Open mike 23/10/2014
Written By:
- Date published:
6:40 am, October 23rd, 2014 - 193 comments
Categories: uncategorized -
Tags:
Open mike is your post.
The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
193 comments on “Open mike 23/10/2014”
- Comments are now closed
- Comments are now closed
Recent Comments
- Gender Identity Ideology – A Partial Bibliography of Online Coverage
This great resource has been contributed to Redline by Janie Doebuck. Janie made some notes on the bibliography: 1) It is by no means exhaustive. There are tons more gender critical posts, essays, articles, podcasts, youtube videos, etc. online. 2) There are links in the bibliography that are behind paywalls. There ...5 hours ago - About those biased Oscar Nominations
There’s been a lot written about the 2020 Oscar Nominations and their apparent lack of diversity. It’s true, there are in fact no women nominated for the Best Director and very few nominees of colour across the board. But is this a result of a biased process or a symptom ...11 hours ago - How New Zealand media reports chronic pain
Hemakumar Devan Around three million New Zealanders access news media (both paper and online) every week. Yes, you heard that right! So, the potential for news media to shape public health beliefs is common sense. As chronic pain affects one in five New Zealanders, we wanted to find out how ...19 hours ago - Still Waiting For American Democracy.
Unfinished Republic: Though the United States' crimes against democracy are legion, most Americans are blissfully unaware of them. The brutal realities of American life: the officially sanctioned violence; the refusal to hold racists accountable for their actions; the seemingly endless tragedy of African-American suffering; of which White America is the ...21 hours ago - In Outrage Over Its Bunk Science, Goop Finds Fuel for GrowthMichael Schulson For years, experts have said that Goop, the wellness and lifestyle brand founded by the actor and entrepreneur Gwyneth Paltrow, markets pseudoscience and overblown cures. And for years, despite the criticism, Goop has just kept growing. Now the company, which was valued at $250 million in 2018, ...1 day ago
- Tobacco Excise Taxes and the Smokefree 2025 Goal: Some Ways ForwardJanet Hoek, Richard Edwards, George Thomson, Andrew Waa, Nick Wilson Debate over tobacco tax increases has intensified as research indicates potentially conflicting policy directions. On the one hand, excise tax increases continue to stimulate quit attempts among smokers yet, on the other hand, they may lead to financial hardship for ...2 days ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #2, 2020
Conflation and how to fix it VIa AMS, Raul Lejano looks at what in a layperson's thinking would be called conflation— confusion and blending of entirely different topics— when people think about climate change. Ideology and the Narrative of Skepticism (open access) starts with some arguably frightening false connections between the science and ...2 days ago - ‘Cranky Uncle’ smart phone game will show you how to disarm climate deniersThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bud Ward (Image: Courtesy of John Cook) When it comes to climate change, it seems every family has its own version of the proverbial Cranky Uncle. An uncle, cousin, grandparent, in-law, neighbor, whatever. Just think back to the recent holiday season’s large ...2 days ago
- Science in the ’20s – part 1Outrageous, immoral or downright dangerous. That’s a description of the lifestyle of women “flappers” in the 1920s. Could it apply to science (and scientists) in the 2020s? Actually, you could look back at the past decade and see those, or similar terms, used about some science and scientists. Sometimes ...2 days ago
- Postscript: Citizenship Granted.
I am pleased to say that I have been granted NZ citizenship. I need to do the ceremony for things to be official, but the application was a success. I now join my son as a dual NZ-US citizen. To be fair, very little will change other than the fact ...3 days ago - Hard News: Music: Morales is coming
It will be no secret to longtime readers that I, Russell Brown, love the disco. So I'm pretty excited by the fact that one of the greats of the game is returning this summer – and also pleased to say I have tickets to give away.Legendary mixer and DJ ...3 days ago - The WHO Vaccine Safety Summit – from someone who was actually thereThe conspiracy I saw a new conspiracy theory flying around the other day. According to the conspiracy (that seems to originate from Del Bigtree), the World Health Organization have been ‘caught on camera’ questioning the safety of vaccines. Gosh this sounds as though someone was a mole at a ...3 days ago
- The timely death of the British Labour PartyBelow is an article submitted to Redline by Alec Abbott At its inception, the British Labour Party was a vehicle for the propagation of racist and imperialist views within the working-class. Such views are still widespread in the party, as they are in Europe’s Social-Democratic parties, though, in the case of ...3 days ago
- Mystery China pneumonia outbreak likely caused by new human coronavirusConnor Bamford, Queen’s University Belfast Since December 2019, there has been a cluster of 59 cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, eastern China. The pneumonia is associated with a previously unidentified coronavirus related to the deadly SARS virus. Seven of those cases are thought to be serious, and one person – ...3 days ago
- Yes, koalas are cute – but should we bring them to NZ? Errm, noIt’s been hard to miss the extreme fires raging across Australia and the tragic plight of the animals – human and otherwise – affected by the fires’ insatiable spread. I know I’ve been captivated and concerned by the tales of how Australia’s famous wildlife has been coping. Koalas approaching cyclists ...3 days ago
- National’s negative campaigningAnybody who looked into the Dirty Politics saga knows all too well that honesty is often in short supply within the National Party. You would think that after the exposure the John Key government received over their untruthful attack politics, the National Party would learn from its "mistakes" and leave ...3 days ago
- Ending the government’s charade over water
For the past decade, the government has been responding to the obvious Treaty issues raised by water allocation with the mantra that "no-one owns water". But last year, the Waitangi Tribunal ruled that actually, Māori owned it, and that those rights had never been extinguished. They recommended that iwi bring ...4 days ago - Northern Ireland joins the civilised worldSame-sex marriage has finally become legal in Northern Ireland. But not through any decision of the Northern Irish Executive or Assembly, which has only just reformed after a three year walkout by the DUP; instead, Westminster made that decision for them. I've talked before about the constitutional impropriety of this, ...4 days ago
- I had an intense conversation at work today.Claire Cohen-Norris volunteers with Citizens Climate Lobby as a chapter founder and leader in rural New York. Her climate advocacy sprung from her drive to provide a secure, joyful and fulfilling life for her two wonderful children. It has become a life’s mission, shared with her like-minded husband and partner. Claire ...4 days ago
- French transport workers take on Macron over pension reform
by John Edmundson Starting on December 5th, 2019 workers in the Parisian rail network commenced an open-ended strike in opposition to French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposed changes to their pension scheme. Rail workers in the Metro Underground have, for decades, had retirement conditions that compensate them for the low wages, ...4 days ago - What a difference the decimal point makesI’m back at work following a nearly three-week break over Christmas. We were fortunate to be offered a house to stay in for a week over Christmas, which enabled us to have a holiday in Dunedin and see the extended family reasonably cheaply. But the house came with a catch: ...5 days ago
- Who’s Going To Stop Him?Blank And Pitiless: Having ordered the assassination of the Iranian General, Qasem Soleimani, President Donald Trump promised to reduce the cultural monuments of Iran’s 3,000 year-old civilisation to rubble if a revenge attack was mounted. A breach of international law? Certainly. A war crime? Indisputably. Who’s going to stop him? Nobody.WHAT ...5 days ago
- A worker’s storyThis interview is from Aotearoa Workers Solidarity Movement (AWSM) and is the first of an ongoing series of interviews they plan to do with workers from various sectors who are having their well being and livelihoods damaged. They begin with an educator in Southland. Due to the attitude and actions ...5 days ago
- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #2A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week, i.e., Sun, Jan 5, 2020 through Sat, Jan 11, 2020 Editor's Pick Debunked Australian Bushfire Conspiracy Theories Were Pushed by Alex Jones, Murdoch Media As unusually intense and widespread bushfires have ...6 days ago
- J.K. Rowling, the Seattle Library, and the Issue That Must Not Be NamedThis article was submitted to Redline by Seattle-based activist Lucinda Stoan J.K. Rowling recognizes repression when she sees it. That’s why the author of the wildly popular Harry Potter books recently tweeted in defense of Maya Forstater. Forstater lost her job for stating that sex is real and immutable. A judge ...6 days ago
- Rules of Empire: Laws simply do not apply and “National Security” excuses all else.
Empires rise and fall, and the American Empire is absolutely no different. But while an Empire, in order to further the footprint, it seems to pay to do one primary thing above all else: project that everything – everything – is “simply for the good of the world” at large, ...1 week ago - Indian lessons for NZ workers – the January 8 general strikeby Phil Duncan On Wednesday (January 8) another massive general strike took place in India. Some 250 million industrial workers, white-collar workers, agricultural labourers struck against the government’s economic policies and attacks on the Muslim population through new proposed citizenship rules. This ...1 week ago
- Climate Change: The action that countsOver on Newsroom, Professor Jacqueline Beggs writes about the action she is taking on climate change. Its the usual list: reduce meat, don't fly, consume less. I'm doing some of this myself, and none of it hurts - but the way our economic system is constructed means the impact of ...1 week ago
- Fossil fuel political giving outdistances renewables 13 to oneThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk Corporations, special interest groups, and individuals inject billions of dollars into the American political system every year. Much of the financial support in politics is concealed from public view, as some rules – and loopholes – allow “dark money” and ...1 week ago
- Should I ditch my fossil-fueled car?Yes. Reducing the number of cars in your household, or switching from petrol/diesel to electric, will dramatically reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. It’s one of the easiest and highest-impact climate steps you can take. New Zealand is being flooded with cars The New Zealand vehicle fleet is increasing rapidly. In ...1 week ago
- Speaker: Planet History: Taking Tea with QuentinThis interview with Quentin Crisp is part of a series of articles republished from Planet, the independent magazine I edited in the early 90s from a base at 309 Karangahape Road, along with Grant Fell, Rachael Churchward, Fiona Rae, David Teehan, Mere Ngailevu and others.Inevitably, you forget things, and over ...1 week ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #1, 2020Supply Side How are we doing with CO2 emissions? It's an important question, increasingly posed to a mixed bag of CO2 contributors who may or may not provide accurate reportage. Liu et al present a new, additional means of measurement based on satellite observations of nitrogen dioxide co-emitted from ...1 week ago
- Is the prostitute the seller or the sold?Excerpts from Being and Being Bought, by Kajsa Ekis Ekman, Spinifex Press, 2013. Ekman, a Swedish journalist and critic, brings together a Marxist and feminist analysis of prostitution and surrogacy in this groundbreaking book. This is the third part of a synopsis and brief commentary of the book by Daphna Whitmore. Part 1 was ...1 week ago
- The climate crisis is also a biodiversity crisisDr Andrea Byrom Like many of us, the summer break has seen me transfixed with horror at the scale and magnitude of the bushfire crisis in Australia. As an ecologist, I can’t help but be appalled at the loss of some of Australia’s most beautiful ecosystems and landscapes. And ...1 week ago
- Labour opposes leisureFinland's new Prime Minister has made headlines by pushing for a 4-day week. So what does new Zealand's "centre-left" government think? Nope. They'd rather people kept working themselves into misery and death:The Government does not plan to follow Finland's lead to encourage businesses to offer staff a four-day week. [...] ...1 week ago
- Who’s afraid of the non-native accent? Everyone … unless you tell them about itAs someone who learnt English late-ish in life, I was always on the look-out for signs which betray my foreignness, afraid that my clumsy mispronunciation or syntactic misalignment will give away my outsider status. And for once, sadly, my worries were well-founded it seems. It’s bad, prejudice is rife! In ...1 week ago
- Donald Trump’s strategic gambleThere’s a meme going around the Internet at the moment claiming that Donald Trump is a bit of an idiot. To outside eyes it does seem as though the President of the United States thumbs his nose at his own countries laws and administration far too often to be taken ...2 weeks ago
- More Spanish repressionBack in December, the European Court of Justice ruled that jailed Catalan politician Oriol Junqueras was a Member of the European Parliament and therefore had immunity from prosecution. In a democratic state under the rule of law, he would have been immediately released from prison (and compensated for his illegal ...2 weeks ago
- Doubling down: Researchers investigate compound climate risksThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Daniel Grossman It was a grim day in Moscow on July 25, 2010. The English-language Moscow Times reported that the Russian capital had broken the 1936 temperature record for July: 98 degrees Fahrenheit. That month, the city, where air conditioning was (and still is) ...2 weeks ago
- Everyone, we must be united and work together (now we’ve got rid of the Corbyn)
Yvette Cooper has written a piece in the Guardian outlinig 'Seven things Labour Must Do To Win The Next Election'.I'll overlook the absurd headline - no-one is talking about Labour winning the next election and I assume that Cooper didn't write the headline (she doesn't mention winning the next election anywhere ...2 weeks ago - “A common interest in war with Iran” say those who will NOT be in the firing line
Well, things have certainly escalated. Brent Crude hits $70 in light of recent geopolitical incidents. There’s a British nuclear sub on its way to thump Iran if needed, and Netenyahu says “everyone” is keen on war with Iran. Of course in terms of the oil prices, that’ll have downstream ...2 weeks ago - 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #1Story of the Week... Editorial of the Week... El Niño/La Niña Update... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Reviews... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... The signal of human-caused climate change has emerged in everyday weather, study finds ...2 weeks ago
- New Fisk2 weeks ago
- Climate Change: Complementary measuresFor the past twenty-five years, climate change policy in New Zealand has been all about emissions pricing. Policy makers thought that all you needed to do was make people pay for their pollution via a carbon tax or emissions trading scheme, and the problem would be solved. This mechanism was ...2 weeks ago
- Jeremy Clarkson – God is an arsonistYou've really got to wonder if Jeremy Clarkson is worshiping the right deity? I mean thinking that Australia is somehow deserving of the calamity that has befallen it in the form of unprecedented bush fires is one thing, but claiming God intentionally likes to cause people and animals immeasurable pain ...2 weeks ago
- We are no longer welcome in IraqLast Friday, the US murdered a high-ranking Iranian general, ostensibly as retaliation for Iraqi militias attacking US troops in Iraq. It was a stupid move, a mistake as well as a crime (to misquote Talleyrand), and it is already having the expected effects: the Iranian nuclear deal is now completely ...2 weeks ago
- Miscalculation, escalation and the law of unintended consequences.Note: I penned a series of tweets on the consultancy page offering my thoughts on the Soleimani assassination. I have decided to gather them together, add some more material, and edit them into a blogpost. Here it is. The US drone strike in Baghdad that killed Iranian Quds force commander ...2 weeks ago
- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #1A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week, i.e., Sun, Dec 29, 2019 through Sat, Jan 4, 2020 Editor's Pick There Is No Safe Global Warming Australia Bushfire - Shutterstock Safety is something we all crave. It’s human nature. ...2 weeks ago
- The strike on Suleimani: a Neocon gambit for rolling the MIC onwards to a new chapter of global dest...
Anyone who thinks this was merely a so-called “precision strike” on “a really bad man!” and doesn’t get the wider geopolitical ramifications of this is beyond deluded. Probably those who think Commando comics are actually transcripts from a lost war documentary, and GI Joe was the biography of a real ...2 weeks ago - This is goodStill feeling very kicked in the head. Took some time off over Christmas and New Year to think about stuff, contemplating the unthinkable idea that i might have been ... wrong. But, after a thorough deconstruction of my cerebellum and rigorous self examination, I conclude I was not, am not.Okay, ...2 weeks ago
- A standout example of Right-wing truth inversion: “debating” responsibility for the Aust...
Many people must have seen the copious amounts of emotive, highly charged blame being increasingly passed onto “the bloody environmentalists!” and “the bloody Greenies” for this absolute debacle. This blame has been fomented by the Rightwing press, and the Governing coalition under Scott Morrison, who it must be said never ...2 weeks ago - Someone To Follow, Something To Blame.Poshing The Proletariat: As we enter the third decade of the twenty-first century, the question for New Zealand politicians is a simple one. Will workers’ expectations of fair treatment erode faster than their rising political determination to find someone to follow and something to blame? Significant sections of the United ...2 weeks ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #52, 2019The other side of the coin Last week's New Research mentioned a New York Times article describing how academic researchers plow straight through holidays with work. On the publishing side: not so much. Argue about priorities but clearly there's a difference in attitudes between the input hopper and the output conveyor. ...2 weeks ago
- December ’19 – NZ blogs sitemeter ranking
I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your blog is unexpectedly missing or the numbers seem very low please check ... 2 weeks ago - 2019 in Review: another busy year for the Skeptical Science teamAs we wrap up 2019 and prepare for 2020, here is our annual review of what our team was up to during the year. As in previous recaps, this one is divided into several sections: Scholary publications, projects and books Other publications and activities Recorded talks and podcasts Our ...2 weeks ago
- You thought 2019 was warped? Strap in, 2020 may make you nostalgic…
What a hard year 2019 was on so many fronts. In its wake, not a small amount of victims along the way. Dissembling reality really seems to have been Project #1 as far as can be seen from much of the basis of 2019’s ups and downs…Culturally, politically, socially and ...2 weeks ago - Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year.I hope that all readers have had a good festive season and are headed into a healthy, happy and productive New Year. 2019 was a relatively consistent and quiet year at KP, as befits a niche political blog. 39 posts this year, including three by Lew on the gun buy ...2 weeks ago
- Apathy in the face of disasterWarning: This article contains topics that might trigger right wing snowflakes!Unless you’ve had your head buried in a billabong for the last four months you’d of heard about the Australian bushfires. The fires have been unprecedented, with approximately five million hectares (12.35 million acres) of land burned nationwide. More than ...3 weeks ago
- TransitioningTwo things you can guarantee at this time of the year. Predictions about the coming year, and days at the beach (only lightly polluted, hopefully). Futures thinking is often seen as identifying the “next big thing” – technology and consumer trends. But that’s surface level futuring. Wave spotting. As ...3 weeks ago
- 2019 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #52Story of the Week... Editorial of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Reviews... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... 2019 in review: Polarised world entering era of climate impacts We look back on CHN’s reporting from ...3 weeks ago
- The Spinoff is pretty shit reallyCall me old fashioned, but I like my sport to be played fair and on an even field. In fact there’s nothing worse than a game where the ref fails to actually umpire properly and one team is flouting the damn rules.The same goes for politics. If journalists don’t do ...3 weeks ago
- 2019 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #52A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week, i.e., Sun, Dec 22 through Sat, Dec 28, 2019 Editor's Pick Record hit for most ice to melt in Antarctica in one day, data suggests: "We are in a Climate Emergency" ...3 weeks ago
- Pacific partners work together to provide additional support to Australia
The NZDF continues to support the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as it battles fires in Victoria and New South Wales, including by transporting Republic of Fiji Military engineers from Nadi to Australia, announced Defence Minister Ron Mark. On Saturday morning a NZDF Boeing 757 will depart New Zealand to uplift ...11 hours ago - Kaikōura $10.88 million boost in tourism & businessThe Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is investing $10.88 million to boost business and tourism opportunities in Kaikōura, Parliamentary Undersecretary for Regional Economic Development, Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. As part of the Kaikōura Marina Development Programme, the following two projects will receive PGF funding: A $9.88 million investment to begin the ...13 hours ago
- Govt accounts in surplus, debt remains lowThe Government’s books are in good shape with the accounts in surplus and expenses close to forecast, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. The Treasury today released the Crown accounts for the five months to November. The operating balance before gains and losses (OBEGAL) was above forecast by $0.7 billion resulting ...16 hours ago
- Auckland focus for first Police graduation of 2020The number of Police on the Auckland frontline is increasing with the graduation today of a special locally-trained wing of new constables. Police Minister Stuart Nash says the graduation of eighteen officers from Recruit Wing 333-5 means that more than 1900 new Police have been deployed since the Coalition Government ...1 day ago
- Wairarapa gets $7.11m PGF water boostThe Provincial Growth Fund is putting $7.11 million into creating a sustainable water supply for Wairarapa, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. The following two projects will receive Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) funding: A $7 million investment in Wairarapa Water Limited for the pre-construction development of ...3 days ago
- Progress with new Police station in MahiaCommunity safety and crime prevention in the East Coast community of Mahia has moved forward with the opening of a new Police station to serve the growing coastal settlement. Police Minister Stuart Nash has officially opened the new station, which was relocated almost 20 kilometres along the coast from the nearby ...4 days ago
- Plans to protect the future of whitebaiting announcedWith several native whitebait species in decline the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage has today released proposals to standardise and improve management of whitebait across New Zealand. “The need for action for a healthy whitebait fishery has never been greater,” Eugenie Sage said. “Four of the six whitebait species are ...4 days ago
- New resource for schools to increase awareness and understanding of climate changeA new Ministry of Education resource available for schools in 2020 will increase awareness and understanding of climate change, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “The resource, Climate Change – prepare today, live well tomorrow, will help students understand the effects of climate change at a local, national and global ...6 days ago
- Getting more out of our most productive firmsFinance Minister Grant Robertson has approved the terms of reference for an Inquiry into the economic contribution of New Zealand's frontier firms. Frontier firms are the most productive firms in the domestic economy within their own industry. “These firms are important as they diffuse new technologies and business practices into ...7 days ago
- NZDF sends more support to AustraliaThe New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is sending an Environmental Health Team, a Primary Health Care Team and a Chaplain to Australia, boosting New Zealand support for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as it battles bush fires in Victoria and New South Wales, Defence Minister Ron Mark announced today. The ...1 week ago
- New Zealand joins partners in calling for full investigation into air crash in IranActing Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt Hon Winston Peters says that developments suggesting a surface-to-air missile is responsible for the downing of the Ukrainian International Airlines flight in Iran is disastrous news. “New Zealand offers its deepest sympathies to the families of the 176 victims. It is ...1 week ago
- Staying connected to Australian agricultureAgriculture Minister, Damien O’Connor, says the Ministry for Primary Industries is continuing to stay connected to federal authorities in Australia as devastating fires affect the country. “The Ministry is using an existing trans-Tasman forum for discussions on the agricultural impact of the fires and the future recovery phase,” says Damien ...1 week ago
- Investment in schools – a commitment to communitiesThousands of school-age children, their teachers and wider communities are benefiting from the Government’s multi-million dollar investment upgrading and renewing schools, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “We want New Zealand to be the best place to be a child and that means learning in warm, comfortable and modern classrooms,” ...1 week ago
- New Zealand Defence Force sends support to AustraliaMinister of Defence Ron Mark today announced New Zealand is sending three Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopters and crew, and two NZ Army Combat Engineer Sections as well as a command element to support the Australian Defence Force efforts in tackling the Australian fires. The New Zealand Defence Force ...2 weeks ago
- Better access to books for blind and low vision citizens on World Braille Day"Today is World Braille Day and I am delighted to announce that an international treaty giving blind and low vision New Zealanders access to books and literary works comes into force today,” Minister for Disability Issues Carmel Sepuloni announced today. “Today the Marrakesh Treaty and the associated amendments to the ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand to send further firefighter support to AustraliaThe New Zealand Government is sending a further 22 firefighters to help fight the Australian fires. “The devastation caused by these fires is taking a substantial toll on our Australian neighbours and we will continue to do what we can to assist as they deal with this extremely dynamic, dangerous ...2 weeks ago
- Reducing the cost of educationTwenty-two more schools have opted into the Government’s policy of providing $150 per child to schools who don’t ask parents for donations– bringing the total number of schools in the policy to 1,585. The Ministry of Education has accepted late opt ins past the November 14 deadline from schools that ...2 weeks ago
- Road deaths lower in 2019, but still more work to do“As we enter the new decade, my thoughts are with the families, friends and communities of the 353 people who lost their lives in road crashes last year. While the number of deaths is lower than in 2018 (377), this is still a staggering loss of life,” Duty Minister Iain ...2 weeks ago
- PM congratulates New Year 2020 Honours recipientsPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern has congratulated the diverse group of New Zealanders recognised for their contributions to the country and their communities in the New Year 2020 Honours List. The list of 180 honours recipients includes three Dames and three Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, ...3 weeks ago
- Justice Minister congratulates first Māori Supreme Court judge on New Year’s HonourJustice Minister Andrew Little has congratulated The Honourable Justice Joe Williams for receiving a knighthood for services to the state. Sir Joe Williams has been appointed as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year 2020 Honours List. “Sir Joe Williams has made an ...3 weeks ago
- New Year honours for top sportspeopleTwenty-one of New Zealand’s top sportspeople, coaches and leaders in the sporting community have been recognised in the New Year 2020 Honours List. The Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua has been made a Dame Companion and the former All Blacks Steve Hansen has been made a Knight Companion of the ...3 weeks ago
- Leading architect of Zero Carbon Bill honouredIt’s great to see ordinary New Zealanders doing extraordinary things, Minister for Climate Change James Shaw today said in response to the news that Lisa McLaren is included in the New Year 2020 Honours List for her exceptional work leading the campaign for the Zero Carbon Bill. Lisa McLaren was ...3 weeks ago
- Social entrepreneurs and innovation leads Pacific contributionMinister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says the New Year 2020 Honours List highlights the valuable contribution Pacific social entrepreneurs and innovators make to New Zealand, the Pacific region and the world. “The standout common factor that underlines their contribution to Aotearoa is the value they place in their ...3 weeks ago
- Service to birds and bush recognised in New Year HonoursDecades of dedication to Aotearoa’s unique birds, landscapes, and native eels is recognised in the New Year 2020 Honours List said Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage. “I’m delighted that the decades of dedication to conservation, and fantastic leadership in giving nature a helping hand is being acknowledged,” said Eugenie Sage. ...3 weeks ago
- Closer Economic Partnership with Singapore comes into force on 1 JanuaryNew Zealanders will start to see the benefits of the upgraded Closer Economic Partnership (CEP) with Singapore from 1 January 2020, when the agreement comes into force. Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker said the agreement would open more opportunities for New Zealand companies looking to do business with ...3 weeks ago
- ‘Monsters Inc’ – Ampatuan massacre justice aftermath with more fear of warlords, corruption
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – [embedded content] The Rappler video feed on the Ampatuan convictions last month. For decades, the feared Ampatuan clan held sway in the impoverished province of Maguindanao in Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Through a ruthless private army and a ...7 hours ago - Plunging DHB deficits prove the pie is too small
Reports that DHB deficits are set to plunge even further this year are yet more proof that underfunding is bringing hospitals to their knees, says the new Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, Sarah Dalton. ...9 hours ago - Before we rush to rebuild after fires, we need to think about where and howSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Maund, PhD Candidate, School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle A primary school in East Gippsland was burnt down in the current bushfire crisis. While Premier Daniel Andrews immediately committed to rebuilding the school as it was, media reported ...10 hours ago
- Australian sea lions are declining. Using drones to check their health can help us understand whySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jarrod Hodgson, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide Australian sea lions are in trouble. Their population has never recovered from the impact of the commercial sealing that occurred mainly in the 19th century. Low-lying rock islands and outcrops make important breeding sites for ...11 hours ago
- With costs approaching $100 billion, the fires are Australia’s costliest natural disasterSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Read, Climate Criminologist & Senior Instructor/Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, Monash University It’s hard to estimate the eventual economic cost of Australia’s 2019-20 megafires, partly because they are still underway, and partly because it is hard to know the cost to attribute ...12 hours ago
- Anniversary of the War on Drugs – a young ACT statementToday marks 100 years since America began waging a war on drugs. This war cannot be won; the effects of prohibition have long pointed this out. In fact, young ACT believes drug prohibition causes more harm than the precise drugs it aims to protect ...12 hours ago
- What Trump’s re-election would mean for us
Bernard Hickey looks at the second big question for 2020: Will Trump get re-elected? ...12 hours ago - Karen Walker’s Takapuna store to close after 10 years
An Auckland retail store owned by fashion designer Karen Walker is closing its doors permanently at the end of this month. ...13 hours ago - In cases of cardiac arrest, time is everything. Community responders can save livesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bill Lord, Adjunct Associate Professor, Monash University Each year more than 24,000 Australians experience a sudden cardiac arrest. This means their heart unexpectedly stops beating. A cardiac arrest leads to loss of consciousness and will result in death if not recognised and ...13 hours ago
- Auckland Island pigs: ‘It’s a big call to eradicate them’
The Department of Conservation's efforts to cull Auckland Island pigs are being labelled a crime against humanity by the Rare Breeds Conservation Society. ...13 hours ago - Action needed to improve youth justice systemChildren and adolescents detained in the youth justice system experience poor health across a range of complex physical and mental health disorders, according to new research . ...13 hours ago
- Make-or-break year for Bridges – he must prove he is PM material without shouting down Ardern
Already it is shaping as the most challenging year for National since it lost the Treasury benches in 2017. For Simon Bridges, it’s make-or-break for his leadership. Going head-to-head with the Jacinda phenomenon, he has little chance of monstering her in television broadcasts, and even if he did it could ...13 hours ago - Westpac centralising 250 jobs in Auckland
Westpac plans to shift 250 jobs from Wellington to Auckland to consolidate its technology and product marketing team. ...13 hours ago - So the government gave sports grants to marginal seats. What happens now?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria O’Sullivan, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, and Deputy Director, Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, Monash University When Australians pay their income tax, they assume the money is going to areas of the community that need it, rather than being used ...13 hours ago
- Manufacturing sector index falls
The manufacturing sector is back in the doldrums after a short-lived improvement. ...13 hours ago - Who the hell are the celebs on The X-Factor UK: Celebrity?
Tara Ward breaks down the full line-up for The X-Factor UK: Celebrity and we promise you’ll recognise at least a few of them.What makes everything better in this rancid world of ours? Not trees, not cooler temperatures, not an unexpected Briscoes ‘Monday Madness Sale’. It’s celebrities. Celebrities make the world ...13 hours ago - Kāinga Ora’s borrowing limit lifted by $4b
Just quietly, the Government is gearing up to announce in an election year that it will borrow $4 billion more to almost double its plans for state house building. Bernard Hickey reports exclusively. ...13 hours ago - Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending January 17The 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 Normal People by Sally Rooney (Faber & Faber, $23)WTAF Auckland2 The Truants by Kate Weinberg (Bloomsbury, $33)Agatha Christie + ...13 hours ago
- Freight company’s sales suffer, in talks with bank
Freight company TIL Logistics has cut its earnings expectations as its sales suffer. ...13 hours ago - Yesterdaze: Logging back in to reality without a password
Haven't been paying attention to the news over the holidays? Fret not, James Elliott has your water-cooler chat covered with his take on the news of the summer. ...13 hours ago - Remuneration Authority loses credibility with 41% pay hikeThe 41 percent pay hike for West Coast regional councillors will further erode taxpayers’ trust in the Remuneration Authority, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union . Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “Pay rates for councillors should broadly ...14 hours ago
- Government welcomes $100m surplus after predicting deficit
A Crown accounts surplus will be welcomed by the government today, given that a deficit had been forecast at the end of last year. ...14 hours ago - $10.98 million of PGF funding announcedKaikōura’s bright future received a $10.98 million endorsement from the Provincial Growth Fund today at Kaikōura District Council. ...14 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: Kae and the Tohorā by essa may ranapiriA new poem by Kirikiriroa poet essa may ranapiri. Kae and the Tohorā did u think of the taste of his blubber even as u sat upon his great mammal form ? think of unmasking the slip of his great flippers that churn the salt troth of the sea to reveal the bones of ...14 hours ago
- All Take and No Give in the State Mismanagement of CareMāori Party President Che Wilson is angry that yet another report has detailed "persistent and intergenerational" inequities in the treatment of Māori babies by the state. ...14 hours ago
- Review: Netflix’s Sex Education keeps it up for a charming second seasonIs there a more empathetic show on television than the British teen comedy-drama Sex Education? Unlikely, writes Sam Brooks.If you had a Netflix subscription last January, chances are you’re one of the reportedly 40 million people who watched Sex Education, the gentle British show about a teenager who gives sex ...15 hours ago
- The Olympics have always been a platform for protest. Banning hand gestures and kneeling ignores the...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Rowe, Emeritus Professor of Cultural Research, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University It is the year of the Tokyo Olympics, and the International Olympic Committee was quickly out of the blocks with new guidelines regarding athlete protests. The IOC ...15 hours ago
- Kaikōura to get $11m injection for tourism and business opportunitiesKaikōura is set to get a multi-million dollar tourism boost from the Provincial Growth Fund. ...15 hours ago
- Hell yes it’s time for more pictures of New Zealand politicians’ dogsInspired by Winston Peters’ dog and muse, Beau, a range of other dogs have urged their politician owners to get them in the Spinoff gallery. Drool away.For the second time in a week, The Spinoff is bringing together New Zealand’s politician and dog communities in celebration. On Tuesday we published ...16 hours ago
- National happy Green Party’s call for troop withdrawal not being acted onThe National Party says it's pleased Labour and New Zealand First haven't buckled to pressure from the Green Party over Iraq. ...17 hours ago
- Homosexuality may have evolved for social, not sexual reasonsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Barron, Professor, Macquarie University How did homosexuality in humans evolve? Typically, this question is posed as a paradox. The argument is this: gay sex alone can’t produce children, and for traits to evolve, they have to be passed onto children, who ...19 hours ago
- Beware of bushfire scams: how fraudsters take advantage of those in needSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cassandra Cross, Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Law, Cybersecurity Cooperative Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology There’s been an overwhelming outpouring of love and support around the world for those impacted by the bushfires, from social-media donation drives to music concerts to ...19 hours ago
- To improve firefighters’ mental health, we can’t wait for them to reach out – we need to ‘re...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Smith, Associate Professor in Disaster and Emergency Response, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University Many firefighters will by now be exhausted, having been on the front line of Australia’s bushfire crisis for weeks or months. This bushfire season ...19 hours ago
- Yes, native plants can flourish after bushfire. But there’s only so much hardship they can takeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucy Commander, Adjunct Lecturer, University of Western Australia In a fire-blackened landscape, signs of life are everywhere. A riot of red and green leaves erupt from an otherwise dead-looking tree trunk, and the beginnings of wildflowers and grasses peek from the crunchy ...19 hours ago
- ‘What subjects do I choose for my last years of school?’Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susanne Gannon, Associate Professor, Western Sydney University We are being asked to do work experience this year, in a field we might like to work in. We are being asked to think about choosing electives that are directing us towards our ...19 hours ago
- Vital Signs: the end of the checkout signals a dire future for those without the right skillsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW There has already been a fair number of jobs lost to automation over recent decades – from factory workers to bank tellers. In the coming decade we might see radically larger numbers of jobs lost to ...19 hours ago
- Take care when examining the economic impact of fires. GDP doesn’t tell the full storySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Janine Dixon, Economist at Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University Estimates of the economic damage caused by the bushfires are rolling in, some of them big and some unprecedented, as is the scale of the fires themselves. These types of estimates will ...19 hours ago
- Hidden women of history: Catherine Hay Thomson, the Australian undercover journalist who went inside...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kerrie Davies, Lecturer, School of the Arts & Media, UNSW In this series, we look at under-acknowledged women through the ages. In 1886, a year before American journalist Nellie Bly feigned insanity to enter an asylum in New York and became a ...19 hours ago
- How AI can help the move to a low-carbon future
There's a dire need to speed the planet's shift to clean energy - and the power of Artificial Intelligence can help. ...21 hours ago - Why DHBs should go on the chopping block
When no other nation copies New Zealand's district health board model, a rethink is needed. ...21 hours ago - Changing South: Overtourism
In the latest of our summer video series on the South Island: We’ve never been so popular. But how much tourism is too much? ...21 hours ago - Climate change adds to frog woes
Frog and lizard scientists add their voices to the call for climate change action to save species from extinction. ...21 hours ago - How to stop getting sunburnt without trashing the oceansA Wellington startup is tapping into the worldwide move away from ocean-destroying chemical sunscreens with a natural product.Sailing fans got used to seeing helmsman Peter Burling’s ghost-like face as he and the Emirates Team New Zealand crew battled to reclaim the America’s Cup in 2017. Red-headed Burling clearly felt the ...22 hours ago
- Four new year’s resolutions for Jacinda Ardern. And four for Simon BridgesWe’re half a month into the year, and the political wheels are just beginning to turn. To celebrate, Brigitte Morton proffers some resolutions for the leaders of the two big parties.Like most people, for me the reality of the New Year and those shiny resolutions are starting to wear off. ...22 hours ago
- Ampatuan massacre justice aftermath with more fear of warlords, corruptionThe Rappler video feed on the Ampatuan convictions last month. For decades, the feared Ampatuan clan held sway in the impoverished province of Maguindanao in Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Through a ruthless private army and a reported “propensity for beheadings”, the clan cultivated a culture of impunity. Now, ...1 day ago
- Borrow, build, hold says Green co-leader
Break the Budget rules and borrow more for housing, Marama Davidson says. ...1 day ago - Winston Peters defends decision to keep New Zealand troops in IraqDeputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has defended the decision to keep New Zealand troops in Iraq, saying New Zealand won't be "cutting and running" in the face of heightening conflict. ...1 day ago
- Russian government resignation: what’s just happened and what’s in store for Putin beyond 2024?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graeme Gill, Professor, Department of Government and Public Administration, University of Sydney News came from Moscow overnight that the Russian government had resigned, followed by the announcement that the current prime minister Dmitry Medvedev would be replaced by the head of the ...1 day ago
- How an Aussie invention could soon cut 5% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissionsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University In the 1980s, a global race was underway: to find a more efficient way of converting energy from the sun into electricity. Some 30 years ago, our research team at the University of New ...1 day ago
- Black Drop Effect review: infusing the present moment with layers of the pastSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda Harris, Research fellow, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney Review: Black Drop Effect, directed by Felix Cross for Sydney Festival Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names of deceased people. Nardi Simpson’s debut play Black ...1 day ago
- Searching for glimpses of a sustainable future
What I should focus on for the final five and a half years of my career as a business journalist? ...1 day ago - Battlelines drawn as council backs latest dam project
Greater Wellington Regional Council is heralding a controversial dam project for Wairarapa as necessary protection against the threat of climate change. ...1 day ago - On creating a great side hustle, with the founder of Thing Industries and WrappyBusiness is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he talks to Bridie Picot, founder of Thing Industries and Wrappy. This week’s podcast is ...1 day ago
- Youth-led climate advocates fundraising for fire helpYouth-led climate advocates School Strike 4 Climate, Generation Zero and WYMO are holding a fun-focused, community organised, collaborative fundraiser towards aid for the Australian Bushfires. ...1 day ago
- Creditor calls for government to step in over Tamarind Taranaki collapse
A New Plymouth business owed hundreds of thousands of dollars by a failed oil and gas company is calling on the government to force the parent company to sell its remaining New Zealand assets. ...2 days ago - Moving the A-League to the winter would improve the play, but will it attract the fans?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Richards, Lecturer Sport Business Management, Western Sydney University In the past week, the Australian football players union has been pressuring the A-League to make a major change in the sport – shifting to a winter competition, instead of its current spot ...2 days ago
- Frustration over CRL hardship fund: ‘They’re playing God with our businesses’
Small businesses affected by delays to Auckland's City Rail Link (CRL) project say they have little faith that a hardship fund set up for them will be of much help. ...2 days ago - Housing market heating up: What can we expect
The housing market is holding on to its renewed strength underpinned by a recovery in Auckland, and a three-year high in the number of house sales. ...2 days ago - You can shop around for an affordable gluten-free sandwich – but being sure of what’s in it is ...
One way to express dismay at the price being asked for the goods and services we want is to shop elsewhere. Another is to cough up, then grumble about being ripped off on social media. Taking the second course of action may well attract the mainstream media and soon an ...2 days ago - Originair brings back Nelson to Wellington route
A Nelson-based commuter airline is re-introducing a Cook Strait service to its schedule. ...2 days ago - Curious Kids: why does reading in the back seat make you feel sick?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wayne Wilson, Associate Professor in Audiology, The University of Queensland Why does reading in the back seat make you feel sick? – Jane, aged 10, from Coburg North, Australia. Hi Jane, your question about why reading in the back ...2 days ago
- Black Friday takes bite out of Christmas holiday sales
Black Friday retail sales could be changing the shopping habits of consumers ahead of traditional pre-Christmas and Boxing Day holiday sales. ...2 days ago - Māori babies five times more likely to end up in state care – stats
Children's Commissioner Judge says the rate of urgent entries into state care for Māori babies had doubled since 2010. ...2 days ago - Review: FOMO 2020 was more than just The Lizzo ShowSam Brooks went to the FOMO 2020 festival in Auckland, and was relieved to find it was more than just the final time that Lizzo will ever perform at 7:20pm.“Are you going to see Lizzo tonight?”That’s the question a lot of people asked me rather than the more standard, correct ...2 days ago
- Mother, may I sleep with garbage: ThreeNow has a stash of the trashiest movies ever madeTara Ward takes a deep dive into some of the most outrageous, cliched and batshit made-for-TV movies hiding away on ThreeNow. Sometimes things are so bad, they’re good. At Christmas I ate a lot of ham that was probably past its due date, but did I regret it? Once the cramps ...2 days ago
- ‘Don’t lose the bloody stuff’: The simple philosophy that helped build Kiwi WealthFrom early beginnings as a boutique wealth management firm to being a major player in KiwiSaver, the journey of Kiwi Wealth has seen some things change and others stay the same. Alex Braae charts their history.A very simple sign once hung at Kiwi Wealth, the wealth management firm that emerged ...2 days ago
- Corrections a whānau affairThe old adage of not mixing family and work could not be further from the truth for mother and daughter Corrections Officers, Sarai and Latisha Morris. ...2 days ago
- The Dish in Parkes is scanning the southern Milky Way, searching for alien signalsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sunanda Creagh, Head of Digital Storytelling For John Sarkissian, operations scientist at the CSIRO Parkes radio telescope, astronomy has been his life’s passion – starting from the age of six. “When I was six years old, I watched Neil Armstrong and Buzz ...2 days ago
- Eight simple rules to make the most of a restaurant buffetThe buffet offers up a grand opportunity to stuff one’s face, but what is the best way to optimise your buffet-going experience and eat all the glorious things?The world’s been nothing but roses and caramel since the invention of the buffet. No other culinary innovation has let humans graze for ...2 days ago
- Former NZ diplomat lands key post with major public relations company in US
High-flying former New Zealand diplomat Kirsty Graham has been appointed CEO Global Public Affairs for major US public relations company, Edelmans. She takes up her duties at the end of February. Dunedin-born Graham’s last MFAT post was deputy head of mission at the NZ Mission to the United Nations in ...2 days ago - Who are the men vying for the heart of The Bachelorette NZ?With less than two weeks until the premiere of The Bachelorette NZ, Alex Casey runs through the full list of male suitors. We’ve got less than two weeks until The Bachelorette NZ starts on TVNZ and I am bloody fizzing. Without getting too ahead of myself, I am convinced that this ...2 days ago
- Time running out to have a say on proposed electoratesThe next stage of public consultation on the electorate boundary review is closing soon and time is running out for people to have their say. ...2 days ago
- Beatrice Faumuinā appointed to Sport and Recreation BoardBeatrice Faumuinā is newly appointed to the Sports and Recreation New Zealand board (Sport NZ), Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage confirmed today. ...2 days ago
- Don’t die wondering: apps may soon be able to predict your life expectancy, but do you want to kno...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Jin Kang, Lecturer, Edith Cowan University When will I die? This question has endured across cultures and civilisations. It has given rise to a plethora of religions and spiritual paths over thousands of years, and more recently, some highly amusing apps. ...2 days ago
- We have already had countless bushfire inquiries. What good will it do to have another?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin Tolhurst, Hon. Assoc. Prof., Fire Ecology and Management, University of Melbourne As our country battles the most extensive fires of our lifetime, there are increasing calls for a royal commission into the states and territories’ preparedness and the federal government’s response ...2 days ago
Employment laws. No breaks entitlement.
Considering quitting my job as a form of protest.
Had enough of this shit.
Yep good.
Businesses paying minimum wage which are not prepared a man a decent days pay for a decent days work, are now going to strip the workers of tea breaks etc?
Bugger them and everyone who supports them.
More people should give up on employers and go on the friggin’ dole. Employers like this deserve shit all.
My suggestion is that they get together with their workmates and start a cooperative. The boss goes bankrupt and they’re still employed.
Unfortunately, the high unemployment that National is maintaining, would work against them.
join their union
we don’t call them ‘unions’ any more..we call them ‘associations’..
..(‘union’ is like a scary-word..like ‘ebola’…and ‘bennett’..)
..and the workers flag is no longer ‘deepest-red’..
..it is a washed-out pink..(some say it is a pale-blue..)
..and the labour party is now called ‘the refresh party’..
..and it comes with built-in bubbles..
..do try to keep up..!
lol, sounds quite pleasant now..
Nah lets frighten the bosses there phillip, call them syndicalist associations.
or maybe just ‘the syndicate’..?
(..’y’see..!..this is how me and the boys down at ‘the syndicate’ sees it..
..teabreaks..?..yeah..!..eh..?..and we don’t want no trouble..but..!’..)
..and ‘the labour party’..
..could change to ‘the enforcers’..
..vote for ‘the enforcers’…!..they’ll make it happen..!
..(that’s better than ‘vote positive’..
..and who the fuck will own up to that one..?
..that ‘vote positive’ dog..?
..whose brainfart-idea was it..?
..we demand public-flagellation..!
public-flagellation..! Your problem Philip, is your to damn soft.
Public-Flagellation followed by Crucifixion only way to teach these slackers the meaning of winning.
Or take a leaf from the great propagandists of our time (the Koch brothers), rename the union subs “rates” and call them “Ratepayers Associations” – and confuse the hell out of everyone.
Tracy Join their union-yes-yes That seriously is what is needed.
Disregard the smart (dumb)-arse rhetoric of others trying to be clever.
Here’s how you do it: start your own business, compete against the former employer you hate, do better.
While they have already established infrastructure and employ people under more profitable conditions. Thus winning the race to the bottom.
Herald’s headlines continue to beat up ‘terror.’
To set up New Zealanders to accept new draconian spying and ‘terror’ laws for their master Key.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11346883
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11342460
“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
Benjamin Franklin
Brian Rudman writes well on the subject.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11342354
as does Gwynne Dyer…
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503423&objectid=11339588
the thing is that keys excuse for lying to the voters is that things are evolving quickly.
NOTHING has escalated post election to suggest things are worse today than sept 19.
Nothing has changed to say that things are worse today than they were 18 months ago.
Funny that implementing measures directed against their own citizens appears to be the main mode of dealing with this “terrorism” BS. You might almost think there was another actual agenda going on.
well put
It’s worrying that this govt are so keen to lock doors across the country based on the actions of solitary nutters or dicks on the other side of the planet.
That’s just the excuse. IMO, why they’re doing it is another reason entirely and I don’t think the majority of people would like it if they knew.
Why is Canada so shocked that people want to attack its soldiers?
And how the word "terrorism" is now a propaganda term for anything the state doesn't like – and for justifying anything under the sun the state decides to do.
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/10/22/canada-proclaiming-war-12-years-shocked-someone-attacked-soldiers/
(in a world bereft of heroes..this guy is one of mine..)
“..Meet the Researcher Who Thinks Cancer Can be Prevented – Even Reversed – Through Diet..” (ed:..disclaimer:..this man is a personal hero of mine..)
..The professor emeritus in nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University said research has proven that consumption of animal products –
– including meat – fish – and dairy –
– triggers chronic diseases and impaired health –
– and poses a greater risk than heredity or environment.
He has linked casein – a protein in milk – with breast cancer.
His lifelong professional focus has been cancer and nutrition –
– and Campbell says that our national and global fight with cancer has targeted the wrong enemy.
Though he is scholarly and genteel – Campbell is not reserved.
He’s impatient and blunt..”
(cont..)
(ed:..that is one of the most compelling arguments to stop consuming animals..and their bye-products..
..the overall better health that vegans seem to enjoy..) (cont..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2014/meet-the-researcher-who-thinks-cancer-can-be-prevented-even-reversed-through-diet-ed-disclaimer-this-man-is-a-personal-hero-of-mine/
Sounds like an idiot following an idiot.
http://www.alternet.org/food/meet-researcher-who-thinks-cancer-can-be-prevented-even-reversed-through-diet
Quite agree with you Phil, Prof Colin Campbell is a well respected scientist. The film Forks over Knives is available from your library and when it was shown at cinemas around the world was responsible for many people changing to a plant based diet.
He, along with other top researchers who advocate a plant based diet should be listened to.
Reverse cancer by diet is like reverse cancer by prayers.
Sad.
“The researchers say: ‘Our study has shown that Austrian adults who consume a vegetarian diet are less healthy (in terms of cancer, allergies, and mental health disorders), have a lower quality of life, and also require more medical treatment.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2596012/Vegetarians-healthy-poorer-quality-life-meat-eaters.html
Vegetarians are ‘less healthy’ and have a poorer quality of life than meat-eaters
Vegetarians visit their doctors more often and are more prone to allergies
They also have ‘a 50% increased risk of both heart attacks and cancer’
They are also more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders
But vegetarians tend to be more active and less likely to drink and smoke
‘daily mail’ as source..?
..pandering to their meat-advertisers..?
..hilarious..!
..why not ‘the beano’..?
..and there is also fox news as a fall-back..
..run..!..run young allen..!..run like the wind..!
..run to the fox news website..and key in anti-vegetarian/vegan..
..i am sure the results will be bountiful…
Discounting the science and research because of the delivery man? That’s as sad as claiming diet reverses cancer.
Perhaps some vegan mouthpiece is more ‘reliable’ lol
How about http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/04/01/study-vegetarians-less-healthy-lower-quality-of-life-than-meat-eaters/
from yr source/’evidence’..(from cbs..atlanta..written by some hack..)
“..However, the researchers do caution that continuing studies will be needed to substantiate some of the rather broad dietary distinctions, associations presented in this current research…”
..’rather broad’ being the key words..you’d think..?
(and..)
“..The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that healthy diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases for all dietary groups..”
did you even read it..?..bonehead..?
“from yr source/’evidence’….’rather broad’ being the key words..you’d think..?”
And praising a nut jobs claim that not eating meat reverses cancer is > than scientific research.
“did you even read it..?..bonehead..?”
Especially the table with cancer rates much higher for veggies than meat eaters.
http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchObject.action?uri=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0088278&representation=PDF
i shd also have noted earlier..
..i consider the vegetarian diet to be only incrementally better (healthwise..) than being a carnivore..
..(especially as so many vegetarians treat dairy as a meat-substitute..
..and so often end up consuming more dairy than carnivores do..)
..and it is not ‘my’ evidence/opinion..
..it is the work of campbell that is being highlighted here..
..i also have collected a serious wedge of ‘evidence’ over the years..
..everything from nutritional info..to gourmet vegan recipies..
..and much more..
http://whoar.co.nz/category/vegan-stuff/
fill yer boots..!
..i’ll see yr ‘daily mail’..and i’ll raise ya…
Not my daily mail and the data isn’t theirs from a hack journo.
Just read the pdf, veggie.
It’s no surprise you don’t agree with the findings as they completely rubbish the ‘reverse cancer’ crap from your personal hero.
I advise you to collect all the ‘supporting’ data you can, even from saddos like above and base your opinion on that. That won’t be one eyed and disingenuous at all.
whoare lol
i’ll take that as yr retreat..
..and chrs 4 yr role as foil..eh..?
..you fufilled it well..
..you..with yr ‘daily mail’-prop..heh..!
That’s just another example of where you get it wrong by jumping to the wrong conclusion.
To surmise
http://www.christianpost.com/news/i-believed-god-would-heal-me-and-he-did-says-man-cured-of-inoperable-cancer-video-103568/
http://thecancercureexperiment.com/how-to-pray-to-be-healed-of-cancer/
https://www.cai.org/testimonies/healed-cancer-through-power-jesus
http://www.alternet.org/food/meet-researcher-who-thinks-cancer-can-be-prevented-even-reversed-through-diet
Vegetarians also eat a lot of dairy which is the point that Prof Campbell makes.
A vegan diet has been shown to improve health in many people. There have been many long term studies on this, the SDA church have carried out many such studies all of which were favourable to a vegan diet.
The diet also gives a 100% guarantee that you are personally doing your bit to prevent animal cruelty.
I can’t see that people with a vegan diet have superior outcomes to people with a vegeterian diet. With the proviso that high levels of dairy intake is dangerous to human health.
aside from the cancer/casein-link campbell claims to have proven..?
..and of course there are also the twin-facts that we in nz have world-beating rates of consumption of dairy/cow-bye-products..
..(i think only iceland beats us..)
..and we also have world-beating rates of those cancers increasingly linked to the flesh/fat/bye-products diet..
..(especially breast cancer..)
..so make of that what you will..
..but if i were a woman with a family history of breast cancer..
..i’d be vegan..toot suite..!..
..why wouldn’t ya..?
http://www.thestar.com/life/2008/01/04/top_10_false_health_scares.html
“Red meat and processed meat often have a high fat content, so if you eat them too often you could get fat – which has been shown to be a risk factor for several cancers, including breast cancer and colorectal cancer. A more accurate report would focus on how obesity as a whole can increase risk for cancer.”
‘the star’…some hack-piece from 2007..?
..really current/cutting-edge evidence you are proffering here..eh..?
..having difficulties finding any..?
..you’re funny..!
In response to your unbalanced account I googled ‘false health scares’ and it was top link.
Again, you seem to attack the messenger and not the message, so in response I’ll repeat in case it hasn’t sunk in yet.
“Red meat and processed meat often have a high fat content, so if you eat them too often you could get fat – which has been shown to be a risk factor for several cancers, including breast cancer and colorectal cancer. A more accurate report would focus on how obesity as a whole can increase risk for cancer.”
There’s also, from 2012 http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/health-scares-ignore/story?id=16712712
Including the classics ‘Nitrites in Cured Meats Cause Cancer’ and ‘Mercury in Fish is Dangerous’
have crap ‘evidence’..just repeat it..that’ll work..!
..heh..!..yr still being funny..!
That’s laughable from a man who claims as his hero an old fuck who thinks not eating meat can reverse cancer as his proof and evidence.
You are quite within your rights to refute the facts, but you are so out on the extremist edge, your conclusions, skewered and slanted as they are, aren’t worth the price of the electrons they’re printed on.
‘old fuck’..?
..ok..time to close this one down..methinks..
..consider it done..
“‘old fuck’..?”
The old fuck charlatan who claims cancer can be reversed by not eating meat. You know, you linked a story about him. Short term memory loss?
“..ok..time to close this one down..methinks..”
True to form. The last bastion of the vanquished.
Off you go, and don’t forget to take your ball when you run home crying 😉
hmm..!.. The professor emeritus in nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University..(who you know as ‘old fuck’..)
..(an obvious charlatan..!..)
..vs. anonymous table-leg chewing standard-commenter/nutbar..
..(an obvious authority..!..)
..who to believe..?
..i’m torn here..!
“table-leg chewing standard-commenter/nutbar..”
To be fair that sounds more like a description of yourself, but whatever works for you.
Has to be remembered though, I haven’t ever claimed or advocated one can reverse cancer by abstaining from eating meat. That would be nuts.
“..(an obvious authority..!..)”
Yes it’s true. I can suss out a vested interest nutjob easy as.
“..who to believe..?”
I’m guessing you’ll go with the old fuck charlatan claiming he can reverse cancer by not eating meat.
Devoted aint you?
“..who to believe..?”
Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
Table 3 Page 4
http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchObject.action?uri=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0088278&representation=PDF
why do u insist on presenting vegetarian-‘evidence’/arguments..
..(however dubious..)
..in a vegan-argument..?
..was that all u cd find..?
..and austria..?
..they mainline beef-fat there…
..(and u do know i am not paying foil-overtime-rates..eh..?
..this is all on yr own time..)
Leaving the racism aside, If you have exact data scientifically on par with the Austrian study that makes your point, show it.
“..(and u do know i am not paying foil-overtime-rates..eh..?..this is all on yr own time..)”
I did note note the much higher levels of mental health issues affecting non meat eaters.
With smoking pot, that’s an enormous risk. Better have a double whopper with cheese and hope for the best.
being ‘racist’ against austrians..?
..that is both funny – and ironic beyond words..
..in its’ own unique way..
..heh..!
..u r getting quite good at that clown-role..eh..?
False mass generalisation about a group of people based on their nationality. Sounds racist to me.
The extras like clown role, and being funny mean nothing to me.
I know why you do it, it’s predictable and ultimately it won’t work.
It weakens your paper thin argument even more.
well the thing is..
..u do talk so much shit…eh..?
.and u clearly aren’t very bright with it..
..so the occurances of involuntary-humour on yr part..
..are often and regular..(c.f..’racism’/austrians’..heh..!..)
..hence yr earning of the ‘clown’-moniker..
..it’s all yr own work..eh..?
“The diet also gives a 100% guarantee that you are personally doing your bit to prevent animal cruelty.”
That doesn’t bother me at all in regards to food.
it does ‘bother’ others..
And?
you really need that explained..?
Nope. You think it’s animal cruelty to practice animal husbandry full stop, how are you going to be impartial and differentiate about what constitutes cruelty and best practice?
You can’t. True?
industry ‘best practice’ = sow-crates..
“industry ‘best practice’ = sow-crates..”
See, told ya you couldn’t do it. 😉
industry ‘best-practice’ = the macerator…
You still haven’t got your head around it then.
How are you going to be impartial and differentiate about what constitutes cruelty and best practice?
Clue – You can’t.
if ‘best-practice’ = cruelty..
..that makes ‘best practice’ an oxymoron…
So you can’t have a rational informed opinion on what constitutes animal cruelty.
No worries.
um..!..pain/suffering/killing = ‘cruelty’..
..what can’t u understand about that..?
..u can call it ‘best practice’..u can call it what u like..
..that doesn’t alter what it is..
Best practice isn’t pain and suffering or cruelty. Best practice keeps animals well fed and cared for until slaughtered.
The killing isn’t cruelty. It’s the end of the line and avoids us eating our meat while it’s alive, which I agree would be…Unlike animals like lions and tigers who gnaw down on wriggling prey. Buggers.
So not altering ‘what it is’ depends on whether ‘what it is’ is a bad thing or not.
Your extreme position precludes you from holding a common sense baseline position on the subject. What do you not understand about that? lol
if ‘commonsense’ = animals suffering/being killed..
..u r correct ..i am unable to take such a ‘commonsense’-view..
..anything else..?
Exactly, your extremist views prevent you from debating the issue in good faith.
“..anything else..?”
Blame the green party for something, just for old times sake 😉
.
@ The Al1en
Thank you for taking the time with this conversation debunking all theories on the relationship between diet and cancer that there is no evidence for.
Until there is evidence, they are all possible topics for worthy research (noting many theories based on anecdotal evidence have already been researched many times). Science (as compared to religion) never claims the absolute answer on anything.
There does appear to be some links between diet and cancer, and they add weight to similar advice for overcoming obesity: Moderation of every major food group; Maintain a healthy weight; Keep fit.
I will not criticise the actions of the terminally ill. Depending on how much individuals have prospered from trading in money, or investing in lotto, they may gain some temporary mental relief by throwing some of that excess wealth at an abundance of medical and religious charlatans. (An alternative approach may be to throw the same amount of money at medical research, that may benefit future generations … or other worthy causes such as improvements in animal husbandry?)
Mr. Botany (B.)
i do ‘blame the green party’ for having idjits such as yrslf in their ranks..
Another urinalism. I’m not a member of any political party and in no way consider myself to be in anyone’s ‘rank’.
Swing and a miss.
@ bold brian..
so..the fevered imaginings of the allen..+ the daily mail..+ an article in the star..from 2007..
..vs..The professor emeritus in nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University..
= a ‘debunking’ in yr dictionary..eh..?
..i think it is more a case of what u want to believe/deny..eh..?
“There does appear to be some links between diet and cancer”
There sure is, and meat, like other food groups, should be taken in moderation.
“they may gain some temporary mental relief by throwing some of that excess wealth at an abundance of medical and religious charlatans. An alternative approach may be to throw the same amount of money at medical research, that may benefit future generations”
Let’s have them throwing dollars at getting well nourished kids in warm homes with a future to look forward to first.
Future generations would benefit from that right now.
“so..the fevered imaginings of the allen..+ the daily mail..+ an article in the star..from 2007..”
Or, and much less partisan and disingenuous
Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
V
The professor emeritus in nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University..
“..i think it is more a case of what u want to believe/deny..eh..?”
That, my friend, is the irony moneyshot.
Want a tissue? lol
do you have a brain big enough to remember that when the first cancer warnings about tobacco were issued to a (mainly smoking) world..
..that the howls of derision then were similar to yrs now..
(..there are always the pig-ignorant to have to deal with..
..some are just noisier than others..)
I think we’ve had our fair share of screen space with this one, save to say it’s nothing like tobacco and cancer warnings being laughed away by big money.
People have been eating meat since after adam ate all the apple pies and looked how marvellously resilient and adaptable a species we have become. Billions of meat eaters with a shared ancestry and an impressive increasing life expectancy say it aint so.
What we’re eating along with our recommended meat allowances, processed, refined, chemical sprayed, irradiated, added to and de-nutrionalised as it often is, is where I’d start looking for carcinogens and cancer causers in food with suspicious intent. But that’s an uneducated opinion I haven’t googled so I could be way off like you.
Have read similar elsewhere pu. Makes entire sense and we may well all wake up to it one day, like we have after being told thalidomide was safe.
One day in the future people will look back on us in the same way we look back at early surgeries and hospitals and shake our heads at the fuss that was raised when washing of hands was put in place in such institutions…. duh
i just go on the evidence before my eyes..
..in that i know people who have been vegans for over 30 yrs..
..and they all seem to enjoy rude good-health..
..especially when compared with their animal-eating age-contemporaries..
..the differences are stark..
..(i’m just a newcomer..only been vegan for about 15 yrs..)
..(and..heh..!..local media is featuring the person who just won a national body-building title..
..he’s a vegan..go figure..!..eh.?..)
Never mind the statistics and science don’t back up your evangelist agenda.
Mr Al1en, that same line was told to us about;
245t
1080
cigarettes
margarine
sugar
atom bombs
formaldehyde
thalidomide
asbestos
they all had science in support. At the time.
panadol
mobile phone radiation
common food colourings
Well then, you’ll be easily able to point out where science is wrong now, won’t you?
what ‘science’ is that draco..
..aside from atkins nut-jobs..you’ll find no ‘science’ saying ‘eat-more-animals!”..will ya..?
..in fact most ‘science’ advises at best small amounts of red meat..a couple of times a week..
..’science’ most kiwis laugh in the face of..
..as they wolf down that weekly recommendation..
..most breakfasts..
..there is no ‘science’ making yr case..
..none to ‘prove wrong’..
..(and you left the ‘sniff!’ of disdain out of yr comment..
..where wd u like me to insert it..?..
..after the ‘then’..the ‘now’..or at the very end..?..after the ‘you’..?
..and u cd have multiple-‘sniffs’..if you so choose..
..it cd carry them..)
“most ‘science’ advises at best small amounts of red meet..a couple of times a week..”
You would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for those pesky scientists
Thanks for confirming that you can do no such thing.
here ya go..draco..
http://whoar.co.nz/category/vegan-stuff/
..more than u can poke a stick at..
Elephant hurling does not an argument make
So why are the police so obsessed about it?
operation 8 and all that..
“you’ll be easily able to point out where science is wrong now, won’t you?”
“Thanks for confirming that you can do no such thing.”
If that’s to me, could you repeat the question using the Austrian study as context?
Why would you think that replies to vto & pu are replies to you?
I mentioned science above and didn’t want to appear rude by ignoring your comment if it was meant for me.
What I should have done was looked closer at the post number sequence before letting manners get the best of me.
The Al1en and phillip u
The evening skirmish. Keeping the standard alive!
aspartame …
I’m not sure atom bombs were ever considered safe.
used to sprinkle them on me fried eggs every morning…
How did “atom bombs” ever have ‘scientific support’ for healthy living?
I think you just made that whole list up, vto.
Can you please provide references for the “lines” that we were told on all of these promoting healthy living?
Some on the list still have legitimate use, depending on how they are used, where they are used, and how much is used: 1080, margarine, sugar, formaldehyde. (Two of these obviously not being used as foods)
No sorry I don’t have time to provide such references for all of those. Discount the list accordingly if you wish – non problema to me
re atom bombs have you not seen any photos or information on people observing early atom bombings close at hand? Maralinga?
“re atom bombs have you not seen any photos or information on people observing early atom bombings close at hand? Maralinga?”
Yes I have seen that but I am pretty sure it wasn’t because they thought they were safe. They were purposely exposing people to radiation they knew wasn’t safe in order to study the results.
Actually, without quibbling over individual items within your list, it was the weight of scientific evidence that demonstrated those things weren’t safe.
Otherwise we’d still be showing kids cartoons that say Laramie Smooths (with the healthy asbestos filter) are the best smoke to have after a growing child’s breakfast of coloured sugar gelatinised in lard.
That’s right – genuine scientific evidence, not some scientific evidence conjured up for some alternative commercial outcome as were the early “scientific” studies for each of those items.
So how do we know when scientific evidence is genuine and credible instead of something paid for and angled for a particular outcome? In Phil U’s case here – the science for and against the link between diet and cancer?
Do we have to look behind the research to see who is paying for it? Other hidden strings?
Perhaps we should ask our wise and considered PM John Key – he thinks that you can buy scientific research in order to suit particular outcomes.
@ vto..
“..Do we have to look behind the research to see who is paying for it?..”
..that can often be illuminating..
Sometimes research is robust, genuine, credible, and still wrong – random result, or an unknown confounding effect.
It’s the weight of evidence overall that directs the conclusions. The more nuanced the association, the more evidence is needed. All the research is accounted for unless obviously fraudulent, incomplete/flawed, or demonstrated to be an aberration by the rest of the research in the field.
Who’s paying for it doesn’t always mean the findings are flawed – ISTR in the last few years that the Koch bros commissioned a report into AGW (which they argue doesn’t exist), only to have the lead author change his tune and say it exists. But what if he had the same level of integrity and found that something had been missed by the vast majority of scientists? They would have tried to find where he screwed up, but over time it would have become the consensus view that agw was nonexistent. It comes down to the quality of the research.
“So how do we know when scientific evidence is genuine and credible instead of something paid for and angled for a particular outcome? ”
When it is testable and repeatable.
‘it was the weight of scientific evidence that demonstrated those things weren’t safe.’
Americans are lucky USA FDA commissioner Frances Kelsey did not subscribe to that view.
Dr Kelsey refused to approve thalidomide for use in America until it could be proved to be safe, despite pressure to do so.
She spared Americans the misery of the thalidomide birth defects by adopting the precautionary principle.
By the weight of scientific evidence
wikipedia:
‘By the weight of scientific evidence’
Don’t be disingenuous.
The point was Kelsey applied the precautionary principle while the evidence was gathered, which prevented people from being harmed. And that’s what ordinary people care about, not points on an academic scoreboard.
‘Nevertheless, a total of 17 children with thalidomide-induced malformations were born.’
Some people got the drug overseas, thus there was a few cases.
Actually, the point was that these days practical human knowledge is usually advanced by the accumulated weight of evidence in one direction or another, rather than one particular piece of research by one particular researcher.
I actually agree that (in general) drugs shouldn’t be used without thorough testing, and funnily enough thalidomide is a major justification for modern testing regimes.
There’s stronger processes on several levels now, but we need regulators who think for themselves, like Kelsey, more than ever.
I would commend Dr Alistair Humphrey of the CDHB in this respect, for this week opposing the proposed Selwyn nitrate levels, and recently breaking ranks on the MPI vegetable poisoning report.
By the way, Kelsey did not look at the evidence in totality when applying the precautionary principle. Her focus was one particular English study showing nervous system damage.
One scientific study can warrant the application of the precautionary principle.
One study might outweigh all the others, yes. But it would have to be a doozy, hence why I used the word “usually”.
Good god people, why so old fashioned? High development cost drugs require massive sales in the first few years to hit budgeted targets before patents run out. This namby pamby approach around waiting for more evidence and yet more evidence to come in is a nonsense when you have only a short time to get a drug to market and make it a blockbuster hit to recoup investor money and make a decent return.
Just do your final safety trial in the market is a good way to go: in that scenario everyone is a winner, investors make big bucks, researchers get more people in more settings to do their research on, patients get access to newer more effective drugs faster.
The way to do it.
Keto!
http://www.ruled.me/keto-diet/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketosis#Diet
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aiHSPoto_YqsNTDvL-g60nytMnyH-CJcCbiAx1IEUYM/edit
http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/dietary-therapies/ketogenic-diet
(I’ll get me coat)
heh..!..fried cheese..!
..whoar..!
i just go on the evidence before my eyes..
..in that i know people who have been vegans for over 30 yrs..
..and they all seem to enjoy rude good-health..
..especially when compared with their animal-eating age-contemporaries..”
I agree that a vegan diet can be incredibly healthful, but it’s a pity about Morrissey’s health woes
And the child I knew who had cancer growing inside her little body before she’d even moved on to non-human milk.
Only in the US
And the reason given is because the person behind bars has given enough to society that a university asked him to speak (via recording) to a few students.
Some US judge just sentenced a woman to a few days jail time because she wouldn’t mow her lawns, contrary to local bylaws.
Welcome to the (highly propagandised and highly incarcerated) land of the Free.
Question Time: President Key, did you have sexual relations with that girl?
‘President’ Key: The answer is No, not in my capacity as President
Question time: President Key, did you have a toke on that crack pipe?
‘President’ Key: The answer – No, not in my capacity as President
Ad hominem
Ad infinitum
@ adam (6.1)
ad hominem????
“to the man”
Question Time: President Key, have you ever helped to execute a financial attack on the NZ dollar for the profit of private investors.
‘President’ Key: The answer – No, not in my capacity as President
But it wasn’t in his capacity as a man…
You got it McFlock. 🙂 Adam is probably still puzzled.
Inspiring Photo…Norm Kirk meeting Gough Whitlam !
I can’t help thinking what a dwarf Key is compared to those two. In all ways possible.
the reserve bank says making people have 20% deposit has saved existing mortgage holders about 2% in interest rate hikes. it says the lvr stays until they are happy housing isnt fuelling inflation…
More proof that the market doesn’t work to provide what a society needs and that it just works to enrich a few.
Meanwhile the town house across the road in a desirable part of town in good condition and with the price dropped sits vacant and unsold even though it is situated between two good secondary schools and an excellent primary. and within walking distance of the city. And the sellers have bought elsewhere and must be suffering, they would never have envisaged it sitting for so long. How has raising the deposit helped new house buyers, and people needing a house for their own use? That is the question that gummint should be asking when assessing the worth of this policy. The answer is negative value to them, and just continuing the stress on these people that the housing bubble has caused already.
A government lacking any idea or willingness to form policy that actually deals with our problems, it just sits on the seats in Parliament and their offices, making work for themselves and grooming future business partners, and collecting salary and perks.
And telling people how good they are, while they borrow money and perform SFC tricks in minor form every day. Keeping their supporters happy, is all they need to do. While we try and get a left team that can win. Unfortunately they are confused about which team they are playing for, and taking sidebets on performance!
I am thinking that those Labour caucus members who are uncomfortable with the values, policies,direction or colour red of Labour, and those that are disloyal to the party or its elected leader, and those that tritorously leak info to enemies and media, and those that bring the party into disrepute by their unwise public statements on TV etc, and those that favour Neo liberal RW agenda should all leave and start their own party. Here are some suggestions for such a party:
NAME : Federation Of Kiwi Rogue Socialists. [FOKRS]
COLOUR : Yellowish red with grey spots.
LEADER’S TITLE : The great pretender.
😆 😈
Teehee
whooop!
Not as satisfying as seeing Eric Prince before the courts would be but it’s a start.
Now, after a 10-week trial and 28 days of deliberation, a jury in Washington has found three of the men – Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard – guilty of a total of 13 charges of voluntary manslaughter and a total of 17 charges of attempted manslaughter.
The fourth defendant, Slatten, who was alleged to have been first to open fire, was found guilty of a separate charge of first-degree murder. Slough, Liberty and Heard were found guilty of using firearms in relation to a crime of violence, a charge which can alone carry up to a 30-year mandatory sentence.
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/oct/22/us-jury-convicts-blackwater-security-guards-iraq
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/oct/22/blackwater-iraq-killings-verdicts-watershed-accountability
Jeremy Scahill weighs in.
Just as with the systematic torture at Abu Ghraib, it is only the low level foot-soldiers of Blackwater that are being held accountable. Prince and other top Blackwater executives continue to reap profits from the mercenary and private intelligence industries. Prince now has a new company, Frontier Services Group, which he founded with substantial investment from Chinese enterprises. Among its areas of focus is the African continent. Prince recently suggested that his forces at Blackwater could have confronted Ebola and ISIS. “If the Administration cannot rally the political nerve or funding to send adequate active duty ground forces to answer the call, let the private sector finish the job,” Prince recently wrote.
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/10/22/blackwater-guilty-verdicts/
perhaps David Shearer …would be comfortable with that?
.
I am thinking that if the views of the majority of commentators on this site are representative of the views of members of the Labour Party (An assumption that may very well be wrong) then there is a serious disconnect between the Party Membership and the views of potential Labour voters.
In my opinion most of these voters do not significantly care about the differences between the agendas of party members and party caucus, if such differences exist. They simply have an expectation that those differences are (or should be) minor, and should be able to be sorted out easily, in comparison with the more difficult task of forming coalition deals with parties that may be more left, or more right than Labour.
So as much as I will enjoy the privilege of voting for the Party Leader, I still think that the leadership voting system urgently needs to be discarded. Give the responsibility to caucus, coupled with information that comes from polling all eligible voters. Farrar may be a nasty weasel, but he does deliver much better political advice to Dirty John from polls, than Labour will ever get from Party members and affiliated unions.
In fact, Labour does its own internal polling and focus group analysis with UMR.
$$$$$
Where’s Kim Dotcom when you need him ?
@ swordfish (11.1)
Which is little use to all those voting without access to those poll results. Which would be my main point in limiting the voting to the caucus (who I presume do have – or should have – access to such poll results)
The poll result is definitely not the only issue that needs to be taken into account …. but it is a very important issue. Which candidate is the most electable?
(I wonder what those ‘internal’ polls indicated about the preference of the public in the Leadership poll won by David Cunliffe? Did those polls ask that question? Did those polls determine how many more or less people would have voted Labour with each candidate as Leader? Is Robertson in this election gaining any advantage, or not, by declaring his preference for Deputy? These are the sort of questions where the answers are best not filed away in a library.)
Mr. Botany (B.)
There are relatively few NZLP members commenting compared to the numbers of commenters.
Read the about. The site simply wasn’t set up for NZLP members.
There is one site that was largely setup for NZLP members. It was called Red Alert and it is essentially moribund because someone at the site started playing silly games.
@ lprent @ 11.2
I take your point, lprent. Fortunately I did put a significant disclaimer on saying that was the case, or essential to my argument. (Which of course means that I could have left out the possible assumption in total, and still made the same point I wanted to make.) 🙂 My bad.
I guess I should have said something along the lines of if you take the views of any small group eg the commentators on the Standard, the local wrestling club, the operatic society, or even the Members of the Labour Party, they are unlikely to be representative of the opinions of the 40-50% of voters that you hope will cast their vote in the direction of the Labour Party.
If the Party want thats opinion, I think that a much better way is to use intelligent polling. And the results of those polls could be used constructively to help inform the decision of the ‘best’ Party Leader that meets the full needs of the Party.
Mr. Botany (B.)
A game with legs.
The election was rubbish, the left fragmented and all we wanted was the policies to win it.
Asking the brilliant minds, what would a sensible left wing manifesto look like?
Imagine starting a new, well funded party, and you want to show the public what you’re about.
With three years till kick off, what what you tell them?
I actually thought the left as a whole had about the best policy package anyone could manage. Between the greens impmana and labour, we had food for kids, decent wage increases for the neediest as well as the middle class, a real plan to address housing for low and middle income groups, health and infrastructure relief, regional development, clean waterways, and a real chance at getting more jobs and sane security policies.
Something didn’t go well tactically – some say Labour should have gone for the party vote more, but the greens were all about the party vote and didn’t make headway.
Personally, I reckon it was the kdc distraction throughout the campaign, the fizzle on the 15th, and the terror raids in aus two days before, all exploited by a blatantly partizan mass media.
I agree there were some good policies spread around, so perhaps a part of failure was/is in the delivery, and in part the perception ‘the left’ were/are unable to work together despite labour pushing the 3 party government line to counter. The corporate msm and dirty politics a given hindrance.
I am curious as to what a thestandard focussed grouped manifesto would read like, and how much appeal would/could be garnered from the less political out of it.
did you just suggest that the standardistas work together on a manifesto, as in try and work on something together? can we burst out laughing now? 😉
heh
You did, but the caveat was brilliant minds 😉
I wouldn’t have a shot at bringing it together, but an invited guest list could create something cool, contemporary and quite inspiring.
No point in having all the bright ideas to see them wasting on a blog.
‘I did’ or ‘you did read correctly’
I’d send you an invite to input.
That’s not a bad idea actually. If it was a dedicated thread and was well moderated.
I think a series of threads over time, offering a selection of either/or options, proffered by the group for discussion and selection.
I’ll nominate five people and they then nominate five more to form the policy committee and sit back and see what you all come up with if you like?
“No point in having all the bright ideas to see them wasting on a blog.”
That’s my biggest frustration about the place (that and the intelligence wasted on clever putdowns and abuse). Would love to see the passion and thought go somewhere.
I think a series of threads over time, offering a selection of either/or options, proffered by the group for discussion and selection. I’ll nominate five people and they then nominate five more to form the policy committee and sit back and see what you all come up with if you like?
Can you explain that a bit more? Either/or options? Committee working offsite or onsite?
Maybe we can develop the IMP online policy development model more. Using Loomio but also a combination of other online tools if they are required.
Although I am a little hesitant to go down the path of yet more policy development. Coming up with plans to deliver more left wing infrastructure eg community currencies, alternative media channels eg radio, or to extend the reach/capabilities of The Standard, might be a more useful (less Wellington centric) way ahead.
I know your having a laugh but as a new entrant standard follower I have found my self thinking it’s no wonder the left is in trouble if the people here spend so much time arguing.
There are places in the left blogosphere where it’s less fractious 🙂
Hooked this lot know:-)
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/257600/activist-begs-judge-to-stop-house-sale
Looks Penny Bright will have to cough up $33,000 to Auckland Council or end up homeless but with $500,000 to go elsewhere. I cannot see the judge tolerating someone who WONT pay as opposed to someone who CANNOT pay. Hope i’m wrong and Penny gets a fair go.
Are New Zealand MP’s Bullied Into Rubber Stamping War?
I thought it was only the New Zealand First Party where the members of their caucus don’t talk to each other.
This was when Winston chose to nominate Ron Mark for Speaker without even telling Ron about the idea.
The Green Party obviously need to start talking to each other. Then we wouldn’t have to waste thousands of dollars while a Green Party member spends time in Parliament finding out what one of her parties leaders is up to.
From todays questions –
“JAN LOGIE to the Member in charge of the Education (Breakfast and Lunch Programmes in Schools) Amendment Bill: Why has the member adopted the Education (Breakfast and Lunch Programmes in Schools) Amendment Bill?”
There’s more than one bill on that subject isn’t there?
There’s Hone’s bill picked up by Metira Turei
and also a bill by some one else…..
was it Shearer? Or am I misremembering?
You are quite right. I had forgotten about Shearer’s bill.
This is Meteria’s one, taken over from Hone though.
The two bills are, from the Parliamentary website.
Education (Breakfast and Lunch Programmes in Schools) Amendment Bill (Harawira)
and
Education (Food in Schools) Amendment Bill (Shearer)
The name is the one for the ex- Hone, now Meteria bill. And yes I know why she is asking the question. It gives Turei the chance to make a brief speech. A waste of time and money isn’t it?
only because you lean towards authoritarianism, hence figure that giving Opposition MPs any ability or reason to speak is a waste.
” A waste of time and money isn’t it?”
No.
Key being a dick when asked questions is a waste of time and money.
“A waste of time and money isn’t it?”
I think the standing orders committee should consider doing away with patsy questions altogether.
As I understand it, Question Time is for the Opposition to hold The Government to account. I have never understood how allowing ministers to make brief speeches on topics of their choosing assists this purpose.
Just in case you forgot we got ourselves another war here is a reminder Oh and we have been fighting this silly little war for the last 30 years – at least.
Music thethe from album Mind bomb.
So Canada goes to war against some people in the middle east.
Then some of those people in the middle east attack Canada’s military.
what the f#@k did they expect? flowers? to be left in peace?
And then to label this a “terrorist” attack – what a joke. It was an attack on military at war. It was not a terrorist attack it was clearly a military attack.
And to think that Key is putting us in the firing line too ……. brace for it people. Key is bringing war to our islands.
Are you acting [deleted] for the sake of acting [deleted] ?
[r0b: A while back a participant here who had a child with an intellectual disability asked us to crack down on the use of that word as a term of abuse.]
pcplodding, why is it described as a “terrorist” attack when it is an attack on a military at war with the attacker?
Why is it not described correctly as an act of war?
Tell me I am keen to hear your thinking.
@r0b fair call
VTO you are a sack of mindless shit.
That’s a good one.
Now, how about the issue at hand. Got an answer?
It is described as a terrorist attack as it was an attack by a radicalised Canadian designed to cause terror against a civilian target.
http://www.nationalpost.com/index.html?__federated=1
The Canadian military was not and is not at war with the person responsible for this act.
I repeat you are a sack of mindless shit.
No it wasn’t a civilian target.
The person, presumably sympathising with the people Canada has declared war on, attacked a military person. Did you miss that bit? Also, Parliament is generally where orders to go to war are made – an entirely legitimate military target.
Your own description defies the facts.
It is you with the shit for brains, clearly. Go read some history and learn some law idiot.
You are clearly a feral inbred troll
and I am no longer interested in feeding you obvious trolling
fuck me, that was the most useless series of comments I think I have ever come across.
no answer, clearly failing and flailing, so resort to abuse. Loser.
Hey pcplodding – how about this for a bit more …..
Did you notice how on te news tonight there was virtually no description of this military event as a terrorist attack? Go and have a look and listen. Even Key didn’t refer to it as a terrorist attack and he is softening us all up for going to war.
Whatcha gonna do now?
Whatcha gonna think?
eh pcplodding, just a bit more for your brainshit to absorb.
If this person had wanted to actually commit an act of terror then why didn’t he visit a shopping mall, or a hospital or some other such public place?
Why did he choose to attack a soldier with a gun? Why did he choose to attack the seat of Canada’s power with security everywhere and which has gone to war with his people? Why did he choose these military targets instead of a civilian one?
I think you are just one of those people who believes everything you are told. I bet you voted for Key. Mindless. You would have supported the leader of Germany in the 1930s going by your level of thinking.
Hey pcplodding, Canada has been helping drop munitions on to Afghan and Iraqi civilians (oh I’m sorry, dropping munitions on to ‘legitimate targets’ which happen to be right next to the civilians) for years now.
(I guess its now NZs time to help out in this general effort, to make us, you know, safer. Because killing never ends in even more killing).
Maybe you can see now how the West is seen by 3/4 of all peoples as the biggest purveyors of death and terror in the world.
I think Transrail wants to collapse the passenger services.
The rail Christchurch to Picton is cancelled over winter till 26 September.
About a year or so ago the fare was $48 – $100 with specials, backpackers, students, pensioner rates as well.
Now there is only one fare: $159. That will of course cut back the numbers so that eventually the trip will lapse for want of patronage.
Economics with political push.
starve starve starve then deliver the coup de grace – with appropriate crocodile tears for the cameras, of course.
Press statement in relation to search of Nicky Hager’s home
Thursday, 23 October 2014, 12:57 pm
Press Release: Terrace Chambers
Press statement in relation to the search of Nicky Hager’s home
On 2 October 2014, Nicky Hager’s home in Wellington was searched by police. Mr Hager asserted that documents kept at his house were protected by privilege, including because they contained information that might identify confidential sources. Rather than search those documents, the Police sealed them and lodged them with the High Court pending directions from the Court. Mr Hager had concerns that the search was unlawful and sought legal advice.
Mr Hager has now had a chance to consult his lawyers. He believes even more strongly that the Police have acted outside of the law in seizing his property and seeking to search through all of his documents. Mr Hager has decided to challenge the Police’s actions by way of judicial review. He expects to launch those proceedings during the next few days.
In the meantime, the Police are asserting that there is no valid claim for privilege over the documents. The Police are seeking the leave of the Court to file their own proceedings in order to argue that there is no privilege and that they should be allowed to review all of the documents. A preliminary teleconference was held today (23 October 2014) between the High Court, and lawyers for Mr Hager and the Police, to discuss these issues.
My first response to this info. is that the police are acting under instructions from higher up the ladder but how far up the ladder is a very interesting question. In fact is it a ladder which extends beyond NZ? Could the Slater complaint merely be the excuse to sift through Hager’s other work? Example: the FBI/NSA/GCSB modus operandi?
1. The cops, the lawyers and the rest of the government should have to account for every last little bit of taxpayer dollars that they spend turning Nicky Hager over. He hasn’t damaged the NZ public interest one little bit so why the hell are we funding it.
2. What was the timing around raiding him while he wasn’t there. I hope he asks if they have been tracking him to see where he is and who he meets – it all seemed a bit convenient.
3. Yes I assume they want to sift through everything else. If only so they can drift along and lean on a few other people.
The precedent set by this will have far reaching consequences. The irony re Cameron Slater is huge.
If CCTV footage isn’t “property”, what is it?
Did “Tindallgate” (fuck me if I don’t hate these dummheit media labels) just get interesting?
naughty mr key
and a glimpse into the sparse world inside the key brain
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11347190
‘the context around what i think i was doing’ – what a hollow person key is.
q-time next tues promises to be interesting..
..i’m picking there will be a veritable storm of slater-questions for key…
..let the fun begin..!
How many times have you sent important information to the wrong person because you didn’t check the email address?
key says,
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11347165
“At the end of the day I think you’d say it was unfortunate” – ummm what about you johnbo – what do you fink?
I think it’s time for another Leunig cartoon. Obviously in an Australian context (Liberals and Labour) but it transfers equally as well to New Zealand.
The Aliens came in three space ships …….. (with thanks to Leunig) 🙂
heh..!..that leunig is v. funny..
UK police arrest young man who throws a water bottle for ‘Plinth Guy’ protestor to catch. This is the kind of police state assf*ckery which seems to be coming to all FVEY nations pretty much simultaneously.
Kelvin Davis gives Hone Harawira some good hard kicks
About “manning up” over Hone’s hiring an alleged sex offender on Parliamentary Services money – but Davis forgets about a little thing called “presumption of innocence.”
http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/harawira-hired-sex-offenders-with-taxpayer-money-2014102318
And interesting how these documents were “leaked.” So they think Harawira might stage a come back in TTT 2017 and want to kill that possibility dead ASAP.
Kelvin Davis isn’t very bright and combined with something else about him that I can’t put my finger on makes him a very toxic presence within Labour.
Him and Nash.
Yes. I often see them as one person.
Another Open Mike which has a first half devoted to the cult of Vega. Tomorrow it’ll probably be how the Greens gifted Ohariu to Dunne. It gets a bit boring, just a bit.
You know at first I thought “Cult of Vega” was a reference to something from the film “Contact”!
Then again PU does seem a bit off planet some days! (or as they would say in Babylon 5 “he’s gone beyond the Rim”) 😈