Open mike 20/01/2021

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 62 comments
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62 comments on “Open mike 20/01/2021”

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      1. 1.1.1

        $700,000 seems a lot considering that the air force already owns the helicopters, so that's just fuel, maintenance, and maybe staffing (but that'd be army pilots and police spotters? So already employed just reassigned). I do know from once living in rural parts near a usually tranquil growing area, those helicopters flying so low are really loud and annoying. Far worse than tourist flights which are at least on the way somewhere rather than circling for days over the same area.

    2. 1.2

      Police realise that alcohol 'meth etc are the dangerous drugs and targeting gangs is where resources should be focused.

      Since 501's returning to NZ are making gangs much nastier most gangs are carrying guns most of the time that is a real threat to the safety of police and public.

  2. 2

    A fantastic performance from the new No. 1 in test cricket.

    India chased down the third highest total to win the test and series in Australia @ The Gabba. They were without their inspirational captain, the bowling attack had 4 tests caps between them at a venue Australia hadn't lost at since 1988.

    It all came down to the final session, where the tired, combatitive Australians didn't have an answer for the momentum of the Indians.

    Two views:

    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/19/india-clinch-australia-test-series-with-historic-win-at-gabba

    and a closer look at Australian way of playing:

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/123990111/mark-reason-australias-cricket-loses-honour-in-shameful-short-bowling-assault-on-india

    2. 2.2

      Yes it was great to watch Australia get beaten. I have not forgiven Warner and Smith for sand paper-gate. And Paine the newish captain seems to be no different with the verbal abuse of batsmen. Smith has not learnt anything either with his purposely scuffing out the batsmen's markings. Aussies win at all costs attitude no matter how dirty got beaten this time.

            1. 2.2.1.1.1.1

              I think Paine may be in for some more pain from Aussie supporters / media.

              He said "cant wait to get you to the GABBA" in his sledging. I would say his captaincy may be on shaky ground.

      1. 3.2.1

        This is my favourite Roundup story…

        https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/regional/298594/contractors-told-to-wear-masks-when-spraying

        A full meeting of the Christchurch City Council has been told council contractors are not wearing masks when applying a weed killer classed as a probable carcinogen.

        The council's parks manager Andrew Rutledge told today's council meeting that workers applying the weedkiller on parks and pathways had been told not to wear protective masks so as not to alarm the public.

        "The contractors response is that they don't want to frighten the public, so essentially they don't want to be seen in public spaces wearing the appropriate equipment because it naturally gives off quite a scary image."

        And an update from the CCC.

        https://newsline.ccc.govt.nz/news/story/increase-in-glyphosate-use-could-save-millions

  4. 4

    Australian cricket is the distillation of the ugly Aussie at test match level, I loved the way India's youngsters sat the bully on his arse, blinking in surprise.

    I watched the last session with a young Indian guy who was so excited, when India won I asked him to be really quiet for a five seconds in case we could here a billion people wooping it up from here. Then he ran off to call all his friends.

  5. 5

    I see Audrey is back at the Herald interviewing her typewriter for reckons and in doing so demonstrating to us all the media horse race politics bullshit is alive and well, and they've learnt precisely nothing from the pasting they got the last year in the publics eyes. Suffice it to say – Audrey Youngs view on what the public is thinking is probably about as valid as the one of the Uber driver she got it from.

    Mind you, they've got another embarrasingly bad piece from the saggy and plaque ridden ancient mind of Richard Prebble today in the Herald and it seems they've decided to recruit an entire cohort of yesterday's men in the form of defeated National Party MPs (presumably all at a lose end and possibly needing the money after the shellacking they got last year) as somehow relevant opinionistas for 2021. The only problem is they can't write and a thumping majority of voters has already heard what they've had to say and told them to piss off.

    it is almost as if being a good writer with a fresh take (by which I don't mean cynical and obtuse contrarianism for the sake of it or rejected opposition politicians trying to relitigate the defeat of their policy agenda) disqualifies you from writing for the Herald as dangerously subversive.

  6. 6

    Truly the best sustained insult you'll see this year. Big call, being January and all, but I think it is going to be hard to tops. Especially the rant from the 9:50 mark…

    1. 6.1

      Lol. After listening to Jonathon I get the distinct impression that Donald J. Trump is not a particularly nice person!

    2. 6.2

      I could try to compete with a list of all the names I've called him. Here's just the first 30:

      hemorrhoid that destroyed a party of dinosaurs

      Leader of the Pee world

      America's Prolapsed Rectum

      Space Cadet Bonespurs

      TRE45ON WE45EL

      Tangerine Nazi Rapeclown

      stygian homunculus

      gibbering baboon flinging its feces at the Oval Office walls

      genital-grabbing golem

      Jabba the Drumpf

      decomposing jack'o'lantern

      Spraytan Stalin

      Fanta Fascist

      Hair Twitler

      Grab'em'fuhrer

      Tangerine Toddler

      Presidolt Sharpie

      tangelo turdgoblin

      CovidCamacho

      dayglo daycare escapee

      Needy Amin

      Donny Drumpster

      waddling spraytan warning label

      Drumpfelthinskin

      Dotard of Doltistan

      Donnie Dingleberry

      Agent Drumpfov

      Pumpkin Pinochet

      Tinyfingers Twittertwat

      rotting rage-gargoyle lurking under a roadkill hamster

      There's prob'ly at least another hundred …

            1. 6.2.1.1.1.1

              TA – more the Recount of a Montebank.

              I'm hoping that the Man in the Iron Mask will be a more accurate future description.

    3. 6.3

      Therapeutic absolutely, but much of the damage of the Trump (and indeed Johnson) administrations is permanent.

      At least we get to know we lived through the peak of the human world at its most wasteful, most globalised, most organised, most liberal, most democratic, and most creative.

      In our 80s we'll be able to tell people what it was like.

  8. 8

    I am looking forward to the inauguration and some normalcy from the US President. Not the firing or foreign policy first being announced on Twitter until the out going President could no longer use Twitter.

    2. 8.2

      Unfortunately, normalcy is not what the US needs, eg Wall St and corporate donors, the army of lobbyists, indemic racism throughout society, eye watering debt, rampant inequality…

    3. 8.3

      Well if your idea of "Normalcy" is a crying President on repeat over his dead son…you're in luck…though I guess todays rehash was better than the time he introduced his granddaughter as Beau ..that being said ..I wonder how long they really can keep Biden out of the public eye? The Silicon Valley backers of Kamala must be chomping at their bit…

        1. 8.3.1.1

          Just shows how nasty and spiteful some people can be, I mean, fancy attacking someone for getting emotional about their dead child. It says more about Siobhan than it does uncle Joe.

          As a parents worst nightmare, I imagine that's something you'd never get over, yet it in no way excludes someone from holding high public office. What it does do, is show a human side to leadership that has sadly been lacking of late.

          Of course he won't be a shirtless, bear wrestling dictator that some seem to fawn over, but that's really a good thing, isn't it?

                  1. 8.3.1.1.2.1.1.1.1

                    Donnie Dorko had a full helping of all the malignant narcissistic evil imaginable. But I'll thank whatever old ones anyone prays to that he had precisely zero competence or willingness to exert himself.

                    1. 8.3.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1

                      First an idea and then a plan. A plan should never be about playing one person or a group off against another person or a group. Trump was the ultimate player and will continue to do this with a lot less power.

    1. 9.1

      Not only the Greens but the Minister has also seen the light. – Over the BBQs even those of my friends who own multi properties made comments that this house price escalation is out of hand.

      Pity that “It is much more sustainable to have those much smaller increases. I think people expect that you see that in the market,” Ardern said. –

      Sepuloni wasn't available for an interview today, but in a statement she blamed rising accommodation costs across the country, saying they’re putting pressure on households.In short, the Government is saying rising housing costs are sucking up Kiwis’ money, leaving them unable to afford food.

      The damage that this inaction is causing will be IMO felt over generations and the social costs will be evident but no govt will ever place a cost to it

      https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/problems-escalated-food-poverty-in-aotearoa-only-getting-worse-say-those-frontline

  10. 10

    The KiddyCage King's finest and smartest all turned out for the insurrection cosplay.

    First there was the dude that wore his GPS-tracking ankle bracelet. He's a real charmer that has openly talked of wanting to kill people, and picked up his ankle bling from a burglary conviction.

    https://www.newsweek.com/white-supremacist-bryan-betancur-gps-proud-boys-1562364

    Now there's the not-quite-Einstein that texted a selfie inside the Capitol to his girlfriend's brother. Oh yeah, he's a special agent with the Diplomatic Security Service.

    https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/national/capitol-riots/capitol-rioter-new-york-thomas-fee-selfie-rotunda-insurrection-retired-firefighter/65-9c7cd936-35e5-402e-a085-63cb14bf045a

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