General Debate 23 December 2019

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Paulus Gnome

Merry Christmas my friend(s) – the Royal Guardsmen. 1967

Moderate the forever out of that twatman!
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December 23, 2019 8:03am
Sacha

ME!!!!
I’m first up!
(Mods please note)

Have a Good Day, One and All
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December 23, 2019 8:04am
- mikenmildagain
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  Pwned.
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:14am
- Sacha
  
  I wuz cheated!
  
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  December 23, 2019 4:28pm
mikenmildagain

Happy Festivus!
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December 23, 2019 8:08am
- yossarian
  
  For those needing a recap of the rules,
  
  1. Get a Festivus pole. Search your home for an aluminum pole.
  2. Prepare a Festivus dinner. Meatloaf is key .
  3. Air your grievances.
  4. Join in the Feats of Strength.
  5. Call all slightly non-routine events ‘Festivus miracles’
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:53am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    May your aluminium pole have a very high strength-to-weight ratio.
    
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    December 23, 2019 8:57am
- Odakyu-sen
  
  This is for you, mikenmildagain.
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZeJDyO76Yc
  
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  December 23, 2019 9:08am
hullkiwi

Happy last 2 days of the working year, to all those of us who have to earn our living working.

Unlike the PTPM, who needs a break for doing nothing/overseas travel/pre school and primary school visits/ needing to use frowny faces once too often/Women’s Weekly fashion shoots/ lying/hugs and other tragic events/her year of non-delivery/encouraging child poverty to get worse etc….

Geez, it is tough being a PTPM who doesn’t deliver!
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December 23, 2019 8:09am
- Ed Snack
  
  What about those of us who actually work the last “work day” of the year on 31 December, eh ?
  
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  December 23, 2019 10:18am
krazykiwi

As a rationalist and Christian, I find it highly probably that religious and cultural groups have latched on to, and made their own, many truths that owe their existence to some evolutionary or cosmic best practice that was, or still remains outside our human consciousness.

So while it’s simple to dismiss the topic of this post as rantings of religious nuts (nasska I’m here for ya buddy!), I posit that that is at best lazy, and at worst intellectually dishonest. The Oxford researcher spent his lifetime on this scientific work, and I recommend the third party’s summary essay as worthy of some mental bandwidth.

Why Sexual Morality May be Far More Important than You Ever Thought
A few days ago I finished studying Sex and Culture (1934) for the second time. It is a remarkable book summarizing a lifetime of research by Oxford social anthropologist J.D. Unwin.[1] The 600+ page book is, in Unwin’s words, only a “summary” of his research—seven volumes would be required to lay it all out.[2] His writings suggest he was a rationalist, believing that science is our ultimate tool of inquiry (it appears he was not a religious man).
:::
Unwin examines the data from 86 societies and civilizations to see if there is a relationship between sexual freedom and the flourishing of cultures.
:::
Unwin described four “great patterns of human culture” and degrees of flourishing measured in terms of architecture, art, engineering, literature, agriculture, and so forth. The primary criterion for classification was how they related to the natural world and the forces it contains.[3]
–zoistic: Entirely self-focussed on day-to day-life, wants, and needs, with no interest in understanding nature. Described as a “dead culture” or “inert”.
–monistic: Acquire superstitious beliefs and/or special treatment of the dead to cope with the natural world.
–deistic: Attribute the powers of nature to a god or gods
–rationalistic: Use rational thinking to understand nature and to make day-to-day decisions.

The assertion is that flourishing cultures progress through these patterns of cultural enlightenment, while damaged cultures make the reverse journey. Unwin then goes on to describe different degrees of sexual restraint, and reviews how the 86 societies and civilizations fared over time in light of their societal restraint model.
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December 23, 2019 8:10am
- mikenmildagain
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  Reminds me somewhat of Toynbee’s laborious, but fatally flawed, study of the history of civilisations.
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:30am
  - MrTips
    
    And the Dunning Kruger Award for 2019 goes to….
    
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    December 23, 2019 10:21am
- MrTips
  
  Nice post krazy. Unwin was a pretty clever guy. You missed out his main thesis: societies that relax their sexual mores (ie. do not demand abstinence outside of marriage, do not insist on the permanence of marriage and allow any form of relations) decay within 3 generations (a generation being ~30 yrs) to the point of minimum function and are destroyed or taken over. We have one more generation to find out if he was right, but with his study of n=86 you’d be wise to take heed.
  
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  December 23, 2019 10:17am
- Fletch
  
  Very interesting. Thanks. Reminds me of another study by Dr. Carle Zimmerman from Harvard who wrote a book in 1947 in which he researched the different roles that marriage played in different historical periods. He wanted to find out if there was a correlation between the health of a nation and the health of the family. His book is called “Family and Civilization”.
  
  He found that there are three basic patterns to families. One pattern is always dominant in a developing nation, the second pattern always dominates in a thriving nation, and the third pattern always dominates in a nation in decline.
  
  He found a direct correlation between the health of the family and the health of a nation. He said that you can predict exactly where a nation is in its life cycle just by studying the family.
  
  According to this research, eight specific patterns of domestic behaviour have signalled the downward spiral and imminent demise of every culture:
  
  * Marriage lost its sacredness; it was frequently broken by divorce.
  
  * Traditional meaning of the marriage ceremony was lost. Alternate forms and definitions of marriage arose, and traditional marriage vows were replaced by individual marriage contracts.
  
  * Feminist movements appeared, and women lost interest in child bearing and mothering, preferring to pursue power and influence.
  
  * Public disrespect for parents and authority in general increased.
  
  * Juvenile delinquency, promiscuity, and rebellion accelerated
  
  * People with traditional marriages refused to accept family responsibilities.
  
  * Desire for and acceptance of adultery grew.
  
  * Increased tolerance for sexual perversions of all kinds, particularly homosexuality, with a resultant increase in sex-related crimes.
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Family-Civilization-Prof-Carle-Zimmerman/dp/1933859377
  
  Does it sound like any civilization we know?
  
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  December 23, 2019 10:25am
Mobile Michael

I caught up and watched Simon Bridges giving his adjournment debate yesterday. His sledge of Jacinda Ardern was both subtle and damning.
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December 23, 2019 8:11am
- G152
  
  Subtle doesn’t work on Her Thickness.
  It may amuse those of us who know and nurture language with its many nuances but poverdy gives some indication of what cleverness with words are being wasted on
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:32am
  - MrLovebucket
    
    You are right. Someone would have had to sit her down and explain it to her. Probably several times, and using pictures.
    
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    December 23, 2019 9:04am
  - Bill felt
    
    Next time one of you have the unfortunate opportunity to talk to our precious princess can you explain to her that when she talks she should say “it has been” rather than “its bin”.
    
    Maybe she could focus on speaking the english language properly rather than trying to learn Maori!
    
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    December 23, 2019 10:02am
- alloytoo
  
  What was it?
  
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  December 23, 2019 10:45am
Maggie Pie

My partners mum just tweets:

“ive got 10 bucks that sez phil the greek pegs it before new year”
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December 23, 2019 8:14am
- mikenmildagain
  
  Nice. Anyone else she hopes will die soon for her entertainment?
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:31am
  - Nukuleka
    
    For once I agree with you mikey. Very poor taste on Maggie’s part.
    
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    December 23, 2019 9:57am
    - Biscuit
      
      I presume neither Mike nor Nuku have ever entered once of those Kick The Bucket competitions where you have to nominate a dozen or so famous folk who will shuffle off this mortal coil sometime in the next year?
      
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      December 23, 2019 12:38pm
  - Tall Man
    
    FFS, lighten up.
    
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    December 23, 2019 10:16am
  - JibberJabber
    
    Oohhhhh, how many virtue points for that post Mikey?
    
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    December 23, 2019 12:47pm
    - Tall Man
      
      +1 for that.
      
      I often wonder how many people spout shit because they think it makes them look cool/woke/caring or some other shit but really, it makes them look like pricks.
      
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      December 23, 2019 8:29pm
Sydney Alvarado

Yesterday’s tragic accident near Levin between a car and a truck demonstrates the urgency of completing the Kapiti Expressway to beyond Levin and eventually to Bulls. The driver of the car apparantly suffered a medical event and crossed the centre line.

It is now clear that without Steven Joyce, TG and the Kapiti Expressway would never have happened. And if they had not been well advanced they would have been cancelled after the last election. I hope that there is sufficient good manners to invite Steven Joyce to the opening ceremony got Transmission Gully next year.
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December 23, 2019 8:15am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  There’s as much chance of that happening as there is of JAG being there to celebrate it.
  Oh, and what’s happened to marquess?
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:35am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Overseas on holiday
    
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    December 23, 2019 8:48am
  - projectman
    
    As TG is unlikely to be finished before the end of 2020 let’s hope for the invitation from a National government.
    
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    December 23, 2019 9:42am
    - Tony Stuart
      
      Absolutely. There is no way Transmission Gully is going to be completed in time for an opening before the next election. So the credit will go where it should; to National, and also to Peter Dunne, who fought for Transmission Gully for many years.
      
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      December 23, 2019 12:34pm
      - mikenmildagain
        
        Scheduled to open in 2020 – keep your fingers crossed it will be delayed.
        
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        December 23, 2019 1:02pm
      - Tony Stuart
        
        It’s already been delayed from April 2020 to May 2020, but a couple of months ago there were hints of a further, and significant, delay
        
        https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1909/S00018/850m-transmission-gully-completion-delays-likely.htm
        
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        December 23, 2019 1:14pm
      - suzieq
        
        And the Evening Post editorial executives, who pushed TG as a high-profile campaign after their first campaign — for a new regional hospital — was successful.
        
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        December 23, 2019 7:49pm
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Marquess? Ardern R.
    
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    December 23, 2019 9:55am
    - Tall Man
      
      R for sole?
      
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      December 23, 2019 8:30pm
- Apteryx
  
  As I understand it, this accident was on the Otaki to Levin section of SH1, where the expressway has been cancelled by the current government.
  
  It’s a frightening piece of road to drive on, and people will continue to die until a future government builds the expressway.
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:46am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    There is nothing particularly unusual about SH1 between Otaki and Levin.
    
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    December 23, 2019 8:58am
    - Wangas Feral
      
      Yeah, what can go wrong with a bridge on a S bend with zero visibility of what is coming until you crest the rise?
      
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      December 23, 2019 11:36am
    - Tony Stuart
      
      There is actually. There are two bridges crossing the railway line that see more than their fair share of accidents. I’ve had several near-misses on them over the years, with oncoming cars crossing the centre line.
      
      From the photos yesterday of the truck jack-knifed down the bank, I’d say the crash in question occurred at one of them.
      
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      December 23, 2019 12:39pm
      - Tall Man
        
        The bridge over the Ohau River and the driver of the truck must have been a fucking legend because he saved a lot of lives.
        
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        December 23, 2019 8:31pm
  - Tall Man
    
    I drive it from time to time, doesn’t frighten me but the a few of the drivers do.
    
    Looks like this accident was due to a driver suffering a medical event. There are some barriers around there but not at that point I think and a wire barrier won’t stop a full speed vehicle from crossing it.
    
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    December 23, 2019 10:21am
godruelf

Nice fluffy article on Stuff Jo Seagar Wonder if her Creditors are invited to Chrissy Dinner.
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December 23, 2019 8:17am
- John Warren
  
  Not much generosity towards them from the ghastly hypocrite. I have clients in Oxford, and in that little town her name is not exactly top of the pops.
  
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  December 23, 2019 9:59am
Northshore

So Greta Thunberg has criticized the Australian Prime Minister. “The 16-year-old Swedish environmentalist called out politicians ‘failing to make the connection’ between rising temperatures and extreme weather events.”
Someone should tell her that bush fires have been part of the Australian landscape for centuries. She also needs to be told that Scott Morrison took an early holiday overseas because he will be spending most of January travelling to international meetings trying to resolve some of the problems about which she is loudly harping. Political leaders regularly take their holidays outside their countries because that is the only way they can be left alone. To his credit, Morrison returned to Australia when the fire problems worsened.
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December 23, 2019 8:17am
- JibberJabber
  
  I`d suggest “Greta” wouldn`t know what or where Australia is, it is only the Soros funded Twitter account using her name.
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:25am
- mikenmildagain
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  So we should expect resolution of some significant international problems as a result of these efforts by Scotty from Marketing?
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:34am
- krazykiwi
  
  Totally. And someone should tell her we know she’s a puppet of a feted cabal of activists and eco-terrorists.
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:41am
- alloytoo
  
  Someone should also advise her that her “Extreme Weather events” haven’t actually materialized.
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:42am
- chaos
  
  I wonder if she realises a couple of kids started some of the fires, a fireman other fires.
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:50am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    There have been 70 arson arrests in Queensland, and over 100 in NSW in recent weeks. Arson is a significant contributor to the bushfire crisis, as is the imposition of a ban on back-burning.
    
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    December 23, 2019 12:44pm
    - chaos
      
      Yeah, as with the fires in California, these not of happened this bad if the stupid greenies had of allowed proper management
      
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      December 23, 2019 1:53pm
  - JackRabbit
    
    And no doubt those children were as arrogant and as foolish as her.
    
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    December 23, 2019 4:15pm
- Andrei
  
  Eucalyptus trees have evolved through natural selection to be highly flammable and to even spontaneously combust.
  
  The fires that result rejuventate the stands of eucalyptus, the seeds of which are fire resistant and face no competitors in the burnt out landscapes in which they germinate. Aint nature amazing but it doesn’t always work in our favour
  
  It is quite conceivable that preventing these natural fires only makes the fires that do eventually occur as they must more widespread and devastating.
  
  It might be a better move to ensure large firebreaks between human habitations and eucalyptus and just let the trees burn when the fires start
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:51am
  - Michael
    
    Yep Large firebreaks and clean up the small spill on the ground regularly…..
    
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    December 23, 2019 9:03am
    - Nickc2
      
      Put the Abroginies in charge of bush fire prevention and control. There, problem solved. We’v seen what happens when political appointees assume the role.
      
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      December 23, 2019 11:34am
  - Komata
    
    Andrei@0851
    
    Re: ‘It might be a better move to ensure large firebreaks between human habitations and eucalyptus and just let the trees burn when the fires start’
    
    No, no, no, because all the young plants (undergrowth) which would be hurt when they are removed are children of gaia and so you MUSTN’T do that…
    
    Noticeably the gweens who put all such ‘anti-clearing’ rules in place are conspicuous in their self-satisfied absence.
    
    Interestingly BTW, in the areas where the ‘big’ fires are occurring, local mayors etc have been very quick to blame ‘global warming’ as the reason for the fires, rather than admit that their own local-body legislation about not clearing the underbrush has contributed significantly towards the problem.
    
    ‘Buck-passing’ takes many forms…
    
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    December 23, 2019 9:51am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    The fire embers in the high atmosphere can travel several km. The may have to have forestry only regions with massive pastoral breaks with minimal humans to alleviate those difficult conditions.
    The mountains around Sydney look cool but that blue is turpentines.
    
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    December 23, 2019 10:00am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Yep..
      It’s called “spotting”.
      
      Eucalypt bark litter is very aerodynamic and once a fire takes hold and convection currents develop, burning litter can be lifted high and carried kilometres downwind of the fire front.
      
      As the Wind increases, spotting distance increases and there are many cases where it has occurred up to 5 miles and even 10 miles ahead of the fire. In 1964, a convection column over a large fire fractured at 7,000 feet and spread many
      spot fires as far as 18 miles downwind.
      https://talltimbers.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/97-Hodgson1967_op.pdf
      
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      December 23, 2019 11:55am
      - Andrei
        
        That is part of the evolutionary deal Maggy – the bark have evolved to spread the fire to benefit the Eucalypts at the expense of other vegetation.
        
        But spot fires are generally more manageable and even preventable in down wind habitated areas than trying to deal hundreds or thousands of acres of highly flammable Eucalypts in hard to access terrain .
        
        Nature is not always benign and it is foolish to think otherwise as those who might be tempted to pat a tiger would discover should they try.
        
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        December 23, 2019 12:51pm
  - Scott
    
    Andrei – I too wonder if there is a difference in the way we manage forests and bush now? So in Australia do they have enough fire breaks, are they taking away dead trees, are they thinning out the forests? I understand that in California the environmentalists have stopped the traditional culling of the forests and that is why the fires are so much worse.
    
    I hope Scott Morrison looks at forest management to see if there is any way to stop or at least minimise these terrible bushfires? Blaming these things on global warming, as the politicians in California do, is just not going to cut it I’m afraid.
    
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    December 23, 2019 10:43am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      There have been a number of enquiries into deadly bush fires in Australia over the last 80 years.
      Each one has recommended fuel management in the forests.
      https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/Publications_Archive/CIB/cib0203/03Cib08
      
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      December 23, 2019 12:05pm
    - KevO'Brien
      
      My son lives between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. There are trees everywhere sometimes decorative pockets others covering whole paddocks. This is all around both township, suburb and access roads.
      
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      December 23, 2019 1:22pm
  - Tony Stuart
    
    When we visited the Blue Mountains a few years ago, we were taken on an ecotour by a bloke who was both a botantist and a volunteer firey. He explained to us that fire is a part of the life cycle of the Eucalyptus tree in particular, and showed us new shoots emerging on trees that had been burned in a fire just weeks earlier.
    
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    December 23, 2019 12:46pm
    - Brian McDonald
      
      https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2019-11-27/indigenous-knowledge-combines-with-western-science/11738400?fbclid=IwAR3QE2wBOkn46Eveg2NsFNzRTTn3OrQbxgt3EnV1nhLfKMWRHFGtiueZvhI
      
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      December 23, 2019 2:25pm
- Rich Prick
  
  Breaking news: Greta is angry again.
  
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  December 23, 2019 10:02am
  - Tall Man
    
    “How Dare You!”
    
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    December 23, 2019 10:18am
  - Lance
    
    Has our Andy been giving her lessons?
    
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    December 23, 2019 10:26am
- Ed Snack
  
  Centuries, Australia has suffered “forest fires” for multiple millions of years. Significant parts of the vegetation has evolved to survive and even thrive under those conditions.
  
  Worth noting that in the early years of European settlement, Australia was gripped by a drought way beyond any since. Climate has patterns and “cycles” at timescales beyond human experience, and has always been variable.
  
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  December 23, 2019 10:22am
- oldpark
  
  @Northshore 8.17am
  Also lest we forget . Over 400 Australians died in Bushfires in 1896. “How dare you” you grubby wee knowall pest, to make up fake Global Warming lies ms/Thunberg.We have a long way to go in 2019 to match or beat that.
  
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  December 23, 2019 10:32am
- NewInoffensiveName
  
  The catastrophic bush fires, like the huge forest fires in the USA, are the result of longstanding policies of fire suppression in environments that are dependent on fire for. their very lifecycle. The result is a buildup of fuel that finally explodes in uncontrollable infernos that destroy the structures that were foolishly built in these fire hazard zones absent adequate firebreaks or other management methods. “We will build again” is the mantra of those disposessed by these conflagrations and the cycle begins anew. You cannot blame the durable stupidity required to maintain these cycles on climate change.
  
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  December 23, 2019 11:00am
- In Vino Veritas
  
  My 16 yr old daughter also has views on climate change. Not surprisingly, she is a whole lot more skeptical than Ms Thunberg. I say not surprisingly, because her current views have some resemblance to mine.
  The only differences between Ms Thunberg and my daughter is that Thunberg doesn’t seem to spend much time at school, gets fed her information from whack job activists with an agenda and seems to have media that fawn over her.
  
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  December 23, 2019 11:17am
  - Doctor Who
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    “The only differences between Ms Thunberg and my daughter … ”
    
    Yeah, let’s know when your daughter is on the front cover of Time magazine as Person of the Year, and speaks to adults at the UN.
    
    Or even speaks with adults at home…
    
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    December 23, 2019 11:54am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Perhaps Dennis you’d like to explain why we should encourage our children to give up 20% of their class time to indulge in a practice that Greta Thunberg admits has been ineffective.
      
      https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/06/greta-thunberg-says-school-strikes-have-achieved-nothing
      
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      December 23, 2019 12:43pm
    - Biscuit
      
      Doctor Who, since when does Greta ‘speak with adults’?
      
      The word you should be using is ‘rant’.
      
      Okay, so she is noticed, but it seems that her ranting has only turned off the adults she rants at…
      
      And it is all selective ranting, too … with none of it delivered towards the biggest polluters on the planet…
      
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      December 23, 2019 12:49pm
    - In Vino Veritas
      
      Unfortunately Doctor, you have completely missed the entire point of what I was saying. Perhaps you should think about what you read before you hit the keyboard.
      
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      December 23, 2019 1:25pm
    - In Vino Veritas
      
      To help you, my point was that my daughter has just as ill formed views as Ms Thunberg (it’s an age thing Doctor), but she doesn’t get to get on the front of Time, doesn’t get to speak in front of the UN. Yet her views are equally as valid as those of Ms Thunberg.
      
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      December 23, 2019 1:28pm
    - Jack5
      
      Time Magazine is a shadow of what it was decades ago, and it’s circulation has dived.
      
      It’s made some interesting choices as its “person of the year”.
      
      Adolf Hitler 1938, Josef Stalin 1939, Nikita Khrushchev 1957, Ayatollah Khomeini 1979, Yuri Andropov 1983, Vladimir Putin 2007.
      
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      December 23, 2019 9:57pm
Colville

The Jeroboam of French leg opener seemed like a really good idea at the time… this morning I am not so sure!
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December 23, 2019 8:21am
- RightNow
  
  Why, are your legs now open over Christmas?
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:59am
- Tall Man
  
  Hair of the dog, unless you have work to do. 🙂
  
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  December 23, 2019 10:18am
- Maggie Pie
  
  Works for me 😛
  
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  December 23, 2019 11:29am
JibberJabber

Looks like the Strandard and the Daily Blog are down, looking at all downticks every comment is getting …LoL.
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December 23, 2019 8:22am
Notsofast

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
It is truly incredible, as in unbelievable, that the 5 judges of the supreme court do not understand the law relating to applying the proviso in the Lundy case. They do understand it, but rely on the New Zealand public not caring that they have got it wrong.
The proviso is to be applied when the inadmissible evidence is more or less outweighed by the balance of the admissible evidence.
In this case the only way to declare the admissible evidence unworthy was to declare it “not cogent”.
The court of appeal also found it necessary to not adduce the critical science discovered in petrol consumption in the Robertson report, which finally proved that the car was 30 liters short of petrol to do 3 trips, there, back, and there, but had exactly the right amount of petrol to do one trip at break neck speed, an average of 104 km/ hr including built up areas and 5 sets of traffic lights.
This case is more live now than previously because the obedient wait for due process to run its course is over.
And the evidence that had to be cast aside as not cogent was
1. Unknown male dna beneath the fingernails of both victims.
2. Un attributable cloth fibers, probably denim beneath these fingernails.
3. Unidentified fingerprints around the break in area at the ranch slider.
4. 21 hairs that could not be identified in Christine Lundy’s hands. These were returned to DIC Grantham at his request in August 2001 after Lundy was in jail, never tested by Auckland ESR, and allegedly have disappeared despite destruction of evidence being expressly refused by Lundy and his defence.

The supreme court have unanimously declared Mark Lundy guilty beyond doubt, but the above shows he is innocent beyond any doubt. It is a sad Christmas when the Court from the chief justice down has deliberately extended a miscarriage of justice.
Motive unknown.

I would welcome a discussion of evidence on general debate, it does matter. The IHC is a crock of scientific nonsense, an enduring hoax.
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December 23, 2019 8:29am
- mikenmildagain
  
  We find that the central nervous system tissue on the shirt came from Mrs Lundy’s brain and its presence there is not explained by contamination in police or ProPath custody. The evidence establishes these facts beyond reasonable doubt. It offers no alternative explanation consistent with innocence.
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:51am
  - Simon
    
    But but but someone didn’t pay a 20th of month invoice that explains everything. Can’t you see!!
    
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    December 23, 2019 9:05am
  - Notsofast
    
    There is no point repeating this if the shirt was in Petone. As I said the other day, despite brain being a rich source of dna, it is conceded by the crown the “brain” in the paraffin blocks was devoid of dna.
    The dna the supreme court decided showed it was her brain came from a household event some time before she was killed. That is the science, that is the logic. The supreme court turned a blind eye to this inconvenient truth in order to pacify people like those on this forum, ie New Zealanders in general.
    Jacinda Ardern launched Steve Braunias book, in which he said I believe Mark Lundy did not do it. He researched the case exhaustively as I and a few others have done. Why do people who research the files extensively all declare him innocent? There is an extensive dossier that changes the minds of all who collide with it, but the supreme court have not seen it. It is extremely hard to get hard evidence in front of those who have an agenda, and there is no agenda more potent than preserving the sanctity of a crap system.
    
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    December 23, 2019 9:07am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      The PM’s opinion is irrelevant to the Supreme Court.
      (May it stay that way.)
      
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      December 23, 2019 1:33pm
  - Simon
    
    If NZ had the death penalty Lumpy would not have taken the chance to murder his family.
    
    Fat piece of shit butchered a little girl with a fucking axe. He should be executed.
    
    17 2
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    December 23, 2019 9:10am
  - Ed Snack
    
    They completely refused to actually deal with the contention that it wasn’t CNS tissue as such tissue could not be reliably identified after storage for many weeks at room temperature.
    
    Lesson 1 on how to handle inconvenient evidence, ignore it and pretend it doesn’t exist.
    
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    December 23, 2019 10:25am
    - Brian McDonald
      
      Ed, 65 pages on the unreliability of IHC in a clinical setting were not considered let alone it’s performance in a forensic setting with a highly questionable forensic safety chain, only for the Court then rely on it uphold the conviction. Included in the 65 pages were post trial investigations showing probable law breaking by the main practitioner and how he went about performing parallel tests to back up his work for the 1st trial.
      
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      December 23, 2019 11:14am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  Oh FFS Notso, give it up, you’re just making an arse of yourself.
  
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  December 23, 2019 9:05am
  - Notsofast
    
    Yes apparently, and putting hard evidence on this message board for you to discuss. I am trying to get you ahead of history Captain, it can’t be a bad thing.
    
    1 28
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    December 23, 2019 9:10am
  - Paulus Gnome
    
    I almost wish for someone to start something on Bain rather than the tedious repetition of the Notso pov . . .
    
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    December 23, 2019 12:10pm
  - Tall Man
    
    He’s got a buddy now so get used to the repeat of the whole bloody boring saga.
    
    4 1
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    December 23, 2019 3:42pm
- Biscuit
  
  Notso, please note that no-one is ever ‘innocent beyond any doubt’.
  
  Of anything.
  
  The best any of us can hope for is to be found ‘Not Guilty’.
  
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  December 23, 2019 9:32am
- Batman
  
  He’s guilty.
  
  Merry Christmas!
  
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  December 23, 2019 9:32am
  - Tall Man
    
    I don’t get the downticks but hey, It’s Christmas.
    
    6 2
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    December 23, 2019 10:11am
- KevO'Brien
  
  Inadmissible is just that–cannot be used as evidence.
  The rules are ancient and well tested. I’m sure our SC knows the law better than us here.
  
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  December 23, 2019 10:06am
  - Notsofast
    
    Willie Young has researched and written extensively on the proviso.
    As lead judge he ignored the substance behind the law, so the question to me is why?
    It is egregiously wrong to do so, what is his motive?
    I can only see a calculation he would get away with it in an unpopular cause, but he forgets the long arm of history.
    This error will be corrected. He is a good old Christs College old boy, go figure how much he cares for the common citizenry and justice.
    
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    December 23, 2019 11:42am
    - Tony Stuart
      
      When all else fails, you can count on Notsofast to resort to innuendo and character assassination. Sorry bud, but I’ll take evidence over an ad hominem any day ending in d-a-y.
      
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      December 23, 2019 1:39pm
      - Notsofast
        
        Ha
        I spent time at the same school so can look in the mirror to see what tragically flawed specimens can emerge.
        It is not ad hominem to identify when a travesty of justice has been perpetrated. I attended all the supreme court hearings after reading all submissions by all parties prior. I know what was ignored to effect a desired result.
        I will never resile from my claims regardless of the character I attack.
        Willie Young is paid to pass judgement on his fellow man, I am doing it for free.
        
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        December 23, 2019 3:37pm
  - Brian McDonald
    
    NSF thinks evidence that wasn’t considered is inadmissible. So to clarify that evidence challenging why IHC should not have been used to exercise the proviso was not considered. It was a very powerful indictment against IHC being used even in a clinical setting let alone in a forensic setting and also provided reasons why IHC would never in its current form being authorised as a forensic science. In fact there is pressure over its reliability in a clinical setting where it is used to determine cancer – not unknown biological material in a degraded state as it was in Lundy.
    
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    December 23, 2019 12:17pm
    - Brian McDonald
      
      The rule for cell observation for disease is morphology first – then IHC. In Lundy that was reversed and anti-bodies that were claimed to be brain specific were used. However, the licencing of anti bodies didn’t support that claim. Negative tests were not recorded, or the number of them, dosages were increased past their specs to get the required reaction – the practitioner admitted that in evidence. Right from the outset NZ pathologists (and yes we do have IHC specialists here) said the material was degraded and should not be tested, no forensic science lab in the world would do the tests and the man that did not record false positives or negatives, even some of his slides showed degradation. Meanwhile the entire crime scene evidence was dismissed with 2 words, without specific explanations and no concern about lost evidence, unknown fingerprints, DNA etc. One thing that the Court did explain was a neighbour seeing a light on at 11am and a door open, the Court said Christine must have left the door open.
      
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      December 23, 2019 12:32pm
- Rich Prick
  
  It’s over. God will be his final judge, and that pesky bit of brain will have him sent downstairs.
  
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  December 23, 2019 10:29am
- NewInoffensiveName
  
  I do not understand why your comment got downvoted so heavily. I do not know much about the Lundy case apart from what has been sensationalised, but why are people so adverse to a rational discussion of what appear to be facts in evidence?
  
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  December 23, 2019 11:09am
  - Notsofast
    
    There is no rational reason. It can be calculated as the worst miscarriage of justice in New Zealand by observing a crime free history, a strong volunteer in the community, the near 2 decades behind bars, and by the collated lies of the police to get him there in the first place. Following this are a parade of mendicating prosecutors and now the 8 most elevated judges in the land ignoring the hard facts in the case to apply the proviso in a totally false manner.
    The chief justice was party to denying the 2017 appeal and almost immediately was promoted to this current position. Having recused herself for the supreme court phase it is hard to imagine enthusiasm by her underlings to declare her wrong.
    Thus the incestuous system delivers a travesty, while the privy council will see their instructions to fully explore the science they rejected completely ignored in this self satisfied little country.
    Heads should be rolling down Molesworth Street as Rodney Hide said in 2013.
    
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    December 23, 2019 12:01pm
  - Tony Stuart
    
    Because “what appear to be facts in evidence” are actually anything but. Notsofast claims to be privvy to evidence that would see Lundy released, but incredibly said on Saturday that it wasn’t his job to go to the Police with that evidence.
    
    Whyever not? Could it be that it’s not actually evidence at all, but just a conspiracy theory with little relationship to the facts in R v Lundy, facts which were reinforced by the Supreme Court judges who heard his appeal?
    
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    December 23, 2019 12:57pm
    - Notsofast
      
      It is because the interests of Mark Lundy override any interfering I could undertake. As you can imagine, there is no reason for me or anyone acting in his interests to make falsifiable claims, and my claim that there is an interested party in Hawkes Bay is beyond dispute by the police or his supporters.
      Now the pillars have spoken it is a stone cold certainty there will be an attempt by someone to talk to this man. He knows who he is of course.
      
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      December 23, 2019 1:50pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Because it’s not rational.
    
    It is also not the first time we have been subjected to this onslaught of drivel… it’s not even the tenth time.
    
    I for one am sick to death of it and all the Trump bickering.
    
    We have a mod that rants with the best of them about how bad the orange man is yet springs into action whenever ardern is rightly called a liar.
    
    Seriously, how fucking weird is that?
    
    8 2
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    December 23, 2019 3:41pm
    - Batman
      
      As I said recently, you get reigned in by all the Mods when you go on a rant spree, not just my very occasional moderation of your comments.
      
      To be fair, you’re better than you used to be! Haha
      
      3 5
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      December 23, 2019 3:53pm
      - Tall Man
        
        Shame ardern isn’t eh?
        
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        December 24, 2019 1:51pm
  - suzieq
    
    “Averse” …
    
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    December 23, 2019 7:58pm
- Tony Stuart
  
  It is truly incredible that Notsofast professes to have a better knowledge of criminal law than five learned Supreme Court judges, who we would hope are five of New Zealand’s finest legal minds.
  
  I think Notsofast needs to tell us who (s)he is, so we can make our own informed decision as to which legal expert to believe. How about it Notsofast?
  
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  December 23, 2019 12:52pm
  - Brian McDonald
    
    Narrowing down the point to NSF is not the question Tony. The question is that despite a why well informed submission as to why IHC has not and never will be a forensic science was not considered by the Court who upheld the exercise of the proviso on the basis of the highly controversial IHC. That should have been the decision of a fresh Jury. Pilots do not ignore advice from the ground engineers that a plane is mechanically unfit to fly. The ‘ground engineers’ were leaders in both the forensic science field and that of IHC including bio chemist considered to be the pioneer of IHC internationally. His name is Clive Taylor: https://health.usnews.com/doctors/clive-taylor-780167. If you read his achievements and awards you’ll note ‘immunostains’ which is what this case is about.
    
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    December 23, 2019 2:48pm
igm

Once again we see the outcome of non-ratepayers voting in local body elections.
Infrastructure and ratepayers are not on the radar to these Labour/Green councillors and the left-wing bureaucrats they open troughs for.
Instead of wasting money on social housing, poofy crossings, cycleways, etc., money should be spent on the essentials.
Time has come ratepayers, no rates demand, no votes.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118394791/pipes-of-despair-wellingtons-woeful-and-wounded-water-system
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December 23, 2019 8:44am
- mikenmildagain
  
  It’s certainly brave of you to advocate removal of your own vote, along with all your fellow tenants of the council bed-sits.
  
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  December 23, 2019 9:00am
  - igm
    
    You are a brainless public servant . . . possibly one of the leeches that support these deadbeats elected by non-ratepayers, which you obviously are.
    As I once said, the only time I have been near any ratepayer-provided tenement is to repossess goods, chattels and cars to earn a dollar in my younger days.
    Also, we must have a strange ratepayer-provided flat, our address is RD.
    
    9 2
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    December 23, 2019 2:06pm
- Michael
  
  and not just for local elections but National too.
  Only NZ Citizens should be able to vote.
  
  Want to vote ?
  Become a citizen and comit to NZ…….
  
  18 1
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  December 23, 2019 9:06am
  - MCos
    
    That’s how it is in Australia for all those New Zealanders who migrate over there, except, from what I understand there is no path to citizenship for them. That means the politicians can safely ignore them. Effectively they have no representation.
    BTW
    Becoming an NZ citizen doesn’t necessarily mean committing oneself to the country. Peter Thiel is a citizen of three countries, and NZ is well down his pecking order.
    
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    December 23, 2019 11:57am
    - Jack5
      
      MCos, you say of New Zealanders who migrate to Australia: “from what I Understand there is no path to citizenship for them”.
      
      Here these are requirements for qualifying for Australian citizenship as listed by an Australian immigration advisory firm:
      
      – You are an Australian permanent resident
      – You are over 16 years of age
      – You have lived in Australia for a period of four years, including 12 months as a permanent resident
      – You are of good character
      – You have an adequate knowledge of your responsibilities and privileges as a citizen.
      
      There is also a test:
      
      All applicants will need to complete and pass a citizenship test, which is based on their knowledge and understanding of Australian society, values and history. The test will also assess the applicant’s English language abilities, have a sufficient knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of being an Australian citizen and intend to reside and work in Australia, or to preserve a close connection with the country.
      
      https://www.thisisaustralia.com/specialised-services-and-business-visas/australian-citizenship-requirements/
      
      This site gives fees for applying for Aust. citizenship:
      
      https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/1298i.pdf
      
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      December 23, 2019 9:36pm
  - curry4me
    
    Citizens with 20+ hours of paid work a week should get two ballot papers.
    
    4 1
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    December 23, 2019 1:53pm
- MCos
  
  Try telling the ratepayers how much it’s going to cost them to upgrade the entire sewerage system.
  Not to mention the disruption to traffic for years to come.
  Then along comes an earthquake . . . . . .
  
  13 1
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  December 23, 2019 9:22am
- chaos
  
  No the time has come people stop demanding segregation in the way we vote for council or government.
  
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  December 23, 2019 9:40am
- Sacha
  
  It was slightly amusing to hear this morning that workmen had found an old decommissioned pipeline that they could use to send effluent to Moa Point. It was a newer one that collapsed –
  
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  December 23, 2019 4:56pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Trump has the Dems by the short and curly.
https://trendingpolitics.com/trump-dems-won-t-send-impeachment-because-gop-will-call-these-2-witnesses-to-testify/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email
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December 23, 2019 8:52am
- SGA
  
  Then why are the Republican Senators trying to avoid having any witnesses at all (at least that’s the last I heard)? There seems to be major disconnect there?
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:59am
- mikenmildagain
  
  Aww, Steve’s found another safe space where every Trumpkin is right and everyone else are treasonous socialists.
  
  4 17
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  December 23, 2019 9:03am
- Odakyu-sen
  
  The House has procured the bullet, but they haven’t loaded it into the Senate breach.
  
  (The GOP-controlled Senate require a 2/3rds-majority vote to pull the trigger on their own man.)
  
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  December 23, 2019 9:12am
- Batman
  
  Does he? Or is it panic?
  
  https://twitter.com/HeidiNBC/status/1208768519418056706?s=19
  
  “2 DAYS — FIRSTHAND FACTS:
  
  JULY 25
  –Trump asks Zelensky to investigate “Crowdstrike” & “Biden’s son”
  –90 minutes later: White House tells Pentagon to suspend all military aid.
  
  JULY 26:
  –Trump asks Sondland on cell: “So he’s going to do the investigation?
  
  Sondland: ‘he’s going to do it,’ adding he’ll do “anything you ask him to.” (Holmes testimony)
  
  NOTE:
  
  Sondland spoke w Trump after a private meeting with Yermak, Zelensky’s deputy, which Holmes was supposed to attend but was kept out.
  
  So were any note-takers.
  
  https://t.co/ZkSpHLGYjm “
  
  4 33
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  December 23, 2019 9:34am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    My guess is Pelosi will not submit the impeachment articles. She knows the shit will hit the fan. Geez, Killary might even suicide her
    
    23 5
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    December 23, 2019 9:52am
    - All_on_Red
      
      McConnell is laughing his arse off.
      Trump raised 15 million in two days and his ratings are going up.
      
      24 4
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      December 23, 2019 9:59am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      She could then be tried for contempt. Pelosi has the respect of her Office before the Senate but her person is severable.
      
      The Dems are setting up the US for a Republican landslide in 2020. We may be seeing another world wide socialist/juvenile rout.
      
      12 2
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      December 23, 2019 10:08am
  - All_on_Red
    
    Wrong again
    ‘On July 18, OMB placed a verbal hold on that $250 million as well as $141.5 million in Foreign Military Financing funds. ‘
    So paused before the July 25 call.
    Three time Zelensky said they never knew the Aid was withheld. Twice his Foreign Minister said the same.
    So no Blackmail or coercion.
    
    The placement of Aid was constantly being reviewed- which was normal. Especially where there were concerns about the corrupt Govt prior to Zelensky.
    But hey, you keep licking windows with your conspiracy theories.
    
    22 4
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    December 23, 2019 9:55am
    - Simon
      
      Impeachment = part of the wider collapse of the Democratic Party. Also throw in MSM
      
      9 2
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      December 23, 2019 10:02am
    - Brian McDonald
      
      How’s that paint holding out Red, here’s another for you to whitewash.
      
      https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/trumps-budget-officials-ordered-the-pentagon-to-deny-ukraine-aid-90-minutes-after-ukraine-call-new-documents-found/ar-BBYfqoQ?ocid=spartandhp
      
      4 24
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      December 23, 2019 10:07am
      - All_on_Red
        
        From your link
        ‘The pause on aid was first introduced in a July 18 interagency meeting, in which Trump first announced the freeze and the administration told Congress the aid wasn’t granted because of an “interagency delay.”‘
        It was actually the OMB which froze it, not Trump personally.
        Thanks Brian
        Another example where you read the headline but are too dumb to read the article. You’re as bad at Stephie.
        Lol
        
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        December 23, 2019 10:10am
      - Stephieboy2
        
        Wrong yet again,
        
        “Trump impeachment: two White House budget officials quit over Ukraine aid concerns, says witness
        
        Mark Sandy said unnamed individuals from budget office resigned in part over Trump’s aid freeze, according to closed-door deposition
        
        A lawyer for the White House’s budget office resigned partly because of concerns over Donald Trump’s freeze on military aid to Ukraine, a longtime career official from the office has testified to Congress behind closed doors.
        
        Mark Sandy of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) told the House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry that an individual in the office’s legal division quit in part over issues with the suspension of security assistance to Ukraine, according to a transcript of his deposition released on Tuesday.
        
        Sandy also testified that another unnamed official at the OMB resigned. “Yes, this individual did express frustrations,” he said. “He expressed some frustrations about not understanding the reason for the hold.”
        
        In a further sign of pushback, the Pentagon raised concerns, Sandy added.
        
        https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/26/trump-impeachment-inquiry-budget-office-lawyer-resigned-ukraine
        
        Sigh!
        
        Even at this late stage reward yourself with this Xmas gift,
        
        https://www.amazon.com/Commander-Cheat-Golf-Explains-Trump-ebook/dp/B07H4Z26T7
        
        LOL
        
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        December 23, 2019 10:48am
      - Scott
        
        Is just bizarre to me that seemingly rational people like Brian McDonald think that the President of the United States should be removed from office because of Ukraine?? Like how many Americans actually care about Ukraine?
        
        The facts are that Ukrainian aid was held up while corruption in Ukraine was investigated by multiple people. Pres Trump was quite right to be concerned about Hunter Biden and Joe Biden because Hunter Biden has made a career of cashing in on his father’s political influence.
        
        Bribery and corruption is what Joe Biden did when he told the Ukrainian government that if the prosecutor wasn’t fired then the aid wasn’t coming. And in his own words “son of a bitch” the prosecutor was fired that was investigating the company that his son was on the board of!
        
        Everyone should understand that the Democrats are using the Saul Alinski “rules for radicals” playbook. This says accuse your opponent of what you are actually doing. Some Americans were engaging in bribery and corruption in the Ukraine but it sure wasn’t president Trump.
        
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        December 23, 2019 10:49am
      - Brian McDonald
        
        It’s in the headline Red: “Trump’s budget officials ordered the Pentagon to deny Ukraine aid 90 minutes after Ukraine call, new documents found,”
        Try to stay abreast of things. Repeat ‘budget official’. Of course they’ll be acting independently – right?
        
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        December 23, 2019 11:35am
      - Brian McDonald
        
        That is the point Scott – how many Americans care about an ally at war against the Russians having aid withheld, the Kurds being abandoned. Or about Ambassadors being undermined, the FBI attacked, a President whose team members keep getting sent to prison. I guess we will see, but not from any partisan Senate or Congress, particularly where the vote is not by ballot – maybe on election day.
        
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        December 23, 2019 11:43am
      - Scott
        
        Brian – so many errors in your post. FBI is not being attacked, it is being investigated for 17 errors in the FISA applications that all pointed the same way – to make Donald Trump seem guilty!
        
        Donald Trump actually helped Ukraine and gave them military aid which the previous Pres Obama refused to do!
        
        Yes the team members surrounding Donald Trump are being sent to prison. Because the authorities are investigating them for anything and squeezing them to try and dig up dirt on Pres Trump. Gen Flynn is the worst example. Even Paul Manafort who did have dodgy dealings regarding the Ukraine, would not be arrested or in jail except that he was made an example of by the Justice Department.
        
        And yes finally you make a good point when you talk about the election. Donald Trumps term in office should be decided at the election of November 2020. Not by the Democrats in Congress who hate him and have never accepted the result of the 2016 election.
        
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        December 23, 2019 12:23pm
John Warren

Mark, you need to start your own blog. You’re never going to get any traction here. Most of us with the SC judges on this.
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December 23, 2019 8:57am
Northshore

mikenmildagain – Probably no “resolutions” as “significant international problems” do not unravel easily but at least world leaders are trying to resolve them, unlike a certain 16 year old who shouts “how dare you” at other people and thinks that somehow will resolve problems.
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December 23, 2019 8:58am
Maggie Pie

We had three new overseas students join our team last month to further their studies and gain on the job experience. One of them is a really attractive and intelligent colored girl from Cape Town, SA.
She was telling us last night, “How she absolutely loves white people”. Even went on to say, “….that if she’s going to be oppressed, then she’d totally prefer to be oppressed by them”.
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December 23, 2019 9:02am
MCos

I wondered why the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has been quiet lately. It seems she’s been out on a photo shoot when she should be picking holes in the Dew report.
https://twitter.com/btlane/status/1208833833765748736?s=21
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December 23, 2019 9:03am
- Tony Stuart
  
  In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s December 23rd, and hundreds of thousands of Kiwis have already started their Christmas holidays. Why else do you think Ardern and Szabo released the report last Wednesday, after the last opportunity for Parliament to scrutinise it.
  
  Paula Bennett’s got the whole of January to pick holes in the Dew Report. Even better, it will be election year by the time she tells us of the holes she’s picked, and Labour will have this albatross around their neck in the run-up to the election.
  
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  December 23, 2019 1:04pm
- Tall Man
  
  While like you, I’m not that keen on politicians doing the mag thing but there is a world of difference between the responsibilities of the deputy leader of the opposition and being “pr girl” for “what’s in it for wynston”.
  
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  December 23, 2019 3:34pm
RightNow

I boldly predict Trump will not be impeached this year.
Change my mind.
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December 23, 2019 9:04am
- fernglas
  
  He already has been.
  
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  December 23, 2019 11:02am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    The way I understand it is impeachment is not official until the two articles have been submitted to Senate. Pelosi is holding them back – she does not want Republicans to call witnesses in the possible trial.
    Lefties will of course dispute this.
    
    19 3
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    December 23, 2019 12:13pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Opinion, but it is better than a lot of other opinions.
      https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-12-19/trump-impeachment-delay-could-be-serious-problem-for-democrats?fbclid=IwAR2n_wrj-1qKRaJ062NMAyQNLfHUB9CD3ZMZjOj-26IPlfO1lr6Jv_VBcOo
      
      6 3
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      December 23, 2019 12:24pm
  - RightNow
    
    Although the dems voted to impeach him they still have to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate. Until then it’s a big nothing burger. Actually it’s a big gift to Trump the longer the dems delay.
    
    12 2
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    December 23, 2019 12:41pm
    - KevO'Brien
      
      It might get Pelosi hoist on a contempt charge too. Thankfully ageing doesn’t Pelosi all of us.
      
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      December 23, 2019 2:01pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/118360431/this-is-new-zealands-youngest-mcdonalds-franchisee#comments

Now THIS young woman would make a GREAT Prime Minister !
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December 23, 2019 9:45am
- Tall Man
  
  Yep, someone who “gets it” I think.
  
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  December 23, 2019 2:39pm
Tall Man

Thanks to all yesterday for the kind words and thoughts.

My new grandson surprised us all and arrived very early this morning and Mum Dad and baby are all well.

Until there is more production he will be a little thorn among the very beautiful roses so he better be tough 🙂
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December 23, 2019 9:49am
- chaos
  
  Well that is a surprise, no grand daughter. Congrats
  
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  December 23, 2019 12:27pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Already got three grand daughters so the bets were on another as these two didn’t want to know before the birth so we all got a surprise.
    
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    December 23, 2019 2:33pm
    - chaos
      
      Best way, a nice surprise for all. I’m happy there are still people that don’t want to know until the day.
      
      8 1
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      December 23, 2019 3:42pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Once again, I don’t get the downtick. What is because “gender specific” language was used?
    
    5 2
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    December 23, 2019 2:38pm
    - chaos
      
      Lack of viagra, they can’t uptick
      
      5 2
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      December 23, 2019 3:41pm
- Tony Stuart
  
  Congratulations Tall Man; what a wonderful Christmas gift for your family
  
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  December 23, 2019 1:05pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Thanks Tony.
    
    It’s a great Christmas already, especially as I avoided a very nasty outcome last Sunday with a runaway auger. Full marks to the paramedics and emergency doctors and hopefully will only have a few scars to remind me not to be a dick 😉
    
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    December 23, 2019 2:36pm
Hugh Pavletich

UNITED STATES …

Homelessness in the U.S. rose for a third year, driven by a surge in California, HUD says … Hannah Knowles … The Washington Post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/12/21/homelessness-us-rose-third-year-driven-by-surge-california-hud-says/

Homelessness in the United States rose for a third straight year, the federal government reports, propelled by a sharp increase in California, a state that is struggling with stratospheric housing prices and being challenged by the Trump administration to take further action.

A decline in homelessness in 29 states, as well as the District of Columbia, was offset by a spike in California of 21,000 people, or 16.4 percent, the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Friday — evidence that homelessness in the nation’s most populous state is “at a crisis level and needs to be addressed by local and state leaders with crisis-like urgency,” HUD Secretary Ben Carson said in a statement.

California leaders and advocacy groups share federal officials’ alarm over the state’s outsize role in that trend. But there’s significant disagreement over how to tackle the issue as the president singles out cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles as problems, clashing with a liberal state that often fights his policies. … read more via hyperlink above …
.
.
UNITED STATES … Nationally new lots (sections) median price $49,500 …. National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reports …

Lot Values Hit Record Highs … Natalia Sineavskaia … U.S National Association of Home Builders

http://eyeonhousing.org/2019/11/lot-values-hit-record-highs/

According to NAHB’s analysis of the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) data, median single-family lot prices outpaced inflation once again (4.4% vs 2.4%) and reached new record high in 2018, with half of the lots selling at or above $49,500. The most dramatic rise in lot values is observed in the West South Central division where median lot values more than doubled since the housing boom years. … read more via hyperlink above …
.
.
DALLAS TEXAS …

It’s time to make Dallas a premier engine of upward mobility … (Comment) Cullum Clark … Dallas Business Journal

https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2019/12/12/upward-mobility.html
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December 23, 2019 9:56am
Captain Mainwaring

Couldn’t happen to a nicer shyster.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12296162

Hope his whole empire crumbles.
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December 23, 2019 10:22am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  Oh, he’s got a mate.
  
  7 4
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  December 23, 2019 10:35am
- Tall Man
  
  If/when it does, it will hurt a lot of people.
  
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  December 23, 2019 3:29pm
chaos

Wow, never thought we’d have a race relations guy who would actually support tradition that is not racist.

* The use of a blackface character in Christchurch St Nicholas Day celebrations has been defended by the Race Relations Commissioner.

Black Pete, who assists St Nick in handing out gifts, has been branded blatantly racist.

In Dutch folklore, St Nicholas travels once a year from Spain on a steamboat laden with presents. The appearance of his sidekick Black Pete derives from a 19th-century story by children’s author Jan Schenkman that was illustrated with pictures of a dark-skinned Spanish Moor.

Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon said generally blackface characters are perceived to be slaves, but it’s not the case with this particular tradition.

“Telling the stories from the Dutch perspective is very important for greater understanding,” he told Newshub.*

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/12/black-pete-controversy-race-relations-commissioner-meng-foon-defends-christchurch-festival-s-use-of-blackface-character.html
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December 23, 2019 10:25am
- Albert_Ross
  
  This sort of thing is exactly why we need a race relations commissioner – not only to call out actual racism, but also to call out non-legitimate usage of the race card, ie when people call something racist that isn’t.
  
  You never know, this might even lead on to a calm, rational and civil discussion as to what different people mean by racism, why it matters, when it is and when it isn’t appropriate to discriminate on race grounds etc. As opposed to the deeply unhealthy position at the moment where a few self righteous loudmouths are able to shut down any discussion or question by screeching racist, and then think they’ve won hearts and minds because they no longer hear any discussion or question – when all they’ve really created is silent fear and resentment.
  
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  December 23, 2019 12:27pm
Maggie Pie

My partner retweets….

‘Unable to confirm veracity but this pic purportedly from [ #kiwibuild ] construction site’

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EMXoed4U0AEqPHO?format=jpg&name=small
18 1
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December 23, 2019 10:25am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  See, if we only think Green, we can repurpose waste products.
  
  17 0
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  December 23, 2019 10:57am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    I wonder how they’ll turn them around?
    
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    December 23, 2019 11:02am
Tall Man

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/over-400-000-spent-on-transport-during-prince-charles-and-camillas-recent-visit/

I wonder how much ardern’s pointless trip for daddy’s birthday cost the tax payer?
14 2
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December 23, 2019 10:26am
- chaos
  
  But they are going to build a runway on an island they claim global warming will flood. Hmmmm.
  
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  December 23, 2019 2:19pm
- Paulus
  
  And who is paying for her Summer holiday to Australia – all those photographers as well – she is going to look at the fires and stare them out – she says effectively incognito.
  Stay away Australia sadly has enough tragedies not to have her around.
  
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  December 23, 2019 5:50pm
  - DigNap15
    
    She loves NZ so much that she wants to get away from it for a holiday.
    Using our export dollars.
    
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    December 24, 2019 8:25am
Fletch

Dems way behind on funds compared to the GOP –

The Republican National Committee heads into the 2020 election year with more than seven times as much cash on hand as the Democratic National Committee, the parties’ FEC filings show.

FEC filings from both parties show the RNC has $63 million in cash on hand compared to the DNC’s $8.3 million, Bloomberg reported. This is more than seven times as much cash on hand as the DNC has, according to Axios.

The RNC in November raised $20.6 million compared to the DNC’s $8 million, FEC filings show. The DNC did not immediately return the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

https://dailycaller.com/2019/12/21/republicans-democrats-cash-hand/

https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-am-67d06ba0-c610-46ab-9fa5-70d54a93340b.html?chunk=1&utm_term=emshare#story1
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December 23, 2019 10:40am
JibberJabber

Speaking of Darwin awards…
https://twitter.com/AwardsDarwin/status/1208832043641122819
6 1
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December 23, 2019 10:50am
Odakyu-sen

“No, I don’t have Alzheimer’s disease!” I told my wife when she teased me for forgettig where I had put my car keys.

I’m just forgetful. Being forgetful is when I forget our wedding anniversary. Alzheimer’s disease is when I forget I have a wife!
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December 23, 2019 11:00am
krazykiwi

If this an excellent, fact-based disassembly of the climate crisis narrative currently fronted by the Swedish teen puppet.

The claims are refuted with evidence, one-by-one.
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December 23, 2019 11:15am
JibberJabber

`Aint that the Truth?
https://twitter.com/RitaPanahi/status/1208744720475648000/photo/1
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December 23, 2019 11:23am
Swifty

Where will all this end?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118355866/not-much-room-at-the-inn-for-masterton-refugees

Significant numbers of refugees with no or very little English, no cultural attachment, in a foreign land, where their religion is largely absent, with no jobs and, it seems, no homes to live in.

But still the Labour and Greens government want them to come in increasing numbers.

Why? We can’t even house and provide jobs for those already here.

If you want to design a path to broken lives and social disaster then I can’t think of a better recipe.

For the hundreth time we see this government declare utopian policies to make themselves look compassionate and caring – but then fail abjectly to deliver. And it is the refugees and NZers who will suffer. Not the politicians.

I damn them all to hell.
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December 23, 2019 12:03pm
- Maggie Pie
  
  To be fair Swifty, my partner spends time in Masterton during duck-shooting.
  He was saying one of the guys he stays with there, works for Genesis Energy. Apparently, they’ve got a real shortage of skilled Linesmen down that way.
  
  https://i.imgflip.com/15kskb.jpg
  
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  December 23, 2019 12:48pm
- Michael
  
  Swifty
  Especially jacinda adhern because she’s the one driving it and not taking into account that there isn’t the resources on the ground AND she kicks a kiwi citizen off of the queue, they have been patiently waiting in…..
  
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  December 23, 2019 7:50pm
Maggie Pie

Does anyone know the exact whereabouts of: Behrouz Boochani ?

Asking for Peter Dutton.
20 0
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December 23, 2019 12:22pm
- sooty
  
  Holidaying with Cindy!
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:12pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Deranged.
https://www.facebook.com/thecigarwrappers/videos/276697152965369/
6 3
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December 23, 2019 12:27pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Link is broken. Was to be a parody of The Doors doing ‘People are Strange’
  Delete not working
  
  1 4
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  December 23, 2019 12:30pm
  - JibberJabber
    
    Worked for me ?
    
    4 0
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    December 23, 2019 12:59pm
The Proper Ghandi

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12296185

In my opinion, Garrick Tremain is a fairly mediocre cartoonist of the TDS-as-default-topic type. However, his recent “controversial” and “racist” cartoon on the Samoan measles epidemic has had complaints about it upheld. This was a very predictable fate accompli.

The fact that it pertained to an outbreak which happened to be in Samoa was only incidental, yet the usual unthinking half wits took the opportunity to stridently leap upon the racist bandwagon.

Resultant calls from Mayor Hawkins for instance, a hard left, self-flagellating caucasian-hater, for “more inclusive voices” on the ODT staff were clear dog whistles calling for a non-old-white-guy to replace Tremain. These people’s own bigoted and prejudiced obsession with race and gender seems to be lost on them.
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December 23, 2019 12:39pm
- Kiwi Dave
  
  Yes. Since the cartoon asserts no stereotypes, in fact neither makes nor implies any comment or opinion at all about Samoans, it’s extremely difficult to see racism in it.
  
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  December 23, 2019 3:38pm
  - The Proper Ghandi
    
    Dave
    If you squint and look hard enough, you can see racism at every turn. Look at the amount of white versus the amount of black on this very page for instance…Shame!
    
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    December 23, 2019 4:52pm
MrTips

Eric Watson not be having a good Xmas. First he has to pay back Owen Glenn and now the IRD are onto his tax avoidance scheme.

Some might say Santa is real then.
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December 23, 2019 12:41pm
- Maggie Pie
  
  Hopefully, he’ll have the same ‘Han(g)over’ they caused to thousand of others poor old buggers out there. It was a bloody disgrace 🙁
  
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  December 23, 2019 1:18pm
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    Maggie, most of the “poor old buggers” that lost money had their money put into Hanover via Investment Advisors. And agreed because they were getting superior interest returns. So 1. Advisors who would potentially be getting trails, and were definitely “entertained” by Hanover and 2. Greed – superior interest rates = higher risk.
    Dare I say it, but there is an old saying “a fool and their money are soon parted”.
    
    7 1
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    December 23, 2019 1:42pm
    - Maggie Pie
      
      Cheers IVV.
      Ive just txt my partners mum to let her know. She wrote off a 6-figure sum.
      
      [Ma said her only consolation was seeing Hotchin’s wife not getting to use the ‘Present Wrapping Room’ in their Paratai Drive house] LOL!!!
      
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      December 23, 2019 2:41pm
      - In Vino Veritas
        
        Maggie, she wasn’t the only one, and its unfortunate. But investments are always risky. If you aren’t prepared to lose some, or all of it, then it shouldn’t be invested in anything but Government backed securities.
        It never ceases to amaze me that when some people take risks, and lose, they want to blame someone else.
        
        7 0
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        December 23, 2019 3:38pm
    - Tall Man
      
      You are basically correct.
      
      Greed was the driver and any conman knows logic drops out the window when you promise the moon, even though you’re clearly mired in the mud.
      
      9 0
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      December 23, 2019 3:22pm
      - In Vino Veritas
        
        Thanks Tall Man. I’m not trying to be nasty, just stating things that were fact at the time. I understand that people got burned. But as an investor myself, I make it my business to know the risks of the investments I go into. And yeah, I still lose sometimes!
        
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        December 23, 2019 3:47pm
      - Maggie Pie
        
        Ma takes it all in her strides these days. She can even joke about it now. She just txt back before and said “In vitro sounds like a c~~t” LOL!!
        
        7 0
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        December 23, 2019 4:07pm
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    If it makes your partners mum feel any better, I suspect that what Watson has gotten up to in the States is way dicier than anything he did here. There are coded texts and voice messages, all sorts of stuff they are piecing together.
    
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    December 23, 2019 8:19pm
RightNow

2019. Brenton Tarrant manages to do what the NZ left have long wished for… neuters Kiwiblog comments.
Oh well, there’s always YSB
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December 23, 2019 12:47pm
- The King
  
  If you think YSB is any better you’re dreaming.
  
  Chris Roberts the owner of YSB is a boomer who has no problem letting “free speech” on Muslims, soon as you mention the eternal jew you will be banned.
  
  He’s a hypocrite of the highest boomer tier.
  
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  December 23, 2019 1:36pm
  - Tall Man
    
    ” eternal jew you will be banned”
    
    From my short time there I don’t agree with that.
    
    13 1
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    December 23, 2019 3:20pm
  - DigNap15
    
    The thing is that jews as a whole don’t cause problems.
    Its only the conspiracy theorists that see them as controlling the world.
    
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    December 24, 2019 8:22am
chaos

who in their right mind would pay $35 for a pack of noodles…

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118291459/they-sell-35-packets-of-noodles-charge-4500-for-two-phones-and-are-still-rolling

* Regrouped, rebranded, and returning to a poor neighbourhood near you.

Truck shops selling $35 packets of noodles, and $4500-a-pair cellphones, are brazening out legal attention and maintaining a presence in poor neighbourhoods, community groups say.*
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December 23, 2019 1:04pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  A further clampdown nay be needed. For goods sold that any price over 20% more than a regular shop should be deemed to be unconscionable and the transaction void. The interest rates should be limited to what is typically charged on credit cards. The exploiters aim for debt dependency to keep their customers hooked.
  
  I’m not against free trade but I’ve seen these “traders” at work and they deliberately choose lesser able people to exploit. Thuggery of sorts.
  
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  December 23, 2019 1:48pm
Hugh Pavletich

Essential viewing ! …

How Judith Collins (NZ National Party Housing Spokesperson) has more in common with her arch nemesis, Phil Twyford, than one might be led to believe … Jenee Tibshraeny VIDEO INTERVIEW … Interest Co NZ

https://www.interest.co.nz/personal-finance/103112/how-judith-collins-has-more-common-her-archnemesis-phil-twyford-one-might-be

National’s housing spokesperson Judith Collins is more supportive of the policy changes Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford is making than one might be led to believe.

Collins backs Twyford’s draft legislation that will enable government-approved large-scale urban development projects to go through a streamlined consenting process.

She’s enthusiastic about draft legislation that will enable private developers or local councils to levy landowners (with government permission) to cover the costs of infrastructure in their areas. VIEW & READ MORE via hyperlink above …
.
.
Infrastructure Funding and Financing Bill – Hon Phil Twyford – First Reading – Video 1

https://vimeo.com/379923683
.
.
… ARE MORE EFFICIENT AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTIAL PRODUCTION BUILDERS RESEARCHING THIS OPPORTUNITY ? …

Councils to have less reason to say ‘no’ to new housing … COMMENT Dr Eric Crampton … Newsroom

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/12/19/952155/councils-to-have-less-reason-to-say-no-to-new-housing#
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December 23, 2019 1:04pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Q. Will NZ change its name to Aotearoa when the Queen dies? John Irving, 77

A. Te Reo is an official language of this country so Aotearoa is one of the names we are lucky to have already.

Jacinda Ardern answers questions from Readers

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/23/jacinda-ardern-on-culture-wars-her-plan-for-2020-and-how-to-cook-snapper
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December 23, 2019 1:08pm
- Odakyu-sen
  
  Is it a good idea for a nation to have two names?
  
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  December 23, 2019 1:36pm
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    If the name “New Zealand” appears earlier in the records than “Aotearoa,” then the country should go with that.
    
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    December 23, 2019 1:38pm
  - MCos
    
    A number of Asian countries have different names for foreigners and locals.
    Thailand is really Prathet Thai & the capital is Krung Thep.
    Laos is Lao, Cambodia is Kampuchea and so on
    
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    December 23, 2019 6:01pm
    - Odakyu-sen
      
      In that case, which name shall we use for for foreigners and which one for locals?
      
      What do the Chinese call New Zealand?
      
      3 1
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      December 23, 2019 7:46pm
      - Jack5
        
        Google Translate to the rescue …
        
        Chinese call New Zealand 新西兰 – which sounds like Zhin Zheeland, which is close to the English-language “New Zealand,” in a Mandarin accent.
        
        So Chinese have pretty much plumped for “New Zealand”.
        
        According to a poster at Quora about 300 million people in China can speak English at a conversational level.
        
        Maori language will be a hard-sell in China.
        
        2 0
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        December 23, 2019 9:20pm
      - Kiwi Dave
        
        I expect the CCP calls NZ a pushover, but more diplomatically, we are xin xilan (xin = ‘new’ in Chinese, pronounce ‘x’ somewhere between ‘s’ and ‘sh’) or something like lau sailan in Cantonese.
        
        2 0
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        December 23, 2019 9:51pm
- krazykiwi
  
  How to cook snapper? Awww, that fatherly ‘ol Winson has been giving lessons again.
  
  6 1
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  December 23, 2019 1:36pm
  - Tall Man
    
    From his cookbook..
    
    1) Steal your snapper from another hard working fisherman.
    
    2) If he complains, threaten to sue him or defame him under “privilege”.
    
    3) Get someone else to cook the snapper while you numb your brain with someone else’s alcohol.
    
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    December 23, 2019 2:47pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  Not bloomin’ likely.
  Puketifinau where this Maori stuff is gettin’ to’.
  2 languages = 2 peoples (One stopped at 1835.)
  
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  December 23, 2019 1:44pm
krazykiwi

Love this post from Offsetting Behaviour:

The Government has produced a “Guide for Maintaining Health and Wellbeing”. It contains a lot of valuable advice. I understand it has been distributed broadly in hard copy, but it is available online for the rest of us.

Here is some of the advice provided. It is riveting stuff.

There are tips for “Waking up”, “Safe sex”, “Breakfast” and “Oral Hygiene”. It’s glossy, 118 pages, and has been widely distributed in the Public Service.

It goes on, but I’m sure I can trust you to read for yourself. It has plenty of helpful tips on optimising your spiritual health and spending quiet time in nature, in case your score on the resilience self-assessment tool comes in at less than 70.

If you get too annoyed by their giving advice about using power poses (debunked in a succession of studies), or about their advice to use margarine instead of butter (yech), you can just take their advice about other ways of combating stress. Like a breathing exercise, or counting to 10.

And you can rest easy, knowing that the kind of people who need to be reminded to brush their teeth are busy drafting the rules telling the rest of us how to live our lives.
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December 23, 2019 1:35pm
Wired-one

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12296220

So is climate change no longer your “nuclear free moment”. Or are you swimming across?

I also noticed this “She plans to wed fiance Mr Gayford next year”. Of course shes planned for an election year wedding.

Wake up NZ ffs.
22 1
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December 23, 2019 1:43pm
- chaos
  
  she claims security won’t be needed there, ah no they will be going too.
  
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  December 23, 2019 2:18pm
- Tall Man
  
  You can see why “photoshop” is needed.
  
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  December 23, 2019 2:43pm
Doubledimp

MTV has gone woke, “Fairytale of New York” (Kirsty MacColl and Shane McGowan) censored – no “slut” or “faggot” in the lyrics. What is Rock and Roll coming too?
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December 23, 2019 2:34pm
- JibberJabber
  
  WtF is MTV?
  
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  December 23, 2019 3:55pm
JibberJabber

Everything we see from the snivelling Left today is straight of the Communists` 1943 handbook..

https://twitter.com/CitizenJEsq/status/1208746138049880064
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December 23, 2019 2:38pm
Doug

K-9 cop flies through shattered vehicle window to make arrest.
Video link:https://video.foxnews.com/v/6117511180001

Man’s best friend.
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December 23, 2019 2:59pm
- mark15
  
  Whats the only animal in the world with its anus on the end of a chain?
  
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  December 23, 2019 4:16pm
chaos

Ouch,

* This is the unnerving moment an Amazon Alexa calmly instructed a young mother to ‘stab yourself in the heart for the greater good’. *

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7809269/Amazon-Alexa-told-terrified-mother-29-stab-heart-greater-good.html
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December 23, 2019 3:04pm
Fletch

Does anyone know how to tell if a whole turkey is cooked? We got no thermometer. It’s been in about 4 hours on 180 deg.
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December 23, 2019 3:14pm
- chaos
  
  Cut into the thigh and make sure the juices are clear
  
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  December 23, 2019 3:38pm
- Tall Man
  
  Use a long meat skewer through the base of the leg into the flesh. If it’s a stuffed turkey it will take quite a bit longer than unstuffed but I would be surprised if blood still comes out from the stab after 4 hours.
  
  If you rest it wrapped in tinfoil it will cook for at least another 30 minute and probably more.
  
  It also depends how big but most are around the 4kg so it should be ok.
  
  https://www.allrecipes.com/article/turkey-cooking-time-guide/
  
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  December 23, 2019 3:54pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  What was the weight of the Turkey?
  Was the oven at 180C when you put the bird in?
  
  If the bird was under 6.5kg, you’ve probably cooked it……(but do the check that the juices run clear).
  
  If you have a large Turkey (approaching 10kg), you’ll need another hour at least.
  
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  December 23, 2019 4:15pm
  - Fletch
    
    Thanks all. Looks like it might have to go back in. Was just over 4kg but still didn’t seem enough.
    
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    December 23, 2019 5:11pm
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    I can’t believe the prices of larger fowl in the supermarkets.
    
    This morning I bought a 1.9 kg fresh whole Pams chicken at Pac n’ Sav for around $13. They also had fresh turkeys. The turkeys were (I guess) around 4 kg, but were $75.
    
    A year ago I was at a butchers in St. Johns. They had a fresh goose (for roasting) at around $150. This wouldn’t have been much bigger than a typical turkey.
    
    If I were the curators at the Auckland War Memorial Museum grounds or at Western Springs, I would be keeping an eye on my local geese less some of them disappear around this time of the year.
    
    BTW. I love roast chicken with rice stuffing (Japanese recipe).
    
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    December 23, 2019 6:53pm
Inandout

A large orange embedded into a duck keeps the meat moist when cooked. I wonder if turkey is the same?
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December 23, 2019 4:54pm
- Rich Prick
  
  Peel the orange first for best results. It’s magic.
  
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  December 23, 2019 10:21pm
Fletch

Townhall on the NZ gun buyback flop –

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bethbaumann/2019/12/22/new-zealands-socalled-buyback-program-is-proof-that-gun-control-simply-doesnt-work-n2558404/
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December 23, 2019 5:40pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118406164/road-a-killer-of-our-people-say-guardians-of-cemetery-smashed-by-a-truck
What utter garbage.
If this truck had not crashed where it did then none of these ‘maori’ observations would have occurred.
It is simply a typical maori response to try to get some sort of compensation. Preferably financial.
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December 23, 2019 6:52pm
- Rich Prick
  
  Let them sue the poor soul who had a medical event and reveal how heartless these Endeavour chasers can be. Money, money, mooooooney.
  
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  December 23, 2019 10:20pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/118404251/when-florence-opened-a-box-of-tesco-christmas-cards-one-already-had-a-message-in-it

Something smells a bit fishy here.
Make a note and wait for further info.
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December 23, 2019 6:56pm
- Shaun the Sheep
  
  Daddy made a wee slip in the interview by saying he wrote the note, then corrected himself to say he found the note.
  Bollocks.
  
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  December 24, 2019 12:10am
Fletch

Now the Northern DHB wants plain packaging for kids lollies and chips like we have for cigarettes….

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/dhb-wants-plain-packaging-sweets-and-chips

You couldn’t make this stuff up…
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December 23, 2019 7:19pm
- alex Masterley
  
  If that is what the Northern DHB want then can they all dress in a uniform.
  Brown crimplene suits, for men and women, with grey zip up loafers for footwear. They can all have pudding bowl haircuts as well.
  
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  December 23, 2019 8:12pm
  - Tall Man
    
    I’m a wee bit puzzled as to why you want to enhance their appearance…………
    
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    December 23, 2019 8:33pm
- Rich Prick
  
  How about plain packaging for leftist zealots. Red fizzy hair, large shoes and a certain suit. And a honker horn.
  
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  December 23, 2019 10:17pm
chaos

Jeff Van Drew speaks out for first time after switching parties

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB_l9wb0dz0
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December 23, 2019 7:44pm
- Rich Prick
  
  Great chat with the man, he seems entirely reasonable and as he says, the Democrats moved away from him. I’ve heard another has had enough of The Squad and old four eyebrows Pelosi.
  
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  December 23, 2019 10:15pm
chaos

Well that is shit, right on Xmas

*Workers at two North Island Bunnings have been dealt a horror blow days before Christmas – the stores where they work will be closing by the end of the year.

Employees at Waikanae and Te Aroha Bunnings learned on Monday that their stores are closing for good on December 27, 2019.*

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/118427633/bunnings-in-waikanae-and-te-aroha-to-close-by-years-end
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December 23, 2019 8:44pm
Rich Prick

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/118427633/bunnings-in-waikanae-and-te-aroha-to-close-by-years-end

It probably never occurred to that shit-for-brains unionist that it may have to do with the upcoming new minimum wage. I guess no job is better than the current minimum wage to unionists.
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December 23, 2019 10:12pm
- DigNap15
  
  Our wages are some of the highest in the world.
  
  The problem is our housing and other costs are also far too high.
  If we could reduce those, we would not need wage rises.
  
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  December 24, 2019 8:17am

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