One of my favourite comedy actors of all time. I was just watching him on youtube yesterday (doco on the making of Blackadder). This is a real shocker.
I think that quad bike accident back in the late 90s fucked his career badly. And as a result of his much slower thinking / reactions, Ade Edmondson lost interest in working with him. Which is pretty bloody sad after all they’d been through.
was at uni when young ones and five go made in dorset hit our screens. saw ade Edmonson on the dales the other day and realised we are all middle aged now.
rip rik mayall for one of the funniest characters ( rick young ones) since life of bryan
ps when banks are his ear wax I immediately thought of rik in that scene about ear wax tasting bad
I loved him in “Mr Jolly Works Next Door”, and also in Guesthouse Paradiso…absolutely anarchic. RIP. Tonight I will raise a glass, as he said to Eddy Hitler in Bottom, “Make it a large one Eddy!”
“There were times when Rik and I were writing together when we almost died laughing.
They were some of the most carefree stupid days I ever had, and I feel privileged to have shared them with him.
And now he’s died for real. Without me. Selfish bastard.”
No worries, the bbc website is my home page and that’s what I awoke to when the cat meowed to tell me he didn’t need to go out in the rain as he’d sh!t in the bath instead.
Not my best morning to be fair, but at least my arse doesn’t have a footprint on it like Jasper’s.
An interesting 2010 Herald article providing a ‘reminder’ of Banks’ stance on various issues and behaviour towards fellow Parliamentarians over the years.
Not a nice man but more importantly he seems to have disregarded the rules when it suited him like buying the hotel and holding back a tender so that a friend could win etc.
Maybe an even more just outcome now than I thought?
It took reading that article to remind me what sort of person he has been over the years to get a better perspective. I used to have some admiration for Banks as someone who initially sought to overcome and rise above the deprivations of his childhood and youth – and did .-
This article and similar ones have reminded me just how far Banks came over the years from this initial start to become a narrowminded, self-serving elitist who thought he was above the rest of us and could ‘engineer’ things and the law to suit his own ends, and that of his likeminded friends and colleagues. Indeed IMO he still thinks and acts in this way.
He currently sits forlorn in the nest of his own making.
Not entirely alone. He does seem to have quite a lot of supporters – ex pollies and Nat lackeys who, by and large, are no better than himself.
Last evening I was at a local Labour function and the subject of David Seymour was discussed. We had seen the Nation interview and were flabbergasted that such a loud mouthed, pig ignorant sociopath will be in parliament after Sept.20. In contrast the other two candidates present – the charming Julie-Ann Genter and the calm, collected Richard Wood – were shining examples of the sorts of people we so desperately need on the government benches.
On Radionz there will soon be an interview about the problem of getting plastic out of the sea where it does so much harm. It sounds a good idea.
Could something be learned on making artificial floating environmentally safe floating ‘reefs’ over shellfish beds, coral reefs say, that need protecting from excessive sun and heat? Could we do something using similar technologies, ban plastic and use ocean-friendly packaging or something. I wonder?
Here is what Key had to say on Morning Report this morning on National’s possible coattail accommodations – in short that he will be announcing any in the next few weeks in the interests of transparency.
This morning the Herald also has an article on the selection by ACT of Don Nicholson, former Federated Farmers boss, as their candidate to run in Clutha Southland. This will pit him against the young ex tobacco industry National candidate …. While the article says that Key has said there will be no accommodation, it would not surprise me if there was, as a backup to the possibility that ACT does not win Epsom.
For all those on the left who think KFC has some sort of smoking gun revelation in relation to John Key and when he knew about the raid on him I have a question for you. Why is he offering 5 million dollars for information proving corruption? Seems like he would only be doing that because he doesn’t have any already.
no wonder you have such little idea on the complexities of society and the requirements for its healthy functioning and no wonder you think the only factor people consider in making life decisions is money.
Two different things, Gosman. One is the supposed evidence about John Key that KDC hints he has, the other is the offer to pay for evidence of Government corruption. One is personal to Key, the other relates to the Government in toto. Only the latter has any implications for the court case.
However, I’m with you in doubting the ‘smoking gun’. I think we’d have seen the evidence already, if it exists.
Evidence that John Key knew about the raid in advance would be suggestive of corruption or at least political collusion against KDC. This would call in to question the motivation for his arrest and be grounds for denying his extradition. The fact he is fishing for additional information is highly suggestive he has nothing as you point out as well.
with you OAB .. KDC has not been caught in any lie so far, unlike all the other motley cast of players. Also, I think he said it would be revealed in court, which is not due yet .. so much more fun in court than in msm media or the House …. and I think this is why the election was pulled forward, this and banks. but each was weighted in the decision imho.
Dotcom hasn’t been caught for lying you say, but he has been in jail several times, after being caught for a long list of criminal convictions that have followed his travels around the world for the last 20 years.
He’s been done for data espionage, embeszzlement, computer fraud, insider trading. He’s made money by ripping off phone cards and selling them, ripping off software and selling it, pretending a company he has shares in is about to get massive investment, then selling off the shares to conned buyers, and most recently ripping off music producers on a massive scale.
Whereever he’s gone, he’s made his money by ripping off other people.
But no – of course he would never ever tell a lie.
Your posterior is leaking again john, i know many seen Helen as a super-woman but really, you need get control of your propensity to lapse into fantasy…
I see a difference between a career criminal who makes his money from ripping people off, and a politician trying to save themselves by lying about speeding, paintings, foreign accounts, or even secret trusts.
I forgot about the feral inbreds comment, though it’s arguable whether that was actually a lie – just a very stupid thing to say publicly.
Even more stupid for a politician.
And even more stupid for a labour politician about a the founding region of the labour party.
Which probably proves my point. Helen Clark is generally thought of as a pretty good politician, and a good PM for most of her term, even by the right.
Showing the public are pretty tolerant of small slip-ups from politicians.
And smart enough to see that people who make big deals about small issues are just being anal.
“I forgot about the feral inbreds comment, though it’s arguable whether that was actually a lie – just a very stupid thing to say publicly.”
Funny thing, john, is that she never said it.
Which just reinforces what you’ve been demonstrating all along; that you’re a gullible dupe who is prepared to believe any old rubbish you’re told about people you disapprove of.
Meanwhile, John Key has lied his arse off for 6 years and you’re fine with it.
Well, KDM wasn’t caught in a lie, but the whole deal about a “sitting electorate MP” wanting to defect to the IP, which was subsequently withdrawn and is no longer spoken about, doesn’t do all that much for his credibility.
ahoy there, putake. i’m wondering if there’s a hint of the ‘alcohol maketh the man moreso’ to your question. there’s no excuses for me, im afraid. i’ve not labored in his vineyard for quite some time.
have to laugh at the blogger who says New Zealand is becoming a Deemocracy. i.e what we say goes.
and everything else is sub rosa or behind closed doors. Anyway the thing is a Wairarapa man is being charged with letting off a pistol not at a firing range. The defense will be that Judith collins was shown firing a pistol somewhere so waiting to see if what is good for the goose is good for the gander
Although not my buzz, ex shipping containers are a great way to recycle materials and reduce the amount of new raw materials being used for accommodation.
Watched a show about building in small spaces on tele awhile ago. One segment was about a container house accommodation and office space complex in a dis used industrial area in Britain. A lot of thought had gone into the storage spaces and layout of living areas in the containers, as well outdoor connection such as the use of large sliding glass doors going out to patios.
Wellington has a well known container house. Here’s some interesting shots of the interior:
Although not my buzz, ex shipping containers are a great way to recycle materials and reduce the amount of new raw materials being used for accommodation.
I’d almost agree with that except that they’re metal which means that they’re going to bleed heat at an absolutely astonishing rate unless they have really thick insulation. Thing is, a number of the ones I’ve seen on the internet don’t have that required insulation.
I’ve always wondered about the metal aspect regarding heat loss in winter, heat retention in summer and condensation.
Mr R did a cert in building ecology and design last year and although is interested in container housing, didn’t cover it as a project, mainly because it wasn’t construction from scratch per se. The “health” of the building and it impact on occupants would be an important consideration in sustainable housing I’d imagine – I might run that past him later, the insulation question.
In the meantime on the topic of the small house movement, heres a transportable small house manufactured in CHCH (with insulation!)
hello to you, freedom. jacob applebaum told me some things about mobiles that made me wary of their use. the question arose yesterday as to the reply button and dimebag russell (bitchin handle btw) piped up and stated that he doesnt use it. i dont want to come off as an complete asshole but cant it be one of my protests against conformity/authority (like not mowing my berm). it seems altogether too intimate for me as i do struggle in that department.
Yeah, it’s quite strange that the site’s suddenly inundated with newish people who seem incapable of using the reply button. A sudden outbreak of Reply-Button-Phobia. I’m wondering if it’s some sort of OCD thing ?
I was having fun rarking up the sewer yesterday when I was have a problem writing code. They appear to be a bit upset about that.
Teaching them to use a reply button is probably a bit much. Priority should be given to teaching them to use the toilet rather than going directly to the sewer.
Oh Hi AlIen. Hey, what was that I was reading above about Jasper the cat having a footprint on his bum because he shat in the bath?! Not true about the footprint I hope!!! Provide Jasper with a litter tray for rainy days and a cat door so he can come and go when he wants – no need for AlIen to get out of bed, and no need for Jasper to go to desperate lengths. Everyone’s happy.
You know, just yesterday I had a run with a man who was treating a cat cruelly on the side of the road. I was driving past and had to pull over and have a word with him. But this guy was a jerk and you aren’t, so give Jasper a break and get his bathroom sorted. No more messy starts to the day for you if you do 😀
Oooo you are wicked, winding me up like that…………….
Cats toilet indoors for good reasons. Address the source of the problem (litter tray and cat door) and you’ll have no worries.
If he still goes indoors and on your personal items, such as laundry and you have your cat toileting options sussed, then that means something else, he’s being territorial.
No to a litter tray, the idea is not to have cat poo smells in the house at all, I’m certainly not encouraging it.
He was out all last evening and only came in after midnight. He just won’t go to next doors garden when it’s raining. I’m sure it’s not a territory thing, he knows his place. The only bonus is it makes my girl pick her clothes up of the bedroom floor when it’s pouring down. 😀
I’m leaving the bathroom window open tonight, so if there’s a cat heaven, he best have been a good kitty if he does it again.
I’m not one for anthropomorphisms, but waking me up after the fact and not before does get me thinking. 🙂
“I’m sure it’s not a territory thing, he knows his place”. Yes cats always know THEIR place, they just like to make sure humans know theirs………they are clever like that and like to express their superiority.
No stinks from a litter tray if you keep it clean, and keep it in the garage, or somewhere not within the house
Well his place tonight certainly isn’t going to be under the blankie again, that’s for sure, so he’ll be expressing his superiority to the daddy long legs in the front room 🙂
It’s a cat door Jaspar needs. And if you don’t like the sound of the cat door going bank-whack in the middle of the night, tape the door up with some very strong sticky tape.It’ll still go whackity-whack as he hurls himself through the opening, but it’ll save you a lot of nasty smells and cussing…
Noooooo, i have been hoping that Cats didn’t get a mention, the next door one, known only to me as Cat, is one of my good friends,
She is totally the shit as far as an animal expressing itself goes and i have mentioned here befor Her love of the next door neighbors shed full of Pigeons, She sits on a fencepost in my backyard which the mentioned shed backs onto and falls asleep purring loud enough to be heard inside my house if there’s no radio blaring, and, drooling bucket-loads like a loon,
Should i have the temerity to interrupt this grand reverie by trying to use ‘my’ backyard, Her eyes will fly open and i get a Hiss and Meow that conveys to me in no uncertain terms ”F-off you bastard i was just getting to the bit where these feathered critters all fell at my feet screaming devour me master”,
We converse as often as the Cat deigns to lower Herself to engage and the Cat is an expert at using different tones and volumes of Meows, should i impart to the Cat that a certain level of Meow is insufficient to deserve as reward a Pat you can bet that the next Meow will be heart-rendingly plaintive until such time as my voice takes on a concilltory tone,
Anyway, to abbreviate, the other night Cat and i were going through this routine and when She had me in Her power, luring me into the gift of the inevitable Pat, i proceeded to lecture Her in the vein of ”i know your game Cat” following this with the lecture on Her only desiring Pats so as to ditch on one of the foolish humans at least one of Her many fleas, and,
As Pats provoke Her into fits of drooling this was in effect an attempt to pass onto the unsuspecting one of those Cat diseases they are said to carry,
Finishing this lecture with words of why don’t you make yourself useful, i haven’t seen a dead rat in months,
Next day on a trip into the backyard to feed the garden, WTF, at the bottom of the steps where the Cat normally leaves them, i assume for my inspection, 1 very dead Rat,
Which brings me to the question i have been meaning to ask, other than fast flying items of heavy matter, is there a way of keeping Cat’s from crapping in the garden, ala the drink bottle full of water on the lawn to deter the Dogs,???…
Alien Lolz, such are inherent in fast flying items of heavy matter, i had the same problem with a dog from down below that had little respect for my garden and complete disdain for me,
Until that is the day He looked up and met an object from space falling at 30 feet per second per second, what could be called an inescapable conclusion,
Myself i call it the old plastic chair on my deck, the dog then changed that to ”ouch” in the form of a yelp,
Sticks to his own turf these days choosing instead of shitting in and then digging up my garden to sending subtle messages via small yelps in the wee small quiet hours…
No to a litter tray, the idea is not to have cat poo smells in the house at all, I’m certainly not encouraging it.
Best house training of four kittens I ever did was a litter tray. Kept a litter tray until they proved that they were old enough to go outside (ie, they could jump out the window) and then dumped the litter tray in the garden. They followed the litter tray.
I’ve had him six years and he was in the family for a year or so before that and mostly he’s been good. Like I wrote, it’s only when it’s pouring down will I ever get left a present.
It’s only happened about four times in all, but I’d rather have triplets and be on permanent nappy duty than have to put up with that smell. It’s a unique aroma for sure, and one that lingers long in the nostrils.
Edit:
“is there a way of keeping Cat’s from crapping in the garden”
remember, if you do decide to call – there’s a high likelihood youll get one of the 99% who spoil it for the rest of the good ones. * cuts to a shot of mr o connor justifying yet another heavy handed beating*
An URGENT message to all NZ MPs who are opposed to corruption:
WE NEED THE EPSOM BY-ELECTION TO HELP KEEP THE PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT ON CORRUPTION!
(In my considered opinion, if the Epsom by-election goes ahead, National will NOT win this 2014 General Election, because they are SO vulnerable on the issue of ‘corrupt corporate cronyism’ and there is SO much more to come …… )
MPS who are opposed to corruption, should NOT support the upcoming vote (which needs 75% of MPs – 91 MPs) to prevent this Epsom by-election going ahead!
If Labour MPs commit to NOT supporting the upcoming vote to stop this Epsom by-election, it won’t happen, because there simply won’t be the numbers to make up the 75%.
There will be all manner of SPIN as to why this Epsom by-election should NOT go ahead, but it’s high time for a massive public exposure proving how NZ’s ‘perceived’ status as the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ does NOT match the corruption ‘REALITY’ check.
Please make your voices heard – ASAP!
10 June 2014
PRESS RELEASE FROM ANTI-CORRUPTION ‘PUBLIC WATCHDOG’ PENNY BRIGHT –
“Why I support Graham McCready’s call for an Epsom by-election.”
I, Penny Bright, ‘anti-corruption and anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’ support the call of private prosecutor Graham McCready, for MPs to support a by-election in Epsom, and NOT to provide this National Government with the numbers to make up the 91 MPs (75%) required to STOP this by-election.
In my considered opinion, any public monies spent on this Epsom by-election, will NOT be a ‘waste of money’ – but an investment in the fight against corruption in New Zealand ‘perceived to be the least corrupt country in the world’.
The general election will focus on many issues, but a by-election in Epsom will help keep a huge public spotlight specifically on corrupt practices such as electoral fraud – which have apparently been ‘common practice’.
‘State capture’ obtains when a small number of firms (or such entities as the military) is able to shape the rules of the game to its advantage through massive illicit, and non-transparent provision of private benefits to officials and politicians. Examples of such behaviour include the ability to control legislative votes, to obtain favourable executive decrees and court decisions. A relatively new concept, the main proponents being World Bank researchers, it echoes that of ‘crony capitalism’ and covers cases where high-level corruption is pervasive. (See military-industrial complex; clientelism.)
(That’s how the NZ Business Round Table (BRT) used to do it – by focusing on ‘policy’, pretending that their greedy self-interest was somehow in the ‘national interest’, and pushing for legislation from which they profited.
The BRT mantra that ‘public was bad – private was good’ helped to frame the ‘Rogernomics’ legislation which allowed the commercialisation, corporatisation and privatisation of public assets, a number of which (or shares of which) ended up in the hands of BRT members.)
Where can you check for ‘State capture?
Read the ‘Regulatory Impact Statements / Regulatory Impact Reports and find out with whom the policy analysts have been ‘consulting’ and treating as ‘independent third-parties – when they actually have and are vested interests ….
How about ‘post-separation employment?
The ‘revolving door’ between public office and employment in the private sector.
http://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/preventing-corruption/knowing-your-risks/post-separation-employment/4301
Post-separation employment
Post-separation employment is the situation where a public official leaves the public sector and obtains employment in the private sector.
The principle underlying the management of post-separation employment is the need to ensure that public sector decisions are made only on their merits and not compromised by extraneous considerations or personal interests.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet Personnel Handbook refers to this issue in Section 8-12:
Employees should not use their position to obtain opportunities for future employment. They should not allow themselves or their work to be influenced by plans for, or offers of, employment outside the department.
There should be a mandatory ‘quarantine period’ of 18 months to 2 years, between leaving Ministerial or senior public service positions and taking up a job in the private sector where you can be seen to be using your previous contacts and influence to ‘feather your own nest’.
Want to get up to speed with a comparison of anti-corruption legislative frameworks between Australia, NZ, UK, Canada and USA and compare it with that of New Zealand?
Please be reminded that New Zealand has STILL yet to ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
Minister of Justice Judith Collins’ ‘Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Legislation’ Bill, the passage of which is required before NZ can ratify UNCAC has yet to surface on the Parliamentary Order Paper.
This 50th Parliament has 5 sitting weeks left …
.
New Zealand desperately needs a genuinely Independent Commission Against Corruption – like the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was established by the NSW Government in 1989 in response to growing community concern about the integrity of public administration in NSW.
The ICAC’s principal functions are set out in the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988. In summary, they are:
to investigate and expose corrupt conduct in the NSW public sector
to actively prevent corruption through advice and assistance, and
to educate the NSW community and public sector about corruption and its effects.
The jurisdiction of the ICAC extends to all NSW public sector agencies (except the NSW Police Force) and employees, including government departments, local councils, members of Parliament, ministers, the judiciary and the governor. The ICAC’s jurisdiction also extends to those performing public official functions.
Penny Bright
…………………….
PRESS RELEASE FROM GRAHAM McCREADY – WHY HE SUPPORTS AN EPSOM BY-ELECTION:
10 June 2014
Graham Edward Mc Cready, New Zealand Citizen, Kiwi Patriot and sucessfull prvate prosecutor of the one honorarable John Archbald Banks call for ALL Membres of Parkiament including our most able and ehically corect Prima Minsister John Key to vote to hold a bi-election in Epson following the exit from tghe halls of power of Mr Banks.
‘I am a -political when it comes to the law. I do not belong to any political party. I am by the way a long term Labour Party supporter who helped Trevor Mallard in his first campaign in Hutt South. But the whole Banks private prosecution continued to the point it did because Banks held the Epson seat propping up the Key Government.
Had Banks adopted the wisdom of Trevor Mallard and offered as soon as he was summoned to plead guilty to a lessor non indictable charge that in December 2012 would have been accepted and amongst other things would have saved the Country a two year distraction and also my health.
There are thousands of fellow Kiwis who do not vote. One of the reasons is their view that all politicians are a bunch of corrupt bastards not worthy of their support.
The Epson mad hatters tea party and subsequent court proceedings are a stain on the political life of the Nation that needs expunging.
Voting not to hold a bi-election on expediency just tells the average Joe citizen that it is business as usual.
The electorate through a Bi -Election in Epson needs the opportunity to voice their anger at their elected leaders and elect a candidate in Epson free of all the ACT balderdash.
It will focus and address all the issues that have come out of the Banks court case that will be lost forever in a General Election
I call on all MPs to vote accordingly’
Graham Edward Mc Cready
Concerned New Zealand Citizen
………………………….
Wow thats from a moderator. look, i had a little stouch a few days back with what i assume is a regular. I admit i said i dont vote and i know that upset some of you. I know i made a bit of an off colour remark about the Christchuch mayor and i know this is your labour stronghold and comments like that dont go down too well – but fucking hell, seriously, loosen the pigtails, you bunch of polyannas. If it is in the rules then sure maybe people will be happy to use the reply button. If not then being part of a democracy means all comers get to interact as they see fit within the confines of the rules which do apply. Today the only comment ive seen from what i assume is a moderator is something that indicates to me they probably shouldnt be one – which is more often than not the case. ‘…our mailed fist can crush any opposition, and if our furious assault has a heavy civilian toll, that’s all to the good—perhaps the remnants will be properly educated’. Thats a little snippet from the nice israeli’s regarding Gaza. Im not fazed by you lot getting huffy about things i say. This isnt Gaza. My understanding of teletyping facilities such as this is that they survive with the assistance of newbies. You might want to deny it and you might want to have a status quo. Surely you dont want to sit around yammering on to the same people year in year out – or do you.
Well NO actually Marius, you are Wrong on so many levels in your little attempt at commenting suicide there my pinkies aint about to waste much energy pointing out Where,
Here’s a hint tho, if there were a status quo here and those speaking too far out of that status quo got the kick, i would suggest that i would have been gone long ago,
Another hint, Peeps have been pointing out to you the agreed to method of commenting via the reply button not because they are the fascist thought police, BUT, because they like to read Nembies stuff AND, when you continue to comment simply using the function of a new comment where you should have used reply, it to be blunt, fucks up the flow of the conversation,
Taking the piss of the Mods i would suggest is an open invitation to have you exit stage left…
The thing is Marius, and I do not know why I am even bothering but….people are only trying to be helpful. If you continue to refuse to follow a simple and constructive protocol, ie: using a reply button, chances are that people will simply not bother to reply to what you say. On a busy site like The Standard it is not always easy to identify what comments isolated replies are responding to.
(this comment being a self-explanatory exception to the above statement)
It’s like going to a pub, having a conversation with folk, and you getting up to change tables every time you talk. Pretty soon the conversation will just move on without you.
No, I agree with the critical comments you’ve made about Israel’s Occupation, Marius. It’s just hard to know who the fuck you’re replying / referring to with each comment.
Then again, there is, I s’pose, a certain entertainment in trying to guess precisely who you’re on about. There’s an interesting randomness about it all, a whiff of the absurd, a hint of Waiting for Godot.
Bloody Aussies, spoil everyone’s fun, it appears that the chemical Ketamine used in some of the ”legal high’s” that got the kick off of the shelves here has been under study in a Uni over the ditch,
The result so far, when other drugs have no effect Ketamine has shown to seriously curtail depression and unlike other anti-depressants is fast working,
Didn’t hear of any adverse side effects so once the study is published the purveyors of ”legal highs” will happily get a freebie as an aid to get the products back on the shelf,
Dunno Mac, my first impression at the mention of Ketamine was ”isn’t that a horse tranqualizer” its the next item on my notes after ”do you cook Mango to make chutney” so there’s a contest now occurring between my lust for Mango chutney and my thirst for knowledge as to which question is put to Google first…
In fact, I seem to recall doing venue security at a palliative care conference a few years back – one of the poster displays praised the virtue of ketamine as being comparable to (possibly better than) diamorphine (heroin). My thought was “so if you fill ’em full of horse tranquilizer, it eases their pain? There’s a revelation…”
Mind you, amazing the stuff you pick up if you keep your eyes and ears open working at function centres 🙂
Nicely done Mac, and i can now inform everyone,(as if they didn’t know), that yes, to make Mango chutney it appears the common wisdom is to cook it along with all the other ingredients,
i have modified that, and, the liberal dose of Lemon juice i have planned for mine will go in last as i do not want the heat to alter the chemical balance of the juice,(it being a preservative ingredient)…
For several years, I made my unofficial beat the stories, struggles, and politics of blacks in America. I wrote about other things, also, but never with the same frequency or interest. I was pretty good at it, and, more than that, I enjoyed it. Eventually, people began to assume that I’d comment when a particular kind of news story bubbled up—generally one about something bad happening to a black person—and I often times would. I wasn’t surprised when a website I liked asked me to write about the case of a white man of little note in New Hampshire calling a hugely powerful black man a “nigger.” But then I realized I didn’t have anything to say.
Or maybe it wasn’t that I didn’t have anything to say. Maybe it was the realization that writing anything would be to listlessly participate in the carousel ride: an inciting incident, 1,000 angry thinkpieces, 1,000 tweeted links, and back to where we started, until next time. Perhaps it was a feeling that writing anything would finally be too redundant to bear, a pursuit of too many sad and obvious words to heap onto so many other nearly identical words written down before, by me, by thousands of others.
This fatigue is one we all face when we talk/write about issues from a personal perspective. I’m not sure what the answer is to combat the hollowed out feeling when another injustice occurs that is similar to the last injustice and so on to infinity. For me and my small contribution to the issues that matter to me the main way to combat it is the knowledge that I am not alone. I thank all those who write and comment on this site and who align with my belief in equality above all else – you know who you are and without you, well, without you the bastards would run even more amok than they are now.
” For me and my small contribution to the issues that matter to me the main way to combat it is the knowledge that I am not alone.” and it is that which also keeps me going, Marty Mars. We’re all in this together in our different ways (fighting inequality) and while you might get fed up with some of those others at various times, none of us can do it alone.
We all need a bit of luck Marius. If you don’t want your share, I’ll have it.
Just for the record, we were all new here at some time, but choosing to ignore the reply button as a form of protest, especially since being told it’s a pita is a bit self defeating.
You’ll get more out by putting a little effort in, even if it spoils your present game.
Just saying 🙂
Edit:
“it comes as no surprise to me that dissent will be met with expulsion. im not in the least bothered by that.”
look, bad. i havent purposely avoided the reply button. ive been settling into using this place in a nice sedate manner which suits me. im not being hurried along by the local cops. as i said, ive heard nothing from a moderator which says im obligated to use the reply button. ive typed in places where the screen scrolls by so fast if you blink you miss who youre interacting with – this place is a retirement home in comparison. yeah yeah i know ‘fuck off back there’. it comes as no surprise to me that dissent will be met with expulsion. im not in the least bothered by that. so be it or the chips are down as gide said.
How have you found it work out for you, turning up to others peoples places and deliberately pissing on their doorsteps just to make a point that you’re really so unique. Going well for you is it?
Yep. Or a burst of the rolly eyes. The sad thing is that the arrogance is taking the shine off the occasional glimmers of intelligence and education. I’ll bet Marius is the first poster here to name check Andre Gide, for example. But the contempt for the readers ruins that, (just as it usually does for Phil Ure’s contributions).
🙄 🙄 the Moderator is probably busy engaged in that strange human function called work Marius,
By the time you have pissed Him off enough to have heard from Him, depending how stressful the day is, might be your first and last conversation, 🙄 🙄 …
You’d think so, but there are still thousands of the bloody things on active duty around the world and even more in storage ready to be put into a state of readiness.
That’s because their nuclear operations comply with international standards.
Japan signed comprehensive de-militarisation pacts at the end of WW2. But, they could have a working bomb within 3 months or so if it was deemed ‘necessary’.
Hey Gosman, if you’re around…. You are always banging on about how useless Zimbabwe is/was. Well I get sent emails from an investor thingy called the Dail;y Reckoning. It’s an aussie thing worth a read on the occasional blue moon.
Anyway, this one today caught my eye… especially when it said this ….
“–Years ago a man named Gideon Gono first appeared in The Daily Reckoning. He quickly became a favourite character of readers. Best of all, we didn’t even have to make him up.
–The charismatic Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe surged to fame in 2008. Not just because he destroyed the country’s economy by printing money. But because American and European central bankers embraced his policies after ridiculing them for years, which he promptly rubbed their faces in.
–Quantitative Easing went on to become the key economic policy of the decade. It saved us all. Except, of course, the savers who got nothing. In fact, their interest payments dwindled to less than inflation in much of the developed world. ”
I told you your claims about individual policies and supposed causation links through to various economy-wide results were simplistic.
As simplistic as suggesting that Cuba’s positions are a result solely of its internal policies / rolly eyes.
–Quantitative Easing went on to become the key economic policy of the decade. It saved us all. Except, of course, the savers who got nothing. In fact, their interest payments dwindled to less than inflation in much of the developed world. ”
It particularly saved the insolvent big banks and the 0.1% whose asset portfolios went up through the roof in value. Almost like those programmes were designed with that in mind.
–The charismatic Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe surged to fame in 2008. Not just because he destroyed the country’s economy by printing money.
This is the key thing – economies are not typically destroyed just by printing money. It usually has to be combined with the destruction of productive capacity as well as war/civil war which really does it.
In Zimbabwe’s case the inflation in the economy which began to occur well befor the Governor of the Reserve Bank began to Print ever bigger bank notes,
Economic sanctions, imposed on Zimbabwe by the Western powers after Mugabe began repatriating the stolen land from the white farmers created the spiral of inflation that ensured the printing of ever bigger denominations of bank notes,
The basic essentials of life not produced in the Zimbabwe economy had to, after the imposition of the sanctions, be smuggled in from other countries thus driving their price up in an ever increasing spiral,
The US printing’s in particular have gone more to the big institutional banks and from their into the share-market or are simply sitting propping up the balance sheets of what is essentially a bankrupt system in terms of the means of counting the beans…
The US printing’s in particular have gone more to the big institutional banks and from their into the share-market or are simply sitting propping up the balance sheets of what is essentially a bankrupt system in terms of the means of counting the beans…
QFT
And that is, of course, why the US didn’t see any inflation – all the money printed went to the already rich and banks rather than going into the economy and producing demand.
Zimbabwe already had massive inflation (1991 48% and 1992 40%) in the years before any sanctions were imposed.
In addition, the sanctions were never general sanctions, but targeted just to certain individuals and companies.
Huge amounts of productive land was taken by Mugabe and given to war veterans, who failed to keep producing. Hence food production in Zimbabwe halved.
Similarly a large amount of capital invested in businesses (both Zimbabwean and foreign), fled the country, along with white and black Zimbabweans – a total of quarter of population fled. Manufactured goods plummeted, and unemployment skyrocketed.
Mugabes tax base dissappeared so they started printing money. I have a hundred billion dollar bank note from a recent visit that wouldn’t buy a single jelly bean.
John old boy, so good to see you old chap, how are things going over their at the embassy, so sorry you had to be dragged away from after dinner cocktails on such a minor mission especially having to answer the likes of me,(knowing how the unwashed upset you so),
A bit droll don’t you think John trotting out the old Zillion dollar bank note, oh sure it works as the grand party trick for those with their noses stuck so far up their arses that dinner is always delivered,via syphoning hose that is, but, i thought even you lot would have learned by now to save the bullshit for such idiots john,
How was the trip tho,must be hard on the skin all this flip flopping between time zones and climates john old boy, i am surprised the Regime over their didn’t get a hold of you as soon as the plane hit Harare and string you up by your old school tie to the nearest lampost,
The old Dip Pouch right old chap, Merlin of old could not have conjured up a shield so grand,you forgot a little something with the party trick zillion note john, the fact that that old rogue Mugabe changed to using the currency of the enemy so long ago i forgot what year it was,
08 or 09 wasn’t it old boy???
As for the ”other” information imparted, sorry, Disinformation, precious, ‘You’ can fool some of the people some of the time right old boy, you know the rest,
Here let me give a little assistance to aid you in NOT talking out of your arsehole,
Does seem a little like the poor old Governor of the Zimbabwe Reserve Bank had never had a talk with Ruth Richardson or Doctor Dullard Don Brash doesn’t it john,
However after the EU sanctions were imposed in 2001/2002 the story really changes doesn’t it john,
At which point Zimabawe had a choice, change to the Rand, the South African currency having become the stable currency of trade in the surrounding nations, or
Fuck totally your and the US’es little game big time by not switching to the Rand which would then also have become a target of your monetary terrorism john, simply by switching to the currency of the country that was imposing such monetary terrorism upon them, the US Dollar which they did right john,
i would call that small piece of intelligent use of the US dollar john, Game Set and Fucking Match old boy, well played and oh wont you come again,
Pfft, what would happen i have to ask to any small economy that had its ability to borrow kneecapped by sanctions, had its ability to buy and sell its goods knee capped by monetary terrorism in the form of the US banning its currency from being able to purchase the US dollar through any banking system,
In 2002 (before the US targeted sanctions started in 2003) trade between Zimbabwe and USA was a meagre $47m of exports and $103m of imports.
Four years later in 2006, when inflation passed 1000%, trade between Zimbabwe and USA was virtually identical – 49m of exports and $102m of imports.
In 2008, when inflation passed a billion %, trade between Zimbabwe and USA was even greater – $92m of exports and $112 of imports
Mugabe chased quarter of his own population out of the country and had to print money to make up for lost taxes from the farms businesses, and tourist industry he destroyed.
On a drive last year from Hwange to Bulawayo, farm after farm was destroyed and burnt out. In some parts only one in ten was left. Sanctions didn’t do that. Mugabes henchmen did.
You’re assertion that the hyperinflation was because of sanctions is both ignorant and laughable.
But john, and i know this may sour the next G and T forcing you to dribble it all over the shirt,(the expense account will be a hard one to justify this month won’t it, ”one of the unwashed i was educating on the web”, not being sufficient reason for the bean counters to loosen the purse strings right),but,
Cannot you see the utter contradiction in your explanation, it is rather glaring don’t you think old boy,
Henchman, i so love your propensity for the melodramatic john, ghastly tho would have to be a better level as a raiser of the tension in the narrative don’t you think old boy, in the vein of ghastly henchman, must make full use of the Queens at every opportunity what,
Oh right, sorry you have me escaping into flights of fancy, ghastly henchmen and all that, have you gone into a sideline as a tin-foil salesman john, i thought the Embassy was quite clear about those earns on the side, But,
To address this utter contradiction, damned ghastly henchmen burned the whole fucking farm to a crisp and exports to the good old home of international financial terrorism also known as the US of A went UP,
i would suggest john the old scoundrel running the place better hire a far more efficient cadre of ghastly henchmen, wouldn’t you old boy,
Oh what, is that what you were doing there risking your delicate pallor over john,can’t have the natives joining forces now can we, best to ferment a little mischief,
While we are chatting john, were we by chance traveling with the use of a NZ passport, that would be a novel means of having not to have to face the hostility at the border brought aboutt by the production of Her Maj’s documents…
Yes agreed CV, particularly your past paragraph and how economies and the like are the result of countless things such as war, embargoes, etc.
That is what annoys me about gosman’s musings and their simplicity – they show nothing and prove nothing. Hence my point there about Cuba – it has been absolutely nailed by the US for 50+ years.
As bad12 detailed above, the US is expert at destabilising nations and turning populations against their rulers.
Venezuela is in the firing line now (with the co-operation of the local 1%) and I’m not sure that Maduro is going to be able to hold out much longer – and this is a nation with hundreds of billions in oil wealth.
But that can’t be right CV, gosman says it is all because of the communist policies blah blah blah …
The US doesn’t do stuff like that, it just goes merrily about its business in accordance with the laws of every land including international law. The US is trustworthy and honest. It would never dream of anything other than acting as a good and honest international citizen.
Time to retire this graceless goon, this hectoring halfwit, this mindless moron.
Another hapless performance from Graham Bell The Panel, Radio NZ National, Tuesday 10 June 2014
Jim Mora, Graham Bell, Ali Jones
After the four o’clock news, it’s time to have a chat with the guests. Host Jim Mora always tries to talk about something relevant to the particular guest. With the cantankerous old cop Graham Bell, it’s the vexed question of arming the police….
JIM MORA: I was reading the American papers today, and we think WE’ve got problems, but over there I see the police are talking about arming themselves with grenade-launchers! Ha ha ha ha ha!
GRAHAM BELL: Haw, haw, haw, haw! Well, I suppose they have crack dens there that they have to knock over….
When Mora speaks to the indefatigable spokesperson for Christchurch’s earthquake victims, Ali Jones, there is only one possible subject: how the people of Christchurch are coping with insurance companies’ obstructiveness and the refusal of the Key government to do anything about it. It’s a really serious problem, and it demands serious and focused discussion. Unwisely, however, Bell decides that it’s time to say something sarcastic…..
GRAHAM BELL: So is David Cundliffe going to gallop to your rescue?
Perhaps he divined some of the irritation felt by Ali Jones, because the next words he spoke had none of the jocular tone of his dig at the Labour Party….
GRAHAM BELL:[uncomfortable, suddenly forced to assume an air of gravitas] Because, and believe me I have a lot of experience of this, lawyers have no interest in resolving an issue, they only want to prolong it as long as possible so they can make money off it.
Jones was having none of that nonsense. She launched into a stinging critique of the Insurance Council and the National-led government—and, by implication, of fools like Graham Bell who parrot their poisonous talking points…
ALI JONES: I totally reject what the Insurance Council and Gerry Brownlee have said about this.
Jones was really angry, and Bell showed a rare lick of common sense when he decided to lapse into silence. It was his most humiliating moment on this show since Gordon Campbell silenced him a few years ago after Bell had ignorantly attacked the then leader of the Greens, Jeanette Fitzsimons.
Bell was back to his curmudgeonly self a little later, during the Soapbox segment. Over the years, his Soapbox contributions have consisted almost entirely of gripes about the minor irritations in his life, like the food quality in tearooms, or the standard of customer service at Telecom, or—my personal favorite—this one from three years ago: “There’s a number of things that RANKLE me and FRUSTRATE me….Some time, just once in a blue moon, I’d like to get TWO biscuits with my cup of coffee, not just one biscuit!”
Today the tradition continued….
MORA: Graham Bell, what’s been on your mind please? GRAHAM BELL: Well, I tried to get some tickets this morning for the Eagles concert next year in Auckland. What a BLOODY FIASCO! MORA:[perhaps misreading just how serious Bell is] Ha ha ha ha ha! GRAHAM BELL:[raving] I’ve MISSED OUT! I’ve been waiting for them to come for twenty years and I’ve missed out. MORA: Who’s your favorite Eagle? GRAHAM BELL: Joe Walsh. Arrrrrgghhh! I sat there for TWO HOURS, logging in and out of their site. MORA:[insensitively] Ha ha ha ha ha! GRAHAM BELL: It drove me NUTS! How do these scalpers get the tickets though?
More snarling and grumbling for several minutes….
POINT TO PONDER….
According to Radio NZ National’s frequent station promos, The Panel features “leading opinion makers”, who discuss the news and “help to make sense of it all”.
Totally agree about Bell. The clanger I recall from him was when the Greens announced a policy about putting $200million (I think) into cycleways and cycling improvements around the country….
… of course something like this Bell would have had absolutely no idea about and of course he subsequently let his lack of nous on the subject pour forth ….
…blah blah he dribbled … “what an absolute waste of money … blah blah … I can’t believe the Greens keep coming up with these barmy ideas … waffle rant”
Then of course the cycling expert came on and cleaning dispatched the fool by outlining how the return for $1 spent on cycling improvements is $7 (think health, energy, etc etc) and the return for $1 spent on “roads of notional significance” is 60cents….
Bell is a dork with nothing useful to say. I agree he is a waste of time.
According to the study by In The Public Interest called “Race to the Bottom: How Outsourcing Public Services Rewards Corporations and Punishes the Middle Class,” privatization of government services “contributes to the decline of the middle class and the rise in poverty-level jobs, thereby exacerbating growing economic inequality.”
Since the 1980s and 1990s mass-scale privatization of government services has pushed millions of people into a “race to the bottom” cycle of poverty and added considerable stress to local, state and federal budgets.
And we’ve seen exactly the same things happening here in New Zealand.
Edward Snowden may not have had access to the NSA’s independent top tier surveillance systems
RUSSELL TICE: Think of it this way. Remember I told you about the NSA doing everything they could to make sure that the information from 40 years ago – from spying on Frank Church and Lord knows how many other Congressman that they were spying on – was hidden?
Now do you think they’re going to put that information into Powerpoint slides that are easy to explain to everybody what they’re doing?
They would not even put their own NSA designators on the reports [so that no one would know that] it came from the NSA. They made the reports look like they were Humint (human intelligence) reports. They did it to hide the fact that they were NSA and they were doing the collection. That’s 40 years ago. [The NSA and other agencies are still doing “parallel construction”, “laundering” information to hide the fact that the information is actually from mass NSA surveillance.]
Now, what NSA is doing right now is that they’re taking the information and they’re putting it in a much higher security level. It’s called “ECI” – Exceptionally Controlled Information – and it’s called the black program … which I was a specialist in, by the way.
I specialized in black world – DOD and IC (Intelligence Community) – programs, operations and missions … in “VRKs”, “ECIs”, and “SAPs”, “STOs”. SAP equals Special Access Program. It’s highly unlikely Mr. Snowden had any access to these. STO equals Special Technical Operations It’s highly unlikely Mr. Snowden had any access to these.
Now in that world – the ECI/VRK world – everything in that system is classified at a higher level and it has its own computer systems that house it. It’s totally separate than the system which Mr. Snowden was privy to, which was called the “JWICS”: Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System. The JWICS system is what everybody at NSA has access to. Mr Snowden had Sys Admin [systems administrator] authority for the JWICS.
And you still have to have TS/SCI clearance [i.e. Top Secret/ Sensitive Compartmented Information – also known as “code word” – clearance] to get on the JWICS. But the ECI/VRK systems are much higher [levels of special compartmentalized clearance] than the JWICS. And you have to be in the black world to get that [clearance].
ECI = Exceptionally Controlled Information. I do not believe Mr. Snowden had any access to these ECI controlled networks). VRK = Very Restricted Knowledge. I do not believe Mr. Snowden had any access to these VRK controlled networks.
Why did this not come with a supporter statement: this was brought to you buy the National and ACT parties.
Ngarimu Blair seems like a nice chap, but Fran talks over him and he shuts up and they conclude:
1) Internet Mana isn’t a real party.
See also: who the fuck is Phill Quinn on Pundit? Doesn’t seem to have a publishing history or profile but running the same lines.
2) They are gaming the system and cheating.
No mention made of ACT with an ex-National leader and cabinet minister in Epsom. No mention made of the fact that a review was held and the recommendation was to change it and they didn’t.
3) In Europe where there is proportional representation all coalition deals are organised before the election in all details. Is this actually an indisputable fact? Do parties put out joint manifestos before the election and then go into co-oalition before the election? I have my doubts.
Again no mention of the way National gamed the system to ‘compromise’ in its education policy because of John Banks’ tough cooalition negotiations with the guys who had set him up in Epsom by encouraging their supporters to vote for him.
What happened to all the ‘Electoral Finance Act’ we wanna spend our money jingoism? Or is it that party’s representing poor people or people not already entrenched in the establishment shouldn’t have access to money at elections and so should have less of a voice?
Ok, Lyn is off to Hawaii and then to rest of the US for 3 weeks. I still have another 4+ weeks of holiday pay. May the music be loud and the coding free and loose….
Maybe that will help with the irritating coding block.
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Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 16 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 10The Kākā’s weekly wrap-up of news about politics and the economy is due at midday, followed by webinar for paying subscribers in Substack’s ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, February 2, 2025 thru Sat, February 8, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
Today, I stumbled across a Twitter Meme: the ending of The Lord of the Rings as a Chess scenario: https://x.com/mellon_heads/status/1887983845917564991 It gets across the basic gist. Aragorn and Gandalf offering up ‘material’ at the Morannon allows Frodo and Samwise to catch Sauron unawares – fair enough. But there are a ...
Last week, Kieran McAnulty called out Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis for their claims that Kāinga Ora’s costs were too high.They had claimed Kāinga Ora’s cost were 12% higher than market i.e. private devlopersBut Kāinga Ora’s Chair had already explained why last year:"We're not building to sell, so we'll be ...
Stuff’s Political Editor Luke Malpass - A Fellow at New Zealand IniativeLast week I half-joked that Stuff / The Post’s Luke Malpass1 always sounded like he was auditioning for a job at the New Zealand Initiative.Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. For a limited time, subscriptions are 20% off. Thanks ...
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Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is methane the ...
The Government’s idea is that the private sector and Community Housing Providers will fund, build and operate new affordable housing to address our housing crisis. Meanwhile, the Government does not know where almost half of the 1,700 children who left emergency housing actually went. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong ...
Oh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youOh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youSongwriters: Alexander Ebert / Jade Allyson CastrinosMorena,I’m on a tight time frame this morning. In about an hour and a half, I’ll need to pack up and hit the road ...
This is a post about the Mountain Tui substack, and small tweaks - further to the poll and request post the other day. Please don’t read if you aren’t interested in my personal matters. Thank you all.After oohing-and-aahing about how to structure the Substack model since November, including obtaining ...
This transcript of a recent conversation between the Prime Minister and his chief economic adviser has not been verified.We’ve announced we are the ‘Yes Government’. Do you like it?Yes, Prime Minister.Dreamed up by the PR team. It’s about being committed to growth. Not that the PR team know anything about ...
The other day, Australian Senator Nick McKim issued a warning in the Australian Parliement about the US’s descent into fascim.And of course it’s true, but I lament - that was true as soon as Trump won.What we see is now simply the reification of the intention, planning, and forces behind ...
Among the many other problems associated with Musk/DOGE sending a fleet of teenage and twenty-something cultists to remove, copy and appropriate federal records like social security, medicaid and other supposedly protected data is the fact that the youngsters doing the data-removal, copying and security protocol and filter code over-writing have ...
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tuneBird fly high by the light of the moonOh, oh, oh, JokermanSong by Bob Dylan.Morena folks, I hope this fine morning of the 7th of February finds you well. We're still close to Paihia, just a short drive out of town. Below is the view ...
It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...
Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...
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The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...
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Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
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Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
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The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
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The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
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Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
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A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
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2 pieces of bad news:
NZ very expensive (shock, horror)
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/246767/study-finds-nz-expensive-place-to-live
and rik mayall has died:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/246761/comedian-rik-mayall-dies
rik mayall has died
Fuck, I can’t believe that !
One of my favourite comedy actors of all time. I was just watching him on youtube yesterday (doco on the making of Blackadder). This is a real shocker.
I think that quad bike accident back in the late 90s fucked his career badly. And as a result of his much slower thinking / reactions, Ade Edmondson lost interest in working with him. Which is pretty bloody sad after all they’d been through.
One of my favourite Mayall / Edmondson scenes from the BBC’s Bottom.
“Gas Man !, Gas Man !, Gas Man !”
“Who is it Darling ?”
“It’s the Gas Man !!!
“Well, don’t leave him out in the cold, Dreamboat, show him in !”
only 56, too
Rik channels Banksie!
snap
very sad about rik mayall….always reminded me of a couple of young Trots i knew…lol
was at uni when young ones and five go made in dorset hit our screens. saw ade Edmonson on the dales the other day and realised we are all middle aged now.
rip rik mayall for one of the funniest characters ( rick young ones) since life of bryan
ps when banks are his ear wax I immediately thought of rik in that scene about ear wax tasting bad
I loved him in “Mr Jolly Works Next Door”, and also in Guesthouse Paradiso…absolutely anarchic. RIP. Tonight I will raise a glass, as he said to Eddy Hitler in Bottom, “Make it a large one Eddy!”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27770266
Ade Edmondson
“There were times when Rik and I were writing together when we almost died laughing.
They were some of the most carefree stupid days I ever had, and I feel privileged to have shared them with him.
And now he’s died for real. Without me. Selfish bastard.”
Rip Flash.
Thanx for the link giving more links The Allen.
No worries, the bbc website is my home page and that’s what I awoke to when the cat meowed to tell me he didn’t need to go out in the rain as he’d sh!t in the bath instead.
Not my best morning to be fair, but at least my arse doesn’t have a footprint on it like Jasper’s.
Now that is a for crying shame. Rik Mayall has died.
(this is the best rik mayall coverage i have found..
..a clip-roundup of his best..)
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/jun/09/rik-mayalls-funniest-tv-moments-young-ones-bottom
Cheers for that, Phillip and TRP.
Just one more – from their slightly more obscure Filthy, Rich and Catflap
hhahah yeah filthy rich & catflap was their best work I reckon
Certainly their most under-rated. “Oh how I love the business !!!”
I have season 1 on dvd.. might have 2 dig it out
been awhile
I simply can’t resist one more. Possibly the best scene from Filthy, Rich and Catflap
Ooer, Sounds a bit Rude Gameshow…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKOc6OG1FJY
IMHO can I disagree ris? Google Rik Mayall in The Comic Strip series, especially A Fistful of Travellers Cheques. His best work there.
cheers I know of the comic strip presents- five go mad in Dorset is the best
I grew up watchin all the shows as my older brothers n sisters had them all on beta tape 🙂
Mr Jolly Lives Next Door would be my personal fav from The Comic Strip. Mayall and Edmondson at their sleaziest.
Part 1… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qSkl3mhEMA
Part 2… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-Mb-fNJw9I
Part 3… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arsbFqUtYLI
Part 4… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBLb19Ojgsg
R.I.P Rik. Such unexpected and sad news today.
Epic and adored icon of 80’s British comedy who filled my teenage goth mind with massive crack ups.
Thanks for links above folks. Might have to dedicate a spare week night to Mayall viewing in his honour.
f.y.i..
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jun/09/10-best-vegetarian-vegan-bloggers
(this one is very interesting..)
“..The French are right: tear up public debt – most of it is illegitimate anyway..
..Debt audits show that austerity is politically motivated to favour social elites.
Is a new working-class internationalism in the air?..”
(cont..)
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/09/french-public-debt-audit-illegitimate-working-class-internationalim
(yes plse..!..eh..?..)
I call it financial cannabilsm cos the very wealthy just vacuum up the lower income lives
That’s a very good description.
So we need the rich to blow and not just suck. Got it.
Wonder if we can persuade the left-parties that a debt audit for NZ is called for.
i think it’s a meme to get rolling..
.a bit of a debt-audit..and more than a soupcon of partial-nationalising..
..mix in financial transaction tax/capital gains tax..
..wd be quite aways down the road of ‘putting things right’..
..methinks..
man is born free and everywhere he is now in the chains of debt?
pls excuse not using gender neutral language
An interesting 2010 Herald article providing a ‘reminder’ of Banks’ stance on various issues and behaviour towards fellow Parliamentarians over the years.
http://t.co/EaJCYcfsMb
h/t Russell Brown Twitter
Not a nice man but more importantly he seems to have disregarded the rules when it suited him like buying the hotel and holding back a tender so that a friend could win etc.
Maybe an even more just outcome now than I thought?
Exactly, ianmac.
It took reading that article to remind me what sort of person he has been over the years to get a better perspective. I used to have some admiration for Banks as someone who initially sought to overcome and rise above the deprivations of his childhood and youth – and did .-
This article and similar ones have reminded me just how far Banks came over the years from this initial start to become a narrowminded, self-serving elitist who thought he was above the rest of us and could ‘engineer’ things and the law to suit his own ends, and that of his likeminded friends and colleagues. Indeed IMO he still thinks and acts in this way.
John Banks has always been a pig of a man.
That list reminds us all why.
He currently sits forlorn in the nest of his own making – full of his own stinking bird shit …
LOL – on that note, vto, I am now off to do the daily (at least) task of cleaning my four parrot cages!
Not entirely alone. He does seem to have quite a lot of supporters – ex pollies and Nat lackeys who, by and large, are no better than himself.
Last evening I was at a local Labour function and the subject of David Seymour was discussed. We had seen the Nation interview and were flabbergasted that such a loud mouthed, pig ignorant sociopath will be in parliament after Sept.20. In contrast the other two candidates present – the charming Julie-Ann Genter and the calm, collected Richard Wood – were shining examples of the sorts of people we so desperately need on the government benches.
Alan B’Stard exposed.
funny how he all of a sudden became a saint…
dont forget speeding on his jetski with three kids on the back and lying about it…
Fine for using his mobile during a flight
Hujlich bullshit
Add in the stuff from your link and how anyone could testify he was honest and decent is a joke…
Read what Judge Wylie said about his testimony and its credibility, and the same about his wife.
Damning. The Judge basically said John Banks is a bullshitter with no credibility, and the same about his wife.
On Radionz there will soon be an interview about the problem of getting plastic out of the sea where it does so much harm. It sounds a good idea.
Could something be learned on making artificial floating environmentally safe floating ‘reefs’ over shellfish beds, coral reefs say, that need protecting from excessive sun and heat? Could we do something using similar technologies, ban plastic and use ocean-friendly packaging or something. I wonder?
http://business.scoop.co.nz/2014/06/09/coat-tail-deals-a-few-weeks-away-says-key/
Seems coat tailing is fine for the right but not for anyone else..
BE real afraid of those whackjob Colin craig and his cast of idiots
Here is what Key had to say on Morning Report this morning on National’s possible coattail accommodations – in short that he will be announcing any in the next few weeks in the interests of transparency.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2599050/national-expected-to-reveal-political-deals-soonish
This morning the Herald also has an article on the selection by ACT of Don Nicholson, former Federated Farmers boss, as their candidate to run in Clutha Southland. This will pit him against the young ex tobacco industry National candidate …. While the article says that Key has said there will be no accommodation, it would not surprise me if there was, as a backup to the possibility that ACT does not win Epsom.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11270697
it would actually be great sport to see Don Nicholson in parliament.
he is such a numpty of a man with mad ideas about the way things work that he would likely provide great larfs on a weekly basis.
i agree..!..his time running fed-farmers was a series of howlers/jaw-droppers..
.(a best-of would lift the spirits..)
..he’s like the dumb local-yokel in a wallace and grommit flic..
john oliver unpacks fifa…
..it’s 13 mins long..and very funny..
..and will tell you all you need to know about how fifa is a stinking bag of pus..
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/09/john-oliver-fifa_n_5473346.html
For all those on the left who think KFC has some sort of smoking gun revelation in relation to John Key and when he knew about the raid on him I have a question for you. Why is he offering 5 million dollars for information proving corruption? Seems like he would only be doing that because he doesn’t have any already.
such a simpleton again gosman
no wonder you have such little idea on the complexities of society and the requirements for its healthy functioning and no wonder you think the only factor people consider in making life decisions is money.
sheesh
Two different things, Gosman. One is the supposed evidence about John Key that KDC hints he has, the other is the offer to pay for evidence of Government corruption. One is personal to Key, the other relates to the Government in toto. Only the latter has any implications for the court case.
However, I’m with you in doubting the ‘smoking gun’. I think we’d have seen the evidence already, if it exists.
Evidence that John Key knew about the raid in advance would be suggestive of corruption or at least political collusion against KDC. This would call in to question the motivation for his arrest and be grounds for denying his extradition. The fact he is fishing for additional information is highly suggestive he has nothing as you point out as well.
Pretty much. But we all knew this.
Just another lie from the desperate German, his sphincter is cutting washers as the trial date draws closer and the noose tightens around his neck.
“Another lie…”
Justice Wylie, who has no skin in the game, disagrees with your media-based assessment.
I take everything every player in this matter says with a bucket of salt and Mr.com still hasn’t been caught in a lie.
Pretty sure you were confidently declaring Crim.Banks’ innocence not that long ago.
with you OAB .. KDC has not been caught in any lie so far, unlike all the other motley cast of players. Also, I think he said it would be revealed in court, which is not due yet .. so much more fun in court than in msm media or the House …. and I think this is why the election was pulled forward, this and banks. but each was weighted in the decision imho.
KDC has promised that the evidence will come out in court. Some on the Left are hoping he will release it before the election instead.
I suspect they are dreaming. He has to play a straight bat with the judiciary.
Dotcom hasn’t been caught for lying you say, but he has been in jail several times, after being caught for a long list of criminal convictions that have followed his travels around the world for the last 20 years.
He’s been done for data espionage, embeszzlement, computer fraud, insider trading. He’s made money by ripping off phone cards and selling them, ripping off software and selling it, pretending a company he has shares in is about to get massive investment, then selling off the shares to conned buyers, and most recently ripping off music producers on a massive scale.
Whereever he’s gone, he’s made his money by ripping off other people.
But no – of course he would never ever tell a lie.
Now John Key, on the other hand, has never told a lie. And made his money helping the sick and poor.
🙄
🙄
🙄
What politician doesn’t lie.
Are you so naïve to believe Helen Clark’s claim that she didn’t really know she was travelling at 500km/h across the Canterbury plain?
Or that they painting she signed wasn’t really hers.
Or that David Shearer forgot about his overseas millions.
Or David Cunliffe that he wasn’t really trying to hide secret donors via a secret trust.
Or that Banks didn’t know about the Dotcom donations.
Or that David Cunliffe had no intention of rolling Phil Goff, or David Shearer.
There’s a high tolerance of lying, because they all do it, all the time.
Your posterior is leaking again john, i know many seen Helen as a super-woman but really, you need get control of your propensity to lapse into fantasy…
You’re very funny, John. Tell us the one about the feral inbreds next. 🙄
ps I heard it was a zillion kmph.
pps You went very, very quickly from ‘kdc is a cretin and everyone should care’ to ‘all politicians are cretins and who cares’
I see a difference between a career criminal who makes his money from ripping people off, and a politician trying to save themselves by lying about speeding, paintings, foreign accounts, or even secret trusts.
I forgot about the feral inbreds comment, though it’s arguable whether that was actually a lie – just a very stupid thing to say publicly.
Even more stupid for a politician.
And even more stupid for a labour politician about a the founding region of the labour party.
Which probably proves my point. Helen Clark is generally thought of as a pretty good politician, and a good PM for most of her term, even by the right.
Showing the public are pretty tolerant of small slip-ups from politicians.
And smart enough to see that people who make big deals about small issues are just being anal.
Your first sentence in your latest comment john, must surely be a description of Slippery the current prime minister right???
“I forgot about the feral inbreds comment, though it’s arguable whether that was actually a lie – just a very stupid thing to say publicly.”
Funny thing, john, is that she never said it.
Which just reinforces what you’ve been demonstrating all along; that you’re a gullible dupe who is prepared to believe any old rubbish you’re told about people you disapprove of.
Meanwhile, John Key has lied his arse off for 6 years and you’re fine with it.
Well, KDM wasn’t caught in a lie, but the whole deal about a “sitting electorate MP” wanting to defect to the IP, which was subsequently withdrawn and is no longer spoken about, doesn’t do all that much for his credibility.
Yes the sitting MP was one of the fat Germans lies
He has also forgotten about vowing to fund team NZ.
Uh…Kim Dotcom IS funding “Team New Zealand” – IMP style that is, lol
are you seriously saying that key didnt know?
key said he didn’t know, and also that fletcher didn’t know. lolz
If that is true they got played: bit part actors in the subversion of their country’s sovereignty and judicial system.
I think the “smoking gun” would be best used on, say, 6th September.
Bearded Git you’re a very naughty boy 🙂
he doesn’t have anything anyway except bogey and hooton and joyce and his media machine. otherwise he just another rich idiot.
how high’s the water, momma?
3ft and rising, Marius. How’s your hangover?
ahoy there, putake. i’m wondering if there’s a hint of the ‘alcohol maketh the man moreso’ to your question. there’s no excuses for me, im afraid. i’ve not labored in his vineyard for quite some time.
Hi Marius, do you post via mobile?
If not, would you please use the reply button.
have to laugh at the blogger who says New Zealand is becoming a Deemocracy. i.e what we say goes.
and everything else is sub rosa or behind closed doors. Anyway the thing is a Wairarapa man is being charged with letting off a pistol not at a firing range. The defense will be that Judith collins was shown firing a pistol somewhere so waiting to see if what is good for the goose is good for the gander
did the blogger say when we can expect this new deemocracy to happen?
It’s already here. I deem it so, and if you disagree I can show you some bloggers who’ll give you a counterview.
hows that for a smoking gun?
Collins had the pistol facing the wrong way
ah yes. but judith didnt know the gun was loaded, your honor
and she only dropped into the shooting-range ‘on her way to the airport’..eh..?
‘on her way to the airport’:..the judith collins story..(coming soon to a screen near you..)
Outbuilding of the Week: Shipping Container Greenhouse by
There seems to be a craze going on in using shipping containers to build things lately.
Although not my buzz, ex shipping containers are a great way to recycle materials and reduce the amount of new raw materials being used for accommodation.
Watched a show about building in small spaces on tele awhile ago. One segment was about a container house accommodation and office space complex in a dis used industrial area in Britain. A lot of thought had gone into the storage spaces and layout of living areas in the containers, as well outdoor connection such as the use of large sliding glass doors going out to patios.
Wellington has a well known container house. Here’s some interesting shots of the interior:
http://www.treehugger.com/modular-design/shipping-container-house-by-ross-stevens.html
I’d almost agree with that except that they’re metal which means that they’re going to bleed heat at an absolutely astonishing rate unless they have really thick insulation. Thing is, a number of the ones I’ve seen on the internet don’t have that required insulation.
By “really thick” insulation I take it you simply mean “really good” insulation.”
And it’s not just the cold. 45 deg C on a sunny summers day would be no fun at all.
I’ve always wondered about the metal aspect regarding heat loss in winter, heat retention in summer and condensation.
Mr R did a cert in building ecology and design last year and although is interested in container housing, didn’t cover it as a project, mainly because it wasn’t construction from scratch per se. The “health” of the building and it impact on occupants would be an important consideration in sustainable housing I’d imagine – I might run that past him later, the insulation question.
In the meantime on the topic of the small house movement, heres a transportable small house manufactured in CHCH (with insulation!)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/home-property/10135430/Snug-living-space-part-of-global-trend
oh well, at minimum it’s a nice change from the zincalume, wharf posts and tufted grasses.
Rik doing what he does best:
Believe nothing!
hello to you, freedom. jacob applebaum told me some things about mobiles that made me wary of their use. the question arose yesterday as to the reply button and dimebag russell (bitchin handle btw) piped up and stated that he doesnt use it. i dont want to come off as an complete asshole but cant it be one of my protests against conformity/authority (like not mowing my berm). it seems altogether too intimate for me as i do struggle in that department.
Great, just what we need.
Yeah, it’s quite strange that the site’s suddenly inundated with newish people who seem incapable of using the reply button. A sudden outbreak of Reply-Button-Phobia. I’m wondering if it’s some sort of OCD thing ?
I was having fun rarking up the sewer yesterday when I was have a problem writing code. They appear to be a bit upset about that.
Teaching them to use a reply button is probably a bit much. Priority should be given to teaching them to use the toilet rather than going directly to the sewer.
You take a dump in the sewer and all of us get the backwash…yumm
I can’t help the splashing. They certainly aren’t constipated. In fact I’d say that they have a severe case of a thin diarrhea.
Ughhh. And I have just read this after my dinner.
😈
Just imagine what it would be like closer to the source.
lol
And Lolz…
“i dont want to come off as an complete asshole”
Yeah, good luck with that.
Jeez, go away for 4 days, miss all the craic about Banks’ resignation and all that that entails AND all the goss on the newbies!
Sometimes you just can’t take your eyes off the screen 😆
Oh Hi AlIen. Hey, what was that I was reading above about Jasper the cat having a footprint on his bum because he shat in the bath?! Not true about the footprint I hope!!! Provide Jasper with a litter tray for rainy days and a cat door so he can come and go when he wants – no need for AlIen to get out of bed, and no need for Jasper to go to desperate lengths. Everyone’s happy.
You know, just yesterday I had a run with a man who was treating a cat cruelly on the side of the road. I was driving past and had to pull over and have a word with him. But this guy was a jerk and you aren’t, so give Jasper a break and get his bathroom sorted. No more messy starts to the day for you if you do 😀
Te be honest, I’m just glad he didn’t do it in the laundry basket like last time.
I would have kicked him, but the little sod is too quick for me, still, he’s got to stop running at some point, I’ll have another try later 🙂
Oooo you are wicked, winding me up like that…………….
Cats toilet indoors for good reasons. Address the source of the problem (litter tray and cat door) and you’ll have no worries.
If he still goes indoors and on your personal items, such as laundry and you have your cat toileting options sussed, then that means something else, he’s being territorial.
No to a litter tray, the idea is not to have cat poo smells in the house at all, I’m certainly not encouraging it.
He was out all last evening and only came in after midnight. He just won’t go to next doors garden when it’s raining. I’m sure it’s not a territory thing, he knows his place. The only bonus is it makes my girl pick her clothes up of the bedroom floor when it’s pouring down. 😀
I’m leaving the bathroom window open tonight, so if there’s a cat heaven, he best have been a good kitty if he does it again.
I’m not one for anthropomorphisms, but waking me up after the fact and not before does get me thinking. 🙂
“I’m sure it’s not a territory thing, he knows his place”. Yes cats always know THEIR place, they just like to make sure humans know theirs………they are clever like that and like to express their superiority.
No stinks from a litter tray if you keep it clean, and keep it in the garage, or somewhere not within the house
Well his place tonight certainly isn’t going to be under the blankie again, that’s for sure, so he’ll be expressing his superiority to the daddy long legs in the front room 🙂
I’m with Rosie on this one.
It’s a cat door Jaspar needs. And if you don’t like the sound of the cat door going bank-whack in the middle of the night, tape the door up with some very strong sticky tape.It’ll still go whackity-whack as he hurls himself through the opening, but it’ll save you a lot of nasty smells and cussing…
Noooooo, i have been hoping that Cats didn’t get a mention, the next door one, known only to me as Cat, is one of my good friends,
She is totally the shit as far as an animal expressing itself goes and i have mentioned here befor Her love of the next door neighbors shed full of Pigeons, She sits on a fencepost in my backyard which the mentioned shed backs onto and falls asleep purring loud enough to be heard inside my house if there’s no radio blaring, and, drooling bucket-loads like a loon,
Should i have the temerity to interrupt this grand reverie by trying to use ‘my’ backyard, Her eyes will fly open and i get a Hiss and Meow that conveys to me in no uncertain terms ”F-off you bastard i was just getting to the bit where these feathered critters all fell at my feet screaming devour me master”,
We converse as often as the Cat deigns to lower Herself to engage and the Cat is an expert at using different tones and volumes of Meows, should i impart to the Cat that a certain level of Meow is insufficient to deserve as reward a Pat you can bet that the next Meow will be heart-rendingly plaintive until such time as my voice takes on a concilltory tone,
Anyway, to abbreviate, the other night Cat and i were going through this routine and when She had me in Her power, luring me into the gift of the inevitable Pat, i proceeded to lecture Her in the vein of ”i know your game Cat” following this with the lecture on Her only desiring Pats so as to ditch on one of the foolish humans at least one of Her many fleas, and,
As Pats provoke Her into fits of drooling this was in effect an attempt to pass onto the unsuspecting one of those Cat diseases they are said to carry,
Finishing this lecture with words of why don’t you make yourself useful, i haven’t seen a dead rat in months,
Next day on a trip into the backyard to feed the garden, WTF, at the bottom of the steps where the Cat normally leaves them, i assume for my inspection, 1 very dead Rat,
Which brings me to the question i have been meaning to ask, other than fast flying items of heavy matter, is there a way of keeping Cat’s from crapping in the garden, ala the drink bottle full of water on the lawn to deter the Dogs,???…
Alien Lolz, such are inherent in fast flying items of heavy matter, i had the same problem with a dog from down below that had little respect for my garden and complete disdain for me,
Until that is the day He looked up and met an object from space falling at 30 feet per second per second, what could be called an inescapable conclusion,
Myself i call it the old plastic chair on my deck, the dog then changed that to ”ouch” in the form of a yelp,
Sticks to his own turf these days choosing instead of shitting in and then digging up my garden to sending subtle messages via small yelps in the wee small quiet hours…
Best house training of four kittens I ever did was a litter tray. Kept a litter tray until they proved that they were old enough to go outside (ie, they could jump out the window) and then dumped the litter tray in the garden. They followed the litter tray.
I’ve had him six years and he was in the family for a year or so before that and mostly he’s been good. Like I wrote, it’s only when it’s pouring down will I ever get left a present.
It’s only happened about four times in all, but I’d rather have triplets and be on permanent nappy duty than have to put up with that smell. It’s a unique aroma for sure, and one that lingers long in the nostrils.
Edit:
“is there a way of keeping Cat’s from crapping in the garden”
Concrete or paving stones.
‘Great, just what we need.’ – reminded me of Jan Brady looking out the window at imminent rain. lol
Oh Christ, not The Brady Bunch. Next It’ll be 70s Disco and I’m afraid at that point I shall have to ring the local Constabulary.
remember, if you do decide to call – there’s a high likelihood youll get one of the 99% who spoil it for the rest of the good ones. * cuts to a shot of mr o connor justifying yet another heavy handed beating*
An URGENT message to all NZ MPs who are opposed to corruption:
WE NEED THE EPSOM BY-ELECTION TO HELP KEEP THE PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT ON CORRUPTION!
(In my considered opinion, if the Epsom by-election goes ahead, National will NOT win this 2014 General Election, because they are SO vulnerable on the issue of ‘corrupt corporate cronyism’ and there is SO much more to come …… )
MPS who are opposed to corruption, should NOT support the upcoming vote (which needs 75% of MPs – 91 MPs) to prevent this Epsom by-election going ahead!
If Labour MPs commit to NOT supporting the upcoming vote to stop this Epsom by-election, it won’t happen, because there simply won’t be the numbers to make up the 75%.
There will be all manner of SPIN as to why this Epsom by-election should NOT go ahead, but it’s high time for a massive public exposure proving how NZ’s ‘perceived’ status as the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ does NOT match the corruption ‘REALITY’ check.
Please make your voices heard – ASAP!
10 June 2014
PRESS RELEASE FROM ANTI-CORRUPTION ‘PUBLIC WATCHDOG’ PENNY BRIGHT –
“Why I support Graham McCready’s call for an Epsom by-election.”
I, Penny Bright, ‘anti-corruption and anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’ support the call of private prosecutor Graham McCready, for MPs to support a by-election in Epsom, and NOT to provide this National Government with the numbers to make up the 91 MPs (75%) required to STOP this by-election.
In my considered opinion, any public monies spent on this Epsom by-election, will NOT be a ‘waste of money’ – but an investment in the fight against corruption in New Zealand ‘perceived to be the least corrupt country in the world’.
http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2013/results/
The general election will focus on many issues, but a by-election in Epsom will help keep a huge public spotlight specifically on corrupt practices such as electoral fraud – which have apparently been ‘common practice’.
https://nz.news.yahoo.com/election/a/-/24196184/prebble-told-to-back-up-allegations-of-electoral-fraud/
How many other internationally-recognised corrupt practices are common practice in New Zealand?
Here are a couple of examples of corrupt practice that most New Zealanders have never even heard of, but are endemic here, in my considered opinion:
Ever heard of ‘State capture’?
Where vested interests get their way at ‘policy’ level – before legislation is passed which serves their interests.
http://www.answers.com/topic/state-capture
‘State capture’ obtains when a small number of firms (or such entities as the military) is able to shape the rules of the game to its advantage through massive illicit, and non-transparent provision of private benefits to officials and politicians. Examples of such behaviour include the ability to control legislative votes, to obtain favourable executive decrees and court decisions. A relatively new concept, the main proponents being World Bank researchers, it echoes that of ‘crony capitalism’ and covers cases where high-level corruption is pervasive. (See military-industrial complex; clientelism.)
Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/state-capture#ixzz34BuEK4YI
(That’s how the NZ Business Round Table (BRT) used to do it – by focusing on ‘policy’, pretending that their greedy self-interest was somehow in the ‘national interest’, and pushing for legislation from which they profited.
The BRT mantra that ‘public was bad – private was good’ helped to frame the ‘Rogernomics’ legislation which allowed the commercialisation, corporatisation and privatisation of public assets, a number of which (or shares of which) ended up in the hands of BRT members.)
Where can you check for ‘State capture?
Read the ‘Regulatory Impact Statements / Regulatory Impact Reports and find out with whom the policy analysts have been ‘consulting’ and treating as ‘independent third-parties – when they actually have and are vested interests ….
How about ‘post-separation employment?
The ‘revolving door’ between public office and employment in the private sector.
http://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/preventing-corruption/knowing-your-risks/post-separation-employment/4301
Post-separation employment
Post-separation employment is the situation where a public official leaves the public sector and obtains employment in the private sector.
The principle underlying the management of post-separation employment is the need to ensure that public sector decisions are made only on their merits and not compromised by extraneous considerations or personal interests.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet Personnel Handbook refers to this issue in Section 8-12:
Employees should not use their position to obtain opportunities for future employment. They should not allow themselves or their work to be influenced by plans for, or offers of, employment outside the department.
There should be a mandatory ‘quarantine period’ of 18 months to 2 years, between leaving Ministerial or senior public service positions and taking up a job in the private sector where you can be seen to be using your previous contacts and influence to ‘feather your own nest’.
Want to get up to speed with a comparison of anti-corruption legislative frameworks between Australia, NZ, UK, Canada and USA and compare it with that of New Zealand?
http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2012-2013/Conduct
Please be reminded that New Zealand has STILL yet to ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
Minister of Justice Judith Collins’ ‘Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Legislation’ Bill, the passage of which is required before NZ can ratify UNCAC has yet to surface on the Parliamentary Order Paper.
http://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-nz/50DBSCH_SCR5462_1/e73e0f6412f2e249705a3fa50593fa18d79e2d80
International treaty examination of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption
Report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee
This 50th Parliament has 5 sitting weeks left …
.
New Zealand desperately needs a genuinely Independent Commission Against Corruption – like the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)
http://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/about-the-icac/overview
Overview
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was established by the NSW Government in 1989 in response to growing community concern about the integrity of public administration in NSW.
The ICAC’s principal functions are set out in the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988. In summary, they are:
to investigate and expose corrupt conduct in the NSW public sector
to actively prevent corruption through advice and assistance, and
to educate the NSW community and public sector about corruption and its effects.
The jurisdiction of the ICAC extends to all NSW public sector agencies (except the NSW Police Force) and employees, including government departments, local councils, members of Parliament, ministers, the judiciary and the governor. The ICAC’s jurisdiction also extends to those performing public official functions.
Penny Bright
…………………….
PRESS RELEASE FROM GRAHAM McCREADY – WHY HE SUPPORTS AN EPSOM BY-ELECTION:
10 June 2014
Graham Edward Mc Cready, New Zealand Citizen, Kiwi Patriot and sucessfull prvate prosecutor of the one honorarable John Archbald Banks call for ALL Membres of Parkiament including our most able and ehically corect Prima Minsister John Key to vote to hold a bi-election in Epson following the exit from tghe halls of power of Mr Banks.
‘I am a -political when it comes to the law. I do not belong to any political party. I am by the way a long term Labour Party supporter who helped Trevor Mallard in his first campaign in Hutt South. But the whole Banks private prosecution continued to the point it did because Banks held the Epson seat propping up the Key Government.
Had Banks adopted the wisdom of Trevor Mallard and offered as soon as he was summoned to plead guilty to a lessor non indictable charge that in December 2012 would have been accepted and amongst other things would have saved the Country a two year distraction and also my health.
There are thousands of fellow Kiwis who do not vote. One of the reasons is their view that all politicians are a bunch of corrupt bastards not worthy of their support.
The Epson mad hatters tea party and subsequent court proceedings are a stain on the political life of the Nation that needs expunging.
Voting not to hold a bi-election on expediency just tells the average Joe citizen that it is business as usual.
The electorate through a Bi -Election in Epson needs the opportunity to voice their anger at their elected leaders and elect a candidate in Epson free of all the ACT balderdash.
It will focus and address all the issues that have come out of the Banks court case that will be lost forever in a General Election
I call on all MPs to vote accordingly’
Graham Edward Mc Cready
Concerned New Zealand Citizen
………………………….
god, dont make me vote for goldsmith twice within a few months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Talk about sacrificing for Queen and Country…
😉
Wow thats from a moderator. look, i had a little stouch a few days back with what i assume is a regular. I admit i said i dont vote and i know that upset some of you. I know i made a bit of an off colour remark about the Christchuch mayor and i know this is your labour stronghold and comments like that dont go down too well – but fucking hell, seriously, loosen the pigtails, you bunch of polyannas. If it is in the rules then sure maybe people will be happy to use the reply button. If not then being part of a democracy means all comers get to interact as they see fit within the confines of the rules which do apply. Today the only comment ive seen from what i assume is a moderator is something that indicates to me they probably shouldnt be one – which is more often than not the case. ‘…our mailed fist can crush any opposition, and if our furious assault has a heavy civilian toll, that’s all to the good—perhaps the remnants will be properly educated’. Thats a little snippet from the nice israeli’s regarding Gaza. Im not fazed by you lot getting huffy about things i say. This isnt Gaza. My understanding of teletyping facilities such as this is that they survive with the assistance of newbies. You might want to deny it and you might want to have a status quo. Surely you dont want to sit around yammering on to the same people year in year out – or do you.
Interesting comment, Marius. Who were you replying to?
😀
Ok, so this is probably going to be fun for a few days.
“Today the only comment ive seen from what i assume is a moderator is something that indicates to me they probably shouldnt be one”
Lolz.
Well NO actually Marius, you are Wrong on so many levels in your little attempt at commenting suicide there my pinkies aint about to waste much energy pointing out Where,
Here’s a hint tho, if there were a status quo here and those speaking too far out of that status quo got the kick, i would suggest that i would have been gone long ago,
Another hint, Peeps have been pointing out to you the agreed to method of commenting via the reply button not because they are the fascist thought police, BUT, because they like to read Nembies stuff AND, when you continue to comment simply using the function of a new comment where you should have used reply, it to be blunt, fucks up the flow of the conversation,
Taking the piss of the Mods i would suggest is an open invitation to have you exit stage left…
The thing is Marius, and I do not know why I am even bothering but….people are only trying to be helpful. If you continue to refuse to follow a simple and constructive protocol, ie: using a reply button, chances are that people will simply not bother to reply to what you say. On a busy site like The Standard it is not always easy to identify what comments isolated replies are responding to.
(this comment being a self-explanatory exception to the above statement)
It’s like going to a pub, having a conversation with folk, and you getting up to change tables every time you talk. Pretty soon the conversation will just move on without you.
No, I agree with the critical comments you’ve made about Israel’s Occupation, Marius. It’s just hard to know who the fuck you’re replying / referring to with each comment.
Then again, there is, I s’pose, a certain entertainment in trying to guess precisely who you’re on about. There’s an interesting randomness about it all, a whiff of the absurd, a hint of Waiting for Godot.
Clever Marius. Well played.
Bloody Aussies, spoil everyone’s fun, it appears that the chemical Ketamine used in some of the ”legal high’s” that got the kick off of the shelves here has been under study in a Uni over the ditch,
The result so far, when other drugs have no effect Ketamine has shown to seriously curtail depression and unlike other anti-depressants is fast working,
Didn’t hear of any adverse side effects so once the study is published the purveyors of ”legal highs” will happily get a freebie as an aid to get the products back on the shelf,
Source: RadioNZ National news…
Didn’t they make it a class C drug a few years back? Not a “legal high” then…
Dunno Mac, my first impression at the mention of Ketamine was ”isn’t that a horse tranqualizer” its the next item on my notes after ”do you cook Mango to make chutney” so there’s a contest now occurring between my lust for Mango chutney and my thirst for knowledge as to which question is put to Google first…
lol
Yeah it’s a horse tranq.
In fact, I seem to recall doing venue security at a palliative care conference a few years back – one of the poster displays praised the virtue of ketamine as being comparable to (possibly better than) diamorphine (heroin). My thought was “so if you fill ’em full of horse tranquilizer, it eases their pain? There’s a revelation…”
Mind you, amazing the stuff you pick up if you keep your eyes and ears open working at function centres 🙂
Nicely done Mac, and i can now inform everyone,(as if they didn’t know), that yes, to make Mango chutney it appears the common wisdom is to cook it along with all the other ingredients,
i have modified that, and, the liberal dose of Lemon juice i have planned for mine will go in last as i do not want the heat to alter the chemical balance of the juice,(it being a preservative ingredient)…
PS, Shhh not until Phillip has gone to bed, re: Ketamine/Heroin
lol
chuckle
This article is very good
https://medium.com/matter/the-racism-beat-6ff47f76cbb6
This fatigue is one we all face when we talk/write about issues from a personal perspective. I’m not sure what the answer is to combat the hollowed out feeling when another injustice occurs that is similar to the last injustice and so on to infinity. For me and my small contribution to the issues that matter to me the main way to combat it is the knowledge that I am not alone. I thank all those who write and comment on this site and who align with my belief in equality above all else – you know who you are and without you, well, without you the bastards would run even more amok than they are now.
” For me and my small contribution to the issues that matter to me the main way to combat it is the knowledge that I am not alone.” and it is that which also keeps me going, Marty Mars. We’re all in this together in our different ways (fighting inequality) and while you might get fed up with some of those others at various times, none of us can do it alone.
not now ‘the a11en’. im in the backstraight of my initiation rites.
just use the damn reply button already
We all need a bit of luck Marius. If you don’t want your share, I’ll have it.
Just for the record, we were all new here at some time, but choosing to ignore the reply button as a form of protest, especially since being told it’s a pita is a bit self defeating.
You’ll get more out by putting a little effort in, even if it spoils your present game.
Just saying 🙂
Edit:
“it comes as no surprise to me that dissent will be met with expulsion. im not in the least bothered by that.”
Fair enough, see ya.
Good article from brain rudman:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11270708
You mean Bryan Gould?
I do indeed 🙂
thanks
interesting observation about the media, but i guess the vice chancellor of waikato uni is just a conspiracy theorist.
look, bad. i havent purposely avoided the reply button. ive been settling into using this place in a nice sedate manner which suits me. im not being hurried along by the local cops. as i said, ive heard nothing from a moderator which says im obligated to use the reply button. ive typed in places where the screen scrolls by so fast if you blink you miss who youre interacting with – this place is a retirement home in comparison. yeah yeah i know ‘fuck off back there’. it comes as no surprise to me that dissent will be met with expulsion. im not in the least bothered by that. so be it or the chips are down as gide said.
so basically, you have decided to buy a house in the King Country and want to spend your time complaining about the lack of ocean views 🙄
enjoy your martyrdom
lollol freedom
Oh great, a self-martyrdom dickhead.
How have you found it work out for you, turning up to others peoples places and deliberately pissing on their doorsteps just to make a point that you’re really so unique. Going well for you is it?
EDIT I suggest a DNFTT policy for Marius.
Yep. Or a burst of the rolly eyes. The sad thing is that the arrogance is taking the shine off the occasional glimmers of intelligence and education. I’ll bet Marius is the first poster here to name check Andre Gide, for example. But the contempt for the readers ruins that, (just as it usually does for Phil Ure’s contributions).
Very interesting. With a bit of potty training Marius could have what it takes to be an interesting commentator
“..the contempt for the readers..”
what ‘contempt for the readers’..?
..what utter shite you spout..
..i laugh at idiots..
..i can’t help it if you act like one..
🙄 🙄 the Moderator is probably busy engaged in that strange human function called work Marius,
By the time you have pissed Him off enough to have heard from Him, depending how stressful the day is, might be your first and last conversation, 🙄 🙄 …
thanks for the advice framu and the a11en.
just so long as the barmaid isnt ignoring me, eh, freedom. thanks for bothering, though
i knew you’d get it, sword.
lol. look at the viper go. hes so fucked up he cant get his words out proper. ‘KILL THE PIG! KILL THE PIG!’
…needn’t be a dick all your life Mariarse…
marius is boring
yeah…someone should push the reject button. hur hur hur. take that you autodidactic peedogog.
have i been zapped?
am i still at least about the outskirts of the fold??
youre next for the highjump, dimebag – unless you roll over. i only wish i was there to witness it.
WIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!
Now you’re just starting to look like a troll.
Japan has enough plutonium on hand to make 80 nuclear warheads
Well, that’s reassuring, given the tension rising in East Asia.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-06-09/japan-has-inappropriately-omitted-80-bombs-worth-nuclear-fuel-iaea-report
Dont you only need one?
You’d think so, but there are still thousands of the bloody things on active duty around the world and even more in storage ready to be put into a state of readiness.
And, I suspect, the expertise make them but you don’t hear the US/UK demanding that their nuclear operations be shut down.
That’s because their nuclear operations comply with international standards.
Japan signed comprehensive de-militarisation pacts at the end of WW2. But, they could have a working bomb within 3 months or so if it was deemed ‘necessary’.
As if complying with all required international inspections helped Iraq and Iran.
And how many international inspections has Israel permitted of its nuclear forces?
Bottom line is – being friends with the US is very very helpful in these matters.
Hey Gosman, if you’re around…. You are always banging on about how useless Zimbabwe is/was. Well I get sent emails from an investor thingy called the Dail;y Reckoning. It’s an aussie thing worth a read on the occasional blue moon.
Anyway, this one today caught my eye… especially when it said this ….
“–Years ago a man named Gideon Gono first appeared in The Daily Reckoning. He quickly became a favourite character of readers. Best of all, we didn’t even have to make him up.
–The charismatic Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe surged to fame in 2008. Not just because he destroyed the country’s economy by printing money. But because American and European central bankers embraced his policies after ridiculing them for years, which he promptly rubbed their faces in.
–Quantitative Easing went on to become the key economic policy of the decade. It saved us all. Except, of course, the savers who got nothing. In fact, their interest payments dwindled to less than inflation in much of the developed world. ”
I told you your claims about individual policies and supposed causation links through to various economy-wide results were simplistic.
As simplistic as suggesting that Cuba’s positions are a result solely of its internal policies / rolly eyes.
It particularly saved the insolvent big banks and the 0.1% whose asset portfolios went up through the roof in value. Almost like those programmes were designed with that in mind.
This is the key thing – economies are not typically destroyed just by printing money. It usually has to be combined with the destruction of productive capacity as well as war/civil war which really does it.
In Zimbabwe’s case the inflation in the economy which began to occur well befor the Governor of the Reserve Bank began to Print ever bigger bank notes,
Economic sanctions, imposed on Zimbabwe by the Western powers after Mugabe began repatriating the stolen land from the white farmers created the spiral of inflation that ensured the printing of ever bigger denominations of bank notes,
The basic essentials of life not produced in the Zimbabwe economy had to, after the imposition of the sanctions, be smuggled in from other countries thus driving their price up in an ever increasing spiral,
The US printing’s in particular have gone more to the big institutional banks and from their into the share-market or are simply sitting propping up the balance sheets of what is essentially a bankrupt system in terms of the means of counting the beans…
QFT
And that is, of course, why the US didn’t see any inflation – all the money printed went to the already rich and banks rather than going into the economy and producing demand.
Zimbabwe already had massive inflation (1991 48% and 1992 40%) in the years before any sanctions were imposed.
In addition, the sanctions were never general sanctions, but targeted just to certain individuals and companies.
Huge amounts of productive land was taken by Mugabe and given to war veterans, who failed to keep producing. Hence food production in Zimbabwe halved.
Similarly a large amount of capital invested in businesses (both Zimbabwean and foreign), fled the country, along with white and black Zimbabweans – a total of quarter of population fled. Manufactured goods plummeted, and unemployment skyrocketed.
Mugabes tax base dissappeared so they started printing money. I have a hundred billion dollar bank note from a recent visit that wouldn’t buy a single jelly bean.
John old boy, so good to see you old chap, how are things going over their at the embassy, so sorry you had to be dragged away from after dinner cocktails on such a minor mission especially having to answer the likes of me,(knowing how the unwashed upset you so),
A bit droll don’t you think John trotting out the old Zillion dollar bank note, oh sure it works as the grand party trick for those with their noses stuck so far up their arses that dinner is always delivered,via syphoning hose that is, but, i thought even you lot would have learned by now to save the bullshit for such idiots john,
How was the trip tho,must be hard on the skin all this flip flopping between time zones and climates john old boy, i am surprised the Regime over their didn’t get a hold of you as soon as the plane hit Harare and string you up by your old school tie to the nearest lampost,
The old Dip Pouch right old chap, Merlin of old could not have conjured up a shield so grand,you forgot a little something with the party trick zillion note john, the fact that that old rogue Mugabe changed to using the currency of the enemy so long ago i forgot what year it was,
08 or 09 wasn’t it old boy???
As for the ”other” information imparted, sorry, Disinformation, precious, ‘You’ can fool some of the people some of the time right old boy, you know the rest,
Here let me give a little assistance to aid you in NOT talking out of your arsehole,
Rate of inflation Zimbabwe 1992 40%, 1993 20%, 1994% 25%, 1995 28%, 1996 16%, 1997 20%,
Does seem a little like the poor old Governor of the Zimbabwe Reserve Bank had never had a talk with Ruth Richardson or Doctor Dullard Don Brash doesn’t it john,
However after the EU sanctions were imposed in 2001/2002 the story really changes doesn’t it john,
2001 112%, 2003 598%, 2005 585%, 2007 66,212%, 2008 89,700,000+++%,
You do get my point john???,
At which point Zimabawe had a choice, change to the Rand, the South African currency having become the stable currency of trade in the surrounding nations, or
Fuck totally your and the US’es little game big time by not switching to the Rand which would then also have become a target of your monetary terrorism john, simply by switching to the currency of the country that was imposing such monetary terrorism upon them, the US Dollar which they did right john,
i would call that small piece of intelligent use of the US dollar john, Game Set and Fucking Match old boy, well played and oh wont you come again,
Pfft, what would happen i have to ask to any small economy that had its ability to borrow kneecapped by sanctions, had its ability to buy and sell its goods knee capped by monetary terrorism in the form of the US banning its currency from being able to purchase the US dollar through any banking system,
Exactly what did happen i would suggest…
You’re talking utter nonsense.
In 2002 (before the US targeted sanctions started in 2003) trade between Zimbabwe and USA was a meagre $47m of exports and $103m of imports.
Four years later in 2006, when inflation passed 1000%, trade between Zimbabwe and USA was virtually identical – 49m of exports and $102m of imports.
In 2008, when inflation passed a billion %, trade between Zimbabwe and USA was even greater – $92m of exports and $112 of imports
Mugabe chased quarter of his own population out of the country and had to print money to make up for lost taxes from the farms businesses, and tourist industry he destroyed.
On a drive last year from Hwange to Bulawayo, farm after farm was destroyed and burnt out. In some parts only one in ten was left. Sanctions didn’t do that. Mugabes henchmen did.
You’re assertion that the hyperinflation was because of sanctions is both ignorant and laughable.
But john, and i know this may sour the next G and T forcing you to dribble it all over the shirt,(the expense account will be a hard one to justify this month won’t it, ”one of the unwashed i was educating on the web”, not being sufficient reason for the bean counters to loosen the purse strings right),but,
Cannot you see the utter contradiction in your explanation, it is rather glaring don’t you think old boy,
Henchman, i so love your propensity for the melodramatic john, ghastly tho would have to be a better level as a raiser of the tension in the narrative don’t you think old boy, in the vein of ghastly henchman, must make full use of the Queens at every opportunity what,
Oh right, sorry you have me escaping into flights of fancy, ghastly henchmen and all that, have you gone into a sideline as a tin-foil salesman john, i thought the Embassy was quite clear about those earns on the side, But,
To address this utter contradiction, damned ghastly henchmen burned the whole fucking farm to a crisp and exports to the good old home of international financial terrorism also known as the US of A went UP,
i would suggest john the old scoundrel running the place better hire a far more efficient cadre of ghastly henchmen, wouldn’t you old boy,
Oh what, is that what you were doing there risking your delicate pallor over john,can’t have the natives joining forces now can we, best to ferment a little mischief,
While we are chatting john, were we by chance traveling with the use of a NZ passport, that would be a novel means of having not to have to face the hostility at the border brought aboutt by the production of Her Maj’s documents…
bad12 says “Oh right, sorry you have me escaping into flights of fancy,”
In other words, screeds of delusional gibberish.
While you joke about Mugabe’s henchmen, just over a week ago they gang raped and killed a farmers daughter, and killed the farmer.
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=220124
They’ve evicted millions of people – 700,000 in 2005 alone according to amnesty international and UN.
If that’s just a big joke to you, then best seek some professional psychological help..
Yes agreed CV, particularly your past paragraph and how economies and the like are the result of countless things such as war, embargoes, etc.
That is what annoys me about gosman’s musings and their simplicity – they show nothing and prove nothing. Hence my point there about Cuba – it has been absolutely nailed by the US for 50+ years.
As bad12 detailed above, the US is expert at destabilising nations and turning populations against their rulers.
Venezuela is in the firing line now (with the co-operation of the local 1%) and I’m not sure that Maduro is going to be able to hold out much longer – and this is a nation with hundreds of billions in oil wealth.
But that can’t be right CV, gosman says it is all because of the communist policies blah blah blah …
The US doesn’t do stuff like that, it just goes merrily about its business in accordance with the laws of every land including international law. The US is trustworthy and honest. It would never dream of anything other than acting as a good and honest international citizen.
But of course. However, maintaining exceptionalism occasionally requires…exceptional measures to be undertaken.
Time to retire this graceless goon, this hectoring halfwit, this mindless moron.
Another hapless performance from Graham Bell
The Panel, Radio NZ National, Tuesday 10 June 2014
Jim Mora, Graham Bell, Ali Jones
After the four o’clock news, it’s time to have a chat with the guests. Host Jim Mora always tries to talk about something relevant to the particular guest. With the cantankerous old cop Graham Bell, it’s the vexed question of arming the police….
JIM MORA: I was reading the American papers today, and we think WE’ve got problems, but over there I see the police are talking about arming themselves with grenade-launchers! Ha ha ha ha ha!
GRAHAM BELL: Haw, haw, haw, haw! Well, I suppose they have crack dens there that they have to knock over….
When Mora speaks to the indefatigable spokesperson for Christchurch’s earthquake victims, Ali Jones, there is only one possible subject: how the people of Christchurch are coping with insurance companies’ obstructiveness and the refusal of the Key government to do anything about it. It’s a really serious problem, and it demands serious and focused discussion. Unwisely, however, Bell decides that it’s time to say something sarcastic…..
GRAHAM BELL: So is David Cundliffe going to gallop to your rescue?
Perhaps he divined some of the irritation felt by Ali Jones, because the next words he spoke had none of the jocular tone of his dig at the Labour Party….
GRAHAM BELL: [uncomfortable, suddenly forced to assume an air of gravitas] Because, and believe me I have a lot of experience of this, lawyers have no interest in resolving an issue, they only want to prolong it as long as possible so they can make money off it.
Jones was having none of that nonsense. She launched into a stinging critique of the Insurance Council and the National-led government—and, by implication, of fools like Graham Bell who parrot their poisonous talking points…
ALI JONES: I totally reject what the Insurance Council and Gerry Brownlee have said about this.
Jones was really angry, and Bell showed a rare lick of common sense when he decided to lapse into silence. It was his most humiliating moment on this show since Gordon Campbell silenced him a few years ago after Bell had ignorantly attacked the then leader of the Greens, Jeanette Fitzsimons.
Bell was back to his curmudgeonly self a little later, during the Soapbox segment. Over the years, his Soapbox contributions have consisted almost entirely of gripes about the minor irritations in his life, like the food quality in tearooms, or the standard of customer service at Telecom, or—my personal favorite—this one from three years ago: “There’s a number of things that RANKLE me and FRUSTRATE me….Some time, just once in a blue moon, I’d like to get TWO biscuits with my cup of coffee, not just one biscuit!”
Today the tradition continued….
MORA: Graham Bell, what’s been on your mind please?
GRAHAM BELL: Well, I tried to get some tickets this morning for the Eagles concert next year in Auckland. What a BLOODY FIASCO!
MORA: [perhaps misreading just how serious Bell is] Ha ha ha ha ha!
GRAHAM BELL: [raving] I’ve MISSED OUT! I’ve been waiting for them to come for twenty years and I’ve missed out.
MORA: Who’s your favorite Eagle?
GRAHAM BELL: Joe Walsh. Arrrrrgghhh! I sat there for TWO HOURS, logging in and out of their site.
MORA: [insensitively] Ha ha ha ha ha!
GRAHAM BELL: It drove me NUTS! How do these scalpers get the tickets though?
More snarling and grumbling for several minutes….
POINT TO PONDER….
According to Radio NZ National’s frequent station promos, The Panel features “leading opinion makers”, who discuss the news and “help to make sense of it all”.
Totally agree about Bell. The clanger I recall from him was when the Greens announced a policy about putting $200million (I think) into cycleways and cycling improvements around the country….
… of course something like this Bell would have had absolutely no idea about and of course he subsequently let his lack of nous on the subject pour forth ….
…blah blah he dribbled … “what an absolute waste of money … blah blah … I can’t believe the Greens keep coming up with these barmy ideas … waffle rant”
Then of course the cycling expert came on and cleaning dispatched the fool by outlining how the return for $1 spent on cycling improvements is $7 (think health, energy, etc etc) and the return for $1 spent on “roads of notional significance” is 60cents….
Bell is a dork with nothing useful to say. I agree he is a waste of time.
Have missed your biting and witty critique or Mora’s dreadful show.
bell is another overgrown thicko who is so blinkered that he cant see his toes anymore. and that is not just because he has a fat head.
How Government “Contracting Out” Drives Up Costs, Pushes Down Workers
And we’ve seen exactly the same things happening here in New Zealand.
Of course, in this case “driving up costs to government” = “driving up private sector profits”
This sectoral balance thinking really does wonders.
Which was always the purpose of privatisation.
Edward Snowden may not have had access to the NSA’s independent top tier surveillance systems
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/06/original-nsa-whistleblower-snowden-never-access-juicy-documents.html
Fucking hell.
http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/panel-discuss-john-banks-video-5994867
Why did this not come with a supporter statement: this was brought to you buy the National and ACT parties.
Ngarimu Blair seems like a nice chap, but Fran talks over him and he shuts up and they conclude:
1) Internet Mana isn’t a real party.
See also: who the fuck is Phill Quinn on Pundit? Doesn’t seem to have a publishing history or profile but running the same lines.
2) They are gaming the system and cheating.
No mention made of ACT with an ex-National leader and cabinet minister in Epsom. No mention made of the fact that a review was held and the recommendation was to change it and they didn’t.
3) In Europe where there is proportional representation all coalition deals are organised before the election in all details. Is this actually an indisputable fact? Do parties put out joint manifestos before the election and then go into co-oalition before the election? I have my doubts.
Again no mention of the way National gamed the system to ‘compromise’ in its education policy because of John Banks’ tough cooalition negotiations with the guys who had set him up in Epsom by encouraging their supporters to vote for him.
What happened to all the ‘Electoral Finance Act’ we wanna spend our money jingoism? Or is it that party’s representing poor people or people not already entrenched in the establishment shouldn’t have access to money at elections and so should have less of a voice?
Ok, Lyn is off to Hawaii and then to rest of the US for 3 weeks. I still have another 4+ weeks of holiday pay. May the music be loud and the coding free and loose….
Maybe that will help with the irritating coding block.
Calling Naki Man -CHICKEN – come debate real economic indicators