A good leak is something to behold. The media trumpets the news that has been leaked and the leakee looks bemused and confused. And the leaker, who knows who they are? The media cycle is dominated by the news. Reporters scurry around in increasingly smaller…
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 …
National seem to be determined to transform itself from a large party into a smaller party such are the issues it is focussing on. First it was Tahrs. Kiwis' god given right to hunt these imported beasts was going to be taken away. Or so…
There is a long a proud history of musicians adding their weight to the Democratic cause in the United States, but this one is about as on-message as you can get. Taylor Swift is amplifying to 100 decibels the great feminist revival occurring right now,…
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 …
Remember the $11.5 billion hole that Stephen Joyce and National said Labour was going to leave the country with? Well the 2017/18 financial books have been completed and released and the Government's surplus was $2.4 billion greater than forecast. From Tova O'Brien at Stuff: The…
Website Bellingcat claims to have identified the second spy involved in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal. He's Alexander Mishkin, a doctor working for Russia’s GRU intelligence agency. The website said it had tracked down Mishkin’s real identity after being given a scanned copy of his…
If, like me, you are among the poorest half of the population in NZ, then we could get together today and emit zero carbon as from tomorrow morning and...the reduction in NZ's emissions would stack up to about 10%. If, unlike me, you are a…
The culture wars have recently erupted with a vengeance. On the day that the IPCC has confirmed that the world is running out of time to do something to try and preserve what we have National and associated entities have complained that fuel prices are…
Get ready, according to the AA, for petrol at $3 a liter for Christmas. Taxes make up about 43% of the cost. Anti tax petitions are circulating. We also need to get ready for James Shaw's Zero Carbon bill, with its measured impact on electricity…
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 …
One of the supposedly most contentious things this Government has done is take steps to stop offshore oil drilling. Shock horror, there was no consultation, it will cost lots of jobs and it is one of the reasons that business confidence is plummeting. Although stories…
The recent passing of Penny Bright got me thinking about her tireless and fearless fights. Other people came to my mind too, e.g. Helen Kelly, Lecretia Seales, and Nelson Mandela. Some people talk about their “calling”, others mention “purpose” or “dream” or “faith” (not necessarily…
It would fit the karma of a leftie universe if the United States was now suffering from its political choices. But it’s the reverse: the United States economy is roaring and President Trump is starting to be rewarded for delivering what he promised. The United…
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In my personal opinion the English artist Banksy is one of the best artists of our time. His art captures the absurdity of our times and is trenchantly anti corporate. It focusses on ordinary people and ordinary scenes but adds in an element of pathos.…
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There is so much extraordinary news that comes out of America each week. This week the latest news is that Kavanaugh looks like he will become a Supreme Court Justice, despite there being major questions about his actual suitability based on historical allegations of sexual…
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 …
There was some sad news overnight. Auckland political activist Penny Bright finally succumbed to ovarian cancer and died overnight. Penny was one of Auckland's unique political activists. She was a regular attendee at protests and had that endearing characteristic of saying exactly, precisely what she…
There was an interesting interview involving Taxpayers' Union head Jordan Williams yesterday morning aired on Radio New Zealand. His appearance was a defence of the use of fake names when making OIA requests. Why The Taxpayer's Union could not get real private persons to ask…
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 …
I was planning to ignore National's civil war and write something about the Government's bill to stop the issue of of further permits for offshore oil drilling. But instead National's simmering problems created by the very unwise decision to find out who leaked Bridges' travel…
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 …