Open mike 15/02/2014

Written By: - Date published: 7:12 am, February 15th, 2014 - 135 comments
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openmike

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

135 comments on “Open mike 15/02/2014 ”

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  2. Pasupial 2
    15 February 2014 at 7:29 am

    Prostituting Otago Oil is about to release their winged monkeys:

    “The businessman, who wished to remain anonymous, said… it would be a counterpunch to the actions of Oil Free Otago, such as last week’s visit to the Anadarko drilling site and today’s Banners on the Beach protest at St Clair Beach.”

    http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/291777/progas-actions-add-balance-debate

    Any Waipounamu/ South Island beach at noon today is a good time to show resistance to these anonymous businessmen and their Whiley ways.

    http://www.getfree.org.nz/banners/

    • chris73 3.1
      15 February 2014 at 7:39 am

      Didn’t you know that polls are only mentioned when they’re good for the left but ignored when its bad

    • mickysavage 3.2
      15 February 2014 at 7:41 am

      Its another poll showing a decline in National’s support and its claim about the likely number of seats for National is difficult to fathom. No doubt it will be discussed today.

      • chris73 3.2.1
        15 February 2014 at 7:54 am

        You’ve started my day with a laugh and for that I thank you 🙂

        “A new Fairfax Media-Ipsos poll puts National on 49.4 per cent against 31.8 per cent for Labour and 10 per cent for the Greens.”

        Yes its a real problem for National at the moment I’d hate to be them at the moment 🙂

        • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2.1.1
          15 February 2014 at 8:02 am

          I pick you’ll do your best to ignore cold, hard, reality: the trend is still down, and Fairfax routinely overstates National’s support by 6% or more, so yes, I think they’ll be concerned, and I’m sure you would be too, if you had the cognitive chops.

        • Jimmie 3.2.1.2
          15 February 2014 at 9:02 am

          I suspect that the messiah is going through his wilderness experience at the moment. (as shown by labour’s results in this poll.)

          What will be interesting is if the great satan (John Key) tries to tempt the messiah in any sneaky way while he is weak and hungry. (for poll results? adulation?)

        • Rosie 3.2.1.3
          15 February 2014 at 9:52 am

          It’s fearfux, loud-hailer for the Right. No need to get all giddy Chris73

          • Rosie 3.2.1.4.1
            15 February 2014 at 2:17 pm

            Thanks Paul. I know of that site but haven’t visited for awhile. Thanks for reminding me, I had a quick read and it made me think of what truth is up against, an almighty lumbering propaganda machine, crashing through the countryside.

        • David H 3.2.1.5
          15 February 2014 at 10:57 am

          Well what do you expect when they call land lines in Remuera and all the other rich area’s where they all just love that nice Mr Key.

          Meanwhile in the real world of not being able to afford a land line no one can ever call us to ask our opinion.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 3.3
      15 February 2014 at 7:52 am

      Seti, Chris, you’re late to this discussion. Repeat comment:

      Something “interesting” is happening with these Fairfax media polls.

      On the 28th October they reported that “…National is also up two points … winning the backing of more than 50 per cent of committed voters.

      … On the latest poll numbers National would win 63 seats in a 124 seat Parliament and be able to govern alone.”

      Today they say that “A new Fairfax Media-Ipsos poll puts National on 49.4 per cent…On those numbers National would win 64 seats…”

      My bold.

      So can we infer that the previous peak of “over 50%” is now below 50%, a continuation of the downward trend? Or can we infer that Fairfax media don’t know how to convert vote share into seats?

      Chris, Seti, I note that in July 2011 Fairfax gave the National Party 56% support. Diddums.

      • Seti 3.3.1
        15 February 2014 at 9:59 am

        … On the latest poll numbers National would win 63 seats in a 124 seat Parliament and be able to govern alone.”

        Today they say that “A new Fairfax Media-Ipsos poll puts National on 49.4 per cent…On those numbers National would win 64 seats…”

        My bold.

        So can we infer that the previous peak of “over 50%” is now below 50%, a continuation of the downward trend? Or can we infer that Fairfax media don’t know how to convert vote share into seats?

        The previous poll had a higher percentage spread across the three parties over the 5% threshold so the discarded vote increases the share of the other parties, ipso facto National picks up another seat.

        Interestingly, with the Conservatives polling 2% if they could pick up an electorate they would have 3 MP’s.

      • Skinny 3.3.2
        15 February 2014 at 10:27 am

        I don’t trust any of these FF polls, they will continue to wave the Key-National flag in a hope that those people that pay little interest in politics, and think both main party’s are pretty much the same. It’s the same old tactic of trying to con this group into not showing up to vote because the result is a forgone conclusion. This is what happened last election, let’s not let this happen again.

        Both Labour and the Greens need to really drive home the message that ‘your vote counts’ and had you voted last election the continued suffering and hardship that you have had to endure over the last 3 years was completely unnecessary, self inflicted because you got swindled out of your vote which was illustrated by how close the final result was.

        Here is what gives me heart and a good back straightener. I was in my old home city midweek at a meeting and this former work colleague comes over to me and tells me ” hey mate I am enrolled to vote and man I can’t wait to vote National out and Labour/Greens in, shit I feel such an idiot for doing the whole A political thing.”

        This is what National and the Right are really up against, regardless of the positive polling the 800,000 bloc is their weakness, no matter what they do, like portraying a move Left by things like increased paid parental leave etc. The Employment law changes coming up contradict this, and man do we have a platform there to drive another nail into their coffin.

    • bad12 3.4
      15 February 2014 at 9:36 am

      Oh no, i am totally shattered, National Governs alone after the 2014 election how could i not have seen that coming, i might as well give up the fight right now and become resigned to a third term National Government,

      YAWN, you would think that the Herald would have at least the ability to think up a new line of lies for each election, hell they have a three year space between them,

      Same old mantra which lead us into the 2011 election where if it were not for the baubles on offer being gladly snatched by Turia and Sharple’s i doubt if this present shower of s**t that is Slippery’s National Government would have made it this far through the electoral cycle,

      If Slippery the Prime Minister had 49% of the vote sown up in His back pocket we wouldn’t now be being subject to the ugly stream of s**t currently being spewed forth from National, it’s Prime Minister and it’s Front Bench,

      If Slippery the Prime Minister for a moment thought He had this election in the bag we all would be getting episode two of ‘smile’n’wave, how any old intellectual vacant space can rule the roost’, instead of an increasingly snide and abusive, through the onset of fear, Prime Minister…

      • Seti 3.4.1
        15 February 2014 at 10:08 am

        “YAWN, you would think that the Herald would have at least the ability to think up a new line of lies for each election, hell they have a three year space between them,”

        It was a Fairfax poll and reported on the Stuff site, not the Herald/APN.

        The point is polls such as this become self-fulfilling, causing the lower turnout we saw in 2011 with the thinking that its a foregone conclusion.

        • bad12 3.4.1.1
          15 February 2014 at 10:32 am

          Seti, Yawn again, i stand corrected, Fairfux poll Herald poll, is there really a difference when you yourself describe quite precisely what the actual intent of such polls are, on the surface such polls pretend to provide information, the underlying reason for them tho as you have alluded to is to ‘switch off’ a section of voters likely to have a large streak of defeatism running through their nature,

          By the way Seti, ‘the left’ will,only concede to have ‘lost’ the election at the point the vote is counted should ‘the left’ have no chance of forming a Governing coalition…

  4. karol 4
    15 February 2014 at 7:46 am

    Fran O’Sullivan’s a good laugh. Doing a bit of spin job against Kim Dotcom, she identifies herself as a “content producer”, against the (alleged) way Dotcom abuses copyright.

    Fundamentally – as a content producer myself – I line up with those who want to get paid for their efforts.

    How much effort does it take to reel off a bit of pro NAct cheerleading?

    Edit: and plenty of bloggers put in more effort, write more, and are (usually) fine with not being paid for it.

    • andy (the other one) 4.1
      15 February 2014 at 8:02 am

      I have read the article, and its odd. The Nat spin machine is going hard at the angle that Dotcom is broke (innuendo only), then she moans about being a content provider and people taking her content for free.

      It’s been well known for months that Dotcom has financial issues

      Really do tell? Shouldn’t gossip be covered by Glucina and not a Business Analysis and Comment. Cough, cough.

      Most of her content comes from twitter, Glucina and the 9th Floor.

      Note to Fran, when the Herald paywall comes it will not be your friend.

      And John Armstrong gets his facts muddled to fit his narrative again today.

      The Greens seem to believe that the wide discretion the law gives to the Minister of Justice amounts to carte blanche for the minister to pick and and choose who goes and who stays.

      That discretion in the law is obviously there to deal with any anomalies or unforeseen circumstances.

      He forgets to mention the illegal spying, the raid on the house and all the current court cases as being an anomaly or unforseen circumstance.

      • BM 4.1.1
        15 February 2014 at 8:29 am

        It’s been well known for months that Dotcom has financial issues

        Go have a read of whaleoil, it’s all there.
        Quite a few kiwi businesses owed money by the chunky German, not a good look.

        • Pasupial 4.1.1.1
          15 February 2014 at 8:36 am

          BM

          “Well known on whaleoil” does not equal true.

        • andy (the other one) 4.1.1.2
          15 February 2014 at 8:39 am

          I see lots of articles Jan – Feb 2014, but no evidence. Lots of requests for creditors to go to his tip line.

          Could you please give me a link to the evidence that he is not paying people. An email, or scan of a letter would be nice.

          Thanks in advance.

          • BM 4.1.1.2.1
            15 February 2014 at 8:46 am

            Slater’s doing the death by 1000 cuts on Dot com.

            No doubt it will all come out over the next few months.

            • andy (the other one) 4.1.1.2.1.1
              15 February 2014 at 8:48 am

              So nothing, your just making stuff up.

              Thanks for confirming that.

            • mickysavage 4.1.1.2.1.2
              15 February 2014 at 9:37 am

              So a fact free death by a thousand cuts. Good to know what we are dealing with.

            • marty mars 4.1.1.2.1.3
              15 February 2014 at 2:18 pm

              Dunno about that BM unless he’s using a feather – Mr dotcom seems to be coming out of this unhurt. But he’s probably pissed off – oh dear for those that have done that I suspect.

            • SPC 4.1.1.2.1.4
              15 February 2014 at 9:49 pm

              Slater also promised follow ups on the Brown extramarital sex story – the other women yet to come forward. Still …

        • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1.1.3
          15 February 2014 at 8:40 am

          No doubt that’s another thing the New Zealand taxpayer is going to have to compensate him for.

          Pretty easy for the new justice minister to make that call. “Mr.com, the National Party has treated you abominably, run roughshod over your legal rights. They are trash who have brought shame upon this country. New Zealand will not compound their corruption by inconveniencing you any further.”

        • David H 4.1.1.4
          15 February 2014 at 11:04 am

          “Go have a read of whaleoil, it’s all there.”

          Sorry. I prefer to keep my brunch down thanks.

    • phillip ure 4.2
      15 February 2014 at 8:04 am

      @ karol..

      (ahem..!..)

      “.. plenty of bloggers put in more effort, write more, and are (usually) fine with not being paid for it…”

      while considering myself one of the above..

      ..i would just like to go on the record as being not:

      “.. fine with not being paid for it..”

      phillip ure..

      • karol 4.2.1
        15 February 2014 at 8:07 am

        That’s why I said “usually”.

        Myself, I’m fine with it.

        • Pasupial 4.2.1.1
          15 February 2014 at 8:33 am

          Karol

          It also depends what you mean by being “paid” for something. Sure, in terms of monetary recompense, blogging time is a total waste. In terms of; building 21st century communities, and; developing social awareness on issues disregarded by a sold-out MSM, the payoff is extremely good (even if inconsistent and unpredictable).

      • bad12 4.2.2
        15 February 2014 at 8:33 am

        Phillip, who exactly do you think should ”pay for it”…

        • phillip ure 4.2.2.1
          15 February 2014 at 8:46 am

          @ bad..

          ..well..i have over 21,000 subscribers (on r.s.s…)..

          ..(taking 40-50 stories/links from me..every day..)

          ..and over 20,000 other websites point at me..

          (source:..zeald website-audit..)

          (and if those subscribers didn’t like what i have on offer..they would unsubscribe..

          ..’cos..like i said..i am feeding them 40-50 rss feeds..each/every day..

          ..and if they didn’t want it..it would be like a major spam-attack for them each/every day..)

          ..and if you multiply all that..

          ..that is a hell of a lot of faces..each/every day..

          ..(and quite a bit of work each/every day..)

          ..and seeing as you asked..

          ..i’m open to ideas/offers to somehow monetise that traffic..

          ..(of course any ads (if going that route..)..have ethical-hoops to jump thru..

          ..(as a rough-guide..no macdonalds/planet-fuckers etc..eh..?..)

          ..(and as a footnote:..it was cheering the other day to get a message of appreciation of my news-curating efforts..with a promise of koha in appreciation of those efforts..

          ..the person said:..’it’s cool to have all the good stuff in one place’

          ..now..that..and the issues i am fighting for..

          ..is what gets me up very early in the morning..)

          ..phillip ure..

          • bad12 4.2.2.1.1
            15 February 2014 at 9:20 am

            Lolz Phillip, if you have 20,000 adherents and you cannot squeeze enough filthy lucre out of them to suit your lifestyle choices it could be said that perhaps your writing is actually not quite up there as you appear to think it is,

            i recommend that you put the degree to good use and get a real fucken job…

            • fender 4.2.2.1.1.1
              15 February 2014 at 10:53 am

              “You better get yourself a new line
              ’cause that shit just ain’t worth selling”

            • McFlock 4.2.2.1.1.2
              15 February 2014 at 12:26 pm

              for just one dollar a year, you can keep him in tofu…

            • phillip ure 4.2.2.1.1.3
              15 February 2014 at 7:10 pm

              you seem quite bitter there..bad..

              ..knickers well knotted..

              ..was it something i said..?

              ..phillip ure..

              • bad12 …
                15 February 2014 at 9:48 pm

                Knickers knotted Phillis, not me, the closest i get is wearing shorts and they don’t seem capable of knotting,

                Something you said Phillis, indeed it was, you seemed to have asked for any advice on how you could monetize your abysmal writing if any one could call it that, writing that is,

                Hardly original which i assume is your intent with your barely decypherable script, a French writer, forgot the name, wrote in the same vein including dot dot dot way early in the piece, think 1800’s,

                In little old Noo Zelind the same ‘style’ of dot dot dot was used in a little underground anti-government magazine produced in Wellington in the early 1990’s which would all in all make you hardly original, barely above plagarism, and, as far as content goes, oh so pretty vacant,

                You asked for advice, you got it, get a real fucken job,and a haircut along with it i might add…

                • phillip ure …
                  15 February 2014 at 9:53 pm

                  what a strange wee man you seem to be..

                  ..phillip ure..

                  • bad12 …
                    15 February 2014 at 10:27 pm

                    What a disappointment of an answer Phillis, what happened to the ‘fire’ of your usual elongated barely readable…diatribes…did a small dose of the truth…cut you too close to the bone…

                    • phillip ure …
                      15 February 2014 at 11:03 pm

                      you’re just really very boring..eh..?

                      ..(with really nothing stopping presuming you are the same in real life..eh..?..)

                      ..nothing really there to spark off..

                      ..and you are hovering perilously near to the ignore-list..eh..?

                      ..(expelled there for the crime of ‘boring’..)

                      ..and y’know..vent away..eh..?

                      ..i spent quite a while as the only vegan/leftie/pothead commenting @ the kiwiblog-swamp..eh..?

                      ..you’re pathetic attempts at the art of the ad hom/insult..

                      ..are no more effective than the buzzing of a blow-fly..

                      ..eh..?

                      ..hope that goes some way to clarify all that for you..

                      (..and ‘phillis’..?

                      ..really..?..

                      ..that’s the best you can come up with..?

                      ..have you been drinking..?..)

                      ..phillip ure..

                    • phillip ure …
                      15 February 2014 at 11:40 pm

                      have you thought of training as a foil..?

                      ..phillip ure..

                    • bad12 …
                      16 February 2014 at 9:06 am

                      So Phillis…your obviously one of those hero’s in your own lunchtime…what a surprise it is that you find the time to splash your…stream of utter drivel…across the internet…it must be hectic between bouts of…disjointed invective and running to the mirror for another session of…how great you are…

                      You havn’t as yet told the audience just who you are copying with the…the 1800’s French writer…or…the underground anti-Government mag circulated round Wellington in the early 90’s with the same…as the only form of punctuation…

                      Whats a real gut-buster of a laugh…is the fact that you seen the need to gain a university degree only to misuse said degree by commenting 1000’s of times here…and…on your own site…90% of which is just bland drivel…containing zilch of substance…which pretty much explains what goes on in your head…but

                      In no way explains the waste of the Universities time in the actual provision of the higher education…spill the beans Phillis…the Uni???…an exercise in avoiding real work of any substance???…looks like it to me…

                      Then…to the sounds of crowd-laughter…you have the gall to say you deserve payment Phillis…sorry to inform you…wastes of space get paid what your getting now…and…considering the degree…from the Uni…i am sceptical if you even deserve that…

                      Here i am tho…besides laughing in the face of one who i see as pretty much vacant…oh so pretty vacant…always helpful…seek your much desired pile of silver…from the effortless writing of that which is mostly vacant…oh so pretty vacant…from a spot of crowd sourcing…you claim to be being read by a big one…crowd that is…if your worth more than 20 cents…the crowd will happily be the source of your desired riches…

          • Blue 4.2.2.1.2
            15 February 2014 at 10:42 am

            Phil, you capitalist you.

            • phillip ure 4.2.2.1.2.1
              15 February 2014 at 7:38 pm

              @ blue..

              ..guilty as charged..

              ..’ethical’-capitalist tho’..

              ..eh..?

              phillip ure..

              • Blue …
                15 February 2014 at 7:39 pm

                Ethical or not the hypocrisy is galling

                • phillip ure …
                  15 February 2014 at 9:19 pm

                  what ‘hypocrisy’..?

                  ..i don’t remember taking a vow of poverty..

                  ..and you feel i should not be able to earn an income for my news curating efforts..?

                  ..you can stick that in yr pipe..eh..?

                  ..what fucken planet are you from..?

                  phillip ure..

                  • Blue …
                    15 February 2014 at 9:35 pm

                    A planet where my job pays my bills and provides for my family, and I don’t need to invent one like you seem to have. I assume you draw a benefit whilst you’re doing all this ‘altruistic’ ‘work ‘? Don’t be so precious. If your followers were asked to pay, do you really think they’d stay your followers ? You’re just not that interesting.

                    • phillip ure …
                      15 February 2014 at 9:56 pm

                      crikey..!

                      ..still..

                      ..where’s the ‘hypocrisy’..?

                      ..you still haven’t addressed/defined that claim..

                      ..and..um..!..how many read yr ideas/words..?

                      .(.aside from the face that stares at you from the mirror..

                      ..eh..?..)

                      ..heh..!

                      ..there’s now’t like a fool..eh..?

                      ..blue..?

                      (see..i can even ad-hom better than you..

                      ..lift yr game..!

                      ..eh..?

                      ..are you any good at anything..?..)

                      ..phillip ure..

                    • Blue …
                      16 February 2014 at 4:53 am

                      Seeing as Phil Ure won’t allow a response despite asking for one; who reads my words? I am a published academic, so people willingly pay to hear my words both written and at conference. Am I good at anything? I am a chartered engineer and an academic, I have had a hand in producing thousands of productive professional engineers in my academic career, I have either designed or supervised infrastructural projects all over New Zealand worth tens of millions of dollars, I have through my work ensured water is clean and transport is safe and efficient, that structures are safe and Local Authorities get sound guidance. Apart from being a recovering heroin addict, which you perversely seem to announce with some pride, what use are you to anyone? You really are a sad little keyboard warrior aren’t you?

                    • phillip ure …
                      16 February 2014 at 8:01 am

                      i repeat..

                      ..where is the ‘hypocrisy’ you allege..?

                      ..and you are an ‘engineer’..eh..?

                      ..but can’t work out how the reply-button works in this forum..?

                      ..whoar..!

                      ..got a mono-mind there..?..blue..?

                      ..had a lateral-thinking bye-pass..?

                      ..heh..!

                      ..phillip ure..

                    • phillip ure …
                      16 February 2014 at 8:07 am

                      “..You really are a sad little keyboard warrior aren’t you?..”

                      maybe..but one with a rather large audience..eh..?

                      ..and despite yr dick-waving..

                      ..more read what i say in one day..

                      ..than have read yr words..

                      ..in the course of yr whole life..

                      ..suck that one up..sunshine..

                      ..tasty..?

                      (and..um..!..have you applied yr big-engineering brain to the reply function on this site yet..?

                      ..close to a ‘solution’/finding yr way..?..

                      ..heh..!..yr funny..!..)

                      ..phillip ure

                    • phillip ure …
                      16 February 2014 at 8:13 am

                      rabid rightwing ‘engineer’ for breakfast..

                      ..mm!!!..tasty..!

                      (how’s that reply-button conundrum going for ya there..?

                      ..tearing yr hair out that i can make comments..at will..

                      ..and you can’t..?

                      ..do you have anyone nearby/you trust.. who could explain it to you..?..

                      ..walk you thru it..?..)

                      phillip ure..

                    • bad12 …
                      16 February 2014 at 9:25 am

                      Blue, the lack of reply isn’t any ability of Phillis to grant or with-hold, it’s just how the web-page has been set up,

                      For some reason in ‘a on-going conversation’ the reply tab at the bottom of an individual comment stops appearing,

                      Not being at all tech savvy i don’t know the intent of how and why the page operates like this, Lprent could explain it to you in 10 seconds,

                      But, to reply to Phillis you simply need to find the last reply tab that appears at the bottom of a comment in the on-going conversation, hit on that, make and submit your comment, and,it should appear in the right place in the continuing ‘stream’…

                    • phillip ure …
                      16 February 2014 at 9:48 am

                      there ya go..!..blue..!

                      ..ya found a buddy..!..eh..?

                      ..awww!!

                      ..and how will you work this reply-button conundrum that so stumped you..

                      ..(and you an engineer..!..eh..?…)

                      ..how will you work this into yr academic/treatises/lectures..?

                      ..or will you just keep mum about it..?..

                      ..phillip ure..

                    • phillip ure …
                      16 February 2014 at 9:53 am

                      and really..all the above exchange proves..

                      ..is the superior benefits to be received from a fine-arts degree..

                      ..over an engineering-degree..

                      ..(but we all already knew that..eh..?..)

                      ..poor engineers..

                      ..can’t see the bridge for the bolts..

                      ..eh..?

                      ..phillip ure..

                    • phillip ure …
                      16 February 2014 at 10:05 am

                      cd someone plse call a zambuck..?..for blue..

                      ..phillip ure..

                    • bad12 …
                      16 February 2014 at 10:26 am

                      Phillis, your continuous stream of barely understandable invective aimed at Blue…who obviously isn’t present in this morning’s conversation…is more than a little weird don’t you think…

                      Perhaps tho…this explains your need of a benefit…while being in receipt of this ‘fine arts’ degree ha ha ha…excuse the mirth Phillis…but…did you major in driveling bullshit…appears to be the case from my view…

                      Perhaps Phillis…getting back to the ‘need’ or otherwise of you to be an apparent shirker…with a Uni degree and a welfare benefit…i have been operating under a small misconception…and…as evidenced by your bizarre need to keep spilling invective…long after the target of your invective has left the conversation… you have something seriously amiss inside your cranial cavity…

                      The light goes on..illumination is achieved…recognition is enlightenment…it would appear from here Phillis…and…you will have to excuse me for borrowing a phrase…that your spewing of invective is simply caused by a brain…that is as weak as piss…

                    • phillip ure …
                      16 February 2014 at 10:49 am

                      “..yawn..!..”

                      ..(like i said..vent yr little heart out..

                      ..and while there..try to define in yr mind the difference between invective..

                      ..and taking the piss..when/where seriously deserved..

                      ..eh..?..

                      ..it was a gift..!..

                      ..and i see you’ve really glommed onto the ‘phillis’ thing…..

                      ..(ouch..!..)

                      ..plse tell/show us you have more to give in the way of wit..

                      (rhymes with ‘git’….eh..?..)

                      ..surely that can’t be ‘it’..?

                      ..phillip ure..

                    • bad12 …
                      16 February 2014 at 12:10 pm

                      Phillis, pleas refer to my comment at 10.26am…as you raise nothing new but the usual snivel the 10.26am comment is sufficient in answer to your present little whine…

    • Ad 4.3
      15 February 2014 at 8:12 am

      Largely with O’Sullivan, and journalists, novelists, and film-makers on this one.

      Dotcom is aligned with the TPP on copyright.

      • Pasupial 4.3.1
        15 February 2014 at 8:25 am

        Ad

        This just seems flat out wrong: “Dotcom is aligned with the TPP on copyright.”. Care to elaborate?

      • karol 4.3.2
        15 February 2014 at 8:34 am

        Try Dylan Horrocks on copyright & how it’s used by corporates to rip off the content creators, and to increase surveillance, etc – to stifle creativity.

        The biggest problem, in my opinion, is not so-called “piracy,” it’s that the “war on piracy” has grown so intense it is having a seriously damaging effect on the culture as a whole. The whole idea of copyright and our understanding of the relationship between artists and their audience and society as a whole has become distorted in a way I feel is increasingly toxic. It’s being used to force control over the Internet by government and corporations, to justify increasing surveillance of online activity, to break down net neutrality, to extend copyright terms ad infinitum, to do away with fair use and the public domain, to curtail free speech, to stifle innovation and prevent young web-savvy experimenters from coming up with new business models that could liberate artists from the kind of constraints and dependency we’ve become accustomed to in dealing with the old art industries.

        That, to me, is far more serious than some 13-year old in Alaska or Peru downloading my comics from an unauthorized site. For every 1000 such downloads, maybe one might have bought it if they could? Maybe more — I don’t know. But while we’re fretting over all those possibly mythical lost potential sales, our fears are being exploited in a way that’s causing much more serious harm.

        In the interview Horrocks talks about how writing for DC comics (big US corporate) distorted and stifled his creativity.

        • Colonial Viper 4.3.2.1
          15 February 2014 at 10:03 am

          Yes, it is the gradual commercialisation and corporate control of all culture and literature.

          They control what is produced, broadcast, distributed, funded and sponsored.

          Anything which helps ordinary people realise their own agency and independence in a world of realism and questioning- no thanks.

          • Draco T Bastard 4.3.2.1.1
            15 February 2014 at 1:03 pm

            +1

            What were seeing is the new feudalism and it’s far more invasive than the old one. George Orwell had a good term for it – thought crime – and it’s come about through the only agency it could have come through – capitalism and the belief that we’re free when we’re not.

        • Ad 4.3.2.2
          15 February 2014 at 10:51 am

          Those who want to make an ordinary living out of something creative should have every right to do so. If they don’t want their property rights enforced, that’s entirely their gig. Dylan Horrocks has found his perfect sine curve, and discovered that it’s not about about working for a company.

          Then there are those who want to get spectacularly rich. I think they should have the right to defend their property rights if they want to. To me that is what copyright enforcement is for.

      • veutoviper 4.3.3
        15 February 2014 at 10:36 am

        “Dotcom is aligned with the TPP on copyright.”

        Bullshit. On his Twitter feed, for months KDC has been urging people to support all the various anti-TPP protests etc around the world.

    • andy (the other one) 4.4
      15 February 2014 at 8:46 am

      Does John Key have regula chats with Fran also? It would appear that she must be on the contact list so he can ask what she is writing about.

      Both her and Whaleoil were twitter stalking Dotcom when he was at Huka Lodge. Creepy.

      So, when Dotcom went down to the luxurious Huka Lodge and tweeted, “The view from my bedroom right now. Listening to the river & birds while thinking about the future.”

      I asked: “Paying the bill?”

      And from Whale

      http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/01/money-pay-bills-plenty-plus-time-alone-huka-lodge/

      • Murray Olsen 4.4.1
        16 February 2014 at 12:33 am

        Key must be worried about Dotcom for WhaleSpew to be publishing that load of shit. Maybe Dotcom does actually have something concrete on the smarmy one?

    • SukieDamson 4.5
      15 February 2014 at 10:27 am

      Now that the boundaries between social gossip and political commentary are all a blur, is it okay to say, that this is just the thick skinned Fran O’Sullivan & Rachel G showing their visible party line?

      • bad12 4.5.1
        15 February 2014 at 10:57 am

        SD, definitely not OK in my opinion, thick skinned is not a suitable epithet for O’Sullivan and the little cabal of NZHerald ‘writers’ who blatantly side with the National Party,

        Willfully, cynically, thick headed would seem more appropriate…

    • gem 4.6
      15 February 2014 at 5:26 pm

      ‘Edit: and plenty of bloggers put in more effort, write more, and are (usually) fine with not being paid for it.’

      Fantastic, every journalist (and some bloggers are journalists, some are not) should have a private/independent income, because then they won’t be captured by vested interests. Yeah, right. Reminds me of the old Tory argument that politicians should not receive an income, as it attracts careerists. Which in effect meant only those with inherited wealth could stand for Parliament.
      Sorting out a business model for new media has to involve a continuation of the advertiser/subscriber model in some form, because despite all its faults, it’s better than the alternatives.

  5. phillip ure 5
    15 February 2014 at 8:01 am

    this is both brilliant..and funny..

    ..the daily show nails it..

    http://www.alternet.org/russian-spokesman-youre-free-make-sex-table

    phillip ure..

  6. Pete 6
    15 February 2014 at 8:43 am

    Apologies to the Many Voices Dunedin meetup, I won’t be making it today.

  7. CC 7
    15 February 2014 at 9:30 am

    What sort of BS is this? (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/9724858/Blackmailer-rues-her-actions).
    A 17 year old threatens to name and shame a client who appeared destined to dishonour a financial deal. She is then named and shamed by the Court and MSM while the client has name suppression. Why should the service provider be subjected to opprobrium for the consequences of the bad conscience of a non-paying blowjobee.

    • bad12 7.1
      15 February 2014 at 10:47 am

      That’s an interesting ‘interpretation’ of the story, it appears that this young lady was paid for all the ‘sexual acts’ but upon learning that the procurer of Her favors was married which prompted Her to openly try and blackmail Him out of cash,

      Fact: the young lady pleaded guilty to the blackmail charge,
      Fact: the young lady had previously been warned by Police for doing the exact same thing to another of Her ‘clients’,

      Fact: After telling His wife of the blackmail the man committed suicide so what benefit is there to anyone of naming this man, He cannot be dug up and charged with procuring sex from an under-aged prostitute,

      Fact: In Her own words She decided to be a bitch and blackmail this man even tho She had been previously warned by Police over the earlier incident of the same nature,

      Fact: This young lady deserves no-ones sympathy and in my view fits the profile of a cold,cruel, calculating sociopath…

  8. greywarbler 8
    15 February 2014 at 9:30 am

    This morning with Kim Hill good interview on education and touching on what is behind the Leaders in Education idea. It has good points – worth a listen.

    9:05 Stuart McNaughton
    Professor Stuart McNaughton is Director of the Woolf Fisher Research Centre at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Education. He researches and publishes widely in areas of children’s development and the design of effective educational programmes including models of large scale interventions with schools. For the past three years he has worked with more than 15 schools instigating the Woolf Fisher Lead Teacher Masters Scholarships that are focused on improving achievement in their schools through leadership problem solving, and recently in a research partnership with Manaiakalani schools in Tamaki has co-developed a post-graduate programme to support the digital learning, community-based programmes they have developed across their cluster. He is a member of a number of international scientific organisations in child development, educational research and literacy, and is about to be inducted into the International Reading Association’s Reading Hall of Fame.

    • ianmac 8.1
      15 February 2014 at 10:15 am

      Yes greywarbler. I listened to that and thought it was good and positive, though it was a bit hard to know the specifics. Well worth the listen. Interesting that part of his research dates back to 1998.
      I think that Media after 9am Sunday, tomorrow will also have a section on Education.

      • greywarbler 8.1.1
        15 February 2014 at 8:38 pm

        ianmac
        Tomorrow Sunday on Mediawatch after 9am they are tslking about Radionz merry go round.

        Mediawatch looks at significant changes announced for some of Radio New Zealand National’s key programmes – and asks the man at the top what it all means for RNZ’s future. Also: How one Australian criminal overseas hogged headlines here; how plumbing, paving and light bulbs overshadowed the Winter Olympics; and how some recent social media activity drew an anti-social response from media people.

        • gem 8.1.1.1
          15 February 2014 at 9:10 pm

          Media Watch is a treasure. New CEO Paul Thompson gutted the regional editorial offices when he was Press editor, arguing regional stories had to earn their place against all other stories (i.e no dedicated editorial pages for regions), and that all such stories could be written from Christchurch. So regionally-based reporters with decades of experience lost their jobs, and the Press cut adrift the regions editorially. Stupid decision, especially given the huge changes in the rural economy over the past 10 years.
          But he won’t have that degree of freedom at a public broadcaster, and also (hopefully) might have learnt something from those mistakes.
          The signs aren’t all bad, as Guyon Espiner, much as I don’t like him, is an improvement on Mercep, who was completely out of his depth. Right-wingers are often better interviewers for some reason, maybe something to do with their degree of detachment from the world and their feelings. I don’t know.

  9. corokia 9
    15 February 2014 at 9:30 am

    Chris Trotter is Glen Inwood’s new best friend.

    http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2014/02/japanese-pride.html

    Apparently an intangible feeling of Japanese pride is far more important than actual deaths of whales.

    • RedLogix 9.1
      15 February 2014 at 12:04 pm

      No I don’t think that’s a fair reading of Trotter’s point at all.

      What he’s saying is that given there are no economic, nor scientific reasons for the Japanese to actually be whaling, the only motivations left must be primarily emotional and symbolic.

      Give them a path to back down without losing face and there is every possible expectation that they may well be happy to stop whaling on rational grounds.

      It’s an idea worth exploring. Because while I admire Sea Shepherd intensely (and donate to them) – the current situation stinks of unproductive stalemate.

      • Corokia 9.1.1
        15 February 2014 at 1:05 pm

        You planning on applying such logic to other forms of criminal behaviour then?

        • RedLogix 9.1.1.1
          15 February 2014 at 3:15 pm

          If there was indeed a legal mechanism that legally outlawed this whaling, and there was a way for the law to be implemented then we would not be having this conversation.

          So no I don’t follow your logic.

      • Draco T Bastard 9.1.2
        15 February 2014 at 1:28 pm

        Give them a path to back down without losing face and there is every possible expectation that they may well be happy to stop whaling on rational grounds.

        They already have one – conservation.

      • bad12 9.1.3
        15 February 2014 at 3:20 pm

        Yep, if ‘diplomacy’ is to be the means of stopping the Japanese from killing whales, and, there appears little else that New Zealand can do, then Chris Trotter is on the right track with what He says,

        Murray McCully should put the feelers out to the Japanese Ambassador with an attempt to broker such a ‘face saving victory’ for the Japanese whalers,(which should also involve the US Ambassador),

        The alternative if a solution cannot be brokered is for us all to wake up one morning to the news that the Japanese have sunk one of the protest boats with loss of life…

        • corokia 9.1.3.1
          15 February 2014 at 6:06 pm

          The alternative is that Sea Shepherd continues to stop the Japanese from killing whales.

          So we are supposed to ban Sea Shepherd from our ports because…
          (a) we can’t let the Japanese lose at anything because they are SO sensitive or
          (b) the Japanese are dangerous bullies who might cause the death of protesters or
          (c) both.
          Huh?

          • bad12 9.1.3.1.1
            15 February 2014 at 10:18 pm

            Well if you have to HuH? at attempts to find a diplomatic means of stopping Japanese whaling you are probably too stupid to realize the implications,

            For instance, should either side, the Japanese using wire rope and sea Sheppard using traditional rope succeed in snaring a ships propeller via such a ‘tactic’ there is a chance that one of these ships could be sunk via ripping the whole propeller drive out of the rear of the ship,

            As this fight has escalated it is also conceivable that the ramming that has occurred will at some stage result in the sinking of one or both the ships involved,

            i have a definite admiration for the fight Sea Sheppard has so far taken to the Japanese whaling fleet but it is obvious that this will not stop this whaling, i think Chris Trotter is pointing out another means that should at the least be explored between Foreign Affairs and the Japanese Ambassador…

          • Murray Olsen 9.1.3.1.2
            16 February 2014 at 12:47 am

            RedLogix donates to Sea Shepherd. How do you equate this with banning them from our ports?

            My view is that Sea Shepherd by itself will never stop the Japanese whaling completely, we cannot use our navy to stop them in our waters, and no other navy is going to step up. Therefore we need to get the Japanese to agree to stopping. Pressure from Sea Shepherd and other organisations might help with this, consumer boycotts could contribute, maybe bans on sporting contacts. Some of us did our bit with South Africa, and in the end there was some progress, but basically when the Boers realised they couldn’t just keep calm and carry on. We can do it with Japan, but I suspect it will be a multi-pronged campaign.

            In the meantime, I suspect that seismic exploration connected with oil and gas surveys is killing more whales than the Japanese ever have. Our government is enabling this, and Labour has not really given any signs that they would stop it.

      • cricklewood 9.1.4
        15 February 2014 at 5:42 pm

        Not so much unproductive stalemate as heading for environmental disaster by fouled prop.
        No easy fix im afraid but trying to disable ships down there is a bridge to far tactics wise for me and both sides are playing that game…

  10. greywarbler 10
    15 February 2014 at 9:41 am

    Japan’s behaviour over whale killing seems unexplainable and senseless. We would like them to stop but they will not.

    If wanting to know how to do something like achieving their agreement to stop, to do it successfully, first it is necessary to understand the best way to do it, what methods to use, and whether it is likely to work effectively.

    The fact that we do not like what the Japanese are doing, is a huge reason to try and understand why, looking from their point of view. Other methods have not worked so far. It would be wise to do some study on why this is, and more information will help and may be more successful than kneejerk emotional responses.

  11. bad12 11
    15 February 2014 at 11:11 am

    As i have given Labour front bench’er Shane Jones plenty of stick in the pages of the Standard over the course of time, such stick having in my opinion been the just rewards of Shane’s efforts as a highly ranked Labour MP, in the interests of balance and fairness i would have to give the MP a 9 out of 10 for this weeks performance in the house,

    A BIG UPS to Jones for stepping into the middle of an issue that concerns us all when it comes down to the behavior of those who control the very basics of life, the supermarkets,

    Seems that Shane, once He has dropped the barely lucid waffle with which He has previously tried to get His point across, can make a speech in the Parliament in cold clear English with a voice that forced the Government benches to sit up and take notice,

    A note to Mr Jones should include the advice that ‘yes Shane we all know you attended Oxford there is no need to prove this by the insertion of grandiose phraseology into your speech that for many would need the intervention of a professor of English literature to interpret, plain, direct English does the job fine’,

    it is obvious that in plain English with the vocal ability that He has Jones should be speaking with a passion that is sadly lacking from Labour’s side of the House on a few more issues leading into this election,

    The 9 outta 10 Shane is in the vein of what took you so long???…

    • Draco T Bastard 11.1
      15 February 2014 at 1:41 pm

      plain, direct English does the job fine’,

      It often doesn’t. There’s a difference in meaning between the words gigantic and huge. And then we’re also looking at the impression/feeling that someone wants to get across that just doesn’t work with some words.

      Having a good understanding of language is often what makes an excellent orator.

      • bad12 11.1.1
        15 February 2014 at 2:07 pm

        Draco, really??? having the target audience being able to fully understand the content of your speech i would think for a politician would be of more import than being able to waffle in 12 letter words at will…

        • Draco T Bastard 11.1.1.1
          15 February 2014 at 7:02 pm

          How can anyone understand what you’re saying if the words you’re using don’t have the right meaning?

          • bad12 11.1.1.1.1
            15 February 2014 at 10:05 pm

            Refer to my answer below Draco, i am not in the slightest bit interest in having an elongated debate with you or anyone else about part of a sentence in part of a paragraph which was part of a comment,

            Shall we debate where i choose to put my comma’s and full stops…

  12. bad12 12
    15 February 2014 at 2:15 pm

    +100, Jane McAllister, NICE, takes the cane to National’s Ministers for their stupid attack on Metiria Turei’s life-style in the Herald online,

    Hit’s every nail on the head while She is at it as far as the foibles of the ‘silver spoon brigade’ goes, well worth a read,

    A small hat tip to the Herald for running with the article, none of us expect the Herald to print a continuous gush of pro Labour/Green propoganda,(which is what most would consider is the daily fair churned out by the likes of O’Sullivn, Armstrong, and, Trevett, just to name a few,

    What we want is a balanced view where there are obviously two or more sides to every story and the Herald should be ensuring that all sides of an argument get an equal airing, informing the readership i think it is called as opposed to telling them what they should think…

    • Draco T Bastard 12.1
      15 February 2014 at 7:09 pm

      Herald should be ensuring that all sides of an argument get an equal airing,

      And what makes that balanced? Climate change deniers get equal hearing through the MSM and yet only 3% or less of climatologists have an argument against AGW. In such cases I want proportional airing of views.

      In the case of National’s attack on Meteria’s jacket the correct response from the journos should have been to laugh in their faces and either not publish as it wasn’t even news or to use such a story so as to point out the contempt that National has for everyone else.

      • bad12 12.1.1
        15 February 2014 at 10:00 pm

        Draco, i would answer that but honestly i don’t understand what your current bee in the bonnet blather is on about and quite frankly cannot be bothered reading it a second or third time to ascertain it’s meaning, which i really think is more to do with your overblown ego than anything i may have written…

  13. chris73 13
    15 February 2014 at 2:40 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11202504

    – This was really worrying and I’m ackshully glad Labour are looking into it

    • Paul 13.1
      15 February 2014 at 4:22 pm

      Chris, this is not an argument.
      Just a snide remark.

      • chris73 13.1.1
        15 February 2014 at 4:33 pm

        Merely pointing out the important things Labour are focusing on and its good they’re doing it, these are the issuess people care about

  14. marty mars 14
    15 February 2014 at 2:41 pm

    This article is interesting

    http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2014/02/06/thats-heavy-the-mind-body-metaphor-connection/

    “It turns out that, when people are holding something heavy, they will report an issue to be more serious, compared to when they are holding something lighter.”

    The comments are also worth a read.

    • fender 14.1
      15 February 2014 at 2:57 pm

      Just as well Key doesn’t have a conscience, because if he did it would be so heavily laden he would be severely troubled by his friendship with the oily one.

      • ianmac 14.1.1
        15 February 2014 at 5:30 pm

        Been thinking about Mr Key hinting at Whaleoil. Would Mr Key hint at that to send we inquirers hunting and away from the real answer. Clearly he knew that the Whaleoil would keep us very exercised. ????

        • joe90 14.1.1.1
          15 February 2014 at 8:07 pm

          Me too, he could be doing something that would see him in the dock but he isn’t because he said so.

  15. just saying 15
    15 February 2014 at 6:02 pm

    But why didn’t they remember the lessons learned in the thirty years after World War II – that widely-shared prosperity is good for everyone, including them?
    Perhaps because they didn’t care to remember. They discovered that wealth is also relative: How rich they feel depends not just on how much money they have, but also how they live in comparison to most other people.

    From Robert Reich quoted in today’s “Irascible Cumudgeon”

    An important point and one that is not given the consideration it deserves imo.

    The uber-competitive mode is not just about individuals desperate to succeed or be rich, it is also about wanting others to fail and suffer badly. This is a major motivation in itself. The worse others do, the greater the extent of the victory for the victor. Poverty is not just some unfortunate by-product of neoliberalism it is an important part of the motivation for the wealthy and even many of the merely comfortably-off. This is part of what we are up against imo.

  16. SPC 16
    15 February 2014 at 7:04 pm

    What is Labour’s CGT policy on residential property inheritance?

    As to

    1. rental and bach property owned by parent/parents
    2. the family home.

  17. SPC 17
    15 February 2014 at 7:11 pm

    On the super age issue

    Has any thought been given to

    1. the circumstance prior to 1975 when there was a means tested rate for the first 5 years before the universal rate kicked in?

    Why not excluding those working from age 65 to 70 from super (currently 20% work) rather than increasing the age to 67 (see 2, a policy to apply between now and 2030-2050 to reduce the baby boom period cost – with the impact falling those who can afford it, those still able to work at good wage rates).

    A 5-10% cut in super cost without any harm to those seeking to retire at age 65 or losing employment before age 65.

    2. delay any age increase to 2030 – then increase the age from 65 to 70 over the next 20 years. To account for the extended life span.

    • karol 17.1
      15 February 2014 at 7:45 pm

      Why not excluding those working from age 65 to 70 from super (currently 20% work) rather than increasing

      Many getting super in that age group work part time – some couldn’t live on just super alone, and some may not be up to working full time.

      • SPC 17.1.1
        15 February 2014 at 7:50 pm

        The old system pre 1975 was to assess this by a means test.

        It’s simple enough to distinguish between a part-timer earning $20 an hour for 10 -20 hours and someone still working in their profession clearing $100,000+ pa.

        A rule of thumb, where if job income is at the median wage or above – then no super till age 70.

  18. SPC 18
    15 February 2014 at 7:42 pm

    An alternative in response to Labour policy in support of young families.

    A more clear differentiation to the policy.

    1. Parental Leave.

    a 12 months total leave available to the 2 parents.

    b1 Payment of MW for 6 months or a half rate payment over 12 months (the parental leave period) to either parent while off work. Parents choose (both parents could take 6 months off during the 12 month period) .

    b2 Support is also given to a non working partner while the child is under 1 at the same rate – half the MW for the 12 month period.

    To differentiate between the working parent and non working parent is to discriminate family support on employment status and not need. It is a poor policy setting and Labour should confront it more directly.

    I would not include the beneficiary parent in this.

    2. Young family support (for those with children 1 to 3).

    As is, the $60 payment – being means tested, but again I would not include the beneficiary parent in this.

    The issue here is of course the practice of many women to go back to work after the first child but to take a longer break with the birth of the second (because of the child care cost of two children makes working non rewarding).

    Labour is wise to note that many women have two children, and the need to re-design support around modern family practice (the one income period). Thus of course ECE funding reduces child care cost and enables women advantage from a return to full-time employment (either when the youngest turns 3 and the eldest goes to primary school or when the eldest turns 3 and the youngest turns 1). After school care from ages 5-11 completes the support.

    3. Beneficiary parents. Simply propose a higher benefit to those raising children. Connect the issue to a GMFI for families dependent on benefit income. Sell it by offering it only to those who spend off a card, if that is the only way to grow a pair.

  19. RedbaronCV 19
    15 February 2014 at 8:03 pm

    Well the Countdown smack down looks like it’s in full swing. Went to the local supermarket and two hours after they normally close a bunch of checkouts they were still in full swing, checkies confirmed that more than a few going thr’ were ex Countdown.

    And while I am here, what is it with toothpaste, the stuff is made in australia ,england, south africa, india ,thailand. I’d have though we would have consumed enough of it to make some of it here. And for all the blabber about being a low income country we now seem to be importing from higher wage countries than ours. So clearly this low wage stuff doesn’t actually work?

  20. Draco T Bastard 20
    15 February 2014 at 9:40 pm

    I’m not a teacher but I agree with this.

    RT @Borto74: We are teachers. Image

    • ianmac 20.1
      15 February 2014 at 11:04 pm

      The Right seem desperate to measure stuff and the hidden curriculum is very hard to measure. Developing interest in growing food? Nah! Reading scores? Maybe.
      So yes. Borton good to read.