Open Mike 11/10/25

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 39 comments
Categories: open mike


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39 comments on “Open Mike 11/10/25”

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    2. 1.2

      Well, as an AI skeptic and Greta fan, I will wear my "legionnaire of the Antichrist" badge with pride.

      Thank Antichrist we stopped his bunker complex in Wanaka.

      2. 1.2.2

        He'll be back …. bunker-builders, like bureaucrats wanting to plonk airports or mines on pristine land, never sleep.

    3. 1.3

      It's not just the wealth Thiel craves, it's the power, and these days, techo-power that goes with it.

      The NZH link says,

      “It’s become quite difficult to hide one’s money,” Thiel said, describing an “incredible machinery of tax treaties, financial surveillance, and sanctions architecture” that gives wealthy people only an “illusion of power and autonomy”.

      Like Trump, he seems to have a very binary view of the world: either they see themselves as having the wealth and power, or anyone opposed to them or their politics, has those things and is taking it all from them.

    1. 2.1

      The 2025 award is based on year 2024.

      Trump had a huuge impact on this years award though.

      The USA supports the Venezuela opposition leader Machado confronting the autocrat Maduro.

      (And the Nobel Peace Prize judges support democracy in the USA against the autocrat there – Trump@White House).

      PS Trump will not win in 2026.

      The Nobel peace prize goes to the person "who has done the most or best to advance fellowship among nations" – Trump is an American (and we all know who that is) First bully.

      1. 2.2.1

        The orange maniac is gearing up to wage armed offensives against fellow citizens in US cities not to his and his backers liking-blasting away at civilians does not seem that peaceable-hopefully others see it that way too including Nobel awarders.

        1. 2.2.1.1

          Tiger-It would seem to be obvious, but Trump's billionaire mates will find a way to lean on the Nobel committee.

          If Trump gets it it sullies all of the Nobel prizes not just Peace. Credibility and prestige are at stake here, things Trump knows nothing about.

    3. 2.3

      I find it hilarious he lost to an south American woman, still if Palestinians are living in Gaza in peace and putin is in back in his cage this time next year I wouldn't be grudge it going to him if he actually had something to do with it.

        1. 2.3.2.1

          & she herself has dedicated it to Trump? + she is pro-Israel + wants to privatise the oil fields of Venezuela. PR must be having a sly giggle somewhere.

          https://www.reuters.com/world/nobel-peace-prize-winner-be-announced-year-overshadowed-by-trump-2025-10-10/

          "She later said, in an X post in English: "I dedicate the prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!""

          https://www.democracynow.org/2025/10/10/headlines/2024_nobel_peace_prize_awarded_to_venezuelan_opposition_leader_maria_corina_machado

          "Machado has vowed to privatize Venezuela’s state oil industry. She’s praised right-wing Latin American leaders, including Argentina’s Javier Milei.

          In 2020, Machado’s opposition party, Vente Venezuela, signed a pact formalizing strategic ties with Israel’s Likud party led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Machado has said that, if elected, she’ll move Venezuela’s Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem."

            1. 2.3.2.1.1.1

              As someone said.

              "The USA has to employ strict sanctions against Venezuela to ensure their Government doesn't succeed, while they give billions to Argentina, to make sure that their right wing Government doesn't fall over".

          2. 2.3.2.1.2

            wants to privatise the oil fields of Venezuela.

            Meanwhile…

            /

            Venezuelan officials, hoping to end their country’s clash with the United States, offered the Trump administration a dominant stake in Venezuela’s oil and other mineral wealth in discussions that lasted for months, according to multiple people close to the talks.

            The far-reaching offer remained on the table as the Trump administration called the government of President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela a “narco-terror cartel,” amassed warships in the Caribbean and began blowing up boats that American officials say were carrying drugs from Venezuela.

            Under a deal discussed between a senior U.S. official and Mr. Maduro’s top aides, the Venezuelan strongman offered to open up all existing and future oil and gold projects to American companies, give preferential contracts to American businesses, reverse the flow of Venezuelan oil exports from China to the United States, and slash his country’s energy and mining contracts with Chinese, Iranian and Russian firms.

            https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/world/americas/maduro-venezuela-us-oil.html

            https://archive.li/Sl1IF

    1. 4.1

      I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. It was bloody brilliant though, should be compulsory viewing. Although it would be over the heads of the true blue believers.

  5. 5

    Maybe the best predictor of future (political) behaviour is past behaviour, so here's a blast from 1998 and a future NZ PM – Bill "The Mad Cow Shouldn't Have Signed" English.

    Choosing a healthier, fairer future for Aotearoa: New report provides the direction [Public Health Communication Centre Aotearoa, 15 Sept 2025]
    In 1998, then Health Minister Bill English was presented with a landmark report on the determinants of health from the National Health Committee. It showed that health depends on institutional and commercial priorities much more than individual choices. Broader factors—good housing, secure employment, strong communities, quality education—are the bedrock of a healthy population. The report called on government to recognise these wider factors and work across sectors to strengthen them. English’s response at the time, paraphrased by the media, was simply: “old news.”

    A(t)las, NAct1 is govt by the sorted, for the sorted – broader factors remain "old news."

    CPAG Urges Government To Fix Structural Issues In Education, Work & Income Policy Instead Of Punishing 18–19-Year-Olds
    [Child Poverty Action Group, 7 Oct 2025]

    Ousted Kāinga Ora board member slams government plans as 'wanton folly'
    [careful now RNZ, 5 July 2024]

  6. 6

    Steve Braunias writes about "The Secret Life of The Coalition Titanic" in the ODT today. He has Rear Admiral Peters putting out the deckchairs.

    Glug glug glug….

  7. 7

    Pearl Jam has replaced Wayne Guppy (the country is not big enough for two Wayne's)(Wayne's world is now exclusively Auckland) who replaced Rex Kirton (1977-2001)(his record was not broken by either Tim Shadbolt or Wayne Guppy).

    The big apple of New York swansong.

    Frank Sinatra’s classic at the Madison.

    Doris Nicholson was Mayor 1971-1977.

    There is a kindergarten and reserve named after her.

    These are valued things.

    The 10 club.

    Little (60 to 66) does a Goff (63-69) and has a two term mayoralty retirement job.

    retirement job.

  8. 8

    Gissy just voted for maori wards. The vote was about 2:1. The maori wards had a low turnout so it looks like the general ward voters really endorsed maori wards. I'm centre right and voted for maori wards.

    1. 9.1

      Yeah, that's not what he said. He actually said: "this committee sits in a room filled with the portraits of all laureates, and that room is filled with both courage and integrity, so we base only our decision on the work and the will of Alfred Nobel

      A question the Chair had prepared for and gave a subtle response.

      Trump was not even nominated in time for consideration.

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