General Debate 29 January 2010

January 29th, 2010 at 7:52 am by David Farrar
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105 Responses to “General Debate 29 January 2010”

  1. mickysavage (785) Says:

    I see that Tolley is going to spend $26m on pro National Standards propaganda. If you add this amount to the amount given to private schools ($30m), it approximates to the amount cut from night schools and special education courses ($53m).

    Good to see her priorities so clearly. Support the rich and state propaganda and to hell with the rest of us.

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  2. Murray (8,832) Says:

    I think the last person to bitch about a government spending money on an education campaign should be socialist shill.

    If nothing else it just reminds people that sopcialists are by their nature hypocrites and despise any system of accountability. Its part of their aggenda to make everyone equal by dragging everyone down to the lowest common denominator. In this case thats mickey.

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  3. Inventory2 (8,809) Says:

    So micky, you’re talking about the $26m that was set aside in the budget last year to TRAIN teachers, principals and BoT’s in applying and reporting the National Standards right?

    Do get your facts right laddie!

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  4. Inventory2 (8,809) Says:

    I see that Phil Goff is trying to rewrite history again. Who was governing in 2005 when annual 5% per annum increases for public service CEO’s were locked in for five years?

    http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/2010/01/flip-flop-phil.html

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  5. dime (6,252) Says:

    oh no! diverting this money may lead to a shortage of basket weavers in 2014!

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  6. Murray (8,832) Says:

    We could do with a shortage of basket cases. Look at mickey, still thinking the bigger the bullshit the more its believable.

    Putting the L in loser mickey.

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  7. mickysavage (785) Says:

    Murray

    I was referring to the Dominion Post article $26m to win over parents on tests.

    In particular:

    Education Minister Anne Tolley will spearhead a $26 million charm offensive to ease the introduction of national standards in primary and intermediate schools next week.

    [DPF: The headline was wrong. ]

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  8. Murray (8,832) Says:

    And I’m still at so fucking what, compared to what your mistress pissed away on illegal propaganda its morning bloody tea.

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  9. Redbaiter (13,197) Says:

    Bad news for those brain damaged Progressives who write here so often expressing their obsessive fear of Sarah Palin-

    New Zogby Poll: Sarah Palin Tops Romney, Gingrich & Huchabee For 2012

    Sarah Palin’s recent book success and her new high-profile role on Fox News are having a stunning impact on her political standing with a Newsmax-Zogby poll showing the former Alaska governor now leading the GOP field as the party’s preferred candidate for president.

    The exclusive Newsmax Media-Zogby poll released Thursday asked likely GOP voters: “If the Republican primary for president of the United States were held today… for whom would you vote?”

    Despite the size and diversity of the field, Palin grabbed a solid 22.2% to take the lead with former Massachusetts Gov. Romney close behind with 19.4%. Also making a strong showing was former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich with 12%, followed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 11%.

    http://newsmax.com/InsideCover/palin-poll-zogby-romney/2010/01/27/id/348220

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  10. CharlieBrown (688) Says:

    Is anyone finding it hard to believe that the SPCA has a case as they really are trying dam hard to find a reason to prosecute those people who killed those dogs? You would think if there was actually a case of animal cruelty they would have laid charges already?

    Plus its always hard to take the SPCA seriously when you consider there recent history:
    * Confiscating a tongans dinner as they thought anybody other than vets putting down dogs must be cruel
    * Forcing the producers of movies from using live maggots in a scene where they are fed to a mouse
    * Arresting UK reality show contestants fo killing a rat without SPCA observers
    * Lobbying for the ban of docking dogs tails

    The SPCA is made up of townies who have no clue of what cruelty is. You can treat other people worse than animals legally.

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  11. Owen McShane (1,226) Says:

    “The End of Gentry Liberalism” Joel Kotkin

    Go to:
    http://www.newgeography.com/content/001370-the-death-of-gentry-liberalism

    Is this Phil Goff’s problem too?

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  12. Guy Fawkes (702) Says:

    Tony Bliar giving evidence to the Iraq inquiry to-morrow. UK Friday. This should be a rip roarer. Holland has had a Supreme Court decision passed down that the Iraq War II was indeed unsafe from an International law perspective.

    The consumate performer will have to be very deft to dodge the questions, and keep the Public viewers on side for Labour.

    Pinnochio noses are the latest fashion accessory for the Public Galleries at the Convention Centre where the proceedings take place.

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  13. fizzleplug (72) Says:

    AC/DC was awesome. That is all.

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  14. Redbaiter (13,197) Says:

    The link below is a good read on just how extreme left the American Democratic Party has become over the last few decades. It parallels the NZ Labour Party’s lurch to the left here in NZ.

    A big part of going extreme left is keeping it from the voters. Both in the US and here, the Democrats and Labour try to portray themselves as centrist. Representative of middle NZ.

    They’re not centrist and they’re not representative of middle NZ. They’re unionists, teachers lawyers and academics instilled with extreme left ideology by partisan University professors and activists, and they’re bent on forcing their warped views on NZers while always posing as far less radical than they really are. They’re extremists, and you vote for them at the peril of your country, yourself and your liberty.

    http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/just-how-leftist-has-the-democratic-party-become/

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  15. democracymum (660) Says:

    New MP – time for a new name?
    I am looking for suggestions for a new name for The Greens
    All suggestions welcome

    http://www.democracymum.co.nz

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  16. niggly (663) Says:

    Charlie Brown @ 8.48am. You have a point (in that the SPCA may not be able to prosecute easily – maybe a good reason then for Simon Bridges’ proposed changes etc)?

    However I wonder whether a different prosection tack could be persued by the Police?

    Y’know even hunters abhor shooting wild animals if they were simply put in an enclosed compound etc (eg that would be too easy), similary duck shooters don’t go blasting ducks in their nests (they wait till the proper season and only shoot whilst in the air). What I am trying to say is, there is a process and certain rules that hunters abide to.

    HOWEVER in the recent dog shooting case, those two c*nts simply massacred the dogs, for 20 minutes, whilst they were screaming in pain (and on Morning Report this morning we hear someone state that one dog tried to bite the gun barrel and got its head blown off). These two c*nts are sick.

    Now in what instances do we hear of people indiscrimintly shooting for long periods of time, getting their jollies? Hmmmm how about high school massacres eg Columbine and many others before and since.

    To me these two c*nts are no different to those that massacre school children, as they were getting off on their rampage etc.

    If I were the Police, I would be seriously concerned about these two c*nts frame of mind and get some psych tests done on them etc. Do they have their own wifes and kids? If so, go interview them – is their a history of family violence, are the missues and kids getting the bash when they don’t behave? Take off their guns and ban them for getting a gun licence etc.
    I’m sure the Police have other avenues if they care to look…

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  17. eszett (2,020) Says:

    Redbaiter (8649) Says:
    January 29th, 2010 at 8:48 am

    Bad news for those brain damaged Progressives who write here so often expressing their obsessive fear of Sarah Palin-

    New Zogby Poll: Sarah Palin Tops Romney, Gingrich & Huchabee For 2012

    Sarah Palin’s recent book success and her new high-profile role on Fox News are having a stunning impact on her political standing with a Newsmax-Zogby poll showing the former Alaska governor now leading the GOP field as the party’s preferred candidate for president.

    So Sarah Palin is the best the republican party can offer?
    Bad news, indeed.

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  18. kowtow (4,448) Says:

    If the SPCA prosecute then the first guy on the charge sheet should be the owner of the dogs for agreeing to the “massacre”.

    Next prosecution should be same guy by the council for having unlicensed dogs with additional charges for them not being under control.

    Watched the news and Campbell and l have not witnessed such emotional incontinence in a long time.

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  19. Pete George (17,596) Says:

    Brown tells AP he’ll sometimes side with Democrats

    Scott Brown says he has already told Senate Republican leaders they won’t always be able to count on his vote.

    “I already told them, you know, `I got here with the help of a close group of friends and very little help from anyone down there, so there’ll be issues when I’ll be with you and there are issues when I won’t be with you,’” Brown said Thursday during the half-hour interview. “So, I just need to look at each vote and then make a proper analysis and then decide.”

    Good, a politician who will do what he believes is best rather than just toe the line.

    Maybe.

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  20. MikeNZ (3,234) Says:

    bad news indeed Red.

    Don’t know if you have noticed, Newscorp (Murdoch) issued what may be the first step in removing FOX’s CEO via a family comment by a 2nd eschelon member in the UK.
    Rather had tomes of the Kings speaks to the court through an intermediatry.

    I saw it as significant in that it was based on the FOX coverage being not what the family likes!
    But Murdoch employed the man to do just that and he has for years!
    providing $700m profit last year, in a lean year for Newscorp.

    What’s changed?
    Palin is now on board and on her terms, giving her the space and window to build for the next election.
    I usually view the comments against her as religiously inspired, in that the history up to then and experience wise she had more going for her than a jnr senator and community organiser.
    Funny how they never acknowledge that, just attack attack and denigrate.

    Of course only Hilary can save them now and she’s playing the long game.

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  21. bearhunter (859) Says:

    I hope there is a prosecution and the police could start with charging the two sickos with recklessly discharging a firearm in a public place.

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  22. CharlieBrown (688) Says:

    niggly – If it was 36 rabbits or sheep we wouldn’t be hearing about it. Sometimes killing in a confined space is necessary. I’ve seen pigs slaughtered in their sty’s, and that isn’t a pleasant experience as they know what is going on, but it is necessary. Do you think animals in the freezing works are killed in isolation. This is emotional crap by the SPCA who shouldn’t even have enforcement rights. They weren’t screaming in pain either by the sounds of it, they were screaming in fear… as the pigs do when they are slain. This is a typical case of townie c^nts not having any idea about reality.

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  23. eszett (2,020) Says:

    MikeNZ

    Palin is now on board and on her terms, giving her the space and window to build for the next election.
    I usually view the comments against her as religiously inspired,

    Heh? Can you please clarify?

    experience wise she had more going for her than a jnr senator and community organiser.

    Experience in what?

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  24. MikeNZ (3,234) Says:

    http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/5732346/this-sceptred-isle-2.thtml

    Note from Melanie Phillips on the latest British Social Attitudes survey and comments in the media.
    The British are experiencing first hand the collapsing public services being funded by ever-greater shedloads of public money; with more and more getting ripped off by the Treasury as it extends its redistributive net to catch those on only modest incomes,

    One of the reasons we voted out Clark and Labour was so that we don’t go down this route anymore than we have.
    Listen up National MP’s

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  25. MikeNZ (3,234) Says:

    ezett
    My comment to Red.
    the subject is the same as Kiwis who continually slag the USA.
    I’ve given up trying to discourse on it as the root is almost religious fervour.

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  26. tom hunter (3,852) Says:

    There was an interesting article in the SMH recently about plans to expand the ABC network – the government-owned media institution in Australia. Seems Rudd & co. want a 24-hour news channel, and possibly an “Asian” channel to compete with the BBC.

    But amidst the report on wooing new reporters to ABC there was this amusing section:

    Last Monday this column noted that the Democratic Party was facing the prospect of an electoral disaster in a Senate byelection in Massachusetts, one of the most Democratic states in the nation. I would not have had a clue about this story had I relied on the usual suspects, CNN, the BBC, the ABC or The New York Times. Only by having Fox News Channel in the mix was I alerted to the story.

    The Massachusetts massacre duly unfolded, and the Democrats were not the only ones massacred. Fox News, also featured here last week, devastated its opposition. On the night of the Massachusetts election it peaked at more than 7 million viewers, outrating two of the big free-to-air networks, NBC and ABC. Fox News is now dominant in cable news, routinely outrating the combined ratings of the other four US cable news networks by almost two to one. Other developments came thick and fast:

    CNN, the benchmark of cable news networks for 20 years, lost its position as the default network for big news events. It had largely missed the Massachusetts story (and could not even bear to cover the victory speech of the Republican Scott Brown in full, cutting away midway), and on election night averaged just 1.5 million viewers to Fox’s 6.3 million.

    MSNBC, modelled as a left-wing version of the right-wing Fox News, averaged only 1.14 million viewers on election night, merely 18 per cent of Fox’s market share.

    Air America Radio, a network that began broadcasting in 2004 as a left-wing alternative to conservative talk radio, shut down, insolvent and a ratings failure.

    The New York Times, having largely missed the Massachusetts story, argued the result was not a referendum on the Obama presidency.

    The Boston Globe, owned by The New York Times Company, failed to explain why it underplayed Brown’s campaign surge, even ignoring a seismic shift in the polls on the Friday before the election.

    That story in turn led to this:

    The moral of this story is that our ABC is closer to Air America (hello, Radio National) and MSNBC, but is sheltered from the vicissitudes of the marketplace and allowed its ideological self-indulgences through the subsidies of taxpayers.

    The reporter should have a listen to National Radio in NZ sometime! It’s bad enough on TV3 but at least I know my tax dollars don’t support them

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  27. MikeNZ (3,234) Says:

    http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/5736171/goldsmith-speaks-at-last-but-is-anyone-listening.thtml

    And that perhaps is the most important point of all. The idea that issues of legality can be decided at all by UN resolutions is demonstrably absurd, since they are clearly overwhelmingly political exercises reached by horse-trading between nations. They owe virtually nothing to law and virtually everything to global power politics. In any event, the idea that any decision to enter into a ‘just war’ in defence of the free world lies in the hands of countries as corrupt, despotic or solipsistic as Russia, China or France is totally preposterous — but that is another issue altogether.

    I find the whole business interesting in that it hinges on the right to go to war based on international law?
    As if sovereign nations need a parent figure like the UN to give them permission to exercise their responsibilities to their citizens.

    Russia didn’t think about that in Ossetta did they.
    Don’t you just love this liberal lets whip ourselves and the Americans.

    I was so happy when the war started as I thought maybe they were going to get real with all the arseholes who are protected by the UN as they ravage their citizens and neighbours.
    I think I even wrote here of a few other countries we could add to the list for regime change.

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  28. Matt Long (85) Says:

    The really sickening thing about the dog killing was the TV coverage, TV one with it’s Blair Witch style “dramatisation” on close up, simpering John Campbell.
    Now according to the alarmist media animals are all in to screaming, formerly pigs squealed and dogs yelped.

    The shall we say gentleman that owned the dogs was breeding what appeared to be a colony of dangerous unrestrained sheep and other dog killers, all without legal registration. Can’t agree with how the animals were killed but the people involved were doing a service, these are the kind of dogs that maul kids as well as animals.

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  29. Pete George (17,596) Says:

    Did you cost out those few more regime changes Mike? Cost of lives? Cost of US deficits. Cost of lost credibility due to abused democracy?

    I was so happy when the war started

    Cheary chap. Are you also praying for a few more earthquakes and droughts? In the right places of courses.

    Am I “slagging the US” agreeing with Obama that their political system is dysfunctional and that their politicians should concentrate on doing what is best for the country? No religion involved.

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  30. MikeNZ (3,234) Says:

    PG
    You pillock.

    Cost of lost credibility due to abused democracy?

    The UN is a haven for tyrants and dictators not to mention ideologies and religions that seek to dehumanise and take away basic human rights that the so called UN says it and it’s members stand for.

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  31. niggly (663) Says:

    @ Charlie Brown @ 10.57. I know mate, that what you saying is the reality of life, in that animals are slaughtered all the time (after all where does one get their supermarket meat from extactly!) and granted they were screaming in fear not pain.

    However in this case, it is different, as it was unneccessary.

    (And I also wondered whether the dog owner wasn’t capable of standing up to these two guys, with guns). Granted the fellow shouldn’t have had that many dogs in the first place (and if he couldn’t afford to neuter the mum and dad breeding dogs, then perhaps the SPCA should have paid the cost, which would be cheaper than having to help out re-homing some of the dogs as was initially reported) however RNZ reports yesterday said apparently they were in fine health, were well fed and sheltered, and weren’t a reported problem. The SPCA should too have done more to reduce that fellows dog numbers, but I guess there is no law to enforce owning reasonable (max) numbers of dogs?

    I also have a problem with two guys handing that fellow a note to sign giving them permission to open fire.

    What next, a note from a rapist saying to someone “you sign a consent form for sex” backed up with threatening weapons?

    So hopefully these animal welfare issues will or may be addressed too, but I still have problems with two guys on a massacre getting their jollies off firing indiscriminently – their state of mind is a real concern. They were over the top.

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  32. Pete George (17,596) Says:

    Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele continued to speak out Thursday against a controversial proposal to withhold party money from Republican candidates who do not pass a “purity” test.

    “The idea of creating a test to be a Republican, a test to be a candidate for office in the Republican Party, to me feels counter to everything Ronald Reagan has stood for and everything this party historically stood for,” Steele told reporters on the second day of party leaders’ winter meeting in Honolulu.

    Steele’s statements, coupled with a unanimous vote Wednesday by some two dozen state party chairmen to oppose the purity test, effectively ensure the defeat of the controversial resolution named after the late President Ronald Reagan that would have denied party support and money to candidates deemed too moderate. The RNC is expected to debate the resolution and vote on it on Friday.

    Interesting to see if the vote is publicised.

    Steele brushed away criticism from some Republicans in Washington for deciding to convene the RNC meeting in Hawaii.

    “We’re in [President] Obama’s birthplace,” Steele said. “This is his backyard.”

    Out of Africa.

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  33. Kris K (3,570) Says:

    Tony Abbott on Virginity:

    The Monk might make sense

    Have you caught up with it yet? Apparently Tony Abbott says everyone should stay a virgin until we are all safely married. Typical Abbott. Always peddling God-bothering stuff. …

    What did he actually say though?
    Umm, not sure, something about virginity, I heard it on the radio.
    Excuse me while I break into this mythical kitchen table conversation for a moment to provide the missing words. They may help provide context. …

    In an interview with The Australian Women’s Weekly, one designed to present himself favourably to the voting public ahead of an election year, this is what Abbott had to say on the subject of pre-marital sex. ”It happens.”

    ”I think I would say to my daughters if they were to ask me this question . . . it is the greatest gift that you can give someone, the ultimate gift of giving and don’t give it to someone lightly, that’s what I would say.”

    Leaving aside the Opposition Leader’s hackneyed ”gift” metaphor – an idea possibly lifted from a Mills and Boon romance novel where the hero’s name is Rock or Brutus – what is Abbott saying?

    He’s saying don’t bang the first randy, pimple-faced adolescent you smooch at the school disco just because he insists he loves you. He’s saying think about it.

    Isn’t this what many parents would advise their growing kids?

    Think. (Please.) The motivation for such advice could range from public health concerns, to religious beliefs, or a desire to hold on to kids who defy their soft-hearted parents by casting off their childhood. I’m a secular feminist and this is more or less what I would advise my kids and I don’t think hasten slowly represents a compromising flight from modernity. On my calculation – again, a personal one, much like Abbott’s – such advice could help plot a pathway towards settled and confident sexual selfhood.

    I find this article quite interesting.
    Firstly, we have the Australian Opposition leader actually voicing his view on what many regard as a moral issue, but certainly an old fashioned one in our ‘enlightened’ modern day society. Can we imagine many of our MPs making a similar statement here in New Zealand?

    Secondly, the author of the article, Katharine Murphy, a self professed secular feminist, agrees with him. Will wonders never cease. Obviously her reasons are different, but when we really stop and think about it, even discounting the biblical view that one should remain chaste prior to marriage, would this not be advice many good parents would give their own children?

    The obvious health risks, chance of unwanted pregnancy, forced parenthood on what are little more than children themselves, and the cheapening of the sex act as just another form of entertainment, are all good reasons one could give to there own children as they near puberty, but are still far from adulthood.
    We only need to look at the wrecked lives that have resulted since the sexual revolution broke out in the 60s. But these associated statistics have only gotten worse as liberal views towards sexualtiy have increasingly gained momentum.

    It amuses me that we think nothing about colleges have condom vending machines, and that we tell our kids to practice ‘safe sex’ (whatever that is), and yet when someone promotes the idea that there is something special about ‘waiting till you’re married’ we raise our hands in horror. It’s certainly a strange world we live in.

    In my opinion, we need more individuals, and certainly more MPs, who are prepared to make a moral and common sense stand. And I think if we took a survey of the average parent we would find that many more agree with Tony Abbott’s view than the liberals and the MSM would have us believe.

    The trouble is many of the sheep just blindly accept the liberal, left wing lies they are feed – “Nanny State knows best” – and then watch as their children’s lives are consequently destroyed.

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  34. MT_Tinman (2,228) Says:

    Niggly, when I first heard the story I thought the same way you do.

    Then I noticed the story was being pushed by the SPCA – the same idiots who repair possums and rabbits and release them back into the wild – who have become little more than yet another anti-human political organisation.

    While I also have reservations about the killing I don’t doubt it’s necessity nor do I think the SPCA or other organisations would have done anything about these potential killers (and probably, according to things I’ve read, already dog killers) until some poor bastard dog walker or local kid was attacked by them or farmer’s flock destroyed.

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  35. Pete George (17,596) Says:

    I thought you were going quite well Kris, except that ‘waiting till you’re married’ for the majority is a quaint (and often ignored) historical ideal. I’d say something like “waiting until you are sure”, but I accept that being sure in the heat of the moment may be rarely realistic.

    But I’m very puzzled why you threw in the last paragraph.

    The trouble is many of the sheep just blindly accept the liberal, left wing lies they are feed – “Nanny State knows best” – and then watch as their children’s lives are consequently destroyed.

    I doubt there are many (if any) people that decide to let their children bonk (as if they can prevent it) because they think “Nanny State knows best”!

    And the only state most young people care about is “fanny state”.

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  36. eszett (2,020) Says:

    In my opinion, we need more individuals, and certainly more MPs, who are prepared to make a moral and common sense stand. And I think if we took a survey of the average parent we would find that many more agree with Tony Abbott’s view than the liberals and the MSM would have us believe.

    Not sure what common sense there is about “wait until you are married”. That’s more like stick your head in the sand. The pledge abstince campaign has produced more STDs amongst the teens than anything else. Never mind that Tony Abott did not stick to it himself.

    The trouble is many of the sheep just blindly accept the liberal, left wing lies they are feed – “Nanny State knows best” – and then watch as their children’s lives are consequently destroyed.

    Wow, what irony. So, here’s a conservative politician telling you when you can have sex and when not. If that’s not Nanny State I don’t know what is.

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  37. Viking2 (9,483) Says:

    Question. What legal right did those two clowns have to use intimidation to extort a letter from a man, under duress of a rifle and then to slaughter the dogs.?
    When you establish clearly their legal basis for their actions you can talk about the dog owner and his activities along with the neighbours and the council.
    They are outside of the law and as someone else said. Columbine comes to mind.

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  38. Chuck Bird (3,454) Says:

    What concerns more than the dogs is the lack of action by the police in not removing the firearms and licenses from these men. Compare this with the farmer who had a problem with the power lines on his property. To the best of my knowledge he did not resent a firearm.

    While I think the method of killing was abhorrent I would not class it as murder as some dog lovers have. If these guys are not up on firearms charges and banned from owning firearms this will give a green light to other farmers to take the law into their own hands possibly with fatal consequences and not to just dogs. Someone might decide to defend their dogs with their own guns.

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  39. redeye (596) Says:

    Re Tony Abbott. Personally I’m not a fan but in this case he wasn’t offering advice to anyone. He was answering a question about the way he raises his own children.

    ABC Reported:
    I was trying to honestly answer a series of questions and as the parent of teenage kids I wrestle with these things, I think all parents do,” he said.

    “The last thing would want to do is impose my views on the wider world. But in my position I think I’ve got to be honest and upfront about what my views are.”

    Mr Abbott admitted his comments, which have been widely reported, had already got him into trouble.

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  40. redeye (596) Says:

    Chuck, Herald reported at about 11:00am this morning that the police had removed the shotgun. Not sure about the other though.

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  41. CharlieBrown (688) Says:

    niggly – I agree with the points you make. However that is still not a case that the SPCA should be pursuing. The police should be determining whether the signatory was done under duress, in which case other criminal law exists for this. The implication of the SPCA charges being laid here is huge. All of a sudden, shooting a rabbit, killing a pig in the sty, sliting the throat of a sheep in front of other sheep is open game for a bunch of unrealistic animal loving loonies.

    I have no issue with killing animals in the fasion those guys did, I do have issue if it was done against the owners wishes.

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  42. Luc Hansen (4,573) Says:

    Howard Zinn, historian and peace activist, has died. The child of European immigrants to the US, raised in tenement buildings, who chose the pathway of academic excellence to make his mark, and who championed the cause of indigenous peoples over the brutal reality of empire building.

    Aside from his work on Israel/Palestine, he wrote a definitive, warts and all account of Columbus’ genocidal sweep through the Americas and the Caribbean. One passage has always stuck in my memory: in his diary Columbus waxed lyrically on the personal (including work-ethic) qualities of native American Indians, closing by remarking that they would make fine slaves.

    He was 87, and an example of a life well-lived.

    RIP

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  43. Ryan Sproull (5,584) Says:

    Zinn managed to drag JD Salinger with him.

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  44. Luc Hansen (4,573) Says:

    Back to the fray, I see Kris K manages to infuse discussion on teenage sexual activity with left-right fantasies. Funny thing is, teenagers as a group tend to be very conservative in their moral and political views, with a decided bias towards absolutism.

    But it’s a bit pointless to say wait until you’re married when so few young people actually get married! And you certainly don’t want kids to get married just to have sex.

    The best attitude for parents is to concentrate on providing a happy, secure and supportive family environment and the kids will be quite capable of choosing when to say yes.

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  45. kowtow (4,448) Says:

    Zin has died in US of A.

    Isn’t it wonderful that Columbus and other European explorers and settlers made the America’s (especially North America)the great place that it is today. History and Western civilization owes these great heroes so much.

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  46. Pete George (17,596) Says:

    Lightning strikes man doing dishes

    Something else that should be banned?

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  47. MyNameIsJack (2,415) Says:

    Yes, quote the Mad Monk on abstinence, but also ask him about his OWN pre-marital affairs.

    Hypocrisy, thy name is Tony Abbott.

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  48. Kris K (3,570) Says:

    MikeNZ at 11:09 am provided a link to Melanie Phillip’s article – This Sceptred Isle – it’s a good read, and supports many of the points I made in my “Tony Abbott on Virginity” post at 11:45 am.

    This Sceptred Isle

    A number of papers (Times, Telegraph, Mail) summarise the findings of the latest British Social Attitudes survey as showing that Britain has become a more ‘conservative’ nation, while others highlight the fact that it is now also more socially ‘liberal’ as revealing a fundamental contradiction (Independent, Guardian) This surely illustrates a fundamental confusion over current thinking and particularly over the understanding of ‘conservatism’. The source of the confusion is the fact that on the one hand, a greater number think of themselves as Conservative than Labour supporters (32 /27 per cent); only two in five want more spending on public services such as health and education, the lowest level since 1984, or want greater redistribution of income from rich to poor compared with more than half of the public in 1994; but on the other hand, far fewer than previously disapprove of homosexuality (fewer than a third) or cohabitation (27 per cent).

    This surely shows no contradiction between ‘conservative’ and ‘liberal attitudes’. All these attitudes are instead expressing a high level of individualism or libertarianism. To put it most baldly, they are all attitudes which put ‘me’ first. There is an upside to this and a downside. The upside is the preference for individual liberty over the coercive power of state control. The downside is the weakening of respect for moral laws and concern for the welfare of others, and the consequent erosion of self-restraint along with bonds of individual duty and social responsibility. It bespeaks the decline of conscience. Moreover, it does not suggest that Britain is a more tolerant society. Tolerance necessarily implies a departure from a norm. What these attitudes towards homosexuality and cohabitation suggest is rather a disintegration of the very idea of normative values at all.

    There is, however, a rogue card in this libertarian/individualistic picture and that is the very striking hardening of attitudes against cannabis. In 2001, 46 per cent thought it should be illegal, rising to 58 per cent in 2008. This is all the more remarkable considering the barrage of propaganda pushing a more liberal attitude towards cannabis and scorn of drug laws.

    The explanation for this surely also helps explain the apparent contradictions elsewhere. One of the most striking traits of the British is their dogged empiricism and deep suspicion of the ideas-producing classes. Their attitudes are resolutely rooted in personal experience. And it is experience that lies behind all the attitudes on display in this survey.

    The British are experiencing first hand the collapsing public services being funded by ever-greater shedloads of public money; with more and more getting ripped off by the Treasury as it extends its redistributive net to catch those on only modest incomes, resentment of redistribution grows apace; as more and more parents find their children cohabiting or living other irregular sexual lifestyles, they are much less inclined to pass negative judgments against those lifestyles; and many have watched aghast as their own children or their children’s friends have become education drop-outs, lost their jobs or developed psychosis through the wicked official tolerance – to coin a phrase – of cannabis.

    It’s experience that’s produced this shift in attitudes. Whether these attitudes betoken a better society or one that is stumbling about perilously close to the edge of a social and cultural cliff, however, is quite another matter.

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  49. Kris K (3,570) Says:

    MyNameIsJack 2:02 pm,

    Yes, quote the Mad Monk on abstinence, but also ask him about his OWN pre-marital affairs.

    Hypocrisy, thy name is Tony Abbott.

    Perhaps he saw the error of his ways, and doesn’t want his own children to make the same mistakes he did.

    An example a little closer to home:
    Many gang members, when they get older and have their own kids, do everything in their power to dissuade their progeny to have anything to do with gangs. Sometimes people really do learn from their mistakes.

    Of course there are some who care little for their own children – we see the evidence all around us in the lifestyles their kids choose to lead.

    Do you have kids, MNIJ?
    Good, upright, moral citizens are they?

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  50. MyNameIsJack (2,415) Says:

    Do you have kids, MNIJ?

    None of your business, and not relevant to ther topic.

    Good, upright, moral citizens are they?

    What was that bit about not judging others again?

    But yes, I have two that make me proud.

    My son is living with his long term partner. He is a great stand in father for her 12 year old son from a mistake she made when young. not a moral failing, a mistake. They also have a son and one more on the way, and were engaged last year.

    My daughter is happily married, with a wonderful daughter, but you’d probably be horrified that she lived with her husband for four years before they married. She supported him while he completed a double degree and a Masters. Marriage is too expensive and time consuming with a student’s study load.

    Good, upright, moral citizens? Of course they are. just not in your warped world.

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  51. tom hunter (3,852) Says:

    I think Barack Obama should be the lead speaker for the eulogies at Zinn’s funeral.

    It might help reassure Obama’s left-wing that he is still with them and solidify the base for the battles on progressive causes that lie ahead of Obama this year.

    Besides, Obama’s understanding of the US owes a great debt to Zinn.

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  52. Le Grande Fromage (145) Says:

    Has anyone else noticed the unfortunate facial resemblance between double murderer and necrophile Jason Somerville and Flight of the Conchords Brett McKenzie?

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  53. Kris K (3,570) Says:

    MyNameIsJack 2:29 pm,

    I appreciate your honesty (wasn’t exactly expecting you to answer re having kids).
    And congratulations on your son and girlfriend’s engagement.

    By the way, I don’t judge anyone, God will do that, but I do judge peoples choices and actions; an entirely different matter.
    It’s funny how non Christians (and many Christians too) get this whole judgement thing wrong.

    What’s that saying? – love the sinner, hate the sin.
    I guess people having their sin pointed out will always be unpopular. But better to be forewarned rather than never be told and just ‘accidently’ end up in hell.

    I guess you won’t be able to use that excuse, though, MNIJ.

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  54. grumpyoldhori (2,345) Says:

    Damn will bible bashers never learn, every time they bring up morals they step on something.
    Like another political family in Northern Ireland where a father shall we say, has been getting very close to his daughter.
    Fuck some in this country would like the idea of purity balls no doubt. I do wonder about fathers who take a close interest in their daughters sex life.
    Yet some god bothering types would say it is a healthy thing to do.

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  55. Ryan Sproull (5,584) Says:

    Grumpy,

    Isn’t that a bit like saying that fathers who take a close interest in their daughters’ safety are similar in that regard to fathers who murder their daughters?

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  56. MyNameIsJack (2,415) Says:

    By the way, I don’t judge anyone, God will do that, but I do judge peoples choices and actions; an entirely different matter.

    What’s the difference? Judging my actions and choices IS judging me.

    What’s that saying? – love the sinner, hate the sin.

    That’s all it is, a saying. Something the religious hide behind to justify their persecution of others.

    And I know where I will end up, and it is not in some mythical hell. Nor will it be at the right hand of god. One day you and I will both be as dead as each other. My advantage is I won’t have wasted my life doing dumb things for a non existent god.

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  57. Kris K (3,570) Says:

    Ryan,

    MyNameIsJack’s 3:04 pm comment is a perfect example of freewill choice in action.

    And MNIJ,

    the fact that your definition of ‘judgement’ is different to God’s is your problem, not mine. As is your hope that there is no afterlife.

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  58. MikeNZ (3,234) Says:

    Kris K (1371) Says:
    January 29th, 2010 at 11:45 am
    Tony Abbott on Virginity:

    I’ve not met many virgins who’ve had a Std!
    But 20 odd% of our young between 14-24 have had one.

    I love asking boys if condoms protect you from Std’s and seeing their faces when they find out they don’t. Duh!

    Dr Greer should be brought before the Medical Council and Family Planning should be prosecuted for not giving all the information available for young people to actually make an informed choice based on all the facts.
    As for the MOE and Hubba Rubba they didn’t inform young people on their website of the same nor provide a contact avenue to even ask questions.
    Another bunch like the MOE we need to go through with pink slips.

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  59. MikeNZ (3,234) Says:

    Hey Jack/Billy/Whatever
    I sincerely hope you are correct for your sake for I would rather be wrong and lived a prudent wholesome life than be you and kneel before my maker on the last day with what I know Humans are capable of.

    Kris is both correct and kind to you but you don’t see that.
    We (the church) are not called to judge the world, the world judges itself with it’s choices and on the last day there will be no excuses.
    But as stewards of our lives and others if we are so blessed, we are called to act as stewards and that means to discriminate between what is life giving and not. (sin of achan)
    Whether that be people, places, entities (corporate or not), behaviours or what not.

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  60. MikeNZ (3,234) Says:

    Billy/Jack
    I don’t see many stories about Christians terrorising those who don’t believe as they do?
    Are you terrorised by us Christians?

    Maybe you need to live in a Muslim dominated place as another faith to get some perspective.
    http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/01/26/christian-in-egypt-they-try-to-kill-us/

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  61. mjennings (42) Says:

    I wonder why the most sick, perverse, crimes seem to be committed by whites (noticeably South Island whites):

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10622979&pnum=2

    Of course Mr Farrar will have no interest in drawing attention to this most vomit inducing criminal case (linked) in a long time.

    Maori, or other non-white depravities warrant racial condemnation of course.

    But not white over-representation in crimes of sexual perversity and paedophilia.

    I challenge Mr Farrar to create a blog on the House of Horrors killer – surely more deserving of condemnation than even this sick animal abuser who fed kittens to his pitbull.

    I doubt if he will though – because in this case the perpetrator is white.

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  62. MikeNZ (3,234) Says:

    I didn’t listen to OB1 on his state of the nation but this woman did.
    Another lie exposed.
    http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/

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  63. MikeNZ (3,234) Says:

    Anyone not like Google storing stuff on you?
    might be an answer…

    http://startpage.com/
    But she said there’s good news. Startpage, and its European brand Ixquick,, are introducing a new search alternative that will protect and never store private information about its users. Startpage will launch its new proxy service tonight at 10 p.m. EST.

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  64. MikeNZ (3,234) Says:

    Is teen pregancy linked to sex education?

    http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=123343
    http://www.guttmacher.org/media/nr/2010/01/26/index.html
    http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-ATSRH.pdf

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  65. Sonny Blount (1,753) Says:

    White Criminals in Kiwiblogs Top Search Terms:

    5. NZ entertainer name suppression 4,300
    7. Phil Ure 3,900
    8. Clayton Weatherston 3,700
    10. David Bain 3,000
    11. Cameron Slater 2,800
    13. Karen Soich 2,200
    14. Noelle McCarthy 2,200

    Other races: 0

    White Criminals on Kiwiblog Top Pages Visited:

    3. The poor entertainer 21,000
    6. Comedians line up to say no 10,000
    7. David Bain case 7,500
    8. David Bain coverage 6,800
    9. Richard Worth resigns 6,300
    10. Clayton Weatherston 5,000

    Other races: 0

    You are a stupid rascist mjennings.

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  66. mjennings (42) Says:

    Sonny Blount:

    The David Bain case does not cut it at all – the issue of his guilt or innocence was of enormous public interest – Kiwiblog was not posting his mug up there and saying what a sick fuck this fellow is.

    Clayton Weatherston had it coming because of his courtroom theatrics and most importantly because he killed a pretty white girl.

    The fact is the most perverse sick crimes, child porn afficianados are dominated by whites (especially from Christchurch and Dunedin). This is as accurate as saying Asians dominate P importation and Polynesians dominate home invasion stats.

    But baby rapists, purveyors of child porn (who also provide the main audience), necrophiliacs, and mutilators of females are mainly white.

    No one would say I was racist if I pointed to an overrepresentation of Polynesians in tagging or burglary. So why is it racist when I point out peculiarly white depravities?

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  67. Kris K (3,570) Says:

    MikeNZ 3:43 pm,

    Kris is both correct and incorrect.

    I’m not sure if you understand we’re I’m coming from.

    I think perhaps the example of the woman caught in adultery will clarify my stance:

    Joh 8:3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
    Joh 8:4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. …

    Joh 8:10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
    Joh 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

    Jesus didn’t condemn her, but he certainly pointed out her sin by telling her to “sin no more”.
    This is how I view the biblical response of the Christian when confronted with others sin – we don’t condemn them either, but we should encourage them to sin no more, along with giving them the gospel.

    Some view this as us judging them, which of course it is not.

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  68. Sonny Blount (1,753) Says:

    numbers please mjennings

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  69. grumpyoldhori (2,345) Says:

    Ryan Sproull A father taking a close interest in his seventeen years old daughter’s sex life is a healthy thing, yes, I do find those strange values.
    Which do not have a damn thing to do with a daughter’s safety.

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  70. Kris K (3,570) Says:

    mjennings 4:01 pm,

    But … mutilators of females are mainly white.

    I think the Muslims may hold this one (Arabs, Malaysians, Indonesians, et al) – female genital mutilation in the form of female circumcision – can’t have the womenfolk enjoying sex, can we.

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  71. MyNameIsJack (2,415) Says:

    Kris K (1374) Says:

    January 29th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
    mjennings 4:01 pm,

    But … mutilators of females are mainly white.

    I think the Muslims may hold this one (Arabs, Malaysians, Indonesians, et al) – female genital mutilation in the form of female circumcision – can’t have the womenfolk enjoying sex, can we.

    Not to mention the male genital mutilation in the form of male circumcision.

    Does the colour matter, or is it the mutilation that matters?

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  72. grumpyoldhori (2,345) Says:

    mjennings One has to be accurate dear boy, in the main so called Maori offenders are seven eighths Pakeha.
    Stabbing a woman over two hundred times, tsk tsk, you have to be understanding, Weatherston was deprived.

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  73. cha (2,334) Says:

    I think the Muslims may hold this one (Arabs, Malaysians, Indonesians, et al) – female genital mutilation in the form of female circumcision – can’t have the womenfolk enjoying sex, can we.

    Got a reference or is this shit you’ve pulled out of your arse?.

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  74. Anna Sewell (42) Says:

    Fuck you are a dumb shit Kris K – you represent everything that is wrong with Christianity today.

    Go and sin no more is Jesus’ right to say – not yours. He was sinless, you are not. You are the white washed tomb dirty on the inside and hypocritical to the greatest extent. He addresses you very clearly in the words: “Those who are without sin cast the first stone” – not surprising that you conveniently left those verses out in your quotation of scripture.

    Become a pastor at a Pentecostal Church with all the other Pharisees you no doubt have everything in common with, it’s where your grandstanding belongs.

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  75. Kris K (3,570) Says:

    MyNameIsJack 4:11 pm,

    Not to mention the male genital mutilation in the form of male circumcision.

    All the men in my family are circumcised; and I’m jolly glad I am, too.
    Modern medicine has acknowledged that there are enormous health benefits to men being circumcised – you should look into it.
    God told the Jews to circumcise their eight day old sons for a good reason, and science has, once again, substantiated that ‘God knows best’.

    And to parallel removing a males foreskin with a womans clitoris is a joke. Perhaps the removal of the entire penis would be more analogous.

    Do you actually add any positive input on this blog, MNIJ, or do you intentionally limit yourself to the negative.
    You certainly seem to have a warped and pessimistic outlook on life.

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  76. mjennings (42) Says:

    I think the Muslims may hold this one (Arabs, Malaysians, Indonesians, et al

    Absolute bollocks – it is practised mainly by some peoples from the horn of Africa.

    The vast majority of Arabs do not practise it and Malays and Indonesians do not practise it at all.

    And even so – comparing cultural practises, as abhorrent as they are, to the actions of a sick criminal pervert who had sex with his dead victims, is just completely stupid.

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  77. Anna Sewell (42) Says:

    Ever eyed a woman lustfully Kris K? Jesus tells you to pluck out your eyeballs lest you fall into Hell. You seem to be keen to warn people about it so why don’t you take your own advice?

    Matthew 5:29 – If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

    You obviously think it’s important to get circumcised so why don’t you cut off your penis, the member that offends, too?

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  78. cha (2,334) Says:

    Thought so.

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  79. Kris K (3,570) Says:

    cha 4:18 pm,

    I think the Muslims may hold this one (Arabs, Malaysians, Indonesians, et al) – female genital mutilation in the form of female circumcision – can’t have the womenfolk enjoying sex, can we.

    Got a reference or is this shit you’ve pulled out of your arse?.

    As we’re talking bodily orifices, I sugest you nicely ask a Muslim woman to show you her vagina, and while you’re there subtly try and find her clitoris.

    Alternatively (and possibly better for your health), I suggest Google.

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  80. Pete George (17,596) Says:

    Modern medicine has acknowledged that there are enormous health benefits to men being circumcised – you should look into it.

    Enormous? Most are quite small really.

    There are health benefits in simple hygiene and not mutilating babies bodies.

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  81. Pete George (17,596) Says:

    The traditional cultural practices of FGC predate Christianity and Islam. A Greek papyrus from 163 B.C. mentions girls in Egypt undergoing circumcision and it is widely accepted to have originated in Egypt and the Nile valley at the time of the Pharaohs. Evidence from mummies have shown both Type I and Type III FGC present. (Note that the earliest evidence of male circumcision is also from Ancient Egypt.)

    UNICEF reports that:
    “… Al-Azhar Supreme Council of Islamic Research, the highest religious authority in Egypt, issued a statement saying FGM/C has no basis in core Islamic law or any of its partial provisions and that it is harmful and should not be practiced.”

    Coptic Pope Shenouda, the leader of Egypt’s minority Christian community, said that neither the Quran nor the Bible demand or mention female circumcision.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_genital_cutting

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  82. Kris K (3,570) Says:

    Anna Sewell 4:22 & 4:28 pm,

    Criticism from Anna is like a compliment from anyone else.

    Still kissing your kids with that mouth, Anna? – you really should give it up for their benefit, if not your own.

    Once again we have the gospel according to Anna, and Anna revealing her ignorance of scripture.
    You at least confirm that the Bible can only be understood by those who possess the Holy Spirit – so thanks for that at least.

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  83. Chuck Bird (3,454) Says:

    “But not white over-representation in crimes of sexual perversity and paedophilia.”

    Mjennings, do you have source for that claim?

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  84. kowtow (4,448) Says:

    Rabbi was doing a circumcision one day when he slipped ………….and got the sack.

    I’ll get me coat.

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  85. Anna Sewell (42) Says:

    Care to address your hypocrisy at all Kris K? I am extremely well versed in the Bible – perhaps more so than you considering I have a Bachelor of Theology from Laidlaw College (not that I’m a practicing Christian anymore).

    You certainly know how to dish out condemnation and expect people to be fearful of God, yet you fail to recognise that it was people like you who Jesus was referring to when He attacked the Pharisees, saying that their punishment will be greater than that of Sodom.

    Luke 6:

    24″But woe to you who are rich,
    for you have already received your comfort.
    25Woe to you who are well fed now,
    for you will go hungry.
    Woe to you who laugh now,
    for you will mourn and weep.
    26Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
    for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

    37″Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

    39He also told them this parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

    41″Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

    If people want to have sex before marriage, it is none of your business. God did not appoint you the role of bringing His opinions on to them, your only place in this world is to make sure you yourself live up to the Christian standards you think so highly of. So don’t pretend that you have His divine stamp of approval to preach your ignorant opinions unto others.

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  86. Kris K (3,570) Says:

    Anna Sewell 5:32 pm,

    … I have a Bachelor of Theology from Laidlaw College (not that I’m a practicing Christian anymore) …

    Say no more.
    I know of many people who have been to a so-called Bible college that are more ignorant regarding God’s word than are the kids I teach in Sunday School.

    I’ve been ‘practicing’, so to speak, for over 30 years since receiving Christ, till now.
    I’m not perfect, but I think my Christian testimony is pretty much in tact here on this blog. And I’m pretty sure my understanding of scripture is reasonably sound. Without the Holy Spirit, Anna, the Bible says you cannot understand God’s word – sorry, but that’s what it says.

    You (attempt) to explain scripture with one breath, and then swear like a trooper with the next – “by their fruits ye shall know them”, eh Anna?

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  87. Chthoniid (1,914) Says:

    Not sure how we get on to these topics on the GD, but a couple of comments.

    The health benefits of male circumcision are regarded as so minor or trivial so as to no longer have medical sanction. It is in fact often discouraged as the small risks of serious complications outweighs these health effects.

    There is nothing in Islam that sanctions female circumcision, and it is certainly not a common procedure in most of the Islamic world. It has been a custom in Somalia, but as we know, Somalia is not an Arab or Far Eastern Asian state.

    The long term trend in Western countries has been for steady declines in religious belief and attendance. There has not been a reversal of these trends. The case for the bible having some kind of authority over people has collapsed under the weight of its junk science and failure to standup as a moral guide. It’s got nothing to do with the Holy Spirit. A morality that says that Anne Frank must suffer an eternity of torture while her repentant Xtian guards reside in heaven, hasn’t got a lot of credibility.

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  88. transmogrifier (490) Says:

    One would have thought if the foreskin was such an annoyance, God wouldn’t have bothered with it in the first place. But let me guess, there is a “just-so” story to explain this as well, Kris?

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  89. Chthoniid (1,914) Says:

    too busy narrowing the opening to the appendix transmogrifier so as to ensure it will randomly get infected, burst and kill us with peritonitis.

    I do like the thoroughness of breaking our vitamin-C gene, so that we actually need vitamin C in our diet (rather than being able to synthesise it like most other mammals). And then to go off and break exactly the same gene in the identical place in the chimpanzee. Ha, take that theory of common descent.

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  90. jaba (1,924) Says:

    shit .. Ali is gone for another freaking year

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  91. Anna Sewell (42) Says:

    People like you who are ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ Kris are often the most prideful and narrow-minded Christians out there. You aren’t the ones who make people turn to Christ – it is the meek and humble servants that live by example without judging that do that. People like you are the ones who put others off wanting to become Christians and wear God’s name like the rubber stamp of the law.

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  92. Rufus (567) Says:

    Dear Anna

    ad hominem ad nauseum

    You have a serious chip on your shoulder. Your posts drip with venom. Not very nice to read.

    You condemn Kris for condemning others…incongruous

    Can’t you let Kris be Kris, and just worry about yourself?

    Peace,

    Rufus

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  93. Hurf Durf (2,860) Says:

    Nice to see the usual suspects bawwwwwwwwing about privatised Telecom. Newsflash: if a crap company backed up by the state loses government bailouts, it’s still a crap company. It’s up to that company to improve itself and not be crap. If it’s incapable of doing that, well…

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  94. Kris K (3,570) Says:

    Transmogrifier 6:33 pm,

    One would have thought if the foreskin was such an annoyance, God wouldn’t have bothered with it in the first place. But let me guess, there is a “just-so” story to explain this as well, Kris?

    Surprisingly, I don’t have all the answers ;)
    As far as I’m aware the Bible makes no reference as to why God provided a foreskin, but then instructed the Jews to remove it on 8 day old boys. I understand the significance of circumcision from a spiritual application (for the Jews), though.

    One of lifes mysteries which I will ask God about when I see Him face to face.
    And let me tell you, I have a lot of such like questions to ask Him too.

    As an aside – Did you know that blood has the greatest clotting ability on the eigth day? – not the seventh, not the ninth, nor any other time during our lives. God certainly understands His creation.
    Additionally, many of the other dietary and hygiene practices that He instructed the Jews to follow had many parallel health benefits that the peoples around them did not enjoy.

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  95. Johnboy (10,749) Says:

    Quardle ardle wardle doodle ? Hey I just realised something is missing. WTF happened to the magpie????

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  96. Chthoniid (1,914) Says:

    I think we just got lucky Johnboy

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  97. Johnboy (10,749) Says:

    You mean he got that trainee managers job at Maccas?

    God they will take anyone these days!

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  98. side show bob (3,660) Says:

    Hope your guys living in Wellington put on the good weather tomorrow, taking one of my sons to ACDC, he’s a big fan. Funny really they are old enough to be his grandparents.

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  99. Johnboy (10,749) Says:

    Check this out SSB:

    http://www.metservice.co.nz/towns-cities/wellington

    Never let it be said that us big city folks dont turn it on for our rural cuzzies.

    Enjoy the concert.

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  100. dad4justice (7,339) Says:

    23 years no parole for Somerville scum of the earth.

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  101. Johnboy (10,749) Says:

    Dont be disheartened dad you did all you could for him some assholes just ain’t worth the effort.
    If there is any honour among crims he won’t serve the full sentence.

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  102. dad4justice (7,339) Says:

    He is on protection as I have already checked. He would last 20 seconds in mainstream Johnboy.

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  103. Johnboy (10,749) Says:

    Someone will still get to him one day.

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  104. MikeNZ (3,234) Says:

    I’m very glad that the three strikes law is coming in, it is a start, but life should mean life not 10yrs or a non parole period.
    If we had a death penalty for those who are caught bang to rights with no possible mistake I’d be very happy for that.

    I still think we should be building a 1000 bed prison with classroom and trade traing attached for those first/second time offenders on both islands.
    They could build 500 bed youth wings next door too which could use the same training facilities.
    http://www.oldcastleprecast.com/plants/modular/products/buildingsystems/correctional/Pages/5SidedCell.aspx

    Leave the recidivist in the existing premises so then we wouldn’t have to double bunk.
    Build it out of concrete units.
    We are already having prisoners make stuff so why not the untis to house other prisoners?
    http://www.corrections.govt.nz/about-us/fact-sheets/managing-offenders/cie-information-booklet/engineering-pre-cast-concrete-manufacturing-and-light-assembly.html

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  105. metcalph (1,039) Says:

    I challenge Mr Farrar to create a blog on the House of Horrors killer – surely more deserving of condemnation than even this sick animal abuser who fed kittens to his pitbull.

    He has already done so way back when Jason Somerville first plead guilty and his habit of doing women after doing them in was revealed.

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