“Developed and distributed by Symantec, it *only* runs on MS Windows and Mac OS X.
It has involved FBI cooperation in developing a keylogger [Magic Lantern], an update disabling legitimate software, slow and indifferent service on bugs, a faulty update for Norton AntiVirus 2006 users, criticisms for refusing to uninstall completely – leaving unnecessary files behind, incompatibilities with ZoneAlarm, a firewall warning stating that a Norton-associated file – “PIFTS.exe” – was trying to connect to the net, and consumers complaints for perceived ethical violations .. and that is just what is the public domain.”
Just so we don’t lose sight of the heart of the problem here’s a recap:
We are living in a time when it has been proven that the USA has created a global surveillance system, straight from the pages of 1984, and it has also been shown that NZ’s GCSB is an active part of this system.
At the same time as all this is happening, our Prime Minister, John Key, is refusing to even acknowledge that this global story has even occurred AND he is pushing through legislation which allows the GCSB even more powers of surveillance.
NZ Herald today: National Party cheerleaders Fran O Sullivan and John Armstrong gloating about Key’s performance on CL, just a small mention that he told a crucial porky about “content” …which I believe changed the balance of the interview in Key’s favour. But when one of New Zealand’s major media organisations is prepared to go along with Key’s porkies instead of crucifying him, we have a major problem.
(Copied from my comment yesterday) But you have to admire National’s damage control, they have incredibly powerful allies in the media, which is scarey. Labour need to raise their game enormously. This brings me back to the this weeks Listener article on the Labour Party where Mike William’s says “for a party to be strong and credible, six key figures in the party need to be working in unison. They are the leader, the deputy leader, the chief of staff, the party president, the party general secretary and the campaign director.” Well I reckon he left two out. He needs to add in the caucus and members. Labour are going to have to make sure everything is aligned and heading in the same direction to beat this National Party. This National Party is a powerful party on top of their game, as Chris Trotter pointed out in a recent article, the Left is taking them too lightly. The way they have recovered from this cock up is case in point.at
You are right. It does not matter if “six key figures” are working like clockwork if everyone else is angry with them, or has given up on them. I don’t think Mike Williams is taking into account the amount of “political capital” that Labour has lost over the last few years.
@ Phillip …
I’ve considered a complaint to the BSA. The “From the Left, and From the Right” handle is essentially false advertising. No doubt it’d be pushing shit further uphill than is necessary … but you’re correct – they could put Williams’ “Mathew … I agree with you” on a cartridge and just have the technician push the play button and save themselves the fees.
Williams is just a joke, a pathetic, spineless trougher like Shearer and the rest of the ABC club… but alas, so representative/symptomatic of the ABC club. “They are winning, therefore they must be right, therefore we must be like them.”
I’d say it’s Stockholm Syndrome, but in fact it’s corruption and terror. All they want are their meal tickets and high list positions, because that there’s nowhere else they can go. Goff’s got to pay for his lifestyle block somehow, he knows that even the UN won’t take him and Shearer thinks that he has a cushy retirement job and a knighthood due to him, Hipkins is just a yuppie and Curran wants good soil and regular watering.
I don’t even want to think about what Mallard wants… it’s probably boobs.
Meanwhile, we’re supposed to be grateful while paying the tithe of our votes.
On the other hand, I’m confident of a devastating Left victory in 2017. It’s a pity that they’ll inherit ruins.
And it’s all very well for the Herald to highlight what Fran Mold is doing at the moment – working hard to make Shearer fit to be leader, by making him seem more aggressive – Fact is (and this Fran should know) if it’s not in him naturally, then no amount of coaching is going to work – he’s only going to look like a big fake once again. David Cunliffe has all the qualities a leader should have and then some, and they come naturally to him, he doesn’t need any coaching from Fran or anyone else!! ABC must know this, and even if they don’t like it, they’re going to have to suck it up for the good of the Party, or there won’t BE any party.
“ABC must know this, and even if they don’t like it, they’re going to have to suck it up for the good of the Party, or there won’t BE any party.”
And there lies the corpse that was Labour. Killed by the ABC club! Who, as long as they collect their pay packet could not give a rats arse about the rank n file members.
If they don’t put Cunliffe in there as the members seem to want, we are doomed to another term of these mad people. There won’t be any party. C’mon Labour .. do the best thing for NZ just this once ?
Yep Hami, it seems naive of Fran O Sullivan to suggest that Fran Mold can make a big difference, there are a lot of factors in play to achieve success.
Shearer has not managed to bring Labour together, which I reckon is critical, absolutely critical if Labour are to succeed (The way he handled the Gower orchestrated crisis after the November conference was atrocious, achieved exactly the opposite of what it should have and lead to two strong caucus members leaving). And success isn’t just about winning in 2014 (which is what I believe most of the Labour caucus seem to think), success is winning in 2014 and then running a successful and strong government for more than one weak term. For this to happen then Labour need to get all 8 factors moving in the same direction
David Cunliffe is the leader that would get most members in behind the party, I’m certain of that. But the caucus need to pull together…that is the major problem I reckon, but only they can sort this out. If the caucus are not going to sort themselves out, then I reckon let Shearer lead into 2014 election, FAIL, then have a good cleanout…think long term. There would be nothing worse for the left that one weak term.
True, Saarbo! -What I find disgusting is the blatant self-interest amongst many Labour MPs! The arrogance of the ABC club is absolutely breathtaking! Annette King “David Shearer is doing a great job” for instance. If this is a “great job”, what on earth does a bad one look like?
Look at the ABC club and see old French aristocrats. They’re sure that you owe them since for time immemorial, or for a few seconds at least, they claimed to be your champions; they know that they deserve their privileges, or at least they don’t know what they’d do without them and they’re terrified that they could crumble away.
They once waved a flag you know.
It was beige. Red would scare people away, but beige is conciliatory, uncontroversial – PRAGMATIC.
Try to forget that Goff, King and Mallard licked Douglas’ arse and Hipkins would if he weren’t too busy squeezing pimples, forget their lifestyle blocks, their ticket scalping and greed.
Forget that they’re pushing any real progressive agenda back – like marriage equality – because it’s “distracting”… except when it succeeds… but, er, it’s still a bit embarrassing, so they don’t want to upset their hallucination of the Waitakere vote, so… well, I guess we’d better issue a reassuring press release saying that the policy we released was… well, um… popular… but you know, the markets and all…
Here’s my suggestion for Labour’s election slogan in 2014 as the ABC club would have it:
“Fuck you, just get off your roof and vote for us, alright? I’m your hero blah blah blah and I’m hungry too and the venison at Bellamy’s looks damn good.”
It would, on their terms, be honest at least, but the caucus and membership would have something far more meaningful.
Key will remain where he is – in power – until Labour has an equal or superior leader.
The supporting machinery are I agree a help, but 50%of national’s stunning continued success is a weak opposition leader, with another 10% a disunited opposition. There’s been plenty of issues to sink this government. The rest is down to how good Key is.
This site posted by Macro in Open Mike yesterday deserves another airing, a 3 week build in a factory and a couple of days to set up on it’s piles and hey presto move in,
These people have any number of designs which they can build so Maurice need not worry His luxuriant little bouffant about ‘rows of houses all looking the same’,
i would assume after having a quick look at the site that a second story could be added to these places without too much problem and garages if required…
Dear Old Boardroom Trout Fran O’Sullivan in the Herald this morning dusting off her Best Side West Side Story……..”For I’m loved by a pretty wonderful boy……..”
Good post North, I like it, it conjures up a not so pretty picture of O Sullivan dancing on a roof or boardroom table somewhere.
I cannot comment on the articles unfortunately, as I don’t purchase that pathetic excuse of a paper. The reason being, and I have said in the past. “We prefer our shit house paper to come in rolls”.
As for O’ Sullivan, she is so predictable dribbling right wing bullshit I have avoided listening to her on the radio or television for a long time, and I certainly would not strain my eyes reading the crap she writes.
”Nothing is more pressing than climate change; we need to elevate our priorities and address the challenge.”
Maryan Street Labour environment spokesperson
”refreshing” to see the issue of climate change back on the agenda.
Janet Stephenson University of Otago Centre for Sustainability director
Street’s statement is a direct challenge to climate change, (and GCSB bill), ignorer, David Shearer. Is David Shearer finally starting to lose his conservative grip on the Labour caucus?
Dunedin South MP Clare Curran said information from seminars such as yesterday’s would be used to help Labour form its environment policy.
If what Rebecca Fox has reported is true, then the Labour caucus will be reconsidering their support for, Denniston, deep sea oil drilling, and fracking.
This would make a coalition with the Greens on a more equitable basis a much more likely probability.
Hmmmm I don’t think that you understand much about Labour Party environment/conservation situation. Basically, most interested parties have given up on them. For instance. Smith’s Milford Tunnel decision? I still can’t find a single Labour Party press release about the decision even though it was arguably the biggest conservation decision of the last 6 months. The Greens had their statement out a couple of hours after Smith announced.
As for climate change. This civilisation is going to burn and bury itself, led by corporate interests. The melting of the Artic sea ice and permafrost? Just another drilling opportunity for Exxon Mobil and Gazprom.
Hmmmmm I don’t remember Fran Mold doing that great a job at being Shearer’s press secretary 2012-2013. Correct me if I am wrong peeps? And now a promotion to CoS which Armstrong couldn’t applaud louder if he tried.
In a twenty first century surveillance state the last ditch effort to stop young women being sent away to a life of misery – a spoon in the undies…sigh.
“When the Labour-led Government in 2007 forced through the deeply undemocratic Electoral Finance Bill, to widespread criticism including from Mr Key, the issue never rated a blip in polls. Given a choice between the state of the economy, health, education or immigration, highlighting a concern with how elections could be funded proved all too abstract.
Yet it was important and its controversy undoubtedly fed a general public malaise with a high-handed Government.”
Of course none of this, http://werewolf.co.nz/2013/08/nanny-national/, is so deeply undemocratic as to warrant the Heralds ire. And well done to Herald journos for calling a fight for Key, but not doing any fact checking. Isn’t fact checking a journos job?
Whoever are the editors and subeditors should hang their heads in shame.
They are enabling a deeply undemocratic law and failing in their role as the 4th estate.
Wonder how much they get paid to sell their souls?
It used to be said that politicians should never start a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel. Now they can always argue with someone who buys red ink by the barrel.
If the Public Meeting on Monday Re the GCSB Bill was really huge in numbers, would the organisers have been allowed to hire the future Skytower Convention Centre?
Those protestors WANTED to get killed, says Guardian hack
Huge contrast to sensible democracy-loving westerners
Radio NZ National, Saturday 17 August 2013
Democracy has, again, been bloodily crushed in Egypt. There are all kinds of experts who she could have interviewed about this disaster, but unfortunately Kim Hill’s producers decided to bypass all of them and instead went to a safe pair of hands called Ian Black, who is one of those unfeasibly smug and complacent Grauniad hacks that foolish and uninformed people keep calling “liberal”.
The interview went exactly as one would have expected. I have got to the stage of not letting most of these pseudo-journalists upset me now; you just have to admit the fact that the corporate media is an integral part of the establishment, and that if Ian Black was any good at all, he would not be rejoicing in the grand title of “Middle East Editor of the Grauniad“. So I was prepared for virtually any depravity to fall from Black’s lips—-but he still managed to stagger me (and I’m sure many other listeners) when he delivered up a Breivik-level analysis of the Islamic love of being killed. In spite of my vow of self-restraint, I had to spring into action. Just before 9 a.m., listeners heard Kim read out the following e-mail….
Dear Kim,
Ian Black asserted, in apparent high seriousness, that “in Islam there is this concept of martyrdom.” I’ll remember how addicted to martyrdom those Islamic people are the next time I pass a War Memorial in this country.
Ian Black’s comment is similar to General Westmoreland’s infamous statement about how Asians were a “formidable adversary” because they had “such a disregard for human life”, and (more recently) Rosemary McLeod’s sniffy assessment on Jim Mora’s show that “these people [Egyptians] have no desire for democracy”.
I notice the US is making all kinds of frowning noises at Egypt…but is leaving their billion dollar military subsidies to the Egyptian army intact. What does that tell you.
And what do you think the outcome of it all will be?.
I’m picking an “oh sorry, accidents happen”, and “the officer has been punished enough – he has to live with this for the rest of his life” …. next.
The Polis are apparently taking this “VERY seriously” however.
On a lighter note: on Wednesday last week I sent an email to my MP asking her about the GCSB bill, and in particular if New Zealanders are being spied on by the US, given what Edward Snowden has had to say. I also asked how easy would it be to get noticed by the NSA by accident if you innocently used buzz words like those on the list of 680+ words in the Homeland Security spooks’ hand book. I added the list at the end of her email and sent it off. I then sent a copy of the email to every member of parliament, so this list of dangerous words got a bit of an airing. I’ve also got a blog called Six More Lines where I write innocuous sounding articles, which I pepper with dangerous words, to see if the spooks notice. Snowden said it’s quite easy. Well, my mail-out was on Tuesday, and I was feeling very clever, then on Thursday morning I pressed the start button on my computer and there was one hell of a bang! My computer literally blew up. “My God! I thought. Can they really do that already?” I went to my husband and asked, “Do you think it’s just a coincidence?” He said,”Well, if it’s not we’re in deep shit!”
Galloping paranoia: it was just the power supply box.
You can find the list of incriminating words here: (http://epic.org/foia/epic-v-dhs-media-monitoring/Analyst-Desktop-Binder-REDACTED.pdf). You can also find my blog here: http://sixmorelines.blogspot.co.nz/.
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This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Climate denial is dead. Renewable energy denial is here. As “alternative facts” become the norm, it’s worth looking at what actual facts tell us about how renewable energy sources like solar and wind are lowering the price of electricity. As ...
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The Government hasn’t stopped talking about growth since the Prime Minister made his “yes” speech at the Auckland Chamber of Commerce last week. But so far, the measures announced would seem hardly likely to suddenly pitch New Zealand into the fast-growth East Asian league. The digital nomad announcement hardly deserved ...
It's election year for Wellington City Council and for the Regional Council. What have the progressive councillors achieved over the last couple of years. What were the blocks and failures? What's with the targeting of the mayor and city council by the Post and by central government? Why does the ...
Someone defames you anonymously online. Can you find out who it is? Maybe. There are legal avenues to seek a court order that an internet host reveal the identity of the person. One of them is called a Norwich Pharmacal order, but as Hugh Tomlinson KC points out, it only ...
The results of the 2025 Mood of the Workforce survey have been released, with working people revealing deep concerns regarding their work lives, housing, health care, and perceptions of the coalition government in Aotearoa New Zealand.Christopher Luxon has signalled that National may campaign on asset sales in the next election, ...
Hey, hey, heyJust think, while you've been gettin' down and out about the liarsAnd the dirty, dirty cheats of the worldYou could've been gettin' down to this sick beatSongwriters: Taylor Swift / Shellback / Martin Max. Read more ...
Luxon has once again let National’s junior coalition partner, ACT, set the political agenda, dragging him and National into another politically draining debate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, January 29 are:PM Christopher ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Fresh from the maelstrom surrounding the Treaty Principles Bill, and before fury and dust from that toxic piece of rubbish has settled, Act Leader, David Seymour has launched a new narrative into the public ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to stand firm and work with allies to progress climate action as Donald Trump signals his intent to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords once again. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
The Judicial Conduct Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken in an incident last November, Attorney-General Judith Collins said today. “I referred the matter of Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct during an incident ...
Students who need extra help with maths are set to benefit from a targeted acceleration programme that will give them more confidence in the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Last year, significant numbers of students did not meet the foundational literacy and numeracy level required to gain NCEA. To ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi – without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
The opening of Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development will have a significant impact for whānau in need of safe, warm, dry housing, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The minister visited the development today at North Street where a total of 50 two, three, and four-bedroom homes plus a ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the new membership of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control (PACDAC), who will serve for a three-year term. “The Committee brings together wide-ranging expertise relevant to disarmament. We have made six new appointments to the Committee and reappointed two existing members ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora, good morning, talofa, malo e lelei, bula vinaka, da jia hao, namaste, sat sri akal, assalamu alaikum. It’s so great to be here and I’m ready and pumped for 2025. Can I start by acknowledging: Simon Bridges – CEO of the Auckland ...
The Government has unveiled a bold new initiative to position New Zealand as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) that will create higher paying jobs and grow the economy. “Invest New Zealand will streamline the investment process and provide tailored support to foreign investors, to increase capital investment ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced the largest reset of the New Zealand science system in more than 30 years with reforms which will boost the economy and benefit the sector. “The reforms will maximise the value of the $1.2 billion in government funding that goes into ...
Turbocharging New Zealand’s economic growth is the key to brighter days ahead for all Kiwis, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. In the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Speech in Auckland today, Christopher Luxon laid out the path to the prosperity that will affect all aspects of New Zealanders’ lives. ...
The latest set of accounts show the Government has successfully checked the runaway growth of public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “In the previous government’s final five months in office, public spending was almost 10 per cent higher than for the same period the previous year. “That is completely ...
The Government’s welfare reforms are delivering results with the number of people moving off benefits into work increasing year-on-year for six straight months. “There are positive signs that our welfare reset and the return consequences for job seekers who don't fulfil their obligations to prepare for or find a job ...
Jon Kroll and Aimee McCammon have been appointed to the New Zealand Film Commission Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “I am delighted to appoint these two new board members who will bring a wealth of industry, governance, and commercial experience to the Film Commission. “Jon Kroll has been an ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hailed a drop in the domestic component of inflation, saying it increases the prospect of mortgage rate reductions and a lower cost of living for Kiwi households. Stats NZ reported today that inflation was 2.2 per cent in the year to December, the second consecutive ...
Two new appointed members and one reappointed member of the Employment Relations Authority have been announced by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today. “I’m pleased to announce the new appointed members Helen van Druten and Matthew Piper to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and welcome them to ...
Arriving at Ōnuku Marae, it was easy to see why Prime Minister Christopher Luxon chose the venue to mark Waitangi Day.Kayakers paddled around Akaroa Harbour under clear blue skies, with the marae barely a stone’s throw from the shore.Luxon’s decision to skip traditional events at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds this ...
Thanks to increased operating costs and new fare structures, many public transport users in Auckland are now paying more for trains, buses and ferries. Shanti Mathias explains what’s behind the changes. Schools are back around the country, but in Auckland, kids aren’t the only ones to have returned to a ...
In a special Waitangi edition of Gone By Lunchtime, Ātea editor Liam Rātana and politics reporter Lyric Waiwiri-Smith recap a politically charged few days at the Treaty Grounds. Our Waitangi 2025 coverage is possible because of the 13,000-plus Spinoff members who regularly pay to support our work. If you aren’t a member ...
Analysis: Waitangi Day belongs to Māori first, as mana motuhake and tino rangatiratanga take centre stage.Our Waitangi 2025 coverage is possible because of the 13,000-plus Spinoff members who regularly pay to support our work. If you aren’t a member yet, now is the time.Walking around the treaty grounds, te reo Māori ...
If you want to be a famous sport writer in New Zealand, you probably shouldn’t specialise in football.The beautiful game usually takes a back seat here … but that could all be changing.With two teams now in the Australian football league, vocal and growing crowds, and some fantastic players looking ...
Analysis: The international rules-based order has come under increasing stress and strain over the last decade and looks likely to continue on the same rocky path for the foreseeable future. In the Pacific, political tensions and competition between powerful states – the United States and its allies, and China – ...
Analysis: Growth trumps everything was the message from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s recent state of the nation address. His declaration came on the heels of similar announcements calling for growth at all costs from the new president of the USA and from many other world leaders. As usual news media ...
Chart 1: An unfortunate starting pointComment: Far from fighting fit, the economy limps into 2025 carrying some baggage. Two years of rolling recessions have left per capita output 4.8 percent below the 2022 peak. That’s as at September. The December quarter is looking flattish.A return to growth beckons this year. ...
Val Smith reckons if you knew her in her 20s, she’d be the last woman you’d imagine taking up lawn bowls.Yet here she is, three decades later, retiring from the international game after playing an astounding 667 internationals for the BlackJacks.One of the true greats in New Zealand bowls history, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The battle to contain antisemitism in Australia finds both sides of politics embracing measures they’d otherwise abhor. Spectacularly, the government capitulated this week to include mandatory minimum sentences of between one and six years ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Henry Cutler, Professor and Director, Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie University This week, the federal government announced it will pay states and territories an extra, one-off, A$1.7 billion for public hospitals. This has been billed as a way ...
From the dawn ceremony to the numerous local performances and powerful words, Waitangi Day 2025 was one to remember, but a highlight would have to be the record turn-out of waka. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Visitor, School of History, Australian National University The Albanese government is trying once more to legislate wide-ranging changes to the way federal elections are administered. The 200-page Electoral Reform Bill, if passed, would transform the electoral donation rules by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lorana Bartels, Professor of Criminology, Australian National University Shutterstock Weeks after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced his support for mandatory minimum jail terms for antisemitic offences, the government has legislated such laws. Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke stated the federal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Moninya Roughan, Professor in Oceanography, UNSW Sydney Australia’s sea surface temperatures were the warmest on record last year, according to a snapshot of the nation’s climate which underscores the perilous state of the world’s oceans. The Bureau of Meteorology on Thursday released ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda Meyer, Senior Lecturer, Anatomy and Pathology, James Cook University A common anatomical variation is being born with more than ten fingers or more than ten toes. Former Doctor Who actor David Tennant this week confirmed he has 11 toes. He says ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mandy Hagstrom, Senior Lecturer, Exercise Physiology. School of Health Sciences, UNSW Sydney Sokirlov/Shutterstock Callisthenics is a type of training where you do bodyweight exercises to build strength. It’s versatile, low cost, and easy to start. Classic callisthenics moves include: ...
The Mood of the Workforce survey, conducted annually by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, lays bare the brutal reality of life under capitalism in Aotearoa New Zealand. ...
Some aspects of next year’s Waitangi commemorations could be moved back down to Te Tii Marae, with both political leaders and Māori leaders saying the lower marae is an appropriate place for political debates.Waitangi Treaty Grounds Trust chair Pita Tipene said he supported moving some aspects of Waitangi week commemorations ...
Inundated with end-of-year lists, we all had big plans to do a lot of reading-for-pleasure over the holidays. Here’s what we ended up reading. Despite the gazillion end-of-year reading lists and recommendations for the very latest books, summer is often a time for reading wildly. Whether it’s finally pulling a ...
How do I deal with the fact my own flesh and blood would rather listen to Mumford & Sons than Talking Heads? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzKia ora!As a recovering music snob who once preferred the bands’ older stuff, hated “mainstream music” and actively avoided ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne Edward Lorenz’s mathematical weather model showed solutions with a butterfly-like shape.Wikimol In 1972, the US meteorologist Edward Lorenz asked a now-famous question: Does the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fan Yang, Research fellow at Melbourne Law School, the University of Melbourne and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society., The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Migrants in Australia often encounter disinformation targeting their communities. However, disinformation circulated in ...
Is he *still* flogging Norton Antivirus ?
“Developed and distributed by Symantec, it *only* runs on MS Windows and Mac OS X.
It has involved FBI cooperation in developing a keylogger [Magic Lantern], an update disabling legitimate software, slow and indifferent service on bugs, a faulty update for Norton AntiVirus 2006 users, criticisms for refusing to uninstall completely – leaving unnecessary files behind, incompatibilities with ZoneAlarm, a firewall warning stating that a Norton-associated file – “PIFTS.exe” – was trying to connect to the net, and consumers complaints for perceived ethical violations .. and that is just what is the public domain.”
Just so we don’t lose sight of the heart of the problem here’s a recap:
We are living in a time when it has been proven that the USA has created a global surveillance system, straight from the pages of 1984, and it has also been shown that NZ’s GCSB is an active part of this system.
At the same time as all this is happening, our Prime Minister, John Key, is refusing to even acknowledge that this global story has even occurred AND he is pushing through legislation which allows the GCSB even more powers of surveillance.
Are we living with Huxley or are we living with Orwell.
Well we started with Huxley, and the illusion/delusion of brain numbing consumer-corporate branding comfort.
Now that is starting to not work, we are transitioning nicely to Orwell’s permanent war-surveillance state.
As usual, we are just 10-15 years behind the USA.
NZ Herald today: National Party cheerleaders Fran O Sullivan and John Armstrong gloating about Key’s performance on CL, just a small mention that he told a crucial porky about “content” …which I believe changed the balance of the interview in Key’s favour. But when one of New Zealand’s major media organisations is prepared to go along with Key’s porkies instead of crucifying him, we have a major problem.
(Copied from my comment yesterday) But you have to admire National’s damage control, they have incredibly powerful allies in the media, which is scarey. Labour need to raise their game enormously. This brings me back to the this weeks Listener article on the Labour Party where Mike William’s says “for a party to be strong and credible, six key figures in the party need to be working in unison. They are the leader, the deputy leader, the chief of staff, the party president, the party general secretary and the campaign director.” Well I reckon he left two out. He needs to add in the caucus and members. Labour are going to have to make sure everything is aligned and heading in the same direction to beat this National Party. This National Party is a powerful party on top of their game, as Chris Trotter pointed out in a recent article, the Left is taking them too lightly. The way they have recovered from this cock up is case in point.at
You are right. It does not matter if “six key figures” are working like clockwork if everyone else is angry with them, or has given up on them. I don’t think Mike Williams is taking into account the amount of “political capital” that Labour has lost over the last few years.
from hearing williams on nat-rad – he is a throwback to the douglas 80’s..
..and is a constant apologist for the current fucked-paradigm..
..and if he ‘agreed with matthew’ (hooten) any more..
..he’d be carrying his bags..
..phillip ure..
@ Phillip …
I’ve considered a complaint to the BSA. The “From the Left, and From the Right” handle is essentially false advertising. No doubt it’d be pushing shit further uphill than is necessary … but you’re correct – they could put Williams’ “Mathew … I agree with you” on a cartridge and just have the technician push the play button and save themselves the fees.
Williams is just a joke, a pathetic, spineless trougher like Shearer and the rest of the ABC club… but alas, so representative/symptomatic of the ABC club. “They are winning, therefore they must be right, therefore we must be like them.”
I’d say it’s Stockholm Syndrome, but in fact it’s corruption and terror. All they want are their meal tickets and high list positions, because that there’s nowhere else they can go. Goff’s got to pay for his lifestyle block somehow, he knows that even the UN won’t take him and Shearer thinks that he has a cushy retirement job and a knighthood due to him, Hipkins is just a yuppie and Curran wants good soil and regular watering.
I don’t even want to think about what Mallard wants… it’s probably boobs.
Meanwhile, we’re supposed to be grateful while paying the tithe of our votes.
On the other hand, I’m confident of a devastating Left victory in 2017. It’s a pity that they’ll inherit ruins.
And it’s all very well for the Herald to highlight what Fran Mold is doing at the moment – working hard to make Shearer fit to be leader, by making him seem more aggressive – Fact is (and this Fran should know) if it’s not in him naturally, then no amount of coaching is going to work – he’s only going to look like a big fake once again. David Cunliffe has all the qualities a leader should have and then some, and they come naturally to him, he doesn’t need any coaching from Fran or anyone else!! ABC must know this, and even if they don’t like it, they’re going to have to suck it up for the good of the Party, or there won’t BE any party.
“ABC must know this, and even if they don’t like it, they’re going to have to suck it up for the good of the Party, or there won’t BE any party.”
And there lies the corpse that was Labour. Killed by the ABC club! Who, as long as they collect their pay packet could not give a rats arse about the rank n file members.
If they don’t put Cunliffe in there as the members seem to want, we are doomed to another term of these mad people. There won’t be any party. C’mon Labour .. do the best thing for NZ just this once ?
Yep Hami, it seems naive of Fran O Sullivan to suggest that Fran Mold can make a big difference, there are a lot of factors in play to achieve success.
Shearer has not managed to bring Labour together, which I reckon is critical, absolutely critical if Labour are to succeed (The way he handled the Gower orchestrated crisis after the November conference was atrocious, achieved exactly the opposite of what it should have and lead to two strong caucus members leaving). And success isn’t just about winning in 2014 (which is what I believe most of the Labour caucus seem to think), success is winning in 2014 and then running a successful and strong government for more than one weak term. For this to happen then Labour need to get all 8 factors moving in the same direction
David Cunliffe is the leader that would get most members in behind the party, I’m certain of that. But the caucus need to pull together…that is the major problem I reckon, but only they can sort this out. If the caucus are not going to sort themselves out, then I reckon let Shearer lead into 2014 election, FAIL, then have a good cleanout…think long term. There would be nothing worse for the left that one weak term.
True, Saarbo! -What I find disgusting is the blatant self-interest amongst many Labour MPs! The arrogance of the ABC club is absolutely breathtaking! Annette King “David Shearer is doing a great job” for instance. If this is a “great job”, what on earth does a bad one look like?
Look at the ABC club and see old French aristocrats. They’re sure that you owe them since for time immemorial, or for a few seconds at least, they claimed to be your champions; they know that they deserve their privileges, or at least they don’t know what they’d do without them and they’re terrified that they could crumble away.
They once waved a flag you know.
It was beige. Red would scare people away, but beige is conciliatory, uncontroversial – PRAGMATIC.
Try to forget that Goff, King and Mallard licked Douglas’ arse and Hipkins would if he weren’t too busy squeezing pimples, forget their lifestyle blocks, their ticket scalping and greed.
Forget that they’re pushing any real progressive agenda back – like marriage equality – because it’s “distracting”… except when it succeeds… but, er, it’s still a bit embarrassing, so they don’t want to upset their hallucination of the Waitakere vote, so… well, I guess we’d better issue a reassuring press release saying that the policy we released was… well, um… popular… but you know, the markets and all…
Here’s my suggestion for Labour’s election slogan in 2014 as the ABC club would have it:
“Fuck you, just get off your roof and vote for us, alright? I’m your hero blah blah blah and I’m hungry too and the venison at Bellamy’s looks damn good.”
It would, on their terms, be honest at least, but the caucus and membership would have something far more meaningful.
Key will remain where he is – in power – until Labour has an equal or superior leader.
The supporting machinery are I agree a help, but 50%of national’s stunning continued success is a weak opposition leader, with another 10% a disunited opposition. There’s been plenty of issues to sink this government. The rest is down to how good Key is.
naybe you mean how good crosby and textor are ?
For the benefit of Maurice Williamson The Guardian has a video of a Richard Rogers designed flatpacked prefab 3 storey house being constructed in just one day in the courtyard of the RA in London.
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/architecture-design-blog/video/2013/aug/16/richard-rogers-timelapse-house-build-video
This site posted by Macro in Open Mike yesterday deserves another airing, a 3 week build in a factory and a couple of days to set up on it’s piles and hey presto move in,
These people have any number of designs which they can build so Maurice need not worry His luxuriant little bouffant about ‘rows of houses all looking the same’,
i would assume after having a quick look at the site that a second story could be added to these places without too much problem and garages if required…
http://www.go-homes.co.nz/
“I feel pretty……oh so pretty……..”
Dear Old Boardroom Trout Fran O’Sullivan in the Herald this morning dusting off her Best Side West Side Story……..”For I’m loved by a pretty wonderful boy……..”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10913505
“The mainstream deserves better.” Huh !
Good post North, I like it, it conjures up a not so pretty picture of O Sullivan dancing on a roof or boardroom table somewhere.
I cannot comment on the articles unfortunately, as I don’t purchase that pathetic excuse of a paper. The reason being, and I have said in the past. “We prefer our shit house paper to come in rolls”.
As for O’ Sullivan, she is so predictable dribbling right wing bullshit I have avoided listening to her on the radio or television for a long time, and I certainly would not strain my eyes reading the crap she writes.
Street’s statement is a direct challenge to climate change, (and GCSB bill), ignorer, David Shearer. Is David Shearer finally starting to lose his conservative grip on the Labour caucus?
If what Rebecca Fox has reported is true, then the Labour caucus will be reconsidering their support for, Denniston, deep sea oil drilling, and fracking.
This would make a coalition with the Greens on a more equitable basis a much more likely probability.
Good on Maryan Street. Good on Clare Curran.
Hmmmm I don’t think that you understand much about Labour Party environment/conservation situation. Basically, most interested parties have given up on them. For instance. Smith’s Milford Tunnel decision? I still can’t find a single Labour Party press release about the decision even though it was arguably the biggest conservation decision of the last 6 months. The Greens had their statement out a couple of hours after Smith announced.
As for climate change. This civilisation is going to burn and bury itself, led by corporate interests. The melting of the Artic sea ice and permafrost? Just another drilling opportunity for Exxon Mobil and Gazprom.
Not if I can help it.
does anyone know if new zealand signed up to the u.n. plan to save the amazon..?
..(i tried googling..found zip..)
..where the worlds’ countries pledged $1.3 billion – and have actually stumped up with $13 million..?
..(and the deal has now been ‘torn up’…?..)
..did we sign up..and for how much..?..
..and did we pay our share..?
..and if not..why not..?..eh..?
phillip ure..
(ahem..!..that global promise was for $3.6 billion..)
phillip ure..
The poles are moving… the amazon will become a desert. Good luck with that.
John Armstrong mentions Boadicea by name!!! Ha!
Hmmmmm I don’t remember Fran Mold doing that great a job at being Shearer’s press secretary 2012-2013. Correct me if I am wrong peeps? And now a promotion to CoS which Armstrong couldn’t applaud louder if he tried.
Bloody Wellington bubble gaming.
“John Armstrong mentions Boadicea by name!!! Ha!”
Where?
weka, here is the link to Armstrong’s article on Fran Mold.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10913495
Thanks 🙂
You’ve got to love her surname though. Very fitting for the PR meister of present-day Labour!
I guess so – does anyone know someone named “Second Law of Thermodynamics” or “Entropy” for short?
bloody hell..!
..one in five greens..and 84% of nz first voters..
..want a return to capital punishment/state-executions..
http://whoar.co.nz/2013/the-nation-a-review-ed-bloody-hell-one-in-five-greens-want-a-return-to-capital-punishmentstate-execution-of-selected-criminals/
phillip ure..
That’s what happens when newspapers put crime a front page fodder day in, day out.
As usual, no analysis of why such views have eventuates.
In a twenty first century surveillance state the last ditch effort to stop young women being sent away to a life of misery – a spoon in the undies…sigh.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/08/15/spoon-in-underwear-saving-youths-from-forced-marriage/
http://www.karmanirvana.org.uk/
The Herald is coming! All is saved!
“When the Labour-led Government in 2007 forced through the deeply undemocratic Electoral Finance Bill, to widespread criticism including from Mr Key, the issue never rated a blip in polls. Given a choice between the state of the economy, health, education or immigration, highlighting a concern with how elections could be funded proved all too abstract.
Yet it was important and its controversy undoubtedly fed a general public malaise with a high-handed Government.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10913538
Of course none of this, http://werewolf.co.nz/2013/08/nanny-national/, is so deeply undemocratic as to warrant the Heralds ire. And well done to Herald journos for calling a fight for Key, but not doing any fact checking. Isn’t fact checking a journos job?
Whoever are the editors and subeditors should hang their heads in shame.
They are enabling a deeply undemocratic law and failing in their role as the 4th estate.
Wonder how much they get paid to sell their souls?
I would suggest, HEAPS.
Not that much these days…but certainly way more in TV than anywhere else….but print is drowning in red ink
It used to be said that politicians should never start a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel. Now they can always argue with someone who buys red ink by the barrel.
If the Public Meeting on Monday Re the GCSB Bill was really huge in numbers, would the organisers have been allowed to hire the future Skytower Convention Centre?
Those protestors WANTED to get killed, says Guardian hack
Huge contrast to sensible democracy-loving westerners
Radio NZ National, Saturday 17 August 2013
Democracy has, again, been bloodily crushed in Egypt. There are all kinds of experts who she could have interviewed about this disaster, but unfortunately Kim Hill’s producers decided to bypass all of them and instead went to a safe pair of hands called Ian Black, who is one of those unfeasibly smug and complacent Grauniad hacks that foolish and uninformed people keep calling “liberal”.
The interview went exactly as one would have expected. I have got to the stage of not letting most of these pseudo-journalists upset me now; you just have to admit the fact that the corporate media is an integral part of the establishment, and that if Ian Black was any good at all, he would not be rejoicing in the grand title of “Middle East Editor of the Grauniad“. So I was prepared for virtually any depravity to fall from Black’s lips—-but he still managed to stagger me (and I’m sure many other listeners) when he delivered up a Breivik-level analysis of the Islamic love of being killed. In spite of my vow of self-restraint, I had to spring into action. Just before 9 a.m., listeners heard Kim read out the following e-mail….
Dear Kim,
Ian Black asserted, in apparent high seriousness, that “in Islam there is this concept of martyrdom.” I’ll remember how addicted to martyrdom those Islamic people are the next time I pass a War Memorial in this country.
Ian Black’s comment is similar to General Westmoreland’s infamous statement about how Asians were a “formidable adversary” because they had “such a disregard for human life”, and (more recently) Rosemary McLeod’s sniffy assessment on Jim Mora’s show that “these people [Egyptians] have no desire for democracy”.
Yours sincerely,
Morrissey Breen
Northcote Point
Just watch liveleak http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=64e_1376686879
It’s hardly false.
Nasty.
Al Jazeera interviews the foreign correspondent for the UK’s Independent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFD-KZuNBDE
I notice the US is making all kinds of frowning noises at Egypt…but is leaving their billion dollar military subsidies to the Egyptian army intact. What does that tell you.
AOS accidentally shoot suspect after suspect voluntarily surrenders and has been handcuffed
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10913551
Seriously. Do NOT give the police easier access to firearms, it is arguably too easy at the moment.
And what do you think the outcome of it all will be?.
I’m picking an “oh sorry, accidents happen”, and “the officer has been punished enough – he has to live with this for the rest of his life” …. next.
The Polis are apparently taking this “VERY seriously” however.
On a lighter note: on Wednesday last week I sent an email to my MP asking her about the GCSB bill, and in particular if New Zealanders are being spied on by the US, given what Edward Snowden has had to say. I also asked how easy would it be to get noticed by the NSA by accident if you innocently used buzz words like those on the list of 680+ words in the Homeland Security spooks’ hand book. I added the list at the end of her email and sent it off. I then sent a copy of the email to every member of parliament, so this list of dangerous words got a bit of an airing. I’ve also got a blog called Six More Lines where I write innocuous sounding articles, which I pepper with dangerous words, to see if the spooks notice. Snowden said it’s quite easy. Well, my mail-out was on Tuesday, and I was feeling very clever, then on Thursday morning I pressed the start button on my computer and there was one hell of a bang! My computer literally blew up. “My God! I thought. Can they really do that already?” I went to my husband and asked, “Do you think it’s just a coincidence?” He said,”Well, if it’s not we’re in deep shit!”
Galloping paranoia: it was just the power supply box.
You can find the list of incriminating words here: (http://epic.org/foia/epic-v-dhs-media-monitoring/Analyst-Desktop-Binder-REDACTED.pdf). You can also find my blog here: http://sixmorelines.blogspot.co.nz/.
Lolz @ “galloping paranoia”.
Thanks for posting, I was just about to ask if anyone had a link to your blog.