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Over the last few days I have been reading Neil Sheenan's "A fiery peace in a cold war". It looks at the politics and infighting of the development of the US ICBM forces in the 50s and probably later (still reading). At the same time…
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There was an interesting variety of views expressed recently in the Herald on the ancient Titirangi Kauri tree that this week avoided the chop, at least for now. Predictably Rodney Hide thinks that the whole thing is an attack on personal property rights and land owners…
Conservation david cunliffe Environment national same old national
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Governments the world over "sell" their spying and surveillance activities to the people as a tool to keep them safe from "terrorism". It doesn't and it can't, of course, leading many skeptics to suggest that surveillance is mostly used for diplomatic and industrial spying, and…
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So Swedish authorities are doing the right thing and interviewing Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian Embassy. Not that they’re doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. No. Apparently there’s a statute of limitations on the potential charges he faces.
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How can it be that even liberal media lauds those fighting the Daesh in Syria (for example, here, here and here) and yet liberal legal systems arrest and charge those seeking to support those same people with terrorist offences? It couldn’t possibly be that our…
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
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Say what you like about Winston Peters - and who doesn't - but the man has chutzpah: Key Challenged to Debate Northland New Zealand First Leader and Northland by-election candidate Rt Hon Winston Peters is challenging Prime Minister John Key to a debate in Northland.…
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You can only bungle and lie for so long before people get sick of it. Tracy Watkins is a loyal Key fan, she's trying to warn him: John Key burning up political capital following Edward Snowden revelations ... The bluster and bravado is also a…
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A recent article by Phil Quin in the Herald made me wonder. I understand that he was a Parliamentary staffer for the party in the 1990s but I have never met him. I have never seen him at a meeting, never heard of him being…
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
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The co-leadership race within the Greens has shown that they’re alive and kicking – if nursing a few wounds from the last election. Both Kevin Hague and Gareth Hughes have managed to enter the race with minimal belittlement – an impressive feat in itself, for…
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Karen in comments states Advance voting only opened on Wednesday in Northland and already double that of the general election. Unusual in a by election for there to be a big turnout, so we will see if it continue. She is certainly right. It will…
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Stay classy National - Nats: Roads in doubt if Winston wins John Key is warning voters there is no "free lunch" in the Northland by-election, as National claims major roads and free-trade deals will be in doubt if Winston Peters wins. Speaking to Turners &…
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Are you saving to a buy house? Are you saving more than $1000 a week? If not, you are going backwards: House asking prices going up $1000 every week Heightened confidence in the property market continues to raise people's expectations about what they might get…
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“It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.” ― Terry Pratchett, The Last Continent The announcement https://twitter.com/terryandrob/status/576036599047258112 The Independent The Guardian Ars Technica Buzzfeed The Telegraph BBC News
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
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Sometimes life imitates art. This is the picture that Phil Twyford was ejected from question time for displaying. Might as well turn it in to a - caption competition!
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I/S at No Right Turn on the latest Nat omnishambles - these financial "geniuses" can't even calculate their own pay rates correctly... Legislate in haste, repent before you've even started When John Key promised to remove MPs' outrageous, undeserved pay rise - without showing us the bill…
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I am always learning new things. I have a new job and accordingly I have to learn lots of new stuff quickly. As part of that process I have been directed to Sir Ken Robinson Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson challenges the way we're educating…
climate change education Revolution schools Social issues sustainability tertiary education
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ACT is trying to grab a few headlines by pretending to dither about Northland: Northland by-election: ACT considers backing National ACT is considering telling its supporters in Northland to vote National, even though the party has its own candidate in the field. No doubt the…
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From the I shit you not file ... The reason that National has announced a decaboondoggle of double land bridges for the far North now during a difficult by election campaign and not during the last general election campaign is because of Nicky Hager and…
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A message from the #SaveourKauri team He Kauri He Rangatira E tu Thank you so much. We’ve been overwhelmed by your support - two years ago we were a small group of neighbours and residents shocked that anyone could contemplate cutting down a 500 year…
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
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Yesterday ‘The Guardian’ reported on the death of Ivana Hoffmann who was fighting in the Rojava region of Syria. She was apparently a member of the MLPK. The MLPK is an organisation predicated on old school Marxist-Leninist ideology. In short then, they’re authoritarian. From my…
activism community democracy democracy under attack democratic participation International Left patriarchy political alternatives political education Politics Revolution Syria vision war
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UPDATE Tree is staying. Maybe. Was driving through Henderson yesterday toward the Auckland City Centre and spotted a car with screen painting on it… “Keep Kauri Standing”… Imagine my surprise when I passed another on the motorway… Imagine my further surprise when I passed said…
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One of my real pet peeves is interviewers who don't let incredibly knowledgeable people speak to the topic they have been invited. Today Judge Peter Boshier was being interviewed by Kathryn Ryan in his capacity as a Law Commissioner. As the interview evolved it began…
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The latest on the spying revelations as they emerge in The Herald. Apparently we're spying on penguins now... New Zealand's spy reach stretches across globe New Zealand spies on Vietnam, China, India, Pakistan, South American nations and a range of other countries to help fill…
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
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One of the things I've found interesting about being involved in writing for The Standard is getting to recognise the particular thoughtfulness of some of those who regularly comment. There are some good brains out there, and some highly informed people. Therefore I'd like to…
Abuse of power International monetary policy overseas investment Politics us politics war
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So the cheque book has come out and National is targeting local greed to try and get its candidate Mark Osborne home in Northland. National has promised to convert to two lanes ten existing one lane bridges at a cost of up to $69 million.…