[Update] Pirates drive under ship's bow in Antarctic seas

[UPDATE 2009 01 07] YouTube removed original video. New link here.

As expected with disastrous results as terrorists intent on piracy in a carbon fibre chilly bin meets cold steel.

Looking at the wake, what I see is Ady Gil sped up, without changing course, attemting to cross the bow of the Jap ship underway at speed, failing to take any evasive action to avoid a collision at sea.

On the other hand the Jap ship veered hard-to-port to avoid the collision.

1-0 to Japs against pirates. Well done.

I fully agree with BBoy - the Antarctic oceans are not the place to arguing legalities. The Jap ship is going about its lawful business.

As commented over at Roarprawn.

A milestone - Cheers

50,000 page loads crossed tonight. Dec '07 to Jan '10.

Actually would be slightly more, started in May '07, no counter till Dec '07.

Sometimes it feels like shouting into the void, but hey, blogging is fun.

Cheers.

Revising Resolutions

"most terrorist suspects are going to be natural blondes, ages 18-26."

Burlington Express

Principled or attention seeking?

I admire a blogger taking a principled stand on name suppression laws, I get the feeling that the current stance of Cam Slater at WOBH is going to end in tears.

I wish to state that this blogger does not support what on the face of it appears to be criminal action. I do feel here are other ways of getting message through without breaking laws, however tenuous the claim the publishing of cryptic pictures might be as not breaking name suppression laws.

Mr Plod is out to make an example. It may temporarily make Cam's blog number one in New Zealand, but any gain will be short-lived if jailed as a scapegoat. How is Twitter coverage in the depths of Mt Eden these days?

It will be an interesting case to follow, bound to be fully tweeted and blogged blow by blow. No precedences that I know of. Who knows he might get lucky and get off on a technicality. God help us if that happens - Whale holier than thou, in our faces as the blogger hero.

Pssts! Wanna buy an election?

the party lacked the “big money and big charisma”

No it is not Liarbour in New Zealand out of readies.

But its sibling in Gordonistan is ripe for plucking. Any largish donation about now could buy access to the highest realms of British government.

Why not do what the corrupt bastards in Liarbour did in NZ - flog taxpayer money buying the 2005 election, then pass retrospective legislation validating the fraud.

Grazing is truly amazing

Even more remarkably, their production is now being seen as part of a land management system that benefits the planet. Though methane from ruminant animals undoubtedly adds to greenhouse gases, they can play a far more important role in cutting carbon dioxide.

Less than a month ago leading up to Nohopenhagen, who'd have thought that someone would be uttering such heresy? As an aside, not that I am into the flat-earther greenie view of greenhouse gases or the like at all.

The evidence is stacking up that meat and dairy foods from animals grazing fresh pasture are healthier than the grain-fed versions. Pasture-fed beef and lamb contain higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants such as vitamin E. Pasture-fed meat and milk are also rich in a remarkable compound known as CLA, which protects against many cancers and heart disease.

Who would have thought that belching and farting pasture fed beasts could be good for you?

Scientists have long been aware of grassland’s ability to capture or “sequester” carbon. Grass leaves take in carbon dioxide from the air, converting it to sugars by photosynthesis. Some of the resulting carbon compounds are transferred to the roots and released into the soil through the normal cycles of growth and decay.

Well, I never.

Today a group of US farmers are discovering that they can build up those same high levels of soil carbon under their own pastures. The key is to get their cattle to mimic the behaviour of the wild bison herds. As a defence against predators, these herds packed closely together and were constantly moving. This meant that each patch of grassland was trampled and grazed hard, then left to recover for weeks or months until the grazing herd returned.

Under this regime the soil carbon store builds rapidly, as today’s farmers are now discovering. They call it “mob grazing”.

Ever seen what that trampled piece of mud in the winter paddock looks like next spring? No pests, having all been trampled, fully fertilised, it is the most lush area of a paddock next year. Yes Sir, a number of farms do that here in New Zealand but it is frowned upon because the mud leaches into waterways. A careful balance is required, enough to do the mob grazing bit, then move on.

Using electric fences, farmers split their pastures into a large number of small paddocks. Putting their cattle into each paddock in turn, they graze it off quickly before moving the herd to the next. US farmers report that their animals stay very healthy on this grazing regime, putting on weight fast. At the same time the soil quickly becomes more fertile as it accumulates carbon compounds.

Pasture feeding has long been advocated in New Zealand - it is what we do best - producing grass for grazing.

It’s the fastest way to sequester carbon, collect solar energy, and rebuild soil.

Grazing is truly amazing.

The full article is well worth a read, whilst you next tuck into that pasture fed steak with a clear conscience.

Gov 2.0 - SeeClickFix

Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist and a customer-service guru, was riding on a public train in San Francisco, California, recently when something common but annoying occurred: The railcar filled with people and became uncomfortably hot.

If the inconvenience had happened a few years ago, Newmark said he would have just gone on with his day -- maybe complaining about the temperature to a friend.

But this was 2009, the age of mobile technology, so Newmark pulled out his iPhone, snapped a photo of the train car and, using an app called "SeeClickFix," zapped an on-the-go complaint, complete with GPS coordinates, straight to City Hall.

"A week or so later I got an e-mail back saying, 'Hey, we know about the problem and we're going to be taking some measures to address it,' " he said.

Something we would never see here or get to work in New Zealand. A government department or local council shouldering responsibility.

Instead of people saying, 'Well, it's the government's job to fix that' ... people are taking ownership and saying, 'Hey, wait a minute. Government is us. We are government. So let's take a responsibility and start changing things ourselves.

About as much chance of John Key getting something like this included in a Super City.

For some cities and for some governments I could understand that transition can be a scary thing, ... But we feel like it makes governments more accountable, and it makes them function better

Room for an entrepreneur here. Unfortunately, each of the councils and government departments will cry foul on compatibility. INCIS, anyone?

With such a program nationwide, I feel that I could easily forward pics of all those potholes on the short road into town to the Tararua Mayor to see if they elicit a response like an actual repair. Some of those potholes have been repeatedly and annually remarked for repair with white paint for the past decade. The only things that have grown is the number and size of the potholes. Who knows, even the ones opposite her house recently remarked may even get repaired with such an entrepreneurial application.

Anything that makes government function better with a whole lot less of it in my face and wallet is good in my book.

Unfortunately, here in New Zealand, the whitewash is the repair.

In the wrong place

Marquel was seated next to his mother, Nathalee, while those in the church waited for a 12:30 a.m. concert to begin. Then, those in the sanctuary heard a loud pop. It was almost like the sound of a balloon.

Instantly, Marquel was on the floor, and he was bleeding.

A 4 year boy is killed by a stray bullet whilst with his mum at a New Years Eve service.

Investigators returned to the church later Friday, where they discovered the point of entry for the bullet: in the roof of the church. Phipps said police believe someone fired a celebratory shot into the air, and it went through the roof on its way down.

The next time Marquel returns to his family's church, it will be for his funeral.

An unbelievably sad way for a family to bring in the new year.

And they want re-election?

Three Labour MPs being investigated for expenses fraud are arguing that they should not be prosecuted because their suspect claims are covered by parliamentary privilege.

The MPs have hired legal experts to assert that the 1689 Bill of Rights protects them from prosecution.

Some just do not know when to zip it.

contend that the House of Commons rule book on expenses is “privileged” and cannot be subject to scrutiny by the courts

Above the law, eh?

We'll see what the voters say about that.

One born every minute

I never suspected it was Telecom.

You think when you give them money they are going to use it properly

As if Telecom would use your money for anything else than providing crap service...

Mayor favours arson to restore community

The Christchurch 'house of horrors' is no more.

And its disappearance off the landscape is a huge relief, according to city mayor Bob Parker

Unbelievable. A New Zealand mayor favours arson attempting to restore a community. He has been vocally supportive of the building's destruction from day one. Especially since ferals torched it on more than one occasion.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker described an earlier fire as a "turning point" for the community

That house was owned by someone, whether the taxpayer via being a state house or privately. I daresay neither will be compensated for the loss of their property by state-mandated arson.

A most foul turning point indeed when the Christchurch Mayor endorses arson.

A couple of reminders

To those of you all taking a hard earnt break from your long suffering support of the New Zealand system of theft taxation, have a good holiday and a prosperous New Year. Be careful out there, God knows we need real workers in the workforce.

And for those of you leeching and bludging from that same system, mark your calendars well. It is only 364 days till that Westie bitch makes you re-apply for a further cut of the taxpayer's largesse. I look forward to you joining the real workforce.

Belated welcomes

To new (or renewed) bloggers.

To two respected bloggers who thought they could take break, but the primal urge was too much. Monkey and IV2 I welcome you back.

To the new kid on the block with attitude.

Glad to have you onboard the 'sphere.

Plagiarism continues

A regular Maori stirrer academic has written a paper filler for Stuff this morning.

Of note is the fact that the topic and commentary is regurgitated tripe other sources wrote about the subject earlier in the month.

Stereotypes? Must be something with the warrior gene and plagiarism.

Feeling motivated?

A motivational pic, especially for all of you with a thumping great hangover and a New Year's resolution.

Tomorrow, there is always tomorrow.