Open Mike 24/12/2018

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, December 24th, 2018 - 97 comments
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97 comments on “Open Mike 24/12/2018 ”

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  1. james 1
    24 December 2018 at 8:23 am

    OF all the talk relating to name supression in NZ of late – Here is a great example of why its not a bad idea:

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/23/press-christmas-drone-suspects-gatwick-media

    This poor couple had their lives turned upside down – and photos and area that the live published – and it turns out it might not be them at all.

    • Chris T 1.1
      24 December 2018 at 8:57 am

      The US is probably the worst place for that sort of thing.

      Not sure if it is leaks from the inside or just a freedom of information thing, but anyone gets arrested for a semi-high profile crime their names, pictures, mental health info’, military info’, pictures of evidence seems to be splashed on the front pages within about 12 hours.

      She is a free for all

      • soddenleaf 1.1.1
        24 December 2018 at 11:01 am

        The US media, a joke mostly, anyone who loves freedom would not watch the uniform bullshit that passes a news… …yet they do.

    • xanthe3 1.2
      24 December 2018 at 8:58 am

      Hmm i wonder if the same can be said about the “chinese hackers”

    • Ankerrawshark 1.3
      24 December 2018 at 9:27 am

      James really agree with you on this one.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.4
      24 December 2018 at 10:51 am

      The only way to have innocent until proven guilty is to have full automatic name and photo suppression until the end of the trial and any appeals.

      • KJT 1.4.1
        24 December 2018 at 10:58 am

        Agree. Trial by media is rarely fair or balanced.

        Once found guilty however, name suppression should only occur for the protection of the victims privacy.

        Especially for white collar crimes.

    • I feel love 1.5
      24 December 2018 at 11:28 am

      Absolutely agree, it protects us all.

  2. Morrissey 2
    24 December 2018 at 9:04 am

    A virulent disease is infecting the brains of our less fortunate citizens:
    Spare a thought for these folks who will have a miserable Christmas.

    As anyone will know who has stumbled onto a right wing site recently, the virulent brain disease known as “Jacinda Derangement Syndrome” continues to rage amongst National’s hapless supporters.

    Here’s a random, and entirely representative, sample from our friends on Kiwiblog yesterday….

    https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2018/12/general_debate_23_december_2018.html

    Tall Man: You don’t have to have a big tag on your forehead proclaiming yourself to be an idiot…look at ardern the liar, thick as pig shit but she looks almost normal. Thumb up 32 Thumb down 0 9:52AM

    Chris2: I’m waiting for Ardern to announce through teary eyes that travelers passing through Gatwick Airport ought to be safe and that she is sorry they did not feel safe. Thumb up 42 Thumb down 9:03AM

    burt: She is more likely to ask why they didn’t all get their own individual airforce 757. Thumb up 26 Thumb down 1 9:15AM

    igm: Chris2: I am awaiting her reply to this disgusting carry-on. This is what happens when ferals are paid to breed, and she has increased the incentive because it stops poverdy . . . what a fucken disgrace she is!
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/109484033/synthetic-cannabis-smoking-mum-slammed-for-reprehensible-act-of-self-interest
    Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0 12:44PM

    Tall Man: …. ardern is a liar
    Thumb up 26 Thumb down 2 10:05AM

    Prince: Amongst the annual political reviews there are two shiboleths that leave me as bewildered as a New Zealand First voter
    1) Ardern has been an international star.
    How ? When ? Every leader going to a UN talkfest is taken on a round of late night talk shows, for the benefit of their country’s media. Exactly how and where has Ardern achieved anything on the international stage ? Reading a speech to an empty UN auditorium ? Visiting Nauru and finding no one else there ? Sitting next to Mrs Pence ? Seems to me Ardern and Peters have achieved the remarkable feat of pissing off both the US and China.
    Thumb up 87 Thumb down 0 8:08AM

    Monique Watson: JA’s frightened. Not necessarily a SLG though that was a timely sledge. I’ve been watching her Question Time responses. Mark my words. Another nail in the coffin of the COL.
    Thumb up 59 Thumb down 1 8:20AM

    mandk: From an opposition point of view, I think it is a waste of time asking Ardern anything at Question Time. She is quite adept at turning questions into opportunities to grandstand, and she is allowed to get away with not answering the questions put to her. Far better to attack the CoL where it is weakest, and that probably includes most of the Front Bench.
    Thumb up 51 Thumb down 0 8:32AM

    sooty: Yep. There is too many dumb one’s to worry about Comrade JacinDUH! Leave her there without questions except patsys from her idiots. She can’t just not turn up as much as she wants too.
    Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0 12:38PM

    Piniwi: Hard as it is to listen to the SLG she often tells more than intended or lets a gem slip out. Or by the selected defense being held on hard to often like a life-support loosing it’s buoyancy. like the “text came AFTER the decision.”
    Of bigger concern is acknowledgement of how out of the loop she is when she confesses to only learning about so many in the media. We can only speculate that so much time is wasted creating all her excuses, defending dud decisions and creating word walls leaving little time to do what she should be doing. Another first for the SLG being the first PM to follow rather than lead her Government only keeping up through the Media party.

    Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0 1:55PM

    Biscuit: Indeed, Prince, if you read the leftist rabble that ‘write’ for the ‘Horrid’, you’d almost believe that Ardern is going to be unanimously proclaimed Trougher in Chief at the Non-United Nations.
    Thumb up 47 Thumb down 0 8:24AM

    DigNap15: Ha! John Roughan says in todays Herald that most of Ardern’s speeches are forgettable and that she does not really say much worth of note. Is the worm starting to turn?
    Thumb up 73 Thumb down 2 8:19AM

    KevOB: Speeches? She’s barely liderate. The rest of the COL with rare exceptions r even vurse.
    Thumb up 50 Thumb down 1 8:26AM

    Biscuit: One can but hope, DigNap! If even a wrong clock can be ‘right’ twice a day, there’s a chance that a ‘newspaper’ like the Horrid might get things ‘right’ once in a while, too!
    Thumb up 21 Thumb down 1 8:27AM

    Justitia: Ardern is vacuous.
    Thumb up 41 Thumb down 0 8:35AM

    calendar girl: Yes, she is certainly vacuous in what she projects, as well as being the least intelligent NZ Prime Minister whom I have seen in action during my lifetime.

    She also has her “vicious’ streak”, as she showed towards the end of 2018’s final Question Time when she targeted her deliberate personal insult at the Leader of the Opposition:

    “…. it’s simple, Simon!”

    When, and how, is the Opposition going to repay Ardern in spades for that well-rehearsed personal slight against the National Leader? Bridges – unlike herself – actually has a trained and well-proven intellect that operates (and has operated professionally) at a level to which hers could never aspire.
    Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1 3:06PM

    RF: Stupid bitch
    Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1 6:54PM

    ….ad nauseam, ad absurdum…

    https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2018/12/general_debate_23_december_2018.html

    • james 2.1
      24 December 2018 at 9:19 am

      IF you read THIS BLOG and look at the coments made about Key when he was you will see as bad – if not worse.

      So whats your point?

      and for the record – I think the worse I have call Jacinda is C**dy – which I stopped post people getting all upset about it as they interrepted it to be mysgonistic.

      I wonder whats the worse you said about Key, English or Bridges is – perhaps you have your own virulent brain disease combined with a wee bit of ‘holier than tho’ and forgetfulness.

      • Morrissey 2.1.1
        24 December 2018 at 9:26 am

        Nonsense. Key was rightly attacked for his lying, his repeated harassment of that young woman in an Auckland cafe, and for allowing his parliamentary office to be used as the base for Whaleoil’s scurrilous, illegal campaign of character assassination. You’d know all that, of course, if you had bothered to read Nicky Hager’s Dirty Politics.

        The National Party’s attacks against Jacinda Ardern, in stark contrast, are rarely anything other than the crudest misogyny and personal ridicule. I left out from that random selection the lengthy thread where a whole lot of these National stooges slung off at her as a “horse” and a “bag of bones.”

        The attacks against Clarke Gayford were pathetic enough, but now they are starting to target baby Neve as well.

        I guess it’s something we’ll just have to adjust to for the next eight years, at least.

        • alwyn 2.1.1.1
          24 December 2018 at 9:38 am

          My goodness.
          Key Derangement Syndrome is still very strong in Morrissey.
          He really should be getting over it by now.
          Key left the job of PM 2 years ago.

          • Morrissey 2.1.1.1.1
            24 December 2018 at 9:42 am

            Errrr, the subject under review here is the National Party’s hare-brained campaign of ridicule directed against Jacinda Ardern.

            It was our good friend james who brought in the unpleasant reminder of that dead-eyed currency speculator.

            • Wayne 2.1.1.1.1.1
              24 December 2018 at 10:19 am

              It is not a National Party campaign. It is the toxic commenters that all too frequently inhabit Kiwiblog.

              As I noted the other day David’s posts are pretty much always reasonable. He often gives Jacinda credits for various things she has done. But some of the commenters are extreme. If a particular thread gets besieged by them, it is best to stay away. Sometimes the misogyny is just awful.

              The Standard has similar problem. There are a group of commenters who are frequently quite/very abusive. They think National (John Key in particular) are complicit in all sorts of heinous crimes, and are motivated by the basest of motives. And most of it had nothing to do with the waitress. Just about everything John Key did would trigger the abuse. Hence the term “Key derangement syndrome”.

              • RedLogix …
                24 December 2018 at 10:46 am

                I had two problems with Key.

                1. In the early days, long before he became PM, I saw first hand on the net sufficient evidence to strongly suggest he had fudged timelines on his CV to cover up some less than lily-white dealings.

                All this was many years back and I made links at the time, although they’ve long gone.

                2. If you have worked for a large global corporate you will have encountered his type, the senior management surfer who rides from one role to another, making himself look good with short-term actions, but when you look deeper they achieve little of long-term value; and often a trail of damage behind them that doesn’t show up until they’ve moved on.

                They’re the big-swinging alpha male in the room, all charm and sociability, but we used to call them ‘suited sharks’, you could never trust them to do anything but serve their own appetites.

                I think I made those points and then shut up; events have largely proven me right on the second point at least. But on the whole I agree with you, becoming obsessed with a personality is unseemly at best, and usually counterproductive.

                • OnceWasTim …
                  24 December 2018 at 12:36 pm

                  Yep. Some of those comments made by those he used to work with (such as half the time they could barely understand him – the Smiling Assassin Era), are a now a bit hard to find, or his tough solo-mum upbringing – as if I ever wanted to waste my time trying to do so.
                  When we think of Paula Bennett being the ladder puller upper, Paula really has nothing on Johnny Wideboy

                • veutoviper …
                  24 December 2018 at 12:50 pm

                  If I dug deeply into my computer files and bookmarks and was so inclined, I could probably still find most of those old links. I am an archivist by nature as well as a pedant … LOL.

              • fender …
                24 December 2018 at 10:53 am

                “It is not a National Party campaign. It is the toxic commenters that all too frequently inhabit Kiwiblog.”

                If this were true they would have their comments moderated. The lack of moderation suggests their comments are welcome and encouraged.

                • RedLogix …
                  24 December 2018 at 10:58 am

                  Moderating is a significant problem for any blog. I suspect that DF places a very high value on freedom of expression and finds the whole idea of moderating very unappealing.

                  The cost is that he has to put up with some commenters indulging in their worst natures. And he certainly doesn’t have that problem on his own.

                  • Wayne …
                    24 December 2018 at 11:05 am

                    Redlogix,

                    You have essentially stated his policy. Much more light handed than The Standard. Virtually no-one gets banned, unless they are an extreme racist. I know DPF well enough to know he does not share the views of the contributors. His views are in the articles.

                    He also has the problem of volume. Sometimes his General Debate has 500 comments. Kiwiblog (going by the number of comments) is at least twice as well read as any other blog.

                    • RedLogix …
                      24 December 2018 at 11:54 am

                      heh … DF damned nearly banned me once. But I have to admit I was being monumentally obnoxious 🙂

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      24 December 2018 at 1:45 pm

                      I was “banned for life” 3 times by DPF. Ousted from Keeping Stock as well. Homepaddock too. And now, Pete George’s place 🙂
                      It’s strange; I’m a polite and reasonable sort of guy.

                    • fender …
                      24 December 2018 at 3:16 pm

                      So to summarize; there is moderation at kiwiblog if one is left leaning.

                    • outofbed …
                      24 December 2018 at 3:25 pm

                      Kiwibank comments policy

                      Personal Abuse

                      I want arguments attacked, not people. As an example it will be unacceptable to call someone a moron, but it will be acceptable to say their argument is moronic. That may seem a fine distinction, but an important one. However don’t try and push the distinction to breaking point. If you say that someone’s argument has the integrity of a syphilitic pygmy (for example), then that would find you with a warning or strike.

                      There is greater latitude when it comes to public figures such as MPs. They can and should be criticised, but not to a degree when it is just nasty abuse.

                      Not sticking to the policy then?

                    • Morrissey …
                      24 December 2018 at 3:45 pm

                      Virtually no-one gets banned, unless they are an extreme racist.

                      If you don’t think the constant stream of brutal, demeaning and disgusting attacks against Māori, Aboriginal Australians, African-Americans, Arabs, Somalis, Palestinians, “Pakis”, and many other groups is not “extreme racist” then you must move in some horribly insalubrious circles.

                      Oh that’s right—you were in cabinet with John Banks and John “Hone” Carter, weren’t you! Compared to them, even the vilest ranter on Kiwiblog is Albert Schweitzer.

                    • OnceWasTim …
                      24 December 2018 at 8:37 pm

                      I’ve never visited the site @ Wayne, but would many of those 500 comments be visits and revisits by MSM journalists and opinionistas preparing for their weekend spots on Television current affairs programmes or weekdays with a Mora.
                      HE, (the Farrar) is the voice of reason for that ‘moderate’ center right.
                      The guy is truly exceptional, you’d have to agree, despite the overwhelming impediments he’s had to overcom. And the most reliable of statistics – in terms of visits to his site, verify that (going forward).
                      I’ve been researching various penguin species though, and I can’t seem to identify him. He doesn’t fit your Emperor, your Yellow Eyed (though he comes close), or Northern Rockhopper, or most of the other ‘types’).
                      I wonder if he might not be some sort of exceptional freak derivative of the Royal (Holier Than Thou) species. Or has he fooled us all and is in fact a wolf dressed up in a penguin’s clothing.
                      I wonder @ Wayne….could you pontificate a little, and provide us all with an opinion as to what makes this little penguin such a reasonable, affable and well-liked little fella

              • KJT …
                24 December 2018 at 11:04 am

                300 000 children in poverty is not a heinious crime, eh Wayne?

                Though, both National and Labour, were complicit

              • KJT …
                24 December 2018 at 11:06 am

                Key is a crook in reality.

                Just because his dealings were legal, doesn’t mean they were less damaging.

              • Robert Guyton …
                24 December 2018 at 1:47 pm

                Farrar’s “Greens to slaughter national cow herds” post wasn’t “reasonable” – straight-out dishonest scare-mongering.

          • Ankerrawshark 2.1.1.1.2
            24 December 2018 at 2:32 pm

            Morrissey didn’t bring Key up, James did

      • Ankerrawshark 2.1.2
        24 December 2018 at 9:35 am

        Yes James we did say stuff about key, but most often on this blog people back up what they say with some sort of evidence. Morrissey quotes from kiwi blog appear to be the ignorant putting down someone in power with no actual eg of why they think that way. It could not be used as evidence in court.

        Many on here myself included called John k a prick and worse, but it would be in response to say him pulling a waitresses pony tail or denying their was a housing crisis.

        • millsy 2.1.2.1
          24 December 2018 at 9:46 am

          The thing about the whole ponytail pulling thing was that he never accepted what he did was wrong. He always tried to justify himself.

          • Ankerrawshark 2.1.2.1.1
            24 December 2018 at 11:49 am

            Or not even justify himself Millay. Key would just lie. Remember how he said about the waitress “yeah I gave her a couple of bottles of wine and she said yeah all good”. Or words to that effect.

      • Draco T Bastard 2.1.3
        24 December 2018 at 10:53 am

        IF you read THIS BLOG and look at the coments made about Key when he was you will see as bad – if not worse.

        [citation needed]

    • ianmac 2.2
      24 December 2018 at 9:36 am

      I hope those people are not my neighbours. Possibly their spitefulness spills over (or from?) to the National MPs who are known for their spitefullness like P Bennett, Collins, Bridges, that gardening woman, and more.

      • Morrissey 2.2.1
        24 December 2018 at 9:45 am

        I hope those people are not my neighbours.

        Possibly. Do you have any neighbours that sit around all day listening to talk radio, and never read anything more challenging than a Big Mac wrapper?

        Possibly their spitefulness spills over (or from?) to the National MPs who are known for their spitefullness like P Bennett, Collins, Bridges, that gardening woman, and more.

        They take their lead from the National Party/talk radio complex.

    • millsy 2.3
      24 December 2018 at 9:44 am

      For a moment there, I thought you were having a go at satire.

      • Morrissey 2.3.1
        24 December 2018 at 9:46 am

        I’ve had many goes at satire, my friend. But that selection of quotes is beyond satire. I just quoted it all verbatim, without adding a single thing.

        • stunned mullet 2.3.1.1
          24 December 2018 at 10:03 am

          I like to believe in the best of people but some are just cunts, take Moz for example…his long time paramour Longhair is outed and he discards him like yesterday’s paper.

    • halfcrown 2.4
      24 December 2018 at 9:57 am

      Nice one Morrisey I think ‘KevOB’ is a classic.

      “KevOB: Speeches? She’s barely liderate. The rest of the COL with rare exceptions r even vurse.”

      Definitely, the outstanding winner of ‘Brain (if any) Dead Fuckwit of the Year.’

    • fender 2.5
      24 December 2018 at 10:02 am

      I think those hate filled vile comments illustrate the important place kiwiblog has become. Without it I suspect some of those unhinged folk could be wandering the streets causing mayhem.

    • millsy 2.6
      24 December 2018 at 11:32 am

      So that is where Watson is these days. God she is a poster I cannot stand.

  3. millsy 3
    24 December 2018 at 9:42 am

    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Standard admins, posters and commenters. I know I haven’t been posting as much as I should, but I always read what people have to say, some of it good, some not so good.

    And Morrissey – I don’t know why you go on Kiwiblog. The comments there are as depressing as duck.

    One final word. If you are at a family Xmas gathering and someone starts running Jacinda down, you need to defend her honour at all costs.

    • stunned mullet 3.1
      24 December 2018 at 9:56 am

      “One final word. If you are at a family Xmas gathering and someone starts running Jacinda down, you need to defend her honour at all costs.”

      Sad.

      • Morrissey 3.1.1
        24 December 2018 at 10:05 am

        The sad gits are the ones who join in those witless disparaging comments. They’re a small minority, however, and in normal company usually have to keep their diseased thoughts to themselves.

        On NewstalkZB and the Whaleoil blog, OTOH….

      • halfcrown 3.1.2
        24 December 2018 at 10:10 am

        Explain why have we got to defend her honour. Enlighten us?

        • millsy 3.1.2.1
          24 December 2018 at 10:33 am

          There are going to be hordes of right wing Gammon and their dolled up wives at every Xmas gathering complaining about how Jacinda is going to raid their retirement nest egg and give it all to the ‘poor’. They need to be put in their place accordingly.

          • Wayne 3.1.2.1.1
            24 December 2018 at 10:53 am

            Generally a bad idea to turn a family Christmas event into a political bunfight. Stay away from it. Only in jest, and even then only if you know it will be safe to do so.

          • RedLogix 3.1.2.1.2
            24 December 2018 at 11:23 am

            millsy … I have to agree with Wayne. Put your family first mate; they’re way more important than politics.

            • fender 3.1.2.1.2.1
              24 December 2018 at 3:55 pm

              Well if there was a “Tall Man” (probably a 5 foot loser with short mans syndrome) in my family calling Jacinda Ardern “thick as pig shit” I certainly wouldn’t let it go unchallenged.

              • marty mars …
                24 December 2018 at 4:33 pm

                Me either – they’d get the message pretty sharpish. Stand up for your values millsy and don’t let wankers bully good people. Be strong and don’t cower in fear like some.

              • millsy …
                24 December 2018 at 10:10 pm

                Those were the types of people I was referring to. And there will be a lot of people like those.

            • Red Blooded One 3.1.2.1.2.2
              24 December 2018 at 4:28 pm

              Why put your family first, Bob McKoskrie does that and I wouldn’t want to share his lack of values. Some family would be worth disowning. Personally if I’m related to any of the regular RWNJ who come here with the sole reason to cast shade on the government I would happily drop them from any family gatherings. Just because you’re related to someone doesn’t mean you have to like them.

              • Morrissey …
                24 December 2018 at 4:40 pm

                Why put your family first, Bob McKoskrie does that and I wouldn’t want to share his lack of values.

                Does he though? I heard him pontificating about how “good parents” should be allowed to hit their toddlers with a hair-brush.

              • RedLogix …
                24 December 2018 at 7:01 pm

                Well if you’re going to have a go then:

                1. Read this: https://www.abc.net.au/life/how-to-make-christmas-with-the-family-better-for-you-and-them/10588592

                2. Check with any women present first; they may have put a lot of effort in and have an opinion on the likely outcome of your political re-education efforts.

                Just saying 🙂

              • patricia bremner …
                25 December 2018 at 12:59 am

                No, RBO, you don’t always agree with family, but if you love your partner you stand the rellies for their sake, and you keep constant and just agree to disagree. Change the subject to how much work has been done by family to get the party started.

                Dancing is good, or choose where you sit or stand carefully with a view to harmony. Tell yourself to count blessings, quietly, jacinda being one of them.Do something kind or thoughtful. Be glad to be alive.Be grateful all the family are there.

                For those facing a first Christmas without someone. Kia kaha, this will be the worst year. Be kind most of all to yourself. Think of those faced with sudden loss, and hug your children, partner or friends.

                Life is short and should be shared. Happy holiday season to you all.
                I’m getting a new hip in my Santa sack, I hope you are getting in something you need in yours. Cheers.

  5. joe90 5
    24 December 2018 at 12:10 pm

    If you’re going to do the authoritarian thug thing, you do it away from prying eyes.

    /

    “I am extremely alarmed by the announcement by the Nicaraguan Government that it has told two key human rights institutions set up by the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights (IACHR) to leave the country.

    […]

    In addition, the Government has said it will no longer accept visits by the IACHR itself.

    Coupled with the parallel clamp-down on independent media, including last weekend’s raids on media outlets, the net result is a country where civil society is in danger of being shut out altogether, and international organizations are also struggling to keep operating.

    https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24041&LangID=E

  6. Robert Guyton 6
    24 December 2018 at 1:40 pm

    lurcher1948 said:
    “Fellow poster beware when you go out on the turps,it happens….drive safely and keep posting,
    Yesterday I went to a Christmas party. I had a few beers, followed by a few cocktails, followed by a few shots….
    I still had the sense to know that I was over the limit. That’s when I decided to do what I have never done before: I took a cab home.
    Sure enough, there was a police road block on the way home, and since it was a cab, they waved it past. I arrived home safely without incident. This was both a great relief and a surprise because I had never driven a cab before. I don’t even know where I got it from and, now that it is in my garage, I don’t know what to do with it.”

    • Barfly 6.1
      24 December 2018 at 1:51 pm

      LOL !

    • ianmac 6.2
      24 December 2018 at 2:29 pm

      HA Ha Robert. Read it to my family – great hilarity, especially from my two sons who had already celebrated Christmas two days ago.

    • mary_a 6.3
      24 December 2018 at 6:36 pm

      Brilliant Robert (6) Love it … Many thanks for sharing 🙂

    • alwyn 6.4
      24 December 2018 at 6:43 pm

      So that is where my taxi got to!
      Bring it back immediately. I may need it to get home tonight.

      • Robert Guyton 6.4.1
        24 December 2018 at 6:58 pm

        Yours being the last cab off the rank, Alwyn (for this political term anyway).
        Have a merry Christmas, ol’ curmudgeon (he’s our curmudgeon and therefore, special 🙂

    • KJT 6.5
      26 December 2018 at 10:39 am

      One Christmas eve in Melbourne, in a time long ago, magic elves spirited a tree onto the mainmast of a ship.
      “Not me, not me” said all the elves, when plod arrived Christmas morning.
      (The Myers sign on the big concrete pot, sort of giving the game away).
      “Get it down” said plod.
      “Not safe” said the elves. “The pot, and tree, are too big to move”.
      Plod walked away, after his Christmas beer was drunk, Shaking his head

      Two weeks later, in NZ, we bribed a mobile crane driver, with even more beer, of course, to get it down

      I must have been one of the culprits, but to this day, I cannot remember how we got it up there. We certainly couldn’t, and wouldn’t, have done it sober.

      In today’s more puritan times, we would have all been sacked, for not following the procedure, and not filling in the checklist!

  7. mary_a 7
    24 December 2018 at 5:18 pm

    Wishing all contributors to TS the compliments of the season, whether you celebrate the festival of Christmas or not. Take good care and stay safe.

    Looking forward to some healthy debate again in 2019.

    Meri Kirihimete

  8. Puckish Rogue 8
    24 December 2018 at 6:47 pm

    Merry Christmas everyone, keep safe and let’s do it all again next year 🙂

    • Robert Guyton 8.1
      24 December 2018 at 6:56 pm

      Some of us will keep doing it over the Christmas to New Year period, Pucky, giving us the advantage over part-timers like you 🙂
      Merry Christmas to you and may your embarrassing crush desert you before the 2019 year gets under way.

    • Craig H 8.2
      24 December 2018 at 9:36 pm

      Likewise, Merry Christmas to everyone! We may not always agree, but at least we turn up to debate and hopefully learn something from time to time.

    • mac1 8.3
      24 December 2018 at 10:09 pm

      Puckish Rogue, Merry Christmas to you too.

      I expect a year of poetic output of epic proportions worthy of your paramour!

      In an epic along the lines of the Táin or The Cattle Raid of Cooley. Queen Iudhaith Collaínns ní Cruisheer wants the services of a stud bull and decides to rent one from a neighbouring powerful magnate but the deal turns sour when it is found out by the owner, Sean Cí, that she would have stolen it anyway to “get it”. After a long row, in which Queen Iudhaith is banished to the benches at the back of the Great Hall, the trichotillomaniacal Cí abdicates and Liam Shasanna of Diptonnaigh captures the great bull.

      War ensues, and the young hero, Pu Cuíllish óg Rogaínn, fights many battles singlehanded to win her favours. Amongst his adversaries whom he vanquishes is the queen of the Fairies, Paúllauch Ban Neitt, and the mercenary Machus M’Cheil who he kills with his legendary spear, Seamus Bolga.

      A three day single handed combat with the chief, Simbhon Brighe, is complicated by the intervention of Pu Cuíllish’s charioteer, Seamus-Leoigh Rossaig, whose dealings with the underworld have given him special information that could cause Brighe’s doughty bodyguard to desert him.

      However, Queen Iudhaith’s overseas alliances trump the charioteer Seamus-Leoigh and the saga ends with a new order restored thanks to the heroic exploits of Pu Cuíllish óg Rogaínn and the rightful accession by Queen Iudhaith Collaínns ní Cruisheer to the leadership of the aptly named Sinn Faíl.

      Slainte.

  9. mauī 9
    24 December 2018 at 10:02 pm

    More from the glorious George Galloway. A marvelous man.

  11. Eco Maori 11
    25 December 2018 at 6:41 pm

    Kia ora Newshub I do support MPI having more tools to help control our fisheries conservation and keep themselves safe while preforming there duties .
    With kevin spacey some people have a view that’s not acceptable they don’t think we can figure out the motive behind ones actions like someone else in the Media.
    Those are cool words our Queen said in her Christmas speech Ka pai.
    I do agree that hogget meat is better than lamb to eat and we should market that fact about our sheep meat it would be better for the environment to export me higher value hogget meat.
    Helping refugees is, cool Idea
    CHOSE LOVE I would use that to help the poor people If we have a branch here in Aotearoa many thanks to the organisers of this brilliant Idea.
    Our Coalition government has achieved a lot of good deeds so far Ka pai. Ka kite ano P.S On the Farm with our Tamariki and Mokopunas