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The Government accepts the advise of the Welfare Working Group. The government rejects the advice of the Tax working Group (land tax, capital gains tax). The Government rejects the advice of the Savings Working Group (high immigration has failed as a policy, putting up house prices and requiring taxpayers to pay for new infrastructure).
Good news from North Korea, where a survey of Gross National Happiness has found they rank 2nd in the world, just after China. The next three places are held by Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela while the US ranks last in national happiness.
John Key says the high nz dollar is because of weakness in the USD rather than strength in the NZD.
If thats the case, then why are we so strong against other currencies (near record highs against the pound too).
They talk about the chinese wanting to invest 6 billion in NZ companies, pushing up the dollar further. Then , there is the christchurch quake money coming in from foreign insurers.
But, the govt is borrowing over 300 million a week — surely, this is a large contributing reason for our strong dollar.
No one seems to worry about our huge current account deficit —all foreigners care is that it appears we can pay it back in the future, and our interest rates are high.
I’m wonder what will happen to our dollar when the government starts repaying debt, the chinese begin repatriating profits from businesses they buy here, commodity prices come off the boil, and the earthquake money dries up.
This could be the perfect storm, and could cause our dollar to freefall to lower levels then ever seen before.
Backster said… Do you reckon they will be as accurate as Ken Ring?
I believe so. It is probabilistic estimation not a certainty one, which they’re 2 different things. Ken Ring’s method is a premonition which we know it’s bollocks because it’s not based on empirical scientific evidence.
I haven’t seen any politicians outlining their 60 year stategy for Superannuation, Kiwisaver and Welfare. Given the nature of the issue they will have one — wouldn’t they?
Doug said… This Dr Brian Edwards article is upsetting the Left
Brian Edwards is right. The problem with Tapu Misa is that she thinks that commentary by so called prominent economists, eg, Paul Krugman constitutes a rebuttal but actually it is nothing of the sort. To the best of my knowledge, I’m not aware of any empirical study that’s been done by Krugman in the area of Macroeconomics that deals with minimum wage issues. I bet the Tapu Misa hasn’t read a single study on the subject of minimum wage.
Brian Edward’s revelation re minimum wages has floored me. Here we have one of the last true socialist dinosaurs removing the scales from his own eyes & seeing a way of growing the economic cake rather than micromanaging its slicing.
It remains to discover what brought this miracle to being…..if it could be bottled there is a fortune to be made.
“If thats the case, then why are we so strong against other currencies (near record highs against the pound too). ”
Well the pound has tanked too. The US is down against nearly every currency, unsurprising given the amount of USD that has been created. Personally dont see how we sustain a 82 cent exchange rate but I’ve given up trying to predict these things.
I think Edwards’ tongue is firmly in his cheek chaps….unless he’s had a stroke and some hitherto unused part of his brain is being used for the first time…
I suspect that you’re right…I read the article three times & even checked that I was at the correct web address. If he isn’t sending us up there is a possibility that he has discovered a new & potent recreational drug.
Its a piss-take. Sorry nasska, but that was obvious with his opening referencing to the drongo Misa.
Certainly stirred them up a bit though. Interesting how the lefties are hard-wired to react, whereas not everyone above has let the team down. nasska, go stand in the corner.
I think Penny should be on to this. Right up her alley.
What is going on in Christchurch…. The REAL story
I received the below email a few days ago from a friend in the industry.
Hotel Grand Chancellor is a story that needs to be told. Maybe a book someday! It was finally announced on Wednesday but it is the story behind the delay that is interesting.
This story also applies to the rebuilding and repair of Christchurch which Fletcher Building are overseeing.
The tender was to RCP (project managers for council) but was passed over to CERA once they arrived.
CERA is staffed entirely by Fletchers employees.
CERA delayed the announcement for a month to enable Fletchers to study the other tenderers info & submit a late bid. The day it was submitted CERA awarded them the tender.
Fletchers price was 3 million higher than anyone else’s!
Fletchers have no intention of doing the demolition, taking the risk, or putting up the bond to cover the risk. They are just appointing themselves as project managers to clip the ticket & then getting the original tender winners to do the work.
How did they get away with it?
Do a companies search on Fletchers. (No – don’t bother we’ve done it for you below).
They just got bought by the Reserve bank!
RBNZ owns 275 million Fletcher shares while Hugh Fletcher now only has 5000. Its a SOE. A Govt department!!
They bought themselves an income stream. They direct all the profits from the recovery straight into their own pockets instead of allowing the people of ChCh to make a bit each to help them recover.
You have to admit it is clever!!
But how on earth did they keep it out of the media?: NZ’s largest Co gets bought by Govt & it doesnt make even the tiniest news report? Really???
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark! (or in this case Canterbury!)
Meanwhile still no start to the demo & recovery after 3 months.
The books get fiddled while ChCh burns!
This is doing the rounds and will help you understand what a monstrous fraud is being perpetrated here:
Subject: The books are being Fiddled while Christchurch’s future Burns!
Subject: FW: What is going on in Christchurch…. The real story
Here are a few questions for you to think about (oh, I’ll make it easy: I
will give you the answers as well)
Q. Who appointed RCP (Resource Coordination Partnership Ltd) as Project
Managers for the management of ‘critical buildings’ following the February
22nd earthquake?
A . Christchurch City Council under instructions of the NZ Government
Q . Who appointed CERA?
A . NZ Government.
Q . Who appointed Fletcher Building to manage the demolition works and
then, reconstruction works?
A … NZ Government firstly, then CERA
Q . Who is the main single shareholder of Fletcher Building?
A .. NZ Government. if in doubt check below:
[inserted company search of Fletcher Building Limited]
Who is NZ Central securities Depository Ltd?
Q . Who called for the tenders for the demolition of the Grand Chancellor?
A . RCP
Q .. Who is to be the Principle to the demolition Contract (i.e. the
Payer)
A . The Crown (NZ Government).
Q .. Who assessed the Tenders for the Demolition of the Grand Chancellor?
A . RCP
Q . Who has been awarded the Grand Chancellor job (at whatever price and/
or conditions)?
A . Fletcher Building
Q . Who will make the profits?
A . Fletcher Building (and it’s Shareholders)
Q . Who is the main shareholder of Fletcher Building? (I know, I already
asked this one, but it could be a trick question)
A . NZ Government as the Reserve Bank of New Zealand(no trick question, sorry)
Q . Who has been blind-sided?
A . Everyone involved in the (supposed) tender process firstly, but more
importantly, the people of Christchurch and New Zealand who thought that
they lived in a first-world economy.
Q . What are the ramifications?
A . Immediate loss of confidence by all independent Consultants and
Contractors in the tender process if CERA, RCP or Fletcher Building are
involved jointly or singularly in a government sanctioned role, for fear of
a continued potential for a monopoly and huge profiteering there from.
Q . Who are the winners?
A . Fletcher Building and the NZ Government, along with the other
Financial institutions that form the majority shareholders in Fletcher
Building.
Q. Who are the losers?
A . The property owners, their tenants, clients and customers, along with
everyone in New Zealand who believes in a ‘level playing field’, all the
people of Christchurch, and all the people of New Zealand that have
supported, volunteered their time and/or donated their hard earned, tax-paid
monies to the recovery following the devastating events of February 22nd.
Q .. What should I do?
A . If you care about living in a democratic, free market and transparent
economy, please send this on to everyone in your email address book who needs to know what is happening.
Email Etiquette
When you forward this, please remove all email addresses before sending it on, and use the BCC area when forwarding to friends.
“Be kind to your email friends”
As New Zealanders, exposure of this rout is our best protection.
That Brian Edwards piece is interesting, albeit an attempt at irony. Notice that the posters don’t refute the central logic of the piece – that the minimum wage destroys jobs; they just get very very angry.
I wonder if they also get very very angry about the law of gravity. I suspect they probably do. Because it’s so unfair you see. And probably racist.
These are people expert in Mugabe economics: they’d impose price controls and, like him, wonder why the supermarkets shelves are all empty and there’s no petrol in the pumps.
Hard to pick a winner from the comments, but this surely must be a candidate: “they could legislate so that all doctors, nurses, and other public sector employees get the same as their Australian equivalents. This would stop the loss of these people across the Tasman overnight. How would this be paid for – simple, the govt would also dictate to the employers that all wages and salaries must also be the same as in Australia – this would push people into higher tax brackets and increase the govt income, and everyone would benefit.”
I believe that particular poster also has some ideas for a perpetual motion machine.
You do not need to worry about a high NZ dollar. The Europeans are coming to the rescue. It is only a matter of “when” one or more Europen countries default on their debt and the contagoin hits the financial markets. There will be a scramble to pay off debt, as most debt in the world is in US dollars, we should see a strong US dollar. Maybe tomorrow, next week, or in July, or next year, the Euro is going to tank.
smttc 10.11am says: “CERA is staffed entirely by Fletchers employees.”.
I’ve just picked up the phone and asked someone who knows.. “Is there any truth in the assertion that CERA is entirely ex Fletcher employees?” Answer – “Not at all. Who on earth suggested that? For starters, the CEO is Roger Sutton and he came from Orion Energy! Others I know at CERA were not from Fletchers either…”
This conspiracy ‘piece’ is a complete load of bollocks. Whoever wrote it probably checks under their bed each night to make sure that there is no evil ‘red’ lurking there to eavesdrop on matters ‘secret’. It is pure propaganda created by someone that know SFA and yet they still try and have others buy into some massive conspiracy theory.
No doubt, some gullible halfwits will think this is somehow ‘fact’ and accept it. But thankfully, others with an IQ of double digits and above will see it for what it is – a fabricated piece of junk written by conspiracy theorists with nothing better to do.
David, not my assumptions and I didn’t say I believed the conspiracy theory although I am sure Penny would. Can’t believe I beat her to posting it here. Can you provide a link to the debunking?
smttc – sorry, I can’t remember which blog I saw it on while I was roaming around unable to sleep in the wee small hours but the post had a big bunch of the conspiracy crossed out and an apology for misrepresenting the Central Security Depository saying that it is a private company holding shares either in trust or managing them on behalf of many many small investors. And yes the Company is owned by the Reserve Bank but if you follow it through here http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/payment/nzclear/ you can see that it has a function far removed from holding assets for the Government.
Without that connection, the whole thing unravels quite quickly I think.
The biggest cost- saving option in Auckland transport is simply to demolish the existing bridge, sever the northern side of the harbour from the southern – say a ditch from Riverhead out to the west coast. Then NZ can forget about everyone north of bridge because nothing of much value is produced north of there apart from marijuana. Then they can save big-time on roading infrastructure on the southern side because the northerners will be left stranded and won’t be able to head over the southern side.
Should probably do the same with the Sth island – why waste the money on another rail port?
Data from climate agency Niwa shows the month was almost 2.5 degrees Celcius warmer than usual, with rainfall double normal levels.
“Two-point-five degrees doesn’t sound like much, but for the average over the whole month that’s huge,” Renwick said. “Normally 0.5 of a degree is a record-breaker.”
The average monthly temperature had been 13.1C, a temperature normally expected for April, Renwick said.
The previous hottest May, recorded in 2007, had a mean temperature of 12.4C.
It may also explain the extra volatility.
Noted weather predictor Ben Sing: “the weather is certain to change next month”.
What is it with Auckland and it’s politicians ?
As a Auckland schoolboy in the 50s and 60s I was quite interested in the rail loop plan.
I used to see the diagram in the NZ Herald with that dotted line going from downtown to Mount Eden.
I thought that would be neato. But what have you done with it. Been a while now.
………. # da vinci at 12.42. Severing the South Island.
Go ahead. But before you do — look out where the exports go from. And where the imports go to. Then abandon your view and adopt craven self interest.
For a good laugh about that. Catch the excellent play ‘Le Sud’
On my first entering the village the children were dreadfully terrified. They shrieked aloud and ran in all directions to hide themselves: screaming with all their might, one alarmed another. If I had come from the invisible world they could not have been more sore afraid. The impression upon their infant minds at the first sight of a white person was so alarming as not to be removed while I remained amongst them, though some of them attended me with their parents for three days afterwards in visiting the different chiefs. Whenever they caught my eye by any accident they shrieked aloud, and no attentions of mine could pacify them. I had not met with any circumstance of this kind before in New Zealand. The children are generally very easy, open, and familiar at the first interview, and show an anxiety to pay every little attention in their power to strangers. There can be no finer children than those of the New Zealanders in any part of the world. Their parents are very indulgent, and they appear always happy and playful and very active. http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document?wid=1062&page=0&action=null
In this village I observed the heads of eleven chiefs stuck up on poles as trophies of victory. On enquiry I learned they were part of those Shunghee brought with him in his last expedition to the southwards. He had cured them all. Their countenances were very natural, excepting their lips and teeth which had all a ghastly grin as if they had been fixed by the last agonies of death. How painful must these exhibitions be to the wives, children, and subjects of these departed chiefs, who are prisoners of war and labouring upon the same spot with these heads in full view! My mind was filled with horror and disgust at the sight of this Golgotha; at the same time I anticipated with pleasing sensations that glorious period when, through the influence of the Gospel, the voice of joy and melody would be heard in these habitations of darkness and cruelty, where nothing now reigns but savage joy on one hand and weeping and mourning on the other. http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document?wid=1061&page=0&action=null
“Shunghee informed me five days before a chief, Tenana (Tinana), had killed his wife for adultery. She had been caught in the act, and acknowledged her guilt, when her husband knocked her on the head with a pattoo. The punishment, he said, was just. Her brother had been and taken away the dead body, which was conveyed to the sepulchre of her friends. She was a woman of rank. Her friends would not punish the surviving husband, as he had acted according to the established customs of their country, further than taking away a few baskets of potatoes as a satisfaction for the death of the woman. A man will sometimes put away his wife for adultery, but he may put her to death when the fact is fully proved, if he wishes to do so, and his conduct will meet with the approbation of the public. ”
…
“We told them it was not the custom in England for gentlemen’s wives to cultivate the land, whereas their wives were working from morning to night in the field; that gentlemen in England had only one wife while some of them had ten, that so many wives created much trouble and quarrels. They observed that what we said was very true, that such a number of wives caused great disputes amongst them, that it often happened that the women in those quarrels would go and hang themselves; but they alleged that, notwithstanding those evils, they could not dispense with their number of wives, for they had no money to pay for the cultivation of their land and without the assistance of their wives, either as labourers or overseers, they could not cultivate their lands at all. If they had the same means that the gentlemen had in England of cultivating their land with cattle, their wives should be employed in a different way, but they could not alter their present plan till they could get the means.
We told them that we hoped in time they would have those advantages, but much would depend upon their own conduct towards the Europeans. If they behaved well to them, others would be encouraged to come to live amongst them; if ill, those that were now in New Zealand would return to their own country. They only wished for an opportunity to show their attention by having two or three with them. The New Zealanders are eager to gain instruction, have a quick conception and a very retentive memory.”
“Ender (27) Says:
….Some might say that the original review was wrong out of sheer incompetence but I think otherwise…”
I could but only wish your hunch was the case, if so then we would have a chance of maybe something going right.
Alas I fear it is just sheer incompetence as we have seen plenty of evidence to that end so far.
The complaint used to be that Aucklander’s thought New Zealand stopped at the Bombay Hills. But that’s quite a wrong allegation. Clearly they think it stops at Epsom.
The next day we received a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Butler, English people, who had taken up their residence here for the purpose of trading, and we returned with them on shore, taking our female passengers with us, and leaving them in charge of Mrs. Butler. I determined to stroll through the village, which is, in fact, a collection of rude huts, huddled together without system or regularity. Dock leaves and weeds of every description were growing luxuriantly all round them, and in many places actually overtopping the houses, few being more than four feet high, with a doorway about two feet. Scarcely any of them were inhabited, as at this season of the year the greater part of the population prefer living in the open air to remaining in their small, smoky ovens of houses.
I had not rambled far before I witnessed a scene which forcibly reminded me of the savage country in which I then was, and the great alteration of character and customs a few days’ sail will make. The sight to me so appalling was that of the remains of a human body which had been roasted, and a number of hogs and dogs were snarling and feasting upon it! I was more shocked than surprised, for I had been informed of the character of the New Zealanders long before my arrival amongst them; still, the coming suddenly and unexpectedly upon a sight like this completely sickened me of rambling, at least for that day, and I hastened back to Mr. Butler’s, eager to inquire into the particulars of the horrid catastrophe.
That gentleman informed me that the night of the arrival of our ship, a chief had set one of his kookies (or slaves) to watch a piece of ground planted with the kumara, or sweet potato, in order to prevent the hogs committing depredations upon it. The poor lad, delighted with the appearance of our vessel, was more intent upon observing her come to an anchor than upon guarding his master’s property, and suffered the hogs to ramble into the plantation, where they soon made dreadful havoc. In the midst of this trespass and neglect of orders his master arrived. The result was certain; he instantly killed the unfortunate boy with a blow on the head from his stone hatchet, then ordered a fire to be made, and the body to be dragged to it, where it was roasted and consumed. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/11933/11933-h/11933-h.htm
“..Lightly smacking children has been proven to be harmless,..”
gotta link/any evidence of that..?
or is it just another of yr orifice-plucks..?
phil(whoar.co.nz) http://blog.greens.org.nz/2011/05/31/supporting-positive-parenting/
……………….
Groundbreaking New Zealand research has refuted thousands of international studies which claim that smacking children makes them more likely to become aggressive and antisocial.
Numerous overseas studies have shown that children who are physically punished are more likely to be aggressive and antisocial, have poor parent-child relationships and develop mental illnesses.
But the lead author of the physical punishment part of the Dunedin study, psychologist Jane Millichamp, said the project appeared to be the first long-term study in the world to separate out those who had merely been smacked with an open hand.
Preliminary analysis showed that those who were merely smacked had “similar or even slightly better outcomes” than those who were not smacked in terms of aggression, substance abuse, adult convictions and school achievement.
“Study members in the ‘smacking only’ category of punishment appeared to be particularly high-functioning and achieving members of society,” she said.
“I have looked at just about every study I can lay my hands on, and there are thousands, and I have not found any evidence that an occasional mild smack with an open hand on the clothed behind or the leg or hand is harmful or instils violence in kids,” she said.
“I know that is not a popular thing to say, but it is certainly the case.
“The more honest researchers have said, let’s be honest, we all wish we could say it’s all very clear and that no parent should ever lift a finger on a child – although I think that is totally unrealistic as a single parent myself – but the big problem is that a lot of the studies have lumped a whole lot of forms of physical punishment together.”
Dr Millichamp said the Dunedin study so far found no evidence of the “slippery slope” theory – that parents who started off smacking often progressed to abusive punishments.
“We couldn’t find any,” she said.
The findings undermine Green MP Sue Bradford’s bill to repeal section 59 of the Crimes Act, which allows parents to use “reasonable force” to discipline children.
A dedicated shop steward was at a convention in Las Vegas
and decided to check out the local brothels. When he got to
the first one, he asked the Madame, “Is this a union house?”
“No, I’m sorry it isn’t,” she said.
“Well, if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?” he
inquired.
“The house gets $80 and the girls get $20,” the Madame
replied.
Mightily offended at such unfair dealings, the man stomped
off down the street in search of a more equitable shop.
His search continued throughout the night until finally he
reached a brothel where the Madame said, “Why yes, this is
a union house.”
“And if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?” he
asked.
“The girls get $80 and the house gets $20,” said the Madame.
“That’s more like it!” the man said. He looked around the
room and pointed to a stunningly attractive redhead. “I’d
like her for the night,” he said.
“I’m sure you would, sir,” said the Madame, …gesturing to
an older and much heavier woman in the corner,
” …but Two-Ton Bertha here has seniority!”
Nigel Smyth-Fennington-Jones the well known English archeologist dug 3m down into a Norfolk fen and found traces of copper wire. He concluded in a masterful resume of his work that the Poms had a working telephone system 200 years ago.
Not to be outdone Shamus O’Toole a well known Oirish peat supplier discovered traces of copper wire 6m down in his peat bog in Donegal. At the local over a jar of the crater he concluded that the Irish had telecoms 400years ago.
Reading of this and determined that the Tangata Whenua could not be outdone by lesser civilisations Wiremu Anzac Te Rauparahau-White began digging at his Hapu’s Urupa and after reaching 12m and finding nothing declared that Te Maori had gone wireless as soon as they arrived here.
Man: I’m a bit kinky. Was wondering what you could do for me?
Woman: Well it depends, what kind of kinky?
Man: I like to be totally dominated, degraded and humiliated
Woman: Yea, no problem. It will cost you $150
Man: Great, what do I get for that?
Woman: A Hurricanes jersey…
On a new tack…I see that’s there’s an outbreak of food poisoning in Germany involving a particularly nasty strain of E-Coli, on, of all things, cucumbers. So far, 14 dead and 300 or so seriously ill, and more deaths are expected.
Isn’t it strange that that most newspapers aren’t reporting what is possibly the most salient fact about the outbreak; the cucumbers are “certified organic”. It seems that improperly treated (but beautifully organic) manure is the ultimate source.
I would hope by being eaten ! Please do not think that these were improper or somehow salacious cucumbers, and Ecoli really needs to be ingested to gain maximum effect.
May 31st, 2011 at 9:11 am
first? Also greetings.. long time lurker first time poster
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:15 am
It looks ominous, doesn’t it?
Vote:http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10729141
May 31st, 2011 at 9:16 am
Death threats against mother of that botox infused child “beauty” pageant contestant from the US. Good.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:17 am
Auckland – where soccer clubs go to die a slow death of fan-less starvation.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:17 am
The Government accepts the advise of the Welfare Working Group. The government rejects the advice of the Tax working Group (land tax, capital gains tax). The Government rejects the advice of the Savings Working Group (high immigration has failed as a policy, putting up house prices and requiring taxpayers to pay for new infrastructure).
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:22 am
Good news from North Korea, where a survey of Gross National Happiness has found they rank 2nd in the world, just after China. The next three places are held by Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela while the US ranks last in national happiness.
http://hken.ibtimes.com/articles/153551/20110528/north-korea-happiness-index-rank-china-top-us-bottom-photos.htm
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:25 am
MANOLO:…….Do you reckon they will be as accurate as Ken Ring?
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:28 am
This Dr Brian Edwards article is upsetting the Left just read comments.
http://brianedwardsmedia.co.nz/2011/05/i-devise-a-failsafe-recipe-for-full-employment-lowering-the-minimum-wage-with-thanks-to-john-key/
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:29 am
Yet some Aussie type was telling us we should have an AFL franchise…facepalm.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:29 am
John Key says the high nz dollar is because of weakness in the USD rather than strength in the NZD.
If thats the case, then why are we so strong against other currencies (near record highs against the pound too).
They talk about the chinese wanting to invest 6 billion in NZ companies, pushing up the dollar further. Then , there is the christchurch quake money coming in from foreign insurers.
But, the govt is borrowing over 300 million a week — surely, this is a large contributing reason for our strong dollar.
No one seems to worry about our huge current account deficit —all foreigners care is that it appears we can pay it back in the future, and our interest rates are high.
I’m wonder what will happen to our dollar when the government starts repaying debt, the chinese begin repatriating profits from businesses they buy here, commodity prices come off the boil, and the earthquake money dries up.
This could be the perfect storm, and could cause our dollar to freefall to lower levels then ever seen before.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:30 am
Backster said…
Do you reckon they will be as accurate as Ken Ring?
I believe so. It is probabilistic estimation not a certainty one, which they’re 2 different things. Ken Ring’s method is a premonition which we know it’s bollocks because it’s not based on empirical scientific evidence.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:33 am
I haven’t seen any politicians outlining their 60 year stategy for Superannuation, Kiwisaver and Welfare. Given the nature of the issue they will have one — wouldn’t they?
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:35 am
Doug said…
This Dr Brian Edwards article is upsetting the Left
Brian Edwards is right. The problem with Tapu Misa is that she thinks that commentary by so called prominent economists, eg, Paul Krugman constitutes a rebuttal but actually it is nothing of the sort. To the best of my knowledge, I’m not aware of any empirical study that’s been done by Krugman in the area of Macroeconomics that deals with minimum wage issues. I bet the Tapu Misa hasn’t read a single study on the subject of minimum wage.
Tapu Misa has a PhD in being an idiot.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:38 am
A brilliant ad: http://www.noob.us/humor/you-will-never-guess-what-this-ad-is-about/
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:46 am
Brian Edward’s revelation re minimum wages has floored me. Here we have one of the last true socialist dinosaurs removing the scales from his own eyes & seeing a way of growing the economic cake rather than micromanaging its slicing.
It remains to discover what brought this miracle to being…..if it could be bottled there is a fortune to be made.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:46 am
“If thats the case, then why are we so strong against other currencies (near record highs against the pound too). ”
Well the pound has tanked too. The US is down against nearly every currency, unsurprising given the amount of USD that has been created. Personally dont see how we sustain a 82 cent exchange rate but I’ve given up trying to predict these things.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:46 am
Backster, here is how one can estimate the frequency of earthquakes occurrence.
Unified scaling law for earthquakes
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:51 am
I think Edwards’ tongue is firmly in his cheek chaps….unless he’s had a stroke and some hitherto unused part of his brain is being used for the first time…
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:58 am
FFS, Doug, FF, the Brian Edwards post is SATIRE.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 10:00 am
David G
I suspect that you’re right…I read the article three times & even checked that I was at the correct web address. If he isn’t sending us up there is a possibility that he has discovered a new & potent recreational drug.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 10:06 am
nasska
Toad might be the supplier.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 10:06 am
Its a piss-take. Sorry nasska, but that was obvious with his opening referencing to the drongo Misa.
Certainly stirred them up a bit though. Interesting how the lefties are hard-wired to react, whereas not everyone above has let the team down. nasska, go stand in the corner.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 10:11 am
thedavincimode
I’m standing there!
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 10:11 am
I think Penny should be on to this. Right up her alley.
What is going on in Christchurch…. The REAL story
I received the below email a few days ago from a friend in the industry.
Hotel Grand Chancellor is a story that needs to be told. Maybe a book someday! It was finally announced on Wednesday but it is the story behind the delay that is interesting.
This story also applies to the rebuilding and repair of Christchurch which Fletcher Building are overseeing.
The tender was to RCP (project managers for council) but was passed over to CERA once they arrived.
CERA is staffed entirely by Fletchers employees.
CERA delayed the announcement for a month to enable Fletchers to study the other tenderers info & submit a late bid. The day it was submitted CERA awarded them the tender.
Fletchers price was 3 million higher than anyone else’s!
Fletchers have no intention of doing the demolition, taking the risk, or putting up the bond to cover the risk. They are just appointing themselves as project managers to clip the ticket & then getting the original tender winners to do the work.
How did they get away with it?
Do a companies search on Fletchers. (No – don’t bother we’ve done it for you below).
They just got bought by the Reserve bank!
RBNZ owns 275 million Fletcher shares while Hugh Fletcher now only has 5000. Its a SOE. A Govt department!!
They bought themselves an income stream. They direct all the profits from the recovery straight into their own pockets instead of allowing the people of ChCh to make a bit each to help them recover.
You have to admit it is clever!!
But how on earth did they keep it out of the media?: NZ’s largest Co gets bought by Govt & it doesnt make even the tiniest news report? Really???
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark! (or in this case Canterbury!)
Meanwhile still no start to the demo & recovery after 3 months.
The books get fiddled while ChCh burns!
This is doing the rounds and will help you understand what a monstrous fraud is being perpetrated here:
Subject: The books are being Fiddled while Christchurch’s future Burns!
Subject: FW: What is going on in Christchurch…. The real story
Here are a few questions for you to think about (oh, I’ll make it easy: I
will give you the answers as well)
Q. Who appointed RCP (Resource Coordination Partnership Ltd) as Project
Managers for the management of ‘critical buildings’ following the February
22nd earthquake?
A . Christchurch City Council under instructions of the NZ Government
Q . Who appointed CERA?
A . NZ Government.
Q . Who appointed Fletcher Building to manage the demolition works and
then, reconstruction works?
A … NZ Government firstly, then CERA
Q . Who is the main single shareholder of Fletcher Building?
A .. NZ Government. if in doubt check below:
[inserted company search of Fletcher Building Limited]
Who is NZ Central securities Depository Ltd?
Q . Who called for the tenders for the demolition of the Grand Chancellor?
A . RCP
Q .. Who is to be the Principle to the demolition Contract (i.e. the
Payer)
A . The Crown (NZ Government).
Q .. Who assessed the Tenders for the Demolition of the Grand Chancellor?
A . RCP
Q . Who has been awarded the Grand Chancellor job (at whatever price and/
or conditions)?
A . Fletcher Building
Q . Who will make the profits?
A . Fletcher Building (and it’s Shareholders)
Q . Who is the main shareholder of Fletcher Building? (I know, I already
asked this one, but it could be a trick question)
A . NZ Government as the Reserve Bank of New Zealand(no trick question, sorry)
Q . Who has been blind-sided?
A . Everyone involved in the (supposed) tender process firstly, but more
importantly, the people of Christchurch and New Zealand who thought that
they lived in a first-world economy.
Q . What are the ramifications?
A . Immediate loss of confidence by all independent Consultants and
Contractors in the tender process if CERA, RCP or Fletcher Building are
involved jointly or singularly in a government sanctioned role, for fear of
a continued potential for a monopoly and huge profiteering there from.
Q . Who are the winners?
A . Fletcher Building and the NZ Government, along with the other
Financial institutions that form the majority shareholders in Fletcher
Building.
Q. Who are the losers?
A . The property owners, their tenants, clients and customers, along with
everyone in New Zealand who believes in a ‘level playing field’, all the
people of Christchurch, and all the people of New Zealand that have
supported, volunteered their time and/or donated their hard earned, tax-paid
monies to the recovery following the devastating events of February 22nd.
Q .. What should I do?
A . If you care about living in a democratic, free market and transparent
economy, please send this on to everyone in your email address book who needs to know what is happening.
Email Etiquette
When you forward this, please remove all email addresses before sending it on, and use the BCC area when forwarding to friends.
“Be kind to your email friends”
As New Zealanders, exposure of this rout is our best protection.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 10:33 am
I’d rather penny not expose herself in my direction thatnks smttc.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 10:42 am
That Brian Edwards piece is interesting, albeit an attempt at irony. Notice that the posters don’t refute the central logic of the piece – that the minimum wage destroys jobs; they just get very very angry.
I wonder if they also get very very angry about the law of gravity. I suspect they probably do. Because it’s so unfair you see. And probably racist.
These are people expert in Mugabe economics: they’d impose price controls and, like him, wonder why the supermarkets shelves are all empty and there’s no petrol in the pumps.
Hard to pick a winner from the comments, but this surely must be a candidate: “they could legislate so that all doctors, nurses, and other public sector employees get the same as their Australian equivalents. This would stop the loss of these people across the Tasman overnight. How would this be paid for – simple, the govt would also dictate to the employers that all wages and salaries must also be the same as in Australia – this would push people into higher tax brackets and increase the govt income, and everyone would benefit.”
I believe that particular poster also has some ideas for a perpetual motion machine.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 10:56 am
You do not need to worry about a high NZ dollar. The Europeans are coming to the rescue. It is only a matter of “when” one or more Europen countries default on their debt and the contagoin hits the financial markets. There will be a scramble to pay off debt, as most debt in the world is in US dollars, we should see a strong US dollar. Maybe tomorrow, next week, or in July, or next year, the Euro is going to tank.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 10:57 am
Didn’t Sir Robert try that sort of “dictating” to the markets? That worked well…
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 11:14 am
smtcc – tinfoil is on special at New World this week.
Check very carefully your assumptions about what is “NZ Central securities Depository Ltd”
clue: this fantasy circle-jerk was debunked at least 24 hours ago and the original progenitor apologised profusely.
Please keep up.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 11:21 am
smttc 10.11am says: “CERA is staffed entirely by Fletchers employees.”.
I’ve just picked up the phone and asked someone who knows.. “Is there any truth in the assertion that CERA is entirely ex Fletcher employees?” Answer – “Not at all. Who on earth suggested that? For starters, the CEO is Roger Sutton and he came from Orion Energy! Others I know at CERA were not from Fletchers either…”
This conspiracy ‘piece’ is a complete load of bollocks. Whoever wrote it probably checks under their bed each night to make sure that there is no evil ‘red’ lurking there to eavesdrop on matters ‘secret’. It is pure propaganda created by someone that know SFA and yet they still try and have others buy into some massive conspiracy theory.
No doubt, some gullible halfwits will think this is somehow ‘fact’ and accept it. But thankfully, others with an IQ of double digits and above will see it for what it is – a fabricated piece of junk written by conspiracy theorists with nothing better to do.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 11:25 am
David, not my assumptions and I didn’t say I believed the conspiracy theory although I am sure Penny would. Can’t believe I beat her to posting it here. Can you provide a link to the debunking?
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 11:27 am
@ smttc – I warned you to stay away from The Standard …
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 11:28 am
Oh, and smttc – a quick check via Google delivered this link:
http://www.cera.govt.nz/about-cera#TOC-CERA-management
Not one person in management from Fletchers.
By chance, do you work in the media?
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 12:10 pm
smttc – sorry, I can’t remember which blog I saw it on while I was roaming around unable to sleep in the wee small hours but the post had a big bunch of the conspiracy crossed out and an apology for misrepresenting the Central Security Depository saying that it is a private company holding shares either in trust or managing them on behalf of many many small investors. And yes the Company is owned by the Reserve Bank but if you follow it through here http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/payment/nzclear/ you can see that it has a function far removed from holding assets for the Government.
Without that connection, the whole thing unravels quite quickly I think.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 12:13 pm
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10729158
Lovely, we get a new computer system that can deliver a single rates bill and it only costs $576 million.
thanks Rodney.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 12:30 pm
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5079102/Auckland-rail-loop-benefits-don-t-stack-up-report
Looks like Len Brown and his mates have been telling big porkies to get his rail line.
Some might say that the original review was wrong out of sheer incompetence but I think otherwise
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Len Brown … porkies …. zzzz
The biggest cost- saving option in Auckland transport is simply to demolish the existing bridge, sever the northern side of the harbour from the southern – say a ditch from Riverhead out to the west coast. Then NZ can forget about everyone north of bridge because nothing of much value is produced north of there apart from marijuana. Then they can save big-time on roading infrastructure on the southern side because the northerners will be left stranded and won’t be able to head over the southern side.
Should probably do the same with the Sth island – why waste the money on another rail port?
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 12:59 pm
Rick Rowling
You seem to have an interest in the so-called beautiful game.
What’s the deal with FIFA and these suspensions? Is the fix in for this next election? Is there anything to all of this?
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 1:09 pm
The weather for May is confirmed as easily the warmest on record.
It may also explain the extra volatility.
Noted weather predictor Ben Sing: “the weather is certain to change next month”.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 1:47 pm
woohoo, the NZD posts an all time high against the british pound.
1 pound gets you just 2 nz dollars.
Only a few years ago, 1 pound would get nearly $4nzd.
The pound , has nearly halved in value.
I have an interest in this
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Wreck, I also have an interest in this although in the opposite direction….. not a good day!
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 2:00 pm
What is it with Auckland and it’s politicians ?
As a Auckland schoolboy in the 50s and 60s I was quite interested in the rail loop plan.
I used to see the diagram in the NZ Herald with that dotted line going from downtown to Mount Eden.
I thought that would be neato. But what have you done with it. Been a while now.
………. # da vinci at 12.42. Severing the South Island.
Vote:Go ahead. But before you do — look out where the exports go from. And where the imports go to. Then abandon your view and adopt craven self interest.
For a good laugh about that. Catch the excellent play ‘Le Sud’
May 31st, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Samuel Marsdens Journal
On my first entering the village the children were dreadfully terrified. They shrieked aloud and ran in all directions to hide themselves: screaming with all their might, one alarmed another. If I had come from the invisible world they could not have been more sore afraid. The impression upon their infant minds at the first sight of a white person was so alarming as not to be removed while I remained amongst them, though some of them attended me with their parents for three days afterwards in visiting the different chiefs. Whenever they caught my eye by any accident they shrieked aloud, and no attentions of mine could pacify them. I had not met with any circumstance of this kind before in New Zealand. The children are generally very easy, open, and familiar at the first interview, and show an anxiety to pay every little attention in their power to strangers. There can be no finer children than those of the New Zealanders in any part of the world. Their parents are very indulgent, and they appear always happy and playful and very active.
http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document?wid=1062&page=0&action=null
In this village I observed the heads of eleven chiefs stuck up on poles as trophies of victory. On enquiry I learned they were part of those Shunghee brought with him in his last expedition to the southwards. He had cured them all. Their countenances were very natural, excepting their lips and teeth which had all a ghastly grin as if they had been fixed by the last agonies of death. How painful must these exhibitions be to the wives, children, and subjects of these departed chiefs, who are prisoners of war and labouring upon the same spot with these heads in full view! My mind was filled with horror and disgust at the sight of this Golgotha; at the same time I anticipated with pleasing sensations that glorious period when, through the influence of the Gospel, the voice of joy and melody would be heard in these habitations of darkness and cruelty, where nothing now reigns but savage joy on one hand and weeping and mourning on the other.
http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document?wid=1061&page=0&action=null
Mad Catherine
Vote:http://blog.greens.org.nz/2011/05/31/supporting-positive-parenting/
May 31st, 2011 at 2:07 pm
More Marsden’s Journal:
“Shunghee informed me five days before a chief, Tenana (Tinana), had killed his wife for adultery. She had been caught in the act, and acknowledged her guilt, when her husband knocked her on the head with a pattoo. The punishment, he said, was just. Her brother had been and taken away the dead body, which was conveyed to the sepulchre of her friends. She was a woman of rank. Her friends would not punish the surviving husband, as he had acted according to the established customs of their country, further than taking away a few baskets of potatoes as a satisfaction for the death of the woman. A man will sometimes put away his wife for adultery, but he may put her to death when the fact is fully proved, if he wishes to do so, and his conduct will meet with the approbation of the public. ”
…
“We told them it was not the custom in England for gentlemen’s wives to cultivate the land, whereas their wives were working from morning to night in the field; that gentlemen in England had only one wife while some of them had ten, that so many wives created much trouble and quarrels. They observed that what we said was very true, that such a number of wives caused great disputes amongst them, that it often happened that the women in those quarrels would go and hang themselves; but they alleged that, notwithstanding those evils, they could not dispense with their number of wives, for they had no money to pay for the cultivation of their land and without the assistance of their wives, either as labourers or overseers, they could not cultivate their lands at all. If they had the same means that the gentlemen had in England of cultivating their land with cattle, their wives should be employed in a different way, but they could not alter their present plan till they could get the means.
We told them that we hoped in time they would have those advantages, but much would depend upon their own conduct towards the Europeans. If they behaved well to them, others would be encouraged to come to live amongst them; if ill, those that were now in New Zealand would return to their own country. They only wished for an opportunity to show their attention by having two or three with them. The New Zealanders are eager to gain instruction, have a quick conception and a very retentive memory.”
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 2:23 pm
“Ender (27) Says:
….Some might say that the original review was wrong out of sheer incompetence but I think otherwise…”
I could but only wish your hunch was the case, if so then we would have a chance of maybe something going right.
Vote:Alas I fear it is just sheer incompetence as we have seen plenty of evidence to that end so far.
May 31st, 2011 at 2:26 pm
KH
But are you on board with the North Shore proposal?
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 2:30 pm
smttc – are you showmethetaxcuts with a bit cut off the end of it? lol.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 2:38 pm
…….. da vinci.
The complaint used to be that Aucklander’s thought New Zealand stopped at the Bombay Hills. But that’s quite a wrong allegation. Clearly they think it stops at Epsom.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 2:42 pm
The next day we received a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Butler, English people, who had taken up their residence here for the purpose of trading, and we returned with them on shore, taking our female passengers with us, and leaving them in charge of Mrs. Butler. I determined to stroll through the village, which is, in fact, a collection of rude huts, huddled together without system or regularity. Dock leaves and weeds of every description were growing luxuriantly all round them, and in many places actually overtopping the houses, few being more than four feet high, with a doorway about two feet. Scarcely any of them were inhabited, as at this season of the year the greater part of the population prefer living in the open air to remaining in their small, smoky ovens of houses.
I had not rambled far before I witnessed a scene which forcibly reminded me of the savage country in which I then was, and the great alteration of character and customs a few days’ sail will make. The sight to me so appalling was that of the remains of a human body which had been roasted, and a number of hogs and dogs were snarling and feasting upon it! I was more shocked than surprised, for I had been informed of the character of the New Zealanders long before my arrival amongst them; still, the coming suddenly and unexpectedly upon a sight like this completely sickened me of rambling, at least for that day, and I hastened back to Mr. Butler’s, eager to inquire into the particulars of the horrid catastrophe.
That gentleman informed me that the night of the arrival of our ship, a chief had set one of his kookies (or slaves) to watch a piece of ground planted with the kumara, or sweet potato, in order to prevent the hogs committing depredations upon it. The poor lad, delighted with the appearance of our vessel, was more intent upon observing her come to an anchor than upon guarding his master’s property, and suffered the hogs to ramble into the plantation, where they soon made dreadful havoc. In the midst of this trespass and neglect of orders his master arrived. The result was certain; he instantly killed the unfortunate boy with a blow on the head from his stone hatchet, then ordered a fire to be made, and the body to be dragged to it, where it was roasted and consumed.
Vote:http://www.gutenberg.org/files/11933/11933-h/11933-h.htm
May 31st, 2011 at 3:33 pm
The lad didn’t do it again did he?
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Surely the next requiring some regime change:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/tortured-youngster-becomes-rallying-point-for-syrians-20110530-1fczc.html
Never read something more disgusting in all my life.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 4:14 pm
CDC admits flu vaccines don’t work:
http://www.infowars.com/cdc-admits-flu-vaccines-dont-work/
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 4:25 pm
[Censored Frogblog]
Phil U says:
“..Lightly smacking children has been proven to be harmless,..”
gotta link/any evidence of that..?
or is it just another of yr orifice-plucks..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
http://blog.greens.org.nz/2011/05/31/supporting-positive-parenting/
……………….
Groundbreaking New Zealand research has refuted thousands of international studies which claim that smacking children makes them more likely to become aggressive and antisocial.
Numerous overseas studies have shown that children who are physically punished are more likely to be aggressive and antisocial, have poor parent-child relationships and develop mental illnesses.
But the lead author of the physical punishment part of the Dunedin study, psychologist Jane Millichamp, said the project appeared to be the first long-term study in the world to separate out those who had merely been smacked with an open hand.
Preliminary analysis showed that those who were merely smacked had “similar or even slightly better outcomes” than those who were not smacked in terms of aggression, substance abuse, adult convictions and school achievement.
“Study members in the ‘smacking only’ category of punishment appeared to be particularly high-functioning and achieving members of society,” she said.
“I have looked at just about every study I can lay my hands on, and there are thousands, and I have not found any evidence that an occasional mild smack with an open hand on the clothed behind or the leg or hand is harmful or instils violence in kids,” she said.
“I know that is not a popular thing to say, but it is certainly the case.
“The more honest researchers have said, let’s be honest, we all wish we could say it’s all very clear and that no parent should ever lift a finger on a child – although I think that is totally unrealistic as a single parent myself – but the big problem is that a lot of the studies have lumped a whole lot of forms of physical punishment together.”
Dr Millichamp said the Dunedin study so far found no evidence of the “slippery slope” theory – that parents who started off smacking often progressed to abusive punishments.
“We couldn’t find any,” she said.
The findings undermine Green MP Sue Bradford’s bill to repeal section 59 of the Crimes Act, which allows parents to use “reasonable force” to discipline children.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10404809
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 4:39 pm
Jesus smttc if you believe all that you are a complete fruit loop.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Fucking spat my drink out at that one!
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 6:46 pm
david (1,832) Says:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:14 am
smtcc – tinfoil is on special at New World this week.
Ssshhhh: you’ll start a stampede.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 7:16 pm
A dedicated shop steward was at a convention in Las Vegas
and decided to check out the local brothels. When he got to
the first one, he asked the Madame, “Is this a union house?”
“No, I’m sorry it isn’t,” she said.
“Well, if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?” he
inquired.
“The house gets $80 and the girls get $20,” the Madame
replied.
Mightily offended at such unfair dealings, the man stomped
off down the street in search of a more equitable shop.
His search continued throughout the night until finally he
reached a brothel where the Madame said, “Why yes, this is
a union house.”
“And if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?” he
asked.
“The girls get $80 and the house gets $20,” said the Madame.
“That’s more like it!” the man said. He looked around the
room and pointed to a stunningly attractive redhead. “I’d
like her for the night,” he said.
“I’m sure you would, sir,” said the Madame, …gesturing to
Vote:an older and much heavier woman in the corner,
” …but Two-Ton Bertha here has seniority!”
May 31st, 2011 at 9:01 pm
Nigel Smyth-Fennington-Jones the well known English archeologist dug 3m down into a Norfolk fen and found traces of copper wire. He concluded in a masterful resume of his work that the Poms had a working telephone system 200 years ago.
Not to be outdone Shamus O’Toole a well known Oirish peat supplier discovered traces of copper wire 6m down in his peat bog in Donegal. At the local over a jar of the crater he concluded that the Irish had telecoms 400years ago.
Reading of this and determined that the Tangata Whenua could not be outdone by lesser civilisations Wiremu Anzac Te Rauparahau-White began digging at his Hapu’s Urupa and after reaching 12m and finding nothing declared that Te Maori had gone wireless as soon as they arrived here.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 9:25 pm
Man: I’m a bit kinky. Was wondering what you could do for me?
Vote:Woman: Well it depends, what kind of kinky?
Man: I like to be totally dominated, degraded and humiliated
Woman: Yea, no problem. It will cost you $150
Man: Great, what do I get for that?
Woman: A Hurricanes jersey…
May 31st, 2011 at 10:02 pm
On a new tack…I see that’s there’s an outbreak of food poisoning in Germany involving a particularly nasty strain of E-Coli, on, of all things, cucumbers. So far, 14 dead and 300 or so seriously ill, and more deaths are expected.
Isn’t it strange that that most newspapers aren’t reporting what is possibly the most salient fact about the outbreak; the cucumbers are “certified organic”. It seems that improperly treated (but beautifully organic) manure is the ultimate source.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 10:06 pm
Did the article mention how the cucumber transmitted the disease Ed?
Sorry I asked, it just that I’ve seen some fairly interesting applications of the humble cucumber by the erstwhile master race.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 10:08 pm
I would hope by being eaten ! Please do not think that these were improper or somehow salacious cucumbers, and Ecoli really needs to be ingested to gain maximum effect.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Perhaps if the cucumbers had worn condoms before being eaten the unfortunate deaths would have been averted.
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 10:22 pm
The answer, Johnboy, is to not master race with a cucumber
Vote:May 31st, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Can you say that En Francais Yvette.
It excites me so much more!
Vote:June 1st, 2011 at 7:44 am
Romney on the Messiah: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55920.html
Vote: