What will 2018 bring for National?
What are National’s prospects this year? Will Bill English survive as leader? Will there be resignations and a clean out of the front bench? Stay tuned …
Open Mike 04/01/2018
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Income related speeding fines – bring it on!
Dr Jarrod Gilbert has a provocative opinion piece on the Herald website today, proposing that speeding fines become income related. It’s an interesting […]
News stories and NZ rape culture
“Public nudity isn’t illegal, but offensive behaviour is.” – Thomas Beagle, Chair of the NZ Council for Civil Liberties
Open Mike 03/01/2018
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Israel fights back
In what may be the first of a number of publicity stunts Rabbi Shmulay Boteach has placed a full page advertisement in the Washington Post condemning Lorde and New Zealand for showing solidarity with Palestine.
Open Mike 02/01/2018
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What will 2018 bring for Donald Trump?
The New York Times has broken a astory suggesting that Australian Ambassador to the UK Alexander Downer informed the FBI that the Trump camp knew about the Russian hacking of Hillary Clinton’s emails four months before the 2016 Presidential election.
Hello 2018
Ngā mihi o te tau hou.
Open Mike 01/01/2018
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The Failed Estate: Us and Them
In Australia the Murdoch press has chosen the Christmas down period to try and whip up some anti beneficiary hysteria. Jim Parker from the blog Failed Estate calmly dissects the figures and concludes there is no reason for concern.
The ten most popular Standard posts of 2017
The ten most read Standard posts of 2017.
Open Mike 31/12/2017
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When the jet stream slows…
…let’s ridicule Donald Trump.
Man of the year and global leader of the year
Why Donald Trump should be considered to be man of the year and why the left should be thinking about why he is succeeding.
The Standard’s most commented on posts of 2017
The ten most commented on posts in the Standard for 2017.
Open Mike 30/12/2017
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The Adventures of CosmoGuy: US Ambassador to New Zealand (and Samoa!)
The alleged ‘thoughts’ of Scott Brown, the highly intelligent and very cool ambassador of the Partisan States of America to NooZiland. In an exposition of typical blinding intelligence, he tries to explain to his beloved Orange Lord what he is doing here (and in Samoa!).
Open Mike 29/12/2017
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The joy of biking
As I prepare to fly out of NZ yet again for work, I’m contemplating how much my personal transport has changed over the years. These days I most ride a e-bike. Faster than a car for my commute because of the frigging Auckland traffic. Effective exercise without too much pain. And a lot of fun.
Who is the white dude of the year?
Ben Torkington has proposed on twitter that there should be a white dude of the year competition. Who should be the inaugural winner of this esteemed competition and why?
2018 mental flossing: Power
Following the change in Government, the question is, who is in control on either side.
Open Mike 28/12/2017
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RealMe and online government – good when it works
The only thing worse than standing in queues with lumps of paper is having a website system that isn’t functioning. It is a first world problem I know. But having the government’s systems not be down for maintenance during the holidays is a good idea. There are no queues to form at the passport office because they are on holiday.
Open Mike 27/12/2017
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The right loses its shit after a public servant accidentally tweets from the wrong account
An accidental tweet from a Government account has led the right to claim the existence of all sorts of conspiracies.
Ain’t Gonna Play
New Zealand musician Lorde has announced that she will respect the boycott of Israel and not perform there.
Open Mike 26/12/2017
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Holiday Reads (and watches)
All the best for the summer break.
Open Mike 25/12/2017
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Why Christmas is good
Why the concept of christmas is a good thing.
Open Mike 24/12/2017
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Doofus of the week – Christmas edition
Doofus of the week Christmas edition is awarded to Jordan Williams for criticising Jacinda Ardern for entering into the spirit of Christmas through #nzsecretsanta and for comparing socialism to Father Christmas.
This. Almost.
It’s not perfect. Maybe it’s a start.
A Christmas Rabbit-hole.
Just some light-hearted musings.
Open Mike 23/12/2017
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