Anyone else notice this morning that Stuff.co.nz seemed to think it was February 26? Apparently Paul Holmes is going to be on Dancing with the Stars. The Brethren are having a cry about their election fiasco. And Britney is still in rehab.
From Stuff: Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said Inland Revenue reported 212,794 enrolments by October 5, a 64 percent increased since the end of August. Sounds like a pretty good start for me. Now Mr Key, would KiwiSaver be safe under…
Today is the 40th anniversary of Che Guevara's death. The BBC has a piece up titled "Che: the icon and the ad" tracing the history of the famous Guevara image. "There is no other image like it. What other image has been sustained in this…
Great photo of Tony Benn and Brian Haw from the anti-war march held in today in London (via The Guardian). Fantastic that a compromise between police and protesters was reached and the march was able to end in Parliament Square. Pictures below from Reuters.
I recently encountered an old 'friend' I'd not seen in a while. "Mugg he murmured. What a fiasco those Yanks are in over there in Iraq." "Dead right I responded. The trouble is [mate] it's the entire world that's in the crap now!" And he…
From Vanity Fair: Regrettably, some [people] are simply not aware of how large an asshole footprint they leave on the planet. Here, Vanity Fair offers a questionnaire that will help such individuals determine the size and breadth of their footprint. If you answer "yes" to…
Sounds like John Key's good news hasn't filtered through to the UK yet. The Guardian reports that "Thousands of anti-war protesters will mount a peaceful challenge to a ban on marches outside parliament today, unless there is a last-minute compromise with the police". The organisers…
Perhaps spurred on by General Petraeus' claim to Congress last month that civilian deaths in Iraq were down 45% since December last year, the debate about the official civilian death toll in Iraq seems to have intensified. Several groups - including MoveOn.org who recently ran…
And would you even know if you were? A team of researchers have set up an online test that can help to uncover your subconscious biases. It's called the Implicit Association Test (IAT), and it's designed to detect your hidden biases in categories like race,…
I'm aware that I run the risk of being called a bad loser with this post but I'm going to do it anyway :) It's always struck me as a bit odd that in many games, soccer, rugby, tennis and so on, the outcome of…
Well that was painful to watch but good on France for really lifting their game. They defended strongly and took advantage when it counted. Let's just hope that it makes winning here at home in 2011 that much sweeter.
A scathing attack on the National Party policy development and release process from the Herald Editor: An Opposition seeking to style itself a Government in waiting needs to do better than run ideas up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes them... The suspicion suggests…
A good read from Bill Ralston in the Herald today. He observes what seems to have been a turn in media and public opinion against Key and National, noting: But, frankly, National has only itself to blame. I wonder if Bill English is not out…
The Guardian reports that "Growing consumer demand for ethically sourced coffee has fuelled a huge year-on-year rise in sales". Global sales of coffee, chocolate and bananas certified by the conservation organisation Rainforest Alliance - which supports the world's poorest farmers in Latin America and Africa…
The big political news in the US in the last couple of days seems to have been Barack Obama's decision to stop wearing a flag pin on his lapel. The pins have become more or less standard political attire since 9/11. Barack apparently believes the…
The Prime Minister yesterday officially opened Tourism New Zealand's giant walk-in rugby ball, situated in front of the Eiffel tower in the Champs de Mars. The interior of the 25 metre long, 12 metre high ball is built to showcase New Zealand - with video…
Paul Krugman of the New York Times reports that "On Wednesday, President Bush vetoed legislation that would have expanded S-chip, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, providing health insurance to an estimated 3.8 million children who would otherwise lack coverage." He goes on to cite…
Fran O'Sullivan of the Herald, has lept to John Key's defence. She points to a couple of times back in 2003 when Clark and Goff reffer to "post-conflict" and "post-war" Iraq. Apparently their comments of four and a half years ago are meant to undermine…
John Key seems intent on rewriting history. This must be about the 8th time he's tried this tactic in the last couple of days. It's an indictment on these radio hosts that they're prepared to let him get away with it. The question Key was…
The NBR this week - hardly a publication known for its politically balanced coverage - includes digs at both National Party blogger David Farrar and also John Key's disasterous series of policy gaffes (though both by way of humour). Of course NBR readers are spared…
The NY Times reports: DASHIV is in town and the celebration has not ceased. Strange women are opening their apartments to him. Three parties have been given in his honor. His beer mug has been constantly refilled. All hail DaShiv. Who in the world is…
Yesterday, Morning Report invited comment on Key's "The war is over" from Celeste Zappala of Philadelphia. Her son, Sergeant Sherwood Baker, was killed in Baghdad three years ago. RNZ reports that "to say the war is over is not her experience". CELESTE ZAPPALA (MOTHER OF…
The HMS National Party appears to be adrift and taking on water. No surprise to hear that another leak has sprung up. Strangely though, this one's from the Northern Club. A source there tells me that National will soon be launching a billboard campaign. Watch…
With the Burmese junta continuing its crackdown on democracy protesters, Amnesty International has organised a Global Day of Action for Burma this Saturday (that's tomorrow), including protests in Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin and Palmerston North. Details are: Christchurch: 12:00 - 15:00, Saturday 6 October, Victoria Square…
What is it with National Party leaders and their apparent desire to commit political suicide on bFM? First Don Brash's sensational harakiri moment when, after a week of teeth pulling torment as he wiggled and squirmed away from the truth, he finally admitted that he…
Apparently when the senior members of the National Party are having a tough time, they take it out on their workers. How else to explain today's meltdown by National Party blogger and HQ staff member, David Farrar? DPF isn't his usual chirpy self at all…