Weekend social 03/04/2015
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3:59 pm, April 3rd, 2015 - 15 comments
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Weekend social is for non political chat. What’s on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever.
No politics, no aggro, why can’t we all just get along?
15 comments on “Weekend social 03/04/2015 ”
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 days ago
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
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The Governmentâs planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willisâ making. ...3 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
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The Ministry of Regulationâs report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whÄnau, and kaiako. ...4 days ago
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A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
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Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under Nationalâs Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
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The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
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The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
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The Governmentâs latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
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With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willisâ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Governmentâs books to surplus. ...5 days ago
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The Governmentâs announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning itâs a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
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All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
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The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing.   ...6 days ago
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The Government has failed to keep its promise to âsuper chargeâ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
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The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the countryâs gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-nationalâs disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...6 days ago
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New independent analysis has revealed that the Governmentâs Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets.  ...1 week ago
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The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata MÄori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for MÄori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
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Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
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Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Billâwhich allows landlords to end tenancies with no reasonâignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
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Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
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The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
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Todayâs announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the countryâs rail network. ...2 weeks ago
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After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
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Happy Easter Holidays!
I have a friend:
Leo & band are running a Kickstarter to produce their latest album. Anyone feels like helping out a really excellent band…
Cool band r0b.
Yes they are.
I’m spending a lot of it chilling out with Seth Lakeman.
I’m spending part of Easter listening to all his albums and watching his magnificent ‘Live at the Minack’ DVD.
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/seth-lakemans-workers-lives-review-of-tales-from-the-barrelhouse-and-word-of-mouth/
Phil
Stunning place the Minack Theatre! We saw a performance of du Mauriers ‘Jamaica Inn’ there with the backdrop of a dramatic lightning storm out at sea.
Wish there was something like that in NZ.
Stunning place the Minack Theatre! We saw a performance of du Mauriers ‘Jamaica Inn’ there with the backdrop of a dramatic lightning storm out at sea.
Wish there was something like that in NZ.
Yes, it is stunning. Bits of Seth’s live gig there are on youtube. It really fits his music and it’s interesting watching the way the background changes from day to night – it was a long gig.
He said somewhere that you’ll notice the music speeds up towards the end and it’s because it was such a nice day he just wore jeans and t-shirt but it got colder as night came on so he started playing faster to keep warm.
Here’s the opening number, The Storm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwLK0rJ3keA
And here’s one when it is dark, Blood Upon Copper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WauBCZjOANc
And here’s one from inbetween light and darkness, How Much: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhdWsHEuSw0
Yes, it’s a great pity there’s nothing like the Minack here. I think Tunnel Beach in Dunedin would make a great site for something like the Minack; I’ve even thought of writing to the Council to suggest it.
A witty, intelligent piece by veteran comedian Alexei Sayle in the Guardian on why the new Top Gear presenter should be a Marxist, namely him:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/03/alexei-sayle-its-time-for-a-marxist-top-gear-jeremy-clarkson?CMP=twt_gu
very good. Funny. I like his writing style too.
I think it’s interesting that Clarkson is such a bitter old grudge-bearer as well.
Clarkson likes to be all anti-PC, but actually he’s got his own right-wing PC thing going on.
(Personally I don’t have much time for any versions of PC, but Clarkson is such a hypocrite.)
I loved how Sayle’s article is actually quite didactic and then he concludes by saying he’s not one of the didactic Marxists, he’s one of the fun ones. That made me laugh out loud.
Yep, really good writing style he has.
Clever bloke and very witty, I still fondly recall him from his guest spots in The Young Ones, one of the greatest of all comedy shows. (My favourite character on that was the punk nihilist played by Ade Edmondson.)
I’m liking Australian singer songwriter Courtney Barnett. And she’s a lefty playing a Fender.
http://media.kexp.org/podcasts/songoftheday/media/2015-02-05_2351_courtney_barnett_-_pedestrian_at_best.mp3
Full concert.
It’s taken me a while to admit this, but I agreed with something Sean Plunkett said the other day đ
On the matter of the Americas Cup, he said why don’t we just forget the whole thing, be innovative little hobbits, and start a new race series of our own with clear rules and definitions to keep the lawyers out of it as much as possible, and invite the world to come and play.
I don’t know much about yachting but it seems like something worth thinking about.
Any thoughts from more informed Standardistas?
p.s. I put this in Social as I figured this was mostly sports related, but if mods think it’s more of an Open Mike thing…
tricky. Good idea vs it came from Plunkett. Would the govt have to front up with some $?
disclosure, I’m not an informed Standardista.
Arsenal beating Liverpool almost means Champions League footy next season for the Gunners and a sorry year for the team from Scouseland. That is on TV1 is great (streaming is not really working for me). I reckon it will be 2-0
While coding today I have been watching some Youtube on autoplay….
Love a series called “Guitar Moves” – watching St Vincent at present..