Because we have been discouraged from believing that the State was ours. We no longer believe in the power of the collective to do good. (Well it does all the time, but we’ve been trained not to see it.)
If the house is not yours, what do you care if it gets burnt down?
Nice comments Felix, thought what Kunstler says this morning might bear some relevance to the corporate predeliction for Randian superheroes. Kunstler is talking about the inability of American (read Western) males to be and act as mature humans, and why… The same country that furnishes an endless diet of super-hero movies to pubescent males who are not expected to develop normal adult coping powers
He then goes on to state what this Randian obsession has actually lead to….The same country that supplies gruesome, sado-masochistic video games to occupy the idle hours of young men – and then lets them take those “skills” to some tilt-up bunker in Nevada where they sit in air-conditioned comfort and direct drone aircraft ten thousand miles away to incinerate suspected “enemies” in mud villages. (Sometimes “mistakes are made” and they blow up a wedding party or something – but the drone controllers still get to leave the bunker at the end of their shift and roll down the strip for a plastic tray full of burritos.)
I agree Draco, but is it really that different to ships firing cruise missiles from 100s of kms away, pilots firing missiles from up to 100km away, or ground based artillery firing up to 20km away?
The 18-25 year olds have always been at the pointy end of what are essentially political decisions made by the suits, safe in their air conditioned bunkers.
The same country that supplies gruesome, sado-masochistic video games to occupy the idle hours of young men – and then lets them take those “skills” to some tilt-up bunker in Nevada where they sit in air-conditioned comfort and direct drone aircraft
Of course, not all these people can work as drone pilots, so you get the spillover which is the abuse at Abu Graib prison and the civilian killings by security firm formerly known as Blackwater.
And in both Libya and Afghanistan multiple reports of civilians being killed by western air forces.
Ed Vulliamy has more on the theme of the ultimate outcome of these Randian superheroes with regard to the Mexico border towns…
So Mexico’s war is how the future will look, because it belongs not in the 19th century with wars of empire, or the 20th with wars of ideology, race and religion – but utterly in a present to which the global economy is committed, and to a zeitgeist of frenzied materialism we adamantly refuse to temper: it is the inevitable war of capitalism gone mad.
Narco-cartels are not pastiches of global corporations, nor are they errant bastards of the global economy – they are pioneers of it. They point, in their business logic and modus operandi, to how the legal economy will arrange itself next. The Mexican cartels epitomised the North American free trade agreement long before it was dreamed up, and they thrive upon it.
And yet it is this vision that this government takes us towards. A failed society of murder and corruption.
And we have been manipulated into believing that being critical equals “conspiracy theorist”. Here is a nice article written by Paul Craig Roberts, former Wall street journal editor and assistent secretary of Treasury under Reagan, about how that works
They’re burning down the house called Greece. In The Guardian today is an article that basically stating that inflation could be the lesser evil when trying to get the euro-linked economies through the debt crisis.
Instead of encouraging Greece and other troubled euro-linked economies to go through additional rounds of austerity, which will only lead to further declines in GDP and higher unemployment, the IMF should be telling the European Central Bank (ECB) to increase its inflation target to a 3-4% range.
If the euro zone maintained a moderate rate of inflation, it would allow the Greek economy to become competitive without experiencing a wrenching process of wage deflation. It would also erode the real value of debt alleviating the burden on both heavily
The article links to a .pdf from last year when the IMF chief economist argued that the current consensus around macroeconomic policy is flawed, that monetary policy from the central banks and regulatory policy should be coordinated along with openly recognising exchange rate stability as an objective in small open economies. These can provide a comprehensive set of cyclical tools in a debt crisis.
A manageable level of inflation during the debt crisis can reduce the amount the likes of Germany would have to lend and inflation would eat up the debts owed, reducing the austerity measures that are causing so much social unrest. Rules would have to be in place so that a return to the inflation objective was re-instituted when the crisis was over. His argument doesn’t seem to fit the current IMF paradigm.
If all countries in the world simultaneously inflate at the same rate, then trade differences don’t really change at all. But existing debts will simply melt away. Put in that context, it seems weird that we have to have this back-door debt cancellation policy (with side-effects) that everyone just accepts as a fact of life, instead of just having a blatant debt-cancelling policy up front that does what it says on the tin and can be wielded more precisely against the debts that need cancelling.
Yesterday the NATO had to admit that civilians had been killed in a bombing raid.
Euphemistically called Kinetic Military action and humanitarian aid to liberate the Libyan people it should not surprise anyone that civilians would be the victim of what amongst us commoners is normally called illegal war of aggression and conquest which was declared the biggest war crime of all.
They were not the only ones nor will they be the last. Like in any war culture is being destroyed. Libraries, schools and make no mistake Tripoli is an ancient city and so are most of the other major cities and bombing them will inevitably damage the leftovers of Phoenician, Roman and Bedouin culture.
Depleted Uranium will make sure of that. Bunker busters and tomahawk missiles are always made with DU heads, make no mistake about that, which means that Tripoli a city of more than 1 million people the size and population of Auckland will be for the next 4.5 billion years spawning deformities amongst it’s infants and cause cancer and sickness defeating any pretence of “humanitarian” intervention.
Yemen is being bombed as I write this and according to reports coming from army personnel at ford Hood Troops are being prepared to invade Libya in contravention of the UN resolution which explicitly forbade boots on the ground and the congress has been effectively ignored in it’s wishes to have the law with regards to the president needing approval to wage war respected.
Syria is next. the European Union has put economic sanctions in place and US war ships have been moved to the coast of Syria. Anyone with the eyes to see knows what happened to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
One definition of a World war is that the population of two or more continents must be affected over a period of several years and I dare say that with the Asian, European, African and American continents being involved and affected we have come perilously close.
Update: If you are easily grossed out maybe this is not the link for you but if like me you are driven by the need to know and want to know what happens if you bomb a library then perhaps it is the link for you.
We “the West” are committing atrocities hidden behind the words “Kinetic military action” and Humanitarian aid in the form of bombs and we accept that it is done in our name because the people it happens to are far away in countries we don’t know and who have brown skins and a religion we are afraid off.
“congress has been effectively ignored in it’s wishes to have the law with regards to the president needing approval to wage war respected”
You are letting congress off the hook here. The congress can wish all it wants to, but unless it is prepared to act then the Pres is under no obligation to pay them attention. Congress can defund military activities at any time it chooses, and it can impeach and remove a president. Absent those things, the stated ‘wishes’ of its critters are just smoke.
Congress doesn’t have to wish a president would ask them for approval. When they cry about that, they are just shifting the buck.
I agree. The whole lot are callous out of control and a corrupt pork barrel swilling lot and the French had a perfectly good solution for that problem. It comes with a very sharp blade and a loud thud. LOL.
Congress doesn’t have to wish a president would ask them for approval. When they cry about that, they are just shifting the buck.
This is the same with congressmen and senators wailing at and telling off banking executives when they turn up at hearings.
Don’t bleat ineffectually to get prime time TV soundbites senators, simply make sure that the machinery of government and of the regulators enforces the rules already in place and puts those guys behind bars.
It was rather amusing to watch Bomber beat himself raw about DPF getting his very own Herald column a few weeks ago. Bomber was incensed and obviously had to check himself before he turned into the hulk and went completely berserk on us. He does raise a serious issue though, that is becoming more and more problematic; the right wing is trying to take over our airwaves.
There is a common courtesy while using other peoples material online. You only quote part of it and you link to their publication in the hopes of spreading their work while acknowledging their right to be named as the owner and above all you never ever claim something from someone else as written by yourself. That would be stealing.
And as for my “pathetic” blog; many of the writers I quote and link to are co-activists and and are happy to share their material because of the greater good they are trying to achieve and even though I have published parts of other peoples work for five years I have never ever had the request to take anything down.
You on the other hand STOLE someone else’s work and published that as you own. That is dishonest and shows like, by the way this ignorant remark, that you are lazy and dishonest and people have lost University jobs, book publishings and their careers over the sort of behaviour you exhibited when you STOLE the article you posted under you own name.
Now my blog might be pathetic to you which I might add says more about you than about me but I can hold my head high as I have never ever STOLEN other peoples work and presented it as my own.
Apart from publishing my own work (Which can also be used in the above described manner and which is used by others in the pursuit of spreading the truth) I have linked to other peoples work in the hopes of spreading their often excellent work.
The fact that you don’t seem to understand the difference is greatly troubling but I see you did not publish this week so perhaps I’m not alone in this sentiment.
I will also forward this to Iprent because I have no need for another silly and above all limitless exchange with someone I consider to be defective in the integrity department and I think that you need to sort out your attitude with the writers here and not with me.
I must admit I don’t know about the ins and outs of resource consent, etc. But living in a semi-rural community north of Auckland, we’re all on tank water of course. And as I recall, neighbours of ours in Manurewa had tank water a few years ago (don’t know if it was just for the garden or for drinking).
‘ (NaturalNews) Many of the freedoms we enjoy here in the U.S. are quickly eroding as the nation transforms from the land of the free into the land of the enslaved, but what I’m about to share with you takes the assault on our freedoms to a whole new level. You may not be aware of this, but many Western states, including Utah, Washington and Colorado, have long outlawed individuals from collecting rainwater on their own properties because, according to officials, that rain belongs to someone else.’
Before everyone gets high and mighty here, bear in mind that every other TA charges for water supply via their rates.
And rates are subject to pretty similar non-payment provisions. Not much different really. And Water Care is totally owned by Auckland City Council.
What this does show up is how unwise it is to split out water supply into separate entities, and to charge seperately for the service. It just riles people up.
some people in the labour party should remember that the original labour party newspaper went down in flames when the bluenoses would not let them publish race results. good thinking guys. and now that we have progressed into the twenty first century it is possible to buy micropulse line of sight fm radio stations for less than $5,000.
Time to wise up and tackle the spin meisters head on. the trouble is everybody in the labour party who has any money has already fallen under the capitalist spell of using it to browbeat their bank manager for sport rather than investing in something that would make a difference.
and furthermore the mor people use this space to display their erudtion and learning about the byzantine minutae of the workings of the united states congress then the more the spotlight shifts off the neanderthals currently in charge here.
I hate to say this and please note the qualifiers …
Most of the A-list left the country,
increasingly, more of the B-list are fleeing,
and we have to make do with the C-list.
We can talk, or hear, about being ‘ambitious’ for all we like –
But if we do nothing, if we don’t follow up talk with action,
we bleed more of our B-list overseas.
This is called self-selection down the spiral –
Dumbing down produces dumbs.
May New Zealand not descend to the levels of New Dumbland.
“New Zealand had a net migration loss for a third consecutive month as large numbers of people continue to head to Australia to live … The net outflow of 3300 migrants to Australia last month was up from 1700 in May 2010 …”
While Key blunders and plunders, Kiwis increasingly vote with their feet.
Smile and wave goodbye to your family, friends and work mates!
Now, what else is there left to ambitiously sell and shut down here?
Pike River mine ‘would be illegal in Australia’ – Key
“Prime Minister John Key has defended his claims that the Pike River coal mine would be illegal in Australia.”
‘The Australian newspaper reported that Key had yesterday “vowed that there would be changes to mining safety laws”.
He told the newspaper the Pike River mine, which was a single-entry uphill mine, “couldn’t have been constructed in Australia” because it would have been “illegal”.
“There will be changes in New Zealand,” Key said.’
‘But, in an apparent departure from his comments at the time of the disaster, Key conceded that the mine could not have been operational in Australia.
In November last year, however, he said:
“I have no reason to believe that New Zealand safety standards are any less than Australia’s.” ‘
Prosecutor Evan McCaughan said Bryant’s house was protected by a CCTV set-up which was inconsistent with his admissions of low-level drug dealing to friends over the past two years.
Better tell all those people who set up their houses with security cameras that, if they’re investigated by the law, that it’s going to be assumed that they’re criminals.
The appalling way that Vince Siemer has been treated by the NZ ‘Justice’ system helps confirm why our New Zealand so desperately needs real checks and balances to help ensure an ‘open, transparent and accountable’ judiciary?
SUCH AS:
1) An enforceable ‘Code of Conduct’ for Judges.
(Preferably based upon the ‘Banagalore Principles for Judicial Conduct’
Vince Siemer was denied leave to appeal by the NZ Supreme Court on 3 June 2011:
BACKGROUND:
On 23 December 2008, Cooper J delivered his judgment awarding the first respondent, Michael Peter Stiassny, defamation damages against Vincent Ross Siemer, totalling $825,000 and the second respondent, Korda Mentha, damages of $95,000 ($75,000 for defamation and $20,000 for breach of an agreement settling a dispute between the parties).
This was the highest ever defamation award in New Zealand.
(Korda Mentha v Siemer HC Auckland CIV-2005-404-1808, 23 December 2008. )
“An unusual feature of the case is that Mr Siemer had been debarred from defending the proceedings.”
Whatever happened to ‘Justice 101′?
That there are always at least TWO sides to the story, and in order to get a ‘fair trial’ you are supposed to be able to defend yourself?
Vince Siemer appealed to the Court of Appeal against J Cooper’s decision, and lost.
(Siemer v Stiassny [2011] NZCA 106. )
He then sought leave to appeal to the Supreme Court, but his application was dismissed.
((SC 49/2011) [2011] NZSC 63 3 June 2011 )
The judgment of Cooper J accused Vince Siemer of engaging in “vile racist abuse”;
Subsequently, a comment was made by the Court of Appeal that its attention had not been drawn to a worse case of defamation in the British Commonwealth and that its own researches had not disclosed one.
(Following comments from Steven Price Media Law Journal on these matters)
Vince Siemer was denied his day in Court to defend himself at the defamation hearing at which he got the highest ever defamation award against him and he has been denied leave to appeal to the Supreme Court about the accuracy of the comments upon which the defamation award was based.
How would you like this happening to YOU?
BEWARE! If it can happen to Vince Siemer – WHO IS NEXT?
I cannot find ANYTHING Vince Siemer said about Michael Stiassny that was ‘anti-semetic’ or constituted ‘vile racist abuse’.
VERY interested in the CONSIDERED opinions of others on this matter.
What EXACT ‘defamatory’ statements made by Vince Siemer about Michael Stiassny were relied upon by Judge Cooper from the High Court; Judges Arnold, Glazebrook and Hammond from the Court of Appeal; and Judges Blanchard, Tipping and William Young from the Supreme Court as being:
Hard to feel sorry for Seimer. He repeatedly, consistently and fragrantly put himself above the law by breaching any order of the Court he felt above. Which turned out to be most of them.
One of the interesting things, for me at least, about the recent Deaker controversy was the way that both the man’s detractors and defenders seemed to assume that the racist phrase he used came from a society far, far away, and didn’t have any organic connection to this part of the world. It’s certainly true that ‘working like a nigger’ is a phrase connected to slavery, but was slavery really unknown to New Zealanders in the nineteenth century? The truth is that we were trading in slaves foro/f the years after the end American Civil War: http://readingthemaps.blogspot.com/2011/06/new-zealands-slaving-history.html
Well at last the serious fraud office has charged “that lovely old man ” Hubbard. My opinion is that he is a con man of the very best. Interesting that he is friendly with Key and interesting that when the shit hit the fan he said “this would not have happened if Mr Key had been in the country.
He hopes to one day be the president of the Pacific rim Federation of Nations.
He like his masters believes no doubt that we would all be better off being farmed by sensible bankers.
Radio lightweights sling off at Miss USA
National Radio, “The Panel”, Tuesday 21 June 2011
Jim Mora, Susan Baldacci, Graham Bell, Julia Hartley Moore
Last Wednesday, the target of their scorn was a Playboy bunny-girl. This week, another young American beauty has drawn the contempt of some of radio’s finest intellects…
MORA: Uh, Susan Baldacci, what’s the world talking about on the social networks?
SUSAN BALDACCI: We’ve got a new Miss USA!
MORA: Hur, hur, hur!
GRAHAM BELL: Ho ho ho ho ho!
BALDACCI: Yes! Miss California, Alyssa Campanella, crowned as Miss USA in Las Vegas on Sunday, says she’s a history geek!
MORA: Oh really? Hur, hur, hur, hur, hur!
BELL: Ho ho ho ho ho!
BALDACCI: Yes, she says she has watched Braveheart, Gladiator, and Shakespeare in Love. And she’s a huge fan of Camelot, apparently.
BELL: Ho ho ho ho ho! She probably thinks Camelot is about the Kennedys!
MORA: Ha ha ha ha ha! She probably DOES think that!
BALDACCI: Ha ha ha ha ha!
BELL: Ho ho ho ho ho!
BALDACCI: And she made an unbelievable speech! The judges asked her about her thoughts on the legalization of medical marijuana in California. Here’s what she said: “Medical marijuana is sort of like medicine. I’m not sure if it should be legalized, if it would really affect, with the drug war. That kind of tells me there’s a war going on, and the people on drugs are winning. America doesn’t lose wars. So we need to get the Army in there and take down the Islamic pot lords. I mean, it’s abused today, unfortunately, so that’s the only reason why I would kind of be a little bit against it, but medically it’s OK. And if the law-making people legalize it, then that would be great too. But I still wouldn’t do it because my friends tell me that weed makes you hungry, and I can’t risk eating food at this stage in my career.”
MORA: Hur, hur, hur, hur, hur!
BELL: Ho ho ho ho ho! She’s obviously a towering intellect!
———————————————————
After the 4:30 news, the Panelists get their chance to say what’s on their minds. As you read what they have to say, bear in mind that, unlike beauty contestants, these two have had days to come up with something witty and/or intelligent to say. Let’s see how they did…
Here are the considered thoughts of panelist Julia Hartley Moore: “Greece is the dirtiest country I’ve ever been to. Is it something to do with the people? The mindset? I dunno.”
And here are the considered thoughts of panelist Graham Bell: “There’s a number of things that RANKLE me and FRUSTRATE me….Some time, just once in a blue moon, I’d like to get TWO biscuits with my cup of coffee, not just one biscuit!”
If only Miss USA could be serious and intelligent, like these people.
I really enjoy reading these Morrissey – thanks. Sometimes seeing it written down after hearing it highlights just how absurd, idiotic and vacant that lot are. But not hearing it – just reading this is even better.
Last week, Chris Cornell sat down in Los Angeles with David Farrier for an interview. Chris was the front man of the hugely successful band Soundgarden. He then embarked on other endeavours such as Temple of the Dog, Audioslave and his solo career. The seminal statement in the interview was “stay of the pipe.” Although Chris delivered this with humour, it’s a serious topic that needs further investigation…
“There’s two different standards…” – it’s singular John, FFS.
This joke, who is pushing for literacy standards, wouldn’t pass a Year 5 (Standard 3) test.
It is not surprising that his speeches are written for him – he is just left to struggle with the phrasing and intonation when he reads them to make it sound as though he is making sense. Goodness knows what his speeches would be like if he wrote them himself. I guess it is what we can expect from MBAs though. They’re not interested in the Arts or the intricacies of the English language, as long as they can spell “Dollars” and “sense”.
Did anyone pick up Simon Power’s comment on Radionz about his true feelings concerning the rorting of low income people with 500% p.a. loans using texts? Super fast money, once cleared for credit the loan can be sent to your bank account in 4 minutes! It went something like this – that the government can’t bring in controlling legislation on innovative financial packages. This means that all the repeated media coverage about his concern for ordinary people on low incomes taking on vicious loans, and how something should be done about it, is just a smokescreen.
Loans available via text – Radionz 9.31am Tues 21/6
A global finance company, offering high interest micro-loans via text message, has begun operating in New Zealand. These loans have been met with despair by family budgeting services. Kathryn talked to Peter Sykes, CEO of Mangere East Family Service Centre, and Labour consumer affairs spokesperson, Carol Beaumont. We also hear from a spokesman for Ferratum, the finance company concerned. (24′59″)
Carol Beaumont, Labour’s Spokesperson for Consumer Affairs had a bill about this that National and ACT voted down. She spoke well, very impressive. Also to note is that barrister Catriona MacLennan has been advocating for action for ages. Herald piece – Labour MP Carol Beaumont is to introduce to Parliament a member’s bill designed to cap New Zealand’s interest rates. The Credit Reform (Responsible Lending) Bill provides for the Governor of the Reserve Bank to set maximum annual percentage rates of interest payable on consumer credit contracts. The bill also requires lenders to make inquiries to ascertain that borrowers have a reasonable prospect of repaying loans. Catriona MacLennan: Govt chance to reel in loan sharks
Power thinks that if people are informed of all the factors, then they can make smart, informed decisions and after that they are on their own (the suckers). They are just patsies to be bled by business people who like that sort of business. Not his cup of tea, he makes his money being a clever lawyer, but it takes all sorts doesn’t it. He belongs to the group that is willing to make money from tempting people to do something that will be injurious to them, and then condemn them for being foolish in falling prey to the scam.
There are psychological drives to gain instant gratification in people deprived of discretionary income or who are prone to impulsive action. If fully informed they may still refuse to accept that they are stepping into a debt quagmire which will suck them down. I don’t know what enforcement system this outrageous new loan scheme will use when people can’t pay back all the debt and all the interest – 91% for an 8 day debt, rising.
I’ll just add, for those who haven’t experienced them, that the constant small tremors are a strong reminder of the aftermaths of the 7.1 and the 6.3 from February. Not so much last week’s 6.3, though. So having so many small quakes puts me on edge for something bigger about to break.
Looking at the location on the map, right in the centre of banks peninsula, Akaroa probably got quite a rocking from reflected waves, I would think. Could be a bit of damage there.
How do you know you’ve been too long in Christchurch?
When you know the underlying fault structure like a geologist..
When you can estimate the effect of reflections of P waves off local basalt..
More come to mind…
But it is actually better to have lots of slightly larger 5’s than those 4’s, it probably means that nothing is jamming up for a bigger one as that whole area destresses.
A bit harder on the people and already stressed buildings with repeated shakes.
In a comment? You can’t here. Just editors and above when they use the moderating editor.
There are many nasty things that can be done to our layout with images, so I have it off. The plugin fix sometimes gets bypassed with wordpress updates. KSES isn’t exactly finished.
Test as logged out.
Good. Still protected. KSES swallows non allowed HTML and discards it.
Looks like wordpress are doing a better job on layout these days
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While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three. ...
Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blogIn 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
Citizen Science writes – Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
Karl du Fresne writes – There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
David Farrar writes – The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time.A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced ...
You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated. While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Changes to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...
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 ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
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)Hot off the press, this debut ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...
Chief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...
The Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...
Barcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...
Yes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...
“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...
The Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...
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If someone says they want to burn your house down you wouldn’t let them move in, would you?
You wouldn’t hire someone whose stated aim is to destroy your company, would you?
So why do we allow randians to work in government jobs? Seeing as Key and English think we have too many public servants anyway, lets have a purge.
And let’s start at the top.
Absolutely felix. So why do we let it happen?
Because we have been discouraged from believing that the State was ours. We no longer believe in the power of the collective to do good. (Well it does all the time, but we’ve been trained not to see it.)
If the house is not yours, what do you care if it gets burnt down?
Nice comments Felix, thought what Kunstler says this morning might bear some relevance to the corporate predeliction for Randian superheroes. Kunstler is talking about the inability of American (read Western) males to be and act as mature humans, and why… The same country that furnishes an endless diet of super-hero movies to pubescent males who are not expected to develop normal adult coping powers
He then goes on to state what this Randian obsession has actually lead to….The same country that supplies gruesome, sado-masochistic video games to occupy the idle hours of young men – and then lets them take those “skills” to some tilt-up bunker in Nevada where they sit in air-conditioned comfort and direct drone aircraft ten thousand miles away to incinerate suspected “enemies” in mud villages. (Sometimes “mistakes are made” and they blow up a wedding party or something – but the drone controllers still get to leave the bunker at the end of their shift and roll down the strip for a plastic tray full of burritos.)
Yeah, the concept behind drone killing is horrible really. Total disassociation from the act itself.
I agree Draco, but is it really that different to ships firing cruise missiles from 100s of kms away, pilots firing missiles from up to 100km away, or ground based artillery firing up to 20km away?
The 18-25 year olds have always been at the pointy end of what are essentially political decisions made by the suits, safe in their air conditioned bunkers.
Of course, not all these people can work as drone pilots, so you get the spillover which is the abuse at Abu Graib prison and the civilian killings by security firm formerly known as Blackwater.
And in both Libya and Afghanistan multiple reports of civilians being killed by western air forces.
Ed Vulliamy has more on the theme of the ultimate outcome of these Randian superheroes with regard to the Mexico border towns…
And yet it is this vision that this government takes us towards. A failed society of murder and corruption.
And we have been manipulated into believing that being critical equals “conspiracy theorist”. Here is a nice article written by Paul Craig Roberts, former Wall street journal editor and assistent secretary of Treasury under Reagan, about how that works
They’re burning down the house called Greece. In The Guardian today is an article that basically stating that inflation could be the lesser evil when trying to get the euro-linked economies through the debt crisis.
The article links to a .pdf from last year when the IMF chief economist argued that the current consensus around macroeconomic policy is flawed, that monetary policy from the central banks and regulatory policy should be coordinated along with openly recognising exchange rate stability as an objective in small open economies. These can provide a comprehensive set of cyclical tools in a debt crisis.
A manageable level of inflation during the debt crisis can reduce the amount the likes of Germany would have to lend and inflation would eat up the debts owed, reducing the austerity measures that are causing so much social unrest. Rules would have to be in place so that a return to the inflation objective was re-instituted when the crisis was over. His argument doesn’t seem to fit the current IMF paradigm.
Inflation is a funny beast, really.
If all countries in the world simultaneously inflate at the same rate, then trade differences don’t really change at all. But existing debts will simply melt away. Put in that context, it seems weird that we have to have this back-door debt cancellation policy (with side-effects) that everyone just accepts as a fact of life, instead of just having a blatant debt-cancelling policy up front that does what it says on the tin and can be wielded more precisely against the debts that need cancelling.
Yesterday the NATO had to admit that civilians had been killed in a bombing raid.
Euphemistically called Kinetic Military action and humanitarian aid to liberate the Libyan people it should not surprise anyone that civilians would be the victim of what amongst us commoners is normally called illegal war of aggression and conquest which was declared the biggest war crime of all.
They were not the only ones nor will they be the last. Like in any war culture is being destroyed. Libraries, schools and make no mistake Tripoli is an ancient city and so are most of the other major cities and bombing them will inevitably damage the leftovers of Phoenician, Roman and Bedouin culture.
Depleted Uranium will make sure of that. Bunker busters and tomahawk missiles are always made with DU heads, make no mistake about that, which means that Tripoli a city of more than 1 million people the size and population of Auckland will be for the next 4.5 billion years spawning deformities amongst it’s infants and cause cancer and sickness defeating any pretence of “humanitarian” intervention.
Yemen is being bombed as I write this and according to reports coming from army personnel at ford Hood Troops are being prepared to invade Libya in contravention of the UN resolution which explicitly forbade boots on the ground and the congress has been effectively ignored in it’s wishes to have the law with regards to the president needing approval to wage war respected.
Syria is next. the European Union has put economic sanctions in place and US war ships have been moved to the coast of Syria. Anyone with the eyes to see knows what happened to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
One definition of a World war is that the population of two or more continents must be affected over a period of several years and I dare say that with the Asian, European, African and American continents being involved and affected we have come perilously close.
Update: If you are easily grossed out maybe this is not the link for you but if like me you are driven by the need to know and want to know what happens if you bomb a library then perhaps it is the link for you.
We “the West” are committing atrocities hidden behind the words “Kinetic military action” and Humanitarian aid in the form of bombs and we accept that it is done in our name because the people it happens to are far away in countries we don’t know and who have brown skins and a religion we are afraid off.
It is that simple.
[lprent: removed excess bolding. ]
Thanks for the link T. These pictures should be on the 6pm news.
Wee point on this bit :
“congress has been effectively ignored in it’s wishes to have the law with regards to the president needing approval to wage war respected”
You are letting congress off the hook here. The congress can wish all it wants to, but unless it is prepared to act then the Pres is under no obligation to pay them attention. Congress can defund military activities at any time it chooses, and it can impeach and remove a president. Absent those things, the stated ‘wishes’ of its critters are just smoke.
Congress doesn’t have to wish a president would ask them for approval. When they cry about that, they are just shifting the buck.
Tigger,
Thanks, I agree.
PB,
I agree. The whole lot are callous out of control and a corrupt pork barrel swilling lot and the French had a perfectly good solution for that problem. It comes with a very sharp blade and a loud thud. LOL.
This is the same with congressmen and senators wailing at and telling off banking executives when they turn up at hearings.
Don’t bleat ineffectually to get prime time TV soundbites senators, simply make sure that the machinery of government and of the regulators enforces the rules already in place and puts those guys behind bars.
Never going to happen though is it.
In the Westernised World, rules are only for the “little” people.
So the NBR is running the Labour/NEIS email story.
“Labour says email addresses harvested solely for campaign”
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/labour-says-email-addresses-harvested-solely-campaign-ck-95615
A Room Full of Typing Monkeys
It was rather amusing to watch Bomber beat himself raw about DPF getting his very own Herald column a few weeks ago. Bomber was incensed and obviously had to check himself before he turned into the hulk and went completely berserk on us. He does raise a serious issue though, that is becoming more and more problematic; the right wing is trying to take over our airwaves.
No, they have taken over our airways.
Perhaps a better word to use was media.
Smarmy git
I notice your still using copyrighted material on your pathetic blog travellerev… Hypocrite!
Well I didn’t start this one.
I’ll try to explain it one more time to you.
There is a common courtesy while using other peoples material online. You only quote part of it and you link to their publication in the hopes of spreading their work while acknowledging their right to be named as the owner and above all you never ever claim something from someone else as written by yourself. That would be stealing.
And as for my “pathetic” blog; many of the writers I quote and link to are co-activists and and are happy to share their material because of the greater good they are trying to achieve and even though I have published parts of other peoples work for five years I have never ever had the request to take anything down.
You on the other hand STOLE someone else’s work and published that as you own. That is dishonest and shows like, by the way this ignorant remark, that you are lazy and dishonest and people have lost University jobs, book publishings and their careers over the sort of behaviour you exhibited when you STOLE the article you posted under you own name.
Now my blog might be pathetic to you which I might add says more about you than about me but I can hold my head high as I have never ever STOLEN other peoples work and presented it as my own.
Apart from publishing my own work (Which can also be used in the above described manner and which is used by others in the pursuit of spreading the truth) I have linked to other peoples work in the hopes of spreading their often excellent work.
The fact that you don’t seem to understand the difference is greatly troubling but I see you did not publish this week so perhaps I’m not alone in this sentiment.
I will also forward this to Iprent because I have no need for another silly and above all limitless exchange with someone I consider to be defective in the integrity department and I think that you need to sort out your attitude with the writers here and not with me.
travellerev
Dito
pft!
Bullshit!
? I’ve published this week Dick! Not only on The Jackal I might add. Scroll up to see one of today’s posts.
Ha ha ha! That’s the funniest brain fart I’ve seen in a while.
Aucklanders not paying your water bills?
Expect to go thirsty then, thanks to the kind folks at “Watercare”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10733531
Put in your own water tank. No more reliance on Watercare.
Simple.
They still charge you for wastewater though!
Waste-water could be stored for watering the garden when needed.
Can you get consent approval for roof sourced water containment systems for potable water? I didn’t think this was possible in Auckland.
Watercare owns the monopoly on a literal necessity of life.
I must admit I don’t know about the ins and outs of resource consent, etc. But living in a semi-rural community north of Auckland, we’re all on tank water of course. And as I recall, neighbours of ours in Manurewa had tank water a few years ago (don’t know if it was just for the garden or for drinking).
Echoing evermore the state of play in the US:
‘ (NaturalNews) Many of the freedoms we enjoy here in the U.S. are quickly eroding as the nation transforms from the land of the free into the land of the enslaved, but what I’m about to share with you takes the assault on our freedoms to a whole new level. You may not be aware of this, but many Western states, including Utah, Washington and Colorado, have long outlawed individuals from collecting rainwater on their own properties because, according to officials, that rain belongs to someone else.’
http://www.naturalnews.com/029286_rainwater_collection_water.html
Heads on pikes when there’s no energy to pump the water?
The corporates and super rich are a bit despondent that they can’t privatise oxygen and sell that.
Yet.
Bloody hell JN. Be carefull they might start thinking along those line.I do not put anything beyond those Right-Wing bastards.
Before everyone gets high and mighty here, bear in mind that every other TA charges for water supply via their rates.
And rates are subject to pretty similar non-payment provisions. Not much different really. And Water Care is totally owned by Auckland City Council.
What this does show up is how unwise it is to split out water supply into separate entities, and to charge seperately for the service. It just riles people up.
I guess splitting water out into a separate business entity might make it easier to sell off when our bankster occupiers demand it.
And allows councils to pretend that they can’t control the decisions of the organisation.
some people in the labour party should remember that the original labour party newspaper went down in flames when the bluenoses would not let them publish race results. good thinking guys. and now that we have progressed into the twenty first century it is possible to buy micropulse line of sight fm radio stations for less than $5,000.
Time to wise up and tackle the spin meisters head on. the trouble is everybody in the labour party who has any money has already fallen under the capitalist spell of using it to browbeat their bank manager for sport rather than investing in something that would make a difference.
+1
but screw FM radio, that is too 1970’s, I want HD digital TV with surround sound broadcasting the Message of the Left.
and furthermore the mor people use this space to display their erudtion and learning about the byzantine minutae of the workings of the united states congress then the more the spotlight shifts off the neanderthals currently in charge here.
I always thought of TVNZ News to be one of the better news sources in NZ…they have proved to be stupid idiots…they fell for anti-capitalist satire, no wonder NZ is so stupid
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/online-outrage-quake-profiteers-4248164
I hate to say this and please note the qualifiers …
Most of the A-list left the country,
increasingly, more of the B-list are fleeing,
and we have to make do with the C-list.
We can talk, or hear, about being ‘ambitious’ for all we like –
But if we do nothing, if we don’t follow up talk with action,
we bleed more of our B-list overseas.
This is called self-selection down the spiral –
Dumbing down produces dumbs.
May New Zealand not descend to the levels of New Dumbland.
~ Newsflash ~
[quoting National(‘s) Business Review]
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/record-number-leave-live-australia-ck-95729
“New Zealand had a net migration loss for a third consecutive month as large numbers of people continue to head to Australia to live … The net outflow of 3300 migrants to Australia last month was up from 1700 in May 2010 …”
While Key blunders and plunders, Kiwis increasingly vote with their feet.
Smile and wave goodbye to your family, friends and work mates!
Now, what else is there left to ambitiously sell and shut down here?
John Key makes incredible statement on Pike River …
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10733536
This fits the usual pattern:
1) The comments are made to foreign media.
2) The comments totally contradict his earlier statements (even the Herald notices this).
3) The comments will finally be picked up by the Labour party some time after everyone else has …
Yep, the usual pattern of NZ politics today: two-faced Prime Minister, feeble domestic media, and a useless opposition.
This should be THE lead story. Key should be facing a grilling when he gets back. But who from?
Let me at him. Pleeeaaase!!!
maybe he’ll do a one-one with the herald…or that morning show on TV1
Where they always asking him these hard case questions? Yeah right!
Goff has now read my comment (!) and has spoken to the media, describing Key’s remarks as an “unbelievable about-face”. Good.
Labour need to keep up the pressure. Key can’t be allowed to get away with saying one thing in Greymouth and another in Canberra.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5171922/Pike-River-mine-would-be-illegal-in-Australia-Key
Pike River mine ‘would be illegal in Australia’ – Key
“Prime Minister John Key has defended his claims that the Pike River coal mine would be illegal in Australia.”
‘The Australian newspaper reported that Key had yesterday “vowed that there would be changes to mining safety laws”.
He told the newspaper the Pike River mine, which was a single-entry uphill mine, “couldn’t have been constructed in Australia” because it would have been “illegal”.
“There will be changes in New Zealand,” Key said.’
‘But, in an apparent departure from his comments at the time of the disaster, Key conceded that the mine could not have been operational in Australia.
In November last year, however, he said:
“I have no reason to believe that New Zealand safety standards are any less than Australia’s.” ‘
____________________________________________________________
Seen the Sunday Programme on Pike River Mine?
tvnz.co.nz/sunday-news/disturbing-questions-pike-river-mine-part-1-15-04-video-4222074
tvnz.co.nz/sunday-news/disturbing-questions-pike-river-mine-part-2-8-34-video-4222107
Hmmmm…….. seems the Pike River Mine ‘Whistleblower’ was correct about safety concerns
– what else …………….?
http://www.scribd.com/doc/47745564/Murder-at-Pike-River-Mine-SECOND-EDITION-With-Postscript
Check out Chapter 9, pg 38,
“SECRET PLAN TO OPEN UP PARKS TO OPEN CAST MINING:
BATHURST RESOURCES & L&M COAL”
Check out Bathurst Resources Ltd, the company which is currently applying for a resource consent for open-cast coal mining in Buller:
See ‘Resource Consent Process’ 7 June 2011
“Buller Coal Resource Consent Application Public Hearing Commences”
http://www.bathurstresources.com/Investor-Information/Announcements/2011-ASX-Announcements
Who is a substantial shareholder in Bathurst Resources Ltd?
The Bank of America.
( Has voting power of 7.50% in Bathurst Resources Ltd.)
See April 29 2011 ‘Changes in substantial ownership’
Remember?
John Key is a shareholder in the Bank of America.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/FinInterests/8/c/3/00CLOOCMPPFinInterests20101-Register-of-Pecuniary-Interests-of-Members.htm (See pg 36)
So – would John Key stand to personally profit from open cast coal-mining in the West Coast, given his shareholding in the Bank of America?
Arguably YES.
Penny Bright
waterpressure.wordpress.com
Key’s (and Kate Wilkinson’s) earlier comments here
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/pike-river-coal-slammed-inspector-shortage-3909410
Completely stupid and senseless imprisonment. What a farce the drug laws are http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/5170738/Rock-legend-Rick-Bryant-jailed-for-drugs
No, no we have to rid the world of evil cannabis smokers. F*&king hell!
Better tell all those people who set up their houses with security cameras that, if they’re investigated by the law, that it’s going to be assumed that they’re criminals.
/sarc
The appalling way that Vince Siemer has been treated by the NZ ‘Justice’ system helps confirm why our New Zealand so desperately needs real checks and balances to help ensure an ‘open, transparent and accountable’ judiciary?
SUCH AS:
1) An enforceable ‘Code of Conduct’ for Judges.
(Preferably based upon the ‘Banagalore Principles for Judicial Conduct’
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/search.html?q=Bangalore+Principles+of+judicial+Conduct
2) An enforceable ‘Register of Pecuniary Interests’ for Judges.
3) ALL Court proceedings to be recorded, and records made available to parties who request them.
__________________________________________________________________________
Vince Siemer was denied leave to appeal by the NZ Supreme Court on 3 June 2011:
BACKGROUND:
On 23 December 2008, Cooper J delivered his judgment awarding the first respondent, Michael Peter Stiassny, defamation damages against Vincent Ross Siemer, totalling $825,000 and the second respondent, Korda Mentha, damages of $95,000 ($75,000 for defamation and $20,000 for breach of an agreement settling a dispute between the parties).
This was the highest ever defamation award in New Zealand.
(Korda Mentha v Siemer HC Auckland CIV-2005-404-1808, 23 December 2008. )
“An unusual feature of the case is that Mr Siemer had been debarred from defending the proceedings.”
Whatever happened to ‘Justice 101′?
That there are always at least TWO sides to the story, and in order to get a ‘fair trial’ you are supposed to be able to defend yourself?
Vince Siemer appealed to the Court of Appeal against J Cooper’s decision, and lost.
(Siemer v Stiassny [2011] NZCA 106. )
He then sought leave to appeal to the Supreme Court, but his application was dismissed.
((SC 49/2011) [2011] NZSC 63 3 June 2011 )
The judgment of Cooper J accused Vince Siemer of engaging in “vile racist abuse”;
Subsequently, a comment was made by the Court of Appeal that its attention had not been drawn to a worse case of defamation in the British Commonwealth and that its own researches had not disclosed one.
(Following comments from Steven Price Media Law Journal on these matters)
http://www.medialawjournal.co.nz/?p=205
http://www.medialawjournal.co.nz/?p=452
That’s pretty heavy stuff!
Vince Siemer was denied his day in Court to defend himself at the defamation hearing at which he got the highest ever defamation award against him and he has been denied leave to appeal to the Supreme Court about the accuracy of the comments upon which the defamation award was based.
How would you like this happening to YOU?
BEWARE! If it can happen to Vince Siemer – WHO IS NEXT?
Having STUDIED the recent SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT 3 June 2011 (SC 49/2011) [2011] NZSC 63
http://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/from/decisions/judgments
I cannot find ANYTHING Vince Siemer said about Michael Stiassny that was ‘anti-semetic’ or constituted ‘vile racist abuse’.
VERY interested in the CONSIDERED opinions of others on this matter.
What EXACT ‘defamatory’ statements made by Vince Siemer about Michael Stiassny were relied upon by Judge Cooper from the High Court; Judges Arnold, Glazebrook and Hammond from the Court of Appeal; and Judges Blanchard, Tipping and William Young from the Supreme Court as being:
a) ‘anti-semetic’?
b) constituting ‘vile racist abuse’?
c) constituting ‘poking racist jibes’?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
Penny Bright
http://waterpressure.wordpress.com
[email deleted]
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
Attendee: Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference (APSACC) 2009
Attendee: Transparency international 14th Anti-Corruption Conference 2010
Hard to feel sorry for Seimer. He repeatedly, consistently and fragrantly put himself above the law by breaching any order of the Court he felt above. Which turned out to be most of them.
One of the interesting things, for me at least, about the recent Deaker controversy was the way that both the man’s detractors and defenders seemed to assume that the racist phrase he used came from a society far, far away, and didn’t have any organic connection to this part of the world. It’s certainly true that ‘working like a nigger’ is a phrase connected to slavery, but was slavery really unknown to New Zealanders in the nineteenth century? The truth is that we were trading in slaves foro/f the years after the end American Civil War:
http://readingthemaps.blogspot.com/2011/06/new-zealands-slaving-history.html
Very interesting. Thanks for the link.
Well at last the serious fraud office has charged “that lovely old man ” Hubbard. My opinion is that he is a con man of the very best. Interesting that he is friendly with Key and interesting that when the shit hit the fan he said “this would not have happened if Mr Key had been in the country.
Well the One Man Band is busy wowing them in Ushtralia and he’s even taught the Mad Monk to smile and wave.
He hopes to one day be the president of the Pacific rim Federation of Nations.
He like his masters believes no doubt that we would all be better off being farmed by sensible bankers.
Radio lightweights sling off at Miss USA
National Radio, “The Panel”, Tuesday 21 June 2011
Jim Mora, Susan Baldacci, Graham Bell, Julia Hartley Moore
Last Wednesday, the target of their scorn was a Playboy bunny-girl. This week, another young American beauty has drawn the contempt of some of radio’s finest intellects…
MORA: Uh, Susan Baldacci, what’s the world talking about on the social networks?
SUSAN BALDACCI: We’ve got a new Miss USA!
MORA: Hur, hur, hur!
GRAHAM BELL: Ho ho ho ho ho!
BALDACCI: Yes! Miss California, Alyssa Campanella, crowned as Miss USA in Las Vegas on Sunday, says she’s a history geek!
MORA: Oh really? Hur, hur, hur, hur, hur!
BELL: Ho ho ho ho ho!
BALDACCI: Yes, she says she has watched Braveheart, Gladiator, and Shakespeare in Love. And she’s a huge fan of Camelot, apparently.
BELL: Ho ho ho ho ho! She probably thinks Camelot is about the Kennedys!
MORA: Ha ha ha ha ha! She probably DOES think that!
BALDACCI: Ha ha ha ha ha!
BELL: Ho ho ho ho ho!
BALDACCI: And she made an unbelievable speech! The judges asked her about her thoughts on the legalization of medical marijuana in California. Here’s what she said: “Medical marijuana is sort of like medicine. I’m not sure if it should be legalized, if it would really affect, with the drug war. That kind of tells me there’s a war going on, and the people on drugs are winning. America doesn’t lose wars. So we need to get the Army in there and take down the Islamic pot lords. I mean, it’s abused today, unfortunately, so that’s the only reason why I would kind of be a little bit against it, but medically it’s OK. And if the law-making people legalize it, then that would be great too. But I still wouldn’t do it because my friends tell me that weed makes you hungry, and I can’t risk eating food at this stage in my career.”
MORA: Hur, hur, hur, hur, hur!
BELL: Ho ho ho ho ho! She’s obviously a towering intellect!
———————————————————
After the 4:30 news, the Panelists get their chance to say what’s on their minds. As you read what they have to say, bear in mind that, unlike beauty contestants, these two have had days to come up with something witty and/or intelligent to say. Let’s see how they did…
Here are the considered thoughts of panelist Julia Hartley Moore: “Greece is the dirtiest country I’ve ever been to. Is it something to do with the people? The mindset? I dunno.”
And here are the considered thoughts of panelist Graham Bell: “There’s a number of things that RANKLE me and FRUSTRATE me….Some time, just once in a blue moon, I’d like to get TWO biscuits with my cup of coffee, not just one biscuit!”
If only Miss USA could be serious and intelligent, like these people.
I really enjoy reading these Morrissey – thanks. Sometimes seeing it written down after hearing it highlights just how absurd, idiotic and vacant that lot are. But not hearing it – just reading this is even better.
LOL 😀
Question 10: Darien Fenton to the Minister of Labour
Her response to the last question asked by Jacinda Adern is, effectively, I’m not telling, neeya, neeya, neeya.
Stay off the Pipe
Last week, Chris Cornell sat down in Los Angeles with David Farrier for an interview. Chris was the front man of the hugely successful band Soundgarden. He then embarked on other endeavours such as Temple of the Dog, Audioslave and his solo career. The seminal statement in the interview was “stay of the pipe.” Although Chris delivered this with humour, it’s a serious topic that needs further investigation…
Joky Hen on this evening’s news. (re mining)
“There’s two different standards…” – it’s singular John, FFS.
This joke, who is pushing for literacy standards, wouldn’t pass a Year 5 (Standard 3) test.
It is not surprising that his speeches are written for him – he is just left to struggle with the phrasing and intonation when he reads them to make it sound as though he is making sense. Goodness knows what his speeches would be like if he wrote them himself. I guess it is what we can expect from MBAs though. They’re not interested in the Arts or the intricacies of the English language, as long as they can spell “Dollars” and “sense”.
I wonder how the families of those who died at Pike River mine feel about what Shonkey said?
“Two different standards” ??
Joky Hen is splitting hair which he got from a bald man.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/pm-denies-u-turn-pike-river-mine-4252180
Ummm, he is not doing a u-turn. The road was turning into a ‘u’.
Did anyone pick up Simon Power’s comment on Radionz about his true feelings concerning the rorting of low income people with 500% p.a. loans using texts? Super fast money, once cleared for credit the loan can be sent to your bank account in 4 minutes! It went something like this – that the government can’t bring in controlling legislation on innovative financial packages. This means that all the repeated media coverage about his concern for ordinary people on low incomes taking on vicious loans, and how something should be done about it, is just a smokescreen.
Loans available via text – Radionz 9.31am Tues 21/6
A global finance company, offering high interest micro-loans via text message, has begun operating in New Zealand. These loans have been met with despair by family budgeting services. Kathryn talked to Peter Sykes, CEO of Mangere East Family Service Centre, and Labour consumer affairs spokesperson, Carol Beaumont. We also hear from a spokesman for Ferratum, the finance company concerned. (24′59″)
Carol Beaumont, Labour’s Spokesperson for Consumer Affairs had a bill about this that National and ACT voted down. She spoke well, very impressive. Also to note is that barrister Catriona MacLennan has been advocating for action for ages. Herald piece – Labour MP Carol Beaumont is to introduce to Parliament a member’s bill designed to cap New Zealand’s interest rates. The Credit Reform (Responsible Lending) Bill provides for the Governor of the Reserve Bank to set maximum annual percentage rates of interest payable on consumer credit contracts. The bill also requires lenders to make inquiries to ascertain that borrowers have a reasonable prospect of repaying loans. Catriona MacLennan: Govt chance to reel in loan sharks
Power thinks that if people are informed of all the factors, then they can make smart, informed decisions and after that they are on their own (the suckers). They are just patsies to be bled by business people who like that sort of business. Not his cup of tea, he makes his money being a clever lawyer, but it takes all sorts doesn’t it. He belongs to the group that is willing to make money from tempting people to do something that will be injurious to them, and then condemn them for being foolish in falling prey to the scam.
There are psychological drives to gain instant gratification in people deprived of discretionary income or who are prone to impulsive action. If fully informed they may still refuse to accept that they are stepping into a debt quagmire which will suck them down. I don’t know what enforcement system this outrageous new loan scheme will use when people can’t pay back all the debt and all the interest – 91% for an 8 day debt, rising.
I read/heard (?) somewhere about simple simon and a “financial summit” in august.
Given this government’s track record (ahem, job summit), let’s just be very very polite and say we wish the summit all the very best.
Poor people deserve to be fraked over while the National Government helps invest in the financial institutions doing the fraking.
Another sizeable aftershock just now. At least 5, probably 5.0 to 5.5 I think.
Lots of little rumbles in the last few minutes after it, too. No damage here, as usual. Lights are still swaying though (quite long pendants).
Edit: another rattler, good 4ish in size. Jumping for doorways ’cause I don’t know if they’re going to get worse :/
Edit x2: Getting little tremors about once every minute. Can hear them, sometimes the house creaks and can feel a small judder. Pretty unnerving.
Geonet update, 5.3M, 10km west of Akaroa:
http://geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3533107g.html
I’ll just add, for those who haven’t experienced them, that the constant small tremors are a strong reminder of the aftermaths of the 7.1 and the 6.3 from February. Not so much last week’s 6.3, though. So having so many small quakes puts me on edge for something bigger about to break.
Looking at the location on the map, right in the centre of banks peninsula, Akaroa probably got quite a rocking from reflected waves, I would think. Could be a bit of damage there.
Yeah time for a calming cup of tea.
Gin and tonic.
Seems I filled my glass a bit full. Hopefully I can drink it before a tremor spills it.
Bugger the tea, pass the Scotch.
And don’t forget to do some deep breathing.
Deadly_NZ: hope the baby reckons this is all fun and games !
You guys 🙂
How do you know you’ve been too long in Christchurch?
When you know the underlying fault structure like a geologist..
When you can estimate the effect of reflections of P waves off local basalt..
More come to mind…
But it is actually better to have lots of slightly larger 5’s than those 4’s, it probably means that nothing is jamming up for a bigger one as that whole area destresses.
A bit harder on the people and already stressed buildings with repeated shakes.
Anyone able to tell me how to insert an image into a post?
I don’t think the comments support that here.
The FAQ doesn’t mention anything about image tags: http://thestandard.org.nz/faq/
I’ve seen it once or twice before but I dont know if they were flukes.
In a comment? You can’t here. Just editors and above when they use the moderating editor.
There are many nasty things that can be done to our layout with images, so I have it off. The plugin fix sometimes gets bypassed with wordpress updates. KSES isn’t exactly finished.
testing…. Um mm..
Test as logged out.
Good. Still protected. KSES swallows non allowed HTML and discards it.
Looks like wordpress are doing a better job on layout these days