Posts by Ross Mason
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So, are we going to get into the debate of my religious believer being more moral than your religious believer are we? Hitchins has some wonderful writings that dispose of that hoary myth. There is nothing so scary, sad and dangerous as picking your morals from the same book and then shooting each other.
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I find it fascinating how the written maori language is developing all sorts of extra ad ons which I assume (?) is to assist in the pronounciation. Me not being linguist 'n all.
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absolutely obligated to play by the rules -
Rules??? What rules??? Isn't that the point of asymetric warfare? There are no rules.
911 was one of the most brilliantly executed operations of this asymetric "war". There was no way the US was going to pull the guy in and put him on trial. Where would that be? I could really see them handing him over to the World Court, yeah right.
Look how much trouble they are having with gitmo. You can see why even Obama didn't want to close the place down because the guys who allegedly spilled the beans were/are still in there. I wonder if they will get a free ticket "home" now???
The moral dillema he had was whether the info they got by the time he was elected was worth throwing away. You are the POTUS, would/could you make a/the moral decision?
I don't envy Obama at all. He's now gorn. Dead and eaten by the sharks. So be it. Now lets start thinking about quietening the world down now that he is gone. I suspect it will quieten down a tad but what with the Arab Spring (April or October???) on the rise all sorts of things might happen. We wait....
But the US will get to keep the oil. QED.
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Hard News: The witless on the pitiless, in reply to R A Hurley,
The equivalence is that both parties went out of their way to kill something. There is a good probability that both parties had god on their side. Both get rewarded.
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We are arguing about strokes of ink in a language while discussing the death of a goon who is responsible for how many deaths???? Pick a number.
I don't really think there is any difference with how the seals killed him or how the 1700 suicide bombers in Iraq did their job. The bombers were made sure they knew who their target was, the seals certainly did too. The bombers will get their 72 virgins, the seals will get their USA medal. On a personal scale, both parties probably think they got a good deal. But at least the seals get to wake up afterwards.
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Dubya - but mainly his henchmen - lost the plot when he announced "you are either for us or against us". He wasn't doing too bad up to that point. Everything afterwards was/is a sham. The lies, the deceit, the gas, the oil.
And isn't Asia is much pleasanter way to get to Europe these days......
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Back to that cake stall to raise funds for the party, eh
Eh? Don will give the Brethren a call wouldn't he?
Brash and Banks confirmed yesterday there had been talks with people within the wider National Party
I remember the Wgtn Town Hall election public meeting in 1975 when the banner fell down with "Jack Stabber" on it. (Muldoon has just rolled Jack Marshall).
There is at least one yellow jacket with a slot in the back of it. I wonder if John has ordered a stab proof plice vest yet? This "Wider National Party" must be fun place to share a beer.
Edit: I forgot to finish by saying ACT will be gone by lunchtime of the day after the election.
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Given the English translation of the Glory of our Underpaid Workers. Here, via Arts and Letters Daily, is Joseph Stiglitz Vanity Fair version of events.
Scarily scarily, I say unto you.
But it makes you wonder, why would these Pollies DO this to their country? Are their arses being so well licked? I'm buggered if I can see many of them joining the top 1%. Taking a faint hint form the mag he writes in, maybe it pure and simply the vanity of it all....
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Yesterday Bill English said that:
having wages 30 per cent behind Australia's was an "advantage" in luring jobs and capital here.
For the last 20mumble years we have had the neocons tell us that if wages drop we will become more competitive. And if I am not mistaken, after all this time this is the first any of them have the gall to say we have finally reached it and isn't it wonderful.
I wonder which way we should head now.
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This was quick 50 minutes or so. But I have asked to see if it were possible to have a "Standard Tsunami Siren Warning". Since David aluuded to it and my email asked about it. But this reply does not address it.
From: Adrian Prowse [mailto:Adrian.Prowse@dia.govt.nz]
Sent: Thursday, 7 April 2011 2:55 p.m.
To: Ross Mason
Subject: RE: Tsunami Siren ??????
Hi RossThanks for your email and blog link. I'll follow the blog issue up with the Waikato CD staff.
The responsibility for civil defence at the community level rests with city or district councils. In your case, Hutt Valley Civil Defence is managed by Lower and Upper Hutt City Council.
Here's the link: http://www.huttcity.govt.nz/Services/Emergency-management/
Each local authority develops response plans and public alerting systems appropriate for their local hazards. Not every local authority operates tsunami sirens.
Given the diversity of hazards and response plans in NZ, it is not possible for the national site to list them all.
Thinking specifically of the tsunami hazard, several local authorities have installed sirens and these are usually tested annually preceding public notification. These tests ensure residents are familiar with the sirens and evacuation procedures. Napier for example have just completed their annual test and corresponding survey. Wellington does not utilise sirens.
Local authorities develop response initiatives and publicise these in a variety of ways. Hutt Valley civil defence uses community newspapers and other communications channels. As a resident, you need to be aware of you local hazards and what plans are in place. Tsunami is not an immediate risk for Upper Hutt. However it is for parts of Lower Hutt and the website above provides emergency evacuation information for affected residents.
If you commute to Wellington, you should also be familiar with the Wellington plans for tsunami and earthquake. Here's the link: http://wellington.govt.nz/services/emergencymgmt/index.html
While local government has a responsibility to keep residents informed (to the best of its ability) ultimately, individuals also have a responsibility to stay informed.
Adrian Prowse
Senior Communications Advisor
Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
The Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua
Direct Dial: +64 4 495 6833
Mobile: +64 27 231 3698
www.civildefence.govt.nz