Posts by RBentley
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Funny, I have never thought of Hosking as a journalist.
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Any minced burger meat that is pink in the middle is likely to house gut-wrenching nasties and so should be avoided, or well cooked to ensure that any lurking salmonellae are toast.
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This is the only worthwhile thing that Smith and Guy have ever done, and they did it together thus demonstrating the true strength and focus of the National Party.
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Hard News: Interview: Glenn Greenwald, in reply to phplad,
I couldn't find this on the Herald website. Can you provide a link?
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Speaker: The problem of “horror tenants”…, in reply to Matthew Poole,
The 21 day notice that tenants need to give is not "compensation", neither does it give them "power". It is simply an arbitrary figure based on the assessment that it is easier for a landlord to re-let than it is for a tenant to find alternative accommodation. That is no doubt true in Auckland and Christchurch at present, but it was not true a few years ago, certainly not where I live. There are good and bad agents/landlords just as there are good and bad tenants. Foaming at the mouth is not going to change that. Building more houses, controlling immigration, settling Christchurch claims and problems and encouraging growth outside Auckland will all give better balance.
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What hasn't been mentioned is that tenants have to give only 21 days notice of termination compared with the landlord's 90 days. Until recently it has sometimes taken several months to find a new tenant. Tenancy arrears and damage are theoretically enforcable through the Tribunal or court systems but the rule of thumb is that tenants will not pay the last $300 or so, figuring that it isn't worthwhile for the landlord to chase the final amount. We have had many fantastic tenants and only a few ratbags, but those few have proved expensive and they are the reason we now generally consider only mature individuals or couples with no children, pets or bad habits. We've tried to do the right thing by low income families but have been bitten. Been there, done that, had the hassle and got the bill.
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If your organisation is going to import freedom why on earth don't you get it from the USA. I have it on the good authority of a former President that the Chinese and the Belarussians all hate freedom, and that is why they are selling it so cheap. American freedom is so superior and they love it so much that they will sell it to you for a mere power station or two. And for a substantial donation you could use Mr Key's personal tunnel that comes out under a bush in Texas.
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The Canadian farmer who took Monsanto to court and lost was an organic producer whose organic crop and reputation went down the gurgler because of pollen straying from nearby GE crops.
There are also instances of traditional Mexican indian corn varieties grown in fairly isolated areas being contaminated by pollenation from GE crops many miles away.
The Monsanto PR machine is very active and it easy to say that the rural Mexicans stole the seed, but it's just a story. You will find no proof one way or the other, just unequivocal statements from "foundations for research" that are funded by self-interested groups that are widely publicised and eventually become accepted because they seem authentic and authoritative.
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I don't know why my message has been repeated
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As an agricultural journalist who knows a bit about AgResearch and the people involved I invite you to look at the language used in the press release. Some of you are talking as if this is reality rather than just a possibility. "Understanding how switches MAY work....". "IF we can alter this...." ".,.IF REALISED...." "Another benefit MAY be...."
You need to look at the timing of the release - just before the National Agricultural Fieldays in Hamilton and just as CEO Andrew West announces that he is going to head the research arm of a commercial company. It is just a teaser with not a lot of substance, and while in the fullness of time it MAY result in something useful we are a long way from that yet.
Meantime, there are a number of practical things that farmers can do right now to reduce methane production but you don't hear anyone trumpeting those because they are techniques that are not new and can't be patented and there is no way for anyone to clip the ticket.