Posts by Luke Williamson
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Auckland - like Wellington but 10% less salary
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What matters most to John Key is MONEY. The more of it the better and don't worry about who you have to step on to get it. Going forward, I think we can expect to see more of that philosophy from him.
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Sorry, being greedy . . . also Mark, you can now get back to Mt Albert, if you want to, in about 45 mins.
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No Mark, come to Warkworth because we DON'T have McDonalds and Briscoes.
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It does seem really odd. They know that Christine R will immediately divide the populace and draw attention to her (and Commissions) every move. Definitely looks like a "Yes Minister" appointment.
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Whoops, much as I would love to travel around the world quickly and effectively, I did mean swine flu.
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Ian Wishart is a prat but the cover art is just a stock photo from iStock.com. Nothing wrong with that as long as he paid the correct amount.
Don't want to hark back to swine flu too much either but, despite the panic reporting again (as discussed previously on PA), some interesting things have come out of it.
1. Tamiflu worked after only limited success against bird flu.
2. Speed of movement around the world of the strain. Imagine if it did kill people. That would be an impressive outbreak.
3. I did actually travel around the world quickly and relatively effectively, unlike the bird flu bug.
I'm sure that the reporters will be reaching for their millions as soon as the next bug comes along, despite this one being a fizzer. It will happen, it's just a matter of when. -
Agreed on concern and caution but not quoting figures from thin air in order to make bigger and better headlines. WHO and the Minister are not using random numbers to sell newspapers. To take it to a conclusion with some merit (i.e. not just my indignation), it leads to things like massive stock piles of drugs that are untested, expensive and uncertain in their efficacy, and that are passed their use by date when the next scare comes around. All I would like is some scale and accuracy in reporting.
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This from the MOH website in New Zealand - "Influenza is a significant public health issue in New Zealand. Each year it has a large impact on our community, with 10-20% of New Zealanders infected. Some of these people become so ill they need hospital care, and a small number die."
It is therefore normal for people to get flu and die every year in NZ and every other country in the world, and for them to travel and infect others with that flu. Again, this is not to belittle the threat of a global epidemic but to criticise the media who jump in the second there is half a story and start spraying around made up figures that are big and scary. -
Once again, it is the poor level of reporting that gets me. Even the splendid RB states that 80 people in Mexico have died from this but it looks like only 20 have been confirmed as being the victims of this actual strain of flu. The implication being that the other 60 could have had any number of other complications that helped them depart this mortal coil. Also, what time period? 80 (20) in one week is scary, 80 in one year is below average. I have every belief that the human population will be decimated by a disease in the next generation or two but it will be one that is killing the person next to you while stupid Herald journalists are still picking up their pens. The facts at this stage would appear to be some sick people, 20 confirmed deaths in Mexico and a whole lot of journos writing "potentially one squillion dead!"