Open mike 29/07/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, July 29th, 2023 - 63 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

63 comments on “Open mike 29/07/2023 ”

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  1. Dennis Frank 1
    29 July 2023 at 8:27 am

    A worm was spotted 40m deep down into Siberian permafrost, extracted, dated to 46,000 years ago, and revived: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/28/world/worm-resurrected-frozen-siberian-permafrost-intl-scli-scn/index.html

    A noteworthy scientific success, with political implications.

    Organisms in a cryptobiotic state can endure the complete absence of water or oxygen and withstand high temperatures, as well as freezing or extremely salty conditions. They remain in a state “between death and life,” in which their metabolic rates decrease to an undetectable level

    This state of stasis, a third alternative (to life & death), has also been achieved by our Labour Party. Can it be revived? Unkind commentators will note the uncanny resemblance to the worm (slimy, ultra-tiny brain, etc).

    "Yes we can", said Obama. "No we can't", said Hipkins. Luxon has set an extremely low bar for Hipkins to slither under. We can tell from Hipkins' resolute stance that he's serious about getting down there and sliding beneath it.

    • SPC 1.1
      29 July 2023 at 9:10 am

      One of the worst aspects of political discourse is to impugn the humanity of others, such as when Christians refer to others as reptilians.

      Generally the left question the mammonesque – celebration of the order of rule of the imperial coin/American dollar capital.

      And the right, focus on conservative social values vs liberal tolerance and question the threat to private ownership and wealth via social democratic policy concepts of equity.

      Thus the greedy vs those of envy taxation.

      Benjamin Disraeli after becoming the prime minister in 1868, "I have climbed to the top of the greasy pole."

      And of course poll driven leadership.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYJvXn-WC9s

      Then there is the term down the greasy poll in relation to the ultimate stage of a debate – down the thread, when all there is left to say is insults, one party of which will have deserved.

      I suspect the last post today will be classier than the first.

      • weka 1.1.1
        29 July 2023 at 9:53 am

        One of the worst aspects of political discourse is to impugn the humanity of others, such as when Christians refer to others as reptilians.

        Completely agree. Slur politics is on the rise and the left should be resisting this with all our might.

        • Dennis Frank 1.1.1.1
          29 July 2023 at 10:36 am

          Such likening is traditional, however. Whether it be analogy, metaphor or simile, figures of speech have always been used.

          They achieve currency in proportion to (perceived) accuracy, which is why they will remain endemic. Whilst it may be suitably tribal for left-wingers to do the ole christian `holier than thou' at others, doing so shrinks their influence. Trying to eliminate part of humanity will seem inhuman to others.

        • adam 1.1.1.2
          29 July 2023 at 4:05 pm

          Completely agree. Slur politics is on the rise and the left should be resisting this with all our might.

          Censorship then?

      • Drowsy M. Kram 1.1.2
        29 July 2023 at 11:01 am

        I suspect the last post today will be classier than the first.

        smiley To slur is human…

      • SPC 1.1.3
        29 July 2023 at 9:55 pm

        The Blue Jay, (one of their home bases is Toronto, also the home court of the born again up their above us down below Raptors) love to eat worms.

        Blue Jays are related to the Crows, those by the cradle of the born again.

        The religious revival (vibrations filling up believers like a wine cup overflowing) of January 1994 began at Vineyard Airport Church Toronto.

        Unilever has a long history in Canada having started operating in the 1890's in downtown Toronto with the Lever Brother's soap factory. Lux is now on the brand, for those who believe cleanliness is next to god, rather than the unwashed masses (a joke about those with a little water on a little hair and the adult baptised – full body).

        They also retail food for corporate profit.

        The Hunger Games referred to the mocking of the parasitic (rentiers who impose their ECA precariat order) overlords (who own central city prime land property, rather than rent in the outer districts).

        The Blue Tit of Mother England also likes to eat worms.

        One can play by the rules of the establishment, or note that they cannot take their wealth with them, just hand it on to their class descendants till the revolution comes. Wat Tyler, Levellers, 1689, 1893 (Enzed) and 1908 (UK Labour), 1935, 1996 (MMP).

        A diet of worms for the those who believe in the lords and masters of imperial capital mammon, or grab that apple, vote and keep the the house safe from the crows of capitalism.

        PS Unilever is behind a basic food of the poor called pot noodle.

    • bwaghorn 1.2
      29 July 2023 at 10:57 am

      That's the oddest post comment ive ever read

      • Shanreagh 1.2.1
        29 July 2023 at 11:06 am

        I think it is brilliant. Thank you DF.

        I love figures of speech and the more extreme or unlikely in content the better.

        They remain in a state “between death and life,” in which their metabolic rates decrease to an undetectable level

        "This state of stasis, a third alternative (to life & death), has also been achieved by our Labour Party. "

        Of course stasis is a biological response to the conditions.

        I am keen on the PM continuing with the tradition of explaining is losing concept, particularly in relation to the fresh food/GST so-called leak. So what may be stasis for worms and also biological, may be deliberate policy by the so-called higher powers, humans.

        As well as the political context the stasis of these worms is interesting…..is hibernation also classed as stasis?

        • Dennis Frank 1.2.1.1
          29 July 2023 at 11:13 am

          smiley I thought it was apt. I noted mild-mannered Parker's elegant side-step in the direction of authenticity. All is not lost for Labour but their lethargy remains the only notably aspect of their performance in the campaign thus far.

          Re the PM, he's been big on negativity yet he could still deliver a pleasant surprise, so I'll wait & see…

          • Patricia Bremner 1.2.1.1.1
            29 July 2023 at 2:30 pm

            Parker at the Leadership contest here in Rotorua was memorable for the number of "I" s in his speech.

            Where Andrew Little was the one to say "We have to change and do better"

            Grant Robertson said he would like to lead a unified team and would choose Jacinda Ardern as his DP.

            Parker's "side step" was petulance in my view. You may consider it elegant, when really it is self serving.

            Plus some worms are like white ants and borer destroying the structure as they care not for the host, and do not have a symbiotic relationship.

            Dennis where are your barbs for our real foe? Where are your clever word plays on Act and National? ?devil

            • Dennis Frank 1.2.1.1.1.1
              29 July 2023 at 5:09 pm

              Well, Patricia, I have to say Parker was being principled in my view. There's also been a bunch of msm commentary to similar effect. The gist I noticed was that he & Robertson were amenable to a consensual wealth tax & at least one of them (Parker) seems to have invested a significant amount of time & energy to it. Given their likely coalition partners are both committed to that, seems both sensible and prudent for him to have done that work ahead of the time for negotiating any points of difference. He therefore deserves respect for his political nous. Can't say that for the PM unless he's eyeing up a prospective Nat/Lab option to save neoliberalism.

              Re the two rightist options, others have being assiduous & not needed my help but if they come up with anything particularly obnoxious I'll have a go at skewering any prospective rightist govt position…

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.2.2
        29 July 2023 at 11:12 am

        But wait, there's more coming? DF's comments are at times seemingly random.

        A kind of "stream of conscious (unconscious?) thought " ….

        or something.

        Best viewed with an open mind. And maybe..a smile : )

      • Anne 1.2.3
        29 July 2023 at 11:26 am

        If you are referring to DMK's quote from SPC bwaghorn, I think he is replying to Dennis Frank's first post of the day. In particular these bits?

        … a third alternative (to life & death), has also been achieved by our Labour Party. Can it be revived? Unkind commentators will note the uncanny resemblance to the worm (slimy, ultra-tiny brain, etc).

        Luxon has set an extremely low bar for Hipkins to slither under. We can tell from Hipkins' resolute stance that he's serious about getting down there and sliding beneath it.

        If I’m correct I agree with SPC.

        • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.2.3.1
          29 July 2023 at 11:32 am

          Hi Anne. No, im pretty sure Bwaghorn's comment was in reply direct to DF.

          And…I would say it was pretty much as he wrote.. : )

          Def high on the Odd scale.

          No argument on the ramping anti Labour part…….

          • Anne 1.2.3.1.1
            29 July 2023 at 11:42 am

            Oops yes. I assumed he was replying to DMK. blush

            Nevertheless my comment stands by itself.

            • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.2.3.1.1.1
              29 July 2023 at 11:48 am

              Anne you're allgood. And yep lets call out the Anti-Labour troll attempts (on here at least)

              And…Keep Left : )

              • adam …
                29 July 2023 at 4:04 pm

                Anti-labour party here 🙂

                As economically they are not left.

                • PsyclingLeft.Always …
                  29 July 2023 at 6:23 pm

                  Anti-labour party here 🙂

                  Ahuh. I could have said..no shit : )

                  Still at least, you for one are honest..so maybe no troll !

                  And you at least aren't a NAct ?

                  Anyway, FYI for you and other Anti-Labour types.

                  I get that Labour aren't perfect. But you and the others cant bear to admit to the long list that Labour has achieved. (Its been on here many times..you maybe flick straight past ? )

                  Maybe you wont be as affected by the alternative NAct govt.

                  I and many hundreds of thousands others will be.

                  • adam …
                    29 July 2023 at 7:43 pm

                    I think reform is sad joke under this economic system.

                    So for me any so called achievements are not worth the salt, sweat, and tears they cost. As the poor keep being raped and pillaged by brutal economic forces.

            • bwaghorn 1.2.3.1.1.2
              29 July 2023 at 2:12 pm

              Was to df, as far as seques go it was a lonnnng reach.

        • Drowsy M. Kram 1.2.3.2
          29 July 2023 at 11:57 am

          yes Too much slurred speech in DF's first post for my taste – I too agree with SPC.

          The worm bit @1 was interesting, but couldn’t make head nor tail of the rest of it.

          I suspect such pointless provocations will become more frequent, "going forward."

    • Phillip ure 1.3
      29 July 2023 at 11:29 am

      D.frank must surely be a shoo-in for today's groin-stretch-metaphor award..?

      46,000 yr old worm…to hipkins-labour..?

      whoar..!

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.3.1
        29 July 2023 at 11:39 am

        groin-stretch-metaphor award

        Lol. I'd also add, the sheer arm strength needed for that Long Bow stretch. Must be superhuman : )

      • ianmac 1.3.2
        29 July 2023 at 12:52 pm

        That 46,000 old frozen worm @ Phillip was reported as being revived/arisen. If only it could speak.

    • Phillip ure 1.4
      29 July 2023 at 12:23 pm

      Too much incrementalism leads inevitably to stasis..

      .. which is where we are..

    • Mac1 1.5
      29 July 2023 at 2:34 pm

      "Unkind commentators will note the uncanny resemblance…."

      Yes, we noticed the unkindness. Usually, "unkind commentators" would be followed by a critique of that unkindness. not by a further extension of it.

      Because that makes it even unkinder, since the commentator is aware of his/her unkindness.

      The word 'kind' is also associated with 'kinship'. The lovely Irish song "She Moved Through the Fair" has a line "And my father won't slight you for your lack of kind".

      The object of that line is not a fairy, not of the fairy kind, but the singer says that won't matter.

      But, in unkindness we try to 'other' the ones we don't like. We say they are not like us. They are not akin to us. We might even compare them to worms.

      I have to say that when I wake up in the morning, being 'woke' as it were, and find that Open Mike has not opened with its become usual first contribution, then I am happier. Today I skipped off to work by 8.30 and missed this 8.27 contribution.

      I had a good morning. I was kind to my students and they were the same to me. It was my last lesson before final retirement! I sang them a song- "So long, it's been good to know you."

      As a life member of the Labour Party I was not enthused to being likened to a worm. That was an unkindly cast, but I guess in the end we, the worms, win, every time………..

      • Patricia Bremner 1.5.1
        29 July 2023 at 3:24 pm

        smileyyes Have a happy healthy retirement Mac1. After 22 years I highly recommend it. "Lang may your lum reek" Metaphorically as we are Red and Green or TM Parti lol laugh

        • Mac1 1.5.1.1
          29 July 2023 at 4:42 pm

          Thanks, Patricia. I have no chimney so more appropriate would be "Lang may my joints creak."

          • Patricia Bremner 1.5.1.1.1
            29 July 2023 at 7:11 pm

            Maybe a dram will helpdevil

            • Mac1 1.5.1.1.1.1
              30 July 2023 at 9:05 am

              Patricia, I thought about my "Lang may your joints creak", your "Lang may your lums reek" and composed this combined version in honour of another contributor here- "Lang may your joints reek!" Cheers, Philip.

  2. SPC 2
    29 July 2023 at 9:31 am

    Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice charge against Donald John Trump explained

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJyvw43u9Ms

    On Thursday, prosecutors unveiled a new indictment, which charges Trump, his co-defendant and valet Walt Nauta and a third Trump employee, Carlos De Oliveira, with attempting to delete security camera footage at Mar-a-Lago after they were sent a grand jury subpoena for the videos in June 2022.

    Prosecutors allege De Oliveira told another employee "the boss" wanted a server containing security footage to be deleted.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2023/07/the-legal-troubles-of-former-us-president-donald-trump-after-latest-charges.html

  3. Incognito 3
    29 July 2023 at 12:46 pm

    Election Day was 17 October in 2020.

    Labour released its first election campaign policy on 8 August 2020.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/08/nz-election-2020-labour-s-first-campaign-policy-revamped-national-policy.html

    This time around, Labour’s campaign launch looks to be along the same timelines.

    I don’t expect Labour to promise us avocado toast, even with GST removed, instead of ‘boring’ bread & butter policies, but it would be good if they can fill the current narrative vacuum and turn this General Election into a genuine policy contest of ideas founded on core principles & values.

    NACT, Te Pāti Māori, and the Greens have started setting the scene and it’s Labour’s move now and it better be bold.

    • Ad 3.1
      29 July 2023 at 4:51 pm

      +100 on the narrative vacuum.

      Where is Labour? Anyone?

      After a lifetime I can't see myself voting for them this time.

      And no idea who I will party vote for.

    • Anne 3.2
      29 July 2023 at 6:52 pm

      yes Well said.

  4. UncookedSelachimorpha 4
    29 July 2023 at 2:10 pm

    Who knew!! People who spread bullshit, are more prone to believing bullshit, due to faulty cognition in both cases.

    "You can't bullshit a bullshitter"….turns out to be bullshit.

    Abstract

    Research into both receptivity to falling for bullshit and the propensity to produce it have recently emerged as active, independent areas of inquiry into the spread of misleading information. However, it remains unclear whether those who frequently produce bullshit are inoculated from its influence. For example, both bullshit receptivity and bullshitting frequency are negatively related to cognitive ability and aspects of analytic thinking style, suggesting that those who frequently engage in bullshitting may be more likely to fall for bullshit. However, separate research suggests that individuals who frequently engage in deception are better at detecting it, thus leading to the possibility that frequent bullshitters may be less likely to fall for bullshit. Here, we present three studies (N = 826) attempting to distinguish between these competing hypotheses, finding that frequency of persuasive bullshitting (i.e., bullshitting intended to impress or persuade others) positively predicts susceptibility to various types of misleading information and that this association is robust to individual differences in cognitive ability and analytic cognitive style.

    • Anne 4.1
      29 July 2023 at 7:05 pm

      However, separate research suggests that individuals who frequently engage in deception are better at detecting it, thus leading to the possibility that frequent bullshitters may be less likely to fall for bullshit.

      Not from my many and varied past experiences.

      Not only do they spread bullshit like an out of control fire, but they assume that everybody is like them and into bullshit. Thus they double down and end up causing untold damage to the poor mugs in the firing line.

      Yep. You can’t bullshit a bullshitter is a load of bullshit. 🙁

  5. Dennis Frank 5
    29 July 2023 at 2:13 pm

    At the geopolitical level ministers of states are proving inadequate:

    The EU, represented by Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius at the meeting, responded with exasperation. “At the end of our meeting today, is the glass half full or half empty?” Sinkevičius asked in his closing remarks. “It is certainly empty when we look at where we stand on G20 commitments to address climate change — we simply are nowhere.”

    “The disappointing G20 energy and climate outcomes show ministers don’t have the mandate to negotiate on the defining issues of our time,” said Luca Bergamaschi, co-founder of Italian climate think tank ECCO. “G20 leaders must step in and together agree the actions needed for a safer planet.”

    https://www.politico.eu/article/we-simply-are-nowhere-eu-slams-lack-of-progress-at-g20-climate-meeting/

    So the talkfest got no practical results. That ministers lack mana is an interesting conclusion for the activist to draw from their failure:

    G20 climate ministers failed to make progress on key issues on Friday, drawing sharp criticism from the European Union. Talks in the southern Indian city of Chennai took place against the backdrop of scientists finding that July is on track to become the world’s hottest month on record. But the discussions wrapped up without consensus on the global transition away from fossil fuels; last week's G20 energy ministerial ended similarly.

    The split forced the Indian G20 presidency to publish an incomplete outcome document on issues countries managed to agree on, as well as an additional chair’s summary on others where ministers did not reach consensus.

    From my experience leading the consensus process for the Greens for several years, looks like insufficient preliminary work done. Meetings cost time & money – best to get a basis for agreement first via online consensus-building.

    • adam 5.1
      29 July 2023 at 3:56 pm

      Neo-liberalism in any form = business as usual.

      • Dennis Frank 5.1.1
        29 July 2023 at 5:17 pm

        Could just be that Adam. Thing is, whereas the ideology is toxic in many respects, there's a paradox due to the benefits it generates in pulling third world nations out of poverty. In a global view, there's actually little that works better.

        Consequently, although the report never spelt it out, I suspect those objecting see the benefits of global capitalism as a sufficient reason to retain the status quo. Since they are only ministers, they are as likely as not to be in bed with vested interests. So they can artfully argue benefits to their poor whilst not mentioning their selfish motives.

  6. joe90 6
    29 July 2023 at 3:55 pm

    Neo-idealism, a morally-based approach to geopolitics, grounded in the power of values conceived as ideals to strive for.

    .

    There is a new idealism at work in international politics. Pioneered by people and politicians in Ukraine, the Baltic states, and the Czech Republic, but increasingly apparent in the actions and words of leaders across the free world, it has opened the door to a better kind of grand strategy for liberal democracies.

    The standard bearers for this new hard-edged, forward-looking idealism in (geo)politics include Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and her erstwhile Finnish counterpart Sanna Marin, as well as President Edgars Rinkēvičs (Latvia) and Foreign Ministers Gabrielius Landsbergis (Lithuania) and Jan Lipavsky (Czechia).

    They are joined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a leader reborn in the crucible of Europe’s response to Russian aggression. At the head of the pack though is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who, channelling the courage and conviction of his people, has done most to pioneer the ‘Neo-Idealist’ synthesis of morality and materiel, principle and progress.

    https://www.bylinesupplement.com/p/the-rise-of-the-new-idealists

    • adam 6.1
      29 July 2023 at 4:01 pm

      Did you cheer on the wagner group Joe90?

      Russian fascists scare the hell of me, the pan European ones scare me just as much.

      • UncookedSelachimorpha 6.1.1
        29 July 2023 at 4:20 pm

        I would cheer Wagner on, only so far as internal russian strife might save Ukrainians. Wagner is nonetheless despicable and I hope both Putin and Wagner lose.

        "X did bad. Y opposes X. Therefore Y is good."

        Many of the Putin fans commenting here seem to fall into this error.

        • adam 6.1.1.1
          29 July 2023 at 7:49 pm

          You know Wagner are nazis UncookedSelachimorpha?

          Real life Russian nazi scum?

          Yeah nah, no way I'd supporting nazi scum in any way, my Granddad use to shot them.

    • Dennis Frank 6.2
      29 July 2023 at 5:23 pm

      Encouraging, huh? Strange to say I haven't noticed Biden's idealism yet. From your link:

      Even the Biden administration, so crucial yet so hesitant to commit to Ukraine’s victory over Russia, has clearly positioned itself as the leader of a democratic bloc with the intent to face down authoritarian China as a systemic rival. Relatedly, Washington has been more hawkish on geoeconomics than geopolitics as it seeks to move on from Neo-liberal economics.

      USA moving on from neoliberalism? Where's the evidence?

      • Dennis Frank 6.2.1
        29 July 2023 at 5:41 pm

        Oh, I see, it's a resilience strategy, that's good! From a speech by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan at the Brookings Institution:

        When President Biden came into office more than two years ago, the country faced, from our perspective, four fundamental challenges.

        First, America’s industrial base had been hollowed out… The second challenge we faced was adapting to a new environment defined by geopolitical and security competition… The third challenge we faced was an accelerating climate crisis and the urgent need for a just and efficient energy transition.. Finally, we faced the challenge of inequality and its damage to democracy.

        Official cognizance of this tetrad is a good basis upon which to proceed. They ought to have told the media about it back then!

        Ultimately, our goal is a strong, resilient, and leading-edge techno-industrial base that the United States and its like-minded partners, established and emerging economies alike, can invest in and rely upon together.

        President Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen talked about this here in Washington last month. They released a very important statement, which, if you haven’t read it, I really encourage you to read. At its heart, what the statement said was the following: bold public investments in our respective industrial capacity needs to be at the heart of the energy transition. And President von der Leyen and President Biden committed to working together to ensure that the supply chains of the future are resilient, secure, and reflective of our values—including on labor.

        They laid out practical steps in the statement to achieve those goals—like aligning respective clean-energy incentives on each side of the Atlantic and launching a negotiation on supply chains for critical minerals and batteries. Shortly after that, President Biden went to Canada. He and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau established a task force to accelerate cooperation between Canada and the United States toward exactly the same end: ensuring our clean-energy supply and creating middle-class jobs on both sides of the border. And just a few days after that, the United States and Japan signed an agreement deepening our cooperation on critical-mineral supply chains.

        Now this kind of thing is likely to make a wide swathe of folks less cynical about Democrats. Not airheads after all. surprise

        • joe90 6.2.1.1
          29 July 2023 at 7:45 pm

          Not airheads after all

          It's almost like they've woken up.

          .

          When President Biden came into office more than two years ago, the country faced, from our perspective, four fundamental challenges.

          First, America’s industrial base had been hollowed out.

          The vision of public investment that had energized the American project in the postwar years—and indeed for much of our history—had faded. It had given way to a set of ideas that championed tax cutting and deregulation, privatization over public action, and trade liberalization as an end in itself.

          There was one assumption at the heart of all of this policy: that markets always allocate capital productively and efficiently—no matter what our competitors did, no matter how big our shared challenges grew, and no matter how many guardrails we took down.

          Now, no one—certainly not me—is discounting the power of markets. But in the name of oversimplified market efficiency, entire supply chains of strategic goods—along with the industries and jobs that made them—moved overseas. And the postulate that deep trade liberalization would help America export goods, not jobs and capacity, was a promise made but not kept.

          https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/04/27/remarks-by-national-security-advisor-jake-sullivan-on-renewing-american-economic-leadership-at-the-brookings-institution/

          The Biden administration’s international economic agenda: National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan

          Brookings Institution
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2sa-p2whkk

  7. Phillip ure 7
    29 July 2023 at 8:04 pm

    Here's the picture:

    In my vintage caravan (1957).. a delight of varnished wood/yellow formica/chrome etc..

    Parked on a cliff top overlooking a harbour.

    There is no wind/rain.

    Smoking slim-line joints..a blend of three examples of nz's best..

    Listening to back episodes of that cornucopia of musical delights..nashville babylon..

    A much loved animal sleeping either side of me ..their ears twitching to the music..as they do…

    I've had worse Saturday nites..

    (This has been a bulletin from te gypsy lifestyle…)

    • Patricia Bremner 7.1
      29 July 2023 at 8:30 pm

      devil Doggy animals Phillip? Our cat does not like guitars banjos or fiddles. If him indoors plays his guitar she is “outta there” The caravan sounds like a friends, well built.

      • Phillip ure 7.1.1
        29 July 2023 at 9:10 pm

        I was in this place ..and I had this old ex-pig hunting dog..who was one of the gentlest dogs I have known..

        And I became aware that a feral cat was sleeping underneath my caravan…it wouldn't come near me.. totally feral ..but I would leave a bowl of vegan dog biscuits and water under there for her ..

        Sometime later she had a couple of kittens..in a cavity in a cliff..

        Shortly after she was caught in a trap..and one of her front legs was just hanging…so she couldn't care for them..

        So what she did was she deposited the kittens under my caravan ..and disappeared…

        So I had these two hissing/spitting entities to contend with..

        And it was a quandary for me…I knew if I handed them to spca/whoever they would likely just off them…(they were very antisocial..)

        So I fed them all I had..vegan dog biscuits…and they loved them…

        So I sourced them some vegan cat biscuits..(vegan pet food company..off titirangi rd..)…and we were off and running..

        But they were still as feisty as..

        So what I did was I would sit still and speak softly to them ..(and later on I figured it was like I was purring at them..)

        So they eventually melted..and they both just adored the old dog…would sleep curled up on him…he seemed to like it too..

        Anyway…the old boy dog died..leaving these two boys…

        And I haven't had cats before.. it's always been dogs..

        But I hafta say..these two have won me over…their apparent enjoyment of music just part of it..

        Tho' I am conflicted still…them being cats and all..

        They are on demand food..the bowl is always full…and collars/bells and all that. .but they are cats..still..

  8. SPC 8
    29 July 2023 at 11:28 pm

    The domino effect, or chain reaction.

    Virtuous Circle

    If you describe a situation as a virtuous circle, you mean that once one good thing starts happening, other good things happen, which cause the first thing to continue happening.

    Such as

    I want a virtuous circle of investment and growth in the rail industry. That is the virtuous circle at which we aim. Together, the modernisation of civil justice and the reform of legal aid will complete a virtuous circle.

    Vicious Cycle

    when the more something is done, the worse it gets, which means that it happens more.

    Such as

    A vicious cycle is a negative series of events that build on and reinforce each other. If you can't you can't get a job without experience, but you can't get experience without a job, then you are in a vicious cycle.

    What is vicious circle in psychology?

    A vicious cycle (also known as vicious circle) is used to describe a situation in which events are in a feedback loop in which the action or event is strengthened by its consequence which starts the cycle all over again. It is an event pattern that never reaches equilibrium and is in constant motion.

    What is vicious circle in philosophy?

    Vicious Circle. Description: The conclusion of the argument is appealed to as one of the truths or principles upon which the argument itself rests.

    What is the word for arguing in circles?

    A circular argument, also known as circular reasoning, is an incorrect argument that tries to prove itself using its conclusion as evidence, such as “our boss is the best person for the job because they were promoted to boss.”

    Quotes from

    https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=a+virtuous+circle+idiom

  9. newsense 9
    30 July 2023 at 4:33 am

    This shows the evil of the right. For so long they have avoided climate action of any kind and told us to buy insurance if we were worried. Here it shows how traumatising it can be to just get what you are owed out of your insurer.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/494734/insurance-payout-for-flood-hit-owner-raised-after-months-of-delay

    Today we also found out how costly dealing with flooding in Auckland will be. God knows what it will be like if this happens more regularly.

    Climate change and extreme weather events are going to make inequality worse. We shouldn’t have a business environment where some industries are exempt from doing their part socially, morally or fiscally.

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