Open mike 10/07/2015

Written By: - Date published: 5:00 am, July 10th, 2015 - 115 comments
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115 comments on “Open mike 10/07/2015 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    10 July 2015 at 6:50 am

    Pity Gisborne hasn’t got a train line.
    Pity the Treasury doesn’t realise their net worth to society.
    Pity neoliberalism doesn’t recognise something such as society.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/278388/cold-causes-road-closures-across-north-island
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/278387/'give-kiwirail-certainty'-greens

  2. Paul 2
    10 July 2015 at 6:53 am

    These tenancy reforms are just window dressing and lack teeth to really protect vulnerable tenants.
    And Key, Smith and English know it.
    That’s why they’ve got their allies in the MSM to exaggerate it.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/278386/tenants-worried-about-new-rental-laws

    • millsy 2.1
      10 July 2015 at 7:14 am

      Not too sure how you can realistically prevent retaliatory eviction. A landlord can make up any reason he or she likes and a tenant cannot really prove otherwise.

      • Weepus beard 2.1.1
        10 July 2015 at 7:23 am

        This. The entire culture must be changed and, with NZ’s unsophisticated landlord class, that can only be done with legislation.

        Penny Hulse says tenants might not be brave enough to tackle their landlord as if the tenant is at fault but almost all landlords will evict what they see as a troublesome tenant rather than spend actual money.

        • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.1
          10 July 2015 at 2:12 pm

          The entire culture must be changed and, with NZ’s unsophisticated landlord class, that can only be done with legislation.

          The best way to do it though is full state housing. Get rid of the private landlords altogether.

  3. Gosman 3
    10 July 2015 at 7:41 am

    Looks like Syriza has realised that their economy would be more poked if they left 5 he Eurozone.

    http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jul/09/greece-debt-crisis-athens-accepts-harsh-austerity-as-bailout-deal-nears

    • Paul 3.1
      10 July 2015 at 8:22 am

      I see the shill for the international banksters has arrived.
      How does it feel to be a spokesperson for the 0.1% ?

      • Gosman 3.1.1
        10 July 2015 at 9:04 am

        How does it make you feel that political movements that are meant to represent a change in the political and economic climate back down when confronted by economic and political reality?

        • thatguynz 3.1.1.1
          10 July 2015 at 9:24 am

          You wouldn’t know economic and political reality if it jumped up and punched you in the face Gosman. You make that increasingly clear with every comment you post here.. Whenever anyone counters your perception of reality you scurry away and conveniently ignore posts that you can’t/won’t answer.

          Stick with Whaleoil, it’s clearly much more appropriate for you.

          • infused 3.1.1.1.1
            10 July 2015 at 9:30 am

            I saw Gosman pretty much answer most posts yesterday. It seems to be people like Tracey who step down in to name calling once they can’t actually argue the point anymore. Just like Paul above. The guy who actually never says anything.

            • BM 3.1.1.1.1.1
              10 July 2015 at 10:21 am

              Paul is a bot.

              • Paul …
                10 July 2015 at 10:32 am

                Does this describe BM, Gosman and infused?

                ‘Old, white, wrinkled and angry, they are slipping from polite society in alarming numbers. We’re losing much of a generation. They often sport hats or other clothing, some marking their status as veterans, Tea Partyers or “patriots” of some kind or another. They have yellow flags, bumper stickers and an unquenchable rage. They used to be the brave men and women who took on America’s challenges, tackling the ’60s, the Cold War and the Reagan years — but now many are terrified by the idea of slightly more affordable healthcare and a very moderate Democrat in the White House.
                We’re losing people like my father to the despair of Fox News, and it’s all by design.’

                http://www.salon.com/2014/02/27/i_lost_my_dad_to_fox_news_how_a_generation_was_captured_by_thrashing_hysteria/

        • Paul 3.1.1.2
          10 July 2015 at 11:47 am

          Depressed.
          But I guess your anti-democratic viewpoint celebrates.
          Even ore depressing that people like you have been captured by the extreme right wing media.

        • McFlock 3.1.1.3
          10 July 2015 at 12:07 pm

          “back down”?

          Corporate tax increases slightly less than they wanted, something else a year earlier than planned, all for 53B in bailout loans?

          Wow, it’s almost as if they played a bit of brinkmanship in order to negotiate in the real world.

          FOG

          • Gosman 3.1.1.3.1
            10 July 2015 at 12:25 pm

            If you think this was what people voted for in Greece then we are not so far in our economic philosophy.

            • McFlock 3.1.1.3.1.1
              10 July 2015 at 12:55 pm

              By your logic Key is a total and disgraceful failure who’s an insult to every voter in the country simply because we’re still waiting for the rebuild, the body recovery, and the brighter future.

              Economic philosophy has nothing to do with it.

            • McFlock 3.1.1.3.1.2
              10 July 2015 at 12:58 pm

              Oh shit, I forgot for a moment that you’re the guy who thinks that fighting is pointless if it won’t lead to immediate victory.

        • Draco T Bastard 3.1.1.4
          10 July 2015 at 2:15 pm

          It’s not economic or political reality – it’s what the banksters are demanding and could be over-ridden by the politicians if they a) had a spine and b) were working for the people and not the banksters.

          The political and economic reality is that every single banker in the world today should be living in abject poverty due to their fuckups with all of their assets nationalised.

      • Puckish Rogue 3.1.2
        10 July 2015 at 10:53 am

        Its very easy to make promises but its another thing entirely to have to keep them as Greece has found out

        • Paul 3.1.2.1
          10 July 2015 at 11:06 am

          Yes the economic hit men described by Perkins do their best to undermine democracy.
          Winning WW2 was a promise made.
          It was hard to deliver on.
          But it was worth standing up for democracy against fascism.
          The Greeks are resisting totalitarian forces as well ( just dressed in bankers clothing).
          And you support those against democracy.
          Sad.

          • Puckish Rogue 3.1.2.1.1
            10 July 2015 at 11:18 am

            No, its about a country that lived way beyond its means and didn’t want to deal with the reality of its situation until it was forced to

            • Paul 3.1.2.1.1.1
              10 July 2015 at 11:45 am

              I think Morrissey has suggested to you before that you read more widely rather than accepting what Fox News tells you without question.

              Here a couple of stating points.

              Thomas Piketty
              http://www.thenation.com/article/austerity-has-failed-an-open-letter-from-thomas-piketty-to-angela-merkel/

              Joseph Stiglitz
              http://europe.newsweek.com/joseph-stiglitz-calls-us-intervene-over-greece-330069

              • Puckish Rogue …
                10 July 2015 at 12:51 pm

                Sorry but a bit too busy at work (something the Greeks are probably unfamiliar with) to give the links the time they deserve but it is amusing to watch the capitulation of Greeces politicians

                It wasn’t that long ago that the lefties of the world were praising the new Greek government and how it was goign to usher in a new era of socialism and that capitalism would be dead (or some such nonsense) and yet when it comes to the crunch Greece has just rolled over and displayed its belly

                • Paul …
                  10 July 2015 at 12:59 pm

                  Until you are prepared to read wider, I just can’t be bothered discussing issues like this with you.

                  • Puckish Rogue …
                    10 July 2015 at 1:03 pm

                    You’re a troll

                    [Actually, he contributed to the conversation and your response was ‘too busy to respond’. If there’s anyone trolling this thread, it’s mostly likely you. TRP]

                • Molly …
                  10 July 2015 at 1:15 pm

                  It’s a problem when you are too busy to “listen” but always have a moment or two from work to “speak”.

                  Or perhaps you don’t see a problem there at all…

                  • Puckish Rogue …
                    10 July 2015 at 2:01 pm

                    Its easier, especially when busy, to type out a couple of lines than it is to read through a few pages of opinion of why the Greeks are screwed

                • miravox …
                  10 July 2015 at 6:15 pm

                  “something the Greeks are probably unfamiliar with”

                  Given more than a quarter of the Greek workforce is unemployed thanks to failed austerity.

            • Draco T Bastard 3.1.2.1.1.2
              10 July 2015 at 2:22 pm

              Wrong. Greece may have lived beyond it’s means but the Troika aren’t allowing them to correct the imbalance. They’re actually forcing Greece to default.

              And then there’s the fact that people took risks in loaning that huge amount to Greece but you’re not lambasting them for taking that risk knowing that they may not get their money back. It’s a major point that’s come clear since the GFC – RWNJs expect the rich to be protected by government from the risks that the rich take.

    • Clean_power 3.3
      10 July 2015 at 9:24 am

      Syriza has seen the light and decided to raise the white flag of surrender. The plan to be presented by Tsipras on Saturday will confirm it. Their radical followers will not be happy.

      • Puckish Rogue 3.3.1
        10 July 2015 at 11:05 am

        The radicals don’t pay the bills

        • left for deadshark 3.3.1.1
          10 July 2015 at 1:06 pm

          Bullshit Puckish Rogue 👿

          those with wealth and the church, primarily right wing that have the problem paying their dues.

          • Puckish Rogue 3.3.1.1.1
            10 July 2015 at 2:05 pm

            Well I don’t have a problem with the churches and the wealthy being held to account

          • Gosman 3.3.1.1.2
            10 July 2015 at 2:19 pm

            Except it wasn’t just the elite and wealthy ripping off the State in Greece. It was almost everyone. Read this article from Vanity Fair

            http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2010/10/greeks-bearing-bonds-201010

          • Gosman 3.3.1.1.3
            10 July 2015 at 2:19 pm

            Except it wasn’t just the elite and wealthy ripping off the State in Greece. It was almost everyone. Read this article from Vanity Fair

            http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2010/10/greeks-bearing-bonds-201010

            • Colonial Viper 3.3.1.1.3.1
              10 July 2015 at 2:53 pm

              The difference being that today, the top 10% in Greece are still doing fine, while the bottom 50% are struggling in poverty.

              And Germany is still handsomely profiting off the euro system.

              • Facetious …
                10 July 2015 at 4:58 pm

                Could it be because the Germans are hard-working people?

                • Colonial Viper …
                  10 July 2015 at 5:21 pm

                  How is it that racist memes slip so easily out of your mouth?

                  And why haven’t those “hard working Germans” paid back the monies they owe Greece for World War 2, if they are so hard working?

                • miravox …
                  10 July 2015 at 6:16 pm

                  working hours in Europe are not what you think.

            • Iron Hoof 3.3.1.1.3.2
              10 July 2015 at 8:36 pm

              Gossie you’re quite the little scamp linking to vanityfair

              Easies to see much you enjoy to put the boot into human beings especialeasies if you see them as being beneath you

              Vanity is perfectly apt for those who live in an arrested state of personal development, and that is precisely what your comments and others such as yours, represent

              Big yucky eewww

  4. ScottGN 4
    10 July 2015 at 8:42 am

    According to the Globe and Mail’s new doodad the NDP are now narrow favourites to win the most seats in the upcoming Canadian Federal Election.
    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ndp-most-likely-to-win-election-globe-model-predicts/article25372657/

  5. Sirenia 5
    10 July 2015 at 8:43 am

    I read that the British rail system has been sold and bought many times. Conservative governments sell it and Labour governments nationalise it.
    Just as well the last NZ Labour government managed to buy the remnants of the privatised rail network in 2008 or it would have disappeared. Unfortunately, we will have to wait for the next left government to invest in it again. As Phil Twyford says, treasury [and this government] doesn’t understand transport economics.

  6. Molly 6
    10 July 2015 at 9:19 am

    My partner works in distribution using road, rail and shipping.

    Apparently the latest rumour is that rail freight is on the way out and will be wound down.

    Anyone with links to rail freight in NZ know more?

  7. aerobubble 7
    10 July 2015 at 9:58 am

    How does a cyclist bully a car driver?
    Well start with a car driver who puts a camera on their car, then drives up behind a cyclist to get a good shot. Forcing the cyclist over onto the striped shoulder, thus breaking road rules, as the cyclist is fearful of the car getting to close behind them. Now for the threat, the one lane leads into a roundabout, and the cyclist wants to go right, so the evil bullying cyclist puts their hand out to indicate and then has the temerity to frustratingly speed off. This was called by the media presentor as a case of cyclist on car bullying, nice one tv3. Because as we all know the road is for road users not cyclists.

    The case of the red light runner.
    Should a cyclist run red lights, well let the test case begins,because I’d like to see cyclists come to a red, get off their bikes walk their bike forward over the white line quite legally, and then jump back on to ride off. Bad law that is so easily mocked is just that bad road rules written by idiots, pedestrians cross roads all the time where ever and whenever, even where unsafe and cars have a duty to slow down. Cyclists are pedestrians, like a skateboarder, or a oldie in the motorize scooter, they are all to slow to be vehicles proper, and so nuance stances differentiating each kind of pedestrian because some kinds of pedestrians happen to fear cars more as they are closer to drivers is not justificating for tv3 to misinterpret the duty of all vehicles to slow down to avoid crashes however legally a cyclist maybe or not.

    So real cases of suicidal cycling behaviour, laughable when you think about it, since its doing the cyclist a favor to dob them to the police when they have such a reckless disregard for their own safety, but given most cyclist spend their time in one or other phase of terror or fear due to drivers being told by media they are road vehicles. No they are pedestrians, unstable, moving slowly and have a right to be on the road.

    • JanM 7.1
      10 July 2015 at 11:05 am

      Cyclists should definitely NOT run red lights when the pedestrian crossing lights are on. When I lived in Grey Lynn I came close to being bowled several times by cyclists when trying to cross. And if you think that bicycles are any less scary than cars when you’re a pedestrian, let me tell you it isn’t so, from my point of view, anyway!

      • aerobubble 7.1.1
        14 July 2015 at 4:15 pm

        A car will kill, I’ve not heard of a cyclist on walker death yet.

        Cars, mopeds all weigh more and run on fuel, etc than a pedestrian. Cycles weigh less than the rider, that’s the point of cycles, to be efficient they need to be that wat, thus the purpose of a cycle is tied to the individual being the power source, like a jogger, like a skate boarder, and sure all activities have their risks and learning, like old people who have stability problems from sitting behind the wheel all their lives.

    • McFlock 7.2
      10 July 2015 at 12:11 pm

      By the sounds of it, the driver was a dick. But to call cyclists (and skateboarders) “pedestrians” is a bit special – they go at twice the speed with half the control. And pedestrians walking three abreast along the road, holding up traffic, would be done for obstruction of the road.

      Stay on the road, and obey the road rules.

      • aerobubble 7.2.1
        14 July 2015 at 4:10 pm

        A jogger is not a pedestrian because even though they run as fast as many cyclists, their foot ware, even when shoe less,makes them a road vehicle. Pathetic

        • McFlock 7.2.1.1
          14 July 2015 at 4:34 pm

          Joggers can stop and turn more easily than cyclists, and they don’t have the mechanical advantage of gears and wheels.

          Stop pretending that cyclists are no more dangerous to pedestrians than joggers.

          • aerobubble 7.2.1.1.1
            16 July 2015 at 3:04 pm

            Those who travel under their own power are by defn pedestrian, as opposed to horse powered. Sticking to the nuances to skate boarders, roller skaters, cyclists, of zimmerframers, does not make cyclists something other, they are pedestrians, they can get off their cycle, lift their bike above their heads and walk legally across a road, unless jaywalking. So nah. Now an oldie would fall over if they lifted their summer over their heads, bloody dangerous oldies are.

            • McFlock 7.2.1.1.1.1
              16 July 2015 at 3:28 pm

              Those who travel under their own power are by defn pedestrian,

              cite pls.

              • aerobubble …
                17 July 2015 at 1:07 pm

                Pedestrian is any travel by foot, cyclists use their feet to travel, ergo cyclists are pedestrians. Geez

                • McFlock …
                  17 July 2015 at 2:54 pm

                  No, actually cite a dictionary definition that includes something like “Pedestrian: one who walks, runs, skateboards, rides a bicycle, pole vaults, or travels in any other way involving their foot. Oh, and wheelchairs and handcycles“. Don’t just make shit up.

    • Psycho Milt 7.3
      10 July 2015 at 1:15 pm

      Cyclists are pedestrians…

      If we’re on foot, pushing our bikes, sure. But if we’re riding our bikes, we’re very much not pedestrians – which is why the word ‘cyclist’ exists in the first place.

      • aerobubble 7.3.1
        14 July 2015 at 4:00 pm

        Pedestrian, sedate, under ones own power.

        As for the incredibly stupid idea that our roads or road users, other pedestrians or drivers aren’t going to go in for rapid self education, and so the present learning, mutual respect transition is not going to b the norm.

        Rather cyclist are learning to give way to old people, who have the hardest time predicting these new users of public space.

        Cyclist are more like pedestrians, especially when they can jump off their bike, a road vehicle is still a road vecihle that you don’t see being pushed around.

        I fine the clueslessness of those who equate cyclists with lorries and not pedestrians a joke on the lamest of TV shock presenters who like to peddle stupid.

        • McFlock 7.3.1.1
          14 July 2015 at 4:25 pm

          “Sedate” – if only that were true. I’ve been slipstreamed by a cyclist on my motor scooter.

          “Under one’s own power” – using mechanical advantage. A crossbow or air rifle is closer to a firearm than a stick.

          I can push my motor scooter around, but if I hit someone even at 20k it’s still my damned fault, and it doesn’t help people when I say I’m “learning to give way”.

          A mate of mine was clocked by a cyclist a few weeks ago. On the footpath. Lost a tooth.

          Yeah, nah. You choose the stupid contraption, at least have the decency to endanger other people less than you endanger yourself.

          • aerobubble 7.3.1.1.1
            16 July 2015 at 3:10 pm

            A stick will explode if you use enough force, does that make comparisons to fire arms apt, no.

            When qualifying transport types its commonsense to specify the energy source and categories accordingly. Cyclists are pedestrians.

            • McFlock 7.3.1.1.1.1
              16 July 2015 at 3:27 pm

              Funny.
              When classifying my motor scooter from a motorbike, the criteria are power output and top speed. They don’t care whether it’s petrol, steam, foot, solar or nuclear powered.

              Redefine “pedestrian” all you want. It still doesn’t change how the rest of the population use the English language.

              • aerobubble …
                17 July 2015 at 1:09 pm

                You can read yet never understand
                Cyclists use foot work to travel and so are by definition under travel by foot.
                Geez.

                • McFlock …
                  17 July 2015 at 2:48 pm

                  No, they travel by bicycle. Unless they carry the bike, rather than the other way around.

                  • aerobubble …
                    22 July 2015 at 3:19 pm

                    People in wheelchairs are not pedestrian. Lol
                    Walkways have signs barring cyclists, not cars, but pedel bikes because they are pedestrians who should not be doing that activity in tht pedestrian area. I.e pedel bikes are pedestrians allowed outside those areas. Just classes of motor vehicle are restricted in certain roads.

                    Undertaking any pedel pedestrian, note the ped- probably some latin for movement by foot effort.

                    • McFlock …
                      22 July 2015 at 3:38 pm

                      Well, cars usually either don’t fit or drivers have the sense to not drive down the walkway. And of course wheelchairs are an exception to the rule, not proof.

                      But it’s pretty clear that you haven’t managed to find a legitimate, authoritative, published definition of “pedestrian” that includes cyclists, otherwise you’d have linked it chapter and verse. Not even in that abomination that is Websters.

  8. Paul 8
    10 July 2015 at 10:43 am

    Democracy dying under John Key’s extreme right wing government.
    No say for the public in his crony capitalist Sky City deal.
    http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11478751

  9. greywarshark 9
    10 July 2015 at 11:20 am

    How unreasonable. A NZ judge told a defendant that accepting under the table payments from suppliers to his employer was wrong. The company that he was working for did ‘deserve his undivided loyalty’.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/278421/wine-merchant-sentenced-over-fraud-charges
    Tell that to our PM Yek and his fellow freebooters.

    and – What an inappropriate suggestion at a time of poverty and distress by many who can’t afford to go to university, or eat healthily, by university wonks on dietary faults!
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201761861
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/278409/taxing-bread-%27is-lunacy%27

    The Food and Grocery Council says a study calling for a 20 percent increase on staples such as bread, milk and cereal is lunacy.
    The study by Auckland and Otago universities found taxing foods high in saturated fat and salt could save the lives of more than 2,400 people per year.

    And Comments are open on RadioNz on this topic. Why not participate in the new on-line blog – follow the news link above, read the item and at the bottom click on the invitation to join the blog at the bottom. Easy.

    I wanted to underline where I have put strikeout, put u in and nothing happened and the instruction disappeared, replaced it with s in the same way and okay. How do you underline then? Is it still working? Can anyone advise me please?

    • weka 9.1
      10 July 2015 at 12:14 pm

      Bread, that really high fat food :roll:. That list of foods is about carbohydrates, and yes they’re a problem in the diet healthwise, but punishing poor people isn’t the way to solve that. On the other hand, Katherine Rich.

  10. ianmac 10
    10 July 2015 at 11:50 am

    Maybe, just maybe John Campbell might rise again?
    John Drinnan reports:
    “Television New Zealand has been chasing John Campbell to work on TV One, according to a source. The approaches go back to before MediaWorks ended the Campbell Live show on May 29…..unlike other big-name broadcasters, Campbell has not insisted on mega pay packages. Campbell is also a notoriously hard worker…”
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11478331

  11. Bob 11
    10 July 2015 at 12:01 pm

    The Labour Party is making plans for its 100th year celebration and amongst other things is planning a competition for a new logo.
    How has no-one had more fun with this!

    Here are some suggestions:
    A cricket, makes lots of noise and has no ears.
    A sloth, knows when it is in trouble, but too slow to react.
    Apple Maps, knows where they want to go, but have no idea how to get there.
    Henry VIII, when they don’t like how things are going, off with your head.
    A fireman, good at sliding down polls.

    Then National could get a new logo:
    Half full paddling pool, shallow and only let’s you keep your head slightly above water.
    Smiling clown, oh wait, they already have one as a leader, that won’t work…
    Knights jousting, self important people lead by polls

    The Greens:
    A watermelon (obviously)
    A printing press, conveys their monetary policy simply to the masses
    Trees surrounded by $$$, blah blah blah, Green economy

    The Conservatives:
    A snake in long grass…wait, they used that last campaign

    ACT:
    Who cares! Only the people of Epsom will ever see it anyway

    United Future:
    Who cares! Only the people of Ohariu will ever see it anyway

    NZ First:
    Winston Peters face, explains the party to anyone that has taken even a passing interest in politics over the past 37 years

    This is a great game!

  12. Robert Glennie 12
    10 July 2015 at 12:20 pm

    30 years after France bombed the Rainbow Warrior, I would say we are as close to having an accidental nuclear exchange as we probably were during the early 1980’s.

    Wars are in progress in the Middle East. No one seems to have a clue how to deal with them. Anti-_________ hysteria is high and rising and communication between the major powers seems to be constantly negative. Progress towards nuclear disarmament seems to have stalled.

    But just for today, lets remember the fact that a supposed western ally bombed a ship doing nothing wrong in Auckland harbour because the activist organization that owned it supported (and still supports) nuclear disarmament.

    • McFlock 12.1
      10 July 2015 at 1:08 pm

      … and that being part of the 5-nations spying club didn’t extend to our intelligence “allies” telling us that a terrorist attack/act of war was about to be committed against us on our home territory.

      So many lessons to be learned from that one act of violence.

      • Anne 12.1.1
        10 July 2015 at 1:33 pm

        There are stories behind the Rainbow Warrior bombing era that have never been told. Like the hundred’s of people who were ‘punished’ for being associated with the anti-nuclear movement. If you were a public servant you were denied promotion and in a few cases hounded out of your job. Some people became persona-non-gratis for years afterwards. I had the impression the ‘establishment’ of the day blamed the anti-nuclear protesters for the French terrorist act in the first place.

        I was told years later there were NZers who were assisting the French but to my knowledge there was no effort to track them down and punish them. I wonder why. They had friends in high places?

        • Chooky 12.1.1.1
          10 July 2015 at 4:04 pm

          +100 Anne …and there were anti-nuclear activists murdered in Britain…this is also the untold story…Hilda Murrell was just one very brave activist…and her story by Robert Green (her nephew now living in New Zealand) also talks about the other unsolved murders of anti nuclear activists. This book is highly recommended!

          http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thorn-Their-Side-Threatened-Murdered/dp/1782194282

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilda_Murrell

          Helen Clark showed great courage when she supported the anti nuclear cause…as did Marilyn Waring and later David Lange

          • Anne 12.1.1.1.1
            10 July 2015 at 4:43 pm

            Yes, I followed the story of Hilda Murrell and in particular Robert Green’s attempts to get to the bottom of her murder. He is another one who was ‘punished’ because of his Aunt’s involvement in the anti-nuclear movement. He was subjected to trumped charges of ‘treason’ when he was a senior British naval officer. I had a similar charge levelled at me in the NZ Public Service late in the 1980s. It had its genesis in my previous association with the anti-nuclear movement.

            These are the sort of ‘stories’ I am referring to @12.1.1

        • Philip Ferguson 12.1.1.2
          11 July 2015 at 12:48 am

          Who was in power then Anne?

    • Molly 12.2
      10 July 2015 at 1:22 pm

      Commemoration of sorts to be held down at the Cloud, Auckland waterfront. Invitation from Greenpeace in my email box:

      On Friday this week is the 30th anniversary of the Rainbow Warrior bombing. We want you to join us on Auckland’s waterfront to mark it with a celebration of courage.

      The 1985 bombing of the Warrior in Auckland Harbour is now part of New Zealand’s and Greenpeace’s history. It united us in standing against the threat of a nuclear future and inspired us to lead the world as a nuclear-free country.

      So with a series of events starting on Friday, and continuing over the weekend, we are marking the anniversary with a celebration of courage – the brave acts, both large and small, that change the world.

      Photo Exhibition: 30 Acts of Courage – Tracing the history of activism in New Zealand
      We would love for you to join us for the opening of the exhibition at 10:30am on Friday 10 July, at The Cloud on Queens Wharf. If you can’t make the opening, please do visit the exhibition over the weekend.

      Workshop: Courage Works – How YOU can change the world
      Also at The Cloud on Sunday 12 July, for the very first time in New Zealand, we will offer insight into the tactics, training and thinking Greenpeace and others have used before taking action. Join us for these one-off, interactive, hands-on workshops to get a closer look at how to change the world, and why we should all be doing it.

      The workshops will be held at the following times:
      1. Sunday 12 July @ 9:00am – 12:30pm
      2. Sunday 12 July @ 1:00pm – 4:30pm

      All events are completely free and open to everyone, so come and join in!

      You will have to contact Greenpeace NZ to book into the workshops.

  13. Clean_power 13
    10 July 2015 at 1:23 pm

    Greece should be cut loose and taste bankruptcy. Unfortunately, the EU wants to keep its political dream alive and will lend some money under harsher terms. The merry-go-round goes on.

    • Draco T Bastard 13.1
      10 July 2015 at 3:24 pm

      Actually, it should have been the banks that loaned the money that went bankrupt. Unfortunately, the corrupt political system bailed them out instead.

  14. greywarshark 14
    10 July 2015 at 2:03 pm

    Can anyone advise me how to put up links to youtube without the panel showing up and dwarfing the post? This didn’t use to happen. Should I disable the link slightly with instructions on setting it right – ie put three spaces in the middle of it or something?
    What are others doing? I find it annoying to look down the post and get a large grey oblong taking up half the screen.

    • te reo putake 14.1
      10 July 2015 at 2:07 pm

      On my browser (firefox) your comment on the rail post contains the youtube previews (ie pictures of trains with a ‘press here’ arrow. They all look magnificent!

    • weka 14.2
      10 July 2015 at 2:14 pm

      It was something that started with a wordpress upgrade a while back. You can’t do anything about it* (the link showing as a live video window). I guess we can be grateful that they don’t auto play 😉 I think Lynn had it on his list of things to fix.

      I found it pretty annoying when it first happened, all that extra scrolling. But now I like that I get a hint as to what is in the vid seeing as how so many people now like to link without explaining what they’re linking to :-

      • lprent 14.2.1
        10 July 2015 at 5:51 pm

        That was why I left it in. I figured out a fix long ago. But if it isn’t being abused…

        • greywarshark 14.2.1.1
          10 July 2015 at 10:12 pm

          lprent
          Could you also tell me if the underline on HTML still works for you?. I tried to use it instead of the italics I usually use and my system wouldn’t accept the u. So I experimented with strike-through and that worked okay. I’m on Firefox don’t know what version.

    • Draco T Bastard 14.3
      10 July 2015 at 3:33 pm

      You can code it in HTML by following these short instructions. Do that and the WordPress software won’t recognise it as a youtube link.

      Like this: Fool’s Garden – Lemon Tree

      Same link without the HTML:

      • greywarshark 14.3.1
        10 July 2015 at 8:21 pm

        Thanks all for discussing the youtube preview business.
        TRP said that putting the links up with brackets round them ( ) stops them coming as preview and automatically ‘blocking’ the comment. In my case I put up a large number of links and had them all previewing from here to the moon. So I will be keeping all that has been said in mind to handle it in the future as I want. I prefer just the link line, and I take the point that a short note about it is needed.

  15. The Pink Postman 15
    10 July 2015 at 3:37 pm

    DUE TO THE FLU .COUGHS AND COLDS THE WORLD FAMOUS IN CAMBRIDGE LABOUR PARTY STALL WILL NOT BE THERE THIS SUNDAY.
    WE WILL BE BACK NEXT MONTH..OUR APOLOGIES.FROM CAMBRIDGE MEMBERS.

    [lprent: Never let it be said that I didn’t support small Labour branches 😈 ]

  16. Chooky 16
    10 July 2015 at 3:44 pm

    Whose who of Hacking…Who is Hacking who now?…anyone for a hack…or two?

    ‘Second OPM hack puts 21.5 million people at risk’

    http://rt.com/usa/272782-opm-hack-millions-affected/

    “A second data breach at the US Office of Personnel Management has affected 21.5 million people, with the hackers stealing sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and putting them at risk of identity theft, the agency announced.

    Notably, the agency said that this incident is “separate but related” to the one that saw 4.2 million former and current government employees personnel data compromised…

    http://rt.com/news/272626-hacking-team-bangladesh-uk/

    http://rt.com/news/272629-cyberberkut-ukraine-journalists-instruction/

  17. greywarshark 17
    10 July 2015 at 3:45 pm

    WTF I wanted to look up a public collection of old records i.e. the NZ Year Book 1969 and I am advised it is on a secure channel and protected by Sockets something. To get a look at it I have to do this or that. Government gone mad? This is public information not the secrets of the crown jewels. Yet I just can’t click on and check out info. easy-as?

  18. adam 18
    10 July 2015 at 3:51 pm

    Japanese Punk.

    Another round of it and I’m really liking it. Again it’s Japanese women who are leading the charge. Something to do with a violently male dominated society maybe? Or is it the economy where by these women are at the forefront of a almost perpetual recession? I don’t know – all I know is I love this song!

  19. Anne 19
    10 July 2015 at 5:11 pm

    Ooops a daisy… looks like John Key might be in trouble for misleading the House.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11478882"T

    The Labour Party has laid a formal complaint against the Prime Minister.

  20. Morrissey 20
    10 July 2015 at 5:41 pm

    “I’m not saying that in a bragadocious kind of way.”
    The Stupidity Express has rolled into New Hampshire

    I always thought Governor Rick Perry was the thickest politician in America. That was until this bloke came along….

    Donald Trump Slams Mexico at Town Hall in New Hampshire

  21. Smilin 21
    10 July 2015 at 6:08 pm

    On austerity, govt debt and trans corporations running the country
    Dont steal they hate competition – thats an action for the masses to consider

  22. Tautoko Mangō Mata 22
    10 July 2015 at 6:20 pm

    It’s a bit disturbing as an atheist for me to be so enthusiastic about the Pope, but he is sooo on to it!

    “Pope Francis on Thursday urged the downtrodden to change the world economic order, denouncing a “new colonialism” by agencies that impose austerity programs and calling for the poor to have the “sacred rights” of labor, lodging and land.

    Quoting a fourth century bishop, he called the unfettered pursuit of money “the dung of the devil,” and said poor countries should not be reduced to being providers of raw material and cheap labor for developed countries.”

    “”Let us not be afraid to say it: we want change, real change, structural change,” the pope said, decrying a system that “has imposed the mentality of profit at any price, with no concern for social exclusion or the destruction of nature.”
    http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/10/us-pope-latam-bolivia-idUSKCN0PJ29B20150710

    “Dung of the devil” has such a nice ring to it!

  23. Gosman 23
    10 July 2015 at 9:25 pm

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/09/poorer-than-greece-the-eu-countries-that-reject-a-new-athens-bailout

    For those leftists amongst you who think the issue is between the wealthy nations in the Euro and the not so wealthy.

  24. Gosman 24
    10 July 2015 at 9:44 pm

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/10/greeces-proposals-to-help-end-talks-deadlock

    Syriza may as well be the Act party considering the policies they have signed up to implement.

    • Colonial Viper 24.1
      10 July 2015 at 10:30 pm

      And the Germans the Financial Fourth Reich

      So much for the dream that was Europe

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