Happy New Year!

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 26 comments
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To everyone in the Standard community – Happy New Year!

We hope 2012 finds you all safe and well and ready for another year of arguing about politics 😉

26 comments on “Happy New Year!”

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    1. 1.1

      Looks ok in Dunedin. Just the damn bells. Should never have new years day on a Sunday…

      The weather in Invercargill and here has been amazing this year. Nice relaxing time off.

  2. 2

    Happy new year everybody.
    Today I’m in complete denial because I think it’s gonna be a good one.

  4. 4

    Yeah Happy New Year people! While I feel for the rest of the country (and would usually be under canvas up North myself at this time), it’s nice that the South is seeing some sun.

  5. 5

    Many thanks to all the authors and commenters who make The Standard a great home on the net, a place for learning and having fun. We don’t usually say this kind of thing out loud, but I want to take this moment to say how much I enjoy and respect the contributions many of you make.

    Oftentimes it must seem that the debates end in stalemates; but almost always I think more has happened than appears on the page.

    And I’d like to add an invitation to those of you who read and rarely comment; give it a go. It’ll take a little time to feel confident about it… but the chances are after a wee while we won’t be able to shut you up. Finding your voice is a very powerful thing.

    Best wishes to all for this New Year.

    1. 5.1

      Could not agree with you more RedLogix.

      It’s a lot of fun. Some of the witty asides and links have had me convulsed with laughter. It’s a place for learning, and also understanding where other people are coming from and why. But perhaps it’s greatest service is that it allows those of us who take a deep interest in politics (and related topics) a chance to let off pent up steam. A safety valve as it were.

  8. 8

    Happy New Year, all. It’s sunny here today too in the TOTS.

    There’s a four verse song by Stephen Foster in 1854 which is resonating with me today as I contemplate the year’s turning. Here’s verse 1.

    “Hard Times Come Again No More”

    Let us pause in life’s pleasures and count its many tears,
    
While we all sup sorrow with the poor;

    There’s a song that will linger forever in our ears;

    Oh hard times come again no more.


    Chorus:
Tis the song, the sigh of the weary,
    
Hard Times, hard times, come again no more

    Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;

    Oh hard times come again no more.



  9. 9

    Arguing about politics, like writing about music means i’d rather dance about architecture…

    …and sail to save the oceans 🙂

    what’s your guys resolutions ?

  10. 10

    Pollywog, I did sing the song too but blogs aren’t good for the transmission of sound…. 🙂

    Actually, you make a good point. My resolution is where politics and music intersect because I ‘do’ both, rather than just write or argue about them. My resolution is to put a “That” in front of the Foster song title, and then try to have that happen in both my personal life and in the wider community’s life. All this sounds a bit grandiose. I had hoped that my hint about contemplation of the song at the year’s turning might have given an idea as to the direction of my resolve.

  11. 11

    Happy New Year all…

    My predictions for 2012:

    1) National to continue leading in the polls, but the lead drops through the year, with Labour climbing into the mid-30’s.

    2) Budget 2012 to be an austerity style budget, which will include huge spending cuts and the outsourcing of much of the public service, the administration of benefit payments by the private sector will also be trialled.

    3) Homelessness will start to increase as the government’s changes to state housing make pace. Tenants will be evicted as state houses are handed over to iwi, the community sector, etc.

    4) Winston Peters will make up for loss time, and lobs hand grenades into the treasury benches, though Richard ‘lets arm everyone’ Prosser, and Andrew ‘who needs toilets, when a tree will do’ Williams will prove to be problematic. Barbara Stewart will be named as deputy NZ First leader.

    5) David Shearer will position Labour to the left on some issues, and right on others..

    6) Hone will get himself in one scandal or another, after shooting his mouth off.

    7) The Greens poll ratings will drop slightly, but they will continue to be solid performers, being more effective than Labour on some issues.

    8) John Tamihere’s Te Waipawera Trust will be the successful bidder to run a charter school in South Auckland, taking over an existing school, in partnership with a multinational corporation.

    9) Barack Obama will win the 2012 presidential election, but with a reduced majority against Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. The Democrats will also take back the House of Representatives, the Tea Party would have lost its oomph.

    10) John Banks will end up saying something obnoxious and offensive.

  12. 12

    I’d like to wish everyone who contributes to TS as a writer and/or reader and/or commenter a happy new year. You’re a clever and principled bunch of people and it’s a pleasure to argue (and agree) with you.

  13. 13

    Happy New Year to all… I hope it’s better than promised, which is always possible! After all, the torrential rain forecast for Auckland is not happening, and in Wellington, it didn’t come until the 30th, the day I left.
    Which goes to show… the forecast or predicted bad, needn’t actually happen! 🙂

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