.

      This seemed questionable, so I went to a local lawyer who was recommended through the Labour Party. A letter from her caused a complete about face., and an assurance my credit rating would not be affected.

      However 5 years later when seeking a bank loan to do renovations I was questioned about my debt to Farmers. I promptly rang the lawyer who provided a copy of the letter I had mislaid in a house shift.

      Just shows, a loan, even repaid can cause hassles. I have always kept records of full and final payments since then.

      This scam of selling off real and made up debt to collectors, sounds very like the banks chopping up good and bad mortgages scam to sell off as derivatives.

      Many people have umpty cards and loans, and may be scammed more easily.
      • grumpy 14.1.1

        8 January 2018 at 10:16 pm

        I’ve had the same issue. many years ago I needed power for a new rental and it was refused because of a so called debt with a previous farmers card. several hours later and many WTF phone calls from me it was sorted. Thankfully I have an ‘educated timbre’ so everything was ‘an honest mistake’ when questioned. Gotta wonder how someone less forcefull then myself would have managed..
15. joe90 15

    8 January 2018 at 2:22 pm

    They’re lashing out.

    A Quaker organization that received the 1947 Nobel Peace Prize for its work assisting and rescuing victims of the Nazis is among the blacklisted groups whose senior activists have been barred from entering Israel. Peace activists in Israel who have worked with the group expressed surprise at the decision.

    https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.833556
16. Ed 16

    8 January 2018 at 2:43 pm

    The Listener this week is running a story on ‘Puppy Hell . Our Secret Breeding Programme.’

    The subtitle to the story ( on page 10) asks the following question.
    ‘ New Zealand has an unregulated puppy breeding industry where unscrupulous operators can flourish, so why aren’t we following the lead of overseas governments?’

    Sally Blundell is the author of this disturbing story.

    However, pause for a moment.

    Read that question again, replacing the words ‘puppy breeding’ with ‘forestry’ or ‘fishing’ or ‘housing rental’ or Fast food’ or..

    The list is endless.

    In reality, a more worthwhile question would be ‘why is New Zealand such an unregulated country?’

    And of course, the answer is the same as it would be to any of the questions.

    Because New Zealand adopted an extreme form of neoliberalism in the 1980s and the country has suffered the consequences of that ideology ever since.

    The death of Jim Anderton is a reminder of the revolutionary nature of those changes enacted by Douglas and his treasonous crew.

    As the great man said,

    “The cost was enormous, and it wasn’t just in economic terms, it was in social terms – mental health, a massive rise in suicides in New Zealand, and a kind of disillusionment with the Government as being on your side,”

    We should heed his words.

    Until we criticise and tear down the actual economic system , we are trapped with all the awful effects of free market neoliberal capitalism. It may be cruelty to dogs, it may be forestry workers’ deaths, it may be an obese population, it may be soaring suicide rates, it may be terrible working conditions, the root cause of all is neoliberalism.

    And by not looking at the big picture, Blundell does what so many liberal thinkers do. They miss the target.

    And their article is only useful for wrapping takeaways.
    • red-blooded 16.1

      8 January 2018 at 3:30 pm

      Ed, don’t let’s forget that Anderton was DP in the Clark administration from 1999 to 2002, and stayed on as Minister of Economic Development after that. He certainly didn’t see that government as neoliberal, and I don’t think he would put that label on the current one either. He did lots to help turn back the tide on neoliberalism within the Labour Party, ironically having more success with this after he had stepped away from it. While there were certainly disagreements in the Clark-Anderton-Cullen relationship, he had a positive influence within that government. Paid parental leave, Kiwibank, increases in the minimum wage – thanks, Jim (and Helen, and Michael).

      Anderton was always ready to criticise what he saw as unfair or wrong, but he didn’t “tear down the actual economic system” – he helped to (re)build protections and supports that the state should offer its citizens.
      • Ed 16.1.1

        8 January 2018 at 3:51 pm

        Do you see my point about articles like the puppy story which miss the big picture?
17. feijoa 17

    8 January 2018 at 3:14 pm

    +1 Ed
    and leaky buildings….
    • Ed 17.1

      8 January 2018 at 3:19 pm

      All the same….
      And Pike River – the consequence of a deregulated mining industry.
18. Philip Ferguson 18

    8 January 2018 at 3:14 pm

    The message of the Iranian protesters is one we could all take to heart. No longer should we choose politically between bad and worse.

    https://rdln.wordpress.com/2018/01/03/no-longer-should-there-be-a-choice-between-bad-and-worse-mass-protests-break-out-in-iran/
19. Sacha 19

    8 January 2018 at 4:51 pm

    Oprah Winfrey’s acceptance speech for the Cecil B DeMille lifetime contribution award at the Emmys (9m): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyBims8OkSY
    • joe90 19.1

      8 January 2018 at 5:08 pm

      As Sir Alex would say, it’s squeaky bum time for a lot of rich, powerful men.
20. Andrea 20

    8 January 2018 at 4:57 pm

    China’s put a ban on taking the world’s plastic stuff for recycle and reuse.

    The depot in Auckland can only handle some plastics, not all.

    Any hope that the gummint will pass a few laws and regulations saying that no plastics can be sold or used here that we can’t recycle?

    Any hope that we can set up manufacturing in more towns than Sacred Auckland to use the recycle material instead of adding more carbon to the air for ‘shipping coals to Newcastle’?

    Another three processors? Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin or even the wild West Coast. With the best anti-pollution technologies we can develop and keep on refining.

    A ‘temporary’ business until we’ve scaled back the profligate use of this muck and cleaned up our fresh and salty waters. Coupled with alternative packaging from starches, which are already available.

    And good luck, Wen’an county. Hope the land and waters return to the quality they had before the plastics blight came to town.
21. greywarshark 21

    8 January 2018 at 5:06 pm

    While looking up John Wydham on google I came across this from one of his short stories and it’s what I have been thinking lately myself.

    Book Review: The Seeds Of Time – John Wyndham – Uncertain Tales
    https://uncertaintales.wordpress.com/…/book-review-the-seeds-of-time-john-wyndha…
    Jan 3, 2015 – Book Review: The Seeds Of Time – John Wyndham. Seeds of Time – John Wyndham.
    ‘Ingenious you certainly were – like monkeys. But you neglected your philosophers – to your own ruin. Each new discovery was a toy. You never considered its true worth. You just pushed it into your system – a system …
22. Robert Atack 22

    8 January 2018 at 8:24 pm

    ?
    So the latest story is ‘they’ are moving the ‘bad people’ to Guantanamo Bay ? And there is some major shit going down globally, with regards to the Clinton’s et al ?
    I haven’t a clue?
    But supposedly John Podesta hasn’t tweeted for a month
    And you can see H C hasn’t for 5-6 days
    Bill ( I didn’t think he new how to use a computer?) 8 – 9 days
    Obama 9 – 10 days, and supposedly publishing a 2 year old Christmas photo of him and the girls?
    Bill Gates is fine, or has bots doing his stuff?
    So yeah, who has gone missing?

    Is anyone talking about this? I haven’t been here for a while?
    • Robert Atack 22.1

      10 January 2018 at 8:38 am

      Bill posted a comment on his Twitter yesterday, but still nothing from HC or Barack ?
23. Pat 23

    8 January 2018 at 9:51 pm

    A gender inequality demonstration that is clear, specific and indefensible (UK I know, but I doubt it is any different here), and in a jurisdiction with equality statutes!…a gutsy action by someone that is likely have real personal cost (as opposed to a wardrobe choice)….all power to her.

    https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jan/08/carrie-gracie-letter-in-full
24. Ed 24

    8 January 2018 at 10:43 pm

    Oprah Winfrey at Golden Globes.

    ‘Addressing victims of sexual abuse, Oprah noted that the recent revelations about Hollywood’s endemic sexual misconduct go well beyond the entertainment industry, noting that the issue “transcends transcends any culture, geography, race, religion, politics, or workplace”.

    She went on: “So I want tonight to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay and dreams to pursue. They’re the women whose names we’ll never know. They are domestic workers and farm workers. They are working in factories and they work in restaurants and they’re in academia, engineering, medicine, and science. They’re part of the world of tech and politics and business. They’re our athletes in the Olympics and they’re our soldiers in the military.”

    Winfrey then referenced Recy Taylor, a black woman who was abducted in 1944 in Alabama and raped by six men. When her story was reported to the NAACP, Winfrey explained, Rosa Parks investigated her case but was unable, in the Jim Crow era, to prosecute her abusers. “Recy Taylor died 10 days ago, just shy of her 98th birthday,” Winfrey said. “She lived as we all have lived, too many years in a culture broken by brutally powerful men. For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up. Their time is up.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jan/08/golden-globes-2018-three-billboards-ebbing-missouri-oprah-winfrey
25. Carolyn_Nth 25

    9 January 2018 at 8:52 pm

    Women’s March, Jan 20-21, 2018.

    The 2018 Women’s March is a planned rally and follow-up to the 2017 Women’s March, scheduled to take place on January 20th and 21, 2018. Demonstrations and marches are expected nationwide [in US], primarily on January 20th.[1] Emerging themes of the 2018 events are voting and women running for office.[2] The Women’s Marches are coinciding with Impeachment Marches, also being held worldwide.

    Also some planned outside the US.

    Women’s march

    power to the polls – anniversary

    London march: Times Up

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