Open mike 18/04/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 18th, 2015 - 100 comments
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100 comments on “Open mike 18/04/2015 ”

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  2. Sanctuary 2
    17 April 2015 at 4:22 pm

    Sanctuary’s law:

    “As an astroturfing right wing organisation grows more desperate, the probability of it invoking racism for publicity approaches 1”

    The taxpayers union, warmed over ACToids of six white males and one white women, has struggled to be noticed since Farrar set it up as an extreme right ginger group. Sure enough, they’ve gone for alarmist racism in a last, doomed, frantic attempt to break through.

    Won’t link to such a bunch of desperate, irrelevant, racist right wing whites.

    • vto 2.1
      18 April 2015 at 9:06 am

      is there a difference between black racists and white racists?

      seems to be some racism on your very own part there Sanctuary

      • Bill 2.1.1
        18 April 2015 at 9:24 am

        Not this stupid debate again!

        Racism is underpinned and informed by ideological, historical and systemic phenomena such as Darwinism, colonialism and resultant asymmetries of power in our current social/political relations.

        It’s oxymoronic to refer to black racists. A black person can be bigoted or discriminatory or whatever, but because of what I mention above on the nature of racism, never racist.

        As a white person I can never be subjected to racism due to the same reasons outlined above, which is not to say I can’t be severely discriminated against, fucked over and done in. (eg systemic discrimination that was brought to bear on the Irish)

        • weka 2.1.1.1
          18 April 2015 at 11:33 am

          +1 thanks for nipping that in the bud.

        • vto 2.1.1.2
          18 April 2015 at 2:58 pm

          ha ha never had I heard anything so ridiculous

          blacks can never be racist

          you are off the planet and so is the entire politically correct ideology which comes up with these self-justifications.

          Your foolishness is exhibited especially by this statement of yours …. “As a white person I can never be subjected to racism “. Go learn the definition of “racism”. There are plenty online and even in dictionaries. That definition you tried to give is born of subjectivity and one particular circumstance.

          Sanctuary was racist.

          … Alternatively, go find another definition for the circumstance you describe (which circumstance certainly exists of course).

          ….

          the one thing I do agree with is your first sentence – not this stupid issue again. Do you never learn?

          • weka 2.1.1.2.1
            18 April 2015 at 3:46 pm

            I think you missed the point vto. Bill is pointing out the differences between bigotry based on race, and racism that is created via power structures and ideology.

            btw, what did you think of the UK GP campaign video?

            http://thestandard.org.nz/the-uk-greens-election-video/

            • vto 2.1.1.2.1.1
              19 April 2015 at 7:00 am

              No I see it completely and was thinking about it after punching out that quick reposte.

              The problem is clearly one of definition.

              The racism Bill describes is merely one form of racism. There are myriad others. You might call Bill’s form colonial-hangover racism, or institutional racism or power racism or some such. There are many other forms of racism – some of which are seen in NZ on a daily/weekly basis.

              Bill’s described racism is a subset of racism itself.

              Racism itself is a subset of bigotry and discrimination.

              I don’t know why this is so hard.

            • vto 2.1.1.2.1.2
              19 April 2015 at 7:08 am

              Good greens video too, even though they are up against the conservative/establishment machine.

              Where could a similar video be broadcast in NZ? It wouldn’t be allowed on TV here

          • marty mars 2.1.1.2.2
            18 April 2015 at 7:57 pm

            Bill explained it in as simple as you get terms and you dis him off – I really wish you didn’t get bored and try and start these wasteoftime thoughtposts – I believe you are so much better than this shit.

            • vto 2.1.1.2.2.1
              19 April 2015 at 7:01 am

              Yes after I posted it the regret mode kicked in for the manner of response (though not the substance). It was punched out too quickly and too roughly. Bad habits are hard to kick.

  3. Robert Atack 3
    17 April 2015 at 5:16 pm

    FFS ?

    http://robinwestenra.blogspot.co.nz/2015/04/focusing-on-australia.html

    Abbott government gives $4m to help climate contrarian set up Australian centre
    Bjørn Lomborg has been given money from the hard-pressed federal budget to set up a ‘consensus centre’ at the University of Western Australia
    The Guardian,
    16 April, 2015

    The Abbott government found $4m for the climate contrarian Bjørn Lomborg to establish his “consensus centre” at an Australian university, even as it struggled to impose deep spending cuts on the higher education sector.

    Lomborg uses cost-benefit analysis to advise governments what spending produces the best social value for money spent, concluding that climate change is not a top-priority problem.

    • Paul 4.1
      18 April 2015 at 8:15 am

      You beat me to it.
      Key’s disciples are turning against him.

      • tc 4.1.1
        18 April 2015 at 8:35 am

        Let’s wait and see shall we. One article outta sycophant central means nowt at this point in the cycle.

        • Paul 4.1.1.1
          18 April 2015 at 9:00 am

          Yes, Armstrong lost any respect I had for him when he was involved in the hatchet job on Cunliffe last year

    • Saarbo 4.2
      18 April 2015 at 8:54 am

      It was nearly a good article from Armstrong except for these bits:

      “But the notion that there is some huge spin machine operating out of the Beehive which relentlessly force feeds journalists with National’s take on events is a myth.”

      Armstrong is trying to ignore the affect of Nicky Hagar’s book in outing Jason Ede and the downstream spin offs. Obviously the Nats are missing him badly.

      and

      “The search for the lost surplus has been National’s Holy Grail. It has also become a measure of whether National can justifiably lay claim to being a better manager of the economy than Labour.”

      Labour did produce 8 surplus’s, I’m not sure how the Nat’s producing ONE surplus can “justify” them as better managers. Driving around Hamilton, Cambridge and Papamoa it does make you wonder why commentators are not picking up the billions of dollars being spent on the “Express Ways” in a time when our debt is climbing to an eye watering $80 billions dollars. These express ways are nice to have but there is no way we can afford them now, and lets not talk about the pitiful cost/benefit from an economic point of view.

      • North 4.2.1
        18 April 2015 at 9:33 am

        Of course when it comes to the likes of Armstrong and numerous others there never was the necessity for force feeding. Ironic that Armstrong’s identification and purported debunking of “the myth” should rely for authenticity on his own disgraceful conduct as a political journalist.

        Never mind. There is blood in the water now. Key knows it. Look at his demeanour of late. Watch out for redoubled filthy tactics.

      • freedom 4.2.2
        18 April 2015 at 10:04 am

        and absolutely no mention of the ever increasing debt which surely relates to the surplus, which is at the heart of the article

    • ianmac 4.3
      18 April 2015 at 9:02 am

      Well spotted. Though one comment from JA is a bit unbelievable.
      “But the notion that there is some huge spin machine operating out of the Beehive which relentlessly force feeds journalists with National’s take on events is a myth.”
      I thought it was relentless?
      Edit: Saarbo you too.

    • Bearded Git 4.4
      18 April 2015 at 10:21 am

      @Wyndham
      I see an Akl house price collapse of 20% some time in 2016 which should feed through nicely to an electorate “feel-bad” situation for the Nats at the election in 2017. (Houses bought for $800k become worth $640k with negative equity of $80k).

      And as Armstrong says it will all be Key and his “do-nothing” government’s fault.

      • Murray Rawshark 4.4.1
        18 April 2015 at 2:50 pm

        I’m hoping for a house price collapse of about 70% to convince the two main parties once and for all that the future of Aotearoa doesn’t lie with speculation in urban property. There’d be a lot of pain, but then there already is.

    • Draco T Bastard 4.5
      18 April 2015 at 11:51 am

      In failing to institute some kind of tax or other disincentive to curb speculative sales, Key now has the unenviable choice of having to take tougher and less popular action to force a correction, but not one which sends prices plummeting through the floor.

      LOL

      All the political parties are absolutely terrified of the correction that they know needs to happen and are thus either ignoring it (National et al) or hoping that something will happen that will allow things to continue as is (Labour). Neither of these will work.

      The government has to step in and crash the market else the market crash automatically.

      EDIT:
      And the total piece by Armstrong is still sychobabble in support of National and Key.

    • rhinocrates 4.6
      18 April 2015 at 1:29 pm

      So now he spits instead of swallows. Not a big difference: he’s still on his knees.

  5. amirite 5
    18 April 2015 at 8:34 am

    The MediaWorks canning of CampbellLive was planned months ago, right when they cut the sponsorship contract with Mazda to three months instead of a usual term – one year.
    An unusual move for a cash-strapped media house, don’t you think?

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11434603

    • Paul 5.1
      18 April 2015 at 8:42 am

      Wonder if the timeline can be moved back to Key and Weldon meeting sometime last year.

    • felix 5.2
      18 April 2015 at 8:45 am

      “Last night, in an open dig at network bosses who have suggested replacing the show with a soap opera, Campbell Live opened to the theme tune Let Me Entertain You.”

      Actually an open dig at John Key, who said Campbell Live is more entertainment than journalism.

      Regarding the rest of the article, yes it’s been clear from the start that nothing Mediaworks have said is true.

      • Paul 5.2.1
        18 April 2015 at 8:51 am

        And to those people on this site who deride conspiracies by using silly expressions like tinfoil hat, here is one before your eyes.
        Remember the expression conspiracy theory is useful for the powerful as it is an easy way to stop critical thinking,

        • Stephanie Rodgers 5.2.1.1
          18 April 2015 at 11:53 am

          There are credible conspiracy theories. There are ludicrous conspiracy theories.

          The fact that one conspiracy theory – that Mediaworks senior management have been planning to can Campbell Live for a long time despite their protestations – is credible doesn’t mean they all are.

        • Ergo Robertina 5.2.1.2
          18 April 2015 at 1:20 pm

          I know you mean well Paul, and I agree so-called conspiracy theories shouldn’t be dismissed without thinking. However, people who become consumed by a singular narrative about how the world is run switch off from a whole lot of information. It isn’t conducive to critical thinking or a healthy democracy.
          I’m pretty sure I could dig out quite a few comments on TS that resolutely declare no real journalism existed in NZ. Then the threat to Campbell Live emerged and the show’s received more attention, which is great to see.
          Just think how effective its campaigns on issues like zero hours, kids’ lunches and the GCSB bill could have been if so many people in our country hadn’t switched off for a variety of reasons.

      • ianmac 5.2.2
        18 April 2015 at 10:21 am

        felix. From my non-legal seat I suspect that Mediaworks has to be very careful what they say as there must be contractual rules at stake. Denial is a damage control position as Key also demonstrates.

    • tc 5.3
      18 April 2015 at 8:51 am

      Probably first agenda item after the Xmas break. Weldon is particularly good at getting this stuff right as he showed at NZX.

      He dumped a sinecure just before they pulled the ‘go public’ pin so he’s fully focused on seeing this through.

      One very willing worker is Marky mark.

    • freedom 5.4
      18 April 2015 at 10:26 am

      yet the Mazda sponsor still appeared in the CL Ten Year celebration messages
      – some pretty cold salutations when seen in this new light

      7:51
      http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/campbelllive/messages-of-thanks-to-john-campbell-2015032721#axzz3XXB5keDd

      • Ergo Robertina 5.4.1
        18 April 2015 at 10:41 am

        What do you mean by the cold salutations comment? It wasn’t Mazda’s choice to have a short contract, it was MediaWorks’. In fact, Mazda could have just walked, and no doubt that would have suited the network.
        That’s the point of this story: the network itself had a predetermined outcome to the review of the show.

        • freedom 5.4.1.1
          18 April 2015 at 11:09 am

          Mazda openly celebrating the ten year anniversary, all happy happy joy joy, when knowing about the sword of Damocles is a bit chilling if you ask me.

          • Ergo Robertina 5.4.1.1.1
            18 April 2015 at 11:17 am

            Whatever. John Campbell was celebrating the milestone, too.
            I was bemused by it when I saw the 10-year programme, because no other editorial team in New Zealand could include a sponsor plug like that without it seeming like the sponsor owned the show. I doubt anyone would think to level that charge at Campbell, which says a huge amount about the show’s credibility and quality.

  6. vto 6
    18 April 2015 at 9:04 am

    The Federated Farmers Comedy Show

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/67840314/federated-farmers-calls-for-more-government-cash-for-irrigation

    ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

    hypocrisy

    socialism

    bludgery

    government intervention

    no free market

    the farmers blow their credibility yet again

    • miravox 6.1
      18 April 2015 at 10:58 am

      ,i>”ha ha ha ha”
      Couldn’t have said it better.

      This report makes no sense whatsoever and highlights how Federated Farmers talks over any perspective that is not an economic one.

      If it wasn’t that we have a government that is looking for validation I’d call Dr William Rolleston a fool.

    • locus 6.2
      18 April 2015 at 11:28 am

      Federated Farmers: “There is a case for government contributing to water storage ………. to reflect the contribution water storage makes to the environment and the community”

      So in short: water shortages impact the environment and community….

      and who pray,mister federated farmer are the main cause of these water shortages?

    • Stephanie Rodgers 6.3
      18 April 2015 at 12:01 pm

      One of the great ironies of the New Zealand right is the way they trumpet successful businesses – they took the risks! They deserve the rewards! Their success is built on smarts, not government handouts – and then turn around and prop up people who persist in trying to dairy farm in regions like Canterbury which have droughts almost every single year.

    • Murray Rawshark 6.4
      18 April 2015 at 2:57 pm

      It’s not socialism when it’s public money going to shore up private profits. It’s business as usual for Kiwi “entrepreneurs” and hard working farmers, backbone of the nation. Plus it keeps water out of iwi control.

  7. Ananry 7
    18 April 2015 at 9:20 am

    Today: Dunedin community picket at midday as part of Global Day of Action against
    TPPA/TTIP, etc.

    Dunedin is on the map!
    http://www.nottip.org.uk/global-day-of-action-april-18-2015/

    Dust off your signs, loosen those vocal chords. Community groups and
    supporters will be picketting along the one-way (south-bound) by the
    Railway Station this Saturday from 12 – 2pm:
    https://www.facebook.com/TPPAActionDunedin?fref=ts

    During the picket, there will also be discussion regarding the upcoming protest (date to be confirmed) at the Octagon about the decision of the SDHB that is causing outrage in Otago and Southland where local hospitals are proposing to serve frozen meals from Auckland, under contract with Compass:
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Protest-Date-to-be-confirmed/1387144851610961

    • Bill 7.1
      18 April 2015 at 12:39 pm

      Heartening to read that other issues are to be discussed at the picket. if this indicated the beginnings of a process concerned with deepening and broadening involvement across a raft of issues…

  8. freedom 8
    18 April 2015 at 10:05 am

    and buried deep deep down the bottom of the National pages in the NZH
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11434343

    “..the human right to adequate housing was a binding legal obligation for the state, … the Government had a duty to protect this right and a responsibility to provide remedies.”

    • miravox 8.1
      18 April 2015 at 12:12 pm

      Also in the theme of human rights to adequate housing

      In 1947, we thought rental accommodation should be dry. What has changed?”

      The Government had spent million insulating state homes, which house some of the nation’s poorest people, and subsidising insulation in the private housing market. However, it had not committed to minimum standards for rental homes, with Prime Minister John Key last December expressing concern that standards would put pressure on rents.

      1947 – it was the law that landlords provided dry accommodation. These days – not so much.

    • Ergo Robertina 8.2
      18 April 2015 at 12:22 pm

      The story was more prominent on news sites yesterday. It’s also referenced today near the top of the lead story on the house ‘earning’ almost as much as a judge:

      ”A Weekend Herald investigation into soaring house prices comes amid warnings from the Reserve Bank about the housing market and calls for immediate action by the country’s chief human rights watchdog.”

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11434550

      • freedom 8.2.1
        18 April 2015 at 1:28 pm

        Thanks Ergo, didn’t see yesterday’s page but as the article wasn’t published until late afternoon, it couldn’t have been all that prominent for very long.

        I went to the page you linked to but can’t see it referenced on that page. There is the Fran O’Sullivan piece but not the Issac Davison piece, maybe they have recycled the page since you posted the link..

        • Ergo Robertina 8.2.1.1
          18 April 2015 at 2:12 pm

          I meant it was referenced in the story, in the second paragraph. And yeah it would be good if the words contained a link to the original story. But at least the fact the human rights commissioner is demanding action forms part of the coverage of the housing crisis.

  9. Ergo Robertina 9
    18 April 2015 at 10:18 am

    The Steve Braunias diary is gold today in his take on John Campbell’s nemeses:
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/Steve-Braunias/news/article.cfm?a_id=974&objectid=11434543

  10. Ananry 10
    18 April 2015 at 10:19 am

    Urgent, given the timing, and posting this for a friend whose alert is in moderation (apologies for the double-up if that has already appeared above):

    Today: Dunedin community picket at midday as part of Global Day of Action against
    TPPA/TTIP, etc.

    Dunedin is on the map!
    http://www.nottip.org.uk/global-day-of-action-april-18-2015/

    Dust off your signs, loosen those vocal chords. Community groups and
    supporters will be picketting along the one-way (south-bound) by the
    Railway Station this Saturday from 12 – 2pm:
    https://www.facebook.com/TPPAActionDunedin?fref=ts

    During the picket, there will also be discussion regarding the upcoming protest (date to be confirmed) at the Octagon about the decision of the SDHB that is causing outrage in Otago and Southland where local hospitals are proposing to serve frozen meals from Auckland, under contract with Compass:
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Protest-Date-to-be-confirmed/1387144851610961

  11. freedom 11
    18 April 2015 at 10:21 am

    Amerithrax Whistleblower Case update:

    “The FBI head agent in charge of the anthrax investigation – Richard Lambert – has just filed a federal whistleblower lawsuit calling the entire FBI investigation bullshit”

    http://www.globalresearch.ca/head-of-the-fbis-anthrax-investigation-says-the-whole-thing-was-a-sham/5443516

    http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1714250-former-fbi-special-agent-in-charge-richard.html

    • ianmac 11.1
      18 April 2015 at 2:26 pm

      Would you trust the FBI freedom? If you can’t trust the State run protection agency who do you trust?
      And the 7 Senators who were most likely to vote against the Patriot Act happen to be the ones to receive anthrax in the mail. Mmmmm. Let me think……

      • freedom 11.1.1
        18 April 2015 at 4:03 pm

        I’m shocked I tell ya’, shocked to my very core! 😯
        though not as shocked as when people still try to deny these things

  12. freedom 12
    18 April 2015 at 11:16 am

    For those who missed the story on Campbell Live ( #saveCampbellLive )

    Who owns New Zealand’s Water?
    http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/campbelllive/who-owns-new-zealands-water-2015041518#axzz3XXB5keDd

    “They have consent to extract 500,000,000 litres a year”
    “The Council consent papers say they will fill one thousand shipping containers of bottled water a week”

    My questions are two fold- Traffic and Taxes

    Traffic: How are these shipping containers getting to market?
    That is a lot of extra trucks on the region’s crumbling highways!

    Was this expensive aspect properly addressed during the consent process ?

    Taxes: Why are we still giving away our dwindling resources?
    The oil and gas we lose at least brings us around 5% of the “declared profit”
    Itself an insanely low figure.

    Norway, as we know, does this: “Norway’s income tax on oil and gas profits has two components: A 28 percent tax on profits (the same income tax charged on all businesses in Norway), and a special 50 percent tax on profits from offshore oil and gas production, for a total tax of 78 percent.”

    Water, without a doubt, is the Black Gold of the 21st Century. This One Pure NZ deal, and the numerous other deals still flowing through the pipelines, are socially corrupt fiscally idiotic and morally bankrupt.

    • Paul 12.1
      18 April 2015 at 11:22 am

      Another show just meant to entertain us, Mr Key?

      This is a dynamite story.
      No wonder the big corporates pressurised our pathetic government to close down this sort of investigative journalism.

      Maybe we could learn from Bolivia and fight back against the tyranny of corporations.

  13. travellerev 13
    18 April 2015 at 11:34 am

    Here is a bit of news about Fukushima. Not that you would read about it in the MSM of course: Fukushima: Killing The World, Hundreds of Dolphins And Millions of Sardines At The Time

    • marty mars 13.1
      18 April 2015 at 2:50 pm

      Thanks ev – talk about lesting we forget – I wonder if we actually ever see the bullet that kills us and once we’re dead does it even matter what killed us. Fukushima has killed the canaries and it is not going away anytime soon. medium or long.

  14. The Murphey 14
    18 April 2015 at 12:01 pm

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/motorway-tolls-preferred-choice-funding-ambitious-transport-plan-sl-171583

    Aucklanders will get what they asked for …

    Q. How little thought did those who chose this option put into it ?

    • Draco T Bastard 14.1
      18 April 2015 at 1:29 pm

      It was the preferred choice out of a limited range of choices where none of the choices were all that palatable. You also seem to have missed this bit:

      The government has repeatedly put the kibosh on tolls for Auckland’s motorway and increased fuel taxes.

      It’s unlikely that this government will allow toll roads as it will impact on car use and thus decrease profits for oil companies.

      • The Murphey 14.1.1
        18 April 2015 at 2:40 pm

        I saw that statement which I find to be at odds with the trend of signing up long term technological infrastructure contracts

        The added attraction of tracking movements of commuters in greater detail would be motivational for the controllers I would have thought

        I would doubt tolls will impact car use for many with their commute being avoidable by personal transport and it would be easy enough for the tactical policy behind toll implementation to be cynical enough that people would ‘have to pay’

        Zero confidence that any option is implemented would realize benefits necessary for Auckland as can be witnessed by this topic still going well after 30/40 years of discussion

        Meanwhile Sydney continues to expand the Light Rail Network

        • Draco T Bastard 14.1.1.1
          18 April 2015 at 3:05 pm

          The added attraction of tracking movements of commuters in greater detail would be motivational for the controllers I would have thought

          Why do you think the government or private business are interested in peoples daily commute?

          That said, having the statistics of use are needed for planning purposes.

          I would doubt tolls will impact car use for many with their commute being avoidable by personal transport…

          That entire sentence fails to make any sense at all.

          Zero confidence that any option is implemented would realize benefits necessary for Auckland as can be witnessed by this topic still going well after 30/40 years of discussion

          That is a valid observation. I suspect that building infrastructure for cars has been seen as the fast and cheap option by the councils over the years as it puts a large chunk of the operating expense of transport directly on individuals and removes it from rates allowing rates to be kept low. This despite the fact that building proper public transport would have been cheaper per individual even though rates would have been slightly higher.

          • The Murphey 14.1.1.1.1
            18 April 2015 at 3:23 pm

            1. It is all about data which you point out citing ‘planning purposes’
            Auckland Transport use similar rationale for the ‘spy network’

            2. Typo – should have read unavoidable

            3. Rates are not ‘low’

            • Draco T Bastard 14.1.1.1.1.1
              18 April 2015 at 5:05 pm

              1. You think that we can get away without planning?
              2. So what you’re saying there is that many people wouldn’t be able to give up their cars because they can’t get to work without them?
              3. The rates on the house that I’m living in are about the same as PAYE for someone on minimum wage. They don’t go up with income. So, for many rates are actually low while for many others it’s probably quite high. I think this means that we need a better way to calculate rates. But that’s not what I was getting at. By shifting the costs onto individuals through forcing them to buy cars costs were kept off the councils thus allowing them to have rates lower than what they really should have been.

              • The Murphey …
                18 April 2015 at 6:21 pm

                1. The planning Auckland needs is not the planning / outcomes Auckland would get from the implementation of tolls

                2. See point 1

                3. I understand what you were getting at and agree there is a requirement to examine other methods to calculating local taxes

                IMO the most efficient is to put an additional charge on the price of fuel with the mechanisms already in place and make sure all collected funds are only invested into Auckland transport initiatives with a ring fence around public transportation priorities

                No new infrastructure required or long term contracts with private technology and data firms paying tolls on roads that have been paid for many times over

                Unfortunately most people do not understand ‘toll roads’ – No I’m not suggesting you are one of them

  15. Draco T Bastard 15
    18 April 2015 at 1:24 pm

    Leaked emails show Hollywood arranging Cuomo fundraiser, jet travel

    The emails also show top Sony executives working behind the scenes to shake the money tree for Cuomo’s 2014 re-election campaign.

    The governor has been the loudest voice in Albany pressing for hundreds of millions of dollars state tax breaks for the film industry as part of a program that Cuomo and his industry allies say has created jobs and spurred economic development.

    And that is why we need to get corporations and businesses out of politics.

  16. Michael 16
    18 April 2015 at 1:46 pm

    Martin O’Malley may be challenging Hillary Clinton from the left for US Presidency. He has proposed reinstating all banking regulations that were in place from the Great Depression until the 1980s/90s; doubling the minimum wage; and (this one is important) being completely opposed to the TPP. He is even considered to the left of Elizabeth Warren. I do not know if he would win the Democratic primary, but if he wins he will force Hillary Clinton to take a position on these issues, including something like the TPP. Which she has not said if she supports yet.

    http://www.newrepublic.com/article/121569/martin-omalleys-15-minimum-wage-puts-hillary-notice

    • Chooky 16.1
      18 April 2015 at 2:50 pm

      hope Martin O’Malley does stand and win the Democratic nomination ….Hillary Clinton as President would be as bad, if not worse, if that is conceivable , as another Bush

      • Lanthanide 16.1.1
        18 April 2015 at 3:29 pm

        Martin would never win the presidency, so effectively you’re saying you’d rather have a Republican in the white house than Clinton, which logically doesn’t make sense if you actually support the democrats and not the republicans.

        • Colonial Rawshark 16.1.1.1
          18 April 2015 at 5:05 pm

          The logical thing is to understand where a long line of ‘not quite as bad as the other guy’ candidates has gotten us, and where sticking to that strategy is likely to get us.

          • Lanthanide 16.1.1.1.1
            18 April 2015 at 5:55 pm

            Sure, but absent any credible mechanism to change the status quo, theorising doesn’t achieve much.

            Given the US is a democracy, voting turnout is quite low and the extreme partisan nature of their politics and subsequent dumbing down of their campaigns, an awful lot of stuff has to change before ‘outsider’ candidates have much of a chance.

            Just one basic obstacle: the constitution mandates that election days are on Tuesday. This is not a public holiday, and a lot of Americans aren’t given any time by their employer to vote.

      • Michael 16.1.2
        18 April 2015 at 4:05 pm

        Hillary will be better than whatever the Republicans offer, no doubt. But that does not mean she will be good.

  17. Colonial Rawshark 17
    18 April 2015 at 2:17 pm

    The US has sent 300 members of an airborne brigade to Kiev, in direct contravention of the Minsk 2 agreement to keep all foreign troops off Ukranian soil.

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-04-17/300-us-paratroopers-arrive-ukraine-after-russia-says-its-missiles-will-target-nato-m

    • Chooky 17.1
      18 April 2015 at 2:51 pm

      I bet most Americans are not aware of this ….let alone debated it….such are the dire straits of their media

      http://rt.com/usa/250717-chomsky-media-ukraine-cuba/

    • Murray Rawshark 17.2
      18 April 2015 at 3:08 pm

      I notice the 173rd is there to train the Ukrainian military. Given previous successes in training the Iraqi Army, will we expect to see Ukrainian soldiers featuring prominently on the podium for the next Olympic track events?

      When is O’Bomber going to have his Nobel Prize taken off him?

      • Colonial Rawshark 17.2.1
        18 April 2015 at 3:14 pm

        When is O’Bomber going to have his Nobel Prize taken off him?

        Sadly the farce train left the station some time ago and the tragedy one is pulling into the station.

        However, IMO if Obama somehow pulls off the nuclear/peace deal with Iran in the face of Israeli lobby opposition, he might actually have finally earnt his Nobel Prize.

  18. joe90 18
    18 April 2015 at 2:17 pm

    From The Intercept,

    We’ll look for mid-level bureaucrats trying to tell the truth, and put out a welcome mat for unhappy system administrators and bank whistleblowers. We’ll read mind-numbing government procurement contracts and grudgingly-released financial disclosure forms. We’ll listen to two-hour corporate earnings calls.

    https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/04/16/welcome-unofficial-sources/

    https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/01/28/how-to-leak-to-the-intercept/

    https://firstlook.org/theintercept/unofficial-sources/

  19. whateva next? 19
    18 April 2015 at 3:25 pm

    Have to say it, the thought of Key at Gallipoli, so say, honouring those men who died…would they have been proud of what he has done for the country they died for? Is he providing a future for kiwi’s who need jobs, security, homes and a future? I find it insulting and hypocritical, but do not wish to equally dishonour the men by making this an emotive comment.

    • Cindy 19.1
      18 April 2015 at 4:52 pm

      I don’t understand. You’d be dishonoring dead kids if you show emotion? I would’ve thought that if you were dying on a turkish hillside with your guts leaking out from .308 bullet holes you’d definitely feel something – fear, regret, extreme pain. Who are you to say what they felt or think now they’re dead? What do you think this is? A sport? Macho ANZAC shit really is a bore.

      • whateva next? 19.1.1
        18 April 2015 at 6:38 pm

        Exactly, I would never presume to have any idea about what it must have felt like, I was talking about Key’s “honouring” those men, how has he done that beyond going to the ceremony?
        I am not sure what your point is though Cindy?

    • Lanthanide 20.1
      18 April 2015 at 3:38 pm

      All of the sex education in school I ever had was evidence and science based. I’m not even sure if abstinence was even discussed, certainly not as a ‘strategy’ to sex anyway.

      • felix 20.1.1
        18 April 2015 at 3:57 pm

        It’s an American thing. Like resisting the teaching of evolution.

      • joe90 20.1.2
        18 April 2015 at 4:01 pm

        The closest the single sex secondary where I ate my lunch ever came to acknowledging the existence of women or sex was general science.

        Fortunately I had CCD to fill the gap.
        /

        • ianmac 20.1.2.1
          18 April 2015 at 4:17 pm

          There must have been a few priests around to share their expertise with you boys or girls?

          • ianmac 20.1.2.1.1
            18 April 2015 at 4:23 pm

            No sex education was ever mentioned anywhere at school in my time -many decades ago. However I read widely and even at Primary School I was able to set my peers straight. Fascinating subject for young minds.

            A teacher of 5 year olds told me that in the school library he processed books while listening to the kids informal and matter of fact discussions about sex matters. They knew heaps and their parents would have blushed had they known how some kids explained, using the activities of their parents as evidence.

            • Anne 20.1.2.1.1.1
              18 April 2015 at 6:15 pm

              I read widely and even at Primary School I was able to set my peers straight.

              We could’ve done with you at my primary school. A lengthy discussion with a few of my peers elicited the revelation that adults took their clothes off and lay down together. So, two of our number tried it and lay down (back to back) to see what it was like. Their conclusions were not encouraging. Strange creatures these adults.

        • mac1 20.1.2.2
          18 April 2015 at 5:11 pm

          I went through a single sex Catholic school. No sex education at all, save for “Beware of cars, boys, they’re bedrooms on wheels.” And that was from a woman journalist on a leadership course.

          I vowed that the sex education I taught would be as good as I needed as a young man, but certainly better than what I got. I told my students that was why I was so keen to teach this subject fully and openly, including the above quote. They knew that I was trustworthy and genuine.

          I loved the lesson where I inflated a condom and then burst it by rubbing on the unlubricated rubber. Of course, I had already demonstrated how a fully lubricated rubber did not burst, on the other side of the demonstration condom, so that when the inevitable burst came after about five strokes there was lubricant spraying everywhere.

          They never forgot that one! Oh happy days.

      • mac1 20.1.3
        18 April 2015 at 4:20 pm

        I taught Relationships for more than a decade to Year 10 boys, including sex education. It was factual, and at times funny, as it had to be. We did cover abstinence as a strategy in the area of avoidance of STDs and pregnancy, along with all other methods.

        A very good course, taught by two specialist teachers, which helped keep pregnancy and STD rates, as discerned by the local DHB, at a plateau when the rest of the country was climbing. Parents were consulted and met with the teachers to allay concerns, students having the right to opt out.

        • ianmac 20.1.3.1
          18 April 2015 at 4:25 pm

          Straight shooting with a touch of humour eh mac1? Like all good teachers eh?

          • mac1 20.1.3.1.1
            18 April 2015 at 5:02 pm

            Oh yes. “And after intercourse, boys, take your condom off your penis before losing your erection, and tie a knot in it.”

            Pause.

            “The condom, not your penis.”

            Loved to see the looks of glazed relief come over the boy’s faces!

    • joe90 20.2
      18 April 2015 at 9:14 pm

      An “abstinence educator” blows his own.

      I also play a little game with the students toward the end of my presentation.
      I write down a few things at random places on the chalk board, or whatever is handy nearby. I write down the possible consequences of a promiscuous or contraceptive lifestyle that the teenagers and I come up with.
      This is where I bring up the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. I’ll write things like, “Unplanned pregnancy,” “Chance of Gonorrhea,” “Depression,” “Porn addiction,” “Risk of Genital Herpes,” etc.
      Then I draw a bull’s eye in the middle of the board. I mark this one “Love.”
      I ask a few students to take turns, from their seats, to toss the eraser to the board, trying to hit the bull’s eye.
      An errant throw might strike, “Risk of HIV,” or “Depression” instead.       I explain that if we live the promiscuous lifestyle, it becomes more difficult to obtain what we really desire, which is love.

      http://www.donotlink.com/eqh5

  21. Logie97 21
    18 April 2015 at 9:53 pm

    Cry me a river. NZRFU championed professional rugby. Tough luck I say …
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11434420