Open mike 18/08/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, August 18th, 2019 - 75 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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

Step up to the mike …

75 comments on “Open mike 18/08/2019 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. greywarshark 1
    18 August 2019 at 9:16 am

    ExKiwiForces this would interest you.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018709193/kriv-stenders-the-battle-of-long-tan

    Kriv Stenders: The Battle of Long Tan Listen duration 10′ :04″

    From Sunday Morning, 7:23 am today

    Share this

    Add to playlist

    This Sunday marks the day in 1966 in South Vietnam where a company of Australian and New Zealand soldiers in a rubber plantation called Long Tan fought to hold off a force of two thousand Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers. Kriv Stenders has made a movie about the men of D Company who had to battle against the odds for four hours in torrential rain. The film is Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan.

    • Adrian Thornton 1.1
      18 August 2019 at 12:43 pm

      Here is probably on the best movies made on the conflict in Vietnam, and considered by many to be one of the best war movies overall….personally I would give that credit to Elem Klimov's Come and See (1985).

      La 317ème section, Pierre Schoendoerffer (1965)

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6W9gPk00Cw&list=PL7c2UdvNJusR4-jy6BSap03_8A1VuJ5dn

      Come and See – (1985)

    • Exkiwiforces 1.2
      18 August 2019 at 5:23 pm

      Cheers for the link, I'll listen to it when I'm out bush this week during my downtime while tidying up yard after the ministry of finance (wife) wanted a new flushing thunder box or in between fighting bush fires.

      I'm hoping to catch the movie on the big screen when it comes to Darwin and not put it off as I did with movie "6 Days" a few yrs ago. From what I'm hearing atm the movie is pretty good from all accounts and it has impressed the yank movie critics etc.

      It's a damn shame old Maurice Stanley the Kiwi FOO (Forward Observer Officer is not around anymore as he's after battle presentation on the Battle of Long Tan is worth listening too incl the lessons learnt from the Battle of Long Tan. Without him and his two signallers Willie Walker from the RNZAC and Murray Broomhall RNZA as Harry Smith's link back to the Dat and the Kiwi BC (battery Commander) incl his staff of NZ 161Bty in which ran/ Co-Ord all the Fire support and, Close Air support missions and the aerial resupply during the lull in the battle. They now without the Kiwi's it would've been a very different story for D Coy 6RAR and possible for the rest of the 1ATF at the Dat as the field defences of 1ATF hadn't been completed yet and wasn't fully up to strength IRT manpower either.

      Heck even the US General Westmoreland and his staff were shitting bricks at was happening during the Battle of Long Tan from what I've read and have been told from a few vets of the Battle of Long Tan.

      It was a very close run indeed.

  2. greywarshark 2
    18 August 2019 at 9:21 am

    Hearing about what training for political life is availabe to MPs was a bracer for me.

    7.32 The House http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/the-house

    When MPs first turn up to Parliament they are often surprised at the incredibly varied demands of their jobs. And as their careers progress the skill demands change and increase. So who trains them to do those jobs? Parliamentary programme The House looks at new moves to upskill the people running the country.

    Katherine Rich, Chair of The Parliamentary Education Charitable Trust; and Girol Karacaoglu, head of the Victoria University School of Government

    Katherine Rich, Chair of the Parliamentary Education Charitable Trust and Girol Karacaoglu, head of the Victoria University School of Government Photo: VNP / Phil Smith

  3. greywarshark 3
    18 August 2019 at 9:41 am

    Hi everybody – lovely day in Nelson though cool. I am putting up some interesting things from Radionz that are good.

    This was interesting. It is wise to build relationships with China and build good business there, and at the same time ease off from the USA as we can.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/insight/audio/2018708828/disappearing-students-how-nz-is-wasting-opportunities-with-our-chinese-graduates

  4. greywarshark 4
    18 August 2019 at 9:55 am

    Fighting on the streets in Queenstown at 3 am. What is the bet that these had been drinking alcohol in bars? If they had been sitting in bars drinking coffee and listening to music and chatting or singing it would have been unlikely to end like this.
    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/396937/two-injured-in-serious-assault-in-queenstown

    This is NZ hypocrisy exposed, once again. Big on drugging really, and that is why it is hard to get appropriate controls on drugs, every time there must be some precious political time consumed deciding whether synthetic cannabis is all right but not something else. Always with alcohol being pushed. People allowed, almost encouraged to become addicted with RTDs being high alcohol. Just cut the hours for the bars down – make them get used to it, both the drinkers and the bars, normal closing at 11.30 and emptied by 12.30 am.

    And they must have to apply for special licences limited to two a year or six for the area, to stay open till 1 am and be empty by 2.00 a.m. Moans and groans and concerns about lots of people milling about being more likely to become unmanageable will only happen rarely then.

    This will save police and hospital time and safety and taxpayers paying out for the stupid and foolish and dissolute.

  5. aj 5
    18 August 2019 at 10:40 am

    Fighting in the streets of London at 3am.

    Owen Jones targeted by the far right

    • greywarshark 5.1
      18 August 2019 at 12:24 pm

      Perhaps we should all avoid being out at 3 am which seems to be the good time for violence! Trouble is that bring that down to 2 am – for this sort of premeditated attack any time at night would be good for the perps. To mount an attack they must be nearby sitting in a car/van and have someone follow the guy or gal in and monitor them and text or buzz when they move out. So a nasty feeling of background hate all the time if you are sensitive to that stuff.

    • McFlock 5.2
      18 August 2019 at 6:14 pm

      so they came for the immigrants, now they're going for the columnists.

  6. A 6
    18 August 2019 at 10:46 am

    Sunday WTH? Moment

    UN report claims "dozens" of NZers seeking asylum. The mind boggles.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/396928/new-zealanders-seeking-asylum-abroad-un-report

  7. Graeme 7
    18 August 2019 at 11:56 am

    Right o, so WTF went on here then….

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/396938/retraction-and-apology-to-donghua-liu-for-untrue-statements

    “The article claimed that Mr Liu had fled to New Zealand from China and that he was returning to face corruption charges there, for which he could be executed and his organs harvested.

    RNZ accepts that none of these statements were true.”

    Everything about this guy just gets couriouser and couriouser

    • Adrian Thornton 8.1
      18 August 2019 at 12:52 pm

      That is brilliant, you can be sure no one is going to be looking back on all the CGI that structures half the movies we see today with any kind of wonder.

      I really wish someone of influence could get to Peter Jackson and say to him..'just because you can, doesn't mean you should ' before he ruins any more classic's with his appalling over the top CGI..yuk.

  9. greywarshark 9
    18 August 2019 at 12:28 pm

    Further sadness re the planet and animals.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/396929/famous-dugong-dies-after-eating-plastic

    They are similar to manatees which also are having a hard time.

    https://phys.org/news/2019-07-manatee-deaths-watercraft-pace-florida.html

  10. MickeyBoyle 10
    18 August 2019 at 12:42 pm

    Anyone else at the All Blacks game last night, notice the chorus of boos that went out when our PM was announced. Not sure if those at home could hear it on the television, but I thought it was disgraceful. Never heard that for previous PMs, I do note however that she handled the handshake with far more competence than a certain previous PM…

    • James 10.1
      18 August 2019 at 4:07 pm

      I was there and heard it.

      Got to say – don’t like her and think that this government is a joke – but the booing behaviour was unacceptable.

    • Muttonbird 10.2
      18 August 2019 at 4:29 pm

      Yeah, lots of right wing nut jobs in the crowd.

      Interesting that you'd comment on it here…

      • James 10.2.1
        18 August 2019 at 4:52 pm

        Amusingly – you assume people booed because of their political views as opposed to their views on Jacinda.

        More amusing that you find it interesting that I would comment on it in a political blog.

        I guess you are just easily impressed.

        • Muttonbird 10.2.1.1
          18 August 2019 at 5:09 pm

          You'll find I wasn't talking to you. I try not to.

          But just what are you trying to say?

          That the rabid right were booing the PM not because of their political views, but because they don't like her? What has she done outside politics that has made them so angry? Been successful? Had a baby?

          Wearing your England shirt last night, were you?

          • MickeyBoyle 10.2.1.1.1
            18 August 2019 at 5:15 pm

            If it was only the “rabid right” booing Ardern, the left is in serious trouble. Because from what I witnessed last night, they must have made up roughly 70% of the crowd. And as for your comment about me mentioning this here, where else am I meant to mention it, this is open mic.

            • Muttonbird 10.2.1.1.1.1
              18 August 2019 at 5:20 pm

              You're claiming 70% of a 48K crowd were booing the Prime Minister? An event which didn't make the news.

              Delusional.

              • MickeyBoyle …
                18 August 2019 at 5:42 pm

                You're right, it was probably only 68%…I dont know if you were there or not, but I was, and it was frankly embarrassing. I get some dislike Ardern, but acting like toddlers and booing someone representing us and doing her job is pathetic. You want her gone, vote for the other guy.

                • mauī …
                  18 August 2019 at 7:43 pm

                  This obviously confirms that Ardern is the most despised PM we've had in modern times…

                  • James …
                    18 August 2019 at 8:43 pm

                    Obv that’s not the case (yet) but could be representative of the reason her popularity has dropped so much since April to July.

            • Gabby 10.2.1.1.1.2
              18 August 2019 at 9:28 pm

              Biccymoyle I'd imagine a labour pm would get a similar reception at a fair few places full of welloff drunks.

          • James 10.2.1.1.2
            18 August 2019 at 7:03 pm

            guessing they booed her because they don’t like what her government is doing.

            At a guess. As for their political views – who knows only a moron would assume the views of an entire 50,000 person crowd (you being a perfect example of being said moron)

            I would agree with MB that it was a very large %age of the crowd booing her.

            • Muttonbird 10.2.1.1.2.1
              18 August 2019 at 7:47 pm

              I think you and Mickey Boyle imagined it, and if there was booing it was just you and your boof-head friends.

              • MickeyBoyle …
                18 August 2019 at 8:10 pm

                That's right facts dont matter when they hurt your feelings. Ardern got booed by thousands, I think it was out of line and embarrassing and I was there. It was all over talk back this afternoon. I suppose you're a flat earther too? Since you havent actually seen the earth from space right moron?

      • Fireblade 10.2.2
        18 August 2019 at 7:09 pm

        Simon Bridges was at the rugby on Saturday night. He was constantly ridiculed and made fun of. Stuff like "Hoi Soimun" and "where's ya Slushy Soimun". His wife looked a bit embarrassed, but drunken rugby buffheads will always take the piss.

        • James 10.2.2.1
          18 August 2019 at 7:13 pm

          You were there and saw this ?

          I assume that you would be ok with people talking to Jacinda in the same manner ?

          • Fireblade 10.2.2.1.1
            18 August 2019 at 7:40 pm

            Yes I was there and saw this.

            No, verbal abuse is never ok. You should know that James.

          • Muttonbird 10.2.2.1.2
            18 August 2019 at 7:50 pm

            Have you condemned right wing shock jock Alan Jones for his misogynistic rant the other day?

            • James 10.2.2.1.2.1
              18 August 2019 at 8:04 pm

              I love how when people say things about Jacinda what lefties don’t like – they run right to the misogynistic card.

              Predictable and weak.

              • Robert Guyton …
                18 August 2019 at 8:09 pm

                Those people you mention, James: any of them say misogynistic things?

                Alan Jones, does he say misogynistic things, do you know?

                • James …
                  18 August 2019 at 8:22 pm

                  not necessarily Robert.

                  And I haven’t read the full Alan Jones column- I know it was far from complementary but have no idea if it was misogynistic or not.

                  I do think he has a point about the holier then thou “woke” comments however.

                  Perhaps muttonbirdbrain could point out the misogynistic comments he takes offence to?

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    18 August 2019 at 9:05 pm

                    "muttonbirdbrain"?

                    I see where you're coming from, James.

                    There are coloured swings and slides there and rubber safety-matting.

                  • Gabby …
                    18 August 2019 at 9:06 pm

                    He's a bit of a pizzlenoggin though isn't he jimbo.

                  • Muttonbird …
                    18 August 2019 at 9:19 pm

                    Jones said Scott Morrison should "shove a sock down the throat" of Jacinda Ardern.

                    Several advertisers have pulled sponsorship from his show. His employer, Macquarie Media, has issued a final warning about such comments. Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull have both condemned Jones, Turnbull calling him an "appalling misogynist" whose use of violent language against female politicians was disgraceful. Jones himself has been forced to apologise on air and in writing to the Prime Minister. Even Fiji hard-man, Frank Bainimarama, has slammed Jones.

                    Turnbull again, "I mean this is appalling language – and at a time when we are doing everything we can as a national priority to stamp out violence against women and children, you have this broadcaster who uses the language of violence against women as part of his regular rhetoric".

                    Yet this all seems to mean nothing to you, James, who is ever so quick to point the finger at commenters for not standing up to unacceptable speech. Or perhaps such speech directed at Jacinda Ardern is fine with you.

                    According to your own logic, you not condemning Jones the way politicians, advertisers and media both sides of the ditch and all over the Pacific have done means you endorse and agree with the latest utterances of that decrepit, far-right, woman hater.

                    With respect to a culture of violence against women, you sir appear to be part of the problem.

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      18 August 2019 at 9:22 pm

                      James has used the, "you didn't condemn x-behaviour/person, so that means you endorse/condone blah, blah" so many times that I find myself cheering Muttonbird on for his careful demolition of James's behaviour.

                    • James []
                      18 August 2019 at 9:35 pm

                      Robert – indeed I do do this – but I think you will find that I do this in regard to specific comments in a thread. – not normally to do with third party links

                    • Incognito …
                      18 August 2019 at 9:27 pm

                      Very well said, cleanly, fairly, accurately.

                    • James …
                      18 August 2019 at 9:32 pm

                      You did see where I clearly said I hadn’t read it right?

                      So you want me to condem comments I haven’t read?

                    • Incognito []
                      18 August 2019 at 9:52 pm

                      You must have read Muttonbird’s comment that you’re responding to yet you missed your opportunity to speak out and condemn the comments that Muttonbird was referring to!? Instead, you act all defensive and like a victim. BTW, your defence is pathetic IMHO.

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      18 August 2019 at 9:35 pm

                      Hippity-hoppity.

            • Ngungukai 10.2.2.1.2.2
              18 August 2019 at 10:47 pm

              Jones needs to take his cock out of his mouth IMHO.

    • McFlock 10.3
      18 August 2019 at 6:25 pm

      Wasn't there a thing where John Key walked around a rugby field and got booed by the crowd, then got surroiunded by suckups in the corporate box?

  11. A 11
    18 August 2019 at 12:57 pm

    This might create a real upset. One Nation will oppose ScoMo cash ban



  12. A 12
    18 August 2019 at 1:09 pm

    Insulting, although well intended. They are aware of the WEAG report that recommended IMMEDIATE increase to benefits. But part of the answer is a very National sounding "budget advice".

    "As part of our work on homelessness we are expanding the Sustaining Tenancies programme. It ensures that tenants who may be at-risk of losing their tenancy receive practical support to help them get back on track."

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/115087754/government-annouces-54-million-for-homelessness-initiatives

    Let’s imagine….you are a landlord, your tenant is behind in rent but pleads with you to hold back on giving them notice because they are getting budgeting advice. Pleeze. They are out on their ear because they are too poor and too stressed to home. Any landlord with a modest level of experience will know it is far easier to get someone else in rather than set themselves up to be owed thousands more in arrears.

  13. Muttonbird 13
    18 August 2019 at 1:28 pm

    They get a lot of ridicule and not much in the way of praise but the RNZAF deserve a big hand for their work in the Pacific.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/08/air-force-orion-s-chance-encounter-saves-18-lives.html

    This search/rescue/patrol capability is vital and I think a core duty of New Zealand as a developed economy in the region.

    The P8s should help establish an important presence for us in our region of responsibility.

    • Exkiwiforces 13.1
      18 August 2019 at 10:52 pm

      Here's a RNZ news link on the RNZAF's C130 Hec's and yes its amazing that the Erk's/ techo's have managed to keep flying or from falling out of the sky.

      And yes "They get a lot of ridicule and not much in the way of praise but the RNZAF deserve a big hand for their work in the Pacific."

      BZ, 40SQN and to 5SQN.

      BTW, they also hold the record for the shortest possible landing at Dili Airport. in Timor Leste by a C130 and 40SQN hold's a number of other 1st places IRT to the C130 operations incl finding a Sub during a Fincastle Comp in-conjunction with the 5SQN boys when their P3 went tits up and the funny thing is that 5SQN ending up wining the Comp as well which piss off the other Commonwealth Crews.

      A wee bit of useless information if you get bored or stumped for a silly question for Trivial night.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/396934/hercules-fleet-it-s-amazing-they-ve-managed-to-keep-them-flying

  14. A 14
    18 August 2019 at 2:03 pm

    Check out this Twitter thread about a LL who asked to look through the tenants current property (not owned by LL, inspecting prior to accepting them as a tenant)

    https://twitter.com/becs355/status/1162494593285230592

  15. aj 15
    18 August 2019 at 6:48 pm

    Exposing Australia's housing crisis | 60 Minutes Australia, screened this last week.

    Because the world financial system is entering unknown territory, and our housing status isn't far from that in Australia, this 16 minute video makes for interesting viewing.



  16. greywarshark 16
    18 August 2019 at 7:29 pm

    Boorish and the best lot of hogwash you have heard in a long time. With a background of angels and promises to high heaven.

    https://www.indy100.com/article/brexit-news-latest-boris-johnson-vision-for-britain-video-reaction-9062441

    • greywarshark 16.1
      18 August 2019 at 7:47 pm

      And dissolution of Parliament rather than proroguing it is a real possibility in the Tory's minds according to this article. Boorish the Rogue should be his nom-de-gloom. Gina Miller 18/8/19 businesswoman and transparency activist writing for The Guardian.

      MPs won’t be forgiven if they fail to stop Boris Johnson’s Brexit ploy

      …Unsaid in the letter, but streaming through it like shafts of light through a broken roof, Johnson’s plan of action – doubtless guided by the arch-Brexiter svengali Dominic Cummings – is clearly to call an election and dissolve parliament as soon as the beginning of next month, with polling at some point after the existing Brexit day of 31 October.

      He is gambling everything on Jeremy Corbyn’s unpopularity and a public which, at that point, will have yet to experience the full force of no-deal economic headwinds. He may even hold a pre-Brexit budget to lull the public into a false sense of security, bribing them with their own money, through a splurge of new spending promises and tax cuts funded by an increase in the national debt…

      Our unwritten constitution has always been based on the assumption that no one as unscrupulous as Johnson or his chief adviser would ever come to reside in 10 Downing Street, but that is what we now have to face up to. A general election on their terms and timetable would guarantee their sacred no-deal Brexit, and assure him five years in office in which to turn the UK into a laboratory for experimenting with the most extreme rightwing ideology we have ever seen.

      Brexit is their cloak to disguise political ambitions to change our country. Surrounded by individuals set on putting a torch to the old order, they are using propaganda to set the people against parliament and create chaos out of which will emerge a survivalist economy…

      Poll after poll has shown that a no-deal Brexit is emphatically not what the public wants – whatever the Leave campaign-staffed No 10 press office may tell lobby correspondents. For all Dominic Raab’s protests, it was never the way Brexit was sold in the referendum of 2016. And keep in mind these two statistics: Johnson came into office with his talk of “do or die” Brexit on the back of just 92,153 Tory members’ votes. By contrast, more than 6.1 million citizens have signed a petition calling for Article 50 to be revoked.

      https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/18/boris-johnson-brexit-ploy-extreme-rightwing-ideology-gina-miller

  17. greywarshark 17
    18 August 2019 at 7:49 pm

    There was a saying that a UK person's home was their castle. Which was apparently about security of tenure and respect for the individual's property. What about your face? Does that belong to you? Would you allow people to have a mask of your face and wear it wherever they and you go, you could get trouble coming to you that they caused. Facial recognition is rife in the UK and has been for some time, done in secret and by private companies rather than official authorities.

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/18/facial-recognition-is-now-rampant-implications-for-our-freedom-are-chilling

    Stephanie Hare 18/8/2019 The Guardian

  18. joe90 18
    18 August 2019 at 9:10 pm

    Cracking cover.

  19. Robert Guyton 19
    18 August 2019 at 9:37 pm

    Rod Oram considers Fonterra.

    "If Fonterra wants to recover from this low point in its history and thrive it needs a bold new and practical strategy, not a tidy up of its failed one. The obvious opportunity is to become one of the world’s leading exponents of dairy farming that’s healthy for the planet, while producing dairy nutrition that’s healthier for people.

    Currently, that’s an oxymoron. Dairying is an extractive industry that always damages the climate, and often land and water too, unless it is done exceptionally well. But dairy farmers mustn’t feel picked on. Many ways we produce food globally are as damaging or worse, as a growing body of research details."

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/08/18/756988/fonterra-last-chance#

The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.