Open mike 25/12/2014

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, December 25th, 2014 - 98 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Micky Savage christmasMerry Christmas everyone.

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 …

98 comments on “Open mike 25/12/2014 ”

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  1. phillip ure 1
    25 December 2014 at 8:11 am

    a (non-denominational) seasons-greetings to all..

    ..and a bah!..humbug..!..in agreement with those who lean that way..

  2. BLiP 2
    25 December 2014 at 8:21 am

    ‘

    Merry Christmas *everyone*.

  3. phillip ure 3
    25 December 2014 at 8:46 am

    i’ve thought of a new game/meme for xmas day..

    ..it’s called – autobiographies i really don’t want to read..

    .i’ll kick it off..

    1)..’afternoon-delights’- the autobiography of len brown..

    (a saucy bedroom/bed/desk-hopping farce..leavened with local govt. intrigue/drama..)

    2)..’if i can’t be king – i’d rather be a tampon’ – the autobiography of prince charles..

    (the story of a life spent watching the comings and goings – from a waiting-room..)

    http://whoar.co.nz/2014/commentwhoar-a-new-gamememe-for-xmas-day/

    • phillip ure 3.1
      25 December 2014 at 9:51 am

      3)..’i don’t care what the pope says..!’..(the autobiography of austerity finance minister bill english..)

      (english tries to intellectualise his defiance of his popes’ orders to catholic politicians around the world…to care for the poor..)

      4)..’it seemed like a good idea at the time’..the autobigraphy of the internet.mana party..

      ..the important questions are answered..

      ..where did hone harawira disappear to..mid-campaign..?

      ..why the cat on the hover-board..?

      ..whoever thought pam corkery was a good idea..?

      ..what was actually wrong with that ending cannabis prohibition campaign..that was scrapped..?

      ..and what happened to all that money..?..those millions of dollars..

      ..was billboards seriously ‘it’..?

  4. karol 4
    25 December 2014 at 8:51 am

    Agree with most of this – but don’t agree with at least 3: Stuff – 5 people who made a difference and 7 who blew it.

    Those who made New Zealand a better place

    #1. Nicky Hager

    #2. Brendon McCullum

    #3. Lucy Knight

    #4. Jamie Pink and the Tribal Huks [Yah!]

    #5. Prince George [booo! – not on my radar]

    Those who had the chance to but didn’t

    # 1. Kim Dotcom

    #2. Jesse Ryder [cricket not on my radar]

    #3. Iain Rennie [Yep]

    #4. Corrections

    #5. Paul Henry and Mike Hosking [Could these guys ever have made a positive difference to NZ?]

    #6. Roger Sutton (see Iain Rennie entry)

    #7. Laila Harre (see Dotcom entry) [hmmm – Harre still can make a difference – others more worthy of this spot: eg Peter Dunne]

    • Colonial Rawshark 4.1
      25 December 2014 at 8:56 am

      Well, IMO the NZ Labour Party should be at #1, karol, not Dotcom who was one man with a vision of raising the issue of NZ’s role in an international surveillance and spying network targeted at ordinary businesses and citizens.

      Hager at no.1 for good, an excellent choice.

      Merry Christmas, Standardistas!

      • karol 4.1.1
        25 December 2014 at 8:57 am

        Excellent point, CR.

        • batweka 4.1.1.1
          25 December 2014 at 9:43 am

          The other thing that Harre and KDC did was mentor some amazing young and youngish people into the political scence. They probably did more in raising the intelligence and empathy of those up and coming than all the other parties combined.

          So many people still don’t get it’s not about the power it’s about change.

          • Colonial Rawshark 4.1.1.1.1
            25 December 2014 at 9:56 pm

            So many people still don’t get it’s not about the power it’s about change.

            BINGO

            And the youth who became engaged in politics through Internet Mana…I think we will be seeing more from them in years to come 🙂

      • Chooky 4.1.2
        25 December 2014 at 9:21 am

        CR…+100…spot on!…and Merry Xmas to Dotcom too!,…and Laila and Hone…and Annette…also David Cunliffe who tried

        (imo # 1 should go to the msm…especially commercial which helped sink Labour’s chances by sinking Dotcom Internet and Mana )

        ….and Merry Xmas most of all ALL to the GREENS!

        • Chooky 4.1.2.1
          25 December 2014 at 10:07 am

          ..and Merry Xmas to John Minto …a very articulate and thoughtful advocate for those most oppressed ( I was really pissed off when The Press stopped his column!…but they would wouldn’t they)

          …also Merry Xmas to all those feisty feral commentators and their cats over on the Daily Blog…ha ha

          …and Kathryn Ryan ( Prime Minister forgot who she was…thought she was Linda Clark when he thanked her for her support..well enough said) and others like Wallace Chapman and Kim Hill on Radionz who really give great listening and education and entertainment…

          also I would add Merry Xmas to Winston Peters… for great Opposition oratory

      • Murray Rawshark 4.1.3
        25 December 2014 at 2:44 pm

        Apart from the fact that the Labour Party isn’t a people, your choice has some merit.

    • Pete George 4.2
      25 December 2014 at 9:06 am

      It’s yet to be seen whether Hager’s book and the associated campaign makes New Zealand better place.

      This will partly be up to media and journalists, who have been willing enablers of dirty politics.

      Including Prince George is nonsensical and an insult to the many New Zealanders who actually contribute to making out country a better place.

      • marty mars 4.2.1
        25 December 2014 at 10:03 am

        Just the release of the book has shone a startling light on the practices and that has already made this country a better place. Any campaign to take out the ‘dirty’ has to be applauded imo. Yes there have been many enablers of ‘dirty politics’ – we have to ensure we don’t fall into that hole.

        • tracey 4.2.1.1
          25 December 2014 at 12:08 pm

          Speaking truth to power always makes a difference for the better.

          As George Orwell put it

          “…In a time of universal deceit – telling the truth is a revolutionary act. …”

      • Stephanie Rodgers 4.2.2
        25 December 2014 at 12:21 pm

        “the associated campaign”

        For the crime of introducing inflammatory spin in order to paint yourself a victim, Pete, I sentence you to CHRISTMAS EMOTICON PARTY.

        Everyone join in instead of responding to Pete’s flamebait!

        😳 😳 😳 😳

        🙄

        • batweka 4.2.2.1
          25 December 2014 at 12:52 pm

          😈 ➡ ➡ ➡ ➡ ➡ ➡ ➡ ➡

        • joe90 4.2.2.2
          25 December 2014 at 1:24 pm

          ( ━☞´◔‿ゝ◔`)━☞ ……(ভ_ ভ) ރ ／/ ┊ ＼

        • Pete George 4.2.2.4
          25 December 2014 at 4:06 pm

          No intention to paint myself anything nor intention to be inflammatory but whatever. I hope your Christmas was relaxing and mellowed you a bit Stephanie.

          • Stephanie Rodgers 4.2.2.4.1
            25 December 2014 at 4:33 pm

            Ooooh, already getting passive-aggressive! You really don’t like it when your flamebait just gets EMOTICON PARTY

            😥 😥 😥 😥 😥

            • The Al1en 4.2.2.4.1.1
              25 December 2014 at 4:46 pm

              Seriously? This is now the level we’re at? A bit childish, isn’t it?

              I think pg tips is an arse like most of the rest on here, yet there are ways and means of doing things that don’t drop the standard (no pun intended, but delightfully ironic), to not much more than a gang bang school yard bullying by the thicker children.

              Personally I think a swear and a 🙄 is usually sufficient, or perhaps ignoring him, or best of all debating the finer nuances of his position and points and making him look a chump as a consequence is the way to go.

              This icon bullshit is just bizarre.

              • Stephanie Rodgers …
                25 December 2014 at 6:41 pm

                What’s childish is Pete continually derailing conversations here with his trolling. Responding to him using only emoticons merely highlights how little he has to say.

                But thanks for giving him some support on the “people who disagree with me are bitchy” front, I’m sure he appreciates the encouragement. 🙄

                • The Al1en …
                  25 December 2014 at 7:15 pm

                  “What’s childish is Pete continually derailing conversations here with his trolling. Responding to him using only emoticons merely highlights how little he has to say.”

                  Beg to differ. I think head cheer leading for smileys as a way of response to someone you don’t like or care for is far more an accurate indicator of childish. Of course you may feel different about it, but a pictorial version of sticking your fingers in your ear and going la la la isn’t really the epitome of adult now, is it?

                  “But thanks for giving him some support on the “people who disagree with me are bitchy” front, I’m sure he appreciates the encouragement. 🙄 ”

                  No, that’s not what I did at all. I offered up a few alternatives in how to combat pg without resorting to dumbing down this blog because you can’t exert the self control to let it go or best him in debate.

                  And I didn’t say bitchy, that could just be you projecting? I said “not much more than a gang bang school yard bullying by the thicker children.” Which is quite different.

              • karol …
                25 December 2014 at 7:03 pm

                I prefer emoticons to the sometime use of a misogynistic swear word – the c one.

                • The Al1en …
                  25 December 2014 at 7:16 pm

                  We all have a wish list, but what would you prefer? Dick?

                  Though of course that opens up a whole new debate about why it’s not sexist if a woman uses dick as an insult on here but a bloke writing cunt, is.

                  Rest assured, from now on, to be sure, so there’s no misunderstanding or grounds for a witch (wizard) hunt, I’m using the second meaning from below.

                  https://www.google.co.nz/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=cunt%20definition
                  cunt
                  kʌnt/Submit
                  nounvulgar slang
                  noun: cunt; plural noun: cunts
                  a woman’s genitals.
                  an unpleasant or stupid person.

                  • karol …
                    25 December 2014 at 7:31 pm

                    I wince every time I read the c word, whatever the intent behind using it as a put down. It seems to me it is used as the ultimate put down, rather than the dick, which seems to have less venom when used.

                    • The Al1en …
                      25 December 2014 at 7:34 pm

                      Okay, I don’t see it like that at all, certainly not misogynist and nowhere near the ultimate put down for me, so it must just be an individual perception thing.

                    • karol …
                      25 December 2014 at 7:35 pm

                      I don’t think it’s an “individual” perception. I think a lot of women find it offensive, even though some women use it as a put down.

                    • The Al1en …
                      25 December 2014 at 7:50 pm

                      Of course it’s individual perception. You object for the reason you stated, me I don’t, because I’m using the second example of the definition posted above.
                      I could also disagree with you about ‘dick’ as it’s a slang name for male genitals and used by some as an ultimate put down, as it’s a perception thing on which I agree we differ.

                      By the way, for the record, I have just searched The Al1en + cunt and there are 6 results. 2 were by other people, 2 were mine, 1 I was quoting and 1querying why no one had complained about finlayson being called the c word.

                      Just searching the word, I gave up looking on page 5.

            • Pete George 4.2.2.4.1.2
              25 December 2014 at 4:49 pm

              I really don’t mind. It’s your choice how you want to reflect your emotional level.

              Cute try with passive-aggressive. You can convince yourself anyone or anything is aggressive with that one.

      • Murray Rawshark 4.2.3
        25 December 2014 at 2:47 pm

        We’re already a better place because more of us know just how filthy Tories are. Ignorance is never a positive quality.

      • millsy 4.2.4
        25 December 2014 at 7:10 pm

        George kept the women magazine business afloat so I guess that counts for something.

      • tricledrown 4.2.5
        25 December 2014 at 10:27 pm

        Pathetic Goader.Incohrent Crap.

  5. travellerev 5
    25 December 2014 at 8:57 am

    What did “Prince” George do?

  6. Chooky 6
    25 December 2014 at 9:36 am

    This is a good read….’The Daily Blog 2014 Media Awards.’

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/12/22/the-daily-blog-2014-media-awards/

    I especially liked the bit on Patrick Gower:

    “At his best, Gower is a barking dog chasing a car, at his worst he is a homicidal chipmunk armed with a semiautomatic machine gun on a meth bender. When he’s chewing up someone you don’t like, it’s hilariously entertaining, when he’s chewing on someone you like he is an abomination…..”

    Have to agree also that ‘True Detective’…is a fantastic tv series

  7. Draco T Bastard 7
    25 December 2014 at 11:33 am

    I do like this:

    The billboard reads: ‘Dear Simon Bridges, Clean energy creates 4 x more jobs than oil. Love from all the Kiwis for economic and environmental prosperity’.

    Pity about the article’s uncritical acceptance of what Bridges said though.

    • tracey 7.1
      25 December 2014 at 12:12 pm

      It makes me shake my head…

      My brothers gave me two books… Both by ian wishart… Actually they gave them to everyone

      One about the lie of climate change and the other about surveillance… I dont know whether to laugh or cry…

      Not a copy of Dirty Politics in sight cos they said ” everyone does it, nothing new there”

      • batweka 7.1.1
        25 December 2014 at 3:58 pm

        Bet you can find some good ideas online on upcycling books that you hate (and probably ironically). You could regift them to your family next year 😈

      • Murray Rawshark 7.1.2
        26 December 2014 at 12:54 am

        You have my sympathy. By the time I was half way through the Winebox one, I was convinced Wishart was a delusional nutter. Everything I’ve seen since has confirmed that opinion.

      • Rodel 7.1.3
        26 December 2014 at 7:56 am

        Tracey- my sympathy also. Your brothers have a strange sense of humour? or were they serious?

        Perhaps next Xmas you could give them one of the most hilarious things I never read – Ian Wishart’s rebuttal of Richard Dawkin’s ‘The God Delusion’…I think Wishart thought he was being serious.

        • Tamara 7.1.3.1
          26 December 2014 at 8:38 am

          Wishart has to write crap because real-life investigations are in the too hard basket. Sometimes it’s best to bury your head in the sand than face ‘reality’. He purposely goes against the grain in order to feel he is in control, or has some sense of power. He is also a misogynist because it gives him a feeling of being in-control; he is finally- ‘correct’ or ‘masculine’. Sad Really, someone so bright is so buckled by such a psychological disability.

          Being afraid is much easier than being fearless. You are hardly mysterious or fascinating, duping people to make ‘yourself’ feel in-control is not extraordinary, you are just like every other loser, what sets you apart (from others), given your status- nothing! You are a commoner.

    • BLiP 7.2
      25 December 2014 at 2:44 pm

      ‘

      EPIC Excellence. I wonder if there’s any demographics and digits on the type of audience this will attract. I’m betting thousands and thousands of people who might well be interested in that little fact as more and more of the country side and coastline is fracked.

      This will be fun . . .

      . . . ActionStation members also hope to deliver a giant novelty postcard with a similar message to Simon at Parliament in the New Year.

      $10 dollars says that either –

      1 – Bridges won’t be “available”

      – or –

      2 – Bridges show’s up and behaves like a total cockwomble.

      WIN/WIN – nice work – ActionStation – . Free caek for the rest of the holidays for youse.

    • Rosie 7.3
      25 December 2014 at 4:59 pm

      Some one put a link up on Open Mike, to the Action Stations Simon Bridges billboard-in- Tauranga campaign a few weeks ago. You could choose from a number of different statements for the billboard (as mentioned in the article).

      This was by far the best statement for impact, I’m glad it won the vote. It would be good to keep the pressure up in his electorate – they are the wombles that voted him back in again and need to be reminded of their vote fail (as opposed to “cock wombles”, what a great term, we’ll reserve that special term of endearment for himself).

  8. freedom 8
    25 December 2014 at 11:46 am

    To authors, auteres and acolytes, and to the legion lurking
    To Lynn of course and all whose purse contributes to its working
    To Standardistas everywhere, a hearty goodwill cheer
    And if you’re heading somewhere, take it easy getting there

    Please share the love, the peaceful thoughts and make the yuletide merry
    But If your table’s light in bounty, take it easy on the sherry
    No matter what the day has planned; whanau, friends, or grinches
    To each and every one of you I wish a merry christmas

  9. Skinny 9
    25 December 2014 at 11:57 am

    Seasons greeting to you all, eat have a nap & eat some more and snooze and relax the day away. Travel safe in your journey there is no hurry enjoy your holiday time 🙂

  10. Draco T Bastard 10
    25 December 2014 at 12:15 pm

    Considering the overt commercialisation of Xmas and the fact that gifts no longer have any meaning I can’t really say that I’m surprised by this.

    Just moments after being unwrapped, unwanted Christmas gifts are being put up for sale online.

    • batweka 10.1
      25 December 2014 at 12:20 pm

      Nice advertorial for Sellshed too 😉

    • Skinny 10.2
      25 December 2014 at 12:22 pm

      My partner can’t wait to join the hundreds of thousands of brainwashed consumer drones heading off to the retailers Boxing Day sales. Of course she will come home with things we don’t really need. The sacrifice one makes ‘looks over brains’ makes me shudder.

      • tracey 10.2.1
        25 December 2014 at 12:31 pm

        Could you clarify your last sentence?

        • Skinny 10.2.1.1
          25 December 2014 at 12:44 pm

          I think it’s pretty obvious what I’m saying, anyway just for you I’ll clarify. Just a gripe at my off sider for being a bit of an airhead.

          My last partner was not as pretty as my current partner, she was however academically very smart and would not buy into rampant consumerism.

          Merry Xmas Tracey 🙂

          • tracey 10.2.1.1.1
            25 December 2014 at 1:50 pm

            I wanted to be sure before commenting Skinny.

            Meery christmas

          • Colonial Rawshark 10.2.1.1.2
            25 December 2014 at 9:52 pm

            I’m looking at doing the Boxing Day sales tomorrow. *Sigh*. Thankfully I am also very unlikely to by anything much at all *gleeful at robbing the capitalist machine of transactions*

            Merry Christmas me hearties!!!

      • Rosie 10.2.2
        25 December 2014 at 5:09 pm

        Hope she spares a thought for the workers who have to curtail their festive activities to get up at the crack of dawn to get their shop ready for the sales.

        A bro in law of mine who works for a big box retailer has to be in store at 7am tomorrow, to get the store set up for their biggest trading day of the year. He will knock off at 5.30am. It’s not much of a Christmas for him, and his wife and kids, or the thousands that have to work to fulfil our greedy consumerist desires.

        I loved the old days when public holidays were public holidays

        • Skinny 10.2.2.1
          25 December 2014 at 5:39 pm

          Yes Rosie it is a sticking point in our household. The 24/7 world we live in is not what makes for a decent work life balance. I love the way a country like Norway hold to true to maintaining a penal rate structure for work outside of normal hours Monday to Friday. Yes I miss the days when retail stores were closed in the weekends and holiday stat days were exactly that ‘closed.’ hope your enjoying a great day with family & friends 🙂

          • Rosie 10.2.2.1.1
            25 December 2014 at 9:04 pm

            Hey there Skinny.

            Thanks, we did have a lovely day avoiding yet another year with my RWNJ family. My friends have normal families to visit, so we didn’t see them either. Great day though. Cruisey and relaxed. Hope yours was good too 🙂

            As one who slips between a shop girl persona and activism, I am sensing a slight change in the wind, in the many conversations I have with fellow workers across service industries. Other Gen Xer’s feel like they can’t be the shoulders for the elite Key is representing any more, and the young un’s have nothing to look forward to. Their expectations are zero, where as once Gen X had expectation in it’s shiniest and most hopeful form.

            I think folks are feeling a tad fucked off. I feel a shifting from complacency into unease. I hope this manifests as worker dissent. I hope this manifests as a take back. We need to wake up and be inspired by the courage of the young Hong Kong students occupation and the all ages Blacks Lives Matter movements.

            Finally. does your g/f realise that you see her as a bit of airhead? Rosie’s Christmas wisdom: If you love some one, you need to respect them first, other wise, what’s the point?

  11. tracey 11
    25 December 2014 at 12:17 pm

    To those able to rest and spend time with friends, family or alone may the coming year bring you happiness.

  12. ankerawshark 12
    25 December 2014 at 12:26 pm

    Merry Christmas Standardista’s and wishing your a very safe and restful holiday, if you are able to get one.

    My thanks goes out to Lynn and the other posters on the Standard. Without you there would not be this fantastic website, which enlightens, informs and at times is entertaining.

    And thoughts to all those struggling at this time of year, who are on a benefit or the minimum wages in compromised circumstances. We won’t forget you.

  13. Ad 13
    25 December 2014 at 12:59 pm

    Does handing out Christmas presents count as Socialism?

  14. Draco T Bastard 14
    25 December 2014 at 1:50 pm

    A good example of a single buyer of power generation working as expected by the Left and showing that the RWNJs were wrong – again.

  15. Murray Rawshark 15
    25 December 2014 at 2:35 pm

    Have a great day everyone. Eat and drink as much as you like of whatever rocks your boat.

    • Ad 15.1
      25 December 2014 at 2:40 pm

      Cheers. I am shitfaced, reading FDR’s greatest hits, with Leunig, meringues, and bubbly and time for a liedown.

  16. Draco T Bastard 16
    25 December 2014 at 3:55 pm

    Supertrawlers to be banned permanently from Australian waters

    Supertrawlers will be permanently banned from Australian waters, the federal government announced on Wednesday.

    The move follows the temporary bans on supertrawlers imposed by the Labor government two years ago and re-endorsed by Tony Abbott in March. The first ban expired in November and the second was up for review in April.

    I wonder if any of our political parties would be brave enough to do the same.

  17. Barfly 17
    25 December 2014 at 5:26 pm

    Merry Christmas all

  18. millsy 18
    25 December 2014 at 7:06 pm

    Ahhh Christmas…when Waitakere Men fire up the barbie and slag off the poor….

    Though, they forget that it’s Otara Woman that is paying 70% of her income towards their retirement.

    Merry Christmas all… hope you had a good one.

    Even you, PG.

    • Molly 18.1
      25 December 2014 at 7:28 pm

      Merry Christmas all.

      For various reasons, haven’t been posting much lately, but still grateful for the Standard and the Standardistas.

      Hoping the new year brings positive changes for everyone.

    • fender 18.2
      25 December 2014 at 11:49 pm

      Yes, Merry Christmas everyone

      Even you, Prat Gorge

  19. tinfoilhat 19
    25 December 2014 at 8:07 pm

    Here’s hoping that the Xmas break makes the mood around here less depressing and down beat.

  20. miravox 20
    25 December 2014 at 8:31 pm

    Christmas day has dawned bright and clear in our part of Europe. Best wishes to Standardistas where ever you are. I hope you’ve all managed to get some time to do something you love with people you care about.