Open mike 27/04/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 27th, 2015 - 109 comments
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openmikeOpen mike is your post.

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Step up to the mike …

109 comments on “Open mike 27/04/2015 ”

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  1. Jan Fletcher 1
    27 April 2015 at 7:54 am

    Just reading Lauda Finem’s latest column on the hair-pulling farce and noticed the comments from someone calling him/herself The Ape – what did you do to him/her to bring on such a torrent of personal abuse? Kick over his/her sandcastle ? Boy oh boy….
    [r0b: LF seems to be another Whaleoil sockpuppet, and frequently wrong on the facts. We don’t pay it any mind.]

  2. Colonial Rawshark 2
    27 April 2015 at 8:10 am

    Privatisation and degradation of US schools with ‘high stakes testing’

    Teachers, teachers unions, parents and pupils join together in a revolt.

    I always figured that Bill Gates would be the bad guy.

    • ianmac 2.1
      27 April 2015 at 10:33 am

      Just watched the 25minutes of that thanks Rawshark. It illustrates just how awful the Charter Schools are. The extension of this will damage us. Ouch! And fancy Private Schools in the States are exempt from National Testing as it would get in the way of the real Education.
      Luckily in NZ, Private Schools still have to labour over National Standards just like the State Schools. What! They are exempt? But that would not make sense!

      • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1
        27 April 2015 at 11:46 am

        The fact that private schools are exempt from National Standards shows that National Standards are not there to improve teaching or the results from teaching but to trash public schools.

        • adam 2.1.1.1
          27 April 2015 at 5:56 pm

          Just watch season 4 of “The Wire”. It does a good job of explaining how public schools fail – plus you get some great storytelling.

    • Murray Rawshark 3.1
      27 April 2015 at 1:24 pm

      And Town gets $630,000 each year for that sort of rubbish.

    • RedBaronCV 3.2
      27 April 2015 at 5:24 pm

      The council says the $2.5 million would be too much. They take in $1.4 billion of rates and look whose salaries they spend it on.

      The council discloses 35 people being paid over $300k and a further 106 being paid between $200k and $300K.
      If you took an average of $10k off the 106 being paid between $200k -$300K and an average of $40K off the 35 being paid $300K-$860k then that would give the needed money to raise wages at the bottom.
      That shouldn’t cause a problem. After all it would only be a 2-3% drop in the top wages. Easily affordable and they won’t even notice it’s gone.

      And Auckland city would do well to hire a CEO who can at least count.

      • Draco T Bastard 3.2.1
        27 April 2015 at 5:35 pm

        This is actually why public servants need to have a maximum income bracket. It would allow paying higher wages to the people doing the actual work as well as hiring more of them so as to improve services.

        My suggestion is that that maximum be set at $100k. That’s more than enough to live comfortably on.

  4. amirite 4
    27 April 2015 at 8:25 am

    Four years after the earthquake, Christchurch youth with mental/addiction issues are squatting in ruined city buildings.
    Welcome to the neoliberal heaven that is New Zealand.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/67931129/squatting-in-christchurchs-quake-abandoned-buildings

  5. felix 5
    27 April 2015 at 8:42 am

    Just noticed that Key is still – yesterday on Q+A – saying/implying that the waitress was wrong to not accept his advances in good humour.

    In his words:

    “at the time, people would have just said it was, for the most part, most people would have said it was a bit of a laugh”

    How jolly decent of the PM to consider the thoughts and feelings of “most people”, a crass and vulgar phrase that can only be taken to mean “everyone except the woman I was harassing”.

    • Paul 5.1
      27 April 2015 at 9:23 am

      That is not an apology.

    • weka 5.2
      27 April 2015 at 9:36 am

      Key pulls woman’s hair often enough to make her cry, and then he laughs.

    • cogito 5.3
      27 April 2015 at 9:41 am

      I just wonder what “most people” would think if they had a daughter who exhibited herself in this manner…. complete with ponytails.
      http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/john-key-laughs-off-daughters-risque-nude-art-2015021218#axzz3YS9M6nA9

      Just “a bit of a laugh”?

      • Rosemary McDonald 5.3.1
        27 April 2015 at 10:10 am

        Caption of one of the ‘artworks’….

        “‘Kiss my ass’ a fun game the whole family can play”

        Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/john-key-laughs-off-daughters-risque-nude-art-2015021218#ixzz3YSJvhHPl

        WTF?

        • cogito 5.3.1.1
          27 April 2015 at 11:20 am

          “the whole family can play”

          A case of Key family secrets coming to light…?

          • Colonial Rawshark 5.3.1.1.1
            27 April 2015 at 11:49 am

            We can continue averting our gaze for understandable reasons of discomfiture, but Key’s daughter is now finally in a position, far from her family and far from her father, to shove it clear as day in front of everyone’s face across the whole wide world.

      • Stephanie Rodgers 5.3.2
        27 April 2015 at 11:17 am

        Oh great, another day of exploiting Cherry Lazar’s artwork to make cheap political digs at her father.

        There’s no sexism in implying a young woman publicly displaying her body is ~dirty~, or that her father has a Moral Duty to curb her ~dirty~ behaviour, no sirree.

        • r0b 5.3.2.1
          27 April 2015 at 11:20 am

          I’m with Stephanie R on this. Can we please just leave Stephanie K out of it?

          • Weepus beard 5.3.2.1.1
            27 April 2015 at 12:25 pm

            Hold on.

            On the face of it yes it’s not done to reference a politician’s family but Stephanie Key promotes herself in the most confrontational way and wants to be referenced as far as I can see.

            This one might be a case for exemption from the don’t-bring-family-into-it rule, or at least a relaxing of said rule.

            • cogito 5.3.2.1.1.1
              27 April 2015 at 1:03 pm

              “most confrontational” is a good description, as per yesterday’s piece in the Herald: Why John Key’s daughter Stephie likes to get naked for art – ‘strong women’
              http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11438715

              Confrontational indeed.

            • whateva next? 5.3.2.1.1.2
              27 April 2015 at 1:42 pm

              As I have just responded to Stephanie on yesterday’s post, having been called a leftwing douchbag, she doesn’t seem to be hearing this/your point about Key’s daughter at all, who is going all out to attract attention, and I wonder to what end? what is she trying to do if not invite a response?
              “protecting” her implies she is a “vulnerable”, which she doesn’t seem to see herself as, so Stephanie’s response seems patronising to me.

              • Adele …
                27 April 2015 at 3:14 pm

                Kiaora whateva comes next

                “protecting” her implies she is a “vulnerable”, which she doesn’t seem to see herself as, so Stephanie’s response seems patronising to me.

                I thought that there was enough science ‘out there’ to say that youth is a vulnerable age. That she may not recognise her vulnerability doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

                If a young woman approached you on the street and exposed herself to you. Would you say “she knows what she is doing and deserves everything she gets”. Youth is a vulnerability that is why so many die needlessly.

                • whateva next? …
                  27 April 2015 at 3:32 pm

                  Kia Ora Adele, I agree, she doesn’t know what she doesn’t know….yet. It’s the support she has had to invite us all to “kiss her arse” that is so very offensive to me, lucky her that she can so blatantly express her feelings to all, without any concerns for her future, which is surely protected whatever she does.
                  Surely she can hear feedback, as other young people do, and learn?
                  (It’s the message, not the nudity that offends me)

                  • Adele …
                    27 April 2015 at 3:41 pm

                    Kiaora, whateva

                    But why take offense at what a 20 something does, you give it more credence simply by holding that emotion. And its not like she has stolen your car or is growing cannabis in your maize crop.

                    She is just a privileged white person doing a privileged white person thing. No real biggie.

                    • whateva next? …
                      27 April 2015 at 3:48 pm

                      True, I guess it’s the fact someone is paying ++++ for her, and she is spending it like this, it’s insulting. Fair enough if she had earned the cash in the first place.

                    • swordfish …
                      27 April 2015 at 8:05 pm

                      “……just a privileged white person doing a privileged white person thing.”

                      What ? You mean as opposed to the spoilt-little-brat offspring of the Neo-Liberal, Corporate Iwi Elite ? You know, the very affluent, well-connected and powerful people whose interests you regularly
                      champion on The Standard in the name of culturalism.

                    • Adele …
                      29 April 2015 at 7:14 am

                      Kiaora Swordfish

                      What ? You mean as opposed to the spoilt-little-brat offspring of the Neo-Liberal, Corporate Iwi Elite ? You know, the very affluent, well-connected and powerful people whose interests you regularly
                      champion on The Standard in the name of culturalism.

                      I champion Māori. Whether they be rich, poor, young, or old, well connected or broken. I certainly don’t buy into your fucked up view of the world in relation to tangata whenua. And what is culturalism?

                • cogito …
                  27 April 2015 at 3:36 pm

                  “That she may not recognise her vulnerability doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist”.

                  Perhaps her family could assist and instil a few worthwhile values into her then.

                  What we have here is a father who interferes with the “vulnerability” of a waitress and then tries to excuse it.

                  Also a father who describes his wife as a stud-screwer.

                  Also a father who routinely lies and deceives this country about any and all matters of state.

                  Also a father who has become an international figure of derision.

                  What I see here is incompetence and moral vacuum.

                  • Adele …
                    27 April 2015 at 3:53 pm

                    Kiaora Cogito

                    What we have here is a father who interferes with the “vulnerability” of a waitress and then tries to excuse it.

                    So the argument is then, if it’s okay for him, it’s okay for us. You should ditch that moral vacuum of yours and get a broom.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                27 April 2015 at 3:37 pm

                A young woman drawing attention to herself still doesn’t equate her with her father.

                • Ergo Robertina …
                  27 April 2015 at 3:42 pm

                  +1 Exactly. Not sure why some are finding this so hard to work out.

                • cogito …
                  27 April 2015 at 3:45 pm

                  Not equate, but it does reflect. To deny that is to be deliberately obtuse.

                  • McFlock …
                    27 April 2015 at 4:09 pm

                    Well, your parents must have been judgemental jerks who lasciviously gossiped about the sex lives of their neighbours while insisting they were shocked and offended by people who spread such rumours.

                    I mean, maybe not exactly, but that does seem to be the reflection…

                    • cogito …
                      27 April 2015 at 4:26 pm

                      Baseless personal insults against me are the best you can do is it? You want to protect Key’s daughter? Be my guest. I want to see Key gone. He is a creep, as demonstrated last week. I suspect that his creepy behaviour goes much deeper. You are free to disagree but personal insults against me add nothing to the argument.

                    • whateva next? …
                      27 April 2015 at 4:30 pm

                      when was “sex” bought into it McFlock?

                    • McFlock …
                      27 April 2015 at 4:31 pm

                      I want to see key gone, too.

                      But what’s the point in getting rid of him if we end up like him or slater? Serious question.

                      @whateva next: oh, just “reflections”./sarc

            • McFlock 5.3.2.1.1.3
              27 April 2015 at 3:28 pm

              Yeah, nah.

              There’s no reason for it, it has no relevance to key as a PM or as a man, and despite some long and fucked-up bows drawn based what a fecking art school grad does in the context of some apparently pretty conservative (if not 1950s) preconceptions of the commenters, it’s still not relevant. At all.

              • whateva next? …
                27 April 2015 at 3:34 pm

                If you can see past the nudity yourself, maybe the message will strike you as rather offensive? Brought up in the 60’s I am not easily offended.

                • McFlock …
                  27 April 2015 at 3:45 pm

                  Oh no, an artist has finally done something offensive?
                  I’m shocked, shocked I say…

                  BTW, why do you think I need to “see past the nudity” when my point is that, regardless of how “offensive” you find an artist, it still has no bearing on the merit one of the artist’s parents has (or lacks) as a Prime Minister?

                  • whateva next? …
                    27 April 2015 at 4:26 pm

                    “kiss my arse” is a bit rich from someone who has not had to earn a cent, maybe she has had to pay her own way, in which case, I would apologise, she can say what she likes if she has earned it!

              • Weepus beard …
                27 April 2015 at 3:45 pm

                She’s fast becoming a celebrity.

                looking forward, I don’t see how the link can be ignored, positively or negatively.

                • Stephanie Rodgers …
                  27 April 2015 at 3:51 pm

                  It’s very easy: people can just choose not to bring up Stephanie Key in conversations about John Key. I’ve managed to do this for yeeeeeeeears so far with no ill effects.

                  • whateva next? …
                    27 April 2015 at 5:01 pm

                    Sorry in advance, but I have to say it…it’s not all about you Stephanie, even if you moderate, which I do realise is a hard job.

                    • McFlock …
                      27 April 2015 at 6:01 pm

                      well, I can do it too, so no, it’s not just Stephanie who can talk about john key without bringing up his family.

                  • lprent …
                    27 April 2015 at 5:38 pm

                    I agree. Basically kids aren’t responsible for their parents.

                    • whateva next? …
                      27 April 2015 at 6:05 pm

                      Is she responsible for herself? I hear she is too young to know any different…or receive feedback? how would she learn? So, “kiss my arse” in the most blatant way that it could be said, is not asking for a response??? C’est too much!

                  • Weepus beard …
                    27 April 2015 at 6:14 pm

                    The fact you have not chosen to bring up Stephanie Key for years is not surprising, she was an invisible child like any other.

                    Now, that is not the case.

                    The child is now becoming an adult and clearly markets herself as a controversial artist, and good on her. I am in the arts myself and it is not for the faint of heart.

                    If John Key treats young women in the way he did and pretends it was all just fun and banter then the background to the man is open for investigation.

                    • McFlock …
                      27 April 2015 at 6:20 pm

                      If John Key treats young women in the way he did and pretends it was all just fun and banter then the background to the man is open for investigation.

                      On what grounds are pop-psych interpretations of CL’s art and following innuendo “open for investigation”?

                • McFlock …
                  27 April 2015 at 3:59 pm

                  “Ignored” is one thing.
                  Whether she primarily goes down in history as a mediocre PM’s daughter, or he primarily goes down in history as a famous artist’s dad, who knows. This is what loads of artists do, from Tracey Emin to the local art school. Maybe she’ll nail it.

                  But some of the vile innuendo? Trying to use it as ammunition to Slaterise the pm with his family as collateral damage, rather than just focusing on the facts of his performance and behaviour as pm? Nah. I’m viscerally opposed to that.

                • whateva next? …
                  27 April 2015 at 4:28 pm

                  Could have been a valuable debate!

              • cogito …
                27 April 2015 at 5:36 pm

                ” it has no relevance to key as a PM or as a man”

                I disagree. I worked in the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia. Saudis look carefully at the types of people they may want to deal with, including their families. If Key wants to make a good impression in Saudi – which is already extremely unlikely due to the fact that he’s Jewish – but even so, the fact that he has a daughter who parades herself in a confronting manner will do no good at all in a strict Islamic country to either Key himself or to NZ.

                • alwyn …
                  27 April 2015 at 5:48 pm

                  Well we’ve had the sexism from cogito.
                  Now he throws in a bit of anti-Semitism.
                  What other card are you going to play?
                  Perhaps you plan to start referring to him as Shylock?

                  • McFlock …
                    27 April 2015 at 5:58 pm

                    Actually, it wasn’t anti-Semitic, just anti-Saudi.

                    Frankly I think the Saudi decision makers are a lot more pragmatic than cog gives them credit for. They’re not “good”, they’ll just work with anyone to keep power.

                    • Ergo Robertina …
                      27 April 2015 at 6:04 pm

                      It wasn’t an ”anti-Saudi” comment, it was completely deranged. It implied Key was on the back foot for not modelling the mores of a ”strict Islamic country” whose abuses include facilitating child rape in the form of the ”marriage” of girls.

                • McFlock …
                  27 April 2015 at 5:52 pm

                  Yeah, but he gets points for not mentioning the decapitations.

                  And horsing around at the big gay out or giving bottles of wine to everyone would hurt him with the crowd you’re worring about more than anything his family does art-wise.

                  • cogito …
                    27 April 2015 at 7:28 pm

                    Responding to the various comments above.

                    I am neither anti-Semitic nor anti-Saudi.

                    On the contrary I have the greatest respect for the business people and sheikhs I had the privilege of working with in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

                    While the Saudis will no doubt deal with Key, he will never be someone they will like or respect…. and, frankly, I don’t blame them one bit.

                    • Ergo Robertina …
                      27 April 2015 at 7:42 pm

                      You don’t ”blame” the Saudis for not respecting Key, and your yardstick was that his daughter ”parades” herself contrary to the mores of a violently misogynistic Islamic state.
                      You’re an idiot; that dynamic doesn’t count against Key.

                    • cogito …
                      27 April 2015 at 8:21 pm

                      Good talking to you all. Have a good week.
                      مع السلامة

                • Murray Rawshark …
                  27 April 2015 at 6:01 pm

                  From what I’ve seen, the Saudi princes will do business with anyone and also treat the help very badly. Key may have gone up in their estimation.

                  http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/oct/05/saudi-prince-abdulaziz-killed-servant-court-hears

                • whateva next? …
                  27 April 2015 at 6:02 pm

                  I don’t think Alwyn or Mc Flock are in the mood for a discussion, looks more like baiting it looks from here.

                  • McFlock …
                    27 April 2015 at 6:12 pm

                    Discussion about what? That we should make shit up about key and to hell with the truth? That we should drag his daughter into the argument because she flashes a bit of backside in an art gallery and this somehow “reflects” on key? Bullshit, desperate “discussions” that are beneath the left and fodder for the right.

                    • whateva next? …
                      27 April 2015 at 6:40 pm

                      “Bullshit, desperate “discussions” that are beneath the left and fodder for the right.”
                      The aggression in the way you respond is “fodder for the right”
                      Don’t tell me what is “beneath” the left like you have a monopoly on what is worthy, and your manner strikes me as immature/disrespectful and not worthy of the left.Cheers

                    • McFlock …
                      27 April 2015 at 6:46 pm

                      Respect is earned.

                      If you want a political landscape where everyside spreads rumour and innuendo about family as weapons against politicians, be very sure I’ll fight you every step of the way.

                      You have an issue with rude words? I have an issue with gross slurs especially when it’s hidden behind a facade of civilised language. It just says to me that the writer doesn’t have the courage of their convictions.

                    • whateva next? …
                      27 April 2015 at 6:59 pm

                      Mc Flock, lets be clear.
                      “respect is earned”, yep.
                      “issue with rude words” ? no.
                      “gross slurs” ? wow? who says?
                      You will not be “fighting” me as I am not fighting. I will also stop responding as clearly you have a very different idea about what it is to be united on the left, for me it has always been a broad church, and respect for different views ages, sexuality, gender as long as it is said in civilised language etc.

                    • McFlock …
                      27 April 2015 at 7:13 pm

                      you might want to reread the thread, particularly cogito’s comments, if you want to see what your urge to discuss politicians’ families turns into.

        • Draco T Bastard 5.3.2.2
          27 April 2015 at 11:47 am

          +1

        • Skinny 5.3.2.3
          27 April 2015 at 12:10 pm

          I agree and find people having a crack at Key through his daughter is about as class less as Ms Lazar’s style of body art.

        • Naturesong 5.3.2.4
          27 April 2015 at 3:15 pm

          As far as I can see, Cherry Lazar is only getting press because of her proximity to the PM.

          So my question is, which PR company, employed by whom is pushing the stories at the moment?

          If it’s Cherry Lazar doing a bit of self-promotion? Oops, bad timing.

          If it’s someone associated with the National party, or an editorial decision then it’s an incredibly crass way to distract attention from the PM and gain sympathy.

          • Ergo Robertina 5.3.2.4.1
            27 April 2015 at 3:22 pm

            Lazar announced the exhibition on her instagram which the Herald picked up.
            Which are you suggesting – that it’s bad timing for the PM, or that it’s succeeded in distracting from his troubles?

            • Naturesong 5.3.2.4.1.1
              28 April 2015 at 10:55 am

              With a lot of abuse currently flying at the PM’s, another Key popping up risks being pilloried by the mob.
              Stephanie highlighted some brick bats flung Lazars way in this thread.

              The cynical side of me wonders if the decision to feature her work in NZ media this week was done for that purpose in order to garner sympathy for John Key.

              Or maybe … I should step the fuck away from the tin foil hat. Who knows.

              • Ergo Robertina …
                28 April 2015 at 11:49 am

                I’d put the tin foil hat away on this one, but I won’t be surprised if something is revealed or announced after Key’s return to distract from the issue. Key has a bit more within reach than family to try to set the agenda.

    • Ergo Robertina 5.4
      27 April 2015 at 3:06 pm

      He’s relying on most people not reading the original account (and not reading news stories closely) and/or the desire of a great many NZers to play down bullying, accounts of which invoke unpleasant memories of being either perpetrator or victim.
      I had thought this was going to be different, but it seems his calculated decision to take what could have been a risk – the disingenuous apology over something both disturbing and abusive – is working, although the story may have a way to run yet.
      The other consideration is that hyper-controlling guys like Key are incapable of saying sorry with empathy and without qualification.
      The kind of ‘casual’ guy who treats people thus:

      ”I looked him in the eye and asked “is it self defence, with your security here, if I have to physically stop you from touching me?” and he countered, with a smile, “defence against what?”.
      http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/04/22/exclusive-the-prime-minister-and-the-waitress/

  6. mickysavage 6
    27 April 2015 at 9:28 am

    And for your morning entertainment, ponygate the musical …

  7. phillip ure 7
    27 April 2015 at 9:46 am

    (a review of tvone breakfast..)

    (excerpt..)

    ..and ya hafta say – if henrys’ effort is like a chipmonk on meth turning up on yr doorstep @ 6.00 am..- the pace of the whole tv one show is funereal – at best..

    http://whoar.co.nz/2015/comment-whoar-tvone-breakfast-show-review/

    • Paul 7.1
      27 April 2015 at 10:03 am

      Brave of you to watch….

      • phillip ure 7.1.1
        27 April 2015 at 10:16 am

        it has lurched over into black-comedy/trainwreck-television – and deserves an audience/recognition for just those reasons..

        ..and i had it burbling away in the background as i hunt down stories for whoar..

        ..not so much ‘watching’ – as glancing/over-hearing..

        ..and if tvone breakfast is the titanic it seems to be – christie is the iceberg..

        ..and sure to sink it..

    • philj 7.2
      28 April 2015 at 3:48 pm

      Apparently you have to sign up to TVNZ on Demand to watch programs or clips or you can’t view. To deliver better services to consumers? I’m not signing. TVNZ really has gone to the dump.

      • rawshark-yeshe 7.2.1
        28 April 2015 at 3:52 pm

        give a false name and make a new gmail addy … worked for me ! not that there is very much worth watching at all. and be sure to use AdBlock so you don ‘t have to endure the endless garbage …

  8. veutoviper 8
    27 April 2015 at 10:23 am

    It looks like some good and capable people are now offering to assist Amanda Bailey if she wants to take complaints to the Press Council etc.

    https://twitter.com/BarristerNZ/status/592243689549791232

    Hamish Keith’s earlier tweet and responses before the start of the above thread:

    https://twitter.com/hamish_keith/status/592155835461013504

    Felix Geiringer @BarristerNZ) and Steven Price (@MediaLawJournal) are part of Hager’s law team along with a QC whose name I cannot remember immediately. Steven is the guru of media law and Press Council complaints, so here is hoping.

    • Murray Rawshark 8.1
      27 April 2015 at 1:33 pm

      I hope it goes ahead. I can throw in a few bucks. On the other hand, I completely understand if Amanda wants nothing to do with it.

      • veutoviper 8.1.1
        27 April 2015 at 2:25 pm

        My views too. I really want to see it go ahead on principle; but it must be Amanda’s decision, and I would fully understand if she doesn’t want to.

        For this reason, I was pretty angry at McCready going ahead even if he is able to do so legally. I would much prefer to see legal experts such as Geiringer, Price and top employment lawyers involved in the various aspects of the case – but again it must be up to Amanda to decide. I recall seeing something a few days ago that Unite Union was now involved and lawyers but cannot recall where.

        [PS -Hope all is well. ]

  9. greywarbler 9
    27 April 2015 at 11:26 am

    Meanwhile here is the continuing stooorry of our environment, its slide towards disaster. We aren’t there yet but everything is sliding satisfactorily down the slippery slope while Nero fiddles.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/rural/272024/disappearance-of-bees-a-mystery
    “For 25,000 bees to leave a hive and go somewhere else is usually a symptom of a disease of some description and when a colony dies of varroa, the reason the varroa kills the bees is that it spreads viruses from bee to bee and then the typical behaviour of a bee that’s sick is that it flies away some where and dies … but when you get a large number of bees disappearing, in this case nearly everything, it suggests they’re all sick for some reason and have decided to go out and die some where else.”

    Dr Goodwin said a relatively new disease to affect New Zealand honey bees, nosema ceranae, could be the cause.
    “It’s a gut parasite that has jumped species from another species of Asian bee and some how found its way to New Zealand and it was located first off in the same sorts of locations in the Coromandel where most of these bee losses had been occurring, so it’s tempting to think that there’s a relationship between them and when we got bees tested, they came back with high levels of this gut parasite, but they also came back with high levels of viruses as well, so what’s cause and effect here we don’t know.”

    and
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/rural/271988/bees-show-taste-for-toxic-pesticides-study
    A study published in the science journal Nature this week shows bees prefer food laced with neonicotinoids in lab tests undertaken at Newcastle University.

    Neonicotinoids are long-lasting insecticides which are primarily used to coat the seeds of plants, making them toxic to all insects when they grow. There is international debate on whether bees are affected by them. (Me-With opposition from the manufacturers of the toxins?? – the usual suspects.)

    Europe has banned the coating of seeds of plants that are attractive to bees and, although New Zealand has not gone that far, the Environmental Protection Authority is monitoring developments in Europe.

    (We are a bunch of limp voyeurs in this country. We watch everyone else before we can get up and do something proactive ourselves. We need to see which way is the cheapest way first before we decide on action. That’s the important criteria, not which works for the right outcome.)

    (Did you know that animals like a sweet taste that occurs in anti-freeze and you must wipe up all spills, and watch for drips from the engine or it can have tragic consequences. Those against 1080, watch out that your favourite pig or sheep dog hasn’t died from your own cause.)

    • Molly 9.1
      27 April 2015 at 1:12 pm

      Disappearance of bees no longer a “mystery” to some apiarists in the US and Europe.

      They believe that it is definitely related to the use of neonicotinoids in agriculture.
      A good watch is Vanishing of the Bees on Youtube (approx 1.5 hours)

    • Pasupial 9.2
      27 April 2015 at 5:52 pm

      gw

      This article from last week’s Guardian mentioned that; bee-addiction to neonicotinoids, which seemed particularly cruel in light of the second Nature article regarding their toxicity to wild bee populations:

      In a study published in the journal Nature, scientists from Newcastle Univeristy showed that bees have a preference for sugar solutions that are laced with the pesticides imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, possibly indicating they can become hooked on the chemicals.

      Also published in Nature on Wednesday was a study that has been endorsed as the most conclusive evidence yet that the group of pesticides, neonicotinoids, harm wild bee populations, which include bumblebees and solitary bees.

      Scientists from Lund University in Sweden carried out the first successful ‘real world’ experiment on the effect of neonicotinoids on bees and found that wild bee populations halved around fields treated with them. Bumblebee hives stopped growing and produced less queens where the chemical was present. However the study did not find evidence that more robust honeybees, which are used to pollinate many crops, were affected.

      http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/22/bees-may-become-addicted-to-nicotine-like-pesticides-study-finds

      The study; not finding evidence that honeybee hives were affected, is not the same as; finding evidence that they were somehow immune from the effects. Just that there are more honeybees in an average hive, so it might take a bit longer for the effects to manifest:

      …the field trial was not sensitive enough to detect anything less than a 20% drop in colony strength. Honeybee colonies are larger and contain far more worker bees than wild bees, meaning it would take longer for neonicotinoids to impact the hives.

      Why should we care about bees more than any other creature? How bad could it get anyway?

      In 2007-2008, over a third of US beehives collapsed, while European countries estimated 30 to 50 per cent of their bee colonies were completely gone. The hives were full of growing brood and food stores – but the adult bees had simply gone missing. It’s commonly estimated that a third of the human food supply requires bees for pollination. No bees, no harvest.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/element-magazine/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503340&objectid=11264788

  10. Philip Ferguson 10
    27 April 2015 at 1:35 pm

    Two fascinating articles about Australia and Anzac Day.

    The first is by veteran socialist activist and writer Tom O’Lincoln, on what the ‘diggers’ returned to in Oz after WW1: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/27/after-world-war-1-the-horrors-of-peace-at-home-australia/

    The second is about the cops shutting down an Aboriginal protest about the Frontier Wars, the wars whose name dare not be spoken but which played a far greater role in shaping Australian society than Gallipoli did: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/27/australian-cops-shut-down-aboriginal-anzac-day-march/

  11. Once was Tim 11
    27 April 2015 at 1:56 pm

    Geez… it must be a hard life being a ‘trader’! It’s all up for sale eh?
    Stocks and shares
    ‘Her indoors’ loyalty
    reputation
    cohorts
    sovereignty
    pigtails and ponytails
    emotions
    the parliamentary press gang
    the DPS
    anything

    anything left to commodify? how about fisiani or Gozz – what do ya reckon they’re worth

    Mex? maybe
    http://thestandard.org.nz/pull-the-other-one-ponytails-minimisation-and-male-privilege/#comment-1006203

    Hey CT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXbe9vgS3yw

  12. Philip Ferguson 12
    27 April 2015 at 2:04 pm

    For anyone in Dunedin, on Tuesday I’m doing a followup to last week’s talk on the 1916 Rebellion in Ireland. This one is on the aftermath, looking at the republican reorganisation and the war for independence, following the massive republican electoral victory in Ireland in 1918.
    Details of the meeting are here: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/26/dunedin-talk-after-the-1916-rebellion-the-irish-war-for-independence-and-its-outcome/

    Phil

    • Rosie 12.1
      27 April 2015 at 4:46 pm

      Just doing a quick whizz through of Open Mike Philip, and wanted to say I would have loved to have been able to attend your talk on the 1916 Irish Rebellion. (I saw your post about the talk last week).This is a history I really want to learn about in more detail.

      The follow up talk would also be fascinating 🙂

      Cheers,

      Rosie.

  13. Philip Ferguson 13
    27 April 2015 at 2:09 pm

    The Road to Selma, Sat, May 8, 1-5pm

    And, for anyone in Christchurch or thereabouts, I’m presenting an afternoon course at the Workers Educational Association in Gloucester Street on The Road to Selma. This is part of the CWEA’s term 2 programme and you have to enrol for it via the WEA.

    The afternoon course is about the American civil rights movement.
    See: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/27/canterbury-workers-educational-association-course-the-road-to-selma-sat-may-8/

    Phil

  14. Clemgeopin 14
    27 April 2015 at 4:14 pm

    Do watch Campbell Live tonight if you can, 7 pm, TV3

    Tonight, a confrontation at Gloriavale as we return to get Julia's sister out, and the very latest from Nepal. https://t.co/6p4t7KK9HU— Campbell Live (@CampbellLiveNZ) April 27, 2015

    The Nepalese people desperately need help. To make an automatic $3 donation to assist UNICEF's work in Nepal, text NEPAL to 2923. Please RT.— Campbell Live (@CampbellLiveNZ) April 27, 2015

  16. vto 16
    27 April 2015 at 7:45 pm

    Does the PM’s visit to the place of beheadings, Saudi Arabia, not undermine his decision to send our country to war because the PM “wont sit by while people are being beheaded”?

    or yeah nah

    fuck what a joke key has made everything

    everything

    a fucking joke

  17. vto 17
    27 April 2015 at 8:17 pm

    I really genuinely sincerely actually factually do not get that John Key will not stand down…..

    when his backbench MP Aaron Gilmore had to stand down for harassing waiting staff

    and

    when his Cera boss Roger Sutton had to stand down for harassing staff

    How does that work? How does that work and credibility reside in the same place? Who sets the rules? Why are they not being followed ?

    Who is asking these questions?

    • Rosie 17.1
      27 April 2015 at 9:23 pm

      My thoughts exactly vto. Its been bothering me all week, those comparisons and the resulting hypocrisy.

      Un Cretino must go. Thing is, how? How do we get to that point?

      • Clemgeopin 17.1.1
        27 April 2015 at 9:37 pm

        “Un Cretino must go. Thing is, how? How do we get to that point?”

        Like a huge cold frozen ice block foes when heat is applied. Will slowly melt away, Little by Little, and quietly disappear to Hawaii. Watch the block melt.

  18. Tautoko Mangō Mata 18
    27 April 2015 at 8:27 pm

    Curious! A search for up to date information on TPPA in NZ brings up the following:
    In the news
    It’s not about trade – it’s about control
    Manawatu Standard‎ – 8 hours ago
    What do you know about the TPPA? … City Council by-election, candidates were asked about their views on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

    However, the link leads to
    Page Not Found
    Sorry, the page you are looking for is not currently available.

  19. Draco T Bastard 19
    27 April 2015 at 10:54 pm

    Research Questions Whether Or Not Incubators Help Startups

    Although incubated businesses have slightly higher employment, growth and sales, they also have slightly lower survival rates after they graduate. Overall, say the researchers, the difference in performance between incubated and unincubated businesses is marginal. One research paper Fetsch examined found no significant difference between incubated and non-incubated businesses. She cautions that one paper isn’t enough to determine whether or not incubators work, but she’s also concerned that so many entrepreneurs, policymakers and incubator providers believe incubators are a boon for startups. “There’s no evidence of that yet,” says Fetsch.

    This is a concern as our government seems to have faith in these incubators.

    • the pigman 19.1
      28 April 2015 at 6:20 pm

      It doesn’t matter how long you incubate a turd, it’s still a turd.

      A good example of this is Auckland tech/social media start-up “Real Stew”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG5Tf3gTsVA

      They rolled out RoastBuster babydaddy Suzanne Paul’s Antony Rae to promote their vapour ware a couple of years back. I started taking an interest in their non-existent product. And the sick thing is that government-incentivised shithouses like the Ice House are sucking up funds patting each other on the back pretending it’s all going to be sweet.

      It’s not going to be sweet.

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