One of worlds most long standing, fearless and respected reporters and war correspondents gives his views on the West's treatment of both Palestine and China today, and concludes both are rooted in maintaining world hegemony and jingoism…
John Pilger: Campaign Against China & Palestine Are One & The Same! 400 US Bases Surround China!
Good indeed. This horror has been applauded and supported by most of the political elite in the United States. Hearteningly, however, there is one senator with a conscience and the courage to actually give voice to that conscience.
“The coroner has said the evidence does not clearly link the brand change to the deaths [of six epilepsy patients]. However, she made comments that our patient leaflet did not include all the information that people taking lamotrigine needed to know.
The coroner relies on the medical person assigned to the case.
In this case I would expect that an overseas expert in epilepsy and lamotrigine be the medical person the coroner used.
I have not read the link.
As well the family have ACC to take on as now there is an issue with information which the GP or specialist may have overlooked when the lamotrigine was prescribed.
That would be a weight on the patient's family – expecting that the replacement drug was as good as the previous and working in the same way, they could likely have followed the same procedures as before. This is a responsibility laid on family that are caring for their relative but are ordinary people, perhaps already stretched and stressed with other matters but also is a problem for the GP trying to keep up with all the medications that flood the market, and the extra drug change that Pharmac which is doing its job, forces on them.
I'm surprised his name is even mentioned on this site. Did you miss his Pod-cast on the Government Covid-19 actions?
Karl du Fresne summarised it pretty well I thought when he covered the subject on his own Blog recently. To give you a feel for Gorman's opinions, and I would suggest they were well informed, he summarises the Government as stretching the truth a little. As du Fresne quotes Gorman
"Gorman accused the government of cultivating a culture of fear while simultaneously spinning the message that New Zealand was “best in show – the envy of the world” when in fact, countries such as Taiwan had “left us for dead”.
Most damningly, he reeled off a series of government claims that were contradicted by the facts. “‘All Russian crewmen have been tested’; no, they hadn’t. ‘They’ve all been in quarantine’; no, they hadn’t. ‘All the border workers have been tested’; no, they hadn’t. ‘No people are leaving quarantine early’; yes, they are. ‘There’s no mixing and mingling’ [in quarantine]; yes, there is. ‘There’s plenty of ’flu vaccine; no, there isn’t. ‘Nurses have plenty of PPE’ [personal protective equipment]’; no, they haven’t.".
du Fresne himself then gets even more direct
I suggest that people can get the short version from du Fresne and then, if they have an open mind, listen to the Pod cast that can be accessed from the Newstalk site.
Alwyn, according to the data at https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ , over the past year (22 May 2020 to 21 May 2021) there have been five deaths in NZ attributed to COVID-19 infection, i.e. one death per million per year.
That compares to the (likely underestimated) global average of ~400 tragic deaths per million over the last year.
400 versus 1 – it's a shambles, an utter shambles I tell yah – why won't anyone listen to me?
Sacha and DMK – I tell ya it gives a lift to the spirits to read your handling of the dig. comments (determinedly ignorant, ie those with such an open mind that facts hardly settle before they blow away,)
You’re quite right, as always, Alwyn. I shall correct this oversight and put the name of he who shall not be named in the Auto-Moderation list, underneath the name of the Christchurch Mosque shooter. We must keep this site pure! Thank you for drawing my attention to this important issue.
“Of the two to three hundred health professionals in New Zealand, who, I would say, have got the training and expertise to comment on Covid, Simon stands alone.”
“He's an extreme outlier.” – Prof. Rod Jackson (UoA)
Academics often paint themselves into consequence-free (outlier) corners (it's a perk, and part of the process) – just wait for the paint to dry and walk away. Extreme outliers insist of applying fresh coats of paint. Perhaps Thornley feels he now has little left to lose by continuing to insist that his discredited 'pandemic response views' are correct.
The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt. – Bertrand Russell (1933)
Looks like a hit job on a professional offering one of the few alternative viewpoints on covid. I thought science is supposed to embrace theories.. sadly in this environment we seem to have cultured some sort of science-y fascism.
Although there is considerable room for scepticism in the sciences, one must still account for the facts. As the data rolls in, the elimination response looks better and better, however incomplete the available data may have been when the decision had to be made. Swedish style herd immunity is proving a poor hill to die on.
Baker's a bit of a prima donna, but in march 2020 he said elimination in NZ was possible. And was shown correct.
As the stuff piece shows, Thornley has been demonstrably incorrect several times, and has not changed his position. That's the weird bit, for a scientist.
So, you don't know the difference between science and pseudo science.
As for the professional… best not to listen to outliers whose motivation is invariably ideological and bear little to no resemblance to reality. Bit like the CC deniers who think the escalating change in the world's climactic weather and temperatures is a political thing.
Sad…as the nuttiest outlier of them all, Trump would say.
Martin Bashir may not have only robbed William and Harry of their mother. In addition to the terminal damage he did to the most famous woman in the world, can we not now suspect he had a hand in prematurely ending the life of the king of pop?
I can see why she wants to give journalists who are poc their opportunity when some journos want to be negative about something that will only affect them for a short time. Such as this opinion piece by a superior, outraged journo:
Steve Cortes of Newsmax tweeted: "Never mind the thousands of young black men dead in my city while Lori Lightfoot presides over systemic failure = she's facilitating 'healing' by discriminating against white reporters."
Exactly. One on one interviews are not a requirement of the job anyway – she might well have had to exclude a few in any case, they're time consuming. Lot of toxicity in the comments though – better to leave those folk, like Tova, towards the back of a large gallery.
Yep definitely racist alright, but I'm sure she only wants to talk to the reporters who ask the "patsy" questions. Not about Chicago being one of the most violent cities in USA.
nah, it was just a list of why the "turning it around the other way" ~ism test isn't always valid.
Nice to see Jimmy trying to get the hang of figuring out when something is racist and when it isn't, and calling it out, though. Totes woke, that bloke…
Can we trust the Trump cabinet to act in the public interest?Nine of Trump’s closest advisers are billionaires. Their total net worth is in excess of $US375b (providing there is not a share-market crash). In contrast, the total net worth of Trump’s first Cabinet was about $6b. (Joe Biden’s Cabinet ...
Welcome back to our weekly roundup. We hope you had a good break (if you had one). Here’s a few of the stories that caught our attention over the last few weeks. This holiday period on Greater Auckland Since our last roundup we’ve: Taken a look back at ...
Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partnerSometimes I feel like my only friendIs the city I live in, The City of AngelsLonely as I am together we crySong: Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, Flea, John Frusciante.A home is engulfed in flames during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area. ...
Open access notablesLarge emissions of CO2 and CH4 due to active-layer warming in Arctic tundra, Torn et al., Nature Communications:Climate warming may accelerate decomposition of Arctic soil carbon, but few controlled experiments have manipulated the entire active layer. To determine surface-atmosphere fluxes of carbon dioxide and ...
It's election year for Wellington City Council and for the Regional Council. What have the progressive councillors achieved over the last couple of years. What were the blocks and failures? What's with the targeting of the mayor and city council by the Post and by central government? Why does the ...
Over the holidays, there was a rising tide of calls for people to submit on National's repulsive, white supremacist Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill, along with a wave of advice and examples of what to say. And it looks like people rose to the occasion, with over 300,000 ...
The lie is my expenseThe scope of my desireThe Party blessed me with its futureAnd I protect it with fireI am the Nina The Pinta The Santa MariaThe noose and the rapistAnd the fields overseerThe agents of orangeThe priests of HiroshimaThe cost of my desire…Sleep now in the fireSongwriters: Brad ...
This is a re-post from the Climate BrinkGlobal surface temperatures have risen around 1.3C since the preindustrial (1850-1900) period as a result of human activity.1 However, this aggregate number masks a lot of underlying factors that contribute to global surface temperature changes over time.These include CO2, which is the primary ...
There are times when movement around us seems to slow down. And the faster things get, the slower it all appears.And so it is with the whirlwind of early year political activity.They are harbingers for what is to come:Video: Wayne Wright Jnr, funder of Sean Plunket, talk growing power and ...
Hi,Right now the power is out, so I’m just relying on the laptop battery and tethering to my phone’s 5G which is dropping in and out. We’ll see how we go.First up — I’m fine. I can’t see any flames out the window. I live in the greater Hollywood area ...
2024 was a tough year for working Kiwis. But together we’ve been able to fight back for a just and fair New Zealand and in 2025 we need to keep standing up for what’s right and having our voices heard. That starts with our Mood of the Workforce Survey. It’s your ...
Time is never time at allYou can never ever leaveWithout leaving a piece of youthAnd our lives are forever changedWe will never be the sameThe more you change, the less you feelSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan.Babinden - Baba’s DayToday, January 8th, 2025, is Babinden, “The Day of the baba” or “The ...
..I/We wish to make the following comments:I oppose the Treaty Principles Bill."5. Act binds the CrownThis Act binds the Crown."How does this Act "bind the Crown" when Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which the Act refers to, has been violated by the Crown on numerous occassions, resulting in massive loss of ...
Everything is good and brownI'm here againWith a sunshine smile upon my faceMy friends are close at handAnd all my inhibitions have disappeared without a traceI'm glad, oh, that I found oohSomebody who I can rely onSongwriter: Jay KayGood morning, all you lovely people. Today, I’ve got nothing except a ...
Welcome to 2025. After wrapping up 2024, here’s a look at some of the things we can expect to see this year along with a few predictions. Council and Elections Elections One of the biggest things this year will be local body elections in October. Will Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Canadians can take a while to get angry – but when they finally do, watch out. Canada has been falling out of love with Justin Trudeau for years, and his exit has to be the least surprising news event of the New Year. On recent polling, Trudeau’s Liberal party has ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Much like 2023, many climate and energy records were broken in 2024. It was Earth’s hottest year on record by a wide margin, breaking the previous record that was set just last year by an even larger margin. Human-caused climate-warming pollution and ...
Submissions on National's racist, white supremacist Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill are due tomorrow! So today, after a good long holiday from all that bullshit, I finally got my shit together to submit on it. As I noted here, people should write their own submissions in their own ...
Ooh, baby (ooh, baby)It's making me crazy (it's making me crazy)Every time I look around (look around)Every time I look around (every time I look around)Every time I look aroundIt's in my faceSongwriters: Alan Leo Jansson / Paul Lawrence L. Fuemana.Today, I’ll be talking about rich, middle-aged men who’ve made ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 29, 2024 thru Sat, January 4, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
Hi,The thing that stood out at me while shopping for Christmas presents in New Zealand was how hard it was to avoid Zuru products. Toy manufacturer Zuru is a bit like Netflix, in that it has so much data on what people want they can flood the market with so ...
And when a child is born into this worldIt has no conceptOf the tone of skin it's living inAnd there's a million voicesAnd there's a million voicesTo tell you what you should be thinkingSong by Neneh Cherry and Youssou N'Dour.The moment you see that face, you can hear her voice; ...
While we may not always have quality political leadership, a couple of recently published autobiographies indicate sometimes we strike it lucky. When ranking our prime ministers, retired professor of history Erik Olssen commented that ‘neither Holland nor Nash was especially effective as prime minister – even his private secretary thought ...
Baby, be the class clownI'll be the beauty queen in tearsIt's a new art form, showin' people how little we care (yeah)We're so happy, even when we're smilin' out of fearLet's go down to the tennis court and talk it up like, yeah (yeah)Songwriters: Joel Little / Ella Yelich O ...
Open access notables Why Misinformation Must Not Be Ignored, Ecker et al., American Psychologist:Recent academic debate has seen the emergence of the claim that misinformation is not a significant societal problem. We argue that the arguments used to support this minimizing position are flawed, particularly if interpreted (e.g., by policymakers or the public) as suggesting ...
What I’ve Been Doing: I buried a close family member.What I’ve Been Watching: Andor, Jack Reacher, Xmas movies.What I’ve Been Reflecting On: The Usefulness of Writing and the Worthiness of Doing So — especially as things become more transparent on their own.I also hate competing on any day, and if ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by John Wihbey. A version of this article first appeared on Yale Climate Connections on Nov. 11, 2008. (Image credits: The White House, Jonathan Cutrer / CC BY 2.0; President Jimmy Carter, Trikosko/Library of Congress; Solar dedication, Bill Fitz-Patrick / Jimmy Carter Library; Solar ...
Morena folks,We’re having a good break, recharging the batteries. Hope you’re enjoying the holiday period. I’m not feeling terribly inspired by much at the moment, I’m afraid—not from a writing point of view, anyway.So, today, we’re travelling back in time. You’ll have to imagine the wavy lines and sci-fi sound ...
Completed reads for 2024: Oration on the Dignity of Man, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola A Platonic Discourse Upon Love, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola Of Being and Unity, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola The Life of Pico della Mirandola, by Giovanni Francesco Pico Three Letters Written by Pico ...
Welcome to 2025, Aotearoa. Well… what can one really say? 2024 was a story of a bad beginning, an infernal middle and an indescribably farcical end. But to chart a course for a real future, it does pay to know where we’ve been… so we know where we need ...
Welcome to the official half-way point of the 2020s. Anyway, as per my New Years tradition, here’s where A Phuulish Fellow’s blog traffic came from in 2024: United States United Kingdom New Zealand Canada Sweden Australia Germany Spain Brazil Finland The top four are the same as 2023, ...
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Well, it’s the last day of the year, so it’s time for a quick wrap-up of the most important things that happened in 2024 for urbanism and transport in our city. A huge thank you to everyone who has visited the blog and supported us in our mission to make ...
Leave your office, run past your funeralLeave your home, car, leave your pulpitJoin us in the streets where weJoin us in the streets where weDon't belong, don't belongHere under the starsThrowing light…Song: Jeffery BuckleyToday, I’ll discuss the standout politicians of the last 12 months. Each party will receive three awards, ...
Hi,A lot’s happened this year in the world of Webworm, and as 2024 comes to an end I thought I’d look back at a few of the things that popped. Maybe you missed them, or you might want to revisit some of these essay and podcast episodes over your break ...
Hi,I wanted to share this piece by film editor Dan Kircher about what cinema has been up to in 2024.Dan edited my documentary Mister Organ, as well as this year’s excellent crowd-pleasing Bookworm.Dan adores movies. He gets the language of cinema, he knows what he loves, and writes accordingly. And ...
Without delving into personal details but in order to give readers a sense of the year that was, I thought I would offer the study in contrasts that are Xmas 2023 and Xmas 2024: Xmas 2023 in Starship Children’s Hospital (after third of four surgeries). Even opening presents was an ...
Heavy disclaimer: Alpha/beta/omega dynamics is a popular trope that’s used in a wide range of stories and my thoughts on it do not apply to all cases. I’m most familiar with it through the lens of male-focused fanfic, typically m/m but sometimes also featuring m/f and that’s the situation I’m ...
Hi,Webworm has been pretty heavy this year — mainly because the world is pretty heavy. But as we sprint (or limp, you choose) through the final days of 2024, I wanted to keep Webworm a little lighter.So today I wanted to look at one of the biggest and weirdest elements ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 22, 2024 thru Sat, December 28, 2024. This week's roundup is the second one published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, ...
We’ll have a climate change ChristmasFrom now until foreverWarming our hearts and mindsAnd planet all togetherSpirits high and oceans higherChestnuts roast on wildfiresIf coal is on your wishlistMerry Climate Change ChristmasSong by Ian McConnellReindeer emissions are not something I’d thought about in terms of climate change. I guess some significant ...
KP continues to putt-putt along as a tiny niche blog that offers a NZ perspective on international affairs with a few observations about NZ domestic politics thrown in. In 2024 there was also some personal posts given that my son was in the last four months of a nine month ...
I can see very wellThere's a boat on the reef with a broken backAnd I can see it very wellThere's a joke and I know it very wellIt's one of those that I told you long agoTake my word I'm a madman, don't you knowSongwriters: Bernie Taupin / Elton JohnIt ...
.Acknowledgement: Tim PrebbleThanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work..With each passing day of bad headlines, squandering tax revenue to enrich the rich, deep cuts to our social services and a government struggling to keep the lipstick on its neo-liberal pig ...
This is from the 36th Parallel social media account (as brief food for thought). We know that Trump is ahistorical at best but he seems to think that he is Teddy Roosevelt and can use the threat of invoking the Monroe Doctrine and “Big Stick” gunboat diplomacy against Panama and ...
Don't you cry tonightI still love you, babyAnd don't you cry tonightDon't you cry tonightThere's a heaven above you, babyAnd don't you cry tonightSong: Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin“Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so”, said possibly the greatest philosopher ever to walk this earth, Douglas Adams.We have entered the ...
Because you're magicYou're magic people to meSong: Dave Para/Molly Para.Morena all, I hope you had a good day yesterday, however you spent it. Today, a few words about our celebration and a look at the various messages from our politicians.A Rockel XmasChristmas morning was spent with the five of us ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). 2024 has been a series of bad news for climate change. From scorching global temperatures leading to devastating ...
Ríu Ríu ChíuRíu Ríu Chíu is a Spanish Christmas song from the 16th Century. The traditional carol would likely have passed unnoticed by the English-speaking world had the made-for-television American band The Monkees not performed the song as part of their special Christmas show back in 1967. The show's ...
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Hi,It’s my birthday on Christmas Day, and I have a favour to ask.A birthday wish.I would love you to share one Webworm story you’ve liked this year.The simple fact is: apart from paying for a Webworm membership (thank you!), sharing and telling others about this place is the most important ...
The last few days have been a bit too much of a whirl for me to manage a fresh edition each day. It's been that kind of year. Hope you don't mind.I’ve been coming around to thinking that it doesn't really matter if you don't have something to say every ...
The worms will live in every hostIt's hard to pick which one they eat the mostThe horrible people, the horrible peopleIt's as anatomic as the size of your steepleCapitalism has made it this wayOld-fashioned fascism will take it awaySongwriter: Twiggy Ramirez Read more ...
Hi,It’s almost Christmas Day which means it is almost my birthday, where you will find me whimpering in the corner clutching a warm bottle of Baileys.If you’re out of ideas for presents (and truly desperate) then it is possible to gift a full Webworm subscription to a friend (or enemy) ...
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30am include:Rachel Helyer Donaldson’s scoop via RNZ last night of cuts to maternity jobs in the health system;Maddy Croad’s scoop via The Press-$ this morning on funding cuts for Christchurch’s biggest food rescue charity;Benedict Collins’ scoop last night via 1News on a last-minute ...
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...
The Green Party welcomes the extension of the deadline for Treaty Principles Bill submissions but continues to call on the Government to abandon the Bill. ...
Complaints about disruptive behaviour now handled in around 13 days (down from around 60 days a year ago) 553 Section 55A notices issued by Kāinga Ora since July 2024, up from 41 issued during the same period in the previous year. Of that 553, first notices made up around 83 ...
The time it takes to process building determinations has improved significantly over the last year which means fewer delays in homes being built, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “New Zealand has a persistent shortage of houses. Making it easier and quicker for new homes to be built will ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is pleased to announce the annual list of New Zealand’s most popular baby names for 2024. “For the second consecutive year, Noah has claimed the top spot for boys with 250 babies sharing the name, while Isla has returned to the most popular ...
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Minister for Children and for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour is encouraging people to use the resources available to them to get help, and to report instances of family and sexual violence amongst their friends, families, and loved ones who are in need. “The death of a ...
Uia te pō, rangahaua te pō, whakamāramatia mai he aha tō tango, he aha tō kāwhaki? Whitirere ki te ao, tirotiro kau au, kei hea taku rātā whakamarumaru i te au o te pakanga mo te mana motuhake? Au te pō, ngū te pō, ue hā! E te kahurangi māreikura, ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says people with diabetes and other painful conditions will benefit from a significant new qualification to boost training in foot care. “It sounds simple, but quality and regular foot and nail care is vital in preventing potentially serious complications from diabetes, like blisters or sores, which can take a long time to heal ...
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour is pleased to see Pharmac continue to increase availability of medicines for Kiwis with the government’s largest ever investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the government,” says Mr Seymour. “When this government assumed ...
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Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is wishing all New Zealanders a great holiday season as Kiwis prepare for gatherings with friends and families to see in the New Year. It is a great time of year to remind everyone to stay fire safe over the summer. “I know ...
From 1 January 2025, first-time tertiary learners will have access to a new Fees Free entitlement of up to $12,000 for their final year of provider-based study or final two years of work-based learning, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Targeting funding to the final year of study ...
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Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the ...
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see ...
Summer reissue: The comedian takes us through her life in television, including her favourite Kardashian tiff, Taskmaster task, and the best thing about being Tina from Turners. Sieni Tiana Leo’o Olo, aka Bubbah, is used to being approached by men in bars – but not for the reasons you might ...
Summer reissue: A special live edition of the Spinoff politics podcast, revisiting the turbulent Lange years with very special guest Kim Hill. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to ...
Summer reissue: On learning an underappreciated but vitally important skill. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today.It has been almost a decade since I ...
Summer reissue: Alex Casey spends the weekend in a new city without her trusty iPhone, and lives to tell the tale. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be ...
Summer reissue: It’s become an internet trope, but the art of girl rotting dates back at least to the 19th century. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be ...
COMMENTARY:By Anna Naupa Out of the rubble of last year’s 7.3 magnitude earthquake that hit Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila on December 17 and the snap election due next week on January 16, a new leadership is required to reset the country’s developmental trajectory. Persistent political turmoil has hampered the ...
Parkinson’s disease is the fastest-growing chronic neurological disorder in the world. Currently, 10 million people have Parkinson’s disease, and the number of people receiving diagnoses is increasing year on year. The proportion of early-onset Parkinson’s disease, where people get a diagnosis before age 50, is rising even faster. Some patients ...
2025 is the Year of the Snake, so it should be another productive year for the David Seymours of the world by which I mean of course people with an enigmatic and introspective nature. Those born in previous Snake years – 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001 – will flourish in 2025, ...
Chris Hipkins says Labour has got more cut-through in its first year of Opposition than he expected at the start and his own polling has held up better than he’d hoped.In an end-of-year interview, the Labour Party leader outlined what he views as a successful first third of the Parliamentary ...
The proposed plan, debated by around 200 Māori leaders on Friday, has been met with some scepticism but leaders said that is exactly why the debate was needed. ...
Hopes for a fast launch of a Māori deliberative body and unified voice with representatives from iwi, hapū and urban Māori have been dashed, with few iwi leaders showing up to a hui in Hawkes Bay on Friday.The hui, dubbed a Wānanga-ā-Motu by hosts Ngāti Kahungunu, was the latest in ...
Dear Mr Zuckerberg, Nine years ago, we wrote to you about the real-world harms caused by false information on Facebook. In response, Meta created a fact-checking programme that helped protect millions of users from hoaxes and conspiracy theories. This week, you announced you’re ending that programme in the United States ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Moulds, Associate Professor in Law, University of South Australia The United Nations Human Rights Committee has ruled that Australia breached international human rights law by detaining a group of young asylum seekers in immigration detention in Nauru. The committee found ...
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The proposed RSB would make the ACT Party’s libertarian values central to our laws, give power to the Minister for Regulation, currently David Seymour, and a Regulatory Standards Board, while ignoring te Tiriti o Waitangi and broadly held values. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Margaret Murray, Senior Lecturer, Nutrition, Swinburne University of Technology Leah-Anne Thompson/Shutterstock This time of year, many of us love to get out and spend time in nature. This may include hiking through Australia’s many beautiful national parks. Walking in nature is ...
RNZ Pacific Solomon Islands has the highest-ranked passport of Pacific Island nations, at 37th equal globally. This is according to the Henley Passport Index. The index, organised by a consulting firm that describes itself as “the global leader in residence and citizenship by investment,” releases the list based on global ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tahlia Pollock, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Evans EvoMorph Laboratory, Monash University Fossil reconstruction of Smilodon, one of the largest sabre-toothed cats ever to have lived. Mardoz/Shutterstock Sabre teeth – the long, sharp, blade-like canines found in extinct predators such as Smilodon – ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor There has been a great deal of heat – and not an overabundance of light – when it comes to the media’s reactions to Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark after ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Huish, Associate Professor in International Development Studies, Dalhousie University “We take nothing by conquest…Thank God,” wrote the National Intelligencer and Washington Advertiser, an influential Washington newspaper, in February 1847. The United States had just purchased 55 per cent of Mexico ...
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Driven by a minor party’s libertarian ideology, the Regulatory Standards Bill, alongside the Treaty Principles Bill, would have sweeping constitutional implications, if enacted. ...
The sun exploded on May 10th, 2024. It bathed the planet in radiation and flooded Instagram with photos of the resulting aurora. It was the largest solar storm in New Zealand’s modern history. To one expert, it was a wake-up call for the entire planet: “We need to get our shit ...
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NewsroomBy Penny Matkin-Hussey and Katherine Black
Summer reissue: Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether it’s a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to ...
Summer reissue: Alex Casey recounts a reverse honeymoon that ended with a secret wedding. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today.It was a sighting ...
One of worlds most long standing, fearless and respected reporters and war correspondents gives his views on the West's treatment of both Palestine and China today, and concludes both are rooted in maintaining world hegemony and jingoism…
John Pilger: Campaign Against China & Palestine Are One & The Same! 400 US Bases Surround China!
Good, the killing has been paused, for now …
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/443041/israel-and-hamas-agree-gaza-truce-after-egyptian-mediation
Good indeed. This horror has been applauded and supported by most of the political elite in the United States. Hearteningly, however, there is one senator with a conscience and the courage to actually give voice to that conscience.
Yes unlike this warmonger….just two days ago, the US Democrats vote to continue to arm a violent crazed apartheid state…
Biden administration approved $735 million arms sale to Israel
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/biden-administration-approved-735-million-arms-sale-israel-sources-2021-05-17/
It is incredible how this current regime in the White House seem to get a free pass on issues that they should be crticised for.
Biden speaking to the family and commenting on the George Flloyd trial before it had finished.
If the reasoning is 'not Trump' then principles have fallen to a dire level.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/125164867/coroner-finds-no-direct-link-between-epilepsy-drug-switch-and-deaths-of-six-people
The coroner relies on the medical person assigned to the case.
In this case I would expect that an overseas expert in epilepsy and lamotrigine be the medical person the coroner used.
I have not read the link.
As well the family have ACC to take on as now there is an issue with information which the GP or specialist may have overlooked when the lamotrigine was prescribed.
That would be a weight on the patient's family – expecting that the replacement drug was as good as the previous and working in the same way, they could likely have followed the same procedures as before. This is a responsibility laid on family that are caring for their relative but are ordinary people, perhaps already stretched and stressed with other matters but also is a problem for the GP trying to keep up with all the medications that flood the market, and the extra drug change that Pharmac which is doing its job, forces on them.
Was the pharmacist who dispensed the lamotrigine also responsible?
I would like to know what info was written on the prescriptions from the doctor and what was put on the prescription box?
Astra Zeneca is ok if you are not the person who developed a blood clot/s from it.
There's an in depth look at the Thornley's reasoning, the Auckland prof behind plan B, in Stuff.
The scientist and the rabbit hole: How epidemiologist Simon Thornley became an outcast of his profession | Stuff.co.nz
Not a prof.
Nor likely to be one – I'm afraid I've become used to the Korean system, which, being US descended, gives the title to all teaching staff with PhDs.
Des Gorman is a prof.
I'm surprised his name is even mentioned on this site. Did you miss his Pod-cast on the Government Covid-19 actions?
Karl du Fresne summarised it pretty well I thought when he covered the subject on his own Blog recently. To give you a feel for Gorman's opinions, and I would suggest they were well informed, he summarises the Government as stretching the truth a little. As du Fresne quotes Gorman
"Gorman accused the government of cultivating a culture of fear while simultaneously spinning the message that New Zealand was “best in show – the envy of the world” when in fact, countries such as Taiwan had “left us for dead”.
Most damningly, he reeled off a series of government claims that were contradicted by the facts. “‘All Russian crewmen have been tested’; no, they hadn’t. ‘They’ve all been in quarantine’; no, they hadn’t. ‘All the border workers have been tested’; no, they hadn’t. ‘No people are leaving quarantine early’; yes, they are. ‘There’s no mixing and mingling’ [in quarantine]; yes, there is. ‘There’s plenty of ’flu vaccine; no, there isn’t. ‘Nurses have plenty of PPE’ [personal protective equipment]’; no, they haven’t.".
du Fresne himself then gets even more direct
I suggest that people can get the short version from du Fresne and then, if they have an open mind, listen to the Pod cast that can be accessed from the Newstalk site.
http://karldufresne.blogspot.com/2021/04/best-in-show-really-des-gorman-on-new.html
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/podcasts/the-leighton-smith-podcast/leighton-smith-podcast-episode-105-april-7th-2021/
I am surprised the Gorman is still mentioned here.
Alwyn, according to the data at https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ , over the past year (22 May 2020 to 21 May 2021) there have been five deaths in NZ attributed to COVID-19 infection, i.e. one death per million per year.
That compares to the (likely underestimated) global average of ~400 tragic deaths per million over the last year.
400 versus 1 – it's a shambles, an utter shambles I tell yah – why won't anyone listen to me?
'Well-informed'? An 'open mind'?
We are all too valuable to shovel garbage like that into, I assure you.
Sacha and DMK – I tell ya it gives a lift to the spirits to read your handling of the dig. comments (determinedly ignorant, ie those with such an open mind that facts hardly settle before they blow away,)
You’re quite right, as always, Alwyn. I shall correct this oversight and put the name of he who shall not be named in the Auto-Moderation list, underneath the name of the Christchurch Mosque shooter. We must keep this site pure! Thank you for drawing my attention to this important issue.
du Fresne is probably a trigger word too
Great article – thanks.
Academics often paint themselves into consequence-free (outlier) corners (it's a perk, and part of the process) – just wait for the paint to dry and walk away. Extreme outliers insist of applying fresh coats of paint. Perhaps Thornley feels he now has little left to lose by continuing to insist that his discredited 'pandemic response views' are correct.
the charts showing the plan B statements and the timeline of new cases were a pretty firm twist of the knife.
Looks like a hit job on a professional offering one of the few alternative viewpoints on covid. I thought science is supposed to embrace theories.. sadly in this environment we seem to have cultured some sort of science-y fascism.
Although there is considerable room for scepticism in the sciences, one must still account for the facts. As the data rolls in, the elimination response looks better and better, however incomplete the available data may have been when the decision had to be made. Swedish style herd immunity is proving a poor hill to die on.
Baker's a bit of a prima donna, but in march 2020 he said elimination in NZ was possible. And was shown correct.
As the stuff piece shows, Thornley has been demonstrably incorrect several times, and has not changed his position. That's the weird bit, for a scientist.
So, you don't know the difference between science and pseudo science.
As for the professional… best not to listen to outliers whose motivation is invariably ideological and bear little to no resemblance to reality. Bit like the CC deniers who think the escalating change in the world's climactic weather and temperatures is a political thing.
Sad…as the nuttiest outlier of them all, Trump would say.
Martin Bashir may not have only robbed William and Harry of their mother. In addition to the terminal damage he did to the most famous woman in the world, can we not now suspect he had a hand in prematurely ending the life of the king of pop?
George Michael?
Well that seems very racist to me.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2021/05/chicago-mayor-lori-lightfoot-s-decision-to-only-give-interviews-to-poc-reporters-sparks-outrage.html
If she retained the policy throughout her term perhaps – but in relation to a halfway point as a first poc mayor it is by no means outrageous.
Turn it around the other way. Imagine if Jacinda and Grant said they would only interview one on one with white journalists?
Two differences
If:
Then "turning it around the other way" would be an equivalent comparison.
And if the MSM were historically useless at covering Pakeha politics.
"woosh" over Jimmy's head I imagine.
I can see why she wants to give journalists who are poc their opportunity when some journos want to be negative about something that will only affect them for a short time. Such as this opinion piece by a superior, outraged journo:
Steve Cortes of Newsmax tweeted: "Never mind the thousands of young black men dead in my city while Lori Lightfoot presides over systemic failure = she's facilitating 'healing' by discriminating against white reporters."
Exactly. One on one interviews are not a requirement of the job anyway – she might well have had to exclude a few in any case, they're time consuming. Lot of toxicity in the comments though – better to leave those folk, like Tova, towards the back of a large gallery.
Yep definitely racist alright, but I'm sure she only wants to talk to the reporters who ask the "patsy" questions. Not about Chicago being one of the most violent cities in USA.
McFlock is not expecting all that to be rectified I hope.
We have enough trouble keeping blokes from being blokes and acting nice. Newtalk ZB in NZME Auckland Newsroom:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/443077/martin-devlin-keeps-job-after-trying-to-punch-radio-colleague
all what?
All on the list. To get an equivalent comparison,
nah, it was just a list of why the "turning it around the other way" ~ism test isn't always valid.
Nice to see Jimmy trying to get the hang of figuring out when something is racist and when it isn't, and calling it out, though. Totes woke, that bloke…
Yes. If we keep moving quietly we can get to a better place.
I wonder if we ought to be sending aid across the ditch?
There seem to be some endangered creatures in need of support, at least according to FDOTM.