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6:00 am, March 1st, 2026 - 20 comments
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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 …
I have a gut feeling that Donald Trump (USA) and Bejamin Netanyahu (Israel) have just opened a can of worms by attacking Tehran (Iran) and they do not really know what they are buying into ?
I doubt whether many people in the USA, are really that interested in getting involved in a serious conflict in the Middle East, and most will not have the appetite for a protracted war which will result in many civilian casualties.
This may ignite a new wave of terrorism or threats of terrorism.
Don't think the sociopaths in charge care. War is good for business and/or the Apocalypse.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz7gw3l395ro
Putins army useing meat storms to wear Ukraine down. It worked for stailn
anyone following the Zuckerberg/Meta trial? Got a good write up that will give me the background and the current trial? Not looking for a novel to read, just the basics.
https://bsky.app/profile/theverge.com/post/3mf623sdtnk26
https://bsky.app/profile/laurenfeiner.bsky.social
Interesting to see conservative opinion on Trump's Iran war isn't far off liberal opinion on it – this piece by Matthew Syed in The Times is paywalled, but here's the gist:
It's not much different from what you might read in The Guardian.
The bit about Venezuela is especially relevant. Trump's good at cutting deals with fellow kleptocrats, and his organised-crime approach to international relations worked well in Venezuela: if you want a cut of another gang's action and they won't make a deal, take out their leader, give them a good demonstration of how much stronger than them you are, then ask "OK, anyone else here who doesn't want to make a deal?"
That approach can't work against fanatical religious fundamentalists who see getting killed fighting their religion's enemies as a guarantee of rewards in the afterlife, but he's trying it anyway. And Iranians would be mad to rise up against the regime at this point – he already got thousands of them killed by telling them "Help is on the way" and then providing no help. Once bitten, twice shy.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/588310/the-house-written-questions-a-less-frustrating-question-time
That sounds remarkably similar to prompting AI and fact-checking its output for hallucinations.
The difference is that AI cannot be held accountable and MPs (incl. Ministers) will sometimes (…) avoid accountability.
Sounds like Luxon's 'accountability avoidance' technique aka 'avoiding the question- "What I say to you is…"
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/04-12-2024/a-journey-through-the-26-times-luxon-said-what-i-say-to-you-is-on-qa
The media have an important role in holding politicians to account. In Parliament, it’s MPs that hold Government and each other to account, but ultimately, it’s the Speaker who’s got the final say. In Select Committees it’s a little ambiguous but I guess it’s the Chair who’s got most s(w)ay. I think these are rather limited tools for a participatory-deliberative democracy.
I have have just come across this statement in an Economist article about the third runway at Heathrow. It is pay walled but it was published on 26 Feb.
"Heathrow is already the second-most-expensive big airport in the world for passengers after Auckland."
What! Is Auckland really the most expensive airport for passengers. It would appear to be talking about landing charges. Does anyone have a detailed knowledge of the world's airport finances' and can say whether it is true?
Yep, a quirk of our geography. It's due to Auckland only having one 3000m runway for long haul flights, and the nearest alternate being an hour away, and then only having one runway. Both Auckland and Christchurch have to have higher maintenance and operational levels to maintain availability, which doesn't always work. Hence the recent move to make Ohakea a 24/7 operation. Your quoted statement could also include indirect costs incurred by long haul airlines with having to allow for diversions to Australia if both AKL and CHC are unavailable.
Thank you. Now it makes sense and I can see why it is the case.
You still need to provide a link. Please do that now.
Some people will have a sub. Others can use archive etc to read it.
OK.
https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/02/24/heathrows-expansion-is-on-track-to-be-eye-wateringly-expensive
thanks.
This is indicative of the thinking behind the New Zealand statement
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/588293/watch-foreign-minister-winston-peters-urges-new-zealanders-to-leave-iran
were designed
Diplomatic meaning, foolish and counter-productive.
What they thought of the resort to military force and its consequences.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/nz-government-statement-iran
Reading The Guardian today it seems that most, if not all, of Iran's so-called indiscriminate attacks have been caused by debris from missiles and drones intercepted in the air.
If they just left them to hit the American bases they are aimed at civilian damage would be avoided.
If Iran stopped firing them, civilian damage would be avoided to a much greater extent.