Hurrah. The world's senior political leaders have met and come up with an agreement. With various conditions and weasel word limitations the world has committed, sort of, to limiting the anticipated increase in global temperature of no more than 1.5 degrees celsius. Given that the world…
OK I'm no tech head or tinfoil hat wearer, but my woop-woop went off with this one. From renowned tech expert Minister Amy Adams comes a huge new cyber security strategy fresh out of Parliament this week. She has also launched out of the blue…
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 …
Update: Guardian summary this morning: Paris climate deal: nearly 200 nations sign in end of fossil fuel era. Inspiring but: The overall agreement is legally binding, but some elements – including the pledges to curb emissions by individual countries and the climate finance elements –…
It is that time of year when poor people realise just how poor they really are - the season for giving, the season to be jolly. Well that may be so for some of us, but some people will be working on Christmas day instead…
A good, but depressing piece on tertiary education yesterday by Steve Deane in The Herald: The $25 million student funding scandal Taxpayers have already handed over millions of dollars to institutions which failed to deliver the education they promised. Steve Deane asks if we can…
According to Flag Consideration Project head Professor John Burrows the current result (black and blue fern) is preliminary and may still change when the final vote is announced on Tuesday. The back and blue fern did not win on first preferences, but was the eventual…
When the dust has settled on Climate Change negotiations at the COP21 Paris meeting, America, New Zealand and the many other industrial nations will return to the comfort of their homes for a well-earned break. The world media will return pleased with their coverage of…
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 …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Well, somebody had to write about the flag referendum and in the apparent absence of any interest from other authors here's my take on things ..... zzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Whoops, sorry, nodded off for a moment there. Nearly 1.5 million voting papers have been received and the…
Xero used to fund hate for hire blog Whaleoil via advertising, because "we like to support the sunlight of good challenging discussions". Turns out that they aren't so keen when the "good challenging discussions" are turned on them. Matt Nippert - Xero boss withdraws advertising…
Spying, surveillance and CORTEX are back in the news. By way of background, recall the revelations that emerged just prior to the 2014 election at Dotcom's flawed "Moment of Truth" (NEW ZEALAND LAUNCHED MASS SURVEILLANCE PROJECT WHILE PUBLICLY DENYING IT). Here's The Guardian summary: Documents…
The Climate Action Network has awarded New Zealand a second Fossil of the Day, this time in recognition of New Zealand’s role in blocking compensation for vulnerable countries for climate change damage in the draft text for the Paris Agreement. Zoe Lenzie-Smith a member of the…
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 …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Like a stopped watch, Peter Dunne sometimes gets it right: United Future leader Peter Dunne questions 'jihadi bride' claims United Future leader Peter Dunne has questioned claims that growing numbers of Kiwi women are becoming jihadi brides, saying the allegations from spy agencies could be…
As the world meets in Paris, in desperate need of sanity and unity, the tides of political madness seem to be rising everywhere. Take Europe - an excellent piece by Rafael Behr in The Guardian: As Le Pen rises Europe’s liberal dream is disappearing in…
' ♯ ♬ ♪ . . . $12 million Saudi sheep farm $11 million dollar apartment ten Northland bridges nine bills through urgency $80 billion dollars debt Seven long years Six percent unemployment Five Flag options $45 million Novopay Three $6,000 sofas two toy sheep,…
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 …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
It has been announced that the unfortunate experiment with Serco running Mount Eden Prison is now to end. From the Herald: Private prison operator Serco's contract to run the troubled Mt Eden Corrections Facility will not be renewed. The company's contract is up for review, and…
Yesterday saw the release of the Obmudsman's long (and long awaited) review of the operation of the Official Information Act (OIA). RNZ reported: Govt agencies on notice over OIA The Chief Ombudsman is putting government agencies on notice for their compliance with the Official Information…
' Julian Robertston, a US billionaire who made his money with hedge fund Tiger Management, Merryl Lynch's largest customer when John Key was working there, is the man behind privatisation trojan horse Teach First (NZ). ' ' Robertson is well known in New Zealand. He…
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 …
Thank the deity of your choice for that. Judge Harrison has found and courageously, in a timely manner, corrected his mistake. The problem for a judge being requested to give any injunctive order is that they only hear one side of the argument - that of…
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
American politics has entered a new level of craziness. Donald J Trump may have reached peak craziness or peak political opportunism with his call to ban all Muslims from entering America. So that you can appreciate the special crazy nature of his statement here it is:…
So Paula Bennett is now Minister in charge of Climate Change issues. Like everyone else I thought Simon Bridges would be given this very important portfolio. After all he is Minister for Transport and Energy and apart from agriculture these are the sectors where issues…