Open mike 23/12/2024
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6:00 am, December 23rd, 2024 - 22 comments
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Parmeter, Research scholar, Middle East studies, Australian National University The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, to come into effect on Sunday, has understandably been welcomed by the overwhelming majority of Israelis and Palestinians. Israelis are relieved that a process for ...10 hours ago
- Wildfires ignite infection risks, by weakening the body’s immune defences and spreading bugs in sm...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christine Carson, Senior Research Fellow, School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia Over the past several days, the world has watched on in shock as wildfires have devastated large parts of Los Angeles. Beyond the obvious destruction – to landscapes, homes, ...10 hours ago
- No, you don’t need the ‘Barbie drug’ to tan, whatever TikTok says. Here’s why melanotan-II i...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rose Cairns, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow, University of Sydney AtlasStudio/Shutterstock TikTok and Instagram influencers have been peddling the “Barbie drug” to help you tan. But melanotan-II, as it’s called officially, is a solution that’s too good to ...10 hours ago
- The LA fires have prompted a reckoning for the insurance industry – Australian premiums could soar...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paula Jarzabkowski, Professor in Strategic Management, The University of Queensland A series of wildfires in Los Angeles County have caused widespread devastation in California, including at least 24 deaths and the destruction of more than 12,000 homes and structures. Thousands of residents ...10 hours ago
- The Human Rights Commission has handed down a report on racism at Australian universities. Here’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chelsea Watego, Professor of Indigenous Health, Executive Director, Carumba Institute, Queensland University of Technology Just before universities closed for the year in 2024, the Australian Human Rights Commission released its Interim Report on Racism at Australian Universities. The timing of the ...11 hours ago
- Fiji quota proposal sparks debate on women’s representation in politics
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- US ‘TikTok refugees’ are fleeing to Chinese app RedNote. It’s a new phase of the digital cold ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jian Xu, Associate Professor in Communication, Deakin University Ti Vla/Shutterstock Social media giant TikTok is preparing to shut down its app in the United States this Sunday – the day that legislation signed by President Joe Biden last year banning the ...13 hours ago
- Golriz, I think I get it — I shoplifted too
What compels someone of significant status in society to break the law, repeatedly, might be the same reason I did as a poor teenager. Former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman, who left parliament a year ago today following revelations of shoplifting, is now at the centre of another shoplifting complaint. As ...14 hours ago - Meta’s shift to ‘community notes’ risks hurting online health info providers more than ever
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kath Albury, Professor of Media and Communication and Associate Investigator, ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making + Society, Swinburne University of Technology natamrli/Shutterstock Last week, social media giant Meta announced major changes to its content moderation practices. This includes an ...14 hours ago
- Remembering Simon Townsend as a conscientious objector and fearless anti-Vietnam War activist
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Effie Karageorgos, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Newcastle Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy SEARCH Foundation, CC BY Journalist Simon Townsend has died aged 79 only a few months after being diagnosed with an aggressive form ...15 hours ago
- Government-iwi partnership to see 48 affordable rental homes built in Gisborne
"Gisborne has suffered from housing underdevelopment and a lack of supply, coupled with damage from severe weather events," Minister Tama Potaka says. ...15 hours ago
- Say it with a picture: overcoming legalese in public procurement contracts
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marta Andhov, Associate Professor, Law School, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Iconic Bestiary/Shutterstock They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But in the world of legal contracts, pictures can be worth even more by making complicated concepts more ...16 hours ago
- Global watchdog calls for ‘open’ probe into crimes against Gaza media as ceasefire agreed
Asia Pacific Report The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Egyptian, Palestinian and Israeli authorities to allow foreign journalists into Gaza in the wake of the three-phase ceasefire agreement set to to begin on Sunday. The New York-based global media watchdog urged the international community “to independently investigate ...16 hours ago
- World celebrates Gaza ceasefire deal
The agreement will ease Palestinians’ suffering, but international agencies will struggle to meet the massive need for humanitarian relief. This is an excerpt from The World Bulletin, our weekly global current affairs newsletter exclusively for Spinoff Members. Sign up here. We start the World Bulletin’s year with a rare piece of ...17 hours ago
- Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire. It doesn’t guarantee a peaceful end to a devastating ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marika Sosnowski, Postdoctoral research fellow, The University of Melbourne After 467 days of violence, a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel has been reached and will come into effect on Sunday, pending Israeli government approval. This agreement will not end the ...17 hours ago
- The worst Google reviews of New Zealand’s best tramps
We love to suffer through tramps to enjoy natural beauty… except when we don’t. It can feel a bit shitty to stay inside and wallow all day when it’s nice out. Hot sunlight hits your window and your mum’s voice rings around in your head: get outside and enjoy the ...17 hours ago
- ‘Unreasonably Secretive’ – Otago Regional Council Refuses To Release Potentially Damning Corre...
Requests for official information involving potentially damning correspondence are totally legitimate – but have been put in the ‘too hard basket' by officials refusing to properly follow the Local Government Official Information and Meetings ...18 hours ago
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With the local body elections in October, a long-awaited upgrade of Courtenay Place, and big changes for water, housing and the economy, it’s set to be another dramatic year for the capital city. The Golden Mile Conservative city councillors made a last-minute attempt in November to scrap the Golden Mile ...18 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Cornell, PhD Candidate, UNSW Beach Safety Research Group + School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney byvalet/Shutterstock Australia is considered a nation of beach lovers. But with all this water surrounding us, drownings remain tragically common. At least 55 people have ...20 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Uri Gal, Professor in Business Information Systems, University of Sydney Sergii Gnatiuk/Shutterstock Over the past two years, generative artificial intelligence (AI) has captivated public attention. This year signals the beginning of a new phase: the rise of AI agents. AI ...20 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liz Giuffre, Senior Lecturer in Communication, University of Technology Sydney Originally known as 2JJ, or Double Jay, when it launched in Sydney at 11am on January 19 1975, Triple J has since become the national youth network. The station now encompasses broadcast ...20 hours ago
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RNZ understands the former Green MP is being investigated for an incident at a Pak'nSave supermarket. ...21 hours ago
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- $2m upgrade for ‘creaky’ mega government database
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- Taxing charities’ business income would have ‘devastating’ impact on communities
An anticipated move to tax charities’ business operations would reduce charitable activity and may cause businesses to leave New Zealand, a lawyer warns. In a push to find new sources of revenue the Government is looking at implementing a charity tax, which would see the business arm of companies such as ...24 hours ago
- The submission surge: How having a say on new laws went from nerdy to normal
As parliamentary staff start to read through thousands of submissions on the Treaty principles bill, Shanti Mathias explores how submitting became the go-to way to engage with politics – and asks whether it makes a difference. While the exact number is currently being confirmed, it seems almost certain that submissions ...24 hours ago
Heading into the new year, we on the left have a massive task: to save our democracy from ‘wealth!’
Over dramatic? Perhaps . . . perhaps not.
When we see, in real time, the over-the-top influence of the billionaires on the last American election, and ‘Trumps’ Project 2025, when we can see similar things happening in the UK and Europe, when Australia is taking active steps to curtail the influence of wealth on their elections, and when we can see plain evidence of money manipulating our politicians (Winton, for instance, buying Bishop), then it’s past time to start removing money from our political processes.
We cannot expect the Natz, ACT or NZFirst to so anything, they, after all, are the beneficiaries of pretty massive donations.
The Greens and Ti Paarti Maori are already on board.
https://substack.com/@warlock2012/note/c-82325177?r=pr9pu
That only leaves Labour. We need to convince the Labour Party to enact legislation to severely limit the influence of big money – in the form, as per Australia, of limiting contributions, or completely funding all parties from the public purse – something must be done!
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/health/hospital-computer-system-fails-again
If a patient dies due to government underfunded I T , surely they could be taken to court for criminal negligence?
Except that would set a precedent. Not just hospital death by IT, but death from malnutrition as a result of the government slashing funding to foodbanks, unsurvivable benefit rates, and kicking people out of emergency accommodation, deliberately not funding mental health services Etc, etc, etc.
A lot of government policy contributes directly and indirectly to premature deaths, but don't worry – even if they made it to court, millions of taxpayer's money would be spent by Crown Law defending the government.
A petty, vengeful, toddler with nukes.
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-says-he-might-demand-panama-hand-over-canal-2024-12-22/
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-companies-accused-tax-evasion-panama
Grenada and Panama have a reputation for being places where a POTUS can show his imperial Monroe Doctrine "shock and awe" Star Wars lightsaber prowess. One can just feel the powerful hand grip and the fast moving use of fingers on keys.
Between the G and the P is the R of “Ruritania”.
Based on this central European country.
Sophie heiress to its rule is also the Jacobite claimant to the Court of Saint James.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=Liiechenstein
Of course he's ignorant.
/
@sifill.bsky.social
I will not respond to most of Trump’s nonsense. But out of respect for my forbears, let me set the record straight. The people who did most of the working & dying in constructing the Panama Canal were Black ppl from the West Indies. Not Americans. This guy… For more: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/america...
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:rjr6nfdzrfngjgc34jjyty6a/post/3ldubx56o5c2k
I'm not sure the world has enough popcorn for the next four years
'Rules based order'
A rules based order.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/360532501/cadburys-loses-royal-warrant-first-time-170-years
Ethical leadership.
Cadbury only hung on because the Queen and her ancestors liked Bournville dark chocolate (us commoners only knew of Vita). Otherwise their resort to unnatural cheap ingredients, which made them untrustworthy and dishonest – and then sacre bleu, reduced size of blocks to hide price increases, would have been the end of them years back.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bournville
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arden,_Warwickshire
History lesson. Cadbury fort was the symbol of British sovereignty. It was build to house 500 commoners under security of 500 guards. Later after the legions left in 406CE, the tradition was carried on by the 500 on horse.
Their legend was that of the 2nd 6th. They served near the wall and were demobilised to Yorkshire and continued their horse expertise. After defeast by the Cantabrians of Spain (who used horse), the 2nd 6th hired in groups from the Black Sea for their legion. They brought with them, the legend of the women of the lake. The mythical origin of European royalty (old European for river is Danu) as old as the flood of c5500BCE in the Black Sea region.
Celtiberians?
Probably, those living there now are more mountain Castilian.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/537469/interislander-ferry-kaiarahi-resumes-sailing-after-fault-fixed
5 more years out of these old rust buckets?
But a Toyota Corolla will be cool! Just wait til they make an amphibious one!
Do not worry the government is not providing a cheap alternative to IREX
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360530998/unions-economist-predicts-new-cook-strait-ferries-will-cost-least-17-billion
Yep, reading this wearing my Nicky No Boats t-shirt and wondering who would like a bumper sticker for Christmas.
https://bhnshop.nz/products/bhn-nicky-no-boats-t-shirts
Wow just so blatant about one rule for the greedy, and one rule for the rest of us.
A month before we start eating each other, within the year most of us would be done.
The temporary breakdown of Earth’s magnetic field 42,000 years ago sparked major climate shifts that led to global environmental change and mass extinctions, an international research team including a University of Wollongong (UOW) scientist has found.
This dramatic turning point in Earth’s history – laced with electrical storms, widespread auroras, and cosmic radiation – was triggered by the reversal of Earth’s magnetic poles and changing solar winds.
[…]
The study suggests that were a similar shift in the Earth’s magnetic poles to occur now, the consequences for modern society would be huge.
Not only would incoming cosmic radiation destroy our electric power grids and satellite networks, it would trigger a new wave of climate change.
“Why do we care what happened 42,000 years ago? Because what happened is terrifying and could happen again,” Professor Dosseto said.
“If it happened again, the consequences would be tragic for humankind and would go well beyond losing mobile phone reception – however terrifying that might seem.
“Although the weakening of the magnetic field only lasted a few hundred years, it had consequences on Earth’s climate, environment and life for the following thousands of years – a cautionary tale for our current impact on the planet.
“It will take a while for the planet to clean up our mess, even long after we’re gone.”
https://www.uow.edu.au/media/2021/ancient-new-zealand-tree-reveals-a-turning-point-in-earths-history-42000-years-ago.php
A lot of reasons why someone would create the Silo TV series.
Bunker sharing survivalism.
You must be fun at kids parties.
A mortgage free home and a million dollars saved to have comfortable retirement.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/money/360525194/what-retirement-has-really-looked-year
How many achieve this?
W and I denying help to young people.
Conditions on access to emergency housing.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/537488/grave-fears-over-fate-of-young-people-left-homeless-this-festive-season
I read that today as well. I just felt the same. This is a sick and mean spirited shower we have "governing" NZ at the moment. They forget that government is for all people, not just the wealthiest and sorted.