Ratepayers shafted yet again: Nick Smith where are you?

the best it could be

The bottom line was there was no ideal solution here, so we chose the best one

Dunedin City Council sees fit once again to shaft ratepayers supporting on-paddock thuggery.

NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said it ... could not be done without the help of the council

Remind me how many millions the international arm of this game stripped out of New Zealand last year. And the local rugby sharks have the gall to ask ratepayers to pay. Should have been put to the wall.

Nick Smith, if you're keen on making your mark in local government financials, here's your chance.

Only 55 to go?

The species will become extinct if more than one dolphin dies every five to seven years

there are only 55 adult animals remaining

Good, not many to go. Then I'll be able to use my set-net without restriction.

"baseless and unethical"

it was ''unethical for health practitioners to treat patients using homeopathy, for the reason that homeopathy (as a medicine or procedure) has been shown not to be efficacious''

"ultra-dilutions" ... no more efficacious than a placebo

homeopaths had used crushed-up pieces of the Berlin Wall to treat depression

Once again, homeopathic alternatives make headlines as the dingos across the ditch are set to make a formal statement of quackery.

"the man who saved New Zealand rugby"

he was an "outstanding New Zealander, instrumental in bringing RWC2011 to New Zealand"

A twattering from the greatest living New Zealander.

Yes, I and many other JAFA ratepayers. will always think of Mr Hobbs. Every quarter when I open my rates bill and see the impost being extorted in the name of "RWC 2011".

Tui Time: MS suggests an upgrade with benefits!

a lot of internet chatter lately about the benefits of upgrading from Vista to Windows 7

Moving from any of the other 6 versions of Vista might be an upgrade for some, but for Vista Ultimate users, Windows 7 remains an impossible to justify downgrade. Upgrade to get the latest yet to be proven version of a crap browser? When you're using anything but whatever version of Internet Explorer, no amount of hard sell Internet chatter by MS marketing tossers will get me to change.

it seems many Vista users are more than keen to move away from their underperforming and widely panned incarnation of Windows

Personally, with Vista Ultimate, I have not had the issues that users of lesser versions appear to have experienced and will not be downgrading anytime soon to Windows 7. Actually, if my customers were not wedded to crap MS products, a Linux platform is my personal choice.

Now you're talking National

The Government is set to introduce sweeping reforms to curb local council powers and get soaring debt levels down

"power of general competence" ... was "fundamentally re-evaluating that structure"

Finally, possibly some respite from the odious 'power of general competence'. The Nats are finally on track. Actively onto the benefit bludgers and recently, the sinecures of overseas diplomatic postings for ex-MPs. Now onto the hell holes of clip board wielding socialists and assorted ticket clippers.

The Nats are doing something positive, having wasted almost four years.

will pare back the scope of local government functions so they will only have control of essential local services such as waste, water, roads, libraries and consents

Mind you, the Nats will not get my vote till I see a massive reduction in my rates bill. A bill that increased 40% last year for zero gain.

Taxpayer dollars at work: The bare facts

Two University of Auckland psychology lecturers are conducting a nationwide online survey of 18 to 35-year-olds to find out what people think about, and do with, their body hair

Another 'academic' living large on the taxpayer dollar.

hit upon the idea when she was at a conference in Germany

After having been bored at an overseas junket, now waxing lyrical about the survey she and her offsider have taken it upon themselves to conduct for the betterment of the metro 'femi-men' that infest our society today.

IMHO, real men do not shave any areas below the neckline. Otherwise you might end up being feminised like this raving great ponce role model that is often paraded before our kids.

Left swallowing a bitter pill

Auckland’s Labour Mayor has very publicly elected to “pass by on the other side”

Card Carrying Union Man

any group of 300 workers and their families can be f**ked over using the justification “its for the greater good, really it is”

The Stranded

"Mayor Scab Brown"

It will reap a bitter harvest for Brown

Bombs Away

Nothing more delicious than watching the implosion as the left splits into various factions whilst turning on one of their own.

Indeed, a bitter pill. One that can only further fracture any support that the left has in New Zealand. The disgust seething within the left factions has shown a level of vitriol far exceeding that reserved for their mortal enemy the Right. They have their sacrificial lamb at present, but the Labour Party leader "Caspar" Shearer is right in there as scapegoat #2.

Key's third term at the helm is guaranteed, although for another story, he has issues like pandering to racist separatists that must be dealt with.

Quote of the Day: "Greed isn't good"

The union pushed it too hard for too long. They should have argued for a decrease in wages for their members with no other conditions changed. Such a good faith gesture would surely have resulted in them not losing their jobs.

Greed isn’t good. I would have hoped a union would know this.

A commenter summing up yesterday's action at Ports of Auckland - a quote to remember.

Excellent news!

292 port workers ... have been sacked by Ports of Auckland

Finally some movement. Mr Parsloe is now officially unemployed. Anyway, as a union organiser, I do wonder whether he was ever productively employed.

Now for a competitive rehire without the unionised.

Excellent news! Long overdue cracking this union.

"What's yours is mine..."

Christchurch's mayor ... calling Bishop Victoria Matthews "the guardian of a building which belongs to all of us".

As always, the bureaucrat's view. Property rights mean nothing.

I actually answer to my God, I answer to my standing committee, I answer to Church Property Trust, I answer to the people of the diocese

Actually the good Bishop tells it like it is. Stick to your guns girl.


"What's yours is mine..."

Get the bulldozers out and level the site.

Pseudoscientific Quackery: "just not scientific enough"

Homeopathy, iridology, reflexology, kinesiology, healing touch therapy, aromatherapy and energy medicine

Pseudoscientific courses sully the genuinely scientific courses and research conducted at the same institution

For someone used to proper medical delivery methods, such as 'take two aspirin and sod off', the above methods will always remain pure snakeoil.

scientists and students should be concerned by any retreat from the primacy of experimental, evidence-based approach in science and medicine.

Academics at these institutions need to stand up for science.

More here on the quackery that emanates from our tertiary institutions.

Winding up liberals

Here...

What does it take?

two months' home detention and 250 hours' community work, with Jude [sic] James Weir giving her a final warning that prison would be next

Fresh from seeing the esteemed judge giving a derisory sentence to the Turangi rapist, we see another beak doling out home detention rather than the preferred option of incarceration.

Te Runa went to a local New World supermarket 13 times - 18 charges of fraudulently using a ham and chicken luncheon barcode to gain a pecuniary advantage

had 46 previous convictions for shoplifting

had 76 previous convictions for dishonesty

What will it take for the easily swayed do-gooders on the benches to actually lock up these criminals?

lawyer Annette Sykes said all the items Te Runa had taken from New World were to support a child

pleaded with the judge to be merciful as a jail term would "push her over the edge"

A bleeding heart pleading "be merciful", "supporting a child makes it all OK". For those aid and abet such proven criminal scum, aiming to get a soft sentence, I would hope there is a special place in hell reserved for them.

Peeping Tom: "over my dead body"

Christchurch city councillor Aaron Keown said the cathedral would be demolished "over my dead body"

I don't mind making new history, but not when it's not necessary...

it was in "good shape"

Glib words from your Councillor supporting something that should have had the wrecking ball through it a year ago.

Forget Lucy Lawless' little eight-person campaign, this would be a big one

As always, an elected representative vowing to prolong the process, possibly with criminal action, irrespective of the cost.

Must be a mayoral hopeful, representing not you the taxpayer, but himself whilst looking for votes.

ps For you pervs looking for the peeping tom link - see here.