“On NZ becoming a republic”.
It will no doubt happen someday. I can remember Jim Bolger, in an Address in Reply debate when he was Prime Minister, suggesting that it would (or perhaps it was should) happen before 2001. Jim had the characteristics of someone from the Irish Republic of course.
Hardly a question of urgency when she suggests it will happen in her lifetime considering that her life expectancy is probably another 60 years. Still, it’s a squirrel.
The full interview covers more than the Womans Weekly garbage.
Somewhere I read she will meet Corbyn for breakfast? when she’s in the
UK
Hope we won’t be treated to her favourite muesli recipe. No doubt there will be cat talk, and El Gato will be photographed smooching up to Jacinda
*sigh* Accusations of anti-semitism have become the last refuge of the scoundrel.
These charges against Corbyn are nonsense. No one in the UK really believes them, not even his accusers. The charges have made very little impression on British voters, who know a smear campaign when they see one.
The anti-semitism charges against Corbyn are useful to study though, because they show two things.
The first is how successful Israel has been with infiltrating the UK political establishment and bribing neoliberal politicians via the LFI (Labour Friends of Israel) (https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Labour_Friends_of_Israel). Effectively, anyone who questions current Israeli policies of violent repression of the Palestinians in mainstream UK politics can be practically guaranteed they will be smeared by a powerful fifth column of pro-Jewish voices in the UK media and political elites.
Secondly, the anti-semitism accusations how quickly middle class liberals will start slinging around accusations of racism when they lose. It was literally the first thing the Blairiites went for when Corbyn won the UK Labour party leadership.
That there is an intersection between the utterly corrupt and hopelessly entitled Blairite extremists and the cash sloshing around from right wing LFI donors is undeniable – and they have powerful friends in the liberal media. Repeaters and morons like James find it convenient to parrot politically motivated and vile lies and smears for completely dishonest reasons, what a complete dropkick and arsehole you are James.
Can’t wait for reselection of Labour candidates to get underway.
Corbyn’s surge in the last UK elections shut the Guardian up for a bit, but they’re back to their old ways.
Currently anti-semitism is the rack they hope to break him on
CarolynNorth, I have noticed a concerted effort by the right in all areas to undermine Jacinda. The article in Stuff follows several in the same vein giving the impression she has “Lost control”
This is a build up before Winston takes over, trying to destabilize the coalition, and make it look mismanaged by emphasising unrelated issues as symptomatic. IMO
I see three rather right wing commentators arrive to swiftly add fuel to the fire. As if being an echo makes it right.
“Repeaters and morons like James find it convenient to parrot politically motivated and vile lies and smears for completely dishonest reasons, what a complete dropkick and arsehole you are James.”
Harsh.
But true.
I don’t think there will be any political will toward becoming a Republic any time soon. It would, I think introduce a three way brawl between politicians, the senior level of the Judiciary in the Supreme Court and the public.
There will need to be a Head of State, other than the British Monarch.
The current set of politicians around at the time will want it to be an appointment by them. The Public will want to elect him or her. An election will give the person chosen a major claim to power. They will be the only person elected by the whole of the country and will be able to claim moral authority over parliamentarians. No Politician will want to accept that.
There will be a brawl between the senior judges and the politicians. The Judges, led by our current Chief Justice will claim the right to decide all the questions of a Constitutional manner. They will claim the right, in the absence of our traditional system and without a formal Constitution to lay down the rules and to override the Parliament. Again the politicians won’t like it.
Personally I am quite happy with the present situation. They keep out of the way, don’t try and interfere and don’t cost us very much. In fact I think we ought to go back to choosing British Peers as the GG as well. When they were in Office they tended to give us things. Think Ranfurly Shied, Plunket Shield, Bledisloe Cup, Waitangi Grounds, Treaty House etc.
Then when they leave office they bugger off back to Britain. Look at the number we have of the local lot who still demand their perks long after they have become relics from History? Crown Limo to go to the ball, anyone?
Do you realise that we don’t just have the current one to worry about? There are, if my counting is right, no fewer than 5 ex’s swanning around. Plus a bunch or spouses of deceased ones who are also still feeding at the trough.
Away with them.
And a pretty comprehensive interview in Good Weekend magazine that goes out with the Fairfax papers on a Saturday in Australia.
I like the bit where Clarke goes out every Friday evening to get the briefcase of Cabinet Papers and judges by the weight of it whether or not they are going to any fun that weekend.
You have to wonder in the light of the Cambridge Analytics scandal, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=KKJMp_O0f7E why the UK is not having a second referendum on BREXIT to see whether it was democratically legitimate to the British people and is what the British people wanted, not what a small corporation funded by a US billionaire, spent a lot of money to influence the result of.
Gareth Morgan on Coleman’s resignation and the need for a by-election.
“while we have high expectations of our politicians, they are in turn very well looked after by the NZ taxpayer, and have an obligation to their constituents. Dr Coleman, being an Electorate rather than a List MP, is the latest to thumb his nose at this social contract he has with his constituents”.
He goes on to say that “Electorate MPs that resign for pecuniary reasons during their term should forfeit all of their taxpayer-funded post political benefits which include inflated Super payments. After all, at the election they undertook to represent the people of their region. To turn around after the event and say ‘too bad, I’m not in government anymore and that’s all it was about for me, it was never about representing you, my electorate’ is the ultimate insult an electorate representative can inflict’.
I’m thinking Gareth has never seen written or signed a social contract. No doubt the courts will enforce what ever provision has been written into Colemans one.
” “Electorate MPs that resign for pecuniary reasons during their term should forfeit all of their taxpayer-funded post political benefits which include inflated Super payments. After all, at the election they undertook to represent the people of their region. To turn around after the event and say ‘too bad, I’m not in government anymore and that’s all it was about for me, it was never about representing you, my electorate’ is the ultimate insult an electorate representative can inflict’.”
Your quote is out of context. That relates to the ‘ultimate insult’ – not pecuniary reason.
The pecuniary reason is:
a. The earlier reference to Coleman deciding to step down to take up a position in the private sector, and maintaining it was a hard decision, “ But when you get offered opportunities like this, you just got to take them”; and
b. The paragraph following your quote that “To add insult to injury, the taxpayer then has to turn around and spend $1 million on a by-election, simply because they took the candidate at their word. Politicians who undertake to represent an electorate should have to pay the costs of a by-election or forgo all their post political perks, if they move on for the money before fulfilling their pledge”.
I doubt it would be hard to prove that Coleman’s move will result in pecuniary gain from the salary etc from his new job compared to his current income as an Opposition MP; especially since he himself has made public statements to that effect.
Remember the screams of protest on this site when some other MPs resigned and forced a By-election?
Don’t you remember the screams of outrage on this site when Winnie Laban quit for another job? And the same when Lianne Dalziel jumped ship to be Christchurch Mayor, or when Phil Goff did the same in Auckland and David Shearer also quit in mid-term?
No, neither do I.
I think that anyone, Electorate or List who runs for Parliament should serve out their full term unless medical problems preclude it or they are kicked out.
The only exception should be PMs whose party ceases to be the Government. Clark and English come into that category. Everyone else should fulfil their contract.
So what if the Skripal’s themselves were the ones with the nerve agent? The daughter had just flown back from Moscow a few days before. The container or whatever bursts as she’s rummaging for the front door keys. (hence shit on the door handle) They then run around all those cordoned places – the kids park, the cemetery etc, in those cordoned vehicles, as they look to get rid of the stuff. They feel fine. They think they might have dodged a bullet. They go for lunch. It hits. And the rest is unfolding history.
Makes for a better film script than anything I’ve heard so far 🙂
Ah! Well, you see, the reason May was so sure of the Russian connection was because the daughter had just been to Moscow. May didn’t specify whether it was the Kremlin or a private source. Which is good for the plot line and allows for the Kremlin to be blamed regardless (loss of control of nerve agents/ not full stock destroyed etc) 😉
Did she know she was carrying nerve agents? Who was she carrying nerve agents for? What was the intended purpose and who was the intended recipient or victim?
Or did May just jump the gun with the Moscow connection?
,,, A good black and white, ..Artistically showing Mays long shadow . ……. cast as shes Stepping up to the podium to speak at some Legatum jig … among friends
Actually Bill, the Novichok series has already been made The british public had just finished watching their first introduction to the notion of Novichoks
“So where is the ‘Novichok’ talk coming from? Well, someone in the British government propaganda staff watched the current seasons of the British-American spy drama Strike Back. Nina Byzantina points to the summaries of recent episodes:
Episode 50 ran in the U.K on November 21 2017 and in the U.S. on February 23 2018:
Meanwhile, General Lázsló shuts down Section 20, forcing Donovan to work in secret. She discovers that Zaryn is in fact Karim Markov, a Russian scientist who allegedly killed his colleagues with Novichok, a nerve agent they invented.
Episodes 51 ran in the U.K on November 28 2017 and in the U.S. on March 2 2018:
Section 20 track Berisovich’s meth lab in Turov where Markov is making more Novichok and destroy it, though Berisovich escapes with Markov.
Episodes 52 ran in the U.K on January 31 2018 and in the U.S. on March 9 2018:
Section 20 track down Maya, a local Muslim woman Lowry radicalised, to a local airport. When she attempts to release the Novichok, Reynolds shoots her. The Novichok is fake however, as Berisovich does not want an attack committed in his country. … By the time Section 20 arrives, Berisovich had already called in the FSB to extract Markov and confiscate the Novichok. Yuri resurfaces to kill McAllister and Wyatt. However they turn the tables and strangle him to death. They then manage to engage the FSB and contain the gas. But in the process Reynolds is exposed. Markov works on an antidote but is killed by the Russians before he can complete. McAllister improvises and saves Reynolds, before Novin blows up the lab. Lowry uses the remainder of the gas to kill Berisovich for trying to betray her.”
Hollywood’s Warner Bros. will be knocking on your front door any day now bill. Play your cards right and you could make a tidy packet out of that script. It’s about on a par for H.w. 😉
Bill, at 5 and 5.1.1. you say
“The daughter had just flown back from Moscow a few days before.” and “because the daughter had just been to Moscow.”
My understanding is that Yulia Skripal lives in Moscow and just visits her father in the UK from time to time. Also I read some time ago that she works in Moscow at either the UK Embassy or the US Embassy. I am not sure which and am not about to search back for the articles.
However, if you want a good film script you could not go past this Daily Mail article that claims that the poison was aimed at Yulia, not her father, because of her impending marriage in Moscow.
The father continues his involvement in the shady underworld of Russian ex-pats and…oh, I know!
Bill Browder has another target in mind! One of the London based oligarchs is getting close to uncovering his scamming, murderous ways. So he instructs the daughter to pick up a wee package from Moscow….
I guess that should all unravel at the end of the final episode though as a passable surprise ending 🙂
Politkovskaya lives. Litvinenko died of natural causes. Nemtsov strolled home intact without begin gunned down by Putin’s thugs. And Daphne Caruana Galizia is still alive. It’s all just nasty western propaganda.
Happy day – lectured by a dupe so backward he swallows the RT line whole.
I have a fair idea what’s involved. It’s well beyond the average petty criminal.
“Thinking like a spy or a hitman” – is neither here nor there.
Nerve agents are principally made by state actors, who can recruit people capable of deploying them. Russia has made a habit of using them, and has a large pool of people available to use them.
The thousand lies of whataboutery have yet to fly a plausible kite.
That you’ve taken my obvious statement as a lecture and come back with such a bizarre comment is of no surprise..
Resplendent with the RT mention thrown in…I’ve not mentioned RT , Stuart…that makes you a projection dupe…
You see , Stuart. It’s a good thing to understand ones own boundaries… You appear not to….that’s all too common an affliction…
No-one on this site has anything other than speculation based on what might be 1% of information provided by other entities…
It’s a fundamental failing to take a postion and believe it in the espionage arena….you are not part of that world…
Take a position, sure but appreciate you have NFI about the levels and angles that are in play, because it’s espionage Stu…….just acknowledge that to yourself if you can….
It is a world that your imagination wouldn’t get close to…
[Cut out the pointless chest puffery personal stuff, aye? Both of you. Cheers.] – Bill
So as usual – the propaganda troll claims intellectual superiority for entertaining unsupported (and unsupportable) bilge.
You are not a spy.
You are not a hitman.
You know little or nothing about Russian intelligence.
Your imagination is neither here nor there.
You’re not even properly informed.
Not bad Bill, I like it and why not? The UK pension doesn’t amount to much these days
but wouldn’t she just wipe the mess up with baby wipes?
Nope apparently not, and the mess is still there on the doorknob, actually its a handle in the photos but I like the word knob, after 4 weeks of rain and snow
As part of his consultancy work in cybersecurity, Skripal travelled all over the place ,Dubai for one
False flag in the ME?
Skripal was still meeting with Pablo Miller, his original recruiter, every week .
And Miller was working for Christopher Steele at Orbis
Like a lot of ex M16 agents, they go on to do private consultancy work
Maybe Skripal contributed to the Steele dossier, knowing it was a load of bullshit but the money was ok
Maybe his monthly visits(according to an expat Russian friend)roused the suspicion that he’d flipped once again , and knew too much ….
Or maybe he’s just been using out of date organophosphate pesticides he found in the garden shed
Personally, I’m going with the theory that Putin at heart just wanted to be caught, he wanted to out the whole secretive Novichok program he’d been beavering away at for the last 10 years
And he wanted to send a message, to the US/EU that their beleaguered ally the UK needed to be rallied around and propped up
Firstly, that requires Julia to have access to the poison, and be sure thet she (as daughter of a traitor toi russia) will be able to get it through customs. Big hole needs filler.
Secondly, the exposure needs to be unknown to them, because otherwise they would have presented immediately to hospital with some convoluted story. Time is survival.
Thirdly, she smuggled a substance internationally and they didn’t immediately check it when she arrived, they went to lunch? Doesn’t match with the second.
Fourthly, why the front door? They would have gone inside and looked at the package, so that’s where the main contamination would be, surely?
It’s possible, maybe, but really doesn’t scan so simply as “assasination attempt”.
She doesn’t know what she’s picking up for Browder. It’s in some make-up thang – a compact case! (All spy movies should be 60s 🙂 ) Maybe the compact case comes as a “side package” to the main package which isn’t nerve agent. No suspicion at customs for innocuous object.
There’s a meeting. The compact case is in her bag. Meeting gets rescheduled. They go home. Compact opens by accident. Door handle.
They quickly contact Browder. He says they’ll be okay, wash hands and dump the shit somewhere.
They go where they went. They dump it somewhere along the way…or pass it off. And lunch. And think they’re okay, but…
Don’t know whether you should be a script editor or never allowed to go to the pictures with anyone McFlock. Maybe both 🙂
Ok, assuming she decidied to take something through customs for Browder, you’re on the one hand saying she doesn’t know what it is, but on the other hand “calls him quickly” when it breaks. And why would he use as a mule someone who’ll raise flags on both Russian and British immigration/customs computers?
And there’s still the source in Russia to cover, and whomever Browder wants to give it to.
I mean, you’ve got a possible explanation of events there, but not really plausible, let alone likely.
Whereas on the flipside we have Russia being the source, transporter, and deliverer of a lethal weapon in order to get revenge for treason and intimidate other prospective assets.
Do you think we should have a scene where daughter and father discuss what to do before deciding that maybe it would be best to make a call? I think you might be right on that. Good idea.
I’m actually not altogether happy with the burst package in bag getting contents on hands and that then coating the door handle. As with the case of the door handle being the source of contamination by some other route, it would generally only be touched by one of two people entering a place.
Anyway. Do you think we can let that one slide? Or should we concoct some little scene to explain two people using the one door handle?
I don’t think we need to bother ourselves with “flags” at Russian/UK customs etc seeing as how the daughter was a fairly frequent flyer. Maybe we could also shoot a scene where the faux package is subjected to some scrutiny? What should that be? Some papers? Computer related drives? Hmm – thinking 🙂
The full identity of the source doesn’t really matter for our purposes. Establishing a private entity as the source is all that’s required which, given that Skripal senior was a double agent and so unlikely to be used by the Russian state, isn’t a problem.
Bill O have been away for a couple of weeks.
In that time, my research on this topic has taken me to Craig Murray as a very interesting source of information
Have you heard of him?
Do you have a view on his viewpoint?
Thing is, that’s the closest anyone’s come to coming up with some other even vaguely reasonable explanation as to how two people were poisoned by nerve agents in the middle of an English town. As as you point out it still has big holes that would make William of Occam suspicious. Whereas having one or both of them as targets of the Russian state fills up most of those holes.
BTW, you’re looking for cross-contamination to explain the doorhandle thing. Person A touches door, then touches person B with the same hand. But you’d expect the person with the initial exposure to have a greater dose and therefore greater symptoms.
It has been quite cold in the UK so weren’t they wearing gloves?
How come so many people ended up in hospital with symptoms of alleged poisoning? Simple precaution or were they truly ill? Did they all touch that door handle or did they all shake hands with the couple when they were found slumped on a park bench?
The basic questions are often overlooked. Cops entering the house would have worn gloves and not touched things with their bare skin unless they are clueless & incompetent …
I kinda liked these pertinent questions. (I’ve reproduced a few) But then, I know I’m apparently bias, besides knowing for certain that I’m in a growing minority of people who view “the west” as being the belligerents on the global stage these days.
2) What specific antidotes were administered to Mr and Ms Skripal, and in which form? How were those antidotes available for the medical staff on the site of the incident?
3) On what grounds has France been involved in technical cooperation with regard to the investigation of an incident in which Russian nationals had suffered?
12) On the basis of which characteristics (“markers”) has it been ascertained that the substance used in Salisbury “originated from Russia”?
13) Does the UK possess reference samples of the military-grade poisonous substance that British representatives identify as “Novichok”?
14) Has the substance identified by British representatives as “Novichok” or analogous substances been researched, developed or produced in the UK?
Not all that interesting, really. What purpose do they serve? How would any answers to any of those questions change the debate? Seems to me that it still comes down to “Putin is killing traitors” vs “Putin’s enemies are killing his other enemies in order to make him look bad, but they keep killing his most powerful enemies so that’s a bit of a weird strategy”.
As to people who view the West as belligerants, that’s actually a pretty big group of people. The people who automatically think the the West must bethe only group of belligerents, that’s a very small group of people.
The usual antidotes for poisoning with nerve agents apparently don’t work with Novichok, if that’s what they were poisoned with. In any case, they have to be given within minutes of exposure to be effective; any later and they’re largely ineffective and require different antidotes/treatment. The inhibition of one of the biological targets, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), leads to severe acute symptoms and potentially followed by rapid death. The longer-lasting effects of nerve agents are nerve damage particularly of but not limited to the function of the legs.
Jesus christ now the russians want the doctors done for malpractise.
25 is wrong, btw. Nerve agents don’t act “immediately”. But then someone might accuse the Russians of trying to muddy the waters with bullshit questions, as if they have something to hide.
Look through all the CCTV on March the 4th for the guy decked out in the hazmat suit to protect himself from contamination
He’ll be the one
Or maybe he’ll be the one in the army fatigues because they seem to give immunity too
Onset
Novichok is reported to be 5–8 times more lethal than VX nerve agent and effects are rapid, usually within 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
Major symptoms
Symptoms are the same as those of other nerve agents as shown in Table 5.11 (p. 257). Local effects are thought to be immediate, while systemic effects may be delayed up to 18 hours.
For inhalation, it would be immediate/seconds.
Yeah fair call, they don’t necessarily act immediately. Which is the point – lack of immediate onset doesn’t rule out any nerve agent.
The chapter has significant differences in time between skin exposure and symptoms vs inhalation. Because it says inhalation of the powder was thought to be the main route of exposure, they theorised onset in seconds. If the Skripals had a skin exposure, the delay is anyone’s guess.
As a side note, reading the chapter basically puts paid to the “where did they get the antidotes from” question – literally every nerve agent has the same treatment as organophosphate exposure:
So any rural area fit to treat farmworkers soaked in pesticide would be able to treat a nerve gas attack.
Not to mention other uses of those medications.
Reading the interview made me realise how partisan and right wing our media is.
The agenda is to paint Labour an accidental government, unready and accident prone and the onslaught is relentless – and it isn’t helped by the pile on of immature and hysterical left wing snowflakes who toss their toys because Jacinda hasn’t waved a magic wand and fixed everything in three months.
“Reading the interview made me realise how partisan and right wing our media is”
You then go onto a puff piece in the Guardian ?
The main difference is in NZ the media is discussing her actions (or lack there of) of her government.
It dosnt make them partisan or right wing.
The government or labour should be held up for what they are doing.
There have been some commentators on here who voted for labour who have said they wont again – does that make them right wing? No – its that some people just are not happy how this government is working out and media may be a reflection of this view for many.
Example you have stated as fact that labour did nothing wrong about the sexual assaults at the labour camp (despite concessions from labour for not providing a safe space).
So for you it’s a non-event.
Others disagree and believe it’s a item that is newsworthy.
There is a lot of personal bias that comes into ones perception of the media.
Example you have stated as fact that labour did nothing wrong about the sexual assaults at the labour camp (despite concessions from labour for not providing a safe space).
They didn’t. Shit happens no matter how many protections you put in place and expecting everything to be perfect is delusional at best.
And what they did after shit did as a matter of fact happen, was spot on according to those who know a bit about these things which counts a great deal.
Considering National’s systemic victim blaming if this had happened at a National Party function the victims would either have thrown under the bus or paid off if the parents were rich.
There is a lot of personal bias that comes into ones perception of the media.
That’s not perception – that’s bias and people looking for reports that confirm their bias.
Exactly…+1, the editors of The Guardian have made it plainly obvious that they would rather eat their own arms off than have a real Left Wing Progressive alternative in the UK.
“and it isn’t helped by the pile on of immature and hysterical left wing snowflakes who toss their toys because Jacinda hasn’t waved a magic wand and fixed everything in three months.”
I so agree with you there – they remind me of the worst of ‘terrible two’ behaviour. It beggars belief that they have no understanding of the amount of effort that’s going to have to be put into turning around the horrors that have developed, especially in welfare, health and education. We haven’t had 6 months yet, and a goodly portion of that was taken up with settling into government and then the long holiday. Adding to the feeding frenzy of the trolls and twits is not helpful or sensible.
Perhaps some of us have long memories and recall how enthusiastically Labour embraced neo liberal free market ideologies, and we accept that they literally smoothed the path so the real right wing could consolidate.
Perhaps we terrible twos need some sort of a sign from this so-called progressive government this could be that the very first task should be a systematic rout of the bureaucrats who have held power at certain ministries for way too long.
Because when this snowflake heard that the new Minister of Health was going to take advice from staff at the Ministry about disability issues and family carers I actually wept with despair.
Rosemary your position and perspective is entirely appropriate (not that you need endorsement) but I’ve followed your posts, and have nothing but support for all who have been maligned and abused by successive governments and their departments…
The current government could have unequivocally cleared house by now in a number of key areas, but have not even made the ‘right noises’..instead they are playing along with the dominant ideology of which they represent and are gatekeepers of..
Those who ask for more time or make excuses for inaction, are establishment apologists who sound as though they have memory failure…
Waiting and wishing that the Westminster System will change its spots is head in the sand denial…
The system is rotten…and requires complete rebuild…
My heartfelt sympathies for all who are being abused by state and private establishments…
Far from being a ‘Labour fundy’ I more often vote Green than Labour. Labour this time though, because I was desperate to get National out and, living in the Far North, voted tactically.
However, feeding a National opposition, who will stop at nothing to undermine Labour, on an open forum will, in practical terms, help to bring down this government within one term. Then you will have a National government back – yippee!
There may be an awful lot to do, and it might not be enough for many, but coming from an education background, I am thrilled to bits that they have got rid of National Standards already. That’s huge, for those that understand it.
If there are specific things that some think are not going well, spell it out – do a post so we can all understand so maybe the rest of us can support and help you. There seem to be major issues about the treatment of people with permanent disabilities that are not going according to plan and I know myself how appalling WINZ can be. However, it would be helpful to know, in more detail, what people who are dissatisfied now think that Labour should do that they have turned their backs on.
Thanks Jan, that’s very helpful. I agree with that, that we need solid posts* on what the actual problems are, and we need posts on what Labour (and the GP/NZF) are getting right. I’d also like to see some discussion about what to do in the areas where Labour are failing from a LW perspective, and that leads into a bigger conversation about how to criticise the centre left when the risk is supporting a RW narrative.
btw I wasn’t calling you a Labour fundy 🙂 I was making an exaggerated comment to mimic the generalisations that are being thrown around at the moment that are loaded with implications but not specific enough to easily address. I’d like to see that conversation get more nuanced.
*anyone who wants to have a go at writing a Guest Post, please let me know.
Reading the interview made me realise how partisan and right wing our media is.
Yep. And happy to wittingly formulate lies and half truths in the process. Like TV3 who
continued to claim the young Labour victims of sexual abuse were only 15 years of age. This, despite the fact they were 16 years years old. What’s the difference of one year? Well at 15 they’re still under-age but at 16 they are considered old enough to make their own decisions. Important distinction in the scheme of things, but hey… why let the truth get in the way of a good Labour bashing.
Duncan Garner for starters. I also read it online in more than one of their news items. Contemplated emailing them and hauling them over the coals for their ‘subterfuge’ but decided I had far better uses for my time.
And btw, I’m taking about the victims of the sexual assaults. From memory there were 4 of them.
Also the bracketed comments apply to you as well as they are in relation to hip ops. Sorry, to hear you may have to wait. I had heard that waiting times for hips were shorter now but probably dependent upon DHB etc. But do give thought to the spinal if available. The same day as me, there were three other hip ops and one other had spinal like me and the other two general anesthesia The other spinal and I were up and walking in the corridor five or so hours after our ops, dressed in casuals and walking up and down stairs the next morning, cleared by the physio the following day and wanting to go home, but had to wait til the next morning for the surgeon and his clearance. The ‘general anesthesia’ two were bedridden for two days, only just walking by day three, and still in bedclothes when I went home, and expected to be in hospital for a further two days at least.
Thanks Veutoviper. I will discuss that with the surgeon when I get an appointment…. when being the operative word!!
There sadly may be other issues for me, being a “post Poliomyelitis” patient, as some sedatives and muscle relaxants are not suitable. Further I have a double scoliosis of the spine… always did do things the hard way!!
I have heard what you say from others regarding op times. Quite a difference.
Understand the limitations on some sedatives etc as I was/am in the same situation (heart murmur and ultra sensitivity to many drugs) – hence the anesthetist wanting to go with spinal at the time. And so glad he did from the experience, plus I have since been diagnosed with one autoimmune disease and being tested for more, and this further limits things.
Well said, Sanctuary. And I am pleased you started a new thread on the Guardian article, because I was trying to avoid the covert cattiness under 1 above and getting my own claws out.
As a softish article, I did not consider the Guardian article too bad. And I totally agree with your snowflakes comments which match my own of yesterday on OM which sparked some reaction. LOL.
As a result of the discussion on Pablo’s comments here under OM 29 March @ 3.1.1.2 two days ago, I caught up on his last six months of posts on his blog yesterday and assume you are the same Sanctuary as the one there. His 19 Jan 2018 post and the ‘discussion’ in the comments under it were of particular interest to me. Your comment of 20 Jan at 09.27 pretty much mirrors my own views on the situation both then and still currently. But pleased you two were able to resolve your ‘differences’. LOL. Re the discussion here the other day re his latest blog post, I also decided that this had to be read in conjunction with his “Plus ca change..” post of 5 Jan to understand what he was actually saying about Labour’s foreign policy and reaction to the UK led coalition action.
[If you are speaking to him, please pass on my best wishes for his operation. Can confirm from my own experience, the relief from pain is almost immediate although regaining mobility takes some time. I also recommend spinal with sedation vs general anesthesia as no after effects. I was home and fully over it less than three days after the op.]
Signed the TPPA, soft on immigration, no water tax, no capital gains tax.
Let’s see what gets delivered by the election.
As well as not yet delivering for those that voted for them, yes labour faces relentless negative media. We have yet to see any media savvy or strategy to balance the news media. Without strong change, this government will be gone.
FYI if not being a rusted on labour or national voter makes someone a snowflake, we need more of them.
We need real change.
The rouge state of Israel massacre 15 Palestinian protesters and wound over a thousand more, with IDF troops, snipers and tanks (for fucks sake!) executing Palestinian protesters armed with rocks.
Victoria also said “The British say the Russians.The Russians say the British but maybe it is a third party that wants to make mischief between the two”
I’d be picking Ukraine as a candidate in that scenario
One, they stand to lose a lot of money if and when Nordstream goes through, bypassing them and depriving them of lucrative transit fees, plus the opportunity to tap into the pipeline for free gas
They would love to scupper Nordstream.And there was pressure on the Germans to abandon it.The US wants to sell its more expensive fracked gas to Europe
They would also like to muster up a bit more support from the EU (monetary) which has been tiring of their failure to adopt EU “values”
And the black market in Ukraine for ex soviet military weapons is alive and well
Plus you have the organised Crime/oligarch network already in place
All in all, Bill’s series, with all these threads and potential cliffhangers and red herrings has huge potential
The family element you bring in is an absolute beaut,highly necessary for a popular mini series
I know, that dog is so telegenic!
And I want to know what happened to the expensive cat and guinea pigs removed from Skripal’s house while we’re on the animal theme
Could bring in the recent animal rights protests outside Porton Down too
Hmmm the guinea pigs, were they on loan or liberated from Porton Down?
These are questions we demand be answered
Israel makes great play of its credentials as a democratic state, even allowing Palestinians with Israeli citizenship the right to vote to elect their representatives to the Knesset*
But democracy is more than having the right to vote.
A true and inclusive democracy does not send sharp shooters to shoot down unarmed protesters. Nor does a democracy fire tank shells into farmland, killing a farmer, to intimidate people from protesting.
After a successful strike in Kentucky, the state government rushes through legislation to destroy the union, one cut at a time. Response – Wildcat Strike!! How scummy can the right get, well it’s early days yet, and if anything like the lying and spinning Tories here, it going to get worse.
(With Bill et al in mind)
From The Dark Mountain Project
“So thank you for inviting me to talk about this, because it made me reflect in the last few days, and I realise that maybe it’s useful to share this. Because this cathartic process that I went through, some of it conscious and some of it actually only making sense to me looking back, is perhaps something that other people will go through and need to go through. And maybe it’s something we can go through together and help each other.
I guess I’ve gone through a grieving process and now I realise that it was pretty damn obvious that I will die, everyone I know will die, any community or culture I could ever contribute to will die out, this human species will die out, and the Earth and everything on it will die – well, that’s just obvious, we all knew that, anyway.
DH: Yes, all of those things were true before the great hydrocarbon episode in humanity’s history. Arriving at that is an important part of the journey of making sense of what it means to be alive right now.
JB: I feel free of some forms of delusion, some forms of social pressure, and I am approaching things with fascination and playfulness. And what I didn’t have over the past few years were fellow travellers and community, and now I’m realising that I do need a community around this very realisation that we’ve been talking about. And what will emerge from that, I don’t know, but there will be love within it, there will be creativity within it, there will be a sense of wonder at being alive at this incredibly strange moment in human history.”
Hello Robert. Yes, like the serenity prayer.
My version for the secular world.
May I have the serenity to accept what I cannot change
The courage to change what I can
And the wisdom to know the difference.
We all need the company of those who know how to make others happy, who have enough grace to share that, and do it in such a way that it feels natural and right.
Here we go a negative branding campaign against Maori. There are no story’s about the Maori King gifting land to the Government to build housing for the people who end up in the tentacles of the Justice system. This is a good thing because society changes so fast. It takes a while for people to catch up with the changes like every thing done by computer ECT society labels people as unemployable and if your brown well it is even harder to get a decent job .So having housing to give these people time to readjust to society changes is essential in keeping our people out of the tentacles of the justice system. I don’t see this story the positive story on OUR Maori King all I see is these story’s here is the link to the medias negative branding against Maori.
Marae TV 1 Hutau Petera College kai pai to the the whano fighting to keep it open we need more Maori schools not less to keep OUR Maori culture thriving surely someone can help keep this Catholic Maori school running the main reason that students have dropped at this school is money Maori don’t have enough money to send there mokopunas to this great school. There are many reason that Maori have slid down the income bracket I could name a few . But we need to stick together and look after our own as no one else will do this for us. We have to have OUR mokopunas best future first and foremost in our minds and actions and this means looking after Maori mana the way we behave the way we treat others the way we present our selves in public .We should always know if we do these things respectfully we will be giving our mokopunas mana if we do the opposite we are eroding our mokopunas mana. Its as simple as that please don’t give the negative branders of Maori any amo to use against our mokopunas future . Be proud of our maori culture and your self but don’t act arrogantly as this will damage our mokopunas mana to enough said Kia Kaha Ka kite ano
Good fight Josephs you are very worthy of a rematch against Joshua I’m sure they will go for it the punters are calling for a rematch and now they know you are know push over. If you do things right you and your whano will be set for live. Kia Kaha
Ka kite ano
Newshub there you go another fossil that needs to retire his ancient views he dress as if he is a common man for the cameras and on his website he is all flashed up he is just a person who plays with the public’s emotions .
If we let his type win century’s ago we would not even have a telephone now .His type tried to suppress science as science endangered the control of some religions.
Garth Mc idiot whats wrong with that new tec a taser enough said.
Mike thats a beautiful sight of Te Moanga Taranaki There was more crowd support for the Warriors than the Roosters Kia kaha ka kite ano P.S still some flys hanging around I will Ignore them
Newshub Mike the more I examine my whakapapa and the unique places I have been and the experiences I’v had well this is my fate and te kumara never tell how sweet it is ka kite ano. P.S that lawyer I went to see in Hamilton was a employment lawyer I worked for another company that discriminated against me being brown and they under estimated ECO MAORI Ana to kai
OMV's exploratory drilling in the Great South Basin has failed to find oil. Good. Firstly, because we can't afford to burn the oil and gas we've already found, so there's just no point looking for more. And secondly, because offshore, deep-water drilling poses a risk of an environmental catastrophe, which ...
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James Renwick is Professor of Physical Geography at Victoria University of Wellington. He studied at Canterbury and the University of Washington and has worked on diverse aspects of climate science, including global atmospheric circulation and Antarctic sea ice. In December 2019 he was appointed to the New Zealand Climate Change ...
by Philip Ferguson Exit polls are showing a three-way virtual tie between the main parties in the south of Ireland. Sinn Fein, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are all on just over 22%. FG on 22.4, SF on 22.3, FF on 22.2. Exit polls indicate that over 30% of 18-24 ...
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It may have been the first sitting week of 2020, but our Government is already in full-swing - managing a strong economy, investing in infrastructure, and working to break the cycle of homelessness. Read below for all that, and more... ...
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Clayton Mitchell MP, New Zealand First spokesperson for Labour and Industrial Relations Unemployment and wage growth numbers released by Stats NZ today demonstrate a labour market in good shape with unemployment falling to 4.0%, the underutilisation rate falling to an 11 year low, and wage growth at a 10-year high ...
Hon. Ron Mark, New Zealand First Spokesperson for Defence New Zealand First Spokesperson for Defence Ron Mark, welcomes the official opening of Te Rau Aroha, a new museum at Waitangi Treaty Grounds as part of our Coalition Agreement. “It is a great honour to be part of an effective Government ...
Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Deputy Prime MinisterGood morning,Let us start with important acknowledgements.First, this special day, in remembrance of the 28th Maori Battalion, is also to honour all those men and women who have risked their lives in the service of our country.Second, special guest Robert ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand will look to build on its relationship with the United Kingdom and recommit to the European Union, after the country officially left the continental union recently. The Minister said New Zealand already cooperates closely with Britain on defence and security issues and has ...
A new kete of resources to strengthen support for students with dyslexia will provide extra tools for the new Learning Support Coordinators (LSCs) as they start in schools, Associate Education Minister Tracey Martin announced today. The Minister launched the kete in Wellington this morning, at the first of three induction ...
The Government continues to make progress on a fairer and more secure rental market for renters and landlords with the First Reading of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill and its referral to the Social Services and Community Select Committee. “Now is the opportunity for landlords, tenants and others who want ...
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Hon James Marape will visit New Zealand from 21-25 February, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. “New Zealand and Papua New Guinea have a warm and friendly relationship. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Marape here and strengthening the relationship between our two countries,” ...
Thousands of children have begun receiving a free lunch on every day of the school week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. The Government’s free and healthy school lunch programme is under way for 7,000 students at 31 schools in Hawke’s Bay / Tairāwhiti and Bay of Plenty / Waiariki, extending ...
The Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni today announced a new approach that continues to broaden the Government’s social sector focus from a narrow, investment approach to one centred on people and wellbeing. Minister Sepuloni said redefining the previous approach to social investment by combining science, data and lived experience ...
The Government is strengthening the Protected Disclosures Act to provide better protection for whistle blowers, Minister of State Services Chris Hipkins said today. “The Protected Disclosures Act is meant to encourage people to speak up about serious wrongdoing in the workplace and protect them from losing their jobs or being ...
Nǐn hǎo (Hello in Mandarin). Xīn Nián Kuài Lè (Happy New Year in Mandarin) Néi Hóu (Hello in Cantonese). Sun Nin Fai Lok (Happy New Year in Cantonese) Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you for your invitation to attend this celebration today. I would like to acknowledge ...
Kia ora. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. Nau mai haere mai ki te Whare Pāremata. E ngā mana whenua ki tēnei rohe Taranaki Whānui, Te Upoko o Te Ika, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa – kei te mihi, kei te mihi, kei te mihi. E ngā mana, e ...
Kia ora. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. Nau mai haere mai ki te Whare Pāremata. E ngā mana whenua ki tēnei rohe Taranaki Whānui, Te Upoko o Te Ika, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa – kei te mihi, kei te mihi, kei te mihi. E ngā mana, e ngā ...
Tougher penalties for gun crime are a step closer with the passage of firearms reform legislation through another stage in Parliament. The Arms Legislation Bill has tonight passed its Second Reading. “The changes have one objective - to prevent firearms falling into the wrong hands,” said Police Minister Stuart Nash. ...
Introduction Mr Speaker We all know why we are here today. It has been a long journey. The journey did not actually begin on 15 March 2019. It began on 30 June 1997. Almost 23 years ago, Justice Sir Thomas Thorp told us what was wrong with our firearms legislation. ...
The Government’s work to put trades and vocational education back on the agenda took another major step forward today with the passing of the Education (Vocational Education and Training Reform) Amendment Bill, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said. “This is a watershed day for trades and vocational education. These law changes formalise ...
Speeding up the return of Christchurch regeneration activities to local leadership is behind the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Amendment Bill introduced to Parliament today by Minister Megan Woods. “As we approach nine years since the February 2011 earthquake in Canterbury, and with the transition to local leadership well underway, the time ...
Hundreds of New Zealanders and international visitors will be able to get back out into nature with the Milford Track partially reopening next week, after extensive assessments and repairs, the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced today. The popular Great Walk has been closed since 3 February after an extreme ...
Up to 110 new EV chargers nationwide in cities and regions 50 electric vehicles for ride-sharing The Government is helping deliver more infrastructure and options for low emissions transport through new projects, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. Tauranga, Nelson, Levin, New Plymouth and Oamaru are just some ...
New Zealanders are increasingly better off under this Government as wages rise and families have more disposable income, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. Stats NZ reported today that average household disposable incomes after housing costs rose 4.9% in 2019. This was the highest rise in four years and came as ...
All New Zealanders need to have their voices heard at work to ensure we have an inclusive and productive economy. Today we introduce a Bill to do this for workers in the New Zealand screen industry, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. “The Screen Industry Workers Bill will ...
The Government has announced further help for the Southland and Otago regions to speed up recovery efforts from the floods. “I’ve approved Enhanced Taskforce Green (ETFG), making $500,000 available to help with the clean-up in Fiordland, Southland, and the Clutha district in Otago,” Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni said. ...
Following the announcement that more than 340 schools will be funded to run events promoting vocational education, the Government has announced it will fund a further 257 events to be run by employers and industry. “These industry-run events will allow more than 30,000 students to connect with more than 2,000 ...
Today the Government is making progress on a fairer and more secure rental market for renters and landlords with the introduction of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill in Parliament. “This Bill includes a series of reforms to improve the wellbeing of the 609,700 households that live in rented homes, and ...
A Government programme to wipe out pea weevil has achieved a world first, with Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor today announcing the successful eradication of the noxious pest from Wairarapa. This means the nearly four-year ban on pea plants and pea straw was lifted today. Commercial and home gardeners can again grow ...
Southland residents hit by flooding caused by heavy rainfall can now access help finding temporary accommodation with the Government activating the Temporary Accommodation Service, Minister of Civil Defence Peeni Henare announced today. “The Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS) has been activated by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to help ...
“Is that it?” That’s Finance Minister Grant Robertson’s response to Simon Bridges’ much-hyped economic speech today. “Simon Bridges just gave the most over-hyped and under-delivered speech that I can remember during my time in politics,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s not surprising. Simon Bridges literally said on the radio this morning ...
A trial deployment of the Police Eagle helicopter in Christchurch will test whether the aircraft would make a significant difference to crime prevention and community safety. “The Bell 429 helicopter will be based in Christchurch for five weeks, from 17 February to 20 March,” said Police Minister Stuart Nash. “The ...
The Government has kept up the pace of its work to promote New Zealand’s trade interests and diversify our export markets, with visits to Fiji and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker. Building momentum to bring the PACER Plus trade and development agreement ...
The Coalition Government’s investment in a strong border and disrupting transnational organised crime produced record results for stopping drugs in 2019, says Minister of Customs Jenny Salesa. The illegal drugs were seized at the New Zealand border by Customs, and overseas by Customs’ international border partners before the drugs could ...
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today kicked off construction of a separated cycleway alongside Tamaki Drive. A two-way separated cycleway will be built along the northern side of Tamaki Drive, between the Quay Street Cycleway extension and Ngapipi Road. There will be a separate walking path alongside. Phil Twyford said giving ...
Owner-occupiers of unit and apartments living in earthquake-prone buildings will have certainty about the financial support they’ll be eligible for with the release of criteria for an upcoming assistance scheme, Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa says. The Residential Earthquake-Prone Building Financial Assistance Scheme will help unit owners facing ...
Temporary restrictions on travel from China will remain in place as a precautionary measure to protect against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The restrictions which prevent foreign nationals travelling from, or transiting through, mainland China from entering New Zealand have been extended for a further 8 days. This position ...
Employment Minister Willie Jackson announced today that Tairāwhiti rangatahi will benefit from an investment made by the Government’s He Poutama Rangatahi (HPR) scheme. The funding will go to the Tautua Village, Kauneke programme and the Matapuna Supported Employment Programme which will fund 120 rangatahi over two years. “Both programmes work ...
All parents and caregivers need to ensure that their children go to school unless they are sick, Associate Education Minister Tracey Martin said today. “The school attendance results for 2019 show, across the board, a drop in the number of students going to school regularly,” the Minister says. “Apart from ...
A Deed of Settlement agreeing redress for historical Treaty claims has been signed by the Crown and Moriori at Kōpinga Marae on Rēkohu (Chatham Islands) today, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little has announced. Moriori have a tradition of peace that extends back over 600 years. This settlement ...
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today with Māori King Tuheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII officially opened the country’s newest road, the $384 million Huntly section of the Waikato Expressway. The 15km four-lane highway with side and central safety barriers takes State Highway 1 east of Huntly town, across lowlands and streams ...
The rapid uptake of life-saving new hepatitis C medicine Maviret since it was funded by PHARMAC a year ago means the elimination of the deadly disease from this country is a realistic goal, Health Minister David Clark says. Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus which attacks the liver, proving fatal ...
Kaupapa Māori will underpin the Government’s new plan to deal with homelessness announced by the Prime Minister in Auckland this morning. “Māori are massively overrepresented among people experiencing homelessness, so, to achieve different outcomes for Māori, we have to do things very differently,” says the Minister of Māori Development ...
1000 new transitional housing places delivered by end of year to reduce demand for emergency motel accommodation. Introduce 25% of income payment, after 7 days, for those in emergency motel accommodation to bring in line with other forms of accommodation support. Over $70m extra to programmes that prevents those at ...
Clear requirements for ensuring customers are treated fairly by banks, insurers and other financial service providers are included in new financial conduct legislation that passed its first reading today. “The recent reviews, by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and Reserve Bank of New Zealand, into the conduct of banks and ...
Applications are now open for the fifth round of the Regional Culture and Heritage Fund Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Grant Robertson announced today. “I am delighted to open this year’s fund which has some $7 million available to support performing arts venues, galleries, museums and whare ...
The Minister of Māori Development, Hon Nanaia Mahuta today congratulated Associate Professor Amokura Kawharu on her appointment as the next President of the Law Commission. “Amokura Kawharu will be a standout in her new role, leading in an innovative and forward looking approach to the law reform process. She will ...
Auckland University legal academic Amokura Kawharu has been appointed as the next President of the Law Commission, Justice Minister Andrew Little announced today. Associate Professor Kawharu will take up her new appointment on 11 May 2020. “I would like to congratulate Associate Professor Kawharu on her appointment,” Andrew ...
The National Party donations scandal that had nothing to do with the National Party was the big news of the week. James Elliott has some thoughts on that. Simon Bridges has climbed into double digits as preferred Prime Minister in the latest political polling which is significant for two reasons. ...
Today the unnamed man found guilty of murdering Grace Millane was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 17. “One person has been locked away but are New Zealand women any safer?” asks White Ribbon Manager Rob McCann. “We certainly ...
Pacific Media Watch An Australian federal court decision upholding the legality of the police raid on the Sydney headquarters of the national public broadcaster ABC last June has dealt a major blow to the protection of journalists’ sources and poses a grave danger for the future of public interest ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Picador, $20)What is going on, Auckland? Is it just ...
A poem by US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo.The FightThe rising sun paints the feet of night-crawling enemies. And they scatter into the burning hills. I have fought each of them. I know them by name. From before I could speak. I’ve used every weapon. To make them retreat. Yet they ...
A string of toy companies are facing legal action for selling unsafe toys that pose choking hazards for young children. Yesterday, Cinevan International was fined $81,000 and another four companies are before the courts. Businesses have been using a sticker on the packaging saying 'not suitable for children under three' ...
The Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee, Gareth Hughes, is calling for public submissions on the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill, which was referred to the committee on 20 February 2020. The Residential Tenancies Act ...
ANALYSIS:By Johnny Blades of RNZ Pacific Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has embarked on a state visit to New Zealand. It is the first visit to New Zealand by a sitting PNG prime minister since Marape’s predecessor Peter O’Neill’s trip in 2013. Marape, who rolled O’Neill ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s contentDonations scandals Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Who are the people at the centre of the SFO political donation row? Collette ...
Policyholders fear the sale of AMP LIfe to a Bermuda-based 'zombie fund guru' could leave them stranded because a legal gap means the FMA is powerless to protect them ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Giancaspro, Lecturer in Law, University of Adelaide When booking a luxury cruise, you generally expect relaxation and enjoyment, not forced quarantine and distress. Unfortunately, for the thousands of vacationers trapped on cruise ships in Asia the past month, what started as ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Courtney Hempton, Associate Research Fellow, Deakin University The Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board has this week published a report detailing the first six months of the legislation in action in Victoria. The report reveals 52 people legally ended their lives from the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Blanca del Rosal Rabes, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Swinburne University of Technology Brain temperature is implicated in many common conditions including stroke, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and headaches. Changes in brain temperature can indicate there is a disease developing, but researchers ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Anthony Albanese will commit a Labor government to adopting a target of zero net emissions by 2050, in a speech titled “Leadership in a New Climate” to be delivered on Friday. The opposition leader’s embrace ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy N. W. Jackson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Australian Venom Research Unit, University of Melbourne This is an article from I’ve Always Wondered, a series where readers send in questions they’d like an expert to answer. Send your question to alwayswondered@theconversation.edu.auWho would ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamen Franklen Gussen, Lecturer in Law, Swinburne University of Technology In 1971, a Time magazine article, titled “Should New York City Be the 51st State?”, observed: States have not only short-changed and hamstrung their cities but are themselves the least creative ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ida Kubiszewski, Associate professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Labor’s treasury spokesman, Jim Chalmers, wants to follow New Zealand’s example and introduce a “wellbeing budget” alongside the traditional budget that stresses economic growth, when Labor is next in office. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fiona Andreallo, Honorary research fellow, University of Sydney A sea of oversized hair bows bobs through primary school gates each morning. It might be dismissed as a harmless children’s fad but big bows are back, driven by current fashions, tween influencers and ...
The Government of New Zealand has recognized that the country is facing a housing crisis, said Leilani Farha, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to housing, at the end of her visit to the country . “While the Government has taken important steps ...
Survey results released today by the Helen Clark Foundation and the New Zealand Drug Foundation show that support for cannabis legalisation grows when people know more about the proposed legislation. When respondents were asked how they would vote ...
In today’s edition: Views on cannabis legalisation could hardly be tighter, the Papua New Guinea PM arrives in NZ, and bad light threatens cricket on the radio.A new poll published this morning finds that 46% of those surveyed would vote yes, and 44% no, with 10% undecided. That’s a markedly different ...
Actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand Te Atamira, a long-time champion of the arts, and te reo Māoriis the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year for 2020. Mark Jennings reports on the night that honours the best of us. What does it mean to be a New Zealander? The question was posed by ...
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by Steve Braunias.FICTION 1 In the Clearing by JP Pomare (Hachette, $34.99) All next week at ReadingRoom is devoted to this brilliant thriller inspired by Australian cult The Family, led by ...
‘A life-changing experience’, ‘The greatest of the great! It must be experienced!’, ‘That show with the dancing lady on the billboard.’ Shen Yun ads are impossible to avoid, but what on earth is it?So what is Shen Yun?According to the Shen Yun website: “It is a brilliant artistic revival ...
"To the girls, to the women, to the mothers, to the daughters who hear the music bubbling within, please speak up. We need to hear your voices." These are the words of Hildur Guðnadóttir, who recently accepted the Oscar for best original score for the film Joker at the 92nd ...
Dr Amanda Landers discusses the stigma associated with palliative care and why the field deserves recognition Scalpels are a powerful tool in medicine, but words can be just as mighty. Some medical specialties are easy to comprehend - they cut, stitch, unblock, restart or fix. Others are just too hard ...
A Northland property stockpiled one million litres of flammable and toxic chemicals. Almost two years since the situation came to the attention of authorities, the poorly stored solvents remain a fire and environmental risk. While Government agencies struggled to get a polluter to clean up his mess, up to one million ...
Georgia Hale's tireless and compassionate work, using her sport of rugby league to create opportunities for many different communities, has earned her the title of Young New Zealander of the Year. As soon as she left high school, Georgia Hale began working with children with intellectual disabilities. It changed her ...
A new, "true green" party hoping to break into Parliament at this year's election has been hit by resignations and allegations of questionable conduct, Newsroom's political editor Sam Sachdeva reports Fledgling political party Sustainable New Zealand has been rocked by a flurry of resignations and allegations of questionable behaviour by its ...
A rare visit by a prime minister of Papua New Guinea to New Zealand highlights a strong friendship, but one which could be closer, writes Johnny Blades for RNZ.Papua New Guinea’s James Marape has embarked on a state visit to New Zealand. It’s the first visit to New Zealand by ...
Plant-based food producers ‘stigmatise and demonise’ traditional agriculture, according to Jones, but those working in the new industry say it should be seen as an opportunity, not a threat. NZ First minister Shane Jones’ suggestion that plant-based food must be “stopped in its tracks” has been labelled concerning, negligent and anti-competitive ...
The prospect of going to the Red Planet is possibly a step closer with the US President's State of the Nation speech, in which he promises we will land there. The chances of anything coming from Mars - according to the 1978 Jeff Wayne musical War of the Worlds - are ...
Jennifer Ward-Lealand’s dedication to acting, directing and te ao Māori saw her named the 2020 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year at a special dinner in Auckland last night. Alice Webb-Liddall speaks to her about how she hopes to nurture the future of the craft that has given her so ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Seen as a political narrative, the Morrison government’s handling of the coronavirus (COVID-19) fits the patterns of its approaches on border security and anti-terrorism. Stressing the central imperative is to “keep Australians safe”, it has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The coronavirus is presenting a major threat to Australia’s education export industry, which is highly dependant upon the China market, and a huge challenge to the universities. Phil Honeywood, CEO of the International Education Association ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The corona virus is presenting a major threat to Australia’s education export industry, which is highly dependant upon the China market, and a huge challenge to the universities. Phillip Honeywood, CEO of the International Education ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stacey L Rowe, PhD candidate, Monash University Today’s evacuation of about 180 passengers from the cruise ship Diamond Princess to serve another period of quarantine back in Australia has raised questions about the best way to control spread of the coronavirus. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tess Hardy, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Melbourne Australian supermarket giant Coles and discount chain Target this week joined an ignominious list of large corporations caught up in “wage theft” scandals. Coles confessed to underpaying salaried employees about A$20 million over ...
Parliament is now seeking public submissions on an international treaty that makes it possible to recover child or spousal support from someone who lives in another country. The Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marissa Parrott, Reproductive Biologist, Wildlife Conservation & Science, Zoos Victoria, and Honorary Research Associate, BioSciences, University of Melbourne Since July last year, bushfires have burned more than 7.7 million hectares of southeast Australia, putting many threatened species at increased risk of extinction. ...
Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he talks to Pranav Chopra, founder and CEO of Nemi Teas.On Business is Boring this week, ...
Barnardos is today welcoming the Minister of Social Development’s announcement of a new ‘social wellbeing approach’. Speaking from the official launch of the new approach in Tamaki Makaurau today, Barnardos’ Chief Executive Mike Munnelly ...
A failed Dunedin financial adviser is facing 12 charges relating to fraud and theft over what the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) says is a Ponzi scheme that lost investors $15.7 million. Barry Kloogh appeared in the Dunedin District Court this morning to face charges brought by the SFO over running ...
How to stop procrastinating and actually (finally) get on top of KiwiSaver. Because there’s a good chance that if you’re reading this, you don’t know a single thing about it. Read the full series here.As we learned in part two, being in the right fund can make all the difference: you ...
New Zealand Cricket and media company NZME have failed to reach a deal on radio broadcast rights for next season's international and domestic matches. The current deal expires at the end of April and does not affect the remainder of this summer's broadcast schedule on Radio Sport. Radio Sport has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jianling Xie, Postdoctoral Scientist, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute Researchers in the United States have unveiled the structure of the “spike protein” of 2019-nCoV – the virus behind the current coronavirus disease outbreak. Despite the fact that researchers have already ...
Australian national airline Qantas is cutting some trans-Tasman flights because of the expected fall in business from the coronavirus. It said it will reduce capacity by 5 percent because of a fall in demand, along with the reduction in services to China, Hong Kong and Japan. Qantas and Jetstar services ...
Dr Bryce Edwards.Is the National Party off the hook over the Serious Fraud Office donations prosecution? That’s what the party is claiming, pointing out that no National official or MP has been charged. But of course, there was a National MP involved – albeit one no longer with the ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s contentDonation scandals Bryce Edwards (Guardian): Vested interests in New Zealand politics are too big to ignore – we need ...
Eden Project New Zealand (EPNZ) has announced that it has signed a ‘licence to occupy’ agreement with Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) and the Christchurch City Council (CCC) regarding a new Eden Project in Ōtautahi/Christchurch. ...
Thursday, February 20: South Islanders will be bidding ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ to Austrian oil and gas giant OMV, which has come up empty handed following a controversial deep sea drill in the Great South Basin. Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner, ...
A Southland woman has been prosecuted by SPCA after she docked the tails of eight Rottweiler puppies using docking bands. Taylor Hall pleaded guilty to eight charges of docking the tail of a dog and was sentenced at Invercargill District Court on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Piccini, Lecturer, Australian Catholic University Australia has just entered its final year of its membership on the UN Human Rights Council. This position was won on the strength of two key arguments: Australia would be the first Pacific nation to ...
In Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, the titular Zoey starts to hear the thoughts of those around her – but expressed in song. Sam Brooks investigates what would happen if Zoey took a trip across the Pacific to sunny ol’ New Zealand.If you could pick any superpower, what would it be? Flight? ...
Auckland Council is warning government officials of the risks of disastrous housing developments like some seen in the United Kingdom. It is facing off over the way the government plans to get thousands of prefabricated homes built here to tackle the housing crisis. An email sent last week by council ...
By Rambo Talabong in Manila The top lawyer of the Philippine Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) who was a controversial witness in Senate hearings on the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) controversy has been shot dead. According to the police report, lawyer Fredric Santos was gunned down yesterday afternoon by ...
Shane Jones was back in his Northland home patch during the week to announce the serving of another dollop of public money from the Provincial Growth Fund. It was not the first allocation of PGF funding to benefit the region this year. This time the PGF will allocate up to ...
We need to challenge those who minimise the actions of rapists based on the gender or ages of their victims, argues Emily Writes.Content warning: this article contains descriptions of sexual assault.News out of Australia of another college supporting a sexual predator is as unsurprising as it is horrific. Victims of ...
The two recent donations investigations show political party funding rules are not fit for purpose, and politicians cannot be trusted to fix them, Cat MacLennan writes. ...
The legislation setting up a firearms register and introducing tougher licensing controls is a step closer to becoming law, but negotiations with New Zealand First are still ongoing. ...
A year after they went carbon neutral, The Warehouse Group’s chief sustainability officer reflects on the journey so far and the work that is still to be done. It was a year ago that the red shed made its biggest commitment to going green in its 38 year history. The Warehouse ...
Fresh on the heels of this morning’s news about the prime minister handing someone a bottle opener, The Spinoff can reveal that Jacinda Ardern once offered a man a banana. Jacinda Ardern once offered an Auckland man a banana, according to a tweet viewed by The Spinoff.The MP who would go ...
Open Mike 31/03/2018 
OMV's exploratory drilling in the Great South Basin has failed to find oil. Good. Firstly, because we can't afford to burn the oil and gas we've already found, so there's just no point looking for more. And secondly, because offshore, deep-water drilling poses a risk of an environmental catastrophe, which ...18 mins ago
Excerpts from Being and Being Bought, by Kajsa Ekis Ekman, Spinifex Press, 2013. Part 4 Ekman, a Swedish journalist and critic, brings together a Marxist and feminist analysis of prostitution and surrogacy in this groundbreaking book. This is the fourth part of a synopsis and brief commentary of the book by Daphna ...3 hours ago
The Democracy Virus: China’s authoritarian political system enables a level of social surveillance and control that liberal democratic societies cannot match. The Chinese Government makes full use of the latest digital technology to both punish – and reward – its citizens. The plans it formulates cannot be challenged, or hindered. Where ...4 hours ago
While the south of New Zealand has been struggling with too much rain in recent days, here in the north we are so very short of it (though Saturday’s forecast looks promising). Basically, we have had almost none since Christmas. As someone who relies on rain to wash the car, ...1 day ago
Former National Party MP Jami-Lee RossIt comes as no surprise that Jami-Lee Ross has been named as one of the defendants in the X2 $100,000 National Party donations case currently before the courts. Click bait journalists who were chaffing at the bit to discredit the former senior whip had already ...1 day ago
"You're going to need a longer runway" Gratton et al explore the ongoing effects of upward-creeping temperatures on aviation in Greece in the period since 1955 at a range of airports in that country. For longer runways impacts are measurable but with little impact on operations. For airports with shorter runways, ...2 days ago
In mid-December the Israeli secret police, the Shin Beit, revealed it had arrested dozens of Palestinian left-wing activists, including members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), in the previous few months. Among those arrested was one of the central leaders of the PFLP, Khalida Jarrar. As ...2 days ago
I am among the most pro-free speech people I know. I don’t doubt there are others more strident than me, but I’m certainly up there. And my support for freedom of expression isn’t limited to opposition to government-imposed restrictions. It extends to a belief that employers should have limited powers ...4 days ago
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Jonathan Freedland of the Guardian has penned a column which chastises the left wing of the Labour party for daring to retain principles and ideals, qualities - it seems - that should be jettisoned in pursuit of power.Never mind that Freedland was an ardent Remainer, that is to say, one ...2 weeks ago
Darroch Ball MP, Spokesperson for Law and Order Newly released Police data shows once again the number of fleeing drivers have continued to skyrocket with a record 512 incidents occurring in December – almost tripling the number of incidents occurring just ten years ago, says New Zealand First Law and ...2 hours ago
It may have been the first sitting week of 2020, but our Government is already in full-swing - managing a strong economy, investing in infrastructure, and working to break the cycle of homelessness. Read below for all that, and more... ...7 days ago
A new kete of resources to strengthen support for students with dyslexia will provide extra tools for the new Learning Support Coordinators (LSCs) as they start in schools, Associate Education Minister Tracey Martin announced today. The Minister launched the kete in Wellington this morning, at the first of three induction ...27 mins ago
The National Party donations scandal that had nothing to do with the National Party was the big news of the week. James Elliott has some thoughts on that. Simon Bridges has climbed into double digits as preferred Prime Minister in the latest political polling which is significant for two reasons. ...29 mins ago
Today the unnamed man found guilty of murdering Grace Millane was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 17. “One person has been locked away but are New Zealand women any safer?” asks White Ribbon Manager Rob McCann. “We certainly ...1 hour ago
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Flicking around the news this morning: Stuff headline asks if Jacindamania is over?
Meanwhile Ardern is on the front page of the UK Guardian, with link to an article, which links to an interview.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/30/new-zealand-likely-to-become-a-republic-in-my-lifetime-says-jacinda-ardern
On NZ becoming a republic?
And what Obama said to her, and being a celebrity PM, and more…
“On NZ becoming a republic”.
It will no doubt happen someday. I can remember Jim Bolger, in an Address in Reply debate when he was Prime Minister, suggesting that it would (or perhaps it was should) happen before 2001. Jim had the characteristics of someone from the Irish Republic of course.
Hardly a question of urgency when she suggests it will happen in her lifetime considering that her life expectancy is probably another 60 years. Still, it’s a squirrel.
Check out the comments below the full interview.
The full interview covers more than the Womans Weekly garbage.
Somewhere I read she will meet Corbyn for breakfast? when she’s in the
UK
Hope we won’t be treated to her favourite muesli recipe. No doubt there will be cat talk, and El Gato will be photographed smooching up to Jacinda
https://inews.co.uk/news/general-election-corbyn-cat-number-10-socialist/
“Somewhere I read she will meet Corbyn for breakfast? when she’s in the
UK”
I dont know if that would be wise given the issues around him at the moment:
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/28/europe/jeremy-corbyn-labour-anti-semitism-intl/index.html
https://www.vox.com/world/2018/3/29/17168320/labour-corbyn-anti-semitism-mural
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/28/antisemitism-open-your-eyes-jeremy-corbyn-labour
*sigh* Accusations of anti-semitism have become the last refuge of the scoundrel.
These charges against Corbyn are nonsense. No one in the UK really believes them, not even his accusers. The charges have made very little impression on British voters, who know a smear campaign when they see one.
The anti-semitism charges against Corbyn are useful to study though, because they show two things.
The first is how successful Israel has been with infiltrating the UK political establishment and bribing neoliberal politicians via the LFI (Labour Friends of Israel) (https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Labour_Friends_of_Israel). Effectively, anyone who questions current Israeli policies of violent repression of the Palestinians in mainstream UK politics can be practically guaranteed they will be smeared by a powerful fifth column of pro-Jewish voices in the UK media and political elites.
Secondly, the anti-semitism accusations how quickly middle class liberals will start slinging around accusations of racism when they lose. It was literally the first thing the Blairiites went for when Corbyn won the UK Labour party leadership.
That there is an intersection between the utterly corrupt and hopelessly entitled Blairite extremists and the cash sloshing around from right wing LFI donors is undeniable – and they have powerful friends in the liberal media. Repeaters and morons like James find it convenient to parrot politically motivated and vile lies and smears for completely dishonest reasons, what a complete dropkick and arsehole you are James.
Can’t wait for reselection of Labour candidates to get underway.
Corbyn’s surge in the last UK elections shut the Guardian up for a bit, but they’re back to their old ways.
Currently anti-semitism is the rack they hope to break him on
CarolynNorth, I have noticed a concerted effort by the right in all areas to undermine Jacinda. The article in Stuff follows several in the same vein giving the impression she has “Lost control”
This is a build up before Winston takes over, trying to destabilize the coalition, and make it look mismanaged by emphasising unrelated issues as symptomatic. IMO
I see three rather right wing commentators arrive to swiftly add fuel to the fire. As if being an echo makes it right.
That’s not very polite language there.
Are the 15 UK labour MPs who protested dropkick assholes as well?
“Repeaters and morons like James find it convenient to parrot politically motivated and vile lies and smears for completely dishonest reasons, what a complete dropkick and arsehole you are James.”
Harsh.
But true.
Corbyn is probably being quite reasonable about Zionist …. and Zionists like to smear people with “antisemitism” … James
No, no there’s no agitation to become a republic…
http://www.republic.org.nz/
Just an entire organisation deducted to making it so…
And there’s a reason why the question keeps coming up – there generally support for the change.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/83864989/nearly-60-per-cent-of-kiwis-want-the-british-monarchy-out–poll
It seems that it is the politicians that are holding things up.
I don’t think there will be any political will toward becoming a Republic any time soon. It would, I think introduce a three way brawl between politicians, the senior level of the Judiciary in the Supreme Court and the public.
There will need to be a Head of State, other than the British Monarch.
The current set of politicians around at the time will want it to be an appointment by them. The Public will want to elect him or her. An election will give the person chosen a major claim to power. They will be the only person elected by the whole of the country and will be able to claim moral authority over parliamentarians. No Politician will want to accept that.
There will be a brawl between the senior judges and the politicians. The Judges, led by our current Chief Justice will claim the right to decide all the questions of a Constitutional manner. They will claim the right, in the absence of our traditional system and without a formal Constitution to lay down the rules and to override the Parliament. Again the politicians won’t like it.
Personally I am quite happy with the present situation. They keep out of the way, don’t try and interfere and don’t cost us very much. In fact I think we ought to go back to choosing British Peers as the GG as well. When they were in Office they tended to give us things. Think Ranfurly Shied, Plunket Shield, Bledisloe Cup, Waitangi Grounds, Treaty House etc.
Then when they leave office they bugger off back to Britain. Look at the number we have of the local lot who still demand their perks long after they have become relics from History? Crown Limo to go to the ball, anyone?
Do you realise that we don’t just have the current one to worry about? There are, if my counting is right, no fewer than 5 ex’s swanning around. Plus a bunch or spouses of deceased ones who are also still feeding at the trough.
Away with them.
And a pretty comprehensive interview in Good Weekend magazine that goes out with the Fairfax papers on a Saturday in Australia.
I like the bit where Clarke goes out every Friday evening to get the briefcase of Cabinet Papers and judges by the weight of it whether or not they are going to any fun that weekend.
Yes his humour is “robust” to quote Jacinda.
If that is the same one that was in the DomPost I can only say that you have a very strong stomach sir. Did you really read it all?
A grand piss take of the gun debate, RW commentators and “conservative values” from the Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2018/03/29/i-am-sick-of-these-kids-demanding-safe-spaces/?utm_term=.74762ef3257a
You have to wonder in the light of the Cambridge Analytics scandal, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=KKJMp_O0f7E why the UK is not having a second referendum on BREXIT to see whether it was democratically legitimate to the British people and is what the British people wanted, not what a small corporation funded by a US billionaire, spent a lot of money to influence the result of.
Gareth Morgan on Coleman’s resignation and the need for a by-election.
“while we have high expectations of our politicians, they are in turn very well looked after by the NZ taxpayer, and have an obligation to their constituents. Dr Coleman, being an Electorate rather than a List MP, is the latest to thumb his nose at this social contract he has with his constituents”.
He goes on to say that “Electorate MPs that resign for pecuniary reasons during their term should forfeit all of their taxpayer-funded post political benefits which include inflated Super payments. After all, at the election they undertook to represent the people of their region. To turn around after the event and say ‘too bad, I’m not in government anymore and that’s all it was about for me, it was never about representing you, my electorate’ is the ultimate insult an electorate representative can inflict’.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1803/S00408/gareth-morgan-jonathan-colman-resignation-an-insult.htm
Interesting discussion to be had about fulfilling social contracts and penalties for contractual default……
I’m thinking Gareth has never seen written or signed a social contract. No doubt the courts will enforce what ever provision has been written into Colemans one.
“I’m thinking Gareth has never seen written or signed a social contract.”
Lol
” “Electorate MPs that resign for pecuniary reasons during their term should forfeit all of their taxpayer-funded post political benefits which include inflated Super payments. After all, at the election they undertook to represent the people of their region. To turn around after the event and say ‘too bad, I’m not in government anymore and that’s all it was about for me, it was never about representing you, my electorate’ is the ultimate insult an electorate representative can inflict’.”
How is that a pecuniary reason?
Good luck with proving why an MP resigns.
Your quote is out of context. That relates to the ‘ultimate insult’ – not pecuniary reason.
The pecuniary reason is:
a. The earlier reference to Coleman deciding to step down to take up a position in the private sector, and maintaining it was a hard decision, “ But when you get offered opportunities like this, you just got to take them”; and
b. The paragraph following your quote that “To add insult to injury, the taxpayer then has to turn around and spend $1 million on a by-election, simply because they took the candidate at their word. Politicians who undertake to represent an electorate should have to pay the costs of a by-election or forgo all their post political perks, if they move on for the money before fulfilling their pledge”.
I doubt it would be hard to prove that Coleman’s move will result in pecuniary gain from the salary etc from his new job compared to his current income as an Opposition MP; especially since he himself has made public statements to that effect.
Maybe, but if there were rules around that then they’d just say family reasons or whatever.
Lol GM though, the man that tried to buy his way into parliament with his personal fortune.
Imagine Mike Hosking’s if Coleman had been a Labour MP. For the left, hysterical condemnation from the MSM. For National, utter silence.
Remember the screams of protest on this site when some other MPs resigned and forced a By-election?
Don’t you remember the screams of outrage on this site when Winnie Laban quit for another job? And the same when Lianne Dalziel jumped ship to be Christchurch Mayor, or when Phil Goff did the same in Auckland and David Shearer also quit in mid-term?
No, neither do I.
I think that anyone, Electorate or List who runs for Parliament should serve out their full term unless medical problems preclude it or they are kicked out.
The only exception should be PMs whose party ceases to be the Government. Clark and English come into that category. Everyone else should fulfil their contract.
Sanctuary, Just as telling is the “Deafening Silence” from Hoskings about Health.
So what if the Skripal’s themselves were the ones with the nerve agent? The daughter had just flown back from Moscow a few days before. The container or whatever bursts as she’s rummaging for the front door keys. (hence shit on the door handle) They then run around all those cordoned places – the kids park, the cemetery etc, in those cordoned vehicles, as they look to get rid of the stuff. They feel fine. They think they might have dodged a bullet. They go for lunch. It hits. And the rest is unfolding history.
Makes for a better film script than anything I’ve heard so far 🙂
In this new story, why did the Kremlin give Yulia Skripal some military grade nerve agents?
Ah! Well, you see, the reason May was so sure of the Russian connection was because the daughter had just been to Moscow. May didn’t specify whether it was the Kremlin or a private source. Which is good for the plot line and allows for the Kremlin to be blamed regardless (loss of control of nerve agents/ not full stock destroyed etc) 😉
Did she know she was carrying nerve agents? Who was she carrying nerve agents for? What was the intended purpose and who was the intended recipient or victim?
Or did May just jump the gun with the Moscow connection?
Could make a nice wee mini series.
Who plays May? maybe Meryl Streep, she seems at ease with rehabilitating despicable woman’s reputations.
Who plays Corbyn ?
A walk on part as himself.
I was thinking of this chap
I’d go for this guy. for May.
Yes I see there is a strange familiarity between the two, even their dress sense is not all that dissimilar.
I think I would go for the chap who plays Mrs Brown.
,,, A good black and white, ..Artistically showing Mays long shadow . ……. cast as shes Stepping up to the podium to speak at some Legatum jig … among friends
Worse plot than the new Star Wars movie.
I liked it – good mid-trilogy movie to transition to a new generation.
Actually Bill, the Novichok series has already been made The british public had just finished watching their first introduction to the notion of Novichoks
“So where is the ‘Novichok’ talk coming from? Well, someone in the British government propaganda staff watched the current seasons of the British-American spy drama Strike Back. Nina Byzantina points to the summaries of recent episodes:
Episode 50 ran in the U.K on November 21 2017 and in the U.S. on February 23 2018:
Meanwhile, General Lázsló shuts down Section 20, forcing Donovan to work in secret. She discovers that Zaryn is in fact Karim Markov, a Russian scientist who allegedly killed his colleagues with Novichok, a nerve agent they invented.
Episodes 51 ran in the U.K on November 28 2017 and in the U.S. on March 2 2018:
Section 20 track Berisovich’s meth lab in Turov where Markov is making more Novichok and destroy it, though Berisovich escapes with Markov.
Episodes 52 ran in the U.K on January 31 2018 and in the U.S. on March 9 2018:
Section 20 track down Maya, a local Muslim woman Lowry radicalised, to a local airport. When she attempts to release the Novichok, Reynolds shoots her. The Novichok is fake however, as Berisovich does not want an attack committed in his country. … By the time Section 20 arrives, Berisovich had already called in the FSB to extract Markov and confiscate the Novichok. Yuri resurfaces to kill McAllister and Wyatt. However they turn the tables and strangle him to death. They then manage to engage the FSB and contain the gas. But in the process Reynolds is exposed. Markov works on an antidote but is killed by the Russians before he can complete. McAllister improvises and saves Reynolds, before Novin blows up the lab. Lowry uses the remainder of the gas to kill Berisovich for trying to betray her.”
I like your screenplay better
No doubt Perry Mason ferreted out the truth when the whole matter got court.
There is form for this kind of thing you know, apparently it had something to do with Iraq…
Hollywood’s Warner Bros. will be knocking on your front door any day now bill. Play your cards right and you could make a tidy packet out of that script. It’s about on a par for H.w. 😉
Might even get Peter Jackson to direct the film.
Bill, at 5 and 5.1.1. you say
“The daughter had just flown back from Moscow a few days before.” and “because the daughter had just been to Moscow.”
My understanding is that Yulia Skripal lives in Moscow and just visits her father in the UK from time to time. Also I read some time ago that she works in Moscow at either the UK Embassy or the US Embassy. I am not sure which and am not about to search back for the articles.
However, if you want a good film script you could not go past this Daily Mail article that claims that the poison was aimed at Yulia, not her father, because of her impending marriage in Moscow.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5557625/Russia-protecting-identity-Yulia-Skripals-mystery-boyfriend.html
This article implies she lived in the UK for at least some time
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5744564/yulia-skripal-daughter-russian-double-agent-sergei-skripal-latest/
But this one then suggests that she did live in the UK for some years but then moved back to Moscow
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5744564/yulia-skripal-daughter-russian-double-agent-sergei-skripal-latest/
And no, I don’t usually read or believe rags like the Sun or the Daily Mail. But there are other variants of the Daily Mail story.
For this to be plausible there needs to be a good reason for the daughter of a known MI6 spy and defector getting hold of the nerve agent though.
Hmm.
The father continues his involvement in the shady underworld of Russian ex-pats and…oh, I know!
Bill Browder has another target in mind! One of the London based oligarchs is getting close to uncovering his scamming, murderous ways. So he instructs the daughter to pick up a wee package from Moscow….
I guess that should all unravel at the end of the final episode though as a passable surprise ending 🙂
I think you could bring in side issues like this:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-42852666
Salisbury hospital trust “12.5 million pounds in debt”
as opposed to this:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-russia-williamson/uk-to-invest-48-million-pounds-in-new-chemical-weapons-defense-center-idUSKCN1GR1IR
and angry Salisbury shopkeepers going under
how the community is impacted etc
‘Plausible’ doesn’t exist when using a subset of breadcrumbs and speculation to understand the ‘WHO’ of an espionage hit…
Could have been anyone…
But RUSSIA RUSSIA RUSSIA
And of course Russia never kills anyone.
Politkovskaya lives. Litvinenko died of natural causes. Nemtsov strolled home intact without begin gunned down by Putin’s thugs. And Daphne Caruana Galizia is still alive. It’s all just nasty western propaganda.
Piffle.
“anyone” doesn’t have nerve agents at their fingertips.
That’s ok Stuart you can ‘think’ whatever you like…
But you’ve no actual idea who has which nerve agents, resources to manufacture them or who actually ‘did it’…
You’re not a spy or hitman I’m guessing, and espionage won’t be in your skillset…
Thinking like a spy or hitman…not for you…
Happy day – lectured by a dupe so backward he swallows the RT line whole.
I have a fair idea what’s involved. It’s well beyond the average petty criminal.
“Thinking like a spy or a hitman” – is neither here nor there.
Nerve agents are principally made by state actors, who can recruit people capable of deploying them. Russia has made a habit of using them, and has a large pool of people available to use them.
The thousand lies of whataboutery have yet to fly a plausible kite.
That you’ve taken my obvious statement as a lecture and come back with such a bizarre comment is of no surprise..
Resplendent with the RT mention thrown in…I’ve not mentioned RT , Stuart…that makes you a projection dupe…
You see , Stuart. It’s a good thing to understand ones own boundaries… You appear not to….that’s all too common an affliction…
No-one on this site has anything other than speculation based on what might be 1% of information provided by other entities…
It’s a fundamental failing to take a postion and believe it in the espionage arena….you are not part of that world…
Take a position, sure but appreciate you have NFI about the levels and angles that are in play, because it’s espionage Stu…….just acknowledge that to yourself if you can….
It is a world that your imagination wouldn’t get close to…
[Cut out the pointless chest puffery personal stuff, aye? Both of you. Cheers.] – Bill
So as usual – the propaganda troll claims intellectual superiority for entertaining unsupported (and unsupportable) bilge.
You are not a spy.
You are not a hitman.
You know little or nothing about Russian intelligence.
Your imagination is neither here nor there.
You’re not even properly informed.
Propaganda tr*ll…again with the projection, Stu…
it could have been anyone……
I do not know, nor do I have an interest in ‘who did it’…no propaganda in my position…
You appear to have chosen a side…Each to their own…
Have a good day…
Not bad Bill, I like it and why not? The UK pension doesn’t amount to much these days
but wouldn’t she just wipe the mess up with baby wipes?
Nope apparently not, and the mess is still there on the doorknob, actually its a handle in the photos but I like the word knob, after 4 weeks of rain and snow
As part of his consultancy work in cybersecurity, Skripal travelled all over the place ,Dubai for one
False flag in the ME?
Skripal was still meeting with Pablo Miller, his original recruiter, every week .
And Miller was working for Christopher Steele at Orbis
Like a lot of ex M16 agents, they go on to do private consultancy work
Maybe Skripal contributed to the Steele dossier, knowing it was a load of bullshit but the money was ok
Maybe his monthly visits(according to an expat Russian friend)roused the suspicion that he’d flipped once again , and knew too much ….
Or maybe he’s just been using out of date organophosphate pesticides he found in the garden shed
Personally, I’m going with the theory that Putin at heart just wanted to be caught, he wanted to out the whole secretive Novichok program he’d been beavering away at for the last 10 years
And he wanted to send a message, to the US/EU that their beleaguered ally the UK needed to be rallied around and propped up
missed out bit about Skripal
monthly visits to the Russian Embassy in London
Ok, let’s go with that.
Firstly, that requires Julia to have access to the poison, and be sure thet she (as daughter of a traitor toi russia) will be able to get it through customs. Big hole needs filler.
Secondly, the exposure needs to be unknown to them, because otherwise they would have presented immediately to hospital with some convoluted story. Time is survival.
Thirdly, she smuggled a substance internationally and they didn’t immediately check it when she arrived, they went to lunch? Doesn’t match with the second.
Fourthly, why the front door? They would have gone inside and looked at the package, so that’s where the main contamination would be, surely?
It’s possible, maybe, but really doesn’t scan so simply as “assasination attempt”.
She doesn’t know what she’s picking up for Browder. It’s in some make-up thang – a compact case! (All spy movies should be 60s 🙂 ) Maybe the compact case comes as a “side package” to the main package which isn’t nerve agent. No suspicion at customs for innocuous object.
There’s a meeting. The compact case is in her bag. Meeting gets rescheduled. They go home. Compact opens by accident. Door handle.
They quickly contact Browder. He says they’ll be okay, wash hands and dump the shit somewhere.
They go where they went. They dump it somewhere along the way…or pass it off. And lunch. And think they’re okay, but…
Don’t know whether you should be a script editor or never allowed to go to the pictures with anyone McFlock. Maybe both 🙂
Ok, assuming she decidied to take something through customs for Browder, you’re on the one hand saying she doesn’t know what it is, but on the other hand “calls him quickly” when it breaks. And why would he use as a mule someone who’ll raise flags on both Russian and British immigration/customs computers?
And there’s still the source in Russia to cover, and whomever Browder wants to give it to.
I mean, you’ve got a possible explanation of events there, but not really plausible, let alone likely.
Whereas on the flipside we have Russia being the source, transporter, and deliverer of a lethal weapon in order to get revenge for treason and intimidate other prospective assets.
Do you think we should have a scene where daughter and father discuss what to do before deciding that maybe it would be best to make a call? I think you might be right on that. Good idea.
I’m actually not altogether happy with the burst package in bag getting contents on hands and that then coating the door handle. As with the case of the door handle being the source of contamination by some other route, it would generally only be touched by one of two people entering a place.
Anyway. Do you think we can let that one slide? Or should we concoct some little scene to explain two people using the one door handle?
I don’t think we need to bother ourselves with “flags” at Russian/UK customs etc seeing as how the daughter was a fairly frequent flyer. Maybe we could also shoot a scene where the faux package is subjected to some scrutiny? What should that be? Some papers? Computer related drives? Hmm – thinking 🙂
The full identity of the source doesn’t really matter for our purposes. Establishing a private entity as the source is all that’s required which, given that Skripal senior was a double agent and so unlikely to be used by the Russian state, isn’t a problem.
Bill O have been away for a couple of weeks.
In that time, my research on this topic has taken me to Craig Murray as a very interesting source of information
Have you heard of him?
Do you have a view on his viewpoint?
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/03/on-not-being-refuted/
I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
Thing is, that’s the closest anyone’s come to coming up with some other even vaguely reasonable explanation as to how two people were poisoned by nerve agents in the middle of an English town. As as you point out it still has big holes that would make William of Occam suspicious. Whereas having one or both of them as targets of the Russian state fills up most of those holes.
BTW, you’re looking for cross-contamination to explain the doorhandle thing. Person A touches door, then touches person B with the same hand. But you’d expect the person with the initial exposure to have a greater dose and therefore greater symptoms.
It has been quite cold in the UK so weren’t they wearing gloves?
How come so many people ended up in hospital with symptoms of alleged poisoning? Simple precaution or were they truly ill? Did they all touch that door handle or did they all shake hands with the couple when they were found slumped on a park bench?
Lots of people were tested. Three others were injured to the point of being given a hospital bed. ISTR all three were cops and had been in the house.
Interesting point about the gloves. But then I’m not sure what the latest theories of exposure are.
The basic questions are often overlooked. Cops entering the house would have worn gloves and not touched things with their bare skin unless they are clueless & incompetent …
I kinda liked these pertinent questions. (I’ve reproduced a few) But then, I know I’m apparently bias, besides knowing for certain that I’m in a growing minority of people who view “the west” as being the belligerents on the global stage these days.
From this link.
https://www.rusemb.org.uk/fnapr/6447
2) What specific antidotes were administered to Mr and Ms Skripal, and in which form? How were those antidotes available for the medical staff on the site of the incident?
3) On what grounds has France been involved in technical cooperation with regard to the investigation of an incident in which Russian nationals had suffered?
12) On the basis of which characteristics (“markers”) has it been ascertained that the substance used in Salisbury “originated from Russia”?
13) Does the UK possess reference samples of the military-grade poisonous substance that British representatives identify as “Novichok”?
14) Has the substance identified by British representatives as “Novichok” or analogous substances been researched, developed or produced in the UK?
Not all that interesting, really. What purpose do they serve? How would any answers to any of those questions change the debate? Seems to me that it still comes down to “Putin is killing traitors” vs “Putin’s enemies are killing his other enemies in order to make him look bad, but they keep killing his most powerful enemies so that’s a bit of a weird strategy”.
As to people who view the West as belligerants, that’s actually a pretty big group of people. The people who automatically think the the West must bethe only group of belligerents, that’s a very small group of people.
The usual antidotes for poisoning with nerve agents apparently don’t work with Novichok, if that’s what they were poisoned with. In any case, they have to be given within minutes of exposure to be effective; any later and they’re largely ineffective and require different antidotes/treatment. The inhibition of one of the biological targets, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), leads to severe acute symptoms and potentially followed by rapid death. The longer-lasting effects of nerve agents are nerve damage particularly of but not limited to the function of the legs.
Or there are these ones (a few reproduced) from this link.
https://www.rusemb.org.uk/fnapr/6443
1) What is Mr and Ms Skripal’s exact diagnosis and condition?
2) What treatment are they receiving?
3) Is that treatment the same as that provided to Sgt Nick Bailey?
6) Did Mr Bailey, Mr Skripal and Ms Skripal receive antidotes?
7) Which antidotes?
8) How were the right antidotes identified?
9) Did they actually help or harm?
25) Nerve agents act immediately. Why was it not the case with the Skripals?
26) Leaks suggest the Skripals were poisoned at a pub, at a restaurant, in their car, at the airport, at home… Which version is the official one?
27) How to reconcile quick political moves with Scotland Yard’s statement that the investigation will take “months”?
Jesus christ now the russians want the doctors done for malpractise.
25 is wrong, btw. Nerve agents don’t act “immediately”. But then someone might accuse the Russians of trying to muddy the waters with bullshit questions, as if they have something to hide.
Look through all the CCTV on March the 4th for the guy decked out in the hazmat suit to protect himself from contamination
He’ll be the one
Or maybe he’ll be the one in the army fatigues because they seem to give immunity too
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/929436/russian-spy-poisoning-sergei-skripal-yulia-skripal-military-personnel-salisbury-wiltshire
Check out the photos ..Hazmat guys side by side with army…pure theatre!
I had read that such nerve agents, when administered to the skin, take a while to have an effect.
I also read that an ante-dote was administered pretty quickly.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/01/world/europe/russia-sergei-skripal-uk-spy-poisoning.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes
Where did that information come from?
@ McFlock 1 April 2018 at 9:47 pm:
Point 25 is correct.
From that same link in this comment /open-mike-29-03-2018/#comment-1467564 (for your convenience: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/novichok-agent).
For inhalation, it would be immediate/seconds.
Yeah fair call, they don’t necessarily act immediately. Which is the point – lack of immediate onset doesn’t rule out any nerve agent.
The chapter has significant differences in time between skin exposure and symptoms vs inhalation. Because it says inhalation of the powder was thought to be the main route of exposure, they theorised onset in seconds. If the Skripals had a skin exposure, the delay is anyone’s guess.
As a side note, reading the chapter basically puts paid to the “where did they get the antidotes from” question – literally every nerve agent has the same treatment as organophosphate exposure:
So any rural area fit to treat farmworkers soaked in pesticide would be able to treat a nerve gas attack.
Not to mention other uses of those medications.
As an antidote to a fortnight of hostile MSM attacks, a nice interview in the Guardian with Jacinda Ardern –
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/30/jacinda-ardern-on-life-as-a-leader-trump-and-selfies-in-the-lingerie-department
Reading the interview made me realise how partisan and right wing our media is.
The agenda is to paint Labour an accidental government, unready and accident prone and the onslaught is relentless – and it isn’t helped by the pile on of immature and hysterical left wing snowflakes who toss their toys because Jacinda hasn’t waved a magic wand and fixed everything in three months.
“Reading the interview made me realise how partisan and right wing our media is”
You then go onto a puff piece in the Guardian ?
The main difference is in NZ the media is discussing her actions (or lack there of) of her government.
It dosnt make them partisan or right wing.
The government or labour should be held up for what they are doing.
There have been some commentators on here who voted for labour who have said they wont again – does that make them right wing? No – its that some people just are not happy how this government is working out and media may be a reflection of this view for many.
True but the MSM never seems to do that when National is power and they get excessive when Labour is.
And then there’s the fact that they’ll stop reporting what National did in power to report a non-event that happens in the present Labour government.
It depends on ones perception of a non- event.
Example you have stated as fact that labour did nothing wrong about the sexual assaults at the labour camp (despite concessions from labour for not providing a safe space).
So for you it’s a non-event.
Others disagree and believe it’s a item that is newsworthy.
There is a lot of personal bias that comes into ones perception of the media.
They didn’t. Shit happens no matter how many protections you put in place and expecting everything to be perfect is delusional at best.
And what they did after shit did as a matter of fact happen, was spot on according to those who know a bit about these things which counts a great deal.
Considering National’s systemic victim blaming if this had happened at a National Party function the victims would either have thrown under the bus or paid off if the parents were rich.
That’s not perception – that’s bias and people looking for reports that confirm their bias.
“….and people looking for reports that confirm their bias.”
‘Cough’… political compass…’cough’
😉
Dude, I’m autistic with genius level IQ.
I’m quite aware of my own biases and account for them.
Any party that supports capitalism is, by default, right-wing. Labour has always been a capitalist party.
Capitalism is the problem – not the solution.
For someone with a genius level IQ you sure make a load of mistakes 😉
But we’re all human at the end of the day. Even Stephen Hawking fucked up on occasion
Making mistakes is fine – learn from them.
But you missed the point about autism didn’t you?
Compare that paper’s coverage of Ardern to its coverage of Corbyn. Then dig out some of its coverage of Smith who ran against Corbyn.
And tell me Ardern should be considered a good thing.
Exactly…+1, the editors of The Guardian have made it plainly obvious that they would rather eat their own arms off than have a real Left Wing Progressive alternative in the UK.
“and it isn’t helped by the pile on of immature and hysterical left wing snowflakes who toss their toys because Jacinda hasn’t waved a magic wand and fixed everything in three months.”
I so agree with you there – they remind me of the worst of ‘terrible two’ behaviour. It beggars belief that they have no understanding of the amount of effort that’s going to have to be put into turning around the horrors that have developed, especially in welfare, health and education. We haven’t had 6 months yet, and a goodly portion of that was taken up with settling into government and then the long holiday. Adding to the feeding frenzy of the trolls and twits is not helpful or sensible.
1000%
They could at least answer letters.
“Terrible twos” indeed!
Perhaps some of us have long memories and recall how enthusiastically Labour embraced neo liberal free market ideologies, and we accept that they literally smoothed the path so the real right wing could consolidate.
Perhaps we terrible twos need some sort of a sign from this so-called progressive government this could be that the very first task should be a systematic rout of the bureaucrats who have held power at certain ministries for way too long.
Because when this snowflake heard that the new Minister of Health was going to take advice from staff at the Ministry about disability issues and family carers I actually wept with despair.
I guess I’ll just have to harden the f up.
Rosemary your position and perspective is entirely appropriate (not that you need endorsement) but I’ve followed your posts, and have nothing but support for all who have been maligned and abused by successive governments and their departments…
The current government could have unequivocally cleared house by now in a number of key areas, but have not even made the ‘right noises’..instead they are playing along with the dominant ideology of which they represent and are gatekeepers of..
Those who ask for more time or make excuses for inaction, are establishment apologists who sound as though they have memory failure…
Waiting and wishing that the Westminster System will change its spots is head in the sand denial…
The system is rotten…and requires complete rebuild…
My heartfelt sympathies for all who are being abused by state and private establishments…
not quite as bad as the Labour fundies though who can’t tolerate any critique of the beloved party.
See how the framing in this thread is going?
Far from being a ‘Labour fundy’ I more often vote Green than Labour. Labour this time though, because I was desperate to get National out and, living in the Far North, voted tactically.
However, feeding a National opposition, who will stop at nothing to undermine Labour, on an open forum will, in practical terms, help to bring down this government within one term. Then you will have a National government back – yippee!
There may be an awful lot to do, and it might not be enough for many, but coming from an education background, I am thrilled to bits that they have got rid of National Standards already. That’s huge, for those that understand it.
If there are specific things that some think are not going well, spell it out – do a post so we can all understand so maybe the rest of us can support and help you. There seem to be major issues about the treatment of people with permanent disabilities that are not going according to plan and I know myself how appalling WINZ can be. However, it would be helpful to know, in more detail, what people who are dissatisfied now think that Labour should do that they have turned their backs on.
Thanks Jan, that’s very helpful. I agree with that, that we need solid posts* on what the actual problems are, and we need posts on what Labour (and the GP/NZF) are getting right. I’d also like to see some discussion about what to do in the areas where Labour are failing from a LW perspective, and that leads into a bigger conversation about how to criticise the centre left when the risk is supporting a RW narrative.
btw I wasn’t calling you a Labour fundy 🙂 I was making an exaggerated comment to mimic the generalisations that are being thrown around at the moment that are loaded with implications but not specific enough to easily address. I’d like to see that conversation get more nuanced.
*anyone who wants to have a go at writing a Guest Post, please let me know.
Cool 🙂
Hi Weka, I sent you one those messages again 😉
Cheers. I’ll be back at my email in the next few days. Let me know here if it’s more urgent than that 🙂
Nah, not urgent but fits in well (I hope) with Micky’s post The manufacturing of a narrative and other quite recent threads.
I wish you a good Easter; the weather is beautiful, which means lots of working in the garden 😉
thanks Incog. Have fun out there!
Reading the interview made me realise how partisan and right wing our media is.
Yep. And happy to wittingly formulate lies and half truths in the process. Like TV3 who
continued to claim the young Labour victims of sexual abuse were only 15 years of age. This, despite the fact they were 16 years years old. What’s the difference of one year? Well at 15 they’re still under-age but at 16 they are considered old enough to make their own decisions. Important distinction in the scheme of things, but hey… why let the truth get in the way of a good Labour bashing.
I believe that there was a 15 yo there and drinking – although I understand that the sexual assault victims were all 16.
Where has tv3 categorically stated the victim was 15 – do you have a link?
Of course it is possible that they are right – unless you have inside knowledge??
Duncan Garner for starters. I also read it online in more than one of their news items. Contemplated emailing them and hauling them over the coals for their ‘subterfuge’ but decided I had far better uses for my time.
And btw, I’m taking about the victims of the sexual assaults. From memory there were 4 of them.
James believes whatever it is that disadvantages the Left and suits the Right.
That’s all.
Robert you have no idea what I believe.
To pretend to is simply a sad attempt at trolling.
But you keep telling us what you believe. And it’s always the worst possible interpretation for the left.
That is a piece of sanity Santuary. Hand wringing isn’t needed, early days yet.
+1, patricia. See my 6.6 below.
Also the bracketed comments apply to you as well as they are in relation to hip ops. Sorry, to hear you may have to wait. I had heard that waiting times for hips were shorter now but probably dependent upon DHB etc. But do give thought to the spinal if available. The same day as me, there were three other hip ops and one other had spinal like me and the other two general anesthesia The other spinal and I were up and walking in the corridor five or so hours after our ops, dressed in casuals and walking up and down stairs the next morning, cleared by the physio the following day and wanting to go home, but had to wait til the next morning for the surgeon and his clearance. The ‘general anesthesia’ two were bedridden for two days, only just walking by day three, and still in bedclothes when I went home, and expected to be in hospital for a further two days at least.
Thanks Veutoviper. I will discuss that with the surgeon when I get an appointment…. when being the operative word!!
There sadly may be other issues for me, being a “post Poliomyelitis” patient, as some sedatives and muscle relaxants are not suitable. Further I have a double scoliosis of the spine… always did do things the hard way!!
I have heard what you say from others regarding op times. Quite a difference.
Understand the limitations on some sedatives etc as I was/am in the same situation (heart murmur and ultra sensitivity to many drugs) – hence the anesthetist wanting to go with spinal at the time. And so glad he did from the experience, plus I have since been diagnosed with one autoimmune disease and being tested for more, and this further limits things.
Well said, Sanctuary. And I am pleased you started a new thread on the Guardian article, because I was trying to avoid the covert cattiness under 1 above and getting my own claws out.
As a softish article, I did not consider the Guardian article too bad. And I totally agree with your snowflakes comments which match my own of yesterday on OM which sparked some reaction. LOL.
As a result of the discussion on Pablo’s comments here under OM 29 March @ 3.1.1.2 two days ago, I caught up on his last six months of posts on his blog yesterday and assume you are the same Sanctuary as the one there. His 19 Jan 2018 post and the ‘discussion’ in the comments under it were of particular interest to me. Your comment of 20 Jan at 09.27 pretty much mirrors my own views on the situation both then and still currently. But pleased you two were able to resolve your ‘differences’. LOL. Re the discussion here the other day re his latest blog post, I also decided that this had to be read in conjunction with his “Plus ca change..” post of 5 Jan to understand what he was actually saying about Labour’s foreign policy and reaction to the UK led coalition action.
[If you are speaking to him, please pass on my best wishes for his operation. Can confirm from my own experience, the relief from pain is almost immediate although regaining mobility takes some time. I also recommend spinal with sedation vs general anesthesia as no after effects. I was home and fully over it less than three days after the op.]
Signed the TPPA, soft on immigration, no water tax, no capital gains tax.
Let’s see what gets delivered by the election.
As well as not yet delivering for those that voted for them, yes labour faces relentless negative media. We have yet to see any media savvy or strategy to balance the news media. Without strong change, this government will be gone.
FYI if not being a rusted on labour or national voter makes someone a snowflake, we need more of them.
We need real change.
The rouge state of Israel massacre 15 Palestinian protesters and wound over a thousand more, with IDF troops, snipers and tanks (for fucks sake!) executing Palestinian protesters armed with rocks.
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/gaza-refugees-call-return-mass-protests-180330154419077.html
While back at The Guardian they continue their anti sematic witch hunt of Corbyn and creating a new cold war…from their headlines today…
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/mar/30/corbyn-antisemitism-and-a-week-that-tugged-at-labours-frayed-fabric
Veutoviper, re Bills TV series:
Victoria also said “The British say the Russians.The Russians say the British but maybe it is a third party that wants to make mischief between the two”
I’d be picking Ukraine as a candidate in that scenario
One, they stand to lose a lot of money if and when Nordstream goes through, bypassing them and depriving them of lucrative transit fees, plus the opportunity to tap into the pipeline for free gas
They would love to scupper Nordstream.And there was pressure on the Germans to abandon it.The US wants to sell its more expensive fracked gas to Europe
They would also like to muster up a bit more support from the EU (monetary) which has been tiring of their failure to adopt EU “values”
And the black market in Ukraine for ex soviet military weapons is alive and well
Plus you have the organised Crime/oligarch network already in place
All in all, Bill’s series, with all these threads and potential cliffhangers and red herrings has huge potential
The family element you bring in is an absolute beaut,highly necessary for a popular mini series
And don’t forget the missing dog! It has all the elements necessary.
I know, that dog is so telegenic!
And I want to know what happened to the expensive cat and guinea pigs removed from Skripal’s house while we’re on the animal theme
Could bring in the recent animal rights protests outside Porton Down too
Hmmm the guinea pigs, were they on loan or liberated from Porton Down?
These are questions we demand be answered
Israel the only democracy in the Middle East?
Israel makes great play of its credentials as a democratic state, even allowing Palestinians with Israeli citizenship the right to vote to elect their representatives to the Knesset*
But democracy is more than having the right to vote.
A true and inclusive democracy does not send sharp shooters to shoot down unarmed protesters. Nor does a democracy fire tank shells into farmland, killing a farmer, to intimidate people from protesting.
* (albeit with lesser rights than Israeli legislators).
The last election held in Palestine was 2006.
And the government elected then declared null and void by Israel and the US.
So, would that be that Israel and the US then decided that the Palestinians shouldn’t have elections at all?
Oh they can have elections. As long as the right person wins
After a successful strike in Kentucky, the state government rushes through legislation to destroy the union, one cut at a time. Response – Wildcat Strike!! How scummy can the right get, well it’s early days yet, and if anything like the lying and spinning Tories here, it going to get worse.
https://libcom.org/news/mass-wildcat-strike-kentucky-teachers-30032018
(With Bill et al in mind)
From The Dark Mountain Project
“So thank you for inviting me to talk about this, because it made me reflect in the last few days, and I realise that maybe it’s useful to share this. Because this cathartic process that I went through, some of it conscious and some of it actually only making sense to me looking back, is perhaps something that other people will go through and need to go through. And maybe it’s something we can go through together and help each other.
I guess I’ve gone through a grieving process and now I realise that it was pretty damn obvious that I will die, everyone I know will die, any community or culture I could ever contribute to will die out, this human species will die out, and the Earth and everything on it will die – well, that’s just obvious, we all knew that, anyway.
DH: Yes, all of those things were true before the great hydrocarbon episode in humanity’s history. Arriving at that is an important part of the journey of making sense of what it means to be alive right now.
JB: I feel free of some forms of delusion, some forms of social pressure, and I am approaching things with fascination and playfulness. And what I didn’t have over the past few years were fellow travellers and community, and now I’m realising that I do need a community around this very realisation that we’ve been talking about. And what will emerge from that, I don’t know, but there will be love within it, there will be creativity within it, there will be a sense of wonder at being alive at this incredibly strange moment in human history.”
So we’re all going to die along with the rest of nature but we can be ok because aren’t humans great when we hold hands??
Sorry, just really sick of the anthropocentric hubris and hugely ironic positioning of #itstoolate.
Hello Robert. Yes, like the serenity prayer.
My version for the secular world.
May I have the serenity to accept what I cannot change
The courage to change what I can
And the wisdom to know the difference.
We all need the company of those who know how to make others happy, who have enough grace to share that, and do it in such a way that it feels natural and right.
Here we go a negative branding campaign against Maori. There are no story’s about the Maori King gifting land to the Government to build housing for the people who end up in the tentacles of the Justice system. This is a good thing because society changes so fast. It takes a while for people to catch up with the changes like every thing done by computer ECT society labels people as unemployable and if your brown well it is even harder to get a decent job .So having housing to give these people time to readjust to society changes is essential in keeping our people out of the tentacles of the justice system. I don’t see this story the positive story on OUR Maori King all I see is these story’s here is the link to the medias negative branding against Maori.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12022490
Kia kaha to OUR Maori King Ka kite ano P.S I hope theres a caveats on that land that if the use changes the land is returned back to Maori
Marae TV 1 Hutau Petera College kai pai to the the whano fighting to keep it open we need more Maori schools not less to keep OUR Maori culture thriving surely someone can help keep this Catholic Maori school running the main reason that students have dropped at this school is money Maori don’t have enough money to send there mokopunas to this great school. There are many reason that Maori have slid down the income bracket I could name a few . But we need to stick together and look after our own as no one else will do this for us. We have to have OUR mokopunas best future first and foremost in our minds and actions and this means looking after Maori mana the way we behave the way we treat others the way we present our selves in public .We should always know if we do these things respectfully we will be giving our mokopunas mana if we do the opposite we are eroding our mokopunas mana. Its as simple as that please don’t give the negative branders of Maori any amo to use against our mokopunas future . Be proud of our maori culture and your self but don’t act arrogantly as this will damage our mokopunas mana to enough said Kia Kaha Ka kite ano
Hato Petera has been very poorly run for many years, Local Maori youth will get a far better education in either Rosmini or Westlake.
Good fight Josephs you are very worthy of a rematch against Joshua I’m sure they will go for it the punters are calling for a rematch and now they know you are know push over. If you do things right you and your whano will be set for live. Kia Kaha
Ka kite ano
Newshub there you go another fossil that needs to retire his ancient views he dress as if he is a common man for the cameras and on his website he is all flashed up he is just a person who plays with the public’s emotions .
If we let his type win century’s ago we would not even have a telephone now .His type tried to suppress science as science endangered the control of some religions.
Garth Mc idiot whats wrong with that new tec a taser enough said.
Mike thats a beautiful sight of Te Moanga Taranaki There was more crowd support for the Warriors than the Roosters Kia kaha ka kite ano P.S still some flys hanging around I will Ignore them
Newshub Mike the more I examine my whakapapa and the unique places I have been and the experiences I’v had well this is my fate and te kumara never tell how sweet it is ka kite ano. P.S that lawyer I went to see in Hamilton was a employment lawyer I worked for another company that discriminated against me being brown and they under estimated ECO MAORI Ana to kai
would somebody please explain why the police are able to shoot tom kill when they have Tasers ,that were issued to stop the police shooting to kill?
Depends on the distance away I’d imagine? Are all police kitted out with Tasers?
I don’t really know