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6:00 am, February 27th, 2026 - 9 comments
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This is interesting for people over 80 especially. However it concerns me that it reinforces the idea that old politicians are good, while I think that leaving a nation in their aged hands and heads is a mistake. However this science explains some of the old people I know, full of ideas and strength of mind.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/life/wellbeing/scientists-discover-a-key-to-staying-mentally-sharp-in-old-age
Kind of a weird bow to draw. Active neurogenesis in some parts of the adult brain has been known for decades. I'd argue that most older politicians are still in positions of influence because they know who they know rather than what they know. I would be more concerned at the number of smart young people fleeing our shores.
And vice versa.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/26-02-2026/what-the-surge-in-populist-nationalism-means-for-winston-peters-and-nz-first
It was interesting info on brain research. And indicative of factors that we might not understand well. Worth thought and not dismissal airily and replaced by passing thought about young people leaving NZAO. Considering the many old men trumpeting their worth in many countries my info could be considered for more than a nanosecond.
Note that the research says that the retention of some old brains exceeds that of younger. One of the tests given to old people to judge function is to draw a conventional round clock face and show the hands to some set time. You might not get that right, being youngish and used to digital. Just a point.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedetail/588084/a-home-for-granny-a-headache-for-the-homeowner
OH dear. Every practical helpful thing we can do to help ourselves and manage the state we are in, ends up with fishhooks.
Truly we are being run by a bevy of misfits and badly trained administrators. You would think in this year of 2025 that we would have a good system with most problems of the past known about, worked out and managed effectively without too much hoo-ha. But the hoo-ha is there still and growing, adequate, practical, cost-effective management is declining and so are we.
We people have ended up with a horrible mess and let down all the past workers and sacrifices made for society in war and peace as well.
Example of what tends to happen when you sell out to foreign interests who have no real stake in the country:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedetail/587602/barker-s-of-geraldine-in-a-jam-over-waste
The item about being in a 'jam' refers to it as a NZ business. It was. It is now one of a growing number of French investments in the country. We just can't wait to sell our mercantile interests and become like the old-fashioned nobility with class distinction as in UK from which we escaped a century ago.
Pathetic despite all the brave ranting, about love of country, and our equality. That was perhaps a passing fashion, now we are getting back to the default position of looking after No.1 and aiming to have pots of money. Which we keep close and use to invest in profitable business, possibly housing, not invest in businesses employing our younger generation.
This item from Sept 2024 is likely to be relevant to us as the economy fails and social responsibility we should feel to each other in a democracy disappears. https://theconversation.com/uk-oil-and-gas-workers-risk-becoming-the-coal-miners-of-our-generation-239262
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/commercial-discipline-pays-kiwirail
Thank you also Phil Twyford! Get more freight off the roads and onto rails.
What could possibly go wrong
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https://archive.li/kvMkl (wapo)
Will Steakin
@wsteaks
MAGA figures Michael Flynn, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, and Patrick Byrne have been involved in discussions re the draft EO to declare emergency ahead of midterms, per sources
https://xcancel.com/wsteaks/status/2027177396495909135