Open mike 26/10/2015

56 comments on “Open mike 26/10/2015 ”

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1. Tautoko Mangō Mata 1

   26 October 2015 at 7:12 am

   If politicians actually listened to teachers instead of inflicting their half baked ideas on them, then they would have to make these types of admissions.
   “The Obama administration on Saturday acknowledged what many parents and educators have seen as a problem for years—the excessive use of high-stakes testing in the nation’s public schools.

   “I believe that in moderation, smart, strategic tests can help us measure our kids’ progress in school,” President Obama said in a video posted to Facebook.

   “But I also hear from parents who rightly worry about too much testing, and from teachers who feel so much pressure to teach to a test that it takes the joy out of teaching and learning, both for them and for the students. I want to fix that,” adding, “Learning is about so much more than just filling in the right bubble.”
   http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/10/25/will-new-plan-testing-caps-bring-end-disastrous-bush-obama-education-policies
   • JanM 1.1

     26 October 2015 at 7:30 am

     I am firmly of the belief that right wing governments deliberately impose these testing regimes on populations because they are aware of the second-rate, non-reflective educational results. It was almost certainly the case here when the Nats brought in National Standards over the top of a new, very promising curriculum, which they have made sure cannot fly.
     If you were a right wing politician, you would not want a population of independent critical thinkers, would you now!
     • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1

       26 October 2015 at 1:56 pm

       +1

       A population capable of critical thought and doing research would never vote in National.
   • savenz 1.2

     26 October 2015 at 10:53 am

     +1
2. Whatever next? 2

   26 October 2015 at 8:44 am

   Exactly right JanM…….followed up with cheap booze, mind numbing broadcasting on Rv and low wage economy,fearful of losing their jobs……and their homes.
   I think we are already there when I hear polls, unless there is something dodgy about them?
   • savenz 2.1

     26 October 2015 at 10:54 am

     +1
     • savenz 2.1.1

       26 October 2015 at 11:01 am

       The best educational results come from Finland, children have only one test in their lives.

       Testing sucks the life out of the joy of knowledge and education.

       Imagine if every week/month/year at work a person had to sit a test and that was what their job hinged on? Would that be a reasonable way to conduct a business or would it make most employees just work at passing the test and beating their colleagues who they were ranked against rather than collaborating, innovating and creating new knowledge?

       Testing is known to ‘dumb’ down education. It does not work at all and in particular the way the government is implementing it without having a clue – apart from making it a way to privatise education by making it broken (so they have to get in Charter schools and business to ‘fix it’).

       In the 1970’s NZ had one of the best educations systems in the world, it is still very good but the government wants to follow an agenda to destroy teachers and put business administrators into schools.
       • Chooky 2.1.1.1

         26 October 2015 at 12:28 pm

         +100…testing also serves to promote private schools for the wealthy…who ‘hot house’ teach to tests…but whose products/fee paying clients/children do not necessarily do well at university because they have been ‘hot housed’ and can not think for themselves …nor do they have the intrinsic motivation and inquiring minds…

         the bright/brilliant kids from State schools are often barred from even getting to university …because they are turned off test driven boring education…the ones that do get through are often ‘A’ students because they are intrinsically motivated and can think critically

         ( but of course jonkey Nactional is stopping these brilliant postgrad students from state schools in their tracks because they can not afford more university education …again the tertiary field is left open for mediocre students of the private schooled rich and foreign paying students…again working class and middle class New Zealand young people have been betrayed and barred from university education to the highest levels)
   • left for deadshark 2.2

     26 October 2015 at 11:24 am

     look theres the AB’s,…..all better. sarc 🙂
     • whateva next? 2.2.1

       26 October 2015 at 2:20 pm

       and the flag over here, oh mercy me, my head is spinning with wonderment
3. Morrissey 3

   26 October 2015 at 8:55 am

   Calling “Reddelusion”…Calling “Reddelusion”…Calling “Reddelusion”…

   One “Reddelusion” has failed to respond to some points I made after he had gallantly (if that’s the right word for it) written in defence of the late “Sir” Paul Holmes….

   http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-24102015/#comment-1086516

   “Reddelusion” claimed that there was some “context” I had missed that magically justified Holmes’s racist outbursts. Carelessly, “Reddelusion” forgot to show us exactly what that context was.

   If he could do that as soon as possible, it would be appreciated.

   Calling “Reddelusion”…Calling “Reddelusion”…
   • Reddelusion 3.1

     26 October 2015 at 12:46 pm

     You choose to be offended daily Morrisey even on behalf of others, what ever floats your boat I guesse. you can’t even watch a footy match without been offended, I am not sure how you get through the day Paul Holmes died a few years back as was the 2011 World Cup, build a bridge or in your case look for new outrages you can jump into to externalise your obvious challenges
     • Morrissey 3.1.1

       26 October 2015 at 7:40 pm

       1.) …you can’t even watch a footy [sic] match without been offended….

       “Footy”? Are you afraid of saying or writing the word “football”? What are you—three years old?

       Practise saying it daily: “Football.” It’s not that hard if you try.
       • Grindlebottom 3.1.1.1

         26 October 2015 at 8:01 pm

         Football’s quite a vague term really.

         Football to the British and most other countries generally means soccer, and they regard rugby as something different.

         Football to the Americans means grid iron. They regard soccer and rugby as something different.

         To the Australians it can mean australian rules (AFL), rugby league (footy) or rugby union (union), and I think they too generally call the round ball game soccer.

         Maybe only in NZ do most of us think of football or footy as meaning rugby.
         • Morrissey 3.1.1.1.1

           26 October 2015 at 8:02 pm

           Fair comment. My objection is to people who are too scared to say the word “football.” It’s because they’ve been bullied and browbeaten by soccer tragics.
           • Grindlebottom 3.1.1.1.1.1

             26 October 2015 at 8:09 pm

             I’ve got a personal fondness for “rugger” but it does get me strange looks.
             • Morrissey …

               26 October 2015 at 8:15 pm

               Ha! Good luck with that, my friend.

               Mind you, it is used in Japan—“rugger” shirts are a perennial fashion item there.
       • Reddelusion 3.1.1.2

         27 October 2015 at 12:48 pm

         Your one strange character Morrissey, one hell of a party going on in that head of yours 😀
4. Morrissey 4

   26 October 2015 at 9:42 am

   With a straight face, Steve Hansen says: “You just want consistency.”
   Brass-plated audacity doesn’t come any more shameless than this.

   Four years ago Steve Hansen sat alongside “Sir” Graham Henry as his All Black forwards—primarily but by no means only McCaw, Kaino, Hore and Reid—systematically destroyed the RWC final with a display of cynical, offside, illegal killing of the French ball. Such willful violation of the spirit as well as the laws of the game was only possible because of the apparent blindness of the “referee”, one Craig Joubert, in front of whom every one of the flagrant offences was perpetrated. Joubert, to the astonishment and increasing despair of the French players, did nothing about it. Sensing that Joubert was for some reason—timidity? stage fright? Southern Hemisphere solidarity?—not going to do a thing to control them, the emboldened All Blacks’ forwards continued to cheat with impunity, thus preventing France from unleashing its backs as it had against England in the quarter-final.

   The outraged reaction in France in the following days was carefully screened from New Zealanders by media gatekeepers like the Herald‘s Gregor Paul and partisan and dishonest radio and television “reporters” such as Jim Kayes and Andrew “Sav” Saveloy. But any New Zealander who watched the match knows perfectly well that France would probably have won if there had been a referee.

   One would have thought that straightforward decency, as well as a sense of shame, would have meant that no one from the All Blacks who was involved in that débâcle would ever again have said anything at all about any referee’s performance or, in Joubert’s case, non-performance.

   Sadly, though, that is not the case….

   Hansen to talk to world referees’ boss as ABs look to get fair hearing in final
   by TOBY ROBSON, October 26, 2015

   Steve Hansen plans to talk to World Rugby’s referees boss Joel Jutge in a bid to ensure the All Blacks get a fair hearing in the Rugby World Cup final.

   A day after the All Blacks were on the wrong side of a 14-6 penalty count during their 20-18 semifinal win over South Africa, Hansen said he had no major issues with the majority of French referee Jerome Garce’s calls at Twickenham.

   However, the All Blacks coach did feel as though South Africa got away with similar offences and will be keen to ensure Welsh whistler Nigel Owens applies the same at both teams in the final.

   “I have watched it again and yeah, a lot of the penalties were justified,” Hansen said on Monday. “The only concern I have got was that whilst we are getting penalised for things, the same things were happening on the opposition and they weren’t, so that’s another thing I’ll have to talk to him [Jutge] about. You just want consistency.”

   Read more, if you can bear steaming hypocrisy….
   http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/73372474/Hansen-to-talk-to-world-referees-boss-as-ABs-look-to-get-fair-hearing-in-final
   • RedBaronCV 4.1

     26 October 2015 at 10:18 am

     Honestly is this level of hypocrisy unexpected. As far as I can see the upper echelons of the NZRFU have long since parted company with the average punter and are living in a subsidiary of Nactland. i’m just ignoring the lot
   • northshoredoc 4.2

     26 October 2015 at 10:19 am

     I must apologise for calling you a third rate sports pundit last week Morrissey.

     You are clearly a fourth rate sports bore, I suggest you keep to your main past time of chicken fancying.
     • Grant 4.2.1

       26 October 2015 at 10:36 am

       *pastime (a compound of pass time)
       • northshoredoc 4.2.1.1

         26 October 2015 at 10:44 am

         Thanks grant – the vagaries of auto spell check on mobile while at work.
     • Kevin 4.2.2

       26 October 2015 at 10:43 am

       At least he has more interesting things to say than you nsd.

       Personally, I am a fan Morrisey, keep up the good work.
     • Morrissey 4.2.3

       26 October 2015 at 11:36 am

       You are clearly a fourth rate sports bore,

       Ouch! Nice one, Doc.

       I suggest you keep to your main past time of chicken fancying.

       Okay, that’s me dealt with. Now, would you like to address the question at hand, viz., how can Steve Hansen have the hide to talk publicly about the need for referees to be consistent?
     • whateva next? 4.2.4

       26 October 2015 at 12:40 pm

       speaking of “pastime”, I wonder that you spend so much of your time trying to aggravate people? or are you genuinely interested in seeking an understanding of broader politics?
       • northshoredoc 4.2.4.1

         26 October 2015 at 1:11 pm

         Politics interests me very little indeed – especially in NZ.

         The vast majority of my comments on this site are dispelling vaccination myths and recently providing some facts in relation the PHARMAC issues regarding the potential TPPA.

         Aggravating people at this site is just a bit of fun on the side on occasion.
         • whateva next? 4.2.4.1.1

           26 October 2015 at 2:18 pm

           “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you. ”

           ― Pericles
           I wonder what you think politics is? or don’t you think?
         • Morrissey 4.2.4.1.2

           26 October 2015 at 8:17 pm

           Politics in NZ doesn’t interest you much? So what country’s politics DO you take an interest in?
   • b waghorn 4.3

     26 October 2015 at 11:15 am

     Rugby is a sport and in sport winning the head games is as important a part of the game as the on field action. Hansen wouldn’t be doing his job if he wasn’t sowing a little doubt in the refs mind just like they will be messing with Aussie head in the next week or so.
     Surely you can find more important causes to champion.
     Its only a game.
     • Morrissey 4.3.1

       26 October 2015 at 11:32 am

       Hansen wouldn’t be doing his job if he wasn’t sowing a little doubt in the refs [sic] mind

       Hansen (perhaps understandably) said not a word about Craig Joubert’s complicity in the All Blacks’ outrageous destruction of the 2011 RWC final. He, and every other person in the New Zealand camp, should never say a word about refereeing again. The fact that he has, and that he can talk about “wanting consistency” with a straight face, shows that he has little or no sense of sportsmanship or honour, let alone a sense of irony.

       Surely you can find more important causes to champion.

       I can and I do. Perhaps you missed my campaign against Television’s Good Morning show.

       Its only a game.

       True. Which is why I hate people cheating, referees—just one referee, in fact—who collude in that cheating, and sports journalists who think that to state plainly what happened is an act of treason.
       • ropata 4.3.1.1

         26 October 2015 at 11:43 am

         “sports journalists who think that to state plainly what happened is an act of treason”

         Well now you’re showing how fair and reasonable you are *cough cough*
         • Morrissey 4.3.1.1.1

           26 October 2015 at 11:48 am

           What do YOU think about the performance, or non-performance of the likes of Andrew “Sav” Saveloy and Jim Kayes, ropata? Do you really think we ever get anything interesting or insightful from them, ever?

           Even worse is the presence of Ian “Smithy” Smith in that terrible television commentary team that is inflicted on New Zealand viewers only. Do you think that Justin Marshall, who perhaps out of a misguided sense of compassion keeps asking “Smithy” what he thinks, is a reliable, even slightly fair-minded commentator?
           • Pat 4.3.1.1.1.1

             26 October 2015 at 7:07 pm

             if sports (at this level) is entertainment do we seek fair minded commentary?
             • Morrissey …

               26 October 2015 at 7:36 pm

               Fair question, Pat. I could excuse the extreme partisanship of Marshall because he has, after all, been there and done that—and has paid the price for it. [1]

               There is no excuse of any kind for Ian Smith, however. He knows nothing, his comments are painfully empty of any sort of content, and the others clearly treat him as some sort of charity case. Notwithstanding all of that, he should have been summarily sacked immediately after his bumbling, crass and offensive interview with Thierry Dusautoir at the end of that farcical 2011 final.

               [1] https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/nz.general/Ern1_QrFIw8
           • ropata 4.3.1.1.1.2

             26 October 2015 at 8:02 pm

             I expect sports journos to be a bit provocative and fun, remember this beautiful moment or were you too busy arguing semantics with Pete George?

             TBH I don’t pay much attention to the journos and commentators I am more interested in the game itself. Pundits come and go and say all sorts of dumb shit.

             https://youtu.be/UhEpas8hxYI
             • Morrissey …

               26 October 2015 at 8:11 pm

               Ropata, I was so disgusted by the cynical tactics of the All Blacks, and by the even worse display by the non-referee in that farcical match, I found such displays, which would normally move me, to be nothing more than a distraction.

               As bad as Joubert was, the failure by the New Zealand media was even worse. Campbell is supposed to be a journalist; he could see as clearly as anyone else in the stadium what an insult to the game had just been perpetrated. Instead of hugging players, weeping ecstatically and bawling above the crowd noise how much he loved them, he should have been asking hard questions of the match officials, and of the All Blacks’s management team, which had obviously concocted that cynical strategy. The All Blacks have millions of cheerleaders, and didn’t need him gushing over them instead of doing the job he was supposed to do.

               Not everybody was too afraid to speak out however….

               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7C6bTHyC0U
               • ropata …

                 26 October 2015 at 8:25 pm

                 Laws of Rugby Union

                 6.A.4 The duties of the referee in the playing enclosure

                 (a)

                 The referee is the sole judge of fact and of Law during a match. The referee must apply fairly all the Laws of the Game in every match.

                 Basically, the ref was in charge so all your grizzling is obviated.
                 • Morrissey …

                   26 October 2015 at 8:31 pm

                   Basically, the ref was in charge…

                   That’s the problem: he was not in charge. He abdicated responsibility, and the game was turned into a farce.

                   ….so all your grizzling is obviated.

                   I think my criticism of Joubert’s failure to do his job are a lot more serious and well documented than simply “grizzling”. If you want to see or hear what grizzling sounds like, I recommend you tune into Radio Sport some time.
                   • ropata …

                     26 October 2015 at 8:41 pm

                     The infallibility of the All Blacks is one myth that New Zealanders hold sacred. Personally I enjoy it but I know some people lose perspective on the matter.
                   • Rosemary McDonald …

                     26 October 2015 at 9:01 pm

                     “…hear what grizzling sounds like, I recommend you tune into Radio Sport some time.”

                     I enjoy your postings and critique of the media Morrissey….but steady on there old chap…go easy…Suggesting a live person tune into Radio Sport is like telling them to chew razor blades, or listen to an oompah band sober….

                     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9UqZOv8-OY
5. veutoviper 5

   26 October 2015 at 10:02 am

   If there are articles on NBR that you wanted to read but couldn’t because they were behind the paywall, today is the day apparently.*

   They have opened up the site for free today.

   http://www.nbr.co.nz/

   * Apparently because one article I attempted was still locked.
   • ropata 5.1

     26 October 2015 at 12:01 pm

     Some real substance there. I’m glad Hoots isn’t just following the Dirty Politics script.

     Matthew Hooton: http://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/why-key-talked-masturbation-jeremy-wells
     Bryce Edwards: http://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/nz-politics-daily-new-zealand%E2%80%99s-closed-government
     http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/key-shows-disregard-law-over-oia-chief-ombudsman-says-180308
6. RedBaronCV 6

   26 October 2015 at 10:15 am

   So China confirms that it wants to buy up land in New Zealand- colonisation by another word? ( and I don’t agree with the lareg purchases by other countriwes either).
   They don’t have it so they are entitled to ours??? How would they feel if it was the other way around. And they want to renegotiate the free trade agreement – which bits – the ability to buy more of our economy and migrate a pile of workers here – how did the last free trade agreement improve the lot of the average person in the street as opposed to making a few richer???

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11534966

   Labour leader Andrew Little says China’s Vice-President Li Yuanchao put the case why Chinese wanted land in New Zealand, but was “respectful and understanding” of Mr Little’s position on it. …
   “He (Li Yuanchao) talked a lot about it, the shortage of arable land in China and why arable land in other parts of the world are important to China and they are looking around for it.”

   Mr Little told Li Labour supported an upgrade to the China-NZ free trade agreement and believed that agreement had been beneficial to both. The Government is expected to start negotiating on that upgrade in 2016.
   • Chooky 6.1

     26 October 2015 at 3:47 pm

     +100…China has overpopulated and trashed its own country plus Tibet

     …and neither does it allow foreign ownership of its own land!

     …foreign ownership of NZ land will be a huge vote issue next Election
     • Hami Shearlie 6.1.1

       26 October 2015 at 11:40 pm

       Agreed Chooky!!
       • Grindlebottom 6.1.1.1

         26 October 2015 at 11:53 pm

         It should be but parties opposed will have to make it very clear they are talking about rejecting foreign ownership by all foreigners with no room for accusations they are targeting any particular groups. I can’t understand why we sell land instead of leasing it.
7. DH 7

   26 October 2015 at 10:32 am

   Here’s an example of why I think Labour urgently need to develop an effective strategy to deal with the media if they want to win another election…. at least one they can win on their own terms.

   “Claire Trevett: Little’s a jinx and Key’s a curse – just don’t tell ABs”

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11532921

   That was printed on Thursday, the Herald have only now printed the comments which rather graphically tell the story of why they withheld comments until readers had moved on.

   I can appreciate politicians fear taking on the media, for good reasons, but there are times when it is necessary and this is one of those times. Labour isn’t even in power yet they receive more criticism from the Herald, and other mainstream media, than the Government of the day does. The situation really is untenable IMO.
   • Gangnam Style 7.1

     26 October 2015 at 10:43 am

     Those articles are gold! No wonder they didn’t print them earlier.

     “Claires right – Criticism of John Keys’ National government shouldn’t be left to Labour .
     Unfortunately with no objective political journalists prepared to critique our current government through fear of losing their favoured media status –
     Its left up to Labour to do Claires’ job for her .
     Claires resentment is understandable, as most issues Labour drags into the media spotlight – is an issue she has chosen to ignore.
     I cannot remember one story broken by Claire Trevett critical of this government. not one !
     its time to lift your own game Claire – the standard of coverage of politics in NZ under your watch is appalling .
   • ropata 7.2

     26 October 2015 at 11:39 am

     how much time and effort did Trevett put in to research her thesis? was it supposed to be funny? why was this dreck even published in the Herald?
     • DH 7.2.1

       26 October 2015 at 1:01 pm

       “why was this dreck even published in the Herald?”

       Because the Herald is actively working to prevent Labour re-emerging as a strong political force?
       • ropata 7.2.1.1

         26 October 2015 at 8:15 pm

         yup. it’s dumbing down and helping keep the sleepy hobbits complacent while the one-percenters sell out the country
8. Pat 8

   26 October 2015 at 11:34 am

   trolling in print……a new hybrid form?
9. Tautoko Mangō Mata 9

   26 October 2015 at 12:01 pm

   A new video about the true cost of milk.
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoQ-18gkF_Y
   • Rosemary McDonald 9.1

     26 October 2015 at 5:26 pm

     Excellent! We have some very talented people in NZ.

     For glaring examples of the effects of farming on waterways, take a drive either through the Waioeka Gorge from Gisborne to Opotiki, or drive north of Te Paki on the way to Cape Reinga.

     The water in the Waioeka going through the gorge is crystal clear. The very first tributary on the last 10 kms before Opotiki is sludge. The River is brown by the time it reaches the confluence with the Otara River.

     There is no farming north of Te Paki station. Former farmland is being regenerated into native forest. The streams are pure. Heavy rain will sludge up the few creeks…but as the vegetation regrows…

     Perhaps, with the lower $ for the white gold…there will be less palm kernel used.

     The grass is growing GOOD here in the Waikato at the moment….they shouldn’t need to import feed….to feed fewer stock.
10. Draco T Bastard 10

    26 October 2015 at 6:26 pm

    How do you tell if the legislation that the government just passed to address an issue doesn’t actually do that?

    Fizzy drink manufacturer Coca-Cola rushed out a statement headed “Coke NZ welcomes obesity strategy”, and the NZ Food and Grocery Council, relieved no doubt that the Government had rejected calls for a tax on unhealthy foods, praised Dr Coleman’s “pragmatic approach”.

    The people who are the main cause of the issue think it’s great.

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