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Archives · 2011-08-01 to 2011-08-31
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NRT: Some “strategy”
Some "strategy" -NoRightTurn Yesterday the government released its National Energy Strategy [PDF]. I harshly criticised the draft version when they were released and leaked for replacing Labour's goal of shifting us to a sustainable, low-emissions energy-future with a dream of finding oil, and for failing…
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Australia bound?
Some advice if you are planning on joining the many kiwi's that have left the country to go to Australia since National made it their aspiration to do something about that migration trend. They certainly have massively increased the outflow - one of their few…
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Nats plan to sell $2b+ assets overseas
The Nats say their 'expectation' is 30% of the assets they want privatise would go straight to foreigners. That's just their lowside guess. More would be sold offshore by Kiwi buyers. Get $2b cash now from foreigners now. Lose $300m in returns year after year…
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Turning Green
Tracy Watkins admits today's Fairfax poll is pretty out of whack but there's no denying the trend has turned against Labour in the past few months. People back the policy. That's not the problem. Labour will still be hoping to close up 5% or so…
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Welcome to Finland
There's an excellent article in the latest issue of Smithsonian Magazine looking at Finland's schools, and their incredible success. On international tests they keep coming top, or near to it. And there's a certain irony in it - the Finnish don't really believe in testing. As…
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Open mike 31/08/2011
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Human face of public service cuts
Good human interest story in the DomPost today about the human costs of public service jobs cuts. A Wellington woman has written a letter to Prime Minister John after her 63-year-old mother learned last week that her position at the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry is to…
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Quake costs blowout
Big news today as the estimate of the EQC liability for the Christchurch quakes more than doubles: Finance Minister Bill English this morning announced the Earthquake Commission has increased its estimated Canterbury earthquake liability by $4 billion to $7.1 billion. ... Most of the extra…
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Free trade suckers
The effects of our economic belief system on our balance of payments The global economy relies on a set of rules to ensure fair and free trade. The “Free Trade” nations rely on the “level playing field” that is they rely on all partners acting…
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The new political battleground
Sometimes the ever changing nature of the internet can seem overwhelming, sometimes it isn’t even noticed. One thing we can all agree on is the growing influence of the internet on our daily lives. People from all walks of life use the internet to engage…
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Irene sounds yet another warning
Irene is a name of Greek origin meaning "peace". Hurricane Irene was anything but peaceful. It killed more than 20 people, left millions without power, caused flooding and significant damage, but fortunately lost power before hitting New York. Irene is yet another example of the…
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Open mike 30/08/2011
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Not the ACT party list
I was going to do a post on the ACT party list. But then I realised that I just don't care. http://youtu.be/xCwLirQS2-o [An interpretative dance based on Hilary Calvert's political career? - Eddie]
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Ocean Acidification
"Ocean acidification is the process of ocean pH decreasing (i.e. becoming more acidic) due to absorption of fossil fuel CO2 from the atmosphere. Another effect of ocean acidification is to reduce the amount of carbonate that is available to marine organisms, such as shellfish, for…
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Assets going cheap
With the world's markets in turmoil (again) how are the Nats going to hock off those assets? Fire-sale time! http://youtu.be/GbGiTDfxrWI Starts November 26th, unless you stop them.
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Jackel: NBR’s hack job on Hone lambasted
It's Official - Hone Harawira was Setup Written by The Jackal at 7:29 PM You might recall the hullabaloo around comments reportedly made by Hone Harawira regarding the death of Osama Bin-Laden. Well it turns out that he was misquoted, and the National Business Review…
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In praise of collective bargaining
One of the great myths of Right wing politics is the worship of the individual over the community / collective. The "rugged individual", the "loner", the "maverick", "Atlas Shrugged" type "wealth creators" and so on. It's ignorant at best, an active lie at worst, and…
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Open mike 29/08/2011
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Gaynor on vampire neoliberalism
Brian Gaynor: Decline and fall of Kiwi private enterprise In December 1986, all of the 10 largest companies had private sector origins, and most were named after their creators. Top 10 company founders included Ron Brierley, James Fletcher, James Wattie, Bob Jones and Frank Renouf.…
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The New Zealand age of aging in charts
Statistics NZ succinctly states the scale of the problem in NZ with the aging of the population By 2051, there will be over 1.14 million people aged 65 years and over in New Zealand. This represents an increase of 715,000 or 166 percent over the…
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Revolution and hunger
What provokes a populace to take to the streets in violent uprising? Is it the inexorable power of a demand for justice and democracy? Or is it something much simpler than that... Take the case of the recent "Arab uprising", often claimed (here in the…
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Open mike 28/08/2011
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Suicide and community
Child abuse. Poverty. Suicide. Our shockingly high rates of all three are a condemnation of this country. Following the release of data by the Chief Coroner, suicide is once again getting some time in the headlines: PM promises to combat suicide The government is seeking…
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We are all socialists now
Thanks to Wikileaks we now know that Key reckons that all New Zealanders have a "socialist streak". It's attracted a bit of media attention. But I particularly liked a further Key admission yesterday, that cropped up at the end of this acccount: Key stands by 'socialist…
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Wealth creators
Dr Campbell Jones (Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Auckland) had an excellent piece in the Dom Post yesterday. Some extracts are below, but the whole article is well worth a read. The secret to making money Who creates wealth? Last month we learned that the "wealth creators" of…
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Open mike 27/08/2011
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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For the Minister of Silly Ideas
Ok, now we have you in looking at this silly idea. Well it makes Wellywood look pretty darn pathetic and I'm sure that a combination of Peter Jackson and Warner brothers could help John Key drop his pants looking for the spare change to get…
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Caption contest
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Weekend social 26/08/2011
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?