In the Youtube video below, Shane Jones lampoons the Maori Party & by virtue Maori in general to such an extend that it makes Don Brash’s Owera speech look timid.

Shane Jones can get away with this because he’s of Maori decent (though you couldn’t tell from looking at him), and he’s from the political left.

I actually agree with Shane – he’s articulate and delivers his points well.  A future Labour Party Leader perhaps. 

However, if you cut through Shane’s bluster, there is policy.  The ‘family package’ sounds like another complex Labour initiative that only helps people who fit a certain criteria.  And he talks about NZ’s major emitters paying the full cost of their pollution.  That’s all very well and good, but if there’s no way to make a cow more environmentally friendly, then what’s the point of taxing the farmer to death?  I think industry should be penalized if they’re not using the most efficient method of production.  For example if you’re making a pencil the most environmentally efficient way possible, slapping on a pollution tax isn’t going to change a thing other than make pencils more expensive.  Or worse, dive the business overseas where they’re made with even greater cost to the environment.

I reckon the way forward is to empower people to become environmentally aware when shopping.  Label products to indicate the environmental cost of making the product and let the consumers decide if they can spare the cost for something which is better for the environment. 

 
Are New Zealanders prudes?  Compared to the French we probably are, but compared to the Americans we probably are not.  What is healthy?  I tend to agree with Anna Paquin - what's the big deal.  The fact this story is news worthy in NZ speaks for itself. 
 

 

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 8:52:34 PM - Link

Millionaire businessman Sam Kelt has been charged with disorderly behaviour after allegedly kicking a boy racer's car in Hastings on Monday.
Kelt, 46, told the Dominion Post the driver had been attempting to run him down and he was astonished to be prosecuted by police.

He said a group of seven vehicles had sped past him around 10pm. As he crossed the road, headed for McDonald's , another car appeared and veered towards him.
"I had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. It did a U-turn then came back toward me and veered at me again. Instinctively, and in self defence, I kicked it. That should tell you how close it was to me. It was incredibly dangerous."

Kelt will appear in Hastings District Court in December.
In 2006 Kelt suffered a fractured skull and eyesocket after being punched and kicked by a boy racer in Mt Maunganui.
He had stepped in front of the attacker's car to protest late night street racing.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 9:56:11 PM - Link

 

 

 

 

Meghan McCain, one of the daughters of former Republican presidential candidate John McCain, has apologized for using Twitter to post a picture in which she displayed an ample amount of cleavage.

McCain, whose Twitter handle is @mccainBlogette, describes herself as a "moderate" member of the Republican Party and has come out in support of such liberal causes as gay marriage.

The picture was deleted from Twitpic on Thursday afternoon.

Thursday, October 15, 2009 11:08:45 PM - Link

 

 

Just as well I didn't vote for National purely on the bases of tax cuts.  Because the latest ACC levy raise and subsequent increases to petrol tax and vehicle registration fee pretty much cancels out the tax cut. 

 

The Sunday Star-Times understands the ACC levy for a family earning $38,000 is likely to rise by $304 a year, plus an extra $52 to register the family car and 4c a litre more at the fuel pump.

If the government chooses not to increase the ACC petrol excise, which is now 9c a litre, the ACC component of registering a car, now $168, will go up even more – possibly by as much as $107.

Someone on the average wage of $45,000 will pay $360 more a year to ACC, plus the extra fuel and vehicle registration costs. The ACC levy for those on $65,000 will go up about $520 a year while those earning $85,000 will pay $680 more.

 

 

"I think it's a bit like Afghanistan in the Labour Party caucus at the moment".

A British newspaper reported last month that the men were wearing stick-on prosthetic faces made from liquid latex.

Police have refused to comment on the claim and declined to say whether any jewellery had been recovered.

Researchers from the University of Alberta took 18 participants (admittedly, a very small sample) and concluded that a morning person's strengths generally remain constant throughout the day, but the same doesn't hold true for night owls, who tend to do their best work exclusively in the evenings. According to the article:

That may be because evening people show increased motor cortex and spinal cord excitability in the evening, about 9 p.m., meaning they had maximal central nervous system drive at that time...Morning people, on the other hand, never achieve this level of central nervous system drive because the excitability of the motor cortex does not coincide with the excitability of the spinal cord. In other words, these two measures never peak at the same time...

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that early birds are most excitable at 9 a.m, and that night owls probably couldn't become morning people, even if they forcibly tried to change their habits, say by sitting in front of a very bright light early in the morning and taking melatonin to sleep earlier.

What do you make of the findings? Do you consider yourself a morning or night person, and how—if at all—do you feel it affects your performance? Whatever your classification, you can help yourself get the best sleep possible by improving your sleep posture.

The staffer who maintains the Prime Minister’s Facebook page may find him/herself in hot water after expressing a personal opinion in a caption for a picture in John Key’s Pacific tour album.

The comment reads “what the hell is that useless prick doing there? other than the free fights ;)”.

The comment appears over Peter Sharples. 

The staffer is free is express his/her own opinion, but not on the Prime Minister’s Facebook page which the person has been entrusted to update.

Given that JK is maxed out at 5,000 friends and the popularity of Facebook, there is no chance the caption could’ve gone unnoticed.

The caption is also unfortunate because it undermines the great job the Prime Minister did representing New Zealand on this first Pacific Island tour. 

WASHINGTON - The State Department this week asked Twitter to postpone a scheduled maintenance shutdown of its service to keep information flowing from inside Iran amid the growing crisis over its disputed election, three US officials said.

DPF has done a nice summary of his recent blog polls. 

I voted in a few of the polls, but you tend to miss the polls if you’re reading posts via RSS or neglect to see them in the side bar. 

How I voted, or would’ve voted is showed in red.

1. The 2009 budget had 51% rate it good or very good, 33% poor or very poor and 16% neutral. Very good.
2. On the possibility of tax cuts going, 37% said they would only be slightly upset as the recession has forced it, 20% said they would be very pissed, 18% totally furious, 17% only reasonably pissed if postponed only and 8% hate tax cuts so glad they were cancelled. Slightly upset.
3. 58% approved of Christine Rankin’s appointment and 42% did not. I approve.
4. 76% disapproved of the appointment of Michael Cullen to the NZ Post Board.  I disapprove.
5. 47% said National should postpone future tax cuts.  Support postponing.
6. 60% think possession of cannabis for personal use should be a criminal offence. I think it shouldn’t be a criminal offence though I’ve never done the stuff myself.
7. 90% backed the restoration of titular honours.  Support!.
8. 57% supported sinking the Sea Shepherd over the Japanese Whalers.  Support.
9. Least desired city to be forced to live in was Wanganui at 44%, Palm Nth 32%, Hamilton 16%, New Plymouth 9%.  Probably Palm Nth. 
10. 54% have downloaded a TV show not yet available in NZ.  Not guilty. 
11. 76% blamed Hamas for the deaths in Gaza.  Yeah, Hama’s mostly at fault.
12. 38% said 2009 will be better than 2008, 28% said it will not be and 34% said it will be only if we get the chance to boot Winston out again. 38% category – I’m loving politics without Helen and Michael. 
13. 51% said they would rather go without the Internet for a fortnight and 49% would rather go without sex. Heh, beggars can’t be choosers. 
14. 71% supported the use of urgency to pass laws before Xmas. Support.
15. 11% are missing Winston.  I DON’T miss Winston.  I only wish Jim Friggin Anderton joined him.
16. Only 46% think Goff will lead Labour into the 2011 election.  I think Goff will lead Labour into the next election.
17. 75% had a favourable impression of the new Ministry.  Favorable! John Key is the Helen slayer.
18. 38% said the best part of election night was a clear National/Act majority, 27% Winston losing, 23% Helen resigning, 11% did not enjoy it and 3% the electorates National won.  Probably Helen resigning.  I’m only guilty of personality politics to an extent as there’s much evidence indicating Helen’s corruption. 
19. 57% said they were voting National, 26% ACT, 7% Labour, 5% Greens.  National! Yeah!
20. 48% have voted for Labour at a previous election.  Nah.. but don’t preclude the possibility in the future. 
21. 47% supported extending the retail bank guarantee to wholesale borrowing, 30% did not and 23% said follow the experts.  Following the experts – Especially if one of the experts is the former reserve bank governor who’s last name begins with B.

As for David Bain – all I can say is that I’m glad I wasn’t on the jury.  I change my mind depending on what I read.  It’s an interest case because it can be approached from so many different angles. 

One thing is for sure, the police stuff up the investigation. 

I stumbled upon the article above.  John Key’s approach to the GEC has caught the attention of newspapers and bloggers around the world because there are a good number of people out there who crave for a John Key style leader.   So as a consequence John Key has received a disproportionate amount of coverage relative to the size of New Zealand.  Coverage I’m sure his predecessor would have died for.

Even though Key has avoided the a ‘big bang’ approach favoured by K Rudd, Brown and Obama, the New Zealand Government’s response to the GEC is the fifth biggest in the world on a per capia basis.  And the budget spend for the 2009 budget increased by over a billion dollars.

So even though Key is reprioritising spending – the reality is his approach isn’t that different from the other advanced economies. 

The difference mainly lies with his rhetoric.  He doesn’t seek to create a new world order like Rudd and Brown but rather fix flaws in the current system and move on.  It’s less dramatic and attention seeking but it’s reassuring. 

So all the Aussies, Americans & Brits out there who yearn for a John  Key – too bad.  He’s ours. 

Don Brash show’s his nous with an insight into the current economic situation. 

Quality from the would be Prime Minister had the 2005 election not been stolen.

 

"The Republican Movement has accused John Key of making excuses for not holding a referendum on New Zealand's constitutional future"

 

"I believe that our nation is stronger and more secure when we deploy the full measure of both our power and the power of our values –- including the rule of law. "

 

"What makes the United States special, and what makes you special, is precisely the fact that we are willing to uphold our values and our ideals even when it's hard, not just when it's easy; even when we are afraid and under threat, not just when it's expedient to do so. That's what makes us different."

 

1.  As prime minister, Miss Clark sparked strong views while polls rated her as among our most popular leaders, she also became an increasingly polarising figure.

2.   "There was also intense media scrutiny including over her private life."

3.  "Obviously there were things happening which I really think are outrageous ... but if I go out there and say that, people are just going to respond, `Oh, she lost the election, it's just sour grapes'. So there is no point in even going near that." 

 

4.  Like the rest of her private papers there are thousands of them, she says the ones in the case will not be released to the public till after her death. Till that day, her secrets after nine years as prime minister, and 27 in the public eye, will remain just that.

 

"I certainly have no intention of apologising to people who have written in and complained. The key thing to me is what a fortunate life they must have that they can afford time and energy to complain about such an insignificant thing."

 

 

 No one should underestimate the emotional side of politics. The Left in Australia has a history of hero worshipping that one does not find on the conservative side of politics.

 

I’m just in awe of John Key at the moment.  He speaks with so much knowledge & authority yet so little pretence. 

Patriotism and pride in your country isn’t necessarily linked with who the Prime Minister is, but it certainly helps. 

^ Heh John Key has almost as many fans as George W. Bush on Facebook.

But consider this.  Dubba was President of a country with over 300 million people.  John Key is the Prime Minister of a country with just over 4 million people.

On a per capita basis John Key would be one of the most popular politicians on Facebook.