Posts by dc_red
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RB - I have a vague recollection you also criticized the god-awful baby-on-strings-threatened-by-a-pair-of-scissors ad that Labour ran early in the last election campaign. I don't see/hear the designer of that abomination crying buckets of tears a few years after your rebuke. ;-)
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I do have a sense (albeit a vague one) that the weather in southland is better than that in coastal Otago. Perhaps it's more sheltered from the easterly? But geez, talk of that coastal fog brings back some unpleasant memories of Dunners. :-(
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Speaking of carbon sinks and other traps (for N, radiation, whatever), I found the following from George Monbiot especially instructive:
Ladies and gentlemen, I have the answer! Incredible as it might seem, I have stumbled across the single technology which will save us from runaway climate change! From the goodness of my heart I offer it to you for free. No patents, no small print, no hidden clauses. Already this technology, a radical new kind of carbon capture and storage, is causing a stir among scientists. It is cheap, it is efficient and it can be deployed straight away. It is called … leaving fossil fuels in the ground.
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Returning to one of RB's original points regarding media coverage. It is clear from last night's news (and radio reports for around 24 hours) that the media is primarily interested in reporting the lurid and scandalous, esp. if it has a 'local' angle (e.g., the 'perp' has a NZ passport). It's lazy. It's lowest common denominator. It contributes to general stupidification of the NZ populace.
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Genius, Craig.
Perhaps "You don't know how lucky you are" would be a bit more palatable while expressing the same sentiment? Plus there's a groovy song already written to that effect.
But Paul's right. Have you ever listened to the rural news on RNZ?
"Farmers in x say it's too windy. Farmers in y say its too dry. Farmers in z say it's too cloudy. Farmers in...."
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Paul - food for thought there. The region this refers to is presumably the "Environment Waikato region" which encompasses a large area (incl. much prime dairy land) far beyond the urban boundaries of the 'Tron.
As for Queenstown ... I expect you're right in part. The same factors are probably contributing to some impressive growth in Hastings & Havelock North. Internationally, though, resort towns are often driven by growth and prosperity in nearby urban centres? (e.g., Whistler - which is reasonably proximate to Vancouver).
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In fairness to Key, HC could be pretty terrible under questioning early in her time as leader. With time (a lot of time), she became brilliant.
The critical difference was that the media criticized and harangued Clark constantly early in her leadership (incl. in the infamous 16% days), whereas John Key has generally been given a free ride. Some have been keen to anoint him Prime Minister for Life and Saviour of All Things Good.
Re: Paul Henry - we all know what you mean, Tom. I think Winston Peters is probably the most likely to stand up to him (verbally) and say "you're a complete and utter idiot, and I can't take you seriously, jackass."
Re: Fonterra. Given the success you speak of RB, do you have any sense of whether it really requires this, um, subsidy?
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Isabel - that's exactly the impression the media want to convey.
Back to Fast Forwarding New Zealand ... my recollection is that there's relatively little employment in farming, even when one adds the work associated with processing primary foodstuffs. (As an aside, a colleague once told me that more people work in cafes in Wellington than in the entire NZ fishing industry).
I fear the government is still labouring under the impression that New Zealand is a rural nation ... when about 86% of the population lives in urban areas.
Now admittedly some of these "urban areas" are actually rural service towns, but it would be nice to see some recognition that, at least, the "Big 6" urban regions (Akld, ChCh, Welly, Hamiltron, Burka Bob Land, and Dunners) have societies and economies that are diverse and not dependent on growing grass.
As a rough guess about 2.4 million people live in these rather consequential "non farming" centres.
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As for the name ... NZFF could be "New Zealand Fast Forward" or "New Zealand Federated Farmers"? ;-)
Interestingly politically ... since my understanding is that Labour is widely loathed in the agricultural sector, which has traditionally been a bedrock of National support, and always likely to view government in general (not to mention DOC in particular) as evil incarnate. Except when it's handing out benefits like this I guess.
The scientists themselves are a different kettle of fish from Bill and Jane Cowcocky of course.
Overall though, new spending in, say, health research might be more likely to rustle up some additional support for Labour.
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Funny about the American love for Canada. It must be newfound, because I distinctly recall widespread American dislike for Canada around 2001-04.
Factors that helped to explain this: inaccurate and irrelevant claim that 9-11 hijackers "came through Canada" (made by one H Clinton, among others) + no participation in Iraq debacle.
The antipathy was somewhat mutual I guess.
Perhaps many Americans are now jealous of a federal government that can run a budget surplus and limit its involvement in dubious foreign wars? Oh yeah, and Canada exports barrel loads of oil, and with less 'attitude' than Venezuela.
Upon further reflection is it possible the responses on "countries what we like" was skewed by the fact that only a select few respondents had ever actually pondered such an idea, and were able to give an answer?