The retired New Zealand cricketing superstar Martin Crowe recently
staged a fiery protest against New Zealand cricket authorities
following their dumping of the NZ captain Ross Taylor…
Good on him, more boys club members with no clue on how to run a professional code. mcullam is a bad choice to replace Taylor and WTF was wrong with Taylor anyway?
We haven’t come a long way since Turner had beefs with these old boys over playing county and representing NZ we’ve just produced enough decent players to mask the real issues. Bad management and no consistent academy structure for bringing talent through combined with bias at rep level to mates and boys club members over talent.
Its an all too familiar tale in NZ sporting codes.
What is it with the US, and individuals shooting people/children in educational establishments – this time an elementary school? Land of the free? Champion of democracy?
Ha! WYSIWYG link button working again.
And the blockquote button? Nope. Not working at all.
That’s right. The more freedom there is to carry a gun the safer they will be. And we need to remember, of course, that guns don’t kill people, people do. /sarc
One of England’s leading philosophers, one TONY PARSONS, has written thoughtfully and philosophically on the issue….
‘The problem is not the gun laws of American but the limitless cruelty of the human race.’ https://twitter.com/TonyParsonsUK/status/279647164337106944
Thus he has proved, irrefutably and elegantly, that it is not guns that kill children in kindergartens, it is people of limitless cruelty.
Agree about the limitless cruelty thing, just also think there are two issues to deal with 1. how to stop having a society with cruel people 2. how to limit the weapons in a community when limitlessly cruel people are among us. It’s not either/or – and one before the other. They need to be addressed in tandem.
That’s all he wrote, Rosy. In other words, instead of writing something sensitive and thoughtful, which would have required a degree of sensitivity and thoughtfulness, Parsons simply chose to recycle a ridiculous cliché. He had to write SOMETHING of course; as a handsomely remunerated “pundit” he is expected to deliver an opinion, no matter how ill-informed, on a range of topics.
Well, to be fair to Parsons, he was good for two years in the mid seventies, but that was more to do with speed, punk and his genius missus. The Boy Looked at Johnny is still a great read; no heroes any more.
1.) “Well, to be fair to Parsons, he was good for two years in the mid seventies,”
Let me hazard a guess, Te Reo—you love old issues of the NME as much as you love Private Eye. You appear to be a scholar as well as a gentleman.
2.) “but that was more to do with speed, punk and his genius missus.”
She wrote some interesting pop music comments in the 1970s, but her subsequent career has demonstrated that horrible woman is no genius. She’s a nasty piece of work, as well as being cast-iron ignorant.
Spent last weekend clearing out my old stuff from the oldie’s attic; lots of NME’s, PE’s, posters of Bowie etc. The NME really was superb from 77-83, Burchill, Parsons, Nick Kent, Paul Morley, Ian Penman through to Steven Wells and X Moore. Linking pop music to politics and philosophy was a liberation for me.
I still rate Burchill, (listening to her talking to DJ Steve Wright in ’93 as I write). There is little I agree with her about these days, but our mis-named mate The Contrarian really should look her up, as she’s been genuinely contrarian for 35 years:
1: Who manufactures the guns and weapons
2: Who sells the guns and weapons
3: Who ensures that the guns and weapons are in continual use domestically/internationally
4: Who controls the legislations/contracts of those who manufacture the guns and weapons
5: Who cares if innocent people domestically/globally are dying through use of the guns and weapons, as long as *business remains good and retains control*
6: Who pulls the trigger on the gun or weapon, or issues the order for the weapons to be used
etc…
The anwer to any of the above does NOT include the word, gun or weapon
Well Karol, the idea is to instill the most fear, commit the attrocities which cover illicit the maximum emotive reaction . We have recently seen *attacks* on movie goers, then quickly followed by the sikh religious attacks, now followed by another attack on a school.
Fear, shock, horror, fear, emotive responses all geared at ramping towards a pre conceived outcome.
Lets see where the shit trail leads this time and which…
The suspected shooter, 24, was armed with four weapons and wearing a bullet-proof vest, WABC reported.
Yes, here we have the continuation of the repeated lone wolf meme again….
There were unconfirmed reports of a second shooter.
Here we have the standard confusion being created around a *second shooter*, which like the Cinema, Temple shootings will be quickly discarded..
Those who say that the guns are the problem, are simplistically wrong! The people commiting these *attrocities* are the problem, whoever they are, and the reasons behind it, complex, deliberate, and opaque!
I’d like to know who thought it was a good idea to interview a child who was at the school, on the day of the shooting, and broadcast that all over the world. That lack of care and restraint is a big part of the picture too. It’s so much more sensational to broadcast the words of a child who was there, never mind that the child is traumatised or that listening to a traumatised child should not be news.
I’d like to know who thought it was a good idea to interview a child who was at the school, on the day of the shooting, and broadcast that all over the world.
Hi Weka,
Very observant line of questioning again from you.
Further questions to ask are…Was this *girl* actually at the school, and is the *girl* being quoted, someone who has been brought in specifically to be *interviewed* for the *news*.
Was the *interview* even at, or near the location where the *news* was assumed to be reported from!
*sigh* I don’t know Muzza – does the school exist? Did the shooting happen? Is it all a big plan to bring about gun control so the population will have no defence against the government?
But as for questioning of one of the school children. Was parental consent required for that? – it’s an appalling example of ‘rolling’ news coverage.
*sigh* I don’t know Muzza – does the school exist? Did the shooting happen? Is it all a big plan to bring about gun control so the population will have no defence against the government?
The American Administration, or more accurately those behind it, will be just as happy to see the people killing eachother. Don’t forget the rulers do not give a toss about the masses, they have consistantly proven this decade in decade out, and the repeated attempts of remove the 2nd amendment, and attack the gun laws etc, is IMO, just for show. They don’t care for human life these people, and so for mine, there is little I would consider to be *out of the question*, so far as what else is in play!
But as for questioning of one of the school children. Was parental consent required for that? – it’s an appalling example of ‘rolling’ news coverage.
Rolling news coverage – stages, props, actors, manipulation, controlling of narratives, telling stories and *creating history*.
The narrow channels of the supply of *news*, has made it ever more possible to *create news*, even any given event happened or not. Now I am not saying that this is/is not a real event, only that the hollywood, news media with its hstorical links to military and so on, can manufacture anything they want, and report it to the world within minutes.
Total control of *the news*, to take control of the emotional states, and state of helplessness of the masses. The desired nessages are continually reinforced through movies, tv, video games music videos etc!
Yet again the conspiracy meme. While you may get some vicarious thrill at imagining some shadowy conspiracy behind the US Administration ‘controlling the narrative’. The more obvious (and either boring or unbelievable for you) explanation is that the nature of the media coverage is simply the profit motive.
More hits, readers, viewers, hence more advertising revenue and profit – is the ultimate goal. With multiple internet and TV stations all providing non-stop 24-hr coverage, the way to get the ‘customers’ is to dramatise the story, make it more thrilling, horrible, contentious….
You may be right in saying that some of the many competing media outlets may ‘stage manage’ to make their ‘news’ more ‘interesting’ but don’t doubt for one second that these were real people killed by a lone madman.
Despite all the media saturation and dramatisation… the horror and shock is evident in the stark gut wrenching reality that 20 children …. 28 people…. have been killed in an awful way.
Like the tragedy of 9-11, this is a defining event that will have a profound effect on the mood, thoughts and subsequent actions of all Americans.
THIS IS WHY WE HAVE POVERTY – government employees not doing their jobs properly, or even taking the time to ensure people are receiving their full and correct entitlement.
government employees not doing their jobs properly, or even taking the time to ensure people are receiving their full and correct entitlement.
More likely it’s government employees being either under-resourced to do their jobs properly or being prevented from doing them properly by interference and mismanagment direct from the political level.
My younger brother who has a life-long disability (and while he can paint roofs, you would not wish what he has on your worst enemy) says he can always tells when National is in power because WINZ or it’s equivalent of the day, go from being merely depressing to deal with … to utterly miserly, malicous and mind-fucking.
I also have a permanent disability, and notice a big difference in WINZ between left and right governments. That’s why it fucks me off when people say there is no difference between Labour and NACT. There is, a very real difference. Depressing vs utterly miserly, malicious and mind-fucking is a good way to describe it, and anyone who thinks that isn’t a significant difference has too easy a life.
3)Her child support should have dropped to the minimum $12 a week from the time she lost her job.
Writing or phoning the IRD and referring to an income reduction under s.40 should get it cut back.
WINZ should know this and as the IRD arrange to have all sorts of other things notified to them why are they not writing to someone who goes onto a benefit asking them if they need to apply for a payment reduction.
I tried to post on stuff but my password was not accepted so my comment is probably erased.
When it comes to down sizing a bedroom Bernadette will lose her TAS and she will be no better off. I assume she gets most if not all of tempoary additional support (TAS) for the rent.
Unless there is an increase in the accommodation supplement (AS) or affordable housing is made available the daily struggle on an empty stomach is not going to change. As well jobs are required, but I think that housing cost is easier to fix as the government could increase the AS or only review the TAS every 26 weeks and not the current 13 weeks and possibly increase TAS as well.
I have not read up on if people will lose $42 per week when on the invalid benefit (IB) if they are eligible for part time work testing as changes are to be made for those on IB next July.
People on IB are already stressed out enough due to chronic health conditions, (sometimes a few/ several) and reducing the IB for those who may be able to work part time on a good day is planet Key mentality.
I strongly object to restructuring a health benefit on the ground that a person is eligible for a benefit which is REQUIRED because of incapacity when it comes to employment and that the incapacity for employment is unknown on any given day.
I’d like to see confirmation of that IB policy, and the actual rules. Nevertheless Jenny Shipley cut medical benefits by $20/wk in 1990, so we know that NACT don’t give a shit, and are stupid beyond belief as well (what happens to ill people when they don’t have enough to live on? That’s right, they become even more dependent on the state).
Thank you for asking for clarification re IB changes as I saw an error I have made. Yesterday on Open Mike 4.
“Under the Bill, an invalid beneficary who is reclassified as a ‘job – seeker’ will face a cut in income from $256 to $213 a week – effectively a benefit cut of $213 a week.”
What is reclassified and how is this determined I am left asking myself?
Current Work Capacity Medical Certificate for Invalid Benefit asks:
Do the conditions listed previously limit the person’s capacity to work for 30 hours or more per week?
Do the conditions listed previously limit the person’s capacity to work regularly in open employment for 15 hours or more a week?
Is the person’s incapacity for work expected to last for at least 2 years?
Is the person’s life expectancy less than 2 years?
Is the person receive active treatment or under the care of specialist for any of the conditions listed previously? (their error receive)
When is the person likely to be capable of:
Work planning
Limited training (less than 15 hours per week)
Part-time work (at least 15 hours per week)
Full-time work (30 hours or more per week)
Are there any more treatments or interventions that could assist the person into work?
Unable to work from
When should the person’s capacity for work next be assessed?
Basically a person has to be unable to work for 15 hours a week for the next 2 years to currently qualify for the IB. I do not know if this is going to be reclassified or how as then you get the situation I described in 3.4 paragraph 5&6. As well sickness benefit is going to be absorbed as job seeker, IB will be supported living and a parenting one.
Full-time work is at least 30 hours a week.
How can a person who is forced to come off the IB then be expected to be available to work 30 hours a week as a job seeker when they can only work 16 hours a week?
Thanks for that. btw, I know SBs who are being refused IB. I think mostly WINZ is using the 30hr category now. Anyone capable of working 15 hrs will be on SB.
The only thing I’ve found so far is this –
Under the new system three benefits will replace all of the main benefit payments by 2013. Benefit rates will remain at current levels and continue to be increased annually for inflation.
Jobseeker Support includes:
Unemployment Benefit
Sickness Benefit
DPB Sole Parents – with youngest child 14 years and older
Widow – with youngest child 14 years and older
DPB Women Alone
Sole Parent Support includes:
DPB Sole Parents with children younger than 14 years
Widows with children younger than 14 years
Taking that at face value, I think what they will be doing is trying to shift some people off IB and onto SB, just using new names. That explains the drop in rate. Still looking for the new criteria.
“Thanks for that. btw, I know SBs who are being refused IB”
I’m one All the letters and medical certificates went in and some faceless tame doctor, who I have never seen said No I was able to work. And that was that, they said I could ask for a review, but as I told them at the time, whats the point, as you have already made up your minds.
I went back to the specialists and they say there’s nothing they can do as the risks of surgery are so bad that they won’t even try. But WiNZ don’t give a toss. I have probably been underpaid by 40 odd buck’s a week, and that’s really hard on the finances, with a toddler and a teen. Oh well the next installment is clothes for the Teen that’ll be fun.
I am waiting for Bennet to put a stop to your GP being able to do IB medical certificate assessment and go back to the gravy train designated doctors who will lick her boots.
By this time next year I dread to think how high unemployment, hospital admissions and crime will be.
Good on the woman for going public, although that probably speaks more to desperation than anything else.
SNGs for anything other than food will create more debt 🙁 If she has a sudden unexpected bill she should pay that, and then get WINZ to pay for her food for that week (thus avoiding more debt). There is a limit on the SNGs per year though.
Reducing the debt repayment to $5/wk is a not brainer and should have been done as a matter of course.
She’s probably not getting her full disability allowance either.
Probably not as WINZ staff have been getting worse over the years. It’s as if Bennet has put out a missive allowing the staff to be as difficult and non informing of entitlement’s as they want to be.
Also why was she made to stand down for 3 weeks or so?? She recieved NO redunduncy payment, so WINZ HAD to make sure she was really suffering before they will do anything.
Kate Middleton prank call: Royal hoax nurse’s anger at hospital in suicide note
14 Dec 2012
In one emotional letter Jacintha Saldanha criticises senior colleagues at the King Edward VII hospital over her treatment after she was duped by two Aussie DJs….
This is a terrible tragedy for Jacintha and her family. The Aussie DJ’s prank was despicable. But they were following the infotainment logic of our MSM.
Why is no one questioning the celebrity-focused role of the MSM at large? Why do they create a feeding frenzy around a royal pregnancy? Our MSM gave it more front page, prime-time coverage than the TPP talks that were happening in Auckland at the same time. The TPP is far more crucial to the future of NZers.
The charade that makes up the *news*, and the actors who play the parts is becoming too transparent these days, forget about the microscope its in front of the face. *News* is to be considered almost completely staged manipulation, with actors playing/presenting or editing/writing the scripts, and the truth is unlikely to ever see the light of day, even if the *news* event, ever happened or not.
Ther hysteria which surrounds the trash media and propagates as *news*, can be considered as simply this.
“The Aussie DJ’s prank was despicable.”
No it was not “despicable”, it was simply a prank, and a light-hearted, good-humoured one. Nobody—absolutely nobody—could have predicted what later happened.
Clearly not light-hearted and good-humoured for the person on the receiving end. The people who broadcast this stuff without permission don’t/didn’t have any understanding of the trauma and humiliation some victims of their ‘pranks’ might feel. Mr/Ms Everyday person might not be as extrovert as they are, nor be able to brush of a perceived humiliation that easily.
Really? No one could predict a prank would go wrong? It’s only the plot of every second sitcom episode of all time.
And it’s “light-hearted” and “good-humoured” to attempt to access a person’s medical records by deception?
Sure, if you don’t understand the latter, and have no empathy for the people being pranked and how they might feel like they’ve betrayed a sacred trust, sure, I suppose it’s just an innocent little joke.
The DJs work on a station which previously hooked a 14-year-old up to a polygraph to ask her about her sex life. When she revealed having been raped – and the immediate follow-up question from the DJ was “okay, but is that the only sexual experience you’ve had?” I suppose that was just a bit of light-hearted fun which no one could’ve predicted would go wrong either.
Prank-calling a hospital where a royal family member has checked in for an almost certainly bogus reason is entirely acceptable. You can go all North Korean if you want, but the rest of the (sane) world sees these publicly funded parasites as fair game.
The other prank you mention WAS despicable, and I share your contempt for the perpetrators. Your deliberate twisting of my argument to suggest I would approve of that is unworthy of you.
Exactly! The frenzied attack upon these two DJ’s is dreadful and right out of proportion (for all that we rightly sympathise with the nurse). Others must also be held to account.
I think the hospital also has some culpability.
It seems odd that they did not have a filtering process in place that all calls about celebrities went through to ensure appropriate confidentiality.
“I think the hospital also has some culpability.”
Wrong. The person responsible for Jacintha Soldana’s suicide was Jacintha Soldana. Any blaming of the radio DJs or the hospital is mere recycling of the hysteria whipped up by the steaming hypocrites in the Murdoch empire.
Morrisey would the suicide have happened IF there was no prank call, if the media had not published it and if the Nurse had a filtering mechanism on the calls.
Jacinta was responsible for her actions BUT there is a chain of culpability.
“Jacinta was responsible for her actions BUT there is a chain of culpability.”
Then all these people must also be prosecuted: the cafetaria worker who did not smile at her, the bus driver who was gruff and taciturn instead of being sunny and positive, the BBC news readers who read out grim economic and political news each day, the hospital patient who grumbled about something the day before….
There is one person culpable for this death, and it’s not either of the light-hearted pranksters.
Gee Morrisey
You don’t understand anything about some people’s desire to maintain high standards in their work and to do an excellent job which they take pride in and are esteemed for, and also needing to receive a good salary for that high standard of work.
You ought to put yourself forward to your electorate to stand in the next election. You sound very suitable because of your narrow focus and lack of understanding of society to fit you to be a politician.
Sorry about that. But I see your brain is working just fine again. I think you’ll find that my meaning will become clear after repeated reading, followed by deep thought, perhaps with a panel discussion to follow.
My apologies to the family for mis-spelling her name.
Now, explain how that equates with a lack of empathy. And after you’ve done explaining that, explain why you’ve taken your lead in this from the tender-hearted, empathetic folk who work for the Murdoch papers and Sky TV.
Yeah i agree with you on that, a hospital such as this with regular ‘important people’ as patients would surely have had protocols on what could and couldn’t be said about patients over the phone,
“The Royals” themselves with all the trials and tribulations that they have been through with the media can hardly cry about their privacy being breached as you would think that there would have been in place a system whereby any enquiries were transferred to a royal media minder,
The facets of a prank phone call having many real consequences is a big learning curve to everyone involved and a lesson on how tragic a prank can be.
I do hope that the bereavement counselling offered to the family of Jacintha is not connected with the hospital as their notes could be accessed by the hospital. The hospital cannot be trusted as they have been caught out not knowing that they were critcised in one of the three letters which Jacintha wrote.
When it comes to culture I also hope that the counsellor can identify with cultural practice pertaining to Jacintha’s reaction as it would differ from my European/Polish identity.
LOOKALIKE
Can YOU spot the difference between these violent men?
Professional musician Jimmy Mason was convicted of assaulting a child after an incident on the Bridge of Remembrance in central Christchurch in 2007. The 49-year-old Christchurch man admitted to flicking his son’s ear to “reprimand” him for “riding dangerously near a busy street”.
The case became a cause célèbre for the Kiddy-Whackers Association fronted by Bob McCoskrie, and the S.S. Trust fronted by Garth “Mac the Knife” McVicar. To these kinds of people, assaulting a child on the street means a man is not a thug, but an exemplar of family values, and the very model of the “good parent”.
If you do NOT belong to one of these psychotic organizations, and retain some measure of moral and ethical normality, you probably thought that, after his disgraceful display of self-pity and defiance following his conviction for assault, Jimmy Mason would slither away into deserved obscurity.
However, the emergence of his doppelganger in England has brought back all the horrifying memories….
This forum is a bear pit containing a large sub-group of haters and wreckers exhibiting psychopathic traits. Their prefered means of attack is to latch on to the victim using the most vile language possible, then, having done as much damage as they can (to the enormous satisfaction of a blood-thirsty crowd observing the sport) they sanctimoneously pretend they are people of peace and reason who selflessly spend their lives protecting the weak and innocent. I have an extremely bad taste in my mouth. I will now leave the arena and attempt a ritual purification to rid myself of the stench. Good luck gentle-folk in your search for a fairer, kinder world….
Other than “fatty” and Brett Dale, who are probably one and the same person, is Grant Hay the most bewildered person to post on this forum in the past year? I’d like to know if there has been a more confused contribution from anyone.
Thoughts and wishes to the people of Connecticut, what
can one say about this tragic event. As someone who has
family in CT, including younger relatives, this is an awful day.
Here’s hoping there is not a day like this again in CT or
anywhere.
Of one thing we can be sure: Brett Dale will not say anything intelligent or insightful about this tragedy.
“Here’s hoping there is not a day like this again in CT or anywhere.”
Far worse than this is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan every day. You have been loud in your support of it. And your blood-soaked cheerleading for the carnage in Gaza last month makes your words of solicitude nothing but the most callous hypocrisy.
As someone whos got family in the area, including younger relatives, I think I have just as much as right to comment as anyone else. This is a tragic event.
Again my sympathy goes out to the victims and the families and the children who
survived and who will now be terrified, here’s hoping again, they get the help they need.
I will become sympathetic to the Gazans when they stop firing rockets into Israel. But, when they stop firing rockets, then the Israelis will stop trying to stop the rockets, which means peace will return. and then I won’t need to be sympathetic.
Hey, maybe that means its in the Gazans own hands. That is IF they want peace of course. Or maybe what they want is what they always say they want and that is to push the Israelis into the sea. But that would be mean, wouldn’t it. It can’t be right.
Yep, because in a conflict between an economically-repressed, militarily-occupied people and powerful military occupiers supported by the United States, it’s definitely the people whose land got invaded who need to prove they’re interested in peace. 🙄
Calling All Sports-Loving Prank Callers
It’s time to step up and do your duty
Let’s proceed on the assumption that prank calls DO actually lead to the receiver committing suicide. If that is true, then every sports lover in the country needs to do THIS as often as he/she can, until the inevitable happy result comes about …
Another gun tragedy in the USA. The biggest since the last one according to the media. More will follow, followed by the wails and sadness of all ad infinitum. Without any meaningful legislation likely to limit gun ownership and easy use. The latest is that some people want to take guns to their workplace. Handy for a Post employee pushed to the limit. And a sign of the deterioration of civil life and attitudes in ‘the greatest little country on the planet’ with the best democracy and political system and military and private weapons that money can buy.
In China there have been a number of knife killings at schools.
Can anybody direct me to a study of this type of crime, the drivers and the perpetrators. Why children? In this USA one the guy wanted to kill his mother but took out bunches of unconnected children too. Were they her class?
We are probably lucky that China and Russia have tried to get UN to allow bigger state controls over the internet. That meant that USA would be against it, though they are anxious themselves to box and contain it. And NZ wouldn’t agree either because we are the USA’s dingy dinghy bouncing behind in their wake. So we’re OK for the present but wait for the next attack on the freedom of the internet that go beyond a reasonable minor level.
<b>DEAKER-WATCH No. 4 “Anders” Deaker stands up for Christian civilization
No action by Sky over Deaker’s SBW comment</b> 7:24 AM Monday Mar 12, 2012
Sky TV says it will take no action against broadcaster Murray Deaker after he reportedly said All Black star and boxer Sonny Bill Williams made him “uncomfortable” because “he is a Muslim in a so-called Christian country”.
Deaker reportedly made the slur about Williams, who converted to Islam in 2009, on the Deaker on Sports show on February 29.
Sky Television spokeswoman Kirsty Way said today that the remark was made during a live discussion and its meaning was taken out of context when read in isolation.
No action would be taken by Sky TV against Deaker.
A copy of the tape could be released only with Deaker’s approval because he had editorial control of the show, Ms Way said.
Deaker could not be reached for comment last night. Williams’ manager Khoder Nasser did not wish comment further when contacted yesterday evening. He earlier said he was disgusted by what Deaker said.
“As you get older, they say you get wiser. You are closer to the grave, which gives you a sense of realism, you become humbled and more accepting of other human beings. But the older this man gets, the more bigoted he becomes.”
Hundreds of comments have been posted on Twitter condemning Deaker’s remarks. “If Sky won’t cancel Deaker’s show…”
What are you on Morrissey? I hope that you have something lined up to occupy you for Christmas as it would be discouraging to see your pseudo every second or third comment.
Morrisey
Carrots – so good for one. Healthy, good for your eyes etc. And watch Brett Dale DFT. Save your time for your other good comments. I like your reporting of some of the discourses on the media.
Earlier this morning, I launched into an intemperate tirade against our good friend “fatty”, calling him “ignorant” and “arrogant”. Of course, I turned out to have mis-identified him; his comments are in fact well thought out, and clearly well informed.
Was reading a book last evening and it reflected upon Leadership and Management.
In New Zealand in a political view I considered the countries Leaders.
Like it or not Key and Norman have Leadership qualities, whereas it would appear that Shearer has Management.
The view considered was that Leaders are naturals whereas Managers can be taught, but perhaps are not, nor ever can be, Leaders.
Key is not a Manager ie a details man
Norman is a Leader, maybe with some Management – not sure, as he is an enigma.
But Shearer lacks the vital empathy to be a Leader – but he has Management skills learned overseas
Cunliffe has neither – cannot see a Labour Leader though, Shearer is the best bet as a good Manager.
Not sure what your criteria are for deciding who is which, especially the claim that Cunliffe has neither managerial nor leadership qualities. From what I have seen and heard he is very competent and energetic, and I have seen that has a very good relationship with his electorate.
Fortran
The support and admiration that Cunliffe has earned among the majority of rank and file might suggest sifnificant LEADERSHIP qualities?
The success Cunliffe has had taking a National seat and growing his majority in five elections might suggest significant LEADERSHIP and MANAGEMENT qualities?
Cunliffe’s impeccable run in ministerial positions, Health, Immigration and Telecommunications/ITmight might suggest significant LEADERSHIP and exceptional MANAGEMENT qualities?
Cunliffe’s sticking with his core LABOUR values and turning the other cheek while some people do their “tall poppy” act on him is the mark or a great leader.
Fortran, your comment on Cunliffe is wrong. He will prove that he is streets ahead of Key, when he becomes PM.
I was shocked to hear on the news that a spokesperson for a church saw nothing wrong about having a paedophile in a group at a school as part of some project/ outreach the church was doing. He said that the school did not have any rules about this so he thought it was perfectly okay. WTF.
He sounded like a youngish man, just my impression, and it underlines that young men need to be aware and thoughtful about people’s problems in society. Someone on the radio recently said that some paedophiles automatically fall in to grooming mode when around youngsters. They will present themselves as friends to the child who appears vulnerable, feeling lonely or bored even, and its a big boost to a child to have someone who takes an interest. And the devious background thinking would be unknown.
I think you’re right, my friend. The fraught tempers are probably caused by a combination of hot weather and the presence of a cynical provocateur like Brett Dale.
Tonight I read a report in a leading European paper, on Greece and the absolutely shocking situation there, where a society is split into those still struggling to manage and those falling down through the former social net. It is SHOCKING reading.
Now crime is rampant, social division is the rule, there is even talk of civil war.
The foreign banks get blamed, and some of them carry some blame, but I fear it goes beyond that now. There is racism, nazism, unrest and worse taking place there, and I fear it will spread across many other countries in Southern Europe.
Now does this not ring a bell? Have you heard of crime, tension, poverty and so forth?
Do the ones still living in middle class comfort not get it? Do you want to taste the full blow perhaps? I fear you have another thing coming very soon!
NZ is on the verge of explosion too, once we have the next welfare “reforms” being pushed through. Force poor, sick and disabled, mums not able to get a job, to look for work that does not exist. John Key, you are asking for another Queen Street Riot, I am afraid!
Doug JohnsonThe alien-like blooms and putrid stench of Amorphophallus titanum, better known as the corpse flower, draw big crowds and media coverage to botanical gardens each year. In 2015, for instance, around 75,000 people visited the Chicago Botanic Garden to see one of their corpse flowers bloom. More than ...
Getting to Browser Tab Zero so I can reboot the computer is awfully hard when the one open tab is a Table of Contents for the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, and every issue has more stuff I want to read. A few highlights: Gugler et al demonstrating ...
Timothy Ford, University of Massachusetts Lowell and Charles M. Schweik, University of Massachusetts AmherstTo mitigate health inequities and promote social justice, coronavirus vaccines need to get to underserved populations and hard-to-reach communities. There are few places in the U.S. that are unreachable by road, but other factors – many ...
Israel chose to pay a bit over the odds for the Pfizer vaccine to get earlier access. Here’s The Times of Israel from 16 November. American government will be charged $39 for each two-shot dose, and the European bloc even less, but Jerusalem said to agree to pay $56. Israel ...
Orla is a gender critical Marxist in Ireland. She gave a presentation on 15 January 2021 on the connection between postmodern/transgender identity politics and the current attacks on democratic and free speech rights. Orla has been active previously in the Irish Socialist Workers Party and the People Before Profit electoral ...
. . America: The Empire Strikes Back (at itself) Further to my comments in the first part of 2020: The History That Was, the following should be considered regarding the current state of the US. They most likely will be by future historians pondering the critical decades of ...
Nathaniel ScharpingIn March, as the Covid-19 pandemic began to shut down major cities in the U.S., researchers were thinking about blood. In particular, they were worried about the U.S. blood supply — the millions of donations every year that help keep hospital patients alive when they need a transfusion. ...
Sarah L Caddy, University of CambridgeVaccines are a marvel of medicine. Few interventions can claim to have saved as many lives. But it may surprise you to know that not all vaccines provide the same level of protection. Some vaccines stop you getting symptomatic disease, but others stop you ...
Back in 2016, the Portuguese government announced plans to stop burning coal by 2030. But progress has come much quicker, and they're now scheduled to close their last coal plant by the end of this year: The Sines coal plant in Portugal went offline at midnight yesterday evening (14 ...
The Sincerest Form Of Flattery: As anybody with the intestinal fortitude to brave the commentary threads of local news-sites, large and small, will attest, the number of Trump-supporting New Zealanders is really quite astounding. IT’S SO DIFFICULT to resist the temptation to be smug. From the distant perspective of New Zealand, ...
RNZ reports on continued arbitrariness on decisions at the border. British comedian Russell Howard is about to tour New Zealand and other acts allowed in through managed isolation this summer include drag queen RuPaul and musicians at Northern Bass in Mangawhai and the Bay Dreams festival. The vice-president of the ...
As families around the world mourn more than two million people dead from Covid-19, the Plan B academics and their PR industry collaborator continue to argue that the New Zealand government should stop focusing on our managed isolation and quarantine system and instead protect the elderly so that they can ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Jan 10, 2021 through Sat, Jan 16, 2021Editor's ChoiceNASA says 2020 tied for hottest year on record — here’s what you can do to helpPhoto by Michael Held on Unsplash ...
Health authorities in Norway are reporting some concerns about deaths in frail elderly after receiving their COVID-19 vaccine. Is this causally related to the vaccine? Probably not but here are the things to consider. According to the news there have been 23 deaths in Norway shortly after vaccine administration and ...
Happy New Year! No, experts are not concerned that “…one of New Zealand’s COIVD-1( vaccines will fail to protect the country” Here is why. But first I wish to issue an expletive about this journalism (First in Australia and then in NZ). It exhibits utter failure to actually truly consult ...
All nations have shadows; some acknowledge them. For others they shape their image in uncomfortable ways.The staunch Labour supporter was in despair at what her Rogernomics Government was doing. But she finished ‘at least, we got rid of Muldoon’, a response which tells us that then, and today, one’s views ...
Grigori GuitchountsIn November, Springer Nature, one of the world’s largest publishers of scientific journals, made an attention-grabbing announcement: More than 30 of its most prestigious journals, including the flagship Nature, will now allow authors to pay a fee of US$11,390 to make their papers freely available for anyone to read ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Gary Yohe, Henry Jacoby, Richard Richels, and Benjamin Santer Imagine a major climate change law passing the U.S. Congress unanimously? Don’t bother. It turns out that you don’t need to imagine it. Get this: The Global Change Research Act of 1990 was passed ...
“They’re here already! You’re next! You’re next! You’re next!”WHO CAN FORGET the penultimate scene of the 1956 movie classic, Invasion of the Body Snatchers? The wild-eyed doctor, stumbling down the highway, trying desperately to warn his fellow citizens: “They’re here already! You’re next! You’re next! You’re next!”Ostensibly science-fiction, the movie ...
TheOneRing.Net has got its paws on the official synopsis of the upcoming Amazon Tolkien TV series. It’s a development that brings to mind the line about Sauron deliberately releasing Gollum from the dungeons of Barad-dûr. Amazon knew exactly what they were doing here, in terms of drumming up publicity: ...
Since Dwight Eisenhower’s inauguration in 1953, US presidents have joined an informal club intended to provide support - and occasionally rivalry - between those few who have been ‘leaders of the free world’. Donald Trump, elected on a promise to ‘drain the swamp’ and a constant mocker of his predecessors, ...
For over a decade commentators have noted the rise of a new brand of explicitly ideological politics throughout the world. By this they usually refer to the re-emergence of national populism and avowedly illiberal approaches to governance throughout the “advanced” democratic community, but they also extend the thought to the ...
The US House of Representatives has just impeached Donald Trump, giving him the dubious honour of being the only US President to be impeached twice. Ten Republicans voted for impeachement, making it the most bipartisan impeachment ever. The question now is whether the Senate will rise to the occasion, and ...
Kieren Mitchell; Alice Mouton, Université de Liège; Angela Perri, Durham University, and Laurent Frantz, Ludwig Maximilian University of MunichThanks to the hit television series Game of Thrones, the dire wolf has gained a near-mythical status. But it was a real animal that roamed the Americas for at least 250,000 ...
Tide of tidal data rises Having cast our own fate to include rising sea level, there's a degree of urgency in learning the history of mean sea level in any given spot, beyond idle curiosity. Sea level rise (SLR) isn't equal from one place to another and even at a particular ...
Well, some of those chickens sure came home bigly, didn’t they… and proceeded to shit all over the nice carpet in the Capitol. What we were seeing here are societal forces that have long had difficulty trying to reconcile people to the “idea” of America and the reality of ...
In the wake of Donald Trump's incitement of an assault on the US capitol, Twitter finally enforced its terms of service and suspended his account. They've since followed that up with action against prominent QAnon accounts and Trumpers, including in New Zealand. I'm not unhappy with this: Trump regularly violated ...
Peter S. Ross, University of British ColumbiaThe Arctic has long proven to be a barometer of the health of our planet. This remote part of the world faces unprecedented environmental assaults, as climate change and industrial chemicals threaten a way of life for Inuit and other Indigenous and northern ...
Susan St John makes the case for taxing a deemed rate of return on excessive real estate holdings (after a family home exemption), to redirect scarce housing resources to where they are needed most. Read the full article here ...
I’m less than convinced by arguments that platforms like Twitter should be subject to common carrier regulation preventing them from being able to decide who to keep on as clients of their free services, and who they would not like to serve. It’s much easier to create competition for the ...
The hypocritical actions of political leaders throughout the global Covid pandemic have damaged public faith in institutions and governance. Liam Hehir chronicles the way in which contemporary politicians have let down the public, and explains how real leadership means walking the talk. During the Blitz, when German bombs were ...
Over the years, we've published many rebuttals, blog posts and graphics which came about due to direct interactions with the scientists actually carrying out the underlying research or being knowledgable about a topic in general. We'll highlight some of these interactions in this blog post. We'll start with two memorable ...
Yesterday we had the unseemly sight of a landleech threatening to keep his houses empty in response to better tenancy laws. Meanwhile in Catalonia they have a solution for that: nationalisation: Barcelona is deploying a new weapon in its quest to increase the city’s available rental housing: the power ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters, PhD The 2020 global wildfire season brought extreme fire activity to the western U.S., Australia, the Arctic, and Brazil, making it the fifth most expensive year for wildfire losses on record. The year began with an unprecedented fire event ...
NOTE: This is an excerpt from a digital story – read the full story here.Tess TuxfordKo te Kauri Ko Au, Ko te Au ko Kauri I am the kauri, the kauri is me Te Roroa proverb In Waipoua Forest, at the top of the North Island, New ...
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... Coming attraction: IPCC's upcoming major climate assessmentLook for more emphasis on 'solutions,' efforts by cities, climate equity ... and outlook for emissions cuts in ...
Ringing A Clear Historical Bell: The extraordinary images captured in and around the US Capitol Building on 6 January 2021 mirror some of the worst images of America's past.THERE IS A SCENE in the 1982 movie Missing which has remained with me for nearly 40 years. Directed by the Greek-French ...
To impact or not to impeach? I understand why some of those who are justifiably aghast at Trump’s behaviour over recent days might still counsel against impeaching him for a second time. To impeach him, they argue, would run the risk of making him a martyr in the eyes of ...
The Capitol Building, Washington DC, Wednesday, 6 January 2021. Oh come, my little one, come.The day is almost done.Be at my side, behold the sightOf evening on the land.The life, my love, is hardAnd heavy is my heart.How should I live if you should leaveAnd we should be apart?Come, let me ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Jan 3, 2021 through Sat, Jan 9, 2021Editor's ChoiceAfter the Insurrection: Accountability, Reform, and the Science of Democracy The poisonous lies and enablers of sedition--including Senator Hawley, pictured ...
This article, guest authored by Prof. Angela Gallego-Sala & Dr. Julie Loisel, was originally published on the Carbon Brief website on Dec 21, 2020. It is reposted below in its entirety. Click here to access the original article and comments. Peatlands Peatlands are ecosystems unlike any other. Perpetually saturated, their ...
The assault on the US Capitol and constitutional crisis that it has caused was telegraphed, predictable and yet unexpected and confusing. There are several subplots involved: whether the occupation of the Michigan State House in May was a trial run for the attacks on Congress; whether people involved in the ...
On Christmas Eve, child number 1 spotted a crack in a window. It’s a double-glazed window, and inspection showed that the small, horizontal crack was in the outermost pane. It was perpendicular to the frame, about three-quarters of the way up one side. The origins are a mystery. It MIGHT ...
Anne-Marie Broudehoux, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)Will the COVID-19 pandemic prompt a shift to healthier cities that focus on wellness rather than functional and economic concerns? This is a hypothesis that seems to be supported by several researchers around the world. In many ways, containment and physical distancing ...
Does the US need to strike a grand bargain with like-minded countries to pool their efforts? What does this tell us about today’s global politics? Perhaps the most remarkable editorial of last year was the cover leader of the London Economist on 19 November 2020. Shortly after Joe Biden was ...
Alexander Gillespie, University of Waikato and Valmaine Toki, University of WaikatoAotearoa New Zealand likes to think it punches above its weight internationally, but there is one area where we are conspicuously falling behind — the number of sites recognised by the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Globally, there are 1,121 ...
An event organised by the Auckland PhilippinesSolidarity group Have a three-course lunch at Nanam Eatery with us! Help support the organic farming of our Lumad communities through the Mindanao Community School Agricultural Foundation. Each ticket is $50. Food will be served on shared plates. To purchase, please email phsolidarity@gmail.com or ...
"Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here." Prisons are places of unceasing emotional and physical violence, unrelieved despair and unforgivable human waste.IT WAS NATIONAL’S Bill English who accurately described New Zealand’s prisons as “fiscal and moral failures”. On the same subject, Labour’s Dr Martyn Findlay memorably suggested that no prison ...
This is a re-post from Inside Climate News by Ilana Cohen. Inside Climate News is a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for the ICN newsletter here. Whether or not people accept the science on Covid-19 and climate change, both global crises will have lasting impacts on health and ...
. . American Burlesque As I write this (Wednesday evening, 6 January), the US Presidential election is all but resolved, confirming Joe Biden as the next President of the (Dis-)United State of America. Trump’s turbulent political career has lasted just four years – one of the few single-term US presidents ...
The session started off so well. Annalax – suitably chastised – spent a pleasant morning with his new girlfriend (he would say paramour, of course, but for our purposes, girlfriend is easier*). He told her about Waking World Drow, and their worship of Her Ladyship. And he started ...
In a recent column I wrote for local newspapers, I ventured to suggest that Donald Trump – in addition to being a liar and a cheat, and sexist and racist – was a fascist in the making and would probably try, if he were to lose the election, to defy ...
When I was preparing for my School C English exam I knew I needed some quotes to splash through my essays. But remembering lines was never my strong point, so I tended to look for the low-hanging fruit. We’d studied Shakespeare’s King Lear that year and perhaps the lowest hanging ...
When I went to bed last night, I was expecting today to be eventful. A lot of pouting in Congress as last-ditch Trumpers staged bad-faith "objections" to a democratic election, maybe some rioting on the streets of Washington DC from angry Trump supporters. But I wasn't expecting anything like an ...
Melted ice of the past answers question today? Kate Ashley and a large crew of coauthors wind back the clock to look at Antarctic sea ice behavior in times gone by, in Mid-Holocene Antarctic sea-ice increase driven by marine ice sheet retreat. For armchair scientists following the Antarctic sea ice situation, something jumps out in ...
Christina SzalinskiWhen Martha Field became pregnant in 2005, a singular fear weighed on her mind. Not long before, as a Cornell University graduate student researching how genes and nutrients interact to cause disease, she had seen images of unborn mouse pups smaller than her pinkie nail, some with ...
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidates for President and Vice President respectively for the US 2020 Election, may have dispensed with the erstwhile nemesis, Trump the candidate – but there are numerous critical openings through which much, much worse many out there may yet see fit to ...
I don’t know Taupō well. Even though I stop off there from time to time, I’m always on the way to somewhere else. Usually Taupō means making a hot water puddle in the gritty sand followed by a swim in the lake, noticing with bemusement and resignation the traffic, the ...
Frances Williams, King’s College LondonFor most people, infection with SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19 – leads to mild, short-term symptoms, acute respiratory illness, or possibly no symptoms at all. But some people have long-lasting symptoms after their infection – this has been dubbed “long COVID”. Scientists are ...
As we welcome in the new year, our focus is on continuing to keep New Zealanders safe and moving forward with our economic recovery. There’s a lot to get on with, but before we say a final goodbye to 2020, here’s a quick look back at some of the milestones ...
A major investment to tackle wilding pines in Mt Richmond will create jobs and help protect the area’s unique ecosystems, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor says. The Mt Richmond Forest Park has unique ecosystems developed on mineral-rich geology, including taonga plant species found nowhere else in the country. “These special plant ...
To further protect New Zealand from COVID-19, the Government is extending pre-departure testing to all passengers to New Zealand except from Australia, Antarctica and most Pacific Islands, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “The change will come into force for all flights arriving in New Zealand after 11:59pm (NZT) on Monday ...
Bay Conservation Cadets launched with first intake Supported with $3.5 million grant Part of $1.245b Jobs for Nature programme to accelerate recover from Covid Cadets will learn skills to protect and enhance environment Environment Minister David Parker today welcomed the first intake of cadets at the launch of the Bay ...
The Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown have announced passengers from the Cook Islands can resume quarantine-free travel into New Zealand from 21 January, enabling access to essential services such as health. “Following confirmation of the Cook Islands’ COVID ...
Jobs for Nature funding is being made available to conservation groups and landowners to employ staff and contractors in a move aimed at boosting local biodiversity-focused projects, Conservation Minister Kiritapu Allan has announced. It is estimated some 400-plus jobs will be created with employment opportunities in ecology, restoration, trapping, ...
The Government has approved an exception class for 1000 international tertiary students, degree level and above, who began their study in New Zealand but were caught offshore when border restrictions began. The exception will allow students to return to New Zealand in stages from April 2021. “Our top priority continues ...
Today’s deal between Meridian and Rio Tinto for the Tiwai smelter to remain open another four years provides time for a managed transition for Southland. “The deal provides welcome certainty to the Southland community by protecting jobs and incomes as the region plans for the future. The Government is committed ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appointed Anna Curzon to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). The leader of each APEC economy appoints three private sector representatives to ABAC. ABAC provides advice to leaders annually on business priorities. “ABAC helps ensure that APEC’s work programme is informed by business community perspectives ...
The Government’s prudent fiscal management and strong policy programme in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic have been acknowledged by the credit rating agency Fitch. Fitch has today affirmed New Zealand’s local currency rating at AA+ with a stable outlook and foreign currency rating at AA with a positive ...
The Government is putting in place a suite of additional actions to protect New Zealand from COVID-19, including new emerging variants, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Given the high rates of infection in many countries and evidence of the global spread of more transmissible variants, it’s clear that ...
$36 million of Government funding alongside councils and others for 19 projects Investment will clean up and protect waterways and create local jobs Boots on the ground expected in Q2 of 2021 Funding part of the Jobs for Nature policy package A package of 19 projects will help clean up ...
The commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the Battle of Ruapekapeka represents an opportunity for all New Zealanders to reflect on the role these conflicts have had in creating our modern nation, says Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Kiri Allan. “The Battle at Te Ruapekapeka Pā, which took ...
Babies born with tongue-tie will be assessed and treated consistently under new guidelines released by the Ministry of Health, Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Around 5% to 10% of babies are born with a tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, in New Zealand each year. At least half can ...
The prisoner disorder event at Waikeria Prison is over, with all remaining prisoners now safely and securely detained, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says. The majority of those involved in the event are members of the Mongols and Comancheros. Five of the men are deportees from Australia, with three subject to ...
Travellers from the United Kingdom or the United States bound for New Zealand will be required to get a negative test result for COVID-19 before departing, and work is underway to extend the requirement to other long haul flights to New Zealand, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. “The new PCR test requirement, foreshadowed last ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has added her warm congratulations to the New Zealanders recognised for their contributions to their communities and the country in the New Year 2021 Honours List. “The past year has been one that few of us could have imagined. In spite of all the things that ...
Attorney-General and Minister for the Environment David Parker has congratulated two retired judges who have had their contributions to the country and their communities recognised in the New Year 2021 Honours list. The Hon Tony Randerson QC has been appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for ...
The Department of Internal Affairs and Netsafe are urging parents and caregivers to be mindful of the online content their tamariki may be consuming in the lead up to the inauguration of president-elect of the United States of America Joe Biden ...
Care is at the centre of Auckland Zoo’s mandate, and it’s clear to see when you witness the staff doing their day-to-day jobs up close. Leonie Hayden went behind the scenes to talk to two people who would do anything for the animals they look after. “We were having this ...
The Game Animal Council (GAC) is applying its expertise in the use of firearms for hunting to work alongside Police, other agencies and stakeholder groups to improve the compliance provisions for hunters and other firearms users. The GAC has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Verica Rupar, Professor, Auckland University of Technology “The lie outlasts the liar,” writes historian Timothy Snyder, referring to outgoing president Donald Trump and his contribution to the “post-truth” era in the US. Indeed, the mass rejection of reason that erupted in a ...
The internet ain’t what it used to be, thanks to privacy issues, data leaks, censorship and hate speech. But a group of New Zealanders are working on a way to give power back to the people. A flood of headlines over the last week made it clear: the internet has become ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Brooks, Scientia Professor of Evolutionary Ecology; Academic Lead of UNSW’s Grand Challenges Program, UNSW The views of women and men can differ on important gendered issues such as abortion, gender equity and government spending priorities. Surprisingly, however, average differences in sex ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer S. Hunt, Lecturer in National Security, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Every four years on January 20, the US exercises a key tenant of democratic government: the peaceful transfer of power. This year, the scene looks a bit ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle In Australia and around the world, research is showing changes in body weight, cooking, eating and drinking patterns associated with COVID lockdowns. Some changes have been positive, such as people cooking ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hao Tan, Associate professor, University of Newcastle Australian coal exports to China plummeted last year. While this is due in part to recent trade tensions between Australia and China, our research suggests coal plant closures are a bigger threat to Australia’s export ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Asha Bowen, Head, Skin Health, Telethon Kids Institute A year ago, in late January 2020, Australia reported its first cases of COVID-19. Since then, we have seen almost 29,000 confirmed cases and 909 deaths. As cases climbed in Australian cities in 2020, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin Davis, Emeritus Professor of Finance, University of Melbourne Political pressure forced the federal government in 2017 – when Scott Morrison was treasurer – to call the royal commission into misconduct in the banking, superannuation and financial services sector. Commissioner Kenneth Hayne ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Ellis, Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Newcastle, University of Newcastle The Rise and Fall of Saint George is a story about place, belonging and community that taps into universal tensions of identity and faith in multicultural societies. Playing for ...
An in-depth analysis of media coverage of the euthanasia and cannabis referendums has found that while both sides of the euthanasia referendum were given reasonably fair and balanced coverage, the YES position in the cannabis debate received a heavily ...
*This article was originally published on RNZ and is republished with permission Auckland has no plans to hand over the ownership of it assets under the government's planned water reforms, with Auckland Mayor Phil Goff saying his top priority is to ensure it stacks up for the city. Despite ...
Summer reissue: Join Michèle A’Court, Alex Casey and Leonie Hayden as they find out exactly what we’re voting on in the cannabis referendum, and discover how legalising weed is a women’s issue.First published August 4, 2020.Independent journalism depends on you. Help us stay curious in 2021. The Spinoff’s journalism is ...
A principal analyst for the Climate Change Commission says more needs to be done to reduce agricultural emissions or the country will miss its methane targets. ...
New Zealand needs to be bold in making developers enhance the environment - not just limit its degradation, writes Stephen Knight-Lenihan All human activity should help restore the natural world. This is a concept that may resonate following the upheavals of 2020 and one which is beginning to appear in law. Imagine ...
Derek Challis, son of the legendary author Robin Hyde, died last Thursday. Michelle Leggott pays tribute He opens a suitcase and there they are, the precious manuscript notebooks written by his poet mother Iris Wilkinson aka Robin Hyde. We are in Dunedin for a Hyde conference. Yes, says Derek Arden ...
Former New Zealand gymnast Katya Nosova is now a champion bodybuilder, who was prepared to spend Christmas alone in quarantine to compete in the 'Olympics' of her sport. Katya Nosova was willing to do everything she could to pose on the world stage in her third Ms Olympia. Despite a ...
Concerts and some sports look likely to be on the move in Auckland after a big win for Eden Park – and politicians and officials may now want to win the public some control over the independent stadium. The advent of big concerts at Eden Park will, in all likelihood, mean ...
Despite promises of improvement, questions remain about colonoscopy services in Otago and Southland.David Williams reports The apology, when it came, was fulsome. “On behalf of the Southern DHB, I offer a sincere apology for lapses and inadequacies in colonoscopy services over the past several years,” district health board chair ...
The issues political editor Justin Giovannetti will be keeping an eye on in 2021 (that have nothing to do with Covid-19).New Zealand will be busy in 2021. The border will remain closed to nearly all travellers and Covid-19 will continue to lead the news, but the country has a packed ...
A former case manager says that his experience working with beneficiaries suggests claims of a ‘complete shift’ in the service’s approach are laughable.A former Work and Income case manager who now works with beneficiaries engaging with the service has spoken out on a “toxic” culture which he says denies beneficiaries ...
ACC Minister Carmel Sepuloni must confirm whether the Government supports ACC’s apparent policy to make payouts for illegal overstayers , says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union . Union spokesman Jordan Williams says, “Since when was it ACC policy to ...
By RNZ News An independent panel says Chinese officials could have applied public health measures more forcefully in January to curb the initial covid-19 outbreak, and criticised the World Health Organisation (WHO) for not declaring an international emergency until 30 January. The experts reviewing the global handling of the pandemic, ...
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk Fiji’s NGO Coalition on Human Rights has called for stronger accountability and commitment to human rights at home in response to the country taking the world stage as the head of a UN body. The UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR) elected Fiji’s ambassador Nazhat Shameem as ...
Danyl McLauchlan reviews Stuart Ritchie’s Science Fictions, which outlines the staggering systemic flaws in the funding and publication of scientific papers. Back in August of 2006 a number of New Zealand scientists were caught up in a media controversy about whether Māori had a genetic predisposition towards violent crime. It kicked ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert G. Patman, Professor of International Relations, University of Otago America is currently experiencing its worst political and constitutional crisis since the civil war when the very survival of Abraham Lincoln’s government “of, by and for the people” was at stake. On ...
Manaaki Rangatahi report that young people experiencing homelessness are being further traumatized within the emergency accommodation where they have sought safety. Often these environments are unsafe, and unsuitable for young people to live in, and rangatahi ...
Can you figure out which of the above is the real Jacinda Ardern? Probably! But one day, that might not be true.There are many reasons to believe the internet shouldn’t exist. Social media empires exerting, intentionally or not, their control over sovereign governments. Baby Shark. Your aunt on Facebook.It pains ...
The Point of Order Ministers on a Mission Monitor has flickered only fleetingly for much of the month. More than once, the minister to trigger it has been David Parker, who set it off again yesterday with an announcement that shows how he has been spending our money. He welcomed ...
Ban Bomb Day event at the New Brighton Pier, 9am, on January 22nd, 2021 January 22nd, 2021, marks the first day the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) Enters into Force and becomes international law. Aotearoa NZ is one of the ...
Why are New Zealand’s 2 Minute Noodles called 3 Minute Noodles in the UK? It’s a puzzle that has taken hold of Dylan Reeve and refuses to let go.I’m a child of the 80s and 90s. I watched a lot of TV and was a big fan of aggressively marketed ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonatan A Lassa, Senior Lecturer, Humanitarian Emergency and Disaster Management, College of Indigenous Futures, Arts and Society, Charles Darwin University News of storms battering parts of Queensland and the threat posed by Cyclone Kimi reminded me of a recent experience I’d had. ...
The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that the use of force to effect the arrest of a wanted offender in Auckland was justified and proportionate to the risk he posed. A man, who was well known to Police, was wanted by Police for an aggravated ...
A distinctly colonial institution, banking has long ignored te ao Māori. Teaho Pihama believes investment in tikanga Māori at Kiwibank can have significant, positive outcomes for Māori.In early 90s Tāmaki Makaurau, when Teahooterangi (Teaho) Pihama was growing up riding his bike around the streets of Kingsland until the streetlights came ...
Donald Trump’s awful presidency expires at midday on Wednesday [US time] when Air Force One will have deposited him in Florida. He retreats to his Mar-a-Lago resort and Joseph R Biden Junior takes command of the White House. Trump’s has been an unpleasant presidency, brought about largely by his own ...
The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) has elected its National President for 2021. The election took place last Friday at an NZUSA Special General Meeting (SGM) in Wellington. Andrew Lessells, 22, was elected to serve as the National ...
Think twice before you accept that surprise school reunion invite, writes Chris Schulz.It started with a Facebook notification. A school reunion was being organised. It sounded fun, with a fancy dress party set to be held in the city where I grew up, Whanganui. I hadn’t seen some of my ...
Unlike the US, there is very little NZ precedent for politicians to issue discretionary pardons – creating a challenge for those like Prof Sean Davison who might have a humanitarian claim to mercy. ...
Schools have told the Education Review Office that some children lost 10 weeks of learning in last year's lockdowns, but the overall impact of the pandemic is still unclear. In a report based on surveys of thousand of students, teachers and principals during and after last year's national and Auckland ...
The government seems to still be in holiday mode when in the past two weeks alone we have had six homicides, countless firearms incidents, and police needing to arm themselves against gangs almost every second day," says Sensible Sentencing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Crawford, Associate Professor in Construction and Environmental Assessment, University of Melbourne Over the past few years, Australians have embraced online food delivery services such as UberEats, Deliveroo and Menulog. But home-delivered food comes with a climate cost, and single-use packaging is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland When the coronavirus pandemic hit Australia in March 2020, the Morrison government took bold and imaginative action. The most notable examples were its income support programs – JobKeeper, paying a A$750 weekly ...
Ocean Ute, which arrived at Port Taranaki yesterday, is the second live export ship to arrive in New Zealand this year. Taranaki Animal Rights Group has two demonstrations planned for today. A protest at midday and a vigil at 6.30pm tonight . The number ...
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SPORTS NEWS
Martin Crowe’s fiery protest
The retired New Zealand cricketing superstar Martin Crowe recently
staged a fiery protest against New Zealand cricket authorities
following their dumping of the NZ captain Ross Taylor…
http://www.thewitness.org/archive/mayjune2003/img/BurningMonk.jpg
Good on him, more boys club members with no clue on how to run a professional code. mcullam is a bad choice to replace Taylor and WTF was wrong with Taylor anyway?
We haven’t come a long way since Turner had beefs with these old boys over playing county and representing NZ we’ve just produced enough decent players to mask the real issues. Bad management and no consistent academy structure for bringing talent through combined with bias at rep level to mates and boys club members over talent.
Its an all too familiar tale in NZ sporting codes.
Splendid letter from Crowe in this morning’s Herald. Good for him!!
What is it with the US, and individuals shooting people/children in educational establishments – this time an elementary school? Land of the free? Champion of democracy?
Ha! WYSIWYG link button working again.
And the blockquote button? Nope. Not working at all.
The important thing to remember is its not the NRA’s fault, it’s the parents. If the toddlers had been armed they could have defended themselves.
That’s right. The more freedom there is to carry a gun the safer they will be. And we need to remember, of course, that guns don’t kill people, people do. /sarc
One of England’s leading philosophers, one TONY PARSONS, has written thoughtfully and philosophically on the issue….
‘The problem is not the gun laws of American but the limitless cruelty of the human race.’ https://twitter.com/TonyParsonsUK/status/279647164337106944
Thus he has proved, irrefutably and elegantly, that it is not guns that kill children in kindergartens, it is people of limitless cruelty.
Agree about the limitless cruelty thing, just also think there are two issues to deal with 1. how to stop having a society with cruel people 2. how to limit the weapons in a community when limitlessly cruel people are among us. It’s not either/or – and one before the other. They need to be addressed in tandem.
Rosy, I was pointing out the stupidity of Tony Parsons. He’s one of the shallowest and glibbest people in England.
Ah – sorry – the page you linked to doesn’t work, so I didn’t note the tone – can you summarise what he said?
That’s all he wrote, Rosy. In other words, instead of writing something sensitive and thoughtful, which would have required a degree of sensitivity and thoughtfulness, Parsons simply chose to recycle a ridiculous cliché. He had to write SOMETHING of course; as a handsomely remunerated “pundit” he is expected to deliver an opinion, no matter how ill-informed, on a range of topics.
Well, to be fair to Parsons, he was good for two years in the mid seventies, but that was more to do with speed, punk and his genius missus. The Boy Looked at Johnny is still a great read; no heroes any more.
1.) “Well, to be fair to Parsons, he was good for two years in the mid seventies,”
Let me hazard a guess, Te Reo—you love old issues of the NME as much as you love Private Eye. You appear to be a scholar as well as a gentleman.
2.) “but that was more to do with speed, punk and his genius missus.”
She wrote some interesting pop music comments in the 1970s, but her subsequent career has demonstrated that horrible woman is no genius. She’s a nasty piece of work, as well as being cast-iron ignorant.
Spent last weekend clearing out my old stuff from the oldie’s attic; lots of NME’s, PE’s, posters of Bowie etc. The NME really was superb from 77-83, Burchill, Parsons, Nick Kent, Paul Morley, Ian Penman through to Steven Wells and X Moore. Linking pop music to politics and philosophy was a liberation for me.
I still rate Burchill, (listening to her talking to DJ Steve Wright in ’93 as I write). There is little I agree with her about these days, but our mis-named mate The Contrarian really should look her up, as she’s been genuinely contrarian for 35 years:
“Bob Dylan broke his neck; close, but no cigar.”
Did you read that magazine (short-lived but very readable) she put out with Toby Young in the 1990s?
Modern Review? I think the ex liberated the few copies I had!
Yes, that’s it. I have a couple of copies in my basement, somewhere.
Guns in America ARE causes for much limitless cruelty of the human race! (Including high death rate among police persons).
Hi Dr T..
1: Who manufactures the guns and weapons
2: Who sells the guns and weapons
3: Who ensures that the guns and weapons are in continual use domestically/internationally
4: Who controls the legislations/contracts of those who manufacture the guns and weapons
5: Who cares if innocent people domestically/globally are dying through use of the guns and weapons, as long as *business remains good and retains control*
6: Who pulls the trigger on the gun or weapon, or issues the order for the weapons to be used
etc…
The anwer to any of the above does NOT include the word, gun or weapon
Well Karol, the idea is to instill the most fear, commit the attrocities which cover illicit the maximum emotive reaction . We have recently seen *attacks* on movie goers, then quickly followed by the sikh religious attacks, now followed by another attack on a school.
Fear, shock, horror, fear, emotive responses all geared at ramping towards a pre conceived outcome.
Lets see where the shit trail leads this time and which…
Yes, here we have the continuation of the repeated lone wolf meme again….
Here we have the standard confusion being created around a *second shooter*, which like the Cinema, Temple shootings will be quickly discarded..
Those who say that the guns are the problem, are simplistically wrong! The people commiting these *attrocities* are the problem, whoever they are, and the reasons behind it, complex, deliberate, and opaque!
Edit: Nice post above Morrissey
I’d like to know who thought it was a good idea to interview a child who was at the school, on the day of the shooting, and broadcast that all over the world. That lack of care and restraint is a big part of the picture too. It’s so much more sensational to broadcast the words of a child who was there, never mind that the child is traumatised or that listening to a traumatised child should not be news.
Hi Weka,
Very observant line of questioning again from you.
Further questions to ask are…Was this *girl* actually at the school, and is the *girl* being quoted, someone who has been brought in specifically to be *interviewed* for the *news*.
Was the *interview* even at, or near the location where the *news* was assumed to be reported from!
*sigh* I don’t know Muzza – does the school exist? Did the shooting happen? Is it all a big plan to bring about gun control so the population will have no defence against the government?
But as for questioning of one of the school children. Was parental consent required for that? – it’s an appalling example of ‘rolling’ news coverage.
The American Administration, or more accurately those behind it, will be just as happy to see the people killing eachother. Don’t forget the rulers do not give a toss about the masses, they have consistantly proven this decade in decade out, and the repeated attempts of remove the 2nd amendment, and attack the gun laws etc, is IMO, just for show. They don’t care for human life these people, and so for mine, there is little I would consider to be *out of the question*, so far as what else is in play!
Rolling news coverage – stages, props, actors, manipulation, controlling of narratives, telling stories and *creating history*.
The narrow channels of the supply of *news*, has made it ever more possible to *create news*, even any given event happened or not. Now I am not saying that this is/is not a real event, only that the hollywood, news media with its hstorical links to military and so on, can manufacture anything they want, and report it to the world within minutes.
Total control of *the news*, to take control of the emotional states, and state of helplessness of the masses. The desired nessages are continually reinforced through movies, tv, video games music videos etc!
Yet again the conspiracy meme. While you may get some vicarious thrill at imagining some shadowy conspiracy behind the US Administration ‘controlling the narrative’. The more obvious (and either boring or unbelievable for you) explanation is that the nature of the media coverage is simply the profit motive.
More hits, readers, viewers, hence more advertising revenue and profit – is the ultimate goal. With multiple internet and TV stations all providing non-stop 24-hr coverage, the way to get the ‘customers’ is to dramatise the story, make it more thrilling, horrible, contentious….
You may be right in saying that some of the many competing media outlets may ‘stage manage’ to make their ‘news’ more ‘interesting’ but don’t doubt for one second that these were real people killed by a lone madman.
Despite all the media saturation and dramatisation… the horror and shock is evident in the stark gut wrenching reality that 20 children …. 28 people…. have been killed in an awful way.
Like the tragedy of 9-11, this is a defining event that will have a profound effect on the mood, thoughts and subsequent actions of all Americans.
THIS IS WHY WE HAVE POVERTY – government employees not doing their jobs properly, or even taking the time to ensure people are receiving their full and correct entitlement.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8083554/Christmas-on-the-breadline
1) I suspect the TAS amount is wrong
2) the amount deducted for repayments can be reduced at the case managers discretion. Why is she paying $15 then? Clearly she can’t afford it.
3) the amount of child support needs to be reviewed. Clearly this is an unaffordable level for her.
4) has she been advised that she can apply for special needs grants such as food, clothing, etc etc??
government employees not doing their jobs properly, or even taking the time to ensure people are receiving their full and correct entitlement.
More likely it’s government employees being either under-resourced to do their jobs properly or being prevented from doing them properly by interference and mismanagment direct from the political level.
My younger brother who has a life-long disability (and while he can paint roofs, you would not wish what he has on your worst enemy) says he can always tells when National is in power because WINZ or it’s equivalent of the day, go from being merely depressing to deal with … to utterly miserly, malicous and mind-fucking.
I also have a permanent disability, and notice a big difference in WINZ between left and right governments. That’s why it fucks me off when people say there is no difference between Labour and NACT. There is, a very real difference. Depressing vs utterly miserly, malicious and mind-fucking is a good way to describe it, and anyone who thinks that isn’t a significant difference has too easy a life.
No, that is not why we have poverty. We have poverty because capitalism demands it.
3)Her child support should have dropped to the minimum $12 a week from the time she lost her job.
Writing or phoning the IRD and referring to an income reduction under s.40 should get it cut back.
WINZ should know this and as the IRD arrange to have all sorts of other things notified to them why are they not writing to someone who goes onto a benefit asking them if they need to apply for a payment reduction.
I tried to post on stuff but my password was not accepted so my comment is probably erased.
When it comes to down sizing a bedroom Bernadette will lose her TAS and she will be no better off. I assume she gets most if not all of tempoary additional support (TAS) for the rent.
Unless there is an increase in the accommodation supplement (AS) or affordable housing is made available the daily struggle on an empty stomach is not going to change. As well jobs are required, but I think that housing cost is easier to fix as the government could increase the AS or only review the TAS every 26 weeks and not the current 13 weeks and possibly increase TAS as well.
I have not read up on if people will lose $42 per week when on the invalid benefit (IB) if they are eligible for part time work testing as changes are to be made for those on IB next July.
People on IB are already stressed out enough due to chronic health conditions, (sometimes a few/ several) and reducing the IB for those who may be able to work part time on a good day is planet Key mentality.
I strongly object to restructuring a health benefit on the ground that a person is eligible for a benefit which is REQUIRED because of incapacity when it comes to employment and that the incapacity for employment is unknown on any given day.
I’d like to see confirmation of that IB policy, and the actual rules. Nevertheless Jenny Shipley cut medical benefits by $20/wk in 1990, so we know that NACT don’t give a shit, and are stupid beyond belief as well (what happens to ill people when they don’t have enough to live on? That’s right, they become even more dependent on the state).
Thank you for asking for clarification re IB changes as I saw an error I have made. Yesterday on Open Mike 4.
“Under the Bill, an invalid beneficary who is reclassified as a ‘job – seeker’ will face a cut in income from $256 to $213 a week – effectively a benefit cut of $213 a week.”
What is reclassified and how is this determined I am left asking myself?
Current Work Capacity Medical Certificate for Invalid Benefit asks:
Do the conditions listed previously limit the person’s capacity to work for 30 hours or more per week?
Do the conditions listed previously limit the person’s capacity to work regularly in open employment for 15 hours or more a week?
Is the person’s incapacity for work expected to last for at least 2 years?
Is the person’s life expectancy less than 2 years?
Is the person receive active treatment or under the care of specialist for any of the conditions listed previously? (their error receive)
When is the person likely to be capable of:
Work planning
Limited training (less than 15 hours per week)
Part-time work (at least 15 hours per week)
Full-time work (30 hours or more per week)
Are there any more treatments or interventions that could assist the person into work?
Unable to work from
When should the person’s capacity for work next be assessed?
Basically a person has to be unable to work for 15 hours a week for the next 2 years to currently qualify for the IB. I do not know if this is going to be reclassified or how as then you get the situation I described in 3.4 paragraph 5&6. As well sickness benefit is going to be absorbed as job seeker, IB will be supported living and a parenting one.
Full-time work is at least 30 hours a week.
How can a person who is forced to come off the IB then be expected to be available to work 30 hours a week as a job seeker when they can only work 16 hours a week?
Correction paragraph 2 – effectively a benefit cut of $42 (even though it is $43).
Thanks for that. btw, I know SBs who are being refused IB. I think mostly WINZ is using the 30hr category now. Anyone capable of working 15 hrs will be on SB.
The only thing I’ve found so far is this –
http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/newsroom/media-releases/2011/welfare-reform.html
Taking that at face value, I think what they will be doing is trying to shift some people off IB and onto SB, just using new names. That explains the drop in rate. Still looking for the new criteria.
Just like the ACC swindle (pushed from ACC to invalids).
“Thanks for that. btw, I know SBs who are being refused IB”
I’m one All the letters and medical certificates went in and some faceless tame doctor, who I have never seen said No I was able to work. And that was that, they said I could ask for a review, but as I told them at the time, whats the point, as you have already made up your minds.
I went back to the specialists and they say there’s nothing they can do as the risks of surgery are so bad that they won’t even try. But WiNZ don’t give a toss. I have probably been underpaid by 40 odd buck’s a week, and that’s really hard on the finances, with a toddler and a teen. Oh well the next installment is clothes for the Teen that’ll be fun.
I am waiting for Bennet to put a stop to your GP being able to do IB medical certificate assessment and go back to the gravy train designated doctors who will lick her boots.
By this time next year I dread to think how high unemployment, hospital admissions and crime will be.
and homelessness.
Good on the woman for going public, although that probably speaks more to desperation than anything else.
SNGs for anything other than food will create more debt 🙁 If she has a sudden unexpected bill she should pay that, and then get WINZ to pay for her food for that week (thus avoiding more debt). There is a limit on the SNGs per year though.
Reducing the debt repayment to $5/wk is a not brainer and should have been done as a matter of course.
She’s probably not getting her full disability allowance either.
Probably not as WINZ staff have been getting worse over the years. It’s as if Bennet has put out a missive allowing the staff to be as difficult and non informing of entitlement’s as they want to be.
Also why was she made to stand down for 3 weeks or so?? She recieved NO redunduncy payment, so WINZ HAD to make sure she was really suffering before they will do anything.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/kate-middleton-prank-call-royal-1488880
Kate Middleton prank call: Royal hoax nurse’s anger at hospital in suicide note
14 Dec 2012
In one emotional letter Jacintha Saldanha criticises senior colleagues at the King Edward VII hospital over her treatment after she was duped by two Aussie DJs….
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/kate-middleton-prank-call-royal-1488880
This is a terrible tragedy for Jacintha and her family. The Aussie DJ’s prank was despicable. But they were following the infotainment logic of our MSM.
Why is no one questioning the celebrity-focused role of the MSM at large? Why do they create a feeding frenzy around a royal pregnancy? Our MSM gave it more front page, prime-time coverage than the TPP talks that were happening in Auckland at the same time. The TPP is far more crucial to the future of NZers.
Hi Karol,
The charade that makes up the *news*, and the actors who play the parts is becoming too transparent these days, forget about the microscope its in front of the face. *News* is to be considered almost completely staged manipulation, with actors playing/presenting or editing/writing the scripts, and the truth is unlikely to ever see the light of day, even if the *news* event, ever happened or not.
Ther hysteria which surrounds the trash media and propagates as *news*, can be considered as simply this.
Mass manipulation of the public – a global psyop!
“The Aussie DJ’s prank was despicable.”
No it was not “despicable”, it was simply a prank, and a light-hearted, good-humoured one. Nobody—absolutely nobody—could have predicted what later happened.
Clearly not light-hearted and good-humoured for the person on the receiving end. The people who broadcast this stuff without permission don’t/didn’t have any understanding of the trauma and humiliation some victims of their ‘pranks’ might feel. Mr/Ms Everyday person might not be as extrovert as they are, nor be able to brush of a perceived humiliation that easily.
Really? No one could predict a prank would go wrong? It’s only the plot of every second sitcom episode of all time.
And it’s “light-hearted” and “good-humoured” to attempt to access a person’s medical records by deception?
Sure, if you don’t understand the latter, and have no empathy for the people being pranked and how they might feel like they’ve betrayed a sacred trust, sure, I suppose it’s just an innocent little joke.
The DJs work on a station which previously hooked a 14-year-old up to a polygraph to ask her about her sex life. When she revealed having been raped – and the immediate follow-up question from the DJ was “okay, but is that the only sexual experience you’ve had?” I suppose that was just a bit of light-hearted fun which no one could’ve predicted would go wrong either.
Prank-calling a hospital where a royal family member has checked in for an almost certainly bogus reason is entirely acceptable. You can go all North Korean if you want, but the rest of the (sane) world sees these publicly funded parasites as fair game.
The other prank you mention WAS despicable, and I share your contempt for the perpetrators. Your deliberate twisting of my argument to suggest I would approve of that is unworthy of you.
has checked in for an almost certainly bogus reason
No please, do go on, this should be fascinating.
jaysus.
Exactly! The frenzied attack upon these two DJ’s is dreadful and right out of proportion (for all that we rightly sympathise with the nurse). Others must also be held to account.
I think the hospital also has some culpability.
It seems odd that they did not have a filtering process in place that all calls about celebrities went through to ensure appropriate confidentiality.
“I think the hospital also has some culpability.”
Wrong. The person responsible for Jacintha Soldana’s suicide was Jacintha Soldana. Any blaming of the radio DJs or the hospital is mere recycling of the hysteria whipped up by the steaming hypocrites in the Murdoch empire.
Morrisey would the suicide have happened IF there was no prank call, if the media had not published it and if the Nurse had a filtering mechanism on the calls.
Jacinta was responsible for her actions BUT there is a chain of culpability.
“Jacinta was responsible for her actions BUT there is a chain of culpability.”
Then all these people must also be prosecuted: the cafetaria worker who did not smile at her, the bus driver who was gruff and taciturn instead of being sunny and positive, the BBC news readers who read out grim economic and political news each day, the hospital patient who grumbled about something the day before….
There is one person culpable for this death, and it’s not either of the light-hearted pranksters.
Gee Morrisey
You don’t understand anything about some people’s desire to maintain high standards in their work and to do an excellent job which they take pride in and are esteemed for, and also needing to receive a good salary for that high standard of work.
You ought to put yourself forward to your electorate to stand in the next election. You sound very suitable because of your narrow focus and lack of understanding of society to fit you to be a politician.
Then all these people must also be prosecuted:
DUH.
Poor old baffled Dv had this to contribute to the discourse….
“DUH.”
Perhaps a good lie-down would get that brain working again. Certainly something needs to be done, and pronto.
Yes Morrissey, it is your very carefull analysis of cause and effect that has confused me.
Sorry about that. But I see your brain is working just fine again. I think you’ll find that my meaning will become clear after repeated reading, followed by deep thought, perhaps with a panel discussion to follow.
Morrissey’s level of empathy for Jacintha Saldanha is aptly demonstrated by his refusal to take the time to spell her name properly.
My apologies to the family for mis-spelling her name.
Now, explain how that equates with a lack of empathy. And after you’ve done explaining that, explain why you’ve taken your lead in this from the tender-hearted, empathetic folk who work for the Murdoch papers and Sky TV.
[citation needed]
Yeah i agree with you on that, a hospital such as this with regular ‘important people’ as patients would surely have had protocols on what could and couldn’t be said about patients over the phone,
“The Royals” themselves with all the trials and tribulations that they have been through with the media can hardly cry about their privacy being breached as you would think that there would have been in place a system whereby any enquiries were transferred to a royal media minder,
Cheap pricks got what they paid for…
The facets of a prank phone call having many real consequences is a big learning curve to everyone involved and a lesson on how tragic a prank can be.
I do hope that the bereavement counselling offered to the family of Jacintha is not connected with the hospital as their notes could be accessed by the hospital. The hospital cannot be trusted as they have been caught out not knowing that they were critcised in one of the three letters which Jacintha wrote.
When it comes to culture I also hope that the counsellor can identify with cultural practice pertaining to Jacintha’s reaction as it would differ from my European/Polish identity.
LOOKALIKE
Can YOU spot the difference between these violent men?
Professional musician Jimmy Mason was convicted of assaulting a child after an incident on the Bridge of Remembrance in central Christchurch in 2007. The 49-year-old Christchurch man admitted to flicking his son’s ear to “reprimand” him for “riding dangerously near a busy street”.
The case became a cause célèbre for the Kiddy-Whackers Association fronted by Bob McCoskrie, and the S.S. Trust fronted by Garth “Mac the Knife” McVicar. To these kinds of people, assaulting a child on the street means a man is not a thug, but an exemplar of family values, and the very model of the “good parent”.
If you do NOT belong to one of these psychotic organizations, and retain some measure of moral and ethical normality, you probably thought that, after his disgraceful display of self-pity and defiance following his conviction for assault, Jimmy Mason would slither away into deserved obscurity.
However, the emergence of his doppelganger in England has brought back all the horrifying memories….
Consider this picture of James Mason….
http://media.apnonline.com.au/img/media/images/2010/11/03/mason_460x23046423.feature-image_t300.jpg
And now look at the bloke in this article….
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/keep-jlc-off-cbb-justin-lee-1489893
Creepy… or what?
This forum is a bear pit containing a large sub-group of haters and wreckers exhibiting psychopathic traits. Their prefered means of attack is to latch on to the victim using the most vile language possible, then, having done as much damage as they can (to the enormous satisfaction of a blood-thirsty crowd observing the sport) they sanctimoneously pretend they are people of peace and reason who selflessly spend their lives protecting the weak and innocent. I have an extremely bad taste in my mouth. I will now leave the arena and attempt a ritual purification to rid myself of the stench. Good luck gentle-folk in your search for a fairer, kinder world….
Without the slightest hint of self-awareness.
The lack of self-awareness makes it hilarious, though, you have to admit.
Other than “fatty” and Brett Dale, who are probably one and the same person, is Grant Hay the most bewildered person to post on this forum in the past year? I’d like to know if there has been a more confused contribution from anyone.
Grant Hay 5.1
Citation? The whole forum is a bear pit? Bears have feelings too you know.
Thoughts and wishes to the people of Connecticut, what
can one say about this tragic event. As someone who has
family in CT, including younger relatives, this is an awful day.
Here’s hoping there is not a day like this again in CT or
anywhere.
“…what can one say about this tragic event.”
Of one thing we can be sure: Brett Dale will not say anything intelligent or insightful about this tragedy.
“Here’s hoping there is not a day like this again in CT or anywhere.”
Far worse than this is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan every day. You have been loud in your support of it. And your blood-soaked cheerleading for the carnage in Gaza last month makes your words of solicitude nothing but the most callous hypocrisy.
Morrissey:
As someone whos got family in the area, including younger relatives, I think I have just as much as right to comment as anyone else. This is a tragic event.
Then condemn the far greater massacres being perpetrated in the middle east, instead of applauding them, you hypocrite.
Dont see the connection, at the moment my concern is how upset my
younger relatives are in CT, maybe you should stick to prank calling murray deaker.
“Dont see the connection…”
You don’t? Then you are either dimmer or even more depraved than I thought you were.
Again my sympathy goes out to the victims and the families and the children who
survived and who will now be terrified, here’s hoping again, they get the help they need.
Is that sympathy expressed for the victims, the families, and the survivors of the massacre in Gaza? If not, your words are insincere and worthless.
Again. dont see the connection, shouting out Gaza or Iraqi everytime an unrelated tragic event happens in the USA,is cliche.
Again, this is a tragic event and my thoughts and wishes goes out to people in CT.
Its a shame people have a a problem with people giving sympathy to Americans.
“Its a shame people have a a problem with people giving sympathy to Americans.”
I have no problem with people giving sympathy to Americans. I have a great problem with people who applaud mass murder expressing selective sympathy.
It’s like if someone were to loudly, publicly, speak out in support of the PERPETRATOR of a knife-murder, then pretend that he is a VICTIMS advocate.
I will become sympathetic to the Gazans when they stop firing rockets into Israel. But, when they stop firing rockets, then the Israelis will stop trying to stop the rockets, which means peace will return. and then I won’t need to be sympathetic.
Hey, maybe that means its in the Gazans own hands. That is IF they want peace of course. Or maybe what they want is what they always say they want and that is to push the Israelis into the sea. But that would be mean, wouldn’t it. It can’t be right.
Yep, because in a conflict between an economically-repressed, militarily-occupied people and powerful military occupiers supported by the United States, it’s definitely the people whose land got invaded who need to prove they’re interested in peace. 🙄
El Stupido blithered moronically: “But that would be mean, wouldn’t it. It can’t be right.”
You are an ignoramus.
Fracking ‘could create 7000 jobs’
All while not poisoning and killing flora/forna/human beings…what a sales pitch!
A genuine win-win-win for all.
I shouldn’t need the use the /sarc tag, but just in case!
Ghost jobs.
Calling All Sports-Loving Prank Callers
It’s time to step up and do your duty
Let’s proceed on the assumption that prank calls DO actually lead to the receiver committing suicide. If that is true, then every sports lover in the country needs to do THIS as often as he/she can, until the inevitable happy result comes about …
Another gun tragedy in the USA. The biggest since the last one according to the media. More will follow, followed by the wails and sadness of all ad infinitum. Without any meaningful legislation likely to limit gun ownership and easy use. The latest is that some people want to take guns to their workplace. Handy for a Post employee pushed to the limit. And a sign of the deterioration of civil life and attitudes in ‘the greatest little country on the planet’ with the best democracy and political system and military and private weapons that money can buy.
In China there have been a number of knife killings at schools.
Can anybody direct me to a study of this type of crime, the drivers and the perpetrators. Why children? In this USA one the guy wanted to kill his mother but took out bunches of unconnected children too. Were they her class?
I’ll have a post up about this shortly.
We are probably lucky that China and Russia have tried to get UN to allow bigger state controls over the internet. That meant that USA would be against it, though they are anxious themselves to box and contain it. And NZ wouldn’t agree either because we are the USA’s dingy dinghy bouncing behind in their wake. So we’re OK for the present but wait for the next attack on the freedom of the internet that go beyond a reasonable minor level.
<b>DEAKER-WATCH No. 4
“Anders” Deaker stands up for Christian civilization
No action by Sky over Deaker’s SBW comment</b>
7:24 AM Monday Mar 12, 2012
Sky TV says it will take no action against broadcaster Murray Deaker after he reportedly said All Black star and boxer Sonny Bill Williams made him “uncomfortable” because “he is a Muslim in a so-called Christian country”.
Deaker reportedly made the slur about Williams, who converted to Islam in 2009, on the Deaker on Sports show on February 29.
Sky Television spokeswoman Kirsty Way said today that the remark was made during a live discussion and its meaning was taken out of context when read in isolation.
No action would be taken by Sky TV against Deaker.
A copy of the tape could be released only with Deaker’s approval because he had editorial control of the show, Ms Way said.
Deaker could not be reached for comment last night. Williams’ manager Khoder Nasser did not wish comment further when contacted yesterday evening. He earlier said he was disgusted by what Deaker said.
“As you get older, they say you get wiser. You are closer to the grave, which gives you a sense of realism, you become humbled and more accepting of other human beings. But the older this man gets, the more bigoted he becomes.”
Hundreds of comments have been posted on Twitter condemning Deaker’s remarks. “If Sky won’t cancel Deaker’s show…”
Read more, then <b>prank-call him</b>….
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10791405
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
DEAKER-WATCH is a series dedicated to highlighting the contributions of Murray Deaker to New Zealand public life.
DEAKER-WATCH No.1… http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-13032012/#comment-446445
DEAKER-WATCH No. 2…http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-14032012/#comment-447110
DEAKER-WATCH No. 3…http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-15032012/#comment-447518
DEAKER-WATCH No. 4…
Why on earth would sky cancel the rantmeister bigot and all the publicity he generates.
Its not there’s competition is there.
The best reason to cancel his show must be his ratings. Nobody watches it.
What are you on Morrissey? I hope that you have something lined up to occupy you for Christmas as it would be discouraging to see your pseudo every second or third comment.
Okay, Viper, I’m hip with that “Less is more” philosophy. I’ll tone it down from now on.
Meanwhile, enjoy this amusing vegetable…
http://lovecarrots.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/ronnie_hoggan_carrot.jpg
Morrisey
Carrots – so good for one. Healthy, good for your eyes etc. And watch Brett Dale DFT. Save your time for your other good comments. I like your reporting of some of the discourses on the media.
Public Apology to “fatty”
Earlier this morning, I launched into an intemperate tirade against our good friend “fatty”, calling him “ignorant” and “arrogant”. Of course, I turned out to have mis-identified him; his comments are in fact well thought out, and clearly well informed.
I therefore retract all the comments I made against “fatty” and beg his forgiveness….
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42723000/jpg/_42723661_slavery_pa203b.jpg
That’s a very weird photo to put with an apology.
Was reading a book last evening and it reflected upon Leadership and Management.
In New Zealand in a political view I considered the countries Leaders.
Like it or not Key and Norman have Leadership qualities, whereas it would appear that Shearer has Management.
The view considered was that Leaders are naturals whereas Managers can be taught, but perhaps are not, nor ever can be, Leaders.
Key is not a Manager ie a details man
Norman is a Leader, maybe with some Management – not sure, as he is an enigma.
But Shearer lacks the vital empathy to be a Leader – but he has Management skills learned overseas
Cunliffe has neither – cannot see a Labour Leader though, Shearer is the best bet as a good Manager.
Not sure what your criteria are for deciding who is which, especially the claim that Cunliffe has neither managerial nor leadership qualities. From what I have seen and heard he is very competent and energetic, and I have seen that has a very good relationship with his electorate.
Fortran
The support and admiration that Cunliffe has earned among the majority of rank and file might suggest sifnificant LEADERSHIP qualities?
The success Cunliffe has had taking a National seat and growing his majority in five elections might suggest significant LEADERSHIP and MANAGEMENT qualities?
Cunliffe’s impeccable run in ministerial positions, Health, Immigration and Telecommunications/ITmight might suggest significant LEADERSHIP and exceptional MANAGEMENT qualities?
Cunliffe’s sticking with his core LABOUR values and turning the other cheek while some people do their “tall poppy” act on him is the mark or a great leader.
Fortran, your comment on Cunliffe is wrong. He will prove that he is streets ahead of Key, when he becomes PM.
I was shocked to hear on the news that a spokesperson for a church saw nothing wrong about having a paedophile in a group at a school as part of some project/ outreach the church was doing. He said that the school did not have any rules about this so he thought it was perfectly okay. WTF.
He sounded like a youngish man, just my impression, and it underlines that young men need to be aware and thoughtful about people’s problems in society. Someone on the radio recently said that some paedophiles automatically fall in to grooming mode when around youngsters. They will present themselves as friends to the child who appears vulnerable, feeling lonely or bored even, and its a big boost to a child to have someone who takes an interest. And the devious background thinking would be unknown.
Is it just me, or is ts more fractious than normal today?
I think you’re right, my friend. The fraught tempers are probably caused by a combination of hot weather and the presence of a cynical provocateur like Brett Dale.
Tonight I read a report in a leading European paper, on Greece and the absolutely shocking situation there, where a society is split into those still struggling to manage and those falling down through the former social net. It is SHOCKING reading.
Now crime is rampant, social division is the rule, there is even talk of civil war.
The foreign banks get blamed, and some of them carry some blame, but I fear it goes beyond that now. There is racism, nazism, unrest and worse taking place there, and I fear it will spread across many other countries in Southern Europe.
Now does this not ring a bell? Have you heard of crime, tension, poverty and so forth?
Do the ones still living in middle class comfort not get it? Do you want to taste the full blow perhaps? I fear you have another thing coming very soon!
NZ is on the verge of explosion too, once we have the next welfare “reforms” being pushed through. Force poor, sick and disabled, mums not able to get a job, to look for work that does not exist. John Key, you are asking for another Queen Street Riot, I am afraid!