They publish Pap because many people enjoy it Paul.
If it ain’t for you, just don’t read it?
And stop bothering us with it. I don’t think many here are interested in it.
“And stop bothering us with it. I don’t think many here are interested in it.”
I am interested in his comments the same as I am interested in yours.
I am glad he bothers us with it as it reinforces something we are aware of already and that is, the continuation of the dumbing down shit the right wing media wants us all to see. Nothing controversial, nothing that can rock the cosy right wing fucking boat, unless it is about the opposition to the right..
Don’t read that pathetic excuse for shit house paper, but there are several international things on the go at the moment that can and will affect NZ. Have not seen one item mentioned on our Television. The likes of Christy and that simpering blond he has as a side kick are more interesting showing some guy (suppose to be funny ha ha ) taking to another’s throat with a chainsaw, minus chain of course. Very funny and mind stretching ha ha not.
You’ve run way off track there OAB.
Force is my ‘benchmark’, because of course the media can’t force you to read or watch material you don’t freely choose to take in.
And even if you do freely choose to take it in, neither the media or anyone else can force you to think about it in any specific manner.
So when HC makes yet another variation on the theme you can read here everyday, i.e. ‘The media are brainwashing people for RW purposes’, I can tell you that is bullshit because it there is no possibility of successful brainwashing occurring.
Many people freely choose to watch and read pap, because they enjoy doing so, and as a believer in personal freedoms, I’m all for it.
there is no possibility of successful brainwashing occurring.
HC didn’t say “brainwashing”, they said “dumbing down” – and that of the media content, not the audience.
As for what you think is a possibility and what isn’t, the notion that public opinion cannot be influenced by the media will be of great relief to anyone concerned by the cost of advertising.
As Orwell said “Propaganda only works when it coincides with what the people were inclined towards anyway”.
So, no, you do not have to worry that a brilliant ad might influence you to purchase anything against your free will.
Nor do you have to shake with fear as you read a RW Political columnist, because you cannot be influenced by them unless you find their argument convincing and so choose to be.
And you don’t have to be concerned that watching the Kardashians will force you to be dumber than you have already chosen to be of your own free will.
So called ‘RW Media’ influence is a nonsense.
It is merely a bullshit mechanism by which some particularly deluded Lefties rationalise away the unacceptable reality that a great number of intelligent and rational people simply not agree with many LW theories.
That assumes that individuals aren’t a milieu of conflicting impulses, ls.
Hey, part of me wants to be a selfish prick and keep my money rather than helping others with it. A tory ad appeals to that side. Part of me wants to be mellow and just drift along rather than doing something. Pap clickbait of do-nothing “celebrities” appeals to that side of me.
When other parts of me want to help folk, create something, write something, or thoroughly consider a subject like the nature of our society, there is little to no encouragement of that in the MSM.
This is “force” in the sense of a current, constantly pushing a boat in a right-wing direction. It takes energy to fight that power, simply to remain on a centre line.
When other parts of me want to help folk, create something, write something, or thoroughly consider a subject like the nature of our society, there is little to no encouragement of that in the MSM.
Citation needed?
In among all the other areas the MSM covers, I see plenty of such material?
This is “force” in the sense of a current, constantly pushing a boat in a right-wing direction. It takes energy to fight that power, simply to remain on a centre line.
Citation needed?
What evidence is there that such a force in RW direction exists?
This topic has been discussed many times here, and I have never seen any solid conclusion to that effect reached.
re: your first citation request: lol. Do you want me to cite something that I just said has “little to no” existence?
Tell you what: for every article that you can cite from the last week of NZ media (free to air channels, radio, the major broadsheets or their websites) that encourages creativity or complex thought, I can provide ten celebrity pap or conflict-driven drivel items.
As for the second request: description here, in Kicking the tyres : the New Zealand general election and electoral referendum of 2011
Jon Johansson 1961-; Stephen I. Levine; Corin Higgs
Wellington, N.Z. : Victoria University Press 2012
You see ads every day, whether it’s on a web page, before a movie, or in the middle of a TV show, and it’s easy to say “they’re just ads” because, at worst, they feel like a nuisance or interruption. A lot of people have difficulty accepting the idea that ads are manipulative because we want to believe we’re in complete control of our choices. While the concept of advertising isn’t inherently problematic, we’ve moved on from the “Eat at Joe’s” sign to far more complex and sometimes even moving, cinematic messages that are designed to create significant memories of a product. These memories are created because an ad succeeds at making us feel something—whether it’s good or bad—and that emotional response can have a profound effect on how we think and the choices we make.
Businesses wouldn’t spend billions every year if advertising didn’t manipulate people.
Nor do you have to shake with fear as you read a RW Political columnist, because you cannot be influenced by them unless you find their argument convincing and so choose to be.
Bollocks. RWNJ columnists do exactly the same as the advertisers – us overly emotion laden language to hide the facts and get a positive or negative response.
You’re obviously of the group of people who have difficulty accepting the idea that ads are manipulative because we want to believe we’re in complete control of our choices. Because of that you’re probably more manipulated than those of us who realise that the purpose of the MSM is to manipulate people.
”Tell you what: for every article that you can cite from the last week of NZ media (free to air channels, radio, the major broadsheets or their websites) that encourages creativity or complex thought, I can provide ten celebrity pap or conflict-driven drivel items.”
Wow that sounds like a somewhat Reithian appeal for the values underpinning decent public broadcasting, McFlock. Good to see you’ve come around.
Well, we have very little public broadcasting (the vandals are even in RadioNZ now) in this country – that’s the point.
I don’t know why you insist on conflating a presumably commercially viable drama (which screened on Sky) you disliked with the entire concept of public broadcasting.
“So when HC makes yet another variation on the theme you can read here everyday, i.e. ‘The media are brainwashing people for RW purposes’, I can tell you that is bullshit because it there is no possibility of successful brainwashing occurring.”
Hey mate what you have just written is fucking bullshit I have just seen this crap by you I never said the media is “brainwashing” for right wing purposes see my reply to you earlier response .
“So tell me, how do the media force people to read the pap? ”
Nowhere did I imply that they were forced to read it.
I make the point that all the media sing from the same right wing vested interest song sheet. Apart from the papers we have Hoskins, Henry, Christy, Garner, Alfred E Neuman (Gower) just to name a few giving the same right wing shit. There is no opposing views (apart from John Campbell and we all know what happened to his programme when the right started to feel “uncomfortable” with his subject matter) to create a robust debate so the general public can form a well informed opinion.
In other words, Paul, feeble trash ‘Facetious’ (Fatuous is a far better description) doesn’t like what you’re saying and would like you to stop saying it.
Feel free to discus the actual issue. The shallowness of the msm in NZ.
But if all you’ve got is insults, then I guess there isn’t an actual point or argument.
And if that’s the case, then you are simply a troll.
He may believe he’s socially conscious, unfortunately he’s so mind numbingly boring and repetitive he makes people unconscious. You can literally feel the joy leaving the room and the inevitability of his daily criticism of that rag The Herald. Yet he still reads it.
I think Paul’s comments are really great. IMO he is one of a number of commenters that I value highly.
And Open Mike is open mike………….we are free on this thread to post what we like as long as it isn’t offensive.
Just one thing though. I am not sure this is completely mindless pap that doesn’t deserve some attention. Dom from the Edge social media comment was offensive and degrading of Crystal (I think that is her name, I don’t watch pap like Dw t S).
I think he and his show embodies a lot of what is wrong on the airwaves. Offensive and exploitative. And remember the tee-shirt picture with “I am not sorry to be a man” taken with John Key…………….So I think it is worth reporting that many people objected to his comment and found it wasnt
funny, but sickening really. His wife says he’s concerned when he hurts people? Then what is he going to do about his sexualizing of this woman???? The show might be pap, but its not porn.
The Edge.
How the right wing turn young citizens into dumbed down mindless consumers.
Key realises the value of this propaganda outlet.
As for the hosts, it would appear their values are in total sync with the me me me world Thatcher, Reagan and Douglas ushered in.
Best doco ever ‘the Century of Self’ by Adam Curtis.
Highly recommended for pr and other Rand cult believers.
Agree entirely about the Edge…………….So I do think it is good if people are challenging the host Dom and saying what he posted wasn’t acceptable. Scum Dj imo.
I do really appreciate all you posts and even though on this occasion I saw it differently, I have no problem with that. I wil try and watch the Curtis doco…..
paul this story is about sexual harassment and objectification of women and the response to it. Learn to read the bigger story and then comment please – the minigun approach doesn’t work imo.
Front page is what I saw – this has been top for a couple of days and the responses from each party have been very interesting imo – a microscope showing some germs indeed.
I was pleased to see the Clayton’s apology called out for what it was, as well as the ‘shock jock’ modus operandi on display. I hadn’t seen the front page. I note they’re calling it the “DWTS feud”, as opposed to “Idiot makes a mess, refuses to clean up.”
What this torrent of hostility has proved is that women’s bodies are still being treated differently. This difference is the reason Simon Barnett can wheel out his nips on ’80s night a mesh vest, yet when I go to recreate his iconic costume I make myself wear a singlet underneath for modesty. It’s the reason Dom Harvey himself can pointedly rip off his pants and shake his jockeys down the camera lens, and yet Chrystal is hounded on Facebook for being a “slut”, after exposing her underpants for a fraction of a second as a consequence of jaw-droppingly difficult routine. It’s like how Si’s shirtless ‘Dad bod’ has probably got a gold shrine in Hagley Park by now, and yet Chrystal is the one coming under fire for wearing a short sparkly dress in a dancing competition.
OAB to the rescue (again). Paul’s post simply reinforces the fact that he is intolerant of other people’s opinions and viewing habits.
Whether he likes it or not, the JJ saga is one of the 5 most viewed pages on The Hearld – why would they stop pushing the story when it is so popular? Guess what Paul..? There are other people out there that are younger, less bitter and more outgoing than you, and they actually enjoy that stuff. Not me, but I certainly don’t complain about it, and don’t click on it.
Paul makes no such comments. His alleged intolerance is your inference. To me it looks like he’s castigating The Herald, and several wingnuts want him to shut up.
Intolerance of other people’s views is on display alright. Just not from Paul.
The wringers like the bad boys, and Dom is just one of the so called brat pack, along with Hoskings and Henry. As well as bad boys it seems they just like bad newspapers to go along side.
Clearly critiquing the news is not acceptable for some. I certainly hit a nerve by commenting on their propaganda machine.
If the Herald were only outlet out of many and it was foisting this celebrity sensationalism on us, then I’d probably defer from commenting so regularly on it. But the Herald is the only newspaper in the Auckland region.
And Fairfax’s garbage is probably worse. Their stable of papers pump out pretty much the same level of trivia posing as news.
TV news has degenerated into the pap led by Hosking, Henry, Christie and others. Unbiased high level news it certainly isn’t.
If you turn on the radio airwaves, there are the odd oases, but here they are still dominated by the shrill voices on ZB and Radio Live.
So you see in NZ there are only a small minority of voices now that don’t subscribe to the neo-liberal propaganda machine. And this has seen a gradual and deliberate dumbing down of the population, so that many citizens are able to dicsuss the All Blacks, Reality TV shows and celebrity gossip in great detail, yet are ignorant about the issues that really affect their lives, like the TPP, Climate Change, the neoliberal experiment and foreign affairs, to name but a few.
I think that this is the reason the shills for the elite who attend this site don’t like my critique of the Herald.
Can I encourage everyone, including those attacking me with their usual ad hominems, to watch this film. It’s about the Amercian media and in many ways our own media is more owned and controlled than theirs?
it is that time of the year when the absence of the rich in our neighbourhoods is noticed.
they are all in the islands or northern hemisphere, hiding from the cold and dark winter…. they do it every year …….
and do you know what? It highlights their lack of use in society. We all carry on, doing the necessary work to keep our communities going, smiling with the gods of life..
.. while they are absent. The rich are unnecessary and this time of life when they all abandon our lands proves it.
Clean-power that is a useless statement / knee jerk response. But nonetheless…… how is such proved? How is it that the rich being out of the country and the poor being in the country prove that the poor are of no use?
It doesn’t.
And unless you can come up with something quickly then you are an idiot. And a waste of space – you wouldn’t happen to be rich per chance would you?
No, I do not hate the poor (but you seem to hate the rich).
I was using the analogy to ridicule your absurd and nonsensical statement “The rich are of no use. Proved.”
And there is nothing absurd or nonsensical about my statement that the rich are of no use. I made the statement and then provided some evidence to prove it, namely that the country carries on regardless when the rich are out of the country, therefore the rich are useless.
What evidence have you got for your baseless statement that the poor are useless? Anything? You have nothing so far – nothing. You’ve got nothing clean-power. You are useless too. Put up or shut up.
I notice you use words I would not have used, in ways I would not consider. Possibly you are not me, which would explain a lot. I say this to expose the nonsensical absurdity of you not being me.
Shanghai Pengxin spokeswoman confirmed that there was no intention on the part of the company to sell the farms but it was going through the procedure because it had to follow the law.
If there is an obligation to put the farms up for sale then there is clearly an obligation to sell….
will be interesting to see an offer come in
will be interesting to see them turn down the offer
will be interesting to see a high court judge consider their refusal to accept offer and make them sell
this should be most definitely be played out through the courts, especially in light of the fact that the company has stated it has no intention of genuinely offering for sale, contrary to the legislation ………
Nick Smith will be heading to Aussie in October to talk to some of their social housing non-profits. So the intent to offload state housing at all costs will continue.
Would have had more credibility if this kind of investigation had taken place before the decision to offload had been made. But even then – it has nothing to do with outcomes, just ideology.
“We’re white. That’s the problem. We’re white.”
The spirit of Sir Paul Holmes raises its ugly head in Taupo
A Māori woman and a Pākehā male are refused entry into a Taupo bar because of inebriation issues. The Pākehā male glares in outraged faux-wonderment at the bouncer, who is Māori, and rants at the bouncer in a wheedling tone….
(I’ve edited out the drunken contributions by his female companion, and also the good-natured, professional restraint of the bouncer.)
“That’s why your bar’s shit. You don’t let the right people in. We wanna come in here and pay money. … [some indistinct mumbling]…. We’re WHITE. That’s the problem. We’re white, that’s the problem. Intoxicated? You don’t even know what intoxicated means. That’s CRAZY! I can’t believe you would say that. I’ve just WATCHED who you’ve let in. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Racist, that’s what it is. Racist shit. F***ing n***ers! No that’s what it is, racist shit. That’s what it is.”
If this fool is fired, as he should be, no doubt he would fit in perfectly to a job at NewstalkZB.
No, it’s National that’s the racist party. Certainly, Labour has come out of the Chinese names fiasco looking incredibly inept, and many people were disturbed by the Clark government’s brutal persecution of Ahmed Zaoui, which involved a considerable element of racism.
So Labour is by no means perfect, as we have seen recently. But it is National that still bears the shame of the overtly racist 1975 campaign—they were targeting Pacific Islanders back then—and, more recently, the shame of Don Brash’s anti-Māori campaign, and employed the maliciously racist John Ansell to design the infamous “Iwi/Kiwi” billboards.
“With gusto”? That’s a very diplomatic way of portraying a campaign of overwhelming force against people who National voters at that time sneeringly called “the Coconuts”. People like Sam Lotu-Liga seem to be unaware of that, but most Pasifika people are not.
Still don’t know why who they’re employed by was an issue.
Actually, it’s crucial. That Mike Hosking/Paul Holmes soundalike ranting about “f***ing ni**ers” is a senior manager at Work and Income New Zealand. Surely that is one organisation that demands a minimal standard of decency and decorum. Well, at least since Christine Spankin’ Rankin left.
That’s true, but they hold positions of public responsibility in a small town, and to behave with such a flagrant disregard of public decency—unleashing that obscenity-larded racist tirade—surely disqualifies him from holding that position from now on.
His female companion’s behaviour was foolish, and she was drunk in a public place—but the really offensive behaviour was all on the part of the male.
That might all be true, and given he got himself filmed in public I hope his employers do look at the incident and consider how this might impact on his ability to do his job. But it still is not a matter for the media or public unless he was on work time.
Sean Plunkett has just ripped corrections minister to shreds on radio live. He managed to get confirmation the victim was injured at Mount Eden prior to the transfer…
Gosh all day it has been like the immaculate conception just like a bolt out of the blue sometime after arrival at Ngawha.
And my racist feelings are getting the better of me. If I’m going to hear some johnny talking down the grim Serco reality why can’t it be a Kiwi, nawt a Scotsman.
Wow it was really nice of Plunket to install that new asshole for the minister. He may have been able to be a bit more gentle but it sounds like it is really big.
The Corrections Minister will be sacked after that interview with Sean Plunket for his inability to lie and obfuscate with ease, and for his not bailing out of the interview once he started getting the rough handling.
“Can I suggest to you Minister that you get better prepared because it’s very hard to interview you when you are not prepared.” (paraphrased)
This however was the same minister who had no problem with accusing Labour’s first speaker, Kelvin Davis, in the urgent debate on Serco and Mt Eden of bringing a dead man into the argument.
In essence what the Minister was saying was that he won’t speak until he has all the facts, and hopefully that won’t be until the media has moved onto the next important issue such as crotch-displays and drunken drummers.
The Minister has not answered why reports many months old were not acted upon by persons responsible in Serco and the Department which spoke of staged fights, harm including broken jaws, broken legs and ruptured lungs.
Also not answered is why Serco did not know about what inmates were up to without supervision when congregated together. No staff member around? No body to hear the sounds of fighting? No officer to check the damage done to bodies?
The Speaker was right in his introduction to allow the urgent debate. This is an important matter. Kelvin Davis was also right to point out that the State has the right to incarcerate and also the obligation to care for those it incarcerates.
Not only are prisoners poorly supervised and being harmed by other inmates but prisoners are not getting the help which inmates need to help address their problems.
A society is judged on its treatment of its most vulnerable and powerless. Inmates, especially on remand and awaiting trial, are at the mercy of the quality and amount of protection offered by their jailers, acting on the government’s, and our, behalf.
the ability to take away a persons freedom is amongst the most coercive powers of the Crown – therefore it must not be contracted out and the Crown must fully discharge all responsibilities associated with the exercise of that coercive power.
The Nacts would be inclined to allocate this unpleasant Corrections portfolio to one of their brown group, or one of the women, but more likely to be a man. It would not be high on the pecking order I should think.
Social Welf is an interesting one, suitable for a woman but also with a very large budget so having managed that successfully, if that is a suitable word, Poorer Benefit has proved herself.
Corrections, should be a doddle according to the theory of Private Enterprise Proficiency or PEP – just made that up – but theory and reality being long divorced poor Corrections guy better take his suits in, as he’s going to lose weight.
from ‘The Big Short’-Michael Lewis-‘we have a simple thesis…said Eisman.There is going to be a calamity,and whenever there is a calamity,Merrill is there.Merrill Lynch was the little fat kid assigned the least pleasant roles,just happy to be part of things’.Interesting read in light of Wall St bankers comments that ‘no one saw it coming(GFC)’.The complicity and duplicity of the ratings agencies and financial institutions and the amorality and incompetence is mind blowing.And what has changed?Aren’t we lucky to have an ex Merrill manager as P.M….THE ‘BEST’ IS YET TO COME.:(
1. Dr JIAN YANG to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he received on the performance of the New Zealand economy and the Government’s management of its finances?
2. ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his justification for the $26 million process to consider changing the flag that “It’s just sheer confusion with Australia. Even at APEC they tried to take me to Abbott’s seat”?
3. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?
4. Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Minister for Building and Housing: What are the costs and benefits of the recently announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 that will require homes to be insulated and to have smoke alarms?
5. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Finance: When did he first become aware that there was an international glut of dairy products and does he stand by his reported comments that he has no plans to take active steps to diversify the economy in response to falling dairy prices?
6. JAMES SHAW to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his answers to Oral Question No. 4 yesterday?
7. RICHARD PROSSER to the Minister of Finance: Is he still sceptical about how effective a register of foreign property buyers would be; if so, why?
8. Dr SHANE RETI to the Minister of Health: What recent reports has he received on the effectiveness of the child immunisation programme?
9. PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement about whether inequality was a problem in the Auckland housing market, “We’ve been concerned about that for some time, that there’s part of Auckland where there’s been really no new supply of lower value houses that low and middle-income families can afford”?
10. JONO NAYLOR to the Minister of Justice: What announcements has she made about improving the oversight and supervision for offenders deported to New Zealand?
11. METIRIA TUREI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that “You certainly wouldn’t want to say to a low-income family they can never own a home, because I believe that they can own a home.”?
12. KELVIN DAVIS to the Minister of Corrections: Does he stand by his statement in regards to the July 2014 report on fight clubs in Mt Eden Corrections Facility, that he “became aware of the report’s existence only late last week”?
QUESTIONS TO MEMBERS
1. MAHESH BINDRA to the Member in charge of the New Zealand International Convention Centre Act 2013 Repeal Bill: What is the intention of the New Zealand International Convention Centre Act 2013 Repeal Bill?
2. CLAYTON MITCHELL to the Member in charge of the Fighting Foreign Corporate Control Bill: What is the intention of the Fighting Foreign Corporate Control Bill?
Heard Kelvin Davis on radionz this morning and he fronted up to media confidently, clearly and with thoughtful approach so he wasn’t caught out in any traps.
greywarshark +100…Kelvin Davis seems to be doing quite well…he would make a good Labour list MP….thereby leaving TTT to Mana/Int and Hone ( Mana/Int had some great prospective MPs….)
…thereby creating a valuable flaxroots/grassroots Left Maori Party coalition partner for Labour ( similar to the supportive role Act plays for Nactional)…
Heard Kelvin Davis on radionz this morning and he fronted up to media confidently, clearly and with thoughtful approach so he wasn’t caught out in any traps.
I presume by your positive comment that he did better than he did when attacked by Paul Henry on TV3 just after 7 o’clock. Davis was clearly rattled by Henry’s aggressive, disrespectful tone, and became practically incoherent. I’m going to put up a transcript of the débâcle on Open Mike tomorrow morning.
Yes Radio this a.m. I don’t watch tv at present. I feel disinclined to watch anything put on by sleaze running television now except for Maori which I hope is managing to not get sucked into the vortex. Trying to hold onto thoughts while being needled by death heads like Henry sounds would rattle anyone. Perhaps all pollies should go to boot camps conducted by trained Army, police personnel or callous courtroom lawyers trained in intensive questioning.
Paul Gibson has been so consistently staunch in his government paid role as the advocate for disabled people that I constantly fear for his continued employment.
1890
by Warwick Johnston
DESCRIPTION:
It is election night, 5 December 1890. Willis Street in Wellington is a sea of people all jostling for a vantage point in front of the massive illuminated results board. This night is the culmination of an extraordinary year in our brief history. It heralds the dawn of socialism, unionism, and inevitably, the New Zealand Labour Party. In 1890 we see the events leading up to the election through the eyes of two fledgling union activists, Marty and Tui, in a fresh and insightful perspective of one of our most turbulent and significant eras.
Good-bye to all that by Robert Graves
Description:
There was no patriotism in the trenches. It was too remote a sentiment, and rejected as fit only for civilians. A new arrival who talked patriotism would soon be told to cut it out. As Blighty, Great Britain was a quiet, easy place to get back to out of the present foreign misery, but as a nation it was nothing. This is the original version of Robert Graves’ intense memoir of the First World War, restoring this raw, emotionally truthful, darkly comic work to the way it was first written, by a young man still reeling from the trenches.
We see the dark heart of the book even more clearly, and hear it beating even more loudly, in this original edition than we do in the comparatively careful and considered terms of the later one’ Andrew Motion ‘One of the most candid self-portraits, warts and all, ever painted. (TLS). Robert Graves was born in 1895 in Wimbledon. He went from school to the First World War, where he became a captain in the Royal Welch Fusiliers and was seriously wounded at the Battle of the Somme. He wrote his autobiography, Goodbye to All That, in 1929, and it was soon established as a modern classic. He died on 7 December 1985 in Majorca, his home since 1929.
Andrew Motion’s most recent collection of poetry is The Cinder Path. He was poet laureate from 1999 to 2009 and is now Professor of Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London. Fran Brearton is Professor of Modern Poetry at Queen’s University Belfast and author of The Great War in Irish Poetry.
Thanks for that greywarshark, I am always on the outlook for good new reading material especially when someone can give a good appraisal.
I have just finished Thomas Pakenham’s Boar War. If you have not read it I can highly recommend it.
A large book but extremely comprehensive Without giving too much detail about it all I can say is that History has a nasty habit of repeating itself and fucking politicians of all colours never learn.
For Blair and Bush with the weapons of mass destruction to get at the oil in Iraq, read Rhodes and Milner and the poor Uitlanders to get at the Rand gold.
The British generals would have been the biggest bunch of incompetents the world has seen with some of them going on to create mayhem in the first world war like Butcher Haig, Hamilton, and the biggest prat of them all who set up the concentration camps in South Africa, Kitchener.
I will try and get 1890 on my e reader.
Another good book, once again if you have not read it is “It’s Not Rocket Science” by Ben Miller
Never heard of him but he’s a comedian in the uk
This is what the preamble says about the book.
Black holes. DNA. The Large Hadron Collider. Ever had that sneaking feeling that you are missing out on some truly spectacular science?
You do? Well, fear not, for help is at hand.
Ben Miller was working on his Physics PhD at Cambridge when he accidentally became a comedian. But first love runs deep, and he has returned to his roots to share with you all his favourite bits of science. This is the stuff you really need to know, not only because it matters but because it will quite simply amaze and delight you.
‘Let me show you another, perhaps less familiar side of Science; her beauty, her seductiveness and her passion. And let’s do it quickly, while Maths isn’t looking’
Great half crown. Thanks for heads up.
Talking about science I was trying an aphorism out in my head so will try it out on you. Don’t worry telling me if you don’t like it!
On spending $100 mill (or pounds) looking for signs of intelligent life in space,
I think this goes from blue sky research to black hole. And if it’s good science then we might find pi in the sky.
And I consider comparing the venture to James Cook setting out into unknown waters, is like the simplistic comparing of the nation’s economic transactions with a citizen’s household budget.
If they wanted to do some blue sky research on earth, they could scan the brains of all politicians and armed forces heads and advisors? Probably nearly all aliens if we only knew.
Ha I like it.
I have thought for ages that a lot of politicians are Aliens. There is a lot of Si Fi fiction about Aliens amongst us I am not sure that it is fiction, it is for real.
Apart from the politicians The likes of Gower and Hoskins are definitely not from this world.
It has been said the only thing that has made Prof Hawkins survive all these years with that terrible Motor Neuron disease is his determination of solving his theories on black Holes.
Is the singularity a potential big bang into another dimension?
Apart from doing some blue sky research, he can resolve and prove his theorem by coming to NZ, as I suspect our John Key and his government are definitely from another dimension.
Think of all the money they will save, as it will only cost them the air fare and accommodation and I don’t think they will need to stay longer than half hour.
On a more serious note , many on here have suggested good books to read.
So please keep us informed of any good books you have read. I do look at Good Reads but I find books suggested by other people are always good as the y tend to give a unbiased opinion.
That Boar War was suggested to me by a South African, he also suggested Pakenham’s “Scramble for Africa” The little bits I have read, it appears to be another good book.
Hi Chooky
Can try. Here is the guff about it. Perhaps you can phone or email and ask – quote number etc.
This is from online Southern Skies that has it for about $13.60 approx. There are numerous copies from different suppliers on line, and each seems to have a different number. I guess this is for different editions. Prices differ and not all of them mention other poets and writers like Motion.
Product Details:
ISBN: 9781909621053
Format: Hardback
Pages: 480
Dims (mm): 93 x 150
Pub Date: 01-09-13
Pub Country: United Kingdom
Condition: NEW
I read somewhere but lost the link that the SNP have nicked the opposition front benches from Labour after the UKLabs abstained on the tory welfare cuts. SNP decided that the Opposition needs to actually oppose in order to deserve the title 🙂
The Scottish National party defied convention to occupy the Opposition benches in the House of Commons, shortly after party leaders claimed they were the only “real opposition” to the Conservative government.
That’s some pretty good thinking right there – shame Labour into acting by openly taking their place.
John Key is killing it in The House today. Andrew Little leading with questions about the ‘flag’! John Key totally made Mr Little look like an out-of-touch fool!
National are now asking themselves the ‘big topic’ questions. Labour have yet again missed an opportunity – opportunities are just hanging on the vine for Labour, yet they wont pick them.
pretty sobering!…last summer was unbearable at times….and some farmers still have not received rain…desperate alright…especially if you are a dairy farmer
I am puzzled however about the talk of a new small ‘ice age’ coming in the next 15 years…personally i hope so…although it may not do much to stop global warming
‘There Probably Won’t Be A “Mini Ice Age” In 15 Years’
Zharkova ” commented on how the changes in the Sun are likely to affect the Earth’s environment. “During the minimum, the intensity of solar radiation will be reduced dramatically. So we will have less heat coming into the atmosphere, which will reduce the temperature.”
However, Zharkova ends with a word of warning: not about the cold but about humanity’s attitude toward the environment during the minimum. We must not ignore the effects of global warming and assume that it isn’t happening. “The Sun buys us time to stop these carbon emissions,” Zharkova says. The next minimum might give the Earth a chance to reduce adverse effects from global warming.
I wouldn’t hold out much hope for that Chooky. The physics regarding the solar minimum is fine – yes that is likely to happen around then, but the drop in solar energy received will be about equivalent to the current energy imbalance of the Earth now (approx 3 w /sq m) that drop would only last for a few years at most and would only lead to a slowdown in global warming – not an “ice age”. That is never going to happen in the short to medium term – there is already too much carbon in the atmosphere. The mathematics/physic prof should have consulted a climate scientist before shooting her mouth off about a “mini-ice-age”. Valentina Zharkova would have been quickly informed that such was not the case. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2015/jul/16/no-the-sun-isnt-going-to-save-us-from-global-warming
yes I see belatedly that you are probably right…sigh….I am going to load up with baked beans , matches and head for the nearest ravine when it gets too hot…will take cats and have invited friends …family thinks it is funny …but I say you have to have a plan and be prepared ….but even being prepared will probably only delay the inevitable…death by frying
🙂 I will not see it or least ways I’ll be a very old man by then. But I fear for my children and grandchildren. They will bear the brunt of it.
Was out planting trees today. We have a very active group here lead by Ken (90! ) replanting wetlands by the new Kopu Bridge. You can see the Ngaio raising their heads above the old man mangroves as you pass over the bridge now. The pohutakawa are doing well – some flowered last summer – and the ariel roots are making an appearance. Just 400 meters from our home is the oldest arboretum in the country and I spend some time in there as well tending tracks and weeding etc.
Being a baby boomer do you carry guilt for the state the the world is.
Yes I do. In my younger days I was quite a petrol head. Owned my first car at age 15. I still have my motorcycle (1957 R50 BMW), a classic car, and 2 others. There is no public transport here. But my petrol usage has dropped substantially having moved from the country into town. 5 mins gets me almost everywhere I need to go these days.
In the 1950’s and 60’s the concept of Global warming was little known – and indeed wasn’t really fully understood until the 80’s. I had the fortune to travel to Welliington each day in the late 70’s early 80’s with one of NZ’s foremost Climate Scientists who was at that time just completing his Doctorate on the NZ temperature record. As I was an educator in mathematics and science he and I had long and interesting discussions as to the nature of Global warming – so I became interested in climate science then and have followed it closely ever since. I have also been actively involved for a number of years working to bring awareness to as many as I can.
@Macro…….many brownie points for educating on climate change….I have found it hard to understand …or havent been bothered to try…however I recognise it is THE major problem facing humanity and the planet and ecosystems and animals…
recently I have been reading a book given to me by a friend ‘This Changes Everything’ by Naomi Klein on the issues around climate change….am finding it surprisingly compelling and easy to read….
Yes that is a very good book. She is a great communicator – I bought it for my daughter who is also very active in this area. Her “Shock Doctrine” is also a must read as is “War without end” – to which she is a contributing author.
@ BM…moi?…well I still have a wood fire…a luxury I guess ( but we grow trees too)…I have only had two children and admire those who don’t have any( the rest of my immediate family and my partner’s have not replaced themselves)…i do drive a car approx.twice a week ( dont speed)…i dont use planes often …in fact rarely ( but that is only because I cant afford airfares)…i like to travel by train and tram and bus…we cook most of our meals…( rarely eat out)…have a vege garden( not a good one)…try to eat locally…like op shops for clothes best!…. visit the hair dresser infrequently….when I die I want to be buried in a sheet and dug in ….and have tree planted on top ( so no cremation smoke /funeral/ embalming burial costs or ghastly speeches…they can pass the whiskey bottle around )..support Green Peace and environmental groups
…most of all I am proud that I live in an environmentally aware culture and dont live in an overpopulated culture…to me overpopulation is the biggest curse …and humankind’s biggest irresponsibility…those countries which have cultural overpopulation ( generally coexist with patriarchal sexism) and environmental problems should sort them out…and not spread their overpopulation and problems to other countries
so no i dont feel overburdened with guilt about global warming
It is both astonishing and sad that the philosopher has focused on a very narrow view and hasn’t really thought things through properly. Most of the readers commenting on the article seem to have understood the matter much better.
you mean ACT is now under foreign control ?…financially …and ideologically speaking?
Charter Schools model I know comes from USA….and is not successful….but the corporates want their hands on state money for education ie to make profits out of education even although the privatisation model does not work
…what other “external inputs” are there on ACT?….and who is creaming it in New Zealand?
KDC was made a scapegoat, again by the Left and Right.
Hone’s true failure was not getting 750 more votes in his electorate, which would have got both him and Laila into Parliament – a massive win for Internet Mana.
With all good will and desire for democracy and liberty, how can we fight these forces, well equipped by endless numbers of volunteers and mercenaries, from poverty, readily radicalised, to take up arms?
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
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A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
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In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
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Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
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The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
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Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
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David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
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New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
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Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
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Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
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The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
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Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
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The Herald is a dreadful rag, filling its pages with pap they garnered from social media about D grade ‘celebrities.’
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11484464
They publish Pap because many people enjoy it Paul.
If it ain’t for you, just don’t read it?
And stop bothering us with it. I don’t think many here are interested in it.
+100
“And stop bothering us with it. I don’t think many here are interested in it.”
I am interested in his comments the same as I am interested in yours.
I am glad he bothers us with it as it reinforces something we are aware of already and that is, the continuation of the dumbing down shit the right wing media wants us all to see. Nothing controversial, nothing that can rock the cosy right wing fucking boat, unless it is about the opposition to the right..
Don’t read that pathetic excuse for shit house paper, but there are several international things on the go at the moment that can and will affect NZ. Have not seen one item mentioned on our Television. The likes of Christy and that simpering blond he has as a side kick are more interesting showing some guy (suppose to be funny ha ha ) taking to another’s throat with a chainsaw, minus chain of course. Very funny and mind stretching ha ha not.
So tell me, how do the media force people to read the pap?
By conflating it with several gross and disrespectful acts.
How would that force anyone to read it if they weren’t interested in it?
Why is force your benchmark? The subeditor will attack me unless I at least glance at the headline?
What if I’m interested in the blatant monetisation of deliberate offence – let’s call it ‘bullying for money’ – and The Herald’s role in that?
Can I read it then? Perhaps I should only read things I already agree with, eh Sheep.
You’ve run way off track there OAB.
Force is my ‘benchmark’, because of course the media can’t force you to read or watch material you don’t freely choose to take in.
And even if you do freely choose to take it in, neither the media or anyone else can force you to think about it in any specific manner.
So when HC makes yet another variation on the theme you can read here everyday, i.e. ‘The media are brainwashing people for RW purposes’, I can tell you that is bullshit because it there is no possibility of successful brainwashing occurring.
Many people freely choose to watch and read pap, because they enjoy doing so, and as a believer in personal freedoms, I’m all for it.
there is no possibility of successful brainwashing occurring.
HC didn’t say “brainwashing”, they said “dumbing down” – and that of the media content, not the audience.
As for what you think is a possibility and what isn’t, the notion that public opinion cannot be influenced by the media will be of great relief to anyone concerned by the cost of advertising.
As Orwell said “Propaganda only works when it coincides with what the people were inclined towards anyway”.
So, no, you do not have to worry that a brilliant ad might influence you to purchase anything against your free will.
Nor do you have to shake with fear as you read a RW Political columnist, because you cannot be influenced by them unless you find their argument convincing and so choose to be.
And you don’t have to be concerned that watching the Kardashians will force you to be dumber than you have already chosen to be of your own free will.
So called ‘RW Media’ influence is a nonsense.
It is merely a bullshit mechanism by which some particularly deluded Lefties rationalise away the unacceptable reality that a great number of intelligent and rational people simply not agree with many LW theories.
That assumes that individuals aren’t a milieu of conflicting impulses, ls.
Hey, part of me wants to be a selfish prick and keep my money rather than helping others with it. A tory ad appeals to that side. Part of me wants to be mellow and just drift along rather than doing something. Pap clickbait of do-nothing “celebrities” appeals to that side of me.
When other parts of me want to help folk, create something, write something, or thoroughly consider a subject like the nature of our society, there is little to no encouragement of that in the MSM.
This is “force” in the sense of a current, constantly pushing a boat in a right-wing direction. It takes energy to fight that power, simply to remain on a centre line.
When other parts of me want to help folk, create something, write something, or thoroughly consider a subject like the nature of our society, there is little to no encouragement of that in the MSM.
Citation needed?
In among all the other areas the MSM covers, I see plenty of such material?
This is “force” in the sense of a current, constantly pushing a boat in a right-wing direction. It takes energy to fight that power, simply to remain on a centre line.
Citation needed?
What evidence is there that such a force in RW direction exists?
This topic has been discussed many times here, and I have never seen any solid conclusion to that effect reached.
re: your first citation request: lol. Do you want me to cite something that I just said has “little to no” existence?
Tell you what: for every article that you can cite from the last week of NZ media (free to air channels, radio, the major broadsheets or their websites) that encourages creativity or complex thought, I can provide ten celebrity pap or conflict-driven drivel items.
As for the second request: description here, in Kicking the tyres : the New Zealand general election and electoral referendum of 2011
Jon Johansson 1961-; Stephen I. Levine; Corin Higgs
Wellington, N.Z. : Victoria University Press 2012
Except that it does:
The Influence of Advertising
How Advertising Manipulates Your Choices and Spending Habits (and What to Do About It)
Businesses wouldn’t spend billions every year if advertising didn’t manipulate people.
Bollocks. RWNJ columnists do exactly the same as the advertisers – us overly emotion laden language to hide the facts and get a positive or negative response.
You’re obviously of the group of people who have difficulty accepting the idea that ads are manipulative because we want to believe we’re in complete control of our choices. Because of that you’re probably more manipulated than those of us who realise that the purpose of the MSM is to manipulate people.
”Tell you what: for every article that you can cite from the last week of NZ media (free to air channels, radio, the major broadsheets or their websites) that encourages creativity or complex thought, I can provide ten celebrity pap or conflict-driven drivel items.”
Wow that sounds like a somewhat Reithian appeal for the values underpinning decent public broadcasting, McFlock. Good to see you’ve come around.
Nope, it was an unashamedly subjective opinion of all media, not just public broadcasting.
And I still think that the critically-acclaimed Top of the Lake was shit.
Well, we have very little public broadcasting (the vandals are even in RadioNZ now) in this country – that’s the point.
I don’t know why you insist on conflating a presumably commercially viable drama (which screened on Sky) you disliked with the entire concept of public broadcasting.
“So when HC makes yet another variation on the theme you can read here everyday, i.e. ‘The media are brainwashing people for RW purposes’, I can tell you that is bullshit because it there is no possibility of successful brainwashing occurring.”
Hey mate what you have just written is fucking bullshit I have just seen this crap by you I never said the media is “brainwashing” for right wing purposes see my reply to you earlier response .
“So tell me, how do the media force people to read the pap? ”
Nowhere did I imply that they were forced to read it.
I make the point that all the media sing from the same right wing vested interest song sheet. Apart from the papers we have Hoskins, Henry, Christy, Garner, Alfred E Neuman (Gower) just to name a few giving the same right wing shit. There is no opposing views (apart from John Campbell and we all know what happened to his programme when the right started to feel “uncomfortable” with his subject matter) to create a robust debate so the general public can form a well informed opinion.
Stop whining and get on with life.
In other words, Paul, feeble trash ‘Facetious’ (Fatuous is a far better description) doesn’t like what you’re saying and would like you to stop saying it.
“Stop whining and get on with life.” Pot meet kettle.
Stop whining about other people whining and not getting on with their lives and get on your life without whining.
Must be the first thing you’ve said I agree with
This might help dealing with “Paul”.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lCis1U1nFR0
Pauls a troll but he is right that the herald is a dreadful rag
Feel free to discus the actual issue. The shallowness of the msm in NZ.
But if all you’ve got is insults, then I guess there isn’t an actual point or argument.
And if that’s the case, then you are simply a troll.
You’re a troll Paul.
I’m convinced Paul is a bot.
Paul is socially conscious. No wonder he is alien to those on the right.
He may believe he’s socially conscious, unfortunately he’s so mind numbingly boring and repetitive he makes people unconscious. You can literally feel the joy leaving the room and the inevitability of his daily criticism of that rag The Herald. Yet he still reads it.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lCis1U1nFR0
I shan’t open your youtube clip because it’s bound to be another example of online bullying.
No he’s s troll
I think Paul’s comments are really great. IMO he is one of a number of commenters that I value highly.
And Open Mike is open mike………….we are free on this thread to post what we like as long as it isn’t offensive.
Just one thing though. I am not sure this is completely mindless pap that doesn’t deserve some attention. Dom from the Edge social media comment was offensive and degrading of Crystal (I think that is her name, I don’t watch pap like Dw t S).
I think he and his show embodies a lot of what is wrong on the airwaves. Offensive and exploitative. And remember the tee-shirt picture with “I am not sorry to be a man” taken with John Key…………….So I think it is worth reporting that many people objected to his comment and found it wasnt
funny, but sickening really. His wife says he’s concerned when he hurts people? Then what is he going to do about his sexualizing of this woman???? The show might be pap, but its not porn.
The Edge.
How the right wing turn young citizens into dumbed down mindless consumers.
Key realises the value of this propaganda outlet.
As for the hosts, it would appear their values are in total sync with the me me me world Thatcher, Reagan and Douglas ushered in.
Best doco ever ‘the Century of Self’ by Adam Curtis.
Highly recommended for pr and other Rand cult believers.
Hi Paul,
Agree entirely about the Edge…………….So I do think it is good if people are challenging the host Dom and saying what he posted wasn’t acceptable. Scum Dj imo.
I do really appreciate all you posts and even though on this occasion I saw it differently, I have no problem with that. I wil try and watch the Curtis doco…..
Cheers and keep posting.
ps most of the Herald is pap or spin or both.
You don’t like The Edge? Don’t listen to it.
paul this story is about sexual harassment and objectification of women and the response to it. Learn to read the bigger story and then comment please – the minigun approach doesn’t work imo.
True, and so The Herald put it in the “entertainment” pages…
Front page is what I saw – this has been top for a couple of days and the responses from each party have been very interesting imo – a microscope showing some germs indeed.
I’m going from the url – Paul’s link.
I was pleased to see the Clayton’s apology called out for what it was, as well as the ‘shock jock’ modus operandi on display. I hadn’t seen the front page. I note they’re calling it the “DWTS feud”, as opposed to “Idiot makes a mess, refuses to clean up.”
Maybe the tone and quality will improve when they hire that racist Taupo WINZ manager as a columnist?
I hear hes standing for Labour at the next election 🙂
He’s a National supporter if ever there was one. That, or ACT.
In Defence of Chrystal Chenery
So don’t read it. Every day you complain about the bloody Herald, be a grown up and make a grown up decision. Don’t read it.
😆
What’s with the trashy wingnut tag-team attention Paul’s getting this morning. Paul must be doing something right.
OAB to the rescue (again). Paul’s post simply reinforces the fact that he is intolerant of other people’s opinions and viewing habits.
Whether he likes it or not, the JJ saga is one of the 5 most viewed pages on The Hearld – why would they stop pushing the story when it is so popular? Guess what Paul..? There are other people out there that are younger, less bitter and more outgoing than you, and they actually enjoy that stuff. Not me, but I certainly don’t complain about it, and don’t click on it.
Paul makes no such comments. His alleged intolerance is your inference. To me it looks like he’s castigating The Herald, and several wingnuts want him to shut up.
Intolerance of other people’s views is on display alright. Just not from Paul.
All Paul does is whinge. Much like yourself. I guess that’s why you come to his aid all the time.
😆
You are a nasty hostile lot this morning, aren’t you. What’s the matter, did floods go under your bridges or something?
The wringers like the bad boys, and Dom is just one of the so called brat pack, along with Hoskings and Henry. As well as bad boys it seems they just like bad newspapers to go along side.
“brat pack”?
Makes them sound like endearing wee scamps.
More like fuck-ruck.
Clearly critiquing the news is not acceptable for some. I certainly hit a nerve by commenting on their propaganda machine.
If the Herald were only outlet out of many and it was foisting this celebrity sensationalism on us, then I’d probably defer from commenting so regularly on it. But the Herald is the only newspaper in the Auckland region.
And Fairfax’s garbage is probably worse. Their stable of papers pump out pretty much the same level of trivia posing as news.
TV news has degenerated into the pap led by Hosking, Henry, Christie and others. Unbiased high level news it certainly isn’t.
If you turn on the radio airwaves, there are the odd oases, but here they are still dominated by the shrill voices on ZB and Radio Live.
So you see in NZ there are only a small minority of voices now that don’t subscribe to the neo-liberal propaganda machine. And this has seen a gradual and deliberate dumbing down of the population, so that many citizens are able to dicsuss the All Blacks, Reality TV shows and celebrity gossip in great detail, yet are ignorant about the issues that really affect their lives, like the TPP, Climate Change, the neoliberal experiment and foreign affairs, to name but a few.
I think that this is the reason the shills for the elite who attend this site don’t like my critique of the Herald.
Can I encourage everyone, including those attacking me with their usual ad hominems, to watch this film. It’s about the Amercian media and in many ways our own media is more owned and controlled than theirs?
Actually you are right RB. Scoop, Guardian, RadioNZ, RT, Aljazeera are all a LOT more interesting. The local rags really are just a bad habit.
RT makes foxnews look good.
Spoken like a true Foxnews devote.
You kind of feel sorry for people who have called for Fox News.
Kind of.
http://www.salon.com/2014/02/27/i_lost_my_dad_to_fox_news_how_a_generation_was_captured_by_thrashing_hysteria/
RT makes foxnews look good.
I think that this comment by something called “infused” is the single most foolish thing to be posted on this site in 2015.
Any other contenders?
Paul makes Peter Dunne look interesting and engaging.
“Every day you complain about the bloody Herald, be a grown up and make a grown up decision. Don’t read it.”
The irony is thick here…… could also tell the lurking media types to stop reading The Standard if they don’t like what they read.
Not surprisingly ‘the good ole boys network’ running Auckland Super City. Asian and Pacific Islander’s well under represented.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11484680&ref=NZH
House price rise increases inequality – English. No shit Bill! What have you been doing about that?
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/279353/house-price-rise-increases-inequality-english
Making sure it continues as that what their backers want.
Blinglish is good at faking concern which comes from a lifetime in the beltway never working outside the bubble of treasury/national party MP.
“We’re keen to get the cost of housing down”.
That’s the plan: aspirational.
One way house prices can come down is when the bubble goes pop and people are left with negative equity. I wonder if Double Dipton has heard of that.
Probably counting on it as it makes it easier to shift more people into private rentals so that the rentiers can become bigger bludgers.
it is that time of the year when the absence of the rich in our neighbourhoods is noticed.
they are all in the islands or northern hemisphere, hiding from the cold and dark winter…. they do it every year …….
and do you know what? It highlights their lack of use in society. We all carry on, doing the necessary work to keep our communities going, smiling with the gods of life..
.. while they are absent. The rich are unnecessary and this time of life when they all abandon our lands proves it.
The rich are of no use. Proved.
How do you know they are not saying exactly the same about you while wherever they are enjoying their holidays? The poor are of no use. Proved.
It cuts both ways.
That must be why general strikes are illegal. No, wait…
So you hate the poor Clean_power?
Well that explains a lot about why you come across as having no empathy – and very little in the way of ethics.
Millsy?
Clean-power that is a useless statement / knee jerk response. But nonetheless…… how is such proved? How is it that the rich being out of the country and the poor being in the country prove that the poor are of no use?
It doesn’t.
And unless you can come up with something quickly then you are an idiot. And a waste of space – you wouldn’t happen to be rich per chance would you?
No, I do not hate the poor (but you seem to hate the rich).
I was using the analogy to ridicule your absurd and nonsensical statement “The rich are of no use. Proved.”
I didn’t ask if you hate the poor.
And there is nothing absurd or nonsensical about my statement that the rich are of no use. I made the statement and then provided some evidence to prove it, namely that the country carries on regardless when the rich are out of the country, therefore the rich are useless.
What evidence have you got for your baseless statement that the poor are useless? Anything? You have nothing so far – nothing. You’ve got nothing clean-power. You are useless too. Put up or shut up.
I notice you use words I would not have used, in ways I would not consider. Possibly you are not me, which would explain a lot. I say this to expose the nonsensical absurdity of you not being me.
Oh, I’m sure they have interchangable poor people where they holiday. To make the cocktails and clean the shower.
http://www.angryflower.com/atlass.gif
So, no, it doesn’t cut both ways. We can do without the rich. In fact, we can’t afford them and we should stop paying for them.
A very telling statement.
The ultimate Claytons dairy farm sale
Shanghai Pengxin spokeswoman confirmed that there was no intention on the part of the company to sell the farms but it was going through the procedure because it had to follow the law.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/70429467/shanghai-pengxin-puts-all-its-farms-up-for-sale
Ponder this:
If one can openly tout they are merely going through the process, what’s the point of such toothless legislation?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/70429467/shanghai-pengxin-puts-all-its-farms-up-for-sale
If there is an obligation to put the farms up for sale then there is clearly an obligation to sell….
will be interesting to see an offer come in
will be interesting to see them turn down the offer
will be interesting to see a high court judge consider their refusal to accept offer and make them sell
this should be most definitely be played out through the courts, especially in light of the fact that the company has stated it has no intention of genuinely offering for sale, contrary to the legislation ………
One for philure if he is still visiting….
The Yes Men: Skip Showers for Beef campaign.
Nick Smith will be heading to Aussie in October to talk to some of their social housing non-profits. So the intent to offload state housing at all costs will continue.
Would have had more credibility if this kind of investigation had taken place before the decision to offload had been made. But even then – it has nothing to do with outcomes, just ideology.
“We’re white. That’s the problem. We’re white.”
The spirit of Sir Paul Holmes raises its ugly head in Taupo
A Māori woman and a Pākehā male are refused entry into a Taupo bar because of inebriation issues. The Pākehā male glares in outraged faux-wonderment at the bouncer, who is Māori, and rants at the bouncer in a wheedling tone….
(I’ve edited out the drunken contributions by his female companion, and also the good-natured, professional restraint of the bouncer.)
“That’s why your bar’s shit. You don’t let the right people in. We wanna come in here and pay money. … [some indistinct mumbling]…. We’re WHITE. That’s the problem. We’re white, that’s the problem. Intoxicated? You don’t even know what intoxicated means. That’s CRAZY! I can’t believe you would say that. I’ve just WATCHED who you’ve let in. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Racist, that’s what it is. Racist shit. F***ing n***ers! No that’s what it is, racist shit. That’s what it is.”
If this fool is fired, as he should be, no doubt he would fit in perfectly to a job at NewstalkZB.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11484044
His sense of entitlement and playing of the race card suggests he should stand for Labour at the next election
No, it’s National that’s the racist party. Certainly, Labour has come out of the Chinese names fiasco looking incredibly inept, and many people were disturbed by the Clark government’s brutal persecution of Ahmed Zaoui, which involved a considerable element of racism.
So Labour is by no means perfect, as we have seen recently. But it is National that still bears the shame of the overtly racist 1975 campaign—they were targeting Pacific Islanders back then—and, more recently, the shame of Don Brash’s anti-Māori campaign, and employed the maliciously racist John Ansell to design the infamous “Iwi/Kiwi” billboards.
Of course the dawn raids were started by Labour in 1973 but yes National did continue them with gusto
“With gusto”? That’s a very diplomatic way of portraying a campaign of overwhelming force against people who National voters at that time sneeringly called “the Coconuts”. People like Sam Lotu-Liga seem to be unaware of that, but most Pasifika people are not.
I’m sure there more than a few union memebers that were anti “the Coconuts” taking “their” jobs at the time as well
I’m sure there more than a few union memebers that were anti “the Coconuts” taking “their” jobs at the time as well
There were racist workers, of course. They voted for Muldoon.
Still don’t know why who they’re employed by was an issue.
Still don’t know why who they’re employed by was an issue.
Actually, it’s crucial. That Mike Hosking/Paul Holmes soundalike ranting about “f***ing ni**ers” is a senior manager at Work and Income New Zealand. Surely that is one organisation that demands a minimal standard of decency and decorum. Well, at least since Christine Spankin’ Rankin left.
Yes, the dept should look at that. But it’s not part of the news story unless they were on work time.
That’s true, but they hold positions of public responsibility in a small town, and to behave with such a flagrant disregard of public decency—unleashing that obscenity-larded racist tirade—surely disqualifies him from holding that position from now on.
His female companion’s behaviour was foolish, and she was drunk in a public place—but the really offensive behaviour was all on the part of the male.
That might all be true, and given he got himself filmed in public I hope his employers do look at the incident and consider how this might impact on his ability to do his job. But it still is not a matter for the media or public unless he was on work time.
Swamp kauri?
http://www.nzblokes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/oUnMTCB.jpg
My two cents on Max and Instagram and why I think we should be discussing children. Everybody’s children. period!
Politician’s Children Should Be Left Alone…. Should They?
+1
like!
Sean Plunkett has just ripped corrections minister to shreds on radio live. He managed to get confirmation the victim was injured at Mount Eden prior to the transfer…
This really is fucking disgusting.
I really hope some prisoners manage to sue the crap out of Serco and corrections.
Gosh all day it has been like the immaculate conception just like a bolt out of the blue sometime after arrival at Ngawha.
And my racist feelings are getting the better of me. If I’m going to hear some johnny talking down the grim Serco reality why can’t it be a Kiwi, nawt a Scotsman.
Sam Lotu Iinga, Corrections Minister answers (?) Sean Plunket’s simple questions on Radio Live:
Listen and get enlightened.
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Corrections-Minister-fronts-over-prison-death/tabid/506/articleID/91909/Default.aspx
Wow it was really nice of Plunket to install that new asshole for the minister. He may have been able to be a bit more gentle but it sounds like it is really big.
The Corrections Minister will be sacked after that interview with Sean Plunket for his inability to lie and obfuscate with ease, and for his not bailing out of the interview once he started getting the rough handling.
“Can I suggest to you Minister that you get better prepared because it’s very hard to interview you when you are not prepared.” (paraphrased)
This however was the same minister who had no problem with accusing Labour’s first speaker, Kelvin Davis, in the urgent debate on Serco and Mt Eden of bringing a dead man into the argument.
In essence what the Minister was saying was that he won’t speak until he has all the facts, and hopefully that won’t be until the media has moved onto the next important issue such as crotch-displays and drunken drummers.
The Minister has not answered why reports many months old were not acted upon by persons responsible in Serco and the Department which spoke of staged fights, harm including broken jaws, broken legs and ruptured lungs.
Also not answered is why Serco did not know about what inmates were up to without supervision when congregated together. No staff member around? No body to hear the sounds of fighting? No officer to check the damage done to bodies?
The Speaker was right in his introduction to allow the urgent debate. This is an important matter. Kelvin Davis was also right to point out that the State has the right to incarcerate and also the obligation to care for those it incarcerates.
Not only are prisoners poorly supervised and being harmed by other inmates but prisoners are not getting the help which inmates need to help address their problems.
A society is judged on its treatment of its most vulnerable and powerless. Inmates, especially on remand and awaiting trial, are at the mercy of the quality and amount of protection offered by their jailers, acting on the government’s, and our, behalf.
+100
the ability to take away a persons freedom is amongst the most coercive powers of the Crown – therefore it must not be contracted out and the Crown must fully discharge all responsibilities associated with the exercise of that coercive power.
The Nacts would be inclined to allocate this unpleasant Corrections portfolio to one of their brown group, or one of the women, but more likely to be a man. It would not be high on the pecking order I should think.
Social Welf is an interesting one, suitable for a woman but also with a very large budget so having managed that successfully, if that is a suitable word, Poorer Benefit has proved herself.
Corrections, should be a doddle according to the theory of Private Enterprise Proficiency or PEP – just made that up – but theory and reality being long divorced poor Corrections guy better take his suits in, as he’s going to lose weight.
from ‘The Big Short’-Michael Lewis-‘we have a simple thesis…said Eisman.There is going to be a calamity,and whenever there is a calamity,Merrill is there.Merrill Lynch was the little fat kid assigned the least pleasant roles,just happy to be part of things’.Interesting read in light of Wall St bankers comments that ‘no one saw it coming(GFC)’.The complicity and duplicity of the ratings agencies and financial institutions and the amorality and incompetence is mind blowing.And what has changed?Aren’t we lucky to have an ex Merrill manager as P.M….THE ‘BEST’ IS YET TO COME.:(
Sharon Murdoch nails Key again as Hawaiian Joy Germ Hits New Zealand,
https://twitter.com/domesticanimal/status/623579412869419008
QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS
1. Dr JIAN YANG to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he received on the performance of the New Zealand economy and the Government’s management of its finances?
2. ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his justification for the $26 million process to consider changing the flag that “It’s just sheer confusion with Australia. Even at APEC they tried to take me to Abbott’s seat”?
3. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?
4. Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Minister for Building and Housing: What are the costs and benefits of the recently announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 that will require homes to be insulated and to have smoke alarms?
5. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Finance: When did he first become aware that there was an international glut of dairy products and does he stand by his reported comments that he has no plans to take active steps to diversify the economy in response to falling dairy prices?
6. JAMES SHAW to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his answers to Oral Question No. 4 yesterday?
7. RICHARD PROSSER to the Minister of Finance: Is he still sceptical about how effective a register of foreign property buyers would be; if so, why?
8. Dr SHANE RETI to the Minister of Health: What recent reports has he received on the effectiveness of the child immunisation programme?
9. PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement about whether inequality was a problem in the Auckland housing market, “We’ve been concerned about that for some time, that there’s part of Auckland where there’s been really no new supply of lower value houses that low and middle-income families can afford”?
10. JONO NAYLOR to the Minister of Justice: What announcements has she made about improving the oversight and supervision for offenders deported to New Zealand?
11. METIRIA TUREI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that “You certainly wouldn’t want to say to a low-income family they can never own a home, because I believe that they can own a home.”?
12. KELVIN DAVIS to the Minister of Corrections: Does he stand by his statement in regards to the July 2014 report on fight clubs in Mt Eden Corrections Facility, that he “became aware of the report’s existence only late last week”?
QUESTIONS TO MEMBERS
1. MAHESH BINDRA to the Member in charge of the New Zealand International Convention Centre Act 2013 Repeal Bill: What is the intention of the New Zealand International Convention Centre Act 2013 Repeal Bill?
2. CLAYTON MITCHELL to the Member in charge of the Fighting Foreign Corporate Control Bill: What is the intention of the Fighting Foreign Corporate Control Bill?
ENDS
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1507/S00346.htm
Heard Kelvin Davis on radionz this morning and he fronted up to media confidently, clearly and with thoughtful approach so he wasn’t caught out in any traps.
To think Labour (and more than a few people on here as well) wanted him to throw in the towel and let Hone win
Yep; we would have been better off with having both Hone and Laila in the House. Davis could have come in on the list.
+1
greywarshark +100…Kelvin Davis seems to be doing quite well…he would make a good Labour list MP….thereby leaving TTT to Mana/Int and Hone ( Mana/Int had some great prospective MPs….)
…thereby creating a valuable flaxroots/grassroots Left Maori Party coalition partner for Labour ( similar to the supportive role Act plays for Nactional)…
Heard Kelvin Davis on radionz this morning and he fronted up to media confidently, clearly and with thoughtful approach so he wasn’t caught out in any traps.
I presume by your positive comment that he did better than he did when attacked by Paul Henry on TV3 just after 7 o’clock. Davis was clearly rattled by Henry’s aggressive, disrespectful tone, and became practically incoherent. I’m going to put up a transcript of the débâcle on Open Mike tomorrow morning.
Yes Radio this a.m. I don’t watch tv at present. I feel disinclined to watch anything put on by sleaze running television now except for Maori which I hope is managing to not get sucked into the vortex. Trying to hold onto thoughts while being needled by death heads like Henry sounds would rattle anyone. Perhaps all pollies should go to boot camps conducted by trained Army, police personnel or callous courtroom lawyers trained in intensive questioning.
Tory wrecking ball set to wreck everything that’s good about informing, educating and entertaining.
http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/bbc/36237/the-bbc-funding-and-why-its-worth-fighting-for
And in the “Government employee actually does his job” category…
Paul Gibson addresses the Health Select Committee…
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/279402/call-for-inquiry-into-family-caregiver-pay
Paul Gibson has been so consistently staunch in his government paid role as the advocate for disabled people that I constantly fear for his continued employment.
A book that all Labour fans may not have read.
1890
by Warwick Johnston
DESCRIPTION:
It is election night, 5 December 1890. Willis Street in Wellington is a sea of people all jostling for a vantage point in front of the massive illuminated results board. This night is the culmination of an extraordinary year in our brief history. It heralds the dawn of socialism, unionism, and inevitably, the New Zealand Labour Party. In 1890 we see the events leading up to the election through the eyes of two fledgling union activists, Marty and Tui, in a fresh and insightful perspective of one of our most turbulent and significant eras.
Available Trademe $22 Buy Now Free shipping
Book – WW1
Trme $23 post $3 (comes from Oz)
Good-bye to all that by Robert Graves
Description:
There was no patriotism in the trenches. It was too remote a sentiment, and rejected as fit only for civilians. A new arrival who talked patriotism would soon be told to cut it out. As Blighty, Great Britain was a quiet, easy place to get back to out of the present foreign misery, but as a nation it was nothing. This is the original version of Robert Graves’ intense memoir of the First World War, restoring this raw, emotionally truthful, darkly comic work to the way it was first written, by a young man still reeling from the trenches.
We see the dark heart of the book even more clearly, and hear it beating even more loudly, in this original edition than we do in the comparatively careful and considered terms of the later one’ Andrew Motion ‘One of the most candid self-portraits, warts and all, ever painted. (TLS). Robert Graves was born in 1895 in Wimbledon. He went from school to the First World War, where he became a captain in the Royal Welch Fusiliers and was seriously wounded at the Battle of the Somme. He wrote his autobiography, Goodbye to All That, in 1929, and it was soon established as a modern classic. He died on 7 December 1985 in Majorca, his home since 1929.
Andrew Motion’s most recent collection of poetry is The Cinder Path. He was poet laureate from 1999 to 2009 and is now Professor of Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London. Fran Brearton is Professor of Modern Poetry at Queen’s University Belfast and author of The Great War in Irish Poetry.
+100..great book!
Thanks for that greywarshark, I am always on the outlook for good new reading material especially when someone can give a good appraisal.
I have just finished Thomas Pakenham’s Boar War. If you have not read it I can highly recommend it.
A large book but extremely comprehensive Without giving too much detail about it all I can say is that History has a nasty habit of repeating itself and fucking politicians of all colours never learn.
For Blair and Bush with the weapons of mass destruction to get at the oil in Iraq, read Rhodes and Milner and the poor Uitlanders to get at the Rand gold.
The British generals would have been the biggest bunch of incompetents the world has seen with some of them going on to create mayhem in the first world war like Butcher Haig, Hamilton, and the biggest prat of them all who set up the concentration camps in South Africa, Kitchener.
I will try and get 1890 on my e reader.
Another good book, once again if you have not read it is “It’s Not Rocket Science” by Ben Miller
Never heard of him but he’s a comedian in the uk
This is what the preamble says about the book.
Black holes. DNA. The Large Hadron Collider. Ever had that sneaking feeling that you are missing out on some truly spectacular science?
You do? Well, fear not, for help is at hand.
Ben Miller was working on his Physics PhD at Cambridge when he accidentally became a comedian. But first love runs deep, and he has returned to his roots to share with you all his favourite bits of science. This is the stuff you really need to know, not only because it matters but because it will quite simply amaze and delight you.
‘Let me show you another, perhaps less familiar side of Science; her beauty, her seductiveness and her passion. And let’s do it quickly, while Maths isn’t looking’
Great half crown. Thanks for heads up.
Talking about science I was trying an aphorism out in my head so will try it out on you. Don’t worry telling me if you don’t like it!
On spending $100 mill (or pounds) looking for signs of intelligent life in space,
I think this goes from blue sky research to black hole. And if it’s good science then we might find pi in the sky.
And I consider comparing the venture to James Cook setting out into unknown waters, is like the simplistic comparing of the nation’s economic transactions with a citizen’s household budget.
If they wanted to do some blue sky research on earth, they could scan the brains of all politicians and armed forces heads and advisors? Probably nearly all aliens if we only knew.
Ha I like it.
I have thought for ages that a lot of politicians are Aliens. There is a lot of Si Fi fiction about Aliens amongst us I am not sure that it is fiction, it is for real.
Apart from the politicians The likes of Gower and Hoskins are definitely not from this world.
It has been said the only thing that has made Prof Hawkins survive all these years with that terrible Motor Neuron disease is his determination of solving his theories on black Holes.
Is the singularity a potential big bang into another dimension?
Apart from doing some blue sky research, he can resolve and prove his theorem by coming to NZ, as I suspect our John Key and his government are definitely from another dimension.
Think of all the money they will save, as it will only cost them the air fare and accommodation and I don’t think they will need to stay longer than half hour.
On a more serious note , many on here have suggested good books to read.
So please keep us informed of any good books you have read. I do look at Good Reads but I find books suggested by other people are always good as the y tend to give a unbiased opinion.
That Boar War was suggested to me by a South African, he also suggested Pakenham’s “Scramble for Africa” The little bits I have read, it appears to be another good book.
thanks..is this a new book ie can I get it at Whitcoulls?
Hi Chooky
Can try. Here is the guff about it. Perhaps you can phone or email and ask – quote number etc.
This is from online Southern Skies that has it for about $13.60 approx. There are numerous copies from different suppliers on line, and each seems to have a different number. I guess this is for different editions. Prices differ and not all of them mention other poets and writers like Motion.
Product Details:
ISBN: 9781909621053
Format: Hardback
Pages: 480
Dims (mm): 93 x 150
Pub Date: 01-09-13
Pub Country: United Kingdom
Condition: NEW
I read somewhere but lost the link that the SNP have nicked the opposition front benches from Labour after the UKLabs abstained on the tory welfare cuts. SNP decided that the Opposition needs to actually oppose in order to deserve the title 🙂
Bryan Gould has a very interesting a saddened look at the matter here:
http://www.bryangould.com/labours-failure/
I read that last night. It does kind of outline the issue.
I was going to hunt down anything that UK Labour were saying about it when I next had some reading time and atablet to hand.
Their support for austerity doesn’t exactly look to be working for them. Jeremy Corbyn is now ahead in the leadership polls, and Tony Blair has been wheeled out to advise against him:
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/07/jeremy-corbyn-takes-lead-new-poll
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-33619645
Here we are.
That’s some pretty good thinking right there – shame Labour into acting by openly taking their place.
Great move by the SNP.
Marvelous.
John Key is killing it in The House today. Andrew Little leading with questions about the ‘flag’! John Key totally made Mr Little look like an out-of-touch fool!
National are now asking themselves the ‘big topic’ questions. Labour have yet again missed an opportunity – opportunities are just hanging on the vine for Labour, yet they wont pick them.
Labour seems like a hopeless case. #ShiftingCamps
Hold Up… …Here comes Grant Robertson on Dairy…
2:25pm
El Nino brings hottest 6th month global temperatures in 136 years of records – and still developing. So much for an “hiatus”! Look for a hum dinger of a drought here this summer folks. Thank goodness I’m not a dairy farmer.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/el-nino-fuels-hottest-june-and-hottest-six-months-on-record-us-agency-noaa-20150721-gigqju
pretty sobering!…last summer was unbearable at times….and some farmers still have not received rain…desperate alright…especially if you are a dairy farmer
I am puzzled however about the talk of a new small ‘ice age’ coming in the next 15 years…personally i hope so…although it may not do much to stop global warming
http://www.sciencealert.com/a-mini-ice-age-is-coming-in-the-next-15-years
http://www.livescience.com/51597-maunder-minimum-mini-ice-age.html
http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s4277443.htm
Looks like the ‘ice age’ will only buy time from the relentless global warming:
http://www.iflscience.com/environment/mini-ice-age-not-reason-ignore-global-warming
‘There Probably Won’t Be A “Mini Ice Age” In 15 Years’
Zharkova ” commented on how the changes in the Sun are likely to affect the Earth’s environment. “During the minimum, the intensity of solar radiation will be reduced dramatically. So we will have less heat coming into the atmosphere, which will reduce the temperature.”
However, Zharkova ends with a word of warning: not about the cold but about humanity’s attitude toward the environment during the minimum. We must not ignore the effects of global warming and assume that it isn’t happening. “The Sun buys us time to stop these carbon emissions,” Zharkova says. The next minimum might give the Earth a chance to reduce adverse effects from global warming.
I wouldn’t hold out much hope for that Chooky. The physics regarding the solar minimum is fine – yes that is likely to happen around then, but the drop in solar energy received will be about equivalent to the current energy imbalance of the Earth now (approx 3 w /sq m) that drop would only last for a few years at most and would only lead to a slowdown in global warming – not an “ice age”. That is never going to happen in the short to medium term – there is already too much carbon in the atmosphere. The mathematics/physic prof should have consulted a climate scientist before shooting her mouth off about a “mini-ice-age”. Valentina Zharkova would have been quickly informed that such was not the case.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2015/jul/16/no-the-sun-isnt-going-to-save-us-from-global-warming
yes I see belatedly that you are probably right…sigh….I am going to load up with baked beans , matches and head for the nearest ravine when it gets too hot…will take cats and have invited friends …family thinks it is funny …but I say you have to have a plan and be prepared ….but even being prepared will probably only delay the inevitable…death by frying
…in the meantime plant more trees!
🙂 I will not see it or least ways I’ll be a very old man by then. But I fear for my children and grandchildren. They will bear the brunt of it.
Was out planting trees today. We have a very active group here lead by Ken (90! ) replanting wetlands by the new Kopu Bridge. You can see the Ngaio raising their heads above the old man mangroves as you pass over the bridge now. The pohutakawa are doing well – some flowered last summer – and the ariel roots are making an appearance. Just 400 meters from our home is the oldest arboretum in the country and I spend some time in there as well tending tracks and weeding etc.
great!..there is great satisfaction in planting trees
Being a baby boomer do you carry guilt for the state that the world is.
Do you believe that you are some how responsible and need to make amends before you pass on?
Yes I do. In my younger days I was quite a petrol head. Owned my first car at age 15. I still have my motorcycle (1957 R50 BMW), a classic car, and 2 others. There is no public transport here. But my petrol usage has dropped substantially having moved from the country into town. 5 mins gets me almost everywhere I need to go these days.
In the 1950’s and 60’s the concept of Global warming was little known – and indeed wasn’t really fully understood until the 80’s. I had the fortune to travel to Welliington each day in the late 70’s early 80’s with one of NZ’s foremost Climate Scientists who was at that time just completing his Doctorate on the NZ temperature record. As I was an educator in mathematics and science he and I had long and interesting discussions as to the nature of Global warming – so I became interested in climate science then and have followed it closely ever since. I have also been actively involved for a number of years working to bring awareness to as many as I can.
@Macro…….many brownie points for educating on climate change….I have found it hard to understand …or havent been bothered to try…however I recognise it is THE major problem facing humanity and the planet and ecosystems and animals…
recently I have been reading a book given to me by a friend ‘This Changes Everything’ by Naomi Klein on the issues around climate change….am finding it surprisingly compelling and easy to read….
Yes that is a very good book. She is a great communicator – I bought it for my daughter who is also very active in this area. Her “Shock Doctrine” is also a must read as is “War without end” – to which she is a contributing author.
@ BM…moi?…well I still have a wood fire…a luxury I guess ( but we grow trees too)…I have only had two children and admire those who don’t have any( the rest of my immediate family and my partner’s have not replaced themselves)…i do drive a car approx.twice a week ( dont speed)…i dont use planes often …in fact rarely ( but that is only because I cant afford airfares)…i like to travel by train and tram and bus…we cook most of our meals…( rarely eat out)…have a vege garden( not a good one)…try to eat locally…like op shops for clothes best!…. visit the hair dresser infrequently….when I die I want to be buried in a sheet and dug in ….and have tree planted on top ( so no cremation smoke /funeral/ embalming burial costs or ghastly speeches…they can pass the whiskey bottle around )..support Green Peace and environmental groups
…most of all I am proud that I live in an environmentally aware culture and dont live in an overpopulated culture…to me overpopulation is the biggest curse …and humankind’s biggest irresponsibility…those countries which have cultural overpopulation ( generally coexist with patriarchal sexism) and environmental problems should sort them out…and not spread their overpopulation and problems to other countries
so no i dont feel overburdened with guilt about global warming
ps – I’m a fan of the furry friends too 🙂 our HRH the princess shinky-paws lollabout, is now cat napping after 3 helpings of dinner on the sofa.
Good man! I do a bit of that too, tree planting that is.
The ACT Party propose the continued fire sale of our country to speculators from Beijing, Berlin, Birmingham and Boston.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11485101
It is both astonishing and sad that the philosopher has focused on a very narrow view and hasn’t really thought things through properly. Most of the readers commenting on the article seem to have understood the matter much better.
ACT is a mad dog …and mad dogs should be ….
and mad dogs should be …. Prebbled
lol…proves the point…. lately Prebble has supported nationalising rail again….and Hide has had his problems with being surveilled and spied upon
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/07/17/richard-prebble-argueing-to-save-rail-is-the-4th-hypocrisy-of-the-apocalypse/
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/07/19/and-then-they-came-for-rodney-hide/
Act died years ago.
It’s only still breathing because of external inputs.
you mean ACT is now under foreign control ?…financially …and ideologically speaking?
Charter Schools model I know comes from USA….and is not successful….but the corporates want their hands on state money for education ie to make profits out of education even although the privatisation model does not work
…what other “external inputs” are there on ACT?….and who is creaming it in New Zealand?
Without National, Act dies.
Same for United Future.
And yet they are alive. where as Mana …..
Yep, stabbed in the back by a coalition of left and right
Or their own folly, CV. KDC was entirely their choice.
KDC was made a scapegoat, again by the Left and Right.
Hone’s true failure was not getting 750 more votes in his electorate, which would have got both him and Laila into Parliament – a massive win for Internet Mana.
…transmogrification? …whatever the nature of the beast ….it is still keeping jonkey nact alive
With all good will and desire for democracy and liberty, how can we fight these forces, well equipped by endless numbers of volunteers and mercenaries, from poverty, readily radicalised, to take up arms?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7BEAKrb-bI
I despair about the future and lack of answers.