This entry was posted
on Friday, October 2nd, 2009 at 8:14 am and is filed under Uncategorized.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
The Disaster Tourist
So we now have Chris “The Perpetual Traveler” Carter based in Samoa directing operations and attending to the nations welfare, did he take a nail bag or a hand bag ? and did he take the “wife” ?
We have various Liarboar followers criticising John Key for not rushing off to pledge millions and to mobilise the entire nation, sending Chris probably gave someone a warm fuzzy but what did it solve?
JK was on the other side of the world representing the govt when this tragedy happened, and as the funding for the time travel project was canned under the Lairboar regime, it was a little difficult for him to arrive in minutes, Chris on the other hand having all the time in the world, and a fetish for air travel made him the obvious choice to vote gather on behalf of the Lairboar party.
JK has made the right decision to return to NZ, obtain the relevant information, understand the needs and resources available, then journey to Samoa to implement a relief package, like a politician should do.
So now we have a skilled directed task force gathering in Samoa to help, and Chris holding hands, “tut tuting”, playing politician, and generally getting underfoot.
No doubt we will see some staged photo’s of Chris “working” splattered all over the leftist media, someone needs to tell these clowns that they lost the election, it doesn’t seem to have sunk in yet.
Scanner – other than getting at the fact that Chris is gay and has a civil union partner, what’s the point of your post? WOuldn’t you rather be there helping in relief efforts than sitting here in NZ? Don’t answer that, I suspect I know your answer. If Chris has connections and can better the situation over there, then why knock him. No one is criticising JK because a Labour minister got there first, he came back from a holiday, it’s hard to find fault in that. You’re creating an issue where there isn’t one. Good on both men for going and attempting to make a difference. JK as prime minister, and Carter as an experiences politician who no doubt has many connections, and can make a difference whether or not he sits on the Govt side of the House.
Move over, Lucy. And kiss the missing link goodbye.
Scientists today announced the discovery of the oldest fossil skeleton of a human ancestor. The find reveals that our forebears underwent a previously unknown stage of evolution more than a million years before Lucy…
“No one is criticising JK because a Labour minister got there first”
You need to dig out your history books mate. Since last November there’s been no such thing as a Labour Minister.
Carter has no business going over there. He has no authority to make decisions or allocate NZ government money whatsoever, or perhaps he, like yourself, hasnt realised the last election didnt quite go his way.
I can see no reason for his going other than it would give labour the ability to crow about how they got there first and garner some tawdry photo ops.
More taxpayers money spent needlessly.
G
Ok – typo. A Labour MP. You understood what I meant. No authority to do what? What do you think he’s writing cheques or something? Don’t you think his connections he built up as a Minister would be of some assistance to Samoa? If they are, then why not go, Minister or not. I don’t see the issue here. Other than people like you and scanner trying to make an issue out of something that clearly isn’t.
If he has no authority to do anything then what value is his presence? Good connections or otherwise. What practical thing can he do apart from commiserate? Nothing!
If he paid his own way – fine, let him go, but a bottle of rough red says he didn’t.
As I said, more taxpayers money spent by a politician who has no regard for it.
G
NOt1tocommentoften
It frightens me to think about the “connections he built up as a Minister”, what skills did he bring to this situation?
I guess when pool you have pick from is full of failed teachers and union hacks he probably looks good.
See it for what it is, a thinly disguised photo opportunity, and a pathetic attempt to manipulate some political capital out of a truly unfortunate situation.
By the way Lairboar lost, it was in all the papers, I guess you must have been away that day.
Scanner – I understand it’s school holidays at the moment, so I will forgive you for coming onto an adults blog but so you can take this back to school on Monday, it IS possible to affect change and help when you’re out of the Government, as well as in it.
“..Jonathan Haidt is hardly a road-rage kind of guy, but he does get irritated by self-righteous bumper stickers.
The soft-spoken psychologist is acutely annoyed by certain smug slogans that adorn the cars of fellow liberals: ..
.. “Support our troops—bring them home” and “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.”
“No conservative reads those bumper stickers and thinks, ‘Hmm . . . so liberals are patriotic!’” he says, in a sarcastic tone of voice that jarringly contrasts with his usual subdued sincerity.
“We liberals are universalists and humanists; .. it’s not part of our morality to highly value nations.
So to claim dissent is patriotic—or that we’re supporting the troops, when in fact we’re opposing the war—is disingenuous.
“It just pisses people off.”
The University of Virginia scholar views such slogans as clumsy attempts to insist we all share the same values.
In his view, these catch phrases are not only insincere, they’re also fundamentally wrong.
Liberals and conservatives, he insists, inhabit different moral universes.
There is some overlap in belief systems .. but huge differences in emphasis.
In a creative attempt to move beyond red-state/blue-state clichés, Haidt has developed a framework that codifies humankind’s multiplicity of moralities.
This model, which endeavors to explain behavior based on five basic moral impulses ..
.. is simultaneously startling in its stark depiction of our differences ..
.. and reassuring in that it brings welcome clarity to an arena where murkiness of motivation ..
Carter is in Samoa with another MP, Luamanuvao Winnie Laban. A quick search of news reports shows no indication they are trying to score political points. It is possible they are actually trying to help.
This is not an occasion for political opportunism. It is a major disaster, with widespread damage and hundreds of dead and missing (presumed dead) and whole communities devastated. Compare it to our Wahine disaster, the worst in NZ in my lifetime, look at what affect that had around NZ. The Samoans (and many NZers) now have something to deal with that is on a comparatively much larger scale. Try and feel for them rather than trying to score cheap points with political bullshit.
Pete George – actually I jheard Carter on the radio this morning urging the government to do this and that, and in the process making it sound like they were doing nothing and planning on doing nothing. Never mind that millions of dollars of tax payer money has already been spent on getting Navy ships ready to transport relief supplies over there. So yes, i think he is there trying to score points.
Brian, it’s possible Carter is able to provide some good on-the ground advice to government – it is not unknown for MPs from different parties to work together for the greater good. If it is revealed that Carter is being an interfering useless prat in Samoa I’ll condemn him, but I won’t jump to prejudiced factless conclusions.
Chthoniid – there is a colony of gannets on a rock just off the south coast of the South Island – Little Solander.
Solander itself has albatross/mollymawks. I flew in a chopper around both for a close look while the pilot freaked about the possibility of one of the birds flying into the rotor. They were nesting. Spectacular. Made it safely back.
What am I missing here folks? As far as I know Chris Carter is a gay ex-schoolteacher or something of that nature, who in a previous role had some chats with officialdom in Samoa, no doubt about doling out NZ tax money. Now he hops on a plane to be the first MP on the scene. Did he bring pick and shovel, does he have a first aid certificate, can he drive an excavator or bulldozer, did he bring medical supplies? no,no,no and no. He sits on his arse using up telephone lines to ‘coordinate’ and twitters his guts out to look important.
This is a simple PR ruse nothing more. This guy can make not a single bone of difference, but has the gall to go over there and play busybodies. Not a speck of shame or decency there. Like a grave robber, using the misery of others to prostitute his sick sense of self importance.
pdm – My son is in the UK. Told me on Skype last night that he’s not been able to access Stuff.co.nz for a few days. I suggested the detox was probably good for him
Elijah Lineberry – that Blogger’s Drinks sounds a go, might check it out when I get back from Gt Barrier. On another note, you weren’t perchance a wing commander in a RAF squadron in a previous life? Old chap?
Mick was in court for a double murder and the judge said, “You are charged with beating your wife to death with a spanner.” A voice at the back of the courtroom yelled out, “You bastard!”
The judge continued, “You are also charged with beating your mother law to death with a spanner.” Again, the voice at the back of the courtroom yelled out, “You bastard!!!”
The judge stopped, looked at the man in the back of the courtroom, and said, “Paddy, I can understand your anger and frustration at this heinous crime, but I will not have any more of these outbursts from you or I shall charge you with contempt! Now what is the problem?”
Paddy, at the back of the court stood up and responded, “For fifteen years I’ve lived next door to that bastard. And every time I asked to borrow a fucking spanner, he said he didn’t have one!”
No I was not – I hate aeroplanes and my last experience of one so terrifying with turbulence which scared me half to death I have vowed never to travel on one ever again!
Trains and boats are more my cup of tea :p
(Actually, as an aside for anyone travelling to Australia on holiday or business, I can recommend popping over there by Cruise ship; it gives you a few days to relax and collect your thoughts and you have an army of servants to cater to your every whim)
It’s a similar pose, trying to get the birds where there’s enough low light coming in to give the feathers some texture. Hence, don’t try to photograph them in the middle of the day
village idiot (447) at 9:52 am
Chthoniid – there is a colony of gannets on a rock just off the south coast of the South Island – Little Solander.
Solander itself has albatross/mollymawks. I flew in a chopper around both for a close look while the pilot freaked about the possibility of one of the birds flying into the rotor. They were nesting. Spectacular. Made it safely back.
Fortunately at Muriwai there are some good vantage points on the cliffs. I’m hoping to catch one diving into the sea to grab a fish, but you get so little warning that’s about to happen the shot is very hard to pull off.
We’re now well versed in the story of bloggers and citizen journalists challenging the media and fearlessly calling a spade a spade.
So.. it’s interesting to read about a country where the opposite is happening. Where much of the media is controlled by one man. The president. Who gets madder by the day and where dissent is not tolerated. Watch a 1st world country turning into a fascist state*. Italy!
The writing’s a bit latin but well worth a read. Written by the chap who wrote Gomorrah. A real eye-opener of a book and movie, particularly if you’ve been to Italy.
For anyone interested in criminal law matters, check out the Court of Appeal guideline judgment just released. It’s on reduction in sentence for guilty pleas. The case is R v Hessell.
So, will New Zealand Labour be adding their UK counterparts’ solution to the DPB to their next pledge card?
Gordon Brown told the Labour Party conference this week:
“Teenage mothers – the problem and the solution…
“Any amount of sexual health education is not going to reduce Britain’s high teen pregnancy rates, whilst the ‘rewards’ for becoming an unmarried teen mother remain so [relatively] attractive. The cycle of girls getting pregnant by man A, then being allocated a council flat & welfare benefits, then getting pregnant by man B, and being allocated a bigger council flat & more benefits, then getting pregnant by man C, and being allocated a council house & yet more benefits has got to STOP. It leads to all sorts of social problems, resulting from mothers who are not mature enough to parent effectively, and end up raising dysfunctional families in poverty. It also costs tax payers a lot of money, to fund these ‘alternative’ lifestyles.
“Furthermore, people who have been on housing waiting lists for several years, and who conduct themselves in a responsible manner, find themselves being ‘queue-jumped’ by these feckless members of society.
“So, I suggest that there be no council flats and no welfare benefits available to unmarried mothers under the age of 21. Instead they will be placed in ‘mother & baby homes’. Here they will receive academic education as well as parenting classes, plus courses covering all aspects of their social development. The homes will be run by ‘matron’ type figures. The homes should not be ‘institution’ like, but at the same time there will be rules which must be adhered to; such as a curfew of approx 9pm, a dress code which states skirts must come to at least the knees & no cleavage to be on show. Failure to comply with the homes’ rules will result in the mother being sent to prison, and the baby being taken in to care.
“This is not a short-term remedy, but a long-term solution. Eventually I believe the implementation of this policy will result in a vast decrease in teenage girls becoming pregnant – as the consequences will be positively unattractive. Of course, teenage pregnancies will never be completely eradicated, and the homes will allow for the girls who do still become teen mothers to learn how to be good parents, whilst not being fast-tracked to the top of the housing queue.
“If an 18-20 year old pregnant woman is married [marriage should not be an option available to 16/17 year olds, even with parental consent] and her husband has a job, then she will be exempt from going in to one of the homes.”
Go Gordon, undoubtedly the best idea he’s ever had. What a shame his party doesn’t have a macaroon’s chance in Oprah’s dressing room of getting elected again and this policy may never be implemented.
Perhaps the Nat’s can copy it.
NOt1tocommentoften
It is possible Carter is in Samoa helping, Yeah Right, I must have missed something in his CV about his qualification in Infrastructure Reconstruction, I thought he was yet another washed up teacher.
This whole charade stinks of spinmeister, why else would someone who’s popularity meter was sitting on “E” be rushing off to give advice to a nation in turmoil, FFS they already have a disaster why would they need a train wreck.
Chris has managed to do a fair job of pissing off most of mainstream NZ with his globetrotting adventures, and then blaming everyone for picking on him because he is gay.
His being there is nothing but a stage-managed effort to try and boost his sagging popularity, have a look at Red Alert, the twat keeps Twattering.
In the mean time we have a properly coordinated rescue effort run by people that know what they doing, not a washed teacher and egg farmer, the sad part being he took the seat on a plane that could have been used for someone who had something contribute.
Take the prick to the wharf point him in the right direction and tell him to swim home, I’ve had a gutful of paying for his plane travel fetish.
For those of you who were thinking of going to see the Tua v Cameron fight or those who were thinking about purchasing the fight on pay per view I thought you might like to know that the well known piece of shit and child killer Soulan Pownceby is on the under card.
Now, I will not pretend that I have any real interest in this over hyped fight, and I was never going to pay to watch it but when I found out the promoters had contracted Soulan Pownceby for one of the support bouts I was disgusted.
IMHO those of you who are considering purchasing the rights should consider how much of your money you want going to a convicted child killer.
Thanks, gannets make a nice change from furtive forest birds.
If you want to photograph gannets come to my place during the school holiday. There seems to be flock of them perched around the pantry and fridge, eating everything in sight.
Chthoniid, have a stuffed gannet about two meters away, it’s a beautiful specimen. Do a lot of game fishing over the summer and always on the lookout for gannets, they are the fisherman’s friend. A couple of years ago could see a large work up with hundreds of gannets diving, the sea was vibrating, one has to see these things to believe them. Bagged a Striped Marlin on the outside of the workup. The rum was flowing that night.
Thanks, gannets make a nice change from furtive forest birds.
If you want to photograph gannets come to my place during the school holiday. There seems to be flock of them perched around the pantry and fridge, eating everything in sight.
LOL- great isn’t it:)
I have a theory that in 10 or 20 years, it’ll be the photos of the family that will mean more to me, than all the creative and skilled shots of animals I make.
Chthoniid, have a stuffed gannet about two meters away, it’s a beautiful specimen. Do a lot of game fishing over the summer and always on the lookout for gannets, they are the fisherman’s friend. A couple of years ago could see a large work up with hundreds of gannets diving, the sea was vibrating, one has to see these things to believe them. Bagged a Striped Marlin on the outside of the workup. The rum was flowing that night.
Aah, I’m envious. Seeing hundreds of gannets diving would be a special moment. We live in a special country.
Personally though, I’m much more partial to a nice single malt than rum
Treasury call signals time to cool off on emissions trading
The time has surely come for a cooling off period for proposals to start greenhouse gas emission reductions in New Zealand, according to the New Zealand Climate Science Coalition. The Coalition statement says that rejection by Treasury of the government’s own regulatory impact statement that forms part of the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill, as not providing “an adequate basis for informed decision-making” should be a wake-up call to all New Zealanders about what the Coalition describes as “this headlong rush into economic upheaval on grounds that are not justified by science, commonsense or anything else.”
The Coalition statement continues:
“Every day now comes a new report that suggests that a Kyoto extension now seems to be off the table for Copenhagen in December, and likely to be replaced by a deal whereby each country volunteers an emissions reduction target, and makes that figure enforceable under their respective domestic laws. It would be a major worry if New Zealand were to stick its neck out for the huge cuts already approved as ‘conditional 2020 targets’ – that would position us as world leaders, for no benefit whatever other than to encourage ‘other countries to think well of us’
(in the words of the ACT minority report from the Select Committee which reviewed current emissions trading scheme legislation).
“Climate Change Minister Nick Smith and other ‘planet savers’ seem to be unaware of the growing number of scientists who reject the dangerous temperature increase thesis but also of the growth of scepticism within the wider community. In the United States, polling shows sceptics are now a majority and, in Australia, the government’s promotion of ‘Think Change’ has actually led to a reduction to 61 per cent of those who consider climate change ‘very important’. This despite the lack of any independent assessment of the alleged problem and the paucity of critiques provided in the media.
“The latest international scientist to advocate caution is German academic Mojib Latif, a climate modeller and a lead author to the last two reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He told a recent UN World Climate Conference that some of the warming in the last three decades was probably due to factors other than CO2 emissions and that, in the absence of any warming for a decade, it is now likely there will be ‘one or even two decades during which temperatures cool’.
“For New Zealanders, it should be a matter of utmost concern that Treasury has rejected the regulatory impact statement (RIS) prepared for the latest climate change amendment bill, saying that ‘the level and quality of analysis presented is not commensurate with the significance of the proposals, which represent major design changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme, and that the RIS does not provide an adequate basis for informed decision-making.’
“We regard this as just another example of the present government’s fixation with futile attempts to solve a non-existent problem. Part of the post-election agreement between ACT and National was the promise of a quantified cost-benefit study on the ETS – and this requirement was clearly spelled out in the terms of reference for the recently completed Select Committee review. It even specified that the study was to be ‘high quality’. Numerous submissions sought the right to make further input when the study was available. It never came.
“Now, Treasury, the Government’s own internal watchdog on regulatory impact statements (RIS) has rejected the pathetic document accompanying the latest Climate Change amendment bill. If this is not an RIS at all (as Treasury suggests) then the Bill is in breach of Cabinet requirements.
“What is there about climate change that causes the Government to break all its own rules, promises, and agreements? Is it that they know that a proper RIS would reveal that the emperor of global warming has no clothes?
“Nick Smith says he hasn’t time to do the job properly because he would like this rushed bill passed before 11 December. Why? What earthly difference will the exact date make in Copenhagen – or anywhere else?
Is it just so the Minister can preen at an international meeting? Is his vanity so important when considered against an issue that Treasury says will be the most important considered by the Government this year?
“We know that Labour and the Greens are ideologically wedded to this man-made warming scam, but the government’s support parties, ACT and, in particular, the Maori Party, need to take to take a close look at Treasury’s assessment, as well as asking themselves why New Zealand should even consider this absurd policy of legislating for emissions reductions knowing that a binding international agreement will not to be reached at Copenhagen in December. The government is right to be worried about its need to dispose of the existing ETS Act passed in haste by Labour and the Greens last year, but that can be fixed either by repealing that Act altogether, or by delaying its commencements dates for, say, three years or as long as it takes to get certainty on the science, the reality of what’s happening to our climate, and whatever other countries eventually decide is an appropriate response, ” the Coalition statement concludes.
That’s a great link, to an even greater blog post.
A highlight from Whaleoil’s post for other Kiwiblog readers:
Cactus Kate asked why he should sit on the DPB when he could easily get a minimum wage job. His answer was that he had a Masters Degree and thus was over qualified for minimum wage jobs. The howls of elitist and racist were by now being hurled by all across the table at the aforementioned obnoxious ass.
It looks like Phool received a serious bitch-slapping. No wonder he had a hissy fit and stormed off.
Anyway, how come Phool can go to bloggers’ drinks (which costs money after all) but not turn up for work?
A young man who was part of a group that drove around Wellington streets looking for drunk students to beat and rob was today jailed for six years.
:
Leef’s lawyer, Michael Bott, asked for a sentence with a strong rehabilitation element … ”He is as much a victim as those he assaulted.”
Oi, Bott, you listening? Good. Society is a victim from you offering this kind of ‘defence’.
i took on eight or nine of them last time..
very liberating to ‘hand it out’..face to face..
made me yearn for the old-school town-hall political meetings/debates..
it got red-faced/fiery at times..
..but no ’security’ issues..
I think Phool got it right earlier on that thread when he said this to Murray:
you fancy yourself at being able to ‘hand it out’.?
..doncha muzza..?
…
and you boo hoo..!..run away..
feckin’ pansywaisted wimp..!
“..Cactus Kate asked why he should sit on the DPB when he could easily get a minimum wage job. His answer was that he had a Masters Degree and thus was over qualified for minimum wage jobs..”
that is an absolute total fucken lie..
and i m really surprised whale actually made shit up..the truth/reality was funny enough..
..(but hey..!..w.t.f..!..eh..?..he’s fed enough other bullshit my way..on other occaisons,,so..)
i don’t drink alcohol..
so..i don;t really enjoy sitting listening to drunken middle-aged women..with half a ton of make-up/paint plastered on their faces..
with those cold/dead/drunken eyes/narrow twisted/painted mouths.. ..
screaming personal abuse,,’you eunuch!..(!)..
(woo-hoo..!..primary playground time..)
and exulting in how they ..a rich lawyer..has screwed her filipino housemaid down to 2.50 an hour..for two hours a week..
and the rest of it…(drunks aren’t that funny/witty/exciting..when you haven’t imbibed..eh..?..)
and here’s the funny bit..i was actually there ‘cos i thought it was lefty blogger drinks..(!)
(was my face red..!..)
instead the place was full of crpto-christians/libertarians..and other denizens of the far right..
spewing the simplistic greed-driven slogans that pass for political thought/dialogue in those circles..
(about 45 mins ‘did’ me..with the trigger a slurred (anti-semetic) ‘the little jew!’..(this from the lawyer..meh..!..eh..?..)
i walked off feeling like i needed a long hot shower..and lots of soap..
(my favourite moment..?..the drunken middle-aged woman to my right saying..’you’re really dumb!’..
me:’no i’m not darling..i’ve actually got a masters degree with honours..whereas you didn’t even pass school cert.’
Just take your beating like a man, no amount of bullshit on your part will change the fact that you were hammered.
A question if I may, do you consider a man (with a mythical masters degree) who sits at home bludging from the rest of us to be superior to person who did not pass school cert but earns well in excess of the average wage?
Gee Phil, you really are full of yourself ain’t you. You seem to have some chip on your shoulder, what has the rest of the world done to piss you off. sounds to me like you spend most of your life blaming others for you misfortunes. But what is really sad is you claim to have a masters degree with honours, whatever that is, but have failed to use this degree to enrich you life. What a waste.
Just interrupting this juvenile tete a tete and name calling…
Ah, the joys of beneficent occupation. Haaretz reports today that the West Bank is “closed” for the duration of Sukkot.
Evidently, this is to celebrate the end of 40 years wandering in the desert prior to exiting said desert and miraculous defeating the previously invincible Philistines. It is from Oct 1 to Oct 10.
Notice that in my PC mode, I do not cast any satirical asides on the mythical Exodus or the defeated army of Philistines who only ever existed in the Bible.
What does “closed” mean? Think of Gaza. Two prisons instead on one. And Israel can impose this at will.
There are two sides to most stories. Perhaps one or two other the other bloggers drinks attendees would care to corroborate whale’s summary of the event, or instead provide support for phil?
In the absence of such feedback I’ll choose to disbelieve the version of events that have emanated from the mouth of the drugged-out career bludger. Sorry phil. If you build up a personal brand centered on lazy welfare dependency as a matter of choice then favourable public opinion simply won’t head your way.
and ol’ free-speech whaleoil..has blocked my access to answer his lies..
(par for the course..’spose..)
Speaking of lies, Phool, what do you make of this comment on that thread:
phil u on October 2nd, 2009 at 6:50 am
ha ha..!..no..no..no..!
far far from it..eh..?
phil(whoar.co.nz.)
So it rather looks like Whaleoil hasn’t blocked your access, and even if he has, you’ve had at least one chance to put your side of the story. Who’s telling lies again?
I must admit to not having actually heard the comment, one way or another, about the Masters degree (surprising in view of the shouting and bad manners) but it is difficult to see what reason Whaleoil or Cactus would have to tell fibs about it.
One point which was made, and Phil failed to grasp – resulting in a considerable amount of shouting, is that to deny a servant $2-50 per hour on the grounds they are being exploited makes the servants problems in life considerably worse due to not having any income (apparently destitution is preferable to exploitation in the minds of the socialists).
In defence of Philu, earlier in the evening he and I had been having an ‘adult’ (and rather quiet, in view of my own softspokeness) conversation about the environment and the left wing line about the imminent end of the World; I pointed out that 40 years ago many chaps were saying exactly the same thing, and this sort of doomsday nonsense crops up every couple of decades or so (to be discredited by subsequent advancements of mankind).
“..My recollection of events concurs with Whaleoil.
I must admit to not having actually heard the comment, one way or another, about the Masters degree ..”
making a strong case to opine on it then..eh..?
“..One point which was made, and Phil failed to grasp – resulting in a considerable amount of shouting, is that to deny a servant $2-50 per hour on the grounds they are being exploited makes the servants problems in life considerably worse due to not having any income (apparently destitution is preferable to exploitation in the minds of the socialists)..”
case in point:..rich lawyer..domiciled in hong kong..boasting how she has screwed her filipino housemaid..down to a five dollar a week income..to clean her house/apt/w.h.y..
(a person resident/living in what unimagined squalor/crowding..?..and sending money back to support her family in the phillipines..)
that i was sitting listening to this vile litany/celebration of exploitation..
..actually almost made me physically gag/retch..
and certainly made my blood boil..
..and my skin crawl..
staring into the face of naked rightwing greed/exploitation/beliefs..is both visceral…
..and quite unsettling/depressing..
and that you support such exploitation..
and on such cynical/inhumane grounds..
only confirms that being there..was the right place for you..
“..I pointed out that 40 years ago many chaps were saying exactly the same thing, and this sort of doomsday nonsense crops up every couple of decades or so (to be discredited by subsequent advancements of mankind)…”
let’s all just put our blinkers on..sticjk our fingers in our ears..
..go ‘la-la-la-la-la”..
and hope that you are right..eh..?
(btw..have you thought through the/any consequences of you being wrong..?)
i also pointed out to you your thesis was flawed..as science/technology had advanced so much since 40 years ago..
and so much more is now measurable..just for starters..
Phool has been deluding himself for years, so all events most conform to the carefully constructed fantasy he lives in.
I don’t believe he is strong enough to accept that he has wasted whatever talents and opportunities he has had- that he has achieved nothing for the green movement (heck, they don’t don’t even want him)- that he is the personification of what he rails against- a waster of resources and shameless exploiter of the tax-paying working class- that he has no real audience for his message and has failed in every attempt to convince his kiwi-blog audience to become anti-capitalist vegans.
I don’t believe he is strong enough to accept that he has wasted whatever talents and opportunities he has had – that he has no real audience for his message and has failed in every attempt to convince his kiwi-blog audience to become anti-capitalist vegans
I don’t think phil has ever tried to build an audience here by building bridges. He says what he thinks regardless of the prevailing sentiment and his comments are often left hanging, deliberately.
Fact is, he’s always faced a tough crowd in us, in the same sense that we face a tough crowd on Red Alert, The Stranded et al. This naturally produces a certain defensiveness and I for one don’t understand why people here jump on him so early, so hard and so often, given that we all know he’s always sailing against the wind.
Surely neither side ever imagines that we’ll have a coming-to-Jesus moment, where finally the scales drop from the opposition’s eyes.
However, the more we know about the opposition’s thinking, the better off we are in our planning and vice versa.
I know that many disparage phil for all sorts of reasons but nevertheless, he is a barometer of a certain voting pattern that we would be foolish to ignore.
I have no problem with people of differing political viewpoints contributing. This happens a lot in the conservation work I do. Where it is done with respect and intellectual honesty, I have no problems with wide ranging viewpoints.
What I’ve critiqued about Phool is the deluded habit of recalling every encounter and debate as if he was the white-knight, rather than having his arse handed him to on a plate.
Fwiw, I do think he expects to convince people here, as evidenced by the longish essays he scribes on the health benefits of veganism.
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:16 am
About to grind some Colombian beans.
Anyway, today’s TGIF photo is a takapu (Gannet)
http://chthoniid.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p106214151-5.jpg
Enjoy
[DPF: That is a superb photo]
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:18 am
Superb picture Chthoniid. Enjoy the coffee.
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:19 am
The Disaster Tourist
So we now have Chris “The Perpetual Traveler” Carter based in Samoa directing operations and attending to the nations welfare, did he take a nail bag or a hand bag ? and did he take the “wife” ?
We have various Liarboar followers criticising John Key for not rushing off to pledge millions and to mobilise the entire nation, sending Chris probably gave someone a warm fuzzy but what did it solve?
JK was on the other side of the world representing the govt when this tragedy happened, and as the funding for the time travel project was canned under the Lairboar regime, it was a little difficult for him to arrive in minutes, Chris on the other hand having all the time in the world, and a fetish for air travel made him the obvious choice to vote gather on behalf of the Lairboar party.
JK has made the right decision to return to NZ, obtain the relevant information, understand the needs and resources available, then journey to Samoa to implement a relief package, like a politician should do.
So now we have a skilled directed task force gathering in Samoa to help, and Chris holding hands, “tut tuting”, playing politician, and generally getting underfoot.
No doubt we will see some staged photo’s of Chris “working” splattered all over the leftist media, someone needs to tell these clowns that they lost the election, it doesn’t seem to have sunk in yet.
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:26 am
Scanner – other than getting at the fact that Chris is gay and has a civil union partner, what’s the point of your post? WOuldn’t you rather be there helping in relief efforts than sitting here in NZ? Don’t answer that, I suspect I know your answer. If Chris has connections and can better the situation over there, then why knock him. No one is criticising JK because a Labour minister got there first, he came back from a holiday, it’s hard to find fault in that. You’re creating an issue where there isn’t one. Good on both men for going and attempting to make a difference. JK as prime minister, and Carter as an experiences politician who no doubt has many connections, and can make a difference whether or not he sits on the Govt side of the House.
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:27 am
Another piece in the evolution jigsaw.
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:41 am
NOt1to….. said
“No one is criticising JK because a Labour minister got there first”
You need to dig out your history books mate. Since last November there’s been no such thing as a Labour Minister.
Carter has no business going over there. He has no authority to make decisions or allocate NZ government money whatsoever, or perhaps he, like yourself, hasnt realised the last election didnt quite go his way.
I can see no reason for his going other than it would give labour the ability to crow about how they got there first and garner some tawdry photo ops.
More taxpayers money spent needlessly.
G
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:45 am
Is any one else having problems with the Stuff site. I am in London and haven’t been able to access it all week.
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:46 am
Ok – typo. A Labour MP. You understood what I meant. No authority to do what? What do you think he’s writing cheques or something? Don’t you think his connections he built up as a Minister would be of some assistance to Samoa? If they are, then why not go, Minister or not. I don’t see the issue here. Other than people like you and scanner trying to make an issue out of something that clearly isn’t.
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:54 am
If he has no authority to do anything then what value is his presence? Good connections or otherwise. What practical thing can he do apart from commiserate? Nothing!
If he paid his own way – fine, let him go, but a bottle of rough red says he didn’t.
As I said, more taxpayers money spent by a politician who has no regard for it.
G
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:59 am
Scanner, I suggest you do some homework. You have no business posting purely biased guesswork. As it is your post is a waste of space.
JK was on holiday with his family when this happened.
Carter may be wasting money and resources. But he also could be doing some good. Find out which, then report.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:01 am
NOt1tocommentoften
It frightens me to think about the “connections he built up as a Minister”, what skills did he bring to this situation?
I guess when pool you have pick from is full of failed teachers and union hacks he probably looks good.
See it for what it is, a thinly disguised photo opportunity, and a pathetic attempt to manipulate some political capital out of a truly unfortunate situation.
By the way Lairboar lost, it was in all the papers, I guess you must have been away that day.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:09 am
Scanner – I understand it’s school holidays at the moment, so I will forgive you for coming onto an adults blog but so you can take this back to school on Monday, it IS possible to affect change and help when you’re out of the Government, as well as in it.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:09 am
this is kinda interesting..
the different moral universes inhabited by progressives and conservatives are codified:..
http://whoar.co.nz/2009/liberals-aren%e2%80%99t-un-american-conservatives-aren%e2%80%99t-ignorant/
“..Jonathan Haidt is hardly a road-rage kind of guy, but he does get irritated by self-righteous bumper stickers.
The soft-spoken psychologist is acutely annoyed by certain smug slogans that adorn the cars of fellow liberals: ..
.. “Support our troops—bring them home” and “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.”
“No conservative reads those bumper stickers and thinks, ‘Hmm . . . so liberals are patriotic!’” he says, in a sarcastic tone of voice that jarringly contrasts with his usual subdued sincerity.
“We liberals are universalists and humanists; .. it’s not part of our morality to highly value nations.
So to claim dissent is patriotic—or that we’re supporting the troops, when in fact we’re opposing the war—is disingenuous.
“It just pisses people off.”
The University of Virginia scholar views such slogans as clumsy attempts to insist we all share the same values.
In his view, these catch phrases are not only insincere, they’re also fundamentally wrong.
Liberals and conservatives, he insists, inhabit different moral universes.
There is some overlap in belief systems .. but huge differences in emphasis.
In a creative attempt to move beyond red-state/blue-state clichés, Haidt has developed a framework that codifies humankind’s multiplicity of moralities.
This model, which endeavors to explain behavior based on five basic moral impulses ..
.. is simultaneously startling in its stark depiction of our differences ..
.. and reassuring in that it brings welcome clarity to an arena where murkiness of motivation ..
.. often breeds contention..”
phil(whoar.co.nz)
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:18 am
Carter is in Samoa with another MP, Luamanuvao Winnie Laban. A quick search of news reports shows no indication they are trying to score political points. It is possible they are actually trying to help.
This is not an occasion for political opportunism. It is a major disaster, with widespread damage and hundreds of dead and missing (presumed dead) and whole communities devastated. Compare it to our Wahine disaster, the worst in NZ in my lifetime, look at what affect that had around NZ. The Samoans (and many NZers) now have something to deal with that is on a comparatively much larger scale. Try and feel for them rather than trying to score cheap points with political bullshit.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:30 am
Pete George – actually I jheard Carter on the radio this morning urging the government to do this and that, and in the process making it sound like they were doing nothing and planning on doing nothing. Never mind that millions of dollars of tax payer money has already been spent on getting Navy ships ready to transport relief supplies over there. So yes, i think he is there trying to score points.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:39 am
Brian, it’s possible Carter is able to provide some good on-the ground advice to government – it is not unknown for MPs from different parties to work together for the greater good. If it is revealed that Carter is being an interfering useless prat in Samoa I’ll condemn him, but I won’t jump to prejudiced factless conclusions.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:41 am
Don’t want to be picky Chthoniid, but you showed us that photo during the week I think.
Never mind, it’s still a beauty
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:52 am
Chthoniid – there is a colony of gannets on a rock just off the south coast of the South Island – Little Solander.
Solander itself has albatross/mollymawks. I flew in a chopper around both for a close look while the pilot freaked about the possibility of one of the birds flying into the rotor. They were nesting. Spectacular. Made it safely back.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:56 am
What am I missing here folks? As far as I know Chris Carter is a gay ex-schoolteacher or something of that nature, who in a previous role had some chats with officialdom in Samoa, no doubt about doling out NZ tax money. Now he hops on a plane to be the first MP on the scene. Did he bring pick and shovel, does he have a first aid certificate, can he drive an excavator or bulldozer, did he bring medical supplies? no,no,no and no. He sits on his arse using up telephone lines to ‘coordinate’ and twitters his guts out to look important.
This is a simple PR ruse nothing more. This guy can make not a single bone of difference, but has the gall to go over there and play busybodies. Not a speck of shame or decency there. Like a grave robber, using the misery of others to prostitute his sick sense of self importance.
Disgusting.
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:01 am
@dimmo – well his former leader was a corpse-cuddler par excellance, is it really a surprise?
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:03 am
pdm – My son is in the UK. Told me on Skype last night that he’s not been able to access Stuff.co.nz for a few days. I suggested the detox was probably good for him
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:07 am
I enjoyed the ‘Blogger’s Drinks’ in Auckland last night; it was splendid to meet some of you chaps in person at last and a good night had by all.
Other Kiwiblog Aucklanders should make a note in their diary for the 1st Thursday of November (November 3rd) for the next one.
http://www.nightcitytrader.blogspot.com
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:42 am
Elijah Lineberry – that Blogger’s Drinks sounds a go, might check it out when I get back from Gt Barrier. On another note, you weren’t perchance a wing commander in a RAF squadron in a previous life? Old chap?
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:50 am
Friday humour:
Mick was in court for a double murder and the judge said, “You are charged with beating your wife to death with a spanner.” A voice at the back of the courtroom yelled out, “You bastard!”
The judge continued, “You are also charged with beating your mother law to death with a spanner.” Again, the voice at the back of the courtroom yelled out, “You bastard!!!”
The judge stopped, looked at the man in the back of the courtroom, and said, “Paddy, I can understand your anger and frustration at this heinous crime, but I will not have any more of these outbursts from you or I shall charge you with contempt! Now what is the problem?”
Paddy, at the back of the court stood up and responded, “For fifteen years I’ve lived next door to that bastard. And every time I asked to borrow a fucking spanner, he said he didn’t have one!”
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:51 am
No I was not – I hate aeroplanes and my last experience of one so terrifying with turbulence which scared me half to death I have vowed never to travel on one ever again!
Trains and boats are more my cup of tea :p
(Actually, as an aside for anyone travelling to Australia on holiday or business, I can recommend popping over there by Cruise ship; it gives you a few days to relax and collect your thoughts and you have an army of servants to cater to your every whim)
http://www.nightcitytrader.blogspot.com
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:53 am
Not bad piece in Time, summing up YouTube to someone who has just come out of a 30 year coma and knows nothing about PCs or internet.
http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1927076,00.html
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:14 am
Read some of those books kaya. They’re excellent- some good ones about the Fed’s printing press etc.
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:15 am
Thanks, gannets make a nice change from furtive forest birds.
In a slightly mercenary note, I’m happy to make prints of these if anyone is interested.
Thanks- coffee was good- but you expect that with a good fresh Colombian roast
- dental appointment later less so 
I thought I posted this chap instead-
http://chthoniid.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p820401717-5.jpg
It’s a similar pose, trying to get the birds where there’s enough low light coming in to give the feathers some texture. Hence, don’t try to photograph them in the middle of the day
Fortunately at Muriwai there are some good vantage points on the cliffs. I’m hoping to catch one diving into the sea to grab a fish, but you get so little warning that’s about to happen the shot is very hard to pull off.
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:31 am
Sorry Chthoniid, see what happens when I don’t pay attention
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:37 am
I mean I read them sorry.
Whos excited for the tua fight tommorow?
And the Black Caps straight after, awesome night of sport.
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
We’re now well versed in the story of bloggers and citizen journalists challenging the media and fearlessly calling a spade a spade.
So.. it’s interesting to read about a country where the opposite is happening. Where much of the media is controlled by one man. The president. Who gets madder by the day and where dissent is not tolerated. Watch a 1st world country turning into a fascist state*. Italy!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6857539.ece
The writing’s a bit latin but well worth a read. Written by the chap who wrote Gomorrah. A real eye-opener of a book and movie, particularly if you’ve been to Italy.
*and they have MMP
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:11 pm
For anyone interested in criminal law matters, check out the Court of Appeal guideline judgment just released. It’s on reduction in sentence for guilty pleas. The case is R v Hessell.
http://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/from/decisions/judgments
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:46 pm
So, will New Zealand Labour be adding their UK counterparts’ solution to the DPB to their next pledge card?
Gordon Brown told the Labour Party conference this week:
“Teenage mothers – the problem and the solution…
“Any amount of sexual health education is not going to reduce Britain’s high teen pregnancy rates, whilst the ‘rewards’ for becoming an unmarried teen mother remain so [relatively] attractive. The cycle of girls getting pregnant by man A, then being allocated a council flat & welfare benefits, then getting pregnant by man B, and being allocated a bigger council flat & more benefits, then getting pregnant by man C, and being allocated a council house & yet more benefits has got to STOP. It leads to all sorts of social problems, resulting from mothers who are not mature enough to parent effectively, and end up raising dysfunctional families in poverty. It also costs tax payers a lot of money, to fund these ‘alternative’ lifestyles.
“Furthermore, people who have been on housing waiting lists for several years, and who conduct themselves in a responsible manner, find themselves being ‘queue-jumped’ by these feckless members of society.
“So, I suggest that there be no council flats and no welfare benefits available to unmarried mothers under the age of 21. Instead they will be placed in ‘mother & baby homes’. Here they will receive academic education as well as parenting classes, plus courses covering all aspects of their social development. The homes will be run by ‘matron’ type figures. The homes should not be ‘institution’ like, but at the same time there will be rules which must be adhered to; such as a curfew of approx 9pm, a dress code which states skirts must come to at least the knees & no cleavage to be on show. Failure to comply with the homes’ rules will result in the mother being sent to prison, and the baby being taken in to care.
“This is not a short-term remedy, but a long-term solution. Eventually I believe the implementation of this policy will result in a vast decrease in teenage girls becoming pregnant – as the consequences will be positively unattractive. Of course, teenage pregnancies will never be completely eradicated, and the homes will allow for the girls who do still become teen mothers to learn how to be good parents, whilst not being fast-tracked to the top of the housing queue.
“If an 18-20 year old pregnant woman is married [marriage should not be an option available to 16/17 year olds, even with parental consent] and her husband has a job, then she will be exempt from going in to one of the homes.”
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Go Gordon, undoubtedly the best idea he’s ever had. What a shame his party doesn’t have a macaroon’s chance in Oprah’s dressing room of getting elected again and this policy may never be implemented.
Perhaps the Nat’s can copy it.
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:58 pm
NOt1tocommentoften
It is possible Carter is in Samoa helping, Yeah Right, I must have missed something in his CV about his qualification in Infrastructure Reconstruction, I thought he was yet another washed up teacher.
This whole charade stinks of spinmeister, why else would someone who’s popularity meter was sitting on “E” be rushing off to give advice to a nation in turmoil, FFS they already have a disaster why would they need a train wreck.
Chris has managed to do a fair job of pissing off most of mainstream NZ with his globetrotting adventures, and then blaming everyone for picking on him because he is gay.
His being there is nothing but a stage-managed effort to try and boost his sagging popularity, have a look at Red Alert, the twat keeps Twattering.
In the mean time we have a properly coordinated rescue effort run by people that know what they doing, not a washed teacher and egg farmer, the sad part being he took the seat on a plane that could have been used for someone who had something contribute.
Take the prick to the wharf point him in the right direction and tell him to swim home, I’ve had a gutful of paying for his plane travel fetish.
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
“a dress code which states skirts must come to at least the knees & no cleavage to be on show.”
This is terrible, there is no mention of banning bare muffin tops.
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:24 pm
For those of you who were thinking of going to see the Tua v Cameron fight or those who were thinking about purchasing the fight on pay per view I thought you might like to know that the well known piece of shit and child killer Soulan Pownceby is on the under card.
Now, I will not pretend that I have any real interest in this over hyped fight, and I was never going to pay to watch it but when I found out the promoters had contracted Soulan Pownceby for one of the support bouts I was disgusted.
IMHO those of you who are considering purchasing the rights should consider how much of your money you want going to a convicted child killer.
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:35 pm
If you want to photograph gannets come to my place during the school holiday. There seems to be flock of them perched around the pantry and fridge, eating everything in sight.
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Auberon, are you a troll or just dumb?
That wasn’t a speech by Gordon Brown. It’s a draft policy proposal from the British National Party’s 2009 annual conference.
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Chthoniid, have a stuffed gannet about two meters away, it’s a beautiful specimen. Do a lot of game fishing over the summer and always on the lookout for gannets, they are the fisherman’s friend. A couple of years ago could see a large work up with hundreds of gannets diving, the sea was vibrating, one has to see these things to believe them. Bagged a Striped Marlin on the outside of the workup. The rum was flowing that night.
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Brian Smaller (1798) at 3:35 pm
LOL- great isn’t it:)
I have a theory that in 10 or 20 years, it’ll be the photos of the family that will mean more to me, than all the creative and skilled shots of animals I make.
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:13 pm
NOt1tocommentoften, I recognised the name so could that be the R.H, ex speedway sidecar racer?.
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:15 pm
side show bob (1799) at 4:53 pm
Aah, I’m envious. Seeing hundreds of gannets diving would be a special moment. We live in a special country.
Personally though, I’m much more partial to a nice single malt than rum
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:54 pm
This weekend’s g.blog quiz -
There is only one question:
Who lives here?
Greenfly is disqualified from participating, because he may be apponited the final arbiter on the decision.
The judge’s desision (ie mine) is final, and evidence will need to be provided to satisfy me of a correct answer.
So go for it! All replies on g.blog thread above please.
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:59 pm
The following link is from Whale’s place, it is quite simply the best post I have seen on any blog for some time.
http://whaleoil.gotcha.co.nz/2009/10/02/the-tale-of-bloggers-drinks/#comments
You just have to read it, our resident bludger gets his arse handed to him on a plate.
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Ha ha ha LSFHIFNSMP’s. Thank you for that insight O great Tuakananui.
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:18 pm
BB, that plate is now empty, he took the plate and sold it for drugs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-fjtRJK03w
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Treasury call signals time to cool off on emissions trading
The time has surely come for a cooling off period for proposals to start greenhouse gas emission reductions in New Zealand, according to the New Zealand Climate Science Coalition. The Coalition statement says that rejection by Treasury of the government’s own regulatory impact statement that forms part of the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill, as not providing “an adequate basis for informed decision-making” should be a wake-up call to all New Zealanders about what the Coalition describes as “this headlong rush into economic upheaval on grounds that are not justified by science, commonsense or anything else.”
The Coalition statement continues:
“Every day now comes a new report that suggests that a Kyoto extension now seems to be off the table for Copenhagen in December, and likely to be replaced by a deal whereby each country volunteers an emissions reduction target, and makes that figure enforceable under their respective domestic laws. It would be a major worry if New Zealand were to stick its neck out for the huge cuts already approved as ‘conditional 2020 targets’ – that would position us as world leaders, for no benefit whatever other than to encourage ‘other countries to think well of us’
(in the words of the ACT minority report from the Select Committee which reviewed current emissions trading scheme legislation).
“Climate Change Minister Nick Smith and other ‘planet savers’ seem to be unaware of the growing number of scientists who reject the dangerous temperature increase thesis but also of the growth of scepticism within the wider community. In the United States, polling shows sceptics are now a majority and, in Australia, the government’s promotion of ‘Think Change’ has actually led to a reduction to 61 per cent of those who consider climate change ‘very important’. This despite the lack of any independent assessment of the alleged problem and the paucity of critiques provided in the media.
“The latest international scientist to advocate caution is German academic Mojib Latif, a climate modeller and a lead author to the last two reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He told a recent UN World Climate Conference that some of the warming in the last three decades was probably due to factors other than CO2 emissions and that, in the absence of any warming for a decade, it is now likely there will be ‘one or even two decades during which temperatures cool’.
“For New Zealanders, it should be a matter of utmost concern that Treasury has rejected the regulatory impact statement (RIS) prepared for the latest climate change amendment bill, saying that ‘the level and quality of analysis presented is not commensurate with the significance of the proposals, which represent major design changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme, and that the RIS does not provide an adequate basis for informed decision-making.’
“We regard this as just another example of the present government’s fixation with futile attempts to solve a non-existent problem. Part of the post-election agreement between ACT and National was the promise of a quantified cost-benefit study on the ETS – and this requirement was clearly spelled out in the terms of reference for the recently completed Select Committee review. It even specified that the study was to be ‘high quality’. Numerous submissions sought the right to make further input when the study was available. It never came.
“Now, Treasury, the Government’s own internal watchdog on regulatory impact statements (RIS) has rejected the pathetic document accompanying the latest Climate Change amendment bill. If this is not an RIS at all (as Treasury suggests) then the Bill is in breach of Cabinet requirements.
“What is there about climate change that causes the Government to break all its own rules, promises, and agreements? Is it that they know that a proper RIS would reveal that the emperor of global warming has no clothes?
“Nick Smith says he hasn’t time to do the job properly because he would like this rushed bill passed before 11 December. Why? What earthly difference will the exact date make in Copenhagen – or anywhere else?
Is it just so the Minister can preen at an international meeting? Is his vanity so important when considered against an issue that Treasury says will be the most important considered by the Government this year?
“We know that Labour and the Greens are ideologically wedded to this man-made warming scam, but the government’s support parties, ACT and, in particular, the Maori Party, need to take to take a close look at Treasury’s assessment, as well as asking themselves why New Zealand should even consider this absurd policy of legislating for emissions reductions knowing that a binding international agreement will not to be reached at Copenhagen in December. The government is right to be worried about its need to dispose of the existing ETS Act passed in haste by Labour and the Greens last year, but that can be fixed either by repealing that Act altogether, or by delaying its commencements dates for, say, three years or as long as it takes to get certainty on the science, the reality of what’s happening to our climate, and whatever other countries eventually decide is an appropriate response, ” the Coalition statement concludes.
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Big Bruv:
That’s a great link, to an even greater blog post.
A highlight from Whaleoil’s post for other Kiwiblog readers:
It looks like Phool received a serious bitch-slapping. No wonder he had a hissy fit and stormed off.
Anyway, how come Phool can go to bloggers’ drinks (which costs money after all) but not turn up for work?
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:39 pm
From stuff:
Oi, Bott, you listening? Good. Society is a victim from you offering this kind of ‘defence’.
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Unfortunately for Phool, I have a fairly sharp memory, and a targeted Google search allowed me to track this down:
The curtain-raiser:
The laugh-out-loud moment:
I think Phool got it right earlier on that thread when he said this to Murray:
*Snigger*
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:46 pm
KIA – Hilarious! God bless the long memory of this interweb thingie.
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:45 pm
“..Cactus Kate asked why he should sit on the DPB when he could easily get a minimum wage job. His answer was that he had a Masters Degree and thus was over qualified for minimum wage jobs..”
that is an absolute total fucken lie..
and i m really surprised whale actually made shit up..the truth/reality was funny enough..
..(but hey..!..w.t.f..!..eh..?..he’s fed enough other bullshit my way..on other occaisons,,so..)
i don’t drink alcohol..
so..i don;t really enjoy sitting listening to drunken middle-aged women..with half a ton of make-up/paint plastered on their faces..
with those cold/dead/drunken eyes/narrow twisted/painted mouths.. ..
screaming personal abuse,,’you eunuch!..(!)..
(woo-hoo..!..primary playground time..)
and exulting in how they ..a rich lawyer..has screwed her filipino housemaid down to 2.50 an hour..for two hours a week..
and the rest of it…(drunks aren’t that funny/witty/exciting..when you haven’t imbibed..eh..?..)
and here’s the funny bit..i was actually there ‘cos i thought it was lefty blogger drinks..(!)
(was my face red..!..)
instead the place was full of crpto-christians/libertarians..and other denizens of the far right..
spewing the simplistic greed-driven slogans that pass for political thought/dialogue in those circles..
(about 45 mins ‘did’ me..with the trigger a slurred (anti-semetic) ‘the little jew!’..(this from the lawyer..meh..!..eh..?..)
i walked off feeling like i needed a long hot shower..and lots of soap..
(my favourite moment..?..the drunken middle-aged woman to my right saying..’you’re really dumb!’..
me:’no i’m not darling..i’ve actually got a masters degree with honours..whereas you didn’t even pass school cert.’
the sullen/silent glowering hatred in her eyes..
told me i had scored a slam-dunk..
heh..!
phil(whoar.co.nz)
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Phool
Just take your beating like a man, no amount of bullshit on your part will change the fact that you were hammered.
A question if I may, do you consider a man (with a mythical masters degree) who sits at home bludging from the rest of us to be superior to person who did not pass school cert but earns well in excess of the average wage?
Who is of more value to society Phool?
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Gee Phil, you really are full of yourself ain’t you. You seem to have some chip on your shoulder, what has the rest of the world done to piss you off. sounds to me like you spend most of your life blaming others for you misfortunes. But what is really sad is you claim to have a masters degree with honours, whatever that is, but have failed to use this degree to enrich you life. What a waste.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:24 pm
“Who is of more value to society Phool?”
If you ask me, I’d choose a gnat over the bludger, any time, any day.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Just interrupting this juvenile tete a tete and name calling…
Ah, the joys of beneficent occupation. Haaretz reports today that the West Bank is “closed” for the duration of Sukkot.
Evidently, this is to celebrate the end of 40 years wandering in the desert prior to exiting said desert and miraculous defeating the previously invincible Philistines. It is from Oct 1 to Oct 10.
Notice that in my PC mode, I do not cast any satirical asides on the mythical Exodus or the defeated army of Philistines who only ever existed in the Bible.
What does “closed” mean? Think of Gaza. Two prisons instead on one. And Israel can impose this at will.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:34 pm
it’s a shame you weren’t there in my place bruv..
you would have fitted right in..
eh..?’
phil(whoar.co.nz)
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Phool
Did you really think you would be welcomed by the very people who put in 40 plus hours a week to keep your lazy arse on the DPB?
These men and women work for a living Phool, I am amazed that you had the cheek to show up at all.
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:13 pm
There are two sides to most stories. Perhaps one or two other the other bloggers drinks attendees would care to corroborate whale’s summary of the event, or instead provide support for phil?
In the absence of such feedback I’ll choose to disbelieve the version of events that have emanated from the mouth of the drugged-out career bludger. Sorry phil. If you build up a personal brand centered on lazy welfare dependency as a matter of choice then favourable public opinion simply won’t head your way.
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Time for a song for the Minister of Finance. He’s been getting such a hard time lately.
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:22 pm
and ol’ free-speech whaleoil..has blocked my access to answer his lies..
(par for the course..’spose..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Looks like you took a beating philu…
Can you blame people for showing their disdain of a total drain on society?
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Phool:
Speaking of lies, Phool, what do you make of this comment on that thread:
So it rather looks like Whaleoil hasn’t blocked your access, and even if he has, you’ve had at least one chance to put your side of the story. Who’s telling lies again?
October 3rd, 2009 at 2:42 pm
i was blocked after that one comment..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
October 3rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
My recollection of events concurs with Whaleoil.
I must admit to not having actually heard the comment, one way or another, about the Masters degree (surprising in view of the shouting and bad manners) but it is difficult to see what reason Whaleoil or Cactus would have to tell fibs about it.
One point which was made, and Phil failed to grasp – resulting in a considerable amount of shouting, is that to deny a servant $2-50 per hour on the grounds they are being exploited makes the servants problems in life considerably worse due to not having any income (apparently destitution is preferable to exploitation in the minds of the socialists).
In defence of Philu, earlier in the evening he and I had been having an ‘adult’ (and rather quiet, in view of my own softspokeness) conversation about the environment and the left wing line about the imminent end of the World; I pointed out that 40 years ago many chaps were saying exactly the same thing, and this sort of doomsday nonsense crops up every couple of decades or so (to be discredited by subsequent advancements of mankind).
http://www.nightcitytrader.blogspot.com
October 3rd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
“..My recollection of events concurs with Whaleoil.
I must admit to not having actually heard the comment, one way or another, about the Masters degree ..”
making a strong case to opine on it then..eh..?
“..One point which was made, and Phil failed to grasp – resulting in a considerable amount of shouting, is that to deny a servant $2-50 per hour on the grounds they are being exploited makes the servants problems in life considerably worse due to not having any income (apparently destitution is preferable to exploitation in the minds of the socialists)..”
case in point:..rich lawyer..domiciled in hong kong..boasting how she has screwed her filipino housemaid..down to a five dollar a week income..to clean her house/apt/w.h.y..
(a person resident/living in what unimagined squalor/crowding..?..and sending money back to support her family in the phillipines..)
that i was sitting listening to this vile litany/celebration of exploitation..
..actually almost made me physically gag/retch..
and certainly made my blood boil..
..and my skin crawl..
staring into the face of naked rightwing greed/exploitation/beliefs..is both visceral…
..and quite unsettling/depressing..
and that you support such exploitation..
and on such cynical/inhumane grounds..
only confirms that being there..was the right place for you..
eh..?
you were lying down amongst ‘your own’..
(careful of the fleas..!..eh..?..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
October 3rd, 2009 at 3:50 pm
“and that you support such exploitation..”
Careful what you say phool – we are all supporting you, and yours is naked exploitation of the welfare system
Still – when you get your cheeks parted like you obviously did that night I don’t suppose it matters to you any more….
October 3rd, 2009 at 3:52 pm
…btw Who was looking after the 14 year old son whilst you were out on the piss ?
October 3rd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
“..I pointed out that 40 years ago many chaps were saying exactly the same thing, and this sort of doomsday nonsense crops up every couple of decades or so (to be discredited by subsequent advancements of mankind)…”
let’s all just put our blinkers on..sticjk our fingers in our ears..
..go ‘la-la-la-la-la”..
and hope that you are right..eh..?
(btw..have you thought through the/any consequences of you being wrong..?)
i also pointed out to you your thesis was flawed..as science/technology had advanced so much since 40 years ago..
and so much more is now measurable..just for starters..
that many predictions are not just suppositions..
but..you know..!
‘sail on sailor..!’..eh..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
October 3rd, 2009 at 4:02 pm
what’s that cheap perfume smell..?
is that stripper/hooker starr back here again..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
October 3rd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
you should ask them to bring a nice slimy rock to their next rightie-coven..
eh starr..?
something for you to crawl under..and be comfortable..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
October 3rd, 2009 at 4:45 pm
I’m not surprised.
Phool has been deluding himself for years, so all events most conform to the carefully constructed fantasy he lives in.
I don’t believe he is strong enough to accept that he has wasted whatever talents and opportunities he has had- that he has achieved nothing for the green movement (heck, they don’t don’t even want him)- that he is the personification of what he rails against- a waster of resources and shameless exploiter of the tax-paying working class- that he has no real audience for his message and has failed in every attempt to convince his kiwi-blog audience to become anti-capitalist vegans.
October 3rd, 2009 at 6:47 pm
I don’t think phil has ever tried to build an audience here by building bridges. He says what he thinks regardless of the prevailing sentiment and his comments are often left hanging, deliberately.
Fact is, he’s always faced a tough crowd in us, in the same sense that we face a tough crowd on Red Alert, The Stranded et al. This naturally produces a certain defensiveness and I for one don’t understand why people here jump on him so early, so hard and so often, given that we all know he’s always sailing against the wind.
Surely neither side ever imagines that we’ll have a coming-to-Jesus moment, where finally the scales drop from the opposition’s eyes.
However, the more we know about the opposition’s thinking, the better off we are in our planning and vice versa.
I know that many disparage phil for all sorts of reasons but nevertheless, he is a barometer of a certain voting pattern that we would be foolish to ignore.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:43 pm
I have no problem with people of differing political viewpoints contributing. This happens a lot in the conservation work I do. Where it is done with respect and intellectual honesty, I have no problems with wide ranging viewpoints.
What I’ve critiqued about Phool is the deluded habit of recalling every encounter and debate as if he was the white-knight, rather than having his arse handed him to on a plate.
Fwiw, I do think he expects to convince people here, as evidenced by the longish essays he scribes on the health benefits of veganism.