Who is a greater threat to our civil liberties? The Le Pen’s of the world (as represented in the readership of various blogs), or the muslim guy living down the road?
1. John Key legislating to spy on us, as recently as last year ….
2. Many countries requiring ID to be carried and provided ….
3. Reversing the burden of proof when charged by the state for a crime ….
4. Ability to arrest and incarcerate without charge ….
he misspoke and James you have repeated this misinformation before. READ the actual policy and educate yourself, although that you have already been educated on this and continue to repeat the lie suggests you are being deliberately deceptive.
But the Le Pens are more likely to get into power. In fact, many of them already are in France and Ukraine. Unless you’re in a country with a Muslim majority, the Muslim guy down the road is nowhere near power.
The greatest threat to our civil liberties are apathy and a lack of vigilance.
This is driven by the failure of many people to take 100% personal responsibility for their lives, causing them to assume they have no power, leading them to confer power upon those who seek to have it over them.
This is achieved by deifying those who seek such power, and imagining them to be superior human beings with special qualities, which they invariably are not, and do not have.
All of which is driven by deep seated insecurity on the part of most people, secretly believing themselves to be powerless and worthless (as in “worth less than other people who have the appearance of greater material status”).
The greatest danger we face in society is the degree to which people have given money the meaning and power it now has over us.
In reality it is just money, but the meaning and the power we now imagine it to have has got us all addicted to it like methamphetamine or cocaine, to the degree that people will behave in obscene and inhuman ways to protect their sources and supplies of it.
We have become dehumanised and desensitised to each other’s feelings, suffering, and needs because of our need to protect and maintain our income(s).
Like gerbils on treadmills, we have to run faster and faster after the money dangled in front of us,increasingly unable to care about what is going on around us, in order to maintain our supply of it.
We now do this at the cost of our sanity and health and relationships, in many, many cases.
Such is the power and the meaning we have given every dollar.
We treat people who drive expensive cars and live in expensive homes dramatically differently to the way we treat people who don’t.
Our definitions of success are almost solely rooted in financial and material status, which in turn defines our social status in our hierarchies.
All of these things combined are serving to weaken our civil liberties, because our obsession with the power we believe money gives us causes us to fear the loss of it to the degree that we will tolerate almost any inhumanity and/or indignity in order to maintain our supply of it.
Even more so if such inhumanity and/or indignities are being inflicted upon other people.
These observations make me neither left nor right.
Our entire socio-economic system has been designed to shift the power to those with money and to make others believe that they have no power to change it. This is helped be the fact that the representative governments do what the rich want and don’t listen to the people.
I see that the herald is leading with the typical teacher-bashing bait that will get the relevant people frothing. They made sure to put the word “free” in quotations, to make sure the plebs know that it’s a crumb being thrown off the table.
The inverted commas merely highlight the angle of the story, the cost of NZ’s supposedly free education; in fact, it’s about as disingenuous a notion as your blatantly stirring comment, Heartbleeding Liberal.
“House Republican women and moderates are in an escalating battle against their leaders on an antiabortion bill slated to come to the floor Thursday, deepening a rift between centrists and conservatives who are at cross-purposes on which issues the party should be highlighting.
The bill may still be tweaked, but Republican leaders are insistent they will move ahead with legislation banning abortions after 20 weeks, despite concerns from those within their conference that the bill might alienate millennials and female voters. But many female lawmakers are furious over its clause stating that women can be exempt from the ban in cases of rape only if they reported the rape to authorities. ”
Several news organizations reported last week that some Republican women, including Rep. Renee Ellmers, had objected to the clause requiring rape survivors to report to the police. But the same provision was in the 2013 version of the bill, which passed with all but six Republican members voting yes, including Elmers.>
good article – makes sense – our society has become so individualistic and competitive that trust and collegiality is difficult to come by and whereas we might have eliminated most of the things that used to eat us, we live in a much more dangerous world than our ancestors
I personally think sometimes there is more than one answer, though the “cage” idea has merit, and the success of Portugal’s approach demonstrates the failure of the punitive approach to drugs.
I do actually think that there is a genetic disposition for some to develop addictive behaviours, as well as there being some mental health issues that when unresolved will lead to people self-medicating with addictive substances or behaviours.
Genetic is a dangerous idea. It gives the impression that someone was born that way and ther is nothing that can be done. research hows this to not be true and infact Genes turn on and off based upon environment. there as a great segment on this in the Zietgiest movie.
Exactly. As stated in the video there are somethings that can have a genetic componant but that in no way makes it preditermanate. As to addiction they specifically state that it is one that is far more attributal to environment and in particular stress on the mother during pregnancy. This could be why as we see the stresses applied to families by growing inequality increase we also see rates of addiction increase. That is of course supposition on my part and in no way the result of any research I have done.
If your family does have this gene and is aware of it, they are more likely to avoid trying substances etc in the first place.
If this has been debunked, then you are right – it is a point prone to abuse.
However if it is true, then treatment for those unlucky enough to carry the gene may be more effective if it is designed around that perspective.
Most often we look for one simple answer, or one catch all solution but when it comes to people and living organisms the diversity of life should show us that multiple solutions and approaches are the most effective way of dealing with problems.
@ crash – the key word Jan uses is ‘disposition’ – or propensity or an enabler of the possibiity towards ….. whatever.
In my case, I have various family members up and down the chain on one side of the family with some sort of switch that’s been turned on enabling them to choose addiction to drugs, alcohol/pot (and all plus gambling) …. you name it – violence even. On the other ‘side’, they’re right little angels all the way up and down that chain.
The whole nature versus nurture thing has had me pondering it all for most of my life but I’m convinced there is a genetic switch that enables – but in a way that doesn’t compel – i.e. not compulsory – otherwise I can’t explain my existence.
I’d be interested in Mr Ure’s opinions ekshully though I dare not ask because there’ll be a clamour of bs nastiness and ego-driven kaka – one that caused me to make a point of avoiding TS for a few days.
(Oh, and I noticed doing a search by author of my last comment re Fletch of CSB fame – a few days back, that it apparently disappeared up its own arse – just as he should. As Little once put it “Cut the crap”. He DIDN’T resign for “family reasons”. He, ( being the sucker-of-dick-in-chief) crossed the line. A line of which future masters-of-the-Universe felt threatened by.
Anyway – back to Ludditeville. Right now’ tis a very releckzing place to be ….. one where a human has time to consider things; where 24 hour news cycles are meaningless; where cellfone coverage is almost non-existent; where trees can grow and clean water can flow; where people propping up those in power who represent the closest thing we’ve seen since the last war to fascism are absent; where trains pass by from time-to-time carrying the loads of several dozen rigs whose drivers probably idolise Phil Stein but who in reality are part of the precariat should they have to cash up (a wishin and a hopin, stand by your man – and all that sort of shit); and best of all where E-spinners, Fergussons, Christies … (in fact half of TVNZ, most of Fearfucks and the self-appointed ‘in crowd’) would be screaming mummy mummy come rescue me. There’s also no hospital – or even a primary care establishment that’s capable of surgically removing electronics from robotic life forms.
Paradise! (It isn’t Davos btw)
I don’t even know why we should worry about substance addiction. Addictions can be managed and the negative effects are usually tied up with illegality anyway. I reckon if people want to be addicted to something, good luck to them. Currency and property speculators on the other hand have an addiction which damages the whole of society.
as far as heroin is concerned..there is also the age-factor..
..’cos what i have found..is that most heroin addicts kick in their mid-thirties..
..and i dunno why that is..other imperatives kick in..(with me it was having to raise a daughter on my own..and being unable to discharge both responsibilities at the same time…so..in a way..she saved my life..)
..there is also the fact that you get sick of the lifestyle..(being a junkie really is a full-time job..and most tire of it..)
..so my harm-reduction prescription for young heroin addicts..
..is for them able to register..to be supplied/maintained with medical-grade narcotics..(most of the physical harm done to junkies is from adulterants in the blackmarket products..most overdoses are a result of the vagaries of blackmarket-priduct quality..)
..until that time that they themselves decide to wean off..
..currently we have the blackmarket..and the only other option that brain-screwing vile-muck methadone..(a drug more addictive/harder to kick than heroin..duh..!..eh..?..so much so that for most who go on it..methadone is a life-sentence..double-duh..!..eh..?..)
“I don’t even know why we should worry about substance addiction. Addictions can be managed and the negative effects are usually tied up with illegality anyway”
Substance abuse can be pretty hard on the body/health, although you are probably right about the negative effects in that some of that would be mitigated if drugs weren’t illegal and were available with medical support.
Using street rubbish, spending your money on drugs instead of food and rent, getting bashed by ngati poaka, and imprisoned on a regular basis is pretty hard on the body/health.
“Using street rubbish, spending your money on drugs instead of food and rent, getting bashed by ngati poaka, and imprisoned on a regular basis is pretty hard on the body/health.”
True, but solve all those problems, and you still have effects, sometimes significant, on the body. All drugs, including prescription, have side effects, some worse than others. Continuous use over years is far from ideal if it can be helped.
I think the mind suffers most when you have a substance abuse problem due to low sense of worth that comes from not being able to control you own behaviour.
..and kinda smacked into the wall at the end of the dead-end alley…
(and this might blow yr mind..but i had an out-of-body experience that helped convince me it was time to stop..
..i went out and looked back down at myself..
..and what i had become..
..and i was not impressed by what i saw..
..it was clear i cd not do that for much longer..
..i stopped soon after..
..(the upside of that experience of course..is that i don’t fear death..as i know we are not just the body..i don’t know any more than that tho’..but that i know..and i found that quite liberating..and u can believe that..or not..)
..also..with heroin..each time u get another habit..drop it..and then u start again..u get hooked quicker/harder than the time before..and the withdrawals are worse..
..and i had got to the stage where i only had to see a picture of the stuff to get wired..
..the pleasure/pain scales were tipped way over on the pain side..
@ Phil Ure and this might blow yr mind..but i had an out-of-body experience that helped convince me it was time to stop..
That interests me. If you don’t mind, what I want to know is
(a) Were you on death bed and clinically dead?
(b) Did you go through the ‘tunnel’ with bright lights at a distance, ‘see’ a white robed figure, welcomed by deceased close friends and relatives, see heaven etc (c) Had an enjoyable experience from which you were reluctant to return or (d) was it just a drug induced high hallucination? (What drug were you using at that time?)
Easy enough mistake for someone who doesn’t spend much of their time considering issues relating to drugs in society, but you seem to have spent years in doing field research…
Kicking the new season off in a ratings war, First Line on tv3 were trying to out do their tv1 opponents by the anchor’s sighing and rolling their eyes after watching the interview with Morgan. One saying “oh he has a book coming out soon… haha just trying to sell books” the other 2 nodding their heads like puppets, thought I was watching thunderbirds for a moment.
Anyone else remember a certain someone saying that they are tightening up on the moderation? It seems that that quite a lot of vile (as shown in the post on this blog yesterday) doesn’t quite meet the threshold. I wonder what does.
On another note, the readership sure has a lot of time on its hands to comment all day, considering that they generally self-identify as the “keeping this country running through hard work” type.
National Radio, late yesterday afternoon listening to some story about Yemen’s so-called “terrorists”, the American news story had the presenter stating “we” as in “we need to work to curb these terrorists”. Not objective journalism at all, not one iota.
I aint no part of their “we” the bloody wankers. The journalist should be referring to something like “the American government wants to curb the terrorists”, not “we need to curb the terrorists”
Gobsmacked I was, gobsmacked.
Wtf is Nat Radio doing running American fox-type shite like this? Unbelievable. Where is Morrisey?
I am answering the point. I suggest the widely held view in our society is that militant Islamic fundamentalists (who are attempting to confront Western nations or western backed governments due to their virulent opposition to many values of the West that we generally all share) should be opposed around the world. Hence why Radio NZ National probably used the term ‘We’ in the piece you refer to.
Yes but objective journalism is not the same as perfectly balanced journalism. For example during a genocide it is not necessary to respect the views of those carrying out the genocide in any reports and refrain from calling it a genocide as a result.
The Ottawa shooting was a terrorist attack by a mentally ill man. His illness doesn’t change the nature of his crime, which was essentially a copy cat of similar terrorist attacks.
Re: the RNZ piece, you haven’t given us anything to work with. There are several groups fighting in Yemen, including Al Qaeda. The group beseiging the capital probably don’t deserve the label terrorist, so if it was them being referred to, you are right to be critical.
But there was nothing “terrorism” about the Ottawa event … it involved a soldier and a government at war being attacked. No civilians involved at all. No terror.
Re the RNZ piece, yes no link sorry, bit hopeless ate fnding those. But the point was not about the subject of the piece, which is immaterial, it was entirely about how the piece was presented.
Re: Ottawa, it won’t be much comfort to the family of the dead part-time soldier that a bloke on a blog in NZ reckons his death wasn’t terrorism. Your definition of terrorism (must involve civilians) is unique. That’s not how the Canadian parliament, the Mounties, or even the Ottawa Muslim Association (who arranged his burial), saw it.
However, I would agree that the label, accurate or not, is often co-opted for other political purposes and it certainly was immediately after this incident.
I think this statement is probably the most dignified response:
“Nathan Cirillo was my boyfriend. I loved him deeply, as did all of the family and friends who knew him and we all still mourn him every day. That being said, I feel I should weigh in on this ridiculous “was he a hero or was he not” debate. My response is:
“we should be talking about is the dismal state of mental healthcare in our country. What that deeply disturbed man killing my boyfriend should make Canadians focus on is how we can prevent another event like this through more accessible and effective mental health treatment programs that target the real source of this tragedy. Stop tearing apart the honour and love bestowed upon a wonderful man who deserves every bit of it and start taking a good hard look at the awful, dysfunctional systems in our nation that this has shown us need to change….I am a very proud Canadian, but the fact that this hero/not business is what the media here and the general public has chosen to talk about, I must say I am very disappointed. We can do, and are, better than this, Canada…..I feel as though this is an important discussion that needs to continue happening.””
Andrea Polko.
Doesn’t really explain the Charlie Hebdo attack does it especially considering Al Qaida in Yemen has taken credit in ordering that specifically because of the clash of values not policies.
‘Speaking over footage of the attack that killed 12 people, Ansi said: “Today, the mujahideen avenge their revered prophet, and send the clearest message to everyone who would dare to attack Islamic sanctities.”‘
Short version though, on what terrorists aim to achieve by terrorism:
1) Provoke an overreaction from the state and the broader population
2) Escalate the conflict
3) Win the hearts and minds of the people they claim to represent, primarily by using the state’s reactions as examples of how the state hates them, and the terrorists are right to be fighting back
4) Endure. If the terrorists can survive (not individually, but as a ’cause’) they will win.
The propaganda they put out is simply in aid of point 3.
Have you joined the Army/Navy yet? So that you will be ready to curb terrorism the day that Dear Leader announces our most excellent adventure in the Middle East?
IF not… Why not? Don’t you want to curb militant Islamic terrorism?
..the american senate has just voted on a motion..that voting yes on indicated an acceptance of the science of climate-change as a reality by the voting senator..
..and only one senator voted against it..
..2015 really will be the yr of climatechange taken seriously..
..and the drill baby drill!/mine baby mine! policies of this key govt..and our (pollution-charging exempt) dirty-dairying exporting ‘industries’..
..will make us more and more international-outliers..
..key will no longer be able to fall back on our high rate of renewable-energy as his answer/counter to any calls to clean up our act..
..the international pressure/imperatives on us/key is going to seriously ramp-up..
Are you seriously suggesting that the GOP is now full of Climate change accepting anti-oil people? I think you might need to change the variety that you are smoking at the moment as it could well be too strong 😉 .
I have never denied the scientific consensus around any topic. I suspect you on the other hand have been at odds with the mainstream scientific view numerous times in the past and currently.
Strangely you read like some of the hard core Climate change deniers I have seen. They too argue the IPCC is driven by political rather than scientific notions.
Senate Republicans head-faked Democrats on climate change Wednesday, agreeing in a floor vote that the planet’s climate was changing, but blocking language that would have blamed human activity.
It will be good for the planet when this generation passes. Though I imagine there are many mini-colonials being brainwashed at the breakfast table each day in these regions
Today is a day National & the Maori-Tory party’s will be dreading. Fronting up at Ratana where Little & Labour are the main act. Peters will be rubbing Nationals frontman, Bill English nose in it over pretty much everything 🙂
Tradition dear boy, whatever next Gosman? Don’t tell me you would suggest the Government abstain from attending the Waitangi commemoration?
Speaking our which I see the NZH are starting their divisive nonsense early by putting out the question of is being called Pakeha an insult? Something like that I read on their Facebook feed. Oh yes and as they intended the amount of thin skinned people taking offense was overwhelming.
I don’t like being described as a Pakeha. I much prefer NZ European. I would rather not be defined by the other partner in our bi-cultural nation. It isn’t as if Maori people still go by the name ‘Natives’ any more.
Exactly. Let us acknowledge that many people prefer not to be called Pakeha or any other name they feel may be derogatory. Maori have defined what name/s they prefer (e.g. Maori, Tanga te Whenua etc). Non Maori should have the same right.
Not really though eh. “natives” is just a description. Loads of people all over the world were called natives by colonial powers. It doesn’t apply to Maori specifically. The term used for Maori specifically, to distinguish them from other peoples, was New Zealanders
But whatever. I like being called Pakeha, and the term isn;t going away, so you’re just going to have to live with it I’m afraid.
You are quite free to your identity politics driven idea here. That’s fine.
All I’m saying is that many people will find you ridiculous. This is to do with the nature of identity politics.
It’s like how “meninism” is trying to become a thing, but is only becoming a silly thing that most people will laugh at.
Complaining that you are being othered, that your identity is being forced on you by a marginalised minority is always going to sound odd to many people.
‘I’m a white male facing structural oppression, and I demand the right to have my voice as a white male heard’, is simply hard argument to make and not come across as being a bit of a fuckwit, what with society being the way it is.
But like I said, go for it. Print a T-shirt. Reclaim the streets, or something.
Except the NZ Herald is holding internet polls on the issue. Remember it wasn’t me who raised this issue but someone who objected to the Herald doing this. Why would they be holding polls if it is such a non issue as you seem to think it is?
Objecting to being called Pakeha does not make you a racist. That stated many racists it is true would likely object to being labelled by the term. That still doesn’t make objecting to the term wrong.
I repetitively remind everyone of the Monty Python skit of the political underclass the unrestructured anarchists or something.
Ends with the king getting totally pissed off with the peasant who won’t Shut Up. And gives him a shake. ‘Help I’m being repressed’. See the violence inherent in the system Gosman.
When your in france do you insist on using english names for things?
Its the same idiocy you get from people who refuse to use proper maori pronunciation.
Yet those same people would pronounce “faux pas” as “fo par” because they can somehow accept that the spelling of a word is said differently in french – yet they shit their precious little y-fronts if its in maori
Maori is an official language of NZ and pakeha was the name they used to describe/label/denote europeans – so your a pakeha, big whoop
Ooh noes – some is labeling me in a language i dont speak! The horror!
As stated I am happy if you want to define yourself as a Pakeha. I would prefer not to myself and would correct people if they decide to do so. They are free to ignore me but then they make the choice to be deliberately provocative.
I usually object to someone trying to define me as anything I disagree with. I make exceptions in places where I should expect such things such as this site.
As far as I’m concerned, and following my own definition of ‘pakeha’ I would agree with Gosman that he isn’t one. I tend to think of a pakeha as someone who tries to honour the Treaty, is proud of it and acknowledges Maori as tangata whenua. It is, as far as I’m concerned, a compliment and not to be handed out to any old ‘european’.
Thing is, immigrants to a country already populated by some other culture have to suck it up and take what the locals call them – for instance, I doubt Chinese immigrants call themselves Chinese, but that’s tough shit because we’re not going to call them whatever it is they call themselves. And if we moved to China, they’d have some word for us that wouldn’t be “NZ European,” and they wouldn’t be interested in being taught to call us “NZ European” instead of whatever word they already came up with. Them’s the breaks, kid – Maori got here first. People who want to be Europeans should go live in Europe.
Gosman @ 13.1.1.1.4.1 – “……but then they make the choice to be deliberately provocative.”
Back up the truck bro’ ! Ain’t that all part and parcel of “Freedom of Speech” ? Yeah. Without limit apparently. So why the unmissable pejorative about provocativeness Gosman ?
(“I would suggest…..”) that your ridiculously self-centred, eurocentric exceptionalism, the father of your hypocrisy, is risible Mr Pakehahahaha Gosman.
Our commercial media is so transparently biased it is ridiculous. Today Kim Dotcom’s Mega launched a new, end to end, encrypted voice service called “MegaChat”. How do I know this? Not from the business pages of the Herald or Stuff, even though the service is based here. No, I read it in the Guardian – http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jan/22/kim-dotcom-launches-encrypted-voice-chat-skype-killer – a British newspaper that thought the story worth a reasonable amount of coverage.
It is almost as if the word has gone out from the corporate owners of our commercial media – Dotcom can only be reported on if it furthers a certain new narrative about the guy – maybe a hint of perversion in some hot tottie being lured to the lair of the fat man (Sarah Torrent) or his “dubious” legal battles to avoid extradition.
Preparing for my Public Meeting tonight, Friday 23 January 2015, 7.30pm – 9pm, at the Carterton ‘RSA’ 35 Broadway – to SLAM the Auckland ‘Supercity – for the 1%’, by exposing what a SUPER (expensive) mess and disaster it has been for the majority of citizens and ratepayers.
Why on earth would anyone (apart from the 1% who stand to benefit from the ‘economies of scale’ – ie: bigger infrastructure and service contracts for fewer, but bigger private contractors / consultants), want to even consider any further Council amalgamations, before a full, thorough, genuinely independent audit, based upon FACTS and EVIDENCE, which prove just how ‘cost-effective’ the Auckland ‘Supercity’ has been for the majority of citizens and ratepayers?
In my considered opinion, the Draft Wellington Reorganisation Proposal should STOP – NOW!
How can future ‘cost-effectiveness’ of any proposed Council amalgamation be measured without a FACTUAL ‘datum’ of where costs fall NOW for Council services and regulatory functions?
How can any citizens and ratepayers make an informed submission on this Draft Wellington Reorganisation Proposal – without such FACTS and EVIDENCE?
Where does the ‘Tax Payers Union’ stand on the proposed Wellington ‘Supercity’?
When are the Labour Party going to come out, hard and strong against the proposed Wellington ‘Supercity’?
Greens co-leader Meteria Turei used the occasion to berate Key for his response to the first part of a landmark Waitangi Tribunal inquiry.
“The Prime Minister’s response was to knock us several steps back,” she said in a speech to morehu [followers].
“John Key had the gall to claim that New Zealand was settled “peacefully,” as if all Maori grievances evaporated into irrelevance on his command.
“But he didn’t finish there. In an attempt to really put us in our place, John Key said Maori would have been grateful for the injection of capital early Pakeha brought with them when they settled in Aotearoa.”
The Greens had no faith in the Treaty settlement process under National, she added.
From the Klein article. “So be careful with that Oxfam statistic. It’s not telling you what you think it is. But it’s still telling you something.”
Care to share what it is telling us Gosman, since Klein doesn’t. Or is “fascinating read” simply GosSpeak for “See, meaningless rubbish !” ? Come on Gosman……there must be a reason you find it “fascinating”.
hmmmm don’t expect too much of an answer from Gossy the hardly impressive analysis by klein involves a lot of waving of hands – but then if it supports the religion of the hidden hand – it must be “fascinating”
In recent years the NZ state’s ‘terrorist’ designation list has expanded to include what are clearly several liberation movements.
We’ve stuck up an article on developments in the repressive legislation in NZ in relation to this (and state powers), including a list of the organisations that now fall under this designation.
Sneering little article from sneering little Pakeha Claire Trevett. Using Morgan to sneer at Maori. Akshilly. Rubbish journalist. Probably out of sorts not being with Mr Akshilly in Europe.
2015 IT IS 3 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT (from 5 minutes to midnight in 2012)
Unchecked climate change, global nuclear weapons modernizations, and outsized nuclear weapons arsenals pose extraordinary and undeniable threats to the continued existence of humanity, and world leaders have failed to act with the speed or on the scale required to protect citizens from potential catastrophe. These failures of political leadership endanger every person on Earth.”
Despite some modestly positive developments in the climate change arena, current efforts are entirely insufficient to prevent a catastrophic warming of Earth. Meanwhile, the United States and Russia have embarked on massive programs to modernize their nuclear triads—thereby undermining existing nuclear weapons treaties.
“The clock ticks now at just three minutes to midnight because international leaders are failing to perform their most important duty—ensuring and preserving the health and vitality of human civilization.”
It was 17 minutes to midnight in 1991 – it’s hard to believe that we are more than five times more precarious now than then.
Follow the hippies Pete, follow the hippies ….. They are always onto future happenings while the hapless conservatives mooch around behind their lace curtains until the ground is broken and tested by others. It is only then that they are brave enough to face the future….
Conservatives never face the future.
Remember that next time you are considering the National Party’s approach to anything …. it is in their DNA – conservative, fearful and afraid, unable and unwilling to look ahead…..
little use they are, little use …
are you a conservative Pete? (btw, don’t be afraid to admit that you are, they do have a purpose although it is a small and little used one – do you know what it is?)
I was actually thinking about this today while bumping over bumps and road-coning along (road-coning being the trick of clipping cones just enough to topple them, especially when they are used to divert from where there is no need… which is unbelievably common)
If society is a ship on the sea then the conservatives are the lead in the keel and the ballast in the bilges. They keep the ship upright and stable but they have no idea where they have been or where they are going, let alone how to sail or any other such useful functions in the ship. Their use is as dead-weight….
… whereas the future-facers, they are everything… they are the navigators, the ones at the helm, they raise and drop the sails, stitch and mend the sails, the list goes on…
The problem arises of course when the dead-weight tries to navigate and sail… they should just stay in the bilges…
Interesting analogy. And who do you think would be the ones fighting over everyone having an equal share of the sails and shredding them in the process? And throwing everyone over starboard for standing on the wrong side?
All sailors know that order is required at sea and as such disorder is very uncommon as the result is disaster for all …
Of course the ship requires all components as otherwise without the lead and ballast the ship would roll over and sink.. while without the sailors and navigators the ship would hit rocks and sink…
Again, the problem arises when the dead-weight tries to sail, while the effect of sailors adding their (typically skinny) mass to the dead-weight is negligible.
It IS an interesting analogy isn’t it. It works in many many senses …
Depends on what you’re referring to as ‘conservative’. I was nowhere near being a supporter of Colin Craig’s so-called Conservatives.
I’m conservative about some things but can be radical about others. I don’t have much in common with the conservatives who frequent Kiwiblog. Or here (for example lprent and others are quite conservative/old school in how they approach doing politics).
I generally tend to think and act outside the crowd, am prepared to consider minority views and willing question groupthink.
In 1999, 2002 and 2005 I preferred a Labour led government. In 2008, 2011 and 2014 I preferred a National led government.
I hope I can prefer a Labour led government again but they have got to sort a lot of stuff out before I think they will be up to it. It’s a big ask to reverse a decade long declining trend in three years but I hope they are at least competitive in 2017.
If Little and Labour have improved sufficiently there’s a better than even chance I’ll be interested in improving Labour’s share of the vote, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will be ready to be preferred lead party in Government.
No I didn’t mean that. The Greens haven’t been in government so could hardly be blamed.
However they keep warning of the end of the world as we know it unless we change everything so have raised fears of the end of the world.
Ironically for a Bulletin of Atomic Scientists there doesn’t seem to be a lot of science involved in tweaking their clock. It seems to be based on perceptions.
It may have worked effectively in the 1940s and 1950s but it seems a bit quaint and impotent now. And that’s similar to what the Greens are now struggling with.
Perhaps people who are interested in the physical measurable world and less in the imaginary have a better “subjective” opinion than you do?
I believe they do a statistical sampling.
But based on the current population and that effects we are seeing now are far more irreversible than just dropping bombs, then I’d agree with them. Of course I have a science degree in the area of most concern?
“I believe they do a statistical sampling” is not very scientific. They don’t cite any methodology in their announcement. Can you cite anything on their methodology or do you just have a belief in it? ?
How can you do statistical sampling of the nuclear threat?
“Modernization of huge arsenals” is mentioned but they don’t explain how that would make the weapons more dangerous, I would hope that they would be making them safer.
I can understand that “Disarmament machinery that has ground to a halt” might not reduce the risk but why would it significantly (from 5 to 3) increase the risk?
“From 2009 to 2013, the Obama administration cut only 309 warheads” shouldn’t increase the risk markedly.
“Progress on climate and nuclear weapons issues has been too limited in recent years, according to the Board statement” – again, maybe a reason not to increase the minutes but reason to change it from 5 to 3?
What they seem to have done is substantially increase the climate risk.
Atomic scientists are presumably not climate scientists (ok, some of them cite climate connections but that seems odd for a Bulletin of Atomic Scientists).
The climate risks have been talked about for decades, it isn’t some sudden new risk or suddenly escalated risk.
And atomic scientists are presumably not psychologists who are able to assess the risk of nuclear nation leaders going momentarily mental.
There’s plenty of dramatic statements in their announcement but no sign of scientific backing apart from stating they are scientists.
I’m surprised to see them nearly double the risk in three years. Without any apparent science.
When did you last study or research in “the area of most concern”?
I’m interested to see your scientific backing for a change of risk from 5 to 3. You must have some good science to support “then I’d agree with them”.
My impression is they are confusing a need for urgent action with the imminence of apocalypse. One scientists says “by the end of this century to profoundly transform the Earth’s climate” but also “We all need to respond now”.
We call upon world leaders to take coordinated and rapid action to drastically reduce global emissions of heat-trapping gases, especially carbon dioxide.
What is your scientific assessment of the consequences of “rapid action to drastically reduce global emissions of heat-trapping gases, especially carbon dioxide”?
There must be some scientific analysis of the possible and probable positive and negative effects of rapid and drastic reductions in global emissions.
The claim that The Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists answers Pete’s questions about The Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists is easily verified, as is the claim that Lprent has mentioned his academic credentials on this forum.
Pete’s too lazy to read the lengthy articles of the former, and too dishonest to admit that he remembers the latter.
Been playing with code on site today. This will be short.
I can’t cite anything for it without spending more time than I currently have. It was from a Economist article just after the fall of the Berlin wall in the late 80s. From memory they sample the views of the members of the atomic scientists membership, which can include everyone who works with radioactives from physicists to geologists and even climate scientists.
Playing with nuclear weapons even to upgrade or improve them is dangerous in its own right. However I suspect that the underlying issue is that trying to make weapons that are more able to bypass or destroy defenses or attack systems (the GPS sats for instance) is inherently dangerous. It is effectively an escalation of posture and makes it more likely that a cornerstone of deterrence fails.
BTW: Virtually every scientist or person trained deeply in science understands the basis of climate science and why they are worried about climate change. Everyone from physicists to people with just bachelor degrees knows the basis of the science. They may disagree about how to cope with it and the degree of alarm, but it is really hard to find one who isn’t paid by the carbon industries who wouldn’t put that up as one of the most dangerous issues politically today.
Especially people playing with nuclear arms. They are aware of the history that a high proportion of wars are triggered by disputes over scarce resources.
The reason that the climate change issue is imminent is because you are confusing the cause and the effects because of the oceanic and icecap buffering. The cause is excessive CO2 (and a few other gases – but CO2 is the killer) in the volatiles that make up the oceans and atmosphere. Currently the excess CO2 is piling into the oceans and what extra CO2 is resident in the atmosphere is largely pumping its extra warming into melting ice and warming oceans.
After those buffers start having a diminished ability to suck up excess, then everything that gets dumped into the atmosphere causes a much greater effect than we see today. Moreover the oceans aren’t static. They run with deep currents and the bulk of the stored heat and CO2 from the last century is currently being transported to the equators to pulse out at some time in the future (and BTW we still don’t really know how long that is away).
The big risk is that if we don’t stop dumping waste CO2 until we see some effects, then we are likely to not see a gradual climate shift, but one that is periods of gradual change (like the last 15 years) punctuated by big spikes of change (like the decade prior). The level of the shifts are likely to keep getting larger.
What that means for war is that instead of a gradual movement out of somewhere like Bangladesh as the farmlands get saline, we’re much more likely to see a 150 million starving people pouring over borders in a single year. Or instead of having the monsoons move offshore slowly over years, they simply will stop falling on land for years on end. Same in NZ, we’d get droughts year after year, followed by floods year after year. Climate change directly hits food production because it makes it more unpredictable.
My first degree was in earth sciences. Look up what it covers. I study in it all of the time, just as I do in every other area I have trained or work in.
There is this elegant thing called “searching the net for resources” and I have these abilities to “read” and “comprehend”. I know that the first and the last are difficult for you. But I have provided some hints on topics above.
As I understand it the original arrangement was to be reviewed a few months after the election anyway. And I’m certain I have read that they had given up on the arrangement with no hard feelings, but I am not able to find a link.
ok, thanks. I thought the 6 week past the election thing was for a review, rather than it expiring. But interesting there’s not been anything formal in public.
Not sure which is more shocking, that the Herald ran this McDonalds advert as a news story, or the list of ingredients in US made McDonalds chips.
Dimethylpolysiloxane, which Imahara struggles to pronounce, is added for safety reasons to prevent cooking oil from foaming.
While tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is applied as a food preservative.
Imahara explains that there are numerous steps involved in the creation of McDonald’s fries.
First potatoes are harvested from fields before being peeled, cut and blanched.
They’re then fired through a cutter at up to 70 miles an hour into thin sticks.
After being chiseled into the perfect shape, the strips of potato are sauced with a blend of canola oil, soybean oil, hydrongenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor, hydrolyzed wheat, hydrolyzed milk, citric acid and dimethylpolysiloxane.
Dextrose – a natural sugar – is sprayed on the batons to help them maintain a golden fried color.
Sodium acid pyrophosphate is also added to prevent the fries from going grey.
Last but not least, salt is sprinkled on for flavor.
The fries are then flash frozen at the Simplot factory and transported to McDonald’s outlets across the country.
Once they are at restaurants, the potato sticks are fried for a second time.
The oil blend is similar to the factory mix, with the addition of tertiary butylhydroquinone and hydrogenated soybean oil – a manufactured form of trans fat.
And voila! McDonald’s World Famous Fries are served.
McDonalds, because despite their food tech the best chips on the planet are made with the right spuddies cut, soaked and double fried, in dripping, by Stan in his shed.
cut into wedges… par boiled, dried off, shaken to rough up… heat oil/duck fat in oven til piping hot. In they go, turn every ten minutes till cooked. Sprinkle with salt.
If the cow worshiping Hindus read this, there could be riots in India!
And if McDonald’s use lard or pork flavor, the 1.6 billion Muslims plus 13 million Jews in the world will go gaga!
Apart from that, they use 19 ingredients to make the chips! Wonder how healthy and safe these chips are.
For a Maori woman to express disappointment, in a Maori setting, regarding the negative effects that the Prime Minister’s comments will have on the relationship between Pakeha and Maori was fully justified.
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The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
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. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
We might be in Invercargill but all anyone can talk about is Gore. Specifically, Salford Street. That’s where three-year-old Lachlan Jones lived, south of the centre of town, between the A&P Showgrounds and the Mataura River. Roughly 1.2 km away from the single level home he lived in with his ...
MONDAY I lined up the latest round of civil servants from city hall against the wall, and signalled for the firing squad to drop their rifles. I stepped up onto a wooden crate to look at the office workers in the eye. But that didn’t feel right, so I found ...
Keen hiker and second-year MSc student Liam Hewson wears two hats when he’s in the great outdoors. “The scientist in me appreciates nature and goes, ‘Oh, there’s that thing and there’s another thing,’ but then the tramper and the outdoorsy person in me thinks, ‘Cool bush.’” Born and bred in ...
After a long and illustrious career as a goal kicker, Dan Carter’s favourite way to unwind is… kicking goals. Why can’t he get enough of it? And what it’s like to watch him do it for an hour straight? A semicircle of people wielding cameras and phones has formed in ...
Dame Susan Devoy takes us through her life in television, including late night ER debriefs, her proudest CTI moment and the show she watches in secret. Quite aside from her four world champion squash titles, Dame Susan Devoy will likely go down in history as one of the best Celebrity ...
Hera Lindsay Bird reveals the best places in Ōtepoti to score more for your apocalypse-prep book hoard.Sometimes I get the feeling I’ve been killed in a car crash, and this second half of my life is just the brain unspooling itself, like one of those episodes of a hospital ...
ThreeNow’s new murder mystery series takes us on a dark, damp journey into the Australian wilderness.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. High Country is ThreeNow’s new Australian eight-part crime drama, set in a remote part of the Victorian highlands. It tells ...
Introducing a new way to read The Spinoff every weekend. After nearly 10 years of being an online magazine, we’re finally embracing the weekend liftout. Despite our best efforts to convince you otherwise, writers and editors at The Spinoff don’t work weekend. It is through the sheer power of technology ...
Tip one: let yourself be nurtured by this big old man. Tip two: don’t ask him to adopt you. So, you’ve arrived at your first session with a new therapist. He tells you to make yourself comfortable and you opt for the tweed armchair, hoping it makes you look like ...
I didn’t know books could open you back up; that there were books that stayed with you, where reading was like a chemical event. I knew nothing.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.Not too long ago, I was listening to the American ...
Former Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has already started training for the Enhanced games, though says he won’t start taking performance enhancing substances until about nine months out from the competition. The Australian world champion was the first athlete to be announced by Enhanced, but he says the organisation has had ...
Everyone thinks he’s dead. Every day they expect his body to be washed up along the coast. Most likely up Karitane way, the way the tide’s running. But nobody’ll be too surprised if his body’s never found. Even in death he wouldn’t have wished for such attention. He would have ...
Council members voted 21 to 4 in favour of Ahluwalia returning to the Laucala campus following a much-awaited meeting in Vanuatu this week. It comes as USP and its two unions — the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and the Administration and Support Staff Union ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Henry, Professor & Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University Shutterstock Following an emergency meeting of the National Cabinet this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a raft of measures to tackle the problem ...
Analysis - A poll showing the opposition is more popular than the government raises questions, politicians go through their 'trial by pay rise' and a Green MP loses her cool in the debating chamber. ...
The entire stretch of Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast will be subject to a joint customary marine title for two hapū, and extending up to four miles out to sea. A High Court judge has found the two groups, who during the case settled a dispute over boundaries for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hall, Lecturer, Media & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University A longstanding feud between TikTok and Universal Music Group seems to have finally reached an end, with both parties signing a deal that will see Universal-backed music returned to the social media ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Siobhan O’Dean, Postdoctoral Research Associate, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney After several highly publicised alleged murders of women in Australia, the Albanese government this week pledged more than A$925 million over five years ...
Political parties have now fully disclosed the donations they received last year - with National getting more than double the cash of any other party. ...
A Pacific regionalism expert has called out New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS military pact. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard de Grijs, Professor of Astrophysics, Macquarie University Bruno Scramgnon/Pexels All systems are “go” for tonight’s launch of China’s next step in a carefully planned lunar exploration program. Placed on top of a powerful Long March 5 rocket, the Chang’e 6 ...
National returned a massive donation the day after a Newsroom story linked the donors to a property being investigated for operating unlawfully as a migrant workers’ hostel. The party’s 2023 donation filings, released on Friday, show it returned a $200,000 donation from Buen Holdings on August 23. That was the ...
Pacific Media Watch New Zealand has slumped to an unprecedented 19th place in the annual Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index survey released today on World Press Freedom Day — May 3. This was a drop of six places from 13th last year when it slipped out of its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Political Historian and Administrator Officer, Australian Historical Association, Australian National University Australia has had its fair share of public record-keeping controversies in recent years. Some have been mere farce, as in the case of two formerly government-owned filing cabinets (containing ...
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a United Nations-affiliated organization dedicated to fostering peace through civilian-led initiatives, has issued a statement in response to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. ...
A poem by Tessa Keenan, from AUP New Poets 10. Mātou These days we are a photograph; one of a farm strewn with cows that used to be bright harakeke or swamp. The kids point at it and say the sun sits behind a smudge (left by someone at Christmas); ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (Faber & Faber, $25)The masterful Irish writer ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. Key facts Marriages and civil unions In ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lennon Y.C. Chang, Associate Professor of Cyber Risk and Policy, Deakin University Taiwan stands out as a beacon of democracy, innovation and resilience in an increasingly autocratic region. But this is under growing threat. In recent years, China has used a variety ...
In this excerpt from her new memoir, Dame Susan Devoy remembers her turn as star contestant on the 2022 season of Celebrity Treasure Island. The most anxious time of every day was pre-elimination, when you knew this could be your final day on the show. I felt such contradictory emotions, ...
A week that began in triumph ended in an all-too-familiar disaster for the Green Party. Duncan Greive asks if there’s something in the mission that breaks its best and brightest. A long, strange week for the Green party began with a fantastic poll result. On one level this is hardly ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Vanuatu’s former prime minister and opposition MP Ishmael Kalsakau has stepped down — just two days after he confirmed he was the rightful opposition leader. Kalsakau, MP for Port Vila, confirmed to ABC’s Pacific Beat, and the Vanuatu Daily Post on Thursday that he ...
What’s to blame for the coalition’s choppy start? Six months in, and the mojo meter is in the doldrums. A new poll would put National out of power and sees its leader, Chris Luxon, sliding in popularity. How much is it about policy, how much coalition management and a perception ...
The striking report goes far beyond the proposed repeal of the Oranga Tamariki Act’s Treaty of Waitangi provision, and its impact should be felt far beyond the unique circumstances of the claim it addresses. Earlier this week, the Waitangi Tribunal released an interim report on the government’s proposed repeal of ...
The world has been experiencing a productivity slowdown, from which New Zealand has not been exempt. COVID-19 temporarily boosted labour productivity, but more recently, productivity has retreated. The overall trend since 2007 has been one of slow productivity ...
What’s more wasteful than spending $315k on syrup and machine maintenance? Trying to drum up a controversy about it.Cast your mind back to the pre-pandemic idylls of 2019. A “rat” was a disgusting rodent and not a self-administered plague test; the sixth Labour government was in power; and the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Professor of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Monash University Ken stocker/Shutterstock In the wake of numerous killings of women allegedly by men’s violence in 2024, thousands of Australians have joined rallies across the country to demand action ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Henry Cutler, Professor and Director, Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie University Oleg Ivanov IL/Shutterstock Waiting times for public hospital elective surgery have been in the news ahead of this year’s federal budget. That’s the type of non-emergency surgery ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow, Historical and Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne Amna Artist/Shutterstock One of the earliest descriptions of someone with cancer comes from the fourth century BC. Satyrus, tyrant of the city of Heracleia on the Black Sea, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Rose, Professor of Sustainable Future Transport, University of Sydney LanaElcova/Shutterstock Electric vehicles are often seen as the panacea to cutting emissions – and air pollution – from transport. Is this view correct? Yes – but only once uptake accelerates. Despite the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giselle Natassia Woodley, Researcher and Phd Candidate, Edith Cowan University There is widespread agreement Australia needs to do better when it comes to gender-based violence. Anger and frustration at the numbers of women being killed saw national rallies over the weekend and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Graham, Lecturer in Economics, University of Sydney Mark and Anna Photography/Shutterstock As home ownership moves further out of reach for many Australians, “rentvesting” is being touted as a lifesaver. Rentvesting is the practice of renting one property to live ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sukhmani Khorana, Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, UNSW Sydney Netflix The new season of Heartbreak High is garnering mixed reviews. Critics are writing about the racy story lines, comparing it to other coming-of-age series about teenage relationships and ...
Bob Carr intends to launch legal action against Winston Peters and Julie Anne Genter is facing a second allegation of bullying. Both sucked the air out of an announcement on education, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in ...
In 1995, Sally Clark went out on her own in a bold and unorthodox attempt to join an illustrious group of equestrian riders conquering the world. In the days of glovebox road maps, brick cell phones, and the hit song How Bizarre, Clark refused to follow Sir Mark Todd, Blyth ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Beaglehole, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago niphon/Getty Images The number of people accessing medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Aotearoa New Zealand increased significantly between 2006 and 2022. But the disorder is still under-diagnosed and ...
To celebrate the start of New Zealand music month, we look back at the best local tuneage that managed to weasel its way into Hollywood productions. There’s nothing quite like the thrilling zap of recognition when New Zealand weasels its way into a glamorous Hollywood production. Crack open a Tui ...
People trust other people more than institutions. So how can the media gain that trust through journalists without losing what’s important about the institution? Anna Rawhiti-Connell reflects on two years of curating the news for The Bulletin.Amonth ago, armed cops descended on my neighbourhood as calls to “lock your ...
Opinion: PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are a class of thousands of man-made chemicals used widely in everyday consumer items such as textiles, packaging, and cookware, popular for their water, grease and stain-repellent properties. However, the very properties that make PFAS so attractive to manufacturers are also what ...
NONFICTION 1 The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour & Jude Dobson (Allen & Unwin, $37.99)’ This is the hottest book in New Zealand, number one with a bullet in its first week, selling more than any overseas title, and demand is so huge that it’s already been reprinted. A ...
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A warning – suicide is discussed in this podcast New Zealand’s own long-running soap Shortland Street doesn’t hesitate to kill off its much-loved characters. But would TVNZ dare to kill off our favourite soap? That’s the fear as times get tough in television – even though it’s been pointed out ...
Who is a greater threat to our civil liberties? The Le Pen’s of the world (as represented in the readership of various blogs), or the muslim guy living down the road?
Neither.
The threat to our civil liberties comes from those in positions of power.
@ oab..
+ 1..
Yes and the evidence for this is collosal;
1. John Key legislating to spy on us, as recently as last year ….
2. Many countries requiring ID to be carried and provided ….
3. Reversing the burden of proof when charged by the state for a crime ….
4. Ability to arrest and incarcerate without charge ….
please add
The Law Society summed it up in their submission to the UN Human Rights Council in 2013.
Wasnt the removing burden of proof something being championed by Andrew Little?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11289979
he misspoke and James you have repeated this misinformation before. READ the actual policy and educate yourself, although that you have already been educated on this and continue to repeat the lie suggests you are being deliberately deceptive.
But the Le Pens are more likely to get into power. In fact, many of them already are in France and Ukraine. Unless you’re in a country with a Muslim majority, the Muslim guy down the road is nowhere near power.
The greatest threat to our civil liberties are apathy and a lack of vigilance.
This is driven by the failure of many people to take 100% personal responsibility for their lives, causing them to assume they have no power, leading them to confer power upon those who seek to have it over them.
This is achieved by deifying those who seek such power, and imagining them to be superior human beings with special qualities, which they invariably are not, and do not have.
All of which is driven by deep seated insecurity on the part of most people, secretly believing themselves to be powerless and worthless (as in “worth less than other people who have the appearance of greater material status”).
The greatest danger we face in society is the degree to which people have given money the meaning and power it now has over us.
In reality it is just money, but the meaning and the power we now imagine it to have has got us all addicted to it like methamphetamine or cocaine, to the degree that people will behave in obscene and inhuman ways to protect their sources and supplies of it.
We have become dehumanised and desensitised to each other’s feelings, suffering, and needs because of our need to protect and maintain our income(s).
Like gerbils on treadmills, we have to run faster and faster after the money dangled in front of us,increasingly unable to care about what is going on around us, in order to maintain our supply of it.
We now do this at the cost of our sanity and health and relationships, in many, many cases.
Such is the power and the meaning we have given every dollar.
We treat people who drive expensive cars and live in expensive homes dramatically differently to the way we treat people who don’t.
Our definitions of success are almost solely rooted in financial and material status, which in turn defines our social status in our hierarchies.
All of these things combined are serving to weaken our civil liberties, because our obsession with the power we believe money gives us causes us to fear the loss of it to the degree that we will tolerate almost any inhumanity and/or indignity in order to maintain our supply of it.
Even more so if such inhumanity and/or indignities are being inflicted upon other people.
These observations make me neither left nor right.
These observations make me human.
Very well put. Power will remain with those who currently control the money as long as the majority firmly believe they have no power to change that.
Our entire socio-economic system has been designed to shift the power to those with money and to make others believe that they have no power to change it. This is helped be the fact that the representative governments do what the rich want and don’t listen to the people.
Excellent summation
Imagination has left the human being via a combination of compliance and force
Without imagination there will be no change to the status quo and the status quo controls ‘reality’ ergo controls imagination
I see that the herald is leading with the typical teacher-bashing bait that will get the relevant people frothing. They made sure to put the word “free” in quotations, to make sure the plebs know that it’s a crumb being thrown off the table.
The inverted commas merely highlight the angle of the story, the cost of NZ’s supposedly free education; in fact, it’s about as disingenuous a notion as your blatantly stirring comment, Heartbleeding Liberal.
“House Republican women and moderates are in an escalating battle against their leaders on an antiabortion bill slated to come to the floor Thursday, deepening a rift between centrists and conservatives who are at cross-purposes on which issues the party should be highlighting.
The bill may still be tweaked, but Republican leaders are insistent they will move ahead with legislation banning abortions after 20 weeks, despite concerns from those within their conference that the bill might alienate millennials and female voters. But many female lawmakers are furious over its clause stating that women can be exempt from the ban in cases of rape only if they reported the rape to authorities. ”
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/gop-leaders-pull-abortion-bill-after-revolt-by-women-moderates-20150121
meh
Several news organizations reported last week that some Republican women, including Rep. Renee Ellmers, had objected to the clause requiring rape survivors to report to the police. But the same provision was in the 2013 version of the bill, which passed with all but six Republican members voting yes, including Elmers.>
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/white-house-signals-obama-will-veto-abortion-ban
ddouble meh
NWLC @nwlc
BREAKING: The House just passed a bill eliminating insurance coverage for abortion, barring many low-income women from #reprohealth care.
https://twitter.com/nwlc/status/558328725872607232
Misogyny Supremacists – The suppurating arrogance of the ‘rape’ clause beggars belief. “Bear your burden uncomplainingly woman !”
“..The Likely Cause of Addiction Has Been Discovered – and It Is Not What You Think..
..what I learned on the road is that almost everything we have been told about addiction is wrong –
– and there is a very different story waiting for us –
– if only we are ready to hear it..”
(cont..)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/the-real-cause-of-addicti_b_6506936.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
Thanks for the that phillip.
Only Connect.
good article – makes sense – our society has become so individualistic and competitive that trust and collegiality is difficult to come by and whereas we might have eliminated most of the things that used to eat us, we live in a much more dangerous world than our ancestors
Author of the book referenced in the article was on Russell Brand’s – The Trews a couple of days ago.
I personally think sometimes there is more than one answer, though the “cage” idea has merit, and the success of Portugal’s approach demonstrates the failure of the punitive approach to drugs.
I do actually think that there is a genetic disposition for some to develop addictive behaviours, as well as there being some mental health issues that when unresolved will lead to people self-medicating with addictive substances or behaviours.
Genetic is a dangerous idea. It gives the impression that someone was born that way and ther is nothing that can be done. research hows this to not be true and infact Genes turn on and off based upon environment. there as a great segment on this in the Zietgiest movie.
I agree, but that doesn’t preclude genetic presdisposition (in general, I’m in two minds about what that means re addiction).
Exactly. As stated in the video there are somethings that can have a genetic componant but that in no way makes it preditermanate. As to addiction they specifically state that it is one that is far more attributal to environment and in particular stress on the mother during pregnancy. This could be why as we see the stresses applied to families by growing inequality increase we also see rates of addiction increase. That is of course supposition on my part and in no way the result of any research I have done.
Genes get turned on and off all the time. “Genetic determinism” is a dogma which is now decades out of date.
I thought genetics had recently identified some genes that predicate (not ensure) addictive behaviours.
If your family does have this gene and is aware of it, they are more likely to avoid trying substances etc in the first place.
If this has been debunked, then you are right – it is a point prone to abuse.
However if it is true, then treatment for those unlucky enough to carry the gene may be more effective if it is designed around that perspective.
Most often we look for one simple answer, or one catch all solution but when it comes to people and living organisms the diversity of life should show us that multiple solutions and approaches are the most effective way of dealing with problems.
@ crash – the key word Jan uses is ‘disposition’ – or propensity or an enabler of the possibiity towards ….. whatever.
In my case, I have various family members up and down the chain on one side of the family with some sort of switch that’s been turned on enabling them to choose addiction to drugs, alcohol/pot (and all plus gambling) …. you name it – violence even. On the other ‘side’, they’re right little angels all the way up and down that chain.
The whole nature versus nurture thing has had me pondering it all for most of my life but I’m convinced there is a genetic switch that enables – but in a way that doesn’t compel – i.e. not compulsory – otherwise I can’t explain my existence.
I’d be interested in Mr Ure’s opinions ekshully though I dare not ask because there’ll be a clamour of bs nastiness and ego-driven kaka – one that caused me to make a point of avoiding TS for a few days.
(Oh, and I noticed doing a search by author of my last comment re Fletch of CSB fame – a few days back, that it apparently disappeared up its own arse – just as he should. As Little once put it “Cut the crap”. He DIDN’T resign for “family reasons”. He, ( being the sucker-of-dick-in-chief) crossed the line. A line of which future masters-of-the-Universe felt threatened by.
Anyway – back to Ludditeville. Right now’ tis a very releckzing place to be ….. one where a human has time to consider things; where 24 hour news cycles are meaningless; where cellfone coverage is almost non-existent; where trees can grow and clean water can flow; where people propping up those in power who represent the closest thing we’ve seen since the last war to fascism are absent; where trains pass by from time-to-time carrying the loads of several dozen rigs whose drivers probably idolise Phil Stein but who in reality are part of the precariat should they have to cash up (a wishin and a hopin, stand by your man – and all that sort of shit); and best of all where E-spinners, Fergussons, Christies … (in fact half of TVNZ, most of Fearfucks and the self-appointed ‘in crowd’) would be screaming mummy mummy come rescue me. There’s also no hospital – or even a primary care establishment that’s capable of surgically removing electronics from robotic life forms.
Paradise! (It isn’t Davos btw)
You could ask for my opinion. I was a good mate of Baine’s for a while and my ego wouldn’t get in the road.
I don’t even know why we should worry about substance addiction. Addictions can be managed and the negative effects are usually tied up with illegality anyway. I reckon if people want to be addicted to something, good luck to them. Currency and property speculators on the other hand have an addiction which damages the whole of society.
as far as heroin is concerned..there is also the age-factor..
..’cos what i have found..is that most heroin addicts kick in their mid-thirties..
..and i dunno why that is..other imperatives kick in..(with me it was having to raise a daughter on my own..and being unable to discharge both responsibilities at the same time…so..in a way..she saved my life..)
..there is also the fact that you get sick of the lifestyle..(being a junkie really is a full-time job..and most tire of it..)
..so my harm-reduction prescription for young heroin addicts..
..is for them able to register..to be supplied/maintained with medical-grade narcotics..(most of the physical harm done to junkies is from adulterants in the blackmarket products..most overdoses are a result of the vagaries of blackmarket-priduct quality..)
..until that time that they themselves decide to wean off..
..currently we have the blackmarket..and the only other option that brain-screwing vile-muck methadone..(a drug more addictive/harder to kick than heroin..duh..!..eh..?..so much so that for most who go on it..methadone is a life-sentence..double-duh..!..eh..?..)
..we are doing everything the wrong way..
“I don’t even know why we should worry about substance addiction. Addictions can be managed and the negative effects are usually tied up with illegality anyway”
Substance abuse can be pretty hard on the body/health, although you are probably right about the negative effects in that some of that would be mitigated if drugs weren’t illegal and were available with medical support.
Using street rubbish, spending your money on drugs instead of food and rent, getting bashed by ngati poaka, and imprisoned on a regular basis is pretty hard on the body/health.
“Using street rubbish, spending your money on drugs instead of food and rent, getting bashed by ngati poaka, and imprisoned on a regular basis is pretty hard on the body/health.”
True, but solve all those problems, and you still have effects, sometimes significant, on the body. All drugs, including prescription, have side effects, some worse than others. Continuous use over years is far from ideal if it can be helped.
I think the mind suffers most when you have a substance abuse problem due to low sense of worth that comes from not being able to control you own behaviour.
+1
and i think yr guess is that of a purse-lipped cleanskin..
..who knows very little of what they speak..
Meet my 1st love alcohol as a 14 year .
aahh..!..alcohol..!
..that is the low-esteem drug…
..(it is..after all..a depressant..)
..i used heroin mixed with cocaine..
..too much of a chemical roller-coaster to wallow in self-doubt..
..too blasted..no time..!
If it was so good why stop?
see 5.4.1
..and i was just answering yr false-surmise..
..that you piled on top of yr first false-surmise..
Good on ya. I still drink but the switch that used to click over and drive me on on and on has long gone.
if you don’t mind me asking, how did that happen (the switch no longer working)?
A mix between will power , growing up , having stepdaughters and the love of a good woman and sick of wasting my days recovering from hangovers.
@ weka..
..how did what happen..?
..if i u r asking what i think u r asking..
..the answer is in 5.4.1..
..but i also got really fucken messy..
..and kinda smacked into the wall at the end of the dead-end alley…
(and this might blow yr mind..but i had an out-of-body experience that helped convince me it was time to stop..
..i went out and looked back down at myself..
..and what i had become..
..and i was not impressed by what i saw..
..it was clear i cd not do that for much longer..
..i stopped soon after..
..(the upside of that experience of course..is that i don’t fear death..as i know we are not just the body..i don’t know any more than that tho’..but that i know..and i found that quite liberating..and u can believe that..or not..)
..also..with heroin..each time u get another habit..drop it..and then u start again..u get hooked quicker/harder than the time before..and the withdrawals are worse..
..and i had got to the stage where i only had to see a picture of the stuff to get wired..
..the pleasure/pain scales were tipped way over on the pain side..
..plus i reached the age when most stop..
@ Phil Ure
and this might blow yr mind..but i had an out-of-body experience that helped convince me it was time to stop..
That interests me. If you don’t mind, what I want to know is
(a) Were you on death bed and clinically dead?
(b) Did you go through the ‘tunnel’ with bright lights at a distance, ‘see’ a white robed figure, welcomed by deceased close friends and relatives, see heaven etc (c) Had an enjoyable experience from which you were reluctant to return or (d) was it just a drug induced high hallucination? (What drug were you using at that time?)
@ clem..
no…and no..
..i was straight @ the time..
..and given my previous experiences with self-induced/fun ‘hallucinations’..
..i do know the difference..
🙄
do/did u not know that alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system..?
..drink up..!..feel sad..!
..and then a hangover..
..what a deal..!
..where do i sign up..?
..cannabis gets u ‘high’..eh..?
..it acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system..
..smoke up..!..get mellow/hungry/sleepy..
..sleep like a baby..
..and no hangover..
..(it’s a hard/difficult choice.)
I was a bit surprised that our resident drug expert would link a physiological depressant with something that lowers self esteem ( a depressogenic).
Easy enough mistake for someone who doesn’t spend much of their time considering issues relating to drugs in society, but you seem to have spent years in doing field research…
“.. someone who doesn’t spend much of their time considering issues relating to drugs in society..”
crikey..!..others wd say i spend far too much time doing just that..
..and i am no ‘expert’..i can just speak of what i know/have experienced..
wow..!..what a total hatchet-job on gareth morgan by tvone breakfast…
..du plessy allen and christie spent an inordinate amount of time cynically sneering at as to why morgan should even be @ ratana..
..how he is using the gathering to just promote his book..etc..etc..
.factcheck:..morgan was invited to speak @ ratana..by ratana…
..real shabby/shit-journalism…
..by/from a pair of toxic-toads..
..they should both hang their heads in fucken shame..
and the braindeadeness continues @ tvone..
“..he’s gone vegetarian for the last 12 months – he only eats fish..”
Kicking the new season off in a ratings war, First Line on tv3 were trying to out do their tv1 opponents by the anchor’s sighing and rolling their eyes after watching the interview with Morgan. One saying “oh he has a book coming out soon… haha just trying to sell books” the other 2 nodding their heads like puppets, thought I was watching thunderbirds for a moment.
4 all his faults..henry cd hardly do worse..
No not henry please not henry I’ll turn vegan if you can keep him off TV.
i’m working on it..
Just keep in mind that I promised god all sorts of things when I was in a tight spot once I’m hoping he’s forgotten if/when I meet him/her/it.
noted..
and not a single politician has ever gone there to do anything than pay tribute to ratana… they have never used it to self promote. (sarcasm)
Anyone else remember a certain someone saying that they are tightening up on the moderation? It seems that that quite a lot of vile (as shown in the post on this blog yesterday) doesn’t quite meet the threshold. I wonder what does.
On another note, the readership sure has a lot of time on its hands to comment all day, considering that they generally self-identify as the “keeping this country running through hard work” type.
Perhaps you should tell the authors and admins what to do and see how that works out?
heh..!
Phil ure, contact me on facebook
there are many of u there..
..either link..or..
..my email contact details are @ http://whoar.co.nz/
You guys gonna have a session?
f.y.i..h.l..
..i am presuming i am one of those potty-mouther all-dayers u speak of/have a passive-aggressive moan about..?
..this is what i also do @ the same time..
http://whoar.co.nz/
It sounds awful. Why not name and shame the vile shirkers?
LOL
and the Bain train rolls on…whats the deal?David gets 50% of the take after expenses?
National Radio, late yesterday afternoon listening to some story about Yemen’s so-called “terrorists”, the American news story had the presenter stating “we” as in “we need to work to curb these terrorists”. Not objective journalism at all, not one iota.
I aint no part of their “we” the bloody wankers. The journalist should be referring to something like “the American government wants to curb the terrorists”, not “we need to curb the terrorists”
Gobsmacked I was, gobsmacked.
Wtf is Nat Radio doing running American fox-type shite like this? Unbelievable. Where is Morrisey?
Don’t you want to curb militant Islamic terrorism?
Why don’t you answer the point?
I am answering the point. I suggest the widely held view in our society is that militant Islamic fundamentalists (who are attempting to confront Western nations or western backed governments due to their virulent opposition to many values of the West that we generally all share) should be opposed around the world. Hence why Radio NZ National probably used the term ‘We’ in the piece you refer to.
The point was about objective journalism, not war.
Yes but objective journalism is not the same as perfectly balanced journalism. For example during a genocide it is not necessary to respect the views of those carrying out the genocide in any reports and refrain from calling it a genocide as a result.
You mean like the western governments and media calling the Ottawa event an act of terrorism when it clearly was anything but.
First casualty in war is truth, and this conspicuous blurt by Nat Radio yesterday is evidence of that.
The Ottawa shooting was a terrorist attack by a mentally ill man. His illness doesn’t change the nature of his crime, which was essentially a copy cat of similar terrorist attacks.
Re: the RNZ piece, you haven’t given us anything to work with. There are several groups fighting in Yemen, including Al Qaeda. The group beseiging the capital probably don’t deserve the label terrorist, so if it was them being referred to, you are right to be critical.
A link would be useful.
But there was nothing “terrorism” about the Ottawa event … it involved a soldier and a government at war being attacked. No civilians involved at all. No terror.
Re the RNZ piece, yes no link sorry, bit hopeless ate fnding those. But the point was not about the subject of the piece, which is immaterial, it was entirely about how the piece was presented.
Re: Ottawa, it won’t be much comfort to the family of the dead part-time soldier that a bloke on a blog in NZ reckons his death wasn’t terrorism. Your definition of terrorism (must involve civilians) is unique. That’s not how the Canadian parliament, the Mounties, or even the Ottawa Muslim Association (who arranged his burial), saw it.
However, I would agree that the label, accurate or not, is often co-opted for other political purposes and it certainly was immediately after this incident.
I think this statement is probably the most dignified response:
“Nathan Cirillo was my boyfriend. I loved him deeply, as did all of the family and friends who knew him and we all still mourn him every day. That being said, I feel I should weigh in on this ridiculous “was he a hero or was he not” debate. My response is:
“we should be talking about is the dismal state of mental healthcare in our country. What that deeply disturbed man killing my boyfriend should make Canadians focus on is how we can prevent another event like this through more accessible and effective mental health treatment programs that target the real source of this tragedy. Stop tearing apart the honour and love bestowed upon a wonderful man who deserves every bit of it and start taking a good hard look at the awful, dysfunctional systems in our nation that this has shown us need to change….I am a very proud Canadian, but the fact that this hero/not business is what the media here and the general public has chosen to talk about, I must say I am very disappointed. We can do, and are, better than this, Canada…..I feel as though this is an important discussion that needs to continue happening.””
Andrea Polko.
“due to their virulent opposition to many values of the West”
It’s been quite a while now Gos, you should try and get your head around what the conflict is about.
“Muslims do not ‘hate our freedom,’ but rather they hate our policies,”
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/24/politics/24info.html?pagewanted=print&position=&_r=0
Doesn’t really explain the Charlie Hebdo attack does it especially considering Al Qaida in Yemen has taken credit in ordering that specifically because of the clash of values not policies.
‘Speaking over footage of the attack that killed 12 people, Ansi said: “Today, the mujahideen avenge their revered prophet, and send the clearest message to everyone who would dare to attack Islamic sanctities.”‘
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2015/01/al-qaeda-yemen-charlie-hebdo-paris-attacks-201511410323361511.html
It’s been a while now Gos, you should read up on how asymetric warfare works. What the strategy of terrorism is.
Here’s a good primer on the subject, dirt cheap too, ebook under $15, paper version about $25
http://www.allthatmattersbooks.com/book/terrorism-all-that-matters/
Or here for a free starter:
http://www.kiwipolitico.com/2015/01/fighting-terrorism-is-a-matter-of-law-enforcement/
Short version though, on what terrorists aim to achieve by terrorism:
1) Provoke an overreaction from the state and the broader population
2) Escalate the conflict
3) Win the hearts and minds of the people they claim to represent, primarily by using the state’s reactions as examples of how the state hates them, and the terrorists are right to be fighting back
4) Endure. If the terrorists can survive (not individually, but as a ’cause’) they will win.
The propaganda they put out is simply in aid of point 3.
Yes I do Gosman and I want to curb militant American terrorism as well.
Have you joined the Army/Navy yet? So that you will be ready to curb terrorism the day that Dear Leader announces our most excellent adventure in the Middle East?
IF not… Why not? Don’t you want to curb militant Islamic terrorism?
Don’t you want to curb militant American racism?.
Roqayah Chamseddine @roqchams
American patriots still tweeting about killing “ragheads” and “sandn—-rs” #AmericanSniper cc @adctweets
https://twitter.com/roqchams/status/557913195289903105/photo/1
a ‘good-news’ seachange..
..the american senate has just voted on a motion..that voting yes on indicated an acceptance of the science of climate-change as a reality by the voting senator..
..and only one senator voted against it..
..2015 really will be the yr of climatechange taken seriously..
..and the drill baby drill!/mine baby mine! policies of this key govt..and our (pollution-charging exempt) dirty-dairying exporting ‘industries’..
..will make us more and more international-outliers..
..key will no longer be able to fall back on our high rate of renewable-energy as his answer/counter to any calls to clean up our act..
..the international pressure/imperatives on us/key is going to seriously ramp-up..
Are you seriously suggesting that the GOP is now full of Climate change accepting anti-oil people? I think you might need to change the variety that you are smoking at the moment as it could well be too strong 😉 .
do try to keep up..gosman..
..i am reporting on a vote held in the american senate..in the last 24 hrs..
..where last time i looked..the denialists were in a serious majority..
..nothing more..nothing less..
..(of course..u r a denialist..eh..?..
..heads-up..!..it’s sunset-time on you..)
(and romney has come out today denying he is a denialist..)
I have never denied the scientific consensus around any topic. I suspect you on the other hand have been at odds with the mainstream scientific view numerous times in the past and currently.
‘at odds with’ political views..more than ‘scientific’ views..
..’science’ supports most of the arguments i make..
Not the scientific consensus though.
Strangely you read like some of the hard core Climate change deniers I have seen. They too argue the IPCC is driven by political rather than scientific notions.
w.t.f. r.u banging on about..?
..and is yr spine/neck ok after that pirouette on the facts of what i actually said..?
Yeah nah…
Senate Republicans head-faked Democrats on climate change Wednesday, agreeing in a floor vote that the planet’s climate was changing, but blocking language that would have blamed human activity.
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/senate-climate-change-vote-114463.html
that is a more nuanced report than the one i saw..
..(curse you..!..huffington post..!..)
..but everything else i said about increasing international pressure on us..
..still applies..
Bloody 18th century colonials, still wanting to eat the environment …
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/65331060/farmers-want-to-tap-tekapo
It will be good for the planet when this generation passes. Though I imagine there are many mini-colonials being brainwashed at the breakfast table each day in these regions
We less of the irrigate style and more of this type of thinking.
http://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/rural-news/rural-management/lupin-gains-traction-in-high-country
yes
comment@whoar:..the govts’ war on the poor continues apace..(we shall know/mark them by their spectacles..)
the government’s/work and incomes’ war on the poor continues..
..their cementing in of beneficiaries as second-hand citizens..
..soon you will be able to pick beneficiaries by the shitty/cheap glasses they are wearing..
..’cos..what used to happen..was beneficiaries would go to optician..
..and work and income wd lend them the money for them..(i repeat..’lend’..not give..)
..this was paid back in weekly increments..
..and that all seemed to work well for everyone..
..now there is a new regime..
..where you walk into an opticians..and don’t even bother looking at the frames lining the walls..they are not for the likes of you..
..beneficiaries get to choose from a very small selection of cheap/crappy frames..
..really fucken ugly they are..
(cont..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2015/commentwhoar-the-govts-war-on-the-poor-continues-apace-we-shall-knowmark-them-by-their-spectacles/
(and after banging on at length..i finish with this..)
.and while we are at it..how about an mp ask a question about this in questiontime..?
..as to why was this actually done..?..and for whose benefit..?..
..and as a follow-up..how much did this new schema cost to plan/set-up..?
..but the main question being..
..for why..?
..to my mind what they are doing is cruel..and a form of persecution..
..and surely this is a matter of civil-rights..?
..beneficiaries are clearly being treated as second-class citizens..and this is wrong..
..and the rub being..there is no cost-saving/rationale for this latest way to fuck over the poor..
..it is poor-bashing ideology writ-large..nothing more..nothing less..
..and cruel/an exercise in persecution with it..
..opposition mp’s should demand this logic-free policy/schema be scrapped..
Today is a day National & the Maori-Tory party’s will be dreading. Fronting up at Ratana where Little & Labour are the main act. Peters will be rubbing Nationals frontman, Bill English nose in it over pretty much everything 🙂
Not sure why they should even bother going. Why kowtow to a religious and ethnically based organisation that formally supports your opponent?
Tradition dear boy, whatever next Gosman? Don’t tell me you would suggest the Government abstain from attending the Waitangi commemoration?
Speaking our which I see the NZH are starting their divisive nonsense early by putting out the question of is being called Pakeha an insult? Something like that I read on their Facebook feed. Oh yes and as they intended the amount of thin skinned people taking offense was overwhelming.
I don’t like being described as a Pakeha. I much prefer NZ European. I would rather not be defined by the other partner in our bi-cultural nation. It isn’t as if Maori people still go by the name ‘Natives’ any more.
An optimistic tory would feel lucky if the descriptions stopped at “Pakeha”.
Exactly. Let us acknowledge that many people prefer not to be called Pakeha or any other name they feel may be derogatory. Maori have defined what name/s they prefer (e.g. Maori, Tanga te Whenua etc). Non Maori should have the same right.
You have the right to want to not be called a Pakeha, Pakeha.
That is fine White person.
You see? You even have the right to label others.
It isn’t as if Maori people still go by the name ‘Natives’ any more.
Euros original term for them seems to have been “New Zealanders” when you look at old docs.
But the term was used as a broad description of them.
Not really though eh. “natives” is just a description. Loads of people all over the world were called natives by colonial powers. It doesn’t apply to Maori specifically. The term used for Maori specifically, to distinguish them from other peoples, was New Zealanders
But whatever. I like being called Pakeha, and the term isn;t going away, so you’re just going to have to live with it I’m afraid.
If you want to be called Pakeha then that is your choice. But worrying that other people don’t want to be called one is a different matter entirely.
You need a march to reclaim the language for oppressed Pakeha Gosman; a Pakeha Walk.
snap
I’m not worried Gos.
You are quite free to your identity politics driven idea here. That’s fine.
All I’m saying is that many people will find you ridiculous. This is to do with the nature of identity politics.
It’s like how “meninism” is trying to become a thing, but is only becoming a silly thing that most people will laugh at.
Complaining that you are being othered, that your identity is being forced on you by a marginalised minority is always going to sound odd to many people.
‘I’m a white male facing structural oppression, and I demand the right to have my voice as a white male heard’, is simply hard argument to make and not come across as being a bit of a fuckwit, what with society being the way it is.
But like I said, go for it. Print a T-shirt. Reclaim the streets, or something.
Except the NZ Herald is holding internet polls on the issue. Remember it wasn’t me who raised this issue but someone who objected to the Herald doing this. Why would they be holding polls if it is such a non issue as you seem to think it is?
Geez, Gosman, are you a bit slow today? Might the Herald not be blowing that dogwhistle of theirs to deliberately inflame racist sentiment?
Or is that so far outside the realms of possibility on Gosman?
The Herald holds ‘polls’ on all sorts of jack ass nonsense.
Who are the spokesbots for the poor oppressed white folk being othered by Te Reo?
Umm. Colin Craig perhaps? Mike Butler maybe? Jamie Whyte?
How they all doing?
‘Pakeha’ gets used every day. No one* gives a shit.
*except for people who get ignored because *pretty much* everyone can see that the claim is inherently ridiculous.
Objecting to being called Pakeha does not make you a racist. That stated many racists it is true would likely object to being labelled by the term. That still doesn’t make objecting to the term wrong.
Objecting to being called Pakeha does not make you a racist, just very very precious, Pakeha.
I repetitively remind everyone of the Monty Python skit of the political underclass the unrestructured anarchists or something.
Ends with the king getting totally pissed off with the peasant who won’t Shut Up. And gives him a shake. ‘Help I’m being repressed’. See the violence inherent in the system Gosman.
aren’t you lucky that the census gives you that choice. Of the things you get called here and other places that may be the less offensive ?
When your in france do you insist on using english names for things?
Its the same idiocy you get from people who refuse to use proper maori pronunciation.
Yet those same people would pronounce “faux pas” as “fo par” because they can somehow accept that the spelling of a word is said differently in french – yet they shit their precious little y-fronts if its in maori
Maori is an official language of NZ and pakeha was the name they used to describe/label/denote europeans – so your a pakeha, big whoop
Ooh noes – some is labeling me in a language i dont speak! The horror!
Get over yourself ya big baby
As stated I am happy if you want to define yourself as a Pakeha. I would prefer not to myself and would correct people if they decide to do so. They are free to ignore me but then they make the choice to be deliberately provocative.
do you object to different names in other languages or are you just a baby if its in maori?
I usually object to someone trying to define me as anything I disagree with. I make exceptions in places where I should expect such things such as this site.
You have the right to come and see the violence inherent in the system. You’re being oppressed.
You said above that you prefer to be defined as “NZ European”.
Is “Pakeha” that different in “definition” from “NZ European”? How so? I’m not sure it is.
so you disagree that your a european? You still havent even explained what you think pakeha means
your doing a shit job of papering over your knee jerk
“I would rather not be defined by the other partner in our bi-cultural nation.”
why not?
If you believe the sentence you wrote, what is the big issue for you gos?
Just as I would expect Maori wouldn’t want to be defined by non-Maori . In fact I believe that has been the objection to much policy in the past.
You see what a learning experience this could be for you?
is it the ‘defining’ bit that you don’t like? In that someone else is making a categorisation of you in some way that is beyond your control.
As far as I’m concerned, and following my own definition of ‘pakeha’ I would agree with Gosman that he isn’t one. I tend to think of a pakeha as someone who tries to honour the Treaty, is proud of it and acknowledges Maori as tangata whenua. It is, as far as I’m concerned, a compliment and not to be handed out to any old ‘european’.
I have defined myself as God-Emperor of Tamaki Makau Rau. In future you shall address me this way.
[lprent: Translating…. Please wait….
A large worm?
😈 ???? ]
lol nope,
Just a bit of sarcasm about Gosman’s objection to the word “Pakeha”. Shoulda addressed the comment to him… 🙄
Thing is, immigrants to a country already populated by some other culture have to suck it up and take what the locals call them – for instance, I doubt Chinese immigrants call themselves Chinese, but that’s tough shit because we’re not going to call them whatever it is they call themselves. And if we moved to China, they’d have some word for us that wouldn’t be “NZ European,” and they wouldn’t be interested in being taught to call us “NZ European” instead of whatever word they already came up with. Them’s the breaks, kid – Maori got here first. People who want to be Europeans should go live in Europe.
“have to suck it up and take what the locals call them ”
I know what you mean. I don’t like being called “NZ European” but just have to suck it up sometimes.
But I don’t have any problem with being called ‘Pākehā’
Gosman @ 13.1.1.1.4.1 – “……but then they make the choice to be deliberately provocative.”
Back up the truck bro’ ! Ain’t that all part and parcel of “Freedom of Speech” ? Yeah. Without limit apparently. So why the unmissable pejorative about provocativeness Gosman ?
(“I would suggest…..”) that your ridiculously self-centred, eurocentric exceptionalism, the father of your hypocrisy, is risible Mr Pakehahahaha Gosman.
“I don’t like being described as a Pakeha”-Gosman
How about, ‘Honky-Ori Supremist’?
heh..!..
Our commercial media is so transparently biased it is ridiculous. Today Kim Dotcom’s Mega launched a new, end to end, encrypted voice service called “MegaChat”. How do I know this? Not from the business pages of the Herald or Stuff, even though the service is based here. No, I read it in the Guardian – http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jan/22/kim-dotcom-launches-encrypted-voice-chat-skype-killer – a British newspaper that thought the story worth a reasonable amount of coverage.
It is almost as if the word has gone out from the corporate owners of our commercial media – Dotcom can only be reported on if it furthers a certain new narrative about the guy – maybe a hint of perversion in some hot tottie being lured to the lair of the fat man (Sarah Torrent) or his “dubious” legal battles to avoid extradition.
(ahem..!..from earlier this morn..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2015/kim-dotcom-launches-end-to-end-encrypted-voice-chat-%E2%80%98skype-killer%E2%80%99/
..that whoar..eh..?..always first with the best..!
One for you phillip ur the best!
chrs grey..
..i know it..u know it…
..i do wonder @ the resistance from others..
..’cos as u know..given their politics etc..(and esp considering the constant laments about ‘the news’ in this country..)..
..in a way those resisters are cutting off their own noses..
..as (so far) today i have posted 41 stories/links..
..many of which wd interest them..
..and more than that go up every day..(and i mean..’every day’..)
..and i know..as far as quality of material posted..in variety/quality/good-writing..
..i haven’t found a better site..(i source from excellent sites..but for that overall global-grab i haven’t found better..)
..if anyone knows of one..let me know..and i will add it as a resource..
..from day one i set out to be the best..
..and as far as reliability of constant high-quality content is concerned..i think i am..
..again..chrs 4 the feedback..
and..btw..i run this thing on the smell of an oily-rag..
(..and as a prototype of what can be done by one person..i wd submit it is an example..
..and if anyone else kicks one off..let me know..and i will link to/promote ya..
..that world is open..where we are from doesn’t matter..)
so anyway..i can’t afford to advertise..
..so if u like what i do..if u cd alert yr networks..?
..that wd b much appreciated..
..both by me..and by them to you..for turning them on to what i offer each day..
@ phillip u
Oh blah blah don’t get carried away becos you’re so good. Just quietly sit there and feel superior.
“.. Just quietly sit there..”
yeah..that makes sense..
(i forgot..!..we’re in nz..!..u aren’t allowed to say here that what u do is ‘good’..eh..?..
..the national inferiority-complex kicks in..)
phillip ure
Go ahead tall poppy, shoot up to match the sunflower. Good for a bumper sticker that sounds positive and happy eh!
“Oh blah blah don’t get carried away becos you’re so good. Just quietly sit there and feel superior.”
Real superiority comes from the quietly sitting part.
quite so..grasshopper..!
..you learn well..!
..but..if a man sits quietly in the woods..
.will anyone hear him..?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503414&objectid=11390635
“Hecklers give super-city plan slow handclap”
Preparing for my Public Meeting tonight, Friday 23 January 2015, 7.30pm – 9pm, at the Carterton ‘RSA’ 35 Broadway – to SLAM the Auckland ‘Supercity – for the 1%’, by exposing what a SUPER (expensive) mess and disaster it has been for the majority of citizens and ratepayers.
Why on earth would anyone (apart from the 1% who stand to benefit from the ‘economies of scale’ – ie: bigger infrastructure and service contracts for fewer, but bigger private contractors / consultants), want to even consider any further Council amalgamations, before a full, thorough, genuinely independent audit, based upon FACTS and EVIDENCE, which prove just how ‘cost-effective’ the Auckland ‘Supercity’ has been for the majority of citizens and ratepayers?
In my considered opinion, the Draft Wellington Reorganisation Proposal should STOP – NOW!
How can future ‘cost-effectiveness’ of any proposed Council amalgamation be measured without a FACTUAL ‘datum’ of where costs fall NOW for Council services and regulatory functions?
How can any citizens and ratepayers make an informed submission on this Draft Wellington Reorganisation Proposal – without such FACTS and EVIDENCE?
Where does the ‘Tax Payers Union’ stand on the proposed Wellington ‘Supercity’?
When are the Labour Party going to come out, hard and strong against the proposed Wellington ‘Supercity’?
Penny Bright
(For more information – check out http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz )
I’m a fan of this
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/65343562/greens-use-ratana-meeting-to-attack-john-key
key must be reminded constantly of his lies, misinformation and idiotic utterings. Onya Greens.
I enjoyed reading the speech when it came through the email today.
Will our PM be taking the opportunity to call the European union “loonies” while he is in their neck of the words?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30933515
A more nuanced look at the Oxfam 1% stat
http://www.vox.com/2015/1/22/7871947/oxfam-wealth-statistic
Fascinating read. Thanks nadis.
Q. How does the figure make the world a better place ?
Q. How can untraceable untrackable ‘wealth’ be measured ?
Q. Do you know the contents of the Vatican vault ?
From the Klein article. “So be careful with that Oxfam statistic. It’s not telling you what you think it is. But it’s still telling you something.”
Care to share what it is telling us Gosman, since Klein doesn’t. Or is “fascinating read” simply GosSpeak for “See, meaningless rubbish !” ? Come on Gosman……there must be a reason you find it “fascinating”.
hmmmm don’t expect too much of an answer from Gossy the hardly impressive analysis by klein involves a lot of waving of hands – but then if it supports the religion of the hidden hand – it must be “fascinating”
In recent years the NZ state’s ‘terrorist’ designation list has expanded to include what are clearly several liberation movements.
We’ve stuck up an article on developments in the repressive legislation in NZ in relation to this (and state powers), including a list of the organisations that now fall under this designation.
See: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/the-terrorism-suppression-act-since-2007/
Phil
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11390420
Sneering little article from sneering little Pakeha Claire Trevett. Using Morgan to sneer at Maori. Akshilly. Rubbish journalist. Probably out of sorts not being with Mr Akshilly in Europe.
very odd framing…
2015 IT IS 3 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT (from 5 minutes to midnight in 2012)
It was 17 minutes to midnight in 1991 – it’s hard to believe that we are more than five times more precarious now than then.
But the Greens weren’t formed then.
http://thebulletin.org/timeline
Follow the hippies Pete, follow the hippies ….. They are always onto future happenings while the hapless conservatives mooch around behind their lace curtains until the ground is broken and tested by others. It is only then that they are brave enough to face the future….
Conservatives never face the future.
Remember that next time you are considering the National Party’s approach to anything …. it is in their DNA – conservative, fearful and afraid, unable and unwilling to look ahead…..
little use they are, little use …
are you a conservative Pete? (btw, don’t be afraid to admit that you are, they do have a purpose although it is a small and little used one – do you know what it is?)
I was actually thinking about this today while bumping over bumps and road-coning along (road-coning being the trick of clipping cones just enough to topple them, especially when they are used to divert from where there is no need… which is unbelievably common)
If society is a ship on the sea then the conservatives are the lead in the keel and the ballast in the bilges. They keep the ship upright and stable but they have no idea where they have been or where they are going, let alone how to sail or any other such useful functions in the ship. Their use is as dead-weight….
… whereas the future-facers, they are everything… they are the navigators, the ones at the helm, they raise and drop the sails, stitch and mend the sails, the list goes on…
The problem arises of course when the dead-weight tries to navigate and sail… they should just stay in the bilges…
Just look at Peter Dunne
Interesting analogy. And who do you think would be the ones fighting over everyone having an equal share of the sails and shredding them in the process? And throwing everyone over starboard for standing on the wrong side?
All sailors know that order is required at sea and as such disorder is very uncommon as the result is disaster for all …
Of course the ship requires all components as otherwise without the lead and ballast the ship would roll over and sink.. while without the sailors and navigators the ship would hit rocks and sink…
Again, the problem arises when the dead-weight tries to sail, while the effect of sailors adding their (typically skinny) mass to the dead-weight is negligible.
It IS an interesting analogy isn’t it. It works in many many senses …
We’re all sailors but every three years we get to navigate and elect helmsmen.
Problem arises when navigators allow helmsmen to navigate.
are you a conservative Pete?
Depends on what you’re referring to as ‘conservative’. I was nowhere near being a supporter of Colin Craig’s so-called Conservatives.
I’m conservative about some things but can be radical about others. I don’t have much in common with the conservatives who frequent Kiwiblog. Or here (for example lprent and others are quite conservative/old school in how they approach doing politics).
I generally tend to think and act outside the crowd, am prepared to consider minority views and willing question groupthink.
Which do you prefer : A National led government or a Labour led government?
In 1999, 2002 and 2005 I preferred a Labour led government. In 2008, 2011 and 2014 I preferred a National led government.
I hope I can prefer a Labour led government again but they have got to sort a lot of stuff out before I think they will be up to it. It’s a big ask to reverse a decade long declining trend in three years but I hope they are at least competitive in 2017.
If Little and Labour have improved sufficiently there’s a better than even chance I’ll be interested in improving Labour’s share of the vote, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will be ready to be preferred lead party in Government.
“.. I’ll be interested in improving Labour’s share of the vote..”
delusions of grandeur..much..?
Delusions of democracy?
I get one vote like nearly everyone else.
I hope I can prefer a Labour led government again but they have got to sort a lot of stuff out before I think they will be up to it.
What do you mean by ‘they have to sort a lot of stuff?’ What stuff? Explain.
But the Greens weren’t formed then.
Yo wut? Anyway, the NZ Green Party may not have been formed then, but the German version was.
Hi Pete.
What do you mean by this?
“It was 17 minutes to midnight in 1991 – it’s hard to believe that we are more than five times more precarious now than then.
But the Greens weren’t formed then.”
An obvious reading is that it is the formation of the Greens that has moved the clock forward. Is that what you meant?
No I didn’t mean that. The Greens haven’t been in government so could hardly be blamed.
However they keep warning of the end of the world as we know it unless we change everything so have raised fears of the end of the world.
Ironically for a Bulletin of Atomic Scientists there doesn’t seem to be a lot of science involved in tweaking their clock. It seems to be based on perceptions.
It may have worked effectively in the 1940s and 1950s but it seems a bit quaint and impotent now. And that’s similar to what the Greens are now struggling with.
So many riches in one comment, I don’t know where to start, so am just going to back away while I still can, lol.
😆 Weka.
yes..that was funny…
Perhaps people who are interested in the physical measurable world and less in the imaginary have a better “subjective” opinion than you do?
I believe they do a statistical sampling.
But based on the current population and that effects we are seeing now are far more irreversible than just dropping bombs, then I’d agree with them. Of course I have a science degree in the area of most concern?
What is the basis of your opinion? Navel hair?
“I believe they do a statistical sampling” is not very scientific. They don’t cite any methodology in their announcement. Can you cite anything on their methodology or do you just have a belief in it? ?
How can you do statistical sampling of the nuclear threat?
“Modernization of huge arsenals” is mentioned but they don’t explain how that would make the weapons more dangerous, I would hope that they would be making them safer.
I can understand that “Disarmament machinery that has ground to a halt” might not reduce the risk but why would it significantly (from 5 to 3) increase the risk?
“From 2009 to 2013, the Obama administration cut only 309 warheads” shouldn’t increase the risk markedly.
“Progress on climate and nuclear weapons issues has been too limited in recent years, according to the Board statement” – again, maybe a reason not to increase the minutes but reason to change it from 5 to 3?
What they seem to have done is substantially increase the climate risk.
Atomic scientists are presumably not climate scientists (ok, some of them cite climate connections but that seems odd for a Bulletin of Atomic Scientists).
The climate risks have been talked about for decades, it isn’t some sudden new risk or suddenly escalated risk.
And atomic scientists are presumably not psychologists who are able to assess the risk of nuclear nation leaders going momentarily mental.
There’s plenty of dramatic statements in their announcement but no sign of scientific backing apart from stating they are scientists.
I’m surprised to see them nearly double the risk in three years. Without any apparent science.
Source: http://thebulletin.org/press-release/press-release-it-now-3-minutes-midnight7950
“Of course I have a science degree in the area of most concern?”
Climate science?
Atomic Weaponry science?
Risk Assessment science?
When did you last study or research in “the area of most concern”?
I’m interested to see your scientific backing for a change of risk from 5 to 3. You must have some good science to support “then I’d agree with them”.
My impression is they are confusing a need for urgent action with the imminence of apocalypse. One scientists says “by the end of this century to profoundly transform the Earth’s climate” but also “We all need to respond now”.
What is your scientific assessment of the consequences of “rapid action to drastically reduce global emissions of heat-trapping gases, especially carbon dioxide”?
There must be some scientific analysis of the possible and probable positive and negative effects of rapid and drastic reductions in global emissions.
Do you seriously expect people to go and read the whole bulletin and then summarise it for your beige benefit?
I read it. It contains the answers to your questions.
So it should be easy for you to provide citations then.
Interesting that the bulletin would answer questions about lprent’s scientific credentials. I must have missed those bits.
The answers to that are available here. Not searching them out for you either.
Go play your games at Yawns, Petty.
The usual OAB MO, make a dubious claim, fail to back it up, and divert into petty attack.
The claim that The Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists answers Pete’s questions about The Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists is easily verified, as is the claim that Lprent has mentioned his academic credentials on this forum.
Pete’s too lazy to read the lengthy articles of the former, and too dishonest to admit that he remembers the latter.
Yawns.
Same old empty retchoric.
“.. make a dubious claim, fail to back it up, and divert..”
petey..!..that’s yr m.o..!
pete why didn’t you at least learn some skills when you were the fackchecker – you are just making yourself out to be silly here slackchecker
The usual suspects lining up to contribute positively to discussion. /sarc
Been playing with code on site today. This will be short.
I can’t cite anything for it without spending more time than I currently have. It was from a Economist article just after the fall of the Berlin wall in the late 80s. From memory they sample the views of the members of the atomic scientists membership, which can include everyone who works with radioactives from physicists to geologists and even climate scientists.
Playing with nuclear weapons even to upgrade or improve them is dangerous in its own right. However I suspect that the underlying issue is that trying to make weapons that are more able to bypass or destroy defenses or attack systems (the GPS sats for instance) is inherently dangerous. It is effectively an escalation of posture and makes it more likely that a cornerstone of deterrence fails.
BTW: Virtually every scientist or person trained deeply in science understands the basis of climate science and why they are worried about climate change. Everyone from physicists to people with just bachelor degrees knows the basis of the science. They may disagree about how to cope with it and the degree of alarm, but it is really hard to find one who isn’t paid by the carbon industries who wouldn’t put that up as one of the most dangerous issues politically today.
Especially people playing with nuclear arms. They are aware of the history that a high proportion of wars are triggered by disputes over scarce resources.
The reason that the climate change issue is imminent is because you are confusing the cause and the effects because of the oceanic and icecap buffering. The cause is excessive CO2 (and a few other gases – but CO2 is the killer) in the volatiles that make up the oceans and atmosphere. Currently the excess CO2 is piling into the oceans and what extra CO2 is resident in the atmosphere is largely pumping its extra warming into melting ice and warming oceans.
After those buffers start having a diminished ability to suck up excess, then everything that gets dumped into the atmosphere causes a much greater effect than we see today. Moreover the oceans aren’t static. They run with deep currents and the bulk of the stored heat and CO2 from the last century is currently being transported to the equators to pulse out at some time in the future (and BTW we still don’t really know how long that is away).
The big risk is that if we don’t stop dumping waste CO2 until we see some effects, then we are likely to not see a gradual climate shift, but one that is periods of gradual change (like the last 15 years) punctuated by big spikes of change (like the decade prior). The level of the shifts are likely to keep getting larger.
What that means for war is that instead of a gradual movement out of somewhere like Bangladesh as the farmlands get saline, we’re much more likely to see a 150 million starving people pouring over borders in a single year. Or instead of having the monsoons move offshore slowly over years, they simply will stop falling on land for years on end. Same in NZ, we’d get droughts year after year, followed by floods year after year. Climate change directly hits food production because it makes it more unpredictable.
My first degree was in earth sciences. Look up what it covers. I study in it all of the time, just as I do in every other area I have trained or work in.
There is this elegant thing called “searching the net for resources” and I have these abilities to “read” and “comprehend”. I know that the first and the last are difficult for you. But I have provided some hints on topics above.
The latest Roy Morgan poll is of minor interest but I wouldn’t bet the year on it – National up to 52%, they same as they were mid-last year.
– National 52% (up 6% since November 24-December 7, 2014)
– Maori Party 1.5% (down 0.5%)
– Act NZ 1% (down 0.5%)
– United Future 0% (unchanged)
– Labour Party 26% (down 1%)
– Greens 11% (down 1%)
– NZ First 6% (down 1%
Apart from National hey are insignificant changes especially for this time of year.
– Conservative Party of NZ 2% (down 0.5%)
– Internet-Mana Party alliance 0% (down 1%)
– Independent/ Others 0.5% (down 0.5%)
Internet-Mana down to 8% is one of the more notable results. The Internet Party seems doomed but Mana has been dragged right down with them.
National deserve their high outcome in the RM.
There is no longer an Internet Mana Party – the arrangement expired a few weeks back. Roy Morgan should do some homework.
Expired? Or they disbanded?
As I understand it the original arrangement was to be reviewed a few months after the election anyway. And I’m certain I have read that they had given up on the arrangement with no hard feelings, but I am not able to find a link.
ok, thanks. I thought the 6 week past the election thing was for a review, rather than it expiring. But interesting there’s not been anything formal in public.
Hone confirmed to TV3’s The Nation at its Christmas party the relationship had formally ended:
http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/internet-mana-coalition-comes-to-an-end-2014121313#axzz3PdrmqBiW
This is the nearest thing I could find, from Dec 7th – Hone says he is open to working with Dotcom again, but it would be under the Mana banner.
http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/mana-party-goes-big-for-2017-2014120713#axzz3PddLyZf7
Not sure which is more shocking, that the Herald ran this McDonalds advert as a news story, or the list of ingredients in US made McDonalds chips.
Dimethylpolysiloxane, which Imahara struggles to pronounce, is added for safety reasons to prevent cooking oil from foaming.
While tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is applied as a food preservative.
Imahara explains that there are numerous steps involved in the creation of McDonald’s fries.
First potatoes are harvested from fields before being peeled, cut and blanched.
They’re then fired through a cutter at up to 70 miles an hour into thin sticks.
After being chiseled into the perfect shape, the strips of potato are sauced with a blend of canola oil, soybean oil, hydrongenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor, hydrolyzed wheat, hydrolyzed milk, citric acid and dimethylpolysiloxane.
Dextrose – a natural sugar – is sprayed on the batons to help them maintain a golden fried color.
Sodium acid pyrophosphate is also added to prevent the fries from going grey.
Last but not least, salt is sprinkled on for flavor.
The fries are then flash frozen at the Simplot factory and transported to McDonald’s outlets across the country.
Once they are at restaurants, the potato sticks are fried for a second time.
The oil blend is similar to the factory mix, with the addition of tertiary butylhydroquinone and hydrogenated soybean oil – a manufactured form of trans fat.
And voila! McDonald’s World Famous Fries are served.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11390699
McDonalds, because despite their food tech the best chips on the planet are made with the right spuddies cut, soaked and double fried, in dripping, by Stan in his shed.
😀
OR
cut into wedges… par boiled, dried off, shaken to rough up… heat oil/duck fat in oven til piping hot. In they go, turn every ten minutes till cooked. Sprinkle with salt.
Yum-Bloody-O
natural beef flavor
If the cow worshiping Hindus read this, there could be riots in India!
And if McDonald’s use lard or pork flavor, the 1.6 billion Muslims plus 13 million Jews in the world will go gaga!
Apart from that, they use 19 ingredients to make the chips! Wonder how healthy and safe these chips are.
They taste damn good though!
Bear in mind that ‘natural beef flavour’ is a flavour. It might not necessarily have any actual relationship to natural beef.
Exactly. Pretty sure it’s made out of people.
actual lol.
mike was pretty good too.
It’s shameful that the NZ MSM is still/i> so ignorant of the the Māori world.
Andrea Vance promotes the Pākehā imperialist agenda,
“Greens use Ratana meeting to attack John Key”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/65343562/greens-use-ratana-meeting-to-attack-john-key
Dave Kennedy puts the speech in context.
“Turei Ratana Speech Justified”
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2015/01/turei-ratana-speech-justified.html
And Ratana would have smiled
Nact could have preserved the unity by also condemning FJK’s shonky view of history. It wasn’t Metiria who destroyed it.