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Do the young really lack concentration?
Written By: lprent - Date published: 1:23 pm, March 1st, 2015 - 85 comments
Categories: admin, blogs, humour, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, The Standard
Tags: statisticsNow that I can no longer call myself young, the old adage that younger people simply lack concentration does appear to me to be correct. I look to the numbers on The Standard to see if there is a correlation and if I can argue a causation based on age. Are the younger readers without concentration, or are they just busy…
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Today one of the true veterans of NZ radio hangs up the headphones to complete three decades as the morning host at Newstalk ZB. To mark the occasion we asked a number of Leighton Smiths if they had a message ...15 mins ago - The Spinoff Hot Take Advent Calendar: December 14Every day in the lead-up to Christmas, open the door to reveal a Spinoff writer’s short, sizzling commentary on a weighty subject. Our arbitrary and strictly enforced word limit: 365. Today: Mark Kelliher on attitudes of New Zealanders who’ve returned ...15 mins ago
- Grattan on Friday: Unions likely to be more challenging for a Shorten government than boats
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In this week’s Newspoll 55% believed Labor would win next year’s election, compared with just 24% who thought the Coalition would. These are figures to ...5 hours ago - Fiji warns ‘selfish’ countries amid Paris Agreement climate rulebook deadlock
Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama … urging world leaders to summon the courage and political will to make the switch from dirty to clean energy. Image: Fiji Times Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk Talks to draft the Paris Agreement rulebook ...5 hours ago - MFAT boss defends NZ-China relationship
Top foreign affairs official says there are no "alarming signals" from Beijing about bilateral ties. ...6 hours ago - Spying warrants under scrutiny by watchdog
The watchdog of the country's spying agencies has taken issue with aspects of their approach to getting warrants for intelligence gathering, under a new law passed last year. ...9 hours ago - A tale of two media reports: one poses challenges for digital media; the other gives ABC and SBS a c...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denis Muller, Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Advancing Journalism, University of Melbourne Two reports out this week – one into the operations of Facebook and Google, the other into the ...9 hours ago
- House of Drag power rankings: The all-white rap challenge
House of Drag breaks out of the Drag Race mould with an all rap-challenge, with mixed results. Look. It’s not racist to do a rap challenge with an all-white cast, but it’s something that I might give a little pause to before continuing ...10 hours ago - The proposed National Integrity Commission is a watered-down version of a federal ICACSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yee-Fui Ng, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Monash University The federal government has announced it will establish a Commonwealth Integrity Commission. This new commission will be the peak body to detect and ...10 hours ago
- Many people have a hard time swallowing. Help them to ‘eat, drink and be merry’ this ChristmasSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bronwyn Hemsley, Professor of Speech Pathology, University of Technology Sydney Swallowing food, drink, and saliva is a central part of our lives. It’s something we do about 900 times a day, yet ...10 hours ago
- In long-awaited response to Ruddock review, the government pushes hard on religious freedomSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anja Hilkemeijer, Lecturer in Law, University of Tasmania Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Attorney-General Christian Porter have released both the Ruddock Panel Report on Religious Freedom and the government’s response. Given the ...11 hours ago
- The suburbs are the spiritual home of overconsumption. But they also hold the key to a better futureSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Alexander, Research fellow, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne Suburban affluence is the defining image of the good life under capitalism, commonly held up as a model to which all ...11 hours ago
- Why cutting Australia’s migrant intake would do more harm than good, at least for the next decadeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter McDonald, Professor of Demography, Centre for Health Policy, University of Melbourne Australia’s population is among the fastest growing in the OECD with an increase of 1.7 per cent in 2016-17. In ...11 hours ago
- The women wanting Kiwis to invest in the US share marketBusiness is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff, in association with Callaghan Innovation, in which host Simon Pound speaks with innovators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he talks to Natalie Ferguson and ...11 hours ago
- I moved to London, and now I finally care about ChristmasWhen she lived in New Zealand, Elle Hunt never really understood the fuss about Christmas. That all changed when she moved to London, she writes in the latest instalment of her Elleswhere series about life as a New Zealander in ...11 hours ago
- We have a Christmas comet: how to spot 2018’s interplanetary baubleSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jake Clark, PhD Candidate, University of Southern Queensland We’re in for a pre-Christmas treat this weekend, as the cosmos entertains us with two equally exciting gifts: the Geminid meteor shower and the ...11 hours ago
- Resignations likely at NZTA, and Ministry under spotlight
More resignations at NZTA are likely, as Phil Twyford says the Ministry of Transport's role in the regulation scandal will also be reviewed. ...12 hours ago - Mental fatigue becomes major focus in govt’s workplace strategyThe government is changing its approach to health and safety, with a greater focus on mental fatigue in its strategy for the next decade. ...12 hours ago
- Discretion the question in synthetics response
The Government's response to the surge of synthetic deaths has won some praise - but is greater police discretion the answer? ...12 hours ago - Spinoff readers are giving meat-eating the cold shoulder
The Spinoff partnered with UMR to survey the attitudes of our readers, and the nation as a whole. Today, how much meat is the country eating? And is that changing? You’ve probably got stereotypes in your head about vegetarians. You’ve definitely ...12 hours ago - MBIE officials grilled on terms of Westland Milk loan
Not knowing how much interest Westland Milk is paying on its $9.9 million loan from the government’s Provincial Development Fund leaves parliamentarians no means of assessing how much of a subsidy the dairy company is getting, said National MP Paul ...13 hours ago - Hear ye, hear ye: these are the 20 best novels of 2018
All week this week we present the best books of 2018. Today: the 20 best novels.Previously: the best kids books, poetry books and non-fiction books of 2018.Past Tense by Lee Child (Bantam, $38)Reacher.Normal People by Sally Rooney (Faber, $33)Was the Irish ...13 hours ago - The Real Pod: A star (baker) is bornThe Real Pod assembles to dissect the week in New Zealand pop culture and real life, with special thanks to Nando’s.This week on the Real Pod, we suck back an ice cold taurine fizz and tackle another week of reality television. ...14 hours ago
- Trade Me suitor Hellman & Friedman drops out
Trade Me suitor Hellman & Friedman has dropped out of the race to buy New Zealand's dominant online marketplace. ...14 hours ago - Morrison wants Religious Discrimination Act passed before electionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The government will introduce a Religious Discrimination Act to protect the rights of people of faith, with Scott Morrison declaring he would like the legislation ...14 hours ago
- Hydrogen not a short-term option for Huntly
Hydrogen may be the ideal fuel to provide dry-winter power supplies but it may not be economic before 2030, MPs heard today. ...14 hours ago - The Spinoff Hot Take Advent Calendar: December 13
Every day in the lead-up to Christmas, open the door to reveal a Spinoff writer’s short, sizzling commentary on a weighty subject. Our arbitrary and strictly enforced word limit: 365. Today: Sam Brooks on why cocktail snobbery is for losers.Look, ...14 hours ago - Treasury forecasting annual wage growth above 3% over next five years
The New Zealand economy is forecast to deliver annual average wage growth of more than 3 percent a year during the next five years, although economic growth rates are seen falling gradually over that time. ...14 hours ago - Parents shouldn’t be embarrassed to talk to their kids about pornParents surveyed for research on their attitudes to children viewing pornography has shown some are embarrassed to talk to their children. Family Planning National Health Promotion Advisor Amanda Hargreaves gives some tips on approaching the issue of relationships, sexuality, and ...14 hours ago
- Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel intends to stand for a third termLianne Dalziel says the decision to stand for another term wasn't an easy decision to make. ...15 hours ago
- I choose freedom: on being a young woman who travels aloneWhat does it mean to step out into the world on your own as a young woman?Three days after my 21st birthday, I jumped on a plane and went to Europe. I spent five months in London studying for a ...15 hours ago
- Fiscal policy to slow growth over next five years
The Labour-led coalition government will run a tight fiscal policy, keeping a lid on economic growth over the next five years, the Treasury's half year fiscal and economic update says. ...15 hours ago - The great unknowns: The best NZ music of 2018 with
Gareth Shute digs around to create a best-of-2018 music list with one criterion: the tracks all have less than 1000 streams on Spotify.One cruel thing about online music services like Spotify is that they instantly put a number next to ...15 hours ago - Solid growth underpins govt spending plansA solid economy is expected to underpin the government's spending plans. ...16 hours ago
- Robertson holds fire for Wellbeing Budget
Finance Minister Grant Robertson is keeping his powder dry for the first full Budget he will be able to put his own stamp on. ...16 hours ago - Treasury sees $27b of surpluses over 5 years
The books are looking good but the Government is still holding back on much needed spending on housing and health. ...16 hours ago - Why is Christchurch Hospital displaying photos of staff in blackface?
A ‘Christmas tradition’ featuring photos of urology consultants in dark brown makeup and afro wigs has angered members of the public.It’s at Christmastime that New Zealanders buy more mince pies and glazed cherries. It’s at Christmastime that New Zealand’s spirit ...16 hours ago - MediaWorks in 2018: Starving itself to prepare for a sale?The home of Three and radio stations like The Edge has been owned by private equity for 10 years now. As part of his series on NZ media in 2018, Duncan Greive talks to anonymous executives within and without of ...16 hours ago
- Pacific ‘smart’ thinking grows creative tension between policy and research
ANALYSIS: By Professor Derrick Armstrong A traditional view of the tension between research and policy suggests that researchers are poor at communicating their research findings to policy-makers in clear and unambiguous ways. I am arguing that this is an outdated ...17 hours ago - The Spinoff reviews New Zealand #78: The PlayStation Classic
We’ve already previewed Playstation’s new nostalgia thirst trap, but now the Classic comes under the real judges: The Spinoff Board of Review.Sam Brooks, gaming editorEven though I’d already spent a few hours having a little spin on the game, where ...18 hours ago - Food prices ease in November
New Zealand food prices fell in November, driven by a seasonal fall in fruit and vegetables. The biggest fall was strawberries, with prices tumbling 33 percent on the month and 5 percent compared to this time last year. ...18 hours ago - Two of the most common synthetic drugs to be classified as Class AThe government is responding to dozens of synthetic drug-related deaths in the last year by cracking down on suppliers and boosting funding for addiction treatment services. ...19 hours ago
- Is it ever OK to put ice in your wine?
A fruity rosé inspires Henry to issue some eyebrow-raising advice, and a new IPA has Alice feeling festive. BEAU DE FRANCE ROSÉ 201713%, France, $13.99 from Fine Wine Delivery CoHere at The Spinoff, it’s hot take season – all month long, we’re ...19 hours ago - Transport strikes averted
Separate strikes threatening to disrupt travel plans in the run-up to Christmas have been averted as mediated negotiations came up with offers strong enough to take to union members. ...19 hours ago - Broadly weaker NZ dollar drops vs pound
A broadly weaker New Zealand dollar fell sharply against the British pound as traders bet UK Prime Minister Theresa May will be able to survive a 'no confidence' vote, shoring up her position in pursuing a Brexit deal. ...20 hours ago - Poor health in Aboriginal children after European colonisation revealed in their skeletal remainsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shaun Adams, Isotope Bioarchaeologist Research Fellow, Griffith University The poor health conditions of eight young Aboriginal people who died around the time of early European colonisation have been revealed in their skeletal ...21 hours ago
- How a proposed new bill would make it easier to strip Australian citizenshipSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rayner Thwaites, Senior Lecturer, Sydney Law School, University of Sydney Last month, the federal government introduced a bill into parliament that, if passed, will make it easier to strip an Australian of ...21 hours ago
- Can (and should) a doctor tell my biological relative my genetic results without my consent?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Tiller, Ethical, Legal & Social Adviser – Public Health Genomics, Monash University A woman recently sued a London hospital for doctors not disclosing that her father had the genetic mutation that ...21 hours ago
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