Open Mike 08/02/2019

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 111 comments
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111 comments on “Open Mike 08/02/2019”

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  1. 1

    Excellent interview with United States Green Party leader Jill Stein with a lot of perceptive comments

    1. 1.1

      Huh, leftists blaming Greens for rightist political victories. So very 20th century. Her response noted 100 million voters gave democracy the thumbs-down by not bothering to vote, which reminds us how effective the left/right collusion in discrediting the system has become.

    1. 2.1

      Julie bishop…. wasn’t she complaining not so long ago about political interference from our Labour party just prior to our last election. Yet here she is.

      2. 2.1.2

        No, she was complaining about the Australian Labour Party feeding questions to Chris Hipkins, who then asked questions in the NZ Parliament without understanding he was being used. This is what she said:
        “I would find it very difficult to build trust with members of a political party that had been used by the Australian Labor Party to seek to undermine the Australian government,” (https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/julie-bishop-says-she-could-not-trust-a-new-zealand-labour-government-after-barnaby-fiasco-20170815-gxwfj9.html).

        The ALP is well known for its grubby politics. Hipkins just got conned into being part of it, and Bishop called him out.

        1. 2.1.2.1

          Maybe he got used shadders, maybe he didn’t. Not sure that ‘trust’ and ‘Australian government’ belong in the same sentence anyway.

      3. 2.1.3

        The great Israeli journalist Gideon Levy met Julie Bishop, the Australian foreign minister, in late 2017 and he was not impressed….

        “In Canberra last week I met some Australian members of parliament. It gave me hope, because until I heard them speak I had always thought that Israel’s right wing politicians were the worst. —-(LAUGHTER)— I’ve never heard any Israeli politician speak about the Palestinian people the way that those Australian politicians did. But they are Australia’s problem, not mine. (LAUGHTER) I spoke with the Australian foreign minister; she talked and she was very nice but we could not agree on anything.” (LAUGHTER)

        https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/search?q=%E2%80%9CUnbelievable+brutality%2C+day+after+day%2C+night+after+night

  4. 4

    Wow what a nothing speech unless you’re a dumbarse business as usual zealot. Disappointing

    “Ardern’s first State of the Nation speech was delivered at a Wellington church to a group of largely community and voluntary agencies and focused on poverty and children.

    The setting for Friday’s speech was a room at the upmarket Hilton Hotel in Auckland overlooking the glitzy Viaduct Harbour, attended by top CEOs and managers…That was not the only contrast; in an unusual move, Ardern was preceded by speeches from business sponsors…”

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/110444167/pm-jacinda-arderns-state-of-the-nation-speech-sunny-but-clouds-gathering

    1. 4.1

      “Sunny but clouds gathering”
      So everything is as it is in Kiwi land.
      Sate of the Nation speeches like Budgets announcements
      are heavy on build up but boringly predictable.
      Gov’t supporters say everything is on track.
      Gov’t opponents say wheels are coming off.
      Delightfully predictable.
      Like night follows day.
      Read life is ticking over well in Ehohdeararower
      Have to giggle.

    2. 4.2

      How “if” climate change is our “Climate change is my generation’s nuclear-free moment” are we being told “A Just Transition Summit in May this year will kick-start a national conversation about what the Just Transition means for New Zealand. ”
      A conservation ??? If it is TAHT important shouldn’t real action and leadership be warranted ??
      Talk or Action ???

    2. 5.2

      More “wedging” propaganda from the king of spin. Aunty Herald is certainly stepping it up though, day by day. If spin were a cancer then the Herald would be guilty of spreading death. The rag is certainly guilty of being a plague on intelligence.

      1. 5.2.1

        Yep herald columnists Hine Elder and Liz Marverlly hard right facists You do realise the herald isn’t thier just to suppprt your left thinking

    3. 5.3

      No he is not.

      He’s pointing out political realities. As we approach next year’s election NZ First will need to define itself as something other than Labour’s lap dog if it is to have any hope of re election.

      For starters., watch it apply the pressure on Labour for significant changes to be made to Labours proposed tax reforms and employment law reforms.

      1. 5.3.1

        Interesting, so NZ First is now “Labours lap dog”… after being spun the line for the past year and a half that Winston is the tail wagging the dog and Jacinda Ardern is his “little girl”. Seems the right still can’t get there heads around how a real coalition functions.

              1. 5.4.1.1.1.1.1

                One of Hooten’s gigs is as a political commentator stirrer. FIFY

                He’s been a bit out of the picture over recent months with his study period in the UK, holidays etc, so of course he has to stir hard to bring his return back to notice and make himself seem relevant again.

                  1. 5.4.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

                    Hooten is a wanker, his commentary is shit stirring drivel and he is commissioned to produce this crap for propaganda purposes not to enlighten the reader. So you get over it.

                    2. 5.4.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.2

                      Matthew Hooton is Managing Director of Exceltium.

                      Exceltium is a NZ registered limited company, first registered in 2005 and Matthew and his wife, Catherine Wood* are both active Directors.
                      A total of 100 shares are allocated to 5 shareholders (3 groups). The first group consists of 1 share (1%) held by Matthew, the second group also consists of one share held by Cathy. The third group which holds the remaining 98 shares consists of Matthew, Cathy and a third party – Campbell Ronald Cave.**

                      https://www.bizdb.co.nz/company/9429034594346/

                      * Cathy is daughter of former National party president Sue Wood.

                      ** A bit of a mystery man – could be one of several people.

                      The Exceltium website gives a list of a few of their clients (past/present?) under Case Studies but no doubt there are others.

                      Matthew also spreads himself in other directions as well – he is also Honorary Consul for Mongolia!

                      Actually while Hooton drives me to screaming sometimes and I don’t share his politics, I do have some goodwill towards him in other ways – eg he has been quite open about his past drinking problem, he does laugh at himself from time to time etc.

                      Here is quite interesting interview of him by Toby Manhire a few weeks ago which gives a good broadbrush of his past, present etc.

                      https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/10-01-2019/im-completely-squeaky-clean-an-interview-with-matthew-hooton/

                      And an older one with Michelle Hewitson in 2014
                      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/michele-hewitson/news/article.cfm?a_id=29&objectid=11224018

                      PS – I was just playing word games with Shadrach at 5.4.1! LOL.

  7. 7

    Calling mickysavage, lprent or whoever …

    Can we please have our nine years back, please. I really don’t want to be back in 2010 with Key in charge.

    Thank you in advance.

    1. 7.1

      Oh, c’mon, vv. Who wouldn’t want to go back to those heady days when Katy Perry ruled the pop charts, bearded hipsters were just a joke and our proud All Whites returned from the World Cup in South Africa undefeated?

      1. 7.1.1

        Thought about and there are pros and cons … Did earn a lot more then … But no. I’ll stick with 2019. LOL.

        Thanks TRP

  9. 9

    “You can be sure that every government in the world is going to rethink putting any money in London, as they used to do, when they are watching this political manipulation with the money they entrust to the British. It is very dangerous for the world, but for Britain particularly.”

    “Economist and co-founder of Democracy at Work Prof. Richard Wolff joins News.Views.Hughes to discuss the freezing of Venezuelan funds in the Bank of England amid the deepening political crisis in Caracas. He says the Bank of England’s decision is a signal to all countries out of step with US interests to withdraw their money, as the Bank has shown itself to be “under the thumb of the United States.” He also opines on the “horrific prospects” of regime change in Venezuela. ”

      1. 9.1.1

        Good Lord, is this bore Gosman still posting his empty-headed disruptive comments here? Are there NO standards operant on this weblog?

  10. 10

    I’ve been smelling the smoke from Pigeon Valley for days now
    Yesterday I saw smoke wafting down our river valley and thought some idiots burning, rang a few neighbours who’d been told by the fire chief, its Pigeon Valley
    We live 128 kms away, in pretty much a straight line
    A disturbing sensation, the smell of smoke , and probably fast becoming the new summer normal

    2. 10.2

      Just came back from Richmond, sheez the smoke is thick there, you can’t see any of the surrounding hills.

      Was walking around with my eyes streaming wanting a facemask,

      It’s the worst day for smoke since the fire started, possibly because there was no wind this morning.

      Would liken it to the photos we see of extremely polluted cities in China.

      Here in Motueka the sky is half smoke, and half blue sky.

      The sky in Richmond is completely obscured by smoke, it’s really bad.

      Heard from a chopper pilot that the smoke makes it hard to see where to release the water from monsoon buckets. They are concentrating on saving houses.

      Wind has picked up again.

      Wakefield is being evacuated.

    3. 10.3

      Sorry, that has been the way of it in Australia. That smell, the smoggy sunrises and sets following the fire/burn off news, seeing blackened areas, and wild life struggle.

  11. 11

    Hooten The Screamer

    As is the way with John Key, Simon Bridges, and Assorted Standard Trolls, Hooten screams when he is loosing his brain and his guts.

    He often screams at Kathryn Ryan who for some reason invites him on her women’s program each week.

    Winston Peters is beyond Hooten. Nearly everything on the Planet is beyond Hooten. I sometimes think dear Mathew has a little piggy bank tin on his desk. He has no other Horizon whatsoever.

    Neither have the Trolls. Basically children doing their simple child’s play.

    Not Hooten, but serious Business men and women will recognise the frequent ups and downs in World economy, and its effect on NZ. The more far seeing Business sector will be alert to new hazards – unforseen. But prepared for by Robertson.

    John Key or his stand in servants, and Mathew Hooten will raise the Gst by at least 3%. To rub the noses of the poor into the Hooten / Key / English shit policy

    Winston will breeze home. Shayne will bring the Northern Horses home.

    Jacinda will protect the Poor. For, She is that way inclined. The World knows Her.

    Take a happy kiddies holiday Matthew.

  13. 13

    Smoke haze over Nelson city. Dead silence for some time, few birds, momentary footsteps, computer whirring. Creepy.

    Coincidentally, I have just bought a DVD of film The Quiet Earth – was thinking about Bruno Lawrence.
    When everyone around him vanishes overnight, scientist Zac Hobson (Bruno Lawrence) finds himself seemingly the only person on the planet. The isolation initially drives him to the brink of suicide, but eventually Zac adapts to a day-to-day routine. After meeting two other survivors, Joanne (Alison Routledge) and Api (Peter Smith), a Maori, the trio roams New Zealand trying to understand what caused everyone else to disappear, why they remained behind — and whether disaster will strike again.

    The speed of the fire as it began and the shock of it to the first people involved.
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/110446721/nelson-bush-fire-man-first-on-the-scene-shocked-at-speed-of-spreading-flames

    2. 13.2

      Still shows that one of the mot powerful images in a movie is a simple, wide shot of a city with no people in it

      Gets me everytime

    3. 13.3

      Grey pack be ready, just in case. Take water and a first aid kit. Kia kaha. Fire takes no prisoners, especially with the unpredictable wind.

  14. 14

    Some little miracles occur every day that we don’t know about. Here is one that has come to light, a story of survival and love and a turning from bitterness – a treasure that stands out from BAU.

    The book The Tattooist of Auschwitz will remind us of things we would like to forget, but they are part of our human story.
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018681016/the-tattooist-of-auschwitz

    For three years, he [Lale Sokolov] was the one who used a needle and black ink to tattoo numbers on the arms of new arrivals.

    The day he tattooed Gita Furman would change his life forever. They fell in love in a place built on hate, survived the camp and settled in Australia.

    When Lale decided to tell his secret, he chose Heather Morris, a screenwriter from Te Awamutu, living in Melbourne.

    She tells Jesse Mulligan about her debut novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz, based on their love story, is now being adapted for television.

    Morris says she met Sokolov through a friend who knew his son. After the death of his wife, Sokolov had told his son to find him someone who he could tell his story too. Morris says the pain of his loss was still raw.

    “This is a man whose wife of over six decades has just died and he was incredibly grief stricken. He wouldn’t lift his head above the level of the floor for several weeks when I met him. All he would say to me each time was ‘hurry up and tell my story’ even though he hadn’t really given me anything apart from his and Gita’s names and that they met in Auschwitz.

    2. 15.2

      Good on him!

      One small moment of unintended humour – Bezos blanked out Dylan Howard’s phone number in the email’s body (917 XXX-XXXX), but left it untouched in the signature section at the bottom of the email. Quite tempted to give the man a call, see how this is working out for him 😉

    1. 16.1

      Just heard from exhusband the motorway out of Nelson towards Atawhai is now closed because of the new fire.

      He said two houses have already gone, But that’s not confirmed.

  17. 17

    Can the city water mains be tapped into with fire hoses?

    & wet blankets to dash it out on the ground one on one?

    2. 17.2

      Not sure CHCoff.

      Walters Bluff is a steep hill, was told there is around 6 choppers there at the moment, also told that the best way to fight that particular fire is by air.

      Also told that most of the ground crews are at the other fire.

      Freaking scary stuff, so dry here.

      Behind Walters Bluff is lots of forest and walking tracks.

      Edit… the wind has picked right up now.

      2. 17.2.2

        Latest I have found.

        https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/02/large-blaze-flares-up-near-homes-near-nelson-cbd.html

        The flames are flicking up the hill behind the houses on the subdivision and look quite bright and fast moving, rather like those earlier on at Pigeon Valley.

        People are getting worried. How could this happen, another fire!

        Position It’s fairly close to the old cemetery on the way out of Nelson main road to Blenheim, with high hill covered with grass that will be dry beside and behind it and there is high steep road on Walters Bluff where the fire is. Then a bit further over towards the city on the flat is Founders heritage park with huge amount of money spent on it and irreplaceable old buildings in it and that’s bordered by flat part, Miyazu Japanese Garden, the Marae and surrounding buildings and then closely settled housing. I have friends further over the hill but not far as the fire moves. So a worry.

          1. 17.2.2.1.1

            Yes quite a distance away, friend lives on the other side of the hill, there was talk about them evacuating but the road is blocked by police going towards the city – can’t go there. The suggestion was to go to Saxtons Field in Stoke but there are Wakefield people there I think. We run the risk of being overwhelmed if more happens.

            Apparently the guy who reported the Walters Bluff fire saw it right from the beginning and said there was no one to be seen – it looked like spontaneous combustion down in a ravine – could have been a bottle or bright aluminium tin who knows. Not impossible. Friend says that there are eucalypts and that they spark. Lots of coming and going with helicopters. They are getting salt water – the tide is in apparently otherwise there can be quite a muddy area near the coastal road.

  18. 18

    Someone is talking about the possibility of arson. It’s so strange that the first thing some do is to make the situation worse by thinking badly of someone so they can be blamed for it all. It may be a barbecue gone wrong, even a cigarette butt, there was a known fire from one recently put out. I

    If all the teenagers had something constructive to do during the holidays, that could cut risk by 50% I think. A teenager escaped from a house he/she was in which was engulfed in fire minutes – that was in the last few days. Firefighters saved the house but was burnt and blackened. Got to watch out for those computers – can eat up time while something is on the stove getting over hot.

      1. 18.1.1

        Keep us posted. Cinny and car turned round. Surely I don’t have to worry about that. I’m not too far from the Grampians and very dry up there.

            1. 18.1.1.1.1.1

              Thinking of you all, Cindy – that goes for everyone in the Nelson, Tasman area. Cannot mention MM cause I am not flavour of the month at present and got told not to think about him and his whanau, but cannot help myself. Love your area of the country and really feeling for you all.

                1. 18.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

                  Good to hear, Lol! Seriously take care, the situation there is very precarious. Just listened to some of the press conference this morning and they are obviously really worried about the wind levels in the next day or so.

                  And thanks for pointing out the contra proferentem principle re Te Tiriti. I am no scholar/expert on TT issues but was still amazed at some of the ignorance/misinformation of some of the thinking and opinions that came out in the last few days. Won’t mention any names.

                  1. 18.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

                    The whole region is in drought – we aren’t near wakefield although I have friends there. I hope the big one sorted soon but that wind – it is chaos in action. Other worries are copycat fires and just idiot ciggie butts or whatever – so dry, won’t take much.

  19. 19

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12202124

    Nelson residents are being evacuated after a second fire broke out in Walters Bluff.
    The fire is located in Sir Stanley Whitehead Reserve… near top of Walters Bluff

    Telecommunications provider Spark said a cell tower in Wakefield was in the direct path of the fire.
    Flame retardant had been deployed at the tower, and the company was trying to bring in a back-up cell site.

    Conflicting stories about how they started. I still have my landline with this sort of thing in mind. Video put up yesterday about how complexity disadvantages ‘advanced’ countries! Lots of aerial movement. I hope that everyone gets through this intact. There has been a car? crash on the coastal highway they say serious.

  20. 20

    But I think it was near Tui Glen which is on the way out of Nelson not in Motueka direction, unless you get the sound carrying across water. Not sure just where you are.

    Apparently another blaze up before 6pm on city side along from Walters Bluff – winds expected to pick up so they are working hard to damp down.

  21. 21

    Robert and WetheBleeple
    Do you like this?

    Love the universe, let’s travel together etc
    Here is someone who built an island out of trash.

      1. 22.1.1

        Actually i think it may be you who are mixed up Psycho Milt, to it’s usage, but whatever the case, the meaning is clear so it is a perfectly valid phrase all the same where it matters.

        1. 22.1.1.1

          There’s no need to use the word “whom” at all in modern English, so insisting on using it and then using it incorrectly is grating. As to its usage, that’s the annoying thing – its misuse is now so widespread that people will argue the toss with you when you point it out it’s for use with objects, not subjects.

  23. 23

    Eco says its all about ballance ying yang everything needs to be ballanced .
    We need to work with mother nature We need more Wahine in power to get the ballance back . 5 degrees is the difference in enviroment temperatures that give or takes away the polar ICE CAPS
    {{{How social media is inspiring children to save the natural world }}}

    It’s true that many young people stare at screens instead of being out in the wild – but others use technology to form a global community of conservationists

    Six years ago, I wrote with a certain amount of sadness a rather gloomy report for the National Trust entitled Natural Childhood. It highlighted the barriers standing in the way of engaging young people with nature: primarily dangers from traffic, parental fears of “stranger danger”, and a growing aversion to exposing children to any form of risk. I concluded that we faced the very real danger of a “lost generation”, who might never engage with the natural world.
    Young people were, and still are, we’re told, disconnected from nature, staring at screens when they should be out in the wild. {{{But what I hadn’t predicted back then is that it is these screens that are now enabling our children to join forces to save the natural world. The rise of new technology – especially social media – has allowed a new generation to connect with those who share their interests in a way that I never could have believed possible}}} when I wrote Natural Childhood. As one young ornithologist recently told me: “I thought I was the only birder at my school, but on Facebook I found half a dozen others in my local area.”

    Another budding young naturalist, Abbie Barnes (who climbed Kilimanjaro in the same week she got her A-level results), introduced me to a young man working for conservation in Kenya. When I asked how long they had known each other, Abbie laughed, saying: “We’ve never actually met before, but we’ve connected on social media for the past couple of years.”
    {{{{{{When I look at this generation, and see their commitment, passion, hard work and inspirational actions, I’m inclined to think that they might just succeed. Eco say we will succeed}}}}}}}
    Stephen Moss is a naturalist and author, based in Somerset. His latest book is The Wren: A Biography (Square Peg). He is involved with AFoN as a mentor
    Ka kite ano links below.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/25/social-media-inspiring-children-to-save-natural-world

    1. 23.1

      Thanks for your great comments lately ecomaori. I am reading through them slowly – very packed info. The odd paragraph to break them up would be helpful.

      Easier to read and understand your points then.

  26. 26

    Kia ora Newshub most of the World glaciers are losing Ice faster than scientist predicted.
    Its cool that LGBT Community still has alot of Tau toko support after all the fuss made by some people Ka pai.
    Condolences to Albert Finneys whanau I have watched a few of the movies he acted in.
    Its not looking good for the people and there stock in an around Townsville Queensland Australia.
    There are to many Actors playing games with Venezuela all for there oil they are causing Alot of harm to the tamariki children and the people all for greedy billionaire. Ka kite ano YEA RIGHT can’t touch this

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