Open mike 14/03/2020

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, March 14th, 2020 - 135 comments
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135 comments on “Open mike 14/03/2020 ”

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  1. pat 1
    14 March 2020 at 7:13 am

    A new Caste system?

    A fascinating (and potentially disturbing) interview.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018738292/does-free-will-truly-exist

    and a worrying observation for 'the left' at around the 25 minute mark

  2. Sanctuary 2
    14 March 2020 at 8:07 am

    The NZ Herald's coverage of the pandemic is surely the final blow to its reputation as anything other than ill informed trash. Panicking mongering on a scale that will get them rightly censored in a state of emergency is not responsible. And having reliable geriatric Tories like Audrey Young whine the government isn't panicking like they think they should is hilarious.

    What a shit show of a paper.

    • A 2.1
      14 March 2020 at 8:32 am

      They appear to be painting the PM as a weak leader…making me picture the alternative and it's not good

      • Graeme 2.1.1
        14 March 2020 at 8:46 am

        The response when the inevitable boarder closure, in reality 14 quarantine for all arrivals, comes in next week, along with social distancing enforced by a state of emergency will be a sight to behold.

        An alternate view is that the ground is being prepared for the above.

      • Sacha 2.1.2
        14 March 2020 at 9:52 am

        Audrey has always been an obedient servant of the party.

      • AB 2.1.3
        14 March 2020 at 10:43 am

        The only thing that would make her not a weak leader is to give money to rich people and call it a 'fiscal stimulus'. That would be heroic, novel/cutting edge, courageous, far-sighted, business-savvy, street smart, and (of course) make us want to have a beer with her. Fran would be giggly with dizzy delight and Audrey could keep insisting that we have always been at war with Eurasia.

    • Climaction 2.2
      14 March 2020 at 2:19 pm

      Latest predictions from Australia, 60% of Australia will catch coronavirus. Mortality rate of 2%

      thats 300,000 Australians.

      its not about panicking, it’s about putting in place drastic measures to prevent a catastrophic event.

      but blame the paper and the 4th estate. Who else does the government listen too?

      • In Vino 2.2.1
        14 March 2020 at 10:42 pm

        Well, well, well. This evening, Jacinda Ardern, after correctly consulting the Ministry of Health, introduced strong moves that we all know about now. And what does the crappy Herald's Heather du Plessis-Allen have to say?? Well, apparently our PM has dithered on just about everything, but now rashly made an attempt to look strong, which could cost our beloved country dearly. (Had she read Audrey Young's column?)

        This rabid right-wing propaganda is laughable. I suspect that if du Plessis-Allen had half a brain, it would die of loneliness.

        • KJT 2.2.1.1
          15 March 2020 at 8:46 am

          If the Government had acted sooner, National's fan boys would have been screaming about "economic sabotage".

          And trying to figure out a way their cronies could make money out of it.

    • RosieLee 2.3
      14 March 2020 at 2:48 pm

      yes 100%

  3. A 3
    14 March 2020 at 8:31 am

    The overnight explosion of Covid cases in Spain should cause NZ to close the boarder for passengers.

    My current timeline =

    Virus peaks May-June

    July WHO finially admits it "may" be contagious when the patient is asymptomatic (something which was known by researchers back in Janurary). They will also discover research showing the virus remains active on stainless steel benches for 9 days and on other surfaces for much longer than "a few hours" (research done in February) contradicting statements made by both WHO and the CDC.

    July/August governments worldwide declare quarantine, but this time all will be untied in imposing serious consequences for breaches including jail and extremely high fines

    September/Oct virus is defeated due to the mass global quarantine, at this point millions will have suffered needlessly

    • Rosemary McDonald 3.1
      14 March 2020 at 9:01 am

      But, but…on the upside, the economy has been allowed to tick over almost as per usual.

      Whew.

      When a news report about The Virus can conclude without mention of the impact on The Economy will be the day that we can be comforted that the human impact has claimed priority status.

      Fuck The Economy I say….arguably, from the POV of most of us, it was pretty much fucked anyways.

  4. A 4
    14 March 2020 at 9:18 am

    This is downright offensive…are they trying to kill off old people thus solving the pension crisis?

    Ministry of Health says people who are unwell must stay away from rest homes for 48 hrs. If someone is unwell with Cvd then they remain contagious for at least 10 days after they recover according to research cited by Chris Martenson during one of the Peak Prosperity YT updates.

    • Incognito 4.1
      14 March 2020 at 10:59 am

      Visitors to aged-care facilities

      Aged care providers should advise all visitors and staff to stay away from the facility if they are ill. If visitors have cold or flu symptoms, they should be symptom free for 48 hours before they visit.

      Visitors should also stay away if they have been in Category 1a and 1b and 2 countries and territories or they have been in close contact with someone confirmed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days. We ask they stay away for 14 days from their date of departure or close contact.

      During visits, aged care providers should advise people to stay one metre apart.

      https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-novel-coronavirus-information-specific-audiences/covid-19-information-aged-care-providers

      Always a good idea to check the info before you opine and criticise. Last time I checked, Chris Martenson doesn’t work for MoH but is or as a YouTuber.

      • A 4.1.1
        14 March 2020 at 11:46 am

        Chris Martenson is more credible then our own health authorities imho which is why I mention his name. He's been ahead of this right from the start pointing out on his first caronavirus video on Jan 23 (US) that given the advice from WHO the chances of it not becoming a pandemic were zero.

        • joe90 4.1.1.1
          14 March 2020 at 12:21 pm

          Because gold buggers and parasitic property speculators will be our saviours.

          //

          https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1238469881294721024

        • Incognito 4.1.1.2
          14 March 2020 at 1:08 pm

          It’s been clear that you hold Chris Martenson in high regard, which is your prerogative. As a YouTuber, he doesn’t he carry official responsibility nor is he accountable to anyone; he can say pretty much whatever he feels like. You might think he is an authority (on COVID-19?) but he has none.

          If he cites research (not his own) that states that someone who is unwell with Cvd remains contagious for at least 10 days after they recover then this appears to be consistent with the advice that I quoted (stay away for 14 days). BTW, have you checked the cited research?

          In any case, MoH isn’t WHO.

          Your (rhetorical?) question whether they (MoH? NZ Government?) are trying “to kill off old people thus solving the pension crisis” is beyond absurd, IMHO.

          • Anne 4.1.1.2.1
            14 March 2020 at 1:22 pm

            Your (rhetorical?) question whether they (MoH? NZ Government?) are trying “to kill off old people thus solving the pension crisis” is beyond absurd, IMHO.

            yes

            Anyone who makes such a ludicrous statement – even if it is rhetorical – is not deserving of serious consideration.

    • weka 4.2
      14 March 2020 at 3:06 pm

      "are they trying to kill off old people thus solving the pension crisis?"

      A, I too am not ok with this rhetoric, and think you can make your points here without it. We haven't seen it here yet, but there are apparent left wing people on social media running lines about covid being a boomer clear out. It's grossly anti-social, although not surprising given we've had a year of sustained ageism against older people. I know this is not what you are doing, but tensions are high and using language like that at all adds fuel to the fire.

      • SPC 4.2.1
        14 March 2020 at 3:27 pm

        Of those most at risk (those over 70), most are not boomers.

        PS

        1. I would not describe criticism of the boomer legacy as ageism, there are many critics who are boomers themselves (just as there are Jewish critics of Likud ultra-nationalist Zionism).

        2. The idea that criticism of those in power (aging white men) is ageist, racist and sexist is one of the great deceits of our time.

        • RedLogix 4.2.1.1
          14 March 2020 at 6:19 pm

          Given that the vast majority of 'aging white men' are no more 'powerful' than any other person, it's one of the great deceits of our time to smear them as an identity group on that entirely bogus basis.

          • SPC 4.2.1.1.1
            14 March 2020 at 6:28 pm

            Yeah I get it, liberals and lefties calling out privilege get in the way of … those with capital who own and decide the natural order of things….

            • RedLogix 4.2.1.1.1.1
              14 March 2020 at 7:03 pm

              I suggest you travel to any other nation that is numerically dominated by some other ethnicity, and find out just how much 'white privilege' counts for fuck all.

        • weka 4.2.1.2
          14 March 2020 at 9:14 pm

          "Of those most at risk (those over 70), most are not boomers."

          Might want to tell the ageist, bye boomer fucks that. Not that it will make a difference, because prejudice doesn't care about facts.

          1. I would not describe criticism of the boomer legacy as ageism, there are many critics who are boomers themselves (just as there are Jewish critics of Likud ultra-nationalist Zionism).

          I wouldn't either. But that's not what I referred to. 'Ok Boomer' being used to dismiss people's arguments or thoughts based on perception of age and/or mentality was always going to intersect with the ageist strain in our society.

          People thinking, and actively expressing, that it's ok for elderly people to die is just a more obvious extreme. We treat elderly people badly already, and it's no surprise that the Boomer Remover meme is inaccurate and arising fast.

          Lefties defended Ok Boomer in a way that wouldn't have been tolerated for other groups, as if older people are only priviledged. We threw intersectionality out the windor. It's ridiculous, and utterly unnecessary. There's no good reason why we couldn't have coined a different terms that focuses on wealth instead of age/generation. But the reasons we didn't are related to ageism.

          • Incognito 4.2.1.2.1
            14 March 2020 at 9:19 pm

            I was quite ok with Michael Cullen’s “rich prick” 😉

            • KJT 4.2.1.2.1.1
              15 March 2020 at 8:24 am

              So was I.

              Not all rich are "pricks" and not all "pricks" are rich, so "rich pricks" is descriptive of a certain subset of wealthy people.

          • KJT 4.2.1.2.2
            15 March 2020 at 8:31 am

            Even more a stupid characterisation when many of the advantages that they think boomers got, actually happened for the previous generation.

            For example 80% of pre boomers retired owning their own home. It looks like it is heading towards 55% of boomers, the "lucky" generation that were restructured out of work, by Rogernomics, paid 60% top tax rate so Rob's mob could retire at 60, and the children of the rich could get, "free" university, and paid 22% interest rates.

            Even the people that started the Neo-liberal, “unfortunate experiment” that caused the problems for young people, were not, “boomers”.

            As always, blaming beneficiaries, the old, and anyone else they can think of is used to mask the real culprits, the lazy entitled children of the rich, of all generations.

      • joe90 4.2.2
        14 March 2020 at 6:27 pm

        Berners and co are loving it

        #BoomerRemover

        • SPC 4.2.2.1
          14 March 2020 at 6:29 pm

          Probably because Sanders (and Biden) is too old to be a boomer.

          But what they overlook most of those vulnerable (over 70) are not boomers.

        • weka 4.2.2.2
          14 March 2020 at 9:15 pm

          "Berners and co are loving it"

          Are you sure? Or is it shitposters and trolls?

          • weka 4.2.2.2.1
            14 March 2020 at 9:16 pm

            Looking at those tweets, are they talking about removing someone from politics rather than covid deaths? Or both? I've just seen it as a meme re covid, but was it in use before that?

          • joe90 4.2.2.2.2
            14 March 2020 at 9:32 pm

            More than a few among the profiles.

  5. Morrissey 5
    14 March 2020 at 11:40 am

    Did Amy Goodman ever call Timothy McVeigh a "U.S. Opposition leader"?

    Reading out the "War and Peace Report" at the start of Democracy Now! the other night, Amy Goodman identified the absurd, incompetent and discredited putschist Juan Guaidó with the bland title "Venezuelan Opposition leader."

    • AB 5.1
      14 March 2020 at 12:03 pm

      Amy is a gem – she's allowed some carelessly-chosen words at times (assuming she even wrote the bulletin)

      • Morrissey 5.1.1
        14 March 2020 at 12:18 pm

        Quite right, AB. I am an admirer of Amy Goodman, but I was disturbed when she read that little propaganda nugget with about the same level of awareness that, say, Simon Dallow brings to his newsreading.

  6. Macro 6
    14 March 2020 at 1:26 pm

    Peter Dutton ordered to self-isolate on Manus Island for 5 – 8 years.

    Saying it was the best way to ensure he didn’t contaminate the Australian population any further, authorities have ordered Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to spend the next 5-8 years in isolation on Manus Island.

    A health department spokesperson said he realised it was an inconvenience for Mr Dutton, but assured him that Australia’s processes were very efficient.

    “This is actually a very quick and humane process and Mr Dutton can expect to be reunited with his family in 2025, maybe even later”.

    The spokesperson said Mr Dutton would be free to move around the island. “I’m sure there will be plenty to keep him entertained over the next few years”.

    Asked whether Mr Dutton would be allowed to be transferred temporarily to Australia for medical treatment if required, the spokesperson said ‘no’. “That would set an unrealistic precedent of compassion”.

  7. Brigid 7
    14 March 2020 at 1:33 pm

    While the msm choose not to investigate or report on the problems with OPCW governance, the issue is not going to go away in a hurry.

    A fourth OPCW whistleblower has emerged to defend the two veteran inspectors who challenged a cover-up of the chemical weapons probe in Douma, Syria. The new whistleblower lamented that other staffers have been “frightened into silence.”

    "There is still no mechanism at the organisation to enable the calling out of irregular behaviour to protect the integrity of the organisation. It is quite unbelievable that valid scientific concerns are being brazenly ignored in favour of a predetermined narrative. "

    https://thegrayzone.com/2020/03/12/opcw-whistleblower-mistreatment-douma-investigators/

  8. Fireblade 8
    14 March 2020 at 1:51 pm

    Sunday's remembrance service for the Christchurch mosque attacks has been cancelled.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/03/christchurch-mosque-attack-memorial-cancelled.html

  9. Morrissey 9
    14 March 2020 at 1:52 pm

    Thanks for that, Brigid. Sadly, though, such rigorous and serious journalism holds no sway with broadcasters (and therefore shapers of middlebrow opinion) as Kim Hill, John Campbell, and Jesse Mulligan.

    • SPC 10.1
      14 March 2020 at 2:35 pm

      The essential is to ensure the health system is able to cope (safety gear for staff, enough pulmonary respirators) – which means the “lockdown” approach when threat to it emerges.

      The problem when doing this when the number cases is still low, is that this number of low instances will recur and recur – so how often does one lockdown?

      In China they have replaced societal lockdown with more targeted hyper activity to stop spread (which we are doing at the moment).

      • alwyn 10.1.1
        14 March 2020 at 3:27 pm

        Do you think that we actually have a reliable value for the number of cases there are? You suggest that it is still low but how can we know that? After all there is a claim at the link below that the person showed all the symptoms of the disease but testing was refused.

        https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120277695/coronavirus-auckland-mums-request-to-be-tested-for-virus-rejected

        Wouldn't it be better to test people a little more freely. If the symptoms reported match the ones we are supposed to look for carry out a test. Better to know real numbers rather than fool ourselves with false numbers that are too low.

        Singapore, which seems to be doing very well at detecting and isolating victims seems to be doing very well in that regard.

        • SPC 10.1.1.1
          14 March 2020 at 3:31 pm

          Short answer no, not really.

          I would presume as soon as we know of community spread there will be places people can go to be tested – containers or caravans in car-parks/drive by zones (and those who have no vehicle a van that goes to their houses).

        • mpledger 10.1.1.2
          14 March 2020 at 11:45 pm

          It depends how many test kits are available. If they are a scarce resource then it's not worth using them on otherwise well people who can self-isolate and recover in their own home. It's best to keep them for people who need hospital care so that the hospital staff and other patients can be protected.

        • swordfish 10.1.1.3
          15 March 2020 at 1:34 am

          Wouldn't it be better to test people a little more freely. If the symptoms reported match the ones we are supposed to look for carry out a test. Better to know real numbers rather than fool ourselves with false numbers that are too low.

          Absolutely … we're making the same mistake as the US & other Western Nations. If we're genuinely interested in containment, delay & quickly detecting any signs of community spread then we need to drop this ludicrously restrictive test criteria.

          Again, we're in Don't Test / Don't Tell territory … setting ourselves up for a major fall.

          • McFlock 10.1.1.3.1
            15 March 2020 at 1:47 am

            Okey dokey then.

            Let's shut down all labwork except for covid-19 tests. If we have all the material resources for the tests, any lab techs not doing the actual tests are in training to learn the protocols.

            Now people start dropping dead because none of those other tests are being done. So there's a line between the resources we allocate and (to use the economic term) the "opportunity cost" of allocating those resources to a particular condition.

            Lady got sick. She's worried she infected immunosuppressed kids with covid-19, even though she doesn't meet the criteria for diagnostic (rather than screening) testing.

            I'm worried she infected those kids with something else.

  11. SPC 11
    14 March 2020 at 2:39 pm

    Case number 6, a person returning from the USA (attended a church service here before symptoms).

    Time to add to the list of nations where returnees go into 14 day isolation.

  13. AB 13
    14 March 2020 at 3:51 pm

    Sanders has called for Trump to be tested after his exposure to the Bolsonaro aide with Covid-19. Here is Trump's anticipated post-test announcement – a bit ahead of time:

    I had the coronavirus test – it was a very strong test. I was totally exonerated, there was no sign of the virus. I have a very strong constitution, maybe the strongest ever, history will tell. The doctors said "Sir you have a very strong constitution, scientifically speaking". The virus was very weak when it came up against my constitution – very weak. The doctors thought it almost looked like fake virus – or at least very weak. Or fake. History will tell. If you have a strong constitution you won't get this foreign virus. It's a foreign virus from the outside and we won't let it take over our country. We've built the best economy ever to fight the foreign virus. We are cutting taxes to make the economy stronger, stronger than the virus. It's like a wall, an antivirus wall against foreign viruses and people bringing it in. If you haven't got a strong constitution it's not good, not good. We might lose some people to the foreign virus. We hope not but we're doing a great job. Maybe there's not much we can do if you haven't got a strong constitution, though we can make the economy stronger, much stronger, they say the best ever. We need people with strong constitutions to fight the virus, if you're weak maybe that's not what we need? We'll see, history will tell . Thank-you

    • RedLogix 13.1
      14 March 2020 at 4:06 pm

      Shit you're being ironic. I didn't spot that the first time through …. blush

      This is the problem with trying to be funny these days.

      • AB 13.1.1
        14 March 2020 at 6:16 pm

        Sorry – I'm just imaging how even Covid-19 could be turned into some creepy, disgusting reinforcement of MAGA.

    • SPC 13.2
      14 March 2020 at 4:19 pm

      And while he is untested everyone else at the White House is at risk (and those they meet) – and if they they want to be responsible will have to get tested. And presumably if any test positive the Donald will be angry at them if they make that result public.

      But then given the age of those on Capitol Hill, this may be Trump finally acting on his promise to drain the swamp …

    • Sabine 15.1
      14 March 2020 at 5:46 pm

      All of our 'social housing builders' and crappy apartment builders should watch this and learn about the importance of balconies, no matter how small.

      they are truly important things.

  16. Sabine 16
    14 March 2020 at 5:24 pm

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/411738/live-ardern-briefs-media-following-covid-19-cabinet-committee-meeting

    this is good.

    let's hope it will help.

    Personally i am not too worried about the illness itself, but the economic outfall from having the world shut down. How much of our medicine comes from overseas? Spare parts? Water treatment chemicals? and so on ….that is what i think will be long term a bigger issue then the 'flu' itself.

    • Stunned Mullet 16.1
      14 March 2020 at 5:26 pm

      How much of our medicine comes from overseas?

      Close to 100%. No reason to think it won’t continue to be shipped to NZ.

      • Sabine 16.1.1
        14 March 2020 at 5:45 pm

        Well, it will have to be produced first before it can be shipped.

        My Mother in Law was trying to buy panadol in Whakatane can could not find any anywhere. So you might want to check up on that.

        China hopefully can go back to work – even if only running a half shift, but if it does not, then we are going to have an issue.

        Same as with spare parts – my local car fixer is getting worried, parts are not coming, it appears.

        my own raw material supplier already announced price increases for may, i have been hording since January but it will only last so long.

        Fuck it, but we are living in intersting times.

      • Ad 16.1.2
        14 March 2020 at 6:51 pm

        There are a few big local companies like Douglas Pharmaceuticals that do excellent cheap generics of some medicines.

      • Pingao 16.1.3
        14 March 2020 at 7:50 pm

        Some countries e.g. India have stopped exporting medicines so there could be a shortage of medicines.

        Possibly, I read this in the Guardian or heard on Dr John Campbell's daily update a few days ago.

        I'm expecting shortages of things, god knows what though.

    • Rosemary McDonald 16.2
      14 March 2020 at 6:45 pm

      There was a time Sabine, within the memory of some who comment here, that NZ imported sweet fuck all.

      We made stuff….even tellyvisions and cars and clothing and machinery. We made socks.

      We were not quite self-sufficient, but fairly close to it.

      My bet is that we will do just fine…those that survive. We just need to try and make sure some of those really useful (but recently scorned) No.8 wire types keep kicking.

      If this wee virus destroys The Economy, sinks the Good Ship Capitalism…that's fine by me.

      Reset time.

      Hopefully.

      😉

      • RedLogix 16.2.1
        14 March 2020 at 6:59 pm

        If this wee virus destroys The Economy, sinks the Good Ship Capitalism…that's fine by me.

        Reset time.

        Hopefully.

        Didn't take you for some who wished for the mass death of billions …

        Incidentally the last great crisis we experienced in the Western world that killed a large fraction of the population was the Black Death, which is directly implicated in the end of feudalism and the beginnings of capitalism. So it's not obvious that the collapse you are hoping for will deliver the utopian outcome you dream of.

        • Stunned Mullet 16.2.1.1
          14 March 2020 at 7:37 pm

          "Incidentally the last great crisis we experienced in the Western world that killed a large fraction of the population was the Black Death, "

          I'd nominate the first world war followed by the influenza pandemic.

          Great presentation from the late Hans Rosling. (@1.48)

          • RedLogix 16.2.1.1.1
            14 March 2020 at 8:30 pm

            Good point; Hans Rosling really pioneered the current methods of visual data driven analysis and I really like him.

            But still it was the Black Death that is on the timeline with the beginnings of capitalism.

        • KJT 16.2.1.2
          16 March 2020 at 8:40 am

          You don't think capitalism is going to cause "the mass death of billions"?

          Forgotten about human caused global warming, already?

          Which is already caused many more deaths than the virus is likely too.

          Unless we find an alternative to the constant growth, necessitated by capitalisms, constant drive to find ever more elaborate ways of ripping other people off, and using ever more resources, we are fucked!

      • joe90 16.2.2
        14 March 2020 at 7:24 pm

        Yup, we made shit cars that cost a fortune (in my youth three times as many people/capita died on our roads than last year), a set of re-treaded tyres cost a months wages, a car battery cost three weeks wages, TV's were close to $5k in today's money, clothes were three times today's prices, shoes were shit and an affordable pair of NZ made socks barely lasted a school term.

        /

        • Andre 16.2.2.1
          14 March 2020 at 7:27 pm

          Trekkas!

        • SPC 16.2.2.2
          14 March 2020 at 8:05 pm

          We assembled the cars and televisions … we made tyres.

          • joe90 16.2.2.2.1
            14 March 2020 at 8:26 pm

            The top,end of town got locally assembled complete knockdown kits. The rest of us had to settle for semi knocked down kits, assembled with locally made components.

            • Tiger Mountain 16.2.2.2.1.1
              14 March 2020 at 9:05 pm

              Not correct 4 eyes. Car assembly was an import substitution regime. Hence CKD packs required glass, batteries, tyres, upholstery and wiring looms-all NZ manufactured. I spent 20 years in the industry and know a bit about it’s history.

        • Blazer 16.2.2.3
          14 March 2020 at 8:41 pm

          yeah and a house was 20k.

          • joe90 16.2.2.3.1
            14 March 2020 at 9:20 pm

            Going back to locally producing shitty, over priced goods will make houses more affordable?

            • Macro 16.2.2.3.1.1
              14 March 2020 at 10:16 pm

              Wages were in line with costs. So a high wage economy meant that production costs were high. But the overall effect was a more equitable economy. By the way not all locally produced items were crap. The NZ clothing industry, NZ carpets, The NZ made tyres were actually exported – large countries concentrated on standard sizes and the NZ tyre industry supplied many of the older but still in some demand tyre sizes. We had the moulds and the older machinery. The loss of the PYE factory from Waihi meant the town suffered a huge loss of high payed employment. Now despite having the largest gold mine in the country – the town has one of lowest socio-economic areas in NZ.

            • Blazer 16.2.2.3.1.2
              15 March 2020 at 8:34 am

              well the inverse situation suggests it.

              Not convinced all local goods were shitty,either.

              Made in Hong Kong was the default for…'shitty'.

            • KJT 16.2.2.3.1.3
              15 March 2020 at 7:28 pm

              For a start, we are now importing shitty overpriced goods that last 6 months, if you are lucky. The NZ made whitewear, lasted 20 years or more.

              The shitty knocked down cars were because we had to accept shitty, made for the colonies, crap from UK.

              TV's were new technology back then. They were expensive, everywhere.

              • joe90 …
                15 March 2020 at 7:44 pm

                I was there. You?

                • KJT …
                  15 March 2020 at 8:16 pm

                  Definitely.

                  • joe90 …
                    15 March 2020 at 8:53 pm

                    Then you'll know full well that the NZ of my youth was a staid, authoritarian shit hole that chopped down anyone who stood up or stood out. It was a racist, sexist, society, dominated and controlled by the whims and wants of a small, select group; boorish white men and their tradwives. Your averring that somehow my recollections of just how miserable and overpriced the place was are wrong reminds me of those boors.

                    • KJT …
                      15 March 2020 at 9:30 pm

                      You must have lived in a different country.

                    • joe90 …
                      15 March 2020 at 9:39 pm

                      Certainly not the one I grew up in.

                      /

                      Interests Sailing, Yacht design, Environmental Engineering, Electric boats, Sustainable energy technology, Ski-ing, Tramping, Management, Teaching

                      https://www.blogger.com/profile/13583435107822078614

                    • KJT …
                      16 March 2020 at 8:33 am

                      I heard statements like yours before.

                      Almost always from a position of intellectual arrogance, about how boring and expensive New Zealand was. In other words, working class people were too comfortable, and didn't appreciate the "specialness" of "superior" people.

                      The fact that, in that "boring shithole" almost all kids were fed, housed, could look forward to a decently paid job, where you could afford to spend holidays at the beach, and go tramping and sailing, and could get a good education, doesn't figure, because now, a few can get much richer, and we have cheap TV's.

                      The fact that many, even in a full time job, now cannot afford food or a house, means that NZ for most, is way more "expensive" than back then.

                      But it is more interesting now for you? Yay.

                    • joe90 …
                      16 March 2020 at 4:25 pm

                      from a position of intellectual arrogance,

                      We were never comfortable. We were never able to spend holidays at the beach, and go tramping and sailing. My education stopped at the 5th form and I was never able pursue such a formidable array of middle-class pastimes as yourself and then list them as interests.

                      But thanks for the reminder that many of today's righteous
                      pontificators                       from the left are supercilious twats.

      • Ad 16.2.3
        14 March 2020 at 7:33 pm

        So far it's just a blip to the Kiwisaver.

        Maybe for my industry we use up a bit of that Sick Leave accrual.

  17. Incognito 17
    14 March 2020 at 6:23 pm

    Writing on The Conversation, Griffith University’s Professor Mark Pearson offered some tips for balancing our need to know what’s happening with taking care of our mental health, including:

    • Avoiding 24/7 news channels,
    • Seeking out informative, long-form journalism, and
    • Using primary sources where possible, such as the WHO or Ministry of Health.

    It’s also essential that we interrogate where information is coming from. This is the time to tune into your inner sceptic and think before you share.

    https://sciblogs.co.nz/lately-in-science/2020/03/14/news-coverage-drove-zika-interest/ [recommended reading]

    From the Feeds on the RH side of The Standard homepage.

  18. SPC 18
    14 March 2020 at 6:46 pm

    The UK is set to ban mass gatherings next week

    The UK's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance previously said that shutting down mass events would not have a "big effect" on transmission rates, but he did not rule out such a move going forward. Whitehall sources said the government's approach has not changed but there are concerns about the burden that large events might put on health services and the police.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51882897

    The Welsh RU has admitted the reason why they cancelled the 6 Nations game with Scotland was because everything else had been called off (following the herd).

    The Tory government leading from behind on this one.

    But as their adviser has noted this (outdoor events) will make little difference to transmission rates (schools/universities and bars/restaurants/clubs/theatres and retail/workplaces will ensure spread).

  19. Ad 19
    14 March 2020 at 7:02 pm

    Now sure I will always slag this lot off for weak domestic policy, but we have such a sensible and resolute Prime Minister in a crisis. Here's her key points from this afternoon:

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/cruise-ships-banned-all-overseas-arrivals-self-isolate

    • Effective from midnight Sunday, all travellers, except for those coming from the Pacific islands, will have to self-isolate for 14 days on their arrival to New Zealand
    • The PM says the rules are the toughest in the world
    • She told New Zealanders not to travel overseas if they don't have to and issued stark advice: no hugs, hongi or handshakes
    • All cruise ships have been asked to not come to NZ until June 30
    • There will also be further announcements on mass gatherings
    • alwyn 19.1
      14 March 2020 at 8:48 pm

      There have been some wonderful parodies on this site recently but you take first prize.

      "we have such a sensible and resolute Prime Minister in a crisis".

      In just a dozen words you have, with a straight face, come out with the funniest statement of the day.

      Macro came up with a lovely opinion on Peter Dutton. It takes second place

      https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-14-03-2020/#comment-1691295

      • Ad 19.1.1
        14 March 2020 at 9:14 pm

        Did fine with Christchurch massacre.

        Pretty good on climate change response internationally.

        Also good response on the Northland droughts.

        And doing great on this one.

        There's no leader in the country comes close.

      • Sacha 19.1.2
        14 March 2020 at 10:46 pm

        your entertainment remains a priority, Alwyn

  20. Grafton Gully 20
    14 March 2020 at 7:40 pm

    Covid 19 infection more serious in the elderly and in certain geographic areas. Antibody Dependent Enhancement a possible explanation.

    sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1286457920300344

    ADE has been shown to increase the severity of Dengue after previous infection.

    science.sciencemag.org/content/358/6365/929

  23. observer 23
    14 March 2020 at 9:47 pm

    Shocking admission by Simon Bridges today: the National Party are not New Zealanders!

    He tweeted:

    "It’s good to see coronavirus being treated with more seriousness and urgency for the good of our country after a lot of pressure from National and New Zealanders."

    https://twitter.com/simonjbridges/status/1238692711831502848

  24. Fireblade 24
    14 March 2020 at 9:51 pm

    Camp Tagi in Iraq has just been attacked again.

    https://www.twitter.com/SaadAbedine/status/1238743685115895808

  25. Exkiwiforces 25
    15 March 2020 at 12:21 am

    Taji whack again folks, two US Air Defence personal (US Army Ground Base Air Defence) have received serious life threatening injuries.

    The odds are shorting for a NZ & Australian casualties in the near future if the Iranian back militias keep this steady rate of rocket attacks.

    If they want to stop these attacks on Taji someone needs to be actively patrolling on foot 24/7 right up to the rocket line the furthest limit of where a rocket can be successfully launched and be guaranteed a hit.

    • Paaparakauta 25.1
      15 March 2020 at 4:35 pm

      Could you remind me why our troops are still there ?

    • SPC 25.2
      15 March 2020 at 4:39 pm

      The Iraqi government responded to the attack by asking foreign forces to leave and to not fight back against those firing rockets at them.

  26. Paaparakauta 26
    15 March 2020 at 4:53 pm

    "Let’s imagine as total a shutdown of Britain as it is possible to manage. Schools closed, offices empty, shops shut – save those selling food. Minimal public transport. Airports closed. Older people deliberately isolated."

    "At this point, Boris Johnson and his advisers argue, they would run slap bang into the waiting Coronavirus. There would be health service carnage."

    <snip>

    "In that way, the population will acquire “herd immunity”. This will beat the virus in the medium term, and flatten its peak in the short – staggering out those hospital admissions over time, and thus preventing the NHS from being over-run completely. This is the core of the case argued this week by Patrick Vallance.

    That it is made by the Government’s Chief Scientific Officer doesn’t mean that it represents “the science”. For strictly speaking, there is no such thing.

    Rather, Johnson is being guided by a plan partly based on a certain scientific reading of events. Some scientists agree with it; others don’t. That’s in the nature of the beast. Probably because, as ConservativeHome keeps repeating, the decisions that the Government must make are not scientific, but political."

    <snip>

    https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/03/johnsons-extra-virus-mission-to-help-save-the-world.html

  27. Eco Maori 27
    16 March 2020 at 8:40 am

    Kia Ora The Am Show.

    The show looks a bit worse for wear with the extra early wake up.

    Twins.

    What a rude person you are Duncan talking over the top of our Prime Minister. Use are just upset that our government is handling this virus situation well.

    You want some more tissue for use and your m8s.

    Earthquake in Christchurch this morning.???.

    The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's dropped the official cash rate to 0.25.%.

    Ka kite Ano

  28. Eco Maori 28
    16 March 2020 at 6:28 pm

    Kia Ora Newshub.

    Shady move good on the defense move against him trying to get exclusive rights to a – – -.

    Everyone has to be calm and careful and look for the positive phenomenon of this virus.

    Ka kite Ano.

  29. Eco Maori 29
    16 March 2020 at 6:50 pm

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    Tangi should be able to continue you will just have to keep hygienic practices up and use the East Coast wave.

    Yes most of the 100.000 students with out Internet will be Maori in rual places.

    That panel found in Turanginui A Kiwa will be interesting.

    Ka kite Ano

  30. Eco Maori 30
    17 March 2020 at 8:36 am

    Kia Ora The Am Show.

    EdTV

    100.000 tamariki with out devices that could be used to educate them if our schools are closed because of the virus.

    You should have seen the way your m8s reacted when I made that dig yesterday wow.

    We will have to go back to the days of old one parent working and one at home there would need to be a few changes to the systems to make that work.

    Its good to see a big company doing some thing for free to help it's tangata.

    Going to the Auckland Islands watch out for the Great White Sharks there are a few of those in Aotearoa to.

    If our country was ran fairly in the past there would be low unemployment in the regions.

    Ka kite Ano.