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Open mike 21/12/2011
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Archives · 2011-01-01 to 2011-12-31 · Page 2
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ImperatorFish: Dunne In Stoush Over Caucus Lunch Plan
Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here —————————————————— Dunne In Stoush Over Caucus Lunch Plan A fierce row has broken out between a Wellington restaurateur and United Future Party leader Peter Dunne,…
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No mystery over Waitakere votes
There was some pretty low-grade reporting on the Waitakere race that suggested some kind of organised voter fraud may have taken place. Under the title Questions over Waitakere vote, the Herald reporter said 9 dual votes had been found and 393 special votes had been…
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The year of the protest
It has been a big year for protest internationally. The "Arab Spring" protests in the Middle East. Occupy Wall Street and the world wide Occupation movement. Tahrir Square. Time magazine somewhat controversially chose as it's annual person of the year a representative symbol - "The…
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Crisi-tunity
Kim Jong Il's dead. Kim Jong Un's next in line. Could there be a succession crisis in the only nuclear-armed monarchy? I reckon it's an opportunity. Jong Un's a 27 year-old computer nerd now stuck running a broke-arse, backwards country. If Obama really wants rid…
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Open mike 20/12/2011
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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ImperatorFish: Dr Don Seeks To Sink Santa
Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here —————————————————— Dr Don Seeks To Sink Santa Former ACT Party leader Dr Don Brash has confirmed he is seeking to replace Santa Claus as the…
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Cunliffe, Parker swap roles
David Shearer has released his new caucus line-up, David Parker, Jacinda Ardern, David Cunliffe, Clayton Cosgrove, Shane Jones and Nanaia Mahuta making up the rest of his and Grant Robertson's front bench. A lot of talent, and a definite fresh look from the Goff or…
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Comment Privacy and fools
Readers of this site are probably aware that I think Cameron Slater is a technological idiot. Well he has just proved it again. There was a comment on our site referring to some of the IP/e-mail matching going on at another site recently which I'm…
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Nelson floods
It's Nelson / Tasman's turn to get hammered by nature. Commiserations to all those affected, especially those who have had their homes damaged or destroyed. After Christchurch I think everyone in the country knows some that this has happened to, and what a heartbreak it…
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Priorities
Trillions have been plowed into bailing out banks, investors, and whole countries during the economic crisis. The cost easily exceeds total investment in tackling climate change. Is it, as George Monbiot argues, that elites just look out for themselves, or are humans just incapable of…
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Trickle down
Key: "Of course, if we could have lower personal taxes, we think that would stimulate the economy – but we just can't afford it". But, if tax cuts stimulate the economy, you could make them self-funding. The 2010 tax changes were meant to pay for…
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Open mike 19/12/2011
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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Shearer’s Address in Reply
David Shearer's brand is of a new kind of politician. Not burdened by the old rivalries, he is touted as the man that can move New Zealand forwards - a consensus-builder rather than a scarred old warrior. The weekend media coverage has been excellent. His…
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A plug for Mediawatch
One of my Sunday morning treats is listening to Mediawatch while I potter in the kitchen. It's the show that watches the watchers. It's always interesting, often acerbic or insightful, and sometimes fascinating. It should be required listening not just for political junkies, but for…
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Open mike 18/12/2011
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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What a riot.
Back in August, a post commented on the four year sentence handed down to a couple of kids in England who had used Facebook posts to incite a riot. At the time, I commented how two Scottish kids had been arrested on the same charges.…
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Easy come, easy go
The judicial recount has given Waitakere back to Bennett. By 9 votes. Could swing back on a high court petition. Who knows who really has more support out west. Sepuloni and Bennett are essentially as popular as each other. Just shows the stupidity of winner…
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Open mike 17/12/2011
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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Bell Pottinger: Lobbying unmasked
I first became aware of the Bureau of Investigative Journalists latest work with Kim Hill's interview last Saturday. The Bureau's been investigating lobbying, and more specifically, Britain's top PR firm (as rated by PRWeek and Marketing magazine for the past 4 years), Bell Pottinger (headed…
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ImperatorFish: Uncle Ernie: Hidden In Plain Sight
Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here —————————————————— Uncle Ernie: Hidden In Plain Sight A mate of mine wrote this week: The Greens are dangerous. They are more than a polite group…
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Weekend social 16/12/2011
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?
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Christmas presents from the Commission
In 2008 on 16 December, the previous Electoral Commission released its non-decision on the address I used on Chris Knox's CD "it's a better way with Labour". They were embarrassed and buried it in the pre-Christmas dump. This December, I'm waiting for a much more…
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Theorising the Labour leadership selection
We have great expectations of our members of parliament. They are there to represent our views as citizens of New Zealand, as members of our own little town or big city, perhaps as women or liberals or environmentalists. To manage those expectations our politicians are…
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Too many ministers
Brian Fellow wrote a piece in the Herald yesterday on how NZ has too many ministers. Hard not to agree. 28 ministers. Nearly half of the governing parties' MPs. 90+ portfolios. Ministerial warrants are clearly being used to keep backbenchers and minor parties in line.…
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Iraq war a “success”
Not with a bang but a whimper. On Wednesday President Obama marked the end of the war in Iraq: Barack Obama declares Iraq war a success President told an audience of soldiers at Fort Bragg that the final pullout after nearly nine years of conflict…
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Open mike 16/12/2011
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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And so it begins
So Mighty River Power is first on the block, to be sold in the third quarter of next year (market conditions permitting). John Key was typically nowhere near the announcement, leaving unpopular news to henchman Bill English and Tony Ryall. But up for sale it…
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What we need more of is science
There was a very good science piece on Nine-to-Noon this morning, covering some of Kathryn Ryan's trip to Antarctica. Some of the subject matter was disturbing - they've recorded a drop in the pH of the ocean from 8.2 to 8.1 due to human CO2…
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ImperatorFish: Pensioner Couple Trumps Higgs Boson Discovery
Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here ————————— Pensioner Couple Trumps Higgs Boson Discovery Physicists elated at what they believe is their discovery of the Higgs boson particle have been shocked to…