Open mike 12/10/2010

57 comments on “Open mike 12/10/2010 ”

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1. Bored 1

   12 October 2010 at 6:31 am

   One idiot down, now for the other side of the coin, get rid of the other twerp (Goff).
   • Bored 1.1

     12 October 2010 at 6:59 am

     Just to follow up on the above call to axe Goff, I noticed Pundit advertised in the above banner, clicked on it and got onto this http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/second-year-blues-%E2%80%93-a-failure-of-governance as it says a report card. One blogger said of it in February that Hager should republish in a year. He got it right in Feb, more correct today. The Nats have a total talent bypass, and Labour are too frightenned to challenge an intellectualy lightweight Right.
     • The Chairman 1.1.1

       12 October 2010 at 7:36 am

       Hager hit the nail on the head.
       • The Chairman 1.1.1.1

         12 October 2010 at 8:27 am

         We will see at the weekend whether the “frameworks” amount to imaginative and fresh enough rethinking on which to base policy that can still be relevant in 2020 (the sort that Phil Goff’s gimmicky GST off fresh fruit and vegetables, opposed by some MPs, is not).
         http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4218135/Labour-end-of-the-beginning

         It will be interest to see what Cunliffe comes up with.
         • The Chairman 1.1.1.1.1

           12 October 2010 at 8:32 am

           *Interesting.
     • Draco T Bastard 1.1.2

       12 October 2010 at 9:21 am

       They represent National’s traditional role of providing policies that suit their various big business allies. There is also a small number of ministers working away competently on their portfolios, doing their best to help run the country, but they are unfortunately a minority. Meanwhile, the ministerial offices have hired in a clutch of Young National types as political advisers, people brought up on slogans and sneering attack politics but not on seriously addressing issues.

       That, is a scary report. As for suiting Big Business, from what I’m seeing, it really does look like National are actually stomping on small businesses, trying to get them out of the market. This makes sense, in a nasty way, as more competition lowers profits.
       • KJT 1.1.2.1

         12 October 2010 at 5:16 pm

         Yeah. It puzzles me when I hear at Chamber of Commerce meetings. “Vote NACT. They are for business” from small business people who are getting screwed over by NACT.
     • ianmac 1.1.3

       12 October 2010 at 10:02 am

       Jonathon Devine said in the comments on Hager’s Feb post:”Try republishing this in a year – you may find that your predictions have proved true. In the meantime, you might like to sigh a breath of relief that this government hasn’t done much of anything yet.”
       Not a year yet since, but resonating now in October just the same.
   • Zeebop 1.2

     12 October 2010 at 8:40 am

     Carter says he wasn’t told. But I heard his partner was on the local constituency committee.
     I’m surprised that the National Committee would not have told the local board.
     If his partner isn’t talking to him then surely how is that worthy as headline news?

     Carter pretty much set the pace, and timing of his own downfall. Goff has yet to
     shine, but technically Goff just needs Key to declare an election date. All this
     hot air is the old adage, no such thing as bad publicity. Goff being around in a
     years time, and the memory of everyone saying he should have gone will
     actually strengthen him as a survivor.
2. The Chairman 2

   12 October 2010 at 7:17 am

   It’s rather pointless rebuilding/repairing someone’s home if it can’t be reinsured.

   There are concerns that property values on some homes in affected areas could slump, even if they can be repaired.

   “The Government’s responsibility via EQC is to restore people’s positions to the situation they were in prior to the earthquake. Inevitably, if there are changes in property values that’s not something the Government, by and large, can be held accountable for.”

   Key acknowledged there may be some problems for householders on remediated land getting insurance cover.

   “The concern would be if the land was repaired, and the building was able to be rebuilt, but then the insurers would say `look, we are not going to insure that property’ then that would essentially make that property worthless for most New Zealanders who need to carry insurance for good reason.”

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4221076/Quake-hit-house-owners-face-loss
   • Zeebop 2.1

     12 October 2010 at 8:47 am

     Yeah, I was wondering why National govt was so up beat about land being able to be built on.
     Come’s with no guarentee it seems, that the work done will be of equal or better quality than
     the homes before.
     It all comes from allow Leaky homes saga to run and run, and not blame National for
     their gross failure of governance.
     • Zeebop 2.1.1

       12 October 2010 at 8:49 am

       Would a builder risk rebuilding if they could be sued for building on inadequate foundations?
3. Draco T Bastard 3

   12 October 2010 at 9:04 am

   IPv6 survey shows vital messages not getting through

   InternetNZ CEO Vikram Kumar says the protocol and addressing scheme for the internet will be an opportunity for businesses to make use of new technologies but the recent survey shows that message is not getting through and they still see IPv6 adoption primarily as a cost.

   That sounds like a typical NZ managers response: Everything is a cost, not an opportunity.
   • Bored 3.1

     12 October 2010 at 9:18 am

     Stuff the technology Draco, I have been working in it for 30 years and guess what? The technology is truly wonderful BUT not doing anything different, just differently. And its a complexity trap.

     Your comment is correct in that managers worldwide see everything in the current context, all cost. They have merely been caught in a complexity trap of doing what they always did with more automated tools. My observation…dont expect change from such a regimented system.

     Second observation, better to do something simple, grow some edible plants incase the complex system falls over.
     • Lanthanide 3.1.1

       12 October 2010 at 9:45 am

       As some criticism on IPv6, I saw a proposal to instead increase the address-space on IPv4 from 32 bits to 64 bits, and do it in a seamless way so that all existing routers could still handle the new packet format until transition was complete. Seems like a much better approach than dual-stack that we’ve got now, with IPv6 having many many fiddly new features that don’t add much value, let alone the crazily long addresses that are not human-friendly.
       • Bored 3.1.1.1

         12 October 2010 at 10:04 am

         Seems to me short term that IPV6 is only required if the current ABC ranges run out (which could happen if we try and give every device in the world a unique identifier). Operationally the interim step (extended V4) as suggested is a pain in the proverbial, it breaks the “do it once and do it properly rule”. Using NAT with a currently valid IP address ranges (A,B,C) seems to be what the address starved Netizens get by doing. Dual stacks a pain, and often not supported, it will be a while before that changes. Then there is the issue of telcos having IPV6 compliant networks, another world of pain.

         But as above, it keeps us employed doing the same thing differently.
4. BLiP 4

   12 October 2010 at 10:05 am

   Well done National Ltd™ – one city in ruins, one city in revolt, another stewing with indecision. Nero twiddled his thumbs, John Key just giggles.
5. gobsmacked 5

   12 October 2010 at 10:08 am

   Shame on you, John Key. Shame on you.

   NZPA reports:

   “New Zealand’s opposition MPs have congratulated the Chinese winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, but Prime Minister John Key is not keen to talk about it.

   Liu Xiaobo, 54, was awarded the prize on Friday. He is serving 11 years in jail for campaigning for democratic transformation of China’s one-party state.

   He told his wife, Liu Xia, he dedicated the award to the people killed in the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in central Beijing.

   Mr Liu’s prize was applauded in the United States and Europe and US President Barack Obama called for his release.

   Labour’s spokeswoman for foreign affairs and trade, Maryan Street, and Green MP Keith Locke have offered Mr Liu their congratulations.

   Ms Street called on China to release Mr Liu as a demonstration of its progress in areas of human rights.

   “We applaud China for the huge leaps forward it has taken in recent years in advancing the social and economic conditions of its people, but we would also encourage China to make similar progress towards respect for human rights and democracy.”

   Human rights and democracy were important parts of Labour’s dialogue with China, she said.

   Mr Locke said New Zealand should advocate for Mr Liu’s release.

   “It is wrong for Mr Liu to be in prison simply for promoting the sort of democracy all New Zealanders take for granted.”

   Mr Key said yesterday he would not comment about Mr Liu until he received more advice.

   “I’m not aware of why he’s in jail and it’s not appropriate for me to comment on what is appropriate in terms of other countries putting people in those facilities.”

   ****

   Not appropriate? Governments do it all the time. Even Murray McCully has done it (heard of Fiji, John?).

   Give your friend Barack a call. He’ll explain it to you.
   • hateatea 5.1

     12 October 2010 at 10:56 am

     His silence on this is deplorable, if predictable. I am actually annoyed that our Prime Minister puts ‘free trade’ with China ahead of honouring a man who has sacrificed his freedom for his principles. But then, it is unclear to me whether or not John Key has any principles that he would sacrifice to defend

     captcha: games (what Key is playing – with us as the pawns)
   • Draco T Bastard 5.2

     12 October 2010 at 11:05 am

     Jonkey is more concerned with kowtowing to the big money than human rights.

     …it is unclear to me whether or not John Key has any principles that he would sacrifice to defend

     He doesn’t. All he’s concerned about is people with money and those people being in control of everyone else.
   • Jim MacDonald 5.3

     12 October 2010 at 12:29 pm

     Just read on newsroom.co.nz that Key’s Govt will offer congratulations. Is this real spine?
     Or a temporary/momentary transplantation?
   • freedom 5.4

     12 October 2010 at 1:10 pm

     to be fair to our relaxed leader, he waited for the paperwork!

     talk about last out of the gate, and he still managed to say the minimum (bordering on nothing)
     • Jim MacDonald 5.4.1

       12 October 2010 at 4:48 pm

       ‘Vacuous’ is the most fitting word.
       Acknowledgment: thanks to Gordon Campbell’s piece which I read today.
6. gobsmacked 6

   12 October 2010 at 11:05 am

   Gordon Campbell has an excellent piece on this.

   New Zealand’s day of shame …

   http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2010/10/12/gordon-campbell-keys-backbone-problem-with-china/

   The news media are starting to pick this up. There MUST be questions in Parliament this afternoon.
   • nzfp 6.1

     12 October 2010 at 11:53 am

     Liu Xiabo should decline the prize (like the Vietnamese Le Duc Tho did). Look at who he has to share a wall with:

     2009 – Barak Obama
     2007 – IPCC and Al Gore
     1994 – Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Rabin.
     1978 – Mohamed Anwar Al-Sadat, Menachem Begin
     1973 – Henry A Kissinger, Le Duc Tho (Declined the prize)
     1919 – Thomas Woodrow Wilson
   • ianmac 6.2

     12 October 2010 at 12:20 pm

     The Greens are asking one in Question 12 today.
     Good column by Campbell.
     • Jim MacDonald 6.2.1

       12 October 2010 at 12:38 pm

       Ah, just saw the earlier posted comments after I sent off my one above.
       Read Campbell and, yes, on international affairs and diplomatic matters, Nats have a stunning predilection to be vacuous or to make mincemeat out of their words :-0
7. freedom 7

   12 October 2010 at 12:00 pm

   Am i the only one who thinks this smells a little funny, especially the return to form for Kerry’s statements, gone are the soft lines of the previous few days
8. The Chairman 8

   12 October 2010 at 12:01 pm

   Clearing house to access to Reserve Bank funds

   NZX would be treated as “systemically important financial infrastructure” giving it recourse to emergency funding from the Reserve Bank if required, to help maintain financial stability.

   Yesterday’s agreement follows a recommendation from the Capital Markets Development Taskforce in December.

   NZX chief executive Mark Weldon said the agreement was a vote of confidence in a co-operative approach to settlement systems.

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/4220610/Clearing-house-to-access-to-Reserve-Bank-funds

   Isn’t Weldon a member of the Market Development Taskforce?
   • freedom 8.1

     12 October 2010 at 12:17 pm

     It’s all O.K. people. That is just weapons maintenance for the coming currency war

     (IMF chants)
     Here comes the Bancor

     -gottta give Keynes credit for a catchy name
9. Joe Bloggs 9

   12 October 2010 at 12:31 pm

   speaking of the global warming con that’s been foisted upon us, I was interested to read of Harold Lewis’s resignation from the American Physical Society.

   http://thegwpf.org/ipcc-news/1670-hal-lewis-my-resignation-from-the-american-physical-society.html

   Amongst other things he highlights the money-making machine that global warming studies have become for the major reseach institutes and he comments that

   It is of course, the global warming scam, with the (literally) trillions of dollars driving it, that has corrupted so many scientists, and has carried APS [the American Physical Society] before it like a rogue wave. It is the greatest and most successful pseudoscientific fraud I have seen in my long life as a physicist.

   Damn but that’s a poke in the eye for the warmists
   • mcflock 9.1

     12 October 2010 at 1:15 pm

     not really. He doesn’t actually deny global warming exists. Just pulls the old “no idea as to cause, no idea as to consequences” routine.

     http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504383_162-5933353-504383.html

     Although this guy is quite scathing:

     http://davidappell.blogspot.com/2010/10/hal-lewiss-temper-tantrum.html
     • walt 9.1.1

       12 October 2010 at 1:22 pm

       And what do his peers think of this 87 year old’s assertions?

       The President of the APS, Professor Curt Callan, said: “The use of the word ‘scam’ is ridiculous. To dismiss the work of large numbers of honest, hard-working scientists as a scam is just silly.”
     • nzfp 9.1.2

       12 October 2010 at 1:38 pm

       Just pulls the old “no idea as to cause, no idea as to consequences” routine

       No he didn’t – he was scathing about the amount of external capital that he felt corrupted the science to find a pre-determined conclusion. Specifically:

       the money flood has become the raison d’être of much physics research, the vital sustenance of much more, and it provides the support for untold numbers of professional jobs. For reasons that will soon become clear my former pride at being an APS Fellow all these years has been turned into shame, and I am forced, with no pleasure at all, to offer you my resignation from the Society.

       It is of course, the global warming scam, with the (literally) trillions of dollars driving it, that has corrupted so many scientists, and has carried APS before it like a rogue wave

       A conclusion which – by the way – makes no difference to the fact that human activity is still detrimental to the biosphere.

       The problem is when the conclusion – whether contrived or scientifically determined – is used to sell the wrong solution.
       • Draco T Bastard 9.1.2.1

         12 October 2010 at 2:53 pm

         Um, it does take money, in today’s economy, to do research. Global climate change happens to be a rather extreme threat to humanity and the globe and so, predictably, more money is thrown at it. It is not the raison d’être for the research, merely the needed resources for the research to happen.
         • nzfp 9.1.2.1.1

           12 October 2010 at 4:11 pm

           Of course global climate change is a threat, the question between the “Deniers” and “Proponents” is whether or not there is an anthropogenic warming. Other threats to our society include extreme poverty, starvation and war – but I don’t see a Bullet tax or Greed tax or even any funding for reasearch on these topics. I would argue that IMF structural reforms have killed more people in Africa alone then climate change.

           You know as well as I that a change in the economic system would result in a decrease in energy consumption – there goes peak oil – and waste – there goes pollution – almost immediately. Just a side effect of monetary reform alone would result in environmental changes orders of magnitude greater then any patch (read ETS) in our current system. Another side effect would be no more third world debt leading to starvation.

           Which begs the questions – why is Al Gore so concerned with C02 levels instead of Debt levels? Why is there a C02 tax instead of a Credit tax (on banks)? Why are there Carbon Trading schemes instead of fair and equitable taxation?

           Who controls the debate and what is the solution they are selling?
           • Draco T Bastard 9.1.2.1.1.1

             12 October 2010 at 4:41 pm

             A change to a sustainable economic system is about the only way to prevent the damage that our economic system is presently doing to the ecology. It would probably even remove war as a major threat. This doesn’t remove the fact that it still takes money to do the research which was the specific point I was addressing.

             Peak Oil will still be there – it would just last a hell of a lot longer and agree that the IMF structural reforms have probably killed more people than a hell of a lot of things but climate change will kill a hell of a lot more in the long run. The IMF dictated reforms can be changed before then if the local governments tell them fuck off.

             but I don’t see a Bullet tax or Greed tax or even any funding for reasearch on these topics.

             And you know as well as I do that that’s because the Greedy Bastards with Guns own the friggen government 😛
     • nzfp 9.1.3

       12 October 2010 at 1:53 pm

       And to think that the IPCC and Al Gore won a Nobel Peace Prize for promoting a carbon trading scheme which did NOTHING to prevent the BP Gulf of Mexico spill or the tailings dam disaster in Hungary while transferring Billions in wealth from ordinary Europeans into the back pockets of Goldman Sachs, Blood and Gore and all the other commodities and futures traders who started betting on (c.f. Catholic Indulgences) permissions to pollute – carbon credits.

       Wrong solution. Wrong problem.
     • lprent 9.1.4

       12 October 2010 at 3:36 pm

       Yep – another old physicist talking about something he doesn’t understand.

       You can see the idiots simply don’t have any idea when they talk about the local “little ice age” so beloved of people who haven’t bothered to read an science outside of their own myopic focus in many decades (and which never happened worldwide). These are the type of fools who would confuse a little area around the Atlantic with the whole world, or weather with climate…
       • nzfp 9.1.4.1

         12 October 2010 at 4:00 pm

         OK,
         So what’s your solution LP? Cos Al Gores Carbon Indulgences ain’t cutting it!
         You’ve used a bunch of fallacies in this paragraph which makes me want to get into it – but it’s a waste of time and doesn’t solve the problem.

         So seriously – what do you propose? Also – just as import – how do you get the proposition to the rest of the nation?

         I can see how you’ve started that by setting up and maintaining this site – but what about the rest of the average Joes?
         • lprent 9.1.4.1.1

           13 October 2010 at 9:49 am

           I’d go for a straight and slowly increasing tariff (say automatically stepping up every 2-3 years) on hydrocarbons both at the border and as it comes out of the ground. In other words in exactly the same way that we treat tobacco and alcohol. Similarly I

           A simple price signal is the most effective signal there is to shift behavior. I’d put the raised money directly into a fund to pay for tax rebates and grants on general R&D.
           • KJT 9.1.4.1.1.1

             13 October 2010 at 9:59 am

             One proposal I liked was for a carbon tax which is then evenly distributed amongst tax payers. Though even better, I think, would be carbon taxes used to fund the development of clean technology, sustainable energy and resource use reduction. These are the types of PPP’s we should be supporting. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/4179680/US-govt-funds-NZ-wave-prototype

             ETS are just another money go around for the finance people to clip the ticket.
             Resulting in nonsense like old growth forests being felled to be replaced by “Kyoto forests”.
   • nzfp 9.2

     12 October 2010 at 1:31 pm

     Who cares if it exists or doesn’t exist,
     It doesn’t mean that we can relax our behaviour with regard to environmental responsibility.

     Supporting or Denying human caused global warming makes zero difference to what happened in Hungary and the Gulf of Mexico.

     Both of these events are a result of an economic system that forces growth at any expense.

     An ETS tax would not stop corporate malfeaseance – but a fundamental change in economics would.

     The argument is a distraction from finding a long lasting socially responsible solution.
     • ianmac 9.2.1

       12 October 2010 at 1:35 pm

       Exactly. Even if Global Warming was not so, and even if not man-made it would still be worth it to tidy up mans’ mess. We cannot continue to consume.
       • nzfp 9.2.1.1

         12 October 2010 at 1:41 pm

         Yes – you are 100% correct, it’s time to put the argument away and solve the problem.

         We already know what the problem is – there are many here who have varying solutions to the problem – I would argue that any one of them would probably be a lot better then what we have now!

         One of the reasons I try very hard not to get into this debate anymore.
       • freedom 9.2.1.2

         12 October 2010 at 3:19 pm

         yes let’s fix the problem. Grow Hemp forests for wood, building products, paper and packaging. Plant Hemp plantations for medicine, plant Hemp plantations for plastics, plant Hemp plantations for fabric

         and basically plant Hemp plantations for the complete replacement of the petrochemical industry

         It is not rocket science it is simply a lack of will fostered by greed and duplicity
     • Draco T Bastard 9.2.2

       12 October 2010 at 2:54 pm

       I’d agree with that.
     • KJT 9.2.3

       13 October 2010 at 10:02 am

       Maritime NZ have a road show going around the country with a proposal to make things cheaper for the offshore oil drilling industry. Current requirements for STCW/SOLAS certification for crews and the vessel on oil rig tenders may be relaxed to allow inshore qualifications up to the new within 200 miles of the coast “Near sheltered waters limit”. About the same as allowing someone with 200 hours in a Cessna to drive a jumbo jet.
       I.E. Off the East Coast or in the Great South Basin.

       Oil rig tenders are supposed to be the stand by vessels for rescue and firefighting for the rigs.

       STCW is the minimum requirement for international vessels. It is already compromised by ship owner interests. Attempts to relax requirements below this level are not going to increase the safety of offshore drilling.

       Especially in light of the Coastguard findings in the US that lack of knowledge of stability in ship and rig firefighting at the scene may have contributed to the Transocean rig sinking.

       I think this shows the Governments real level of commitment to environmental safety.
10. comedy 10

    12 October 2010 at 3:40 pm

    Not politics, the economy or anything like that but what a wonderful yarn.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10679994
11. KJT 11

    12 October 2010 at 5:37 pm

    http://msn.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10680029

    Can anyone tell me if this is just code for. “We will cut funding to ITO’s to fund University places”.
    • hateatea 11.1

      12 October 2010 at 6:37 pm

      That was what I took from the announcement. After all, why would we need carpenters, electricians, plumbers and mechanics. Another plonker
12. gobsmacked 12

    12 October 2010 at 10:03 pm

    Better news from the latest poll: Labour 36.5%, Greens 8%.

    http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2010/4586/

    Looks like the “earthquake effect” has faded, so what else have National got? Spiders?
    • The Voice of Reason 12.1

      12 October 2010 at 10:17 pm

      Labour’s best poll result in years! 36.5% plus the Greens steady on 8% and Act flatlining. The good news just doesn’t stop coming for the left this week!

      captcha: fate
      • gobsmacked 12.1.1

        12 October 2010 at 10:32 pm

        ACT’s support (already tiny) has now disintegrated, in both the polls this week (Morgan and TV3).

        So, the pressure goes on Key to dump Rodney Hide and win back Epsom. Cue the next round of ACT in-fighting …
        • Colonial Viper 12.1.1.1

          13 October 2010 at 1:15 am

          I had understood that NAT love to set election dates in the coldest, wettest month of the year to drive turnout down.
      • lprent 12.1.2

        13 October 2010 at 12:04 am

        Yeah the good thing about this poll is that there is a consistent rise showing in Labours polling, and National is slowly but surely dropping. I think that is going to be the pattern for the rest of this year and for next year. Personally I don’t think that there will be a early election. That requires a bloody good excuse with the disintegration of a required coalition party and a fractured working majority. Otherwise voters will penalize the government for being dragged out to vote in the miserable winter weather. Not to mention the expense and hurried campaign. For all of the disruption in Act, I don’t think that they or whatever they split into will stop supporting National and the Maori party is rather committed to the coalition at this point through lack of any effective results.

        Act is falling away (hardly surprising). The Maori party vote is more problematic since their MP’s depend entirely on seats. I’d love to see some polling in those seats because I suspect that there is probably some movement in their weaker MP’s support downwards. NZF is still fluctuating up and down just over the margin of error – but I’d never discount Winston (damnit). The Greens have always had this nasty issue that their polling usually overstates their election day support

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