The frequency of this sort of thing from the MSM starts to look deliberate.
Take the example a few days ago from someone Chapman and journalist extraordinaire Tracy Watkins. The headline was something to the effect “Gain after five years of pain”. Oh really ?
Three out of four private citizens quoted in the article spoke the reverse. Worse, the one out of four who said things are “better overall”, a lady from Khandallah, well she was the one, the smiley one to prove the headline, her and her three kids, whose photograph sat directly below the bullshit headline.
To my amazement later that day or the next Khandallah Lady’s photograph had been replaced by one of Blinglish in full flight. Headline and article remained ???
“Young Bridges shuts down power play……..” ? Forgive me but that’s suggestive of a measure of parliamentary elan on Wee Simon’s part. When you read the article – Not !
“I was 12 at the time”. You’re STILL 12 at THIS time you self-serving, entitled little dupe-prick.
My how things have changed. Sir Keith Holyoake’s vaunted advice to youngsters used to be – “Breath through your nose”.
ShonKey Python’s advice to youngsers – “Talk OUR shit out your mouth……you’ll be looked after”. And so it will be. Elevation in cabinet, flash job somewhere if not there, ambassadorial post. “Whatever – you’ll be looked after”.
That line made me laugh, too, Lanth. Even if NASA had perfected cryogenics without telling anyone, I’m thinking the lack of oxygen would make any such experiments a tad pointless, don’t you?
I recall some talk about it at the time of his death, but it was probably just wishful thinking from fans or the media. If cryogenics could ever work, I would have thought freezing the healthy would have more likelihood of success. It’s funny that the names associated with cryogenics are pretty much always wealthy and ego driven; most people accept their fates in more sanguine way.
Cryonics is the low-temperature preservation of humans and animals who cannot be sustained by contemporary medicine, with the hope that healing and resuscitation may be possible in the future. Cryonics is not cryogenics.
Arrogance chickens coming home to roost and rotting on Chinese wharves. Describe the PRC as having “tentacles” and snuggle up to Taiwan, and sure you’ll get away with it Johnny boy, everyone loves you, remember?….using North Korea and Chavez et al as terms of “devil beast” insult helped too, I’m sure. Smell the fear from here, and watch the media hide its head.
wanted to post this as many will not know about it and many here are still caught up in old world solutions to problems such as poverty and war that have never and will never eliminate these things.
There are however solutions that will eliminate them if we change the way we think and the system we live under……
If this resonates with you please sign the charter and let others know.
@ Polish…. interesting (I’ll have another look when I get more time). First time round though, much to agree with but others not so much – including “greed is a basic human response to scarcity” – when did that happen?
“greed is a basic human response to scarcity”
Yes agree with you completely But felt it better to overlook it given the significant benefits such a shift would bring or everyone.
More and more people are starting to talk about and understand the overall concept, but this is the first time that I have seen it presented in a way that lets people show their support for such a change to our world.
@ Polish – pardon the intermittent nature of replies (ankle biters about).
Yep – agree.
I have a big concern though when, on one hand really punitive and restrictive practices are applied to people simply trying to survive and preserve their rights to protest and contest (in supposed ‘1st world democracies’); yet on the other hand, the greed, the theft, the usury of the likes of politicians and ‘banksters’ is minimised somehow by putting it down to human nature.
There’s something not quite right there.
Yes agree with that too. and I think that what DTB has put (above) would be a much more accurate way of communicating the problem. The only concern I have is whether putting it that way would be more, or less acceptable to the audience (i.e. everyone) that it is intended for.
Example: the three of us have been looking at this for some time and can see the System for what it is. The question is would someone who is completely new to the concepts be able to take your comment DTB…..
“Our system has been designed by the few to reward the few. As such it can’t then go and punish the few for what the system rewards.
Our present system is corrupt by design.”
… and be able to accept that as correct (which I agree it is) or is it a step too far and would it risk alienating them from the overall concept. Even though stating the problem as being one of human nature is not exactly correct, does it put it in a context that is easier to accept and understand for someone who is new to the concepts. Many who are new will be able to look at this, understand it and envisage the different and better world they are talking about but may never have the time or inclination to look a little deeper and understand the true causes for the problems that we have in our world today.
Possibly, possibly not. I know that there are people out there who are successful in the present system who aren’t corrupt but also won’t accept that their wealth is due to systemic corruption. This would mean that we have to show that the present system is corrupt.
I don’t think that’s possible. You have to do two things:
1.) Point out the failings of the present system and
2.) Paint a vision of a better system
Now, people will be getting upset with the present system due to increasing poverty and they’re seeing the increase in corruption as well but we still need to make it clear that these things aren’t acceptable and then we have to show that a better way is possible.
IMO, for the majority of people that happens to be true. It’s the minority that happen to be driven by greed and they’re the minority that we shouldn’t be listening to but who our government does listen to.
Another Seminar/Panel discussion on “Current Threats to the Resource Management Act” – this time in Wellington – Saturday 25 May 1.30pm to 5pm. St Andrews On the Terrace (hall behind church). Hosted by Maryan Street, Labour MP for the Environment. All welcome. Gold coin koha to help cover costs. Speakers : Sir Geoffrey Palmer (original author of the RMA), Neil Deans (NZ Fish & Game) , Guy Salmon (ecologist). Please pass this message on to people in Wellington.
whatever you think of Geoffrey Palmer, Morrissey, its more important that people get to know what is going to happen with the govt changes to the RMA – huge changes, a huge emphasis on economic growth instead of sustaining the environment – an encouragement for developers to just come in and “rip, shit and bust” what remains of the NZ landscape and waters.
I am aware of Palmer being involved in that but can’t see why the rage against him over it. Palmer is a lawyer with a pretty solid professional reputation and he appears to have interpreted the law as he saw it in the framework he was given to operate. Perhaps he wasn’t very wise to get involved in the first place but his actions there don’t seem to justify the vitriol you’ve directed at him.
It was Palmer who authored our anti-smacking legislation, he’s one of the last people I’d think of being pro-Israel so maybe your angst is midirected there.
Your comments show only that you have done no reading on this scandalous topic at all. That was, of course, obvious when you expressed bewilderment that the saintly fellow should be criticised at all.
Your reference to the removal of Section 59 as “anti-smacking legislation” is similarly confused.
You weren’t criticising Palmer, you were abusing and vilifying him. Big difference there. I was wondering at the display of naked malice & spite but I need wonder no more. I’ll leave you to it.
You weren’t criticising Palmer, you were abusing and vilifying him.
I was pointing out that Palmer allowed himself to be used as a stooge of a criminal, outlaw regime—something about which you were, incredibly, unaware. The reading I supplied for you was a fair, balanced and scholarly review of Palmer’s failure to act as a responsible and moral citizen; I could offer my own writing on the subject, of course, but I thought I’d leave it to Mondoweiss. (Not that that would impress you, of course; your comments show that you didn’t bother to educate yourself on this matter.)
Palmer didn’t exactly cover himself with glory with that report. Agreeing to participate, given the terms of reference and the presence of Uribe, was only the first bad move. What he ended up commenting on was a hypothetical situation which had very little to do with the actual events, but was eagerly used by the Israeli government to justify their actions. His performance was that of a toady.
He did come across better than Parker, even managed his by pass of the greens need in printing money policy question well, ( pity would like to have heard a response)
Liked Parker in that labour will “listen” to good ideas – should labour not act and work into their policies these good ideas.
On the nation there was discussion on not only a cgt but also acting on the deductibility of interest for tax purposes on investment properties, this 2nd aspect appears to have been lost on labour and the greens. Instead it is this myopic vision to the answer. Better to be perceived as doing something than providing a real solution.
Yes, CGT is important but I would imagine that if Interest on loans used for investment properties was no longer tax deductible we would get a good number of additional properties immediately on the market increasing supply and reducing the cost of housing. In fact the Greens/Labour have nothing to lose by introducing this, they have already lost any voter who has investment houses through introducing CGT.
Regarding Parker, the more I hear him the more I like him. He is certainly a big step up from Shearer. Labour will not win in 2014 with Shearer as Leader, heard him speak recently, he is hopeless. Parker would be infinitely better leading Labour into 2014 than Shearer (if Cunliffe isn’t available). Labour need to do something about Shearer soon, time is running out.
“Yes, CGT is important but I would imagine that if Interest on loans used for investment properties was no longer tax deductible we would get a good number of additional properties immediately on the market increasing supply and reducing the cost of housing.”
Sounds like a win win, and we might not have to gut the rma to build homes for the middle classes.
“In fact the Greens/Labour have nothing to lose by introducing this, they have already lost any voter who has investment houses through introducing CGT.”
Chris Tremain, minister for fuckstickery has 16 properties and a few parcels of land. He won’t vote for a cgt.
He really won’t agree with having to pay taxes on his investments, but then he’s tory scum. No worry.
Parker looks to be another who’s all mouth & trousers. He’s just been quoted as stating that stopping foreigners buying NZ residential property isn’t Labour policy;
He’s fobbed it off with excuses about there being not enough information on it but Labour are supposed to have a research team and they could start by reading the ‘papers which often make references to properties being bought by foreign investors.
I cannot believe anybody can think the gobblygook combination of neo liberalism and magic Norman spouts is articulate – let alone offers anything to anybody other than those who already have more than they need.
An obsession with debt and balancing the books as per neo liberal agenda.
A further obsession with a capital gains tax which might help a bit as part of a package on housing but won’t lead to the hundreds of houses that need building being built. That will take a government spending money and paying people to actually build them.
A total committment to capitalism which is dependent on growth to survive while still pretending to care about the environment.
Treating treasury projections and figures as if they can be taken seriously when getting it right is a very rare thing for them.
But why pick on Norman? All our MPs and all our political parties (with the partial exception of Harawira/Mana) are capitalist parties. And the Greens have never stated they were socialist or communist in their political economy.
Didn’t see it but can easily imagine. “OK you Aussies, we’ll let you keep Phar Lap (stolen by yous guys anyway) but we keep Norman OK ?
Norman is rather real, that’s the overall sense in my guts when I hear him. Voted Winston last time to ensure the 5%. Otherwise voted Labour all my life.
That’s a pretty good, concise rebuttal from Ken Robinson of the whole notion that subject-related basic skills (reading, writing and ‘rithmetic) are the essential prior building blocks of learning. They aren’t.
So far as any relevant literature on learning – and certainly creativity – that I’m aware of is concerned, the building blocks are curiosity, intrinsic motivation and an environment that supports exploration and provides the available knowledge about, and resources for, whatever the child becomes curious about. The desire to gain a facility with reading, writing, etc. follow as a consequence of that process.
I just can’t fathom the intellectual ineptitude – and lack of evidential basis – that underpins decisions to impose approaches like National Standards upon young children.
Short item on today’s Mediawatch programme on the hypocrisy of Radio Live’s bumptious farming show goon Jamie McKay. This low and insalubrious excrescence from Gore actually had the nerve to pass judgment on ex-National MP Aaron Gilmore for his drunken shenanigans in Hamner Springs; it now transpires that McKay himself has been censured for the same behaviour: threatening bar staff who failed to appreciate his genius and significance.
In the 1990s, McKay used to write a pisspoor sports column in the Southland Times. He was preoccupied with Jonah Lomu, who he pilloried week after week as unintelligent. McKay mocked Lomu’s way of talking, his lack of education (according to McKay) and his “laziness”. In other words, McKay had not watched Lomu play very much, but he had listened to, and absorbed every word spoken by, the motherlode of sporting opinion, Murray Deaker.
Radio Live has a horrifyingly bad line-up of substandard talent, but McKay is arguably the most obnoxious of all of them.
The entire radio rant landscape is awash with folk whose best attribute is their arrogance and bias, leighton, Larry, mike, Danny , Kerry at ZB, basher Veitch and Deeks at Talk Sport then more of the same at key and Joyce’s own radio live soapbox where they specialise in former pollies or wannabe pollies like WJ/JT, laws (don’t worry he will be back) watch out for others like Henry/Hide etc
The entire radio rant landscape is awash with folk whose best attribute is their arrogance and bias, leighton, Larry, mike, Danny , Kerry at ZB…
Kerre Woodham is repellent. Just by chance, in the same Mediawatch programme, Colin Peacock recounted an incident from some years ago, when an intoxicated Woodham was in the limousine of former Deputy P.M. Don McKinnon, proceeding along a street in Wellington. She wound the window down, stuck her head out the window and bawled at a young man: “SHOW US YOUR WHIZZER!”
Yes, well she’s been off the sauce for quite some time now, and while it’s probably not in the nature of a poisonous fungus like you to have empathy, I think it’s pretty poor form to keep throwing someone’s past mistakes in their face when they have overcome them.
Good to see our gallant friend Populuxe1 deciding to gallantly take a little time off from reiterating the lies of the United States and U.K. governments’ spin doctors and gallantly spring to the defence of la hellish dame sans merci….
Yes, well she’s been off the sauce for quite some time now, and while it’s probably not in the nature of a poisonous fungus like you to have empathy, I think it’s pretty poor form to keep throwing someone’s past mistakes in their face when they have overcome them.
If you’re looking for a poisonous fungus, you can’t go past Kerre Woodham; over the years on her godawful radio show, she has….
1.) run a malignant campaign against Chinese dissidents that could have been scripted by the Chinese government;
2.) run an even more malignant campaign against Kirsten Dunne Powell, the woman who was paralyzed after a frenzied kicking by Woodham’s friend and colleague Tony Veitch;
3.) spoken out firmly against the people of Gaza for getting themselves and their homes, hospitals, schools and water mains blasted apart by Israeli air raids and their children roasted alive by Israeli White Phosphorus bombs in early 2009;
4.) delivered a prim lecture via her horrendous Herald on Sunday column to the mother of a boy who had been stabbed to death on a Manurewa street; Kerre Woodham was affronted—not by the murder, but by the mother’s unseemly grieving;
5.) continued to stupefy and depress those unfortunate enough to stray onto NewstalkZB whenever she is snarling forth her sulphurous rancour.
All of this behaviour was, of course, after she came “off the sauce”.
If you like—in fact, even if you don’t like—I’ll post links to all of the above, but for now I’ll let you fulminate a little more and see if you can come up with something a bit more effective than fungally-themed abuse.
Yeah, I knew that; I was just joshing you. I used to be able to recite that poem off by heart once, along with a whole lot of other Keats poems; it was the main part of my schtick back then.
But yours was a good line, too- though I was not happy with the earlier discussion.
I’m sorry to hear that, mac. Do you think I could have handled the poor fellow more civilly?
Hope you enjoyed the public execution, my friend. Although I must say, it gave me no pleasure at all. Putting down poor old Populuxe1 was a task I did not enjoy, but neither was it one I was prepared to shirk.
It was the internet equivalent of shooting a rabid dog: it had to be done, but it’s not an occasion for pleasure.
This “Populuxe1” specimen had several hours to formulate a response to Morrissey, and all he has come up with is that lame and cranky nonsense. It is funny, really, but not for Populuxe1 and those who care for him.
“Chinese supermarkets are beginning to run out of New Zealand beef and lamb as Kiwi meat remains stuck at ports around China. …
It emerged on Friday that all meat exports to China have been blocked from entering the country, possibly since the end of April.
The Government was told of the problem on Tuesday, but made no public statement until yesterday. On Friday it was left up to the Meat Industry Association to insist that there was no food safety issue.
…
The stop at the border could mean thousands of tonnes of New Zealand sheepmeat will either be stuck at port or on the water en route to China. Every Kiwi meat company exporting to China is believed to have been affected.
A top meat-industry source said certification was being used by Chinese authorities as an excuse to protect local pork and poultry industries, noting that China had continued to allow imports of both dairy products and beef hides.
Meat Industry Association chief executive Tim Ritchie said the issue could cause long-term damage to the industry.
DEAL WITH ‘OTHER CHINA’ ON BRINK OF BEING SIGNED
New Zealand is poised to sign its first free-trade agreement in more than three years, with an announcement of a deal with Taiwan expected in the coming months.
…
Factors said to have complicated the passing of the deal are both New Zealand’s relations with China, where trade has soared since a free-trade agreement was reached, and Taiwan’s own trade negotiations with mainland China.
Trade Minister Tim Groser declined to comment.”
And on the kiwifruit front, two detailed articles on some pretty shonky dealings involving Zespri exports to China – also well worth reading for their revelations.
No need to see what would happen. Fonterra would go broke, for a start. On the positive side, a few Tory business types might end up in Chinese prisons as well.
Thanks for giving us an insight into the intellectual capabilities of the right.
“So just a month after John Key’s Saviour of the Universe trade trip to China, things are not looking so hot on two fronts – meat and kiwifruit.”
All I can say is for Christ’s sake keep him away from India (though I note Joyce has already had a go), as the NActs try and have a bob each way with the BRICS.
Not much has come of the Sth American jaunt either, despite Key’s trumpeting.
Key is the New Zealand version of Sir Les Patterson although many don’t seem to see it. (Wood and trees perhaps)
“A 52-strong trade mission is flying to Indonesia this weekend for two weeks of intensive briefings and meetings.
It is being led by Maurice Williamson and Sir Ken Stevens, who’s chairman of Export New Zealand.
… …. … ”
Probably compensation to MW as he is no longer to appear on Ellen Degeneres’ show as they have not been able to come to agreement and the current series is about to end…. thank goodness. Not at the end of the series – but that MW is not going to appear.
Good to hear Andrew Geddis’s point about the Government banning of Court examination on the Payment to parents of Severely handicapped adult children, getting an airing on National Radio News this morning. See Andrew’s item on Pundit http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/i-think-national-just-broke-our-constitution
Just find a way to dupe countries into seeping it into the water supplies, tell them its good for health get them to pay you, to save on the cost of getting rid of it!
“Ever been hungry at school yourself Eric?” It’s the same as the Panels on The Nation and Q+A. They don’t have a clue on how the real world works. Apart from maybe Bradford.
That’s not what he said, he was talking about the language coming from the government about North Korea and Polish ship yards and Albanian devilbeasts and what have you, and made the point that while there are real issues being debated between NZ parties, the differences are well within the norm for western democratic liberal societies.
Not really supported by increasing social liberalisation, technological democritisation and a number of other things, but then again we know you have very little interest in living in awestern democratic liberal society.
If there were real differences to be debated between the ruling elites’ a, b and c teams he would have welcomed the talk of North Korea and Polish shipyards as a way of emphasising the scale of the differnces.
The corporate flag is dullest beige,
It shrouded oft our heartless fools,
And ere our limbs grow stiff and cold,
Our hearts never run bold.
Then hold the dull standard low.
(chorus)
Within its shade we pretend to live,
As cowards we flinch and as traitors sneer,
We’ll leave the beige flag lying here.
Look round, the consultant loves its blur,
The venal lawyer chants its praise,
In Wall Street its hymns were sung
Chicago School swells the dull throng.
(chorus)
It drooped above our dullest blight,
When all ahead seemed full of light;
It witnessed many a press release,
We must not change its dullness now.
(chorus)
It well recalls the dogmas past,
It gives the hope of Bellamy’s at last;
The menu bright, the cuisine plain,
Of venal right and gastric gain.
(chorus)
It suits today the weak and base,
Whose minds are fixed on self and face
We cringe before the rich man’s frown,
And haul the of what the fuck I can’t remember what it was down.
(chorus)
With head uncovered swear we all
To bear it onward while we fall;
To boardrooms dark and consultancies dim,
This song shall be our parting hymn.
The old socialist anthem, The Red Flag, with a few alterations, more in keeping with the current times and attitudes of the party that calls itself “Labour”.
The people’s flag is palest pink
It’s not the colour you might think
The middle classes stand and cheer
The Labour government is here
We’ll change the country bit by bit
So nobody will notice it
And just to show that we’re sincere
We’ll sing The Red Flag once a year
sigh. it is a sorry state of affairs; ‘eres one from the books-
“A panzer unit cannot be led from ahead”- A Stahlberg. (freakin history revisionists after the War, Federal Constitutional Court, ruled that “all soldiers may be called murderers” and Minister of Health Blum suggesting that because the Wehrmacht held out for so long they enabled the death camps (“The evacuations dependent on the military situation”; Wannsee Conference Protocols (great movie with Branagh) ) yet “Not all roads lead to Auschwitz” – J.C Fest.
This song is more keeping in with what unemployed young people feel about society at the moment i.e.frustration with life and violence go hand in hand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkyLAWX5V30
When does New Zealand get it’s own version of the UK riots?
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This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Chartres, Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney shutterstockAhmet Misirligul/Shutterstock You go to the gym, eat healthy and walk as much as possible. You wash your hands and get vaccinated. You control your health. This is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqueline Hendriks, Research Fellow and Lecturer, Curtin University Children and young people may be seeing news headlines about men murdering women or footage of people rallying to call for action. Perhaps they or their friends have even gone to the protests. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Balanzategui, Senior Lecturer in Media, RMIT University ABC “Bluey mania” shows no sign of abating. Bluey’s season finale, The Sign, was the most viewed ABC program of all time on iView. A “hidden” follow-up episode, aptly named The Surprise, created ...
Labour market figures came in softer than the Reserve Bank had forecast, but they won’t be enough to move the needle on interest rates, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Unemployment ...
The campaign will engage the community and encourage submissions on the bill to the New Zealand government by the closing submission deadline of Friday 31st of May 2024 4pm. ...
The paper raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand's political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency plays in that. ...
The Urban Habitat Collective was an attempt to built an innovative new form of apartment building in Wellington. Here’s why it failed, and why the idea could still work, writes co-founder Bronwen Newton. When we started the Urban Habitat Collective in November 2018, we thought we were starting a revolution, ...
Two decades ago this week, a controversial law that attempted to define ownership of the foreshore and seabed prompted a formidable display of outrage and kōtahitanga as 15,000 marched to parliament. Jamie Tahana looks back.‘Hīkoi, hīkoi,” they chanted by the thousands as the biggest Māori march in a generation ...
A Labour Party Member’s Bill aims to plug a culpability gap between manslaughter and health and safety breaches The post New push for corporate killing laws appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Terence O’Brien had the rare and no doubt undesired distinction of rising to one of the most exalted positions in New Zealand diplomacy, then being unceremoniously recalled to Wellington without explanation just when his career was at its zenith. What is perhaps more surprising is that he appears to have ...
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Why has New Zealand slipped from third to 12th on Quality of Death Indexes over the past decade or so? Hospice New Zealand Chief Executive Wayne Naylor has a list of reasons. “We don’t have a current national strategy – the Government hasn’t renewed our 2001 strategy, so we don’t ...
While women’s sport is exploding in Aotearoa and around the world, you still don’t hear a lot of talk about athletes and their periods, RED-S, breastfeeding and visible panty-lines. SASS (Suze and Sez Sports)Talk isn’t afraid to have that kōrero.LockerRoom founder Suzanne McFadden and Olympian broadcaster Sarah ...
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Yet another example of a news headline not conveying the substance of the article beneath it. Thank you Fair-And-Balanced-Fax ? Fox ? Faux ?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/8571096/Young-Bridges-shuts-down-power-play
The frequency of this sort of thing from the MSM starts to look deliberate.
Take the example a few days ago from someone Chapman and journalist extraordinaire Tracy Watkins. The headline was something to the effect “Gain after five years of pain”. Oh really ?
Three out of four private citizens quoted in the article spoke the reverse. Worse, the one out of four who said things are “better overall”, a lady from Khandallah, well she was the one, the smiley one to prove the headline, her and her three kids, whose photograph sat directly below the bullshit headline.
To my amazement later that day or the next Khandallah Lady’s photograph had been replaced by one of Blinglish in full flight. Headline and article remained ???
“Young Bridges shuts down power play……..” ? Forgive me but that’s suggestive of a measure of parliamentary elan on Wee Simon’s part. When you read the article – Not !
“I was 12 at the time”. You’re STILL 12 at THIS time you self-serving, entitled little dupe-prick.
My how things have changed. Sir Keith Holyoake’s vaunted advice to youngsters used to be – “Breath through your nose”.
ShonKey Python’s advice to youngsers – “Talk OUR shit out your mouth……you’ll be looked after”. And so it will be. Elevation in cabinet, flash job somewhere if not there, ambassadorial post. “Whatever – you’ll be looked after”.
You’ve cracked it Simon Bro’. Trough Forever !
Your Conspiracies Today Update!
http://exopolitics.org/is-that-a-lizard-on-mars-why-is-nasa-silent/
Yes, that’s what I want to know. Is NASA doing that?
That line made me laugh, too, Lanth. Even if NASA had perfected cryogenics without telling anyone, I’m thinking the lack of oxygen would make any such experiments a tad pointless, don’t you?
Wasn’t Michael Jackson going to be cryogenically frozen? What happened to that plan?
I recall some talk about it at the time of his death, but it was probably just wishful thinking from fans or the media. If cryogenics could ever work, I would have thought freezing the healthy would have more likelihood of success. It’s funny that the names associated with cryogenics are pretty much always wealthy and ego driven; most people accept their fates in more sanguine way.
Aunty Wiki says…
Cryonics is the low-temperature preservation of humans and animals who cannot be sustained by contemporary medicine, with the hope that healing and resuscitation may be possible in the future. Cryonics is not cryogenics.
Cheers, pollywog. Michael Jackson, the King of Pop (sicles)?
To quote one of the comments in that “article”: It’s a rock, Dumbass.”
Arrogance chickens coming home to roost and rotting on Chinese wharves. Describe the PRC as having “tentacles” and snuggle up to Taiwan, and sure you’ll get away with it Johnny boy, everyone loves you, remember?….using North Korea and Chavez et al as terms of “devil beast” insult helped too, I’m sure. Smell the fear from here, and watch the media hide its head.
Hide its head, up its own, preferably up ShonKey Python’s. Aspiration tastes and smells SO sweet.
Maybe he should ask for his flag back.
wanted to post this as many will not know about it and many here are still caught up in old world solutions to problems such as poverty and war that have never and will never eliminate these things.
There are however solutions that will eliminate them if we change the way we think and the system we live under……
If this resonates with you please sign the charter and let others know.
http://www.freeworldcharter.org/en
@ Polish…. interesting (I’ll have another look when I get more time). First time round though, much to agree with but others not so much – including “greed is a basic human response to scarcity” – when did that happen?
“greed is a basic human response to scarcity”
Yes agree with you completely But felt it better to overlook it given the significant benefits such a shift would bring or everyone.
More and more people are starting to talk about and understand the overall concept, but this is the first time that I have seen it presented in a way that lets people show their support for such a change to our world.
@ Polish – pardon the intermittent nature of replies (ankle biters about).
Yep – agree.
I have a big concern though when, on one hand really punitive and restrictive practices are applied to people simply trying to survive and preserve their rights to protest and contest (in supposed ‘1st world democracies’); yet on the other hand, the greed, the theft, the usury of the likes of politicians and ‘banksters’ is minimised somehow by putting it down to human nature.
There’s something not quite right there.
Our system has been designed by the few to reward the few. As such it can’t then go and punish the few for what the system rewards.
Our present system is corrupt by design.
Btw DtB – interesting discussion on Natrad atm – Weber et al.
back in a while
Yes agree with that too. and I think that what DTB has put (above) would be a much more accurate way of communicating the problem. The only concern I have is whether putting it that way would be more, or less acceptable to the audience (i.e. everyone) that it is intended for.
Example: the three of us have been looking at this for some time and can see the System for what it is. The question is would someone who is completely new to the concepts be able to take your comment DTB…..
“Our system has been designed by the few to reward the few. As such it can’t then go and punish the few for what the system rewards.
Our present system is corrupt by design.”
… and be able to accept that as correct (which I agree it is) or is it a step too far and would it risk alienating them from the overall concept. Even though stating the problem as being one of human nature is not exactly correct, does it put it in a context that is easier to accept and understand for someone who is new to the concepts. Many who are new will be able to look at this, understand it and envisage the different and better world they are talking about but may never have the time or inclination to look a little deeper and understand the true causes for the problems that we have in our world today.
Possibly, possibly not. I know that there are people out there who are successful in the present system who aren’t corrupt but also won’t accept that their wealth is due to systemic corruption. This would mean that we have to show that the present system is corrupt.
It would but then does it matter if you can obtain the desired outcome without having to do so..
I don’t think that’s possible. You have to do two things:
1.) Point out the failings of the present system and
2.) Paint a vision of a better system
Now, people will be getting upset with the present system due to increasing poverty and they’re seeing the increase in corruption as well but we still need to make it clear that these things aren’t acceptable and then we have to show that a better way is possible.
Completely agree
IMO, for the majority of people that happens to be true. It’s the minority that happen to be driven by greed and they’re the minority that we shouldn’t be listening to but who our government does listen to.
Another Seminar/Panel discussion on “Current Threats to the Resource Management Act” – this time in Wellington – Saturday 25 May 1.30pm to 5pm. St Andrews On the Terrace (hall behind church). Hosted by Maryan Street, Labour MP for the Environment. All welcome. Gold coin koha to help cover costs. Speakers : Sir Geoffrey Palmer (original author of the RMA), Neil Deans (NZ Fish & Game) , Guy Salmon (ecologist). Please pass this message on to people in Wellington.
“Sir” Geoffrey Palmer is a coward, a toady, an utter disgrace to this nation; he should be shunned by all decent people.
whatever you think of Geoffrey Palmer, Morrissey, its more important that people get to know what is going to happen with the govt changes to the RMA – huge changes, a huge emphasis on economic growth instead of sustaining the environment – an encouragement for developers to just come in and “rip, shit and bust” what remains of the NZ landscape and waters.
“Sir” Geoffrey Palmer is a coward, a toady, an utter disgrace to this nation; he should be shunned by all decent people.”
What’s Palmer done to deserve that level of vitriol? He’s never struck me as a controversial person…
What’s Palmer done to deserve that level of vitriol? He’s never struck me as a controversial person…
Thanks for asking, DH. At last someone with a bit of curiosity. Have a read of the following….
http://mondoweiss.net/2011/09/the-palmeruribe-report-another-attempt-by-israel-to-whitewash-murder.html
I am aware of Palmer being involved in that but can’t see why the rage against him over it. Palmer is a lawyer with a pretty solid professional reputation and he appears to have interpreted the law as he saw it in the framework he was given to operate. Perhaps he wasn’t very wise to get involved in the first place but his actions there don’t seem to justify the vitriol you’ve directed at him.
It was Palmer who authored our anti-smacking legislation, he’s one of the last people I’d think of being pro-Israel so maybe your angst is midirected there.
Your comments show only that you have done no reading on this scandalous topic at all. That was, of course, obvious when you expressed bewilderment that the saintly fellow should be criticised at all.
Your reference to the removal of Section 59 as “anti-smacking legislation” is similarly confused.
You weren’t criticising Palmer, you were abusing and vilifying him. Big difference there. I was wondering at the display of naked malice & spite but I need wonder no more. I’ll leave you to it.
You weren’t criticising Palmer, you were abusing and vilifying him.
I was pointing out that Palmer allowed himself to be used as a stooge of a criminal, outlaw regime—something about which you were, incredibly, unaware. The reading I supplied for you was a fair, balanced and scholarly review of Palmer’s failure to act as a responsible and moral citizen; I could offer my own writing on the subject, of course, but I thought I’d leave it to Mondoweiss. (Not that that would impress you, of course; your comments show that you didn’t bother to educate yourself on this matter.)
Palmer didn’t exactly cover himself with glory with that report. Agreeing to participate, given the terms of reference and the presence of Uribe, was only the first bad move. What he ended up commenting on was a hypothetical situation which had very little to do with the actual events, but was eagerly used by the Israeli government to justify their actions. His performance was that of a toady.
Shearer v Norman on Q&A
Norman has to be the next Finance Minister.
So articulate with answers rather than just whinging from Parker
He did come across better than Parker, even managed his by pass of the greens need in printing money policy question well, ( pity would like to have heard a response)
Liked Parker in that labour will “listen” to good ideas – should labour not act and work into their policies these good ideas.
On the nation there was discussion on not only a cgt but also acting on the deductibility of interest for tax purposes on investment properties, this 2nd aspect appears to have been lost on labour and the greens. Instead it is this myopic vision to the answer. Better to be perceived as doing something than providing a real solution.
Yes, CGT is important but I would imagine that if Interest on loans used for investment properties was no longer tax deductible we would get a good number of additional properties immediately on the market increasing supply and reducing the cost of housing. In fact the Greens/Labour have nothing to lose by introducing this, they have already lost any voter who has investment houses through introducing CGT.
Regarding Parker, the more I hear him the more I like him. He is certainly a big step up from Shearer. Labour will not win in 2014 with Shearer as Leader, heard him speak recently, he is hopeless. Parker would be infinitely better leading Labour into 2014 than Shearer (if Cunliffe isn’t available). Labour need to do something about Shearer soon, time is running out.
“Yes, CGT is important but I would imagine that if Interest on loans used for investment properties was no longer tax deductible we would get a good number of additional properties immediately on the market increasing supply and reducing the cost of housing.”
Sounds like a win win, and we might not have to gut the rma to build homes for the middle classes.
“In fact the Greens/Labour have nothing to lose by introducing this, they have already lost any voter who has investment houses through introducing CGT.”
Chris Tremain, minister for fuckstickery has 16 properties and a few parcels of land. He won’t vote for a cgt.
He really won’t agree with having to pay taxes on his investments, but then he’s tory scum. No worry.
cut you some American Recordings black at the base of last night’s white Soul Train.
Parker looks to be another who’s all mouth & trousers. He’s just been quoted as stating that stopping foreigners buying NZ residential property isn’t Labour policy;
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10884650
He’s fobbed it off with excuses about there being not enough information on it but Labour are supposed to have a research team and they could start by reading the ‘papers which often make references to properties being bought by foreign investors.
“residential”; 8% at current rates, though expected to inflate.
Yep, that would be Labour – not trying to scare the wealthy in any way. This, of course, results in NZ continuing to decline and increasing poverty.
speaking of which; “interest rates likely to rise sooner, rather than later.” -Bill English, today.
Parker could be finance minister. But only if National win.
Jeez
I cannot believe anybody can think the gobblygook combination of neo liberalism and magic Norman spouts is articulate – let alone offers anything to anybody other than those who already have more than they need.
Please, some specific policy criticisms, or specific criticisms of his statements, if you have any.
An obsession with debt and balancing the books as per neo liberal agenda.
A further obsession with a capital gains tax which might help a bit as part of a package on housing but won’t lead to the hundreds of houses that need building being built. That will take a government spending money and paying people to actually build them.
A total committment to capitalism which is dependent on growth to survive while still pretending to care about the environment.
Treating treasury projections and figures as if they can be taken seriously when getting it right is a very rare thing for them.
And so it goes.
But why pick on Norman? All our MPs and all our political parties (with the partial exception of Harawira/Mana) are capitalist parties. And the Greens have never stated they were socialist or communist in their political economy.
Didn’t see it but can easily imagine. “OK you Aussies, we’ll let you keep Phar Lap (stolen by yous guys anyway) but we keep Norman OK ?
Norman is rather real, that’s the overall sense in my guts when I hear him. Voted Winston last time to ensure the 5%. Otherwise voted Labour all my life.
Sometime I’ll vote Green.
This is a great article…and guy has nailed “creativity”, and what can go wrong with teaching under the dead hand of politicians.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/17/to-encourage-creativity-mr-gove-understand
semantic, as opposed to declarative, understanding.
That’s a pretty good, concise rebuttal from Ken Robinson of the whole notion that subject-related basic skills (reading, writing and ‘rithmetic) are the essential prior building blocks of learning. They aren’t.
So far as any relevant literature on learning – and certainly creativity – that I’m aware of is concerned, the building blocks are curiosity, intrinsic motivation and an environment that supports exploration and provides the available knowledge about, and resources for, whatever the child becomes curious about. The desire to gain a facility with reading, writing, etc. follow as a consequence of that process.
I just can’t fathom the intellectual ineptitude – and lack of evidential basis – that underpins decisions to impose approaches like National Standards upon young children.
curiosity, intrinsic motivation and supportive environments life-long effects. 😀
“Don’t You Know Who I Am?”
No. 1: JAMIE McKAY
Short item on today’s Mediawatch programme on the hypocrisy of Radio Live’s bumptious farming show goon Jamie McKay. This low and insalubrious excrescence from Gore actually had the nerve to pass judgment on ex-National MP Aaron Gilmore for his drunken shenanigans in Hamner Springs; it now transpires that McKay himself has been censured for the same behaviour: threatening bar staff who failed to appreciate his genius and significance.
In the 1990s, McKay used to write a pisspoor sports column in the Southland Times. He was preoccupied with Jonah Lomu, who he pilloried week after week as unintelligent. McKay mocked Lomu’s way of talking, his lack of education (according to McKay) and his “laziness”. In other words, McKay had not watched Lomu play very much, but he had listened to, and absorbed every word spoken by, the motherlode of sporting opinion, Murray Deaker.
Radio Live has a horrifyingly bad line-up of substandard talent, but McKay is arguably the most obnoxious of all of them.
The entire radio rant landscape is awash with folk whose best attribute is their arrogance and bias, leighton, Larry, mike, Danny , Kerry at ZB, basher Veitch and Deeks at Talk Sport then more of the same at key and Joyce’s own radio live soapbox where they specialise in former pollies or wannabe pollies like WJ/JT, laws (don’t worry he will be back) watch out for others like Henry/Hide etc
that is interesting; Laws had been pleasant to listen to in his absence.
The entire radio rant landscape is awash with folk whose best attribute is their arrogance and bias, leighton, Larry, mike, Danny , Kerry at ZB…
Kerre Woodham is repellent. Just by chance, in the same Mediawatch programme, Colin Peacock recounted an incident from some years ago, when an intoxicated Woodham was in the limousine of former Deputy P.M. Don McKinnon, proceeding along a street in Wellington. She wound the window down, stuck her head out the window and bawled at a young man: “SHOW US YOUR WHIZZER!”
Yes, well she’s been off the sauce for quite some time now, and while it’s probably not in the nature of a poisonous fungus like you to have empathy, I think it’s pretty poor form to keep throwing someone’s past mistakes in their face when they have overcome them.
Good to see our gallant friend Populuxe1 deciding to gallantly take a little time off from reiterating the lies of the United States and U.K. governments’ spin doctors and gallantly spring to the defence of la hellish dame sans merci….
Yes, well she’s been off the sauce for quite some time now, and while it’s probably not in the nature of a poisonous fungus like you to have empathy, I think it’s pretty poor form to keep throwing someone’s past mistakes in their face when they have overcome them.
If you’re looking for a poisonous fungus, you can’t go past Kerre Woodham; over the years on her godawful radio show, she has….
1.) run a malignant campaign against Chinese dissidents that could have been scripted by the Chinese government;
2.) run an even more malignant campaign against Kirsten Dunne Powell, the woman who was paralyzed after a frenzied kicking by Woodham’s friend and colleague Tony Veitch;
3.) spoken out firmly against the people of Gaza for getting themselves and their homes, hospitals, schools and water mains blasted apart by Israeli air raids and their children roasted alive by Israeli White Phosphorus bombs in early 2009;
4.) delivered a prim lecture via her horrendous Herald on Sunday column to the mother of a boy who had been stabbed to death on a Manurewa street; Kerre Woodham was affronted—not by the murder, but by the mother’s unseemly grieving;
5.) continued to stupefy and depress those unfortunate enough to stray onto NewstalkZB whenever she is snarling forth her sulphurous rancour.
All of this behaviour was, of course, after she came “off the sauce”.
If you like—in fact, even if you don’t like—I’ll post links to all of the above, but for now I’ll let you fulminate a little more and see if you can come up with something a bit more effective than fungally-themed abuse.
Reading this, ah, discussion, makes me think of Keats, and sympathise with his character in “La Belle Dame sans Merci”.
“And this is why I sojourn here, 45
Alone and palely loitering,
Though the sedge is wither’d from the lake,
And no birds sing.”
Except I’d use a question mark.
“Stand ye calm and resolute
Like a forest close and mute
With folded arms and looks which are
Weapons of unvanquished war.
What is Freedom? Ye can tell
That which slavery is too well
For it’s very nature has grown
To an echo of your own.”
-P.B.S
“And this is why I sojourn here, 45
Alone and palely loitering,
Though the sedge is wither’d from the lake,
And no birds sing.”
Well, if the belle dame is 45, still alone and still palely loitering, she needs to get on with it. No wonder she’s accosting wandering knights.
That was line 45, Morrissey.
But yours was a good line, too- though I was not happy with the earlier discussion.
Merci.
That was line 45, Morrissey.
Yeah, I knew that; I was just joshing you. I used to be able to recite that poem off by heart once, along with a whole lot of other Keats poems; it was the main part of my schtick back then.
But yours was a good line, too- though I was not happy with the earlier discussion.
I’m sorry to hear that, mac. Do you think I could have handled the poor fellow more civilly?
Merci.
Pas du tout, mon ami.
That’s a pwned if ever I saw one 😆
That’s a pwned if ever I saw one.
Hope you enjoyed the public execution, my friend. Although I must say, it gave me no pleasure at all. Putting down poor old Populuxe1 was a task I did not enjoy, but neither was it one I was prepared to shirk.
It was the internet equivalent of shooting a rabid dog: it had to be done, but it’s not an occasion for pleasure.
Go on, tell me she’s a Mossad agent as well. No doubt she bleeds Christian babies to make motza balls as well, you horrid little puffball of spite.
Go on, tell me she’s a Mossad agent as well. No doubt she bleeds Christian babies to make motza balls as well, you horrid little puffball of spite.
Nope, you’re still not hitting the spot, buddy. That’s desperate. You’ve got nothing left in your quiver of tiny arrows.
It’s Popnogruts after that down-trou.
This “Populuxe1” specimen had several hours to formulate a response to Morrissey, and all he has come up with is that lame and cranky nonsense. It is funny, really, but not for Populuxe1 and those who care for him.
For them, these must be desperate times.
Corporal Morrisey your fake moustache has fallen off.
You talking to me, Baldric? How about you sod off?
So just a month after John Key’s Saviour of the Universe trade trip to China, things are not looking so hot on two fronts – meat and kiwifruit.
Stuff has a couple of good articles up this morning.
Firstly, a revealing and detailed article on the NZ meat shipments being held up at the Chinese border which is well worth reading in full
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/sheep/8690268/China-customs-issue-keeps-NZ-meat-off-shelves
“Chinese supermarkets are beginning to run out of New Zealand beef and lamb as Kiwi meat remains stuck at ports around China. …
It emerged on Friday that all meat exports to China have been blocked from entering the country, possibly since the end of April.
The Government was told of the problem on Tuesday, but made no public statement until yesterday. On Friday it was left up to the Meat Industry Association to insist that there was no food safety issue.
…
The stop at the border could mean thousands of tonnes of New Zealand sheepmeat will either be stuck at port or on the water en route to China. Every Kiwi meat company exporting to China is believed to have been affected.
A top meat-industry source said certification was being used by Chinese authorities as an excuse to protect local pork and poultry industries, noting that China had continued to allow imports of both dairy products and beef hides.
Meat Industry Association chief executive Tim Ritchie said the issue could cause long-term damage to the industry.
DEAL WITH ‘OTHER CHINA’ ON BRINK OF BEING SIGNED
New Zealand is poised to sign its first free-trade agreement in more than three years, with an announcement of a deal with Taiwan expected in the coming months.
…
Factors said to have complicated the passing of the deal are both New Zealand’s relations with China, where trade has soared since a free-trade agreement was reached, and Taiwan’s own trade negotiations with mainland China.
Trade Minister Tim Groser declined to comment.”
And on the kiwifruit front, two detailed articles on some pretty shonky dealings involving Zespri exports to China – also well worth reading for their revelations.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/8690353/Suitcases-of-cash-in-kiwifruit-scandal
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/cropping/8686533/Something-rotten-in-our-kiwifruit-exports
I wonder if the meat shipment shoddy paperwork resolution is related at all to the Zespri situation?
Ahh of course. Looks like the Chinese might get their missing Kiwifruit import duties (with interest) sooner rather than later…
Switch off the milk powder, play the game and see what happens.
Play a game of brinksmanship against China?
No need to see what would happen. Fonterra would go broke, for a start. On the positive side, a few Tory business types might end up in Chinese prisons as well.
Thanks for giving us an insight into the intellectual capabilities of the right.
“So just a month after John Key’s Saviour of the Universe trade trip to China, things are not looking so hot on two fronts – meat and kiwifruit.”
All I can say is for Christ’s sake keep him away from India (though I note Joyce has already had a go), as the NActs try and have a bob each way with the BRICS.
Not much has come of the Sth American jaunt either, despite Key’s trumpeting.
Key is the New Zealand version of Sir Les Patterson although many don’t seem to see it. (Wood and trees perhaps)
Put India to one side for the moment – Indonesia is next on the “hit (or miss”) list
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10884543
“A 52-strong trade mission is flying to Indonesia this weekend for two weeks of intensive briefings and meetings.
It is being led by Maurice Williamson and Sir Ken Stevens, who’s chairman of Export New Zealand.
… …. … ”
Probably compensation to MW as he is no longer to appear on Ellen Degeneres’ show as they have not been able to come to agreement and the current series is about to end…. thank goodness. Not at the end of the series – but that MW is not going to appear.
Good to hear Andrew Geddis’s point about the Government banning of Court examination on the Payment to parents of Severely handicapped adult children, getting an airing on National Radio News this morning. See Andrew’s item on Pundit
http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/i-think-national-just-broke-our-constitution
Koch coke.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/18/business/energy-environment/mountain-of-petroleum-coke-from-oil-sands-rises-in-detroit.html?_r=0
Just find a way to dupe countries into seeping it into the water supplies, tell them its good for health get them to pay you, to save on the cost of getting rid of it!
Job Done!
“Assumption Park” in Motor City.
PUBLISHED ON THE NBR 🙂
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/breakfast-schools-it-just-doesnt-work-ck-140329
Breakfast in schools: it just doesn’t work
Eric Crampton | WEEKEND REVIEW
#4 by Penny Bright 24 hours ago
Ever been hungry at school yourself Eric?
Have you bothered asking hungry kids who have been receiving ‘food in schools’ to find out what THEY think about this issue?
Penny Bright
___________________________________________________________________________
‘Anti-corruption /anti- privatisation’ campaigner
2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate
discussed in Poverty Watch, HMS Illustrious, Invincible Class (R06).
“Ever been hungry at school yourself Eric?” It’s the same as the Panels on The Nation and Q+A. They don’t have a clue on how the real world works. Apart from maybe Bradford.
Lost sons come home to roost
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10884577
Siege, mentality
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10884531
More on “the good oil”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/eu-bans-refillable-olive-oil-bottles-and-dipping-bowls-in-bid-to-end-food-fraud-8622049.html
Asteroids Impact
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/asteroid-nine-times-the-size-of-the-qe2-liner-to-sail-pass-earth-8621999.html
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/05/17/nasa_osiris_rex_asteroid_sampling_mission/
On the anti-ship missiles Russia delivered to Syria
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10065665/US-brand-Russias-decision-to-send-missiles-to-Syria-as-ill-timed-and-unfortunate.html
and other rebel miscellania
Unlocking the perception of Time
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/may/19/time-warped-claudia-hammond-review
The ‘secret’ Life of Salinger
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/may/18/jd-salinger-secret-life-exposed-documentary
DANIEL DENNETS SEVEN TOOLS FOR THINKING (title)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/may/19/daniel-dennett-intuition-pumps-thinking-extract
Does anyone know how to reply to Robert Guyton’s blogsite ? I just get a blank screen and no action when I try to comment on his clever pics.
seems to work for me – I’ve left him your message
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22579346
lawl
David Parker really let the cat out of the bag on Q&A today when he said National, Labour and the Greens are all the same really.
At least he is honest!
That’s not what he said, he was talking about the language coming from the government about North Korea and Polish ship yards and Albanian devilbeasts and what have you, and made the point that while there are real issues being debated between NZ parties, the differences are well within the norm for western democratic liberal societies.
Which is the problem especially considering that that norm has been moving to the right for the last 30+ years.
from the side-view mirror Draco, Google Glass
Not really supported by increasing social liberalisation, technological democritisation and a number of other things, but then again we know you have very little interest in living in awestern democratic liberal society.
Hmmm, you seem to be talking out your arse again.
If there were real differences to be debated between the ruling elites’ a, b and c teams he would have welcomed the talk of North Korea and Polish shipyards as a way of emphasising the scale of the differnces.
The corporate flag is dullest beige,
It shrouded oft our heartless fools,
And ere our limbs grow stiff and cold,
Our hearts never run bold.
Then hold the dull standard low.
(chorus)
Within its shade we pretend to live,
As cowards we flinch and as traitors sneer,
We’ll leave the beige flag lying here.
Look round, the consultant loves its blur,
The venal lawyer chants its praise,
In Wall Street its hymns were sung
Chicago School swells the dull throng.
(chorus)
It drooped above our dullest blight,
When all ahead seemed full of light;
It witnessed many a press release,
We must not change its dullness now.
(chorus)
It well recalls the dogmas past,
It gives the hope of Bellamy’s at last;
The menu bright, the cuisine plain,
Of venal right and gastric gain.
(chorus)
It suits today the weak and base,
Whose minds are fixed on self and face
We cringe before the rich man’s frown,
And haul the of what the fuck I can’t remember what it was down.
(chorus)
With head uncovered swear we all
To bear it onward while we fall;
To boardrooms dark and consultancies dim,
This song shall be our parting hymn.
“The Beige Army”; ditchoo write that ditty nocratic one?
The old socialist anthem, The Red Flag, with a few alterations, more in keeping with the current times and attitudes of the party that calls itself “Labour”.
puttees fillings : 😀
Here are the words by Leon Rosselson:
The people’s flag is palest pink
It’s not the colour you might think
The middle classes stand and cheer
The Labour government is here
We’ll change the country bit by bit
So nobody will notice it
And just to show that we’re sincere
We’ll sing The Red Flag once a year
They can’t even be fucked doing that nowadays.
sigh. it is a sorry state of affairs; ‘eres one from the books-
“A panzer unit cannot be led from ahead”- A Stahlberg. (freakin history revisionists after the War, Federal Constitutional Court, ruled that “all soldiers may be called murderers” and Minister of Health Blum suggesting that because the Wehrmacht held out for so long they enabled the death camps (“The evacuations dependent on the military situation”; Wannsee Conference Protocols (great movie with Branagh) ) yet “Not all roads lead to Auschwitz” – J.C Fest.
Night – Elie
gotta hand it to some of the officers of the Wehrmacht…they did try and get rid of the man.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claus_von_Stauffenberg
the real bad news of course was not the professional military, it was the SS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_SS_Division_Totenkopf
yes; owned a lot of SS literature; haven’t kept it. Tomorrows another day.
About them blokes and their efforts ..short address to dodge/
http://preview.tinyurl.com/a6m39wd
Here’s a great song by Rosselson, “A World Upside Down” sung by Dick Gaughan.
This song is more keeping in with what unemployed young people feel about society at the moment i.e.frustration with life and violence go hand in hand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkyLAWX5V30
When does New Zealand get it’s own version of the UK riots?
Hey Morrissey Friend. Thought you might like this. Sorry, I don’t have the vigour anymore to respond.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/8680530/Ex-TV-hosts-new-recipe-for-success
You do know the identity of the Spouse/Mouse ? Or perhaps /House, depending ?
Hmmmm…. Mrs Mora looks in very good nick for someone who works in fast food all day.
[Insert silly joke about foot-longs…]
Hey North – spouse of Mary Lambie is Jim Mora host of The Panel on Nat Rad week days from 4 – 5pm.
Pacific people in poverty
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8693071/Pacific-people-suffering-say-Sallies