Open mike 16/11/2013

99 comments on “Open mike 16/11/2013 ”

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1. Paul 1

   16 November 2013 at 6:40 am

   Claire Trevett writing the usual fawning nonsense for her masters at the Herald.
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/claire-trevett/news/headlines.cfm?a_id=74
   • Murray Olsen 1.1

     16 November 2013 at 6:26 pm

     Looking at the accompanying photo, I’m again reminded how much I hate the aggressive body language of these politicians, who throw themselves at a person they’re meeting and forcefully grab their hand as if to impose dominance. With Abbott, it looks like he’s reliving his days as a boxer, of whom a sparring partner said “I never saw a punch that Tony Abbott couldn’t block. With his face.”
2. AsleepWhileWalking 2

   16 November 2013 at 6:42 am

   On a day of action against rape culture I ask why ACC who are legislated to prevent accidents (ref: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2001/0049/latest/DLM103143.html ) have not acted to prevent sexual abuse from happening?

   Am I wrong about this or is a corporation that makes profits in the billions simply ignoring their obligations under legislation because it is convenient to to so, or perhaps because they haven’t been challenged to do so?

   In sharp contrast we have a very grateful RPE for the $11K raised through social media: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1311/S00196/social-media-raises-over-11k-for-rape-prevention-education.htm
   • weka 2.1

     16 November 2013 at 7:33 am

     Good point!
   • Ed 2.2

     16 November 2013 at 8:25 am

     You are wrong in one respect, ACC should never make a profit in the same sense as a company which can then pay a dividend to shareholders. It is more like a mutual society or cooperative – it should only be charging levies to provide what it needs to generate the money to pay claims, including reserves for future payments necessary to preserve generational equity. If National starts plundering the ACC for money to reduce its growing borrowing obligations, we should all vigorously protest!
     • Draco T Bastard 2.2.1

       16 November 2013 at 12:54 pm

       ACC was never supposed to even run at a surplus or have investments as it was a pay-as-you-go scheme. As I point out over here such can be run at very close to cost and is thus far cheaper than any system that requires a profit.

       It got changed because of the stupidity of the neo-liberals in Labour.
   • QoT 2.3

     16 November 2013 at 7:15 pm

     One speaker at the Wellington march today made the point that rape isn’t an accident and it’s actually a bit shit to make people who have been assaulted go through the same process as people who’ve fallen off a ladder putting up Christmas lights.
     • Draco T Bastard 2.3.1

       16 November 2013 at 8:01 pm

       +1
3. Tigger 3

   16 November 2013 at 7:58 am

   The visits to Sri Lanka epitomise everything wrong with our government.

   http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9407222/McCully-sits-on-fence-on-Sri-Lanka-war-crimes

   “As world leaders converged on Colombo for the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting this weekend, there is growing momentum for an international inquiry into alleged atrocities carried out in the final months of the 26-year conflict, which ended four years ago. The New Zealand government is yet to back calls for an inquiry.

   McCully rejected a suggestion it is a deliberately soft stance to protect burgeoning dairy trade with the island nation.

   “No, it’s not. And I don’t think that our stance is soft by comparison. We sit pretty much in the middle of the spectrum,” he insisted.”

   What is the ‘middle ground’?

   “Key is due to meet with President Rajapaksa tomorrow and has pledged to raise Sri Lanka’s human rights record. He will spend much of the weekend lobbying for a seat on the UN Security Council.”

   Nothing public that would on love taking any moral stand. BS he will. He’ll laugh, say ‘sorry everyone is being mean to you’ and ask for support.

   Key, fence sitter.
   • miravox 3.1

     16 November 2013 at 8:06 am

     Apparently human rights in Sri Lanka is such an mild, non-controversial topic that Key and his mates will ‘mull over’ torture, illegal imprisonment and murder of non-combatants while having a few drinks.

     http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9405539/hope-they-vomit-on-it
     • Paul 3.1.1

       16 November 2013 at 9:15 am

       He really is the most embarrassing PM ever.
       Chatting about the cricket is about as far as he could manage.
       • charles kinbote 3.1.1.1

         16 November 2013 at 7:41 pm

         your comments are deep Paul,
   • BM 3.2

     16 November 2013 at 8:29 am

     Key needs to wave a flag, that would show them.
     • Te Reo Putake 3.2.1

       16 November 2013 at 8:36 am

       He already has; a white one.
   • BLiP 3.3

     16 November 2013 at 9:10 am

     ‘

     Huh? New Zealand is in no position to lecture Sri Lanka about humans rights. John Key is there to get handy hints for going forward.

     . . . “There have been twelve pieces of legislation in recent years that have been identified as inconsistent with the rights and freedoms protected in the New Zealand Bill of Rights, and on a number of occasions urgency has been used in Parliament to limit or bypass select committee scrutiny,” he [New Zealand Law Society President Chris Moore] says.

     “The Law Society is also concerned that there has been legislation prohibiting review of government decisions by the courts, and proposing restrictions on rights to legal representation in Family Court proceedings. Other significant concerns include giving the power to amend legislation by regulation without parliamentary scrutiny, and not vetting late amendments to draft bills for their consistency with the Bill of Rights” . . .
     • Tigger 3.3.1

       16 November 2013 at 9:13 am

       While I agree that our govt is poor, it could be worse.

       http://guardianlv.com/2013/11/sri-lanka-tortures-and-rape-become-uncovered/
       • Paul 3.3.1.1

         16 November 2013 at 9:23 am

         The Canadian and Indian leaders boycott CHOGM because of genocide.
         The UK Prime minister visits the Northern city Jaffna and lectures the SRA Lankan government over these atrocities.
         Our PM mulls it all over a drink.

         David Tong commented how he was ashamed to be a New Zealander over the government’s reaction to the Philippines.
         adoptanegotiator.org/2013/11/12/and-they-laughed/

         This is just another example of how quickly we are becoming a laughing stock in the world thanks to our merchant banker P.M.
         He knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
         • The Pink Postman 3.3.1.1.1

           16 November 2013 at 3:04 pm

           Good point “Over a drink” this guy likes his drink to much ,and it is showing.
           His antics in parliament are those of a person who has had a bit to much.
           • David H 3.3.1.1.1.1

             16 November 2013 at 9:17 pm

             So thats where he is on a Thursday arvo, No wonder he’s never seen.
       • Paul 3.3.1.2

         16 November 2013 at 9:23 am

         The Canadian and Indian leaders boycott CHOGM because of genocide.
         The UK Prime minister visits the Northern city Jaffna and lectures the SRA Lankan government over these atrocities.
         Our PM mulls it all over a drink.

         David Tong commented how he was ashamed to be a New Zealander over the government’s reaction to the Philippines.
         adoptanegotiator.org/2013/11/12/and-they-laughed/

         This is just another example of how quickly we are becoming a laughing stock and a pariah in the world thanks to our merchant banker P.M.
         He knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
         • Tigger 3.3.1.2.1

           16 November 2013 at 11:04 am

           +2 🙂
   • greywarbler 3.4

     16 November 2013 at 11:18 am

     Our politicians and powerful poohbas ideas about history I view with sadness and resignation.
     I hear McCully about the decision of the government to go to Sri Lanka and to look forward and not dwell on the past. Otherwise what a waste of opportunity for poster boy. McCully is well placed in this government bogged down in self serving attitudes. Forget history, ignoring it is more convenient for making personally and politically advantageous moves.

     And the same thinking is what applies to Pike River’s people hurt and bruised from the coldness of government, the callousness after warm heartfelt words from Key. It takes energy to maintain will though, and NZ is short of energy, National finds it too expensive. They have done a cost benefit on the energy required to stand behind promises and avowed intentions and meet people’s expectations, and have matched it to the ratio of votes they might lose by not spending it and like the shareholder owners of Pike River now have decided that the putea is empty.

     There is a piece on Radionz this morning on Pike River from Rebecca Macfie who is a gem seam of information. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday
     Audio will probably be up around 12 pm.
     11:05 Rebecca Macfie
     Rebecca Macfie is a senior writer with the New Zealand Listener. She has 25 years’ experience in journalism and many awards to her credit including magazine feature writer at the 2013 Canon Media Awards. Her new book is Tragedy at Pike River Mine: How and Why 29 Men Died (Awa Press, ISBN: 978-1-877551-90-1).

     And our attitudes to history. Do we forget about World War 1? No. It is personally and politically advantagous to ride a popular wave of gathering around on Anazc Day. There are votes in it. People go to a parade and then there are heads down while pious things are said and people take their boys along to see the uniforms and feel the drama.

     I go along to a small civic memorial held by a memorial by the local high church. A few years back I asked for some input, some words from ordinary people, a poem from someone, some thoughts from the College youngsters. I think done once, but now I have to stir again just to get a mike so people can hear the set program read from year to year. I should memorise it.
     How often does WW2 get remembered and officially mentioned at ceremonies? It took ages for Vietnam.

     Don’t bother about history. Don’t learn from history. It makes it easier if you choose to not look at the near past, the medium past.. It is safe to go back to the classic past and quote from Roman, Greek, conflicts, the Bible. Then look forward and follow the trend to be punitive, to show them, to act in revenge, to do the pre-emptive strike, to see everything from your own perspective with no deflecting to admit there are other points of view to understand, with rituals that satisfy shallow sentiment and convention
   • Naturesong 3.5

     16 November 2013 at 1:44 pm

     “Key, fence sitter.”

     You spelt “coward” wrong
4. BLiP 4

   16 November 2013 at 9:06 am

   ‘

   Home of the brave and land of the . . . ummm . . . what was it again?

   . . . A few months later Jackson was convicted of shoplifting and sent to Angola prison in Louisiana. That was 16 years ago. Today he is still incarcerated in Angola, and will stay there for the rest of his natural life having been condemned to die in jail. All for the theft of a jacket, worth $159.

   Jackson, 53, is one of 3,281 prisoners in America serving life sentences with no chance of parole for non-violent crimes. Some, like him, were given the most extreme punishment short of execution for shoplifting; one was condemned to die in prison for siphoning petrol from a truck; another for stealing tools from a tool shed; yet another for attempting to cash a stolen cheque . . .

   Moar from the ACLU.
   • joe90 4.1

     16 November 2013 at 9:32 am

     Meanwhile..

     http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/11/sweden-closes-prisons-number-inmates-plummets
5. Paul 5

   16 November 2013 at 9:40 am

   Scandinavians understand crime and punishment.
   http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/04/bastoy-norwegian-prison-works
6. chris73 6

   16 November 2013 at 10:06 am

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11157962

   – An astute piece of commentary with some sage advice for Cunliffe…but is he man enough to take it?
   • tricledrown 6.1

     16 November 2013 at 11:02 am

     c73 what utter trash
     • chris73 6.1.1

       16 November 2013 at 11:07 am

       Remove your blinkers and you might see what a large portion of the voting public sees…
       • fender 6.1.1.1

         16 November 2013 at 11:20 am

         I think you mean what Armstrong wants the voting pubic to see with the help from his blue tinted glasses.
         • chris73 6.1.1.1.1

           16 November 2013 at 11:55 am

           Not really, I’ve noticed (and if I’ve noticed then others must have) that when hes speaking to the converted hes all fire and brimstone and he’ll do this and he’ll do that and then at the end he’ll quietly say something like “if the books allow” but when hes talking to business groups the message changes considerably
           • fender 6.1.1.1.1.1

             16 November 2013 at 12:23 pm

             “If the books allow” seems a fiscally responsible stance to have. I know you righties would like him to make huge promises he may not be able to deliver due to the economic straightjacket Nact have fastened, but it’s DC who is being astute in not over promising.

             DC deserves praise for wanting to minimise gambling harm, and Key deserves scorn for caring more about the owners of a gambling den he gives preferential treatment to.
             • felix …

               16 November 2013 at 4:59 pm

               Yep, chris73 is upset because Cunliffe isn’t making rash promises.

               Sucks because chris73 already had all his lines worked out so now he has to lie about reality to make it fit his fantasy.
             • newsense …

               22 November 2013 at 1:16 am

               “But the Labour leader seems to want to have it all ways. He told Parliament that Labour – if it won power – would not “dynamite” a half-built convention centre. Neither would it rip up the contract . Yet, Labour reserved the right to review the contract, particularly the number of gaming tables.

               That would still amount to breaking the contract. But Cunliffe says Labour is not guaranteeing that it would pay compensation.”

               Sky City certainly never got broad parliamentary agreement for this, so farken tough luck. If Sky City want to win a bid through avoiding process and Key personally leaving his mark on the landscape, well tough farken luck. If the process was open and rigorous and had achieved satisfaction from all major stakeholders, no problem. If we want to buy a few jobs by selling some sick gamblers to an arrogant Aussie corporate to feast on…well they weren’t going to vote National anyway right?
         • McFlock 6.1.1.1.2

           16 November 2013 at 1:32 pm

           A voting pubic? With a blue tint?
           Sounds like a style fashion to follow the Brazilian 🙂
           • fender 6.1.1.1.2.1

             16 November 2013 at 1:48 pm

             Ha…well spotted 🙂

             Any Avatar stars on the electoral roll should have their vote counted too!
             • Rogue Trooper …

               16 November 2013 at 5:52 pm

               For fender :
               “the history of religion is the history of the state ” and they struggle on…
               • fender …

                 16 November 2013 at 10:08 pm

                 🙂 That Trevor Hodgett sure got a lesson he needed, what an appalling review. The Stormcock album is a masterpiece ffs!, hats off to (Roy) Harper he’s a one man rock and roll band
       • muzza 6.1.1.2

         16 November 2013 at 11:44 am

         The voting public are sheep , C73, just they way you are having to play trollop in this site.

         Large portions of the voting public, don’t see, or understand, squat!

         FIFY

         Baa
         • chris73 6.1.1.2.1

           16 November 2013 at 12:36 pm

           Large portions of the voting public, don’t see, or understand, squat!

           – I won’t disagree thats why the headline of the article is so important, most people will read the headline and skim over the rest
           • fender 6.1.1.2.1.1

             16 November 2013 at 12:47 pm

             So the headline is the most important (astute) thing in a one-eyed propaganda piece?

             You should have just said that in your initial comment/link.
       • Paul 6.1.1.3

         16 November 2013 at 11:55 am

         You vote for the Tories, Chris. They offer you your nirvana. Offer them advice.
         Just don’t expect all parties to listen to Tories’ and their sage advice.
         Something tells me that their advice has other motivations.
         Maybe you should be posting your thoughts on right wing websites for your kind of people.
         • chris73 6.1.1.3.1

           16 November 2013 at 12:26 pm

           Well I’d offer them advice except that they one the last two elections and look like they’re on traack to win the next so I don’t think they need any
           • Paul 6.1.1.3.1.1

             16 November 2013 at 12:52 pm

             Then relax.
             Find something better to do.
             • fender …

               16 November 2013 at 1:03 pm

               He can’t relax because it’s not really looking like “they’re on track to win the next” election.
           • ropata 6.1.1.3.1.2

             16 November 2013 at 1:02 pm

             Hoorayyy (slow clap) the blue team won.
             Never mind the effects of the national govt on the people, environment, and economy of NZ.

             drooling infant soils himself and leaves a mess for others to clean up.. thanks chris73
             • chris73 …

               16 November 2013 at 4:29 pm

               Geez I thought you guys would have gotten used to National being power by now, no matter you’ll have another three years for it to sink in

               But seriously the reason they’ll get in is because the voters know they’ve done a good job in trying times
               • Rogue Trooper …

                 16 November 2013 at 4:31 pm

                 hope you’re enjoying the sunshine while it fades.
                 • chris73 …

                   16 November 2013 at 5:12 pm

                   Certainly did, bought some new boots, went gun city to look at ammo and took the dogs to the dog park…a full day in my book (bit warm though)
                   • Rogue Trooper …

                     16 November 2013 at 5:26 pm

                     change from re-loading your own ammo at Cameron’s then.
                   • Murray Olsen …

                     16 November 2013 at 7:47 pm

                     Ha. Some people got to the cinema to look at a movie, or Kelly Tarlton’s to look at fish. Tories go to gun city to look at ammo. Did it look back?
               • ropata …

                 16 November 2013 at 8:06 pm

                 Yes, chris73, banksters, corporations, and millionaire property developers are very pleased with their investment in Nactional™ Inc.©®. You can bask in the glow of John Keys beatific smile and trust in his benevolent nature.
       • Draco T Bastard 6.1.1.4

         16 November 2013 at 1:01 pm

         Just Armstrong in his PR for National guise.
   • fender 6.2

     16 November 2013 at 11:15 am

     Astute would be a poor word to use for that attempt to paint Cunliffe as some kind of two headed beast. If Armstrong thinks DC is a liar he should be ‘man enough’ to say so. Maybe you mean he’s astute for trying to sow seeds of doubt about Labours ability to be fiscally responsible when he says:

     “Labour already has its work cut out convincing voters it would be a responsible manager of the economy without being lumbered with the perception that it might ride roughshod over a contract without paying compensation, and could yet do so.”

     The whole piece just screams “I’ve got friends a SkyCity too, and we all want to know exactly what financial hit (if any) we could be in for.”

     Maybe Chris you could point out the bits you feel are so ‘astute’…
     • chris73 6.2.1

       16 November 2013 at 11:36 am

       I think Armstrong did basically call out Cunliffe as a liar but Armstrong doesn’t have the same protection as MPs so I guess he has to be a bit more circumspect
       • fender 6.2.1.1

         16 November 2013 at 11:46 am

         So you think it’s astute because he called DC a liar without using the word, wow you are easily pleased.
         • chris73 6.2.1.1.1

           16 November 2013 at 12:27 pm

           Yes thats exactly what I think
           • fender 6.2.1.1.1.1

             16 November 2013 at 12:42 pm

             It’s a shame you don’t do that thinking a little more deeply.
   • Murray Olsen 6.3

     16 November 2013 at 7:44 pm

     John Armstrong does not get to write Labour policy on Sky City. Cunliffe is man enough to know that. I wish they would rip up the contract and refuse to pay compensation. Sky City should be paying us compensation instead.
7. phillip ure 7

   16 November 2013 at 10:29 am

   noelle mccarthy to replace chris laidlaw on nat-rad sun-morn..?

   ..yes please..!

   ..phillip ure..
   • greywarbler 7.1

     16 November 2013 at 11:45 am

     phillip ure
     Noelle? Are you serious? Father Christmas would do as well. He has vast international, cultural and manufacturing experience. A man of the people and loved by nearly all.
     What do you think about Mark Sainsbury then? His name has come up.

     Chris Laidlaw does have a brain even if sometimes it is a bit RW. I do want someone who can match him and who has ideals and some background of proving them and can think about the hard subjects including philosophy ethics what it means to be human. How we can keep on living etc.

     I don’t want to listen to mainly stories that would find their way into middle class magazines, how to garden, dress, listen to music,but it might be interesting to hear about fabrics that indicate your mood on a science bit. But actual thought, research – many of the invited commenters have written books. They have to be read by a really interested, able, literate interviewer so they can do the interview for the best result. We need to have a top notch thinker and presenter not just someone who has been around and has shown promise. Brian Edwards I think liked Paul Henry. We need someone better than those two for a start. No excuses for the crass style adopted by someone playing to the idle-brain gallery. Now I always like a sense of humour, but who is the butt, and how often? What about political satire? You have to understand more than which side your bread is buttered to do good stuff there.

     The sort of dross that gets delivered is what gets largely delivered by Jim Mora. His what you would take on a journey to Mars is just not the modern version of being cast on a desert island. Today there are poohbas and curious coves who really want to spend a lot of money, sometimes their own, setting up space expeditions of various kinds. It’s part of the creepy modern world that we constantly enjoy the thought of being in the grip of the fabulously rich and powerful manipulating us from above and all around really, which shows that many of us don’t have two parts of a brain to rub together.
     • phillip ure 7.1.1

       16 November 2013 at 12:09 pm

       @ greywarbler..yes i am serious..

       ..if you have heard mccarthy subbing for mora..

       ..you will know that she is a very skilled broadcaster..

       ..one of her strengths is the amount of research/information she comes armed with..

       ..that combination of work-ethic and natural skills/intelligence/’oirish-charm’ is a potent/entertaining mix..

       ..and one of the marks of a good broadcaster is that ability to switch from the seemingly frivilous to the deeply serious..and to be good at both..and mccarthy can do that..

       ..’sainsbury’..?..now it is my turn to ask if you ‘are serious’..

       ..like laidlaw is now..sainsbury was flogged out in his final days..

       ..both just going thru the motions..

       ..none of the other suggestions..(save for mora taking sunday..and mccarthy taking his spot..)..comes within a bulls-roar of mccarthy…

       (disclaimer:..i have never met/communicated with mccarthy..and have been critical of her in the past..)

       phillip ure..
       • greywarbler 7.1.1.1

         16 November 2013 at 1:43 pm

         phillip ure
         So its not just the carefully accented oirish then. And she will switch from serious mainly to frivolous only occasionally? guarantee? it would be good to have a bloke though. i think one or two men of perception are around i just want someone as good as kim hill but bald?
         • phillip ure 7.1.1.1.1

           16 November 2013 at 2:51 pm

           “.. i think one or two men of perception are around..”

           ..um..!..don’t mean to man-bash here..

           ..but got any names..?

           ..i can’t think of any..

           ..hirsute or not..

           ..and surely gender doesn’t matter..?

           ..quality of product should be the sole-determinant..

           ..eh..?

           ..phillip ure..
           • greywarbler 7.1.1.1.1.1

             16 November 2013 at 2:59 pm

             No phillip gender does matter. Men need to have role models too. I don’t want all the top Radionz announcing positions to go to women. Let’s try for equality here. Let’s get et searching for some good men.

             Would they be able to come from private radio, or does that bend a bloke’s mind to unattractive pavlovian responses. What about television, likewise?
           • Bearded Git 7.1.1.1.1.2

             16 November 2013 at 3:08 pm

             …..Noelle is completely up herself…..

             ……her politics wishy-washy in the extreme…….

             …..and she was also done for plagiarism a few years back…..

             …..why have I adopted the ridiculous ure-style……?
             • phillip ure …

               16 November 2013 at 3:52 pm

               have you tried shaving..?

               (but seriously..!..)

               ..don’t/didn’t you find it liberating to be free of those illogical-lingual-conceits..?

               (and for true homage..ease back on the dots a bit..

               ..and throw in the odd -..

               ..otherwise a good effort..a b+..

               ..(it failed a tad on coherence of content..eh..?..)

               phillip ure..
               • Bearded Git …

                 17 November 2013 at 8:03 am

                 ….ha ha….

                 …excellent….
     • Ad 7.1.2

       16 November 2013 at 3:06 pm

       Laidlaw has long since degraded into a kind of bourgeoise neurotic sludge, and should have been shovelled out of the Aegean Stables long ago.

       We need someone under 30, with a sense of humor, who can provoke us to laughter, anger, and to a great book, within one hour.
       • greywarbler 7.1.2.1

         16 November 2013 at 10:12 pm

         over 30 definitely, 40-50 okay.
       • Te Reo Putake 7.1.2.2

         17 November 2013 at 9:33 am

         Graeme Hill for mine. Maybe the best ever BFM breakfast host (guess the accent may have been the greatest radio quiz ever!). High hipster quotient too; played in a top indy band and loves Italian football.

         And he looks like Brian Edward’s love child, so there’s that.

         http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/hold-me-1990
         • Paul 7.1.2.2.1

           17 November 2013 at 9:46 am

           +1
         • greywarbler 7.1.2.2.2

           17 November 2013 at 11:31 am

           Looks don’t matter Te Reo Putake. And being a top musician, sports person , blah is not enough to get into the thinking-talking-heads in-group.
   • kenny 7.2

     16 November 2013 at 8:55 pm

     No, thank you!!
8. ropata 8

   16 November 2013 at 11:00 am

   Russell Brand:

   Like most people, I regard politicians as frauds and liars and the current political system as nothing more than a bureaucratic means for furthering the augmentation and advantages of economic elites.”

   In their single-minded focus on serving the interests of the economic elite, says Brand, politicians are allowing the planet to go to rack and ruin, ignoring the people they are supposed to serve and fostering massive inequality which in turn has created a sullen, apathetic underclass.

   Paul Thomas writes:

   In America, the spiritual home of democracy, Republicans in the House of Representatives are now solely concerned with pandering to the zealots who dominate party membership in their gerrymandered districts.

   This week New Jersey’s Republican Governor, Chris Christie – one of the few remaining recognisable human beings in his party – pointed out that Republican obstructionism in Washington had held up distribution of billions of dollars in federal aid to victims of Hurricane Sandy by six months.

   Is that the “government of the people, by the people, for the people” that Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, evoked in the Gettysburg Address? Or does Brand have a point?
   • Ad 8.1

     16 November 2013 at 3:03 pm

     It’s not Tea Party politics per se; it’s their character as people.

     Any fool politician can destroy something.

     It takes a leader to build something.
9. joe90 9

   16 November 2013 at 11:17 am

   Something else to ignore.
   /

   Abstract

   Changes in global (ocean and land) precipitation are among the most important and least well-understood consequences of climate change. Increasing greenhouse gas concentrations are thought to affect the zonal-mean distribution of precipitation through two basic mechanisms. First, increasing temperatures will lead to an intensification of the hydrological cycle (“thermodynamic” changes). Second, changes in atmospheric circulation patterns will lead to poleward displacement of the storm tracks and subtropical dry zones and to a widening of the tropical belt (“dynamic” changes). We demonstrate that both these changes are occurring simultaneously in global precipitation, that this behavior cannot be explained by internal variability alone, and that external influences are responsible for the observed precipitation changes. Whereas existing model experiments are not of sufficient length to differentiate between natural and anthropogenic forcing terms at the 95% confidence level, we present evidence that the observed trends result from human activities.

   http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/11/05/1314382110
10. Paul 10

    16 November 2013 at 12:08 pm

    Chapters in a future history book of New Zealand??

    NZ ‘God’s zone’ A dream of utopia on earth
    1935 – 1984

    NZ Corporate playground for the world’s elite
    1984 – ??
    • ropata 10.1

      16 November 2013 at 12:32 pm

      Exactly, Paul
      Recommended Reading
      1. The Half Gallon Quarter Acre Pavlova Paradise by Austin Mitchell
      2. Pavlova Paradise Revisited
      3. ???
    • Ad 10.2

      16 November 2013 at 2:59 pm

      Wanaka, Queenstown, Pauanui and a few of the gated communities up north already have full global playground status.

      The Koru lounge before Queenstown flights – particularly before public holidays – is quite a network.
11. phillip ure 11

    16 November 2013 at 12:11 pm

    (the small-questions..eh..?..)

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/is-there-an-afterlife-the-science-of-biocentrism-can-prove-there-is-claims-professor-robert-lanza-8942558.html

    phillip ure..
12. Naturesong 12

    16 November 2013 at 1:53 pm

    So Colin Craig is trying to grab any remaining religious bigots that still vote Labour / New Zealand First

    Craig – No mandate for Govt to sell more state-owned assets
    • Draco T Bastard 12.1

      16 November 2013 at 2:02 pm

      However, he said his stance was not necessarily a deal-breaker in any coalition his party may form with National after next year’s election.

      LOL

      Translation: Yes, we’re against asset sales but we’ll support continued selling of them when we enter coalition with National.
    • Ad 12.2

      16 November 2013 at 3:01 pm

      So that would put him in play as a potential Labour coalition partner as well.
13. Tim 13

    16 November 2013 at 2:15 pm

    Oh PLEASE!!! NO!!!!
    As a locum for Mora, just as Lynne Freeman is as one for Rinny – maybe.
    I’d hoped that at least weekends and nights could keep Natrad something worth listening to. I guess Sunday Mornings will soon become off limits.
    Just as well there are other options.
    You do surprise me Phillip! Still, stranger things have happened at sea.
    • Tim 13.1

      16 November 2013 at 2:29 pm

      btw – you’ll probably get your wish though.
      Bill Ralston (that bastion of wisdom and sage advice, foreskin of what he himself described as “State TV”)) says if it was up to him, it’d be between Noelle and a Walrus. (Stuff 12/11/2013 from memory)
      (Next: just watch Kim Hill signal her intention to resign – uphill shit push).

      If it were up to me Phil – I’d rather see her on 7#.
      Delve a little deeper!
    • phillip ure 13.2

      16 November 2013 at 3:05 pm

      tim..

      i actually think freeman is better than the current inhabitant of that slot..

      ..a major quality that freeman has..is that she gives interview subjects the space to say/finish what they have to say/to make their case..if they have one..

      ….she doesn’t view it as a gladiatorial-contest..from the get-go..

      ..she seems to attempt interview more as a conversation..

      ..whereas the current seat-warmer does too often go all gladatorial from the get-go..

      ..it is her major fault as a broadcaster..

      ..and the current warmer (admits she) watches far too much fox-tv..

      ..and i think a process of osmosis has taken place..

      ..she has become quite ‘foxy’..

      ..and you listen to that nat-rad nite-person..?..crump..?..

      ..really..?

      ..whoar..!

      ..i think you are the first person i have ever met who does..

      ..careful..demographers/profilers/’ists’ of all sorts –

      – will descend upon you..!

      .phillip ure..
      • Tim 13.2.1

        17 November 2013 at 2:38 pm

        …. ffffff whoar!!!1 (core – hot pants brutha – MOVE over!)
        Do I listen to that nitetime stuff with Barry or Bryan or whatever his name is – Bryan – yes him
        … not often, probably once in the last 6 months, but what did strike me when I did was the diversity of sources (as contributors) to his? programme
        I’m picking though that my reply to your last is now so passe as to now be irrelevant
        …. next
        …. next (with an upper case, octave higher-even inflecSHUN?)
        ….. nexxxt ??
14. North 14

    16 November 2013 at 2:40 pm

    This from Billy Boy Ralston on Stuff re Chris Laidlaw’s replacement on Sunday Morning:

    “Blogger Martyn “Bomber” Bradbury: He’s too Left even for National Radio.”

    Ignore the Bomber reference. Check out “…….even for National Radio”.

    For Christ’s Sake Billy Boy. Where did that shit come from ?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/9408108/Top-talent-to-chase-Radio-NZ-spot
    • alwyn 14.1

      16 November 2013 at 2:52 pm

      Why on earth would you “Ignore the Bomber reference”?
      You aren’t treating it as being in some way derogatory are you?
      After all the man himself positively wallows in its use. I personally think it is more appropriate for a person of 15 or so to adopt such a name than a middle-aged man but if he wants to use the nickname why shouldn’t everyone else?
      • phillip ure 14.1.1

        16 November 2013 at 3:06 pm

        sheesh..!..chill..!..alwyn..!

        phillip ure..
    • phillip ure 14.2

      16 November 2013 at 3:12 pm

      don’t forget north..ralston was the coalface of the dismantling of any serious current-affairs/news-culture @ tvnz..

      ..he took it to its’ darkest place..

      ..as the unquestioning-tool of that current political-elite/elites-paradigm

      ..from which to this day it still struggles to return..

      ..ralston was the media-tool for the neo-lib-revolution..

      ..he spun/danced to that tune..

      ..in fact he led one of the bands..

      ..and he still sings those songs..

      ..that’s where that ‘shit comes from’..

      ..phillip ure..
      • phillip ure 14.2.1

        16 November 2013 at 3:49 pm

        the pieces of the case against ralston..

        http://whoar.co.nz/?s=ralston

        phillip ure..
        • North 14.2.1.1

          16 November 2013 at 9:07 pm

          Fantastic misunderstanding of my comment Alwyn – I was getting at Billy Boy’s pathetic assertion that National Radio is left wing, for Christ’s Sake. As it happens PU your comment pretty much reflects my appreciation of BB’s contribution (not) to political journalism.
          • alwyn 14.2.1.1.1

            17 November 2013 at 10:00 am

            OK. I see that this can be interpreted in two ways.
            I read it as being two comments on the one opinion rather than the first part merely identifying the phrase you were talking about.
15. Rogue Trooper 15

    16 November 2013 at 4:28 pm

    Sweet! . 😀
16. chris73 16

    16 November 2013 at 5:35 pm

    Well well:

    NZ First believes in environmental sustainability but far too many of the Green Party’s comments are about “stopping everything”.

    “We have difficulty understanding a lot of their intentions and motives,” Mr Peters says, adding that the chance of being part of a coalition that would include the Greens is “extremely remote“.

    – Never say never with winnie but interesting comments
17. Rogue Trooper 17

    16 November 2013 at 6:53 pm

    edX Courses for Horses.
    • chris73 17.1

      16 November 2013 at 6:56 pm

      Jazz appreciation? I prefer country…

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