Open mike 12/10/2013

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, October 12th, 2013 - 72 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step right up to the mike…

72 comments on “Open mike 12/10/2013 ”

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  1. karol 1
    12 October 2013 at 7:56 am

    Interesting Simthsonian article on how climate change will impact on different parts of the world:

    These estimates, which all come from a new study published today in Nature by scientists from the University of Hawaii, reflect a concerning trend that some scientists believe will define the arrival of climate change’s effects on the planet: It’ll arrive in tropical, biodiverse areas first.

    It also links to an interactive map where you can access graphs showing prediction of trends for each country, including NZ.

    PS: This Open Mike had yesterday’s date (11/10/2013) in the title – I changed it.

  2. AsleepWhileWalking 2
    12 October 2013 at 8:10 am

    Dropped in my voting form to the Wgtn City Council yesterday. Preety crowded in there! Good to see that we don’t have total apathy in local elections : )

  3. Tracey 3
    12 October 2013 at 8:16 am

    Two things come immediately into my mind when I hear a businessman has been fighting his corner.

    what happens to innocent folk who dont attract the attention of a monied person either through their networks or publicity?

    And how many brown people have had a businessman get in behind them?

    • Colonial Viper 3.1
      12 October 2013 at 8:46 am

      Now%20lets%2520add%2520some%2520context%253A%2520where%2520the%2520’Maori%2520Economy’%2520was%2520valued%2520by%2520Pita%2520Sharples%2520in%25202010%2520as%2520being%2520worth%2520%252437B.%2520Therefore%2520’being%2520brown’%2520and%2520not%2520being%2520supported%2520by%2520’businessmen’%2520is%2520now%2520a%2520much%2520more%2520interesting%2520question%2520than%2520it%2520used%2520to%2520be.

      [translated]

      Now lets add some context: where the ‘Maori Economy’ was valued by Pita Sharples in 2010 as being worth $37B. Therefore ‘being brown’ and not being supported by ‘businessmen’ is now a much more interesting question than it used to be.

      [lprent: The old plugin is now back in place. We will see if that is in fact the problem. ]

    • Draco T Bastard 3.2
      12 October 2013 at 12:18 pm

      Been wondering the same. All the evidence indicates that justice is only available to those with money in NZ.

  4. Pascal's bookie 4
    12 October 2013 at 10:03 am

    Cunliffe on the Nation right now.

    • Rogue Trooper 4.1
      12 October 2013 at 10:48 am

      The Nation , with the luvly Rachael;
      David Cunliffe on the TPP,
      -Pharmac protection “bottom line”
      -IP protection important consideration

      on the RBA,
      -governor should have independence
      -although “open minded”
      -as Parker has indicated a preference for a ‘monetary committee’ (export, manufacturing, union representation for example)
      -with the independence intended by the RBA remaining.

      on Mining,
      -“responsible balance between economic and environmental objectives”

      on relationship to the Greens and Green policy
      -“my job as leader of the Labour Party is to maximize the Labour Party vote”.

      NB: Japan entering the TPP is of huge benefit to the US (and Japan) with the US farm lobby endorsement. Consequently, agriculture will be the most problematic negotiating issue.-Groser.

      • Sosoo 4.1.1
        12 October 2013 at 11:21 am

        Cunliffe gave her a good going over, I thought. She needs better questions.

        The usual trick of asking the same question again when it has been decisively answered so as to create doubt about the answer does not appear to work against Cunliffe.

        • Rogue Trooper 4.1.1.1
          12 October 2013 at 11:28 am

          Yes, he revealed her weaknesses, not being a fawning, drooling Tory ‘bloke’ and all that. although, drooling is not exclusive to Tories. 😀

          • Sosoo 4.1.1.1.1
            12 October 2013 at 11:30 am

            I guess interviewers have got so used to politicians not answering questions directly that they don’t know what to do when one of them does.

            • Rogue Trooper 4.1.1.1.1.1
              12 October 2013 at 11:31 am

              They pause, rinse, and repeat.

            • QoT 4.1.1.1.1.2
              12 October 2013 at 4:45 pm

              I laughed out loud (actually, out loud) when he responded to a journo’s question after his CTU conference speech by saying something like, “I think you’ve asked that question based on what you assumed I was going to answer to an earlier question, but since I didn’t, it’s not relevant.” It was fucking beautiful.

          • Rodel 4.1.1.1.2
            12 October 2013 at 9:49 pm

            No No weaknesses. She was excellent but Cunliffe’s brilliance outshone her and she accepted it graciously. It was like a good hard talk interview and he responded with super competence.
            If you need inspiration, go see it on TV3 Nation.

            I’d love to see Key in the same kind of interview. Oh that’s right I did see it and he tried to treat her like a silly girl, but she persisted and he just came across as a buffoon blithering on about fish or something.National supporters must have cringed.

            Well done Cunliffe! you have my vote…and many others I reckon.

            • North 4.1.1.1.2.1
              13 October 2013 at 4:58 am

              Cunliffe: “due diligence……due diligence…….” – the expertly piped cream on a very digestible cake served up by a man obviously cut out for the job.

              Rachel Smalley: repeatedly – “Right OK” – on to the next question.

              Which means he triumphed.

              I suspect Rachel Smalley finished that interview with advanced respect for her subject.

              Which is to say – quoting Rodel @ 4.1.1.1.2 – “…and many others I reckon.”

              Is this why our current gig is Little Churchill World Leader ?

  5. Sanctuary 5
    12 October 2013 at 10:07 am

    I grew up in Napier when the twin cities had two proper newspapers (Napier Daily Telegraph and Hastings Herald Tribune) that covered local affairs and the local ZB station broadcast the bulk of it’s daytime content from a local studio. I remember my parents listening to the (bi-weekly? weekly?) hour long discussions with the mayor and of all sorts of discussions about local issues. There was even, briefly, regional TV breakouts on TVNZ.

    Now, the merged “newspaper” Hawkes Bay Today is barely a step up on the free rags. Local popular state radio is but a distant memory. TV treats the provinces the same way it treats stories from the third world – it takes either a disaster or a crime for a story to be covered.

    When people talk about the decline in interest and participation in local body elections some blame excessive centralisation making voting irrelevant, some blame a disinchanted, lazy and uninformed public. But it seems to me that the eviscerating of local outlets for democracy has to be a major candidate in destroying avenues for communication and reducing interest and knowledge in local issues and candidates. The decline of voting in local body elections is worrying evidence of the hollowing out of our democracy and the slow death of civic society – and it paves the way for democracy to die not with a bang, but with the whimper of a corporate takeover.

    • Chooky 5.1
      12 October 2013 at 10:28 am

      +!00 Sanctuary

      • Sanctuary 5.1.1
        12 October 2013 at 4:10 pm

        If I were king for a day…

        …Every channel or radio station that broadcasts in New Zealand ought to be required to devote 5% of it’s 7am-7pm airtime to commercial free, civic broadcasting (I would call it the “civic quota”). No exceptions. Everything from MTV to the shopping channel to the History Channel to the ZB network to Mai FM. They would be required to use it to cover local and national political issues of importance to their target audience.

    • Olwyn 5.2
      12 October 2013 at 10:46 am

      “The decline of voting in local body elections is worrying evidence of the hollowing out of our democracy and the slow death of civic society…”

      The slow death of civic society also shows in the fact that the right no longer offers any kind of view of a civic society, just an ongoing series of economic rationalisations.

    • Rogue Trooper 5.3
      12 October 2013 at 10:58 am

      personally, when I get the time, I glean more information about the intricacies of the local community from reading the “free” weekly newspapers, when I have the time. (gotta pile awaiting)

      Did you know…smurfs wear Phrygian caps ! 😀

      and, and, that David Cunliffe received the “All the better for a Metaphor” Award on Te Radar’s Best Bits

    • leftriteleft 5.4
      12 October 2013 at 2:22 pm

      I worked at the DT (Napier) for 33 years and also 3 years at Hawke’s Bay Yesterday.
      You are dead right Sanctuary. HBT is a nothing newspaper. When I moved to that paper we were printing 32,000 papers. Now, just on 20,000 (I hear from ex workmates).
      What does that tell you about the MSM. And yes the free papers keep you informed of the local news. Don’t even bother buying a printed paper. Heil the freepress. TS, TDB et al.
      Cheers

  6. Herodotus 6
    12 October 2013 at 10:13 am

    How is it that we fight for an uplift in pay in the order of 2-3% minimum pay increases by $0.40 hour and yet house prices are increasing by $1,500/ week in the burbs.
    How can this dicotomy exist when money can be so hard to earn yet prices increase by so much?

    • Colonial Viper 6.1
      12 October 2013 at 10:21 am

      How can this dicotomy exist when money can be so hard to earn yet prices increase by so much?

      Those rules only apply to labour attempting to work to earn wages/salaries.

      The direct answer to your question is:

      1) Unearned income accrued by capitalists on positive revenue assets allows them to finance additional asset purchases..
      2) Banks willing to lend to those same capitalists at ever higher leverage on the assumption of continuing property asset price increases.

      • Olwyn 6.1.1
        12 October 2013 at 10:57 am

        This is a particular worry with regard to the TPP negotiations. Both Tim Groser and Phil Goff cite Pharmac and intellectual property as matters of concern, but do not touch on wages, unions or social services. The worry is that “New Zealand” for them means the asset rich who think such an agreement will make them even asset richer. As long as wages, unions and social services go unmentioned, I fear that these people see the projected gains for themselves and their kind as well worth the cost of trashing the workforce and the poor even more than they are now trashed.

      • Herodotus 6.1.2
        12 October 2013 at 12:34 pm

        Yet CV as for many, money to survive has great value thru its scarcity yet thanks to the worlds monetary policies the same money is having its value greatly diminished. Why then can so few see this and there can be no “happy endings” or conclusion should the status quo continue.
        This property boom that is currently in Auckland just protects many from seeing the issue as we all (property owners) are self congratulating ourselves for our rise in wealth.
        Like you and a few others questioning this ability for independent banks to make money appear out of fresh air IMO is the real issue we face and an indirect attack to our sovereignty.

        • Colonial Viper 6.1.2.1
          12 October 2013 at 1:04 pm

          Exactly correct. Reminds me of the bankster Rothschild quote

          “Permit me to issue and control the money of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws!”

  7. Brett Dale 7
    12 October 2013 at 10:59 am

    When do the local body election results get announced?

  8. Brett Dale 8
    12 October 2013 at 10:59 am

    When do the local body election results get announced?

    • Colonial Viper 8.1
      12 October 2013 at 11:44 am

      From late afternoon, I believe, and then continuing staggered throughout the evening. Polls are still open for another 15 minutes…

      • Brett Dale 8.1.1
        12 October 2013 at 12:37 pm

        Viper:
        Thanks for the info, is their a page when you can follow the results coming in?

        • Colonial Viper 8.1.1.1
          12 October 2013 at 1:09 pm

          You are very welcome, Brett. Where I am, Electionz is going to inform the local councils directly, and then it’s each councils responsibility to get the word out for their own results. Unfortunately I don’t know if for example the electoral commission is going to collate and publish all the results from across the country.

  9. Linz 9
    12 October 2013 at 11:03 am

    Just watched The Nation, and I’m wondering why Groser and that other peevish little minister Finlayson are so scathing of Labour. I think they’re afraid, very afraid.

    • muzza 9.1
      12 October 2013 at 11:28 am

      Nah, they are simply playing the role they are very well paid to do [by the suckers, us], by perpetuating/propagating the fraud through the ability to write *the law*, on behalf of [name your family]

  10. Tracey 10
    12 October 2013 at 12:17 pm

    As long as the democrats retain strong support of the unions in the usa the tppa wont be as harsh to labour relations as if repubs had tge w house

  11. johnm 11
    12 October 2013 at 12:52 pm

    “This is not a recession it’s a robbery.”

    Public money being robbed into private hands. Selling our Power Companies for private profit.

    • johnm 11.1
      13 October 2013 at 12:25 pm

      “New reports warn of mass poverty and social decline in Europe”
      https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/10/12/eurp-o12.html

      “Hedge fund linked to George Osborne’s best man to make millions from privatisation of Royal Mail after ‘buying £50m stake’

      “Far from being the unfortunate result of some unavoidable economic catastrophe, the social crisis in Europe is being consciously exploited by the continent’s financial and political elite to affect a major redistribution of wealth from the bottom of society to the top.”

      Peter Davies met the Chancellor at Oxford University
      Was Osborne’s best man when he married Frances Howell in 1998
      Davies is a member of management committee for Lansdowne Partners
      Hedge-fund firm has seen value of investment rise by £18million already
      City fund made reported £100million from financial crash”

      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2455653/George-Osbornes-best-man-Peter-Davies-make-millions-Royal-Mail-shares.html

      This is all happening and made infinitely worse by the privatisation of the Public’s wealth producing feudal inequality. Post WW11 Britain was socialist and poor and owed immense debts to the USA for the war effort, yet was still able to bring in a social welfare state, the NHS and public housing. One of these houses I grew up in. I can honestly say that not once was there ever a maintenance problem with electricals, plumbing, roofing or literally anything, the house I own now needs regular maintenance, though adequate its building standard leaves a lot to be desired.

      Above the city Spivs are cashing in on the privatisation of the Royal Mail in collusion with Osborne.
      My point is Key is out of the same stable as these looters ruining the once proud UK. Thatcher started it and Blair intensified it.

      “In response to the crisis, the Red Cross plans to commence setting up soup kitchens for the poor in Britain for the first time since the Second World War. Welfare organisations had already revealed in May that more than half a million Britons are now reliant on food handouts, with the number expected to increase over the winter.”

    • johnm 11.2
      13 October 2013 at 1:06 pm

      “Tax Dodging Soars Under Tories To Seven Times Entire Bill For Unemployment Benefit”

      http://thesiegeofbritain.wordpress.com/

      What’s labour and Cunliffe going to do about 5billion$ of tax dodged every year here in NZ????

      The welfare state that made us civilised is being destroyed by:
      1. Tax dodging and govs who won’t act on it.
      2. Privatisation
      3. Gross obscene inequality
      4. Attacks on the social safety net and its recipients.
      5.offshoring of manufacturing and conseq
      uent loss of revenue and income for people.

      In a word economic fascism.

    • johnm 11.3
      13 October 2013 at 4:24 pm

      In a phrase economic social cannibalism! 🙂

  12. Morrissey 12
    12 October 2013 at 12:59 pm

    One of the prices of Australia’s mining “boom”

    As you look at these photos, bear in mind that the National Government is quite prepared to let Australian and Brazilian outfits do this in our national parks….
    http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/most-incredible-earth-scars/16808?image=2

  13. lprent 13
    12 October 2013 at 1:02 pm

    Test that the ajax edit backdated correctly.

    Ok that seems to be working.

  15. Draco T Bastard 15
    12 October 2013 at 1:27 pm

    I’m NOT a costume

    Although about Native Americans I’m sure we can find similar examples here.

  16. Rogue Trooper 16
    12 October 2013 at 2:29 pm

    a pair of nines and a pouch.

    Bread and Wine
    Round about the city rests. The illuminated streets grow
    Quiet, and coaches rush along, adorned with torches.
    Men go home to rest, filled with the day’s pleasures;
    Busy minds weigh up profit and loss contentedly
    At home. The busy marketplace comes to rest,
    Vacant now of flowers and grapes and crafts.
    But the music of strings sounds in distant gardens:
    Perhaps lovers play there, or a lonely man thinks
    About distant friends, and his own youth.
    Rushing fountains flow by fragrant flower beds,
    Bells ring softly in the twilight air, and a watchman
    Calls out the hour, mindful of the time.
    Now a breeze rises and touches the crest of the grove-
    Look how the moon, like the shadow of our earth,
    Also rises stealthily! Phantastical night comes,
    Full of stars, unconcerned probably about us-
    Astonishingly night shines, a stranger among humans’
    Sadly over the mountain tops, in splendour.

    Friedrich Holderlin

    • richard 17.1
      12 October 2013 at 4:22 pm

      Too right chris.

      I was going to say that it looks like only 10% of voting Hamiltonians are real nut jobs. Though enough of them are stupid enough to elect the former president of the act party as a councillor.

      • chris73 17.1.1
        12 October 2013 at 4:29 pm

        Unfortunately nutters and other assorted conspiracy theorists come from both sides of the political spectrum

        • muzza 17.1.1.1
          12 October 2013 at 5:16 pm

          C73 – Just drink it all down mate, I have no issue with you choosing to drink the raw product all day, that’s your choice!

          In fact, just keep swallowing your toothpaste, go have some now, it’ll get you there sooner!

          Get it in ya!

    • tc 17.2
      13 October 2013 at 9:15 am

      You mean dentists with somewhat of a self interest in not seeing fluoridation occur…..yes nutty about their incomes.

  18. weka 18
    12 October 2013 at 4:59 pm

    I see google are being evil again. This time forcing gmail users into a single email sign on for all their accounts. Typically, there is a work around (aren’t they nice?).

    • muzza 18.1
      12 October 2013 at 5:20 pm

      Once google have purchased all the “tech”, it will literally be a case of sign in, or you don’t get to use the service!

      Welcome to www 2.0

      /Internet off-switch!

  19. Murray Olsen 19
    12 October 2013 at 9:48 pm

    The Queensland State Government is going so far to the right in its attacks on workers and civil rights that political actions against it must be on the order of the day soon. The Attorney General, Jarrod Bleckie, is passing laws that he fully expects to be overturned by the High Court, but doesn’t care. Queensland Unions, who are openly referred to by the baby faced authoritarian as “union thugs” have a real fight on their hands to survive. Having been nice enough to give them fascism for banana benders part one via Bjelke-Petersen, what can we do to help save them from part 2?

  20. tc 20
    12 October 2013 at 11:01 pm

    Ffs 2013 will see the end of analogue transmission, the digital service is quite frankly shit.

    have we taken the cheapest technology available ! The vhs would be better.

  21. finbar 21
    13 October 2013 at 1:16 pm

    I had a Freewiew before going digital in my area, Whanganui.Since the change over, i keep getting regular interference on all channels.Yet after twelve in the evening it clears up, as opposed to clear viewing prior to the change over.