Open mike 13/11/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 13th, 2022 - 80 comments
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80 comments on “Open mike 13/11/2022 ”

  1. I'm not really a rugby fan (or indeed, sports in general) – but from all accounts that was an outstanding win for the Black Ferns in the Women's Rugby World Cup last night.
    Family and friends who had tickets are raving about the game – a nail-biter to the finish – and where both sides played their hearts out.

    • bwaghorn 1.1

      It was a terrific game the woman play at pace and arnt constantly fouling so the games frantic.

      That said if England hadn't of had a player red carded early thay would have wiped the floor with our wahine

      • X Socialist 1.1.1

        Correct. NZ would probably have lost to a full strength English side. The same goes for their game against France in the semis. A couple of fortuitous calls saw them progress to the finals. That said, luck is always in play regardless of the sport. And lady luck smiled benevolently on our ladies last night. I think to be competitive in the future we will need a new generation of faster and stronger forwards. Women’s rugby is now hardcore. With that goes higher expectations.

        • bwaghorn 1.1.1.1

          It's impolite to ask a woman her weight but the roses looked a lot bigger.

          • SPC 1.1.1.1.1

            Yes, but … they are two dimensional. A dominant forward pack and a very good backline. But they lack the link play that comes with more mobile loose forwards, thus can be taken in a faster pace game. It was a little hidden because they were the first team to go professional and thus were fit. But now France and New Zealand have their measure (as will a professional Canada). They will not get to 30 games again.

          • Peter 1.1.1.1.2

            Apparently the physical stats of rugby players is important. That's why they are often quoted in media coverage. That's why the pro rugby sites usually carry stats of players on their roster.

            Why should the weight of male players be available and the females ones not?

      • Patricia Bremner 1.1.2

        Not if all our attempted goal kicks had gone over.smiley

    • Sanctuary 1.2

      Get Ruby Tui on the Labour list next year!

      • Patricia Bremner 1.2.1

        Sanctuary, agreed Tiu is a great motivator. Her final "Let's do this" along with the singalong with the crowd Just wonderful.

        • Visubversa 1.2.1.1

          True – however one does have to be careful with celebrity sportspeople. I was one of a busload of Labour people who went down to Wellington to canvass for Chris Laidlaw in the Wellington Central by-election, He won, but by the time the General election rolled around he had alienated almost everyone on his LEC and the Nats put up a smart, liberal woman who ran a good campaign and won the seat. He does seem to have learned from that and has prevailed on the Regional Council, but I have been cautious of the "celebrity" factor ever since.

          God on Ruby though for the "lets do this" .

          • alwyn 1.2.1.1.1

            Laidlaw fell out with the public over a reorganisation of the Wellington bus services while head of the WRC and quit at the 2019 election. He wasn't the favourite Local Body politician in Wellington after the "bustastrophe" as it was labelled.

      • Ad 1.2.2

        Louisa Wall; don't do it.

        Get her coaching the backs as soon as possible.

  2. Incognito 2

    I have a feeling that Transport Minister Michael Wood is going to make more waves and not just in the Waitematā Harbour.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/300737617/aucklanders-to-have-their-say-on-harbour-crossing-options-including-a-tunnel

    Not a peep about Mr Brown and Auckland Council.

    Edit:

    … new online survey created as part of Auckland Council’s investigation into future options for people wanting to drive, walk, cycle, transport freight, take the bus or travel by light rail across the Waitematā Harbour. [my italics]

  3. Ad 3

    Bernie Sanders being very gracious and thankful after the mid-terms.

    (381) Thank You. – YouTube

    Take it in proxy.

  4. X Socialist 5

    Reply to Observer from their comment in ''Equality For The Black Ferns'':

    No, we aren't in a better place. Much of this brave new world has a ''forced'' feel about it; egged on by wokey media. Under the surface hate and mistrust boils. That's my opinion. The upcoming election will prove me either right or wrong.

    Talking of war, the Taiwanese people are facing the reality of having to fight for their homeland and democracy. We shit over our democracy; both in the past and present. Taiwan holds their democracy dear. They only have to look across the straight to see how a country devoid of democracy functions. We have no such template making us ruminate and appreciate what we have, and what we potentially may lose.

  5. Shanreagh 6

    I know there is no such things as a free lunch but two free wind turbines?

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130451387/wind-turbines-rejection-lost-opportunity-for-island

    This seems an unbelievable and utterly 'cutting one's nose off to spite ones face' move. Mind you in the South where sheepdogs decked in blue ribbons sit on mailboxes getting all the votes, the home of Groundswell and the lovely placards, it is not perhaps all that amazing.

    Until we see the SDC report I guess we won't know what else, other than pure politics, is behind this rejection. It seems fiendishly short sighted to me.

    • Poission 6.1

      Stick a couple on Rangitoto then get back to them.

    • X Socialist 6.2

      I don't have enough information to form an opinion. I doubt the turbines were rejected for political reasons. So that would leave, for whatever reason, problems with the placement of these turbines. No big loss in my opinion. Having travelled in the Wairarapa recently and seen the visual pollution wind turbines have created, the Islanders may have dodged a bullet.

      • Robert Guyton 6.2.1

        "I don't have enough information to form an opinion."

        "No big loss in my opinion."

        Love your work!

      • Ad 6.2.2

        Everybody wants to get into heaven, but no one wants to die.

          • weka 6.2.2.1.1

            Most carbon efficient in the world doesn't mean shit if it's not reducing GHGs fast enough. Just because other countries are worse, doesn't mean NZ is good. Your argument is a form of climate denial.

            • X Socialist 6.2.2.1.1.1

              When it comes to farming, we have the one of the lowest emission rates in the world. The law of diminishing returns has come into effect. If calling out the stupidity and blinkered reality this government promotes then I'd rather be a denier than a fool.

              BTW – looking forward to people trying to charge their EVs with public charging stations over the Xmas break. Another example of a government jumping into something that feels good without considering the Infrastructural realities needed to support their vision.

              All this is so sad because with a little less ideology, and a little more fore thought, Labour could have gone into the upcoming election with a fighting chance to retain power.

              • Drowsy M. Kram

                I'd rather be a denier than a fool.

                No need to choose wink

                A storm is coming — and it’s one that will drown out Groundswell's howl [25 July 2021]
                Farmers are among those most affected by the heat, fires and floods ramped up by anthropogenic climate change.

                BTW, with you on "a little less ideology". Selfishly, all that matters is the next 10 – 15 years; after that, improving soil fertility is all I'll be good for.

                The future of farming: how global crises are reshaping agriculture [9 Oct 2022]
                Like most who are experimenting with regenerative methods, Fiennes has sometimes experienced negative results due to the changes he made: “it’s a learning process”. The timing of planting and applying inputs and the vagaries of the weather are all crucial.

                Nevertheless, an increasing number of farmers are receptive to his message — especially once they can see that his farm makes profits. His second year of production at Holkham led to lower input costs as he allowed inefficient parts of the farm to revert to their natural state and increased biodiversity while productivity increased. “We’re in year three so we’ll have more data,” he says.

                Some of his conversations with growers through his speaking engagements around the country and visits by farming groups to Holkham have been difficult. But many are persuaded after he demonstrates what can be achieved with changes in farming methods.

                It’s amazing how enthused they are,” he says. “The next food crisis, if we can have resilience through biodiversity and healthy soils, that will protect us from whatever comes next.

                Comment: "People don't often think beyond today's meal…"

                "Secrets of the Soil Sociobiome" with Dr Christine Jones [30 March 2021]

                "Variety is the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor." – Cowper [1785]

                "Kiss the Ground" – "From Dirt to Soil"

              • weka

                When it comes to farming, we have the one of the lowest emission rates in the world.

                I already explained that if the rest of the world isn't dropping GHGs fast, then NZ having 'one of the lowest' is a nonsense. Do you not understand the argument?

                • X Socialist

                  The question is – do you understand the argument? Your argument is based on some hypothetical future. My argument is based on the here and now. You do understand that if farming goes under, we go under?

                  • weka

                    Farming isn't going to go under unless we get runaway climate change and can't grow enough reliable food. Mainstream organisations are talking about this already, we're in the beginning of climate crisis, it's not some vague thing in the future.

                    Industrial farming causes so many problems, not just climate. I support farmers being financially assisted to transition to sustainable ag. Those that cling to pollution/extraction models I have little sympathy for.

                    But anyway, I don't argue with climate deniers, because it's just a distraction from what needs to be done. Good to get up to speed with where you are at.

                    • X Socialist

                      From what I can see the present government has little time for farmers. If farmers weren't the mainstay of our economy, I believe this government would have stomped them into oblivion long ago.

                      Your second paragraph is what I have a problem with. You can barely disguise your anti-farming meme. If we follow your vein of thought we get the possibility of madness as this post from one, Tony Veitch, testifies to:

                      Quote:

                      ''Reducing the number of ruminants by at least three quarters.''

                      https://thestandard.org.nz/holy-sht-overshoot-dont-dither-do/#comment-1918741

                      https://www.newsroom.co.nz/sustainable-future/nz-absent-on-cop27-agriculture-day

                      https://www.newsroom.co.nz/sustainable-future/the-fixation-on-a-pms-cop-out

                    • weka []

                      Your second paragraph is what I have a problem with. You can barely disguise your anti-farming meme.

                      Here’s what I said,

                      Industrial farming causes so many problems, not just climate. I support farmers being financially assisted to transition to sustainable ag. Those that cling to pollution/extraction models I have little sympathy for.

                      I didn’t diss farming, I dissed industrial farming. Can you not tell the difference? I’ve written about regenerative agriculture as well as the need to support farmers. I also said that I have littel sympathy for the farmers clinging to the pollution/extraction models as we transition. If you think that’s being anti-farming, then I can only assume that you think the pollution/extraction model should be valued and upheld. Which is frankly bizarre.

                    • RedLogix

                      I didn’t diss farming, I dissed industrial farming.

                      Yet industrial farming is what feeds 8 billion people. Pre-industrial agriculture absorbed at least 90% of all human labour, fed barely less than a billion people – and famines regularly stalked our history.

                      We might both agree the regenerative approach has many important and valuable ideas; but in reality the immense productivity of industrial farming cannot be unwound without incurring monstrous risks.

                      There are any number of good reasons why we would want to evolve our current agricultural systems but selling these ideas and methods to the people who matter – farmers – is careful patient work. And they are by definition careful patient people; which is exactly how we would want them to be.

                  • Robert Guyton

                    Do you understand that if farming doesn't change, we go under?

      • Gabby 6.2.3

        Visual pollution? Nimby?

        • X Socialist 6.2.3.1

          What can I say? Guilty as charged. Just imagine flying into Steward Island and having the captain say:

          ''Ladies and Gentleman, below are the two huge turbines that power all of Steward Islands energy needs. The locals call them Rangi and Sally. While they don't really blend in with the landscape, the locals say they have no fear of their Jacuzzis going cold. ''

    • weka 6.3

      the most striking thing about that article is that it said this,

      However, just 16-months later, in March 2021, it was announced the wind turbine project had been scrapped after agreement could not be reached on a suitable location for the turbines.

      But didn't explain what the location issues were. I doubt it's a secret.

  6. Ad 8

    So a really interesting question for the United States – by proxy – winning the Ukraine war. When do we start admitting that the United States is not in the least bit declining, and is in fact reinforcing its primacy?

    For New Zealanders every time they bought a fridge, a car, a movie ticket, or a computer or radio for 100 years, we've joined the rest of most of the world living through an American era: dominated by US power, wealth, ideas, alliances, entertainment, capital, and more.

    But from Noam Chomsky to Chris Hedges, many have been prophesising that this long epoch had been drawing to a close. The old US-led world was giving way to some post-American, post-Western, postliberal anomie marked in no small part by the rise of China. Apparently the US was slowly losing its commanding position in the global distribution of power.

    Now check out the side-conversation of Biden and Xi at the G20 tomorrow. Biden will talk Russia, trade, and Taiwan from an entirely different position to 6 months ago. This time Biden brings a very strong hand:

    US weapons are defeating Russia and US weapons are in the hands of Taiwan.

    US has stopped all computer chips to China, required mass business withdrawals, and it is a further trade dagger straight at Xi that there is no ready answer for.

    US and EU sanctions are crippling Russia and we all know how Xi signed up to that eternal friendship.

    Sure they both have strong recent political mandates. Only one is in the ascendancy any more.

    It's a weird feeling for some I'm sure, but the US is head and shoulders the lead political power on this planet.

    • Stuart Munro 8.1

      It seems odd, that an old man like Biden should be the one to hold back the encroaching night. America has returned to its old role – helping defend against malign aggression. It likes to be popular – and Putin has thoroughly burned the goodwill once extended to him as the inheritor of the post-soviet mess.

      The extent of Russian media ops against the West has also been exposed. Some of their more aggressive projects – Trumpism, weaponized migration, and hackmail are facing a higher level of preparedness. Disinformation survives, for the moment, but the proximate demise of Murdoch may even see a resurgence of professional journalism. It would be nice to see.

  7. Anker 9

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/300736858/exhausted-and-demoralised-healthcare-workers-plead-for-help-amid-burnout-crisis

    Likely people on this site are sick of me posting about the Health work force crisis. Everyday our media are reporting on this. I think this not wanting to hear on this site is because in posting this stuff, it is a criticism of Labour.

    This is straight from the horses mouth i.e the health workers who sound like they are at breaking point.

  8. Anker 10

    Cheers Ad.

    I have decided I will keep going. Even if people scroll past.

    Its a terrying situation.

    A plan to increase the workforce would have been my first job as Min of Health when Labour came into power. They had two years before covid. They knew about it then.

    As more staff burn out and student nurses think they don't really want to work in nursing this catastrophe will only get worse.

    • millsy 10.1

      And what is your solution Anker?

      Importing health care workers? – outcome: downward pressure on wages, and less job oppurtunities for NZ graduates..see below article from 2013, when National was in power and bringing in workers by the plane load:

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/9110729/Graduates-frustrated-at-lack-of-jobs

      Or imposing US-style health care. Rationing demand by charging people. They tried that in 1993, it just led to people getting sicker, because they couldnt afford treatment.

      Andrew Little is the first health minister in decades that see the value of the public healthcare system.

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