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Tag: ss501
My Favoritest Favorite. . . Songs By Bias K-pop Groups!
January 24, 2016 January 24, 2016 CeeFuLeave a comment
Shinhwa
I like a lot of K-pop groups (a LOT…of K-pop groups), but I have four bias groups (SS501, Shinhwa, SHINee and Super Junior), my favoritest favorites. I looked at my iTunes to see which songs by my bias groups I played the most. I was surprised!
Continue reading "My Favoritest Favorite. . . Songs By Bias K-pop Groups!" →
What I'm Listening To: "Maria," Heo Young Saeng
April 11, 2013 February 17, 2015 CeeFuLeave a comment
Ever so often, I like to share what's on heavy rotation on my iPod. It isn't always the newest thing, or the most popular thing, but for some reason this is the stuff that I'm grooving to. I make no distinction between idol and non-idol Kpop, popular and obscure, mainstream and indie. It's just what I like, and some info about it. Maybe you might like it too.
Heo Young Saeng, of SS501 (because, as every Triple S knows, they are NOT disbanded), recently made his comeback with "The Art of Seduction," from Life, his new mini-album. That's great, but his comeback reminds me of my favorite song, "Maria," from his last mini-album, Solo.
Who Does It
Young Saeng is a major vocalist in SS501, best known for ballads that show off his range, both in SS501 songs as well as his solo work. He's best known for slow songs, like "Rainy Heart," although he did switch it up by releasing "Let It Go," a dance track, as the first single from his first mini-album of the name. Anyone who is familiar with his work knows that dude loves love.
Why I Like It
So, most people know that Young Saeng is my bias in SS501 (go Bad Boy Otter Prince!), and I'm not even going to try to hide how much I liked this song from the get-go. I like "Maria" because it allows Young Saeng to break from expectation and belt out a rock ballad. As the video shows, he has a live band behind him at this performance, and his voice is a great complement to the guitars. Idol groups are so often pigeon-holed and it's really great to see Young Saeng show his vocal range. It also tickles me that this song is the longest (over 5 minutes!) on the album.
Image: Heo Young Saeng
Dancing in the Street: Choreography in Kpop
March 22, 2012 August 27, 2012 CeeFu7 Comments
TVXQ, Wae (Keep Your Head Down)(screen capture); Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djJb5iSL0Do
Dance is a huge part of mainstream Kpop, and while many recognize the dances popularized by the groups and artists, few know the people behind them: the choreographers. Not only do choreographers impact Kpop through their routines, they also have an impact on fans as well.
Continue reading "Dancing in the Street: Choreography in Kpop" →
The Unsung And The Unsaid In Kpop
January 1, 2012 April 12, 2015 CeeFuLeave a comment
Source: http://taicarmen.wordpress.com/category/the-role-of-the-dreamer-the-falseness-of-civilization/
Kpop is subject to a lot of criticism. A LOT. The most repeated charge against Kpop is that it is manufactured. But is that really true? Usually when critics level this charge, they make sweeping generalizations about the whole landscape of pop. In doing so, they perpetuate stereotypes about the lack of originality in Asian popular culture.
Read more at KPK: Kpop Kollective (originally published January 1, 2012)
January 1, 2012 September 29, 2012 CeeFu5 Comments
Originally published on KPK: Kpop Kollective on January 1, 2012 by CeeFu
It seems almost obligatory for anyone writing about Kpop to describe it as manufactured. Critics frequently focus on Kpop idol artists, who, in addition to making music, participate in other forms of entertainment, including variety shows and Kdramas, fashion shoots, endorsements and commercial films. In some ways it make sense. Idol artists dominate Hallyu, and tend to be the most visible to audiences outside of Korea.
But critics tend to describe all Kpop artists as manufactured. In defining Kpop on About.com, Bill Lamb writes, "As Western influences grew in Korean pop, the concept of the manufactured pop band took root as well." Renie of Seoulbeats, in pondering whether or not K-pop is too perfect, writes: "Of course this all goes back to how idols are trained and manufactured." Lucy Williamson of BBC News states: "K-Pop is expensive to produce. The groups are highly manufactured, and can require a team of managers, choreographers and wardrobe assistants, as well as years of singing lessons, dance training, accommodation and living expenses."
These writers are not wholly wrong. Let's be real. Given the number of Kpop groups in circulation and the kind of profits that can be made from even a moderately successful group, it is naive to believe their promotion is not deliberate. However, instead of qualifying their statements, critics suggest that it applies to every idol and all members of an idol group. Critics rarely name the artists against whom they level the charge, thereby qualifying their statements. As a result, calling all Kpop artists manufactured has resulted in negative connotations. At the heart of Kpop beats an artificial heart. Because the description is repeated so often without any challenge, it has become accepted as fact.The widespread idea that all Kpop is manufactured is surely a case of wikiality, coined by Stephen Colbert as truth by consensus, where "all we need to do is convince a majority of people that some factoid is true."
Just because everyone says that Kpop is manufactured does not make it true. In fact, there is a strong case to be made that all Kpop is not manufactured. What does "manufactured" mean, and what do people really mean when they say that Kpop is manufactured? The Oxford English Dictionary, the grandaddy of dictionaries of the English language, defines it this way:
1. a. Of an article, goods, etc.: produced from raw material, esp. for sale or trade; b. Chiefly depreciative. Of a literary work, a speech, etc.: produced in a mechanical or formulaic way, with little or no creativity, imagination, or originality.
2. Of a story, statement, etc.: fraudulently invented or produced; deliberately fabricated, false.
When writers routinely describe Kpop as "manufactured," they mean primarily two things: that Kpop idols lack talent, and that the process that creates Kpop is artificial and fake.
Wikiality "Fact" #1: Kpop idols lack talent.
To say that Kpop artists are manufactured suggests that the artists themselves lack talent, and in this way are "fraudulently invented or produced." Renie suggests this when generalizing about idol trainees: "Trainees go in as a blank slate but come out as a product that can sing, dance, and sometimes act." Similarly, Jangta makes a distinction between singers and entertainers using this spectre of fakeness: "Many mainstream K-pop groups today are actually strong at only three things. . . Unfortunately, singing isn't one of them." (Full disclosure: I am an assistant chief editor and editorial writer for hellokpop. Hey Jangta! :))
But is this true? Most people would agree that you cannot fake good singing. There is more than enough evidence to prove that many idols can, in fact, sing well. Because Korea still has a live radio culture, idols regularly sing on the radio, a place where they cannot rely on autotune or slick production tricks. I would imagine folk would regularly call in to complain about an idol's inability to sing on the radio.
These aren't even the hardcore idols singers, like Junsu of JYJ (formerly of TVXQ!), Yesung of Super Junior and Heo Young Saeng of SS501, individuals known for their voices. But wait, you may say, "Every group can luck up and have one person who can sing, but the others are just filler." Are they? What do we make of groups that can harmonize, which suggests that all of them can sing?
The point here is that the sweeping generalization that all Kpop idols lack talent is contradicted by the actual landscape of Kpop.
Wikiality "Fact" #2: The training and production process of Kpop creates fake music.
To say that Kpop is manufactured also suggests that the music and the process that creates it lack "creativity, imagination or originality" and is therefore "artificial." Such music is created through a process that is "mechanical or formulaic" because it is "produced. . . for sale or trade." Renie writes, "It irks me that the industry thinks idols can be formulated as if they are some sort of math problem." In a review of a review of an article, IATFB suggests that the basis of the comparison of Kpop groups and American pop groups like *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys rests on, "a corporate-vetted, manufactured sound." These statements suggest that the people who are involved in the production of Kpop are also talentless hacks who produce sucky music and janky dance routines.
But does a deliberate process of training individuals to sing and dance equal artificiality? Let's explore one of the first "manufactured" groups on the planet: The Monkees. In 1965, two producers wanted to capitalize on the popularity of The Beatles by creating a television series about a rock and roll group. When they couldn't find a group to star in the series, they made one. They cast four guys: two musicians (Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork), a singer (Davy Jones) and a guitarist (Micky Dolenz). However, in need a drummer, they trained Dolenz to play drums. While they played their instruments on tour, they did not play on the albums.
Sound familiar? Here's the thing: these guys were not just picked for their good looks or their charisma. They had talent, but more importantly, the artistic team behind them, the writers and composers of their songs, also had talent. Some of their biggest hits were written by people whose talent credentials were hard to question. For example, Neil Diamond, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, wrote I'm A Believer. The people who played the instruments on their albums were veteran musicians. Just because the process by which a group is created is deliberately designed to be commercial does not mean that the actual music and those who create it are fake.
Source: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/121814-hey-hey-etc…why-i-love-the-monkees
Similarly, the creative people behind Kpop idols are talented, even as they produce music made for commercial consumption (which is no different from any other pop music artist, I might add). While we were mesmerized by the members of Super Junior in the intro to the Mr. Simple video, has anyone wondered who sings that jazzy intro? Because it's not anyone in Super Junior:
That is Yoo Young Jin. Most people don't know who he is, but he is the man responsible in some way for nearly every hit by artists of SM Entertainment, and, a talented singer in his own right. Have you heard Young Jin sing? Would a person who can sing himself produce lots of people who can't sing? Would he deliberately make his own albums suck? No, because that does not make sense.
What about the choreographers? Jangta refers to the "easy-to-do" dance moves of Kpop artists. This is not easy:
I can't do this, and I'm willing to bet most of you can't either. Ask a dance cover team if these are easy moves. These moves do not make themselves. They are the product of trained choreographers, and one of the best known is Rino Nakasone. Nakasone, along with Sim Jaewon, are responsible for the choreography of both of these routines. Before choreographing for SME, Nakasone was a principal dancer working with Janet Jackson and Gwen Stefani and a choreographer for Britney Spears.
Impact on Asian Popular Culture
So what? Stating that Kpop is manufactured takes away agency from those who produce it (most of whom are Asian) and contributes to the larger misconception that Asian culture is mere an imitation of other (read Western) cultures.
Most people would have you believe that idols have no agency. Renie seems to believe they are automatons who just do what they are told. But let me get a little philosophical on you. Antonio Gramsci, an Italian philosopher, talks about hegemony, where dominance occurs as the result of consent, meaning that those who have less power are not just forced or coerced into their positions. Just because you may not have a lot of power does not mean you don't have any power. Your consent is needed by those who have more power than you.
In relation to Kpop idols, they give their consent by participating in the Kpop business, but they also get something out of it. They are not mindless automatons. For every story you hear about an idol suing their company, there are untold stories of idols traveling around the world, learning new languages, learning to write and produce music, receiving royalties from the songs they write and generally having experiences they would not otherwise have. It is too simplistic to say that Kpop idols just do what they are told.
To repeatedly say that Kpop idols do not have agency participates in a long-standing discourse that says Asians do not have agency. Any Chinese, Japanese or Korean history course can tell you about the repeated incursions by Western powers as well as other Asian powers, but I've found no better illustration of this than Bruce Lee's iconic scene in Fist of Fury, where he insists that China is not "the sick man of Asia."
To repeatedly say that Kpop is mere imitation perpetuates the idea that any form of Asian popular culture, particularly those that are very successful, is merely imitative. Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic write that success among Asian cultures has been explained in negative terms before. Asians are described as "chameleons who, with no culture of their own, take on the cultural coloration of the society around them. . . . The negative aspect of this stereotype is not the purported adaptability, which could be considered a positive trait. Rather, it is the specific form of that adaptation, which is described as purely imitative with no creative component. . . . Asians. . . have similarly been described as imitative and without a culture of their own" (581-581). When Nakasone is a principal dancer with Janet Jackson or Gwen Stefani, or choreographing for Britney Spears, it's all cool, but when she choreographs Lucifer for SHINee or Keep Your Head Down for TVXQ!, her moves suddenly become robotic. Why? Because the dancers are Asian?
Kpop needs as much critical attention as it can get. But, it's problematic when it comes in the form of generalized statements that perpetuate erroneous notions about Kpop in particular, and Asian popular culture in general. More nuanced critiques supported by concrete examples would go a long way to making the discussion more fruitful and enlarging the conversation on the impact of the success of Kpop on its quality.
Renie, "Is K-pop Too Perfect?" seoulbeats.com
Lucy Williamson, "The Dark Side of South Korean Pop Music," BBC News
Bill Lamb, "K-Pop," about.com
Jangta, "How K-pop May Have Lowered Korean Music Standards," hellokpop.com
IATFB, Critical Eye: Soompi's Editorial On 'Sick of K-pop Cult' Article a Hypocritical Mess," asianjunkie.com
Wikiality, Wikipedia in Culture, Wikipedia.com
The Monkees, Wikipedia.com
Dominic Mastroianni, Hegemony in Antonio Gramsci, emory.edu
Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic, Critical Race Theory: The Cutting Edge, Google Books, 580-581.
Video Sources:
vivioncifer, Onew singing 다행이다 (It's Fortunate) @ Ten Ten Club, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZihcUx_Te-c
mydeko, hyungjun sings love like this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlR828XJqHA&feature=related
meizhizi, HUG! Acapella version, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l9b_b6gjrE&feature=related
mugglestudio, SS501 Acapella in Japan 2007, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_Las4JeRKY
SM Entertainment, Mr. Simple, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6TwzSGYycM
SM Entertainment, Lucifer Dance Version, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovztfpWPo5M
SM Entertainment, Keep Your Head Down Dance Version, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm490aUEAZ8
Movieclips.com, Fist of Fury, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmD1a_N83ZM&feature=relmfu
The REAL SM Entertainment Conspiracy
December 18, 2011 April 12, 2015 CeeFuLeave a comment
People, you have been fooled! SM Entertainment has distracted you with multi-year contracts, lawsuits and tales of exploitation, but I know what the REAL conspiracy is.
SM is CLONING idols!!! YES! I am 84.7 % positive that SM has a team of scientists whose sole job is to clone idols. You haven't noticed a slew of attractive Korean men who have cheeky cheeks and sing really well? Look!
Exhibit 1: Hye Sung of Shinhwa
Cheeky cheeks? Check! Pouty lips? Check! I suspect that Hye Sung is really the original, from which SM is taking genetic material for other idols. He is quiet and seems fairly sweet, and some have referred to him as a prince. These are things we will encounter with the clones. Oh, and let's not forget about his singing ability!
Read more here at KPK: Kpop Kollective (originally published on July 1, 2011)
Shock and Aww, What Are You Doing?!: The Use And Abuse Of The Concept Photo
September 29, 2011 April 12, 2015 CeeFuLeave a comment
With the recent slew of comebacks, Kpop fans have been exposed to some pretty surprising photos of late. I know agencies use such tactics to draw attention to their groups and artists.
Read more at hellokpop.com (Originally published on September 26, 2011)
July 1, 2011 September 29, 2012 CeeFuLeave a comment
Originally published in July 1, 2011 by CeeFu
Exhibit 2: Young Saeng of SS501
Wait, you may say. SS501 is not an SM group; they were with DSP and are now in separate agencies. Oh, but don't you remember that back in the day, Young Saeng was an SM trainee?! Note the similar cheeky cheeks and pouty lips. Young Saeng is the quietest member of SS501. And what do they call him? The Otter PRINCE! SHY PRINCE! Oh, and don't forget HIS ability to sing!
Exhibit 3: Yesung of Super Junior
C'mon, do I have to say it? Cheeks. Lips. LOOK AT HIM!!! Oh, and what do they call him? THE CLOUD PRINCE OF SUPER JUNIOR! But the cloning wouldn't be successful if he couldn't sing:
SM isn't even trying to hide it! They barely bother to change names from one clone to the next: Hye Sung, Young Saeng, Yesung! C'mon people! Wake up and smell the conspiracy! They make little changes so you don't notice. They put them in groups so that you can't focus on them. I've been taking one for the team, scrutinizing these guys to bring you this breaking news! And SM is smart. These aren't exact duplicates. They make a little alteration here, a little change there, so the general public will not notice. I'm not saying that they are the SAME; I'm pretty sure that I've seen Young Saeng and Yesung in the same room. People can independently vouch that Hye Sung and Young Saeng are NOT the same person. But, I am 84.7% positive that we are working with the same basic genetic stock here.
However, I must say, I don't mind this conspiracy. I can accept as many cheeky cheeked, pouty-lipped idols who can sing as SM can produce. You don't think this is merely my imagination, do you? This isn't at all like that other thing about Taeyang and Jay Park being the same person. I think we've all accepted that's a fact.
Photo Credits: triplesphilippines.blogspot.com, feel-amane.blogspot.com, kikonyon.blogspot.com
Video Credits:
Young Saeng Sings Bogoshipda,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7UuV3_wi-Y
Shin Hye Sung Sings You Raise Me Up, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uDz8bacqlM
Yesung Sings Polaris, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAMee_8J85s
Love Letter #1 to Kpop
January 9, 2011 August 27, 2012 CeeFu4 Comments
Dear Kpop,
How are you? I hope you are well, but I have some concerns about our relationship.
First, you know that all lovers of Kpop are not in Korea, or even Asia, right? You do realize you got people who speak from Spanish and Arabic loving you, right? We are like the people of Whoville in Dr. Seuss' "Horton Hears a Who." "WE'RE HERE!!" We may not have superlarge numbers, but we are here. And we know our SS501, Super Junior, TVXQ, SNSD, 2NE1, etc. WE KNOW YOU!! We love you, you need to love us back!!! Come say hi sometime!
Second, you know we love you just the way you are, right? From the aegyo to the sexy, we got your back. So when I actually heard Ayy Girl by JYJ, I was afraid that you were changing, and not in a good way. I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon of Kanye West-haters, but that song should be credited this way: Ayy Girl by Kanye West, featuring JYJ. That ain't Kpop! Just because you have Korean boys singing doesn't make it Kpop!!!! Where is my Korean? I know this is a CONSTANT gripe, but I can't let it go. If you aren't careful, American producers will take the K out of Kpop, and then where will we be?
I know there is a certain kind of value attached to an English language album, but really, English isn't all it's cracked up to be. 🙂
Oh and no, I'm not even getting into the Crips-Bloods feud between TVXQ and JYJ. I will tell you this: GET OVER IT!!! You are going to look back and think, "I said WHAT!" Give TVXQ their credit: Keep Your Head Down is slammin', especially since they are down THREE sexy men. JYJ: do your thing, there is enough adoration to go around.
So, Kpop, you just keep being you! We'll always be here! Don't be like Netflix (we are TOTALLY seeing other people!!!)
SS501: This One Is All About You
December 8, 2010 August 27, 2012 CeeFu8 Comments
"In my eyes," SS501 is the brightest star in the kpop universe. I'm not hatin' on anybody else, but I am a SS501 girl. I like them so much that I will occasionally tease them also. It's all peace and love. Just think of me as that cool noona always cheering them on. Yeah, I'm working on research that is all intellectual, how they represent a transnational masculinity that negotiates between two ethnic cultures (having a degree means you can work the academese!) and what not, but this post is about the fangirl/boy in all of us.
Why do I like SS501? What's not to like? Really, if you are going to like to SS501, you have to embrace ALL of SS501, from the sexy manly of "U R Man" and "Love Ya" as well as that cracktastic choreography of "A Song Calling for You." They are the wonderful embodiment of what I like in a kpop band: pretty and silly. That's not easy to pull off. Yeah, Kim Hyung Joon, we all know that you like to flaunt that tattoo in the "U R Man" video, but I've seen footage of you screaming in a Japanese cemetery. Yeah, Kim Hyun Joong, you are all pimptastic cool in "Love Ya," but I've seen footage of you when you first wake up in the morning. It certainly goes against the complete pretty boy image that could be defining feature of a kpop boy band (oops, I mean idol band, because they are "men" now, y'all).
Contrary to popular belief, it is not all about how they look. According to the count on my iTunes, my most played SS501 song is "U R Man," with "Deja Vu" close behind (what is even more curious is that Nicholas Tse's "Huang Zhong Ren" outpaces them both–what's up with that? clearly, another post). I really can't say which member is my favorite. Heo Young Saeng has a beautiful voice, and Kim Kyu Jong is a really strong dancer. And Park Jung Min will tell you about all of his fantastic qualities! I like them each for different reasons; they each have different talents and personalities, which would warrant successful careers on their on, but you put that together, and it's something special. And I would venture to say that the reason why fans like SS501 is that they genuinely seem to like one another. How else are they going to be five united as one forever?
It's an interesting time to like SS501, with all the emotional appeals and outbursts on the net about whether they are together (or not), will put out a new album (or not), etc. Leader Joong has to be one of the hardest working idols out there; it seems it's everyday I hear something about him. Baby Joon is in a musical and Jung Min is about to drop his album in the new year (you know, if North Korea doesn't act up). KyuSaeng showed up for a fan meeting recently. BIG SHOUT OUT to all the Green Peas and Triple Ss running blogs, sites, Facebook groups and pages, because there is no way this SS501 train keeps moving without people who speak and read Korean translating for those of us who don't. How else can we sing along IN KOREAN! What people should really pay attention to is the truly international appeal of SS501. Sisters are holding it down from the Philippines to the Middle East. I just found a student here in NC that shares my adoration of the band (hey, Michelle!). SS501 fans are everywhere. That, my friends, is deep.
So as we wait for the next SS501 "thing," I have one thing to say:
"Baby, one more time!"
Boys Over Flowers: The Aestheticization of the Korean Male? Or THEY'RE SO PRETTY!!!!!!
October 13, 2010 December 18, 2011 CeeFu3 Comments
Dedicated to my Kdrama Kousin, Emily!
Welcome to the inaugural post for the new category on High Yellow, the Kdrama Kafe! Spoilers ahead (like you haven't seen it!)
Now, Boys Over Flowers is not my first kdrama, but I can see why it is much beloved. And like many, I like it for the Boys! But let's dispense with the girls first. I can't figure out if I'm not enamored with the actress who plays Jan Di, or Jan Di herself. She starts out great: fiesty, sassy, and violent. But as the series wears on, I can't believe how passive-passive she gets. Even her sidekick-friend Ga Eul has more character growth than she does. But to her credit, she still wants to make her own way. She could be nicer to Gu Jun Pyo.
Speaking of the men…..I know that this is based on a Japanese manga, Hana Yori Dango, which spawned a Japanese drama and a Taiwanese drama, but the Koreans showed why they OWN the drama. Just for my own edification, I decided to watch the first episode of the other two, particularly the introduction of F4, to test a theory. In Hana Yori Dango, the female progatonist seems more anti-F4, but F4 themselves do not strike me as particularly enviable. In Meteor Shower, the Taiwanese version, the creators do a slightly better job of making you think these are privelged sons of industry (or in Woo Bin's case, illegitimate industry). But the introduction of F4 in Boys Over Flowers convinced me that F4 was every bit as priveleged and snotty as they are supposed to be, at least in the beginning. They roll into school with that halo of light behind them with expressions that imply, "What?"
So why do I like them? Because whoever styled them deserves a medal, hence the theme of this post! These guys are dressed, I mean DRESSED. Who sports white suits, canes and fur to go to school? They are pimptastic! For real, it takes a special man to rock eyelet (yes, I'm talking to you Kim Bum!). Now, some may argue that I am objectifying these young men, not allow them to be fully realized human beings with thoughts and feelings. Hey, I'm all ears to hear whatever they got to say. Hit me up on the blog! 🙂
But I think there is another way to read this. Way back in the day, intentional clothes mattered. They were emblems of personal style and expression. When people dressed for dinner. You know you've caught yourself watching some old movie from Hollywood's glamour period. I can remember my mom talking about how they looked forward to dressing up on the weekend to go dancing (not even trying to put my mom in Hollywood's golden age; she would kill me for putting her age on blast on the internet). You don't even have to go back that far. F4 reminds me of the New Romantics of the 80s. Clothes may not give us world peace, but there is a tradition of intentional dressing, significant to communities the world over. It means something. And that's what I like about the Boys in Boys Over Flowers. THEY'RE SO PRETTY! And I say that with much love and affection!
So to close out the post in an appropriate manner, here's a little video! Gentlemen of the world, remember, women love a well dressed man! Shout out to SS501, who make that sneaky cameo in Boys Over Flowers! Oh, and one question: where does one find a Lincoln Continental in Korea?


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Written By: notices and features - Date published: 7:00 am, May 22nd, 2019 - 147 comments
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Step up to the mike …
147 comments on "Open mike 22/05/2019 "
Sacha 1
Bus contracting model to change https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/112880096/public-transport-tendering-model-to-be-reviewed-in-an-attempt-to-stem-driver-shortage
Cinny 2
national said a report on their culture was ready in back in April. At the time they said they would wait until the bullying report about parliament was released, then they would release their own report.
Now that the parliament report on bullying has been released, all of a sudden nationals report on their party culture is not ready……. why is that? Sounds dodgy as to me.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/05/22/597817/mixed-messages-from-national-on-culture-review
Maybe it's being 're-calibrated' as we speak …
Sacha 2.1.1
Some hurried editing, for sure.
Incognito 2.1.1.1
Something like 'how to turn a white-wash into something that vaguely resembles a damning report that is more credible given the other report that has just been released'.
Edit: which impartial third party has put their name(s) on the National Party report?
Dennis Frank 2.1.1.2
Editing probably advisable inasmuch as the party folk who work in parliament participate in the toxic workplace culture reported by the Francis review. Their in-house culture review therefore has a parliamentary interface component, which will be illuminated by yesterday's news.
Plus we heard Mallard telling NatRad this morning that he's under the impression that rape has happened in parliament in recent years. He's encouraging any victims to report to that police, and giving reassurance complainants will be supported in doing so. Sufficiently serious to make the Nats want to check if any of their people are involved, eh? Reasonable to postpone release of their review pending that check…
greywarshark 2.1.1.2.1
Gnat report red-acting?
Gabby 2.2
They just have to pencil in a guarantee of anonymity, you know, to safeguard the victims.
Shadrach 2.3
I wonder if it's gone the same way that Labour's Youth Camp investigation went. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/08/labour-refuses-to-release-youth-camp-report.html
Not mentioned on any NZ news source that I am aware of, as I said in my official complaint to RNZ, all we ask for is fair and balanced reporting…is that too much to ask for from at least one news source in NZ?, and especially our state broadcaster.
Massive May Day March in Defense of the Bolivarian Revolution.
weston 3.1
Yep RNZ's a wierd scene alright adrian , free to air funded by us and yet run exactly along the lines of a fully commercial station .The only sources it seeks are uk and us based cnn ( which they apparently have playing in the office )and bbc .Odd and out of all perspective also is the number of interviews of americans who seemingly are first choice to consult on almost anything happening arround the world buggered if i know why !!
WeTheBleeple 3.1.1
Well, if you look between the lines… it's an old white boys club. Our news is the world according to old white boys.
Tokenism accepted begrudgingly.
Adrian Thornton 3.1.1.1
@WeTheBleeple, You are right except is has now turned into more of a white boys and girls club I think…with tokenism accepted begrudgingly.
greywarshark 3.1.1.2
What we want is Tolkienism so the Hobbits get to be the centre of civilisation!
Robert Guyton 3.1.1.2.1
Yes weston it is a damn shame alright, even our beloved Kim Hill has over time turned into a real reactionary, and I used to so look forward to her political interviews, she was one of NZ's greats, but unfortunately no longer.
Bizarrely one of the few places in MSM media that I know of that offer a critique to a lot of these stories is Tucker Carlson on Fox (and believe me I am no fan of Fox)…what a crazy situation we have ended up in.
Puckish Rogue 3.1.2.1
Tuckers reasoning as to why he'd block driverless trucks (to protect truck drivers jobs) is something I'm sure all lefties would agree on
Dennis Frank 3.1.2.1.1
Bipartisan anti-robot bias in the media? So what do we call this new syndrome – antiroboticism??
Adrian Thornton 3.1.2.1.2
Yeah, he also did a piece in support of Bernie and AOC's bill to bring the credit card industry into line on their interest rates, all very strange, I would never have predicted that Fox would be one of the few place in US main stream media to find a bit (and to be fair it is only a bit) of fairness and balance in reporting, but all the same it says volumes about 'liberal' media today.
Gabby 3.1.3
You can't trust johnny foreigner and his foreign jibberjabber to give the right facts westie.
greywarshark 3.2
I feel that we have a special deal with Voice of America for our news.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_of_America
Weston 3.1: Odd and out of all perspective also is the number of interviews of americans who seemingly are first choice to consult on almost anything happening arround the world buggered if i know why !!
You lay it on the line westie – we have found out why and now know we are buggered!
vto 4
In the last week Paddy Gower on newshub and Seymour and Wallis on Q&A have all claimed that we have a white supremacist and race problem in NZ which was exposed by the terrorist attack in Chch.
Pardon me, but the attack was carried out by a foreigner attacking New Zealanders. New Zealand was a victim, not the perpetrator.
There is no evidence to support the contention made by Gower, Seymour or Wallis.
Sure, there may be a problem in NZ with white and other supremacies and with racism, but there is no evidence linking those problems to the attacks. Those problems exist in most every country on the planet so the logic isn't there.
We were attacked by a foreigner. We were a victim. NZ was not a party to the attack, as Gower, Seymour and Wallis state.
Dennis Frank 4.1
You're right. A reality check often reveals that folks are being driven by perceptions only. In the aftermath of the massacre I made a few comments to similar effect: we know there's been a skinhead subculture in Chch for yonks, with white supremacist culture seemingly attached. Yet no media report connecting the shooter to it ever showed up – just media reporting a speculative connection.
I also queried the others arrested in the vicinity of the massacre on that day, media-linked to it, yet lack of follow-through by police suggests no link to the shooter. I commented at the time that they may just have been regular viewers of tv crime shows. Media reports of those arrests said they were carrying guns.
Raises the question of what percentage of any random selection of Chch locals carry guns, eh? Hollywood syndrome: gun glamour. Brainwashed followers acting out fantasies produced by the mystique…
Sabine 4.1.1
he is right insofar that the perpetrator of the crime was a "foreigner' and australian.
but he is not right with white male supremacy. The western/white world actually has a big issue with predominantly white blokes that have an issue with the loss of privilege, the fact that women will not go back to the kitchen and endless pregnancies without a fight, and that people of color will also not go and sit at the back of the bus without a fight.
So the issue is our culture, our white western christian culture is breeding these guys, and thanks to our privilege he moved here without issues, bought guns legally without issues, and then one day decided to kill 50 people.
And he did so out of stated reason, but then, because Ms. Ardern said so we were not allowed an open discussion on these reasons. No we have to not name him, not talk about him and simply pretend it did not happen the way it happend, and now VTO comes along and is trying to whitewash history.
The 50 people got killed because they were brown, of a different religion and are currently the one group of people that every one can demonise with nary a slap one the hand.; Hence why only murder charges when terrorism charges would apply.
Its like some saying we must 'End Iran' cause Iran is doing shit we are actually doing but its easier to blame Iran and besides they are brown and muslim so there. Just much smaller on the scale of things.
vto 4.1.1.1
Anything to have a crack at white men eh sabine. Grab at those wispy leaves blowing in the wind wont you, try and tie them into something with substance eh, leverage other memes off those weak knots then. You are predictable, tedious, offensive and lack credibility.
Some time ago you demanded I not respond to your posts. How about you do the same with mine.
marty mars 4.1.1.1.1
ummm hey buddy Sabine actually answered your question – how about listening – you may eventually get the answer that agrees with what you already have decided to believe.
bewildered 4.1.1.1.1.1
Sabine did not answer anything she just dropped a lot of stereo types and revealed her own bias
Sabine 4.1.1.1.2
its not my fault that there are a shit load of white men behaving like utterly depraved people like that white middle class boy from Australia with lots o money from Grandpa who migrated to NZ because he knew that as a white boy its the easiest thing for him to – also did i mention he is from OZ"?, buy a few guns, get some target training in and then rock up on a Friday at a house of prayer and shoot 50 men women children in the back like the fucking coward he is.
so there go whinge some more about how men are hard done by especially the white ones.
vto 4.1.1.1.2.1
your bitterness betrays you
btw, i didn't "whinge about how men are hard done by eespecially the white ones" but the fact you think I did also betrays you and your agenda
In addition this wee white-man-hating gem also betrays you and your agenda "there are a shit load of white men behaving like utterly depraved people ". Delusional.
you wanted me to stay away from you, which is easily done and has been done as you asked. I ask you to stay away from me too. But if you don't then expect your extreme claims to be confronted.
marty mars …
"Anything to have a crack at white men eh sabine"
that is what you said at 9.07am
"btw, i didn't "whinge about how men are hard done by eespecially the white ones" but the fact you think I did also betrays you and your agenda"
and then you said that at 12.59pm? looks like a whinge to me or have you forgotten what you wrote. Bit agenderary by you I fink.
vto …
Detail, specifics and accuracy are not your fine points are they marty. That was clearly a whinge at sabine and her white-man-hating ways, not at how white men are hard done by.
Sabine …
good grief, stop with the 'bitterness' bullshit. Seriously the one who is bitter is you.
I simply laid out the fact as they are. Nothing more nothing less.
And yes dear, you whinge a lot.
Foreign Waka 4.1.1.1.2.2
Sabine, NZ has a problem with all races killing their babies and/or partners. Domestic violence is rife. Weapons are carried by gangs which are of all races. I don't want to state the obvious but I think you need to do a fact check before you make these statements.
It is true that the world we live in was and still is designed by the wealthy upper class, in the majority men but certainly not whites only. But brutality is carried out by those who are fanatically inclined or emotionally disturbed with many shades of one or the other in between. I view it as a complete failure of society,communities and governments to have allowed mentally disturbed people to be "treated" by using the label "community care"which means nothing more than medieval methods of denial of care. It is an abdication of responsibility to leave such vulnerable group to their own devices and too many are becoming victims or perpetrator. Whether or not a deranged person has wealthy parents is irrelevant unless policy of envy is at play.
again, you miss the point.
my post was in response to vto who spoke about the white man who killed 50 brown and white people in their temple.
nothing to do with anything else but that.
And i, as a white person don't feel entitled to speak about the way others live their lifes, or how they choose to break the law. What i know is that a lot of the issues Maori have in NZ is due to the discrimination suffered at the hands of the colonials that came first, then by the subsequent governments who took their language, their rights of passage (moko), their land, and replaced it with white mens clothes and hairdoes, alcohol, poverty, hunger and war fare for that land.
so while i don't disagree with you i also don't see the point in regards to what the original post was about.
And agin, even the wealth of the murderer has little to do other then it enabled him to travel to meet up with white supremacist in europe, get indoctrinated, travel to nz ( i migrated here and thus now what it costs and it is not cheap by any means) find a flat, buy guns, pay a gun club fee and train to shoot 50 predominantly brown people – men women and children – in their temple of worship because as he himself stated, it was the easiest country for him to do so. And one reason it was so easy was because he is a white australian with money and they have no issue migrating here – because we consider australians our neighbors.
And us white people will start to have to look at what is and not what we want there to be. And white supremacism, a fear of 'being replaced', a fear of loss of privilege is there and it is causing a whole lot of trouble and death. We have had no issue demanding all sorts of answers from muslims when they had their young ones commit terrorism, and we should not shy away from asking us the same question. Why does a young, average looking man, healthy, with some wealth go and kill 50 people. People who had no intend on doing any harm to him, who had no intend of replacing him, people who Greeted him "Welcome Brother'.
Maybe we should think about that, rather then find excuses that are rather flimsy. And i stand by that.
vto 4.1.2
You know what those taggers-on were doing on the day of the massacres and the several days following? Was intentionally not reported much methinks..
They were the camo'ed survivalist and other nutters of various shades who came out thinking this was the time. That armageddon was here. Weapons locked and loaded, camo on, out they came. Not white supremacists. The Papanui High couple were out to help the coppers.. We had one with a samurai sword in our suburb.. there were reports of others elsewhere around the country.
The thin veneer of civilisation was peeling back there for a moment for us to get a peek…
marty mars 4.2
It has been explained a few times to you when you asked the same question before. Why not write a letter to Jacinda and see what she says – you might get in the paper again lol
no nothing was 'explained'. and certainly no evidence was provided. the question remains. despite your 'witty' one-liners again lol.
marty mars 4.2.1.1
write the letter big boy and put the answer up BEFORE it makes the news – make sure you comb your hair before the TV people arrive lol
vto 4.2.1.1.1
you love to make fun of people don't you.
is a poorly trait
marty mars 4.2.1.1.1.1
I think if you were genuine and sincere in your inquiry you would have, by now, gone out and found the answer to this burning question that troubles you so. But instead you use the question to sow seeds of distrust and doubt.
But why not ask the leaders and get your answer, why not? cos you already know the answer.
too much muddle-headed assumption in there to waste more time
facts and evidence
so hard to keep to facts and evidence
yep insincere – time for your real agenda eh – time for game playing to be over eh, time for fronting up to your REAL issue eh, time for vto to put up eh.
answer – bau
[Peace to both of you. Please calm it down – MS]
get off the drugs dickhead
WeTheBleeple 4.3
Those local white supremacist losers have been talking about killing others for decades, here in NZ. All because the bulk of them lack the conviction to carry through with their evil doesn't mean they aren't here cheering the shit on and trying to recruit loose cannons.
They are all part of global networking now, and as such are (an even bigger) real and present danger to society.
You sir, are either ill informed or dishonest.
The supremacist/extremist issue within wider society was acknowledged wtb, no problem. The problem is linking the attack to NZ – the only evidence being pointed to which could link the attack to NZ society is the extremist element within society and as already pointed out, those local extremists exist in every society – 'white', muslim, african, maori. So the logic is missing. You need something more specific to link it to NZ. Otherwise your evidence links it to every society and not specifically NZ.
You need something more specific to link it to NZ. Otherwise your evidence links it to every society and not specifically NZ.
The white supremacist's attack against and murdering of innocent people at prayer happened in New Zealand, in fact it happened in your city Christchurch. THAT is your link and your evidence.
here is another if you care to read.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/05/revealed-how-white-supremacists-terrorised-new-zealand-for-decades.html
Why is this an issue for you – why not answer that instead of beating around the bush as you like to do – don't be scared – what's your fucken issue son.
"happened in New Zealand"
I thought it was because we have extremists here? That is the point above. You have introduced a new element.
In addition you are ignoring the fact that it was not a New Zealander, it was a foreigner. Was New Zealand fingered when the Rainbow Warrior was blown up and a man killed by foreigners who came here for that purpose?
Your evidence fails.
WeTheBleeple 4.3.1.2
There is no need to link the NZ attack to NZ, as it occurred in NZ…
I get your point but it is merely semantics and you can do much better than semantics – I've seen it.
Fact is we have a lot of white supremacists here. These are not just the bike clubs and skinheads, but the business class who associate with them, or worse, the secret societies.
I've met a white power enforcer who worked for businessmen in Invercargill. His job was to beat up black people who got uppity with their affairs. It's not worth my life to expose the pricks, that is the Police's job, except, they're probably in the police force too.
I wish it were not so. We've got some absolute dirtbags in this country.
Interestingly, in Christchurch, when my mate tuned up a few National Front members, they hired a Maori hitman to get us. White power – lolz!
I dont consider the point 'semantics' at all – it is fundamental.
NZ society did not do this, despite having elements of the offending group in society.
In the same way NZ society did not sink the Rainbow Warrior, despite having elements of the offending group in society.
mauī 4.3.1.2.1.1
If some New Zealanders had dumped a pig's head on the Rainbow Warrior, hurled abuse at the crew and talked about getting Greenpeace boats out of our waters all prior to the event, you can bet they would have been implicated.
Plenty harboured and expressed such ill will towards greenpeace back then, and continue to today. But NZ did not sink the Rainbow Warrior. The point remains.
greywarshark …
vto The point is well made. People mutter and utter words of extremes – 'I'll kill you you little bastard' might be shouted by some parent with a lack of controlled language. But it is very unlikely to happen.
Tuhoe apparently used to voice angry threats, and practice martial arts; the police spied and read intention and invaded their village. But they hadn't done anything except use wild launguage and perhaps they were practising stuff they might have learned from being in our Defence Forces,
The USA Forces carry out maneouvres with our Forces, and other countries', on our soil regularly. We haven't been attacked yet, though there may be willingness and intention, but so far no action to point at, except the deaths of a soldier or two.
yes grey, and I believe it is one of the fundamentals to whole of the terror attacks matter.
The matter is too large and significant to let this particular fundamental take on a life of its own (that NZ society is responsible for and led to the terror attack), when there is no evidence for it (as outlined imo above).
I agree 100% vto. It particularly upsets me that the Oz has dumped this on us. However Jacinda has turned it round and used the attention of the world on it to try and make improvements. If it had happened in Australia it would have vanished without a trace? Or would they have been exposed as harbouring some nasty behaviours and been shamed into releasing the Manus Islanders? I hear they are contemplating suicide again after Labour managed to shoot themselves in the foot.
Gabby 4.3.1.3
You got to wonder why Shatpant thought he'd get away with it here don't you veety.
RedLogix 4.3.1.3.1
He never imagined he would 'get away' with it; he fully anticipated being caught and imprisoned for the rest of his life. The only reason why he switched to a local target was that he belatedly realised they would be easier.
WeTheBleeple 4.3.1.3.1.1
I thought he'd anticipated being killed. Could be wrong but had the impression he failed in his plans when taken alive.
RedLogix …
Well either way the notion of 'getting away with it because NZ just loves mass murderers' seems a tad far fetched.
Since 9/11 I had always thought NZ would make an excellent target for terrorist attack. Reason being that we are perceived as the safest place in the world so if people aren't safe here then they aren't safe anywhere – terrorism aim achieved.
and then it was a white boy that came and killed people en masse and not the advertised threat of brown muslim boy.
And that is the issue here VTO, if it would have been a brown muslim boy we would not stop discussing the religion of 'hate', how they are all out to get us, and such, and finally how to prevent it.
Instead we are told to not discuss it, we are told to not name the men who did it, we are told to not show is ugly mug, we are told to not read/discuss and disect his manifesto, and above all we are told to never discuss why on earth he would choose a. NZ (and white people find it relatively easy to migrate here especially people from OZ – and to be fair NZ'lers get easily into OZ), why he would choose Christchurch (yeah, a town with Ersatz Nazis and wanna be white supremacists) for his attack, rather then say live in South Auckland and try it there.
Fact is that there is a lot of terrorism that comes from white people. And us white people we now need to wonder and ask ourself and i have raised that question often, Why is a white boy, from one of the most desirable places on this planet, from a well to do family so hateful so fearful and so fucked up that he would migrate to a neighboring country ( he could have killed muslims in OZ) got himself plenty o guns and ammuniton, learned how to shoot real good, and then killed 50 people by shooting them in the back.
And that question we have repeatedly refused to ask, in fact we have been told by our PM to never ask to never speak about it. And that is also cowardice.
yes the murderer of children, women and men knelt at prayer thought it through with cunning – a life behind bars is too easy imo
mauī 4.3.1.4
"The problem is linking the attack to NZ – the only evidence being pointed to which could link the attack to NZ society is the extremist element within society and as already pointed out, those local extremists exist in every society"
According to Gower's report, people from the Al Noor mosque believe the terrorist had help.
Probably best to wait for a completed investigation too before claiming New Zealand's innocence on this.
Drowsy M. Kram 4.3.1.4.1
Maybe 'NZ' played no part in the 15 March acts of terrorism – maybe Muslims in places of worship in Christchurch are the (murder) victims of a foreign terrorist acting alone, and 'we' (wider NZ and all NZers other than the victims) are simply innocent, albeit naive, bystanders. Unfortunately, there are currently insufficient facts available to decide.
Maybe the terrorist plotted secretly in complete isolation and received no encouragement or assistance from any like-minded NZers. I fervently hope that's true, but agree with maui that it's prudent to at the very least suspend judgement on the complicity of any NZers, and (given the unprecedented seriousness of the events of 15 March) proceed with caution until the Royal Commission of Inquiry has reported.
The naivety of NZ's security and intelligence professionals regarding 'our' vulnerability to white supremacist terrorists was certainly a contributing factor.
This is the thing when you demand that a society does not discuss these things in public. You don't know what is, you leave lots of speculation and as we can see we already have apologists rock on up denying it was one of us, it was a Foreigner. Lol, cause Australians are foreigners. Yeah, right Tui.
The white first dudes of this planet are international, they meet, they greet they go to concerts, they go to readings/discussions etc.
Why do you think Bannon is hanging about in Europe? To sightsee?
The making any discussion of this criminal act essentially 'verboten' was so far – in my eyes – the single dumbest thing Labour and Ms. Ardern as PM could have done and they have done a few dumb things since they came to power.
But by essentially pretending it did not happen here, and this is not 'us' and such, they laid the groundwork for future deniers and also they laid the ground – most likely unwittingly (at least i hope this is the case) for it to happen again, cause we ain't learning and we still don't know – the public – with what we are dealing here.
But then we can't upset dear white people.
Disclaimer, i am a white person.
Anne 4.4
@ vto.
Your comment @ 4 and Paddy Gower's claim "a white supremacist and race problem in NZ has been exposed by the Chch attack"…
I don't think he was suggesting a direct link with the perpetrator. Rather he is highlighting the fact that white supremacists and racists have been present in NZ for decades which is true because I knew a group of them.
They didn't roam the streets in leather jackets and boots waving swastika flags. Nor did they call themselves anything. It was back in the 1970s (and part of the 1980s) before social media was a thing and cell phones hadn't been invented. What they did do (among other things ) was roam around disrupting political gatherings and hoaxing individuals. Some of those hoaxes targeted persons of Catholic or Jewish persuasion and in the case of two of them… went on to have serious consequences for the targets and the political party they represented. That is, the Labour Party.
As a group they hated Maoris, they hated Jews and some of them hated Catholics. They hated Greenpeace and similar groups and they hated unions with a passion – at least in the case of two of them. If they were still around as a group today they would hate Muslims too. I see them now as the fore-runners to the alt right, white supremacists that exist throughout NZ today.
And here's the crunch: they were members of the Labour Party!
Yes, understand and appreciate all of that Anne and have seen them for years too. That is all explained in the points above re extremists like them in every society and how it interacts, or doesn't, with the terror attacks.
gsays 4.4.2
I have been a guest at 3 Lions Club meetings in the last decade.
Granted they were small town clubs but the national anthem was only sung in English.
Felt and feels jarring.
I don't know if other clubs have different anthem 'policies'.
Who is Wallis? Is that a surname? I hope it isn't Wallace Chapman.
Louisa Wall, sorry Wall, not Wallis
Thanks – that fits with past behaviour of Wall and Wallace.
Aussie oi !
Want to know why the Aussie election went that way? It had nothing to do with Labour, or Liberals or any other party or any of their campaigns. It had nothing to do with the leaders and their charisma or lack of. It had nothing to do with the economy or the local factory or anything else.
The Aussie election went that way because western voters are now voting in preparation for conflict. And conservatives are where that voting goes.
That's it.
And the Christchurch terror attacks, perversely, would have pushed this along.
edit: this phenomenon has consequences for us in our elections next year…
RedLogix 5.1
Then there is this interesting analysis:
The Liberal first preference tally actually fell by close to 1 per cent, according to Australian Electoral Commission counts posted at midday.
The Liberal vote was 3,293,099, a 0.91 per cent fall from the 2016 level. It's barely moved over two years, and certainly was not a flood of support.
So it must have been a Labor decline that did it in. No so. Labor's first preference vote fell even less than the Liberals'. The ALP had 4,016,676 primary votes, a drop of 0.87 per cent from 2016.
The lesson, as in all modern elections, is not how many votes a party gets, but where they are cast. The Liberals won 27.76 per cent of the primary vote and Labor 33.86 per cent. But we know who won the election.
https://www.news.com.au/national/federal-election/raw-voting-figures-reveal-the-real-losers-in-saturdays-shock-election/news-story/8401c6ad677fae3ca6af0bd9a6ce161d
At the same time I'm not against the point your making; there is a real disquiet and the possibility conflict does tilt people towards being cautious.
A couple of things pointed to the point.
Firstly, the polls indicated a Labour win, but that didn't eventuate. In other words, people were thinking left, but when push comes to shove and people have been put in fear, then they will vote along different lines – those of self-preservation. And there is plenty to put the people in fear – boat people, Trump NK and Iran etc, Chch.
Secondly, it is going on worldwide and has been for a few years now – brexit, trump, various euro elections, even the Ukraine comedian. It is a rising phenomenon.
But yes Red, the point made in your link above is also relevant. Next year's election here will be very interesting – maybe NZ is the last western holdout against the rising tide of conservatism and conflict.
When's the wedding?
RedLogix 5.1.1.1
True. I've repeatedly made the point that Australia electorate is not all that politically different to NZ, but their electoral system is. And this more than anything else has driven the result.
The Greens collected 10.04 per cent of the first preference vote, a total of 1,190,776. The Nationals had 4.89 per cent, or 579,457.
But the Nationals have won 10 seats and the Greens one. It depends where the votes land.
Macro 5.1.1.1.1
Interesting statistics Red.
It was like that here, but it's the same or even worse, in the US, and the UK. Rural seats tend to be heavily favoured for conservative voters, and the "ruling class", whereas urban seats, with far greater numbers, get much less say in the electoral booth. It's not one person, one vote in such systems. The power of a vote in California, for instance, is only about 1/84 that of a vote in Wyoming.
RedLogix 5.1.1.1.1.1
Exactly. I guess what irks me more than a little is the rampant kiwi conceit that our Australian cousins are all six fingered redneck boofheads. No doubt some are, and there is a modest surplus of them in Queensland, but for the most part they're very much like us.
It's the quirks of their electoral system that make them look more conservative.
WeTheBleeple …
Aussies are mostly awesome, be prepared for mud slinging, fire it straight back. 😀
I now have a modest repertoire of sheep jokes for pre-emptive strikes; although sadly they seem to have gone out of fashion in recent times.
greywarshark 5.1.2
RL That points to an unsatisfactory Oz electoral system. A bit like the FPP that we changed to get a better measure of public sentiment.
Well Labour is cautious to the point of cowardice so they should be fine.
And still no mainstream coverage of the document leaked by OPCW staff to the group of UK academics who comprise The Syria Working Group
https://consortiumnews.com/2019/05/17/confirmed-chemical-weapons-assessment-contradicting-official-syria-narrative-is-authentic/
The OPCW in its final report refers to "experts" unnamed, rather than its own Fact Finding Team who visited the site
Newsworthy ,I would have thought.
The 15 page document is very thorough, and explores different scenarios, eventually concluding that the only plausible scenario was that the cylinders were manually placed rather than dropped by air
Could Putin and Assad have maliciously brain washed this senior, vastly experienced OPCW investigator?
Read the report yourself , it addresses elements of the Bellingcat findings (incidentally, unlike the OPCW engineering report,Bellingcat operatives did not visit the site. As always their investigation was conducted in front of a computer screen)
Stuart Munro. 6.1
Yeah, but you would think that because you rate Consortium News above Bellingcat. Bellingcat have earned a reputation for finding out the truth by image analysis, Consortium News are just another Kremlin mirror site.
francesca 6.1.1
OK Stuart
Consortium news is out for you despite being founded and run until recently by an acclaimed US journalist , Robert Parry
Wikipedia ok for you ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Parry_(journalist)
Perhaps this source won't trigger you , it gets down to the nitty gritty.
https://opensociet.org/2019/05/19/truth-vanishes-beneath-a-cloud-of-poison-gas/
Stuart Munro. 6.1.1.1
Have you read some of the columns allegedly written by Parry? They are not consistent with a PhD qualified native English speaking journalist. As of several years ago this site abandoned all pretense of journalistic integrity and became a purveyor of wildebeests of dubious provenance – your preferred kind of gnus.
Poission 6.1.1.1.1
Did you read the engineering assessment report by the OPCW ?
The conclusions (under multiple hypothesis analysis) suggest strongly the containers did not arrive from the air.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ayBv-nEOMTtIc-QOvejQBdCnZQXTuJ5z/view
Stuart Munro. 6.1.1.1.1.1
Yet the conclusions are not robust. The report asserts that the gas cylinders were "more likely to have been placed than to have arrived by air". Ok – but open and shut, which would have required a stronger statement "could not have/were unlikely to have/did not arrive by air".
Nor, despite the use of OPCW forms, did this form the official report. These were minority views that were ultimately excluded.
Consortium News has recent form as a largely unreliable bunch of repeaters of proPutin bullshit. Bellingcat is open source – if moved to do so you can check their images and conclusions for yourself.
Poission …
Its a probability analysis, it was not a binary problem.
Stuart Munro. …
It was an unpublished dissenting opinion.
It may have been left out for good reason – lacking factual backing for instance. No surprise that a pack of Putin boosters like Consortium would dig it up and circulate it though – most "Independent News Sources" don't have agents in the OPCW however, and the question arises as to how an outfit as threadbare as Consortium manages to fund them.
francesca …
Seems you haven't read the links
OPCW staff leaked the report to The Syria Working Group, a group of UK academics who I predict you will say are deep in Putin and Assad's pocket
From there any media organisation was free to pick it up
Our very own Scoop did
Look I know you'll do absolutely anything to push Putin's lines. Why not cite Fancy Bear as evidence? They've attacked Bellingcat unsuccessfully too.
Strive to be evenhanded enough not to be dismissed for bias.
Dennis Frank 7
"Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard says it's his impression from the report on bullying at Parliament that people have been raped there, and he is urging the victims to go to police or support agencies." https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/389766/parliament-bullying-mallard-urges-rape-victims-to-seek-support
"He said his reading of the report was that the offences were all committed by one person, and said he did not know who that person was. He admitted that having them tell their story over and over again was a problem with the court system, "which I know people are looking at, at the moment". "I'm not aware whether they're MPs or staff. Reading the report carefully I get the sense that the man is still on the premises … I don't know who it is, if I knew who it is I would tell the police.""
JLR triggered this, so many will assume he's the one. Ain't necessarily so. Lack of official rape complaints can be explained by perception that they are a bad career move, I guess. Confidentiality of the review process means crimes get disclosed, and all participants remain anonymous. Nonetheless, Mallard deserves credit for taking responsibility for his past parliamentary violence & trying to do what's right for current victims…
I don't know who it is, if I knew who it is I would tell the police.""
JLR triggered this, so many will assume he's the one.
You are crossing a line there imo – YOU may think that and I've never yet heard another person say it – own your shit dennis and it is shit – dirty and smelly.
Dennis Frank 7.1.1
Not sure what your problem is this time. If it's that you think I believe JLR is a rapist, you're dead wrong. He doesn't seem that kind of person. However, recalling what one of the women he had an affair with told the media last year, it's understandable some would jump to that conclusion.
So Marty, the shit is all in your mind! Wouldn't it be better to clean it out and dispose of it?? Projecting it onto others seems a waste of time and energy, eh?
it is not understandable at all – your mind thought that up – own it.
There's absolutely no way any of us can own the comment made by that woman last year. Only she can do that. The impression formed in the minds of the readers of her comment is also theirs alone. Nothing to do with me whatsoever!!
think on this
You – i turned off game of thrones at the start – too full of american accents and isms.
BM – there was only 1 american actor in the first series
You – oh really? anyway, and so on
You've got opinions not based on reality and it behooves you not to extrapolate or tenuous connect too far because often you do so with little knowledge as you did with the tiny example I have given.
Dennis Frank …
Reminding me that I'm just as human as everyone else isn't actually necessary, incredible though it may seem. My comment was about likely perceptions created in the minds of many, as the result of political developments. You tried to warp the thread into something about me, instead. Better to keep to the topic!
in case i'm wrong please put one link of anyone else saying what you said and implied – just one example of someone else and these 'likely perceptions in the minds of many' please.
Why? You believe other commentators on the Standard ought to do research for you? Why? Seems rather irrational. Isn't it obvious that we all have different values and priorities? Human nature!
Yep – didn't think I was wrong on this one. Thanks for the confirmation dennis.
Rosemary McDonald 7.1.1.2
He doesn't seem that kind of person.
Can anyone help with advice on removing the coffee sprayed on my laptop?
Pray tell, DF, what does a rapist look/sound like? Because if we knew, we wouldn't have to suspect all of you.
Come on Rosemary, is there really any point in posing as simple-minded? You know that none of those women would have had affairs with him if they thought he was a rapist, don't you? Would any woman choose to have affair with someone they thought could be a rapist? Obviously they also believed "He doesn't seem that kind of person.
You are once again prattling on about things you know nothing about.
Did you know abused partners go back to an abusive spouse on average SEVEN TIMES before leaving for good.
"Would any woman choose to have affair with someone they thought could be a rapist?"
You are so ignorant it's incomprehensible you think you know stuff about this. Have something valid to contribute or just give it a rest for all the victims sake.
I struggled mightily not to hit you with strings of invective.
But STFU!
Your opinion about what you think I may or may not know is totally irrelevant to the political issues raised by the controversy. No, it is not all about me!! Why is that so hard for you to understand??
Drowsy M. Kram 7.1.1.2.1.2
"Those women" aren't mind readers, and so might not have been able to determine ahead of time whether or not they were choosing to have an affair with a rapist.
Even some rapists might not be aware they would rape prior to first offense. 'Reckons' and 'seems' aren't always on the money – it's not Rosemary who's being simple-minded.
So you're agreeing with me: people form impressions about the character of others, and identifying the rapist in parliament isn't a simple matter. Cool.
Drowsy M. Kram …
So you're confirming how poor your comprehension is? Cool.
Oh, you intended a different meaning?? Perhaps delineating it explicitly could work better. Elliptical obfuscation only gets us so far…
I agree with your contention that it's unlikely any of those women would have had entered into an affair with someone they thought could be a rapist.
"Would any woman choose to have affair with someone they thought could be a rapist?" – DF
Perhaps the nub of our disagreement is that you seem to believe that those women (and presumably, by extension, all women) can reliably identify a (potential) rapist prior to engaging in an affair (or whatever.) Now I don't want to put words in your mouth, but wouldn't that mean you think rape is the woman's fault, because she ignores the signals from her infallible 'rapist radar', choosing to pursue the affair regardless!
If you believe something different then perhaps you should consider taking a course in Plain English! "Elliptical obfuscation" !! Praxis Dennis, praxis.
You're kidding! Why would anyone feel responsible for whatever impression someone else got?? Of course I don't have such unrealistic expectations of women! I have no idea why you hallucinated such a wacky notion…
Hi Dennis. Now I'm genuinely puzzled. English is my first language, but from your subsequent comments I am obviously misunderstanding the thrust of your comment @7.1.1.2.1.
So it's simply a matter of belief? You 'believe' that JLR isn't a rapist, and the evidence you cite in support of your belief is that it matches your view of the apparent belief of his multiple sexual partners (the ones we know about)? Is this really the sole basis of your belief?
Seems flimsy, but I bow to you superior reasoning and logic.
@DMK
'Would you enter into a business partnership with a person who you thought was a fraudster?'
I somehow doubt you have any trouble parsing this sentence.
No, I would never claim "superior reasoning and logic". I don't recall claiming superiority ever, to be honest. And I too am puzzled. Beliefs about other people form in one's mind as the result of impressions they make. Doesn't everyone know that? Hardly contraversial, really! Reasoning doesn't even come into it. Just common knowledge about human nature.
I've never entered into a business partnership, but my (uninformed) answer to your hypothetical question is no. My answer might be representative, but I sincerely doubt it is universal.
P.S. Did I just believe/feel my potential business partner was a fraudster, or were my thoughts based on objective evidence? That would matter to me. If possible, I would prefer to have some objective evidence to support my thoughts/reckons/feels, but in the absence of such evidence I'd have no option but to follow DF's lead and 'go with my gut!
Sabine 7.1.1.2.1.3
Would any woman choose to have affair with someone they thought could be a rapist?
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/30-01-2019/what-does-a-rapist-look-like/
One in three women being sexually abused in some way in their lifetimes is met not with horror but with a stream of comments saying, "it's more one in five!" or "What about men!" or "where do these stats come from?"
Every woman I know has been sexually harassed, abused, or assaulted. Every single one. If anything I think one in three is lower than the reality. We talk about victims, and how many attacks, because otherwise the question is:
Who is raping us?
The answer is your teacher, your mentor, the man whose book you kept next to your bed, your GP, your flatmate, your uncle, the police officer you asked for help, your dentist, your neighbour, your plumber, your best friend, your brother, your manager, your editor, the bouncer at your favourite club, the barista who makes your coffee, your Tinder date, a politician, the guy who fixed your sister's computer, the bus driver, your cousin, your best friend's brother, your ex-boyfriend, your husband, the waiter at that restaurant, your dad, your personal trainer …
That's harder to ignore than:
A monster.
An evil man.
A guy who was "a bit off".
Someone who was "not right".
And ignoring the issue of sexual violence is what we do.
It's estimated that 90% of sexual violence is committed by someone known to the victim. They didn't see something off, because there wasn't anything off. There wasn't any indication. No early warning system. No alarm. No red flag.
@ Sabine
In your view what percentage men are rapists?
a very small one actually. Maybe 5 – 10 % are rapists. I would also venture that rapists are repeat offender.
And because we don't actually treat rape as the crime that it is, and we still put the blame on women and girls and lets not even go to the fact that men have their own issues – re toxic masculinity – in reporting this crime, the fact that the police is only sometimes happy enough to actually do its job – often times only when the victim is so bad that they can't really not do anything these rapists get away and do it again and again and again.
But, and this is important RL, us women we don't know who is going to rape us. When i went to bed that night as a preteen – sharing the room with my 6 year old sister – i did not know that my stepfather would come and rape me that night. And frankly i am sure that i was not the only one, but just one of many.
and that is the issue. We don't know who is going to rape us. We don't know who is going to sexually assault us. We don't know until they do.
so to me know it is simple. So as long as i don't know the bloke, i am not going to accept drinks, not going to drive in his car, not going without a weapon of sorts alone in a carpark, tell my friends where i go, with whom, and i as billions of other women do have a whole scenario that i follow so as to not get raped, assaulted, mugged, killed.
but maybe you want to read this, and then you might want to answer me my question, what did you think i will tell you, and what do believe?
https://metro.co.uk/2019/05/13/pastor-raped-daughter-14-gets-light-prison-sentence-man-god-9515582/
David Richards, 41, was sentenced to 12 years in jail on Thursday in Knox County Tennessee for raping his adoptive daughter – 60 years less than the maximum term sought by prosecutors. As he handed down the lenient sentence, Judge Steve Sword cited Richard's work as a pastor and the Bible study he began in jail as mitigating factors. Richards was found guilty of rape, incest, and sexual battery by an authority figure for abusing his daughter, Amber Richards, for two years beginning when she was 14, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.
she is just lucky he did not impregnate.
Rosemary About coffee on your laptop, not sure. But I dropped quite a bit on my keyboard once. Turned it upside down over a towel and let it drip out then dried off, using a cottonbud for awkward places, and it was fine. It liked the blend. Hope this is helpful.
DF Better not have referred to JLR at all don't you think. Gathering in possible suspects on innuendo is not what I thought a practical man with principles would do.
I've made the point about the relevance of political psychology many times: these situations emphasise how relevant it is! Some commenters here try to shoot the messenger, but who cares?? Mass psychology drives public perceptions of political events, regardless how many commenters try to be puerile.
Utter gobshite of a man.
McFlock 7.1.1.3.1.2
If it's a conclusion that many people would make by themselves, your connection between the report and a specific individual would be redundant.
For those people who hadn't made that (extremely unreliable) association, you have now made it for them.
I'm not seeing a good side to that aspect of your comment.
You think reminding people of the political context of Mallard's impression isn't good?? Would you like to explain why you believe historical context is bad to include in political discussion? Or do you believe JLR's affairs didn't trigger the review. Or both??
McFlock …
so many will assume he's the one.
That's the bit to which I can't see any good side, but it's also the only bit that adds any information. "reminding people of the political context" is just you being patronising.
You could just have easily said "JLR triggered this, so perhaps some good has come out of that entire tawdry series of events: exposing the toxic culture of parliament".
edit: Stuff reports it was a staffer anyway. Thanks for your concern.
Glad it wasn't him. No, my concern for him doesn't need thanks, & I ain't nobody's patron.
DF has that unremitting unrepentant side. Being a rational man, everything he says is rational, it just follows.
British aristocrat resorts to centrism: "Lord Heseltine made clear he would resist any attempt to force him out of the party over his stance on the election on 23 May." https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/european-elections-michael-heseltine-brexit-lib-dems-conservatives-a8920376.html
"Tory grandee Michael Heseltine has said he will not be supporting the Conservatives in the European election, and will instead vote Liberal Democrat. The former deputy prime minister and lifelong pro-European said the party has become "infected by the virus of extremism" and he cannot endorse its support for leaving the EU."
"In an article for The Sunday Times, he said: "The reason for my experiment with the Lib Dems is, of course, the government's position on Brexit. I cannot, with a clear conscience, vote for my party when it is myopically focused on forcing through the biggest act of economic self-harm ever undertaken by a democratic government." His call for the Tories to reclaim the political centre ground was echoed by former prime minister Sir John Major."
I think the study of history generally and that of politics should include the cycles that occur where countries and large groups go into a spasm of self-harming behaviour. Is it a default position to go for some apparently pure and uncompromising method when times get hard and a certain level of anxiety is reached? Many countries or large social entities are definitely suffering from 'spasms' at present.
Speaking of those self identified Christians and regarding abortion laws Chris Hedges has
a reasoned piece;
"Ignore the religious rhetoric and moral posturing about abortion. This debate is not about the sanctity of life. It is about corporate capitalists who desperately need more bodies and intend to coerce women to produce them"
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/americas-reproductive-slaves/
Sabine 9.1
coercion – /kəʊˈəːʃ(ə)n/ noun
the action or practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.
synonyms:force, compulsion, constraint, duress, oppression, enforcement, harassment, intimidation, threats, insistence, demand, arm-twisting, pressure, pressurization, influence
well that is a polite term to say – criminalise an act and remove it to the point were the only way to have an abortion is a self induced one.
but yes he is right.
mosa 10
With regards to this report on bullying at parliament this from RNZ
"Now it has been laid bare in the report by independent reviewer Debbie Francis but still the elected representatives guilty of grossly abusing their positions remain anonymous and will likely never be publicly identified."
We have a right to know who these individual MPs are after all they are responsible for their behaviour as elected and appointed individuals.
This is a cop out !
greywarshark 10.1
Oh come on mosa. Just getting the information was important to build the picture, and complainants and informants were promised that it would be kept private. We do know it goes on. We cannot afford to go into a 'spasm' of blame and punishment over past practice when our attention needs to be on CC and international machinations. And it has happened, so our lagging attention to the future mustn't be dragged away again from facing forward.
So no it is not a cop out, that's just ignoring facts:
Informants were promised privacy.
It would be disruptive of the uneasy balance in Parliament and its efficacy for its big job.
If the victims of serious harassment and rape want to bring an action they should be assisted in this but need to understand that others who don't want to bring it to the light of day will unwittingly be exposed to public gaze.
The Labour government will again be going further than its mandate of running the country well, in wanting to be ideologically pure, instead of being both principled and practical. That part will be in establishing a sleaze-free approach to what we have been told is a government process that can be very demeaning and bullying to those not part of the in-group.
mosa 10.1.1
greywarshark sensitivities aside what i am arguing is that if these MPs remain hidden then how can the public and those wanting a career in parliament have any confidence that the house of representatives is dealing with the culprits and that people will take responsibility for their actions.
When you choose to serve the public and be paid by them how you conduct yourself is important and should be transparent.
This from No right turn.
The report of course refuses to name those MPs, meaning that the independent reviewer is effectively part of this conspiracy of silence as well. Which is not acceptable. Naming names is the first step towards accountability, and that needs to happen if anything is to change.
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2019/05/a-toxic-workplace.html
greywarshark 10.1.1.1
It's a difficult one. People who err so arrogantly should be brought to account. They are getting away with nasty stuff.
But then there has been a pact of privacy. We know that stats say that much sexual misbehaviour and crime is not reported so can't be taken further and justice meted. So BAU if nothing is done from this report.
And one lack of justice does not excuse another lack of justice and respect – to those who came forward. The Witchhunter Generals' opinions that purity and sanctimony will prevail if the victims are burned along with their perpetrators will, I am absolutely sure, not be agreed with by those most affected who will feel persecuted.
Sometimes there is no easy answer to achieving probity. Back off WG's and pour cold water on your hot breaths of retribution; put your simplistic interference to one side to avoid adding further trauma to this unhappy revelation.
OnceWasTim 11
@greywarshark.
I've just had to drop EVERYTHING! Jesse had a bad experience in the RNZ lift.
(I'm thinking of the children of course – what IF the worst had happened? And fresh from going over some handlebars)
I really don't think I could cope
Huh. He should try commenting on TS. I've had and seen some bad experiences. What a wimp.
Poission 12
A new peril on high street.
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/rnz/new-christchurch-building-has-serious-flaws-engineers
The leaked report – from engineering firm Beca to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment – said the narrow, glass-fronted block at 230 High Street has:
piles that are about 10 times too weak
a support column that is overloaded by five times
steel frame fixings that are not strong enough
inadequate foundations
The report also said calculations underestimated the earthquake loading by 25%.
Time for some selective logging with council.
The Korean engineer assures us it is quite okay. And I am sure that his credentials are also as we have good standards in NZ and good surveillance of those standards.
greywarshark 13
This am on Radionz there was a report on the use of a computer check on social welfare call centre responses. This check was designed by a person at AUT. I am wary of computer paradigms being the deciding factor of people's entitlements. But the check on the program would help to establish if there had been racial bias I think. So it was helpful to run calls past it to see how it registered. They looked at calls that had been passed on for action and calls that were recorded and not actioned, to see if this resulted in further calls indicating real need for action.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018696159/can-a-computer-model-accurately-identify-kids-at-risk-of-abuse
Kathryn speaks with Stanford University Associate Professor of Medicine, Jeremy Goldhaber-Fiebert, who has evaluated the effectiveness of a predictive risk assessment tool developed by a New Zealand researcher and implemented for two years in the United States. The Ministry of Social development originally commissioned Professor Rhema Vaithianathan, Co-Director of the Centre for Social Data Analytics at AUT to develop the model. It uses data about children and their families to identify those at risk of physical, sexual or emotional abuse before the age of two. MSD stopped short of implementing the tool, but Allegheny County in Pittsburg, Pensylvania began using it in 2016, and commissioned Stanford University researchers to evaluate it.
Oranga Tamariki dispensed with this a year or so ago. I am concerned that we don't instead get into sanctimonious, pious territory of 'We know best' and judgmental rather than compassionate, appropriate support responses.
The rise of RW conservative women with an opinion of themselves as model cultural templates is noticeable, finding platforms such as anti-abortion and anything that is a change in societal norms. They adopt towards the precariat and women considered below their societal level, attitudes of derision, or patronising and officious power.
Their success in the anti-abortion measures in eight states of the USA will whet their appetite to fight here. The large response against the attempt to introduce a very mild euthanasia bill is an example of their reach and influence. A backgrounder on the citizen consultation held throughout NZ says that the 9 minute time allowed for oral submissions was applied for by thousands who often merely stated their disagreement. Nick Smith and Maggie Barry facilitated this process, though Ms Barry was accused of adopting a disrespectful tone to some.
The conservative religious, such as the conservative Catholic and conservative Pasifika congregations combined will be a force against rights that women hold dear. Choosing overseas people for appointments over NZs, may increase the type of conservative, neo-liberal official or CEO. We have Irish conservative Catholic Mrs Moss at Oranga Tamiriki for which a local person could easily have been found. We also have Dr Mary English who is conservative Catholic and has Pasifika roots, building relationships in health and welfare for Pasifika people. These are people in key roles. When the National Party stopped funding the suicide health line and gave the contract to Dr English's organisation, *The Daily Blog cried favouritism and nepotism for Bill English's wife. Many community organisations working at the coalface of welfare, with much experience have felt the cold winds of funding neglect. We need to watch where the funding goes, and that it is fairly distributed to those who do much with little, without much patronage.
*https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/08/02/hold-on-national-cut-suicide-helpline-to-give-contract-to-bill-englishs-wife/
Eco maori 14
Kia ora The Am Show.
Students strike today kia kaha it agree make it 0 carbon by 2040 moving the goal ahead by 10 years .
Banning sugary or big taxes is a know brainer it should have been implemented years ago the bad facts are all there to see WTF.
The big hole in the government balance sheat was created by joyce
Amanda that is a powerful tawhirimate in America tossing cars around like toys don global warming its staring you in the FACE.
Duncan Its good to see that you get it with the police chasers the people who are being chased are out of control.
The parents of these tamariki being chased could be working 2 jobs to survive with the low wages and high living cost take the glasses off Mark.
Geffory Rush I quite like the characters he has played its good to see him get JUSTICE.?????????????????????????????.
If the policys look like a Christian party it a Christian party why don't they run a Wahine up and lift Maori Wahine all Wahine mana up. Its good you want good changes. But I am protecting the left from the cheating rednecks who will strip the common persons wealth and give our powercompanys to the wealthy. I know who is pushing this I can see the consequences of your actions. I agree the housing situation is bad thanks to national this phenomenon has swept the western world I wonder why House less tangata. If this movement was logical and not emotional you would target the drugs that actually cause harm even target sugar.???????????
There you go judy a pauleen hanson you're views are very similar hence your toilet won't float in Aotearoa maybe you should go to Australia.
Don't compare Aotearoa to Venuzla it a total tug of war between the east and west that is tearing apart that country .
I'm still suspicious of your polls
Ka kite ano
We should commit to reducing our carbon footprint as fast as possible.
Its the correct thing to do it is what humans have done for millions of years providing a better future for our tamariki.
What is happening now is not human or humane money is the root of these inhuman traits to rise to the top of humanity's way of doing things.
Some are totally focused on today and not on our mokopuna tomorrow's our futures well being the neanderthal are blinded by money they use this money to blind the common people of the world to believe there lies that are all about protecting the oil barons wealth and POWER.
Why you should take action on climate change
mpact on the environment because I want a future I can look forward to. And at the rate we're going, I know my hope is unrealistic, to say the least.
One million species are threatened with extinction. Make that one million and one – the human race should be on there. We are already seeing the direct consequences of climate change on real people as natural disasters are exacerbated by heat rise and people are made to flee their homes due to the damage done by these catastrophes. It's no secret that climate change is already showing its claws to the human race.
We are lucky, however, that we are so privileged to have the opportunity to stop it. We are the people who, in the future, will either be venerated for making the changes necessary to stop the full effects of climate change on the human race, or despised for ignoring the warning signs Ka kite ano links below
https://i.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/112939231/why-you-should-take-action-on-climate-change
Some Eco Maori music for the minute.
Humans causing shrinking of nature as larger animals die off
Average size of wild animals predicted to fall by a quarter in 100 years through extinctions
The researchers estimate that more than 1,000 larger species of mammals and birds will go extinct in the next century, from rhinos to eagles. They say this could lead to the collapse of ecosystems that humans rely on for food and clean water.
Humans have wiped out most large creatures from all inhabited continents apart from Africa over the last 125,000 years. This annihilation will accelerate rapidly in the coming years, according to the research.
The future extinctions can be avoided if radical action is taken to protect wildlife and restore habitats, and the scientists say the new work can help focus efforts on key species.
Animal populations have fallen by 60%since 1970, suggesting a sixth mass extinction of life on Earth is under way caused by the razing of wild areas, hunting and intensive farming. Scientists said this month that human society was in danger from the decline of the Earth's natural life-support systems, with half of natural ecosystems now destroyed and a total of a million species at risk of extinction Ka kite ano links below
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/23/humans-causing-shrinking-of-nature-as-larger-animals-die-off
It is cool that the environmentalist are being given honors and recognize for their hard work.
Environmental heroes: the environmental awards
On May 1, Princess Anne, patron of the Whitley Fund for Nature, presented the fund's awards recognising community-based conservation projects
Ka kite ano links below. P.S I know one who deserves recognition.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2019/may/21/environmental-heroes-the-2019-whitley-award-winners
Kia ora Newshub
Kia kaha to the Students Strikes to much you give Eco Maori a sore face with the numbers that turn out today.
I say its good to make the banks hold more money in reserve for a 1 in 200 year financial crash the markets are all over the place .
Lloyd it doesn't look good for may .and it looks like the right necks have hacked the system again while the right and left were fighting.
It's a warm start to winter this year we have not even needed to light a fire yet that's usually for Vags
Mike I seen that Geffory Rush getting his JUSTICE he is a good actor.
I see the don through his toys out of his cot .
Kia ora te ao Maori news
Thanks to Nanaia and the Provenance growth fund giving 50 million over 5 years to assist Maori farmer whanau in the development of there whenua in te taiwhiti.
Pee is a shocking poison its just as bad in te taiwhiti it is making a mess of te tangata
I think is a awesome idea to combine studying papatuanuku and getting the Kaumatua knowledge on the subjects
The Pacific music awards were on last night was very good Eco Maori loves his music ka kite ano
State Zero

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Yoga for MS patients: Starting with traditional yoga and modifying it to take into the balance, muscle stiffness and fatigue that patients can face.
As you know, I'm a huge proponent of Yoga. However, there are many modalities. This study found Tai Chi can help Parkinson's patients improve functional movement, walking and balance compared to resistance training and stretching.


Nourishing Cleansing Crème — Eco. Love. Beauty.
A gentle cleansing milk that dares to deliver brightening benefits while leaving skin feeling supple. A must for dry skin conditions.
Milky formula balances, supplements and softens. Leaves skin feeling supple and smooth yet clean and fresh.
Feeds, softens and preps skin with Argan, Acai and active aromatic oils.