After all that was done on the CGT Bloody Mallard can’t keep his E-Mails away from whaleslime! What else is he leaking ? is the computer he uses secure??
“In the email posted on Cam Slater’s Whaleoil blog, Mr Mallard said the key thing was not to get “dragged down into the detail on the [capital gains tax]. The public don’t care and we get boring.”
It was used as ammunition by National yesterday, with associate finance minister Steven Joyce issuing a statement claiming Labour’s new policy would add $18.5 billion to debt.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10739184
Just what we need More ammo for Joyce to spin into a veritable diatribe against the CGT. And we know the scare mongers are working hard to scare the general population. And the last thing we need is Bloody Mallard giving them the Ammo that they need. Someone teach him about computers and security!
Emails go out to thousands of Labour supporters and members. Par for the course I’m afraid, this is an information war this year and we already know that the NATs will stoop and keep stooping.
Er.. this isn’t stooping. Information that has hurt Labour has either been made publicly available by virtue of Labour’s slack security or is provided voluntarily to the bloggers by traitorous Labour insiders. This isn’t hacking or Nicky Hager style spying.
Nicky Hager didn’t bother to spy – that would have likely to have been illegal (and he doesn’t do illegal from anything I have seen). He just got given material by National party insiders. By the look at the breadth, probably quite a few insiders, since there doesn’t appear to have been a credible single source point. I have frequently disagreed with his interpretations over several books and articles. But seldom with his facts or chain of logic given what he knows. Generally I disagree about what the story means.
Unlike Wishart or blubber or yourself, he doesn’t make crap up to join minimal facts to nutty conspiracy theories or strange opinions that seem to be born from a rich fantasy life. Which has been your forte here over the years. Good at making crap up – useless at saying anything worthwhile following up. The comment above being a good example.
If my comment wasn’t worth following up why did you follow up?
I apologise and withdraw reference to Hager spying. You are right. He didn’t have to.
I was simply commenting in response to Colonial Viper’s comment that using information from “the other side”, however it is gathered, is not exclusive to the NATs. If it is stooping as CV says then everyone is stooping. If my comment was enough to get you excited you must be easily excited.
I didn’t read CV’s comment (which looks innocuous BTW). Look at the time stamp of my comment. I wasn’t getting to sleep, so I picked up the iPad and read a few comments off the comments tab and responded as a comment to whatever took my interest (I don’t mod at nearly 2am). You were a rreipientof my boredom.
You got a comment because you conflated Labour with Nicky Hager when he so clearly is not. Then you said that Hager was doing something illegal – when he so clearly does not. It might be illegal for people to take the information and give it to Hager – but it is not for Hager to have and publish it.
I didn’t even mention whatever Labour does or does not do, because that wasn’t what I was interested in. Your style of comment was just stupid. Just like whale trying to inflate this e-mail t smethingof significance. It is one of the dozens of e-mails that get sent to NZLP activists and members every few days.
Up front costs are too high for most families in Orewa, and you still have to buy the copyright licenses.
Besides which it violates several MoE proscriptions and every school I have ever looked at has crap wifi – and I include the unis in that as well. Booster city until we get some better frequencies
It’s embarassing rather than damaging, it was obvious there was an organised campaign of talking points, and it’s widely known that politicians don’t want to share detail with people, and that people aren’t interesetd in detail unless politicians say they shouldn’t see it.
Re the flood of talking points, when it’s blindingly obvious it’s a canned campaign does that help your case or just raise the groan quotient?
But Mallard’s party even put their donors and members payment information in the public domain. An email… who would have thought an email could get you in trouble when a whole datatbase was just quietly hushed up.
That’s just stupid Burt. Can you really not tell the difference between a bulk email that can easily be forwarded by anyone from a computer (no technical expertise required), and a website where a skilled technician made a major mistake and allowed hackers, not the public, to access the site more easily?
Why would McCully approve Richard Worth’s appointment as honorary counsul for Monaco without telling Key? This beggars belief. Isn’t Key meant to be the Prime Minister or something?
And why was Worth sacked?
I could never imagine McCully surviving as a minister if he did this to Helen.
“I could never imagine McCully surviving as a minister if he did this to Helen. ”
Why would John Key blow this up and sack a minister over it? That would just be re-opening a wound that never properly healed. Any punishment would be behind closed doors. I think given a similar situation (which Helen would never have created in the first place), Helen also wouldn’t publicly punish someone over it.
Sorry Lanth I was talking about the failure to advise, not the decision itself. From various reports McCully may not have any option in the matter. But he should have told Key …
If McCully had failed to advise Key about some other important issue, Key might have publicly punished him. But when the issue is surrounding Worth, it’s not worth Key’s while to bring it up publicly.
On the subject of McCully; anybody notice that Jonah Lumu and him are flying around the islands in the RNZAF 757 teaching kids how to play rugby (well at least Jonah has a bit of a clue)
Anyone like to hazard a guess who is paying for that – sure as hell won’t be the RFU, possibly out of Pacific development monies?
One other political story that struck me right between the eyes, National have effectively gifted Epsom to Act by selecting Paul Goldsmith as their candidate. There is no one more odious and more lacking in compassion or humanity than good old Paul. He was the Councillor who was obsessed on people living on the streets and wanted a by law so that they could be fined. As if they did not have enough to worry about.
It will be interesting to see also what the National list looks like and where Paul is placed. The list is very late. I wonder when it is due?
So seanmaitland… that is 25/125 = total of 20% of your income paid as tax (just to make it simple). My view? Too little tax paid.
However, to balance this, I would also state that the public sector isn’t providing comprehensive enough services to necessarily justify higher taxes. I would raise tax and strengthen the social contract.
So John Key may not get to meet Obama after all. The day the meeting is scheduled is also the day that Obama has set as the deadline for sorting out the debt limit.
If the republicans force it to the deadline, or as I think they will after the deadline (just to show Obama is powerless), then Key won’t get his meet and greet.
Taken all together, Republicanity is a culture that merges politics and religion (maybe better identified as a form of “poligion,” as one of my teachers used to say) and unashamedly and unreservedly blows apart the longed-for “wall of separation” keeping the two spheres separate. Now more than ever the case can be made that our politics are a form of religion and that religion is the new politics.
Key in Washington on one of the most pivotal days in US economic history! They’re fucked! Earthquakes, mine disasters, tornadoes, record inflation etc, this guy is just too dangerous to be around and seriously bad luck for this country. He brings to mind some sort of character from an apocalyptic movie where as he passes by everything behind him drains of colour, withers and dies.
Obama will probably be assassinated while shaking his hand. but then key will only be shaking Obama’s doubles hand anyway, why would he bother turning out in person for a two bit snake oil merchant. and key wouldn’t know the difference, he will be wetting himself.
Even if one allows for the generally low intellectual quality of American politics, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) has, over several decades, managed to distinguish himself as a foolish and callow individual, often hovering right on the brink of outright stupidity.
Look at Graham asking a question during Lt. Gen. John Allen’s nomination hearing in front of the Senate Armed Services committee.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
ALLEN: It is a more aggressive option than that which was presented.
GRAHAM: My question is, was that a option?
ALLEN: It was not.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Yes, that’s right, folks! He said “a option“.
With people of the calibre of Senator Graham in office, is it any wonder the United States is in deep, deep trouble?
Horrifyingly, I have recently heard New Zealand men* on TV and on Radio NZ, say ‘a orange’, etc, that is, using ‘a’ when they should say ‘an’, because the noun they then went on to say, started with a vowel. It’s not easy, so why do they do it?
I don’t want to teach the world to sing, I want to teach New Zealanders (those on TV and radio at least) to “speak proper”.
(* I haven’t heard a woman say this – which doesn’t mean they don’t, just that I have yet to hear it. Sociolinguistics tells us that women are usually more careful to be ‘correct’, or at least, that was so when I was studying in 2003..)
Horrifyingly, I have recently heard New Zealand women* teachers in schools across the land, sweat on people who say ‘a orange’, etc, that is, using ‘a’ when they should say ‘an’, because the noun they then went on to say, started with a vowel. It’s not important, so why do they worry about it?
I don’t want to teach the world to speak or spell proper, I want to teach New Zealanders (all of them not just Maori and those mysterious mythological folks called Pakeha that no-one can identify but also all the other NZers as well) and the rest of the world to “stop killing each other”.
(* I haven’t heard a man say this – which doesn’t mean they don’t, just that I have yet to hear it. Common sense tells us that women are usually more pedantic and worried about small issues of little ‘importance’, or at least, that was so when I was etc etc..)
It’s not important, so why do they worry about it?
It is important. People make instantaneous assessments of others when they speak. So when some people say “arks” instead of “ask”, or “1800s” instead of “nineteenth century”, or “a option” instead of “an option”, we automatically see such bumbling errors as a sign that they are less than competent. Linguistic competence is a useful gauge of someone’s basic intelligence.
One of my favourites is saying “brought” instead of “bought”. Bonus points if the speaker apparently doesn’t know the difference when you point it out.
One of my favourites is saying “brought” instead of “bought”. Bonus points if the speaker apparently doesn’t know the difference when you point it out.
My pet hate is people saying “alluded” instead of “mentioned”.
It’s not important, so why do they worry about it?
I don’t want to teach the world to speak or spell proper, I want to teach New Zealanders (all of them not just Maori and those mysterious mythological folks called Pakeha that no-one can identify but also all the other NZers as well) and the rest of the world to “stop killing each other”.
(* I haven’t heard a man say this – which doesn’t mean they don’t, just that I have yet to hear it. Common sense tells us that women are usually more pedantic and worried about small issues of little ‘importance’, or at least, that was so when I was etc etc..)
What is your issue, man? (And I know for a certainty that you are a man, or you wouldn’t have got so bitter and twisted about my saying I’d heard men make this mistake, even though I went out of my way to say that I was not picking on men!) You’re being particularly nasty when after whining that I am pedantic, you contrast that with your wonderful deep concern with war etc – I was involved in pacifism when you were still in nappies! 🙂
Of course misuse of articles is important! Speaking “proper” (you didn’t notice my quote marks, did you?) is important for clear communication and also for, for instance, future employability! Two kids are up for a job. Candidate A says “And then I done a office skills course” and wonders why Candidate B who is careful not to make careless and egregious errors, gets the job!
Why you had to bring race into it, is beyond me, unless you believe that I somehow denigrate or disadvantage Maori by calling for correct language use! If you’d had a look at the link, you’d see that most of my students are from Asia!
The Russians have just launched into space a super powerful telescope that will look light years into the universe (10 times more powerful that Hubble), and plan to launch several more in the next 6 years or so.
Meanwhile we have groups like Destiny who still struggle to see beyond a flat earth.
And what about Wishart who still believes in the Ark .Plus that the world is only 6000 years old.What is worse that he is in position to influence the vunerable young people.
What is worse that he is in position to influence the vunerable young people
Fortunately, the readership of his ‘magazine’ seems to be old. They could pass it on to their children and grandchildren, who I assume, would ignore it!
Fortunately, the readership of his ‘magazine’ seems to be old.
Come on Vicky! You know better than that. There are lots of intelligent, lucid and thoughtful old people who would be utterly horrified to think you or anyone thought they took Wishart or his ridiculous magazine seriously.
If you want a descriptor for the typical readership of Wishart’s magazine or his books, any of the following would be more appropriate: angry, bewildered, confused, credulous, dim, dunder-headed, fanatical, fearful, irrational…
If you want a descriptor for the typical readership of Wishart’s magazine or his books, any of the following would be more appropriate: angry, bewildered, confused, credulous, dim, dunder-headed, fanatical, fearful, irrational…
That’s true. I read an issue a few months back, and was amused and horrified to read a hagiographical letter from a rural guy praising Wishart for one of his recent books (the Crewe one I think). This guy said his wife has bought him the book for Christmas, and that it was the first book he (the fan) had ever read! How do you get to that age, without ever having read a book?
National Destinies child program where they give $880,000 to a church that is run by a self absorbed narcissist called by most people a cult but the only party their going to vote for is the one that gives them money.
David Cunnliffe blogged today about Labour’s Capital Gains Tax and the disinformation National and its media outlets are promoting to try and turn public opinion. They have decided to undertake a campaign of disinformation, because an argument based on the facts and the truth would be problematic for the right wing.
What a ghastly idea! At Western Springs College in 2000-2, my son was ridiculed because all his friends had PCs, and we didn’t until my brother gave us his, when he upgraded. He was very upset about it, and I would have done something if I could have but I was on a DPB then…
What a shame the textbooks will still be just as heavy and not available as convenient PDFs which will save the teens bad backs in the future from having to lug around 8 – 12kgs of books every day.
My back is stuffed from doing just that.
I don’t necessarily see why netbooks can’t do. Ipads are incredibly limiting for doing word processing on a heavy scale which is what it sounds like Orewa want kids to do.
PDFs are not convenient – in fact, they’re a PITA compared to proper e-books.
All text books should appropriately maintained and updated by government funding and be freely available in e-book format. This would allow and encourage ex-learning institution education.
As far as iPads go – all proprietary standards need to be replaced by Open Standards. Gets rid of the unnecessary and costly competition while encouraging competition in R&D.
e-pubs are a great format – not even that bad to code for. PDF is something for the print industry. Calibre gets rid of that problem along with others.
a lot of humanity’s knowledge is going the way of the dodo if we are going to be relying primarily on this tech shit.
A textbook well looked after will last 50 years easy. A pdf on an ipad – well the battery is pretty much screwed inside of 5 years for starters. And if I recall its not user replaceable.
Technology has its place as an element of education, but frankly speaking, kids who went to primary school in the 1960’s are working with iPads just fine today. Similarly, no tech exposure today is going to anticipate what technology is going to be like in 2060
(actually I have an idea and paper text books will rule)
A textbook well looked after will last 50 years easy.
And they’ll be out of date in 15 at most. E-Books maintained on a central server will be much much cheaper to maintain and distribute than paper based text books.
Sorry mate don’t see a 1st year chem, physics or mech engineering text book being put out of date in 15 years.
Put it this way, who is going to be doing the high energy research required to put out of date F = MA or E = MC2?
In fact you can look up engineering and chemistry textbooks from 50 years ago and it will tell you 100% of what you need to know to forge steel or make glass.
Thats gonna be pretty handy stuff.
The economics text books published in the last 5 years…well they didnt even make it that long haha
In fact you can look up engineering and chemistry textbooks from 50 years ago and it will tell you 100% of what you need to know to forge steel or make glass.
It’ll tell you what you needed to know 50 years ago. It won’t tell you what you need to know today. Knowledge has advanced and so has teaching methods and text books reflect teaching methods.
I’ll rephrase. Certain trends mean that it will likely be extremely difficult to refine and use the advanced materials in the advanced applications that we take from granted today. (I’m picking in less than 10 years).
Consider the range of material inputs and energies required to make say semi conductive nanoparticle coatings today, for electronic use. Without high energy availability and a complete but extremely fragile supply network, it would be impossible to make such materials. And without the rest of the specific components and materials which are needed for the rest of the electronic assembly, why would you even bother trying?
However, the ability to make even modest quantities of pig iron or mild steel is going to be extremely useful – and practical – for centuries to come.
Knowledge has advanced and so has teaching methods and text books reflect teaching methods.
Ask any teacher with more than 20 years experience and they will be able to give you a list of things which are done better using today’s methods…and a list of things which are done worse.
The illusion of continuous forward progress is a sales pitch for the unwary.
Im glad I finished high school in 1998 before all this nonsense set in.
A bit quaint looking back. All we had by way of computers were old 386’s with Windows 3.11 and momochrome displays!
The school libary was a bit more top of the line, having Win95, where you could use the latest interactive CD ROM’s and the lucky kids could use dial-up internet – 14.4k modem.
(At least when I hit 7th form, I only needed a ring binder and refill….)
It seems that schools now seem to think that parents would shit out money for their children (It’s bad enough that children think that already :))
Higher fees, material cost, school trips to France (would it not be easier to have an afternoon with the local French community organisation?), uniforms, books, etc and so on. In Hawera recently, the school’s soccer team was charged $400 to use the school van, and $1000 to pay for a reliver, when they went to a tournament, I tought that was very tight fisted.
I think its time we threw out Tomorrow’s Schools and gave back fuctions to the MoE. So schools can focus on giving children an education, and not using them as revenue and then dumping them onto a carpentry course when their test scores look like they are dragging the school down.
How many kids at Orewa? If there is a thousand, that’s over a MILLION bucks parents have to find or not spend in the area. Some people in authority are just bloody clueless.
Good point Adrian; Apple used to do ‘academic’ rates for their gear. The cynic in me saws which of the BOT open an Apple Store on the shore.
On a side note I read somewhere that Amazon are now offering academic text books for ‘rent’ on Kindles. That’ll be the next thing, you supply the electronics then they hire you the books.
If tablet/laptop technology is now essential to the education requirements of our kids today and into the future, i do not understand why an ongoing supply to rent deal cannot be made with the manufacturers. Each year there will be clients. Budgeting for the technology is managed more easily. Updating technology is assured. On-selling of used equipment has a ready market. Looks like winning to me.
5 or 6 but I’m also aware that most of that energy is used as electricity which we have quite a lot of. The plastics can be refined from coal or we could use ceramics instead (I’d prefer the ceramics actually) and we have huge base reserves of steel and titanium.
There’s nothing to stop us making those pads/PCs here except that a lot of people keep backing low value farming.
Anyway, my kids have Ipod touches – they use them as games machines; I can just see the Orewa kids having all the latest games and doing no school work.
There are a few assumptions here which I dont think are going to hold.
1) We wouldn’t design and make a tablet type device the way Apple would. It would be a niche product fitting into a small market that Apple would never consider or identfy.
2) Expertise in minimising high tech manufacturing costs in an oil depleted world does not exist. We can still be leaders in that.
3) Global production chains are going to shrink. Transport costs are not going to be negligible even for high value products – quite the reverse. Localised production is going to be in. It may be for example that a global design gets pumped out and manufactured at many localities.
We make them here for here. Export won’t be an option in a few years.
Anyway, my kids have Ipod touches – they use them as games machines; I can just see the Orewa kids having all the latest games and doing no school work.
That would be a failure brought about by not teaching kids to enjoy learning, to phrase it as a chore instead. And games have their place – even in learning.
I’m so looking forward to spending the afternoon watching Rupert and James Murdoch, Rebekah Brooks and the ex-police chiefs (as of yesterday) being grilled at the Parliamentary Committee. This whole hacking scandal is getting curiouser and curiouser with breaking news every couple of hours.
It’s compelling theatre and there should be far-reaching consequences for the way news organisations operate. It’s taken 8 years for this scandal to break wide open, hopefully NZers will wake-up to the possibility of cosy cabals of news, business, law enforcement and politics and guard against it.
Edit: and more to come… http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/blog/2011/jul/19/phone-hacking-rupert-murdoch-rebekah-brooks-mps
Chris Bryant, the Labour MP who has been campaigning on phone hacking for ages, has just dropped an intriguing hint about “more to come” in an interview on BBC News.
The theatre of [today’s appearance] is irrelevant. In the end we’ve got to get to the bottom of what is a very murky pool. And I tell you Rebekah Brooks was right. We’re only half way into that pool at the moment. There’s stuff about Surrey police as well and other things that are still to come out.
The police rats are deserting the sinking ship baring their teeth and protesting their innocence or at least their spotless escutcheons (funny one of the dictionary meanings of escutcheon, after the first being a heraldic shield, is ‘a plate or shield around a keyhole, door handle etc’. How appropriate it is to talk about escutcheons in this context).
The trouble is that as parliamentary actors like politicians, and government officials like police, get to have power then they mingle with others in the business realm who are making more money than they. The people they mix with are believers in trickle down theory when it is dripping honey onto useful people, not the hoi polloi below.
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Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
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The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
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 National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
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 ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
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Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
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The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
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FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
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After all that was done on the CGT Bloody Mallard can’t keep his E-Mails away from whaleslime! What else is he leaking ? is the computer he uses secure??
“In the email posted on Cam Slater’s Whaleoil blog, Mr Mallard said the key thing was not to get “dragged down into the detail on the [capital gains tax]. The public don’t care and we get boring.”
It was used as ammunition by National yesterday, with associate finance minister Steven Joyce issuing a statement claiming Labour’s new policy would add $18.5 billion to debt.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10739184
Just what we need More ammo for Joyce to spin into a veritable diatribe against the CGT. And we know the scare mongers are working hard to scare the general population. And the last thing we need is Bloody Mallard giving them the Ammo that they need. Someone teach him about computers and security!
[lprent: off topic moved to OpenMike. ]
Emails go out to thousands of Labour supporters and members. Par for the course I’m afraid, this is an information war this year and we already know that the NATs will stoop and keep stooping.
Deadly_NZ is not just refering to the Nat’s stooping lower and lower…
Mallards poor message-framing has given the Nats plenty to work with.
Er.. this isn’t stooping. Information that has hurt Labour has either been made publicly available by virtue of Labour’s slack security or is provided voluntarily to the bloggers by traitorous Labour insiders. This isn’t hacking or Nicky Hager style spying.
Nicky Hager didn’t bother to spy – that would have likely to have been illegal (and he doesn’t do illegal from anything I have seen). He just got given material by National party insiders. By the look at the breadth, probably quite a few insiders, since there doesn’t appear to have been a credible single source point. I have frequently disagreed with his interpretations over several books and articles. But seldom with his facts or chain of logic given what he knows. Generally I disagree about what the story means.
Unlike Wishart or blubber or yourself, he doesn’t make crap up to join minimal facts to nutty conspiracy theories or strange opinions that seem to be born from a rich fantasy life. Which has been your forte here over the years. Good at making crap up – useless at saying anything worthwhile following up. The comment above being a good example.
If my comment wasn’t worth following up why did you follow up?
I apologise and withdraw reference to Hager spying. You are right. He didn’t have to.
I was simply commenting in response to Colonial Viper’s comment that using information from “the other side”, however it is gathered, is not exclusive to the NATs. If it is stooping as CV says then everyone is stooping. If my comment was enough to get you excited you must be easily excited.
I didn’t read CV’s comment (which looks innocuous BTW). Look at the time stamp of my comment. I wasn’t getting to sleep, so I picked up the iPad and read a few comments off the comments tab and responded as a comment to whatever took my interest (I don’t mod at nearly 2am). You were a rreipientof my boredom.
You got a comment because you conflated Labour with Nicky Hager when he so clearly is not. Then you said that Hager was doing something illegal – when he so clearly does not. It might be illegal for people to take the information and give it to Hager – but it is not for Hager to have and publish it.
I didn’t even mention whatever Labour does or does not do, because that wasn’t what I was interested in. Your style of comment was just stupid. Just like whale trying to inflate this e-mail t smethingof significance. It is one of the dozens of e-mails that get sent to NZLP activists and members every few days.
Speaking of iPad’s lprent, I’d be interested in your take on the pros/cons of compulsory iPad/Laptop in state secondary schools?
Bad idea.
Up front costs are too high for most families in Orewa, and you still have to buy the copyright licenses.
Besides which it violates several MoE proscriptions and every school I have ever looked at has crap wifi – and I include the unis in that as well. Booster city until we get some better frequencies
It’s pretty simple. If you’re not happy with something being in the public domain, don’t put it in an email.
Mallard could easily have phrased what he wanted to say differently.
He said he sent the email to the wrong list. An easy thing to do.
http://blog.labour.org.nz/index.php/2011/07/18/mea-culpa-2/
It’s embarassing rather than damaging, it was obvious there was an organised campaign of talking points, and it’s widely known that politicians don’t want to share detail with people, and that people aren’t interesetd in detail unless politicians say they shouldn’t see it.
Re the flood of talking points, when it’s blindingly obvious it’s a canned campaign does that help your case or just raise the groan quotient?
weka
But Mallard’s party even put their donors and members payment information in the public domain. An email… who would have thought an email could get you in trouble when a whole datatbase was just quietly hushed up.
That’s just stupid Burt. Can you really not tell the difference between a bulk email that can easily be forwarded by anyone from a computer (no technical expertise required), and a website where a skilled technician made a major mistake and allowed hackers, not the public, to access the site more easily?
Why would McCully approve Richard Worth’s appointment as honorary counsul for Monaco without telling Key? This beggars belief. Isn’t Key meant to be the Prime Minister or something?
And why was Worth sacked?
I could never imagine McCully surviving as a minister if he did this to Helen.
“I could never imagine McCully surviving as a minister if he did this to Helen. ”
Why would John Key blow this up and sack a minister over it? That would just be re-opening a wound that never properly healed. Any punishment would be behind closed doors. I think given a similar situation (which Helen would never have created in the first place), Helen also wouldn’t publicly punish someone over it.
Sorry Lanth I was talking about the failure to advise, not the decision itself. From various reports McCully may not have any option in the matter. But he should have told Key …
Yeah, but that’s my point.
If McCully had failed to advise Key about some other important issue, Key might have publicly punished him. But when the issue is surrounding Worth, it’s not worth Key’s while to bring it up publicly.
That is a subtlety that avoided me but I can assure everyone that Helen knew everything that happened.
On the subject of McCully; anybody notice that Jonah Lumu and him are flying around the islands in the RNZAF 757 teaching kids how to play rugby (well at least Jonah has a bit of a clue)
Anyone like to hazard a guess who is paying for that – sure as hell won’t be the RFU, possibly out of Pacific development monies?
One other political story that struck me right between the eyes, National have effectively gifted Epsom to Act by selecting Paul Goldsmith as their candidate. There is no one more odious and more lacking in compassion or humanity than good old Paul. He was the Councillor who was obsessed on people living on the streets and wanted a by law so that they could be fined. As if they did not have enough to worry about.
It will be interesting to see also what the National list looks like and where Paul is placed. The list is very late. I wonder when it is due?
On Monday, RNZ, Hooten assured listeners the candidate would be Aaron Bhatnagar….
… and that it would be a real fight.
Bhatnagar is good mates with that lemon Simon Bridges and that cock Justin that is involved with the ‘Vote For Change’ campaign.
Sounds ideal ACT material!
Sounds like he,s right of ACT future president easy transfer from his master
ok, so just got my tax return back from the accountants to sign, and on income of 125k, my tax bill was 25k plus ACC fees of about 2.5k.
Too much tax or too little?
So seanmaitland… that is 25/125 = total of 20% of your income paid as tax (just to make it simple). My view? Too little tax paid.
However, to balance this, I would also state that the public sector isn’t providing comprehensive enough services to necessarily justify higher taxes. I would raise tax and strengthen the social contract.
For gawds sake Key… leave those poor Warner execs alone!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5304227/PMs-dinner-date-with-Warner-execs
John Key’s next TV stunt, sponsored by the EMA
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8643933/Girls-urged-to-strip-to-support-Vladimir-Putin-as-president.html
So John Key may not get to meet Obama after all. The day the meeting is scheduled is also the day that Obama has set as the deadline for sorting out the debt limit.
If the republicans force it to the deadline, or as I think they will after the deadline (just to show Obama is powerless), then Key won’t get his meet and greet.
Oh dear, how sad and never mind! 😀
Andrew Sullivan reflects on his own life, love, and pursuit of happiness.
Religion Dispatches: ‘Republicanity’—The GOP Transformation is Nearly Complete.
Taken all together, Republicanity is a culture that merges politics and religion (maybe better identified as a form of “poligion,” as one of my teachers used to say) and unashamedly and unreservedly blows apart the longed-for “wall of separation” keeping the two spheres separate. Now more than ever the case can be made that our politics are a form of religion and that religion is the new politics.
Key in Washington on one of the most pivotal days in US economic history! They’re fucked! Earthquakes, mine disasters, tornadoes, record inflation etc, this guy is just too dangerous to be around and seriously bad luck for this country. He brings to mind some sort of character from an apocalyptic movie where as he passes by everything behind him drains of colour, withers and dies.
Jinksey!
Obama will probably be assassinated while shaking his hand. but then key will only be shaking Obama’s doubles hand anyway, why would he bother turning out in person for a two bit snake oil merchant. and key wouldn’t know the difference, he will be wetting himself.
I don’t think Key has the accumen to be a candidate for the anti-Christ!!
STUPIDITY WATCH No. 1: Senator Lindsey Graham
Even if one allows for the generally low intellectual quality of American politics, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) has, over several decades, managed to distinguish himself as a foolish and callow individual, often hovering right on the brink of outright stupidity.
Look at Graham asking a question during Lt. Gen. John Allen’s nomination hearing in front of the Senate Armed Services committee.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
ALLEN: It is a more aggressive option than that which was presented.
GRAHAM: My question is, was that a option?
ALLEN: It was not.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Yes, that’s right, folks! He said “a option“.
With people of the calibre of Senator Graham in office, is it any wonder the United States is in deep, deep trouble?
http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/06/28/obama-troop-cuts-went-beyond-largest-withdrawal-offered-top-general
could be a transcribing error, Im presuming you think it should be “an option”?
I think we should assume it is a transcribing error, because it doesn’t say “[sic]” next to it.
could be a transcribing error,
No it’s not. I hunted up the transcription after hearing Senator Graham say “a option” on the news.
Im presuming you think it should be “an option”?
Yes, of course it should.
the senator and the army guys can relax, many of the troops aren’t going anywhere. The major withdrawl is a redepolyment to other bases in the middle East (so they are close by) and the remainder are being called diplomats
http://www.infowars.com/15000-us-troops-to-remain-in-iraq-renamed-diplomats/
Horrifyingly, I have recently heard New Zealand men* on TV and on Radio NZ, say ‘a orange’, etc, that is, using ‘a’ when they should say ‘an’, because the noun they then went on to say, started with a vowel. It’s not easy, so why do they do it?
I don’t want to teach the world to sing, I want to teach New Zealanders (those on TV and radio at least) to “speak proper”.
(* I haven’t heard a woman say this – which doesn’t mean they don’t, just that I have yet to hear it. Sociolinguistics tells us that women are usually more careful to be ‘correct’, or at least, that was so when I was studying in 2003..)
http://englishusagewoman@blogspot.com
STUPIDITY WATCH No. 2: Morrisey and Vicky32
Horrifyingly, I have recently heard New Zealand women* teachers in schools across the land, sweat on people who say ‘a orange’, etc, that is, using ‘a’ when they should say ‘an’, because the noun they then went on to say, started with a vowel. It’s not important, so why do they worry about it?
I don’t want to teach the world to speak or spell proper, I want to teach New Zealanders (all of them not just Maori and those mysterious mythological folks called Pakeha that no-one can identify but also all the other NZers as well) and the rest of the world to “stop killing each other”.
(* I haven’t heard a man say this – which doesn’t mean they don’t, just that I have yet to hear it. Common sense tells us that women are usually more pedantic and worried about small issues of little ‘importance’, or at least, that was so when I was etc etc..)
It’s not important, so why do they worry about it?
It is important. People make instantaneous assessments of others when they speak. So when some people say “arks” instead of “ask”, or “1800s” instead of “nineteenth century”, or “a option” instead of “an option”, we automatically see such bumbling errors as a sign that they are less than competent. Linguistic competence is a useful gauge of someone’s basic intelligence.
One of my favourites is saying “brought” instead of “bought”. Bonus points if the speaker apparently doesn’t know the difference when you point it out.
One of my favourites is saying “brought” instead of “bought”. Bonus points if the speaker apparently doesn’t know the difference when you point it out.
My pet hate is people saying “alluded” instead of “mentioned”.
Read my blog for more horror! 😀
http://www.englishusagewoman.blogspot.com
[corrected that link – I think? r0b]
What is your issue, man? (And I know for a certainty that you are a man, or you wouldn’t have got so bitter and twisted about my saying I’d heard men make this mistake, even though I went out of my way to say that I was not picking on men!) You’re being particularly nasty when after whining that I am pedantic, you contrast that with your wonderful deep concern with war etc – I was involved in pacifism when you were still in nappies! 🙂
Of course misuse of articles is important! Speaking “proper” (you didn’t notice my quote marks, did you?) is important for clear communication and also for, for instance, future employability! Two kids are up for a job. Candidate A says “And then I done a office skills course” and wonders why Candidate B who is careful not to make careless and egregious errors, gets the job!
Why you had to bring race into it, is beyond me, unless you believe that I somehow denigrate or disadvantage Maori by calling for correct language use! If you’d had a look at the link, you’d see that most of my students are from Asia!
The Russians have just launched into space a super powerful telescope that will look light years into the universe (10 times more powerful that Hubble), and plan to launch several more in the next 6 years or so.
Meanwhile we have groups like Destiny who still struggle to see beyond a flat earth.
And what about Wishart who still believes in the Ark .Plus that the world is only 6000 years old.What is worse that he is in position to influence the vunerable young people.
Fortunately, the readership of his ‘magazine’ seems to be old. They could pass it on to their children and grandchildren, who I assume, would ignore it!
C’mon does anyone read Wishart’s nonsense?
C’mon does anyone read Wishart’s nonsense?
NewstalkZB’s Leighton Smith uses it as his primary source of research for his radio show.
Fortunately, the readership of his ‘magazine’ seems to be old.
Come on Vicky! You know better than that. There are lots of intelligent, lucid and thoughtful old people who would be utterly horrified to think you or anyone thought they took Wishart or his ridiculous magazine seriously.
If you want a descriptor for the typical readership of Wishart’s magazine or his books, any of the following would be more appropriate: angry, bewildered, confused, credulous, dim, dunder-headed, fanatical, fearful, irrational…
That’s true. I read an issue a few months back, and was amused and horrified to read a hagiographical letter from a rural guy praising Wishart for one of his recent books (the Crewe one I think). This guy said his wife has bought him the book for Christmas, and that it was the first book he (the fan) had ever read! How do you get to that age, without ever having read a book?
How do you get to that age, without ever having read a book?
Ask John Key. Or Leighton Smith. Or Danny Watson.
National Destinies child program where they give $880,000 to a church that is run by a self absorbed narcissist called by most people a cult but the only party their going to vote for is the one that gives them money.
National’s Campaign of Disinformation
David Cunnliffe blogged today about Labour’s Capital Gains Tax and the disinformation National and its media outlets are promoting to try and turn public opinion. They have decided to undertake a campaign of disinformation, because an argument based on the facts and the truth would be problematic for the right wing.
the Murdoch saga is becoming more revealing each day. The sad part is that the late Dennis Potter is not here to see it.
more good news for CHCH
maybe not
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5309089/Jenny-Shipley-on-Cera-review-panel
Nice to have: $1000 per day job
They think we are stupid. And you too, newly made redundant Hillside workers.
Are we heading for a two tier education system?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/5304084/Schools-iPad-requirement-divisive
Orewa demanding parents provide an Ipad2 for their kids!
What a ghastly idea! At Western Springs College in 2000-2, my son was ridiculed because all his friends had PCs, and we didn’t until my brother gave us his, when he upgraded. He was very upset about it, and I would have done something if I could have but I was on a DPB then…
What a shame the textbooks will still be just as heavy and not available as convenient PDFs which will save the teens bad backs in the future from having to lug around 8 – 12kgs of books every day.
My back is stuffed from doing just that.
I don’t necessarily see why netbooks can’t do. Ipads are incredibly limiting for doing word processing on a heavy scale which is what it sounds like Orewa want kids to do.
PDFs are not convenient – in fact, they’re a PITA compared to proper e-books.
All text books should appropriately maintained and updated by government funding and be freely available in e-book format. This would allow and encourage ex-learning institution education.
As far as iPads go – all proprietary standards need to be replaced by Open Standards. Gets rid of the unnecessary and costly competition while encouraging competition in R&D.
e-pubs are a great format – not even that bad to code for. PDF is something for the print industry. Calibre gets rid of that problem along with others.
a lot of humanity’s knowledge is going the way of the dodo if we are going to be relying primarily on this tech shit.
A textbook well looked after will last 50 years easy. A pdf on an ipad – well the battery is pretty much screwed inside of 5 years for starters. And if I recall its not user replaceable.
Technology has its place as an element of education, but frankly speaking, kids who went to primary school in the 1960’s are working with iPads just fine today. Similarly, no tech exposure today is going to anticipate what technology is going to be like in 2060
(actually I have an idea and paper text books will rule)
And they’ll be out of date in 15 at most. E-Books maintained on a central server will be much much cheaper to maintain and distribute than paper based text books.
Sorry mate don’t see a 1st year chem, physics or mech engineering text book being put out of date in 15 years.
Put it this way, who is going to be doing the high energy research required to put out of date F = MA or E = MC2?
In fact you can look up engineering and chemistry textbooks from 50 years ago and it will tell you 100% of what you need to know to forge steel or make glass.
Thats gonna be pretty handy stuff.
The economics text books published in the last 5 years…well they didnt even make it that long haha
^ 🙂
It’ll tell you what you needed to know 50 years ago. It won’t tell you what you need to know today. Knowledge has advanced and so has teaching methods and text books reflect teaching methods.
I’ll rephrase. Certain trends mean that it will likely be extremely difficult to refine and use the advanced materials in the advanced applications that we take from granted today. (I’m picking in less than 10 years).
Consider the range of material inputs and energies required to make say semi conductive nanoparticle coatings today, for electronic use. Without high energy availability and a complete but extremely fragile supply network, it would be impossible to make such materials. And without the rest of the specific components and materials which are needed for the rest of the electronic assembly, why would you even bother trying?
However, the ability to make even modest quantities of pig iron or mild steel is going to be extremely useful – and practical – for centuries to come.
Ask any teacher with more than 20 years experience and they will be able to give you a list of things which are done better using today’s methods…and a list of things which are done worse.
The illusion of continuous forward progress is a sales pitch for the unwary.
Typing? – So last century – get dictation software and bypass the keyboard. Works brilliantly.
Im glad I finished high school in 1998 before all this nonsense set in.
A bit quaint looking back. All we had by way of computers were old 386’s with Windows 3.11 and momochrome displays!
The school libary was a bit more top of the line, having Win95, where you could use the latest interactive CD ROM’s and the lucky kids could use dial-up internet – 14.4k modem.
(At least when I hit 7th form, I only needed a ring binder and refill….)
It seems that schools now seem to think that parents would shit out money for their children (It’s bad enough that children think that already :))
Higher fees, material cost, school trips to France (would it not be easier to have an afternoon with the local French community organisation?), uniforms, books, etc and so on. In Hawera recently, the school’s soccer team was charged $400 to use the school van, and $1000 to pay for a reliver, when they went to a tournament, I tought that was very tight fisted.
I think its time we threw out Tomorrow’s Schools and gave back fuctions to the MoE. So schools can focus on giving children an education, and not using them as revenue and then dumping them onto a carpentry course when their test scores look like they are dragging the school down.
How many kids at Orewa? If there is a thousand, that’s over a MILLION bucks parents have to find or not spend in the area. Some people in authority are just bloody clueless.
Good point Adrian; Apple used to do ‘academic’ rates for their gear. The cynic in me saws which of the BOT open an Apple Store on the shore.
On a side note I read somewhere that Amazon are now offering academic text books for ‘rent’ on Kindles. That’ll be the next thing, you supply the electronics then they hire you the books.
Steve Jobs holds AAPL shares long and he loves this idea. We should definitely support him and his enterprise.
As well as giving job security to the overworked and underpaid workers in Shenzhen 🙂
Act members bill to repeal laws inconsistent with NZs energy planning.
If tablet/laptop technology is now essential to the education requirements of our kids today and into the future, i do not understand why an ongoing supply to rent deal cannot be made with the manufacturers. Each year there will be clients. Budgeting for the technology is managed more easily. Updating technology is assured. On-selling of used equipment has a ready market. Looks like winning to me.
If that’s actually true, and I think it is, then the government needs to make the devices available to the students free of charge.
Couple of barrels of oil energy embedded in most PCs….
5 or 6 but I’m also aware that most of that energy is used as electricity which we have quite a lot of. The plastics can be refined from coal or we could use ceramics instead (I’d prefer the ceramics actually) and we have huge base reserves of steel and titanium.
There’s nothing to stop us making those pads/PCs here except that a lot of people keep backing low value farming.
Also the Foxconn factory that makes them is a little bit notorious for human rights http://micgadget.com/3793/the-real-truth-behind-foxconns-suicide-cluster/
and http://www.macworld.com/article/154864/2010/10/foxconn.html – I don’t think we could compete Draco, if we made them here they would be 10 times the price.
Anyway, my kids have Ipod touches – they use them as games machines; I can just see the Orewa kids having all the latest games and doing no school work.
There are a few assumptions here which I dont think are going to hold.
1) We wouldn’t design and make a tablet type device the way Apple would. It would be a niche product fitting into a small market that Apple would never consider or identfy.
2) Expertise in minimising high tech manufacturing costs in an oil depleted world does not exist. We can still be leaders in that.
3) Global production chains are going to shrink. Transport costs are not going to be negligible even for high value products – quite the reverse. Localised production is going to be in. It may be for example that a global design gets pumped out and manufactured at many localities.
We make them here for here. Export won’t be an option in a few years.
That would be a failure brought about by not teaching kids to enjoy learning, to phrase it as a chore instead. And games have their place – even in learning.
I’m so looking forward to spending the afternoon watching Rupert and James Murdoch, Rebekah Brooks and the ex-police chiefs (as of yesterday) being grilled at the Parliamentary Committee. This whole hacking scandal is getting curiouser and curiouser with breaking news every couple of hours.
It’s compelling theatre and there should be far-reaching consequences for the way news organisations operate. It’s taken 8 years for this scandal to break wide open, hopefully NZers will wake-up to the possibility of cosy cabals of news, business, law enforcement and politics and guard against it.
Edit: and more to come…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/blog/2011/jul/19/phone-hacking-rupert-murdoch-rebekah-brooks-mps
The police rats are deserting the sinking ship baring their teeth and protesting their innocence or at least their spotless escutcheons (funny one of the dictionary meanings of escutcheon, after the first being a heraldic shield, is ‘a plate or shield around a keyhole, door handle etc’. How appropriate it is to talk about escutcheons in this context).
The trouble is that as parliamentary actors like politicians, and government officials like police, get to have power then they mingle with others in the business realm who are making more money than they. The people they mix with are believers in trickle down theory when it is dripping honey onto useful people, not the hoi polloi below.
Hopefully it’ll be live on BBC news!
Arctic ice cover disappearing faster this year than in 2007 – the last record ice minimum for summer.