Open Mike 11/04/2017

43 comments on “Open Mike 11/04/2017 ”

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1. saveNZ 1

   11 April 2017 at 7:55 am

   Erin Brockovich slams Christchurch rebuild

   http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/04/erin-brockovich-slams-christchurch-rebuild.html

   (wait till she finds out about our water:)
2. lprent 2

   11 April 2017 at 8:06 am

   Did an update last night on the mobile system. Now I have kanji characters for action icons. Anyone else got them?
   • r0b 2.1

     11 April 2017 at 8:30 am

     I have plain filled rectangles.
     • lprent 2.1.1

       11 April 2017 at 12:40 pm

       I will have a look at it tonight. Probably a new option that defaults incorrectly.
   • Roflcopter 2.2

     11 April 2017 at 10:18 am

     yep, funnily enough the same thing happens at Kiwiblog on mobile… kanji 1st time, go into a post and they’re normal, come back out and they’re normal again…. weird.
   • adam 2.3

     11 April 2017 at 12:08 pm

     Nope, got lock out by google at 2am -ish Saying the site was under attack. And that trying to enter would risk my personal data.

     This is getting a bit more common. Who have we annoyed 🙂
     • lprent 2.3.1

       11 April 2017 at 12:38 pm

       In that case it was almost certainly me rebooting the server after (almost) everyone was off the system. Some of the superblocks in the large RAID array got corrupted and the server needed a reboot to clean them up.
       • adam 2.3.1.1

         11 April 2017 at 2:33 pm

         You get to do all the fun stuff.

         It’s 2 am, I was probably the only one on, and a reboot is way more important than me reading the site at that time.
3. One Anonymous Bloke 3

   11 April 2017 at 8:08 am

   “Economic consequences for private individuals are an inevitable corollary of regulation in the public interest. That is not a reason to manipulate or pervert plan implementation…”

   Wellington Fish & Game Council and Environmental Defence Society Inc vs. Manawatu-Wanganui [sic] Regional Council.

   Idly wondering how many National Party policies and laws could be threatened by this judgement 😈
4. Cinny 4

   11 April 2017 at 8:11 am

   The outgoing PM is desperately trying to appear more ‘personal’ to the public.

   I doubt the answer to this question will generate him more votes. We need a strong PM, not a shy catholic boy, especially in this day and age.

   1 Why have you found revealing more of your personal side so challenging?

   I’m quite a shy person. I guess it’s part of that rural, big family, Catholic culture that I’m from which tends to dampen excessive self-awareness
   • The decrypter 4.1

     11 April 2017 at 9:11 am

     Cinny- We certainly are being over dosed with “Motherhood and apple pie” recently.
   • Sabine 4.2

     11 April 2017 at 1:36 pm

     so the guy was elected to Parliament in 1990 and after 27 years on the public tit he still wants us to believe he is a farmer?

     Nope, his father was a farme, he is nothing else but a technocratic pencil pusher that uses his ‘supposed’ faith to garner votes.

     He is still just a really boring old geezer with nothing much going for him.
     • Once ..whatever 4.2.1

       11 April 2017 at 2:40 pm

       We used to call them Queen Street farmers – not unlike the lumberjack who’s OK – even if he is a bit shy
5. Carolyn_nth 5

   11 April 2017 at 8:58 am

   Link to this vid tweeted by Renters United this morning with tweet “RIP John Clarke”
6. adam 6

   11 April 2017 at 12:06 pm

   Oh look, rather than the Panama Papers being a little nothing at all. The journalist that exposed it “The Center for Public Integrity”. Have now gone and won a Pulitzer prize for there great work of bringing this to the public’s attention. I wonder if our media will realise they on the wrong side of journalism on this one? Probably not with the partisans hacks calling the shots. Oh give me a media that works.

   http://www.pulitzer.org/winners/international-consortium-investigative-journalists-mcclatchy-and-miami-herald
   • saveNZ 6.1

     11 April 2017 at 12:14 pm

     Good link.
7. Ad 7

   11 April 2017 at 12:44 pm

   Can anyone explain why the super-Marxist Melenchon is riding up to third in the French Presidential election?

   http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/who-is-frances-surging-far-left-candidate-jean-luc-melenchon/articleshow/58108183.cms
8. Kay 8

   11 April 2017 at 1:38 pm

   Today my 11 months of Country Detention is up.

   To clarify, if one is on Support Living Payment then one can only leave NZ for 28 days in a 12 month period before the benefit is stopped (at least we can even leave- those with work obligation benefits can’t leave at all).

   Being fortunate enough to have a family member treat me to a month away last year I’ve been been confined to NZ ever since. Not that I’ve had any money to go anywhere, but it’s the principle of the matter. Technically anyone on a benefit can’t legally be stopped from leaving the country, but thanks to data matching immigration dob us in immediately. Since losing our only source of income will mean losing accommodation first and foremost, we are effectively hostages in our own country, and the only other group of citizens treated this way are in the criminal justice system.

   And before the inevitable “if you’re well enough to travel you’re well enough to work” brigade come along- big difference and if you wish to debate that then fine.
   But also consider the many NZers who have families in Oz who need to travel there at short notice for a family member seriously ill, or for a funeral, and they’re told if they go their unemployment benefit will be cut off.

   There’s been travel restrictions on us going back many years but they were a lot more relaxed and flexible, and reasonable until about 3-4 years ago. Now they’re just plain nasty, and another part of the punishment package.
   • AsleepWhileWalking 8.1

     11 April 2017 at 2:43 pm

     At least you can apply to receive a benefit from Centerlink in Australia – SLP is the only benefit where this is still possible. I’ve heard their criteria for the SLP equivalent is higher though.

     The whole NZ / Australia thing pisses me off. NZ gives Australians welfare so it should not be limited to SLP type of benefits.
     • Kay 8.1.1

       11 April 2017 at 3:04 pm

       I think it’s about a 2 year stand down period as well for NZers, so not really much point unless you have some means to tide yourself over financially.

       Much as I currently hate my own country my very real snake phobia has always ruled out moving to Oz, even in my pre-benefit life!
       • Tim 8.1.1.1

         11 April 2017 at 5:36 pm

         Glad to know you hate the country that provides you with the means of living given you can’t earn it yourself! Very gracious of you.

         [lprent: Just be a nice idiot and piss off. Come back after you have tried to live on a benefit, and then discuss the issues.

         Almost everyone on a benefit (apart from some wealthy superannuates) is there because they either can’t get work or have problems actually doing it.

         It hasn’t happened to me (although it got pretty damn close when I had a heart attack), but I have seen a number of people have to do it – invariably through no fault of their own. The amounts are nearly impossible to live on. Now I willingly pay taxes – quite a lot on my salary levels just to make sure that people have opportunities to restart if they can. I don’t particularly like some pious self-involved moron like you making snide comments for whom I help pay.

         I seen many succeed from a benefit – which is what it is there for. I have seen some who have not. But I’m certainly not your kind of ignorant bigoted fool who clearly has ideas that they ‘dunnn it all themselves’ regardless of the kinds of effort and resources that were pushed into them by state or parents. I just look at your kind of attitude as being some kind of mental illness – a form of sociopath probably.

         Banned until a month after the election for being a callous and quite stupid fuckwit (I have now read your back comments) who is clearly incapable of observing the world and thinking about it outside of their own bigoted blinders. We really don’t need a stupid troll who will obviously bring no actual argument to the debate.

         I trust you will find this dismissal of your ignorant argument gracious enough for you – I followed your commenting style closely. It is the simple arsehole style. ]
         • McFlock 8.1.1.1.1

           11 April 2017 at 5:41 pm

           People often hate their prison, even if it does dole out slops every day
   • The Fairy Godmother 8.2

     11 April 2017 at 2:50 pm

     I am really sorry to hear that is happening Kay. It stinks, like a lot of things with WINZ including the lack of toilets in their offices. I hope that once this regime is over we have an enquiry perhaps like the South African Truth and Reconcilliation Commission so people will be able to talk about the harm that has happened to them so it is brought out into the sunlight and hopefully never happen again.
   • Once ..whatever 8.3

     11 April 2017 at 3:27 pm

     Ya vol @Kay. You vil stay and obey. As you know already, with rights come responsibilities.
     You cannot leave before you settle your obligations to za state. You have made no contributions to za No Zealand soity as far as vee can see! Settle down! Know your place!
     And we notice you hef been making comments on ziss left wing blog it is called za Daily Blog – or maybe even Za Standard. Can you explain yourself?
     Za state has arranged some ‘wrap around services’ zat vee suggest it would be to your benefit to take advantage of. And if you do not, I’m afraid vee cannot help you going forward, any longer. Vee hef tried our best to support you.
     If you vill vant to cooperate, vee vill be happy to discuss zis matter further.
     However, because of your history, vee are vell avare zat you are a potential schitzen hausen stirring, and zat you may vell challenge our decisions.
     As you know vee have to protect the velfare of our staff – so zat if you vish to challenge our wrap-around service and our generous efforts to oblige you – you vill be eagre to cooperate
   • inspider 8.4

     11 April 2017 at 4:40 pm

     My pay gets stopped if I leave the country for a day. That’s the downside of hourly pay rates. If I’m not at work I don’t get paid.

     What makes your situation so special?
     • Kay 8.4.1

       11 April 2017 at 5:19 pm

       My situation isn’t special, and I don’t think you should be in that position either.
       Why should any NZ citizen, working, or on a benefit, be put in a position where leaving the country can result in losing their home due to no income, and in many cases not have any savings to cover the rent for the duration?

       Yes I speak from a beneficiary perspective because that’s what I know. Thank you for reminding me of the situation many workers are in.

       I’d like to add that with regard to SLP there is also the added fun bonus of what amounts to asking permission (in writing) from HM Government to leave the country in the form of paperwork, and more paperwork on return. And then hoping like hell they processed said paperwork correctly and you ddn’t come back to NZ to find your benefit had been cut off by mistake and rent AP bounced. It happens.

       Do you have to ask permission to leave your own country?
       • weka 8.4.1.1

         11 April 2017 at 5:33 pm

         I suspect that inspired was being facetious and disingenuous, and what they meant was that if they’re not at work they don’t get paid. Which is an entirely different thing than what you are describing.
       • inspider 8.4.1.2

         11 April 2017 at 6:15 pm

         You are being treated no differently than millions of workers.

         We have to ask permission to not be at work, otherwise we are deemed to have resigned. In your case you primarily just have to advise not seek permission).

         we don’t get our holidays funded beyond the agreed holidays (or via your hourly pay if a casual or contractor). Your 28 paid days allowed overseas (as of right) broadly equivalent to four weeks paid which is the statutory minimum.

         No-one pays my bills when I’m on holiday, or my rates, power, etc. Why would I be indemnified for my choice?

         So why are you complaining about being treated the Same as employees?
         • lprent 8.4.1.2.1

           11 April 2017 at 6:33 pm

           Nice to see someone argue (even when I tend to disagree) and who doesn’t be complete arsehole like Tim.

           I think that the actual issue is the length and usually petty arbitrariness of the stand-downs. Most of the time they are quite punitive for someone who is living on the bones of their arse. It tends to be pretty hard to not get close to starving when (as a friend did), managed to get minimal pay job work after a dry spell that they had to buy clothes for and which got rid of all of their spare cash. Got dumped from the job in about 80 days under the 90 day rule, and then had a stand down period because the employer complained (without evidence) that they hadn’t been trying. The same employer was known to have done this same approach at least 4 times since.

           I have seen people get stand downs from moving cities in search of work and (whatever the name of the department is this year) managing to fuck up their file transfer.

           I have seen people get them because they didn’t attend a brainless ‘work preparedness course’ from WINZ because they were at a job interview.

           I have seen them happen because a solo mother with two under 4 kids was unable to come into the office for a meaningless attendance (and I do mean meaningless – they turn up, waste a couple of hours waiting and are then signed off) because they were at the doctors with a kids covered in a rash.

           One guy I know of with some schiz issues used to get them EVERY year for about 5 years in the 90s because WINZ always used to ‘lose’ his previous paperwork like the medical reports.

           Basically my view is that the simplest way to save money with benefits is to treat them exactly like superannuation, setup a decent web site, hire a courses that people can sign up to is they want to, and fire most of the WINZ staff – preferably the truly awful ones. I have gone in a few times to help others and I swear that I’d cause some of the staff ’emotional harm’ by describing their personality flaws if I didn’t have to support someone else.
         • Kay 8.4.1.2.2

           11 April 2017 at 9:16 pm

           Well perhaps this is another situation where a UBI would be a practical solution for a lot of us? Just think, if you’re self employed, hourly wage or beneficiary, as well as the 4 weeks annual leave, any unplanned time off work needed (or urgent trip overseas) would mean that at least you could keep up the rent payments.
           Just a thought.
     • McFlock 8.4.2

       11 April 2017 at 5:23 pm

       You don’t get holiday pay?
       • inspider 8.4.2.1

         11 April 2017 at 6:20 pm

         Self employed don’t as of right.
         • dv 8.4.2.1.1

           11 April 2017 at 6:22 pm

           You are self employed and draw an hourly rate.
           Interesting.
         • McFlock 8.4.2.1.2

           11 April 2017 at 8:56 pm

           you don’t add 6% to the funds you draw down from the business?

           Or do you just do multiple contracts for service of X hours of work?
   • weka 8.5

     11 April 2017 at 5:35 pm

     “There’s been travel restrictions on us going back many years but they were a lot more relaxed and flexible, and reasonable until about 3-4 years ago. Now they’re just plain nasty, and another part of the punishment package.”

     Didn’t it used to be you could only leave for up to 4 weeks, but there was no per 12 month restriction? And it used to be 6 weeks and 4 weeks for supplementary benefits.

     Do you know if they are stopping the entitlement to SLP, or suspending it for the time out of the country?
     • Kay 8.5.1

       11 April 2017 at 8:56 pm

       Weka, that’s pretty much how it was. And you are correct, SLP is suspended after 28 days not completely cut off.

       I would like to clarify (and apologies for not making it clear earlier) that the leaving the country issue I’ve commented on has to be taken in context with all the other shit we’re having to deal with. Being treated like a criminal just for having the audacity to need a benefit; so literally being imprisoned in my own country is a pretty sensitive issue for me.
       • weka 8.5.1.1

         11 April 2017 at 10:10 pm

         I thought your point was very well made in the original comment. I think most NZers don’t realise just how much control the state exerts over beneficiaries as a class. The PR on this has been well done.
9. joe90 9

   11 April 2017 at 1:44 pm

   Sorry, not sorry.

   “I hate to break up the 100 percent white male card game in the retiring room, but I think this is an important debate,” Hortman said.

   Her remark apparently cut Republicans close to the bone. Rep. Bob Dettmer (R) said, “I’m a white male — I respect everybody. But I really believe that the comments made by the minority leader were really not appropriate.”

   Dettmer asked Hortman to apologize, but that wasn’t happening.

   “I have no intention of apologizing,” she said, adding that she’s “really tired of watching women of color in particular being ignored. So I’m not sorry.”

   […]

   The longest-tenured Republican in the House, Rep. Greg Davids, told the Rochester Post-Bulletin he “was greatly offended by Hortman’s racist statement about white males. I believe her comments have created a very hostile working environment.” Davids even called on Hortman to resign.

   […]

   Hortman responded later Friday with a four-word statement: “I’m still not sorry.”

   https://thinkprogress.org/melissa-hortman-house-republicans-women-of-color-d737dd85379a
10. ropata 10

    11 April 2017 at 2:34 pm

    Epic thread on twitter

    Just a wee thread of women who truly don't have any time for your shit.1) Tess Asplund, Borlänge, Sweden – 2016 (Photo – David Lagerlöf) pic.twitter.com/xjRmHfc3h5— Xas (@_Xas_) April 10, 2017

    And 4 more…

    pic.twitter.com/usNm4ItvDp

    pic.twitter.com/r5ahNBGNtO

    pic.twitter.com/k03BY4qPrx

    pic.twitter.com/MaEFffSnN9
11. GRRRRAAHH 11

    11 April 2017 at 2:50 pm

    MSD continues to train people to be amenable to scammers.

    Don’t they have a social responsibility NOT to do this type of thing?

    Why the **** is it acceptable for MSD to ring up, ask to speak to someone, and then demand personal details so they can confirm identity? Worse still, they’ve been doing this for years.

    It’s like placing a big red flashing sign saying, “hey scammers and identity thieves in need of a new target? Just pose as the Ministry of Social Development and you will find some sucker who will hand over their personal info”.

    GRRRRAAHH.
12. mosa 12

    11 April 2017 at 3:31 pm

    Brownlee is out of control with his behaviour towards the Ombudsman and his defence of transparency around compliance of the OIA.

    http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2017/04/bullying-ombudsman.html
13. Barfly 13

    11 April 2017 at 3:39 pm

    Isn’t Bill English just a peach?

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11836383

    No Bill it’s your goddamn piece of shit government mass importing people to juke the GDP stats. Pigeons meet roost.
14. Nic the NZer 14

    11 April 2017 at 8:03 pm

    This post could be a direct critique of the government’s ‘big data’ social policy. It also indicates why the whole thing will amount to a cost cutting exercise with no useful benefits to the country.

    https://larspsyll.wordpress.com/2017/04/10/confusing-statistics-with-research/

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