R0b’s christmas suggestions
So suggestions on how to have an ethical christmas that is light on the planet and will improve the plight of humanity.
Open mike 20/12/2014
The Authors of the Standard are now in holiday mode. Posting will be less regular and dependant on individual author enthusiasm. Open mike will continue every day and prepare yourself for some year in review posts and some recycling of old stuff. And as R0b has said be nice to each other. Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Caption contest
Keep it seemly …
We need to talk about the F word… closely followed by the V word.
Feminism is a reaction. A position. A belief that women should, by right, be entitled to all the same ‘privileges’ as men: fair pay, high quality free education, control of their own money (and bodies), freedom to choose who to love and how to act. Freedom of movement, association, dress, beliefs. Respect as an equal. Opportunity. Equity in decision-making. A voice.
Why wasn’t Brownlee sacked?
The Civil Aviation Authority report into Gerry Brownlee’s breach of security at Christchurch Airport has now been released albeit in a heavily redacted form. The report contradicts Brownlee’s claim that the door was opened for him by a Security Officer and that the officer consented to his use of the security area. Why was the release of the report delayed? And why wasn’t Brownlee sacked as a Minister?
Power poverty on the up
The government has failed to tackle NZ’s on-going housing crisis. Fuel/energy poverty is increasing, with a higher proportion of households unable to afford any heating. More Kiwis are renting than in the 2006 census, & more Aucklanders live in over-crowded households.
Open mike 19/12/2014
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
USA pimpin for its mega corporates
Another day, another crucial leak of information relating to a relentless drive by the USA to have control of as much data as they can, in as many countries as possible.
So what is happening with the price of oil?
The price of crude oil has nearly halved in the past six months and is causing massive repercussions throughout the world with both the Russian economy and the American Shale Oil industry under threat. The geopolitical implications are complex.
On the economy and tax cut bribes
National are not responsible for the eventual recovery, they are responsible for delaying it.
Finally, Cuba.
I was born in June 1959. In October the following year, the United States put an embargo against Cuba, and it has remained in place ever since. Today it appears as if President Obama in the USA is intending to lift the substantive parts of the embargo. About time.
Open mike 18/12/2014
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
ImperatorFish: “I said surface, not surplus”
Scott examines Bill’s likely excuses for failing to deliver something National have promised since 2011
Jobs That Count
The Meatworkers Union today launch a campaign for Jobs That Count – to try to get better conditions for these marginalised workers who face it all – seasonal work, dangerous jobs, casual and zero hours contracts and anti-union pressure.
Terrorist attack in Pakistan
Condolences feel pretty meaningless in cases like this, but they are all that one can offer.
Open mike 17/12/2014
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Vance on Key’s “crass opportunism”
Surplus sunk
The Nats are going to miss the only target they ever cared about hitting – the mythical surplus. Seven wasted years and counting…
Is Haron Monis a terrorist?
Would John Key be making reference to terror attacks if Haron Monis was not from the Middle East? Our PM has a track record of jumping the gun on sensitive international issues…
Over it.
In a land far away from here and behind a curtain of iron, it was said that to understand anything, it was necessary to first of all discount the fictions that were being presented as truth.
inability to access food
people are reporting that they have been unable to access emergency grants for food, simply because that are unable to reach WINZ staff to apply for one.
Lone nutters and suicide by cop
As anticipated, the Sydney cafe siege was caused by a lone nutter with a dubious history. He committed suicide by cop apparently after killing a hostage. Meanwhile we have had opportunistic jerkoffs like National MP Mark Mitchell displaying their paranoid fantasies (probably as urine dribbles down their leg) to justify recent poorly written and rushed legislation.
The Sydney siege finishes
The Sydney siege has now finished. Three people including the gunman are dead. And it is clear that the siege was caused by a lone person rather than a terrorist group.
Open mike 16/12/2014
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Siege in Sydney
Up to 20 civilian hostages are being held in a Sydney chocolate shop in a developing hostage situation.
Update: The siege is over, reports suggest two dead and three injured.
Body: John’s Christmas wishlist
Andrew Little’s adjournment speech
Well worth a look. A straight talker, with a sense of humour, freshness and vigour.
The line on Little…
The Nats have finished focus-grouping their attack line on Andrew Little and are moving in to deployment. As narrated by Twitter this morning…
Whaleoil is the only person John Key apologised to this year
John Key’s only formal apology this year was to serial privacy breacher Cameron Slater for breaching his privacy. Not to any of the victims of dirty politics or to any of the victims of this Government’s policies. Why is it that National is continuing to allow Slater to undermine the Prime Minister’s position so effectively?
Open mike 15/12/2014
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Inequality – two excellent pieces
Inequality has been very much in the news recently. Friday saw the publication of two really excellent pieces that between them provide a comprehensive, if depressing overview.
Another failure at Lima
While I have come to expect nothing from the annual climate change talks, this years’ failure is particularly galling because of the active role that NZ played in it.
Open mike 14/12/2014
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Christmas at the extremes
Two New Zealands will shortly celebrate Christmas, the poor and the rich. Here’s a crazy thought…
Rushing in to Freed?
Herald journo John Drinnan seems all excited about Freed. That’s the dirty politics model that you’re celebrating John. You really want journalists to become pawns to paid attack politics? WTF?
Latest Roy Morgan Poll
The last Roy Morgan poll for the year provides Andrew Little and Labour with welcome news.