Open mike 15/01/2023
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6:00 am, January 15th, 2023 - 51 comments
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Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...16 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
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The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...2 days ago - Bernard’s last Saturday Soliloquy for 2024
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21
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One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...4 days ago - MSD rejecting 220 pleas for food grants each day
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- The Wing Parties’ Economic Policies.
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This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...4 days ago - Book Review: How Big Things Get Done
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In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...5 days ago
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- “Better economic management”
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...5 days ago
- Shameless, clueless
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...6 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...6 days ago
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Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...6 days ago - How much should you worry about a collapse of the Atlantic conveyor belt?
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Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...7 days ago
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- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...1 week ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
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- Making Gravy
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Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...1 week ago - Chris Penk’s Hate Parade
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...1 week ago - Tell me a story
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
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National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...2 days ago - Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step
Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...5 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...5 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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Debt collection agencies are acting on a clients bad debt (referred to them for collection) to impact on an individuals credit rating. And in some cases this is caused by mail informing the person of the debt to pay not being received. This is most common amongst tenants moving from place to place (but also homeowners after they have moved).
That a debt collection agency can do this without first having to confirm that their client has made contact with the individual (say be email or phone after mail is not replied to) or otherwise do so themselves is injustice – it is causing harm to people (a poor credit rating possibly leaving some homeless as no landlord will give them a tenancy).
Legislative change is required (code of practice for debt collection agencies) or a law firm taking a "class action suit" on behalf of impacted clients, to clean up this industry.
It's also becoming more and more common for people who have lived at the same address for years to not receive mail (either in a timely fashion, or sometimes at all).
In the last year, I've had at least 5 pieces of addressed mail go astray and never be delivered. Luckily I've picked up on the subsequent reminder, which did get through.
In the case of 'private' bills (power, gas, phone) – I'll get a text or phone reminder. In the case of government or local government bills (rates, tax, etc) – I get nothing.
We also had multiple, verified reports, at the last local body elections, of voting papers going astray or not being delivered.
The poor quality (for whatever reason) of the postal service is doing no favours to our society.
It's even more of a problem in the matter of bills unrelated to the household address services.
Could you explain why you think so? It seems just as likely that agencies dealing with non-residential bills (Tax, traffic fines, WINZ, hire-purchase) will have your phone number. In fact, that's the first point of contact they ask for.
Looks like Ukraine's foreign Legion has been a bit lax with its screening
An incredible story of an international scamster
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11590001/The-Block-conwoman-Emese-Fajk-accused-ripping-Ukraine-war-effort.html
Looks like Ukraine's foreign Legion has been
a bit lax with its screeningtargeted by a conwoman stealing money meant for medical supplies.FIFY, because blaming victims for being attacked isn't cool. Good the legion investigated and exposed her.
Not the only case of fraudsters trying to profit from this awful war, unfortunately. Nor the only problem in the Ukrainian foreign legion – there have been other bad eggs in there, plus others doing heroic work.
Your article reveals that it was up to the media to expose the many abuses and frauds that have been going on Complaints that went as far as Zelensky's office were just plain ignored .The foreign legion is partly overseen by the intelligence directorate, but "soldiers say ,the authorities are reluctant to solve the issue"..according to your article
The working stiffs are the victims, the higher ups are the perpetrators
Yes, it's gratifying to know all the bad eggs are on the Ukrainian side and the Russians are as pure as driven snow, hey ho!
I would say they are very similar
Thank you Francesca
I am inclined to agree with you rather than the super-confident hoards who so eagerly expound the pro 5-eyes propaganda our media so fervently feed us.
I would have thought that anyone who had read 1984 would be at least a little suspicious about what we are being fed.
Fat chance..
Who are these "super-confident hoards", and can you give references to the "pro 5-eyes propaganda our media so fervently feed us."?
I do not recall seeing any such propaganda, but perhaps I do not follow the same sources as you . . .
For God's sake,
This is news is what 2-3wks old, from what I've heard she was outed & been under suspicion whole for a lot longer when her CoC (Chain of Command) was notified.
Then the Foreign Legion HQ swing into action, with the Security Officer acting as the lead investigator to build up the word picture in order for it to be pass over to Ukrainian Military Intelligence Officials.
These investigations take time, regardless of ones pass actions.
To say the Ukrainian Foreign Legion is Fraudsters & other unsavoury individuals is really showing your true colours!
Given the Gross violations of the Hague & Geneva Conventions, LOAC etc by Wager Group in Ukraine so far is a bit disingenuous.
Every Military & Police Force has Check & balances to prevent this from happening, but the odd one does slip through the system now & again & they eventually they caught in the end.
Have a read of Uncooked’s etc article
Ukrainian and foreign soldiers themselves have been complaining about the lack of action on whats been happening, its not just a single incident
I'm fully aware of the in & outs of the Ukrainian Foreign Legion as I have close associates involve with the Legion & those operating with the various NGO's operating close to the Ukrainian Rear Area/ B Ech.
Thence why I'm not Commentating, unless people like you give me a dose Dysentery.
I know it is the Daily Mail, but this is a good summary of other publications and shows what happens when you add "gender identity", "gender expression" and other "means whatever you say it is" terms to anti discrimination legislation.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11627739/Trans-teacher-Z-cup-prosthetic-breasts-stop-wearing-school.html
This is a man with a fetish. This is a 'shop" class at a secondary school.
It's a sick parody and piss take of women
"woman" as a male fantasy
Yes, and those tight shorts have a "camel toe" insert at the front of them. All protected by Canadian law.
It is everywhere. If you want scientific information – you have to go back to the original articles.
https://thecritic.co.uk/Sex-New-Scientist-and-me/
"I looked back at all the New Scientist articles that had confused me and found the original publications. They had been altered, too: every time only women or men (i.e., males or females) were being referenced, they said so, in stark contrast to New Scientist’s interpretation.
Essentially, New Scientist is blithely misreporting published research to remove any implication of two sexes in humans. Presumably the purpose of these scientifically inaccurate linguistic gymnastics is to include those with alternative gender identities without causing offence. New Scientist has yet to respond to a request for comment, so I can’t be sure."
An agreed frame of reference.
When public policy changes, history is re-written (or edited).
https://www.google.com/search?q=a+agreed+frame+of+reference+meaning&rlz
Fuck. It's hard to imagine how one could be shocked any more, or more angry, but then I read something like that.
Damien Grant being a disengenuous twat again.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/130965632/damien-grant-lessons-from-america-on-the-perils-of-democracy
He talks about “the tyranny of the majority.” That’s all well and good to blame the government, and the system in which it operates. But does he propose alternatives?
Nope.
We have to rely on Churchill.
“Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…”
I wait with baited breath for Mr Grant’s alternative to our parliamentary democracy.
Well. If the USA was actually "Democratic'!
Instead of just having a choice of two Oligarch financed, ruling parties.
@KJT…"Instead of just having a choice of two Oligarch financed, ruling parties" +1
Barack Obama raised as much from small donors as otherwise, raising so much he did not take public matching funds. His policy was withdrawing American troops from Iraq, increasing energy independence, decreasing the influence of lobbyists, and promoting universal health care.
https://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.php?cid=N00009638&cycle=2008
https://www.promarket.org/2020/04/27/how-barack-obama-spurred-the-end-of-americas-public-presidential-election-funding-system/
Nothing says successful 3 day special military operation quite like the growing number of returning Russians missing limbs.
Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the Russian Government to consider the development of the production of prostheses, according to the Kremlin website .
As specified, the purpose of this order is to provide medical devices to citizens whose limbs have been amputated, including those injured during a special military operation.
According to another instruction , formulated following the meeting of the Human Rights Council on December 7, 2022, it is proposed to release prosthetists called up for mobilization from military service.
https://www-mk-ru.translate.goog/politics/2023/01/13/putin-poruchil-kabminu-rassmotret-voprosy-o-razvitii-proizvodstva-protezov.html?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp
Well you can be sure that when the US and it’s Allies finish with this war, they will abandon the Ukraine and its disabled war vets faster than it even abandons its own….Ukraine, in what ever form it remains, will be completely broke..the IMF will rape it hard…so who then is going to provide rehabilitation and prosthetics etc to the tens of thousands of humans destroyed in this pointless conflict…answer me that.
The Shameful Way America Treats Its Veterans
"The number of homeless Vietnam veterans today is greater than the number of soldiers who died during the war"
Correct.
Where does the "3 day " quote come from?
I've looked for it,and am taking your word for it .Do you have a citation for it?
It must have been at the very beginning of course.It's so widespread it must be true, but I haven't found it as a pronouncement from Putin .Was it Shoigu maybe?Or Medvedev?
…"3 day " quote…
Anyone?
Probably the greatest living American intellectual, Noam Chomsky on NATO…..“Gorbachev made a serious error’….You don’t make gentleman's agreements with savage, violent powers”
Interesting how the (the guardian/BBC left) Liberal class has so easily been co-opted into becoming the staunchest , most vocal supporters of the US (and European) military Industrial complex, the CIA, FBI ….crazy to watch people whom I thought were on the side of peace, and a natural progressive Left Wing human evolutionary project….transform seamlessly into puppets of the war industry, Western Imperialism..and by extension enemies of human evolution.
"Probably the greatest living American intellectual, Noam Chomsky….."
]The guy's an idiot.
|From backing Pol Pot, to backing Bashar Assad' to backing Vladimir Putin. Not exactly a stellar record.
Chomsky is not Left, Chomsky may be celebrated by the liberal elite But Chomsky's harshest critics come from the Left.
“The guy's an idiot….From backing Pol Pot, to backing Bashar Assad' to backing Vladimir Putin. Not exactly a stellar record.”
FFS…Chompsky didn’t ever “back” the Pol Pol, or did he ever “back” Assad nor does he “back”Putin today…as per usual with the content of your comments on Geo-politics, you yet again you expose your complete lack of insight and intellectual curiosity or apparently the ability to even begin to decipher the difference between the good faith search for truth through rigorous intellectual honesty and research, and obvious low hanging propaganda through cynical manipulation.
The quasi-religious fanaticism of tone that often accompany your comments on this subject is quite disturbing…and has been for some time.
Chomsky "backing" Assad, Pol Pot, Putin….who knows. Saying things that were very helpful to these despots followed by various degrees of recantation – absolutely.
People don't like Chomsky's valid criticisms of the nature of our military-industrial complex's control of our purely nominal 'Democracy'.
So they grasp at minor straws, little things they see as errors.
If in the future a new Bible is written about our era, Chomsky will rate as a major prophet. His critics will be mentioned only as Pharisees, or the cruel who took part in stonings.
Jenny who hasn't got there yet, you're an idiot.
Chomsky was extremely critical of Bashar Al Assad. However 90% of voting Syrians are rather fond of him.
Instead of quoting some unknown ignoramus who happens to share your bigoted beliefs why don't you try writing something original, supported by numerous unaffiliated factual reports.
That 90% voter support for Assad…sounds totally legit.
Philosophical if somewhat gruesome thought for the day.
https://twitter.com/trykeepopen/status/1614054243253772288
https://twitter.com/wekatweets/status/1614185185427460099
Dr. Beaurieux's observations of Henri Languille.
https://web.archive.org/web/20100125022453/http://www.guillotine.dk/Pages/30sek.html
whoah, that's intense.
And somewhat pointless.
Consider if the heart is artificially kept functioning?…are you necessarily still 'alive'?
From the QI files:
There’s a Kiwi shock jock Mike who also behaves like a headless chook – too harsh?
that's intense too. Kind of sad.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/world/us-canada/300784596/donald-trump-falsely-claims-that-his-accuser-spoke-about-enjoying-sexual-assault
Trump kinda admits being a rapist,
Is a big meeting on this weekend? Politically speaking. There has been nothing on TDB The Daily Blog since 13 January. Seems a big lull – it's not a good time for a lullaby! Hope nothing untoward is happening.
A break in the weather …
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2023/01/17/welcome-to-tdb-election-2023/
Those in Auckland had their first break in the weather at the weekend … so
Even the woke needs sleep.
What got broken then?
This is a terrorist attack by a terror state, not war.
https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/1614269481957707777
https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1614323838367449089
German riot police trying to break up a protest at a proposed lignite mine defeated by a mud wizard. Sort of sums up German energy and climate policy
https://twitter.com/FoodForestNetwk/status/1614470043185647616
funniest thing I've seen in ages. The thread is a delight. I put a post up.