Open mike 30/11/2021

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 30th, 2021 - 118 comments
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118 comments on “Open mike 30/11/2021 ”

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  1. Robert Guyton 1
    30 November 2021 at 6:31 am

    [deleted quote without link]

  2. Ad 2
    30 November 2021 at 7:13 am

    After 6 weeks of New Lynn and Glen Eden having six deaths and a whole suite of neighbourhoods terrorised, and four Police injured, the PM finally promises to ask for a briefing on a massive crimewave:

    Glen Eden police shooting: Gunman killed, four police officers in hospital after 11 hours of mayhem – NZ Herald

    Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern yesterday said she had not been briefed on the shooting but planned to speak to Police Minister Poto Williams.

    She did not believe police had lost control of law and order in Auckland and said police had been working to get weapons out of the hands of criminals and clamp down on firearms "designed to cause mass devastation".

    "We have taken direct action to try and reduce the access and nature of firearms that are being accessed in the wider community," Ardern said.

    "You'll see that we've moved on licencing, we've removed those weapons that are military-style.

    "The efforts of police have also been very focused on the seizure of both firearms and criminal assets."

    Looking forward to other agencies stepping in to assist our outstanding Police men and women in this total societal failure.

    • Sabine 2.1
      30 November 2021 at 8:19 am

      So she has not been briefed on the rampage in West Auckland?

      Oh well.

      but to her credit, she used all her good words.
      And i don’t think this is ‘societal’ failure, if anything society is suffering for the absence of political leadership. I mean she is still waxing on lyrically of removing weapons from law abiding citizens as if the gangs that she and her government are treating so kindly, really gave a fuck about legal weapons and her good words.

      • Puckish Rogue 2.1.1
        30 November 2021 at 8:57 am

        Anyone feel safer?

        https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/111594950/gangs-bosses-say-weapons-wont-be-handed-back-after-christchurch-mosque-shooting

        'According to O'Reilly, Black Power members use guns to hunt for food to feed their families and to defend themselves. He admits many obtain their guns illegally.'

        But don't worry, they got issued a stern warning:

        https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/111712728/police-minister-warns-gangs-hand-over-guns-or-the-police-will-come-after-you

        The reality though:

        https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2007/S00022/minister-wont-take-guns-from-gangs.htm

        Why, because the gangs said the word Labour and all those on the left fear the most…they said racism and Labour backed off:

        https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/439150/gang-gun-ownership-ban-bill-racist-politics-mongrel-mob-tells-mps

        • Tricledrown 2.1.1.1
          30 November 2021 at 10:18 am

          Talk about Spin PR.

          National removed legislation requiring every firearm to be registered making it easier for firearms to be stolen harder for police to trace.

          National cut proper investigation into gun owners suitability. Allowing retired police to do background checks that weren't carried out

          National cut police numbers by 20% in 9 yrs .with low numbers police stopped checking gun owners safe storage of guns.especially in rural ares where 40% of guns are stolen from a very small percentage of the population who leave firearms lying around instead of in a lock up with firing mechanisms stored separately.

          The govt put new legislation in place very similar to Nationals proposed bill.

          Plus every gun will have to be registered like in Australia plus background checks more stringent plus shorter licence periods with those background checks revised in case of changes in mental or criminal status.

          Not like your 1/2 truths

          Police hadn't been running checks on gun club membership for years let alone checking safe keeping .

          The Milton gun club had effectively been taken over by far right skin heads.Practicing terror tactics.

          • Puckish Rogue 2.1.1.1.1
            30 November 2021 at 10:56 am

            Talk about Spin PR.

            'National removed legislation requiring every firearm to be registered making it easier for firearms to be stolen harder for police to trace.'

            – I'm not opposed to a registry however given the breaches of police security I would want reassurances that the information isn't leaked

            – Someone with access to the registry leaking details of who owns what weapons and where is something we should all be concerned about

            'National cut proper investigation into gun owners suitability.'

            – Link please

            'Allowing retired police to do background checks that weren't carried out'

            – Is it the retired police doing the checks thats the problem or that the checks weren't carried out, something I've also talked about

            'National cut police numbers by 20% in 9 yrs'

            – National hasn't been in power for over 4 years

            'With low numbers police stopped checking gun owners safe storage of guns.especially in rural ares where 40% of guns are stolen from a very small percentage of the population who leave firearms lying around instead of in a lock up with firing mechanisms stored separately.'

            – Thats up to the police to sort is it not

            – Also link please

            'The govt put new legislation in place very similar to Nationals proposed bill.'

            – Link please

            'Plus every gun will have to be registered like in Australia plus background checks more stringent plus shorter licence periods with those background checks revised in case of changes in mental or criminal status.'

            – I agree with this (in regards to the registration, see above)

            'Not like your 1/2 truths'

            – I posted links, don't like what the links say thats your issue

            'Police hadn't been running checks on gun club membership for years let alone checking safe keeping.'

            – Again, if true, thats an issue with the police not doing their jobs, I see plenty of police sitting on the sides of roads holding speed cameras

            'The Milton gun club had effectively taken over by far right skin heads.'

            – Link please

            'Practicing terror tactics.'

            – Hyperbole but, again, the police once again dropped the ball

            'As a result, Breidahl says he spoke to another firearms club, who agreed the matter needed to be taken to the police.'

            "I went to the arms officer, laid out my concerns and I was told they're a bunch of silly old duffers down those ways, don't worry about them, it's all good."

            – Its why I've said in previous posts that firearm licencing needs to be run seperately though in conjunction with the police

            • Tricledrown 2.1.1.1.1.1
              30 November 2021 at 11:33 am

              The 1983 gun reform under National. Police no longer required to hold every guns serial number

              The Bruce gun club herald Police investigating found fascist leaning members and confederate flags etc 2019

              The recent legislation on gun ownership hansard.

              Looking at NZ stats Police funding and numbers remained the same even though the population increased by 20% and 501's had already been intensifying gang violence.

              Not to mention the P epidemic had gotten out of Control.

              Remember John Key was going to get rid of the scourge of P it grew exponentially under his watch while he underfunded Police so the well off could get tax cuts just before each election.election bribes

              • Puckish Rogue …
                30 November 2021 at 11:41 am

                'The 1983 gun reform under National. Police no longer required to hold every guns serial number'

                – Heres why:

                https://theconversation.com/comprehensive-gun-register-part-of-next-stage-of-firearms-law-reform-post-christchurch-shootings-125082

                Gun register history

                'For most of its history, New Zealand had a gun register. This emerged during the 1860s and the Land Wars when the government was trying to control a free flow of firearms into the country. But some 120 years later, in a very different context, the pre-computer registration system was unfit for purpose. Only about 7% of all registered firearms could be located.'

                'The replacement Arms Act of 1983 did away with the general register and put more emphasis upon ensuring all firearms users were “fit and proper”. Only pistols and military style semi-automatics had to be registered.'

                Interesting isn't it.

                • Tricledrown …
                  30 November 2021 at 11:55 am

                  So why have the Police been lobbying the govt for years for a firearms register.

                  Looking at Australia they have a gun register and much lower gun violence.

                • Tricledrown …
                  30 November 2021 at 12:13 pm

                  You only highlighted the parts of your link that suits your agenda.

                  Reading the whole article it says that having a register would help on many fronts.

                  Finding how the supply of guns go from legal owners into criminal hands.

                  Read your own link not something about the 1860's but about the Thorpe enquiry and onwards.

                  John Banks police minister at the time of the Aromoana massacre regretted not reforming gun ownership legislation .

                  • Puckish Rogue …
                    30 November 2021 at 1:43 pm

                    I'm not against a gun register (see my discussion with McFlock yesterday) I do however have concerns

                    My preference is, as stated previously, is proper funding and run by a new set up, in conjunction with, but not by the police

              • Puckish Rogue …
                30 November 2021 at 11:44 am

                'The Milton gun club had effectively been taken over by far right skin heads.Practicing terror tactics.'

                'The Bruce gun club herald Police investigating found fascist leaning members and confederate flags etc 2019'

                – Not quite the same is it

                • Tricledrown …
                  30 November 2021 at 12:18 pm

                  It's known as the Milton gun club locally as the District is called Bruce County read the herald and other articles on how this gun club was infiltrated by criminals who openly displayed fascist leanings .

                  Not to mention how police volunteers did nothing to investigate the background of the ChCh shooter effectively rubber stamping this nut jobs gun licence.

                  Police cost cutting by outsourcing.

              • Puckish Rogue …
                30 November 2021 at 11:47 am

                'Looking at NZ stats Police funding and numbers remained the same even though the population increased by 20% and 501's had already been intensifying gang violence.'

                – I have no issue with increasing police funding so maybe the current government, the government thats into its second term, could look into it?

                'Not to mention the P epidemic had gotten out of Control.'

                'Remember John Key was going to get rid of the scourge of P it grew exponentially under his watch while he underfunded Police so the well off could get tax cuts just before each election.election bribes'

                – Think you're starting to get a little over excited and off track, you might want to consider pulling it a back a bit

          • Sabine 2.1.1.1.2
            30 November 2021 at 10:56 am

            National left the building 1 August 2017 when Labour won their first round. They then won another round – a landslide no less – 17/10/2020.

            Labour ran on 'fixing' things, and i am sure that they thought an over abundance of kindness is gonna fix things, but then there is always the one rotten apple that rots all the other apples.
            So any day now Labour can start fixing things. They tried kindness and coddling the gangs and as always when dealing with abusers that did not work. So now throw the fucking book of law against them.

            As for the MP for New Lynn, Deborah Russel, can someone please call her on her courtesy phone, give her some pain meds for her back aches and ask her to finally actually do something to earn her wage and perks.

            • Gezza 2.1.1.1.2.1
              30 November 2021 at 2:21 pm

              Reading what you wrote, looks like you’re the perfecr person to do that job & make the call.

              • Gezza …
                30 November 2021 at 2:22 pm

                🙄 *perfect

              • Sabine …
                30 November 2021 at 3:53 pm

                Last i "spoke" to her i asked her if she thought that 'fuck off' was a considered and kind Labour speak to say to people whom she did not consider worthy of her attention, and i also asked if her back was better now after having watched the sorry spectacle she made out of herself during the submissions in regards to the "Men are women and women are to shut the fuck up bill", and if her back was better now could she finally do her job as fwiw, she is on full pay and perks, and if not, she should consider leaving hte job to someone in better health and with more stamina.

                The dame did not answer.

                But then maybe you have good words that you can use? See where i am right now i would simply tell her to fuck off, when there fuck off some more, when there continue to fuck off, until no one has ever got to deal with that useless None Male Member of Parliament, courtesy of the Labour Party ever again..

                Vote Labour 2023 = our MPs will vote Aye, never ask never tell, cause its money for nothing and perks for life. Courtesy of the taxpayer, dead or alive.

                • Anker …
                  30 November 2021 at 4:02 pm

                  "men are women and women are to shut the fuck up bill". Lol.

                  But right now in Cananda gender critical views such as biology matters and its not possible to change your sex and if you are born male, then you are a man are about to be outlawed as hate speech. So although I laugh, it is serious.

            • Anker 2.1.1.1.2.2
              30 November 2021 at 3:59 pm

              Sabine lol lol.

              I thinkwe might find that Deborah is re-reading an article in Scientific America and therefore she is oblivious to everything going on in New Lynn.

            • Gezza 2.1.1.1.2.3
              30 November 2021 at 4:18 pm

              Oh. I see. You are probably NOT the right person to call her then.

              Mutual exchanges of fuck offs seem most unlikely to achieve anything worthwhile in the area of crime reduction & increased policing & security for local residents.

              Do you know anybody who is capable of polite discourse with her who you might perhaps ask to contact her instead?

              • Gezza …
                30 November 2021 at 4:23 pm

                The above is @ Sabine.
                Replied in wrong place. Soz.

                • Gezza …
                  30 November 2021 at 7:41 pm

                  Who said I had concerns about it? It’s just logical two people telling each other to fuck off aren’t likely going to agree on a course of action as they’re not even attempting to communicate.

                  You seem a permanently aggrieved & angry individual to me whenever I take the time to read what you write here. Have I got that wrong?

                  • Anker …
                    30 November 2021 at 9:32 pm

                    Geeza, I really appreciate your contributions on this site.

                    But it is not really Sabine's job to talk to Deborah R or get her to do her job.

                    I am not sure what if anything Deborah has done to date about the ghastly situation in New Lynn. But a I haven't heard her say anything. This doesn't seem good enough to me.

                    I remember when the Roast Busters came to light and David Cunliffe who was the member for New Lynn, said he had regular meetings with the police and had not been made aware of RB

                    • Gezza …
                      1 December 2021 at 4:23 am

                      I understand that it’s no one here’s “job” to talk to Deb Russell about doing her job of raising some kind of public ruckus with the media, within the government, and/or with the police about the dreadful & now deadly crime wave in New Lynn, her electorate, Anker.

                      But when someone complains on a blog that she should be doing SOMETHING, & she apparently isn’t – and she’s not – as far as we know – reading this blog, then what is the point of just moaning about it on a blog?

                      It’s easy enuf to find out her parliament contact email address & send an email asking her to do something, or asking what she IS DOING . In fact if you KNOW what you want her to do you can even spell it out as a suggestion.

                      If we all confine ourselves to whining on TS & no one chases her up she can always say “No one ever contacted me about it!”

                      She sounds like a big disappointment to her electors. So kick her butt into action, even if it’s just to reply to an email (copied to PM’s office). But choose your language carefully. One catches more bears with honey than with vinegar. I know how to shame a politician into action with a very polite request. It just requires a bit of contemplation before hitting “Send”.

                    • Anker …
                      1 December 2021 at 10:54 am

                      I think Sabine may seem perfectly aggrieved and angry, but I nearly always appreciate the content of what she has to say. Lets face it there is a lot to be angry about. I also very much appreciate your contribution on this blog, especially the wee video clips of birds.

                      I guess for me the point of The Standard is to share political views and opinions about things we are concerned about and to become better informed about issues. It may or may not lead to political action. I suspect most of us are politically active in someway, but of course its not compulsory.

                      Some of us got to see Ms Russell in action on recent select committees and to be frank with you her contact was most unprofessional including a FB post where she posted ever wanted to tell people to f..k right off and when asked about this she replied that she had been listening to submissions on BMDRR.

                      But maybe she is the perfect person to sort out West Aucklands violence problems. She could tell them all to fuck right off.

                    • Gezza …
                      1 December 2021 at 8:18 pm

                      But maybe she is the perfect person to sort out West Aucklands violence problems. She could tell them all to fuck right off.

                      Well, Anker, it’s nice to see you can still find some humour in the situation, instead of just always looking at the black side of things. That’s very witty. 🙂

          • Maurice 2.1.1.1.3
            30 November 2021 at 12:22 pm

            A perusal of the Report of the Royal Commission shows a completely different take on the 'Milton' (Bruce) Rifle Club incident [26] and indeed upon Breidahl [29] and the Conclusion [46] With far more comprehensive information at the Link.

            https://christchurchattack.royalcommission.nz/the-report/part-6-what-public-sector-agencies-knew-about-the-terrorist/bruce-rifle-club-allegations/

            26

            Based on the evidence we have reviewed, we think it more likely than not that the individual did not attend the competition at the Bruce Rifle Club on 19 November 2017. Accordingly, we conclude that he was not there. It follows that we also conclude that any complaint Peter Breidahl may have made to New Zealand Police about the Bruce Rifle Club was not about the individual. This conclusion may be enough to address the requirement in our Terms of Reference but, for the sake of completeness, we think it appropriate also to address whether such a complaint was made.

            29

            The former Dunedin District Arms Officer had dealt with Peter Breidahl on two earlier occasions. On 27 June 2017, the former District Arms Officer and a sworn police officer met with Peter Breidahl. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss whether Peter Breidahl’s firearms licence should be revoked, after New Zealand Police had received evidence that he had stored a firearm in the boot of his car secured by a cable. In a statement to New Zealand Police and in evidence to us, the former District Arms Officer recalled Peter Breidahl being “agitated” and “swearing repeatedly” to the point where the sworn police officer told him to calm down.

            46

            We conclude that:

            the individual was not present at a competition held by the Bruce Rifle Club on 19 November 2017; and
            Peter Breidahl did not complain to New Zealand Police about the culture of the Bruce Rifle Club on 20 or 21 November 2017.

  3. gsays 3
    30 November 2021 at 8:18 am

    A great result last night.

    New Zealand cricket team grabbed a draw from the jaws of defeat.

    Ravindra in his first test and Patel batting at 11 held a dominant Indian bowling attack at bay to salvage a draw. Second test starts on Friday @ Mumbai.

    From Stuff: "The Times of India noted the result was the first time that New Zealand had gone 10 test matches undefeated (eight wins, two draws) with the current streak starting against India at the start of 2020."

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/456840/black-caps-hold-on-for-draw

    • Puckish Rogue 3.1
      30 November 2021 at 8:40 am

      Yes very well done to the Black Caps.

      The only real issue is the inability of spinners to make meaningful contributions to the wicket taking.

      3 wickets combined from 102 overs, just not good enough in these conditions

      The NZ cricket board has done fantastically well of late.

      Getting rid of the 'biomechanics' fetish down at Lincoln and marshalling the resources they have to produce the best all round team in the game means they should be a shoo in for admin of the year

      But

      Our dearth of quality spinners is holding us back.

      So I would suggest that the NZ cricket specify that each province will always play one specialist spinner per team (not counting all rounders or such like) and that one province (Otago makes sense) prepares spinning friendly tracks

      Having said that this Black Caps team is the greatest NZ cricket team ever assembled.

      If one of the Big Three had the overall success this team had the media would be all over them, calling them one of the greatest teams ever.

      Halcyon days indeed

      • Tricledrown 3.1.1
        30 November 2021 at 9:51 am

        Our wickets aren't generally conducive to spin.

        Not dry enough.

        • Puckish Rogue 3.1.1.1
          30 November 2021 at 10:02 am

          Molyneux Park in Alexandra, with the right soil and preparation could be our best bet, maybe McLean in Napier

          We need to encourage spin bowling in NZ as its our one glaring weakness, although a proper opening partner for Latham wouldn't go amiss either

          • Tricledrown 3.1.1.1.1
            30 November 2021 at 10:22 am

            Molyneux Park is to far away for large numbers of budding young cricketers.McClean Park slightly better.

            • Puckish Rogue 3.1.1.1.1.1
              30 November 2021 at 11:22 am

              'Molyneux Park is to far away for large numbers of budding young cricketers'

              – Is it though, whatever location is chosen players would have to travel there ie Christchurch to Napier, Westport to Wanganui, Wellington to Whangarei etc

              – Its only a 2.5 hour drive from Dunedin

              – The younger players would just be attending camps so not like its full time and if Otago was to be mandated to "spinners' location I'm sure they wouldn't have any issues attracting top class spinners

              – Hell I'd probably mandate Otago (or whatever province was chosen) play two spinners (one can be an all rounder)

              • Tricledrown …
                30 November 2021 at 12:30 pm

                That's a 5 hrs round trip 15 hrs for 2 practices and a 1 day game 20hrs for a 2 day game.

                My son a top cricketer was offered coaching in Alexandra when he was at highshool. But the cost and time was to much a teenager needs a life to.

                Dunedin wickets are not usable in some years one year only 2 outdoor games were played.because of wet outfields being to dangerous.

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  30 November 2021 at 1:35 pm

                  I wasn't suggesting the wickets in Dunedin but the wickets in Alex and as for cost well thats, unfortunately, thats just how it is.

                  Bottom line is we need to get our spinners to improve.

          • bwaghorn 3.1.1.1.2
            30 November 2021 at 11:34 am

            Spin bowlers are like base players no wants to be them and girls dont want to date them 😉

          • left for dead 3.1.1.1.3
            1 December 2021 at 4:42 pm

            PR Peter Petherick,he was from there,very good spinner,I would sell pies at the Brook for free admission so I could watch the man.

            • Puckish Rogue 3.1.1.1.3.1
              1 December 2021 at 4:59 pm

              Its not that we can't produce spinners, we just don't have the grounds to support them

      • gsays 3.1.2
        30 November 2021 at 11:15 am

        One of the commentary team observed, regardless of conditions, your best bowlers will take the wickets.

        On that note, they must play Wagner in Mumbai. Who replaces Taylor is another story.

        • Puckish Rogue 3.1.2.1
          30 November 2021 at 11:28 am

          Yeah I'd go with Wagner, hind sights 20/20 and all that but Wagner in place of Somerville (heroics with the bat aside) probably would have meant a better chance of victory for NZ

          Taylor stays until Taylor decides to retire!

          However Daryl Mitchel would be the next cab of the rank

          • gsays 3.1.2.1.1
            30 November 2021 at 12:28 pm

            I've long been a fan of Taylor, what are the chances he stands aside for the team's benefit? He has looked out of sorts for the last few appearances.

            Somerville stays, Wagner in and everyone moves up a position in the batting order.

            Halcyon days indeed. To think Conway may struggle to get back in the team if Young keeps showing his worth.

            • Tricledrown 3.1.2.1.1.1
              30 November 2021 at 12:34 pm

              Covid has disrupted sport amazingly the blackcap have handled conditions extremely well.being away from family going through multiple MIQ and performing amazing feats on the wicket.

            • Puckish Rogue 3.1.2.1.1.2
              30 November 2021 at 1:40 pm

              He doesn't need to step aside for anyone.

              The last game he played (before this one) was last June, the Word Test final against India, he scored 47 no in that last innings

              The test before that, against England, he scored 80.

              The problem with everyone moving up is our batting line up becomes a bit weaker and thats not good against an Indian team at home

              Somerville goes , Wagner in, test team unchanged for me

          • Anker 3.1.2.1.2
            30 November 2021 at 4:08 pm

            Agree about Taylor PR. And Wagner, yes please, bring him back

    • SPC 3.2
      30 November 2021 at 9:14 am

      3 spinners channeling their MR, ordinary bowling but hard to get rid of.

      With the NW sticking around to lunch it is was inevitable the other two would be there at stumps.

    • Anker 3.3
      30 November 2021 at 4:04 pm

      Love the Black Caps. The worlds best team at anything. Kane W full of integrity and dignity and a love of the game.

      As for the nail bitting finish with Ajaz and Rivandra versus the light! Ripping great stuff.

      Can't wait for Mumbai.

  4. Blazer 4
    30 November 2021 at 8:33 am

    Something profound to start Tuesday with-

    'Personally, I always welcome this conversation starter as a chance to explain that a swimsuit is an expression of a woman’s sensual soul'

    Do not comment on your girlfriend's thong bikini | Stuff.co.nz

    • McFlock 4.1
      1 December 2021 at 10:28 pm

      lol, your link came to mind when I saw a young guy doing it right this evening.

      The couple were walking past me and there's a maccas across the road and down the block a bit. She vaguely mentions that she feels like having a burger and fries – more thinking out loud than anything. He goes "anything else?" and then trots over the road while she continues on.

      Almost at the level of "your wish is my command". If that's a typical action from him, he's a keeper lol

      The other guy from your link needs to lift his game. But some guys are doing it right.

  5. Dennis Frank 5
    30 November 2021 at 8:36 am

    They are the second-largest source of micropollutants in the ocean, by weight, after tyre dust… 230,000 tonnes of nurdles end up in oceans every year.

    Nurdles, the colloquial term for “pre-production plastic pellets”, are the little-known building block for all our plastic products. The tiny beads can be made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and other plastics.

    nurdles have been washing up in their billions along hundreds of miles of the country’s coastline, and are expected to make landfall across Indian Ocean coastlines from Indonesia and Malaysia to Somalia. In some places they are up to 2 metres deep. They have been found in the bodies of dead dolphins and the mouths of fish. About 1,680 tonnes of nurdles were released into the ocean. It is the largest plastic spill in history, according to the UN report.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/29/nurdles-plastic-pellets-environmental-ocean-spills-toxic-waste-not-classified-hazardous

    The report describes how this problem was identified 30 years ago but nurdles still are "not deemed hazardous under the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) dangerous goods code for safe handling and storage." Another example of the legal establishment's sociopathic nature. No compulsion upon industry and shipping corps to operate safely. Delinquent behaviour institutionalised.

  6. Sabine 6
    30 November 2021 at 8:50 am

    a booster every three month? and is it then still a booster or just a regular top up?

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/29/covid-booster-jabs-to-be-offered-to-all-uk-adults-after-three-month-gap

    The UK’s minimum gap for Covid booster jabs will be halved from six months to three, after the government accepted advice from its vaccines watchdog to speed up the programme to limit the spread of the Omicron variant.

    oh well….its a brave new world.

    • SPC 6.1
      30 November 2021 at 9:19 am

      That's an early call, if the new variant gets around the vaccine (which fades by 6 months with delta) why would boosters at 3 months achieve anything?

      Pfizer have already said they will develop a new vaccine quickly if necessary (the thing is it takes months to trial them).

      • Tricledrown 6.1.1
        30 November 2021 at 11:41 am

        No it doesn't take months as it is just a tweek to an existing vaccine that's the beauty of mRNA vaccines .It may take a couple of months to ramp up enough doses to treat large populations.

        But even that has improved with more manufacturing facilities being developed.

        • SPC 6.1.1.1
          30 November 2021 at 11:45 am

          Will regulatory authorities allow them to "tweek" and mass produce without safety data?

          • Tricledrown 6.1.1.1.1
            30 November 2021 at 12:47 pm

            mRNA vaccines have been around for 20 years they are much quicker to develop than older vaccines.

            Safety is a concern but in these times to keep ahead of Covid 19 we have to make sacrifices as the other option of leaving the virus go rampant is thousands of times more deadly.

            New ways of administering the vaccines are being trialled in Switzerland now and are expected to be widely available by the middle of next year.A high tech patch worn on the arm slowly releases the vaccine which will last 6 times longer.36 months immunity compared to 4 to 6 months now.

            Technology around antivirul treatments has also lead to breakthroughs with between 60 to70% efficacy combined with high vaccination rates this could be good for those antivaxxers although they may turn that down as well.Most of the retrovirul medicines need to be administered in the early stages to stop the virus multiplying and doing irreparable damage.

          • SPC 6.1.1.1.2
            30 November 2021 at 1:24 pm

            If the vaccines prove to be much less potent against Omicron, they may need to be tweaked to enhance their effectiveness. Preparing for the worst, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson are planning to test an artificial version of Omicron against their vaccines.

            The mRNA vaccines in particular — Moderna’s and Pfizer-BioNTech’s — were built with technology that should permit rapid modification. Pfizer’s scientists “can adapt the current vaccine within six weeks and ship initial batches within 100 days in the event of an escape variant” that eludes the immune system, said Jerica Pitts, a spokeswoman for Pfizer.

            Moderna’s work began on Tuesday, immediately after its scientists learned of Omicron — the fastest the company has ever responded to a variant, said Dr. Stephen Hoge, Moderna’s president.

            Even without data on Omicron’s spread, it was obvious the variant would be a formidable threat to vaccines, he said.

            “This thing is a Frankenstein mix of all of the greatest hits,” Dr. Hoge said, referring to the variant’s many concerning mutations. “It just triggered every one of our alarm bells.”

            Moderna could update its current vaccine in about two months and have clinical results in about three months if necessary, he said.

            Both companies also plan to test whether booster shots will bolster the immune system enough to fend off the new variant. Boosters of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been shown to raise antibody levels significantly.

            But those antibodies may not be broadly effective against every iteration of the virus, and may not be enough to neutralize Omicron entirely, said Michel Nussenzweig, an immunologist at Rockefeller University in New York.

            https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/28/health/covid-omicron-vaccines-immunity.html

    • RedLogix 6.2
      30 November 2021 at 10:01 am

      Booster Shots every two months according to Australia

      The panel offered independent expert advice and reiterated federal government calls to raise vaccination uptakes.

      It also called for booster shots, currently administered at six months after the second dose, to instead be given at two months.

  7. KJT 7
    30 November 2021 at 8:58 am

    It is already illegal under MARPOL to dump any plastics at sea. They do not have to be a hazardous substance in the IMDG code.

    Note shipping companies have already been prosecuted several times for the release into the oceans, intentional or otherwise of nurdles, and many other cargo's.

    Laws against dumping off ships, deliberate or accidental, are much more stringent than dumping from land, which is the source of most ocean pollution.

  9. aj 9
    30 November 2021 at 10:55 am

    Neil didn't have global vaccinations in mind when he wrote this … the title of the song now has relevance in a much wider sense. Less damage to mankind through disease, but a fragmentation on the fringes of social cohesion.

  10. Molly 10
    30 November 2021 at 12:11 pm

    Sweden has reversed course on child medical transitioning.

    This hour long Swedish investigation programme explores why.

    (Now with English subtitles)

    • Puckish Rogue 10.1
      30 November 2021 at 2:22 pm

      Good news, maybe the tide is starting to turn

    • Anker 10.2
      30 November 2021 at 4:12 pm

      I certainly hope so. Do people generally know the impact puberty blockers, cross sex hormones and subsequent surgery on young bodies. Impacts fertiliy and sexual pleasure. Gives young women deep voice Adams apple body and facial hair. Not all these changes can be reversed especially the removal of the womb.

      22.000 plus of these destransitioners.

  11. aj 11
    30 November 2021 at 12:25 pm

    I stand with the nurses in their fight against the EU, UK, Switzerland, Norway, and Singapore. These governments must be investigated for blocking a faster global vaccine rollout leading to the loss of countless lives.

    https://twitter.com/ProgIntl/status/1465202919687348227

  12. Adrian 12
    30 November 2021 at 12:32 pm

    Spin bowling is the darkest, hardest art. At 17 my youngest took 7 for 27 in a senior 20/20, the victims included two ex-internationals ( NZ and Canada ), 3 Hawke Cup players and some bloke who should have been a Black Cap but went over to the dark side to be an AB fullback and ease into retirement coaching a bunch of Jafas. He was unplayable that night, it was the pitch, the light the humidity the temperature and luck, and I don't think he has taken 7 wickets in a season since, ( thats a bit unfair he has had some success ), as much as he would love too. How do you coach to get that form back.? You can try but it needs everything to aline.

    I think if Wagner had been roughing up the Indian tail in their second innings 190 would have easily been enough to win.

  13. Tricledrown 13
    30 November 2021 at 1:18 pm

    Experience is the answer taking young prospective bowlers to the sub continent.Or Australia.paying Shane Warne to tour schools and set up spin coaches to widen the skill set of deliveries.NZ spinners tend to be very one dimensional.

  14. Adrian 14
    30 November 2021 at 1:41 pm

    I think they are just freaks of nature., you’ve just got to wait for the next one to come around like Dan Vettori.

    • Puckish Rogue 14.1
      30 November 2021 at 1:59 pm

      Naah I don't think so, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are producing very good spinners all the time

      The difference, to me, is the pitches they play on

  16. Sabine 16
    30 November 2021 at 2:31 pm

    this is like a deja vu of a deja vu that was already deja vu'ed

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/127117381/covid19-unions-home-care-providers-and-workers-ask-for-ppe

    The E tū and PSA unions are calling on the Ministry of Health to “stop and listen” to home care support workers who fear they will become vectors for Covid-19 without appropriate PPE.

    Union members say the vinyl gloves issued by the Ministry of Health roll up and tear easily, but the ministry says the gloves are appropriate for the work they do and that infection prevention and control information is being sent out to help workers understand the level of PPE they need.

    These are the same vinyl gloves that i wear when painting my molds. They are shitty little one use only gloves and i go trhough a box in a week, they rip easily, fit badly – regardless the size, and barely cover the wrists. Seriously what is wrong with the Ministry of Health.

    This is the same shit that Rosemary already complained about several times over the last year.

    • Rosemary McDonald 16.1
      30 November 2021 at 2:56 pm

      Rosemary read that and wept whilst banging her head repeatedly on the desk.

      SSDD literally.

      For a while, early last year, all we could source in the way of gloves were said food grade gloves from the supermarket. Oh how I remember the raggedy handy look as they tore and shredded. (We got one box of 100 gloves supplied through the DHB per month. Not enough by a long chalk.)

      And when we moved North…the local DHB wold only supply latex gloves…totally unsuitable for our purposes. But good news in that thanks to Te Virus I was now being paid as Peter's carer and could afford to buy our own good quality vinyl gloves through a medical supply house. Yay! (We have also had to purchase pretty much all of his supplies, as the time from request to delivery was increasing considerably…not to mention the quality being poor)

      Not so good news is that owing to our reluctance to avail ourselves of the Pfizer Product I am no longer being paid as Himself's carer.

      Just deserts for we refusniks y'all cry…and well and good…but some of you might just have an inkling why we are a little less than impressed with the credibility of our Ministry of Health. Still can't decide if its incompetence or malice.

      • Molly 16.1.1
        30 November 2021 at 3:17 pm

        Malicious incompetence seems true to me.

        • Rosemary McDonald 16.1.1.1
          30 November 2021 at 3:28 pm

          Decisions are made by bureaucrats who have never actually done the job, performed the task, spent time in the trenches…and yet they claim authority.

          A Ministry of Health spokesperson said the workers’ concerns were raised with its Infection Prevention and Control Technical Advisory Group who advised the gloves were safe for personal care use – like showering or bathing.

          “As previously discussed and communicated with the sector, such work does not always indicate a need for gloves. Gloves are only required if there is potential for exposure of the hands to blood and body fluids, mucous membranes, or broken skin,” the spokesperson said, adding that hand hygiene remains the most important step to prevent infection.

          I'm hurled through the timewarp back to last year as we were told that PPE was not required by homecare workers unless they came within a metre of their client. I remember Peter commenting 'Do you think they think we get scrubbed with a yard broom in the shower?'.

          Malicious incompetence…yes indeedy.

      • Sabine 16.1.2
        30 November 2021 at 3:41 pm

        There comes a point were repeated instances of 'incompetence' turn into malice.

        • SPC 16.1.2.1
          30 November 2021 at 4:34 pm

          Bureaucratic inertia has a leviathon like stubborness.

        • Rosemary McDonald 16.1.2.2
          30 November 2021 at 4:39 pm

          Back in the day we truly believed that our pleas for recognition from the Miserly of Health of Peter's high care needs were being rejected due to innocent ignorance.

          We naively thought that if we could speak kanohi ki kanohi to The Person Who Can Make Decisions we could explain the whys and the wherefores, give examples of other MOH;DSS clients we knew with very similar care needs who had miraculously got the supports they needed, offer a rational explanation why Peter had been shunted into the margins in comparison and voilla! All would be sorted and equity would reign. (Back then we still had some expectations that they did actually want to do right by disabled people…put that person 'in the center'.)

          There was a level of incompetence….but it had morphed into malice long since.

          It took years of legal wranglings, the HRC and OHRP, feral attacks by the Misery of Health ably aided and abetted by Crown Law, two changes of government and a slew of media articles before some of us had some financial relief. Enough, I might add, to fund the necessaries that the Miserly refused to fund. Like an accessible bathroom and decent fucking gloves.

      • Sabine 16.1.3
        30 November 2021 at 3:42 pm

        Maybe you need to join a gang, or even better create one? That seems to do the trick in getting what you want with no consequences to what ever you may or may not do.

        Seriously, worth considering in my books.

        • Puckish Rogue 16.1.3.1
          30 November 2021 at 4:12 pm

          I'm pushing for industrial action when we have our meetings, bit of an uphill battle though

          How's your union for things like that?

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