Posts by Rob S
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Hard News: Anzac Day II, in reply to EE,
I was at the Pt Chev ceremony and couldn’t figure out why most of the junior cadets were fainting and needing to be assisted to seating.
My daughter as the oldest guide in her troop laid a wreath at the Pt Chev ceremony.
She said that standing near the front in the sun it got quite stifling. Mind you she did manage to bear up.My Wife and I have been twice now to the parade as parents of both a guide and a scout who are expected to go probably as a holdover from the military aspects of their organisations founding.
I am very conflicted in regard of this as I’d like to respect the soldiers who were in the NZ defence force yet I loathe the way that Anzac day has been resurrected as part of a poorly understood narrative of NZs role in the first world war and how it is turning it into a collective act of group think.
Gallipoli was a fuck up of epic proportions in a war of epic fuck ups.
No one should lose their job or be ostracised for criticising how it has been turned into a patriotic pissing contest.
If anything it is the best day for reviewing our political and military history to learn and apply lessons to our current position.
This needs to occur without shutting down other views that challenge the orthodox narrative.For a while Anzac day was quietly fading away with lower and lower attendances.
This might be for the best and without the 100 year tag for next year can we just tie it into an act of appreciation for our past soldiers. None of them knew what they were getting involved in and the price they paid seems to be too low for the end result, which applies for all who fought on both sides in one of mans maddest moments. -
Hard News: Friday Music: After Kiwi, in reply to Russell Brown,
Like we didn't already suspect it ...Dr. Dre’s Beats by Dre Cost An Estimated $14 To Make
Does this make all the cheap Asian ones good or bad value and are they the real thing?
They're everywhere over there. -
Hard News: News from home ..., in reply to Joe Wylie,
meathead messiah
Be handy around the Barbie. This term needs to be released into the wild.
I intend to call all of my mates a meathead messiah some time in the next week.
Getting the BBQ aprons printed asap. -
Went to the Lorde show with my wife and a 12 and 14 year old and saw a lot of similar groups which reminded me of the last parent teacher meeting I went to. I always feel like an imposter at the parent teacher whatsits for some reason.
I do like her music but it didn't seem to be that danceable as from where I was sitting half way up at the rear [quite a good spot for viewing] I didn't see much dance action going down.
One of the first gigs I've been to where I didn't notice any weed being lit and where they probably sold more ice cream than beer!
Did our Mr Sweetman review her show or did his stay at home parent gig preclude that?
Thoroughly enjoyed the light show which probably blew my kids minds it being their first gig and all.
+ 1 for the bass being overdone. -
Hard News: Dirty Politics, in reply to mark taslov,
Her fury was directed at Key: ‘‘If you are the person that is charged with telling me this then that says an awful lot about the person that should be doing it, and I am utterly disgusted.’’
She reminds me of Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter, 'I must have order'.
Of course the punishment is for getting caught not necessarily her actions as I find it hard to believe other players in the National Party weren't aware of her methods and contacts.
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Hard News: Friday Music: Festival of Non-Dudeyness, in reply to Sacha,
Newton Central "The best little school in the world" this track really made my day thanks.
My children's old school, as they viewed the video and said that's room14 and there's Eleanor and there's Otis etc it made me feel very Kiwi.
As for Lorde have the Australians claimed her as one of their's yet? Stunning talent and come so far so fast so well. -
One plus in regard of this unsavoury affair is that the methods the National Party have been employing has know been brought to light and with a bit of thought they can be countered.
With the two track smear strategy seemingly originating in the States I'm sure there are tactics that have been used to negate and even use it against those who employ it.
I think that when it was first announced that the Labour computer had been rifled through and data taken [illegally I think] they should have been proactively finding and bringing the perpetrators to justice instead of being made to look guilty for their [admittedly lax] security and issuing an apology.
The whole Dirty Politics story has not been stopped and if Labour wants to I think that they could use it as a means of showing up 'Team Key' and some of the loathsome individuals involved and the methods they've employed which should be confronted. -
OnPoint: Sunlight Resistance, in reply to Craig Ranapia,
I still need convincing that “the issue cannot be dealt with through the normal machinery of Government or through the criminal or civil courts”
Well lets see, you think that the current Government will investigate with any real zeal [turkeys voting for Christmas] or the same for our police who I expect are dreading having to investigate senior figures in a position of considerable power when one of the issues is their maligning of public servants and a very popular PM saying that there's nothing to see here?
Surely an investigation headed by a Judge looking into all aspects of this saga with witnesses compelled to give evidence under oath must be what our Democracy requires to show that it takes such things seriously?
This whole matter is in regard of how a political party has been shown to probably have been subverting our Democratic system to it's own ends as there is some very compelling evidence to assume as much.
There is a cloud over this Government and all it's actions point to them not wanting to be held to account for their deeds. -
OnPoint: Sunlight Resistance, in reply to Craig Ranapia,
But these were the words used by John Key to dismiss what seems most likely to have occurred. A tacit admittance it would seem perhaps even showing he knew what Ede was up to 2 doors down
The emails weren't just Slater they also pointed to other players and aren't in my opinion just Cameron Slater being a fantasist but also Jason Ede [remember him] going on about accessing the website. This guy described as Nationals black ops person was being paid by the taxpayer to engage in political attacks on the opposition.
I respect you Craig for your engagement with PA but could I please have a yes or no regarding the matter of a commission of enquiry being established into these concerns as you are concerned with keeping the Government to account for their actions. I think myself that there is good reasons to believe that wrongdoing has been occurring and it needs some daylight shone on it. -
OnPoint: Sunlight Resistance, in reply to Craig Ranapia,
Just for the record Craig what is your take on the Hager book's claims viz dirty tricks emanating from the Beehive? How do you feel about your favoured political party using what seems to be criminal methods and character assassination as one of there main methods of staying in power.
If I got pulled up before the Judiciary for entering a website in the same manner as Jason Ede and Cameron Slater and said to the court that "everyone does it" how well would that wash do you think?I for one would like to see a full enquiry with powers to put people under oath to get at the heart of the matter.
Love or loathe Cunliffe how could he expect to survive a coordinated series of attacks using the powers of the state and various media elements from the vile to uncurious opinion pieces calling for his resignation with John Key calling tricky on his arse when the moniker might be better attributed to his own methods to smear him?
Something dark has been going on in our Government and the media has let obvious bluster and obfuscation pass as a rebuttal.
I don't want this to be the end of it as corruption from the top of society will slowly work it's way into all aspects of our Country if left unchecked.
I'm expecting a lot more of nothing to see here move along, 'oh look at those kittens' from National if any media does carry on with investigating Dirty Politics.