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John Banks: “…the Labour Party Mayor of Auckland laundered $ 490,000 through a secret trust into his campaign …”
Where is Penny Bright, Anti-corruption campaigner and Sign Vandal – is she busy getting krap together for the Epsom by-election?
[And FYI, I have not received any donations from French multinational Veolia]
President-elect Francois Hollande of France appears set to undermine current German-French aspirations for greater fiscal austerity within the Eurozone: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17975660 .
An example: “He wants to raise the minimum wage, hire 60,000 more teachers and lower the retirement age from 62 to 60 for some workers.”
If France is prepared to abandon its role of fiscal responsibility in Europe and head in Greece’s direction, uncertainty and volatility in financial markets are inevitable. Economic growth stimulation has no more predictable outcome than comprehensive austerity, particularly if it opens up an already-unstable Eurozone Accord for complete renegotiation.
“If France is prepared to abandon its role of fiscal responsibility in Europe”
France has never had that role.
Hollande will either do what he said and France will slide further down the economic tree or he will be one of those socialists who once they have power do what needs to be done (like labour in the 80s) rather than what is popular.
I posted a reasonably complimentary link about David Shearer at The Standard, and unsurprisngly got the usual attacks. It seems that talking about Shearer there is regarded as trolling.
Dene Mackenzie interviewed Shearer in the weekend and thinks he’s confident. I’m not confident his party as a whole is confident in him yet. Dunedene on Shearer.
Pete, that’s because as you well know, The Standard is a very nasty, very sad little corner of the Internet. I’m surprised you still waste your time there.
So folks, what price on a Euro meltdown, especially if Greece follows France and races down the spend more route?
Is a repeat of the post WW1 German economic meltdown coming for all Europe?
Given that almost the whole of Europe, apart from the UK, subscribes to the manufactured (cobbled, actually) Euro, it seems inevitable.
Whatever, it will not be good for this little nation if we dont rein in spending, toot sweet.
Green images will not cut it.
Thank the Lord for our agricultural/food export driven economy.
graham, the regulars at the Standard are actually very useful for making points. They’re not my target audience. Like here (and probably every blog) The Standard has a much larger silent readership than active commenters.
And for those that grizzle about me linking many follow the links. Even some of those who grizzle have a look anyway. So there’s a method in apparent madness.
calendar girl 8:28 – The French situation is fascinating. They’ve grappled with their addition to welfare meth, knowing all along that it will kill them, but is now seemingly weighing the pain of kicking the habit as being higher than then inevitable OD. Also remember that after the Germans, French banks have the second highest exposure to Greek debt, so think dominoes.
@kk I tihnk the Spanish are more likely to bring the house of cards down before the French but Greece could still default (although I was confidently predicting default and/or military coup before Christmas last year and they proved me wrong)
KiwiGreg: I agree with you in general terms. However, recently Sarkozy has stood alongside Merkel in “encouraging” Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Ireland into a more realistic attitude towards national debt and fiscal deficits. So my reference to “fiscal responsibility” – while too narrow, I acknowledge – was related to the recent phenomenon.
Yeah, some of the people at The Standard can make some good points, but they’re just so nasty and hateful 99% of the time that it’s like, why would you bother?
It’s like walking for a kilometre over broken glass because there’s a voucher for a free Big Mac at the end. To me, it’s just not worth it.
“The politicians who got us into this mess continue to mock us. Neither of them will do anything, all they are interested in is pulling the wool over our eyes so they can get into power again,” said Yiorgos Vrassidis, 55, after casting his vote at a “Voting for them would be like committing national suicide.”
He opted for the anti-austerity Syriza, an acronym for Coalition of the Radical Left, which shocked political observers by heading for second place. Three years ago it received just a few percent.
Alexis Tsipras, its telegenic 40-year-old leader, has called the terms of the bailout “barbaric” and wants to lead a Leftwing government that would include KKE, the Communist Party of Greece.
What the greeks dont (want to) understand is that without the EU money they cant pay their internal obligations let alone their external ones. Default for them will be very painful.
France wont be an immediate issue (debt is 90% of GDP but government spending is IIRC 56% of GDP). But the market has limited appetite for lending to profligate governments. Hollande’s 75% tax on “the rich” will be good for London property prices.
Todays is a very important day for provisional tax payers, so it is essential for many that IRD online services are working. I need to go online to find the eye watering amount I need to pay.
It has since come back up, but this is not the first time the IRD website has gone down on critical days. Once I could not file my GST return online, so I posted the paper form.
Another time, I fiiled online and received the filing acknowledgement (and printed), but the IRD systems failed to load my return.
Fortunately I had the return acknowledgement so IRD waived the not-insignificant penalties.
It is very important for the IRD website to be operational on the busiest days. They expect compliance regardless of their service failures.
graham: I like that analogy! Once in a very blue moon I go in there and take a peek…I notice these things: 1) all or nearly all of their commenters are anonymous (which is perhaps why PG gets such a hard time; 2) there are very few of them, which suggests it’s an even smaller echo chamber than other blogs; 3) they are almost uniformly vicious and nasty, and dont tolerate dissent….a bit like Stalinism really…
A friend sent this to me and I just have to share it. Apologies to those who may have seen to before.
“Political correctness is a doctrine — fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rapidly promoted by mainstream media — which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end.”
I don’t agree Phil, there is a diversity of commentators here despite a vocal subset who enjoy the cyber-bash (I don’t particularly, although some insults can be quite creative and funny); But I think KB when compared to other sites such as The Standard and even Dim Post is unremarkable in the relative levels of nastiness, and it’s sniffily-described reputation on some sites as ‘the sewer’ lacks perspective.
David: I also used to read The Standard and occasionally post, but yeah, the nastiness, viciousness, and hatred just depressed me. Couldn’t see the point of continuing.
There seems to be a hard core of people there who are extremely bitter against anything that they define as “Right-wing”.
Griff, as Don says, the most people that have been killed in history have been killed via atheist regimes.
China under Mao Tse Tung, 26.3 million Chinese [killed]. According the Walker Report, 63.7 million over the whole period of time of the Communist revolution in China. Solzhenitsyn says the Soviet Union put to death 66.7 million people. Kampuchea destroyed one third of their entire population of eight million Cambodians. The Chinese at two different times in medieval history, somewhere in the vicinity of 35 million and 40 million people. Ladies and gentlemen, make note that these deaths were the result of organizations or points of view or ideologies that had left God out of the equation. None of these involve religion. And all but the very last actually assert atheism.
It is true that it’s possible that religion can produce evil, and generally when we look closer at the detail it produces evil because the individual people are actually living in a rejection of the tenets of Christianity and a rejection of the God that they are supposed to be following. So it can produce it, but the historical fact is that outright rejection of God and institutionalizing of atheism actually does produce evil on incredible levels. We’re talking about tens of millions of people as a result of the rejection of God.
Post by eszett –
That is just complete and utter bollocks, grand bullshit first class propagated by religious nutbars like yourself, just to trying and hide the atrocities that were committed in the name of religion, particularly your religion.
None of these regimes were based on atheism or an atheistic system.
Mao,Stalin and Hitler had more in common with a religious dogamtic system than anything else:
Totalitarian, one glorious leader, one dogma, unquestionable, infallible, surrendering of all privacy and individuality, tribalism, the idea that a group of people (unbelievers / critics of the state) are free to be prosecuted and magrinalised, etc, etc. Sounds familiar?
And one thing these regimes also all had in very much common with religion was their abhorrence of reason and logic whenever these threatened their dogma.
And never mind that the Hitler was not just a Catholic and made hundreds references to God in Mein Kampf, but also utilised the hundreds of years of prosecution, discrimination and prejudice against Jews propagated by the christians. It was good, every day, church-going catholic and protestant Germans who rounded up Jews, Homosexuals, Gypsies, Communist and happily marched them into gas chambers and death camps.
So please, spare us your bullshit of how these regimes were “atheistic systems”.
My reply today –
eszett, well you’d be the only ‘historian’ who thinks that, but think it if it makes you feel better.
You’re simply WRONG.
If you look at what you’re saying, you’re saying that EVERY totalitarian regime with a dictatorial leader is religious. Is that it? Just because it has a leader and follows your idea of how the Church is organised. Isn’t every organisation built from the top down?
I call bullshit. In the examples I’ve given of Mao, Stalin, etc, I do not believe any were based on religion.
Just remembered one example – small maybe, but I think it highlights the differences between Kiwiblog and The Standard.
Both sites occasionally run “Caption Contests”. You will know that DPF always states that “captions should be funny, not nasty”. When I was reading The Standard I don’t think they ever said anything like that, and consequently the comments were sometimes – hell, almost always – pretty damn nasty.
That’s an interesting comment at 11.05 from the lazy lying bludger who posted a sequential trifecta of gratuitous ad hom on GD yesterday.
I thought at the time that it was an odd practice given his apparent desire to move his tatty little indulgence up into second-to-last place. Or is it just that nobody can be bothered pursuing the ‘cat stuck up tree’ stories that Yvette highlighted?
Whatever the reason, the idiot doesn’t seem to realise what kind of a signal he’s sending to prospective readers. But then, if it is only the content that’s putting people off, maybe he could include a cooking/receipe thread. “First, stake out a chemist where you will be able to find all these ingredients …”
“Prime Minister John Key has confirmed the Conservative Party is a potential support partner for a centre-right government and is distancing National from the embattled ACT Party, saying its future is in the hands of voters. Fairfax Media yesterday revealed National Party president Peter Goodfellow was seeking out Conservative leader Colin Craig.”
Interesting in this regard also, that the lazy lying bludger appears to be in complete denial regarding his own behaviour. But then that’s quite in character; as evidenced by continually maintaining that he actually works and in fact, in his own words that he is likely “the hardest working solo parent”.
philu, I am tending to ignore anything you say, as it’s a waste of my time, but your 11:21 is just head-shakingly wrong.
I will not waste my time explaining why in detail, because – well, it would be a waste of time – but just to make two quick points:
1. You claim that I’m “one of the nastiest anonymous trolls here”. Not that it’s a contest, but I think if you compare my posts to some others, you would be hard put to award me the title of the nastiest. Also, I suggest you look up “troll”. It doesn’t mean what you seem to think it does.
2. “extremely bitter against anything that they define as “left-wing”.” Right, that’s why I have previously voted for both Labour and the Greens. I do actually acknowledge that Labour and the Greens have some good points and ideas. But damned if I’m going to waste my time finding some of my old comments to prove it to you.
There. Having got that off my chest, I’m going back to ignoring you. Don’t bother trying to refute me, because (a) you’re wrong, and (b) my philu-ignoring switch is turned firmly back on.
I call bullshit. In the examples I’ve given of Mao, Stalin, etc, I do not believe any were based on religion.
Of course they were quasi-religious cults built around the leader. It’s simply stupid to compare the likes of Stalin and Mao, who outlawed religion because they didn’t want the competition, with the herd of cats that is modern western atheism.
“Of course they were quasi-religious cults built around the leader.”
That is true of EVERY ideological movement. ALL political/philophical movements, including Atheism, are essentially religious because religion is hardwired into the human brain. Secularism is a myth.
This is why there are not only no true atheists in the foxholes, there are no true atheists anywhere.
Blindly following anything is not recommended, Griff, be it religion, science, a political leaning, whatever.
How many people decry those who supposedly follow religion blindly and without question (and by the way, I’ve yet to meet anyone like that – every Christian I know has questions, they probably give God a harder time than you do), yet ‘trust’ implicitly in science, without question?
“religion is hardwired into the human brain.
so nutjob o1 says”
Actually, so says modern science Griff.
Christianity is a fusion of Judaism and Classical Greek Philosophy, and it’s early leaders, such as Origen, Augustine and Irenaeus, were some of the greatest philophical minds of their time. Judaism itself was one of the truly great religious/philophical and legal movements of history, and many of its theolgians were men of a truly great intellectual stature and intellegince, men who would leave you in the dust intellectually speaking. Calling Judaism the superstitions of goat herders only betrays your own lack of education and blind bigotry.
As graham rightly says in the post above, I do not follow anything “blindly”, and nor do most other Christians I know. I came to Christianity after a very long process of thinking, arguing, debating and questioning. I probably put more thought into my beliefs than most of the anti-Christian bigots posting here have put into theirs.
And many of my best Christians friends are academics in secular universities with Masters degrees and PHD’s.
“Judaism and Classical Greek Philosophy,”
nutjob 01
Weird i was under the impression that Christianity was the belief in Jesus and his message
The more educated you are the more unlikely that you believe in superstition
I have read the bible I have also read history in particular Jewish and roman history of the time
To not believe in some thing you need to have knowledge of it else-wise its just faith
In my reading I find no proof that the carpenter of Bethlehem was Jesus the messiah the Saviour of the jews
Only that the later scribes twisted his life to mean something outside of gods and his word
You have named two societies that are in decline
England for the last 120 odd years and the USA in the last decade or two
The more enlightened societies in the world ,those that top the OECD better life index are secular in nature as is New Zealand
You are basing your judgment on a historic period when the church was central to the lives of all
Thank humanity that this time is rapidly coming to a close
As to being a bigot I do believe that Christians hold that all not taking them seriously are heading to eternal damnation
Can you get any belief more bigoted than that?
Griff, the U.S and England are failing precisely because of the abandonment of traditional Judeo/Christian practices and beliefs and morals. And we are not far behind.
One could read the following from a few years ago and laugh to death. Are physicists that thick & fucking stupid? Yes they are, because modern physics are creationist theories where effects have no causes, which lead to the stupid notion of time-travel. I bet that big banger supporters will pop in here to defend the idiotic comments made by the 2 physicists in the article below:
Here is a highlight: …the troubled collider is being sabotaged by its own future. A pair of otherwise distinguished physicists have suggested that the hypothesized Higgs boson, which physicists hope to produce with the collider, might be so abhorrent to nature that its creation would ripple backward through time and stop the collider before it could make one, like a time traveler who goes back in time to kill his grandfather.
The link to their papers are also found on the same page above. When one abandons reason, you get all sorts of nonsense like the one above popping up all over the places masquerading as science, these so called scientists are no difference to Sorcerers from the 17th century.
Chthoniid, We had a chat about ‘slavery’ in a thread the other day. “Slavery” as practised in the U.S has little to do with how it was practised in the ANE (Ancient Near East), and indeed, in the Bible.
“Scholars do not agree on a definition of “slavery.” The term has been used at various times for a wide range of institutions, including plantation slavery, forced labor, the drudgery of factories and sweatshops, child labor, semivoluntary prostitution, bride-price marriage, child adoption for payment, and paid-for surrogate motherhood. Somewhere within this range, the literal meaning of “slavery” shifts into metaphorical meaning, but it is not entirely clear at what point. A similar problem arises when we look at other cultures. The reason is that the term “Slavery” is evocative rather than analytical, calling to mind a loose bundle of diagnostic features. These features are mainly derived from the most recent direct Western experience with slavery, that of the southern United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The present Western image of slavery has been haphazardly constructed out of the representations of that experience in nineteenth-century abolitionist literature, and later novels, textbooks, and films…From a global cross-cultural and historical perspective, however, New World slavery was a unique conjunction of features…In brief, most varieties of slavery did not exhibit the three elements that were dominant in the New World: slaves as property and commodities; their use exclusively as labor; and their lack of freedom…” [NS:ECA:4:1190f]
ANd –
The definitive work on ANE law today is the 2 volume work [HI:HANEL] (History of Ancient Near Eastern Law). This work (by 22 scholars) surveys every legal document from the ANE (by period) and includes sections on slavery. A smattering of quotes will indicate this for-the-poor instead of for-the-rich purpose for most of ANE slavery:
§ “Most slaves owned by Assyrians in Assur and in Anatolia seem to have been (originally) debt slaves–free persons sold into slavery by a parent, a husband, an elder sister, or by themselves.” (1.449)
§ “Sales of wives, children, relatives, or oneself, due to financial duress, are a recurrent feature of the Nuzi socio-economic scene…A somewhat different case is that of male and female foreigners, called hapiru (immigrants) who gave themselves in slavery to private individuals or the palace administration. Poverty was the cause of these agreements…” (1.585)
§ “Most of the recorded cases of entry of free persons into slavery [in Emar] are by reason of debt or famine or both…A common practice was for a financier to pay off the various creditors in return for the debtor becoming his slave.” (1.664f)
§ “On the other hand, mention is made of free people who are sold into slavery as a result of the famine conditions and the critical economic situation of the populations [Canaan]. Sons and daughters are sold for provisions…” (1.741)
§ “The most frequently mentioned method of enslavement [Neo-Sumerian, UR III] was sale of children by their parents. Most are women, evidently widows, selling a daughter; in one instance a mother and grandmother sell a boy…There are also examples of self sale. All these case clearly arose from poverty; it is not stated, however, whether debt was specifically at issue.” (1.199)
re: religion – most of the world is religious. I posted this in a thread the other day –
—-
Some of the most intelligent men that have ever lived believed in and believe in God. Scientists, poets, writers, musicians, artists, statesmen – men wiser than I am (and probably you as well) – even geniuses – believe in the God of the Bible. Some of the greatest thinkers of our time. Do you think they were wrong? Have been tricked?
In fact, most of the world is religious in one way or another.
According to the CIA website, there are approx 7 billion people in the world -
According to the same site, 88.54% (6.2 billion) are religious in some way – Christian 33.35% (of which Roman Catholic 16.83%, Protestant 6.08%, Orthodox 4.03%, Anglican 1.26%), Muslim 22.43%, Hindu 13.78%, Buddhist 7.13%, Sikh 0.36%, Jewish 0.21%, Baha’i 0.11%, other religions 11.17%.
Only 9.42% are non-religious and 2.04% are atheist.
So, if you’re saying that religion is a stupid thing to believe, you’re talking about most of the population of the world: you’re also a minority.
From Yesterday,
FF:No. Your branch is fucking useless. What have you contribute to humanity? Nothing! Except some fucking glorified theory that has nothing to do with humanity. Does your fucking Astrophycics design cars? How about our modern telecommunication system? Nope! Your branch just passed on as science but that’s not a kind of science that advanced humanity. Astrophysics is no more than a wanking feel good intellectual useless wannabe science.
Boy, you really don’t like astrophysicists do you!
Astrophysics may not have directly contributed to humanity technologically but it has advanced humanity philosphically by showing us our place in the universe. Once upon a time people used to think that the earth was the centre of the universe, that the solar system revolved around us, and that there wasn’t much else. We now know that the universe is really really big, really really old, and that the earth is not at the centre of everything.
You attacked me last year, when you called me stupid/idiot on a debate about general relativity which you argued that the theory doesn’t conserve energy.
I don’t recall explicitly calling you stupid last year in our debate but it was obviously implicit inasmuch as you clearly didn’t know what you were talking about it.
Fair enough, but this time, you’re veering to an area that it is not your domain and you questioned why I’m hung up on causality?
You have no idea what my domain is, and judging from your remarks so far, this subject isn’t yours.
I’ve asked you a question about the double slit experiment if a single particle goes thru the 2 slit holes or just one hole and you evaded.
I didn’t evade it, I ignored it. I simply don’t see the point in asking or answering such a simple question.
The reason is that you didn’t know that Quantum Mechanics is an ensemble theory
I am in fact well aware of this claim, I’m also aware that people who write on the philosophy of physics have disputed this interpretation.
Well I asked you some kindergarten questions and you seemed not to refute them with peer review publications apart from some blog posts on the internet.
More ad hominem arguments. Why not respond to the criticism regardless of where they came from?
What the TEW video because it explained why you do not want to want it?
?? I can’t even figure out what you’re saying here.
As the links I posted yesterday pointed out the TEW is self-contradictory and does not match the universe that we see.
“Weird i was under the impression that Christianity was the belief in Jesus and his message”
It is. But it did not arise in a cultural vacuum. How that message was understood had a great deal to do with both Jewish and Greek philosophy. For example the Gospel of John uses the Greek neo-Platonic idea of Logos (the Word) to help explain who Jesus was.
“The more educated you are the more unlikely that you believe in superstition”
There are two problems with this argument. The first is that some of the greatest minds in Western history were and are Christians. As I said, many of my Christian friends have Master’s and PHD’s. Do you have a degree?
The other problem is that religion is not superstion. This is an abuse of the term.
“In my reading I find no proof that the carpenter of Bethlehem was Jesus the messiah the Saviour of the jews”
Thats you business. But many millions of people, many of whom are far more educated than you, have.
“England for the last 120 odd years and the USA in the last decade or two
The more enlightened societies in the world ,those that top the OECD better life index are secular in nature as is New Zealand”
Both the USA and England are in many respects secular, and many of the countries that are near the top of the OECD still have large Christian and religious minorities. Polls show most people in NZ still believe in God, even if they do no go to church. I think your grasping at straws here. And your assuming the stats show what you think they do in the first place. The problem with stats is that they can be interpreted in a variety of ways.
By the way, the largest “Bible belt” outside of the USA is in northern Scandanavia.
I would also question the claim that the USA is in decline, and to the degree that it is, it could just as easily be blamed on liberalism.
“Thank humanity that this time is rapidly coming to a close”
It’s not. More people have become Christians in the last one hundred years than in the entire two thousand years before that combined. Globally speaking, Christianity is growing at its fastest rate ever, especially in China, the world’s newest superpower.
“As to being a bigot I do believe that Christians hold that all not taking them seriously are heading to eternal damnation”
Then your mistaken. Christian doctrine holds that all who reject God will face eternal death, not quite the same thing you have said. And no, thats not bigotry, just commonsense. As God is the source of life, it is not possible to live without Him, anymore than it is possible for a car to run without fuel.
Lee01:“The more educated you are the more unlikely that you believe in superstition”
There are two problems with this argument. The first is that some of the greatest minds in Western history were and are Christians
There are two problems with your response. The first is that despite you self-avowed intellect you didn’t understand what Griff was saying and, secondly, it is irrelevant.
Griff was talking about trends, not individuals, and he also right. Studies show an inverse correlation between IQ and relgious belief.
Maybe it’s just me, but I know a fair number of Christians. Quite a few of them are pretty smart folks. Some are doctors, small business owners, airline pilots, University professors, accountants … you get the idea. Mostly they’re regular folk though … they’re builders, housewives, shop assistants, receptionists, policemen, burger-flippers, and so on.
I guess that the Christians I know represent a fairly good cross-section of NZ society, funnily enough. Like I say, mostly just regular people (with the occasional irregular one thrown in for good measure )
And I did understand what Griff was saying. I just think that his point, or attempted point, is not relevant.
This is the basic problem with his claim about intelligence, and the studies he is basing it on. Academic studies are highly complex and often open to a wide variety of interpretations. IQ tests in particular are not strictly scientific, and it is also not automatically the case that religion is the causal connection. As many scientists have pointed out, such as Dr David Hardman of London Metropolitan University, proving a causal relationship between religion and IQ is at the very least extremely difficult and impossible to actually prove. This is because there are many other factors in peoples live that can contribute to IQ results. The simplistic mainstream media of course pulls out one possibility, one likely to cause controversy, and trumpets that as an absolute, which gullible people like yourself and Griff then swallow.
I would also point out that Griff is Right Wing in his political views, and Liberals have also trumpted claims that there is a causal relationship between low IQ and Right Wing political views.
Maybe it’s just the case that religious people seem stupid, rather than actually being stupid. Also, does religion adversely affect one’s intelligence, or are those of lower intellect more likely to become religious?
A “super-moon” will be a novelty for New Zealanders on Sunday, but for the 12,000 people of Tuvalu it is a foreboding practice for a future where rising seas make their homeland uninhabitable. On Monday and Tuesday super-moon king tides will leave much of the capital atoll of Funafuti virtually below sea-level.
Tide charts had warned of 3.15m high tides for the low-lying atoll of Tuvalu, however Tuvalu Meteorological Service scientific officer Tauala Katea said this morning’s high tide peaked at 2.9 metres.
While this was higher than regular high tides, it was lower than high tides in February and March which peaked at 3.2m.
Denyse O’Leary does an excellent job of debunking the “low IQ = religious people” claim:
“The highlight of the paper is the chart of 137 nations. And it looks pretty convincing until you study it carefully. Then, picturing the data is a cart for the theory, wheels start wobbling.”
His conclusion?
“There is no consistent relationship between religion and IQ.”
Civen that you responded by pointing out that some of the greatest minds in Western history were and are Christians its obvious that you didn’t understand what he was saying since your point doesn’t rebut it.
And yes I’m aware that there are confoundment issues with IQ studies. The fact remains that studies have, for decades, been showing an inverse correlation between religious belief and education, whatever the cause, which was Griff’s claim.
I have had this debate with Griff several times, and as I said I did understand him, but I also know from past experience where he is going with it (“Christians are dumb”). So my response was to that point.
And if you read the Denyse O’Leary article you will see that the studies are being interpreted in a highly biased and dishonest manner.
But let me make another point. Even IF the the claim was true, so what? Which is more important, IQ or moral character? Many serial killers have high IQ’s. Does this make them good people?
For those of you in Wellington.
Whitcoulls on Lambton Quay (next to Westpactrust) are having a clear out sale.
Among a bunch of books I bought Ian Wishart’s Book Breaking Silence (Kahui story) for $2, (there are 30 left).
Celia Lashlies The power of mothers $5 (10 odd left)
Michael Parkinson’s autobiography $5. (10 odd left)
they have hundreds of books there from $2-$10, as well as the yellow dot sale they’ve been having.
Just be carefule that
Yes, I think we have to be very wary when someone makes a claim about “studies show this” or “studies show that”.
Take for instance the ‘study’ by the WHO that showed that America had the worst health care system in the world. Turns out it is rubbish.
Chait moves on to his empirical linchpin to prove his point that “empirical reasoning simply does not drive [conservative] thinking. What appears to be conservative economic reasoning is actually a kind of backward reasoning. It begins with the conclusion and marches back through the premises.” He goes on:
Consider the conservative view of health care. Conservatives repeat the mantra that the United States has “the best health care system in the world”—a formulation used endlessly by President Bush. That isn’t true by almost any objective measure. The United States devotes a far higher share of its economy to health care than any other country. Yet, according to the most recent World Health Organization study, the United States ranks just 37th in overall health care performance.
And what did the study actually, er, study?
I am relying on the work of Scott W. Atlas, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and professor of radiology and chief of neuroradiology at Stanford Medical Center when I say that the lengthy WHO study Chait uses to prove the empiricism of liberals might be the worst study ever. This is what Atlas concludes, or at least that’s what I take him to be saying, in his article titled “The Worst Study Ever?” He calls it “an intellectual fraud of historic consequence—a profoundly deceptive document that is only marginally a measure of health-care performance at all. The report’s true achievement was to rank countries according to their alignment with a specific political and economic ideal—socialized medicine—and then claim it was an objective measure of ‘quality.’”5
To take one small example: A full 25 percent of a health-care system’s final score in the WHO study is derived from what it calls a health-care system’s “Financial Fairness.” Essentially, the more socialized a system is—with the wealthy paying more through taxation—the better it is. Indeed, Atlas shows that “almost two-thirds of the study was an assessment of equality. The actual health outcomes of a nation, which logic dictates should be of greatest importance in any health-care index, accounted for only 25 percent of the weighting. In other words, the WHO study was dominated by concerns outside the realm of health care.” Oh, and the data behind these rankings weren’t even empirical. Rather than collect hard numbers about health outcomes or anything else, these rankings were weighted by polling the impressions of “key informants” in the health-care profession, half of whom were WHO staff and had a bias toward state-run health-care systems. At least that’s my reasonable guess (if the World Health Organization bureaucracy is a hotbed of free-marketers, I’ll be glad to retract). As Atlas suggests, a reasonable person, even an avowed empiricist, might think a ranking of health-care systems would score the quality of the health care those systems provide and not how successful they are at redistributing costs.
Jonah Goldberg (2012-04-30T12:00:00+00:00). The Tyranny of Cliches (Kindle Locations 528-535). Penguin Group US. Kindle Edition.
Makes for interesting reading, ey? So the next time a liberal tells you that Obamacare is needed because the U.S has “the worst healthcare system in the world”, set them straight.
Character always counts.
Look at ENRON.
The Lawyers and Accountants were all adept at what they did.
However there was a total lack of character in Middle Management and up.
How many pensions were destroyed.
Ability is important but Character always outs it everytime.
Now to deal with parliament and the voters choices
Chiz said… I didn’t evade it, I ignored it. I simply don’t see the point in asking or answering such a simple question.
Ignoring is evading, whatever your excuse is. You evaded because you cannot face the fact that if you say that the particle goes thru the 2 slit holes simultaneously, then it means it should show up on the back screen detector as 2 blips, but that’s not what is actually being observed. The screen only registers a single event when a single particle is fired thru the double-slit type apparatus or setups (eg : various interferometers) and the source is instantly turned off (controlled by an optical switch).
Now, if you argue that the particle goes thru only one hole, then your non-locality evaporates because it doesn’t apply. It is meaningless to apply it in that situation. So, you only left with one conclusion which is backed by observation. The single particle itself must have just gone thru a single slit hole only (whether it was slit hole A or slit hole B is irrelevant) to reach the backscreen to be detected/registered as a single event, so there is no wave-function collapse or it is meaningless to be applied in that situation.
I used to work with single particle (pulsed) tunable lasers and this kind of test is routinely used to test various optical characteristics of wave-guides (attenuation, dispersion, group-velocity, non-linearity-onset-wavelength, etc…) that are used to design erbium-doped fibre laser amplifiers and other optical devices as well. A single pulse is used and interference is never observed.
Non-locality is not real. Physical observables/actions are local & causal. There is no way around it. As the TEW author said… The very idea of `wave-particles’ is self-contradictory. Whether it be particles located many places at the same time, or cats that are neither dead nor alive, or what-have-you, these are all contradictions. Many physicists have become used to the idea that such contradictions must simply be lived with; but it is now clear that that is not the case. One can understand quantum mechanics-that is, the mathematics of quantum mechanics-without these contradictions. We do not live in a weird universe. A theory which results in absurd conclusions is false. Reality doesn’t make mistakes; only physicists do.
The TEW author has got some papers that have been submitted for publications recently, so it is forthcoming after expert peer review process. So, there’s no doubt that he will address the shortcoming of the original TEW. The so called debunking that you pointed out to are not peer review at all or otherwise you fall into the same category as the warmists at RealClimate who they claim to debunk a skeptics’ paper every-time it comes up in a publication. Their debunking is on RealClimate blog site. This is not debunking is it? The critiques of TEW never submitted a paper to refute TEW.
The other thing is QM didn’t explain everything when it was first formulated in the 1920s. Solid state physics is one area that it was being applied to later, but QM wasn’t able to explain various phenomena in solid states. So, TEW is no different. Development of new theories is work in progressive. The TEW author has proposed some experiments to test his theory via using 2 sets of screens behind the slit holes. The first screen (lets say A) must be controlled by a fast optical switching device that makes it switch between transparent & opaque states (switching is repeated). The second screen (lets say B) should reveal if the interference pattern still showed up. If the interference pattern on B disappeared (or washed out), then TEW is correct and QM is false. If the interference pattern still showed up on B, then QM is correct and TEW is false. The mathematics of TEW and QM is almost the same except that TEW is causal (ie, no magic, no Godly action) but QM is non-causal (Godly action is accepted as the norm).
;Yes carefully reading is required of all so called facts
the cia website vs a vs Christianity
list voodoo as a belief of a significant number of Christians
It also relies on census data which is very dependent on the questions asked
I would also point out that Griff is Right Wing in his political views, and Liberals have also trumpted claims that there is a causal relationship between low IQ and Right Wing political views.
Wrong as usual
its conservative views Like yours that have a high correlation to a lower IQ
I am of course a right wing liberal nut job
IQ is real no matter how you test it persons who come out high in one set of IQ tests will also score high on other types of IQ tests
IQ is basically pattern matching ability
Fletch at 3:01 pm: ‘Yes, I think we have to be very wary when someone makes a claim about “studies show this” or “studies show that”.’
True dat.
We all know a certain someone who constantly provides links to ‘prove’ that marijuana is great, anybody who isn’t a vegan is going to die, the political left is the only way forward, and so on.
If you search long and hard, you can usually find a study or an expert who will tell you exactly what you wanted to hear in the first place .
ps, here is the full article by Scott Atlas that is referenced above – that dissects and debunks the WHO report’s claims that America is 37th in the world when it comes to health care.
the thing is..graham..is that i have been doing this for awhile…so i have a pet-searchengine..
..and i am not providing just ‘a link’..(perhaps the most farcical link-evidence recently was from twitchy-jim/reid yesterday..a link to some nutjob rightwing bloggers’ ‘exclusive’..predicting obama was going to urge blacjk americans to rise up against white americans..(!)
.i am providing a cache of information/evidence..collected over that ‘some time’…
“…So huge swaths of the electorate seem to have finally decided that peevish gump David Cameron isn’t the convincing statesman they never quite thought he was in the first place.
Still, he had a good innings.
People often criticise Cameron’s judgment – but no matter what you think of his policies -
- his ability to surround himself with decoy pillocks was a strategy that until recently paid dividends.
Since coming to power in 2010 voters have been so busy hating Nick Clegg, Andrew Lansley, Liam Fox, George Osborne, Francis Maude and now Jeremy Hunt -
- there’s been very little rage left over for Dave.
Getting round to properly abhorring him has seemed like too much bother – like an unwelcome, nagging chore.
You see his face on the news and perform a 1,000-year-long internal sigh.
Yes, yes. I’ll detest you in a minute.
I’ve got to finish detesting all these other people first.
But now his decoys are spent.
Clegg, in particular, absorbed so much bile, he underwent a startling physical transformation: from buoyant Geoffrey-off-Rainbow type to watery-eyed totem of misery.
It was as if he had somehow been bitten by a radioactive puddle.
He’s so depressing to look at – they really should erect some kind of protective awning whenever he’s out in public – like they do around grisly human remains.
Hating him isn’t simply a cliche; it actually feels vaguely cruel.
So he’s no longer of much strategic use to Cameron…”
(ed:..heh..!..and on it goes..if you haven’t yet found brooker…you should..his archives are also well worth a trawl…)
Cradle to the Grave !!!!
A good half century of welfarism produces this. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/6867599/Are-we-too-poor-to-die
We can’t magic up financial success as a country, without a reduction in daily expenditure and an increase in personal savings across the board.
The American people are the ones who got Bin Laden… You did Not! We have fought wars and slugged it with Vast Terror Organizations to get to the man you say YOU killed. The United Sates of America has won you a title sir and you have spent the last three years trying to beg, borrow and bow as you GIVE IT ALL AWAY. You just happened to be president of the USA when WE THE PEOPLE got Osama Bin Laden. We do not see you as heroic or stoic, we see you as the guy who let America Go. We got fat and weak and you gave it all away. That is your credit – you bow to foreign leaders and pander to the press. You do not represent me as a Military Man. You do not represent me as a SEAL. You do not represent me as an AMERICAN!
You do not speak for me or any American military man because though you may now be Commander in Chief, you are not the man to whom we can point our sons and say “This is the American dream, this is American exceptionalism, this is what I wish for your future”, because you Sir are NONE of these things. You Sir, are the antithesis of American Exceptionalism. Your idols are Saul Alinksi and Karl Marx and your revolutionary dreams and anti-American ideals poison your every policy. Your every action betrays the fact that in your soul you do not understand what it is to be an American, not what America truly is. Your agenda from the beginning has been to get rid of and kill everything that is and ever was American. You who so easily dismisses America’s greatness and bows to foreigners… YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME. YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR THE NAVY SEALS. YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR THE MILITARY MAN AND you SHALL NOT claim as your prize that which you have not earned. The Navy SEALS are NOT a campaign slogan to be bantered about for play. Nor are our accomplishments, including the demise of Osama Bin Laden, yours to claim.
So you DO NOT speak for me. And I will not stand for your use and abuse of my brethren the SEALS.
Oh yeah, Fletch, he surely handed Obama his ass.
On a blog. wow. Impressive.
How dare Obama campaign on his accomplishments.
I am sure dressing up in a flight suit and holding a press conference on board of a aircraft carrier with a banner Mission Accomplished would have been subtle.
It’s a terribly sore point for the republicans that Obama didn’t ease on the war on terror and even managed in 2 years what Bush couldn’t in 7.
Sometimes wat. The military and police obviously need to be quite strict. The rule here is that public servants should refrain from public comments that would conflict with their official duties. So, a senior Treasury official, for example, wouldn’t be expected to be bagging the government’s economic policies.
Should everyone in the public sector refrain from political comment?
That should include mikenmild in refraining from making any comments on blogs like KB since he said in the past that he earned his living by working for some Govt department. He is in fact a busy-body bureaucrat.
Perhaps you would care to point that out to the gentleman concerned in person, in which case he might point out that he already has resigned in a slightly more forthright manner to that in which you criticise him.
Or is it just that you think that people who serve in armed forces for reasons that you clearly don’t comprehend, simply deserve what they get?
… he earned his living by working for some Govt department ..
Too much to hope then, that he works for Foreign Affairs. He doesn’t seem too perturbed by the fact that while he’s cruising the blogs, he’s actually stealing time from the taxpayer. But then, I imagine, it’s unlikely he’ll be doing anything useful and if he spends his time here then there is less risk that he will be fucking something up …
loved this it meshes nicely with the conservative thickos theme
news.google.co.nz/news/url?sa=t&ct2=nz%2F0_0_s_6_0_t&usg=AFQjCNGUPcJ1OrgbpXnT6lmzz9t3IAWyiA&did=fafbd5de59286f1e&cid=17594030604396&ei=pWqnT7iRAsq7kgX2Qg&rt=MORE_COVERAGE&vm=STANDARD&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.edu.au%2Fare-heartland-billboards-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-climate-denial-6888
Much is known about what passes for cognition among those who deny overwhelming scientific evidence by resorting to conspiracy theories and scurrilous accusations against actual scientists.
The overwhelming tenor of this psychological knowledge is that, by definition, such denial will remain impervious to evidence as it is based on ideology and frantic defence of worldviews rather than the rational scepticism of actual science.
As the evidence for climate change continues to pile up, and as the frequency of severe weather events continues to sky-rocket, we can therefore be fairly certain that climate denial will take ever more scurrilous forms.
That much is certain, but given that even the conservative American commentator Andrew Sullivan has described the current American Right as “close to insane as well as depraved” over the Heartland billboard, exact predictions of this forthcoming maelstrom must elude rational grasp at the moment.
Generally serving military people should refrain from political comment. If they wish to enter politics, they should resign and do so.
By the way, the guy is a former Navy SEAL. He is not the only one critical of Obama. A former Vice Chief Of Staff of the Army says that the White House knew for a whole year where Bin Laden was, but wouldn’t go get him.
ps, if you read the whole thing, the Navy SEAL even brings up Obama playing golf during the mission –
Yet reliable sources continue to report that not only did you attempt to stop or delay Bin Laden’s demise, you did not even leave the golf course for the situation room until 20 minutes before SEAL Team 6 took out Osama Bin Laden. Even the clothes you wore in the situation room betray this fact. This is a Commander in Chief? A man who takes credit for actions largely taken while he was out golfing?
Yup, Obama had to be called off the golf course into the situation room to be informed the mission was going down. He didn’t even know about it. Panetta and Clinton allegedly went over his head, because he couldn’t make the decision to go. Valarie Jarrett kept on arguing not to go get Bin Laden, and O couldn’t make up his mind for months.
So it wasn’t Obama who made the decision anyway. It was Panetta and Hillary Clinton.
Wat
did you read the link
thats U,KK, Other altie,and a few others on here that the article is talking about
DO YOU UNDERSTAND ?
we all know that if you shout at the intellectually impaired they are more likely to understand
Hope of what exactly? The lazy lying thieving bludger had hope too. And it turned out just like he wanted.
But no, I jest (but only in the first sentence). Milkymuggins doesn’t strike me as the sort of rum cove who would want to sit on his arse on the bludge all day; unlike the lazy lying thieving bludging little prick.
Good luck with the job-hunting Milky and I hope you hook up with something that connects you to the real world.
Here is another great website on islamization which I have not mentioned previously..Sultan Knish by Daniel Greenfield.
There is a very good article re France , Hollande..and the Qatari ”by up” of France.
Today, Time magazine got hold of a memo written by then-CIA head Leon Panetta after he received orders from Barack Obama’s team to greenlight the bin Laden mission. Here’s the text, which summarized the situation:
Received phone call from Tom Donilon who stated that the President made a decision with regard to AC1 [Abbottabad Compound 1]. The decision is to proceed with the assault.
The timing, operational decision making and control are in Admiral McRaven’s hands. The approval is provided on the risk profile presented to the President. Any additional risks are to be brought back to the President for his consideration. The direction is to go in and get bin Laden and if he is not there, to get out. Those instructions were conveyed to Admiral McRaven at approximately 10:45 am.
This, of course, was the famed “gutsy call.” Here’s what Tom Hanks narrated in Obama’s campaign film, “The Road We’ve Traveled”:
HANKS: Intelligence reports locating Osama Bin Laden were promising, but inconclusive, and there was internal debate as to what the President should do.
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: We sat down in the Situation Room, the entire national security apparatus was in that room, and the President turns to every principal in the room, every secretary, “What do you recommend I do?” And they say, “Well, forty-nine percent chance he’s there, fifty-one … it’s a close call, Mr. President.” As he walked out the room, it dawned on me, he’s all alone. This is his decision. If he was wrong, his Presidency was done. Over.
Only the memo doesn’t show a gutsy call. It doesn’t show a president willing to take the blame for a mission gone wrong. It shows a CYA maneuver by the White House.
The memo puts all control in the hands of Admiral McRaven – the “timing, operational decision making and control” are all up to McRaven. So the notion that Obama and his team were walking through every stage of the operation is incorrect. The hero here was McRaven, not Obama. And had the mission gone wrong, McRaven surely would have been thrown under the bus.
I don’t understand what I’m supposed to conclude from that link. It’s was a witty billboard I know, but doesn’t deal with the evidence I asked about.
You said “As the evidence for climate change continues to pile up, and as the frequency of severe weather events continues to sky-rocket…”
Where is this new evidence?
“…the NOAA US Climate Extremes Index shows over the 50 years 1910-1960 there were 22 years with weather extremes that exceeded the mean, compared to 20 years that exceeded the mean over the following 50 years 1960-2010. The 9 year smoothed data was higher in 1911 than 2010, back when CO2 was “safe.” Reporting of weather events has greatly improved since the early 1900′s and therefore the index may underestimate the number of extreme events before the modern age.”
So was ther NSC meeting on 29 March where the President authorised planning for the raid irrelevant? What about the 19 April meeting giving provisional approval? Or the meeting on 28 April and the President’s final approval the following day?
does Kiwiblog count as connecting me with the real world?
That depends entirely upon who you take any notice of. You can’t go wrong with me; but you’ll note that Johnboy has already excluded himself. You may recall that he was lusting after the mad waterwoman. Personally, I found that very distressing and not, I should emphasise, because of any self-interest.
A bloke walking down a country road in England, tired
and hungry, came to a roadside Inn with a sign reading:
“George and the Dragon.”
He knocked.
The Innkeeper’s wife stuck her head out a window.
“Could ye spare some food?”, asked.
The woman glanced at his shabby clothes and obviously poor
condition. “No!” she said rather sternly.
“Could I have a pint of ale?”
“No!” she said again.
“Could I at least sleep in your stable?”
“No!” By this time she was shouting.
asked, “Might I please…?”
“What now?” the woman interrupted impatiently.
“D’ye suppose,” he asked, “I might have a word
with George.”
You are in the middle of some kind of project around the house; mowing the lawn, putting in a new fence, painting the living room or whatever.
You are hot and sweaty, covered in dust, lawn clippings, dirt or paint.
You have your old work clothes on.
You know the outfit — shorts with the hole in the crotch, old T-shirt with a stain from who-knows-what and an old pair of tennis shoes.
Right in the middle of this great home improvement project you realize you need to run to the Hardware Store to get something to help complete the job.
Depending on your age you might do the following:
In your 20′s:
Stop what you are doing. Shave, take a shower, blow dry your hair, brush your teeth, floss and put on clean clothes.
Check yourself in the mirror and flex.
Add a dab of your favorite cologne because you never know, you just might meet some hot chick while standing in the checkout lane. And you went to school with the pretty girl running the register.
In your 30′s:
Stop what you are doing, put on clean shorts and shirt. Change shoes.
You married the hot chick so no need for much else. Wash your hands and comb your hair.
Check yourself in the mirror. Still got it. Add a shot of your favorite cologne to cover the smell.
The cute girl running the register is the kid sister to someone you went to school with.
In your 40′s:
Stop what you are doing. Put on a sweatshirt that is long enough to cover the hole in the crotch of your shorts.
Put on different shoes and a hat. Wash your hands.
Your bottle of Brute Cologne is almost empty so you don’t want to waste any of it on a trip to the Hardware Store.
Check yourself in the mirror and do more sucking in than flexing.
The hot young thing running the register is your daughter’s age and you feel weird thinking she is spicy.
In your 50′s:
Stop what you are doing. Put on a hat; wipe the dirt off your hands onto your shirt.
Change shoes because you don’t want to get dog crap in your new sports car.
Check yourself in the mirror and you swear not to wear that shirt anymore because it makes you look fat.
The Cutie running the register smiles when she sees you coming and you think you still have it.
Then you remember the hat you have on is from Bubba’s Bait & Beer Bar and it says, ‘I Got Worms.’
In your 60′s:
Stop what you are doing. No need for a hat anymore.
Hose the dog crap off your shoes. The mirror was shattered when you were in your 50′s.
You hope you have underwear on so nothing hangs out the hole in your pants.
The girl running the register may be cute, but you don’t have your glasses on so you are not sure.
In your 70′s:
Stop what you are doing. Wait to go to the Hardware Store until the pharmacy has your prescriptions ready, too.
Don’t even notice the dog crap on your shoes.
The young thing at the register stares at you and you realize your balls are hanging out the hole in your crotch.
In your 80′s:
Stop what you are doing. Start again. Then stop again.
Now you remember you need to go to the Hardware Store.
Go to K Mart instead and wander around trying to think what it is you are looking for.
Fart out loud and you think someone called out your name.
You went to school with the old lady who greeted you at the front door.
Mick walks into Paddy’s barn and catches him dancing naked and playing with himself in front of a tractor.
Mick says, “B’ Jesus Paddy, what ya doing?” Paddy says, “Well me and Mary haven’t been getting on in the bedroom lately & the therapist recommended I do something sexy to attracter…..
Paddy & Mick find three hand grenades, so they take them to a police station.
Mick: “What if one explodes before we get there?”
Paddy: “We’ll lie and say we only found two.”
Joe says to Paddy: “Close your curtains the next time you’re having sex wij your wife. The whole street was watching and laughing at you yesterday.”
Paddy says, “Well the jokes on them, cos’ I wasn’t even at home yesterday!”
Paddy says to Mick – “I’m ready for a holiday, only this year I’m going to do it a bit different.
Three years ago I went to Spain and Mary got pregnant.
Two years ago I went to Italy and Mary got pregnant.
Last year I went to Majorca and Mary got pregnant.”
Mick asks – “So what are you going to do this year?”.
Paddy replies, – “I’ll take her with me!”
Paddy says to Mick, “Christmas is on a Friday this year”.
Mick says “Let’s hope it’s not the 13th.”
Paddy’s in the bathroom and Murphy shouts to him. “Did you find the shampoo?”
Paddy says, “yes, but it’s for dry hair and I’ve just wet mine.”
The difference between Taito Philip Field being charged, convicted and sentenced for BRIBERY and CORRUPTION for giving Thai nationals assistance with immigration matters in return for work on his properties, and John Banks giving a German/Finn national assistance with immigration and Coatsville mansion property purchase assistance in return for money donated for Auckland Mayoral campaign funds is……..??????
Oh yes – dodgy Minister of Regulatory Reform John Banks has the support of shonky Prime Minister John Key.
Silly me………….
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
INDEPENDENT candidate in upcoming Epsom by-election.
‘An extraordinarily handsome man decided he had the responsibility to marry the perfect woman so they could produce beautiful children beyond compare.
With that as his mission he began searching for the perfect woman.
Shortly there after he met a farmer who had three stunning, gorgeous daughters that positively took his breath away.
So he explained his mission to the farmer, asking for permission to marry one of them.
The farmer simply replied, ‘They’re lookin’ to get married,so you came to the right place. Look ‘em over and pick the one you want.’
The man dated the first daughter.
The next day the farmer asked for the man’s opinion.
‘Well,’ said the man, ‘she’s just a weeeeee bit, not that you can hardly notice…pigeon-toed.’
The farmer nodded and suggested the man date one of the other girls; so the man went out with the second daughter.
The next day, the farmer again asked how things went.
‘Well,’the man replied, ‘she’s just a weeeeee bit, not that you can hardly tell…cross-eyed.’
The farmer nodded and suggested he date the third girl to see if things might be better. So he did.
The next morning the man rushed in exclaiming,’She’s perfect, just perfect. She’s the one I want to marry’
So they were wed right away .Months later the baby was born.
When the man visited the nursery he was horrified: the baby was the ugliest, most pathetic human you can imagine. He rushed to his father-in-law asking how such a thing could happen considering the beauty of the parents..
‘Well,’ explained the farmer, ‘She was just a weeeeee bit, not that you could hardly tell…
Pregnant when you met her.’
I reckon we should cut our Pasifican friend a bit of slack over the next week or so. He’s just back from paddling his tattooed arse around the islands & he’s probably still shattered. Give him a few days to see WINZ & reattach himself to the taxpayers’ teat before we reintroduce him to Western civilisation.
Jaffaland capital of Polynesia. Suggest Cook Strait2, cut by nuclear explosives (wait for week of southerly winds) in vicinity of say Hamilton. Collateral damage will be Waikato Uni. Never mind!
True Steve. It will have to be horse drawn without southern electric power. Steam would be an option if there was any coal up north. Hot air might work so we will give you Jaffa’s a going away present. The Beehive and all it contains!
It’s a terribly sore point for the republicans that Obama didn’t ease on the war on terror and even managed in 2 years what Bush couldn’t in 7.
Obama didn’t do anything. It was military.
lol,
Remind me again who the commander-in-chief is?
Obama focused the military efforts on capturing or killing Osama, something your hero, G W Bush, failed to do.
No no no, stick the Beehive where the global warming sun don’t shine.
Just make Auckland the Capital City and put Wellington on the dole – let’s face it, the civil servants do nothing all day – eg milkymilo
It always amazes me the chorus of snide remarks from those who live south of the bombays
it must be the inbreeding experienced in small communities like wellywood chch and duny
that fully explains JB fascination with sheep
even a ewe would look better than some genetic anomaly caused by interbreeding relations
How can you keep a straight face when you call yourself an ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’ and point out others’ real or imagined crimes, when you have STOLEN water, showed others how to STEAL water and actively encouraged them to STEAL water?
Oh yes – dodgy Penny doesn’t think it’s a crime when someone as nice as she is does it.
You think that interbreeding is bad in the cities…..the eastern Wairarapa has about 150Km of coastline which was settled (from the sea) way back in the 1850′s.
Until about twenty years ago all the station owners shared about half a dozen surnames. Some reckon the kids had webbing between their toes like ducks & their eyes looked at each other.
Yes they certainly are and anyone who doesn’t understand the fact the ‘war on terror’ is precisely similar to the ‘war on drugs’ in that they’re both made-up bullshit would have to be quite deluded wouldn’t one.
I mean, the US has been ruled by despots since Reagan was shot. Bush 41 took over then and he and only he, was behind Iran-Contra. Then it was Clinton. Then Bush 43. Now Obama. Who conveniently continues precisely the same policies which have been diving America into the ground, since that time. Why is that? A thinking man would ask, but not apparently, you, eszett.
Let’s see – few sentences, big picture, lots of detail omitted: Bush 41 sets up the ME oil supply. Clinton starts the offshoring of the manufacturing base. Bush 43 continues it then bumbles through 911 and thank fuck the economy does well what with all the deregulation then Obama gets in with more Wall Streeters than any pres in history and lo, a big massive bailout.
Nah, that’s just politics isn’t it. Of course it is, of course the entire US senate and congress stood by for three full decades while the executive raped America, decimated the constitution, and they didn’t even notice.
For that’s what’s happened. So since that’s what HAS happened, what’s your explanation, eszett?
Especially for what Clinton and Obama has done. Since they’re apparently, your heroes.
BTW, I ask the same of conservative supporters re: the two Bushes.
But would be good to know your respective explanations. Since this IS what HAS happened, isn’t it. Yes, it is. We can all see it. So what’s the answer?
The nuclear link was interesting. As usual the best advice to those seeking truth is to follow the money. The corrupt corporates will easily buy off the gutless Obama administration reckoning it to be a bargain compared with the cost of ensuring safety at these old reactor sites.
Regardless, the stance of the Japanese authorities beggars the imagination. You would tend to think that the potential loss of an entire nation would be enough to galvanise them into some sort of action. Usually enough money can solve any problem & Japan is hardly a nation of paupers.
For the sake of buying the lifting apparatus to move the spent fuel to safe containment, along with some competent advice they would risk their homeland.
You’ve heard about the guy who walks into an upmarket Christchurch restaurant?
The waiter comes up to him and politely asks:
“Hello Sir. What would you like?”
“Can I please have the spit-roasted lamb?”
“Very good sir. Now how would you like the lamb to be cooked?”
Then again its so cool to have imput from such an intrepid voyager such as the brown arsed,
now dyed blue arsed pollywog. Sailing the Pacific , trying to prove sum sing.
You remenber the arrogant fellow that suggested everyone should kiss his tatooed arse just a few weeks ago.
Back from his much heralded voyage of discovery with his crew of fellow retards.
And what great truths has this moron brought back (if indeed he actually did go anywhere)
Well check out his report from the pacifica.
First report filed today @ 1.49
Well done pollywog, must have been a great voyage.
Surely he should have drifted off into his drug addled nirvana by now.
Please don’t wake him again.
He has to be up early as usual, down to the library, surfing the web.
Posting crap he noticed.
Working hard.
Being a role model for his “nipper.”
Love some of the comments, suggesting other words that need to be banned:
- black ice
- Blackpool
- The White Cliffs of Dover
- Blackberry
- Whitewash
- Colour TV
- Black & White photography
- Will they take their concerns to Whitehall?
- In America you could appeal all the way to The White House
- Hope nobody has the surname “Black” or “White”
And someone even suggested renaming “Beefeaters” to “Carrotconsumers” so we don’t offend the Vegans …
Further to this – I have a friend who is Jamaican, and grew up in England. At one point he was in the Police Force there. Funny thing is, his surname is “White” … His nickname, of course, was Chalky
May 7th, 2012 at 8:02 am
John Banks: “…the Labour Party Mayor of Auckland laundered $ 490,000 through a secret trust into his campaign …”
Where is Penny Bright, Anti-corruption campaigner and Sign Vandal – is she busy getting krap together for the Epsom by-election?
Vote:[And FYI, I have not received any donations from French multinational Veolia]
May 7th, 2012 at 8:10 am
Colin Craig got a patsy of an interview on RNZN this morning…
Imagine the spittle and froth ejected from Metiria Turei’s mouth if he was in coalition with National. Hehehe.
Too bad he’s a fuckwit.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:17 am
http://whoar.co.nz/2012/ayn-rand-or-jesus-christ-conservatives-cant-have-it-both-ways/
“..Many conservatives swear on a stack of Bibles that they worship Jesus Christ -
- when they really bow down to the philosophy of Ayn Rand..”
(cot..)
go to source/story>>>
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:28 am
President-elect Francois Hollande of France appears set to undermine current German-French aspirations for greater fiscal austerity within the Eurozone: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17975660 .
An example: “He wants to raise the minimum wage, hire 60,000 more teachers and lower the retirement age from 62 to 60 for some workers.”
If France is prepared to abandon its role of fiscal responsibility in Europe and head in Greece’s direction, uncertainty and volatility in financial markets are inevitable. Economic growth stimulation has no more predictable outcome than comprehensive austerity, particularly if it opens up an already-unstable Eurozone Accord for complete renegotiation.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:38 am
The Herald tells the truth about Labour’s election bribe in 2005
http://keepingstock.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/herald-on-student-loans.html
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:41 am
“If France is prepared to abandon its role of fiscal responsibility in Europe”
France has never had that role.
Hollande will either do what he said and France will slide further down the economic tree or he will be one of those socialists who once they have power do what needs to be done (like labour in the 80s) rather than what is popular.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:04 am
I posted a reasonably complimentary link about David Shearer at The Standard, and unsurprisngly got the usual attacks. It seems that talking about Shearer there is regarded as trolling.
Dene Mackenzie interviewed Shearer in the weekend and thinks he’s confident. I’m not confident his party as a whole is confident in him yet. Dunedene on Shearer.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:07 am
Pete, that’s because as you well know, The Standard is a very nasty, very sad little corner of the Internet. I’m surprised you still waste your time there.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:21 am
So folks, what price on a Euro meltdown, especially if Greece follows France and races down the spend more route?
Is a repeat of the post WW1 German economic meltdown coming for all Europe?
Given that almost the whole of Europe, apart from the UK, subscribes to the manufactured (cobbled, actually) Euro, it seems inevitable.
Whatever, it will not be good for this little nation if we dont rein in spending, toot sweet.
Vote:Green images will not cut it.
Thank the Lord for our agricultural/food export driven economy.
May 7th, 2012 at 9:30 am
graham, the regulars at the Standard are actually very useful for making points. They’re not my target audience. Like here (and probably every blog) The Standard has a much larger silent readership than active commenters.
And for those that grizzle about me linking many follow the links. Even some of those who grizzle have a look anyway. So there’s a method in apparent madness.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:33 am
calendar girl 8:28 – The French situation is fascinating. They’ve grappled with their addition to welfare meth, knowing all along that it will kill them, but is now seemingly weighing the pain of kicking the habit as being higher than then inevitable OD. Also remember that after the Germans, French banks have the second highest exposure to Greek debt, so think dominoes.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:36 am
Rise and Fall Part III of David Garrett’s insights and predictions on the Act Party (with links to I and II).
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2012/05/guest-post-david-garrett-5/
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:45 am
@kk I tihnk the Spanish are more likely to bring the house of cards down before the French but Greece could still default (although I was confidently predicting default and/or military coup before Christmas last year and they proved me wrong)
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:48 am
KK: Yes, it’s very scarey.
KiwiGreg: I agree with you in general terms. However, recently Sarkozy has stood alongside Merkel in “encouraging” Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Ireland into a more realistic attitude towards national debt and fiscal deficits. So my reference to “fiscal responsibility” – while too narrow, I acknowledge – was related to the recent phenomenon.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:48 am
Yeah, some of the people at The Standard can make some good points, but they’re just so nasty and hateful 99% of the time that it’s like, why would you bother?
It’s like walking for a kilometre over broken glass because there’s a voucher for a free Big Mac at the end. To me, it’s just not worth it.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:51 am
KiwiGreg – don’t disagree. I note that the Greeks are also busy at the ballot box:
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:56 am
What the greeks dont (want to) understand is that without the EU money they cant pay their internal obligations let alone their external ones. Default for them will be very painful.
France wont be an immediate issue (debt is 90% of GDP but government spending is IIRC 56% of GDP). But the market has limited appetite for lending to profligate governments. Hollande’s 75% tax on “the rich” will be good for London property prices.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:26 am
Todays is a very important day for provisional tax payers, so it is essential for many that IRD online services are working. I need to go online to find the eye watering amount I need to pay.
However….
http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com/www.ird.govt.nz
It’s not just you! http://www.ird.govt.nz looks down from here.
It has since come back up, but this is not the first time the IRD website has gone down on critical days. Once I could not file my GST return online, so I posted the paper form.
Another time, I fiiled online and received the filing acknowledgement (and printed), but the IRD systems failed to load my return.
Fortunately I had the return acknowledgement so IRD waived the not-insignificant penalties.
It is very important for the IRD website to be operational on the busiest days. They expect compliance regardless of their service failures.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:50 am
the French experiment, voting in a commie, will be fascinating (from afar that is, wouldn’t want to be there).
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:54 am
graham: I like that analogy! Once in a very blue moon I go in there and take a peek…I notice these things: 1) all or nearly all of their commenters are anonymous (which is perhaps why PG gets such a hard time; 2) there are very few of them, which suggests it’s an even smaller echo chamber than other blogs; 3) they are almost uniformly vicious and nasty, and dont tolerate dissent….a bit like Stalinism really…
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:54 am
A friend sent this to me and I just have to share it. Apologies to those who may have seen to before.
Vote:“Political correctness is a doctrine — fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rapidly promoted by mainstream media — which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end.”
May 7th, 2012 at 11:05 am
“..they are almost uniformly vicious and nasty,..”
you’d feel right at home then..
(btw..have you accepted any responsibilities for the demise of act…
..or are the pieces you have written for oil just self-regarding revisionism..)
..going on yr form to date..(and i do mean ‘form’..)..i wd think the latter..eh..?..
..also..nearly all commenters both here and at oil are anonymous..and nasty..and not ‘tolerating dissent’..
so..yr point..?
phillip ure@whoar.co.nz
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:16 am
I don’t agree Phil, there is a diversity of commentators here despite a vocal subset who enjoy the cyber-bash (I don’t particularly, although some insults can be quite creative and funny); But I think KB when compared to other sites such as The Standard and even Dim Post is unremarkable in the relative levels of nastiness, and it’s sniffily-described reputation on some sites as ‘the sewer’ lacks perspective.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:17 am
David: I also used to read The Standard and occasionally post, but yeah, the nastiness, viciousness, and hatred just depressed me. Couldn’t see the point of continuing.
There seems to be a hard core of people there who are extremely bitter against anything that they define as “Right-wing”.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:21 am
From end of yesterday’s GD –
My post –
Post by eszett –
My reply today –
eszett, well you’d be the only ‘historian’ who thinks that, but think it if it makes you feel better.
You’re simply WRONG.
If you look at what you’re saying, you’re saying that EVERY totalitarian regime with a dictatorial leader is religious. Is that it? Just because it has a leader and follows your idea of how the Church is organised. Isn’t every organisation built from the top down?
I call bullshit. In the examples I’ve given of Mao, Stalin, etc, I do not believe any were based on religion.
I’ve never seen you say anything so silly.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:21 am
“..There seems to be a hard core of people there who are extremely bitter against anything that they define as “Right-wing”…
given you are one of the nastiest anonymous trolls here…that claim is quite funny..(and irony free..eh..?..)
and given you are one of ‘a hard core of people there who are extremely bitter against anything that they define as “left-wing”.
..also funny and irony-free..eh..?
phillip ure@whoar.co.nz
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:21 am
Just remembered one example – small maybe, but I think it highlights the differences between Kiwiblog and The Standard.
Both sites occasionally run “Caption Contests”. You will know that DPF always states that “captions should be funny, not nasty”. When I was reading The Standard I don’t think they ever said anything like that, and consequently the comments were sometimes – hell, almost always – pretty damn nasty.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:24 am
That’s an interesting comment at 11.05 from the lazy lying bludger who posted a sequential trifecta of gratuitous ad hom on GD yesterday.
I thought at the time that it was an odd practice given his apparent desire to move his tatty little indulgence up into second-to-last place. Or is it just that nobody can be bothered pursuing the ‘cat stuck up tree’ stories that Yvette highlighted?
Whatever the reason, the idiot doesn’t seem to realise what kind of a signal he’s sending to prospective readers. But then, if it is only the content that’s putting people off, maybe he could include a cooking/receipe thread. “First, stake out a chemist where you will be able to find all these ingredients …”
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:27 am
“..the comments were sometimes – hell, almost always – pretty damn nasty…
see 11.24 am..and anything from obese-sibling..
..and fact/reality-check:..i have never done ‘a cat up tree’ story @ whoar..
..in over 56,000 stories/links..
phillip ure@whoar.co.nz
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:28 am
Some good news:
US airstrike kills senior al-Qaida leader in Yemen:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iUjpp3Oa6oTLUEqW1-7oU_gSJOcw?docId=891f126ccd454599a252dd2ac3ee685f
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:29 am
“Prime Minister John Key has confirmed the Conservative Party is a potential support partner for a centre-right government and is distancing National from the embattled ACT Party, saying its future is in the hands of voters. Fairfax Media yesterday revealed National Party president Peter Goodfellow was seeking out Conservative leader Colin Craig.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/6871617/Key-National-will-look-for-new-partners
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:32 am
Interesting in this regard also, that the lazy lying bludger appears to be in complete denial regarding his own behaviour. But then that’s quite in character; as evidenced by continually maintaining that he actually works and in fact, in his own words that he is likely “the hardest working solo parent”.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:34 am
philu, I am tending to ignore anything you say, as it’s a waste of my time, but your 11:21 is just head-shakingly wrong.
I will not waste my time explaining why in detail, because – well, it would be a waste of time – but just to make two quick points:
1. You claim that I’m “one of the nastiest anonymous trolls here”. Not that it’s a contest, but I think if you compare my posts to some others, you would be hard put to award me the title of the nastiest. Also, I suggest you look up “troll”. It doesn’t mean what you seem to think it does.
2. “extremely bitter against anything that they define as “left-wing”.” Right, that’s why I have previously voted for both Labour and the Greens. I do actually acknowledge that Labour and the Greens have some good points and ideas. But damned if I’m going to waste my time finding some of my old comments to prove it to you.
There. Having got that off my chest, I’m going back to ignoring you. Don’t bother trying to refute me, because (a) you’re wrong, and (b) my philu-ignoring switch is turned firmly back on.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:49 am
http://whoar.co.nz/2012/a-fiercely-left-wing-leader-to-strike-fear-into-the-hearts-of-frances-rich/
“…He has admitted that he ‘does not like the rich’ -
- and declared: ‘my real enemy is the world of finance’..”
phillip ure@whoar.co.nz
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:57 am
… and he declared: “my real enemy is work …eh “
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
“and he declared: “my real enemy is work …eh “
Yup, pretty much. Hollande is actually going to LOWER the retirement age, as well as increase spending, and ensure that workers work less.
Anyone with more than two braincells to rub together can predict the outcome of these policies.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Of course they were quasi-religious cults built around the leader. It’s simply stupid to compare the likes of Stalin and Mao, who outlawed religion because they didn’t want the competition, with the herd of cats that is modern western atheism.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
“Of course they were quasi-religious cults built around the leader.”
That is true of EVERY ideological movement. ALL political/philophical movements, including Atheism, are essentially religious because religion is hardwired into the human brain. Secularism is a myth.
This is why there are not only no true atheists in the foxholes, there are no true atheists anywhere.
I’m a fool for Christ.
Who’s fool are you?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 12:16 pm
“..I’m a fool..”
.yep..!
phillip ure@whoar.co.nz
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
religion is hardwired into the human brain.
so nutjob o1 says
Blindly following the pre science superstitions of goat herders has striped some of all independent thoughts
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Blindly following anything is not recommended, Griff, be it religion, science, a political leaning, whatever.
How many people decry those who supposedly follow religion blindly and without question (and by the way, I’ve yet to meet anyone like that – every Christian I know has questions, they probably give God a harder time than you do), yet ‘trust’ implicitly in science, without question?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Griff, history tells us whose thoughts are best to build a fair and moral society on.
For example, the United States was built on Biblical Christian ideals; so was Britain.
Show me a society built on other ideals that is still flourishing, or at least doing as well.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
“religion is hardwired into the human brain.
so nutjob o1 says”
Actually, so says modern science Griff.
Christianity is a fusion of Judaism and Classical Greek Philosophy, and it’s early leaders, such as Origen, Augustine and Irenaeus, were some of the greatest philophical minds of their time. Judaism itself was one of the truly great religious/philophical and legal movements of history, and many of its theolgians were men of a truly great intellectual stature and intellegince, men who would leave you in the dust intellectually speaking. Calling Judaism the superstitions of goat herders only betrays your own lack of education and blind bigotry.
As graham rightly says in the post above, I do not follow anything “blindly”, and nor do most other Christians I know. I came to Christianity after a very long process of thinking, arguing, debating and questioning. I probably put more thought into my beliefs than most of the anti-Christian bigots posting here have put into theirs.
And many of my best Christians friends are academics in secular universities with Masters degrees and PHD’s.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 12:34 pm
IRD website … down… again!!!
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
I used to love the way of life in France.
Vote:Pity about the people though.
May 7th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
“Judaism and Classical Greek Philosophy,”
nutjob 01
Weird i was under the impression that Christianity was the belief in Jesus and his message
The more educated you are the more unlikely that you believe in superstition
I have read the bible I have also read history in particular Jewish and roman history of the time
To not believe in some thing you need to have knowledge of it else-wise its just faith
In my reading I find no proof that the carpenter of Bethlehem was Jesus the messiah the Saviour of the jews
Only that the later scribes twisted his life to mean something outside of gods and his word
You have named two societies that are in decline
Vote:England for the last 120 odd years and the USA in the last decade or two
The more enlightened societies in the world ,those that top the OECD better life index are secular in nature as is New Zealand
You are basing your judgment on a historic period when the church was central to the lives of all
Thank humanity that this time is rapidly coming to a close
As to being a bigot I do believe that Christians hold that all not taking them seriously are heading to eternal damnation
Can you get any belief more bigoted than that?
May 7th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
@Fletch
Exactly- genocide of the original inhabitants and slavery are very biblical.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Griff, the U.S and England are failing precisely because of the abandonment of traditional Judeo/Christian practices and beliefs and morals. And we are not far behind.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
One could read the following from a few years ago and laugh to death. Are physicists that thick & fucking stupid? Yes they are, because modern physics are creationist theories where effects have no causes, which lead to the stupid notion of time-travel. I bet that big banger supporters will pop in here to defend the idiotic comments made by the 2 physicists in the article below:
Here is a highlight:
…the troubled collider is being sabotaged by its own future. A pair of otherwise distinguished physicists have suggested that the hypothesized Higgs boson, which physicists hope to produce with the collider, might be so abhorrent to nature that its creation would ripple backward through time and stop the collider before it could make one, like a time traveler who goes back in time to kill his grandfather.
The Collider, the Particle and a Theory About Fate
The link to their papers are also found on the same page above. When one abandons reason, you get all sorts of nonsense like the one above popping up all over the places masquerading as science, these so called scientists are no difference to Sorcerers from the 17th century.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
Chthoniid, We had a chat about ‘slavery’ in a thread the other day. “Slavery” as practised in the U.S has little to do with how it was practised in the ANE (Ancient Near East), and indeed, in the Bible.
ANd –
Read the whole thing if you’re interested.
http://christianthinktank.com/qnoslave.html
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
re: religion – most of the world is religious. I posted this in a thread the other day –
—-
Some of the most intelligent men that have ever lived believed in and believe in God. Scientists, poets, writers, musicians, artists, statesmen – men wiser than I am (and probably you as well) – even geniuses – believe in the God of the Bible. Some of the greatest thinkers of our time. Do you think they were wrong? Have been tricked?
In fact, most of the world is religious in one way or another.
According to the CIA website, there are approx 7 billion people in the world -
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/xx.html
(Click on the [+] People and Society link)
According to the same site, 88.54% (6.2 billion) are religious in some way – Christian 33.35% (of which Roman Catholic 16.83%, Protestant 6.08%, Orthodox 4.03%, Anglican 1.26%), Muslim 22.43%, Hindu 13.78%, Buddhist 7.13%, Sikh 0.36%, Jewish 0.21%, Baha’i 0.11%, other religions 11.17%.
Only 9.42% are non-religious and 2.04% are atheist.
So, if you’re saying that religion is a stupid thing to believe, you’re talking about most of the population of the world: you’re also a minority.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
http://loltheists.com/?attachment_id=1986
Here you go Fletch
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
like a time traveler who goes back in time to kill his grandfather…
…or a person who sends his dad back to impregnate his mother so he can become one with the matrix
NEO IS JOHN CONNOR !!!
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
From Yesterday,
FF:No. Your branch is fucking useless. What have you contribute to humanity? Nothing! Except some fucking glorified theory that has nothing to do with humanity. Does your fucking Astrophycics design cars? How about our modern telecommunication system? Nope! Your branch just passed on as science but that’s not a kind of science that advanced humanity. Astrophysics is no more than a wanking feel good intellectual useless wannabe science.
Boy, you really don’t like astrophysicists do you!
Astrophysics may not have directly contributed to humanity technologically but it has advanced humanity philosphically by showing us our place in the universe. Once upon a time people used to think that the earth was the centre of the universe, that the solar system revolved around us, and that there wasn’t much else. We now know that the universe is really really big, really really old, and that the earth is not at the centre of everything.
You attacked me last year, when you called me stupid/idiot on a debate about general relativity which you argued that the theory doesn’t conserve energy.
I don’t recall explicitly calling you stupid last year in our debate but it was obviously implicit inasmuch as you clearly didn’t know what you were talking about it.
Fair enough, but this time, you’re veering to an area that it is not your domain and you questioned why I’m hung up on causality?
You have no idea what my domain is, and judging from your remarks so far, this subject isn’t yours.
I’ve asked you a question about the double slit experiment if a single particle goes thru the 2 slit holes or just one hole and you evaded.
I didn’t evade it, I ignored it. I simply don’t see the point in asking or answering such a simple question.
The reason is that you didn’t know that Quantum Mechanics is an ensemble theory
I am in fact well aware of this claim, I’m also aware that people who write on the philosophy of physics have disputed this interpretation.
Well I asked you some kindergarten questions and you seemed not to refute them with peer review publications apart from some blog posts on the internet.
More ad hominem arguments. Why not respond to the criticism regardless of where they came from?
What the TEW video because it explained why you do not want to want it?
?? I can’t even figure out what you’re saying here.
As the links I posted yesterday pointed out the TEW is self-contradictory and does not match the universe that we see.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
Griff,
“Weird i was under the impression that Christianity was the belief in Jesus and his message”
It is. But it did not arise in a cultural vacuum. How that message was understood had a great deal to do with both Jewish and Greek philosophy. For example the Gospel of John uses the Greek neo-Platonic idea of Logos (the Word) to help explain who Jesus was.
“The more educated you are the more unlikely that you believe in superstition”
There are two problems with this argument. The first is that some of the greatest minds in Western history were and are Christians. As I said, many of my Christian friends have Master’s and PHD’s. Do you have a degree?
The other problem is that religion is not superstion. This is an abuse of the term.
“In my reading I find no proof that the carpenter of Bethlehem was Jesus the messiah the Saviour of the jews”
Thats you business. But many millions of people, many of whom are far more educated than you, have.
“England for the last 120 odd years and the USA in the last decade or two
The more enlightened societies in the world ,those that top the OECD better life index are secular in nature as is New Zealand”
Both the USA and England are in many respects secular, and many of the countries that are near the top of the OECD still have large Christian and religious minorities. Polls show most people in NZ still believe in God, even if they do no go to church. I think your grasping at straws here. And your assuming the stats show what you think they do in the first place. The problem with stats is that they can be interpreted in a variety of ways.
By the way, the largest “Bible belt” outside of the USA is in northern Scandanavia.
I would also question the claim that the USA is in decline, and to the degree that it is, it could just as easily be blamed on liberalism.
“Thank humanity that this time is rapidly coming to a close”
It’s not. More people have become Christians in the last one hundred years than in the entire two thousand years before that combined. Globally speaking, Christianity is growing at its fastest rate ever, especially in China, the world’s newest superpower.
“As to being a bigot I do believe that Christians hold that all not taking them seriously are heading to eternal damnation”
Then your mistaken. Christian doctrine holds that all who reject God will face eternal death, not quite the same thing you have said. And no, thats not bigotry, just commonsense. As God is the source of life, it is not possible to live without Him, anymore than it is possible for a car to run without fuel.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Lee01:“The more educated you are the more unlikely that you believe in superstition”
There are two problems with this argument. The first is that some of the greatest minds in Western history were and are Christians
There are two problems with your response. The first is that despite you self-avowed intellect you didn’t understand what Griff was saying and, secondly, it is irrelevant.
Griff was talking about trends, not individuals, and he also right. Studies show an inverse correlation between IQ and relgious belief.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Facebook shares are overvalued say econophysicists.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 2:19 pm
chiz: Not that I doubt you, but … got a link to those studies?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 2:28 pm
(Ran out of time to edit …)
Maybe it’s just me, but I know a fair number of Christians. Quite a few of them are pretty smart folks. Some are doctors, small business owners, airline pilots, University professors, accountants … you get the idea. Mostly they’re regular folk though … they’re builders, housewives, shop assistants, receptionists, policemen, burger-flippers, and so on.
I guess that the Christians I know represent a fairly good cross-section of NZ society, funnily enough. Like I say, mostly just regular people (with the occasional irregular one thrown in for good measure
)
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Chiz
“Studies show”
Are you seriously that gullible?
And I did understand what Griff was saying. I just think that his point, or attempted point, is not relevant.
This is the basic problem with his claim about intelligence, and the studies he is basing it on. Academic studies are highly complex and often open to a wide variety of interpretations. IQ tests in particular are not strictly scientific, and it is also not automatically the case that religion is the causal connection. As many scientists have pointed out, such as Dr David Hardman of London Metropolitan University, proving a causal relationship between religion and IQ is at the very least extremely difficult and impossible to actually prove. This is because there are many other factors in peoples live that can contribute to IQ results. The simplistic mainstream media of course pulls out one possibility, one likely to cause controversy, and trumpets that as an absolute, which gullible people like yourself and Griff then swallow.
I would also point out that Griff is Right Wing in his political views, and Liberals have also trumpted claims that there is a causal relationship between low IQ and Right Wing political views.
The reality in both cases is far more complex.
Take a look at this for example:
http://www.livescience.com/13862-intelligence-iq-tests-motivation.html
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Try Google scholar but be prepared to wade through stuff. A few seconds searching finds this for example.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Oh, and also this: Average intelligence predicts atheism rates across 137 nations.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Maybe it’s just the case that religious people seem stupid, rather than actually being stupid. Also, does religion adversely affect one’s intelligence, or are those of lower intellect more likely to become religious?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
I see stuff.co.nz breathlessly predicted that:
What happened was this:
So this killer tide was lower than others. Alarmist nonsense from Fairfax, moreso after research has shown that Tuvalu’s land area is increasing, up 3% since the 1950s.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Denyse O’Leary does an excellent job of debunking the “low IQ = religious people” claim:
“The highlight of the paper is the chart of 137 nations. And it looks pretty convincing until you study it carefully. Then, picturing the data is a cart for the theory, wheels start wobbling.”
His conclusion?
“There is no consistent relationship between religion and IQ.”
http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/does_religion_rot_your_intelligence/
Read it for yourself.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Lee01:Are you seriously that gullible?
No.
And I did understand what Griff was saying.
Civen that you responded by pointing out that some of the greatest minds in Western history were and are Christians its obvious that you didn’t understand what he was saying since your point doesn’t rebut it.
And yes I’m aware that there are confoundment issues with IQ studies. The fact remains that studies have, for decades, been showing an inverse correlation between religious belief and education, whatever the cause, which was Griff’s claim.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Chiz,
I have had this debate with Griff several times, and as I said I did understand him, but I also know from past experience where he is going with it (“Christians are dumb”). So my response was to that point.
And if you read the Denyse O’Leary article you will see that the studies are being interpreted in a highly biased and dishonest manner.
But let me make another point. Even IF the the claim was true, so what? Which is more important, IQ or moral character? Many serial killers have high IQ’s. Does this make them good people?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
For those of you in Wellington.
Whitcoulls on Lambton Quay (next to Westpactrust) are having a clear out sale.
Among a bunch of books I bought Ian Wishart’s Book Breaking Silence (Kahui story) for $2, (there are 30 left).
Celia Lashlies The power of mothers $5 (10 odd left)
Michael Parkinson’s autobiography $5. (10 odd left)
they have hundreds of books there from $2-$10, as well as the yellow dot sale they’ve been having.
Vote:Just be carefule that
May 7th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Yes, I think we have to be very wary when someone makes a claim about “studies show this” or “studies show that”.
Take for instance the ‘study’ by the WHO that showed that America had the worst health care system in the world. Turns out it is rubbish.
And what did the study actually, er, study?
Makes for interesting reading, ey? So the next time a liberal tells you that Obamacare is needed because the U.S has “the worst healthcare system in the world”, set them straight.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Lee
Character always counts.
Look at ENRON.
The Lawyers and Accountants were all adept at what they did.
However there was a total lack of character in Middle Management and up.
How many pensions were destroyed.
Ability is important but Character always outs it everytime.
Vote:Now to deal with parliament and the voters choices
May 7th, 2012 at 3:16 pm
Chiz said…
I didn’t evade it, I ignored it. I simply don’t see the point in asking or answering such a simple question.
Ignoring is evading, whatever your excuse is. You evaded because you cannot face the fact that if you say that the particle goes thru the 2 slit holes simultaneously, then it means it should show up on the back screen detector as 2 blips, but that’s not what is actually being observed. The screen only registers a single event when a single particle is fired thru the double-slit type apparatus or setups (eg : various interferometers) and the source is instantly turned off (controlled by an optical switch).
Now, if you argue that the particle goes thru only one hole, then your non-locality evaporates because it doesn’t apply. It is meaningless to apply it in that situation. So, you only left with one conclusion which is backed by observation. The single particle itself must have just gone thru a single slit hole only (whether it was slit hole A or slit hole B is irrelevant) to reach the backscreen to be detected/registered as a single event, so there is no wave-function collapse or it is meaningless to be applied in that situation.
I used to work with single particle (pulsed) tunable lasers and this kind of test is routinely used to test various optical characteristics of wave-guides (attenuation, dispersion, group-velocity, non-linearity-onset-wavelength, etc…) that are used to design erbium-doped fibre laser amplifiers and other optical devices as well. A single pulse is used and interference is never observed.
Non-locality is not real. Physical observables/actions are local & causal. There is no way around it. As the TEW author said…
The very idea of `wave-particles’ is self-contradictory. Whether it be particles located many places at the same time, or cats that are neither dead nor alive, or what-have-you, these are all contradictions. Many physicists have become used to the idea that such contradictions must simply be lived with; but it is now clear that that is not the case. One can understand quantum mechanics-that is, the mathematics of quantum mechanics-without these contradictions. We do not live in a weird universe. A theory which results in absurd conclusions is false. Reality doesn’t make mistakes; only physicists do.
The TEW author has got some papers that have been submitted for publications recently, so it is forthcoming after expert peer review process. So, there’s no doubt that he will address the shortcoming of the original TEW. The so called debunking that you pointed out to are not peer review at all or otherwise you fall into the same category as the warmists at RealClimate who they claim to debunk a skeptics’ paper every-time it comes up in a publication. Their debunking is on RealClimate blog site. This is not debunking is it? The critiques of TEW never submitted a paper to refute TEW.
The other thing is QM didn’t explain everything when it was first formulated in the 1920s. Solid state physics is one area that it was being applied to later, but QM wasn’t able to explain various phenomena in solid states. So, TEW is no different. Development of new theories is work in progressive. The TEW author has proposed some experiments to test his theory via using 2 sets of screens behind the slit holes. The first screen (lets say A) must be controlled by a fast optical switching device that makes it switch between transparent & opaque states (switching is repeated). The second screen (lets say B) should reveal if the interference pattern still showed up. If the interference pattern on B disappeared (or washed out), then TEW is correct and QM is false. If the interference pattern still showed up on B, then QM is correct and TEW is false. The mathematics of TEW and QM is almost the same except that TEW is causal (ie, no magic, no Godly action) but QM is non-causal (Godly action is accepted as the norm).
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
;Yes carefully reading is required of all so called facts
the cia website vs a vs Christianity
list voodoo as a belief of a significant number of Christians
It also relies on census data which is very dependent on the questions asked
I would also point out that Griff is Right Wing in his political views, and Liberals have also trumpted claims that there is a causal relationship between low IQ and Right Wing political views.
Wrong as usual
Vote:its conservative views Like yours that have a high correlation to a lower IQ
I am of course a right wing liberal nut job
IQ is real no matter how you test it persons who come out high in one set of IQ tests will also score high on other types of IQ tests
IQ is basically pattern matching ability
May 7th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Fletch at 3:01 pm: ‘Yes, I think we have to be very wary when someone makes a claim about “studies show this” or “studies show that”.’
True dat.
We all know a certain someone who constantly provides links to ‘prove’ that marijuana is great, anybody who isn’t a vegan is going to die, the political left is the only way forward, and so on.
If you search long and hard, you can usually find a study or an expert who will tell you exactly what you wanted to hear in the first place
.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
ps, here is the full article by Scott Atlas that is referenced above – that dissects and debunks the WHO report’s claims that America is 37th in the world when it comes to health care.
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/article/the-worst-study-ever/
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
the thing is..graham..is that i have been doing this for awhile…so i have a pet-searchengine..
..and i am not providing just ‘a link’..(perhaps the most farcical link-evidence recently was from twitchy-jim/reid yesterday..a link to some nutjob rightwing bloggers’ ‘exclusive’..predicting obama was going to urge blacjk americans to rise up against white americans..(!)
.i am providing a cache of information/evidence..collected over that ‘some time’…
..so my links do provide hard evidence of the health-benefits of/from marijuana…. http://whoar.co.nz/?s=medical+marijuana
..that a vegan diet is really good for yr general good health… http://whoar.co.nz/?s=vegan
..widen yr gaze..eh..?
..read the evidence..
phillip ure@whoar.co.nz
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Allen West gives another great speech.
Vote:
May 7th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
(this is funny..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2012/so-you-want-to-get-elected-then-think-like-a-clown-or-a-penguin-charlie-brooker/
“…So huge swaths of the electorate seem to have finally decided that peevish gump David Cameron isn’t the convincing statesman they never quite thought he was in the first place.
Still, he had a good innings.
People often criticise Cameron’s judgment – but no matter what you think of his policies -
- his ability to surround himself with decoy pillocks was a strategy that until recently paid dividends.
Since coming to power in 2010 voters have been so busy hating Nick Clegg, Andrew Lansley, Liam Fox, George Osborne, Francis Maude and now Jeremy Hunt -
- there’s been very little rage left over for Dave.
Getting round to properly abhorring him has seemed like too much bother – like an unwelcome, nagging chore.
You see his face on the news and perform a 1,000-year-long internal sigh.
Yes, yes. I’ll detest you in a minute.
I’ve got to finish detesting all these other people first.
But now his decoys are spent.
Clegg, in particular, absorbed so much bile, he underwent a startling physical transformation: from buoyant Geoffrey-off-Rainbow type to watery-eyed totem of misery.
It was as if he had somehow been bitten by a radioactive puddle.
He’s so depressing to look at – they really should erect some kind of protective awning whenever he’s out in public – like they do around grisly human remains.
Hating him isn’t simply a cliche; it actually feels vaguely cruel.
So he’s no longer of much strategic use to Cameron…”
(ed:..heh..!..and on it goes..if you haven’t yet found brooker…you should..his archives are also well worth a trawl…)
phillip ure@whoar.co.nz
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Cradle to the Grave !!!!
Vote:A good half century of welfarism produces this.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/6867599/Are-we-too-poor-to-die
We can’t magic up financial success as a country, without a reduction in daily expenditure and an increase in personal savings across the board.
May 7th, 2012 at 5:18 pm
“..A good half century of welfarism produces this…”
no..30 yrs of greed-driven rightwing/neo-lib/rand-ite policies ‘produces this’..
phillip ure@whoar.co.nz
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
“the U.S and England are failing precisely because of the abandonment of traditional Judeo/Christian practices and beliefs and morals.”
So anyone who does any work on the Sabbath should be stoned to death.
I really don’t see how that’s going to improve things. And that’s when I prune the roses.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
Really? What does 30 years of being a lazy, lying thieving bludging little prick produce?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
http://news.msn.co.nz/nationalnews/8463292/welfare-changes-expected-to-save-1bn
Is that the sound of flatulance coming from chez-ure ? They be coming for you whore. Oh joy be praise the lord.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Ouch.
Navy SEAL Hands Obama His Ass.
Full article – https://radiopatriot.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/navy-seal-hands-obama-his-arse/
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Maybe that Navy Seal should run for office, or shut up.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:12 pm
Why would he run for office, mm?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:23 pm
Generally serving military people should refrain from political comment. If they wish to enter politics, they should resign and do so.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:25 pm
Should everyone in the public sector refrain from political comment?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Oh yeah, Fletch, he surely handed Obama his ass.
On a blog. wow. Impressive.
How dare Obama campaign on his accomplishments.
I am sure dressing up in a flight suit and holding a press conference on board of a aircraft carrier with a banner Mission Accomplished would have been subtle.
It’s a terribly sore point for the republicans that Obama didn’t ease on the war on terror and even managed in 2 years what Bush couldn’t in 7.
But just keep on whinging and whining.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:29 pm
Sometimes wat. The military and police obviously need to be quite strict. The rule here is that public servants should refrain from public comments that would conflict with their official duties. So, a senior Treasury official, for example, wouldn’t be expected to be bagging the government’s economic policies.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:33 pm
On this occassion I think the soldier might be entitled to voice his anger, since Obama tried to milk their efforts for political gain.
Everyone was a bit sickened by that.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:34 pm
Was it as bad a Bush’s ‘mission accomplished’ stunt?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:35 pm
Wat…
That should include mikenmild in refraining from making any comments on blogs like KB since he said in the past that he earned his living by working for some Govt department. He is in fact a busy-body bureaucrat.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
milkymug
Perhaps you would care to point that out to the gentleman concerned in person, in which case he might point out that he already has resigned in a slightly more forthright manner to that in which you criticise him.
Or is it just that you think that people who serve in armed forces for reasons that you clearly don’t comprehend, simply deserve what they get?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:38 pm
mm, every bit as bad.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:42 pm
Too much to hope then, that he works for Foreign Affairs. He doesn’t seem too perturbed by the fact that while he’s cruising the blogs, he’s actually stealing time from the taxpayer. But then, I imagine, it’s unlikely he’ll be doing anything useful and if he spends his time here then there is less risk that he will be fucking something up …
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
loved this it meshes nicely with the conservative thickos theme
news.google.co.nz/news/url?sa=t&ct2=nz%2F0_0_s_6_0_t&usg=AFQjCNGUPcJ1OrgbpXnT6lmzz9t3IAWyiA&did=fafbd5de59286f1e&cid=17594030604396&ei=pWqnT7iRAsq7kgX2Qg&rt=MORE_COVERAGE&vm=STANDARD&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.edu.au%2Fare-heartland-billboards-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-climate-denial-6888
Much is known about what passes for cognition among those who deny overwhelming scientific evidence by resorting to conspiracy theories and scurrilous accusations against actual scientists.
The overwhelming tenor of this psychological knowledge is that, by definition, such denial will remain impervious to evidence as it is based on ideology and frantic defence of worldviews rather than the rational scepticism of actual science.
As the evidence for climate change continues to pile up, and as the frequency of severe weather events continues to sky-rocket, we can therefore be fairly certain that climate denial will take ever more scurrilous forms.
That much is certain, but given that even the conservative American commentator Andrew Sullivan has described the current American Right as “close to insane as well as depraved” over the Heartland billboard, exact predictions of this forthcoming maelstrom must elude rational grasp at the moment.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:47 pm
“As the evidence for climate change continues to pile up, and as the frequency of severe weather events continues to sky-rocket”
I’d be interested in seeing this new evidence. Can you provide links?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:47 pm
Generally serving military people should refrain from political comment. If they wish to enter politics, they should resign and do so.
By the way, the guy is a former Navy SEAL. He is not the only one critical of Obama. A former Vice Chief Of Staff of the Army says that the White House knew for a whole year where Bin Laden was, but wouldn’t go get him.
Vote:
May 7th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Actually, davinci, I’m unemployed at the moment, but thanks for your interest.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:50 pm
thedavincimode
Apparently ‘mikenmild’ & PhilU are birds of a feather. Last month mikenmild advised us that he was unemployed but in his case there may be hope.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:50 pm
It’s a terribly sore point for the republicans that Obama didn’t ease on the war on terror and even managed in 2 years what Bush couldn’t in 7.
Obama didn’t do anything. It was military.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Fletch
Gosh, you’re not saying he said “go get him” because of his polling are you? Well, that would be a surprise.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Griff – more and more people are coming to believe that climate change (at least human caused) is a lot of hooey.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:55 pm
ps, if you read the whole thing, the Navy SEAL even brings up Obama playing golf during the mission –
Yup, Obama had to be called off the golf course into the situation room to be informed the mission was going down. He didn’t even know about it. Panetta and Clinton allegedly went over his head, because he couldn’t make the decision to go. Valarie Jarrett kept on arguing not to go get Bin Laden, and O couldn’t make up his mind for months.
So it wasn’t Obama who made the decision anyway. It was Panetta and Hillary Clinton.
http://socyberty.com/issues/white-house-insider-obama-hesitated-panetta-issued-order-to-kill-osama-bin-laden/#ixzz1LOUbqDvi
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Wat
Vote:did you read the link
thats U,KK, Other altie,and a few others on here that the article is talking about
DO YOU UNDERSTAND ?
we all know that if you shout at the intellectually impaired they are more likely to understand
May 7th, 2012 at 7:00 pm
nasska
Hope of what exactly? The lazy lying thieving bludger had hope too. And it turned out just like he wanted.
But no, I jest (but only in the first sentence). Milkymuggins doesn’t strike me as the sort of rum cove who would want to sit on his arse on the bludge all day; unlike the lazy lying thieving bludging little prick.
Good luck with the job-hunting Milky and I hope you hook up with something that connects you to the real world.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:00 pm
That’s pretty good Fletch. One anonymous source really undermines the whole carefully constructed narrative.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:02 pm
We were hoping you would see it that way milky.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:04 pm
Until then, does Kiwiblog count as connecting me with the real world?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
mikenmild
You weren’t, perchance, one of the taxpayer funded Labour Party staffers who got the DCM?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Here is another great website on islamization which I have not mentioned previously..Sultan Knish by Daniel Greenfield.
Vote:There is a very good article re France , Hollande..and the Qatari ”by up” of France.
May 7th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
mm, then how about this, that backs it up –
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2012/04/26/Get-bin-laden-memo-CYA
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Griff,
I don’t understand what I’m supposed to conclude from that link. It’s was a witty billboard I know, but doesn’t deal with the evidence I asked about.
You said “As the evidence for climate change continues to pile up, and as the frequency of severe weather events continues to sky-rocket…”
Where is this new evidence?
“…the NOAA US Climate Extremes Index shows over the 50 years 1910-1960 there were 22 years with weather extremes that exceeded the mean, compared to 20 years that exceeded the mean over the following 50 years 1960-2010. The 9 year smoothed data was higher in 1911 than 2010, back when CO2 was “safe.” Reporting of weather events has greatly improved since the early 1900′s and therefore the index may underestimate the number of extreme events before the modern age.”
http://hockeyschtick.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/noaa-data-shows-extreme-weather-was-as.html
So, extreme weather events, in the States at least, have declined in recent years.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:11 pm
mikenmild
Commenting on KB may keep you in touch with the real world but I fear the link will be tenuous.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:13 pm
So was ther NSC meeting on 29 March where the President authorised planning for the raid irrelevant? What about the 19 April meeting giving provisional approval? Or the meeting on 28 April and the President’s final approval the following day?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
I’ve never conversed with anyone on KB yet who lives in the real world.
Even when I am talking to myself!
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Real is as real does, to paraphrase Forrest Gump. As long as you get out and about in the wider Wainui (and Hutt) area you’ll keep in touch.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Johnboy
What real world? Where?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:27 pm
That depends entirely upon who you take any notice of. You can’t go wrong with me; but you’ll note that Johnboy has already excluded himself. You may recall that he was lusting after the mad waterwoman. Personally, I found that very distressing and not, I should emphasise, because of any self-interest.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:31 pm
thedavincimode
That’s a wicked streak of jealously you’re nursing there.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:33 pm
Perhaps Johnboy was just pining after something (a little) more human and (a little) less ovine.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:34 pm
I’ve spent too many lonely nights in the scrub to ever divorce the thought of the comfort of a warm ewe far from my mind Leonardo.
Course once I have been back in town for a few days and checked out their photos sometimes I just can’t forgive myself!
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Still if she had knitted my barbed wire on time I may have hardened my resolve!
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:36 pm
What real world? Where?
…right here bitches !!!
MWAHAHAHAHAHA…
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Oh Phark
Off colour with a chip on the shoulder is back
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Off White with an Attitude
And how was the paddle in the Pacific?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:42 pm
nasska
My come-back will have to wait – matters to attend to.
But for now: bastard.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 7:42 pm
Must have been good. He is back here to piddle in the specific.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:00 pm
A bloke walking down a country road in England, tired
Vote:and hungry, came to a roadside Inn with a sign reading:
“George and the Dragon.”
He knocked.
The Innkeeper’s wife stuck her head out a window.
“Could ye spare some food?”, asked.
The woman glanced at his shabby clothes and obviously poor
condition. “No!” she said rather sternly.
“Could I have a pint of ale?”
“No!” she said again.
“Could I at least sleep in your stable?”
“No!” By this time she was shouting.
asked, “Might I please…?”
“What now?” the woman interrupted impatiently.
“D’ye suppose,” he asked, “I might have a word
with George.”
May 7th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
You are in the middle of some kind of project around the house; mowing the lawn, putting in a new fence, painting the living room or whatever.
You are hot and sweaty, covered in dust, lawn clippings, dirt or paint.
You have your old work clothes on.
You know the outfit — shorts with the hole in the crotch, old T-shirt with a stain from who-knows-what and an old pair of tennis shoes.
Right in the middle of this great home improvement project you realize you need to run to the Hardware Store to get something to help complete the job.
Depending on your age you might do the following:
In your 20′s:
Stop what you are doing. Shave, take a shower, blow dry your hair, brush your teeth, floss and put on clean clothes.
Check yourself in the mirror and flex.
Add a dab of your favorite cologne because you never know, you just might meet some hot chick while standing in the checkout lane. And you went to school with the pretty girl running the register.
In your 30′s:
Stop what you are doing, put on clean shorts and shirt. Change shoes.
You married the hot chick so no need for much else. Wash your hands and comb your hair.
Check yourself in the mirror. Still got it. Add a shot of your favorite cologne to cover the smell.
The cute girl running the register is the kid sister to someone you went to school with.
In your 40′s:
Stop what you are doing. Put on a sweatshirt that is long enough to cover the hole in the crotch of your shorts.
Put on different shoes and a hat. Wash your hands.
Your bottle of Brute Cologne is almost empty so you don’t want to waste any of it on a trip to the Hardware Store.
Check yourself in the mirror and do more sucking in than flexing.
The hot young thing running the register is your daughter’s age and you feel weird thinking she is spicy.
In your 50′s:
Stop what you are doing. Put on a hat; wipe the dirt off your hands onto your shirt.
Change shoes because you don’t want to get dog crap in your new sports car.
Check yourself in the mirror and you swear not to wear that shirt anymore because it makes you look fat.
The Cutie running the register smiles when she sees you coming and you think you still have it.
Then you remember the hat you have on is from Bubba’s Bait & Beer Bar and it says, ‘I Got Worms.’
In your 60′s:
Stop what you are doing. No need for a hat anymore.
Hose the dog crap off your shoes. The mirror was shattered when you were in your 50′s.
You hope you have underwear on so nothing hangs out the hole in your pants.
The girl running the register may be cute, but you don’t have your glasses on so you are not sure.
In your 70′s:
Stop what you are doing. Wait to go to the Hardware Store until the pharmacy has your prescriptions ready, too.
Don’t even notice the dog crap on your shoes.
The young thing at the register stares at you and you realize your balls are hanging out the hole in your crotch.
In your 80′s:
Stop what you are doing. Start again. Then stop again.
Now you remember you need to go to the Hardware Store.
Go to K Mart instead and wander around trying to think what it is you are looking for.
Fart out loud and you think someone called out your name.
You went to school with the old lady who greeted you at the front door.
In your 90′s & beyond:
What’s a home deep hoe? Something for my garden?
Where am I? Who am I? Why am I reading this?
Did I send it? Did you? Who farted?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:10 pm
Mick walks into Paddy’s barn and catches him dancing naked and playing with himself in front of a tractor.
Mick says, “B’ Jesus Paddy, what ya doing?” Paddy says, “Well me and Mary haven’t been getting on in the bedroom lately & the therapist recommended I do something sexy to attracter…..
Paddy & Mick find three hand grenades, so they take them to a police station.
Mick: “What if one explodes before we get there?”
Paddy: “We’ll lie and say we only found two.”
Joe says to Paddy: “Close your curtains the next time you’re having sex wij your wife. The whole street was watching and laughing at you yesterday.”
Paddy says, “Well the jokes on them, cos’ I wasn’t even at home yesterday!”
Paddy says to Mick – “I’m ready for a holiday, only this year I’m going to do it a bit different.
Three years ago I went to Spain and Mary got pregnant.
Two years ago I went to Italy and Mary got pregnant.
Last year I went to Majorca and Mary got pregnant.”
Mick asks – “So what are you going to do this year?”.
Paddy replies, – “I’ll take her with me!”
Paddy says to Mick, “Christmas is on a Friday this year”.
Mick says “Let’s hope it’s not the 13th.”
Paddy’s in the bathroom and Murphy shouts to him. “Did you find the shampoo?”
Vote:Paddy says, “yes, but it’s for dry hair and I’ve just wet mine.”
May 7th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Ok Kiwibloggers!
Please explain?
The difference between Taito Philip Field being charged, convicted and sentenced for BRIBERY and CORRUPTION for giving Thai nationals assistance with immigration matters in return for work on his properties, and John Banks giving a German/Finn national assistance with immigration and Coatsville mansion property purchase assistance in return for money donated for Auckland Mayoral campaign funds is……..??????
Oh yes – dodgy Minister of Regulatory Reform John Banks has the support of shonky Prime Minister John Key.
Silly me………….
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
INDEPENDENT candidate in upcoming Epsom by-election.
http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com
http://www.pennybright4epsom.org.nz
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:12 pm
‘An extraordinarily handsome man decided he had the responsibility to marry the perfect woman so they could produce beautiful children beyond compare.
With that as his mission he began searching for the perfect woman.
Shortly there after he met a farmer who had three stunning, gorgeous daughters that positively took his breath away.
So he explained his mission to the farmer, asking for permission to marry one of them.
The farmer simply replied, ‘They’re lookin’ to get married,so you came to the right place. Look ‘em over and pick the one you want.’
The man dated the first daughter.
The next day the farmer asked for the man’s opinion.
‘Well,’ said the man, ‘she’s just a weeeeee bit, not that you can hardly notice…pigeon-toed.’
The farmer nodded and suggested the man date one of the other girls; so the man went out with the second daughter.
The next day, the farmer again asked how things went.
‘Well,’the man replied, ‘she’s just a weeeeee bit, not that you can hardly tell…cross-eyed.’
The farmer nodded and suggested he date the third girl to see if things might be better. So he did.
The next morning the man rushed in exclaiming,’She’s perfect, just perfect. She’s the one I want to marry’
So they were wed right away .Months later the baby was born.
When the man visited the nursery he was horrified: the baby was the ugliest, most pathetic human you can imagine. He rushed to his father-in-law asking how such a thing could happen considering the beauty of the parents..
‘Well,’ explained the farmer, ‘She was just a weeeeee bit, not that you could hardly tell…
Vote:Pregnant when you met her.’
May 7th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Where’s my bloody barbed wire “woman?”?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Go away idiot. the boys are telling yarns.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Why is the space between a woman’s breasts and her hips called a waist?
Vote:Because you could easily fit another pair of tits in there..
May 7th, 2012 at 8:15 pm
For Penny what’s ya name of unhinged fame.
Why do women have smaller feet than men?
Vote:It’s one of those ‘evolutionary things’ that allows them to stand closer to the kitchen sink.
May 7th, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Please note Penny.
Why do men pass gas more than women?
Because women can’t shut up long enough to build up the required pressure.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:19 pm
A young, very attractive Swedish girl was massaging Jeff’s
shoulders, then his chest, and gradually worked her way down his
torso.
Jeff was getting sexually excited as the masseur approached the
towel. The towel began to lift and the Swedish girl arched her
eyebrows.
“You wanna wank?” she asked.
“You bet,” came the excited reply.
“O.K.,” she said, “I come back in ten minutes.”
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:26 pm
pooh brown with utu
returns from great voyage of discovery
and learns
coconuts float all over the pacific
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Not in Tuvalu Griff, if you would believe the warmist’s!
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
Griff
I reckon we should cut our Pasifican friend a bit of slack over the next week or so. He’s just back from paddling his tattooed arse around the islands & he’s probably still shattered. Give him a few days to see WINZ & reattach himself to the taxpayers’ teat before we reintroduce him to Western civilisation.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:37 pm
don’t talk to soon
they will arrive here when their little piece of island float no more
New Zealand capital of Polynesia
Why does penny tarnish have vacuum in head?
Vote:to stop guts falling out of crack between legs
May 7th, 2012 at 8:45 pm
“New Zealand capital of Polynesia”
Jaffaland capital of Polynesia. Suggest Cook Strait2, cut by nuclear explosives (wait for week of southerly winds) in vicinity of say Hamilton. Collateral damage will be Waikato Uni. Never mind!
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:46 pm
And before anyone corrects me like they did last night Jaffa means “Just Another Festering Fucking Aucklander”
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:53 pm
or “just another “fruity fucking” aucklander”
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 8:53 pm
So you say Johnboy.
Vote:Len Brown will never build his Trainset on the Shore while Auckland subsidises the rest of NZ, that is a good thing
May 7th, 2012 at 8:57 pm
True Steve. It will have to be horse drawn without southern electric power. Steam would be an option if there was any coal up north. Hot air might work so we will give you Jaffa’s a going away present. The Beehive and all it contains!
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:00 pm
lol,
Remind me again who the commander-in-chief is?
Obama focused the military efforts on capturing or killing Osama, something your hero, G W Bush, failed to do.
Nice try, but facts are facts.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:06 pm
No no no, stick the Beehive where the global warming sun don’t shine.
Vote:Just make Auckland the Capital City and put Wellington on the dole – let’s face it, the civil servants do nothing all day – eg milkymilo
May 7th, 2012 at 9:07 pm
It always amazes me the chorus of snide remarks from those who live south of the bombays
Vote:it must be the inbreeding experienced in small communities like wellywood chch and duny
that fully explains JB fascination with sheep
even a ewe would look better than some genetic anomaly caused by interbreeding relations
May 7th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
Oh Penny, please explain?
How can you keep a straight face when you call yourself an ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’ and point out others’ real or imagined crimes, when you have STOLEN water, showed others how to STEAL water and actively encouraged them to STEAL water?
Oh yes – dodgy Penny doesn’t think it’s a crime when someone as nice as she is does it.
Silly me………….
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Griff
You think that interbreeding is bad in the cities…..the eastern Wairarapa has about 150Km of coastline which was settled (from the sea) way back in the 1850′s.
Until about twenty years ago all the station owners shared about half a dozen surnames. Some reckon the kids had webbing between their toes like ducks & their eyes looked at each other.
I understand that new blood has been introduced.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
facts are facts
Yes they certainly are and anyone who doesn’t understand the fact the ‘war on terror’ is precisely similar to the ‘war on drugs’ in that they’re both made-up bullshit would have to be quite deluded wouldn’t one.
I mean, the US has been ruled by despots since Reagan was shot. Bush 41 took over then and he and only he, was behind Iran-Contra. Then it was Clinton. Then Bush 43. Now Obama. Who conveniently continues precisely the same policies which have been diving America into the ground, since that time. Why is that? A thinking man would ask, but not apparently, you, eszett.
Let’s see – few sentences, big picture, lots of detail omitted: Bush 41 sets up the ME oil supply. Clinton starts the offshoring of the manufacturing base. Bush 43 continues it then bumbles through 911 and thank fuck the economy does well what with all the deregulation then Obama gets in with more Wall Streeters than any pres in history and lo, a big massive bailout.
Nah, that’s just politics isn’t it. Of course it is, of course the entire US senate and congress stood by for three full decades while the executive raped America, decimated the constitution, and they didn’t even notice.
For that’s what’s happened. So since that’s what HAS happened, what’s your explanation, eszett?
Especially for what Clinton and Obama has done. Since they’re apparently, your heroes.
BTW, I ask the same of conservative supporters re: the two Bushes.
But would be good to know your respective explanations. Since this IS what HAS happened, isn’t it. Yes, it is. We can all see it. So what’s the answer?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:28 pm
And for some more good news.
How come people aren’t paying attention here. I thought NZ was supposed to be weally weally concerned about things nukular.
Perhaps that’s just lefty political bullshit. It wouldn’t surprise me quite frankly.
NothingHardly anything those people do, surprises me anymore.http://www.alternet.org/health/155283/the_worst_yet_to_come_why_nuclear_experts_are_calling_fukushima_a_ticking_time-bomb?page=entire
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:40 pm
It takes your food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.
One human hair can support 6.6 pounds.
The average man’s penis is two times the length of his thumb.
Human thighbones are stronger than concrete.
A woman’s heart beats faster than a man’s.
There are about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.
Women blink twice as often as men.
The average person’s skin weighs twice as much as the brain.
Your body uses 300 muscles to balance itself when you are standing still.
If saliva cannot dissolve something, you cannot taste it.
Women
will be finished reading this by now.
Men
are still busy checking their thumbs.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:46 pm
There are about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.
How many of those are conservative, V2?
That would be interesting to know.
As well as which ones are malevolent and fatal and prepared to die for the cause. That’s the really important bit.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 9:51 pm
LJ
The nuclear link was interesting. As usual the best advice to those seeking truth is to follow the money. The corrupt corporates will easily buy off the gutless Obama administration reckoning it to be a bargain compared with the cost of ensuring safety at these old reactor sites.
Regardless, the stance of the Japanese authorities beggars the imagination. You would tend to think that the potential loss of an entire nation would be enough to galvanise them into some sort of action. Usually enough money can solve any problem & Japan is hardly a nation of paupers.
For the sake of buying the lifting apparatus to move the spent fuel to safe containment, along with some competent advice they would risk their homeland.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:00 pm
My thumb is six inches long!
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Poor sheep!
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:06 pm
That’s measured from my elbow of course.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Johnboy
You’ve heard about the guy who walks into an upmarket Christchurch restaurant?
Vote:The waiter comes up to him and politely asks:
“Hello Sir. What would you like?”
“Can I please have the spit-roasted lamb?”
“Very good sir. Now how would you like the lamb to be cooked?”
May 7th, 2012 at 10:12 pm
Bet he asked for it rare but cooked on one of those grill thingimajigs that put black stripes on the meat.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:14 pm
That’s your bum johnboy, not your thumb!
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
In some ways I regret not understanding the subtleties behind your jokes Johnboy and nasska and in other possibly curious ways, I don’t.
The world is an oyster of such amazing wonderment it’s just unbelievable sometimes, to me.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Go cook David some eggs Wahine!
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Our sense of humour is somewhat like an oyster wrapped in an egg shell, inside a riddle, wrapped in a mystery contained in an enigma. LJ.
A bit like your faith really!
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:30 pm
Then again its so cool to have imput from such an intrepid voyager such as the brown arsed,
now dyed blue arsed pollywog. Sailing the Pacific , trying to prove sum sing.
You remenber the arrogant fellow that suggested everyone should kiss his tatooed arse just a few weeks ago.
Back from his much heralded voyage of discovery with his crew of fellow retards.
And what great truths has this moron brought back (if indeed he actually did go anywhere)
Well check out his report from the pacifica.
First report filed today @ 1.49
Well done pollywog, must have been a great voyage.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:31 pm
Kitchens closed for the night, JB! *insert smirk emote*
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:34 pm
Have you’ve chopped enough firewood to keep your man warm through the night?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:38 pm
no..john-yob…yr sense of humour is infantile/sophmorish..low-rent pommy nudge-nudge/wink-wink pier-humour..
..most probably another manifestation of that constant alcohol use all of yr life..stunting any maturity/growing-up..
..yr sense of humour couldn’t be further from an enigma..
phillip ure@whoar.co.nz
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:43 pm
Who pulled the monkeys chain ?
Surely he should have drifted off into his drug addled nirvana by now.
Please don’t wake him again.
Vote:He has to be up early as usual, down to the library, surfing the web.
Posting crap he noticed.
Working hard.
Being a role model for his “nipper.”
May 7th, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Without referring to Google, which city in the world do you think has the highest crime rate on a per capita basis?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 10:57 pm
J’burg? Bogata? Palmerston North?
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Vatican City apparently kk.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:18 pm
Interesting. I’d imagine they’d have the highest tourist:capita rate as well. Or perhaps it’s a data manipulation ploy to drive confessional business
Vote:May 8th, 2012 at 5:04 am
Have a good laugh: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4301441/Police-chiefs-ban-the-word-blacklist-over-fears-that-it-is-racist.html
Vote:May 8th, 2012 at 7:21 am
Love some of the comments, suggesting other words that need to be banned:
- black ice
- Blackpool
- The White Cliffs of Dover
- Blackberry
- Whitewash
- Colour TV
- Black & White photography
- Will they take their concerns to Whitehall?
- In America you could appeal all the way to The White House
- Hope nobody has the surname “Black” or “White”
And someone even suggested renaming “Beefeaters” to “Carrotconsumers” so we don’t offend the Vegans …
Vote:May 8th, 2012 at 7:22 am
Further to this – I have a friend who is Jamaican, and grew up in England. At one point he was in the Police Force there. Funny thing is, his surname is “White” … His nickname, of course, was Chalky
Vote: