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Chris Carter is reporting in from Kabul. But the accompanying photo is a natural for a Caption Contest, and given that DPF’s away, come on over to my place and fill yer boots!
However much the government spends, it will still be attacked for ‘the cuts’
In his memoirs, Nicholas Ridley wondered why, whenever he increased a budget, he would be met by anti-cuts protesters. After a while, he grasped that a semantic shift was taking place. ‘Suppose I want an increase of ten per cent, and the government gives me an increase of five per cent. I have now suffered a “cut” of five per cent’. In the 1980s, this eccentric definition was largely confined to the public sector unions. Now, it has become generalised throughout the MSM.
The 90-page Russian report slams EU nations, Canada and Georgia, but reserves its longest section of 20 pages for what it says are violations by the United States. The report does not cover Asia, Africa or the Middle East, other than a five-page section criticizing the NATO operation in Libya.
@ Everlasting Fire & Brian Smaller; I doubt it. If he’s convicted, chances are that he will be 17 by the time that he is sentenced, and he will do his time in an adult prison, where people who offend against children are regarded alongside those who nark to police; the lowest of the low.
NO, no, you guys have it all wrong about the child rapist. The girl was Belgian and because It’s not Maori child abuse, it doesn’t count. Plus the rapist is undoubtedly a proud Pasifikan and they can do no wrong because they have warrior blood, so raping and pillaging is part of their culture. He’ll be out in 6 months charged with some sort of light form of assault.
@LabourDoesntWork – It is fennel. If you forage wild fennel go for the younger stalks (the fleshy bit at the base is good sliced and sauteed). The leaves and flowers are edible as well. Nice with a bit of fish.
Ha! This story sums up one aspect of our territorial human character so ironically:
“Armenian and Greek Orthodox leaders screamed at each other and attacked one other with broomsticks inside Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity. They were tidying up the church ahead of Orthodox Christmas celebrations in early January.
The two denominations plus Roman Catholics each control sections of the church and fiercely guard their turf. The violence broke out when the Armenian and Greek sides accused each other of crossing into each other’s territory. Similar fights have taken place in past years.
I agree with Keeping Stock, if convicted, he will be in jail and the pedo wont have many friends. I don’t think he is brown, as he is a pedo, many pedos tend to be white.
gravedodger (1,013) Says:
December 29th, 2011 at 8:04 am
When will the Aussie Media turn on “Pup” , his form is no better than Punter or Huss and is without the excuse of old age.
Just wundrin ok.
Two tons in his last four tests from memory. How is that as bad as Ponting or Mr Cricket?
Syria: Arab League attacked for ignoring scale of violence
An Arab League peace mission to Syria was in crisis on Wednesday night, attacked by opposition activists for failing to get to grips with the scale of the violence even as more people were shot dead in fighting.
Lt Gen Mohammed Ahmed Mustapha al-Dabi, head of the mission, described the city of Homs, where it is thought more than 1,000 people have been killed, as being “nothing frightening”, although he conceded “some places looked a bit of a mess”.
Surprise, surprise.
One dictator and human rights’ violator protecting another.
Some background information about Lt Gen Mohammed Ahmed Mustapha al-Dabi.
The World’s Worst Human Rights Observer
As Arab League monitors work to expose President Bashar al-Assad’s crackdown, the head of the mission is a Sudanese general accused of creating the fearsome “janjaweed,” which was responsible for the worst atrocities during the Darfur genocide.
MT_Tinman – Fennel is not poisonous despite the old-wives tales that it is. You might be thinking of hemlock that looks a bit like it but has dark patches on the stems. Hemlock also doesn’t smell of aniseed. Probably best to avoid fennel picked from alongside busy roads but perfectly OK growing along rivers, quiet back roads and so forth. I have eaten stacks of it and never been poisoned.
Actually, thinking about it, hemlock doesn’t look much like fennel. I just looked at some growing by the woolshed. It’s leaves have a more fern-like appearance. This of course reminds me, I need to get some weedkiller and do some spraying.
Fennel is used a lot in Italian cooking.
Immigrant..your racist views are such a bore..Why did you bother to come here? Almost every comment you make you prove Margaret Mutu right. Surely there was some people you could hate so nastily in your own country.
re the Turangi situation..leaving children unattended when under 14 is against the law in NZ. How could the parents be so stupid?
All those who identified the plant as fennel go to the top of the class. It’s harmless & stock won’t go near it presumably because of the strong aroma of aniseed it gives off.l
If there are any salt water fishermen on this board they may want to try a trick an old mate of mine showed me years ago. Before leaving shore he used to stuff a sugar bag with fennel & when we reached the fishing possie we would stamp on the bag to release the scent & tie it to the anchor chain before dropping the pick.
He swore that the aniseed smell would lure fish as well as any groundbait & I think he may of been right.
” Re the Turangi situation..leaving children unattended when under 14 is against the law in NZ. How could the parents be so stupid”
That comment is a fucking disgrace.The parents were at an amenity block in a bloody campground- It’s not like they were out on the town….Try as you might there is no justification for this disgraceful and sickening attack joana…
Keeping Stock – I was not planning on spraying today. Next weekend perhaps:)
Today it is BBQ time and I am making kebabs. The really good thing about having yoru own source of beef – you never run out and you don’t think twice about using lots of it.
” Re the Turangi situation..leaving children unattended when under 14 is against the law in NZ. How could the parents be so stupid”
There is no excuse for such a stupid comment. There would not be a person in this country who has not lett a child under 14 unattended for at leat 10 minutes.
Well, it had to happen sooner or later: Garth George is leaving the NZ Herald. His last column is today, and he says-
The editors decided back in October that this column does not fit in with their future plans for the opinion pages. And while I shall miss penning my weekly opinions, and have to adapt to a painful drop in income, I hold no rancour.
One can see why, as his was one of the few conservative perspectives in that liberal newspaper. I wonder what other columnists the Herald’s “future plans” include? Pam Corkery or someone of her ilk, one supposes. From now on Garth will be doing a weekly column in the Bay of Plenty Times in Tauranga, and the Daily Post in Rotorua.
Interestingly, I didn’t know he was a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
In a very anti-capitalistic move the government decided that stupidity and criminal activity should be rewarded. I’d say they took our money, but it is worse, we didn’t have that much money. So they borrowed the money in our name. The loan has a variable rate. They borrowed so much money that our kids cosigned the loan. In fact, our kid’s future kid’s signed on the dotted line.
That is unequivocally immoral. They gave that borrowed money to a bunch of morons as a reward for stupidity. Morons who created subprime loans, liar loans, no income, no documentation loans and other fraudulent instruments. Morons bundled that trash, got it rated AAA and then sold these turds or weapons of mass destruction that they had the audacity to name complex financial instruments or derivatives to pension funds, countries and other “investors”. Then it all blew up.
Interestingly, I didn’t know he was a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
According to the latest Gallup poll, Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton are the most admired man and woman of the year respectively.
Really? I wonder who else there was to vote for – Kim Jong Il and Mugabe?
”Re the Turangi situation..leaving children unattended when under 14 is against the law in NZ. How could the parents be so stupid”
So what you’re saying, Joana, is that the parents had it coming to them. It is difficult for me to imagine any person being so bereft of normal, human feelings. Especially a female. I hope that your heartless comments never reach the ears of the grieving European parents.
‘Staffordshire bull terrier or mastiff-cross’ is SPCA code for “we don’t know what they are but they’ve got flat faces.” Unfortunately the misguided fools have convinced themselves that there is a dire shortage of cross bred puppies & mangy kittens so they must be saved at all cost rather than being humanely euthanised.
Just why people who wouldn’t be seen dead driving a Skoda or wearing odd socks pay out good money for crossbred dogs is beyond me. Traits & temperaments are inherited characteristics peculiar to individual breeds & you are loading the dice against yourself by buying a mongrel.
Purebreds are fine if you know they aren’t inbred. So they need their papers.
On the other hand, the best and smartest dog I ever owned was a mongrel. Ridgeback crossed with a lab/border collie. Dammit she was a good dog but she developed a brain tumour at 6 years old and I had to have her euthanized. Hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
Agreed it pays to do your homework before buying any dog. Usually when I need to replace a dog I’ll get a pup off someone I know & who will let me see the parents work. Even then occasionally you’ll get a dud but I’ve always bought purebreds & only bitches.
The smarts in your crossbreed would have been from the Border Collie genes. Border Collies are the most intelligent dogs you’ll ever come across….the best I’ve ever owned was a mind reader & it was a very sad day when she died.
The dumbest dog I’ve ever owned is the Bull Mastiff which is supposed to guard the property from the mobile thieving townie scum who would rather steal than work. Beautiful nature but the best we can hope for is that any prospective thief may trip over her & break a leg. Looks & sounds the part although.
Prediction for 2012
(at the risk of appearing to be a big head, one that i made some weeks ago)
The occupy protesters will occupy Aotea Square in Auckland for as long as they want to.
PC New Zealand is not capable of evicting them.
The judge today declined to issue individual arrest orders as it would not be nice because
the occupiers might be arrested.
Also.
Well done New Zealand Police for making an arrest in Turangi.
Another job well done.
Most major cases resolved in 2011 Congratulations. Thankyou.
We’re proud of you.
Whatever our thoughts are re parents leaving their children unsupervised, that is the law. IMO Joanna was tactless to say the least. However we should remember the lost child in Portugal -
It seems that the family is not adopting a ‘victim’ mentality – and more power to them. I hope this event will assume an ever receding place in their lives.
But what are we to do about the influences that produced a young boy capable of such ghastly behaviour?
I have little sympathy with the mother who calls out ‘I love you son’ as he left the courtroom.
What did she do to protect him for the last 16 years?
Did she provide a loving, caring model as a parent?
Did she warn him of the need to keep out of bad company?
Did she tell him to think of consequences of his actions?
Did she criticise bad behaviour in others?
She must be feeling so guilty. She probably thought she was doing her best. I feel sorry for her. I feel sorry for the boy.
Was there a male in the house hold? What kind of role model did he provide? Did he walk the talk that led to this event?
I do not know the family, but I have seen people who front up in public but who lead a (to me) horrifying life in private. I have seen children who behave in ways that make one suspect sexual abuse. I have seen young children who could only be described as stoned, and others who look at me with an angry, hostile face, but who if I look right back will drop their eyes and shuffle away.
Turangi is a charming place to live and there are many interesting and concerned people live there, but there are as many unoccupied holiday homes as permanent residents. There is a small dark underside which is not visible, which only becomes apparent after years of residence. Each year sees several youth suicides, which are not publicly acknowledged and each year people who undoubtedly know, profess not to understand how or why these could happen.
Ngati Tuwharetoa is a wealthy tribe. It has great influence within the Turangi society. It should be making its business to improve the lives of its young people. As long as they expect us to acknowledge their aristocracy in Maoridom, the leaders should be seen to be active in their leadership, and until they do we will not have any respect for them.
Two blondes decided to rob a bank together. The first blonde, Judy plans the robbery and goes over the plan with the second blonde, Buffy, in great detail. The robbery begins.
Judy drives up in front of the bank, stops the car and says to Buffy, “I want to make absolutely sure you understand the plan. You are supposed to be in and out of the bank in no more than three minutes with the cash. Do you understand the plan?”
“Perfectly,” said Buffy.
Buffy goes in the bank while Judy waits in the getaway car.
One minute passes . . . Two minutes pass . . . Seven minutes pass . . . and Judy is really stressing out.
Finally, the bank doors burst open! And here comes Buffy. She’s got a safe wrapped up in rope and is dragging it to the car. About the time she gets the safe in the trunk of the car, the bank doors burst open again as the security guard comes running out with his pants and underwear down around his ankles.
As the gals are getting away, Judy says “You are such a blonde! I thought you understood the plan!”
Buffy said, “I did . . . I did exactly what you said!”
“No, you idiot,” said Judy. “I said tie up the GUARD and blow the SAFE!”
According to the latest Gallup poll, Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton are the most admired man and woman of the year respectively.
Really? I wonder who else there was to vote for – Kim Jong Il and Mugabe?
it really helps if you actually read the article and not just the headline, Fletch. It’s only in the 3rd paragraph that they write:
The current version is based on the USA Today/Gallup poll in which Americans were asked to name the person they most admired living in any part of the world. There was no prompting by the questioner, so the respondent had to come up with his or her own choices.
Prince Charles decided to take up walking every day. At the same
street corner He passed a hooker standing there every day.
He learned to brace himself as he approached her for what was
almost certain to follow.
“One hundred and fifty pounds!” she’d shout.
“No! Five pounds!” He said from the side of His mouth, just to shut her up.
This ritual between him and the hooker became a daily occurrence.
She’d yell, “One hundred and Fifty pounds!”
He’d yell back, “Five pounds!”
One day, Camilla decided to accompany her ‘husband’.
As the couple neared the hooker’s corner, Prince Charles realised
she’d bark her £150 offer and Camilla would wonder what he’d really
been doing on all his past outings.
He figured he’d better have a good explanation for his Wife
As they neared the hookers corner he became even more apprehensive
than usual.
Sure enough, there she stood. He tried to avoid eye contact as she
watched the pair pass.
Then, the hooker yelled:
“See what you get for five pounds, you tight bastard!”
The following analogies may help explain the meanings of terms associated with Marketing.
You go to a party and you see an attractive female across the room.
You walk up to her and say “Hi, I’m great in bed.”
This is an example of direct marketing.
You go to a party and you see an attractive female across the room. You give your mate $20 to approach the attractive female and comment “Hi, my friend over there (pointing to you) is great in bed.”
This is an example of advertising.
You go to a party and you see an attractive female across the room.
She immediately walks over and says, “Hi, I hear you’re great in bed.”
This is an example of branding.
You go to a party and you see an attractive female across the room. You pay a complete stranger 500 dollars to go and ask her what she likes in bed, then come back and tell you.
This is an example of qualitative research.
Or if you are a woman & you see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and get
his telephone number. The next day you call and say, “Hi, I’m
fantastic in bed.”
That’s Telemarketing.
You’re at a party and see a handsome guy. You get up and straighten your dress. You walk up to him and pour him a drink. You say, “May I,” and reach up to straighten his tie brushing your breast lightly against his arm, and then say, “By the way, I’m fantastic in bed.”
That’s Public Relations.
You’re at a party and see a handsome guy. You talk him into going home with your friend.
That’s acting as a Sales Rep.
Your friend can’t satisfy him so she calls you.
That’s Tech Support.
You’re on your way to a party when you realize that there could be handsome men in all these houses you’re passing. So you climb onto the roof of one situated toward the center and shout at the top of your lungs, “I’m fantastic in bed!”
That’s Spam.
Joana raised a very valid point on the Turangi case and has taken much gratuitous and totally unnecessary personal abuse as a result.
But the fact is, we do need to think very carefully about leaving kids alone, even briefly.
I query whether the Police would consider that the actions the parents did actually breach the law, but I think we also need to be careful about letting our natural sympathies for the parents get in the way of a dispassionate judgement of their actions. Many tourists have been convicted in this country for not complying with our laws, and the Police surely have a responsibility to act such that the law is seen to be enforced. I don’t advocate that action in this case, but it’s a discussion worth having as a guidance to others.
For example, we have quite a large house that two families live in, upstairs and downstairs. We sometimes, usually late afternoon, leave our three year old asleep either in the lounge or her bedroom while we busy ourselves in the garden. That is actually about as far away as what these parents were in the camping ground in Turangi.
I think from now on I will set her up to sleep comfortably in the garden while we work. It’s our job to keep her safe.
That’s the lesson I take out of this tragic event.
I have never before, to the best of my knowledge, seen eye to eye with Joana, but in this case I’m roughly on the same page, albeit my language would have been less strident, this time.
On Friday, one lionesss simply twitched her ear when the big one hit – she didn’t even move.
The Lioness does not have to hunt, she has WELFARE. The Zoo provides.
Now all of you Academic Specialists can set a Thesis on this. I reckon this is how the DPB works, keep feeding them money and they keep wanting more and they will vote!!!!
There was nothing gratuitous about anything that was directed at Joana, at best it was a vacuous comment,, yours is pretty close as well, except you’ve gussyed yours up with an anecdote. And I’m not being nasty here but your child has probably more chance of misadventure with all these people around than a family in a camping ground.
It just typical, something bad has happened and some are looking to blame as many as possible. The only person at fault here is a 16 year old .
No fuckwit has blamed John Key yet but I’m waiting and wont be surprised when it happens
No Paul the left cannot blame JK…they know bloody well that the liberal namby pamby entitleitist policys that they put into place are to blame for the actions and mental space of the perp.
Luc..thanks for your comment..Of course I wasn’t trying to justify the attack..Often on these pages people think one particular way and go fairly ape shit if anyone dares to express a different idea..They obviously didn’t go to good girls schools where all ideas were up for discussion.
This situation reminded me of the McCanns..I couldn’t believe that doctors would leave their children unattended in a hotel room in a foreign country..It just seemed incredible to me. A neice who has lived in the UK for years and has children , tells me it is very common for English tourists to leave children like this..I just don’t understand it..Anyone can get into a hotel room.. Tourists are always watched in foreign countries..and paedos are everywhere. Are people in the UK and Europe kept in the dark re paedos??
When we were living in Wgtn about 15 yrs ago , the Wgtn police had a big article on the front page of the Evening Post warning parents that there were 200 known paedos living in the area and that parents needed to be very careful especially at swimming pools and shopping malls. That was the two hundred the police knew about.
In my years in Wgtn , I knew two men who committed offences against children..one went to jail, the other was protected by his organization for years and became unwell as he got older so was never sentenced..I liked both men and found their offending impossible to believe but there are so many out there and they don’t usually look like monsters. This is why parents have to be so vigilant.
Paul, if what you wrote was true, the law Joana mentioned wouldn’t exist in the first place.
I doubt the only person at fault here is the 16 yo. There are reasons why 16 yo do bad things, and being born bad is not one of them.
And I don’t agree that my child is any safer in her home in a big city than in a locked caravan in a camping ground. You should know that, given your background.
This case just makes me even more aware of my responsibilities in keeping my child safe. I feel really sorry for the parents, but I bet they wish they had left one adult in the caravan.
“A 14-year boy and 16-year-old girl have been arrested after a Hamilton pensioner was hit over the head with a pair of bolt-cutters.
The teenagers and a 22-year-old man have been charged with burglary and aggravated assault after a 75-year-old was admitted to hospital with serious head injuries.”
December 29th, 2011 at 8:04 am
When will the Aussie Media turn on “Pup” , his form is no better than Punter or Huss and is without the excuse of old age.
Just wundrin ok.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 8:16 am
Chris Carter is reporting in from Kabul. But the accompanying photo is a natural for a Caption Contest, and given that DPF’s away, come on over to my place and fill yer boots!
http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/2011/12/postcard-from-kabul-caption-contest.html
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 8:20 am
Puzzle:
How do I make 4 equal triangles out of 6 standard size matches? (no bending or breaking the matches)
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 8:33 am
So, the piece of shit that assaulted the 5 year old Belgian girl has been arrested. Willing to bet the scum doesn’t even get 3 years.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 8:38 am
@EverlastingFire. I suspect that he will be held in a youth facility and get counselling and in 3-5 years will be raping children again.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 8:44 am
However much the government spends, it will still be attacked for ‘the cuts’
In his memoirs, Nicholas Ridley wondered why, whenever he increased a budget, he would be met by anti-cuts protesters. After a while, he grasped that a semantic shift was taking place. ‘Suppose I want an increase of ten per cent, and the government gives me an increase of five per cent. I have now suffered a “cut” of five per cent’. In the 1980s, this eccentric definition was largely confined to the public sector unions. Now, it has become generalised throughout the MSM.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100126316/however-much-the-government-spends-it-will-still-be-attacked-for-the-cuts/
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 8:52 am
Russia slams US for its human rights record
The 90-page Russian report slams EU nations, Canada and Georgia, but reserves its longest section of 20 pages for what it says are violations by the United States. The report does not cover Asia, Africa or the Middle East, other than a five-page section criticizing the NATO operation in Libya.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10775741
This could have been a Luc Hansen press release.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 9:05 am
Can anyone tell me what this plant is? It happens to be a fairly common one in NZ… http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/1734/27317437.jpg
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 9:10 am
LabourDoesntWork, I think it is fennel.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 9:13 am
@ Everlasting Fire & Brian Smaller; I doubt it. If he’s convicted, chances are that he will be 17 by the time that he is sentenced, and he will do his time in an adult prison, where people who offend against children are regarded alongside those who nark to police; the lowest of the low.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 9:18 am
NO, no, you guys have it all wrong about the child rapist. The girl was Belgian and because It’s not Maori child abuse, it doesn’t count. Plus the rapist is undoubtedly a proud Pasifikan and they can do no wrong because they have warrior blood, so raping and pillaging is part of their culture. He’ll be out in 6 months charged with some sort of light form of assault.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 9:25 am
@LabourDoesntWork – It is fennel. If you forage wild fennel go for the younger stalks (the fleshy bit at the base is good sliced and sauteed). The leaves and flowers are edible as well. Nice with a bit of fish.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 9:26 am
It is fennel, wild fennel.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 9:27 am
@KeepingStock – I certainly hope so.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 9:38 am
Ha! This story sums up one aspect of our territorial human character so ironically:
The two denominations plus Roman Catholics each control sections of the church and fiercely guard their turf. The violence broke out when the Armenian and Greek sides accused each other of crossing into each other’s territory. Similar fights have taken place in past years.
Palestinian security forces broke up the melee.”
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-world/2011/12/28/brawl-erupts-at-bethlehem-church-115875-23665328/
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Puzzle @8.20 hint: Think outside the (2D) square…. Answer backwards: dimaryp a ekam
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 9:41 am
I agree with Keeping Stock, if convicted, he will be in jail and the pedo wont have many friends. I don’t think he is brown, as he is a pedo, many pedos tend to be white.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 9:50 am
gravedodger (1,013) Says:
December 29th, 2011 at 8:04 am
When will the Aussie Media turn on “Pup” , his form is no better than Punter or Huss and is without the excuse of old age.
Just wundrin ok.
Two tons in his last four tests from memory. How is that as bad as Ponting or Mr Cricket?
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 9:55 am
Manolo (5,737) Says:
December 29th, 2011 at 9:26 am
It is fennel, wild fennel.
No, it’s not.
I cut acres of the stuff as a youth. Poisonous shit I can’t remember the name of.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 9:56 am
Syria: Arab League attacked for ignoring scale of violence
An Arab League peace mission to Syria was in crisis on Wednesday night, attacked by opposition activists for failing to get to grips with the scale of the violence even as more people were shot dead in fighting.
Lt Gen Mohammed Ahmed Mustapha al-Dabi, head of the mission, described the city of Homs, where it is thought more than 1,000 people have been killed, as being “nothing frightening”, although he conceded “some places looked a bit of a mess”.
Surprise, surprise.
One dictator and human rights’ violator protecting another.
Some background information about Lt Gen Mohammed Ahmed Mustapha al-Dabi.
The World’s Worst Human Rights Observer
As Arab League monitors work to expose President Bashar al-Assad’s crackdown, the head of the mission is a Sudanese general accused of creating the fearsome “janjaweed,” which was responsible for the worst atrocities during the Darfur genocide.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/12/27/the_worlds_worst_human_rights_observer
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 10:07 am
Labourdoesn’twork It looks like asparagus
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 10:07 am
MT_Tinman at 9.55am.
Vote:I stand corrected, then.
December 29th, 2011 at 10:08 am
MT_Tinman – Fennel is not poisonous despite the old-wives tales that it is. You might be thinking of hemlock that looks a bit like it but has dark patches on the stems. Hemlock also doesn’t smell of aniseed. Probably best to avoid fennel picked from alongside busy roads but perfectly OK growing along rivers, quiet back roads and so forth. I have eaten stacks of it and never been poisoned.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 10:19 am
Actually, thinking about it, hemlock doesn’t look much like fennel. I just looked at some growing by the woolshed. It’s leaves have a more fern-like appearance. This of course reminds me, I need to get some weedkiller and do some spraying.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 11:14 am
Better do it soon Brian; the rain has started in town…
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 11:20 am
I think it is wild fennel too though from memory Dill (very tasty) looks similar.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
http://www.theoccidentalobserver.net/2011/12/the-empire-attacks-ron-paul/
http://www.theoccidentalobserver.net/2011/12/the-obama-administration-on-the-defensive-on-israel-republicans-to-the-rescue/
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Excellent photo essay of a Russian cruiser’s weapons and interior
http://englishrussia.com/2011/12/19/cruiser-varyag-exercise/
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Fennel is used a lot in Italian cooking.
Vote:Immigrant..your racist views are such a bore..Why did you bother to come here? Almost every comment you make you prove Margaret Mutu right. Surely there was some people you could hate so nastily in your own country.
re the Turangi situation..leaving children unattended when under 14 is against the law in NZ. How could the parents be so stupid?
December 29th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
All those who identified the plant as fennel go to the top of the class. It’s harmless & stock won’t go near it presumably because of the strong aroma of aniseed it gives off.l
If there are any salt water fishermen on this board they may want to try a trick an old mate of mine showed me years ago. Before leaving shore he used to stuff a sugar bag with fennel & when we reached the fishing possie we would stamp on the bag to release the scent & tie it to the anchor chain before dropping the pick.
He swore that the aniseed smell would lure fish as well as any groundbait & I think he may of been right.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
” Re the Turangi situation..leaving children unattended when under 14 is against the law in NZ. How could the parents be so stupid”
That comment is a fucking disgrace.The parents were at an amenity block in a bloody campground- It’s not like they were out on the town….Try as you might there is no justification for this disgraceful and sickening attack joana…
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
backster says:- “I think it is wild fennel too though from memory Dill (very tasty) looks similar.”
I’ve heard fennel is popular with women, but when they can’t get it they make do with dil. Or is that dil with do?
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Joana, like Winston Peters who (s)he so adores doesn’t let facts get in the way of a good old rant.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
Keeping Stock – I was not planning on spraying today. Next weekend perhaps:)
Today it is BBQ time and I am making kebabs. The really good thing about having yoru own source of beef – you never run out and you don’t think twice about using lots of it.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
” Re the Turangi situation..leaving children unattended when under 14 is against the law in NZ. How could the parents be so stupid”
There is no excuse for such a stupid comment. There would not be a person in this country who has not lett a child under 14 unattended for at leat 10 minutes.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Yup.. stupid statement of the week from Joana.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Well, it had to happen sooner or later: Garth George is leaving the NZ Herald. His last column is today, and he says-
One can see why, as his was one of the few conservative perspectives in that liberal newspaper. I wonder what other columnists the Herald’s “future plans” include? Pam Corkery or someone of her ilk, one supposes. From now on Garth will be doing a weekly column in the Bay of Plenty Times in Tauranga, and the Daily Post in Rotorua.
Interestingly, I didn’t know he was a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10775664
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
http://quantumpranx.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/why-we-are-totally-finished/
Interestingly, I didn’t know he was a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Well that immediately devalues that honour.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
For those who don’t know about HAARP:
http://www.activistpost.com/2011/04/us-government-takes-down-haarp-website.html
http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/haarp/index.html
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
A prediction for 2012: http://www.businessinsider.com/my-political-prediction-for-2012-its-obama-clinton-2011-12
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
The tyrant is getting crazier by the day. It is time for him to expire.
Vote:http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-28/chavez-u-s-may-be-behind-s-america-leaders-cancer.html
December 29th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
According to the latest Gallup poll, Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton are the most admired man and woman of the year respectively.
Really? I wonder who else there was to vote for – Kim Jong Il and Mugabe?
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/12/gallup-poll-obama-and-hillary-clinton-top-most-admired-list-again.html
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Garth George a New Zealand Order of Merit? You’ve got to be kidding!
Vote:They will be giving one to Michael Laws next.
December 29th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
Extreme cognitive dissonance warning but if you want a three hour summary of what is actually meant by “conspiracy theory” this is excellent:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1289338414420676723
bc that’s my view too. Bizarre is what I say. Who appointed him: Hulun or Key? Anyone know?
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
“nine staffordshire bull terrier or mastiff-cross puppies were found ”
I thought this breed was on the ‘dangerous dogs’ list.
The SPCA seem to be going to a lot of time and effort to keep them alive.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10775759&ref=rss
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
”Re the Turangi situation..leaving children unattended when under 14 is against the law in NZ. How could the parents be so stupid”
So what you’re saying, Joana, is that the parents had it coming to them. It is difficult for me to imagine any person being so bereft of normal, human feelings. Especially a female. I hope that your heartless comments never reach the ears of the grieving European parents.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
“How could the parents be so stupid?”
Idiot statement.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Joanna, rot in hell, you callous beast!
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
Dyannt
‘Staffordshire bull terrier or mastiff-cross’ is SPCA code for “we don’t know what they are but they’ve got flat faces.” Unfortunately the misguided fools have convinced themselves that there is a dire shortage of cross bred puppies & mangy kittens so they must be saved at all cost rather than being humanely euthanised.
Just why people who wouldn’t be seen dead driving a Skoda or wearing odd socks pay out good money for crossbred dogs is beyond me. Traits & temperaments are inherited characteristics peculiar to individual breeds & you are loading the dice against yourself by buying a mongrel.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
nasska
Purebreds are fine if you know they aren’t inbred. So they need their papers.
On the other hand, the best and smartest dog I ever owned was a mongrel. Ridgeback crossed with a lab/border collie. Dammit she was a good dog but she developed a brain tumour at 6 years old and I had to have her euthanized. Hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
Must be a good summer in Turangi.
Vote:The 16 year old rapist (accussed of course) has a good sun tan already.
December 29th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Scott Chris
Agreed it pays to do your homework before buying any dog. Usually when I need to replace a dog I’ll get a pup off someone I know & who will let me see the parents work. Even then occasionally you’ll get a dud but I’ve always bought purebreds & only bitches.
The smarts in your crossbreed would have been from the Border Collie genes. Border Collies are the most intelligent dogs you’ll ever come across….the best I’ve ever owned was a mind reader & it was a very sad day when she died.
The dumbest dog I’ve ever owned is the Bull Mastiff which is supposed to guard the property from the mobile thieving townie scum who would rather steal than work. Beautiful nature but the best we can hope for is that any prospective thief may trip over her & break a leg. Looks & sounds the part although.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Prediction for 2012
(at the risk of appearing to be a big head, one that i made some weeks ago)
The occupy protesters will occupy Aotea Square in Auckland for as long as they want to.
PC New Zealand is not capable of evicting them.
The judge today declined to issue individual arrest orders as it would not be nice because
the occupiers might be arrested.
Also.
Vote:Well done New Zealand Police for making an arrest in Turangi.
Another job well done.
Most major cases resolved in 2011 Congratulations. Thankyou.
We’re proud of you.
December 29th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Whatever our thoughts are re parents leaving their children unsupervised, that is the law. IMO Joanna was tactless to say the least. However we should remember the lost child in Portugal -
It seems that the family is not adopting a ‘victim’ mentality – and more power to them. I hope this event will assume an ever receding place in their lives.
But what are we to do about the influences that produced a young boy capable of such ghastly behaviour?
I have little sympathy with the mother who calls out ‘I love you son’ as he left the courtroom.
What did she do to protect him for the last 16 years?
Did she provide a loving, caring model as a parent?
Did she warn him of the need to keep out of bad company?
Did she tell him to think of consequences of his actions?
Did she criticise bad behaviour in others?
She must be feeling so guilty. She probably thought she was doing her best. I feel sorry for her. I feel sorry for the boy.
Was there a male in the house hold? What kind of role model did he provide? Did he walk the talk that led to this event?
I do not know the family, but I have seen people who front up in public but who lead a (to me) horrifying life in private. I have seen children who behave in ways that make one suspect sexual abuse. I have seen young children who could only be described as stoned, and others who look at me with an angry, hostile face, but who if I look right back will drop their eyes and shuffle away.
Turangi is a charming place to live and there are many interesting and concerned people live there, but there are as many unoccupied holiday homes as permanent residents. There is a small dark underside which is not visible, which only becomes apparent after years of residence. Each year sees several youth suicides, which are not publicly acknowledged and each year people who undoubtedly know, profess not to understand how or why these could happen.
Ngati Tuwharetoa is a wealthy tribe. It has great influence within the Turangi society. It should be making its business to improve the lives of its young people. As long as they expect us to acknowledge their aristocracy in Maoridom, the leaders should be seen to be active in their leadership, and until they do we will not have any respect for them.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
wf
The last paragraph of your post @ 6.44 is instructive.
Others have pointed out that Maori are tribal and authority comes from the top down.
Change must come from them.
Who are the chiefs of Tuwharetoa ?
Fuck Tama Iti, an imposter and usurper who drags his people down.
Who are the real chiefs with the real Mana ? What are their names ?
Are they so ashamed that they can’t stand up and begin the change ?
Why don’t they speak ?
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
Why is it always a maori ?
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Two blondes decided to rob a bank together. The first blonde, Judy plans the robbery and goes over the plan with the second blonde, Buffy, in great detail. The robbery begins.
Judy drives up in front of the bank, stops the car and says to Buffy, “I want to make absolutely sure you understand the plan. You are supposed to be in and out of the bank in no more than three minutes with the cash. Do you understand the plan?”
“Perfectly,” said Buffy.
Buffy goes in the bank while Judy waits in the getaway car.
One minute passes . . . Two minutes pass . . . Seven minutes pass . . . and Judy is really stressing out.
Finally, the bank doors burst open! And here comes Buffy. She’s got a safe wrapped up in rope and is dragging it to the car. About the time she gets the safe in the trunk of the car, the bank doors burst open again as the security guard comes running out with his pants and underwear down around his ankles.
As the gals are getting away, Judy says “You are such a blonde! I thought you understood the plan!”
Buffy said, “I did . . . I did exactly what you said!”
“No, you idiot,” said Judy. “I said tie up the GUARD and blow the SAFE!”
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
wf a marvelous comment, thank you.
nasska, judy’s a bit of a der in your latest news report isn’t she.
Crikey.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 8:14 pm
it really helps if you actually read the article and not just the headline, Fletch. It’s only in the 3rd paragraph that they write:
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 8:16 pm
Prince Charles decided to take up walking every day. At the same
street corner He passed a hooker standing there every day.
He learned to brace himself as he approached her for what was
almost certain to follow.
“One hundred and fifty pounds!” she’d shout.
“No! Five pounds!” He said from the side of His mouth, just to shut her up.
This ritual between him and the hooker became a daily occurrence.
She’d yell, “One hundred and Fifty pounds!”
He’d yell back, “Five pounds!”
One day, Camilla decided to accompany her ‘husband’.
As the couple neared the hooker’s corner, Prince Charles realised
she’d bark her £150 offer and Camilla would wonder what he’d really
been doing on all his past outings.
He figured he’d better have a good explanation for his Wife
As they neared the hookers corner he became even more apprehensive
than usual.
Sure enough, there she stood. He tried to avoid eye contact as she
watched the pair pass.
Then, the hooker yelled:
“See what you get for five pounds, you tight bastard!”
this may have been nasskaed earlier in the year
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
The following analogies may help explain the meanings of terms associated with Marketing.
You go to a party and you see an attractive female across the room.
You walk up to her and say “Hi, I’m great in bed.”
This is an example of direct marketing.
You go to a party and you see an attractive female across the room. You give your mate $20 to approach the attractive female and comment “Hi, my friend over there (pointing to you) is great in bed.”
This is an example of advertising.
You go to a party and you see an attractive female across the room.
She immediately walks over and says, “Hi, I hear you’re great in bed.”
This is an example of branding.
You go to a party and you see an attractive female across the room. You pay a complete stranger 500 dollars to go and ask her what she likes in bed, then come back and tell you.
This is an example of qualitative research.
Or if you are a woman & you see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and get
his telephone number. The next day you call and say, “Hi, I’m
fantastic in bed.”
That’s Telemarketing.
You’re at a party and see a handsome guy. You get up and straighten your dress. You walk up to him and pour him a drink. You say, “May I,” and reach up to straighten his tie brushing your breast lightly against his arm, and then say, “By the way, I’m fantastic in bed.”
That’s Public Relations.
You’re at a party and see a handsome guy. You talk him into going home with your friend.
That’s acting as a Sales Rep.
Your friend can’t satisfy him so she calls you.
That’s Tech Support.
You’re on your way to a party when you realize that there could be handsome men in all these houses you’re passing. So you climb onto the roof of one situated toward the center and shout at the top of your lungs, “I’m fantastic in bed!”
Vote:That’s Spam.
December 29th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
Joana raised a very valid point on the Turangi case and has taken much gratuitous and totally unnecessary personal abuse as a result.
But the fact is, we do need to think very carefully about leaving kids alone, even briefly.
I query whether the Police would consider that the actions the parents did actually breach the law, but I think we also need to be careful about letting our natural sympathies for the parents get in the way of a dispassionate judgement of their actions. Many tourists have been convicted in this country for not complying with our laws, and the Police surely have a responsibility to act such that the law is seen to be enforced. I don’t advocate that action in this case, but it’s a discussion worth having as a guidance to others.
For example, we have quite a large house that two families live in, upstairs and downstairs. We sometimes, usually late afternoon, leave our three year old asleep either in the lounge or her bedroom while we busy ourselves in the garden. That is actually about as far away as what these parents were in the camping ground in Turangi.
I think from now on I will set her up to sleep comfortably in the garden while we work. It’s our job to keep her safe.
That’s the lesson I take out of this tragic event.
I have never before, to the best of my knowledge, seen eye to eye with Joana, but in this case I’m roughly on the same page, albeit my language would have been less strident, this time.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Animals, bit like humans realy.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10775782&ref=rss
On Friday, one lionesss simply twitched her ear when the big one hit – she didn’t even move.
The Lioness does not have to hunt, she has WELFARE. The Zoo provides.
Now all of you Academic Specialists can set a Thesis on this. I reckon this is how the DPB works, keep feeding them money and they keep wanting more and they will vote!!!!
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 8:45 pm
Luc
There was nothing gratuitous about anything that was directed at Joana, at best it was a vacuous comment,, yours is pretty close as well, except you’ve gussyed yours up with an anecdote. And I’m not being nasty here but your child has probably more chance of misadventure with all these people around than a family in a camping ground.
It just typical, something bad has happened and some are looking to blame as many as possible. The only person at fault here is a 16 year old .
No fuckwit has blamed John Key yet but I’m waiting and wont be surprised when it happens
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 9:11 pm
No Paul the left cannot blame JK…they know bloody well that the liberal namby pamby entitleitist policys that they put into place are to blame for the actions and mental space of the perp.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 9:13 pm
@ Pauleastbay – not quite; I had this comment left at Keeping Stock today by an anonymous troll:
There are some sickos out there; of that there is no doubt. Key Derangement Syndrome is the new Swine Flu
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
Who are the chiefs?
who are the kamatuas of Tuwaretoa ?
Jokes are good.
This is not the time for jokes.
This is a time to be sick in your guts .
Comment on what wf posted. 6.44
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
Luc..thanks for your comment..Of course I wasn’t trying to justify the attack..Often on these pages people think one particular way and go fairly ape shit if anyone dares to express a different idea..They obviously didn’t go to good girls schools where all ideas were up for discussion.
Vote:This situation reminded me of the McCanns..I couldn’t believe that doctors would leave their children unattended in a hotel room in a foreign country..It just seemed incredible to me. A neice who has lived in the UK for years and has children , tells me it is very common for English tourists to leave children like this..I just don’t understand it..Anyone can get into a hotel room.. Tourists are always watched in foreign countries..and paedos are everywhere. Are people in the UK and Europe kept in the dark re paedos??
When we were living in Wgtn about 15 yrs ago , the Wgtn police had a big article on the front page of the Evening Post warning parents that there were 200 known paedos living in the area and that parents needed to be very careful especially at swimming pools and shopping malls. That was the two hundred the police knew about.
In my years in Wgtn , I knew two men who committed offences against children..one went to jail, the other was protected by his organization for years and became unwell as he got older so was never sentenced..I liked both men and found their offending impossible to believe but there are so many out there and they don’t usually look like monsters. This is why parents have to be so vigilant.
December 29th, 2011 at 10:26 pm
bereal@7:04
Tame Iti is Tuhoe.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 10:31 pm
Paul, if what you wrote was true, the law Joana mentioned wouldn’t exist in the first place.
I doubt the only person at fault here is the 16 yo. There are reasons why 16 yo do bad things, and being born bad is not one of them.
And I don’t agree that my child is any safer in her home in a big city than in a locked caravan in a camping ground. You should know that, given your background.
This case just makes me even more aware of my responsibilities in keeping my child safe. I feel really sorry for the parents, but I bet they wish they had left one adult in the caravan.
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
bereal@9:25
You’re having a bad day. The plural of kaumatua is ‘kaumatua.’
Do you have red hair and a florid face, by chance?
Vote:December 29th, 2011 at 11:15 pm
And joana @10:21pm, you’re welcome.
Vote:December 30th, 2011 at 12:03 am
Hey Adolf,
Guess what,
the plural of shithead is shitheads,
If you have any other point, lets hear it, shithead.
What colour is your hair, shithead ?
Vote:December 30th, 2011 at 12:13 am
“A 14-year boy and 16-year-old girl have been arrested after a Hamilton pensioner was hit over the head with a pair of bolt-cutters.
The teenagers and a 22-year-old man have been charged with burglary and aggravated assault after a 75-year-old was admitted to hospital with serious head injuries.”
Fucken scum. Wonder what ethnicity ? Hmmm.
Vote:December 30th, 2011 at 6:59 am
The aloof president: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/us/politics/obama-gains-reputation-as-distant-in-washington.html?_r=4&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1325181461-tVV4XSlQdIAGoDCievaDEA
Vote: